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HISTO  RY 


STARK    COUNTY. 


I    I  __ 


wtxtr     A-isr 


OTJTLIlsrE       SICBTCH      OF 


OFIIO. 


EDITED      SY-    WILLIAM      HENRY      PERRIN 


IIL.]1.USTI?>A.TEID. 


CHICAGO : 

BA-^K^N  &   BATTKY,   HISTORICAL  PUBLISHERS. 

1 86  Dearborn  Strket. 

1881. 


By  tranefei 

jjf   7    1915 


""» — -s  'V 


PREFACE. 

-' 'j^'^  ITR  history  ol'  Stark  Couiily,  :itU'r  nioiitlis  i>{'  anluims  tuil.  is  now  ooinplcted. 
i/^>y^x.  l'^'V>'i'y  iniportant  lield  of  ivsearcli  has  Ixh'H  inimitely  scaiiiicd  liy  those  engaged 
'f"^  ^'  in  its  preparation;  no  siibji'Ct  of  universal  public  value  has  been  omitted,  save 
where  protracted  etlbrt  tailed  to  secure  trustworthy  results.  The  necessarily  limited  nature 
of  the  work,  the  impossibility  of  ingrafting  upon  its  pages  the  vast  fund  of  the  county's 
historic  information,  and  the  proper  omission  of  manj-  valueless  details  and  events,  have 
compelled  tiie  publishers  to  be  brief  on  all  subjects  presented.  Fully  aware  of  our  inabil- 
ity to  furnish  a  perfect  history  from  meager  public  documents,  inaccurate  private  corre- 
spondence and  numberless  contacting  traditions,  wo  make  no  pretension  of  having  prepared 
a  work  devoid  of  blemish.  Through  the  courtesy  anil  the  generous  assistance  met  with 
everywliere,  we  have  been  enabled  to  rescue  from  olilivion  tlu'  greater  portion  of  iTiiportanl 
events  that  have  transpired  in  Stark  County  in  past  years.  We  feel  assui'ed  that  all 
thoughtful  people  in  the  county,  at  present  and  in  future,  will  recognize  and  appreciate  the 
importance  of  the  undertaking,  and  the  great  public  benefit  that  has  b(!en  accomplished. 

It  will  be  observed  that  a  dry  statement  of  fact  has  been  avoidecl  ;  and  that  the  rich 
romance  of  border  incident  has  been  woven  in  with  statistical  details,  thus  forming  an 
attractive  and  graphic  narrative,  and  lending  Ix^auty  lo  the  raeciianical  execution  of  the 
volume,  and  additional  v»lue  to  it  as  a  work  for  perusal.  We  claim  superior  excellence 
in  our  manner  of  collecting  material  ;  in  the  division  of  the  subject  matter  into  distinct 
and  appropriate  chapters  :  in  giving  a  separate  chapter  to  every  town,  township  and  im 
portant  subject,  and  in  the  systematic  arrangement  of  the  individual  chapters.  While  we 
acknowledge  the  existence  of  unavoidable  errors,  we  (^laim  to  have  prepared  a  work  fully 
up  to  the  standard  of  our  promises,  and  as  accurate  and  comprehensive  as  could  Ix;  ex- 
pected under  the  circumstances. 

.\iioisT.   1881.  THE    I'UBLISIIKRS. 


j^nfi^'PTr,^;; 


HISTORY  OF  OHIO. 


<3-K.A.H  AM. 


CHAPTER    I. 

INTRODUCTORV  -TOPOGRAPHY  -GEOLOGY  -PRIMITIVE-RACES  -ANTIQUITIES  -INDIAN- 
TRIBES. 


THE  present  State  of  Ohio,  comprising  an 
extent  of  country  211)  miles  north  and  south, 
220  miles  e;ist  and  west,  in  length  and  lireadtli — 
25,576,969  acres — is  a  part  of  the  Old  Northwest 
Territory.  This  Territory  embraced  all  of  the 
present  States  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Michigan, 
Wisconsin  and  si>  much  of  Minnesota  as  lies  east 
of  the  Mississij>pi  River.  It  became  a  corporate 
existence  soon  after  the  formation  of  the  Virginia 
Colony,  and  when  that  colony  took  on  the  dignity 
of  State  government  it  became  a  county  thereof, 
wliosc  exact  outline  was  unknown.  The  county 
embraced  in  its  limits  more  territory  than  is  com- 
prised in  all  the  New  England  and  Jliddle  States, 
and  was  the  hirgest  county  ever  known  in  the 
United  States.  It  is  watered  by  the  finest  sy.^tem 
of  rivers  on  the  globe ;  while  its  inland  seas  are 
without  a  parallt>l.  Its  entire  southern  boundary 
is  traversed  by  the  beautifiil  Ohio,  its  western  by 
the  majestic  Mississippi,  and  its  northern  and  a 
part  of  its  eastern  are  bounded  by  the  fresh-water 
lakes,  wliose  clear  waters  preserve  an  even  temper- 
ature over  its  entire  surface.  Into  these  reservoirs 
of  commerce  flow  innumerable  streams  of  limpid 
water,  which  come  from  glen  and  dale,  from 
mountain  and  valley,  from  forest  and  prairie — all 
avenues  of  healtli,  commerce  and  prosperity. 
Ohio  is  in  the  best  part  of  this  territory — south 
of  its  river  are  tropical  heats ;  north  of  Lake  Erie 
are  polar  snows  and  a  polar  climate. 

The  tcrritorj-  compri.scd  in  Ohio  has  always  re- 
mained the  same.  Ohio's  history  differs  somewliat 
iiom  other  States,  in  that  it  was  nmer  uniler  Ter- 
ritorial government.  When  it  was  created,  it  was 
made  a  State,  and  did  not  pass  through  the  stage 
incident  to  the  most  of  other  States,  /.  c,  cxi.st  as 
a  Territory  before  being  advanced  to  the  powers  of 


a  State.  Such  was  not  the  case  with  the  other 
States  of  the  West ;  all  were  Territories,  with  Terri- 
torial forms  of  government,  ere  they  became  States. 

Ohio's  boundaries  are,  on  the  north,  Lakt'Erie, 
and  Michigan  ;  on  the  west,  Indiana ;  on  the  south, 
the  Ohio  lliver,  separating  it  from  Kentucky; 
and,  on  the  e;ust,  Pennsylvania  and  West  Virginia. 
It  is  situated  between  38°  25'  and  42°  north 
latitude ;  and  80°  30'  and  84°  50'  west  longitude 
from  Greenwich,  or  3°  30'  and  7°  50'  west  from 
Wa.shington.  Its  greatest  length,  from  north 
to  south,  is  21 0  miles ;  the  extreme  width,  from 
east  to  west.  220  miles.  Were  this  an  exact  out- 
line, the  area  of  the  State  would  be  40,200  S(|uare 
miles,  or  29,568,000  acres ;  as  the  outlines  of  tlic 
State  are,  however,  rather  irregular,  the  area  is 
estimated  at  39,904  square  miles,  or  25,576,960 
acres.  In  the  last  census — 1870 — the  total  num- 
ber of  acres  in  Ohio  is  given  as  21,712,420,  of 
which  14,469,132  acres  are  improved,  and  6,883,- 
575  acres  are  woodland.  By  the  la-st  statistical 
report  of  the  State  Auditor,  20,905,3713  acres  are 
reported  as  taxable  lands.  This  omits  many  acres 
untaxable  for  various  reasons,  which  would  make  the 
estimate,  25,576,960,  nearly  coirect. 

The  face  of  the  countiy,  in  Ohio,  taken  as  a 
whole,  presents  the  ajijiearance  of  an  extensive 
monotonous  plain.  It  is  n)oderately  undulating 
but  not  mountainous,  and  is  excavated  in  places  by 
the  streams  coursing  over  its  surface,  wliose  waters 
have  forced  a  way  for  themselves  through  cliffs  of 
sandstone  rock,  leaving  abutments  of  this  material 
in  bold  outline.  There  are  no  mountain  ranges, 
geological  uplifts  or  peaks.  A  low  ridge  enters  the 
State,  near  tlie  northeast  corner,  and  crosses  it  in  a 
southwesterly  direction,  emerging  near  tlic  inter- 
section of  tlie  4ilth  degree  of  north  latitude  with 


12 


HISTORY    OP    OHIO. 


the  western  boundary  of  the  State.  Thi.s  "  divide  " 
separates  the  lake  and  Ohio  River  waters,  and  main- 
tains an  elevation  of  a  little  more  than  thii'tccn 
hundred  feet  above  the  level  of  the  ocean.  The 
liighest  part  is  in  Logan  County,  where  the  eleva- 
tion is  1,550  feet. 

North  of  this  ridge  the  surflice  is  generally  level, 
with  a  gentle  inelination  t<iward  the  lake,  the  ine- 
((ualities  of  the  surtiiee  being  caused  by  the  streams 
which  empty  into  the  lake.  The  central  part  of 
Ohio  is  almost,  in  general,  a  level  plain,  about  one 
thousand  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  slightly 
inclining  southward.  The  Southern  part  of  the 
State  is  rather  billy,  the  valleys  growing  deeper  as 
they  incline  toward  the  gi-eat  valley  of  the  Ohio, 
which  is  several  hundred  feet  below  the  general 
level  of  the  State.  In  the  southern  counties,  the 
surface  i.s  generally  divensified  by  the  inequalities 
produced  by  the  excavating  power  of  the  Ohio 
Kiv(?i-  and  its  tributaries,  exercised  through  long 
periods  of  time.  There  are  a  few  prairies,  or  plains, 
in  the  central  and  northwestern  parts  of  the  State, 
but  over  its  greater  poi  tion  originally  existed  im- 
mense growths  of  timber. 

The  '' divide,"  or  water-shed,  referred  to,  between 
the  waters  of  Lake  Erie  and  the  Ohio  River,  is 
leiss  elevated  in  Ohio  than  in  New  York  and  Penn- 
sylv:iiiia.  though  the  difference  is  small.  To  a  per- 
siin  passing  over  the  State  in  a  liallnon,  its  surt'ace 
presents  an  unvarynig  plain,  while,  to  one  .sailing 
down  the  Ohio  River,  it  appears  mountainous. 
On  this  river  are  bluffs  ranging  fi'om  two  hundred 
and  fifty  to  six  hundred  feet  in  height.  As  one 
ascends  the  tributaries  of  the  river,  these  bluffs 
diminish  in  height  until  they  become  gentle  undu- 
lations, while  toward  the  sources  of  the  streams, 
ill  the  central  part  of  the  State,  the  banks  often 
become  low  and  marshy. 

The  principal  rivers  are  the  Ohio,  Muskingum, 
Scioto  and  Miami,  ou  the  southern  slope,  emptying 
into  the  Ohio ;  on  the  northern,  the  Maumee, 
Sandusky,  Huron  and  Cuyahoga,  emptying  into 
Lake  Erie,  and,  all  but  the  first  named,  entirely  in 
Ohio. 

The  Ohio,  the  chief  river  of  the  State,  and  from 
which  it  derives  its  name,  with  its  tributaries,  drains 
a  country  whose  area  is  over  two  hundred  thousand 
square  miles  in  extent,  and  extending  from  the 
water-shed  to  Alabama.  The  river  was  first  dis- 
covered by  La  Salle  in  1601),  and  was  by  him  nav- 
igated as  far  as  the  Falls,  at  Louisville,  Ky.  It  is 
formed  by  the  junction  of  the  Alleghany  and 
IMonongahela  rivers,  in  Pennsylvania,  whose  waters 


unite  at  Pittsburgh.  The  entire  length  of  the 
river,  from  its  source  to  its  mouth,  is  950  miles, 
though  by  a  straight  line  from  Pittsliurgh  to  Cairo, 
it  is  only  (il  5  miles.  Its  current  is  very  gentle, 
hardly  tliree  miles  per  hour,  the  descent  being  only 
five  inches  per  mile.  At  high  stages,  the  rate  of 
the  current  increases,  and  at  low  stages  decreases. 
Sometimes  it  is  barely  two  miles  per  hour.  The 
average  range  between  liii;h  and  lew  water  mark  is 
fifty  feet,  although  several  times  the  river  has  ri.sen 
more  than  sixty  feet  above  low  water  mark.  At 
the  lowest  stage  of  the  river,  it  is  fordable  many 
places  between  Pittsburgh  and  Cincinnati.  The 
river  abounds  in  islands,  seme  of  which  are  exceed- 
ingly fertile,  and  noted  in  the  history  of  the  West. 
Othens,  known  as  ''  tow-heads,"  are  simply  deposits 
of  sand. 

The  Scioto  is  one  of  the  largest  inland  streams 
in  the  State,  and  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  ri\- 
ers.  It  rises  in  Hardin  County,  flows  southeast- 
erly to  Columbus,  where  it  receives  its  largest 
affluent,  the  Olentangy  er  Whetstone,  after  which 
its  direction  is  southerly  until  it  enters  the  Ohio  at 
Portsmouth.  It  flows  through  one  of  the  rich- 
est valleys  in  the  State,  and  has  for  its  compan- 
ion the  Ohio  and  Erie  Canal,  for  a  distance  of 
ninety  miles.  Its  tributaries  are,  besides  the  Whet- 
stone, the  Parljy,  Walnut  and  Paint  Creeks. 

The  jMuskingum  River  is  formed  by  the  junc- 
tion of  the  Tuscarawas  and  ^\'aIdh(lning  Rivers, 
which  rise  in  the  northern  part  of  the  State  and 
unite  at  Coshocton.  From  the  junction,  the  river 
flows  in  a  southeastern  course  about  one  hundred 
miles,  through  a  rich  and  pepuleus  valley,  to  the 
Ohio,  at  Marietta,  the  oldest  .'settlement  in  the 
State.  At  its  outlet,  the  Muskingum  is  over  two 
hundred  3'ards  wide.  By  improvements,  it  has 
been  made  navigable  ninety-five  miles  above  Mari- 
etta, as  far  as  Diesden,  where  a  side  cut,  three 
miles  long,  unites  its  waters  with  those  of  the  Ohio 
Canal.  All  along  this  stream  exist,  in  abundant 
profusion,  the  remains  of  an  ancient  civiliza- 
tion, whose  history  is  lost  in  the  twilight  of  autiij- 
uity.  J'Lxtensive  nmunds.  earthworks  and  various 
fortifications,  are  everywhere  to  be  found,  inclosing 
a  mute  history  as  silent  as  the  race  that  dwelt  here 
and  left  these  traces  of  their  evistence.  The  same 
may  be  said  of  all  the  other  valleys  in  Ohio. 

The  JMiami  River — the  scenes  of  many  exploits 
in  pioneer  day.s — rises  in  Hardin  County,  near  the 
headwaters  of  the  Scioto,  and  runs  southwesterly, 
to  the  Ohio,  pa.ssing  Troy,  Dayton  and  Hamilton. 
It  is  a  beautifid  and  ra]iid  stream,  flowing  through 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


A 


a  highly  productive  mid  ]iii]iulous  valley,  in  wliich 
limestone  and  hard  timber  are  abundant.  Its  total 
length  is  about  one  hunared  and  fifty  miles. 

The  JIaumeo  is  the  largest  river  in  the  northern 
part  of  Ohio.  It  n.-^es  in  Indiana  and  flows  north- 
easterly, into  Lake  Erie.  About  eighty  miles  of 
its  course  are  in  Ohio.  It  is  navigable  as  far  as 
Perrysburg,  eighteen  miles  from  its  mouth.  The 
other  rivers  north  of  the  divide  are  all  small, 
rapid-running  streams,  aft'ording  a  large  amount  of 
good  water-power,  much  utilized  by  mills  and  man- 
ufactories. 

A  remarkable  feature  of  the  topography  of 
Ohio  is  its  almost  total  ab.scnce  of  n.atural  lakes  or 
ponds.  A  few  very  small  ones  are  found  near  the 
watiT-shed,  but  all  too  small  to  bo  of  any  practical 
value  save  as  vratering-places  for  stock. 

Lake  Erie,  which  forms  nearly  all  the  northern 
boundary  of  the  State,  is  next  to  the  last  or  lowest 
of  America's  "  inland  .sea.s."  It  is  290  miles  long, 
and  57  miles  wide  at  its  greatest  part.  There  are 
no  islands,  exc(?pt  in  the  shallow  water  at  the  west 
end,  and  very  few  bays.  The  greatest  depth  of 
the  lake  is  off  Long  Point,  where  the  water  is  HI 2 
feet  deep.  The  shores  are  principally  drift-clay  or 
hard-pan,  upon  which  the  waves  are  continually 
encroaching.  At  Cleveland,  from  the  first  sur- 
vey, in  1796,  to  1842,  the  encroachment  was  218 
feet  along  the  entire  city  front.  The  entire  coast 
is  low,  seldom  rising  above  fifty  feet  at  the  water's 
edge. 

Lake  Erie,  like  the  others,  has  a  variable  sur- 
face, rising  and  falling  with  the  seasons,  like  great 
rivers,  called  the  "  annual  fluctuation,"  and  a  gen- 
eral one,  embracing  a  series  of  years,  due  to  mete- 
orological cau.ses,  known  as  the  "  secular  fluctua- 
tion." Its  lowest  known  level  was  in  February, 
1819,  rising  more  or  less  each  year,  until  June, 
1838,  in  the  extreme,  to  six  feet  eight  inches. 

Lake  Erie  has  several  excellent  harbors  in  Ohio, 
among  which  are  Cleveland,  Toledo,  Sandusky, 
Port  Clinton  and  Ashtabula.  Valuable  improve- 
ments have  been  made  in  some  of  these,  at  the 
expense  of  the  General  Government.  In  1818, 
the  first  steamboat  was  launched  on  the  lake. 
Owing  to  the  Falls  of  Niagara,  it  could  go  no 
farther  east  than  the  outlet  of  Niagara  Kiver. 
Since  then,  however,  the  opening  of  the  Welland 
Canal,  in  Canada,  allows  ve.ssels  drawing  not  more 
than  ten  fi^et  of  water  to  pass  from  one  lake  to 
the  other,  greatly  facilitating  navigation. 

As  early  as  1830,  Dr.  S.'P.  Ilildreth,  Dr.  John 
Locke,  Prof  J.  II.  Riddle  and  Mr.  I.  A.  Lai^hain, 


were  aj)pointed  a  committee  by  the  Legislature  of 
Ohio  to  report  the  "  best  method  of  obtaining  a 
complete  geological  survey  of  the  State,  and  an 
estimate  of  the  probable  cost  of  the  same."  In  the 
preparation  of  their  rejiort.  Dr.  Hildrcith  examined 
the  coal-measures  in  the  southea.stern  part  of  the 
State,  Prof  Riddle  and  Mr.  Lapham  made  exam- 
inations in  the  western  and  northern  counties, 
while  Dr.  Locke  devoted  his  attention  to  cheiiiical 
analy.se.s.  These  investigations  resulted  in  the 
presentation  of  much  valuable  information  con- 
c(Tning  the  mineral  resources  of  the  State  and  in 
a  plan  for  a  geological  survey.  In  accordance 
with  the  recommendation  of  this  Committee,  the 
Legislatuie,  in  1837,  passed  a  bill  ajipropriating 
$12,000  for  the  prosecution  of  the  work  during 
the  next  year.  The  Geological  Corjjs  appointee" 
consist<»d  of  W.  W.  Mather,  State  Geologist,  with 
Dr.  Hildreth,  Dr.  Locke,  Prof  J.  P.  Kirtland,  J. 
W.  Foster,  Charles  Whittlesey  and  Charles  Briggs, 
Jr.,  Assistants.  The  results  of  the  first  j-ear's 
work  appeared  in  1838,  in  an  octavo  volume  of  134 
pages,  with  contribntions  from  Mather,  Hildreth, 
Rriggs,  Kirtland  and  Whittlesey.  In  1838,  the 
Legislature  ordered  the  continuance  fif  the  work, 
and,  at  the  close  of  the  year,  a  second  report,  of 
286  pages,  octavo,  was  issued,  containing  contribu- 
tions from  all  the  members  of  the  survey. 

Succeeding  Legislatures  failed  to  provide  for  a 
continuance  of  the  work,  and,  save  that  done  by 
private  means,  nothing  was  accomplished  till 
1869,  when  the  Legislature  again  took  up  the 
work.  In  the  interim,  individual  cntcrpri.se  had 
done  much.  In  1841 ,  Prof  James  Hall  jni.ssed 
through  the  State,  and,  by  his  indeiitification  of 
several  of  the  fonnations  with  those  of  New  York, 
for  the  firsst  time  fixed  their  geologiital  age.  The 
ne.xt  year,  he  issued  the  first  map  of  the  geology 
of  the  State,  in  common  with  the  geological  maps 
of  all  the  region  between  the  AUeghanies  and  the 
Jli.ssissippi.  Similar  maps  were  published  by  Sir 
Charles  Lyell,  in  184.5;  Prof.  Edward  Hitchcock, 
in  1853,  and  by  J.  Mareon,  in  1856.  The  first 
individual  map  of  the  geology  of  Ohio  was  a  very 
small  one,  published  by  Col.  "Whittlesey,  in  1848, 
in  Howe's  History.  In  1856,  he  published  a 
larger  map,  and,  in  1865,  another  was  issued  by 
Prof  Nelson  Sayler.  In  1807,  Dr.  J.  S.  Newberry 
published  a  geological  map  and  sketch  of  Ohio  in 
the  Atlas  of  the  State  issued  by  IL  S.  Stebbins. 
Up  to  this  time,  the  geologicid  knowledge  w;is  very 
general  in  its  character,  and,  conse(|uently,  eiTonc- 
ous  in  many  of  its  details.     Other  States  had  been 


V 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


aci'iinitcly  .surveyed,  yet  Ohio  reniaineil  a  kiml  of 
lirii)  iiiinijulUi,  of  which  the  ucolo;^y  was  less 
known  tliMn  any  part  of  the  surrouinhnu'  area. 

In  1801),  the  Legislature  approjiriated,  tiir  a  new 
survey,  $13,900  for  its  support  during  one  year, 
and  appointed  Dr.  Newberry  Chief  Geologist ;  E. 
B.  Andrews,  Edward  Orton  anil  J.  H.  Klippart 
were  appointed  Assistants,  and  T.  G.  AYormley, 
Chemist.  The  result  of  i\m  first  year's  work 
v^as  a  volume  of  104  pages,  octavo,  published  in 
1870. 

This  re])0it,  acconi|>anied   liy  maps  and  charts, 

for  the  first  imu-   a.vurateiy  deli 1   the  geological 

formatiou.s  a.s  to  age  and  area.  Evidence  was  given 
which  set  at  rest  questions  of  nearly  thirty  years' 
standing,  and  established  the  fact  that  Ohio  in- 
cludes nearly  double  the  number  of  formations  be- 
fore .supposed  to  exist.  Since;  that  date,  the  sur- 
veys have  been  regularly  made.  Each  county  is 
being  surveyed  by  itself,  and  it.s  formation  ac- 
curately determined.  Elsewhere  in  these  pages, 
these  results  are  given,  and  to  them  the  reader  is 
refi^iTed  for  the  specific  geology  of  the  county. 
Only  general  results  can  be  noted  here. 

()n  the  general  geological  map  of  the  State,  are 
two  sections  of  the  State,  taken  at  each  northern 
and  snuthorn  extremity.  These  show,  with  the 
map,  the  griiTal  outline  of  the  geological  features 
of  ()hio,  anil  are  all  that  can  be  given  here.  Both 
sections  show  the  general  an-angenient.s  of  the 
formation,  and  prove  that  they  lie  in  sheets  resting 
one  u|iiin  another,  but  not  liorizontally,  as  a  great 
airh  traverses  the  State  from  Cincinnati  to  the 
hdie  .shore,  between  Toledo  and  Sandusky.  Along 
this  line,  which  extends  southward  to  Na,shville, 
Tenn.,  all  the  rocks  are  raised  in  a  ridge  or  fold, 
once  a  low  mountain  chain.  In  the  lapse  of 
ages,  it  has,  however,  been  extensively  worn 
away,  and  now,  along  a  large  part  of  its  course, 
the  .strata  which  once  arched  over  it  are  re- 
moved from  its  summit,  and  are  found  resting  in 
regular  order  on  either  side,  dipping  away  f\-om  its 
axis.  Where  the  ridge  was  highest,  the  erosion 
ha.s  been  greatest,  that  being  the  reason  why  the 
oldest  rocks  are  exposed  in  the  region  about  Cin- 
cinnati. By  following  the  line  of  this  gi-eat  arch 
from  Cincinnati  northward,  it  will  be  seen  that  the 
llelilrrberg  limestone  (  No.  4),  midway  of  the  State, 
is  .still  unbroken,  and  stretches  from  .side  to  side  ; 
while  the  Oriskany,  the  Corniferous,  the  Hamilton 
and  the  Huron  formations,  though  generally  re- 
moved from  the  crown  of  the  arch,  still  remain 
over  a  limited  area  near  Bellefontaine,  where  they 


f  rin  an  i.sland.  which  j)rov<'S  the  former  continuity 
of  the  strata  which  compose  it. 

On  the  east  side  of  the  great  anticlinal  axis,  the 
rooks  dip  down  into  a  ba,sin,  which,  for  several 
hundred  miles  north  and  south,  occupies  the  inter- 
val between  the  Nashville  and  Cincinnati  ridge  and 
the  first  fold  of  the  Alleghany  Jlountains.  In 
this  basin,  all  the  strata  form  trough-like  layers, 
their  edges  outcropping  ea.stward  on  the  flanks 
of  the  AUeghanies,  and  westward  along  the  anti- 
clinal axis.  As  they  dip  from  this  margin  east- 
ward toward  the  center  of  the  trough,  near  its 
niiildle,  on  the  eastern  border  of  the  State,  the 
oilier  rocks  are  deeply  buried,  and  the  surface  is 
here  underlaid  by  the  highest  and  most  recent  of 
our  rock  formations,  the  coal  measures.  In  the 
northwestern  corner  of  the  State,  the  strata  dip 
northwest  from  the  anticlinal  and  pass  under  the 
iNIiehigan  coal  basin,  precisely  as  the  same  forma- 
tions east  of  the  anticlinal  dip  beneath  the  Alle- 
ghany coal-field,  of  which  Ohio's  coal  area  forms  a 
part. 

The  rocks  underlying  the  State  all  belong  to 
three  of  the  great  groups  which  geologists  have 
termed  "  sy.stems,"  namely,  the  Silurian,  Devonian 
and  Carboniferous.  I^ach  of  these  are  again  sub- 
divided, for  convenience,  and  numbered.  Thus 
the  Silurian  system  includes  the  Cincinnati  group, 
the  Medina  and  Clinton  groups,  the  Niagara 
group,  and  the  Salina  and  Water-Line  groups. 
The  Devonian  system  includes  the  Oriskany  sand- 
stone, the  CarbouifiTous  limestone,  the  Hamilton 
group,  the  Huron  sliale  and  the  Erie  shales,  Thi' 
Carboniferous  .system  includes  the  AVaverly  group, 
the  Carboniterous  Conglomerate,  the  Coal  Meas- 
ures and  the  Drift.  This  last  includes  the  surface, 
and  has  been  divided  into  six  jiarls,  numbering 
from  the  lowest,  viz,:  A  ghuialed  surface,  tlie  (ila- 
cial  Drill,  the  Erie  Clays,  the  Forest  Bed,  the  Ice- 
berg Drift  and  the  Terraces  or  Beaches,  which 
mark  intervals  of  stability  in  the  gradual  recession 
of  the  water  surface  to  its  present  level. 

''  The  history  we  may  learn  from  these  fonna- 
tions,"  says  the  geologist,  "  is  something  as  fol- 
lows: 

"■  First.  Subsequent  to  the  Tertiary  was  a  period 
of  continual  elevation,  during  which  the  topog- 
raphy of  the  country  was  much  the  .same  as  now, 
the  draining  .streams  following  the  lines  they  now 
do,  but  cutting  down  their  beds  until  they  flowed 
sometimes  two  hundred  feet  lower  than  they  do  at 
present.  In  the  latter  part  of  this  period  of  ele- 
vation,   glaciers,    descending   from    the    Canadian 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


islands,  excavated  and  occupied  the  valleys  of  the 
great  lakes,  and  covered  the  lowlands  down  nearly 
to  the  Ohio. 

"^VcoH(/.  Bj'  a  depression  of  the  land  and  ele- 
vation of  temjHTature.  liie  ulaiicrs  retreated  north- 
ward, leaving,  in  the  iiitirior  of  the  continent,  a 
great  hasin  of  fresh  water,  in  which  the  Erie  clays 
were  <le)iosited. 

^•Tliird.  This  water  was  drained  away  until  a 
broad  land  surface  was  exposed  within  the  drill 
area.  Upon  this  surface  grew  forests,  largelj-  of 
red  and  white  cedar,  inhabited  by  the  elephant, 
ma.stodon,  giaut  beaver  and  other  large,  now  ex- 
tinct, animals. 

"■Fdurtli.  The  submergence  of  this  ancient  land 
and  the  spreading  over  it,  by  iceberg  agency,  of 
gravel,  s;ind  and  bowlders,  distributed  just  as  ice- 
bergs now  spread  their  luads  broadcast  over  the 
sea  bottom  on  the  banks  of  Newfoundland. 

"/'V/?/i.  The  gradual  draining-oft'  of  the  watere, 
leaving  the  land  now  as  we  find  it,  smoothly  cov- 
ered with  ;dl  the  layers  of  the  drift,  and  well  j)re- 
pared  for  human  occupation." 

"  In  six  da\s,  the  Jjord  made  the  heavens  and 
the  earth,  and  rested  the  seventh  day,"  records  the 
Scriptures,  and,  when  all  was  done.  He  looked 
upon  the  work  of  His  own  hands  and  pronounced 
it ''good."  Surely  none  but  a  divine,  omnipotent 
hand  ^ould  have  done  all  this,  and  none  can  study 
the  "  work  of  His  hands"  and  not  marvel  at  its 
completeness. 

The  ancient  dwellers  of  the  3Ii.ssi.ssippi  Valley 
will  always  be  a  subject  of  great  interest  to  the 
antiquarian.  Who  they  were,  and  whence  they 
came,  are  still  unanswered  (iue.«tions,  and  may 
remain  so  for  ages.  All  over  this  valley,  ancl, 
in  fact,  in  all  parts  of  the  New  World,  evidences 
of  an  ancient  civilization  exLst,  whose  remains  arc 
now  a  wonder  to  all.  The  aboriginal  races  could 
tlirow  no  light  on  these  f|uestions.  They  had 
always  seen  the  remains,  and  knew  not  whence 
the}'  came.  Explorations  aid  but  little  in  the  solu- 
tion of  the  problem,  and  only  conjecture  can  be 
ent<'rtained.  The  remains  found  in  Ohio  e<|ual 
any  in  the  Vallcj'.  Indeed,  some  of  them  are  vast 
in  extent,  and  consist  of  forts,  fortifications,  moats, 
ditches,  elevations  and  mounds,  embracing  many 
acres  in  extent. 

"It  is  not  }-et  determined,"  says  CcjI.  Charles 
Whittlese}',  "whether  we  have  discovered  the  first 
or  the  original  peojde  who  occupied  the  soil  of 
Ohio.  Modern  investigations  are  bringing  to  light 
evidences  of  earlier  races.     Since  the  presence  of 


man  has  been  established  in  Europe  as  a  cotempor- 
ary  of  the  fossil  elephant,  mastodon,  rhinoceros 
and  the  horse,  of  the  later  drift  or  glacial  period, 
we  may  reasonably  anticij)ate  the  presence  of  man 
in  America  in  that  era.  Such  proofs  are  already 
known,  but  the}'  are  not  of  that  conclusive  charac- 
ter which  amounts  to  a  demonstration.  It  is,  how- 
ever, known  that  an  ancient  people  inhabited  Ohio 
in  advancre  of  the  red  nu-n  who  were  found  here, 
three  centuries  since,  by  the  Spanish  and  French 
exj)lorers. 

"  Five  and  six  hundred  years  before  the  arrival 
of  Columbus,"  says  Col.  Charles  Whittle.'sey,  "the 
Northmen  sailed  from  Norway,  Iceland  and  Green- 
land along  the  .Vtlantic  coast  as  far  as  Long  Island. 
They  found  Indian  tribes,  in  what  is  now  New  En- 
gland, closely  rcscnnbling  tho.se  who  lived  upon  the 
coa.st  and  the  St.  Lawrence  when  the  French  and 
Engli.sh  came  to  [lossess  these  regions. 

"  These  red  Indians  had  no  traditions  of  a  prior 
people ;  but  over  a  large  part  of  the  lake  country 
and  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi,  earth-works, 
mounds,  pyramids,  ditehes  and  forts  were  discov- 
ered— the  work  of  a  more  ancient  race,  and  a  peo- 
ple fir  in  advance  of  the  Indian.  If  they  were 
not  civilized,  they  were  not  barbarians.  They 
were  not  mere  hunters,  but  had  fixed  habitations, 
cultivated  the  soil  and  were  possessed  of  consider- 
able mechanical  skill.  We  know  them  as  the 
Mottiu!  Btii/i/i'fs,  b(!cause  they  erected  over  the 
mortal  remains  of  their  ]irimipal  men  and  women 
memorial  mounds  of  earth  or  unhewn  stone — of 
which  hundrcKls  remain  to  our  own  day,  so  liU'ge 
and  higii  that  they  give  rise  to  an  impression  of 
the  numbers  and  energy  of  their  builders,  such  as 
we  receive  from  the  pyramids  of  f]gypt." 

Might  they  not  have  been  of  the  same  race  and 
the  Simie  civilization  ?  Many  competent  authori- 
ties conjecture  they  are  the  work  of  the  lost  tribes 
of  I.srael ;  but  the  best  they  or  any  one  can  do  is 
onlj'  conjecture. 

"  In  the  burial-mounds,"  continues  Col.  Whit- 
tlesey, "  there  are  always  jiortions  of  one  or  more 
human  skeletons,  generally  partly  consumed  by 
fire,  with  ornaments  of  stone,  bone,  .«hells,  mica 
and  copper.  The  largest  m<uind  in  Ohio  is  near 
Miamisburg,  Montgomery  County.  It  is  the 
•second  largest  in  the  West,  being  nearly  seventy 
feet  high,  originally,  and  about  eight  hundred  feet 
in  circumference.  This  would  give  a  superficial 
area  of  nearl}' four  acres.  In  1SG4,  the  citizens 
of  Miamisburg  sunk  a  shaft  from  the  summit  to 
the    naturtil    surface,    without    finding  the    bones 


IG 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


or  aslies  of  the  groat  man  for  'wlimu  it  was 
intended.  The  exjiioration  has  considerably 
lowered  the  molind,  it  being  now  about  sixty  feet 
in  height. 

"  Fort  Ancient,  on  the  Little  Miami,  is  a  good 
specimen  of  the  military  defenses  of  the  Mouud- 
Builders.  It  is  well  located  on  a  long,  high,  nar- 
row, precipitous  ridge.  The  parapets  ai-e  now 
from  ten  to  eighteen  feet  high,  and  its  perimeter 
is  sufficient  to  hold  twenty  thousand  fighting  men. 
Another  prominent  example  of  their  works  exists 
neat'  Newark,  Licking  County.  This  collection 
presents  a  great  variety  of  figures,  circles,  rectan- 
gles, octagons  and  parallel  banks,  or  highways, 
covering  more  than  a  thousand  acres.  The  county 
fiiir-ground  is  permanently  located  within  an 
ancient  circle,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  diameter, 
with  an  embankment  and  interior  ditch.  Its  high- 
est place  was  over  twenty  feet  from  the  top  of  the 
moat  to  the  bottom  of  the  ditch." 

One  of  the  most  curious-shaped  works  in  this 
county  is  known  as  the  "Alligator,"  from  its  sup- 
jiosed  resemblance  to  that  creature.  When  meas- 
ured, several  years  ago,  while  in  a  good  state  of 
])reservation,  its  dimensions  were  two  hundred 
and  ten  feet  in  length,  average  width  over  sixty 
feet,  and  height,  at  the  highest  point,  seven  feet. 
It  appears  to  be  mainly  composed  of  clay,  and  is 
overgrown  with  grass. 

iSpeaking  of  tlie  writing  of  these  people.  Col. 
Wliittlfsey  says  :  ''  There  is  no  evidence  that  they 
had  al]ihabetical  characters,  picture-writing  or 
hieroglyphics,  though  they  must  have  had  some 
mode  of  recording  events.  Neither  is  there  any  proof 
that  they  u.sed  domestic  animals  for  tilliui;'  the  soil, 
or  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  the  im]i(ising  earth- 
works they  have  left.  A  very  coarse  cloth  of 
hemp,  flax  or  nettles  lias  been  found  on  their 
burial-hearths  and  around  skeletons  not  consumed 
by  fire. 

"  The  most  extensive  earthworks  occupy  many 
of  the  sites  of  modern  towns,  and  are  always  in 
the  vicinity  of  excellent  land.  Those  about  the 
lakes  are  generally  irregular  earth  forts,  while 
those  about  the  rivers  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
State  are  generally  altars,  pyraniiils,  circles,  cones 
and  rectangles  of  earth,  among  which  ibrtresses  or 
strongholds  are  exceptions. 

"  Those  on  the  north  may  not  have  been  cotem- 
porary  or  have  been  built  by  the  same  peojile. 
1'hey  are  far  less  prominent  or  extensive,  which 
indicates  a  people  less  in  numbers  as  well  as  indus- 
try, and  whose  principal  occupationwas  war  among 


themselves  or  against  their  neighbors.  This  style 
of  works  extends  eastward  along  the  south  shore 
of  Lake  Ontario,  through  New  York.  In  C)hio, 
there  is  a  space  along  the  water-shed,  between  the 
lake  and  the  Ohio,  where  there  are  few,  if  any, 
ancient  earthworks.  It  ajjjiears  to  have  been  a 
vacant  or  neutral  ground  between  different  nations. 

"  The  Indians  of  the  North,  dressed  in  skins, 
cultivated  the  soil  very  sparingly,  and  manufactured 
no  woven  cloth.  On  Lake  Superior,  there  are 
ancient  copper  mines  wrought  by  the  Mound- 
Builders  over  fifteen  liundred  years  ago."  Copper 
tools  are  occasionally  found  tempered  sufScicntly 
hard  to  cut  the  hardest  rocks.  No  knowledge  of 
such  temperiug  exists  now.  The  Indians  can  give 
no  more  knowledge  of  the  ancient  mines  than  they 
can  of  the  mounds  on  the  river  bottoms. 

"  The  Indians  did  not  occupy  the  ancient  earth- 
works, nor  did  they  construct  such.  Thoj  were 
found  as  they  are  now — a  hunter  race,  wholly 
averse  to  labor.  Their  abodes  were  in  rock  shel- 
ters, in  caves,  or  in  temporary  sheds  of  bark  and 
boughs,  or  skins,  easily  moved  from  place  to  place. 
Like  most  savage  races,  their  habits  are  unchange- 
able ;  at  least,  the  example  of  white  men,  and 
their  efforts  during  throe  centuries,  have  made 
little,  if  any,  imjire.ssion." 

When  white  men  came  to  the  territory  now  em- 
braced in  the  State  of  Ohio,  they  found  dwelling 
here  the  Irocpiois,  Delawares,  Shawanees,  JFiamis, 
AVyandots  and  Ottawas.  Each  nation  was  com- 
posed of  several  tri!)es  or  clans,  and  each  was 
often  at  war  with  the  others.  The  first  mentioned 
of  these  occupied  that  part  of  the  State  whose 
northern  l)oundarv  was  Lake  Erie,  as  far  west  as 
the  mouth  of  the  Cuyahoga  Iiivor,  wln-ro  the  city 
of  Cleveland  now  is;  thence  the  lioundary  turned 
southward  in  an  in-egular  line,  until  it  touched  the 
Ohio  River,  up  which  stream  it  continued  to  the 
Pennsylvania  State  line,  and  thence  northward  to 
the  lake.  This  nation  were  the  implai-able  I'o.'s  of 
the  French,  owing  to  the  fact  that  Champlain,  in 
1  GOO,  made  war  against  them.  They  occupied  a 
large  part  of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  and 
w.n'e  the  most  insatiate  C(.>n  pun'ors  among  the 
aborigines.  When  the  French  first  came  to  the 
lakes,  these  monsters  of  the  wilderness  were  engaged 
in  a  war  against  their  neighbors,  a  war  that  ended 
in  their  conquering  them,  possessing  their  terri- 
tory, and  absorbing  the  remnants  of  the  tribes  into 
their  own  nation.  At  the  date  of  Champlain's 
visit,  the  southern  shore  of  Lake  Erie  was  oceujiicd 
by  the  Erics,  or,  as  the  orthography  of  the  word  is 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


17 


sometimes  given,  Erigos,  or  Errieuous.*  About 
forty  years  atterward,  the  Iroquois  (Five  Nations) 
fell  upon  them  with  sueli  fury  and  in  such  force 
that  the  nation  \v;ls  annihilated.  Those  who 
escaped  tlie  slaughter  were  absorbed  among  their 
coni(uerors,  but  allowed  to  live  on  their  own  lands, 
paying  a  sort  of  tribute  to  the  Iroipiois.  This  was 
the  policy  of  that  nation  in  all  its  conquests.  A 
few  years  after  the  concjuest  of  the  Eries,  the 
Iroquois  again  took  to  the  war-path,  and  swept 
through  Ohio,  Indiana  and  Illinois,  even  attacking 
the  Mississi]i])i  tribes.  But  for  the  intervention 
and  aid  of  the  I'rench,  these  tribes  would  have 
shared  the  fate  of  the  llurons  anil  Eries.  Until 
the  year  ITIMt,  the  Iro(|Uois  held  the  south  shore 
of  Lake  Eric  so  firmly  that  the  French  dared  not 
trade  or  travel  along  that  si(l(!  of  the  lake.  Their 
missionaries  and  traders  penetrated  this  part  of 
Ohio  as  early  as  1G50,  but  generally  suffered 
death  for  their  zeal. 

Having  completed  the  conquest  of  the  Hurons 
or  Wyandot.s,  about  Lake  Huron,  and  murdered 
the  Jesuit  missionaries  by  modes  of  torture  which 
only  they  could  devise,  they  permitted  the  residue 
(if  the  Hurons  to  settle  around  the  west  end  of 
Lake  Erie.  Here,  with  the  ( )ttawas,  they  resided 
when  the  whites  came  to  the  State.  Their  country 
was  bounded  on  the  south  by  a  line  running 
through  the  central  part  of  Wayne,  Ashland, 
Richland,  Cra^'ford  and  Wyandot  Counties.  At 
the  western  boundary  of  this  county,  the  line  di- 
verged northwesterly,  leaving  the  State  near  the 
northwest  corner  of  Fulton  County.  Their  north- 
ern boundary  was  the  lake ;  the  eastern,  the  Iro- 
quois. 

The  Delawares,  or  "  Lcnni  Lenapcs,"  whom  the 
Iroquois  had  subjugated  on  thcSus(|uehanna,  were 
a.ssigned  by  their  conquerors  hunting-grounds  on 
the  ^luskingum.  Their  (^astern  boundary  was  the 
country  of  the  Iroquois  (before  defined),  and  their 
northern,  that  of  the  Hurons.     On  the  west,  they 


•  Father  Louis  Hennepin,  in  bia  work  published  in  1684,  thus 
alluilcs  to  the  Eri.8:  'These  good  fathers,"  referring  to  the 
priests,  "  were  great  friends  of  the  llurons,  who  told  them  tlmt  the 
Iroquois  went  to  war  beyond  Vircinia,  or  New  Sweden,  near  u  lalte 
whicli  they  called  ^ Erigt,^  or  'Erie*  which  signifieB  '/ft<f  cat'  or 
'  nation  of  the  cat^*  and  because  these  savages  brought  captives  from 
this  ual'on  in  returning  to  tlieir  cantons  along  this  lake,  the 
Hurons  named  it,  in  their  language,  *  Erige.'  or  '  Erike,'  '  the  lake  of 
the  cat*  and  which  our  Canadians,  in  softening  the  word,  have 
called  '  Lake  Erie.'  " 

Charlevoix,  writing  in  1721,  says:  "The  name  it  bears  is  that 
of  an  Indian  nation  of  the  Huron  i  W^yandotl  language,  which  was 
formerly  seated  on  its  banks,  and  who  have  been  entirely  destroyed 
by  the  Iroquois.  Erie,  in  that  language,  signifies  *cat.*  and,  in 
some  ACnuntB,  this  nation  is  called  the  '  cat  nation.'  This  name, 
probably,  comes  from  the  large  numbers  of  that  animal  found  in 
this  region." 


extended  as  far  as  a  line  drawn  from  the  central 
part  of  Uichland  County,  in  a  semi-circular  direc- 
tion, south  to  the  mouth  of  Leading  Creek.  Their 
southern  boundary  was  the  Ohio  Kiver. 

West  of  the  Delawares,  dwelt  the  Shawanees,  a 
troublesome  peoph-  its  neighbors,  whether  to  whites 
or  Indians.  Their  country  was  bounded  on  the 
north  by  the  Hurons,  on  the  east,  by  the  Dela- 
wares ;  on  the  south,  by  the  Ohio  Kiver.  On  the 
west,  their  boundary  was  determined  by  a  line 
drawn  southwesterly,  and  again  southeasterly — 
semi-circular — from  a  point  on  the  .southern 
boundary  of  the  llurons.  near  the  .southwest  corner 
of  Wyandot  County,  till  it  intersected  the  Ohio 
llivcr. 

All  the  remainder  of  the  State — all  its  western 
part  from  the  Ohio  River  to  the  Michigan  line — 
Wiis  occupied  b\'th(^  Miamis,  Mineaniis,  Twigtwees, 
or  Tawixtawes,  a  powerful  nation,  whom  the  Iro- 
quois were  never  fully  able  to  subdue. 

These  nations  occupied  the  State,  partly  by  per- 
mit of  the  Five  Nations,  and  partl\-  by  inheritance, 
and,  though  composed  of  many  tribes,  wen;  about 
all  the  savages  to  be  Ibund  in  this  part  of  the 
Northwest. 

No  sooner  had  the  Americans  obtained  control 
of  this  country,  than  they  began,  by  treaty  and 
purchase,  to  aci|uire  tlie  lands  of  the  natives. 
They  could  not  stem  the  tide  of  emigration  ;  peo- 
ple, then  as  now,  would  go  West,  and  hence  the 
necessity  of  peacefully  and  rightfully  acquiring  the 
land.  "  The  true  basis  of  title  to  Indian  tenitory 
is  the  right  of  civilized  men  to  the  soil  for  pur- 
poses of  cultivation."  The  same  maxim  may  be 
applied  to  all  uncivilized  nations.  When  acquired 
by  such  a  right,  either  by  treaty,  purchase  or  con- 
(|uest,  the  right  to  hold  the  same  rests  with  the 
power  and  development  of  the  nation  thus  po.ssess- 
ing  the  land. 

The  English  derived  title  to  the  territory 
between  the  Alloghanies  and  the  Mississippi  partly 
by  the  claim  that,  in  discovering  the  Atlantic  coast, 
they  had  ])ossessioii  of  the  land  from  "ocean  to 
ocean,"  and  partly  by  the  treaty  of  Paris,  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1763.  Long  before  this  treaty  took  place, 
however,  she  had  granted,  to  individuals  and  colo- 
nies, extensive  tracts  of  land  in  that  part  of  Amer- 
ica, based  on  the  right  of  discovery.  The  Fri'nch 
had  done  better,  and  had  acquired  title  to  the  land 
by  discovering  the  laud  itself  and  by  consent  of 
the  Indians  dwelling  thereon.  The  right  to  pos- 
sess this  country  led  to  the  French  and  Indian 
war,  ending  iu  the  supremacy  of  the  F]nglish. 


18 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


The  Five  Nations  claimed  the  territory  in  cjues- 
tion  by  right  of  conquest,  and,  though  professing 
friendship  to  the  English,  watched  them  with  jeal- 
ous eyes.  In  1684,  and  again  in  172(),  that  con- 
federacy made  cessions  of  lands  to  the  English, 
and  these  treaties  and  cessions  of  lands  were  re- 
garded as  sufficient  title  by  the  English,  and  were 
insisted  on  in  all  subsequent  treaties  with  the 
Western  Nations.  The  following  statements  were 
collected  by  Col.  Charles  Whittlesey,  which 
show  the  principal  treaties  made  with  the  red  men 
wherein  land  in  Ohio  was  ceded  by  them  to  the 
whites : 

In  September,  172G,  the  Iroi|uois,  or  Six  Na- 
tions, at  Albany,  ceded  all  their  claims  west  of 
Lake  Erie  and  sixty  miles  in  width  along  the 
south  shore  of  Lakes  Erie  and  Ontario,  from  the 
Cuyahoga  to  the  Oswego  River. 

in  1744,  this  same  nation  made  a  treaty  at 
Lanca.ster,  Penn.,  and  ceded  to  the  English  all 
their  lands  "that  may  be  within  the  colony  of 
Virginia." 

In  1752,  this  nation  and  other  Western  tribes 
made  a  treaty  at  Logstown,  Penn.,  wherein  they 
eoiifiruKMl  the  liancaster  treaty  and  consented  to 
the  .setlleinciits  snuth  of  the  Ohio  River. 

February  13,  17(i:>,  a  treaty  was  made  at  Paris, 
France,  between  the  French  and  English,  when 
Canada  and  the  eastern  half  of  the  Mississippi 
Valley  were  ceded  to  the  English. 

In  nSo,  all  tlic  tciritory  south  of  the  Lakes, 
and  ea.st  of  the  Mississippi,  was  ceded  by  England 
to  America — the  latter  country  then  obtaining  its 
independence — ^by  which  means  the  country  was 
gained  by  America. 

October  24,  1784,  the  Six  Nations  made  a 
treaty,  at  Fort  Stanwix,  N.  Y.,  with  the  Ameri- 
cans, and  ceded  to  them  all  the  country  claimed 
by  the  tribe,  west  of  Pennsylvania. 

In  178.5,  the  Chippewas,  Delawarcs,  Ottawas, 
and  Wyandots  ceded  to  the  United  States,  at 
Fort  Jlclntosh,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Big  Beaver, 
all  their  claims  cast  and  south  of  the  "  Cayahaga," 
the  Portage  Path,  and  the  Tuscarawas,  to  Fort 
Laurens  '  Biilivar),  thence  to  Loramie's  Fort  (in 
Shrlby  ( 'imnt y  i ;  thence  along  the  Pm-tage  Path  to 
the  St.  .Mary's  River  and  down  it  to  the  "Omee," 
or  Mauniee,  and  along  the  lake  shore  to  the 
"  Cayahaga.' 

January  I:!,  178G,  the  Shawanees,  at  Fort  Fin- 
ney, near  the  mouth  of  the  Great  Miami  (not 
owning  the  land  on  the  Scioto  occupied  by  them), 
were   allotted  a  tract   at    the    heads  of   the  two 


Miamis  and  the  Wabash,  west  of  the  Chippewas, 
Delawares  and  Wyandots. 

February  9,  1789,  the  Iroquois  made  a  treaty 
at  Fort  Harmar,  wherein  they  confiraied  the  Fort 
Stanwix  treaty.  At  the  same  time,  the  Chippewas, 
Ottaw.as,  Delawares,  and  Wyandots — to  which  the 
Sauks  and  Pottawatomies  assented — confirmed  the 
treaty  made  at  Fort  Mcintosh. 

Period  of  war  now  existed  till  1795. 

August  3,  1795,  Gen.  Anthony  Wayne,  on 
behalf  of  the  LTnited  States,  made  a  treaty  with 
twelve  tribes,  confirming  the  boundaries  estab- 
lished by  the  Fort  Harmar  and  Fort  Mcintosh 
treaties,  and  extended  the  boundary  to  Fort  Re- 
covery and  the  mouth  of  the  Kentucky  River. 

In  June,  179(!,  the  Senecas.  represented  by 
Brant,  ceded  to  the  Connecticut  Land  Company 
their  rights  east  of  the  Cuyahoga. 

In  1805,  at  Fort  Indu.stry,  on  the  Maumee,  the 
Wyandots,  Delawares,  Ottawas,  Chipjiewas.Sliawa- 
nees,  Menses,  and  Pottawatomies  relin((uished  all 
their  lands  west  of  the  Cuyahoga,  as  far  west  as 
the  western  line  of  the  Reserve,  and  south  of  the 
line  from  Fort  Laurens  to  Loramie's  Fort. 

July  4,  1807,  the  Ottawas,  Chippewas,  Wyan- 
dots, and  Pottawatomies,  at  Detroit,  ceded  all  that 
part  of  Ohio  north  of  the  Maumee  River,  with 
part  of  Michigan. 

November  25,  1808,  the  same  tribes  with  the 
Shawanees,  at  Brownstown,  Mich.,  granted  the 
Government  a  tract  of  land  two  miles  wide,  from 
the  west  line  of  the  Reserve  to  the  rapids  of  the 
Maumee,  for  the  purpose  of  a  road  through  the 
Black  Swamp. 

September  18,  1815,  at  Springwclls,  near  De- 
ti-oit,  the  Chippewas,  Ottawas.  rnttawatoniies,  Wy- 
andots, ])ela\vares,  Senecas  and  Miamis,  having 
been  engaged  in  the  war  of  1812  on  the  Britisli 
side,  were  confined  in  the  grants  made  at  Fort 
Mcintosh  and  Greenville  in  1785  and  1795. 

September  29,  1817,  at  the  rapids  of  the 
Maumee,  the  Wyandots  ceded  their  lands  west  of 
the  line  of  1805,  as  far  as  Loramie's  and  the  St. 
Mary's  River  and  north  of  the  Maumee.  The 
Pottawatomies.  Chippewas,  and  Ottawas  ceded  the 
territory  west  of  the  Detroit  line  of  1807,  and 
north  of  the  Maumee. 

October  (5,  1818,  the  Miamis,  at  St.  Mary's, 
made  a  treaty  in  which  they  surrendered  the  re- 
maining Indian  tenitory  in  Ohio,  north  of  the 
Greenville  treaty  line  and  west  of  St.  Mary's  River. 

The  numerous  treaties  of  peace  with  the  West- 
ern  Indians  for  the   delivery  of  prisoners  were — 


^- 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


19 


one  by  Gen.  Forbes,  at  Furt  Pu  Quesne  { Pitts- 
burdi ),  in  ITo.S;  one  by  ("ul.  IJiudstrcct,  at  Erie, 
in  Aujrufit.  17t>4;  one  by  (Vil.  Bi)i|ui't,  at  the 
mouth  of"  the  Walhondiiitr,  in  November,  17ti4 ; 
in  May,  171)5,  at  Johnson's,  on  the  Moliawk,  and 
at  I'liiladelphia,  tlie  same  year;  in  1774,  by  Lord 
Dunmore,  at  Camj)  Charlotte,  Pieliaway  County. 
By  tbe  treaty  at  tlic  Maumee  Ila|ii(ls.  in  1S17, 
reservations  were  eonveyed  by  the  United  States 
to  all  the  tribes,  with  a  view  to  induce  thcni  to 
eultivat«  the  soil  and  cease  to  be  hunters.  These 
were,  from  time  to  time,  as  tlie  inipriteticability  of 
the  plan  became  manifest,  pureha.scd  by  the  Gov- 
ernment, the  hi-st  of  these  being  the  Wyandot 
Reserve,  of  twelve  miles  square,  around  Ujtpcr 
Sanilusky,  in  1842,  closing  out  all  claims  and  com- 
posing all  the  Indian  difficulties  in  Ohio.  The 
open  war  had  ce;ised  in  1815,  with  the  treaty  of 
Ghent. 

"  It  is  estimated  that,  from  the  French  war  of 
1754  to  the  battle  of  the  Maumee  Rapids,  in 
1794,  a  period  of  forty  years,  there  had  been  at 
least  5,000  people  killed  or  captured  west  of  the 


Alleghany  Mountains.  Eleven  organized  military 
c.xiii'ditiniis  had  been  carried  on  against  the  West- 
ern Indiaiis  jirior  t/o  the  war  of  1812,  seven  regu- 
lar engag<'ments  fought  and  about  twelve  hundred 
men  killed.  More  whites  were  slain  in  batth;  than 
there  were  In<lian  braves  killed  in  military  e.Npedi- 
tions,  and  liy  jirivate  raids  and  murders;  yet,  in 
ISI 1,  all  the  Ohio  tribes  conibiued  could  not  mus- 
ter 2,<III0  warriors." 

Attempts  to  determine  the  number  of  persons 
comprising  the  Indian  tribes  in  Ohio,  and  their 
location,  have  resulted  in  nothing  better  than 
e.stimates.  It  is  sup])osed  that,  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  Revolution,  there  were  about  six 
thousand  Indians  in  the  present  confines  of  the 
State,  but  their  villages  were  little  more  than 
movable  camps.  Savages  men,  like  savage  beasts, 
are  engaged  in  continual  uiigralioiis.  Now,  none 
are  left.  The  white  man  occupies  the  home  of 
the  red  mau.     Now 

"The  verdant  hills 
Are  covered  o'er  with  growing  grain, 
And  white  men  till  the  soil. 
Where  once  the  red  mau  used  to  reign." 


CHAPTER     II. 


EARLY    EXPLORATIONS    IN    THE    AVEST. 


WHEN  war,  when  ambition,  whin  avarice 
fail,  religion  pushes  onward  and  succeeds. 
In  the  discovery  of  the  New  World,  wherever 
man's  aggrandizement  was  the  paramount  aim, 
failure  was  sure  to  follow.  AVhen  this  gave  way, 
the  followers  of  the  Cross,  whether  Catholic  or 
Protestant,  came  on  the  field,  and  the  result  before 
attempted  .sion  appeared,  though  in  a  different  way 
and  through  different  means  than  thost;  supposed. 
The  first  permanent  efl'orts  of  the  white  race  to 
penetrate  the  Western  wilds  of  the  New  World 
preceded  any  permanent  English  .settlement  north 
of  the  Potomac.  Years  before  the  Pilgrims 
anchored  their  bark  on  the  cheerless  .shores  of  Cape 
Cod,  "the  Ronum  Catholic  Church  had  been  plant- 
ed by  missionaries  from  France  in  the  Eastern 
moiety  of  Maine;  and  LcCaron,  an  ambitious 
Franciscan,  the  companion  of  Champlain,  had  passed 
into  the  hunting-grounds  of  the  Wyandots,  and, 
bound  by  the  vows  of  his  life,  had,  on  foot  or  pad- 
dling a  bark  canoe,  gone  onward,  taking  alms  of  the 
savages   until    he   reached   the    rivers    of    Lake 


Huron."  This  was  in  1015  or  Ifilfi,  and  only 
eight  years  after  Champlain  bad  sailed  up  the  wa- 
ters of  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  on  the  foot  of  a  bold 
cliff  laid  the  foundation  of  the  present  City  of 
Quebec.  From  this  place,  fimnded  to  bold  the 
country,  and  to  perpetuate  the  religion  of  his  King, 
went  forth  thos(-  eniis.saries  of  tbe  ('ross,  whose  zeal 
h;is  been  the  admiration  of  the  world.  The  French 
Colony  in  Canada  was  suppressed  soon  after  its  es- 
tablishment, and  ftir  fivc^  years,  until  1(522,  its  im- 
munities were  enjoyed  by  the  coh)nist.s.  A  grant 
of  New  France,  as  the  country  was  then  known,  Wius 
made  by  Louis  XIII  to  Richelieu,  Chamjilain, 
Razilly  and  others,  who,  immediately  after  the  res- 
toration of'Quebec  by  it,s  English  con(|uerors,  entered 
upon  the  control  and  government  of  their  province. 
Its  limits  embraced  the  whole  baj-in  of  the  St. 
Lawrence  and  of  such  other  rivers  in  New  France 
as  flowed  directly  into  the  sea.  While  aw;iy  to 
the  south  on  the  Gulf  coast,  was  also  included  a 
country  rich  in  foliage  and  claimed  in  virtue  of 
the  unsuccessliil  efforts  of  Coligny. 


i^ 


20 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


Religious  zeal  as  much  aa  eommereial  prosperity 
had  influenced  France  to  obtain  and  retain  the  de- 
pendency of  Canada.  The  commercial  monopoly 
of  a  privileged  company  could  not  foster  a 
colony ;  the  climate  was  too  vigorous  for  agricult- 
ure, and,  at  first  there  was  little  else  except  relig- 
ious enthusiasm  to  give  vitality  to  the  province. 
Chaniplain  had  been  touched  by  the  simplicity  of 
the  Order  of  St.  Francis,  and  had  selected  its  priests 
to  aid  him  in  his  work.  But  another  order,  more 
in  favor  at  the  Court,  was  interested,  and  succeed- 
ed in  excluding  the  mendicant  order  from  the  New 
World,  established  themselves  in  the  now  domain 
and,  by  thus  enlarging  the  borders  of  the  French 
King,  it  became  entrusted  to  the  Jesuits. 

This  "Society  of  Jesus,"  founded  by  Loyola 
when  Calvin's  Institutes  first  saw  the  light,  saw  an 
unequaled  opportunity  in  tlie  conversion  of  the 
heathen  in  the  Western  wilds;  and,  as  its  mem- 
bers, pledged  to  obtain  power  only  by  influence  of 
mind  over  mind,  sought  the  honors  of  opening  the 
way,  there  w;is  no  lack  of  men  ready  for  the  work 
Through  them,  the  motive  power  in  opening  the 
wilds  of  the  Northwest  was  religion.  "  Religious 
enthusiasm,"  says  Bancroft,  "colonized  New  Eng- 
land, and  religious  enthusiasm  founded  Montreal, 
made  a  conquast  of  the  wilderness  about  the  upper 
lakes,  and  explored  the  Mississippi." 

Through  these  priests — ^increascd  in  a  few  years 
to  fifteen  —  a  way  was  made  across  the  West  from 
Quebec,  above  the  regions  of  the  lakes,  below 
which  they  dared  not  go  for  the  relentless  Mohawks. 
To  the  northwest  of  Toronto,  near  the  Lake  Iro- 
quois, a  bay  of  Lake  Huron,  in  September,  1634, 
they  raised  the  first  humble  house  of  the  Society  of 
Jesus  among  the  Ilurons.  Through  them  they 
learned  of  the  gi'eat  lakes  beyond,  and  resolved 
one  day  to  explore  them  and  carr^'  the  Gospel  of 
peace  to  the  heathen  on  their  shores.  Before  this 
could  be  done,  many  of  them  were  called  upon  to 
give  up  their  lives  at  the  martyr's  stake  and  re- 
ceive a  martyr's  crown.  But  one  by  one  they 
went  on  in  their  good  work.  If  one  fell  by  hun- 
ger, cold,  cruelty,  or  a  terrible  death,  others  stood 
ready,  and  carrying  their  lives  in  their  hands, 
established  other  missions  about  the  eastern  shores 
of  Lake  Huron  and  its  adjacent  waters.  The 
Five  Nations  were  for  many  years  hostile  toward 
the  French  and  murdered  them  and  their  red 
allies  whenever  opportunity  presented.  For  a 
quarter  of  century,  they  retarded  the  advance  of 
the  missionaries,  and  then  only  after  wearied  with 
a  Vmg  struggle,  in  which   they  began  to  see  their 


power  declining,  did  they  relinquish  their  warlike 
propensities,  and  allow  the  Jesuits  entrance  to  their 
country.  Wiiile  this  was  going  on,  the  traders 
and  Jesuits  had  penetrated  farther  and  farther 
westward,  until,  when  peace  was  declared,  they 
had  seen  the  southwestern  shores  of  Lake  Superior 
and  the  northern  shores  of  Lake  Blichigan,  called 
by  them  Lake  Illinois.*  In  August,  1654,  two 
young  adventurers  penetrated  the  wilds  bordei'ing 
on  these  western  lakes  in  company  with  a  band  of 
Ottawas.  Returning,  they  tell  of  the  wonderful 
country  they  have  seen,  of  its  vast  forests,  its 
abundance  of  game,  its  mines  of  copper,  and  ex- 
cite in  their  comrades  a  desire  to  see  and  explore 
such  a  country.  They  tell  of  a  vast  expanse  of 
land  before  them,  of  the  powerful  Indian  tribes 
dwelling  thoi'e,  and  of  their  anxiety  to  become  an- 
nexed to  the  Frenchman,  of  whom  they  have 
hoard.  The  reque.st  is  at  once  granted.  Two 
missionaries,  Gabriel  Dreuillettes  and  Leonard 
Gareau,  were  selected  as  envoys,  but  on  their  way 
the  fleet,  propelled  by  tawny  rowers,  is  met  by  a 
wandering  band  of  Mohawks  and  by  them  is  dis- 
persed. Not  daunted,  others  stood  ready  to  go. 
The  lot  fell  to  Rene  Jlesnard.  He  is  charged  to 
visit  the  wilderness,  select  a  suitable  place  for  a 
dwelling,  and  found  a  mission.  With  only  a  short 
warning  he  is  ready,  "trusting,"  he  says,  "in  the 
Providence  which  feeds  the  little  birds  of  the 
desert  and  clothes  the  wild  flowers  of  the  forest." 
In  October,  1660,  he  reached  a  bay,  which  ho 
called  St.  Theresa,  on  the  south  shore  of  Lak  ■ 
Superior.  After  a  residence  of  eight  months,  he 
yielded  to  the  invitation  of  the  Hurons  who  had 
taken  refuge  on  the  Island  of  St.  IMichael,  and 
bidding  adieu  to  his  neophytes  and  the  French,  lie 
departed.  While  on  the  way  to  the  Bay  of  Che- 
goi-me-gon,  probably  at  a  portage,  he  became 
separated  from  his  companion  and  was  never  after- 
ward heard  of  Long  after,  his  cassock  and  his 
breviary  wore  kept  as  amulets  among  the  Sioux. 
Difliculties  now  arose  in  the  management  of  the 
colony,  and  for  awhile  it  was  on  the  verge  of  dis- 
solution. The  King  sent  a  regiment  under  com- 
mand of  the  aged  Tracy,  as  a  safeguard  against 
the  Iroquois,  now  proving  themselves  enemies  to 

*Mr.  C.  W.  Butterfield,  author  of  CrawforcCs  Campaign,  and 
good  authority,  sjivs:  "John  Nicholet,  a  Frenchman,  Ipft  Qnt'bcc 
and  Three  Rivers  in  the  snnimer  of  1634,  and  visite.l  the  Hnriins  on 
Georgian  Bay,  the  Ciiippewaa  at  tlie  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  and  the  Win- 
nebagoes  in  Wisronsin,  returning  to  Quebec  in  ihe  summer  of  lfj35 
Thia  was  the  first  white  mwn  to  see  any  part  of  the  Nortliwest 
Territory.  In  1641,  two  Jesuit  priests  were  at  the  Sault  Ste.  Marie 
for  a  brief  time.  Then  two  Frencli  traders  reached  Lake  Superior, 
and  after  them  came  that  tide  of  emigration  on  which  the  French 
based  Ihelr  claim  lo  the  country." 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


the  French.  Acfoinp:in3'ing  him  were  Coureelles, 
!is  Governor,  and  M.  Taloii,  who  sub.se(|uontIy  fijr- 
iire-s  in  Northwe-stern  lii.story.  By  I  tiU.j,  affairs 
were  settled  and  n.'W  attempts  to  found  a  mission 
amon_ij  tlie  laiie  tribes  were  projected. 

"With  better  liopes  —  undismayed  by  the  sad 
fate  of  tlieir  predeees.scirs''  in  Aujrnst.  Claude 
Allouez  embarked  on  a  mission  by  way  of  Ottawa 
to  the  Far  West.  Early  in  Septc^mber  he  reached 
the  rapids  through  which  rush  the  waters  of  the 
lakes  to  Huron.  Sailing  by  lolty  sculptured  rocks 
and  over  watei^s  of  crystal  purity,  he  reached  the 
Chippewa  village  j ust  ;us  the  young  warriors  were 
bent  on  organizing  a  war  cxjiedition  against  the 
Sioux.  Commanding  peace  in  the  name  of  his 
King,  he  called  a  council  and  offered  the  commerce 
and  protection  of  his  nation.  He  was  obeyed,  and 
soiin  a  chapel  arose  on  the  shore  of  the  bay,  to 
which  admiring  crowds  from  the  south  and  west 
gathered  to  listen  to  the  story  of  the  Cro.ss. 

The  scattered  Hurons  and  Ottawits  north  of 
Lake  Superior;  the  Pottawatomiesfrom  Lake  Mich- 
igan; the  Sacs  and  Foxes  from  the  Far  W^est ;  the 
Illinois  from  the  prairies,  all  came  to  hear  him,  and 
all  besought  him  to  go  with  them.  To  the  last 
nation  .\llouez  desired  logo.  They  told  him  of  a 
"  great  river  that  flowed  to  the  sea,  "and  of 'Hheir 
Vitst  prairies,  where  herds  of  buffalo,  deer  and 
other  animals  grazed  on  the  tall  gra.ss.''  ''Their 
country,"  said  the  missionary,  "is  the  best  field 
for  the  Grospel.  Had  I  had  leisure,  I  would  have 
gone  to  their  dwellings  to  see  with  my  own  ej'es 
all  the  good  that  was  told  me  of  them." 

He  remained  two  years,  teaching  the  natives, 
studying  their  language  and  habits,  and  then 
returned  to  Quebec.  Such  wa.s  the  account  that 
he  gave,  that  in  two  days  he  was  joined  by 
Louis  \i(,hoIas  and  was  on  his  way  back  to  liis 
mission. 

Peace  being  now  established,  more  missionaries 
came  from  France.  Among  them  were  Claude 
Hablon  and  Jaci|Ues  Marquette,  both  of  whom 
went  on  to  the  nii.^^sion  among  the  Cliippewas  at  the 
Sault.  They  reached  there  in  l(j()8  and  found 
Alhrnez  bu.sy.  The  mission  w:i.s  now  a  reality  and 
given  the  name  of  St.  Mary.  It  is  often  written 
"  Sault  Ste.  :Marie,"  after  the  French  method,  and 
is  the  oldest  .settlement  by  white  men  in  the  bounds 
of  the  Northwest  Tepritory.  It  ha.s  been  founded 
over  two  hundred  years.  Here  on  the  inhospitable 
northern  shores,  hundreds  of  miles  away  from 
friends,  did  this  triumvirate  employ  themselves  in 
extending  their  relisjion  and  the  influence  of  their 


King.  Traveling  the  .shores  of  the  great  lakes 
near  them,  they  pa.ss  down  the  western  bank  of 
Lake  Michigan  lus  far  as  Green  Bay,  along  the 
southern  shore  of  Lake  Superior  to  it.s  western  ex- 
tremity, everywhere  preaching  the  story  of  Jesus. 
'■  Though  sufrering  be  their  lot  and  martyrdom 
their  crown,"  they  went  on,  only  conscious  that 
they  were  laboring  for  their  Master  aud  would,  in 
the  end,  win  the  crown. 

The  great  river  away  to  the  West  of  which  they 
heard  .so  much  was  yet  unknown  to  them.  To  ex- 
jilore  it,  to  visit  the  tribes  on  its  banks  and  preach 
to  them  the(jo.spcl  aud  .secure  their  trade,  became 
the  aim  of  Marquette,  who  originated  the  idea  of 
its  discovery.  While  engaged  at  the  mission  at  the 
Sault,  he  resolved  to  attempt  it  in  the  autumn  of 
KiliO.  Delay,  however,  intervened  —  for  Allouez 
had  exchanged  the  mission  at  Che-goi-me-gon  for 
one  at  Green  Bay,  whither  Manpette  was  .sent. 
While  here  he  employed  a  young  Illinois  Indian 
to  teach  him  the  language  of  tiiat  nation,  and  there- 
by prepare  himself  for  the  enterprise. 

Continued  commerce!  with  the  Western  Indians 
gave  protection  and  coniirmed  their  attachment. 
Talon,  the  intendaut  of  the  colony  of  New  France, 
to  further  spread  its  power  and  to  learn  more  of  the 
country  and  its  inhabitants,  convened  a  congress 
of  the  Indians  at  the  Falls  of  St.  Mary,  to  which 
he  sent  St.  Ln.sscm  on  his  behalf  Js'ichoUui  Perrot 
sent  invitations  in  every  direction  for  more  than  a 
hundred  leagues  roundabout,  and  fourteen  luitions, 
among  them  Sacs,  Foxes  and  Miamis,  agreed  to  be 
present  by  tlieir  embiussadors. 

The  congress  met  on  the  fourth  day  of  June, 
1(571.  St.  Lus.son,  through  Allouez,  his  interpre- 
ter, announced  to  the  itssembled  natives  that  they, 
and  through  them  their  nations,  were  j)laced  under 
the  protection  of  the  French  King,  and  to  him 
were  their  furs  and  peltries  to  be  traded.  A  cross 
of  cedar  was  raised,  and  amidst  the  groves  of  ma- 
ple and  of  pine,  of  elm  and  hendoek  that  are  so 
strangely  intermingled  on  the  banks  of  the  St. 
]\Iary,  the  whole  company  of  the  French,  bowing 
before  the  emblem  of  man's  redemption,  chanted  to 
its  glory  a  hymn  of  the  seventh  century-: 

"The  banners  of  licaven's  King  advance; 
The  mysteries  uf  llie  Cross  shines  forth."* 

A  cedar  column  w:vs  planted  by  the  cross  and 
marked  with  the  lilies  of  the  Bourbon.s.  The 
power  of  France,  thus  uplifted  in  the  West  of 
which  Ohio  is  now  a  part,  was.  however,  not  destined 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


to  endure,  and  the  ambition  of  its  iiKniaixhs  was 
to  litive  only  a  partial  fulfillment. 

The  same  year  that  the  congress  was  held,  Mar- 
quette lunl  founded  a  mission  among  the  Hurons 
at  Point  St.  Ignace,  on  the  continent  north  of  the 
peninsula  of  Michigan.  Although  the  climate 
was  severe,  and  vegetation  scarce,yct  fish  abounded, 
and  at  this  establishment,  long  maintained  as  a 
key  to  further  explorations,  prayer  and  praise  were 
heard  daily  for  many  years.  Here,  also,  Marquette 
gaiiK-d  a  footing  among  the  founders  of  Michigan. 
While  he  was  doing  this,  Allouez  and  Dablon  were 
exploring  countries  south  and  west,  going  as  far  as 
the  Mascoutins  and  Kickapoos  on  the  Jlilwaukee, 
and  the  iMiamis  at  the  head  of  Lake  ^lichigan. 
Allouei!  continued  even  a,s  far  as  the  Sacs  and  Foxes 
on  the  river  which  bears  their  name. 

The  discovery  of  the  Mississippi,  heightened  by 
these  explorations,  was  now  at  hand.  The  enter- 
prise, projected  by  Marquette,  was  received  with 
favor  by  M.  Talon,  who  desired  thus  to  perpetuate 
his  rule  in  New  France,  now  drawing  to  a  close. 
He  was  joined  by  Joliet,  of  Quebec,  an  emissary 
of  his  King,  commissioned  by  royal  magnate  to 
take  possession  of  the  country  in  the  name  of  the 
French.  Of  him  but  little  else  is  known.  This 
one  excursion,  however,  gives  him  inuuortality, 
and  as  long  as  time  shall  last  his  name  and  that  of 
Marquette  will  endure.  When  Mar([uette  made 
kiKiwn  his  intention  to  the  Pottawatomies,  they 
were  filled  with  wonder,  and  endeavored  to  dis- 
suade him  from  his  purpose.  "Tho.se  distant  na- 
tions," said  they,  "  never  spare  the  strangers;  the 
Great  River  abounds  in  monsters,  ready  to  swal- 
low both  men  and  canoes;  there  are  great  cataracts 
and  rapids,  over  which  you  will  be  dashed  to 
pieces;  the  excessive  heats  will  cause  your  death." 
"I  shidl  gladly  lay  down  my  life  for  the  salvation 
of  souls,"  reiilicd  the  good  man;  and  the  docile 
nation  joined  him. 

On  the  9th  day  of  June,  1(!7.^,  they  reached 
the  village  on  Fox  River,  where  were  Kickapoos, 
Jlascoutins  and  Miamis  dwelling  together  on  an 
expanse  of  lovely  prairie,  dotted  here  and  thereby 
groves  of  magnificent  trees,  and  where  was  a 
cross  garlanded  by  wild  flowers,  and  bows  and  ar- 
rows, and  skins  and  belts,  offerings  to  the  Great 
Manitou.  Allouez  had  been  here  in  one  of  his 
wanderings,  and,  as  was  his  wont,  had  left  this 
emblem  of  his  faith. 

AsscMiibliiig  the  natives,  Marquette  .said,  "  My 
conipaniim  is  an  envoy  of  France  to  discover  new 
countries;  and  I  am  an  embassiidor  from   God   to 


enlighten  them  with  the  Gospel."  Offering  pres- 
ents, he  begged  two  guides  for  the  moiTow.  The 
Indians  answered  courteously,  and  gave  in 
return  a  mat  to  serve  as  a  couch  during  the  long 
voyage. 

Early  irj  the  morning  of  the  next  day,  the  10th 
of  June,  with  all  nature  in  her  brightest  robes, 
these  two  men,  with  five  Frenchmen  and  two  Al- 
gonquin guides,  set  out  on  their  journey.  Lifting 
two  canoes  to  their  shoulders,  they  quickly  cross 
the  narrow  portage  dividing  the  Fox  from  the 
Wiscon.sin  River,  and  prepare  to  embark  on  its 
clear  waters.  "Uttering  a  special  prayer  to  the 
Immaculate  Virgin,  they  leave  the  stream,  that, 
flowing  onward,  could  have  borne  their  greetings 
to  the  castle  of  Quebec.  'The  guides  returned,' 
says  the  gentle  Marquette,  'leaving  us  alone  in 
this  unknown  land,  in  the  hand  of  Providence.' 
France  and  Christianity  stood  alone  in  the  valley 
of  the  Mississip])i.  Embarking  on  the  broad 
Wisconsin,  the  discoverers,  as  they  sailed  west, 
went  solitarily  down  the  stream  between  alternate 
prairies  and  hillsides,  beholding  neither  man  nor 
the  wonled  beasts  of  the  forests;  no  sound  broke 
the  silence  but  the  ripple  of  the  canoe  and  the 
lowing  of  the  buffalo.  In  seven  days,  'they  en- 
tered happily  the  Great  River,  with  a  joy  that 
could  not  be  expressed ; '  and  the  two  birchbark 
canoes,  raising  their  happy  sails  under  .  new  skies 
and  to  unknown  breezes,  floated  down  the  calm 
magnificence  of  the  ocean  stream,  over  the  broad, 
clear  sand-bars,  the  r&sort  of  innumerable  water- 
fowl— gliding  pa,st  islets  that  swelled  from  the 
bosom  of  the  stream,  with  their  tufts  of  massive 
thickets,  and  between  the  wild  plains  of  Illinois 
and  Iowa,  all  garlanded  with  majestic  forests,  or 
checkered  by  island  groves  and  the  open  vastness 
of  the  prairie."* 

Continuing  on  down  the  mighty  stream,  they 
saw  no  signs  of  human  life  until  the  25th  of 
June,  when  they  discovered  a  suuill  foot-path  on  the 
west  bauk  of  the  river,  leading  away  into  the 
prairie.  Leaving  their  companions  in  the  canoes, 
Marquette  and  Joliet  followed  the  jiath,  resolved 
to  brave  a  meeting  alone  with  the  savages.  After 
a  walk  of  six  miles  they  came  in  sight  of  a  village 
on  the  banks  of  a  river,  while  not  far  awaj'  they 
discovered  two  others.  The  river  was  the  "  JIou- 
in-gou-e-na,"  or  Moingona,  'now  corrupted  into 
Bes  Moines.  These  two  men,  the  first  of  their 
race  who  ever  trod  the  soil  west  of    the   Great 


^1 


£>L 


IIISTOKY    OF    OHIO. 


Rivor,  coiiimcnili'il  tliomsi^lves  to  God,  and,  utterinp; 
a  loud  cry,  advanced  to  the  nearest  vilhifre. 
The  Indians  hear,  and  thinking  their  visitors 
ci'lostiall^'inirs,  four  old  men  advance  with  rever- 
ential mien,  and  ofl'er  tlu;  pipe  of  peace.  "  We 
are  Illinois,"  said  they,  and  they  offered  the  calu- 
met. They  had  heard  of  the  Frenchmen,  and 
welcomed  them  to  their  wigwams,  followed  by  the 
devouring  gaze  of  an  astonished  crov.d.  At  a 
great  couneil  held  soon  arter,  Marijuettc  published 
to  them  the  true  God,  their  Author.  He  also 
spoke  of  his  nation  and  of  his  King,  who  had 
chastised  the  Five  Nation.s  and  commanded  peace. 
He  questioned  them  concerning  the  Great  llivcr 
and  it.s  tributaries,  and  the  tribes  dwelling  on  its 
banks.  A  magnificent  feast  was  spread  before 
them,  and  the  conference  continued  several  days. 
At  the  clo.se  of  the  sixth  da}',  the  chieftains  of  the 
tribes,  with  nunu'rous  trains  of  wairiors,  attended 
the  visitors  to  tlu^ir  canoes,  and  .selecting  a  peace- 
pipe,  gayly  caparisoned,  they  hung  the  sacred 
calumet,  emblem  of  peace  to  all  and  a  safeguard 
among  the  nations,  about  the  good  Father's  neck, 
and  bid  the  stran-ers  gund  speed.  "I  did  not 
fear  death,"  \viii.<  M,iii|Mette;  "I  should  have 
esteemed  it  tiie  greati>i  happiness  to  have  died 
for  the  glory  of  God."  On  their  journey,  they 
piussed  the  peqiendicular  rocks,  who.se  sculptured 
sides  showed  them  the  monstei"s  they  .should  meet. 
Farther  down,  they  pa.ss  the  turgid  flood  of  the 
Missouri,  known  to  them  by  it.s  Algonquin  name, 
Pekitanoni.  Resolving  in  his  heart  to  one  day 
explore  its  flood,  Manjuette  rejoiced  in  the  new 
world  it  evidently  could  open  to  him.  A  little 
farther  down,  they  pa.ss  the  bluffs  where  now  Ls  a 
mighty  emporium,  then  silent  as  when  created.  In 
a  little  less  than  forty  leagues,  they  pass  the  clear 
waters  of  the  beautiful  Ohio,  then,  and  long  after- 
ward, known  as  the  Wabitsh.  Its  banks  were  in- 
habited by  numerous  villages  of  the  peaceful 
Shawanees,  who  then  (piailcd  under  the  incursions 
of  the  dreadful  Iroquois.  As  they  go  on  down  the 
mighty  stream,  the  canes  become  thicker,  the  in.sects 
more  fierce,  the  heat  more  intolerable.  The  prairies 
and  their  cool  breezes  vani.sh,  and  forests  of  white- 
wood,  admirable  for  their  viustness  and  height,  crowd 
close  upon  the  pebbly  shore.  It  Ls  observed  that  the 
Chickasaws  have  guns,  and  have  learned  how  to 
use  them.  Near  the  latitude  of  '.i'.]  degrees,  they 
encounter  a  great  village,  whose  inhabitants  pre- 
sent an  inhospitable  and  warlike  frout.  The  pipe 
of  peace  is  held  aloft,  and  instantly  the  savage  foe 
drops    his  arms  and  extends  a  friendly  greeting. 


Remaining  here  till  the  next  day,  they  are  escorted 
for  eight  or  ten  leagues  to  the  village  of  Akansea. 
They  are  now  at  the  limit  of  their  voyage.  The 
Indians  speak  a  dialect  unknown  to  them.  The 
natives  show  furs  and  axes  of  steel,  the  latter  prov- 
ing they  have  traded  with  Europeans.  The  two 
travelers  now  learn  that  the  Father  of  Wa- 
ters went  neither  to  the  Western  sea  nor  to  the 
Horida  coast,  but  straight  south,  and  ccmclude  not 
to  encounter  the  burning  heats  of  a  tropical  clime, 
but  ret\irn  and  find  the  outlet  again.  They 
had  done  enough  now,  and  must  report  their  dis- 
covery. 

On  the  ITth  day  of  July,  167.i,  one  hundred 
anil  thirty-two  ye;irs  after  the  di.sastrous  journey 
of  I)e  Soto,  whi('h  led  to  no  permanent  results, 
Marquette  and  Joliet  left  the  village  of  Akan.sea 
on  their  way  back.  iVt  the  38th  degree,  they  en- 
counter the  waters  of  the  Illinois  wliich  they  had 
before  iiotieed,  and  which  the  natives  told  tlieni 
afforded  a  much  shorter  route  to  the  lakes.  Pad- 
dling up  it.s  limpid  waters,  they  see  a  country  un- 
surpassed in  beauty.  Broad  prairies,  beautiful  up- 
lamls,  luxuriant  groves,  all  miugled  in  excellent 
harmony  :ts  they  ascend  the  river.  Near  the  head 
of  the  river,  they  pause  at  a  great  village  of  the 
Illinois,  and  across  the  river  behold  a  rocky  prom- 
ontory standing  boldly  out  against  the  landscape. 
The  Indians  entreat  the  gentle  missionary  to  re- 
main among  them,  and  teach  them  the  way  of  life. 
He  cannot  do  this,  but  promises  to  return  when  he 
can  and  instruct  them.  The  town  was  on  a  plain 
near  the  present  village  of  Utica,  in  La  Salle 
County,  111.,  and  the  rock  was  Starved  Rock, 
afterward  noted  in  thi!  annals  of  the  Northwest. 
One  of  the  chief's  and  some  j'oung  men  conduct 
the  party  to  the  Chicago  River,  where  the  present 
mighty  city  is,  from  where,  continuing  their  jour- 
ney along  the  western  shores  of  the  lake,  they 
reach  Green  Bay  early  in  Sejitendjcr. 

The  gnuit  vallej'  of  the  West  was  now  open. 
The  '-Me.ssippi"  rolled  its  mighty  flood  to  a  .south- 
ern sea,  and  must  be  sully  explored.  Marquette's 
health  had  keenly  suffered  by  the  voyage  and  he 
cuncluded  to  remain  here  and  rest.  Joliet  hasterf- 
ed  on  to  Quebec  to  report  his  discoveries.  During 
the  journey,  each  had  preserved  a  description  of 
the  route  they  liad  passed  over,  as  well  as  the 
country  and  its  inhabitants.  While  on  the  way 
to  Q\iebec,  at  thi^  liiot  olthe  rapids  near  Montreal, 
by  some  means  one  of  Joliet's  canoes  became  cap- 
sized, and  by  it  he  lost  liis  box  of  papers  and  two 
of    his    men.     A    greater    calamity    could    have 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


In 


letter    to    Guv. 


liiirilly    liapjienc'J    him. 
Frontenac,  Joliet  says : 

"  I  had  escaped  every  peril  from  the  Indians ;  I 
had  passed  forty-two  rapids,  and  was  on  the  point 
of  di.sembarkinL;,  tiill  of  ji>3' at  the  success  of  so 
luns;  and  difficult  an  enterprise,  when  my  canoe 
capsized  after  all  the  danger  seemed  over.  I  lost 
my  two  men  and  box  of  papers  within  sight  of  the 
French  settlements,  which  I  had  left  almost  two 
years  before.  Nothing  remains  now  to  me  but 
my  life,  and  the  ardent  desire  to  employ  it  in  any 
service  you  may  please  to  direct." 

When  Joliet  made  known  his  discoveries,  a 
Te  Deum  was  chanted  in  tlie  Cathedral  at  Quebec, 
and  all  Canada  was  filled  with  joy.  The  news 
crossed  the  ocean,  and  the  French  saw  in  the  vista 
of  coming  years  a  vast  dependency  arise  in  the  val- 
ley, partially  explored,  which  was  to  extend  her 
domain  and  enrich  her  treasury.  Fearing  En- 
gland might  jirofit  by  the  discovery  and  claim  the 
country,  she  attempted  as  fiir  as  possible  to  prevent 
the  news  from  becoming  general.  Joliet  was  re- 
warded by  the  gift  of  the  Island  of  Anticusti,  in 
the  St.  Lawrence,  while  Marquette,  conscious  of 
his  service  to  his  Master,  was  content  with  the 
salvation  of  souls. 

Jlarquette,  left  at  Green  Bay,  suffered  long  with 
his  malady,  and  was  not  permitted,  until  the  au- 
tumn of  the  following  year  (1674),  to  return  and 
teach  the  Illini;)is  Indians.  With  this  purpose  in 
view,  he  left  Green  Bay  on  the  25th  of  October 
with  two  Frenchmen  and  a  number  of  Illinois  and 
Pottawatomie  Indians  for  the  villages  on  the 
Chicago  and  Illinois  Rivers.  Entering  Lake 
Jlichigan,  they  encountered  adverse  winds  and 
waves  and  were  more  than  a  month  on  the  way. 
Going  some  distance  up  the  Chicago  River,  they 
found  Marquette  too  weak  to  proceed  farther,  liis 
malady  having  assumed  a  violent  form,  and  land- 
ing, they  erected  two  huts  and  prepared  to  pass 
the  winter.  The  good  missionary  taught  the  na- 
tives here  daily,  in  spite  of  his  afflictions,  while 
his  companions  supplied  him  and  themselves  with 
food  by  fishing  and  hunting.  Thus  the  winter 
wore  away,  and  Jlarquotte,  renewing  his  vows,  pre- 
pared to  go  on  to  the  village  at  tlie  foot  of  the 
rooky  citadel,  where  he  had  been  two  years  before. 
On  the  13th  of  March,  1675,  they  left  their  huts 
and,  rowing  on  up  tlie  Chicago  to  the  portage  be- 
tween that  and  the  Desplainos,  embarked  on  their 
way.  Amid  the  incessant  rains  of  spring,  they 
were  rapidly  borne  down  that  stream  to  the  Illi- 
nois, on  whose  rushing   flood  they  floated  to  the 


object  of  their  destination.  At  the  great  town  the 
missionary  wa.s  received  as  a  heavenly  messenger, 
and  as  he  preached  to  them  of  heaven  and  hell, 
of  angels  and  demons,  of  good  and  bad  deeds, 
they  regarded  hiui  as  divine  and  besought  him  to 
remain  among  them.  The  town  then  contained  an 
immense  concourse  of  natives,  drawn  hither  by  the 
reports  they  heard,  and  assembling  them  before  him 
on  the  plain  near  tlieir  village,  where  now  are  pros- 
perous farms,  he  held  before  their  astonished  gaze 
four  large  pictures  of  the  Holy  Virgin,  and  daily 
harangued  them  on  the  duties  of  Christianity  and 
the  necessity  of  conforming  their  conduct  to  the 
words  they  heard.  His  strength  was  fast  declining 
and  warned  him  he  could  not  long  remain.  Find- 
ing he  must  go,  the  Indians  furnished  him  an 
escort  as  far  as  the  lake,  on  whose  turbulent  waters 
he  embarked  with  his  two  faithful  attendants. 
They  turned  their  canoes  for  the  Mackinaw  Blis- 
sion,  which  the  afflicted  missionary  hoped  to  reach 
before  death  came.  As  they  coasted  along  the 
eastern  shores  of  the  lake,  the  vernal  hue  of  May 
began  to  cover  the  hillsides  with  robes  of  green, 
now  dimmed  to  the  eye  of  the  departing  Father,  who 
became  too  weak  to  view  them.  By  the  19th  of 
the  month,  he  could  go  no  farther,  and  requested 
his  men  to  land  and  build  him  a  hut  in  which  he 
might  pass  away.  That  done,  he  gave,  with  great 
composure,  directions  concerning  his  burial,  and 
thanked  God  that  he  was  permitted  to  die  in  the 
wilderness  in  the  midst  of  his  work,  an  unshaken 
believer  in  the  faith  he  had  so  earnestly  preached. 
As  twilight  came  on,  he  told  his  weary  attendants 
to  rest,  promising  that  when  death  should  come  he 
would  call  them.  At  an  early  hour,  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  20th  of  May,  1675,  they  heard  a  feeble 
voice,  and  hastening  to  his  side  found  that  the  gen- 
tle spirit  of  the  good  missionary  had  gone  to  heav- 
en. His  hand  grasped  the  crucifix,  and  his  lips 
bore  as  their  last  sound  the  name  of  the  Virgin. 
They  dug  a  grave  near  the  banks  of  the  stream 
and  Ijuried  him  as  he  had  requested.  There  in  a 
lonely  wilderness  the  peaceful  soul  of  Marquette 
had  at  last  found  a  rest,  and  his  weary  labors  closed. 
His  companions  went  on  to  the  mission,  where 
the  news  of  his  death  caused  great  sorrow,  for  he 
was  one  beloved  by  all. 

Three  years  after  his  burial,  the  Ottawas,  hunting 
in  the  vicinity  of  his  grave,  determined  to  carry 
his  bones  to  the  mission  at  their  homo,  in  accor- 
dance with  an  ancient  custom  of  their  tribe.  Hav- 
ing opened  the  grave,  at  whose  head  a  cross  bad 
been  jilanted,  they  carefully  removed  the  bones  and 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


25 


cliaiiin;j:  tiu'iu,  a  funeral  [irocession  of  thirty  canoes 
Ixjro  tlicm  to  tlio  Maekiuaw  Mission,  singing  tlic 
songs  ho  had  taught  them.  At  the  shores  of  the 
Mission  the  bones  were  received  by  the  priests,  and, 
witli  great  ceremony,  buried  under  the  floor  of  the 
rude  chapel. 

While  -Marquette  and  Jolict  were  exploring  the 
head-waters  of  the  "Great  River,'' another  man, 
fearless  in  purpose,  pious  in  heart,  and  loyal  to 
his  country,  was  living  in  Canada  and  watching 
the  operations  of  his  fellow  countrymen  with 
keen  ej-es.  When  the  French  first  saw  the  in- 
hospitable shores  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  in  1535, 
niiiler  the  lead  of  Jaci|ues  Cartier,  and  had  opened 
a  new  country  to  their  crown,  men  were  not 
lacking  to  furtlier  e.Ktxmdthe  discovery.  In  IGOS, 
Champlain  came,  and  at  the  foot  of  a  cliff  on  that 
river  founded  Quebec.  Seven  years  after,  he 
brought  four  RecnUet  monks;  and  through  thcni 
and  the  Jesuits  the  discoveries  already  narrated 
occurred.  Champlain  died  in  1(535,  one  hundred 
years  after  Cartier"s  first  visit,  but  not  until  he 
had  explored  the  northern  lakes  as  far  as  Lake 
Huron,  on  whose  rocky  shores  he,  as  the  pr<igenitor 
of  a  mighty  race  to  follow,  set  his  feet.  lie,  with 
others,  held  to  the  idea  that  somewhere  across  the 
country,  a  river  highway  extended  to  the  Western 
ocean.  The  reports  from  the  missions  wlu)se 
history  has  l)een  given  aided  this  belief;  and  not 
until  Mar((uette  and  Joliet  returned  was  the  delu- 
sion in  any  way  dispelled.  Before  this  was  done, 
however,  the  man  to  whom  reference  lias  been 
made,  Robert  Cavalier,  better  known  as  La  Salle, 
had  endeavored  to  solve  the  mystery,  and,  while 
living  on  his  grant  of  land  eight  miles  above 
Montreal,had  indeed  effected  iiajiortant  discoveries. 

La  Salle,  the  next  actor  in  the  field  of  explor- 
ation after  Champlain,  was  born  in  1G43.  His 
father's  family  was  among  the  old  and  w'ealthy 
burghers  of  Rouen,  France,  and  its  members 
were  fie(|uently  entrusted  with  important  govern- 
mental ])ositions.  He  early  exhibited  such  traits 
of  character  as  to  mark  him  among  his  associates. 
Coming  from  a  wealthy  family,  he  enjoyed  all  the 
advantages  of  his  day,  and  received,  for  the  times, 
an  excellent  education.  He  was  a  Catholic, 
though  his  subsequent  life  does  not  prove  him 
to  have  been  a  religious  enthu.sia.st.  From  some 
cause,  he  joined  the  Order  of  Loyola,  but  the  cir- 
cumscribed sphere  of  action  set  for  him  in  the 
order  illy  concurred  with  his  independent  dis- 
position, and  led  to  hLs  separation  from  it.  This 
was  effected,  however,  in  a  good  spirit,  a.s  thej' 


considered  him  fit  for  a  different  field  of  action 
than  any  presented  by  the  order.  Having  a 
brother  in  Canada,  a  member  of  the  order  of  St. 
Snlpiee,  he  determined  to  join  him.  By  his 
connection  with  the  Jesuits  he  had  lost  his  share 
of  his  father's  estate,  but,  by  some  means,  on  his 
death,  which  occurred  about  this  time,  he  was 
given  a  small  share;  and  with  this,  in  lOOtJ, 
he  arrived  in  Jloutreal.  All  Canada  was  alive 
with  the  news  of  the  explorations;  and  La 
Salle's  mind,  actively  grasping  the  ideas  he 
afterward  carried  out,  began  to  mature  plans  for 
their  p('rfection.  At  Montreal  he  found  a  semi- 
nary cif  priests  of  the  St.  Sulpice  Order  who  were 
luu-ouraging  settlers  by  grants  of  land  on  easy 
terms,  hoping  to  establish  a  barrier  of  settlements 
between  themselves  and  the  Indians,  made  ene- 
mies to  the  French  by  Champlain's  actions  when 
founding  Quebec.  The  Superior  of  the  seminary, 
U'arning  of  LaSalle's  arrival,  gratuitou.-^ly  nHrnd 
liim  a  grant  of  land  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  eight 
miles  above  Montreal.  The  grant,  though  danger- 
ously near  the  ho.stile  Indians,  was  accepted,  and 
LaSalle  soon  enjoyed  an  excellent  trade  in  furs, 
\Vhile  employed  in  developing  his  claim,  he  learned 
of  the  great  unknown  route,  and  burned  with  a 
desire  to  solve  its  existence.  He  applied  him.self 
clo.sely  to  the  study  of  Indian  dialects,  and  in 
three  years  is  said  to  have  made  great  progress 
in  their  language.  While  on  his  farm  his 
thoughts  ofU;n  turned  to  the  unknown  land  away 
to  the  west,  and,  like  all  men  of  his  day,  lie 
desired  to  explore  the  rout<;  to  the  Western  sea, 
and  thence  obtain  an  easy  trade  with  China  and 
Japan.  The  "  (Ireat  River,  which  flowed  to  the 
sea,"  must,  thought  they,  find  an  outlet  in  the 
(Julf  of  California.  W'hile  musing  on  the.se 
things,  Marquette  and  Joliet  were  preparing  to 
descend  the  Wisconsin;  and  LaSalfe  himself 
learned  from  a  wandering  band  of  Senecas  that  a 
river,  called  the  Ohio,  arose  in  their  country  and 
flowed  to  the  sea,  but  at  such  a  distance  that  it 
W(udd  require  eight  months  to  reach  its  mouth. 
This  nmst  be  the  (3reat  River,  or  a  part  of  it: 
for  all  geographers  of  the  day  cfinsidered  the 
Mi.ssLssippi  and  its  tributary  as  one  stream.  Plac- 
ing great  confidence  on  this  hypothesis,  La  Salle 
repaired  to  Quebec  to  obtain  the  sanction 
of  Gov,  Courcelles.  His  plausible  statements 
soon  W(m  him  the  Governor  and  M,  Talon,  and 
letters  patent  were  issued  granting  tlic  exploration. 
No  pecuniary  aid  was  offered,  and  La  Salle,  hav- 
ing  expended   all   his   means   in    improving    his 


^a 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


estate,  was  ubligeil  to  sell  it  to  procure  the 
necessary  outfit.  The  Superior  of  the  seminary 
being  favorably  disposed  toward  him,  purchased 
the  greater  part  of  his  improvement,  and  realiz- 
ing 2,800  livres,  he  purchased  four  canoes  and  the 
necessary  supplies  for  the  expedition.  The  semi- 
nary was,  at  the  same  time,  preparing  for  a  similar 
exploration.  The  priests  of  this  order,  emulating 
the  Jesuits,  had  establislied  missions  on  the  north- 
ern .shore  of  Lake  Ontario.  Hearing  of  jiopulous 
tribes  still  further  west,  they  resolved  to  attempt 
their  conversion,  and  deputized  two  of  their  number 
for  the  purpose.  On  going  to  Quebec  to  procure 
the  neces.sary  supplies,  they  were  advised  of  La 
Salle's  expedition  down  the  Ohio,  and  resolved  to 
unite  them.selves  with  it.  La  Salle  did  not  alto- 
gether favor  their  attempt,  as  he  believed  the 
Jesuits  already  had  the  field,  and  would  not  care 
to  have  any  aid  from  a  rival  order.  His  dispo- 
sition also  would  not  well  brook  the  part  they 
assumed,  of  asking  him  to  be  a  co-laborer  rather 
than  a  leader.  Howevrr,  the  expeditions,  merged 
into  one  body,  left  the  mission  on  the  St.  Law- 
rence on  the  Gth  of  July,  1GG9,  in  seven  canoes. 
The  party  numbered  twenty-four  persons,  who 
were  accompanied  by  two  canoes  filled  with 
Indians  who  had  visited  La  Salle,  and  who  now 
acted  as  guides.  Their  guides  led  them  up  the 
St.  Lawrence,  over  the  expanse  of  Lake  Ontario, 
to  their  village  on  the  banks  of  the  Genesee, 
where  they  expected  to  find  guides  to  lead  them 
on  to  the  Ohio.  As  La  Salle  only  partially  under- 
stood their  language,  he  was  compelled  to  confer 
with  them  by  means  of  a  Jesuit  stationed  at  the 
village.  The  Indians  refu.sed  to  furnish  him  the 
expected  aid,  and  even  burned  before  his  eyes  a 
prisoner,  the  only  one  who  could  give  him  any 
knowledge  he  desired.  Ho  surmised  the  Jesuits 
were  at  the  bottom  of  the  matter,  fearful  lest  the 
disciples  of  St.  Sulpioe  should  gain  a  foothold  in 
the  West.  He  lingered  here  a  month,  with  the 
hope  of  accoiupli.shing  his  object,  when,  by  chance, 
there  came  by  an  Iroquois  Indian,  who  assured 
them  that  at  his  colony,  near  the  head  of  the  lake, 
they  could  find  guides ;  and  offered  to  conduct 
them  thither.  Coming  along  the  southern  shore 
of  the  lake,  they  jiassed,  at  its  western  extremity, 
the  mouth  of  the  Niagara  River,  where  they  heard 
for  the  fir.st  time  the  thunder  of  the  mighty  cata- 
ract between  the  two  lakes.  At  the  village  of  the 
Ir("|U(iis  they  met  a  friendly  reception,  and  were 
inlornied  by  a  Shawanese  prisoner  that  they  could 
reach   the  Ohio  in  six  weeks'  time,  and  that  he 


would  guide  them  there.  While  preparing  to 
commence  the  journey,  they  heard  of  the  missions 
to  the  northwest,  and  the  priests  resolved  to  go 
there  and  convert  the  natives,  and  find  the  river 
by  that  route.  It  appears  that  Louis  Joliet  met 
them  here,  on  his  return  from  visiting  the  copjier 
mines  of  Lake  Superior,  under  command  of  M. 
Talon.  He  gave  the  priests  a  map  of  the  country, 
and  informed  them  that  the  Indians  of  those 
regions  were  in  great  need  of  spiritual  advisers. 
This  strengthened  their  intention,  though  warned 
by  La  Salle,  that  the  Jesuits  were  undoubtedly 
there.  The  authority  for  Joliet's  visit  to  them 
here  is  not  clearly  given,  and  may  not  be  true, 
but  the  same  letter  which  gives  the  account  of 
the  discovery  of  the  Ohio  at  this  time  by  La  Salle, 
states  it  as  a  fact,  and  it  is  hence  inserted.  The 
missionaries  and  La  Salle  separated,  the  former  to 
find,  as  he  had  predicted,  the  followers  of  Loyola 
already  in  the  field,  and  not  wanting  their  aid. 
Hence  they  return  from  a  ft'uitless  tour. 

La  Salle,  now  left  to  himself  and  just  recovering 
from  a  violent  fever,  went  on  his  journey.  From 
the  paper  from  which  these  statements  are  taken, 
it  appears  he  went  ou  to  OncmJaga,  where  he  pro- 
cured guides  to  a  tributary  of  the  Ohio,  down 
which  he  proceeded  to  the  principal  stream,  on 
whose  bosom  he  continued  his  way  till  he  came  to 
the  falls  at  the  present  city  of  Louisville,  Ky.  It 
has  been  asserted  that  he  went  on  down  to  its 
mouth,  but  that  is  not  well  authenticated  and  is 
hardly  true.  The  statement  that  he  went  as  far  as 
the  falls  is,  doubtless,  correct.  He  states,  in  a  letter 
to  Count  Frontenac  in  1677,  that  he  discovered 
the  Ohio,  and  tliat  he  descended  it  to  the  falls. 
Moreover,  Joliet,  in  a  measure  his  rival,  for  he  was 
now  preparing  to  go  to  the  northern  lakes  and 
from  them  search  the  river,  made  two  maps  rejjre- 
senting  the  lakes  and  the  Mississippi,  on  both  of 
which  he  states  that  La  Salle  had  discovered  the 
Ohio.  Of  its  course  beyond  the  falls.  La  Salle 
does  not  seem  to  have  learned  anything  definite, 
hence  his  discovery  did  not  in  any  way  settle  the 
great  question,  and  elicited  but  little  comment. 
Still,  it  stimulated  La  Salle  to  more  effort,  and 
while  musing  on  his  plans,  Joliet  and  IMarquette 
push  on  from  Green  Bay,  and  discover  the  river 
and  ascertain  the  general  course  of  its  outlet.  On 
Joliet's  return  in  1073,  he  seems  to  drop  from 
further  notice.  Other  and  more  venturesome  souls 
were  ready  to  finish  the  work  begun  by  himself 
and  the  zealous  Marquette,  who,  left  among  the 
far-away  nations,  laid  down  his  life.     The  spirit  of 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


La  Salle  was  equal  to  the  enterprise,  and  as  he  now 
had  returned  from  one  voyage  of  discovery,  he 
stood  ready  to  solve  the  mystery,  and  gain  the 
fountr}'  for  liis  King.  Before  this  could  lie  ac- 
complLshed,  however,  he  saw  other  things  must  be 
done,  and  made  preparations  on  a  scale,  for  the 
time,  truly  marvelous. 

Count  Frouteuac,  the  new  troveruor.  had  no 
sooner  established  himself  in  power  than  he  gave  a 
searching  glance  over  the  new  realm  to  see  if  any 
undeveloped  resources  lay  jet  unnoticed, and  what 
country  j'et  remained  open.  He  learned  from  the 
exploits  of  La  .Salle  on  the  Ohio,  and  from  Joliet, 
now  returned  from  the  West,  of  that  immense 
country,  and  r<,'solving  in  his  mind  on  siuue  plan 
whereby  it  could  be  formally  taken,  entered 
heartily  into  the  plans  of  La  Salle,  who,  anxious  to 
solve  the  mystery  concerning  the  outlet  of  the 
Great  River,  gave  him  the  outline  of  a  ])lan,  saga- 
cious in  its  conception  and  grand  in  its  compre- 
hension. La  Salle  had  also  informed  him  of  the 
endeavors  of  the  KnglLsh  on  the  Atlantic  coa.st  to 
divert  the  trade  with  the  Indians,  and  partly  to 
counteract  this,  were  the  plans  of  La  Salle  adopted. 
They  were,  briefly,  to  build  a  chain  of  forts  fi'om 
Canada,  or  New  France,  along  the  lakes  to  the 
Mississippi,  and  on  down  that  river,  thereby  hold- 
ing the  country  by  power  as  well  as  by  discovery. 
A  fort  was  to  be  built  on  the  Ohio  as  soon  as  the 
means  could  be  obtained,  and  thereby  hold  that 
country  by  the  same  policy.  Thus  to  La  Salle 
alone  may  be  ascribed  the  bold  plan  of  gaining  the 
whole  West,  a  ])lan  ouly  thwarted  by  the  force  of 
arms.  Through  the  aid  of  Frontenac,  he  was 
given  a  proprietary  and  the  rank  of  nobility,  and 
on  his  pro])rietary  was  erected  a  fort,  which  he,  in 
honor  of  his  (lovernor,  called  Fort  Frontenac.  It 
stood  on  the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Kingston, 
Canada.  Through  it  he  obtained  the  trade  of  the 
Five  Nations,  and  his  fortune  was  so  far  assured. 
He  next  repaired  to  France,  to  perfect  his  arrange- 
ments, secure  his  title  and  obtain  means. 

On  his  return  he  built  the  fort  alluded  to,  and 
prepared  to  go  on  in  the  pro.secution  of  his  plan. 
A  civil  discord  arose,  however,  which  for  three 
years  prevailed,  and  seriously  threatened  his 
projects.  As  soon  as  he  could  extricate  himself, 
he  again  repaired  to  France,  receiving  additional 
encouragement  in  money. grants,  and  the  exclusive 
privilege  of  a  trade  in  buffalo  skins,  then  coasid- 
ered  a  source  of  great  wealth.  On  liis  return,  he 
was  accompanied  by  Henry  Tonti,  son  of  an  illus- 
trious Italian  nobleman,   who  had   fled  from  his 


own  country  during  one  of  its  political  revolutions. 
Coming  to  France,  he  made  himself  famous  as  the 
founder  of  Tontine  I^ife  In.surance.  Henry  Tonti 
jHW.ses.sed  an  indomitable  will,  and  though  he  had 
sufl'ered  the  loss  of  one  of  his  hands  by  the  ex- 
plosion of  a  grenade  in  one  of  the  Sicilian  wars, 
his  courage  was  undaunted,  and  his  ardor  un- 
dimmed.  La  Salle  also  brought  recruits,  mechanics, 
sailors,  cordage  and  sails  fcjr  rigging  a  ship,  and 
merchandise  for  trafiie  with  the  natives.  At 
Montreal,  he  secured  the  services  of  M.  LaMolte,  a 
person  of  much  energy  and  integrity  of  character. 
He  also  secured  several  missionaries  before  he 
reached  Fort  Frontenac.  Among  them  were 
Louis  Hennepin,  Gabriel  llibourde  and  Zeuabe 
3Iembre.  All  these  were  Flemings,  all  Kecollets. 
Hennej)in,  of  all  of  them,  proved  the  best  assist- 
ant. They  arrived  at  the  fort  early  in  the  autumn 
of  1C78,  and  preparations  were  at  once  made  to 
erect  a  ve.«sel  in  which  to  navigate  the  lakes,  and 
a  fort  at  the  mouth  of  the  Niagara  River.  The 
Senecas  were  rather  adverse  to  the  latter  proposals 
when  La  Mottc  and  Hennejiin  came,  but  by 
the  eloquence  of  the  latter,  they  wore  pacified 
and  rendered  friendly.  Afler  a  number  of  vexa- 
tious delays,  the  vessel,  theGriflin,  the  first  on  the 
lakes,  was  built,  and  on  the  7th  of  August,  a  year 
after  La  Salle  came  here,  it  was  launched,  passed 
over  the  watere  of  the  northern  lakes,  and,  after  a 
tempestuous  voyage,  lan<l(>d  at  (Jreeu  Bay.  It  was 
soon  after  stored  with  furs  and  sent  back,  while 
La  Salb  and  his  men  awaited  its  return.  It  was 
never  afterward  heard  of  La  Salle,  becoming 
impatient,  erected  a  fort,  pushed  on  with  a 
part  of  his  men,  leaving  part  at  the  fort, 
and  passed  over  the  St.  .Joseph  and  Kankakee 
Rivers,  and  thence  to  the  Illinois,  down  whose 
flood  they  proceeded  to  Peoria  Lake,  where 
he  was  obliged  to  halt,  and  return  to  Canada 
for  more  men  and  supplies.  He  left  T(uiti 
and  several  men  to  complete  a  fort,  called 
Fort "  Crevecoeur  " — broken-hearted.  The  Indians 
drove  the  French  away,  the  men  mutinieil,  and 
Tonti  was  obliged  to  flee.  When  La  Salle  returned, 
he  found  no  one  there,  and  going  down  as  far  as 
the  miiuth  of  the  Illinois,  he  retraced  his  steps,  to 
find  some  trace  of  his  garrison.  Tonti  was  found 
safe  anuing  the  Pottawatomies  at  Green  Bay,  and 
Hennepin  and  his  two  followers,  sent  to  explore 
the  head-waters  of  the  Mi,ssis.sippi,  were  again 
homo,  after  a  captivity  among  the  Sioux. 

La  Salle  renewed  his  force  of  men,  and  the  third 
time  set  out  for  the  outlet  of  the   Great   River. 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


He  left  Canada  early  in  December,  1681,  and  by 
February  (!,  1G82,  reached  the  majestic  flood  of 
the  mighty  stream.  On  the  24th,  they  ascended 
the  Chickasaw  Bluffs,  and,  while  waiting  to  find 
a  sailor  who  had  strayed  away,  erected  Fort  Prud- 
homme.  They  passed  several  Indian  villages  fur- 
ther down  the  river,  in  some  of  which  they  met 
with  no  little  opposition.  Proceeding  onward,  ere- 
long they  encountered  the  tide  of  the  sea,  and 
April  C,  they  emerged  on  the  broad  bosom  of  the 
Gulf,  "tossing  its  restless  billows,  limitless,  voice- 
less and  lonely  as  when  born  of  chaos,  vfithout  a 
sign  of  life." 

Coasting  about  a  short  time  on  the  shores  of 
the  Gulf,  the  party  returned  until  a  sufficiently 
dry  place  was  reached  to  effect  a  landing.  Hero 
another  cross  was  raised,  also  a  column,  on  which 
was  inscribed  these  words: 

"  Lours  i.E  Gr.\ni),  Roi  de  Fbance  et  de  Navakbe, 
Regne;   Le  Neuvie.me,  Avril,  1(J82."  ■' 

"The  whole  party,"  says  a  "proocs  verbal,  '  in 
the  archives  of  France,  "  chanted  the  Te  Dcum, 
the  Exaudiat  and  the  Dmniiiesalvnin  fac  Rcgvm, 
and  then  after  a  salute  of  fire-arms  and  cries  of 
Vive  le  Roi,  La  Salle,  standing  near  the  column, 
said  in  a  loud  voice  in  French : 

"In  the  name  of  the  most  high,  mighty,  invin- 
cible and  victorious  Prince,  Louis  the  Great,  by 
the  grace  of  God,  King  of  France  and  of  Navarro, 
Fourteenth  of  that  name,  this  ninth  day  of  April, 
one  thousand  six  hundred  and  eighty  two,  I,  in 
virtue  of  the  commission  of  His  Majesty,  which  I 
hold  in  my  hand,  and  which  may  be  seen  by  all 
whom  it  may  concern,  have  taken,  and  do  now 
take,  in  the  name  of  His  Majesty  and  of  his  suc- 
cessors to  the  crown,  possession  of  this  country  of 
Louisiana,  the  seas,  harbor,  ports,  bays,  adjacent 
st  niights,  and  all  the  nations,  people,  provinces,  cities, 
towns,  villages,  mines,  minerals,  fisheries,  streams 
and  rivers,  comprised  in  the  extent  of  said  Louisiana, 
from  the  north  of  the  great  river  St.  Louis,  other- 
wise called  the  Ohio,  Alighin,  Sipore  or  Chukago- 
na,  and  this  with  the  consent  of  the  Chavunons, 
Chickacliaws,  and  other  people  dwelling  therein, 
with  whom  we  have  made  alliance;  as  also  along 
the  river  Colbert  or  Mississippi,  and  rivers  which 
discharge  themselves  therein  from  its  source  beyond 
the  Kious  or  Nadduessious,  and  this  with  their 
consent,  and  with  the  consent  of  the  Illinois,  Mes- 
igameas,  Natehez,  Koroas,  which  are  the  most  con- 
siderable nations  dwelling  therein,  with  whom  also 


we  have  made  alliance,  either  by  ourselves  or  others 
in  our  behalf,  as  far  as  its  mouth  at  the  sea  or 
Gulf  of  Mexico,  about  the  twenty-seventh  degree 
of  its  elevation  of  the  North  Pole,  and  also  to  the 
mouth  of  the  River  of  Palms ;  upon  the  assurance 
which  we  have  received  from  all  these  nations  that 
we  are  the  first  Europeans  who  have  descended  or 
a.sccnded  the  river  Colbert,  hereby  protesting 
against  all  those  who  may  in  future  undertake  to 
invade  any  or  all  of  these  countries,  peoples  or 
lands,  to  the  prejudice  of  the  right  of  His  Majesty, 
ac(|uired  by  the  consent  of  the  nations  herein 
named." 

The  whole  assembly  responded  with  shouts  and 
the  salutes  of  fire-arms.  The  Sieur  de  La  Salle 
caused  to  be  planted  at  the  foot  of  the  column  a 
plate  of  lead,  on  one  side  of  which  was  inscribed 
the  arms  of  France  and  the  following  Latin  inscrip- 
tion : 

Robertvs  Cavellier,  cvm  Domino  de  Tonly,  Legato, 
R.  P.  Zeiiobi  Membro,  Recollecto,  et,  Viginti  Gallis 
rrinios  Hoc  Flvmen  inde  ab  ilineorvm  Pago,  enavigavit, 
eiv.'sqve  ostivm   fecit   Pervivvm,    nono  Aprilis    cio    ioc 

Lxxxn. 

The  whole  proceedings  were  acknowledged  be- 
fore La  Metaire,  a  notary,  and  the  conquest  was 
considered  complete. 

Thus  was  the  foundation  of  France  laid  in  the 
new  republic,  and  thus  did  she  lay  claim  to  the 
Northwest,  which  now  includes  Ohio,  and  the 
county,  whose   history   this   book  perpetuates. 

La  Salle  and  his  party  returned  to  Canada  soon 
af\er,  and  again  that  country,  and  France  itself, 
rang  with  anthems  of  exultation.  He  went  on  to 
France,  where  he  received  the  highest  honors. 
He  was  given  a  fleet,  and  sailors  as  well  as  colon- 
ists to  return  to  the  New  World  by  way  of  a  south- 
ern voyage,  expecting  to  find  the  uuuith  of  the 
Blississippi  by  an  ocean  course.  Sidling  past  the 
outlets,  he  was  wrecked  on  the  coast  of  Texas,  and 
in  his  vain  endeavors  to  find  the  river  or  return  to 
Canada,  he  became  lost  on  the  plains  of  Arkansas, 
where  he,  in  1087,  was  basely  murdered  by  one  of 
his  followers.  "  You  are  down  now.  Grand  Ba.shaw," 
exclaimcdhisslayer,and  despoiling  his  remains,  they 
left  them  to  be  devoured  by  wild  beasts.  To  such 
an  ignominious  end  came  this  daring,  bold  adven- 
turer. Alone  in  the  wilderness,  he  was  left,  with 
no  monument  but  the  vast  realm  he  had  discov- 
ered, on  whose  bosom  he  was  left  without  cover- 
ing and  without  protection. 

"For  force  of  will  and  vast  conception;  for  va- 
rious knowledge,  and  quick  adaptation  of  his  genius 


J±=l±^ 


IIISTOHY    OF    OHIO. 


to  untried  circumstauces ;  for  a  sublime  magnani- 
mity, tliat  ro.sij;ned  itself  to  the  will  of  Heaven, 
and  yet  triumjiliod  over  affliction  by  energy  of 
purpose  and  unfaltering  hope — he  had  no  superior 
among  his  countrymen.  He  had  won  the  affec- 
tions of  the  governor  of  Canada,  the  esteem  of 
Colliert,  the  confidence  of  Seignelay,  the  favor  of 
Louis  XIV.  Afler  the  beginning  of  the  coloniza- 
tion of  Upper  Canada,  he  perfected  the  discovery 
of  the  Jlissi.ssippi  from  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony 
to  its  mouth ;  and  he  will  be  remembered  through 
all  time  as  the  father  of  colonization  in  the  great 
central  valley  of  the  West."* 

Avarice,  p;\asion  and  jealousy  were  not  calmed  by 
the  blood  of  La  Salle.  All  of  liis  conspirators  per- 
ished by  ignoble  deaths,  while  only  seven  of  the  six- 
teen succeeded  in  continuing  the  journey  until 
they  reached  Canada,  and  thence  found  their  way 
to  France. 

Tonti,  who  had  been  left  at  Fort  St.  Louis,  on 
"Starved  Rock"  on  the  Illinois,  went  down  in 
search  of  his  beloved  commander.  Failing  to  find 
him,  he  returned  and  remained  here  until  1700, 
thousands  of  miles  away  from  friends.  Then  ho 
went  down  the  Missi.s.^ippi  to  join  D  Iberville,  who 
had  made  the  discovery  of  the  mouth  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi by  an  ocean  voyage.  Two  years  later,  he 
went  on  a  mission  to  the  Chickasaws,  but  of  his 
suksequent  hi.story  nothing  is  known. 

The  West  was  now  in  po.ssession  of  the  French. 
La  Salle's  plans  were  yet  feasible.  The  period  of 
exploration  was  now  over.  The  great  river  and 
its  outlet  was  known,  and  it  only  remained  for  that 
nation  to  enter  in  and  occupy  what  to  many  a 
Frenchman  was  the  "  Promised  Land."  Only 
eighteen  years  had  elapsed  since  ]\Lvr(|uette  and 
Joliet  had  descended  the  river  and  shown  the 
course  of  its  outlet.  A  spirit,  less  bold  than  La 
Salle's  would  never  in  so  short  a  time  have  pene- 
trated for  more  than  a  thousand  miles  an  unknown 
wilderness,  and  solved  the  mystery  of  the  world. 

When  Joutel  and  his  companions  reached  France 
in  1(;S8,  all  Europe  was  on  the  eve  of  war.  Other 
nations  than  the  French  wanted  part  of  the  New 
World,  and  when  they  saw  that  nation  greedily 
and  rapidly  accumulating  territory  there,  they  en- 
deavored to  stay  its  progress.  The  league  of  Augs- 
burg was  formed  in  1  (iST  by  the  princes  of  the  Em- 
pire to  n  strain  the  ambition  of  Louis  XIV,  and 
ill  lfi>S,  ht!  began  hostilities  by  the  capture  of 
I'hilipsbiirg.     The  next  year,  England,  under  the 


lead  of  William  III,  joined  the  alliance,  and  Louis 
found  himself  compelled,  with  only  the  aid  of  the 
Turks,  to  contend  against  the  united  forces  of  the 
Empires  of  England,  Spain,  Holland,  Denmark, 
Sweden  and  Norway.  Yet  the  tide  of  battle  wa- 
vered. In  1()89,  the  French  were  defeated  at 
Walcourt,  and  the  Turks  at  Widin;  but  in  KJiM), 
the  French  were  victorious  at  Chai-leroy,  and  the 
Turks  at  Belgrade.  The  next  year,  and  also  the 
next,  victory  inclined  to  the  French,  but  in  JtiSJH, 
Louvois  and  Luxemberg  were  dead  and  Namur 
surrendered  to  the  allies.  The  war  extended  to  the 
New  World,  where  it  was  maintained  with  more 
than  equal  success  by  the  French,  though  the  En- 
glish population  exceeded  it  more  than  twenty  to  one. 
In  1G88,  the  French  were  estimated  at  about 
twelve  thousand  souls  in  North  America,  while  the 
English  were  more  than  two  hundred  thousand. 
At  first  the  war  was  prosecuted  vigorously.  In 
1089,  De.  Ste.  Helene  and  D' Iberville,  two  of  the 
sons  of  Charles  le  Morne,  ero.sscd  the  wilderness 
and  reduced  the  English  forts  on  Hud.son's  Bay. 
But  in  August  of  the  same  year,  the  Iroquois,  the 
hereditary  foes  of  the  French,  captured  and  burned 
Montreal.  Frontenac,  who  had  gone  on  an  ex- 
pedition against  New  York  by  sea,  was  recalled. 
Fort  Frontenac  was  abandoniHl,  and  no  Freni:h 
posts  left  in  the  West  between  Trois  Rivieres  and 
Mackinaw,  and  were  it  not  for  the  Jesuits  the  en- 
tire West  would  now  have  been  abandoned.  To 
recover  their  influence,  the  French  planned  three 
expeditious.  One  resulted  in  the  destruction  of 
Schenectady,  another,  Salmon  Falls,  and  the  third, 
Casco  Bay.  On  the  other  hand,  Nova  Scotia  was 
reduced  by  the  colonies,  and  an  expedition  against 
Montreal  went  as  far  as  to  Lake  Ohamplain,  where 
it  failed,  owing  to  the  dissensions  of  the  leaders. 
Another  expedition,  consisting  of  twenty-four  ves- 
sels, arrived  before  Quebec,  which  also  i'ailed 
through  the  incompetency  of  Sir  William  Phipps. 
During  the  succeeding  years,  various  border  con- 
flicts occurred,  in  all  of  which  border  scenes  of 
savage  cruelty  and  savage  ferocity  were  enacted. 
The  peace  of  Ryswick,  in  1097,  closed  the  war. 
France  retained  ILuLson's  Bay,  and  all  the  places 
of  which  she  was  in  po.ssession  in  1  ()88 ;  but  the 
boundaries  of  the  English  and  French  claims  in 
the  New  World  were  still  unsettled. 

The  conclusion  of  the  conflict  left  the  French 
at  liberty  to  pursue  their  scheme  of  colonization 
in  the  Mississippi  Valley.  In  1698,  D'Ibervillc 
was  sent  to  the  lower  province,  which,  erelong, 
was  made  a  separate  independency,  called  Louisiana. 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


Forts  were  erected  on  Mobile  Bay,  and  tlio  division 
of  the  territory  between  the  French  and  the 
Spaniards  was  settled.  Trouble  existed  between 
the  French  and  the  Chickasaws,  ending  in  the 
cruel  deaths  of  many  of  the  leaders,  in  the 
fruitless  endeavors  of  tlie  Canadian  and  Louisi- 
anian  forces  combining  against  the  Chickasaws. 
For  many  years  the  conflict  raged,  with  unequal 
successes,  until  the  Indian  povror  gave  way  before 
superior  military  tactics.  In  the  end,  New  Orleans 
wiis  founded,  in  1718,  and  the  French  power 
secured. 

Before  this  was  consunniiated,  however,  France 
became  entangled  iu  another  war  against  the 
allied  powers,  ending  in  her  defeat  and  the  loss 
of  Nova  Scotia,  Hudson's  Bay  and  Newfound- 
land. The  peace  of  Utrecht  closed  the  war 
in  1713. 

The  French,  weary  with  prolonged  strife, 
adopted  the  plan,  nmro  peaceful  in  its  nature,  of 
giving  out  to  distinguished  men  the  monopoly  of 
certain  districts  in  the  fur  trade,  the  most  pros- 
perous of  any  avocation  then.  Crozat  and 
Cadillac — the  latter  the  founder  of  Detroit,  in 
1701 — were  tlie  chief  ones  concerned  in  this. 
The  founding  of  the  villages  of  Kaskaskia,  Ca- 
hokia,  Vincennes,  and  others  in  the  Mississippi 
and  Wabash  Valleys,  led  to  the  rapid  develop- 
ment, according  to  the  French  custom  of  all 
these  parts  of  the  West,  while  along  all  the  chief 
water-courses,  other  trading  jiosts  and  forts  were 
established,  rapidly  fulfilling  the  hopes  of  La 
Salle,  broached  so  many  years  before. 

The  French  had,  at  the  beginning  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  lour  ])rincipal  routes  to  their 
western  towns,  two  of  which  jiassod  over  the  soil 
of  Ohio.  The  fir.st  of  these  was  the  one  followed 
by  Mar<)uette  and  Joliet,  by  way  of  the  Lakes  to 
Green  Bay,  in  Wisconsin ;  thence  across  a  portage 
to  the  ^Vi.sconsin  River,  down  which  they  floated 
to  the  Mississippi.  On  their  return  they  came 
up  the  Illinois  River,  to  the  site  of  Chicago, 
whence  Joliet  returned  to  Quebec  by  the  Lakes. 
La  Salle's  route  was  first  by  the  Lakes  to  the  St. 
Joseph's  River,  which  ho  followed  to  the  portage 
to  the  Kankakee,  and  thence  downward  to  the 
Mississippi.  On  his  second  and  third  attempt, 
he  crossed  the  lower  peninsula  of  Michigan  to 
the  Kankakee,  and  again  traversed  its  waters  to 
the  Illinois.  The  third  route  was  establi.-ihed 
aliout  171(5.  It  followed  the  .southern  shores  of 
Ltike  ]"jrie  to  the  mouth  of  the  Maumee  River; 
following  this  stream,  the  voyagers  went  on  to  the 


junction  between  it  and  the  St.  Mary's,  which 
they  followed  to  the  "  Oubache  " — Wabash — and 
then  to  the  French  villages  in  Vigo  and  Knox 
Counties,  in  Indiana.  Vincennes  was  the  oldest 
and  most  important  one  here.  It  had  been 
founded  in  1702  by  a  French  trader,  and  was,  at 
the  date  of  the  establishment  of  the  third  route, 
in  a  prosperous  condition.  For  many  years,  the 
traders  cro.ssed  the  plains  of  Southern  Illinois  to 
the  French  towns  on  the  bottoms  opposite  St. 
Loins.  They  were  afraid  to  go  on  down  the 
"Waba"  to  the  Ohio,  as  the  Indians  had  fright- 
ened them  with  accounts  of  the  great  monsters 
below.  Finally,  some  adventurous  spirit  went 
down  the  river,  found  it  emptied  into  the  Ohio. 
and  solved  the  problem  of  the  true  outlet  of  the 
Ohio,  heretofore  supposed  to  be  a  tributary  of  the 
Waliash. 

The  fourth  route  was  from  tlie  southern  shore 
of  Lake  Erie,  at  Presqueville,  over  a  portage  of 
fifteen  miles  to  the  head  of  French  Creek,  at 
AV'aterford,  Penn.;  thence  down  that  stream  to  the 
Ohio,  and  on  to  the  Missi.ssippi.  Along  all  these 
routes,  ports  and  posts  were  carefully  maintained. 
Many  were  on  the  soil  of  Ohio,  and  were  the  fir.st 
attempts  of  the  wliite  race  to  possess  its  domain. 
Many  of  the  ruins  of  these  posts  are  yet  found  on 
the  southern  shore  of  Lake  Erie,  and  at  the 
outlets  of  streams  flowing  into  the  lake  and  the  Ohio 
River.  The  principal  forts  were  at  INIackinaw,  at 
Presijueville,  at  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Joseph's,  on 
Starved  Rock,  and  along  the  Father  of  Waters. 
Yet  another  power  was  encroaching  on  them:  a 
sturdy  race,  clinging  to  tlie  inhospitable  Atlantic 
shores,  were  coming  over  the  mountains.  The 
murmurs  of  a  conflict  were  already  heard — a  con- 
flict that  would  change  the  fate  of  a  nation. 

The  French  were  extending  their  explorations 
beyond  the  Mississippi;  they  were  also  forming  a 
political  organization,  and  increasing  their  influence 
over  the  natives.  Of  a  ])assive  nature,  however, 
their  power  and  their  influence  could  not  with- 
stand a  more  aggressive  nature,  and  they  were 
obliged,  finally,  to  give  way.  They  had  the 
fruitful  valleys  of  the  West  more  than  a  century ; 
yet  they  developed  no  resources,  opened  no  mines 
of  wealth,  and  left  the  country  as  pa.ssivc  as  they 
found  it. 

Of  the  growth  of  the  West  under  French  rule, 
but  little  else  remains  to  be  said.  The  sturdy 
Anglo-Saxon  race  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  and  their 
progenitors  in  England,  began,  now,  to  turn  their 
attention  to  this  vast  country.     The  voluptuousness 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


of  tlic;  French  court,  tlicir  neglect  of  the  true 
ba^is  of  wealth,  agriculture,  ami  the  repressive 
tendencies  laid  on  the  colonist-s,  led  the  latter  to 
adojit  a  hunter's  life,  and  leave  the  country  unde- 
veloped and  ready  for  the  penile  who  claimed  the 
enuMtry  finm  "sea  to  sea.''  Tlieir  explorers  were 
iihw  at  wiirk.     The  change  was  at  hand. 

()i(:i>iiinal  mention  has  been  made  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  State,  in  preceding  pages,  of  settle- 
ments and  trading-posts  of  the  French  traders, 
explorers  and  missionaries,  within  the  limit.s  of 
Ohio.  The  French  were  the  first  white  men  to 
occupy  the  northwestern  part  of  the  New  V\'orld, 
and  though  their  stay  was  brief,  yet  it  ojiened  the 
way  to  a  sinewy  race,  living  on  the  .shores  of  the 
Atlantic,  who  in  timo  came,  saw,  and  cuniiuered 
that  part  of  America,  making  it  what  tlie  jicople 
of  t(j-day  enjoy. 

As  early  as  16G9,  four  years  before  the  discov- 
ery of  the  Jlississippi  by  Joliet  and  Jlarquette, 
La  Halle,  the  faniniis  exiilorer,  discovered  the  Ohio 
Kiver,  and  ]iaddlcd  dnwn  its  gentle  current  a.s  far 
as  the  falls  at  the  pn-sent  city  of  Louisville,  but  he, 
like  others  of  the  day,  made  no  settlement  on  its 
banks,  only  claiming  the  country  for  his  King  by 
virtue  of  this  discovery. 

Early  iu  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  cent- 
ury, French  traders  and  voyagers  passed  along  the 
southern  shores  of  Lake  Erie,  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Maumee,  up  whose  waters  they  rowed  their  bark 
canoes,  on  their  way  to  their  outposts  in  the  Wa- 
bash and  Illinois  '\^1lleys,  established  between 
1675  and  1700.  As  .soon  as  they  could,  without 
danger  from  their  inveterate  enemies,  the  Iro([Uois, 
ma.stere  of  all  the  lower  lake  country,  erect  a 
trading-post  at  the  mouth  of  this  river,  they  did 
so.  It  was  made  a  depot  of  considerable  note, 
and  was,  probably,  the  first  permanent  habitation 
of  white  men  in  Ohio.  It  remained  until  after 
the  peace  of  1703,  the  termination  of  the  French 
and  Indian  war,  and  the  occupancy  of  this  country 
by  the  English.  On  the  site  of  the  French  tradiiig- 
pnst,  the  British,  in  1704,  erected  Fort  Jliami, 
which  they  garrisoned  until  the  country  came 
under  the  control  of  Americans,  Now,  -Maumee 
City  covers  the  ground. 

The  French  had  a  trading-post  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Huron  Kiver,  in  what  is  now  Erie  County. 
When  it  was  built  is  not  now  known.  It  was,  how- 
ever, probably  one  of  their  early  outposts,  and 
may  have  been  built  before  17.50,  They  had  an- 
other on  the  shore  of  tlio  bay.  on  or  near  the  site 
of  Sandusky  Cit}'.      Both   this  and  the  one  at  the 


mouth  of  tlie  Huron  River  were  abandoned  before 
the  war  of  the  Revulution.  On  Lewis  Evan's  map 
of  the  British  jMiddle  Colonies,  iiubli.shed  in  175.'j, 
a  French  fort,  called  "Fort  Junandat,  built  in 
17.'J4,"  is  marked  on  the  cast  bank  of  the  San- 
dusky River,  several  miles  below  its  mouth.  Fort 
Sandusky,  on  the  western  bank,  is  also  noted. 
Several  Wyandot  towns  are  likewise  marked.  But 
very  little  is  known  concerning  any  of  these 
trading-posts.  They  were,  evidently,  only  tempo- 
rary, and  were  abandoned  when  the  English  came 
into  jKissession  of  the  country. 

The  mouth  of  the  Cuyahoga  River  was  another 
important  place.  On  Evan's  map  there  is  marked 
on  the  west  bank  of  the  Cuyahoga,  some  distance 
from  its  mouth,  the  words  '-French  IIousi,"  doubts 
less,  the  station  of  a  French  trader.  The  ruins 
of  a  house,  found  about  five  miles  from  the  mouth 
of  the  river,  on  the  west  bank,  are  suppo.sed  to 
be  those  of   the  trader's  station. 

In  17S(!,  the  Moravian  missionary,  Zeisberger, 
with  his  Indian  converts,  left  Detroit  in  a  vessel 
called  the  Jlackinaw,  and  sailed  to  the  mouth  of 
the  Cuyahoga.  From  there  they  went  up  the 
river  about  ten  mites,  and  settled  in  an  abandoned 
Ottawa  village,  where  Independence  now  is,  which 
place  they  called  "Saint's  liest."  Their  stay  wsis 
brief,  for  the  following  April,  they  left  for  the 
Huron  River,  and  settled  near  the  site  of  Milan, 
Eric  County,  at  a  locality  they  called  New  Salem. 

There  are  but  few  records  of  settlements  made 
])y  the  FreiKrli  until  after  1750.  F]vcn  the.se  can 
hardly  be  called  settlements,  as  they  were  simply 
trading-post.s.  The  French  easily  affiliated  with 
the  Indians,  and  had  little  energy  beyond  trading. 
They  never  ctdtivated  fields,  laid  low  forests,  and 
subjugated  the  ctumtry.  They  were  a  half-Indian 
race,  so  to  speak,  and  hence  did  little  if  anything 
ill  developing  the  West. 

About  1740,  some  English  traders  came  to  a 
place  in  what  is  now  Shelby  County,  on  the 
banks  of  a  creek  since  known  as  Loramie's 
Creek,  and  e.stablishod  a  trading-station  with  the 
Indians.  This  was  the  first  English  trading-place 
or  attempt  at  settlement  iu  the  State.  It  was  here 
but  a  short  time,  however,  when  the  French,  hear- 
ing of  its  existence,  sent  a  party  of  soldiers  to  the 
Twiirtwees,  among  whom  it  was  founded,  and  de- 
manded the  traders  as  intruders  upon  French  ter- 
ritory. The  Twigtwees  refu.sing  to  deliver  up 
their  friends,  the  French,  a.ssistetl  by  a  large  party 
of  Oftawas  and  Chippewas,  attacked  the  trading- 
house,  jirobably  a  block-house,  and,  after  a  severe 


r^ 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


battle,  captured  it.  The  trailers  were  taken  to 
Canada.  Tiiis  fort  was  called  by  the  English 
"  Piokawillauy,"  from  which  ''Piqua"  is  probably 
derived.  About  the  time  that  Kentucky  was  set- 
tled, a  Canadian  Frenchman,  named  Lorauiie, 
established  a  store  on  the  site  of  the  old  fort.  He 
was  a  bitter  enemy  of  the  Amoricans,  and  for  a 
long  time  Loramie's  store  was  the  headquarters  of 
mischief  toward  the  settlers. 

The  French  had  the  faculty  .of  endearing  them- 
selves to  the  Indians  by  their  easy  assimilation  of 
their  habits;  and,  no  doubt,  Loraniie  was  equal  to 
any  in  this  respect,  and  hence  gained  great  influ- 
ence over  them.  Col.  Johustijn,  many  years  an 
Indian  Ageut  from  the  United  States  among  the 
Western  tribes,  stated  that  he  had  often  seen  the 
"  Indians  bur.st  into  tears  when  speaking  of  the 
times  when  their  French  fiither  had  dominion 
over  them ;  and  their  attachmeut  alvrays  remained 
unabated." 

So  much  influence  had  Loramie  with  the  In- 
dians, that,  when  Gen.  Clarke,  from  Kentucky, 
invaded  the  Miami  Valley  in  17S2,  his  attention 
was  attracted  to  the  spot.  He  came  on  and  burnt 
tlie  Indian  settlement  here,  and  destroyed  the  store 
of  the  Frenchman,  selling  his  goods  among  the 
men  at  auction.  Loramie  fled  to  the  Shawanees, 
and,  with  a  colony  of  that  nation,  emigrated  west 
of  the  Mississippi,  to  the  Spanish  possessions, 
where  he  again  bsgan  his  life  of  a  trader. 

In  1794,  during  the  Indian  war,  a  fort  was 
built  on  the  site  of  the  store  by  Wayne,  and 
named  Fort  Loramie.  The  last  ofliecr  who  had 
command  here  was  Capt.  Butler,  a  nephew  of 
Col.  Kiehard  Butler,  who  fell  at  St.  Clair's  defeat. 
While  here  with  his  family,  he  lost  an  interesting 
boy,  about  eight  years  of  age.  About  his  grave, 
the  sorrowing  father  and  mother  built  a  substantial 
picket-fence,  planted  honeysuckles  over  it,  which, 
long  after,  remained  to  mark  the  grave  of  the 
soldier's  boy. 

The  site  of  Fort  Loramie  was  always  an  im- 
portant point,  and  was  one  of  the  places  defined 
on  the  boundary  line  at  the  Greenville  treaty. 
Now  a  barn  covers  the  spot. 

At  the  junction  of  the  Auglaize  and  JIauniee 
Rivers,  on  the  site  of  Fort  Defiance,  built  by  Gen. 
Wayne  in  1791,  was  a  settlement  of  traders, 
established  some  time  before  the  Indian  war 
began.  "  On  the  high  gi'ound  extending  from  the 
Maumee  a  quarter  of  a  mile  up  the  Auglaize, 
about  two  hundred  yards  in  width,  was  an  open 
space,  on  the  west  and  south  of  which  were  oak 


Woods,  with  hazel  undergrowth.  Within  this 
opening,  a  few  hundred  yanls  above  the  point,  on 
the  steep  bank  of  the  Au-hiize.  were  five  or  six 
cabins  and  log  hou.ses,  inhabited  principally  by 
Indian  traders.  The  most  northerly,  a  large 
hewed-log  house,  divided  below  into  three  apart- 
ments, was  occupied  as  a  warehouse,  store  and 
dwelling,  by  George  Ironside,  the  most  wealthy 
and  influential  of  the  traders  on  the  point.  Next 
to  his  were  the  houses  of  Pirault  (Pero)  a  French 
baker,  and  McKenzie,  a  Scot,  who,  in  addition  to 
merchandising,  followed  the  occupation  of  a  silver- 
smith, exchanging  with  the  Indians  his  brooches, 
ear-drops  and  other  silver  ornaments,  at  an 
enormous  profit,  for  skins  and  furs. 

Still  further  up  were  several  other  femi- 
lies  of  French  and  English;  and  two  Ameri- 
can prisoners,  Henry  Ball,  a  soldier  taken  in  St. 
Clair's  defeat,  and  his  wife,  Polly  Jleadows, 
captured  at  the  same  time,  were  allowed  to  live 
here  and  pay  their  masters  the  price  of  their 
ransom — he,  by  boating  to  the  rapids  of  the  Jlau- 
mee,  and  she  by  washing  and  sewing.  Fronting 
the  house  of  Ironside,  and  about  fifty  yards  from 
the  bank,  was  a  small  stockade,  inclosing  two 
hewed-log  houses,  one  of  which  was  occupied  by 
James  Girty  (a  brother  of  Simon),  the  other, 
occasionally,  by  Elliott  and  McKee,  British 
Indian  Agents  living  at  Detroit."*    . 

The  post,  cabins  and  all  they  contained  fell 
under  the  control  of  the  Americans,  when  the 
British  evacuated  the  shores  of  the  lakes. 
^Vhile  they  existed,  they  were  an  undoubted 
source  of  Indian  discontent,  and  had  much  to  do 
in  prolonging  the  Indian  war.  The  country 
hereabouts  did  not  settle  until  some  time  after 
the  creation  of  the  State  government. 

As  soon  as  the  French  learned  the  true  source 
of  the  Ohio  and  Wabash  Rivers,  both  were  made 
a  highway  to  convey  the  products  of  their  hunt- 
ers. In  coursing  down  the  Ohio,  they  made 
trading-places,  or  depots,  where  they  could  obtain 
furs  of  the  Indians,  at  acce.^.sible  points,  generally 
at  the  mouths  of  the  rivers  emptying  into  the 
Ohio.  One  of  these  old  forts  or  trading-places 
stood  about  a  mile  and  a  half  south  of  the  outlet 
of  the  Scioto.  It  was  here  in  1740;  but  when 
it  was  erected  no  one  could  tell.  The  locality 
must  have  been  pretty  well  known  to  the  whites, 
however;  for,  in  1785,  three  years  before  the 
settlement   of  JIarietta   was  made,  four  families 

*Xarrativo  of  0.  M.  Spencer. 


r^ 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


35 


made  an  ineffectual  attempt  to  settle  near  the  same 
place.  They  were  from  Kentucky,  but  were 
driven  away  by  the  Indians  a  short  time  after 
they  airived,  not  beini;  allowed  to  build  cabins, 
and  had  onlj-  made  preparations  to  plant  corn 
and  other  necessiiries  of  life.  While  the  men 
were  cncamj)ed  near  the  vicinity  of  Piketown, 
in  Pike  County,  when  on  a  hunting  expedition, 
they  were  surprised  by  the  Indians,  and  two  of 
them  slain.  The  others  hastened  back  to  the 
encampment  at  the  mouth  of  the  Scioto,  and 
hurriedly  gathering  the  families  together,  fortu- 
nately got  them  on  a  flat-boat,  at  that  hour  on  its 
way  down  the  river.  By  the  aid  of  the  boat, 
they  were  enabled  to  reach  JIaysville,  and  gave 
up  the  attempt  to  settle  north  of  the  Ohio. 

The  famous  '-old  Scioto  Salt  Works,"  in  Jack- 
son County,  on  the  banks  of  Salt  Creek,  a  tributary 
of  the  Scioto,  were  long  known  to  the  whites  before 
any  attempt  w;is  made  to  settle  in  Ohio.  They 
were  indicated  on  the  maj)s  published  in  1755. 
They  were  the  resort,  for  generations,  of  the  In- 
dians in  all  parts  of  the  West,  who  annually  came 
here  to  make  salt.  They  often  brought  white 
prisoners  with  them,  and  thus  the  salt  works  bo- 
came  known.  There  were  no  attempts  made  to 
settle  here,  however,  until  after  the  Indian  war, 
which  closed  in  1795.  As  soon  a.s  peace  was  a.s- 
sured,  the  whites  came  here  for  salt,  and  soon  after 
made  a  settlement.  Another  early  salt  spring 
was  in  what  is  now  Trumbull  County.  It  is  also 
noted  on  Evan's  map  of  1755.  They  were  occu- 
pied by  the  Indians,  French,  and  by  the  Americans 
;js  early  as  17S0,  and  perhaps  earlier. 

As  early  as  1701  iMoravian  missionaries  came 
among  the  Ohio  Indians  and  began  their  labors. 
In  a  few  years,  under  the  lead  of  Ecvs.  Fredrick 
Post  and  John  Heckewelder,  permanent  stations 
were  established  in  several  parts  of  the  State,  chief- 
ly on  the  Tuscarawas  River  in  Tuscarawas  County. 
Here  were  the  three  Indian  villages — Shocnhurn, 
Gnadenhutten  and  Salem.  The  site  of  the  first  is 
about  two  miles  south  of  New  Philadelphia  ;  Gna- 
denhutten was  seven  miles  further  south,  anil  about 
five  miles  still  on  was  Salem,  a  short  distance  from 
the  jiresent  village  of  Port  Washington.  The  first 
and  last  named  of  these  villages  were  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Tuscarawas  River,  near  the  margin  of 
the  Ohio  Canal.  Gnadenhutten  was  on  the  east 
side  of  the  river.  It  was  here  that  the  brutal 
ma.ssacre  of  these  Christian  Indians,  by  the  rangers 
under  Col.  Williamson,  occurred  March  8,  1782. 
The  account  of  the  massacre  and  of  these  tribes 


appears  in  these  pages,   and   it   only  remains  to 
notice  what  became  of  them. 

The  hospitable  and  friendly  character  of  these 
Indians  had  extended  beyond  their  white  breth- 
ren on  the  Ohio.  The  .Vmerican  people  at  large 
looked  on  the  act  of  Williamson  and  his  men  as  an 
outrage  on  humanity.  Congress  felt  its  influence, 
and  gave  them  a  tract  of  twelve  thousand  acres, 
embracing  their  former  homes,  and  induced  them 
to  return  from  the  northern  towns  whither  they  had 
fled.  As  the  whites  came  into  the  country,  their 
manners  degenerated  tintil  it  became  necessary  to 
remove  them.  Through  Gen.  Cass,  of  Michigan, 
an  agreement  was  made  with  them,  whereby  Con- 
gress paid  them  over  S(j,000,  an  aniuiity  of  S400, 
and  24,000  acres  in  some  territory  to  l>e  designated 
by  the  United  States.  This  treaty,  by  some  means, 
was  never  effectually  carried  out,  and  the  princi- 
pal part  of  them  took  up  their  residence  near  a 
-Moravian  mis.sionary  station  on  the  River  Thames, 
in  Canada.  Thi:lr  old  churchyard  still  exists  on 
the  Tuscarawas  River,  and  here  rest  the  bones  of 
several  of  their  devoted  teachers.  It  is  proper 
to  remark  here,  that  JIary  Heckewelder,  daughter 
of  the  missionary,  is  generally  believed  to  have 
been  the  first  white  child  born  in  Ohio.  How- 
ever, this  is  largely  conjecture.  Captive  women 
among  the  Indians,  before  the  birth  of  Mary 
Heckewelder,  are  known  to  have  borne  children, 
which  afterward,  with  their  mothers,  were  restored 
to  their  friends.  The  assertion  that  IMary 
Heckewelder  w;is  the  first  child  born  in  Ohio,  is 
therefore  incon-ect.  She  is  the  first  of  whom  any 
definite  record  is  made. 

These  outposts  are  about  all  that  are  known 
to  have  existed  prior  to  the  settlement  at  Mari- 
etta. About  one-half  mile  below  Bolivar,  on 
the  western  line  of  Tuscarawas  County,  are  the 
remains  of  Fort  Laiuens,  erected  in  1778,  by 
a  detachment  of  1,000  men  under  Gen.  Mc- 
Intrish,  from  Fort  Pitt.  It  was,  however,  occu- 
pied but  a  short  time,  vacated  in  August,  1770,  as 
it  w;us  deemed  untenable  at  such  a  distance  from 
the  frontier. 

During  the  existence  of  the  six  years'  Indian 
war,  a  settlement  of  French  emigrants  was  maile 
on  the  Ohio  River,  that  deserves  notice.     It  illus- 
trates  very   clearly    the   extreme   ignorance    and 
credulity  prevalent  at  that  day.     In  May  or  June 
1  of  1788,  Joel  Barlow  left  this  country  for  Europe, 
I  "  authorized  to  dispose  of  a  very  large  body  of 
I  land  in  the  West.  "     In  1700,  he  distributed  pro- 
I  posals  in   Paris  for  the  disposal  of  lands  at  five 


sc, 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


shillings  ]i"r  acre,  which,  says  Volnej',  '•  promised 
a  climate  healthy  and  delightful ;  scarcely  such  a 
thing  as  a  frost  in  the  winter  ;  a  river,  called  by 
way  of  eminence  '  The  Beautiful, '  abounding  in 
fish  of  au  enormous  size ;  magnificent  forests  of  a 
tree  li-om  which  sugar  flows,  and  a  shrub  which 
yields  caudles ;  venison  in  abundance  ;  no  military 
enrollments,  and  no  quarters  to  find  for  soldiers." 
Purchasers  became  numerous,  individuals  and 
whole  families  sold  their  property,  and  in  the 
course  of  1791  many  embarked  at  the  various 
Frencli  sea-ports,  each  with  his  title  in  his  pocket. 
Five  hundred  settlers,  among  whom  were  many 
wood  carvers  and  guilders  to  His  Majesty,  King  of 
France,  eoachmakers,  fi-iseur.s  and  peruke  makers, 
and  other  artisans  and  artistes,  e((ually  well  fitted 
for  a  frontier  life,  arrived  in  the  United  States  in 
1791-92,  and  acting  without  concert,  traveling 
without  knowledge  of  the  language,  customs  and 
roads,  at  last  managed  to  reach  the  spot  designated 
for  their  residence.  There  they  learned  they  had 
been  cruelly  deceived,  and  that  the  titles  they  held 
were  worthless.  Without  food,  shelterless,  and 
danger  closing  around  them,  they  were  in  a  position 
that  none  but  a  Frenchman  could  be  in  without 
despair.  Who  brought  them  thither,  and  who  was 
to  blame,  is  yet  a  disputed  point.  Some  affirm 
that  those  to  whom  large  grants  of  land  were  made 
when  the  Ohio  Company  procured  its  charter,  were 
the  real  instigators  of  the  movement.  They  failed 
to  pay  for  their  lands,  and  hence  the  title  reverted 
to  the  Government.  This,  comiug  to  the  ears  of 
the  poor  Frenchmen,  rendered  their  situation  more 
distressing.  They  never  paid  for  their  lands,  and 
only  through  the  clemency  of  Congress,  who  after- 
ward gave  them  a  grant  of  land,  and  confirmed 
them  in  its  title,  were  they  enabled  to  secure  a  foot- 
hold.    Whatever  doubt  there  may  be  as  to  the 


causes  of  these  people  being  so  grossly  deceived, 
there  can  be  none  regarding  their  sufferings.  They 
had  followed  a  jack-o-lantern  into  the  howling 
wilderness,  and  must  work  or  starve.  The  land 
upon  which  they  had  been  located  was  covered 
with  immense  forest  trees,  to  level  which  the  coach- 
makers  were  at  a  loss.  At  last,  hoping  to  conquer 
by  a  coup  de  main,  they  tied  ropes  to  the  branches, 
and  while  a  dozen  pulled  at  them  as  many  fell  at 
the  trunk  with  all  sorts  of  edged  tools,  and  thus 
soon  brought  the  monster  to  the  earth.  Yet  he 
was  a  burden.  He  was  down,  to  be  sure,  but  as 
much  in  the  way  as  ever.  Several  lopped  off'  the 
branches,  others  dug  an  immense  trench  at  his  side, 
into  which,  with  might  and  main,  all  rolled  the 
large  log,  and  then  buried  him  from  sight.  They 
erected  their  cabins  in  a  cluster,  as  they  had  seen 
them  in  their  own  native  land,  thus  affording  some 
protection  from  marauding  bands  of  Indians. 
Though  isolated  here  in  the  lonely  wilderness,  and 
nearly  out  of  funds  with  which  to  purchase  pro- 
visions from  descending  boats,  yet  ones  a  week 
they  met  and  drowned  care  in  a  merry  dance, 
greatly  to  the  wonderment  of  the  scout  or  lone 
Indian  who  chanced  to  witness  their  revelry. 
Though  tlieir  vivacity  could  work  wonders,  it  woidd 
not  pay  for  lands  n(ir  buy  provisions.  Some  of  those 
at  Gallipolis  (for  such  they  called  their  settlement, 
from  Gallia,  in  France)  went  to  Detroit,  some  to 
Kaskaskia.  and  some  bought  land  of  the  Ohio 
Company,  who  treated  them  liberally.  Congress, 
too,  in  1795,  being  informed  of  their  sufferings, 
and  how  they  had  been  deceived,  granted  them 
24,000  acres  opposite  Little  Sandy  River,  to  which 
grant,  in  1798,  12,000  acres  more  were  added. 
The  tract  has  since  been  known  as  French  Grant. 
The  settlement  is  a  curious  episode  in  early  West- 
ern history,  and  deserves  a  place  in  its  annals. 


ENGLISH    EXPLORATIOXS  • 


CHAPTER    III. 

-TRADERS— FRENCH    AND    INDIAN    WAR    IN    THE    WEST  — ENGLISH 
POSSESSION. 


AS  has  been  noted,  the  French  title  rested  on 
the  di-scoveries  of  their  missionaries  and 
traders,  ujiou  the  occupation  of  the  country,  and 
upon  the  construction  of  the  treaties  of  Ry.swick, 
Utrecht  and  Aix  la  Chapelle.  The  Engli.sh 
claims  to  the  same  regiou  were  based  on  the  fact 
of  a  jirior  occupation  of  the  correspondinj;  coast, 
on  an  oj)posite  construction  of  the  .same  treaties, 
and  an  alleiced  cession  of  the  rights  of  the 
Indians.  The  rights  acquired  by  discovery  were 
conventional,  and  in  equity  were  good  only 
between  European  powers,  and  could  not  affect  the 
rights  of  the  natives,  but  this  distinction  was  dis- 
rcg-arded  by  all  European  powers.  The  inquiry  of 
an  Indian  chief  embodies  the  whole  controversy: 
"  Where  are  the  Indian  lands,  since  the  French 
claim  all  on  the  north  .side  of  the  Ohio  and  the 
English  all  on  the  south  side  of  it?" 

The  English  charters  expressly  granted  to  all 
the  original  colonies  the  country  westward  to  the 
South  Sea.  and  the  claims  thus  set  up  in  the  West, 
though  held  in  abeyance,  were  never  relinquished. 
The  primary  distinction  between  the  two  nations 
governed  their  actions  in  the  New  World,  and  led 
finally  to  the  supremacy  of  the  English.  They 
were  fixed  agricultural  communities.  The  French 
were  mere  trading-posts.  Though  the  French 
were  the  prime  movers  in  the  exploration  of  the 
West,  the  English  made  discovc'rics  during  their 
occupation,  however,  mainly  by  their  traders,  who 
penetrated  the  Western  wilderness  by  way  of  the 
Ohio  River,  entering  it  from  the  two  streams  which 
uniting  form  that  river.  Daniel  Coxie,  in  1722, 
published,  in  London,  "A  description  of  the 
English  itrovince  of  Carolina,  by  the  Spaniards 
called  Florida,  and  by  the  French  called  La  Louis- 
iane,  a.s  also  the  great  and  famous  river  Mesclui- 
cebe,  or  ilississippi,  the  five  vast  navigable  lakes 
of  fresh  water,  and  the  parts  adjacent,  together 
with  an  account  of  the  commodities  of  the  grpwth 
and  pniduition  of  the  said  jirovince."  The  title 
of  this  wiirk  exhibits  very  clearly  the  opinions  of 
the  Eniilish  people  respecting  the  West.  As  early 
as  Idijd,  Charles  I  granted  to  Sir  Robert  Heath 
"  All  that  part  of  America  lying  between   thirty- 


one  and  thirty-six  degrees  north  latitude,  from  sea 
to  sea,"  out  of  which  the  limits  of  Carolina  were 
al'terward  taken.  This  immense  grant  was  con- 
veyed in  1U38,  to  the  Earl  of  Arundel,  and  after- 
ward came  into  the  possession  of  Dr.  Daniel  Coxie. 
In  the  prosecution  of  this  claim,  it  appeared  that 
Col.  Wood,  of  Virginia,  from  1()54  to  16(J4,  ex- 
plored .several  branches  of  the  Ohio  and  "Mescha- 
ccbe,"  as  they  spell  the  Mis.sissippi.  A  Mr.  Need- 
ham,  who  was  employed  by  Col.  Wood,  kept  a 
journal  of  the  exploration.  There  is  also  the  ac- 
count of  some  one  who  had  explored  the  Missis- 
sippi to  the  Yellow,  or  Missouri  River,  before  lliTti. 
Tliese,  and  others,  arc  said  to  have  been  there 
when  La  Salle  explored  the  outlet  of  the  Great 
River,  as  he  found  tools  among  the  natives  which 
were  of  European  manufacture.  They  had  been 
brought  here  by  J<>nglish  adventurers.  Also,  when 
Iberville  was  colonizing  the  lower  part  of  Louis- 
iana, these  same  persons  vLsited  the  Chickasaws 
and  stirred  thcTii  up  against  the  French.  It  is  also 
stated  that  La  Salli'  I'oiiikI  that  some  one  had  been 
among  the  Natclicz  tribes  when  he  returned  from 
the  discovery  of  the  outlet  of  the  Mississippi,  and 
excited  them  against  him.  There  is,  however,  no 
good  authority  for  the.sc  statements,  and  they  arc 
doubtless  incorrect.  There  is  also  an  account  that 
in  KJTS,  several  persons  went  from  New  England 
as  far  south  as  New  Mexico,  "  one  hundred  and 
fifty  leagues  beyond  the  Mcschacebe,"  the  narrative 
reads,  and  on  their  return  wrote  an  account  of  the 
expedition.  This,  also,  cannot  be  traced  to  good 
authority.  The  only  accurate  account  of  the 
English  reaching  the  West  was  when  Bienville 
met  the  British  vessel  at  the  '-F^nglish  Turn." 
about  1701 1.  A  few  of  their  traders  may  have 
been  in  the  valley  west  of  the  Alleghany  Mount- 
ains before  1700,  though  no  reliable  accounts  are 
now  found  to  confirm  these  suppositions.  Still, 
from  the  earliest  occupation  of  the  Atlantic  Coast 
by  the  English,  they  claimed  the  country,  and, 
though  the  policy  of  its  occupation  rested  for  a 
time,  it  was  never  ftilly  abandoned.  Its  revival 
dates  from  1710  properly,  though  no  immediate 
endeavor  was  made  i'or  many  years  after.     That 


38 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


year,  Alexander  Spottswood  was  made  Governor  of 
Virginia.  No  sooner  did  he  assume  the  functions 
of  ruler,  than,  c;isting  his  eye  over  his  dominion,  lie 
saw  the  great  West  beyond  the  Alleghany  Mount- 
ains unoccupied  by  the  English,  and  rapidly  filling 
with  the  French,  who  he  olaserved  were  gradually 
confining  the  English  to  the  Atlantic  Coast.  His 
prophetic  eye  saw  at  a  glance  the  animus  of  the 
whole  scheme,  and  he  determined  to  act  promptly 
on  the  defeasive.  Through  his  representation,  the 
Virginia  Assembly  was  induced  to  make  an  appro- 
priation to  defray  the  expense  of  an  exploration  of 
the  mountains,  and  see  if  a  suitable  pass  could  not 
then  be  found  where  they  could  be  crossed.  The 
Governor  led  the  expedition  in  person.  The  pass 
was  discovered,  a  route  marked  out  for  future  em- 
igrants, and  the  party  rcturni'il  to  Williamsburg. 
There  the  Governor  estaiilishrd  the  order  of  the 
'•Knights  of  the  Golden  llnrseshoe,"  presented 
his  report  to  the  Colonial  As.sembly  and  one  to  his 
King.  In  each  report,  he  exposed  with  great  bold- 
ness the  scheme  of  the  French,  and  advised  the 
building  of  a  chain  of  forts  across  to  the  Ohio,  and 
the  formation  of  settlements  to  counteract  them. 
The  British  Government,  engrossed  with  other 
matters,  neglected  his  advice.  Forty  years  after, 
they  rfiLicuibcred  it,  only  to  regret  that  it  was  so 
thoi  1  -1 1 1 1 . 'ssly  1 1  isregarded. 

Individuals,  however,  profited  by  his  advice.  By 
1730,  traders  began  in  earnest  to  cross  the  mount- 
ains and  gather  from  the  Indians  the  stores  beyond. 
They  now  began  to  adopt  a  system,  and  abandoned 
the  heretofore  renegade  habits  of  those  who  had 
superseded  them,  many  of  whom  never  returned  to 
the  Atlantic  Coast.  In  1742,  John  Howard  de- 
scended the  Ohio  in  a  skin  canoe,  and,  on  the 
Mississippi  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  French.  His 
captivity  did  not  in  the  least  deter  others  from 
coming.  Indeed,  the  date  of  his  voyage  was  the 
commencement  of  a  vigorous  trade  with  the  In- 
dians by  the  English,  who  crossed  the  Alleghanies 
by  the  route  discovered  by  Guv.  Sjiottswood.  In 
1748,  Conrad  Weiser,  a  German  of  J  lercnljerg,  who 
had  acqviired  in  early  life  a  knowledge  of  the  JMo- 
hawk  tongue  by  a  residence  among  them,  was  sent 
ou  an  embassy  to  the  Shawanees  on  the  Ohio.  He 
went  as  for  as  Log'.stown,a  Shawanee  village  on  the 
north  bank  of  the  Ohio,  about  seventeen  miles  be- 
h.iw  the  site  of  Pittsburgh.  Here  he  met  the  chiefs 
in  counsel,  and  secured  tlieir  promise  of  aid  against 
the  French. 

The  principal  ground  of  the  claims  of  the 
English  in  the  Northwest  was  the  treaty  with  the 


Five  Nations — the  Iroquois.  This  powerful  confed- 
eration claimed  the  jurisdiction  over  an  immense 
extent  of  country.  Their  policy  differed  considera- 
bly from  other  Indian  tribes.  They  were  the  only 
confederation  which  attempted  any  form  of  gov- 
ernment in  America.  They  were  often  termed  the 
"  Six  Nations."  as  the  entrance  of  another  tribe 
into  the  confederacy  made  that  number.  They 
were  the  conquerors  of  nearly  all  tribes  from  Lower 
Canada,  to  and  beyond  the  Mississippi.  They  only 
exacted,  however,  a  tribute  from  the  conquered 
tribes,  leaving  them  to  manage  their  own  internal 
affairs,  and  stiimlaliiig  that  to  them  alone  did  the 
right  of  cession  lielong.  Their  country,  under 
these  claims,  embraced  all  of  America  north  of  the 
Cherokee  Nation,  in  Virginia;  all  Kentucky,  and 
all  the  Northwest,  save  a  district  in  Ohio  and  Indi- 
ana, and  a  small  section  in  Southwestern  Illinois, 
claimed  by  the  IMiami  Confederacy.  The  Iroquois, 
or  Six  Nations,  were  the  terror  of  all  other  tribes. 
It  was  they  who  devastated  the  Illinois  country 
about  Rock  Fort  in  IGSO,  and  caused  wide-spread 
alarm  among  all  the  Western  Indians.  In  ltiS4, 
Lord  Howard,  Governor  of  Virginia,  held  a  treaty 
with  the  Iroquois  at  Albany,  when,  at  the  request 
of  Col.  Duncan,  of  New  York,  they  placed  them- 
•selves  under  the  protection  of  the  English.  They 
made  a  deed  of  sale  then,  by  treaty,  to  the  British 
Government,  of  a  vast  tract  of  country  south  and 
east  of  the  Illinois  River,  and  extending  into  Can- 
ada. In  172G,  another  deed  was  drawn  up  and 
signed  by  the  chiefs  of  the  national  confederacy  by 
which  their  lands  were  conveyed  in  trust  to 
England,  '■  to  be  protected  and  defended  by  His 
Jlajesty.  to  and  for  the  use  of  the  grantors  and 
their  heirs."* 

If  the  Six  Nations  had  a  good  claim  to  the  West- 
ern country,  there  is  but  little  doubt  but  England 
was  justified  in  defending  their  country  against  the 
French,  as,  by  the  treaty  of  Utrecht,  they  had 
agreed  not  to  invade  the  lands  of  Britain's  Indian 
allies.  This  claim  was  vigorously  contested  by 
France,  as  that  country  claimed  the  Iroquois  had 
no  lawful  jurisdiction  over  the  West.  In  all  the 
disputes,  the  interests  of  the  contending  nations 
was,  however,  the  paramount  consideration.  The 
rights  of  the  Indians  were  little  regarded. 

The  British  also  purchased  land  by  the  treaty 
of  Lancaster,  in  1744,  wherein  they  agreed  to  pay 
the  Six  Nations  for  land  settled  unlawfully  in 
Pennsylvania,  Virginia   and   IMaryland.     The  In- 

*  Annals  of  the  West. 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


dians  wore  given  goods  and  gold  amounting  to 
near  a  tluju.sand  pounds  sterling.  They  \vt>re  also 
promised  the  protection  of  the  English.  Had  this 
latter  provision  been  faithfully  carried  out,  much 
blood  would  have  been  saved  in  after  yeai-s.  The 
treaties  with  the  8ix  Nations  were  the  real  basis 
of  the  claims  of  Great  Britain  to  the  We.st;  claims 
that  were  only  settled  by  war.  The  Shawanee  In- 
dians, on  the  Ohio,  were  also  becoming  hostile  to 
the  Engli.sh,  and  began  to  assume  a  threatening 
e.xterior.  Peter  Churtier,  a  half-breed,  residing  in 
Philadelphia,  escaped  Irom  the  authorities,  tho.se 
by  whom  he  was  held  ibr  a  violation  of  the  laws, 
and  joining  the  Shawanees,  persuaded  them  to  join 
the  French.  Soon  after,  in  174:5  or  17-14,  he 
placed  himself  at  the  head  of  -100  of  their  war- 
riors, and  lay  in  wait  on  the  Alleghany  lliver  for 
the  provincial  traders.  He  captured  two,  exhib- 
ited to  them  a  captain's  commission  from  the 
French,  and  seized  their  goods,  worth  .£1,()()(). 
The  Indians,  after  this,  emboldened  by  the  aid 
given  them  by  the  French,  became  more  and  more 
hostile,  and  Weiser  was  again  sent  across  the  mount- 
ains in  1748,  with  presents  to  conciliate  them  and 
sound  them  on  their  feelings  for  the  rival  nations, 
and  also  to  see  what  they  thought  of  a  settlement 
of  the  I'jnglish  to  be  made  in  the  West.  The  visit 
of  Conrad  ^Veiser'was  successful,  and  Thomas  Leo, 
with  twelve  other  Mrginians,  among  whom  were 
Lawrence  and  .\ugustine  Washington,  brothers  of 
(Jeorge  Washington,  formed  a  company  which 
they  .styled  the  Ohio  Company,  and,  in  1748,  peti- 
tioned the  King  for  a  grant  beyond  the  mountains. 
The  raonarth  ajiproved  the  petition  and  the  gov- 
ernment of  A'irginia  wa.s  ordered  to  grant  tlie  Com- 
pany r)0(),()()ll  acres  within  the  bounds  of  that 
colony  beyond  tlie  Alleghanies,  200,000  of  which 
were  to  be  located  at  once.  This  provision  was  to 
hold  good  for  ten  years,  free  of  quit  rent,  provided 
the  Company  would  settle  100  families  within 
seven  years,  and  build  a  fort  sufficient  for  their 
protection.  These  terms  the  Company  accepted, 
and  sent  at  once  to  Limdon  for  a  cargo  suitable  for 
the  Imlian  trade.  This  was  the  beginning  of 
Fnglisli  Com])anies  in  the  West;  this  one  forming 
a  prominent  part  in  the  history  of  Ohio,  as  will 
be  seen  hereafter.  Others  were  also  formed  in 
Virginia,  wh<ise  object  was  the  colonization  of  the 
West.  One  of  those,  the  lioyal  Company,  received, 
on  the  12th  of  June,  1749,  a  grant  of  800,000 
acres,  from  the  line  of  Canada  on  the  north  and 
west,  and  on  the  20th  of  October,  1751.  the  Green- 
briar  Company  received  a  grant  of  100,000  acres. 


To  the.se  encroachments,  the  French  wen;  by  no 
moans  blind.  They  saw  plainly  enough  that  if 
the  English  gained  a  foothold  in  the  West,  they 
would  inevitably  endeavor  to  obtain  the  country, 
and  one  day  the  issue  could  only  be  decided  by 
war.  Vaudreuil,  the  French  Governor,  had  long 
anxiously  watched  the  coming  .struggle.  In  1774, 
he  wrote  home  representing  the  conse(|uencos  that 
would  surely  come,  should  the  English  succeed  in 
their  plans.  The  towns  of  the  French  in  Illinois 
were  producing  large  amounts  of  bread-stuffs  and 
provisions  which  they  sent  to  New  Orleans.  These 
provinces  were  becoming  valualile,  and  must  not  be 
allowed  to  come  under  control  of  a  rival  power. 
In  1740,  Louis  Celeron  was  sent  by  the  Governor 
with  a  party  of  soldiers  to  plant  leaden  plates,  suit- 
ably inscribed,  along  the  ()hio  at  the  mouths  of 
the  principal  streams.  Two  of  these  plates  were 
afh^rward  exhumed.  One  was  .sent  to  the  Mary- 
land Historical  Society,  and  the  inscription*  deci- 
phered by  De  ^Vltt  Clinton.  On  these  plates  was 
clearly  stated  the  claims  of  France,  as  will  be  seen 
from  the  translation  below. 

F]ngland's  claim,  briefly  and  cloarlj'  stated,  read 
as  follows:  "That  all  lands,  or  countries  west- 
ward from  the  Atlantic  Ocean  to  the  South  Sea, 
between  48  and  i54  degrees  of  North  Latitu<lo, 
were  expressly  included  in  the  grant  of  King 
James  the  First,  to  divers  of  his  subjects,  .so  long 
time  since  as  the  year  1606,  and  aflerwards  con- 
firmed in  the  year  1620;  and  under  this  grant, 
the  colony  of  Virginia  claims  extent  .so  far  west 
as  the  South  Sea,  and  the  ancient  colonies  of  Ma.ss- 
achusetts  Bay  and  Connecticut,  were  by  their 
respective  charters,  made  to  extend  to  the  said 
South  Sea,  so  that  not  only  the  right  to  the  sea 
coast,  but  to  all  the  Inland  countries  from  sea  to 
sea,  has  at  all  times  been  asserted  by  the  Crown  of 
England."! 

To  make  good  their  titles,  both  nations  were  now 
doing  their  utmost.  Profe.s.sedly  at  peace,  it  only 
needed  a  torch  ajiplied,  as  it  were,  to  any  point,  to 
instantly  precipitate  hostilities.     The  French  were 

*Tho  fnltowing  is  the  trau.slation  of  the  inscriplion  of  the  plate 
found  at  Venango :  "  In  tho  year  1745,  roign  of  Louis  XV,  King  of 
Fnmi-e,  we,  Celeron,  commantljint  .  T  ,i  il  I  i  lnn-iit  by  Monsieur 
til')  Marquis  of  Galllsoniere,  Cnnim  i     i   :  i  i   I  of  New  France, 

to  o.stal>liRli  tranquillity  in  certain  I  i'  ,  ,  i  l  -  in  these  Cantons, 
have  buried  this  plate  at  the  cniitlii  n  .,i  i]i  ■  Toraclakoin,  this 
twenty-ninth  of  July,  near  the  liivir  ubio,  oiherwiso  Beautiful 
River,  as  a  monument  of  renewal  of  possession  which  we  have  taken 
of  the  said  river,  and  all  its  tributaries;  and  of  all  the  land  on  lioth 
sides,  as  far  as  the  sonrcenof  snid  rivers;  inasmuch  as  the  preceding 
Kings  of  France  have  enjoyed  it,  and  maintained  it  by  thnir  arms 
and  by  treaties;  especially  by  those  of  Byswick,  Utrecht,  and  Aix 
La  Chapelle." 

1  Colonial  Reconls  of  Pennsilvania. 


40 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


bu.'^ily  fiiiragcd  erecting  forts  from  the  southern 
shores  of  Lake  Erie  to  the  Ohio,  and  on  down  in 
the  Illinois  Valley  ;  up  at  Detroit,  and  at  all  its 
posts,  preparations  were  constantly  going  on  for  the 
crisis,  now  sure  to  come.  The  issue  between  the 
two  governments  was  now  fully  made  up.  It  ad- 
mitted of  no  compromise  but  the  sword.  To  that, 
however,  neither  power  desired  an  immediate  ap- 
peal, and  both  sought  rather  to  establish  and  fortify 
their  interests,  and  to  conciliate  the  Indian  tribes. 
The  English,  through  the  Ohio  Company,  sent  out 
Christopher  Gist  in  the  fall  of  175(1,  to  explore  the 
regions  west  of  the  mountains.  He  was  instructed 
to  examine  the  passes,  trace  the  courses  of  the 
rivers,  mark  the  falls,  seek  for  valuable  lands,  ob- 
serve the  strength,  and  to  conciliate  the  friendship 
of  the  Indian  tribes.  He  was  well  fitted  for  such 
an  enterprise.  Hardy,  sagacious,  bold,  an  adept  in 
Indian  character,  a  hunter  by  occupation,  no  man 
was  better  qualitied  than  he  for  such  an  undertak- 
ing. He  visited  Logstown,  where  he  was  jealously 
received,  passed  over  to  the  Sluskingum  River  and 
Valley  in  Ohio,  where  he  found  a  village  of  Wyan- 
dots,  divided  in  sentiment.  At  this  village  he  met 
Crogan,  another  e(jually  famous  frontiersman,  who 
had  been  sent  out  by  Pennsylvania.  Together 
they  held  a  council  with  the  chiefs,  and  received 
assurance  of  the  friendship  of  the  tribe.  This 
done,  they  passed  to  the  Shawnee  towns  on  the 
Scioto,  received  their  assurances  of  friendship,  and 
went  on  to  the  JMiami  Valley,  which  they  crossed, 
remarking  in  Crogan's  journal  of  its  great  fertili- 
ty. They  made  a  rafl  of  logs  on  which  they 
crossed  the  Great  Miaini,  visited  Piqua,  the  chief 
town  of  the  Pickawillanies,  and  here  made  treaties 
with  the  Weas  and  Piankeshaws.  While  here,  a 
(k'liutation  of  the  Ottawas  visited  the  Jliami  Con- 
fetleracy  to  induce  them  to  unite  with  the  French. 
They  were  repulsed  through  the  influence  of  the 
English  agents,  the  Jliamis  sending  Gist  word  that 
they  would  "  stand  like  the  mountains.  "  Crogan 
now  returned  and  published  an  account  of  their 
wanderings.  Gist  followed  the  JMiami  to  its 
mouth,  passed  down  the  Oliio  till  within  fifteen 
miles  of  the  falls,  then  returned  by  way  of  the 
Kentucky  River,  over  the  highlands  of  Kentucky 
to  Virginia,  arriving  in  May,  1751.  He  had 
visited  the  JMingoes,  Delawares,  Wyandots,  Shawa- 
nees  and  Miamis,  proposed  a  union  among  these 
tribes,  and  appointed  a  grand  council  to  meet  at 
Logstown  to  form  an  alliance  among  themselves 
and  with  ^'irgiiiia.  His  journc}'  was  marvelous 
for  the  day.     It  was  extremely  hazardous,  as  he 


was  part  of  the  time  among  hostile  tribes,  who 
could  have  captured  him  and  been  well  rewarded 
by  the  French  Government.  But  Gist  knew  liow 
to  act,  and  was  successful. 

While  Gist  wiis  doing  this,  some  English  traders 
established  themselves  at  a  place  in  what  is  now 
known  as  Shelby  County,  Ohio,  and  opened  a 
store  for  the  purpose  of  trading  with  the  Indians. 
This  was  clearly  in  the  limits  of  the  West,  claimed 
by  the  French,  and  at  once  aroused  them  to  actiim. 
The  fort  orstockade  stood  on  the  banks  of  Loriunii;'s 
Creek,  abinit  sixteen  miles  northwest  of  the  present 
city  of  Sydney.  It  received  the  name  Loramie 
from  tlie  creek  by  the  French,  which  received 
its  name  in  turn  from  the  French  trader  of 
that  name,  who  had  a  trading-post  on  this 
creek.  Loramie  had  fled  to  tlie  Spanish  country 
west  of  the  Mississijipi,  and  for  many  years 
was  a  trader  there  ;  his  store  being  at  the  junc- 
tion of  the  Kansas  and  Missouri,  near  the  present 
city  of  Kansas  City,  Mo.  When  the  English 
traders  came  to  Lorsmiie's  Creek,  and  erecteil 
their  trading-place,  they  gave  it  the  name  of  I'ick- 
awillany,  from  the  tribe  of  Indians  there.  The 
Miami  confederacy  granted  them  this  privilege 
as  the  result  of  the  presents  brought  by  Crogan  and 
Gist.  It  is  also  asserted  that  Andrew  Montour, 
a  half-breed,  son  of  a  Seneca  chief  and  the  famous 
Catharine  IMontour,  who  was  an  important  fac- 
tor af\;erwurd  in  the  EnglLsh  treaties  with  the 
Indians,  wa.s  with  them,  and  by  his  influence  did 
much  to  aid  in  securing  tlie  privilege.  Thus  was 
establLshed  the  first  English  trading-post  in  the 
Northwest  Territory  and  in  Ohio.  It,  however, 
enjoyed  only  a  short  duration.  The  French  could 
not  endui'c  .so  clear  an  invasion  of  their  country, 
and  gathering  a  force  of  Ottawas  and  Chippewas, 
now  their  allies,  they  attacked  the  stockade  in 
June,  1752,  At  first  they  demanded  of  the  Miamis 
the  surrender  of  the  fort,  as  they  were  the  real 
cause  of  its  location,  having  granted  the  English 
the  privilege.  The  Miamis  not  only  refused,  but 
aided  the  British  in  the  defense.  In  the  battle  that 
ensued,  fourteen  of  the  Miamis  were  slain,  and  all 
the  traders  captured.  One  account  says  they  were 
burned,  another,  and  probably  the  correct  one, 
states  that  they  were  taken  to  Canada  as  prisoners 
of  war.  It  is  probable  the  traders  were  fi-om  Penn- 
sylvania, as  that  commonwealth  made  the  Miamis 
presents  as  condolence  for  their  warriors  that  were 
slain. 

Blood  had  now  been  shed.  The  opening  gun  of 
the  French  and  Indian  war  had  been  fired,  and  both 


HISTOKY   OF    OHIO. 


nations  became  more  deeply  interested  in  affairs  in 
the  West.  The  Enirlish  were  determined  to  secure 
additional  title  to  the  West,  and,  in  1752,  sent 
Messre.  Fry,  Lomax  and  Patton  as  commissioners 
to  Logstown  to  treat  with  the  Indians,  and  confirm 
the  Lancaster  treat}'.  'J'hey  met  the  Inilians  on 
the  Uth  of  June,  stated  their  desires,  and  on  the 
11th  received  their  answer.  At  first,  the  sav- 
ages were  not  inclined  to  recognize  the  Lancaster 
treaty,  but  agreed  to  aid  the  linglish,  as  the  French 
had  already  made  war  on  the  Twigtees  ( at  Picka- 
willany),  and  con.sented  to  the  establishment  of  a 
fort  and  trading-post  at  the  forks  of  the  Ohio. 
Tiiis  was  not  all  tho  Virginians  wanted,  however, 
and  taking  a.side  Andrew  Jlontour,  now  chief  of  the 
Six  Nations,  persuaded  him  to  use  his  influence 
with  the  red  men.  By  such  means,  they  jvere  in- 
duced to  treat,  and  on  the  loth  they  all  united  in 
signing  a  deed,  confirming  the  Lancaster  treaty  in 
its  full  extent,  consenting  to  a.settlement.s()Uthwest 
of  the  Ohio,  and  covenanting  that  it  .'ihonld  not  be 
disturbed  by  them.  By  such  means  was  obtained 
the  treaty  with  the  Indians   in   the   Ohio  Valle}'. 

All  this  time,  the  home  governments  were  en- 
deavoring to  out-maneuver  each  other  with  regard 
to  the  lands  in  the  West,  though  there  the  outlook 
only  betokened  war.  The  French  understood  bet- 
ter than  the  English  how  to  manage  the  Indians, 
and  succeeded  in  attaching  them  firmly  to  their 
cause.  The  English  were  not  honest  in  their 
actions  with  them,  and  henee,  in  afler  years,  the 
massacres  that  followed. 

At  the  close  of  1752,  Gist  was  at  work,  in  con- 
formity with  the  Lancaster  and  Logstown  treaties, 
laying  out  a  fort  and  town  on  Chartier's  Creek, 
about  ten  miles  below  the  fork.  Eleven  families 
had  crossed  the  mountains  to  settle  at  (jist's  resi- 
dence west  of  Laurel  Hill,  not  far  from  the  Yough- 
iogheny.  Goods  had  come  from  ]M)gland  for  the 
Ohio  Company,  which  were  carried  as  far  West  a.s 
Will's  Creek,  where  Cumberland  now  stimds  ;  and 
where  the}'  were  taken  by  the  Indians  and  traders. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  Frenih  were  gathering 
canncm  and  stores  on  Lake  Eric,  and,  without 
treaties  or  deeds  of  land,  were  gaining  the  good 
will  of  the  inimical  tribes,  and  jireparing,  when  all 
was  ready,  to  strike  the  blow.  Their  f'ortilicutions 
consisted  of  a  chain  of  forts  from  Lake  Erie  to 
the  Ohio,  on  the  border.  One  was  at  Presque  Isle, 
on  the  site  of  Erie ;  one  on  French  Creek,  on  the 
site  of  Waterford,  Penn.;  one  at  the  mouth  of 
French  Creek,  in  Venango  County,  Penn.;  while 
opposite   it  was  another,   effectually   eonimandini: 


that  .section  of  country.  These  forts,  it  will  be 
observed,  were  all  in  the  limits  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania colony.  The  Governor  informed  the  Assem- 
bly of  their  existence,  who  voted  £(jl}0  to  be  used 
in  purchasing  ])rescuts  for  the  Indians  near  the 
forts,  and  thereby  hold  their  l'riend.ship.  Virginia, 
also,  took  similar  nieasures.  Trent  was  sent,  with 
guns  and  ammunition  and  presents,  to  the  friendly 
tribes,  and,  while  on  his  mission,  learned  of  the 
platfts  of  lead  planted  by  the  French.  In  October, 
1753,  a  treaty  w;is  eonsumiuated  with  representa- 
tives of  the  Iro(|Uois,  Delawarcs,  Shawanees,  Twig- 
twees  and  Wyandots,  by  commissioners  from 
Pennsylvania,  one  of  whom  was  the  philosopher 
Franklin.  At  the  conferences  held  at  this  time, 
the  Indians  com])lained  of  the  actions  of  the 
French  in  forcibly  taking  posscs-sion  of  the  dis- 
puted country,  and  al.so  bitterly  denounced  them 
for  u.sing  rum  to  intoxicate  the  red  men,  when 
they  desired  to  gain  any  advantage.  Not  long 
after,  they  had  similar  grounds  of  complaint  against 
the  English,  whose  lawless  traders  cared  fornothing 
but  to  gain  the  furs  of  the  savage  at  as  little  ex- 
pense as  po.ssible. 

The  encroachments  of  the  French  on  what  was 
regarded  as  English  territory,  created  intense  feel- 
ing in  the  colonies,  especially  in  Virginia.  The 
purpose  of  the  French  to  iiK.losc  the  Engli.sh  on 
the  Atlantic  Coast,  and  thus  prevent  their  extension 
over  the  mountains,  became  more  and  more  ap- 
parent, and  it  was  thought  that  this  was  the  open- 
ing of  a  scheme  already  planned  by  the  French 
Court  to  reduce  all  North  America  under  the  do- 
minion of  France.  Gov.  .Dinwiddie  determined 
to  send  an  ambassador  to  the  French  posts,  to  as- 
certain their  real  intentions  and  to  observe  the 
amount  and  disposition  of  their  forces.  He.selected 
a  young  \'irginian,  then  in  bis  twenty-fii-st  year, 
a  surveyor  by  trade  and  one  well  qualified  for  the 
duty.  That  young  man  at^terward  led  the  Ameii- 
can  Colonies  in  their  .struggle  for  liberty.  George 
Washington  and  one  coiiqianion,  Mr  Gist,  suc- 
cessfully made  the  trip,  in  the  solitude  of  a  severe 
winter,  received  a.ssurance  from  the  French  com- 
mandant that  they  would  by  no  means  abandon 
their  outposts,  and  would  not  yield  nnless  coni- 
])elled  by  force  of  arms.  The  commandant  was 
exceedingly  ])olite,  but  firm,  and  assured  the  young 
American  that  '•  we  claim  the  country  on  the  Ohio 
by  virtue  of  the  di.seovery  of  La  Salle  (in  ItJOO) 
and  will  not  give  it  up  to  the  Engli.sh.  Our  orders 
are  to  make  prisoners  of  every  Englishman  found 
tradimr  in  the  Ohio  \'allev.  " 


p)  ^ 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


During  Washington's  absence  steps  were  taken 
to  fortify  the  point  formed  by  the  junction  of  the 
Monougahela  and  Alleghany ;  and  when,  ou  his 
return,  he  met  seventeen  horses  loaded  with  mate- 
rials and  stores  for  a  fort  at  the  forks  of  the  Ohio, 
and,  soon  after,  some  families  going  out  to  settle, 
ho  knew  the  defense  had  begun.  As  soon  as 
AV'ashington  made  his  report.  Gov.  Diuwiddic 
wrote  to  the  Board  of  Trade,  stating  that  the 
French  were  building  a  tort  at  Venango,  and  that, 
in  JIarch,  twelve  or  fifteen  hundred  men  would 
be  ready  to  descend  the  river  with  their  Indian 
allies,  for  which  purpose  three  hundred  canoes  had 
been  collected  ;  and  that  Logstown  was  to  be  made 
headquarters,  while  forts  were  to  be  built  in  other 
places.  He  sent  expresses  to  the  Governors  of 
Pennsjdvania  and  New  York,  apprising  them  of  the 
nature  of  affairs,  and  calling  upon  them  for  assist- 
ance. He  also  raised  two  companies,  one  of  which 
was  raised  by  Washington,  the  other  by  Trent. 
The  one  under  Trent  was  to  be  raised  on  the 
frontiers,  and  was,  as  soon  as  possible,  to  repair  to 
the  Fork  and  erect  there  a  fort,  begun  by  the  Ohio 
Company.  Owing  to  various  conflicting  opinions 
between  the  Governor  of  Pennsylvania  and  his 
Assembly,  and  the  conference  with  the  Six  Nations, 
held  by  New  York,  neither  of  those  provinces  put 
forth  any  vigorous  measiires  until  stirred  to  action 
by  the  invasions  on  the  fi-ontiers,  and  until  directed 
by  the  Earl  of  Holderness,  Secretary  of  State. 

The  fort  at  Venango  was  finished  by  the  French 
in  April,  1754.  All  along  the  creek  resounded 
the  clang  of  arras  and  the  preparations  for  war. 
New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  though  inactive, 
and  debating  whether  the  French  really  had  in- 
vaded English  territory  or  not,  sent  aid  to  the 
Old  Dominion,  now  all  alive  to  the  conquest.  The 
two  companieshadbeen  increased  to  six;  Washing- 
tun  was  raised  to  the  rank  of  Lieutenant  Colonel, 
and  made  second  under  command  of  Joshua 
Fry.  Ten  cannon,  lately  from  England,  were  for- 
warded fnmi  Alexandria ;  wagons  were  got  ready 
to  carry  westward  provisions  and  stores  through 
the  heavy  spring  roads;  and  everywhere  men  were 
enlisting  under  the  King's  promise  of  two  hundred 
thousand  acres  of  land  to  those  who  would  go. 
They  were  gathering  along  Will's  Creek  and  far 
beyond,  while  Trent,  who  had  come  for  more  men 
and  supplies,  left  a  little  band  of  forty-one  men, 
working  away  in  hunger  and  want  at  the  Fork,  to 
which  both  nations  were  looking  with  anxious  eyes. 
Though  no  enemy  was  near,  and  only  a  few  Indian 
scouts  were  seen,  keen  eyes  had  observed  the  low 


fortifications  at  the  Fork.  Swift  feet  had  borne 
the  news  of  it  up  the  valley,  and  though  Ensign 
Ward,  left  in  command,  felt  himself  secure,  on  the 
17  th  of  April  he  saw  a  sight  that  made  his  heart 
sick.  Sixty  batteaux  and  three  hundred  canoes 
were  coming  down  the  Alleghany.  The  com- 
mandant sent  him  a  summons,  which  evaded  no 
words  in  its  meaning.  It  was  useless  to  contend, 
that  evening  he  supped  with  his  conqueror  ;  the 
next  day  he  was  bowed  out  by  the  polite  French- 
man, and  with  his  men  and  tools  marched  up  the 
Jlonongahela.  The  first  birds  of  spring  were  fill- 
ing the  air  with  their  song ;  the  rivers  rolled  by, 
swollen  by  April  showers  and  melting  snows;  all 
nature  was  putting  on  her  robes  of  green  ;  and  the 
fortress,  which  the  English  had  so  earnestly  strived 
to  obtain  and  fortify,  was  now  in  the  hands  of  the 
French.  Fort  Du  Quesne  arose  on  the  incomplete 
fortifications.  The  seven  years'  wai-  that  followed 
not  only  affected  America,  but  spread  to  all  quar- 
ters of  the  world.  The  war  made  England  a  great 
imperial  power  ;  drove  the  French  from  Asia  and 
America;  di.spclled  the  brilliant  and  extended 
scheme  of  Louis  and  his  voluptuous  empire. 

The  active  field  of  operations  was  in  the  Canadas 
principally,  and  along  the  western  borders  of  Penn- 
sylvania. There  were  so  few  people  then  in  the 
present  confines  of  Ohio,  that  only  the  pos.session 
of  the  country,  in  common  with  all  the  West, 
could  be  the  animus  of  the  conflict.  It  so  much 
concerned  this  part  of  the  New  World,  that  a  brief 
resume  of  the  war  will  be  necessary  to  fully  under- 
stand its  history. 

The  fall  of  the  post  at  the  fork  of  the  Ohio,  Fort 
Du  Quesne,  gave  the  French  control  of  the  AVest. 
Washington  went  on  with  his  few  militia  to  re- 
take the  post.  Though  he  was  successftil  at  first, 
he  was  in  the  end  defeated,  and  surrendered, 
being  allowed  to  return  with  all  his  munitions  of 
war.  The  two  governments,  though  trying  to 
come  to  a  peaceful  solution  of  the  question,  were 
getting  ready  for  the  conflict.  France  went  stead- 
ily on,  thougli  at  one  time  England  gave,  in  a 
measure,  her  consent  to  allow  the  French  to  retain 
all  the  country  west  of  the  Alleglianies  and  south 
of  the  lakes.  Had  this  been  done,  what  a  diflerent 
future  would  have  been  in  America !  Other  des- 
tinies were  at  work,  however,  and  the  plan  fell 
stillborn. 

England  sent  Gen.  Braddock  and  a  fine  force 
of  men,  who  marched  directly  toward  the  post  on 
the  (_)hio.  His  ill-fated  expedition  resulted  only 
in  the  total  defeat  of  his  army,  and  his  own  death. 


HISTOKY    OF    OHIO. 


Washington  saved  a  romiiant  of  the  army,  and 
made  his  way  back  to  the  colonies.  Tlie  Kn- 
<rlish  needed  a  leader.  They  next  planned  lour 
(•:ii)ipaii.'ii-;;  one  against  Fort  Du  Quesne;  one 
i-iiii-i  Crown  Point;  one  against  Niagara,  and 
oil.'  auaiii>t  the  French  settlements  in  Nova  Scotia. 
Neiuly  every  one  proved  a  failure.  The  English 
were  defeated  (m  sea  and  on  laud,  all  owing  to  the 
incapacity  of  Parliament,  and  the  want  of  a  suit- 
able, vigorous  hiader.  The  settlements  on  the  front- 
iers, now  exposed  to  a  cruel  foe,  prepared  to  defend 
themselves,  and  already  the  signs  of  a  government 
of  their  own,  able  to  defend  itself,  began  to 
appear.  They  received  aid  from  the  colonics. 
Though  the  French  were  not  n^pulsed,  tlioy  and 
their  red  allies  i'ound  they  could  not  murder  with 
impunity.  Self-preservation  was  a  stronger  incen- 
tive in  conflict  than  aggrandizement,  and  the 
cruelty  of  the  Indians  found  avengers. 

The  great  i^itt  became  Prime  Minister  June  29, 
1757.  The  leader  of  the  English  now  appeared. 
The  British  began  to  regain  their  losses  on  sea  and 
land,  and  for  them  a  brighter  day  wa.s  at  hand. 
The  key  to  the  West  mu.st  be  retaken,  and  to  Gen. 
Forbes  wa.s  a.ssigned  the  duty.  Preceding  him, 
a  trusty  man  was  .sent  to  the  Western  Indians 
at  the  head-waters  of  the  Ohio,  and  along  the  Mo- 
nongahela  and  Alleghany,  to  sec  if  some  compro- 
mise with  them  could  not  be  made,  and  their  aid 
secured.  The  French  had  been  busy  through  their 
ti-aders  inciting  the  Indians  against  the  English. 
The  lawless  traders  were  another  source  of  trouble. 
Caring  nothing  for  either  nation,  they  carried  on  a 
dLstr&ssing  traffic  in  direct  violation  of  the  laws, 
continually  engendering  ill-feeling  among  the  na- 
tives. "Your  traders,"  said  one  of  them,  "bring 
scarce  anything  but  rum  and  flour.  They  bring 
little  powder  and  lead,  or  other  valuable  goods. 
The  rum  ruins  us.  We  beg  you  would  ])revent 
its  coming  in  such  quantities  by  regulating  the 
traders.  *  *  *  These  wicked  whiskj-  sell- 
ers, when  they  have  got  the  Indians  in  li((uor,  make 
them  sell  the  very  clothes  off  their  backs.  If  this 
practice  be  continued,  we  must  be  inevitably  ruined. 
We  mostcarnestly.  therefore,  beseech  you  to  remedy 
it."  They  comjilained  of  the  Frc^neh  trad(!rs  the  same 
way.  The\'  were  also  beginning  to  see  the  animus 
of  the  whole  conflict.  Neither  power  cared  as 
much  for  them  as  for  their  land,  and  flattered  and 
bullied  jjy  turns  as  served  their  purpcjses  best. 

The  man  selected  to  go  upon  this  undertaking 
was  Christian  Frederic  Post,  a  Moravian,  who  had 
lived  among  the  Indians  seventeen  years,  and  mar- 


ried into  one  of  their  tribes.  He  was  ami.ssionary, 
and  though  obliged  to  cross  a  couiiiiy  whose  every 
stream  had  been  dyed  by  blood,  and  every  hillside 
rung  with  the  death-yell,  and  grown  red  with  the 
light  of  burning  huts,  he  went  willingly  on  his  way. 
Of  his  journey,  sufferings  and  doings,  his  own 
journal  tells  the  story.  lie  left  Philadelphia  on  the 
1.5th  of  July,  1758,  and  on  the  7th  of  August 
safely  passed  the  French  postal  Venango,  went  on 
to  Big  Beaver  Creek,  where  he  held  a  conference 
with  the  chiefs  of  the  Indians  gathered  there.  It 
was  decided  that  a  great  conference  should  be 
held  opposite  Fort  Du  Quesne,  where  there  were 
Indians  of  eight  nations.  "We  will  bear  you  in 
our  bosoms,"  .said  the  natives,  when  Post  expressed 
a  fear  that  he  might  be  delivered  over  to  the 
French,  and  royally  they  fulfilled  their  promises. 
At  the  conference,  it  was  made  clear  to  Post  that 
all  the  Western  Indians  were  wavering  in  their 
allegiance  to  the  French,  owing  largely  to  the  fail- 
ure of  that  nation  to  fulfill  their  promises  of  aid  to 
prevent  them  from  btnug  deprived  of  their  land  by 
the  Six  Nations,  and  through  that  confederacy,  by  the 
English.  The  Indians  complained  bitterly,  more- 
over, of  the  disposition  of  the  whites  in  over-run- 
ning and  claiming  their  lands.  "Why  did  you  not 
fight  your  battles  at  home  or  on  the  sea,  instead  of 
coming  into  our  country  to  fight  them?"  they 
ivsked  again  and  again,  and  mournfully  shook  their 
heads  when  they  thought  of  the  future  before  them. 
"  I'oiir  heart  is  good,"  said  they  to  Po.st.  "  Von 
speak  sincerely ;  but  we  know  there  is  always  a  great 
number  who  wish  to  get  rich ;  they  have  enough  ; 
look  !  we  do  not  want  to  be  rich  and  t:ike  away 
what  others  have.  The  white  peojjle  think  we 
have  no  brains  in  our  heads ;  that  they  are  big, 
and  we  are  a  handful ;  but  remember  when  you 
hunt  for  a  rattlesnake,  you  cannot  always  find  it, 
and  perhaps  it  will  turn  and  bite  you  before  you  see 
it."*  When  the  war  of  Pontiac  came,  and  all 
the  West  was  desolated,  this  saying  might  have 
been  justly  remembered.  After  concluding  a  peace. 
Post  set  out  for  Philadelphia,  and  after  incredi- 
ble hard.ships,  reached  the  settlement  uninjured 
early  in  September.  His  mission  had  more  to  do 
than  at  first  is  apparent,  in  the  success  of  the 
Engli.sh.  Had  it  not  been  for  him,  a  second  Brad- 
dock's  defeat  might  have  befiiUen  Forbes,  now  on 
his  way  to  subjugate  Fort  Du  Quesne. 

Through  the  heatsof  Augu.st,  the  armj-  hewed  its 
way  toward  the   West.     Early  in   September  it 


•Post's  Journal. 


-.'Z 


iiiSTony  OF  OHIO. 


reached  Raystown,  whitlier  Wasliiniiteu  liaj  been 
ordered  with  his  troops.  Sickness  liad  jirevented 
him  from  being  here  ah'eady.  Two  officers  were 
sent  out  to  reeonnoiter  the  fort,  who  returned  and 
gave  a  very  good  account  of  its  condition.  Gen. 
Forbes  desired  to  know  more  of  it,  and  sent  out 
Maj.  Grant,  with  800  men,  to  gain  more  complete 
knowledge.  Maj.  Grant,  supposing  not  more  than 
-DO  soldiers  to  bo  in  the  fort,  marched  near  it  and 
made  a  feint  to  draw  them  out,  and  engage  them 
in  battle.  He  was  greatly  misinl'ormed  as  to  the 
strength  of  the  Frencli,  and  in  the  engagement 
that  followed  he  was  badly  beaten — 270  of  his  men 
killed,  42  wounded,  and  several,  including  himself, 
taken  prisoners.  Tlie  French,  elated  with  their 
victory,  attacked  the  main  army,  but  were  repulsed 
and  obliged  to  retreat  to  the  fort.  The  army  con- 
tinued on  its  march.  On  the  24th  of  November 
they  reached  Turtle  Creek,  where  a  council  of  war 
was  held,  and  where  Gen.  Forbes,  who  liad  been  so 
ill  as  to  be  carried  on  a  litter  from  the  start,  de- 
clared, with  a  mighty  oath,  he  would  sleep  that 
night  in  the  fort,  or  in  a  worse  place.  The  Indi- 
ans had,  however,  carried  the  news  to  the  French 
that  the  English  were  as  plenty  as  the  trees  of  the 
woods,  and  in  their  fright  they  set  fire  to  the  fort  in 
the  night  and  left  up  and  down  the  Ohio  lliver. 
The  next  mcirning  the  English,  who  had  heard  the 
explosion  of  the  magazine,  and  seen  the  light  of 
the  burning  walls,  marched  in  and  took  peaceable 
possession.  A  small  fortification  was  thrown  up 
on  the  bank,  and,  in  honor  of  the  great  English 
statesman,  it  was  called  Fort  Pitt.  Col.  Hugh  Mer- 
cer was  left  in  command,  and  the  main  body  of  the 
army  marched  back  to  the  settlements.  It  reached 
Piiiladelphia  January  17,  1759.  On  the  11th  of 
3Iarch,  Gen.  Forbes  died,  and  was  buried  in  the 
chancel  of  Christ's  Church,  in  that  city. 

Post  was  now  sent  on  a  mission  to  the  Six  Na- 
tions, with  a  report  of  the  ti-eaty  of  Easton.  He 
was  again  instrumental  in  preventing  a  coalition  of 
the  Indians  and  the  French.  Indeed,  to  this  ob- 
scure Jloravian  missionary  belongs,  in  a  largo 
measure,  the  lionor  of  the  capture  of  Fort  Du 
Quesne,  for  by  his  influence  had  the  Indians  been 
restrained  from  attacking  the  army  on  its  march. 

The  garrison,  on  leaving  the  fort,  went  up  and 
down  the  Ohio,  part  to  Presque  Isle  by  land,  part  to 
Fort  A'enango,  while  some  of  them  went  on  down 
the  Ohio  nearly  to  the  Mississippi,  and  there,  in 
what  is  now  Massac  County,  111.,  erected  a  fort, 
called  by  them  Port  Massac.  It  was  afterward 
named  by  many  Fort  Massacre,  from  the  erroneous 


supposition  that  a  gai'ri.son  had  been  massacred 
there. 

The  French,  though  dejirived  of  the  key  to 
the  West,  went  on  preparing  stores  and  ammunition, 
expecting  to  retake  the  fort  in  the  spring.  Before 
they  could  do  this,  however,  other  places  demanded 
their  attention. 

The  success  of  the  campaign  of  1758  opened 
the  way  for  the  consummation  of  the  great  scheme 
of  Pitt — the  complete  reduction  of  Canada.  Three 
expeditions  were  planned,  by  which  Canada, 
already  well  nigh  annihilated  and  suflering  for 
food,  was  to  be  subjugated.  C)n  tlie  west,  Prideaux 
was  to  attack  Niagara  ;  in  the  center,  Amherst  was 
to  advance  on  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point ;  on 
the  east,  Wolfe  was  to  besiege  Quebec.  All  these 
points  gained,  the  three  armies  were  to  be  united 
in  the  center  of  the  province. 

Amherst  appeared  before  Ticonderoga  July  22. 
The  French  blew  up  their  works,  and  retired 
to  Crown  Point.  Driven  from  there,  they  re- 
treated to  Isle  Aus  Nois  and  entrenched  them- 
selves. The  lateness  of  the  season  prevented  fur- 
ther action,  and  Amherst  went  into  winter  quar- 
ters at  Crown  Point.  Early  in  Juno,  Wolfe 
appeared  before  Quebec  with  an  army  of  8,000 
men.  On  the  night  of  September  12,  he  silently 
ascended  the  river,  climbed  the  heights  of  Abra- 
liam,  a  spot  considered  impregnable  by  the 
French,  and  on  the  summit  formed  his  army  of 
5,000  men.  Montcalm,  the  French  commander, 
was  compelled  to  give  battle.  The  British  col- 
umns, flushed  with  success,  charged  his  half-formed 
lines,  and  dispersed  them. 

"They  fly!  they  fly!"  heard  Wolfe,  just  as  he 
expired  from  the  effect  of  a  mortal  wound,  though 
not  till  he  had  ordered  their  retreat  cut  off',  and 
exclaimed,  "Now,  God  be  praised,  I  die  happy." 
Montcalm,  on  hearing  from  the  surgeon  that  death 
would  come  in  a  few  hours,  said,  "I  am  glad  of  it. 
I  shall  not  live  to  see  the  surrender  of  Quebec."  At 
five  the  next  morning  he  died  happy. 

Prideaux  moved  up  Lake  Ontario,  and  on  the 
6th  of  July  invested  Niagara.  Its  capture  would 
cut  off'  the  French  from  the  west,  and  every  en- 
deavor was  made  to  hold  it.  Troops,  destined  to 
take  the  small  garrison  at  Fort  Pitt,  were  held  to 
assist  in  raising  the  siege  of  Niagara.  M.  de 
Aubry,  commandant  in  Illinois,  came  up  with  400 
men  and  200,000  pounds  of  flour.  Cut  oft'  by  the 
abandonment  of  Fort  Du  Quesne  front  the  Ohio 
route,  he  ascended  that  river  as  far  as  the  Wabash, 
thence  to  portage  of  Fort  Miami,  or  Fort  Wayne, 


rxl 


^, 


down  the  Maunioe  to  Lake  Eric,  and  on  to  Presqu- 
ville,  or  Presque  Isle,  over  the  portage  to  Le  Boeuf, 
and  thence  down  French  Creek  to  Fort  Venango. 
He  was  chosen  to  lead  the  expedition  for  the  relief 
of  Niagara.  Thej'  were  pursued  by  Sir  William 
Johnson,  successor  to  Prideaux,  who  had  lost  his 
life  by  the  bursting  of  a  cannon,  and  were  obliged  to 
flee.  The  next  day  Niagara,  cut  off  from  succor, 
surrendered. 

All  America  rang  with  exultation.  Towns  were 
bright  with  illuminations  ;  the  hillsides  shone  with 
bonfires.  From  press,  from  pulpit,  from  platform, 
and  from  speakers'  desks,  went  up  one  glad  song  of 
rejoicing.  England  was  victorious  everj-where. 
The  colonics  had  done  their  fiiU  share,  and  now 
learned  their  strength.  That  strength  was  needed 
now,  ibr  ere  long  a  different  conflict  raged  on  the 
soil  of  America — a  conflict  ending  in  the  birth  of 
a  new  nation. 

The  English  sent  Gen.  Stanwix  to  fortify  Fort 
Pitt,  still  looked  upon  as  one  of  the  principal  for- 
tresses in  the  West.  He  erected  a  good  fortifica- 
tion there,  which  remained  under  British  control 
fifteen  years.  Now  nothing  of  the  fort  is  left.  No 
memorial  of  the  British  passessicm  remains  in  the 
West  but  a  single  redoubt,  built  in  1764  by  Col. 
Bouquet,  outside  of  the  fort.  Even  this  can  hardly 
now  be  said  to  exist. 

The  fall  of  Quebec  did  not  immediately  produce 
the  submi.ssion  of  Canada.  M.  de  Levi,  on  whom 
the  command  devolved,  retired  with  the  French 
Army  to  Jlontreal.  In  the  spring  of  17t!0,  he  bo- 
sieged  Queb(!c,  but  the  arrival  of  an  English  fleet 
caused  him  to  again  retreat  to  Montreal. 

Amherst  and  Johnson,  meanwhile,  effected  a 
union  of  their  forces,  the  magnitude  of  whose 
armies  convinced  the  French  that  resistance  would 
be  useless,  and  on  the  8th  of  September,  M.  de 
Vaudreuil,  the  Governor  of  Canada,  surrendered 
Montreal,  Quebec,  Detroit,  Mackinaw  and  all  other 
posts  in  Canada,  to  the  English  commander-in- 
chief,  Amherst,  on  condition  that  the  French  in- 
habitants should,  during  the  war,  be  "protected 
in  the  full  and  free  exercise  of  their  religion,  and 
the  full  enjoyment  of  their  civil  rights,  leaving 
their  future  destinies  to  be  decided  by  the  treaty 
of  peace.  " 

Though  peace  was  concluded  in  the  New  World, 
on  the  Continent  the  Powers  experieiuM'd  some 
diflieulty  in  arriving  at  a  satisfactory  sittlcincnt. 
It  was  finally  .settled  bj'  what  is  known  in  historj- 
as  the  ''family  compact."  France  and  Spain  saw 
in  the  conquest  the  growing  power  of  England, 


and  saw,  also,  that  its  continuance  only  extended 
that  power.  Negotiations  were  re-opened,  and  on 
the  3d  of  November,  1762,  preliminaries  were 
agreed  to  and  signed,  and  afterward  ratified  in 
Paris,  in  February,  1763.  By  the  terms  of  the 
compact,  Spain  ceded  to  Great  Britian  East  and 
West  Florida.  To  compensate  Spain,  France 
ceded  to  her  by  a  secret  article,  all  Louisiana  west 
of  the  Mississippi. 

The  French  and  Indian  war  was  now  over. 
Canada  and  all  its  dependencies  were  now  in  pos- 
session of  the  English,  who  hold  undisputed  sway 
over  the  entire  West  as  far  as  Jlississippi.  It  only 
remaineil  for  them  to  take  po.ssession  of  the  out- 
posts. Major  Robert  Rogers  was  sent  to  take  po.s- 
session  of  Detroit  and  establish  a  garrison  tliere. 
lie  was  a  partisan  officer  on  the  borders  of  New 
Hampshire,  where  he  earned  a  name  for  braver}', 
but  afterward  tarnished  it  by  trea.sonable  acts.  On 
his  way  to  Detroit,  on  the  7th  of  November,  1760, 
he  Wits  met  by  the  renowned  chief,  Pontiac,  who 
authoritatively  commanded  him  to  pause  and  ex- 
plain his  acts.  Rogers  replied  by  explaining  the 
conquest  of  Canada,  and  that  he  was  acting  under 
orders  from  his  King.  Thrt>ugh  the  influence  of 
Pontiac,  the  army  was  saved  from  the  Indians 
sent  out  by  the  French,  and  was  allowed  to  pro- 
ceed on  its  wa}'.  Pontiac  had  iissured  his  protec- 
tion as  long  as  the  English  treated  him  with  due 
deference.  Beletre,  the  commandant  at  Detroit, 
refused  to  surrender  to  the  English  commander, 
until  he  had  received  positive  aissurance  from  his 
Governor,  Vaudreuil,  that  the  country  was  indeed 
conquered.  On  the  29th  of  September,  the  colors 
of  France  gave  way  to  the  ensign  of  Great  Britain 
amid  the  shouts  of  the  soldiery  and  the  astonish- 
ment of  the  Indians,  whose  savage  natures  could 
not  understand  how  such  a  simple  act  declared  one 
nation  victors  of  another,  and  who  wondered  at 
the  forbearance?  disjilayed.  The  lateness  of  the 
season  prevented  i'nrther  operations,  but  early  the 
next  spring,  Mackinaw.  Green  Bay,  Ste.  Marie,  St. 
Jo.seph  and  the  t)uitenon  surrounded,  and  nothing 
was  left  but  the  Illinois  towns.  These  were  se- 
cured as  soon  as  the  necessary  arrangements  could 
be  made. 

Thougli  the  English  were  now  masters  of  the 
We.st,  and  had,  while  many  of  these  events  naiv 
rated  were  transpiring,  extended  their  .settlements 
beyond  the  Alleghanies,  they  were  by  no  means 
.secure  in  their  possession.  The  woods  and  prairies 
were  full  of  Indians,  who,  finding  the  English  like 
the  French,  caring  more  for  gain  than  the  welfare 


Ai 


48 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


of  the  natives,  began  to  exhibit  impatience  and  re- 
sentment as  they  saw  their  lands  gradually  taken 
from  them.  The  English  policy  differed  very 
materially  from  the  French.  The  French  made 
the  Indian,  in  a  measure,  independent  and  taught 
him  a  desire  for  European  goods.  They  also 
affiliated  easily  with  them,  and  became  thereby 
strongly  endeared  to  the  savage.  The  French 
were  a  merry,  easy-going  race,  fond  of  gayety  and 
delighting  in  adventure.  The  English  were  harsh, 
stern,  and  made  no  advances  to  gain  the  friend- 
ship of  the  savage.  They  wanted  land  to  cultivate 
and  drove  away  the  Indian's  game,  and  forced  him 
farther  west.  "Where  shall  we  go?"  said  the 
Indian,  despondently ;  "you  drive  us  farther  and 
farther  west;  by  and  by  you  will  want  all  the 
laud."  And  the  Anglo-Saxon  went  sturdily  on, 
paying  no  heed  to  the  complaints.     The  French 


traders  incited  the  Indian  to  resent  the  encroach- 
ment. "  The  English  will  annihilate  you  and  take 
all  your  land,"  said  they.  "  Their  father,  the  King 
of  France,  had  been  asleep,  now  he  had  awakened 
and  was  coming  with  a  great  army  to  reclaim  Can- 
ada, that  had  been  stolen  from  him  while  he  slept." 
Discontent  under  such  circumstances  was  but 
natural.  Soon  all  the  tribes,  from  the  mountains 
to  the  Mississippi,  were  united  in  a  plot.  It  was 
discovered  in  1761,  and  arrested.  The  next  sum- 
mer, another  was  detected  and  arrested.  The 
officers,  and  all  the  people,  failed  to  realize  the 
danger.  The  rattlesnake,  though  not  found,  was 
ready  to  strike.  It  is  only  an  Indian  discontent, 
thought  the  people,  and  they  went  on  preparing  to 
occupy  the  country.  They  were  mistaken — the 
crisis  only  needed  a  leader  to  dii'ect  it.  That 
leader  appeared. 


CHAPTER    IV. 


PONTIAC'S    CONSPIRACY— ITS    FAILURE— BOUQUET'S    EXPEDITION— OCCUPATION    BY    THE 

ENGLISH. 


PONTIAC,  the  greatchief  of  the  Ottawas,  was 
now  about  fifty  years  old.  He  had  watched 
the  conflict  between  the  nations  with  a  jealous  eye, 
and  as  he  saw  the  gradual  growth  of  the  English 
people,  their  encroachment  on  the  lands  of  the  In- 
dians, their  gi-eed,  and  their  assumption  of  the  soil, 
his  soul  was  stirred  within  him  to  do  something 
for  his  people.  He  had  been  a  true  friend  of  the 
French,  and  had  led  the  Indians  at  the  defeat  of 
Braddock.  Amid  all  the  tumult,  he  alone  saw  the 
true  state  of  affiiirs.  The  English  would  inevit- 
ably cru.sh  out  the  Indians.  To  save  his  race  he 
saw  another  alliance  with  the  French  was  neces- 
sary, and  a  restoration  of  their  power  and  habits 
needed.  It  was  the  plan  of  a  statesman.  It  only 
failed  because  of  the  perfidy  of  the  French.  Matur- 
ing his  plans  late  in  the  autumn  of  17C2,  he  sent 
messengers  to  all  the  Western  and  Southern  tribes, 
with  the  black  wampum  and  red  tomahawk,  em- 
blems of  war,  from  the  great  Pontiac.  "  On  a  cer- 
tain day  in  the  next  year,"  said  the  messenger,  "all 
the  tribes  are  to  rise,  seize  all  the  English  posts, 
and  then  attack  the  whole  frontier." 

The  gxeat  council  of  all  the  tribes  was  held  at 
the  river  Ecorces,  on  the  27tli  of  April,  1703. 
There,  before  the  assembled  chiefs,  Pontiac  deliv- 


ered a  speech,  full  of  eloquence  and  art.  He 
recounted  the  injuries  and  encroachments  of  the 
English,  and  disclosed  their  designs.  The  French 
king  was  now  awake  and  would  aid  them.  Should 
they  resign  their  homes  and  the  graves  of  their 
fathers  without  an  eScn't?  Were  their  young  men 
no  longer  brave?  Were  they  squaws?  The 
Great  Master  of  Life  had  eliided  them  for  their 
inactivity,  and  had  sent  his  commands  to  drive 
the  "Red  Dogs"  from  the  earth.  The  chiefs 
eagerly  accepted  the  wampum  and  the  tomahawk, 
and  separated  to  prepare  for  the  coming  strife. 

The  post  at  Detroit  was  informed  of  the  plot 
the  evening  before  it  was  to  occur,  by  an  Ojibway 
girl  of  great  beauty,  the  mistress  of  the  com- 
mander. Major  Gladwin.  Pontiac  was  foiled  here, 
his  treacheiy  discovered,  and  he  was  sternly  ordered 
fi-om  the  conference.  A  regular  seige  followed, 
but  he  could  not  prevail.  He  exhibited  a  degree 
of  sagacity  unknown  in  the  annals  of  savage  war- 
fare, but  all  to  no  purpose ;  the  English  were  too 
strong  for  him. 

At  all  the  other  posts,  save  one,  however,  the 
plans  of  Pontiac  were  carried  out,  and  atrocities, 
unheard  of  before  in  American  hi.story,  resulted. 
The  Indians  attacked  Detroit  on  the  first  of  5Iay, 


l^ 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


49 


and,  foiled  in  tlicir  plans-,  a  siege  immediately  fol- 
lowed. On  the  IGtli,  a  party  of  Indians  appeared 
before  the  fort  at  Sandusky.  Seven  of  them  were 
admitted.  Suddenly,  while  smokinj;,  the  nia.ssacre 
begins.  All  but  Ensign  PauUi,  the  commander, 
fall.     He  is  carried  its  a  trophy  to  I'ontiac. 

At  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Joseph'.s,  the  mission- 
aries had  maintained  a  mission  station  over  sixty 
yeai-s.  Thej'  gave  way  to  an  Engli.<li  garrison  of 
fourteen  soldiers  and  a  few  traders.  On  the 
morning  of  May  25,  a  deputation  of  Pottawato- 
raies  are  allowed  to  enter.  In  less  than  two  min- 
utes, all  the  g'jirrison  but  the  commander  are  slain. 
He  is  sent  to  Pontiac. 

Near  the  present  city  of  Fort  Wayne,  Ind., 
at  the  junction  of  the  waters,  stood  Fort  Miami, 
garrisoned  by  a  few  men.  Holmes,  the  com- 
mander, is  asked  to  visit  a  sick  woman.  He  is 
slain  on  the  way,  the  sergeant  following  is  made 
prisoner,  and  the  nine  soldiei-s  surrender. 

On  the  night  of  the  last  day  of  May,  the  wam- 
pum reaches  the  Indian  village  below  La  Fayette, 
Ind.,  and  near  Fort  Ouitcnon.  The  commander 
of  the  fort  is  lured  into  a  cabin,  bound,  and  his 
gaiTison  surrender.  Through  the  clemency  of 
French  settlers,  they  are  received  into  their  houses 
and  protected. 

At  Michilimackinac,  a  game  of  ball  is  projected. 
Suddenly  the  ball  is  thrown  through  the  gate  of  the 
stockade.  The  Indians  press  in,  and,  at  a  signal, 
almo.st  all  are  slain  or  made  prisoners. 

The  fort  at  Presque  Isle,  now  Erie,  was  the 
point  of  communication  between  Pittsburgh  and 
Niagara  and  Detroit.  It  was  one  of  the  most 
tenable,  and  had  a  garrison  of  four  and  twenty 
men.  On  the  22d  of  June,  the  commander,  to 
save  his  forces  from  total  annihilation,  surrenders, 
and  all  are  carried  prisoners  to  Detroit. 

The  capitulation  at  Erie  left  Le  Bosnf  with- 
out hope.  He  Wius  attacked  on  the  ISth, 
but  kept  off  tlie  Indians  till  midnight,  when  he 
made  a  successful  retreat.  As  they  passed  Ve- 
nango, on  their  way  to  Fort  Pitt,  they  saw  only 
the  ruins  of  that  ganxson.  Not  one  of  its  immates 
had  been  spared. 

Fort  Pitt  was  the  mo.st  important  station  west 
of  the  Alleghanies.  "  Escape  !  "  said  Turtle's 
Heart,  a  Delaware  warrior ;  "  you  will  all  be 
.slain.  A  gi-eat  army  is  coming."  "There  are 
three  large  English  armies  coming  to  my  aid," 
said  Ecuyer,  the  commander.  "  I  have  enough 
pro\Tsions  and  ammunitiou  to  stand  a  siege  of  three 
years'  time."     A  second   and   third  attempt  was 


made  by  the  savages  to  capture  the  post,  but  all  to 
no  avail.  Baffled  on  all  .sides  here,  they  destroy 
Ligonier,  a  few  miles  below,  and  massacre  men, 
women  and  childnai.  Fort  Pitt  was  besieged  till 
the  la.st  day  of  July,  but  withstood  all  attacks. 
Of  all  the  outposts,  only  it  and  Detroit  were  left. 
All  had  been  captured,  and  the  majority  of  the 
garrison  slain.  Along  the  frontier,  the  war  was 
waged  with  fiiry.  The  Indians  were  fighting  for 
their  homes  and  their  hunting-grounds;  and  i'or 
these  they  fought  with  the  fury  and  zeal  of 
fanatics. 

Detachments  sent  to  aid  Detroit  arc  cut  off. 
The  prisonere  are  burnt,  and  Pontiac,  infusing  his 
zealous  and  demoniacal  sjiirit  into  all  his  savage 
allies,  pressed  the  siege  with  vigor.  The  French 
remained  neutral,  yet  Pontiac  made  requisitions 
on  them  and  on  their  neighbors  in  Illinois,  issuing 
bills  of  credit  on  birch-bark,  all  of  which  were 
faithftdly  redeemed.  Though  these  two  posts 
could  not  be  captured,  the  frontier  could  be 
annihilated,  and  vigorously  the  Indians  pursued 
their  policy.  Along  the  borders  of  Pennsylvania 
and  Virginia  a  relentless  warfare  was  waged, 
sparing  no  one  in  its  way.  Old  age,  feeble  infancy, 
strong  man  and  gentle  woman,  fair  girl  and  hope- 
ful boy — all  fell  before  the  scalping-knife  of  the 
merciless  savage.  The  fi-ontiers  were  devastated. 
Thousands  were  obliged  to  flee,  leaving  their 
possessions  to  the  torch  of  the  Indian. 

The  colonial  government,  under  Briti.sh  direc- 
tion, was  inimical  to  the  borders,  and  the  colonists 
saw  they  must  depend  only  upon  their  own  arms 
for  protection.  Already  the  struggle  for  ft-ecdom 
was  upon  them.  They  could  defend  only  them- 
selves. They  must  do  it,  too;  for  that  defense  is 
now  needed  in  a  different  c;iuse  than  settling  dis- 
putes between  rival  powers.  "  We  have  millions 
for  defense,  but  not  a  cent  for  tribute,"  said  they, 
and  time  verified  the  remark. 

Gen.  Amherst  bestirred  himself  to  aid  the 
frontiers.  He  sent  Col.  Henry  Bouquet,  a  native 
of  Switzerland,  and  now  an  officer  in  the  English 
Army,  to  relieve  the  garrison  at  Fort  l*itt.  They 
followed  the  route  made  by  (Jen.  Forbes,  aiul  on 
the  way  relieved  Forts  Bedford  and  Ligonier,  both 
beleaguered  by  the  Indians.  About  a  day's  jour- 
ney beyond  Ligonier,  he  was  attacked  by  a  body 
of  Indians  at  a  place  called  Bushy  Hun.  For 
awhile,  it  seemed  that  he  and  all  his  army  would 
be  destroyed ;  but  Bou(iuet  was  bold  and  brave 
and,  under  a  feint  of  retreat,  routed  the  savages. 
He  pas.sed  on,  and  relieved   the   garrison   at   Fort 


V 


50 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


Pitt,  and  thus  secured  it  against  the  assaults  of 
the  Indians. 

The  campaign  had  been  disa.strous  to  the  Kn- 
glish,  but  fatal  to  the  jilaus  of  Fontiac.  He  could 
not  capture  Detroit,  and  he  knew  the  great  scheme 
must  fail.  Tlio  ])attle  of  Bushy  Run  and  the 
relief  of  Fort  Pitt  closed  the  campaign,  and  all 
hope  of  co-operation  was  at  an  end.  Circum- 
stances were  combined  against  the  confederacy, 
and  it  was  fast  falling  to  pieces.  A  proclamation 
was  issued  to  the  Indians,  explaining  to  tliem  the 
existing  state  of  affairs,  and  showing  to  them  the 
futility  of  their  plans.  Pontiac,  however,  would 
not  give  up.  Again  he  renewed  the  siege  of  De- 
troit, and  Gen.  Gage,  now  in  command  of  the 
army  in  the  colonies,  resolved  to  carry  the  war 
into  their  own  country.  Col.  Bradstreet  was  or- 
dered to  lead  one  army  by  way  of  the  lakes, 
against  the  Northern  Indians,  while  Col.  Bouquet 
was  sent  against  the  Indians  of  the  Ohio.  Col. 
Bradstreet  went  on  his  way  at  the  head  of  1,200 
men,  but  trusting  too  much  to  the  natives  and 
their  promises,  his  expedition  proved  largely  a  fail- 
ure. He  relieved  Detroit  in  August,  1764,  which 
had  been  confined  in  the  garrison  over  fifteen 
months,  and  dispersed  the  Indians  that  yet  lay 
around  the  fort.  But  on  his  way  back,  he  saw  how 
the  Indians  had  duped  hiui,  and  that  they  were 
still  plundering  the  settlements.  His  treaties  were 
annulled  by  Gage,  wlio  ordered  him  to  destroy 
their  towns.  The  sciison  was  far  advanced,  liis 
provisions  were  getting  low,  and  he  was  obliged  to 
return  to  Niagara  chagrined  and  disappointed. 

Col.  Bouquet  knew  well  the  character  of  the 
Indians,  and  shaped  his  plans  accordingly.  He 
had  an  army  of  1,500  men,  500  regulars  and  1,000 
volunteers.  They  had  had  experience  in  fighting 
the  savages,  and  could  be  depended  on.  At  Fort 
Loudon,  he  heard  of  Bradstreet's  ill  luck,  and  saw 
through  the  deception  practiced  by  the  Indians. 
He  arrived  at  Fort  Pitt  the  17th  of  September, 
where  he  an'csted  a  deputation  of  chiefs,  who  met 
him  with  the  same  promises  that  had  deceived 
Bradstreet.  He  sent  one  of  their  number  back, 
threatening  to  put  to  death  the  chiefs  unless  they 
allowed  his  messengers  to  safely  pass  through  their 
country  to  Detroit.  The  decisive  tone  of  his 
words  convinced  them  of  the  fate  that  awaited 
tlieni  unless  they  complied.  On  the  3d  of  Octo- 
ber the  army  left  Fort  Pitt,  marched  down  the 
river  to  and  across  the  Tuscarawas,  arriving  in  the 
vicinity  of  Fredrick  Post's  late  mission  on  the  17th. 
There  a  conference  was  held  with  the  assembled 


tribes.  Bouquet  sternly  rebuked  them  i'or  their 
i'aithlessness,  and  when  told  by  the  chiefs  they  could 
not  restrain  their  young  men,  lie  as  sternly  told 
them  they  were  responsible  for  their  acts.  He 
told  them  he  would  trust  them  no  longer.  If  they 
delivered  up  all  their  prisoners  within  twelve  days 
they  might  hope  for  peace,  otherwise  there  would 
be  no  mercy  shown  them.  They  were  completely 
humbled,  and,  separating  hastily,  gathered  their 
captives.  On  the  25th,  the  army  proceeded  down 
to  the  Tuscarawas,  to  the  junction  with  White 
Woman  lliver,  near  the  town  of  Coshocton,  in 
Coshocton  County,  Ohio,  and  there  made  jirepa- 
rations  for  the  reception  of  the  captives.  There 
they  remained  until  the  18th  of  November;  from 
day  to  day  prisoners  were  brought  in — men,  women 
and  children — and  delivered  to  their  friends.  JIany 
were  the  touching  scenes  enacted  during  this  time. 
The  separated  husband  and  wife  met,  the  latter 
often  carrying  a  child  born  in  captivity.  Brothers 
and  sisters,  separated  in  youth,  met ;  lovers  rushed 
into  each  other's  arms ;  children  found  their 
parents,  mothers  their  sons,  fathers  their  daughters, 
and  neighbors  those  from  whom  they  had  been 
separated  many  years.  Yet,  there  were  many  dis- 
tressing scenes.  Some  looked  in  vain  for  long-lost 
relatives  and  friends,  that  never  should  return. 
Others,  that  had  been  captured  in  their  infiiuey, 
would  not  leave  their  savage  friends,  and  when 
force  was  used  some  fled  away.  One  mother 
looked  in  vain  for  a  child  she  had  lost  years  be- 
fore. Day  by  day,  she  anxiously  watched,  but  no 
daughter's  voice  reached  her  ears.  One,  clad  in 
savage  attire,  was  brought  before  her.  It  could 
not  be  her  daughter,  slie  was  grown.  So  was  the 
maiden  before  her.  "  Can  not  you  remember  some 
mark'?"  asked  Bouquet,  whose  sympathies  were 
aroused  in  this  case.  "There  is  none,"  said  the 
anxious  and  sorrowful  mother.  "Sing  a  song  you 
sang  over  her  cradle,  she  may  remember,"  suggested 
the  commander.  One  is  sung  by  her  mother.  As 
the  song  of  childhood  floats  out  among  the  trees 
the  maiden  stops  and  listens,  then  approaches. 
Yes,  she  remembers.  Blother  and  daughter  are 
held  in  a  close  embrace,  and  the  stern  Bouquet 
wipes  away  a  tear  at  the  scene. 

On  the  IStli,  the  army  broke  up  its  encamp- 
ment and  started  on  its  homeward  march.  Bouquet 
kept  six  principal  Indians  as  hostages,  and  re- 
turned to  the  homes  of  the  captives.  The  Indians 
kept  their  promises  faithftilly,  and  the  next  year 
representatives  of  all  the  Western  tribes  met  Sir 
William  Johnson,  at  the  German  Flats,  and  made 


1^  a 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


■4- 


a  treaty  of  peace.  A  tract  of  land  in  the  Indian 
country  wius  ceded  to  the  wliites  for  the  benefit  of 
those  who  liad  suffered  in  the  late  war.  The  In- 
dians desired  to  make  a  treaty  with  Joliuson, 
wlurelpy  the  Alleirliaiiy  Kivcr  .should  be  the  we.st- 
ern  boundary  of  the  Knglish,  but  he  excused  him- 
self on  the  ground  of  [troper  power. 

Not  long  after  this  the  Illinois  settlement!?,  too 
remote  to  know  much  of  the  .struggle  or  of  any  of 
the  great  event.s  that  had  convulsed  an  empire,  and 
changed  the  destiny  of  a  nation,  were  brought 
under  the  English  rule.  There  were  five  villages 
at  this  date:  Ka.skaskia,  Cahokia,  St.  Philip,  Vin- 
cennes  and  Prairie  du  Kocher,  ne:ir  Fort  Chartrcs, 
the  military  headquartei's  of  these  Fnncli  posses- 
sions. They  were  under  the  control  or  command 
of  M.  de_  Abadie,  at  New  Orleans.  They  had  also 
ext-ended  explorations  west  of  the  MissLssippi,  and 
made  a  few  settlements  in  what  was  Spanish  terri- 
tory. The  country  had  been,  however,  ceded  to 
France,  and  in  February,  lT<i4.  the  country  was 
formally  taken  possession  of  and  the  present  city 
of  St.  Jjouis  laid  out. 

As  soon  a.s  the  French  knew  of  the  change  of 
government,  many  of  them  went  to  the  west  side  of 
the  river,  and  took  up  their  residence  there.  They 
were  protected  in  their  religion  and  civil  rights  by 
the  terms  of  the  treaty,  but  preferred  the  rule  of 
their  own  King. 

The  British  took  possession  of  this  country  early 
in  ITG.T.  Gen.  Gage  sent  Capt.  Stirling,  of  the 
English  Army,  who  arrived  before  summer,  and  to 
whom  St.  Ange,  the  nominal  commandant,  surren- 
dered the  authority.  The  British,  through  a  suc- 
cession of  commanders,  retiiined  control  ofthecoun- 
try  until  deU^ated  by  George  Rogers  Clarke,  and 
his  "nigged  \'irginia  militia." 

After  a  short  time,  the  French  again  ceded  the 
country  west  of  the  Mississippi  to  Spain,  and  re- 
limiuislird  forever  their  control  of  all  the  West  in 
the  New  World. 

The  population  of  Western  Louisiana,  when  the 
exchange  of  governments  occurred,  was  estimated 
to  be  13,588,  of  which  891  were  in  the  Illinois 
country — as  it  was  called — west  of  the  MissLssippi. 
Eitst  of  the  river,  and  before  the  French  crossed 
into  Spanish  country,  the  population  was  estimated 
to  be  about  3,000.  All  the.se  had  grown  into 
communities  of  a  peculiar  character.  Indeed,  that 
peculiarity,  as  ha.s  beim  observed,  never  changed 
until  a  gradual  amalgamation  with  the  American 
people  effected  it,  and  that  took  more  than  a  cen- 
tury of  time  to  accomplish. 


The  English  now  owned  the  Northwest.  True, 
they  did  not  yet  occupy  but  a  small  part  of  it,  but 
traders  were  ag;iin  crossing  the  mountains,  ex- 
plorers fur  lands  were  on  the  Ohio,  and  families 
for  settlement  were  beginning  to  look  upon  the 
West  a.s  their  future  home.  Companies  were  again 
forming  to  purchase  large  tracts  in  the  Ohio  coun- 
try, and  open  them  for  emigration.  One  thing  yet 
stood  in  the  way — a  definite  boundary  line.  That 
line,  however,  was  between  the  English  and  the 
Indians,  and  not,  as  had  heretofore  been  the  case, 
between  rival  European  Powers.  It  was  necessary 
to  arrange  some  definite  boundary  before  land  com- 
panies, who  wore  now  actively  pushing  their  claims, 
could  safely  survey  and  locate  their  lands. 

Sir  William  Johnson,  who  had  at  previous  times 
been  instrumental  in  securing  treaties,  wrote  re- 
peatedly to  the  Board  of  Trade,  who  controlled  the 
greater  part  of  the  commercial  tran.sactions  in  the 
colonies — and  who  were  the  first  to  ext-laim  against 
extending  English  settlements  beyond  a  limit 
whereby  they  would  need  manufactures,  and  there- 
by become  independent  of  the  Mother  Country — 
urging  upun  them,  and  through  them  the  Crown,  the 
necessity  i>f  a  fixed  bcjundiLrv,  else  another  Indian 
war  was  prubul)le.  The  Indians  found  themselves 
gradually  hemmed  in  by  the  growing  power  of  tlu; 
whites,  and  began  to  exhibit  hostile  ieelings.  The 
irritation  became  so  great  that  in  the  summer  of 
1767,  Giige  wrote  to  the  Governor  of  Pennsylvania 
concerning  it.  The  Governor  communicated  his 
letter  to  the  General  Assembly,  who  sent  repre- 
sentatives to  England,  to  urge  the  immediate  set- 
tlement of  the  question.  In  com|)liance  with  these 
requests,  and  the  letters  of  prominent  citizens, 
Franklin  among  the  number,  instructions  were  sent 
to  Johnson,  ordering  him  to  complete  the  purchase 
from  the  Six  Nations,  and  settle  all  differences. 
He  sent  word  to  all  the  Western  tribes  to  meet 
him  at  Fort  Stanwix,  in  October,  17(i8.  The  con- 
ference Wiis  held  on  the  24th  of  that  month,  and 
was  attended  by  colonial  representatives,  and  by 
Indians  from  all  parts  of  the  Northwest.  It  was 
determined  that  the  line  .should  begin  on  the  Ohio, 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Ciienikee  (Tennes.see),  thence 
up  the  river  to  the  Alleghany  and  on  to  Kittan- 
ning,  and  thence  across  to  the  Susquehanna.  By 
this  line,  the  whole  country  south  of  the  Ohio  and 
Alleghany,  to  which  the  Six  Nations  liad  any 
claim,  was  transferred.  Part  of  this  land  was 
made  to  compensate  twenty-two  traders,  whose  goods 
had  been  stolen  in  1703.  The  deeds  made,  were 
upon  the  express  agreement  that  no  claims  should 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


ever  be  based  on  the  treaties  of  Lancaster,  Logs- 
town,  etc.,  and  were  signed  by  the  chiefs  of  the  Six 
Nations  for  themselves,  their  allies  and  dependents, 
and  the  Sliawanees,  Delawares,  Mingoes  of  Ohio, 
and  others;  though  the  Shawanees  and  Delaware 
deputies  did  not  sign  them.  On  this  treaty,  in  a 
great  me;isure,  rests  the  title  by  purchase  to  Ken- 
tucky, Western  Virginia  and  Western  Pennsylva- 
nia. The  rights  of  the  Chcrokces  were  purchased 
by  Col.  Donaldson,  either  for  the  King,  Virginia, 
or  for  himself,  it  is  impossible  to  say  which. 

The  grant  of  the  northern  confederacy  was  now 
made.  The  white  man  could  go  in  and  possess 
these  lands,  and  know  that  an  army  would  protect 
him  if  necessary.  Under  such  a  guarantee,  West^ 
ern  lands  came  rapidly  into  market.  In  addition 
to  companies  already  in  existence  for  the  purchase 
of  land,  others,  the  most  notable  of  these  being  the 
"Walpole"  and  the  "Mississippi"  Land  Companies, 
were  formed.  This  latter  had  among  its  organizers 
such  men  ;is  Francis  Lightfoot  Lee,  Kichard 
Henry  Lee,  George  Washington  and  Arthur  Lee. 
Before  any  of  these  companies,  some  of  whom  ab- 
sorbed the  Ohio  Company,  could  do  anything,  the 
Revolution  came  on,  and  all  land  transactions  were 
at  an  end.  Atler  its  close.  Congress  would  not 
sanction  their  claims,  and  they  fell  through.  This 
did  not  deter  settlers,  however,  from  crossing  the 
mountains,  and  settling  in  the  Ohio  country.     In 


spite  of  troubles  with  the  Indians — some  of  whom 
regarded  the  treaties  with  the  Six  Nations  as  un- 
lawful, and  were  disposed  to  complain  at  the  rapid 
influx  of  whites — and  the  failure  of  the  land  com- 
panies, settlers  came  steadily  during  the  decade 
from  17G8  to  1778,  so  that  by  the  close  of  that 
time,  there  was  a  large  population  south  of  the 
Ohio  River ;  while  scattered  along  the  northern 
banks,  extending  many  miles  into  the  wilderness, 
were  hardy  adventurers,  who  were  carving  out 
homes  in  the  magnificent  forests  everywhere  cov- 
ering the  country. 

Among  the  foremost  speculators  in  Western 
lands,  was  George  Washington.  As  early  as  17G3, 
he  employed  Col.  Crawford,  aflerward  the  leader  in 
"  Crawford's  campaign,"  to  purchase  lands  for  him. 
In  1770,  lie  crossed  the  mountains  in  company 
with  several  gentlemen,  and  examined  the  country 
along  the  Ohio,  down  which  stream  he  passsed  to 
the  mouth  of  the  Great  Kanawha,  where  he  shot 
some  buffalo,  then  plenty,  camped  out  a  few  nights, 
and  returned,  fully  convinced,  it  seems,  that  one 
day  the  West  would  be  the  best  part  of  the  New- 
World.  He  owned,  altogether,  nearly  fifty  thou- 
sand acres  in  the  West,  which  he  valued  at  §3.33 
per  acre.  Had  not  the  war  of  the  Revolution  just 
then  broken  out,  he  might  have  been  a  resident  of 
the  West,  and  would  have  been,  of  course,  one  of 
its  most  prominent  citizens. 


CHAPTER    V. 


AMERICAN    EXPLORATIONS  — DUNMORES     WAR  — CAMPAIGN    OF    GEORGE    ROGERS    CLARKE- 
LAND    TROUBLES— SPAIN    IN    THE    REVOLUTION  — MURDER    OF 
THE    MORAVIAN    INDIANS. 


MEANWHILE,  Kentucky  was  filling  with 
citizen.s,  and  though  consideraliK'  tioiilile 
was  experienced  with  the  Indians,  and  the  <i]]erati.ins 
of  Col.  Richard  Henderson  and  others,  who  made 
unlawful  treaties  with  the  Indians,  yet  Daniel 
Bocme  and  his  lussociates  had  established  a 
commonwealth,  and,  in  1777,  a  county  was 
formed,  which,  erelong,  was  divided  into  three. 
Louisville  was  laid  out  on  land  belonging  to 
Tories,  and  an  important  start  made  in  this  part 
of  the  West.  Emigrants  came  down  the  Ohio 
River,  saw  the  northern  shores  were  inviting,  and 
sent  back  such  accounts  that  the  land  north  of  the 
river  rapidly  grew  in   favor  with  Eastern   people. 


One  of  the  most  important  Wastern  characters, 
Col.  (afterward  Gen.)  George  Rogers  Clarke,  had 
had  much  to  do  in  forming  its  character.  He 
was  born  November  19,  1732,  in  Albemarle 
County.  Va.,  and  early  came  West.  He  had  an 
unusually  sagacious  sjiirit,  was  an  excellent  sur- 
veyor and  general.  andl(ii)k  an  active  interest  in 
all  State  and  national  affairs.  He  understood  the 
animus  of  the  Revolution,  and  was  prepared  to 
do  his  part.  Col.  Clarke  was  now  meditating  a 
move  unequaled  in  its  boldness,  and  one  that  luid 
more  to  do  with  the  success  of  America  in  the 
struggle  for  independence  than  at  first  appears. 
He  saw  through  the  whole  plan  of  the  British, 


:i: 


'-^ 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


who  held  all  the  outposts,  Kaskaskia,  Detroit, 
Vincennes  and  Niagara,  and  determined  to  circum- 
vent thcni  and  wrest  the  West  from  their  power. 
The  British  hoped  to  encircle  the  Americans  by 
these  outposts,  and  also  unite  the  Indians  in  a 
common  war  against  them.  That  had  been 
attempted  by  the  French  when  the  English  con- 
fjuered  them.  Then  the  French  had  a  powerful 
ally  in  the  person  of  Pontiac,  yet  the  brave  front- 
iersmen heltl  their  homes  in  many  places,  though 
the  Indians  "drank  the  blood  of  many  a  Briton, 
scooping  it  up  in  the  hollow  of  joined  hands." 
Now  the  Briton  had  no  Pontiae  to  lead  the  scat> 
tered  tribes — tribes  who  now  feared  the  unerring 
aim  of  a  settler,  and  would  not  attack  him  oju-nl}- — 
Clarke  knew  that  the  Delawares  were  divided  in 
feeling  and  that  the  Shawanees  were  but  imperfectly 
united  in  favor  of  England  since  the  murder  of 
their  noted  chiefs.  He  was  convinced  that,  if  the 
British  could  be  driven  from  the  Western  po.sts, 
the  natives  could  easily  be  awed  into  submission, 
or  bribed  into  neutrality  or  friendship.  They 
admired,  from  their  savage  views  of  valor,  the 
side  that  became  victorious.  They  cared  little  for 
the  cause  for  which  either  side  was  fighting. 
Clarke  sent  out  spies  among  them  to  ascertain  the 
feasibility  of  his  plans.  The  spies  were  gone 
from  April  20  to  June  22,  and  fully  corroborated 
his  views  concerning  the  English  policy  and  the 
fejlings  of  the  Indians  and  French. 

Before  proceeding  in  the  narrative  of  this  expe- 
dition, however,  it  will  be  well  to  notice  a  few  acts 
transpiring  north  of  the  Ohio  Eiver,  espeeiallj'  re- 
lating to  the  land  treaties,  as  they  were  nut  without 
effect  on  the  British  policy.  Many  of  tlie  Inilians 
north  and  south  of  the  Ohio  would  not  recognize 
the  validity  of  the  Fort  Stanwix  treaty,  claiming 
the  Iroquois  had  no  right  to  the  lands,  despite 
their  conquest.  These  discontented  natives  har- 
assed the  emigrants  in  such  a  manner  that  many 
Indians  were  slain  in  retaliation.  This,  and  the 
working  of  the  French  traders,  who  at  all  times 
were  bitterly  opposed  to  the  English  nde,  filled  the 
bre;ists  of  the  natives  with  a  malignant  hate,  which 
years  of  bloodslu-d  could  not  wash  out.  The 
murder  of  several  Indians  by  lawless  whites  fanned 
the  coal  into  a  blaze,  and,  by  1774,  .several  retalia- 
tory murdei-s  oceuiTcd,  committed  by  the  natives 
in  revenge  for  their  fallen  friends.  The  Indian 
slew  any  white  man  he  found,  as  a  revenge  on  some 
friend  of  his  slain  ;  the  frontiersman,  acting  on  the 
same  principle,  made  the  borders  extremely  dan- 
gerous to  invaders  and  invaded.     Another  cause 


of  fear  occurred  about  this  time,  which  threatened 
seriously  to  retard  emigration. 

Pittsburgh  had  been  claimed  by  both  Pennsyl- 
vania and  Virginia,  and,  in  endeavoring  to  settle 
the  dispute,  Lord  Dunmore  s  war  followed.  Dr. 
John  Connelly,  an  ambitious,  intriguing  person, 
induced  Lord  Dunmore  to  assert  the  claims  of  Vir- 
ginia, in  the  name  of  the  King.  In  attempting  to 
carry  out  his  intentions,  he  was  arrested  by  Arthur 
St.  Clair,  representing  tlu^  ]>ro]irietors  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, who  wa.s  at  Pittsburgh  at  the  time.  Con- 
nelly was  relea.scd  on  bail,  but  went  at  once  to 
Staunton,  where  he  was  sworn  in  as  a  Justice  of 
Peace.  Returning,  he  gathered  a  force  of  one 
hundred  and  fitly  men,  suddenly  took  po.ssession  of 
Pittvsburgh,  refused  to  allow  the  magistrates  to 
enter  the  Court  House,  or  to  exercise  the  functions 
of  their  offices,  unless  in  conformity  to  his  will. 
Connelly  refused  any  terms  offered  by  the  Penn- 
.sytvania  deputies,  kept  possession  of  the  place, 
acted  very  harshly  toward  the  inhabitants,  stirred 
up  the  neutral  Indians,  and,  for  a  time,  threatened 
to  make  the  boundary  line  between  the  two  colonies 
a  very  serious  question.  His  actions  led  to  hostile 
deeds  by  some  Indians,  when  the  whites,  no  doubt 
urged  by  him,  murdered  seven  Indians  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Captina  River,  and  at  the  house  of 
a  settler  named  Baker,  where  the  Indians  were 
decoyed  under  promises  of  friendship  and  offers  of 
rum.  Among  those  murdered  at  the  latter  j)laee, 
was  the  entire  family  of  the  famous  Mingoe  chief, 
Logan.  This  has  been  charged  to  Jlichael  Cre.sap; 
but  is  untrue.  Daniel  Greathouse  had  command 
of  the  part}',  and  though  Cresap  ma}'  have  been 
among  them,  it  is  unjust  to  lay  the  blame  at  his 
feet.  Both  murders,  at  Captina  and  Yellow  Creek, 
were  cruel  and  unwarranted,  and  were,  without 
doubt,  the  cause  of  the  war  that  followed,  though 
the  root  of  the  matter  lay  in  Connelly's  arbitrary 
actions,  and  in  his  needlessly  alarming  the  Indians. 
Whatever  may  have  been  the  facts  in  relation  to 
the  murder  of  Logan's  family,  they  were  of  such 
a  nature  a.s  to  make  all  feel  sure  of  an  Indian  war, 
and  preparations  were  made  for  the  conflict. 

An  army  was  gathered  at  Wlieeling,  which, 
some  time  in  July,  under  command  of  Col.  3Ie- 
Donald,  descended  the  Ohio  to  the  mouth  of  Cap- 
tina Creek.  They  proposed  to  march  ag-ainst  an 
Indian  town  on  the  Muskingum.  The  Indians 
sued  for  peace,  but  their  pretensions  being  found 
spurious,  their  towns  and  crops  were  destroyed. 
The  army  then  retreated  to  Williamsburg,  having 
accomplished  but  little. 


54 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


TliG  Delaware's  were  anxious  for  peace ;  even  the 
Mingoes,  wliosc  relatives  had  been  slain  at  Yellow 
Creek,  and  Captina,  were  restrained;  but  Logan, 
who  had  been  turned  to  an  inveterate  foe  to  the 
AnjiiiraMs.  luiiie  .siuldeuly  upon  the  Monongahela 
setilriiii  lit-,  iiiiik  thirtet-ii  fiealps  in  revenge  for  the 
loss  of  ills  family,  returned  home  and  expressed 
himself  ready  to  treat  with  tlie  Long  Knives,  the 
Virginians.  Had  Connelly  acted  properly  at  this 
juncture,  the  war  might  have  been  ended;  but 
his  actions  only  incensed  both  borderers  and  In- 
dians. So  obnoxious  did  he  become  that  Lord 
Dunmore  lost  fliith  in  him,  and  severely  repri- 
manded him. 

To  put  a  stop  to  the  depredations  of  the  Indians, 
two  large  bodies  of  troops  were  gathered  in  Vir- 
ginia, one  under  Gen.  Andrew  Lewis,  and  one 
under  command  of  Dunmore  himself.  Before 
the  armies  could  meet  at  the  mouth  of  the  Great 
Kanawha,  their  objective  ]ioint,  Lewis'  army,  which 
arrived  first,  was  attacked  by  a  furious  baud  of  Dela- 
wares,  iShawanees,  Imquois  and  Wyaudots.  The 
conflict  was  bitterly  prolonged  by  the  Indians,  who, 
under  the  leadership  of  Cornstalk,  were  deter- 
mined to  make  a  decisive  efl'ort,  and  fought  till 
late  at  night  (October  10,  1774),  and  then  only  by 
a  strategic  move  of  Lewis'  command — which  re- 
sulted in  the  defeat  of  the  Indians,  compelling  them 
to  cross  the  Ohio — was  the  conflict  ended.  Mean- 
while, Dunmore's  army  came  into  the  enemy's 
country,  and,  being  joined  by  the  remainder  of 
Lewis'  command,  pressed  forward  intending  to  an- 
nihilate the  Indian  towns.  Cornstalk  and  his 
chiefs,  however,  sued  for  peace,  and  the  conflict 
closed.  Dunmore  established  a  camp  on  Sippo 
Creek,  whore  he  held  conferences  with  the  natives 
and  concluded  the  war.  When  he  left  the  country, 
he  stationed  100  men  at  the  mouth  of  the  Great 
Kanawha,  a  few  more  at  Pittsburgh,  and  another 
corps  at  Wheeling,  then  called  Fort  Fincastle. 
Dunmore  intended  to  return  to  Pittsburgh  the 
next  spring,  meet  tlic  Indians  and  form  a  definite 
peace ;  but  the  revolt  of  the  cokmies  prevented. 
However,  he  opened  several  offices  for  the  sale  of 
lands  in  the  West,  some  of  which  were  in  the  limits 
of  the  Pennsylvania  colony.  This  led  to  the  old 
boundary  dispute  again;  but  before  it  could  be 
settled,  the  Revolution  began,  and  Lord  Dunmore'.s, 
a.s  well  as  almost  all  other  land  speculations  in  the 
AVest,  were  at  an  end. 

In  1775  and  177C,  the  chief  events  transpiring 
in  the  West  relate  to  the  treaties  with  the  Indians, 
and  the  endeavor  on  the  part  of  the  Americans  to 


liavc  them  remain  neutral  in  the  family  quarrel  now 
coming  on,  which  they  could  not  understand.  The 
British,  like  the  French,  however,  could  not  let 
them  alone,  and  finally,  as  a  retaliatory  measure. 
Congress,  under  advice  of  Washington,  won  some  of 
them  over  to  the  side  of  the  colonies,  getting  their 
aid  and  holding  them  neutral.  The  colonies  only 
oflered  them  rewards  for  prisoners  ;  never,  like  tlie 
British,  offering  rewards  for  scalps.  Under  such 
rewards,  the  atrocities  of  the  Indians  in  some  quar- 
ters were  simply  horrible.  The  scalp  was  enough 
to  get  a  reward,  that  was  a  mark  of  Indian  valor, 
too,  and  hence,  helpless  innocence  and  decrepit  old 
age  were  not  spared.  They  stirred  the  minds  of 
the  pioneers,  who  saw  the  protection  of  their  fire- 
sides a  vital  point,  and  led  the  way  to  the  scheme 
of  Col.  Clarke,  who  wa.s  now,  a.s  has  been  noted,  the 
leading  spirit  in  Kentucky.  He  saw  through  the 
scheme  of  the  British,  and  determined,  by  a  quick, 
decisive  blow,  to  put  an  end  to  it,  and  to  cripple 
their  power  in  tlie  West. 

Among  the  acts  stimulating  Clarke,  was  the  attack 
on  Fort  Henry,  a  garrison  about  one-half  mile 
above  Wheeling  Creek,  on  the  Ohio,  by  a  renegade 
white  man,  Simon  Girty,  an  agent  in  the  employ  of 
the  British,  it  is  thought,  and  one  of  the  worst 
wretches  ever  known  on  the  frontier.  When  Girty 
attacked  Fort  Henry,  he  led  his  red  allies  in  regu- 
lar military  fashion,  and  attacked  it  without  mercy. 
The  defenders  were  brave,  and  kriew  with  whom 
they  were  contending.  Great  bravery  was  displayed 
by  the  women  in  the  fort,  one  of  whom,  a  Miss 
Zane,  carried  a  keg  of  gunpowder  from  a  cabin 
to  the  fort.  Though  repeatedly  fired  at  by  the  sav- 
ages, she  reached  the  fort  in  safety.  After  awhile, 
however,  the  effect  of  the  frontiersmen's  shots  began 
to  be  felt,  and  the  Indians  sullenly  withdrew. 
Re-enforcements  coming,  the  fort  wa.s  heki,  and 
Girty  and  his  band  were  obliged  to  flee. 

Clarke  saw  that  if  the  British  once  got  con- 
trol over  the  Western  Indians  the  scene  at  Fort 
Henry  would  be  repeated,  and  would  not  likely, 
in  all  eases,  end  in  favor  of  the  Americans.  Witli- 
out  communicating  any  of  his  designs,  he  left  Har- 
rodsburg  about  tlie  1st  of  October,  1777,  and 
reached  the  capital  of  Virginia  by  November  5. 
Still  keeping  liis  mind,  lie  awaited  a  favorable  op- 
portunity to  broach  his  plans  to  those  in  power, 
and,  in  the  meanwhile,  carefully  watched  the  exist- 
ing state  of  feeling.  When  the  opportunity  came, 
Clarke  broached  his  plans  to  Patrick  Henry,  Gov- 
ernor of  Virginia,  who  at  once  entered  warmly 
into    them,   recognizing   their    great   importance. 


A' 


■  ^ 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


Through  his  aid,  Clarice  jiroeuretl  the  nocessary  au- 
thority to  jirusocute  his  plaus,  ami  returned  at  once 
to  Pittsburirh.  He  intended  raising  men  about 
this  post,  but  found  them  iearful  of  leaving  their 
lionies  unprotected.  However,  he  secured  three 
companies,  and,  with  these  and  a  number  of  volun- 
teers, picked  up  on  the  way  down  the  UhioKiver, 
ho  fortified  Corn  Island,  near  the  falls,  and  made 
ready  for  his  expedition.  He  had  some  trouble  in 
keeping  his  men,  some  of  those  from  Kentucky 
refusing  to  aid  in  subduing  stations  out  of  their 
own  countr}-.  He  did  not  announce  his  real  inten- 
tions till  he  had  reached  this  point.  Here  Col. 
Bowman  joined  him  with  his  Kentucky  militia, 
and,  on  the  24tli  of  June,  1778,  during  a  total 
eclipse  of  the  sun,  the  party  left  the  fort.  Before 
his  start,  he  learned  of  the  capture  of  Burgoyne, 
and,  when  nearlj'  down  to  Fort  Miissac,  he  met 
some  of  his  spies,  who  informed  him  of  the  exag- 
gerated accounts  of  the  ferocity  of  the  Long 
Knives  that  the  French  had  received  from  the 
British.  By  proper  action  on  his  part,  Clarke  saw 
both  these  items  of  information  could  be  made 
very  beneficial  to  him.  Leaving  the  river  near 
Fort  Massac,  he  .set  out  on  the  march  to  Kaskas- 
kia,  through  a  hot  summer's  sun,  over  a  country 
full  of  Siivage  foes.  They  reached  the  town  un- 
noticed, on  the  evening  of  July  4,  and,  before 
the  astonished  British  and  French  knew  it.  they 
were  all  prisoners.  M.  Ilocheblave,  the  English 
commander,  w;i3  secured,  but  his  wife  adroitly  con- 
cealed the  pa[)ers  belonging  tt)  the  garrison.  In 
the  person  of  M.  Gibault,the  French  priest,  Clarke 
found  a  true  friend.  When  tlie  ti-ue  character  of 
the  A  irginians  became  apparent,  the  French  were 
easily  drawn  to  the  American  side,  and  the  priest 
secured  the  surrender  and  allegiance  of  Cahokia 
through  his  personal  influence.  M.  Gibault  told 
him  he  would  also  secure  the  post  at  St.  Vincent's, 
which  he  did,  returning  from  the  mission  about 
the  Lst  of  August.  During  the  interval,  Clarke  re- 
enlLsted  his  men,  formed  his  plans,  sent  his  pris- 
oners to  Kentucky,  and  w;is  ready  for  future  action 
when  M.  (Jibault  arrived.  He  sent  Cai)t.  Helm 
and  a  single  .soldier  to  Vincenncs  to  hold  that  fort 
until  he  could  put  a  garrison  there.  It  is  but 
proper  to  state  that  the  English  commander.  Col. 
Hamiltrin,  and  his  band  of  soldiers,  were  absent  at 
Detroit  when  tlie  priest  secured  tlic  village  on  the 
"Ouabaclu'.'  When  Hamilton  returned,  in  the 
autumn,  he  was  greatly  .surprised  to  see  the  Amer- 
ican flag  floating  from  the  ramparts  of  the  fort, 
and  when   approaching  the  gate  he  was  abruptly 


halted  by  Capt.  Helm,  who  stood  with  a  lighted  fuse 
in  liis  hand  by  a  cannon,  answering  Hamilton's 
demand  to  surrender  with  the  imperative  inquiry, 
'•  Upon  what  terms,  sir?"  "Upon  the  honors  of 
War,'  answered  Hamilton,  and  he  marched  in 
greatly  chagrined  to  see  he  had  been  halted  by 
two  men.  The  British  commander  sat  quietly 
down,  intending  to  go  on  down  the  river  and  sub- 
duo  Kentucky  in  the  spring,  in  the  mean  time 
offering  rewards  for  American  sculps,  and  thereliy 
gaining  the  epithet "  Hair-buyer  General."  Clarke 
heard  of  his  actions  late  in  January,  1779,  and,  as 
he  says,  "  I  knew  if  I  did  not  take  liiin  he  would 
take  me,"'  set  out  early  in  February  with  his  troops 
and  marched  across  the  marshy  plains  of  Lower 
lUinoi.s,  reaching  the  Wabash  post  by  the  22d  of 
that  month.  The  unerring  aim  of  the  Westerner 
Wiis  cftectual.  "  They  will  .shoot  your  eyes  out," 
said  Helm  to  the  British  troops.  "  There,  I  told 
you  so,"  he  further  exclaimed,  as  a  soldier  vent- 
ured near  a  port-hole  and  received  a  shot  directly 
in  his  eye.  On  the  24th  the  fort  surrendered. 
The  American  flag  waved  again  over  its  ramparts. 
The  "  Hair-buj'er  General"  was  sent  a  prisoner  to 
Virginia,  where  he  was  kept  in  close  confinement 
for  his  cru(^I  acts.  Clarke  returned  to  Kaskaskia, 
pc^rfected  his  plans  to  hold  the  Illinois  settlements, 
went  on  to  Kentucky,  from  where  he  sent  word  to 
the  colonial  authoriiies  of  the  success  of  his  expe- 
dition. Had  he  received  the  aid  promised  him, 
Detroit,  in  ea.sy  reach,  would  have  fallen  too,  but 
Gen.  Gri'en,  failing  to  send  it  as  jiromised,  the  capt- 
ure of  that  important  po.st  was  delayed. 

Had  Clarke  failed,  and  Hamilton  succeeded,  the 
whole  West  would  have  been  swept,  from  the  AUe- 
ghanies  to  the  Mississippi.  But  for  this  small 
army  of  fcarle-ss  Virginians,  the  union  of  all  the 
tribes  from  Georgia  to  JIaine  against  the  colonies 
might  have  been  effected,  and  the  whole  current 
of  American  history  changed.  America  owes 
Clarke  and  his  band  more  than  it  can  ever  pa^'. 
Clarke  reported  the  capture  of  Kaskxskia  and  the 
Illinois  country  Ciirly  after  its  surrender,  and  in 
October  the  county  of  Illinois  was  established, 
extending  over  an  unlimited  expanse  of  country, 
by  the  Virginia  Legislature.  John  Todd  was 
appointed  Lieutenant  Colonel  and  Civil  Governor. 
In  November,  Clarke  and  his  men  received  the 
thanks  of  the  same  body,  who,  in  after  years, 
secured  them  a  grant  of  land,  which  they  selected 
on  the  right  bank  of  the  Ohio  Biver,  opposite 
Louisville.  They  expected  hero  a  city  would  rise 
one  day,  to  be  the  peer  of  Loui.sville,  then  coming 


■^ 


HISTORY    OP    OHIO. 


into  prominence  as  an  important  place.  By  some 
means,  tlieir  expectations  failed,  and  only  the 
dilapidated  village  of  Clarkesburg  perpetuates 
their  hopes. 

The  conquest  of  Clarke  changed  the  face  of 
affairs  in  relation  to  the  whole  country  north  of 
the  Ohio  lliver,  which  would,  in  all  probability, 
have  been  made  the  boundary  between  Canada  and 
the  United  States.  When  this  was  proposed,  the 
strenuous  arguments  based  on  this  conquest,  by 
the  American  Commissioners,  secured  the  present 
boundary  line  in  negotiating  the  treaty  of  1793. 

Though  Clarke  had  failed  to  capture  Detroit, 
Congress  saw  the  importance  of  the  post,  and 
resolved  on  securing  it.  Gen.  McCosh,  commander 
at  Port  Pitt,  was  put  in  command,  and  $1,000,- 
000  and  3,000  men  placed  at  his  disposal.  By 
some  dilatory  means,  lie  got  no  further  than  the 
Tuscarawas  River,  in  Ohio,  where  a  half-way 
house,  called  Fort  Laurens,  for  the  President  of 
Congress,  was  built.  It  was  too  far  out  to  be  of 
practicable  value,  and  was  soon  after  abandoned. 

Indian  troubles  and  incursions  by  the  British 
were  the  most  absorbing  themes  in  the  West. 
The  British  went  so  far  as  Kentucky  at  a  later 
date,  while  they  intended  reducing  Fort  Pitt,  only 
abandiming  it  wlien  learning  of  its  strength. 
Expeditions  against  the  We.stern  Indians  were  led 
by  Gen.  Sullivan,  Col.  Daniel  Broadhead,  Col. 
Bowman  and  others,  which,  for  awhile,  silenced 
the  natives  and  taught  them  the  power  of  the 
Americans.  They  could  not  organize  so  readily 
as  before,  and  began  to  attach  themselves  more 
closely  to  the  British,  or  commit  their  depredations 
in  bands,  fleeing  into  the  wilderness  as  soon  as 
they  struck  a  blow.  In  this  way,  several  localities 
sufl'ered,  until  the  settlers  became  again  exasper- 
ated; other  expeditions  were  formed,  and  a  second 
chastisement  given.  In  17S1,  Col.  Broadhead 
led  an  expedition  against  the  Central  Ohio  Indians. 
It  did  not  prove  so  successful,  as  the  Indiaus  were 
led  by  the  noted  chief  Brant,  who,  though  not 
cruel,  was  a  foe  to  the  Americans,  and  assisted  the 
British  greatly  in  their  endeavors  to  secure  the  West. 

Another  class  of  events  occuiTcd  now  in  the 
West,  civil  in  their  relations,  yet  destined  to  form 
an  important  part  of  its  history — its  land  laws. 

It  must  be  borne  in  mind,  that  Virginia  claimed 
the  greater  portion  of  the  country  north  of  the 
Ohio  River,  as  well  as  a  large  part  south.  The 
other  colonies  claimed  laud  also  in  the  West  under 
the  old  Crown  grants,  which  extended  to  the 
South  or  Western  Sea.     To  more  complicate  mat- 


ters, several  land  companies  held  proprietary  rights 
to  portions  of  these  lands  gained  by  grants  from 
the  Crown,  or  from  the  Colonial  Assemblies. 
I  Others  were  based  on  land  warrants  issued 
j  in  170;!;  others  on  selection  and  survey  and 
'  still  others  on  settlement.  In  this  state  of 
mixed  affairs,  it  was  difficult  to  say  who  held  a 
secure  claim.  It  was  a  question  whether  the  old 
French  grants  were  good  or  not,  especially  since 
the  change  in  government,  and  the  eminent  pros- 
pect of  still  another  change.  To,  in  some  way, 
aid  in  settling  these  claims,  Virginia  sent  a  com- 
mission to  the  West  to  sit  as  a  court  and  determine 
the  proprietorship  of  these  claims.  This  court, 
though  of  as  doubtful  authority  as  the  claims 
themselves,  went  to  work  in  Kentucky  and  along 
the  Ohio  River  in  1779,  and,  in  the  course  of  one 
year,  granted  over  three  thousand  certificates. 
These  were  considered  as  good  authority  for  a 
definite  title,  and  were  so  regarded  in  after  pur- 
chases. Under  them,  many  pioneers,  like  Daniel 
Boone,  lost  their  lands,  as  all  were  required  to 
hold  some  kind  of  a  patent,  while  others,  who 
possessed  no  more  principle  than  "land-sharks" 
of  to-day,  acquired  large  tracts  of  land  by  holding 
a  patent  the  court  was  bound  to  accept.  Of  all 
the  colonies,  Virginia  seemed  to  have  the  best 
title  to  the  Northwest,  save  a  few  parcels,  such  as 
the  Connecticut  or  Western  Reseri'c  and  some 
similar  tracts  held  by  New  York,  Massachusetts 
and  New  Jersey.  When  the  territory  of  the 
Northwest  was  ceded  to  the  General  Government, 
this  was  recognized,  and  that  country  was  counted 
as  a  Virginia  county. 

The  Spanish  Government,  holding  the  region 
west  of  the  Mississippi,  and  a  portion  east  toward 
its  outlet,  became  an  important  but  secret  ally  of 
the  Americans.  When  the  French  revolt  was 
suppressed  by  O'Reilly,  and  the  Spanish  assumed 
the  government  of  Louisiana,  both  Upper  and 
Lower,  there  was  a  large  tract  of  country,  known 
as  Florida  (East  and  West),  claimed  by  England, 
and  duly  regarded  as  a  part  of  her  dominion. 
The  boundaries  had  been  settled  when  the  French 
first  occupied  Lower  Louisiana.  The  Spaniards 
adopted  the  patriarchal  form  of  rule,  as  much  as 
was  consistent  with  their  interests,  and  allowed  the 
French  full  religious  and  civil  liberty,  save  that  all 
tribunals  were  after  the  Spanish  fashion,  and 
governed  by  Spanish  rules.  The  Spaniards,  long 
jealous  of  England's  gi-owing  power,  secretly  sent 
the  Governors  of  Louisiana  word  to  aid  the 
Americans  in  their  struggle  for  freedom.     Though 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


57 


they  controlled  the  ^lississippi  River,  they  allowed 
an  American  officer  (Capt.  Williiij;)  to  descend  the 
river  in  January,  1T7S,  with  a  ])arty  of  lilty  men, 
and  ravage  the  British  shore  lioni  ^lanchcz  Bayou 
to  Natchez. 

On  the  8th  of  May,  1779,  Spain  declared  war 
apiiust  (heat  Britain;  and,  on  the  8tli  of  July, 
the  people  of  Jjouisiana  were  allowed  to  take  a 
j)art  in  the  war.  Accordinglj',  Lialvez  collected  a 
force  of  1,400  men,  and,  on  the  7th  of  September, 
took  Fort  Manchae.  By  the  21st  of  September, 
111-  had  rakcn  Baton  Rouge  and  Natchez.  Eight 
V. '>>.■]-  Wire  cajjtured  by  the  Spaniards  on  the 
Mississippi  and  on  the  lakes.  In  1780  Jlobile 
fell;  in  March,  1781,  Pensacola,  the  chief  British 
post  in  West  Florida,  succumbed  after  a  long 
>i.-.'.  :iiid,  on  the  9th  of  May,  all  West  Florida 
\v;i^  Miiiviidered  to  Spain. 

'fills  war,  or  the  war  on  the  Atlantic  Coa.st,  did 
not  immediately  affect  Upper  Louisiana.  Great 
Britain,  however,  attenij)ted  to  cajiture  St.  Louis. 
ThuU'jli  the  cnniniander  was  stmngly  suspected  of 
l.(  ill-  liiil.ril  by  the  Fiigli>h.  yi't  the  place  stood 
tlic  sir;^c  Ihini  the  combined  tbrcc  of  Indians  and 
Canadians,  and  the  assailants  were  dispersed.  This 
was  done  during  the  summer  of  1  (580,  and  in  the 
autumn,  a  company  of  Spanish  and  Frencli  resi- 
dcnt.s,  under  La  Balme,  went  on  an  expedition 
against  Detroit.  They  marched  a,s  far  north  as 
the  Briti.sh  trading-post  Ke-ki-ong-a,  at  the  head 
of  the  ."^laumee  River,  but  being  surpri.sed  in  the 
night,  and  the  eomniandcr  slain,  the  expedition 
wa.s  defeated,  having  ilmu'  Imt  little. 

Spain  may  have  had  personal  interests  in  aiding 
the  Americans.  She  was  now  in  control  of  the  MLs- 
.'issippi  River,  the  natural  outlet  of  the  Northwest, 
and,  in  1780,  began  the  troubles  relative  to  the 
navigation  of  that  stream.  The  claims  of  Spain 
were  considered  very  unjust  by  the  Continental 
Congre.¥.s,  and,  while  deliberating  over  the  question, 
Virginia,  who  was  jealously  alive  to  her  Western 
interests,  and  who  yet  held  jurisdiction  over  Ken- 
tucky, sent  through  J(^fferson,  the  Governor,  (Jen. 
George  Rogers  CIark(!,  to  erect  a  fort  below  the 
mouth  of  the  Ohio.  This  proceeding  was  ratlier 
•unwarrantable,  especially  as  the  fort  was  built  in 
the  country  of  the  Chickasaws,  who  had  thus  far 
been  true  friends  to  the  Americans,  and  who  looked 
upon  the  fort  as  an  innovation  on  their  territory. 
It  was  completed  and  occupied  but  a  short  time, 
Clarke  being  recalled. 

Virginia,  in  1780,  did  a  very  important  thing; 
namely,  establishing  an  institution  for  higher  edu- 


cation. The  Old  Dominion  confiscated  the  lands 
of  •■  Robert  JIcKenzie,  Henry  Collins  and  Alex- 
ander McKee,  Britons,  eight  thousand  acres,"  and 
invested  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  in  a  public  semi- 
nary. Tran.sylvania  University  now  lives,  a  monu- 
ment to  that  spu'it. 

While  Clarke  was  building  Fort  Jefferson,  a  i'orce 
of  British  and  Indians,  under  command  of  Caj)t. 
Bryd,  came  down  from  (Janada  and  attacked  the 
Kentucky  settlements,  getting  into  the  country  be- 
fore any  one  was  aw;ire.  The  winter  before  had 
been  one  of  unusual  severitj',  and  game  was  ex- 
ceedingly scarce,  hence  the  army  was  not  pre]iared 
to  conduct  a  campaign.  After  the  capture  of  Rud- 
dle's Station, at  the  south  fork  of  the  Licking,  Bryd 
abandoned  any  further  attempts  to  reduce  the  set- 
tlements, except  capturing  Martin's  Station,  and 
returned  to  D(^troit. 

This  expedition  gave  an  additional  motive  for 
the  chastisement  of  the  Indians,  and  Clarke,  on  his 
return  from  Fort  Jefferson,  went  on  an  expedition 
against  the  Miami  Indians.  IIi^  destroyed  their 
towns  at  Loramie's  store,  near  the  present  city  of 
Sydney,  Ohio,  and  at  I'iqua,  humliling  the  natives. 
While  on  the  way,  a  part  of  the  army  remained 
on  the  north  bank  of  tht;  Ohio,  and  erected  two 
block-houses  on  the  present  site  of  Cincinnati. 

The  exploits  of  Clarke  and  his  men  .«o  effectually 
chastised  the  Indians,  that,  for  a  time,  the  West 
was  safe.  During  this  period  of  quiet,  the  meas- 
ures which  led  to  the  cession  of  Western  lands  to 
the  General  Government,  began  to  assume  a  defi- 
nite form.  All  the  colonies  clainiing  Western 
lands  W(;re  willing  to  cede  them  to  the  (jovernment, 
save  Virginia,  which  colony  wanted  a  large  scope 
of  Soutliern  country  southeast  of  the  Ohio,  as  far 
as  South  Carolina.  All  recognized  the  justice  of 
all  Western  lands  becoming  pulilic  jiroperty,  and 
thereby  aiding  in  extinguishing  the  debts  caused  by 
the  war  of  the  Revolution,  now  about  to  close. 
As  Virginia  held  a  somewhat  different  view,  the 
ces.sion  was  not  made  until  178.3. 

The  subject,  however,  could  not  be  allowed  to 
rest.  The  war  of  the  Revolution  was  now  drawing 
to  a  close ;  victory  on  the  part  of  the  colonies  was 
apparent,  and  the  Western  lands  must  be  a  part  of 
the  public  dcmiain.  Subse((uent  events  brought 
about  the  desired  cession,  though  several  events 
transpired  before  the  plan  of  cession  was  consum- 
mated. 

Before  the  close  of  1780,  the  Legislature  of 
Virginia  passed  an  act,  establishing  the  "  town  of 
Louisville,"  and  confiscated  the   lands   of   John 


58 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


Cuunelly,  who  was  one  of  its  original  proprietors, 
and  who  distinguished  himself  in  the  commence- 
ment of  Lord  Dunmore's  war,  and  who  was  now  a 
Tory,  and  doing  all  he  could  against  the  patriot 
cause.  The  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  liis  lands  were 
divided  between  Virgiuiaand  the  county  of  Jefferson. 
Kentucky,  the  next  year,  was  divided  into  three 
counties,  Jefferson,  Lincoln  and  Fayette.  Courts 
were  appointed  in  each,  and  the  entry  and  location 
of  lands  given  into  their  hands.  Settlers,  in  spite 
of  Indian  troubles  and  British  intrigue,  were 
pouring  over  the  mountains,  particularly  so  during 
the  years  1780  and  1781.  The  expeditions  of 
Clarke  against  the  Miami  Indians ;  Boone's  cap- 
tivity, and  escape  from  them ;  their  defeat  when 
attacking  Boonesboro,  and  other  places  —  all 
combined  to  weaken  their  power,  and  teach  them 
to  respect  a  nation  whose  progress  they  could  not 
stay. 

The  pioneers  of  the  West,  obliged  tn  drpi'iid  on 
themselves,  owing  to  the  struggle  nf  tli.'  ci.l.inies 
for  freedom,  grew  up  a  hardy,  seli-reliant  race, 
with  all  the  vices  and  virtues  of  a  border  life,  and 
with  habits,  manners  and  customs  necessary  to 
their  peculiar  situation,  and  suited  to  their  peculiar 
ta.ste.  A  resume  of  their  experiences  and  daily 
lives  would  be  quite  interesting,  did  the  limits  of 
this  history  admit  it  here.  In  the  part  relating 
directly  to  this  county,  the  reader  will  find  such 
lives  given ;  here,  only  the  important  events  can 
be  noticed. 

The  last  event  of  consequence  occurring  in  the 
West  before  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  is  one 
that  might  well  have  been  omitted.  Had  such 
been  the  ca.se,  a  great  stain  would  have  been  spared 
the  character  of  Western  pioneers.  Reference  is 
made  to  the  ma,ssacre  of  the  Moravian  Christian 
Indians. 

These  Indians  were  of  the  Delaware  nation 
chiefly,  though  other  Western  tribes  were  visited 
and  many  converts  made.  The  first  converts  were 
made  in  Xew  York  and  Connecticut,  where,  after 
a  good  start  had  been  made,  and  a  prospect  of 
many  souls  being  saved,  they  incurred  the  enmity 
of  the  whites,  who,  becoming  alarmed  at  their  suc- 
cess, persecuted  them  to  such  an  extent  tluit  they 
were  driven  out  of  New  York  into  Pennsylvania, 
where,  in  1 744,  four  years  after  their  arrival  in 
the  New  World,  they  began  new  missions.  In 
1 748.  the  New  York  and  Connecticut  Indians  fol- 
lowed their  teachers,  and  were  among  the  founders 
of  Friedenshutten,  "Tents  of  Peace,"  a  liamlet 
near    Bethlehem,  where  their  teachers   were   sta- 


tioned. Other  hamlets  grew  around  them,  \intil 
in  the  interior  of  the  colony,  existed  an  Indian 
community,  free  from  all  savage  vices,  and  grow- 
ing up  in  Christian  virtues.  As  their  strength 
grew,  lawless  whites  again  liegan  to  oppress  them. 
They  could  not  understand  tlie  war  of  1754,  and 
were,  indeed,  in  a  truly  embarrassing  position. 
The  savages  could  form  no  conception  of  any  cause 
for  neutrality,  save  a  secret  sympathy  with  the 
English ;  and  if  they  could  not  take  up  the  hatchet, 
they  were  in  the  way,  and  must  be  removed.  Fail- 
ing to  do  this,  their  red  brothers  became  hostile. 
The  whites  were  but  little  better.  The  old  suspi- 
cions which  drove  them  from  New  York  were 
aroused.  They  were  secret  Papists,  in  league  with 
the  French,  anil  furni^lied  tljcm  with  arms  and  in- 
telligence; they  were  interfering  with  the  licjuor 
traffic;  they  were  enemies  to  the  Government, 
and  the  Indian  and  the  white  man  combined  against 
them.  They  were  oblii:vd  tn  Mmw  from  place  to 
place;  were  at  one  timr  jnutrrtid  nearly  a  year, 
near  Philadelphia,  frimi  lawless  whites,  and  finally 
were  compelled  to  go  far  enough  West  to  be  out 
of  the  way  of  French  and  English  arms,  or  the 
Iroquois  and  Cherokee  hatchets.  They  came 
finally  to  the  Muskingum,  where  they  made  a  set- 
tlement called  Schonbrun,  "beautiful  clear  spring," 
in  what  is  now  Tuscarawas  County.  Other  settle- 
ments gathered,  from  time  to  time,  as  the  years 
went  on,  till  in  1772  large  numbers  of  them  were 
within  the  borders  of  the  State. 

Until  the  war  of  independence  broke  out,  they 
were  allowed  to  peaceftilly  pursue  their  way.  When 
that  came,  they  were  between  Fort  Pitt  and  De- 
troit, one  of  which  contained  British,  the  other 
Americans.  Again  tliey  could  not  understand  the 
struggle,  and  couki  not  take  up  the  hatchet.  This 
brought  on  them  the  enmity  of  both  belligerent 
parties,  and  that  of  their  own  forest  companions, 
who  could  ucit  see  wherein  their  natures  could 
change.  Among  the  mn.st  ho.stile  persons,  were 
the  white  renegades  JlcKee,  Girty  and  P^lliott. 
On  their  instigation,  several  of  them  were  slain, 
and  by  their  advice  they  were  obliged  to  leave  their 
fields  and  homes,  where  they  had  many  comforts, 
and  where  they  had  erected  good  chapels  in  which 
to  worship.  It  was  jtist  before  one  of  these  forced 
removals  that  Mary,  daughter  of  the  missionary 
Heckewelder,  was  born.  She  is  supposed  to  be 
the  first  white  female  child  born  north  of  the  Ohio 
River.  Her  birth  occurred  April  IG,  1781.  It 
is  but  proper  to  say  here,  that  it  is  an  open  ques- 
tion, and  one  that  will  probably  never  be  decided. 


HISTORY   OF   OHIO. 


59 


(■.  c.  Who  wiw  the  first  wliito  cliilil  born  in  Ohio  ? 
In  all  probabiUty,  the  child  was  born  during  the 
captivity  of  its  mother,  as  history  plainly  shows 
that  when  white  women  were  relciuscd  from  the 
Indians,  some  of  them  carried  children  born  while 
anionp;  the  natives. 

Wlien  the  .Moravians  were  forced  to  leave  their 
scttleinonts  on  the  Muskingum,  and  taken  to  San- 
dusky, they  left  growing  fields  of  corn,  to  which 
they  were  obliged  to  return,  »o  gather  food.  This 
aroused  the  whites,  only  wanting  some  pretest 
whereby  they  might  attack  them,  and  a  party, 
headed  by  Col.  David  William.'son,  determined  to 
exterminate  them.  The  Moravians,  hearing  of  their 
approach,  fled,  but  too  late  to  warn  other  settle- 
ments, and  Gnadenhutten,  Salem  and  one  or  two 
smaller  settlements,  were  surprised  and  taken. 
Under  deceitfiil  promises,  the  Indians  gave  up  all 
their  arms,  showed  the  wliites  their  treasures,  and 
went  unknowingly  to  a  terrible  death.  When  ap- 
prised of  their  fate,  determined  on  by  a  majority 
of  the  rangers,  they  begged  only  time  to  prepare. 
They  were  led  two  by  two,  the  men  into  one,  the 
women  and  children  into  another  "slaughter- 
house," as  it  was  termed,  and  all  but  two  lads  were 
wantonly  slain.  An  infamous  and  more  bloody 
deed  never  darkened  the  pages  of  feudal  times ; 
a  deed  that,  in  after  years,  called  aloud  for  venge- 
ance, and  in  some  mea.sure  received  it.  Some  of 
Williamson's  men  wrung  their  hands  at  the  cruel 
fate,  and  endeavored,  by  all  the  means  in  their 
power,  to  prevent  it ;  but  all  to  no  purpose.  The 
blood  of  the  rangers  was  up,  and  they  would  not  spare 
'■man,  woman  or  child,  of  all  that  peaceful  band." 

Having  completed  their  horrible  work,  (  Mardi 
8,  1782),  Williamson  and  his  men  returned  to 
Pittsburgh.  Everywhere,  the  Indians  lamented 
the  untimely  death  of  their  kindred,  their  savage 
relatives  determining  on  their  revenge;  the  Chris- 
tian ones  could  only  be  resigned  and  weep. 

Williamson's  succe.ss,  for  such  it  was  viewed  by 
many,  excited  the  borderers  to  another  invasion, 
and  a  second  army  was  rai.sed,  this  time  to 
go  to  the  Sanduskj'  town,  and  annihilate  the 
Wyandots.  Col.  William  Crawford  was  elected 
leader ;  he  accepted  reluctantly ;  on  the  way, 
the  army  was  met  by  hordes  of  savages  on  the  5th  of 


June,  and  totally  muted.  They  were  away  north, 
in  what  is  now  \Vyandot  County,  and  were  obliged 
to  flee  for  their  lives.  The  blood  of  the  murdered 
Moravians  called  for  revenge.  The  Indians  de- 
sired it ;  were  they  not  relatives  of  the  fallen 
Christians  ?  Crawford  and  many  of  his  men  fell 
into  their  hands ;  all  suft'ered  unheard-of  tortures, 
that  of  Crawford  being  a.s  cruel  its  Indian  cruelty 
could  devise.  He  was  pounded,  pierced,  cut  with 
knives  an<l  burned,  all  of  which  occupied  nearly 
three  hours,  and  finally  lay  down  insensible  on  abed 
of  coals,  and  died.  The  savage  captors,  in  demoni- 
acal glee,  danced  around  him,  and  upbraided  him 
for  the  cruel  murder  of  their  relatives,  giving  him 
this  only  consolation,  that  had  they  captured  Will- 
iamson, he  might  go  free,  but  he  must  answer  for 
Williamson's  brutality. 

The  war  did  not  cease  here.  The  Indians,  now 
aroused,  carried  their  attack  as  far  south  as  into 
Kentucky,  killing  Capt.  Estill,  a  brave  man,  and 
some  of  liis  companions.  The  British,  too,  were 
active  in  aiding  them,  and  the  14th  of  August  a 
large  force  of  them,  under  Girty,  gatliered  silently 
about  Bryant's  Station.  They  were  obliged  to  re- 
treat. The  Kenfuckians  pursued  them,  but  were 
repulsed  with  considerable  loss. 

The  attack  on  Bryant's  Station  aroused  the  peo- 
ple of  Kentucky  to  strike  a  blow  that  would  be 
felt.  Gen.  Clarke  was  put  at  the  head  of  an  army 
of  one  thousand  and  tifly  men,  and  the  Jliami 
country  was  a  second  time  destroyed.  Clarke  even 
went  as  far  north  as  the  British  trading-post  at  the 
head  of  the  Miami,  where  he  captured  a  great 
amount  of  [)roperty,  and  destroyed  the  post.  Other 
outposts  also  fell,  the  invading  army  suffering  but 
little,  and,  by  its  decisive  action,  practically  closing 
the  Indian  wars  in  tlu>  West.  Pennsylvania  suf- 
fered some,  losing  Ilannahstown  and  one  or  two 
small  settlements.  Williamsons  and  Crawford's 
campaigns  aroused  the  fury  of  the  Indians  that 
took  time  and  nmch  blood  and  war  to  subdue.  The 
Revolution  wa.^,  however,  drawing  to  a  close.  Amer- 
ican arms  were  victorious,  and  a  new  nation  was 
now  coming  into  existence,  who  woiild  change  the 
whole  current  of  Western  matters,  and  make  of  the 
Northwest  a  land  of  liberty,  equality  and  union. 
That  nation  was  now  on  the  stage. 


HISTOltY    OF    OHIO. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

AMERICAN    OCCUPATION— INDIAN    CLAIMS  — SURVEYS  — EARLY    LAND    COMRAXIES- COMPACT 
OF    1787  — ORGANIZATION    OF    THE    TERRITORY- EARLY    AMERICAN    SETTLE- 
MENTS    IN     THE     OHIO     VALLEY  — FIRST     TERRITORIAL 
OFFICERS— ORGANIZATION    OF    COUNTIES. 


THE  oceupntion  of  the  West  by  the  Amoriean. 
really  dates  from  the  campaign  of  Gen.  Clarke  in 
1778,  when  he  captured  the  British  posts  in  the 
Illinois  country,  and  Vincennes  on  the  Wabash. 
Had  he  been  properly  supported,  he  would  have 
reduced  Detroit,  then  in  easy  reach,  and  poorly  de- 
fended. As  it  was,  however,  that  post  remained  in 
charge  of  the  British  till  after  the  close  of  the  war 
of  the  Revolution.  They  also  held  other  lake 
posts ;  but  these  were  included  in  the  terms  of 
peace,  and  came  into  the  possession  of  the  Ameri- 
cans. They  were  abandoned  by  the  British  as 
soon  as  the  different  commanders  received  notice 
from  their  chiefs,  and  British  rule  and  English 
occupation  cea.sed  in  that  part  of  the  New  World. 

The  war  virtually  clo.sed  by  the  surrender  of 
Lord  Cornwallis  at  Yorktown,  Va.,  October  19, 
1781.  The  struggle  was  prolonged,  however,  by 
the  British,  in  the  vain  hope  that  they  could  re- 
trieve the  disaster,  but  it  was  only  a  useless  waste 
of  men  and  money.  America  would  not  be  sub- 
dued. "If  we  are  to  be  taxed,  we  will  be  repre- 
sented," said  they,  "else  we  will  be  a  free  govern- 
ment, and  regulate  our  own  taxes."  In  the  end, 
they  were  free. 

Provisional  articles  of  peace  between  the  United 
States  and  Great  Britain  were  signed  in  Paris  on 
the  oOth  of  November,  1782.  This  was  followed 
by  an  armistice  negotiated  at  Versailles  on  the  20th 
of  January,  1783;  and  finally,  a  definite  treaty  of 
peace  was  concluded  at  Paris  on  the  .3d  of  the  next 
September,  and  ratified  by  Congress  on  the  -Ith  of 
January,  1784.  By  the  second  article  of  the  defi- 
nite treaty  of- 1783,  the  boundaries  of  the  United 
States  were  fixed.  A  glance  at  the  map  of  that 
day  shows  the  boundary  to  have  been  as  follows: 
Beginning  at  Passama(]uoddy  Bay,  on  the  coast  of 
IMaino,  the  line  ran  north  a  little  above  the  forty- 
fifth  parallel  of  latitude,  when  it  diverged  southwest- 
erly, irregularly,  until  it  reached  that  parallel,  when 
it  followed  it  until  it  reached  the  St.  Lawrence  River. 
It  followed  that  river  to  Lake  Ontario,  down  its 
center ;  up  the  Niagara  River  ;  through  Lake  Erie, 


up  the  Detroit  River  and  through  Lakes  Huron  and 
Superior,  to  the  northwest  extremity  of  the  latter. 
Then  it  pursued  another  irregular  western  course 
to  the  Lake  of  the  Woods,  when  it  turned  south- 
ward to  the  Mississippi  River.  The  commissioners 
insisted  that  should  be  the  western  boundary,  as 
the  lakes  were  the  northern.  It  followed  the  ]Mis- 
sissippi  south  until  the  mouth  of  Red  River  was 
reached,  when,  turning  east,  it  followed  almost  a 
direct  line  to  the  Atlantic  Coast,  touching  the 
coast  a  little  north  of  the  outlet  of  St.  John's 
River. 

From  this  outline,  it  will  be  readily  seen  what 
boundary  the  United  States  possessed.  Not  one- 
half  of  its  present  domain. 

At  this  date,  there  existed  the  original  thirteen 
colonies :  Virginia  occupying  all  Kentucky  and 
all  the  Northwest,  save  abouthalf  of  Michigan  and 
Wisconsin,  claimed  by  IMassachusetts;  and  the  upper 
part  of  Ohio,  Indiana  and  Illinois,  and  the  lower 
part  (a  narrow  strip )  of  Michigan,  claimed  by  CVm- 
necticut.  Georgia  included  all  of  Alabama  and 
IMississipjii.  The  Spaniards  claimed  all  Florida 
and  a  narrow  j)art  of  lower  Georgia.  All  the  coun- 
try west  of  the  Father  of  Waters  belonged  to  Spain, 
to  whom  it  had  been  secretly  ceded  when  the  fam- 
ily c()ni|iact  was  made.  That  nation  controlled  the 
]\Ii>.4N>i|i|ii.  and  gave  no  small  uneasiness  to  tlie 
young  gnvrniiiic  lit.  It  was,  however,  happily  set- 
tled finally,  by  the  sale  of  Louisana  to  the  United 
States. 

Pending  the  settlement  of  these  questions  and 
the  formation  of  th;-  Federal  Union,  the  cession  of 
the  Northwest  by  Virginia  again  came  before 
Congress.  That  body  found  itself  unable  to  fulfill 
its  promises  to  its  soldiers  regarding  land,  and 
again  urgc^d  the  Olil  Dominion  to  cede  the  Terri- 
tory to  tin' ( icncral  (Jdvoriuiunt,  for  the  good  of 
all.  Congress  fdiliade  settlers  from  occupying  the 
Western  lands  till  a  definite  cession  had  been 
made,  and  the  title  to  the  lands  in  question  made 
good.  But  speculation  was  stronger  than  law, 
and  without  waiting  for  the  slow  processes  of  courts. 


HISTORY   OF   OHIO. 


the  adventurous  settlers  were  pourins;;  into  the 
country  at  a  rapid  rate,  only  retarded  by  the  rifle 
and  scalping-kuifb  of  the  savage — a  temporary 
chock.  The  polic}'  of  allowing  any  parties  to  obtain 
land  from  the  Indians  was  strongly  discounigctl 
by  Washington.  Ho  advocated  the  idea  that  only 
the  General  Government  could  do  that,  and,  in  a 
letter  to  James  Duane,  in  Congress,  he  strongly 
urged  such  a  course,  and  pointed  out  the  danger 
of  a  border  war,  unless  some  such  measure  was 
stringently  followed. 

Under  the  circumstances.  Congress  pressed  the 
claims  of  cessiim  upon  Virginia,  and  finally  in- 
duced the  Dominion  to  modify  the  terms  proposed 
two  years  before.  On  the  20th  of  December, 
17'33,  \'irgiuia  accepted  the  proposal  of  Congress, 
and  authorized  her  delegates  to  m;ike  a  deed  to 
the  United  States  of  all  her  right  in  the  territory 
northwest  of  the  Ohio. 

The  Old  Dominion  stipulated  in  her  deed  of 
cession,  that  the  territory  should  bo  divided  into 
States,  to  be  admitted  into  the  Union  a.s  any  other 
State,  and  to  bear  a  proportionate  share  in  the 
maintenance  of  that  Union;  that  Virginia  should 
be  rc-iml)ursed  for  the  expen.se incurred  in  subduing 
the  British  po.sts  in  the  territory;  that  the  French 
and  Canadian  inhabitants  should  be  protected  in  their 
rights ;  that  the  grant  to  Gen.  George  Rogers  Clarke 
and  his  men,  as  well  us  all  other  similar  grants, 
should  be  confirmed,  and  tiiat  the  lands  should  be 
considered  as  the  common  property  of  the  United 
States,  the  proceeds  to  be  applied  to  the  use  of  the 
whole  country.  Congress  accepted  these  condi- 
tions, and  the  deed  was  made  March  1,  1784. 
Thus  the  country  came  from  under  the  dominion 
of  Virginia,  and  became  common  property. 

A  serious  difficulty  arose  about  this  time,  that 
threatened  for  awhile  to  involve  England  and 
America  anew  in  war.  Virginia  and  several 
other  States  refused  to  abide  by  that  part  of  the 
treaty  relating  to  the  paymimt  of  debts,  especially 
so,  when  the  British  carried  away  quite  a  number 
of  negroes  claimed  by  the  Americans.  This  re- 
fusal on  the  part  of  the  Old  Dominion  and  her 
abettors,  caused  the  English  to  retain  her  North- 
western outposts,  Detroit,  Mackinaw,  etc.  She 
held  these  till  178G,  when  the  questions  were 
finally  settled,  and  then  readily  abandoned  them. 

The  return  of  peace  greatly  augmented  emigra- 
tion to  the  West,  especially  to  Kentucky.  When 
the  war  closed,  the  pojtulation  of  that  county  ( the 
three  counties  having  been  made  one  judicial  dis- 
trict, and  Danville  designated  as  the  seat  of  gov- 


ernment) was  estimated  to  be  about  twelve  thousand. 
In  one  year,  ailer  the  close  of  the  war,  it  increased 
to  30,000,  and  steps  for  a  State  government  were 
taken.  Owing  to  the  divided  sentiment  among  its 
citizens,  its  perplexing  (|uestions  of  laud  titles 
and  proprietary  rights,  nine  conventions  were  held 
before  a  definite  course  of  action  could  be  reached. 
This  prolonged  the  time  till  1792,  when,  in  De- 
cember of  that  year,  the  election  for  persons  to 
form  a  State  constitution  was  held,  and  the  vexed 
and  comj)licated  C|uestions  settled.  In  1783,  the 
first  wagons  bearing  merchandise  came  across  the 
mountains.  Their  contents  were  received  on  flat- 
boats  at  Pitt.sburgh.  and  taken  down  the  Ohio  to 
Louisville,  which  that  spring  boasted  of  a  store, 
opened  by  Daniel  Broadliead.  The  next  year, 
James  Wilkinson  opened  one  at  Lexington. 

Pittsburgh  was  now  the  principal  town  in  the 
West.  It  occuj)ied  the  same  position  regarding 
the  outposts  that  Omaha  ha,s  done  for  several  years 
to  Nebraska.  The  town  of  Pittsburgh  was  laid 
out  immediately  after  the  war  of  1764,  by  Col. 
Campbell.  It  then  consisted  of  four  squares  about 
the  fort,  and  received  its  name  from  that  citadel. 
The  treaty  with  the  Six  Nations  in  1768,  con- 
veyed to  the  j)roprietaries  of  Pennsj'lvania  all  the 
lands  of  the  Alleghany  below  Kittanniug,  and  all 
the  country  south  of  the  Ohio,  within  the  limits  of 
Penn's  charter.  This  deed  of  cession  was  recog- 
nized when  the  line  between  Pennsylvania  and 
Virginia  was  fixed,  and  gave  the  post  to  the  Key- 
stone State.  In  accordance  with  this  deed,  the 
manor  of  Pittsburgh  was  withdrawn  from  market 
in  1769,  and  was  lield  as  the  property  of  the  Penn 
family.  When  Washington  visited  it  in  1770,  it 
seems  to  have  declined  in  consei(uence  of  the 
afbre-mentioned  act.  He  mentions  it  as  a  '-town  of 
about  twenty  log  houses,  on  the  Monongahela, 
about  three  hundred  j'ards  from  the  fort."  The 
Penn's  remained  true  to  the  King,  and  hence  all 
their  laud  that  had  not  been  surveyed  and  returned 
to  the  land  office,  was  confiscated  by  the  common- 
wealth. Pittsburgh,  having  been  surveyed,  was 
still  left  to  them.  In  the  spring  of  1784,  Tench 
Francis,  the  agent  of  the  Penns,  was  induced  to 
lay  out  the  manor  into  lots  and  offer  them  for  sale. 
Though,  for  many  years,  the  place  was  rather  un- 
promising, it  eventually  became  the  chief  town  in 
that  part  of  the  West,  a  position  it  yet  holds.  In 
1786,  John  Scull  and  Joseph  ILlll  started  the 
I'lttsburgh  Gaxtite,  the  first  ]iaper  jiubli.shed  west 
of  the  mountains.  In  the  initial  number,  appeared  a 
lengthy  article  from  the  pen  of  II.  II.  Brackenridge, 


63 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


afterward  one  of  the  must  prominent  mouiborrf 
of  the  Peunsylvauui  bar.  He  had  loeated  in 
Pittsburgh  in  1781.  His  letter  gives  a  most  hope- 
ful ])rospect  in  store  for  the  future  city,  and  is  a 
highly  descriptive  article  of  the  Western  country. 
It  is  yet  preserved  in  the  "Western  Annals,"  and 
is  well  worth  a  perusal. 

Under  the  act  of  peace  in  1783,  no  provision  was 
made  by  the  British  for  their  allies,  especially  the 
Six  Nations.  The  question  wa.s  ignored  by  the 
English,  and  was  made  a  handle  by  the  Americans 
in  gaining  them  to  their  cause  before  the  war  had 
fully  closed.  The  treaties  made  were  regarded  by 
the  Indians  as  alliances  only,  and  when  the  En- 
glish left  the  country  the  Indians  began  to  assume 
rather  a  hostile  bearing.  This  excited  the  whites, 
and  for  a  while  a  war  with  that  formidable  con- 
foili'raey  was  imminent.  Bettor  councils  prevailed, 
anil  (Ji ingress  \vi.sely  adopted  the  policy  of  acquiring 
their  lands  by  purchase.  In  accordance  with  this 
policy,  a  treaty  was  made  at  Fort  Stanwix  with 
the  Six  Nations,  in  October,  1784:.  By  this  treaty, 
all  lands  west  of  a  line  drawn  from  the  mouth  of 
(Jswego  Creek,  about  four  miles  east  of  Niagara, 
to  the  mouth  of  Buffalo  Creek,  and  on  to  the 
northern  boundary  of  Pennsylvania,  thence  west 
along  that  boundary  to  its  western  extremity, 
thence  south  to  the  Ohio  Biver,  should  be  ceded 
to  the  United  States.  (They  claimed  west  of  this  line 
by  conquest.)  The  Six  Nations  were  to  be  secured 
in  the  lands  they  inhabited,  reserving  only  six  miles 
square  around  Oswego  fort  for  the  sujjport  of  the 
same.  By  this  treaty,  the  indefinite  claiiii  uf  the 
Six  Nations  to  the  West  was  extinguished,  and  the 
question  of  its  ownership  settled. 

It  was  now  occupied  by  other  Western  tribes, 
who  did  not  recognize  the  Iro(|unis  claim, and  who 
would  not  yield  without  a  purchase.  Esp(_'cially 
was  this  the  case  with  those  Indians  living  in  the 
northern  part.  To  get  possession  of  that  country 
by  the  same  process,  the  United  States,  through 
its  cnniniissioncre,  held  a  treaty  at  Fort  Blclntosh 
on  the  lilst  of  January,  1785.  The  Wyandot, 
Drlaware,  Chippewa  and  Ottawa  tribes  were  pres- 
ent, and,  through  their  chiefs,  sold  their  lands  to 
the  Government.  The  Wyandot  and  Delaware 
nations  were  given  a  reservation  in  the  north  part 
(if  <  )hio,  wluTo  they  were  to  be  protected.  The 
others  were  allotted  reservations  in  Michigan.  To 
all  was  given  complete  control  of  their  lands,  allow- 
ing them  to  punish  any  white  man  attempting  to 
settle  thereon,  and  guaranteeing  them  in  their 
risfhts. 


By  such  means  Congress  gained  Indian  titles  to 
the  vast  realms  north  of  the  Ohio,  and,  a  few 
months  later,  that  legislation  was  commenced  that 
should  determine  the  mode  of  its  dispoisal  and  the 
plan  of  its  settlements. 

To  facilitate  the  settlement  of  lands  thus  acquired. 
Congress,  on  May  20, 1785,  passed  an  act  for  dispos- 
ing of  lands  in  the  Northwest  Territory.  Its  main 
provisions  were :  A  surveyor  or  surveyors  should  be 
appointed  from  the  States  ;  and  a  geographer,  and 
his  assistants  to  act  with  them.  The  surveyors 
were  to  divide  the  territory  into  townships  of  six 
miles  square,  by  lines  running  due  north  and 
south,  and  east  and  west.  The  starting-place 
was  to  be  on  the  Ohio  River,  at  a  point  wiiere  the 
western  boundary  of  Pennsylvania  crossed  it. 
This  would  give  the  first  range,  and  the  first 
township.  As  soon  as  seven  townships  were 
surveyed,  the  maps  and  plats  of  the  same  were  to 
be  sent  to  the  Board  of  the  Treasury,  who  would 
record  them  and  proceed  to  place  the  land  in  the 
market,  and  so  on  with  all  the  townships  as  fast  as 
they  could  be  prcpiirrd  ready  for  sale.  Each  town- 
ship was  to  be  divided  into  thirty-six  sections,  or 
lots.  Out  of  the.se  sections,  numbers  8,  11,  2(j  and 
29  were  reserved  for  the  use  of  the  Government, 
and  lot  No.  K!,  fur  the  establishment  of  a  common- 
school  fund.  ()ne-thiril(il'all  niiiu'sand  iiiinerals was 
also  reservedfor  the  United  States. .  Three  townships 
on  Lake  Erie  were  reserved  for  the  use  of  officers, 
men  and  others,  refugees  from  Canada  and  from 
Nova  Scotia,  who  were  entitled  to  grants  of  land. 
The  Moravian  Indians  were  also  exempt  fi-om 
molestation,  and  guaranteed  in  their  homes.  Sol- 
diers' claims,  and  all  others  of  a  like  nature,  were 
also  recognized,  and  land  reserved  for  them. 

Without  waiting  for  the  act  of  Ci  ingress,  settlers 
had  been  pouring  into  the  country,  and,  when  or- 
dered by  Congress  to  leave  undisturbed  Indian 
lands,  reftised  to  do  so.  They  went  into  the  In- 
dian country  at  their  peril,  however,  and  when 
driven  out  by  the  Indians  could  get  no  redress 
from  the  Government,  even  when  life  was  lost. 

The  Indians  on  the  Wabash  made  a  treaty  at 
Fort  Finney,  on  the  Miami,  January  31,  178t), 
promising  allegiance  to  the  United  States,  and  were 
allowed  a  reservation.  This  treaty  did  not  include 
the  Piankeshaws,  as  was  at  first  intended.  These, 
refusing  to  live  peaceably,  stirred  up  the  Shawa- 
nees,  who  began  a  series  of  predatory  excursions 
against  the  settlements.  This  led  to  an  expedition 
against  them  and  other  restless  tribes.  Gen.  Clarke 
commanded  part  of  the  army  on  that  expedition. 


^  a_ 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


but  p;ot  no  ferthcr  than  \'in(vnius,  when,  owing  to 
tlie  discontent  of  his  Kentueivy  troops,  he  was 
obHged  to  return.  Col.  Benjamin  Logan,  how- 
ever, marched,  at  the  liead  of  tour  or  five  hundred 
mounted  riflemen,  into  the  Indian  country,  i>ene- 
trating  ;is  far  as  tlio  head-waters  of  Mad  River. 
He  destroyed  several  towns,  much  corn,  and  took 
about  eighty  prisoners.  Among  these,  was  the 
chief  of  the  nation,  who  was  wantonly  slain, 
greatly  to  Logau's  regret,  who  could  imt  restrain 
his  men.  His  expedition  taught  the  Indians  sub- 
mission, and  that  they  must  adhere  to  their  con- 
tracts. 

.^I^  an  while,  the  difficulties  of  the  navigation  of 
i\:r  M;-•i.-^ippi  arose.  Spain  would  not  relimiui.-ih 
the  ri-!it  lo  control  the  entire  southern  part  of  the 
river,  allowing  no  free  navigation.  She  was  secretly 
hoping  to  cause  a  revolt  of  the  Western  provinces, 
especially  Kentucky,  and  openly  favored  such  a 
move.  She  also  claimed,  by  cou(|Uest,  much  of  the 
land  on  the  east  side  of  the  river.  The  slow  move- 
mentjs  of  Congress;  the  failure  of  Virginia  to 
properly  protect  Kentucky,  and  the  inherent  rest- 
lessness iu  some  of  the  Western  men,  well-nigh 
j)recijiitated  matters,  and,  for  a  while,  serious  results 
were  imminent.  The  Kcntuckiaus,  and,  indeed, 
all  the  people  of  the  West,  were  determined  the 
river  should  be  free,  and  even  went  so  far  as  to 
raise  a  regiment,  and  forcibly  seize  Siianish  prop- 
erty in  the  West.  Great  Britain  stood  ready,  too, 
to  aid  the  West  should  it  succeed,  jiroviding  it 
would  make  an  alliance  with  her.  But  while  the 
excitement  was  at  its  height,  Wa.shington  coun- 
seled better  ways  and  patience.  The  decisive  time 
of  the  new  republic,  though  almost  overwhelmed 
with  a  burden  of  debt,  and  with  no  credit,  debarred 
the  Spanish  from  too  forcible  measures  to  assert 
their  claims,  and  held  back  the  disloyal  ones  from 
attempting  a  revolt. 

Xiw  i'ork,  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut  ceded 
their  lauds,  and  now  the  United  States  were  ready 
to  fulfill  their  promises  of  land  grants,  to  the  sol- 
diers who  had  preserved  the  nation.  This  did 
much  to  heal  the  breach  in  the  West,  and  restore 
confidence  there;  .so  that  the  ]\Ii.ssissippi  (|Uestion 
was  overlooked  for  a  time,  aud  Kentucky  forgot  her 
animosities. 

The  cession  of  their  claims  was  the  signal  for 
the  formation  of  land  companies  in  the  Ivust ;  com- 
panies whose  object  was  to  settle  the  Western  coun- 
try, and,  at  the  same  time,  enrich  the  founders  of 
the  companies.  Some  of  these  companies  had  been 
formed  in  the  old  colonial  da^s,  but  the  recent  war 


had  put  a  stop  to  all  tluir  jiroceedings.  Congress 
would  not  recognize  their  claims,  and  new  com- 
panies, under  old  names,  were  the  result.  By  such 
means,  the  Ohio  Company  emerged  from  the  past, 
and.  in  17^>t),  took  an  active  existence. 

Benjamin  Tuppcr,  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  and 
since  then  a  government  surveyor,  who  had  been 
west  as  far  as  Pittsburgh,  revived  the  question. 
He  w;is  prevented  from  pro.se(;utiug  his  surveys  by 
hostile  Indians,  and  returned  to  Ma.ssachusctts. 
He  broached  a  plan  to  Gen.  Rufus  Putnam,  as  to 
the  renewal  of  their  memorial  of  1783.  which  re- 
sulted in  the  publication  of  a  plan,  aud  inviting  all 
those  interested,  to  meet  in  February  in  their  re- 
spective counties,  and  choose  delegates  to  a  con- 
vention to  be  helil  at  the  '■  Buncli-of-grapes  Tav- 
ern." in  Boston,  on  the  first  of  March,  1786.  On 
the  day  appointed,  eleven  persons  appeared,  and 
by  the  iJd  of  March  an  outline  was  drawn  up,  and 
subscriptions  jinder  it  began  at  once.  The  leading 
features  of  the  i)lan  were :  "  A  fund  of  S 1  ,O0(),(IUU, 
mainly  in  Continental  certificates,  was  to  be  raised 
for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  lands  in  the  Western 
country;  there  were  to  be  1,000  shares  of  $1,000 
each,  and  upon  each  share  $10  in  specie  were  to 
be  paid  for  contingent  expenses.  One  year's  inter- 
est was  to  be  appropriated  to  the  charges  of  making 
a  settlement,  and  assisting  those  unable  to  move 
without  aid.  The  owners  of  every  twenty  shares 
were  to  choose  an  agent  to  represent  them  and 
attend  to  their  interests,  and  the  agents  were  to 
choose  the  directors.  The  plan  was  ajjproved,  and 
in  a  year's  time  from  that  date,  the  Company  was 
organized."* 

By  the  time  this  Company  was  organized,  all 
claims  of  the  colonies  in  th(!  coveted  tt'rritory  were 
done  away  with  by  their  deeds  of  cession,  Connect- 
icut being  tlie  last. 

While  troubles  were  still  existing  south  of  the 
Ohio  River,  regarding  the  navigation  of  the  Mis- 
sissipjii,  and  many  urged  the  formation  of  a  sepa- 
rate, independent  State,  and  while  Congress  and 
Washington  were  doing  what  they  could  to  allay 
the  feeling  north  of  the  Ohio,  the  New  England 
associates  were  busily  engaged,  now  that  a  Com- 
pany was  formed,  to  obtain  the  land  they  wished 
to  purchase.  On  the  8th  of  March,  1787,  a  meet- 
ing of  the  agents  chose  Gen.  Parsons,  Gen.  Put- 
nam and  the  Rev.  Mann:us.soh  Cutler,  Directors  for 
the  Company.  The  last  selection  was  quite  a 
fitting  one  for  such  an  enterprise.     Dr.  Cutler  was 

*ni6toricaI  Collectiond. 


66 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


an  accomplished  scholar,  au  excellent  gentleman, 
and  a  firm  believer  in  freedom.  In  the  choice  of 
him  as  the  agent  of  the  Company,  lies  the  fact, 
though  unforeseen,  of  the  beginning  of  anti-slavery 
in  America.  Through  him  the  famous  "  compact 
of  1787,"  the  true  corner-stone  of  the  Northwest, 
originated,  and  by  him  was  safely  passed.  He 
was  a  good  "wire-puller,"  too,  and  in  this  had  an 
advantage.  Mr.  Hutchins  was  at  this  time  the 
gc( iiirapher  for  the  United  States,  and  was,  prob- 
aljly,  the  best-posted  man  in  America  regarding 
the  West.  Dr.  Cutler  learned  from  him  that  the 
most  desirable  portions  were  on  the  jMuskingum 
River,  north  of  the  Ohio,  and  was  advised  by  him 
to  buy  there  if  he  coukl. 

Congress  wanted  money  badly,  and  many  of  the 
members  favored  the  plan.  The  Southern  mem- 
bers, generally,  were  hostile  to  it,  as  the  Doctor 
would  listen  to  no  grant  which  did  not  embody 
the  New  England  ideas  in  the  charter.  These 
members  were  finally  won  over,  some  bribery  be- 
ing used,  and  some  of  their  favorites  made  officers 
of  the  Territory,  whose  formation  was  now  going 
on.  This  took  time,  however,  and  Dr.  Cutler,  be- 
coming impatient,  declared  they  would  purchase 
from  some  of  the  States,  who  held  small  tracts  in 
various  parts  of  the  West.  This  intimation  brought 
the  tardy  ones  to  time,  and,  on  the  23d  of  July, 
Congress  authorized  the  Treasury  Board  to  make 
the  contract.  On  the  26th,  Messrs.  Cutler  and 
Sargent,  on  behalf  of  the  Company,  stated  in 
writing  their  conditions;  and  on  the  27th,  Con- 
gress referred  their  letter  to  the  Board,  and  an 
order  of  the  same  date  was  obtained.  Of  this  Dr. 
Cutler's  journal  says: 

"  By  this  gTant  we  obtained  near  five  millions 
of  acres  of  land,  amounting  to  $.3,500,000 ;  1 ,500,- 
000  acres  for  the  Ohio  Company,  and  the  remainder 
for  a  private  speculation,  in  which  many  of  the 
principal  characters  of  America  are  concerned. 
Without  connecting  this  peculation,  similar  terms 
and  advantages  for  the  Ohio  Company  could  not 
have  been  obtained." 

Messrs.  Cutler  and  Sargent  at  onee  closed  a  ver- 
bal contract  with  the  Treasury  Board,  which  was 
executed  in  form  on  the  27th  of  the  next  Octo- 
ber.* 

By  this  contract,  the  va.st  region  bounded  on  the 
.south  by  the  Ohio,  west  by  the  Scioto,  east  by  the 
seventh  range  of  townships  then  surveying,  and 
north  by  a  due  west  line,  drawn  from  the  north 


boundary  of  the  tenth  township  from  the  Ohio, 
direct  to  the  Scioto,  was  sold  to  the  Ohio  associ- 
ates and  their  secret  copartners,  for  $1  per  acre, 
subject  to  a  deduction  of  one-third  for  bad  lands 
and  other  contingencies. 

The  whole  tract  was  not,  however,  paid  for  nor 
taken  by  the  Company — even  their  own  portion  of 
a  million  and  a  half  acres,  and  extending  west  to  the 
eighteenth  range  of  townships,  was  not  taken  ;  and 
in  1792,  the  boundaries  of  the  purchase  proper 
were  fixed  as  follows :  the  Ohio  on  the  south,  the 
seventh  range  of  townships  on  the  east,  the  six- 
teenth range  on  the  west,  and  a  line  on  the  north 
so  drawn  as  to  make  the  grant  750,000  acres,  be- 
sides reservations ;  this  grant  being  the  portion 
which  it  was  originally  agreed  the  Company  might 
enter  into  at  once.  In  addition  to  this,  214,285 
acres  were  granted  as  army  bounties,  under  the 
resolutions  of  1779  and  1780,  and  100,000  acres 
as  bounties  to  actual  settlers;  both  of  the  latter 
tracts  being  within  the  original  grant  of  1787,  and 
adjoining  the  purchase  as  before  mentioned. 

While  these  things  were  progressing.  Congress 
was  bringing  into  form  an  ordinance  for  the  gov- 
ernment and  social  organization  of  the  North- 
west Territory.  Virginia  made  her  cession  in 
March,  1784,  and  during  the  month  following  the 
plan  for  the  temporary  government  of  the  newly 
acquired  territory  came  under  discussion.  On  the 
1 9th  of  April,  Mr.  Spaight,  of  North  Carolina, 
moved  to  strike  from  the  plan  reported  by  Jlr. 
Jefierson,  the  emancipationist  of  his  day,  a  provis- 
ion for  the  prohibition  of  slavery  north  of  the  Ohio 
after  the  year  1800.  The  motion  prevailed.  From 
that  day  till  the  23d,  the  plan  was  discussed  and 
altered,  and  finally  passed  unanimously  with  the  ex- 
ception of  South  Carolina.  The  South  would  have 
slavery,  or  defeat  every  measure.  Thus  this  hide- 
ous monster  early  began  to  assert  himself.  By  the 
proposed  plan,  the  Territory  was  to  have  been 
divided  into  States  by  parallels  of  latitude  and  merid- 
ian lines.  This  division,  it  was  thought,  would  make 
ten  States,  whose  names  were  as  follows,  beginning 
at  the  northwest  corner,  and  going  southwardly : 
Sylvania,  Michigania,  Cheresonisus,  Assenispia, 
Metropotamia,  Illinoia,  Saratoga,  Washington, 
Polypotamia  and  Pelisipia.* 

A  more  serious  difiiculty  existed,  however,  to 
this  plan,  than  its  catalogue  of  names — the  number 
of  States  and  their  boundaries.  The  root  of  the  evil 
was  in  the  resolution  passed  by  Congress  in  October, 

*  Spark's  Wiiahington. 


•^  i 


.^ 


HISTORY  OF    OHIO. 


67 


1  TSfl,  wliich  fixed  the  size  of  the  States  to  be  formed 
from  the  ceded  lands,  at  one  hundred  to  one  hundred 
and  fifty  miles  sijuare.  The  terms  of  tliat  resolu- 
tion being  called  up  both  by  Virj^inia  and  Massa- 
chusetts, furtlier  legislation  was  deemed  necessary 
to  change  them.  July  7,  1780,  this  subject  came 
up  in  Congress,  and  a  resolution  passed  in  favor  of 
a  division  into  not  less  than  three  nor  more  than 
five  States.  Virginia,  at  the  close  of  1788,  assented 
to  this  proposition,  which  became  the  basis  upon 
which  the  division  should  be  made.  On  the  29th 
of  September,  Congress  having  thus  changed  the 
plan  for  dividing  the  Northwestern  Territor}'  into 
ten  St;ites,  proceeded  again  to  consider  the  terms  of 
an  ordinance  for  the  government  of  tliat  region.  At 
this  juncture,  the  genius  of  Dr.  Cutler  displayed 
itself.  A  graduate  in  medicine,  law  and  divinity  ; 
an  ardent  lover  of  liberty  ;  a  celebrated  scientist, 
and  an  accomplished,  portly  gentleman,  of  whom 
the  Southern  senators  said  they  had  never  before 
seen  so  fine  a  specimen  from  the  New  England  colo- 
nies, no  man  was  better  prepared  to  form  a  govern- 
ment for  the  new  Territory,  than  he.  The  Ohio 
Company  was  hLs  real  object.  He  was  backed  by 
them,  and  enough  Continental  money  to  purchase 
more  than  a  million  acres  of  land.  This  was  aug- 
mented by  other  parties  until,  as  has  been  noticed, 
he  represented  over  five  million  acres.  This  would 
largely  reduce  the  public  debt.  Jefferson  and  Vir- 
ginia were  regarded  as  authority  concerning  the 
land  Virginia  had  just  ceded  to  the  General  Gov- 
ernment. Jefierson  s  policy  w;is  to  provide  for  the 
national  credit,  and  still  check  the  growth  of  slavery. 
Here  was  a  good  opportunity.  Ma.ssachusetts 
owned  the  Territory  of  Maine,  which  she  was  crowd- 
ing into  market.  She  opposed  the  opening  of 
the  Northwest.  This  stirred  Virginia.  The  South 
caught  the  inspu'ation  and  rallied  around  the  Old 
Dominion  and  Dr.  Cutler.  Thereby  he  gained  the 
credit  and  good  will  of  the  South,  an  auxiliary  he 
used  to  good  purpose.  Mas.saehu.setts  could  not 
vote  against  him,  because  many  of  the  constituents 
of  her  members  were  interested  in  the  Ohio  Com- 
pany. Thus  the  Doctor,  using  all  the  arts  of  the 
lobbyist,  was  enabled  to  hold  the  situation.  True  to 
deeper  convictions,  he  dictated  one  of  the  most  com- 
pact and  finished  documents  of  wise  statesmanship 
that  h;x3  ever  adorned  any  statute-book.  Jefferson 
g'.ve  it  the  term,  "Articles  of  Compact,"  and 
rendered  him  valuable  aid  in  its  construction.  This 
"  Compact"  preceded  the  Federal  Con.stitution,  in 
b(ith  of  which  are  seen  Jefferson's  master-mind. 
Dr.  Cutler  followed  closely  the  constitution  of  Mas- 


s;ichusetts,  adopted  three  years  before.  The  prom- 
inent features  were  :  The  exclusion  of  slavery  from 
tjio  Territory  forever.  Provision  for  public  schools, 
giving  one  townshi]i  for  a  seminary,  and  every  si.x- 
teentli  section.  (That  gave  one  thirty-sixth  of  all 
the  laud  ibr  public  education. j  A  prcjvision  pro- 
hibiting the  adoption  of  any  c<mstitution  or  the 
enactment  of  any  law  that  would  nullify  pre-exist- 
ing contracts. 

The  compact  further  declared  that  "  Keligion, 
morality  and  knowledge  being  necessary  to  good 
government  and  the  happiness  of  mankind,  schools 
and  the  means  of  education  shall  always  be  en- 
couraged." 

The  Doctor  planted  himself  firmly  on  this  plat- 
form, and  would  not  yield.  It  was  that  or  nothing. 
Unless  they  could  make  the  land  desirable,  it  was 
not  wanted,  and,  taking  his  horse  and  buggy,  he 
started  for  the  Constitutional  Convention  in  Phil- 
adelphia. His  iufliience  succeeded.  On  the  13th 
of  July,  1787,  the  bill  was  put  upon  its  passage 
and  was  unanimously  adopted.  Every  member 
from  the  South  voted  for  it ;  only  one  man,  Mr. 
Yates,  of  New  York,  voted  against  the  measure ; 
but  as  the  vote  was  made  by  States,  his  vote  was 
lost,  and  the  "  Compact  of  1787  "  was  beyond  re- 
peal. Thus  the  great  States  of  the  Northwest 
Territory  were  consecrated  to  freedom,  intelligence 
and  morality.  This  act  was  the  opening  step  for 
freedom  in  America.  Soon  the  South  saw  their 
blunder,  and  endeavored,  by  all  their  power,  to  re- 
peal the  compact.  In  1803,  Congress  referred  it 
to  a  committee,  of  which  John  Randolph  was 
chairman.  He  re])orted  the  ordinance  was  a  com- 
pact and  could  not  be  repealed.  Thus  it  stood, 
like  a  rock,  in  the  way  of  slavery,  which  still,  in 
spite  of  these  provisions,  endeavored  to  plant  that 
infernal  institution  in  the  West.  Witness  the 
early  days  of  Ohio,  Indiana  and  Illinois.  But  the 
compact  could  n(jt  be  violated ;  New  England  ideas 
could  not  bo  put  down,  and  her  sons  stood  ready 
to  defend  the  soil  of  the  ^Vest  from  that  curse. 

The  pa.ssage  of  the  ordinance  and  the  grant  of 
land  to  Dr.  Cutler  and  his  a-ssociates,  were  soon  fol- 
lowed by  a  request  fi-om  John  Cleve  Symmes,  of 
New  Jersey,  for  the  country  between  the  Jliamis. 
Symmes  had  visitird  that  partof  the  Westin  1781), 
and,  being  pleased  with  the  valleys  of  the  Miamis, 
had  apj)lie(i  to  the  Board  of  the  Treasury  for 
their  purchase,  as  soon  as  they  were  open  to  set- 
tlement. The  Board  was  empowered  to  act  by 
Congress,  and,  in  1788,  a  contract  was  signed,  giv- 
ing him  the  country  he  desired.     The  terms  of  his 


G8 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


l)uroba.se  were  similar  to  those  of  the  Ohio  Com- 
pany.  His  appHcation  was  followed  by  others, 
whose  success  or  failure  will  appear  in  the  narrative. 

The  New  England  or  Ohio  Company  was  all 
this  time  busily  engaged  perfecting  its  arrange- 
ments to  occupy  its  lands.  The  Directors  agreed 
to  reserve  5,760  acres  near  the  confluence  of  the 
Ohio  and  Muskingum  for  a  city  and  commons,  for 
the  old  ideas  of  the  English  plan  of  settling  a 
country  yet  prevailed.  A  meeting  of  the  Direct- 
ors was  held  at  Bracket's  taveru,  in  Boston,  No- 
vember 23,  1787,  when  four  surveyors,  and  tweu- 
ty-two  attendants,  boat-builders,  carpenters,  black- 
smiths and  common  workmen,  numbering  in  all 
forty  persons,  wore  engaged.  Their  tools  were 
l)urchased,  and  wagons  were  obtained  to  transport 
them  across  the  mountains.  Gen.  Kufus  Putnam 
was  made  superintendent  of  the  company,  and 
Ebenezer  Sproat,  of  Rhode  Island,  Anselm  Tup- 
per  and  John  Matthews,  from  Massachusetts,  and 
R.  J.  Meigs,  fiom  Connecticut,  as  surveyors.  At 
the  same  meeting,  a  suitable  person  to  instruct  them 
in  religion,  and  prepare  the  way  to  open  a  school 
when  needed,  was  selected.  This  was  Rev.  Daniel 
Storey,  who  became  the  first  New  England  minis- 
ter in  the  Northwest. 

The  Indians  were  watching  this  outgrowth  of 
affairs,  and  felt,  from  what  tliey  could  learn  in  Ken- 
tucky, that  they  would  be  gradually  surrounded  by 
the  whites.  This  they  did  not  relish,  by  any 
means,  and  gave  the  settlements  south  of  the  Oliio 
no  little  uneasiness.  It  was  thought  best  to  hold 
another  treaty  with  them.  In  the  mean  time,  to 
insure  peace,  the  Governor  of  Virginia,  and  Con- 
gress, placed  troops  at  Venango,  Forts  Pitt  and 
Mcintosh,  and  at  Miami,  Vinccnnes,  Louisville, 
and  Muskingum,  and  the  militia  of  Kentucky 
were  held  in  readiness  should  a  sudden  outbreak 
occur.  These  measures  produced  no  results,  save 
insuring  the  safety  of  the  whites,  and  not  until 
January,  1789,  was  Clarke  able  to  carry  out  his 
plans.  During  that  mt)nth,  he  held  a  meeting  at  Fort 
Harmar,*  at  the  mouth  of  the  Muskingum,  where 
the  New  England  Colony  expected  to  locate. 

The  hostile  character  of  the  Indians  did  not 
deter  the  Ohio  Comjiany  from  carrying  out  its 
plans.     In  the  winter  of  1787,  Gen.  Rufus  Put- 

*  Fort  Harmar  was  built  in  17S5,  by  a  detachment  of  United  States 
soldiers,  under  command  of  Maj.  John  Dongbty.  It  was  named  in 
honor  of  Col.  Josiah  llarmar,  to  whoso  regmi'.nt  Maj.  Doughty  was 
attached.  It  wad  the  fii-at  military  post  erected  by  the  Americans 
within  tlie  limits  of  Ohio,  except  Fort  Laurens,  a  temporary  struct- 
ure built  in  1778.  When  Marietta  was  founded  it  was  the  military 
post  of  that  part  of  the  country,  and  was  for  many  years  an  impor- 
tatit  station. 


nam  and  forty-seven  pioneers  advanced  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Youghiogheny  River,  and  began 
building  a  boat  for  transportation  down  the  Ohio 
in  the  spring.  The  boat  was  the  largest  craft,  that 
had  ever  descended  the  river,  and,  in  allusion  to 
their  Pilgrim  Fathers,  it  w;is  called  the  Mayflower. 
It  was  45  feet  long  and  12  feet  wide,  and  esti- 
mated at  50  tons  burden.  Truly  a  formidable  afl'air 
for  the  time.  The  bows  were  raking  and  curved 
like  a  galley,  and  were  strongly  timbered.  The 
sides  were  made  bullet-proof,  and  it  was  covered 
with  a  deck  roof  Capt.  Devol,  the  first  ship- 
builder in  the  West,  was  placed  in  command.  On 
tlie  2d  of  April,  the  Mayflower  was  launched, 
and  for  five  days  the  little  band  of  pioneers  sailed 
di:)wu  the  jMonongahela  and  the  Ohio,  and,  on  the 
7.th,  landed  at  the  mouth  of  the  Muskingum. 
There,  opposite  Fort  Harmar,  they  chose  a  loca- 
tion, moored  their  boat  for  a  temporary  shelter, 
and  began  to  erect  houses  for  their  occupation. 

Thus  was  begun  th(5  first  English  settlement  in 
the  Ohio  Valley.  About  the  1st  of  July,  they 
were  re-enforced  by  the  arrival  of  a  colony  from 
Massachusetts.  It  had  been  nine  weeks  on  the 
way.  It  had  hauled  its  wagons  and  driven  its 
stock  to  Wheeling,  where,  constructing  flat-boats, 
it  had  floated  down  the  river  to  the  settlement. 

In  October  preceding  this  occurrence,  Arthur  . 
St.  Clair  had  been  appointed  Governor  of  the  Ter- 
ritory by  Congress,  which  body  also  appointed 
Winthrop  Sargent,  Secretary,  and  Samuel  H. 
Parsons,  James  ftl.  Varnum  and  John  Armstrong 
Judges.  Subsequently  Blr.  Armstrong  declined 
the  appointment,  and  jMr.  Symmes  was  given  the 
vacancy.  None  of  these  were  on  the  ground 
when  the  first  settlement  was  made,  though  the 
Judges  came  soou  after.  One  of  the  first  things  the 
colony  found  necessary  to  do  was  to  organize 
some  form  of  government,  whereby  difficulties 
might  be  settled,  though  to  the  credit  of  the  colony 
it  may  be  said,  that  during  the  first  three  months 
of  its  existence  but  one  difference  arose,  and  that 
was  settled  by  a  compromise.*  Indeed,  hardly  a 
better  set  of  men  for  the  purpose  could  have  been 
selected.  Washington  wrote  concerning  this 
colony : 

"No  colony  in  America  was  ever  settled  under 
such  favorable  auspices  as  that  which  has  com- 
menced at  the  Muskingum.  Information,  prop- 
erty and  strength  will  be  its  characteristics.  I 
know  many  of  the  settlers  personally,  and  there 

*'*  Western  Monthly  Magazine." 


^- 


iii^ 


never  were  men  betU r  eakulated  to  promote  the 
welfare  of  such  a  community." 

On  the  2d  of  July,  a  meeting  of  the  Directors 
and  agents  was  held  on  the  banks  of  the  Mus- 
kingum for  the  purpose  of  naming  the  newborn 
city  and  its  squares.  As  yet,  the  settlement  had 
been  merely  "The  Muskingum;"  but  the  name 
Marietta  was  now  formally  given  it,  in  honor  of 
Marie  Antoinette.  The  square  upon  which  the 
blockhouses  stood  was  called  Campus  Martins; 
Square  No.  19,  CapitoUum ;  Square  No.  01,  Ce- 
cilia, and  the  great  road  running  through  the 
covert-way.  Sacra  Via*  Surely,  classical  scholars 
were  not  scarce  in  the  colony. 

On  the  Fourth,  an  oration  was  delivered  by 
James  M.  Varnum,  one  of  the  Judges,  and  a 
public  demonstration  held.  Five  da^'s  afler,  the 
Governor  arrived,  and  the  colony  began  to  assume 
form.  The  ordinance  of  1787  provided  two  dis- 
tinct giades  of  government,  under  the  first  of 
which  the  whole  power  was  under  the  Governor 
and  the  three  Judges.  This  form  was  at  once 
recognized  on  the  arrival  of  St.  Clair.  The  first 
law  established  by  this  court  was  passed  on  the 
25th  of  July.  It  established  and  regulated  the 
militia  of  the  Territory.  The  next  day  after  its 
publication,  appeared  the  Governor's  proclamation 
erecting  all  the  country  that  had  been  ceded  by 
the  Indians  east  of  the  Scioto  River,  into  the 
county  of  Washington.  Marietta  was,  of  course, 
the  county  seat,  and,  from  that  day,  went  on 
prosperously.  On  September  2,  the  first  court 
was  held  with  becoming  ceremonies.  It  is  thus 
related  in  the  American  Pioneer: 

"The  procession  was  formed  at  the  Point 
("where  the  most  of  the  settlers  resided),  in  the 
following  order:  The  High  Sheriff,  with  his 
drawn  sword;  the  citizens;  the  officers  of  the 
garrison  at  Fort  Harmar;  the  members  of  the 
bar;  the  Supreme  Judges;  the  Governor  and 
clergyman ;  the  newly  appointed  Judges  of  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas,  Gens.  Ilufus  Putnam 
and  Benjamin  Tupper. 

"They  marched  up  the  path  that  had  been 
cleared  through  the  forest  to  Campus  Martins 
Hall  (stockade ),  where  the  whole  countermarched, 
and  the  Judges  (Putnam  and  Tupper)  took  their 
seats.  The  clergyman,  Rev.  Dr.  Cutler,  then 
invoked  the  di\-ine  blessing.  The  Sheriff,  Col. 
Kbenezer  Sproat,  proclaimed  with  his  solemn  'Oh 
yes!'  that  a  court  is  oj>en  for  the  administration  of 

*"  Carey's  Museum,"  Vol.  4. 


even-handed  justice,  to  the  poor  and  to  the  rich, 
to  the  guilty  and  to  the  innocent,  without  respect 
of  persons;  none  to  be  punished  without  a  trial  of 
their  peers,  and  then  in  pursuance  of  the  laws  and 
evidence  in  the  case. 

"  Although  this  scene  was  exhibited  thus  early 
in  the  settlement  of  the  West,  few  ev(!r  ecpaled  it 
in  the  dignity  and  exalted  character  of  its  princi- 
pal participators.  Many  of  them  belonged  U)  the 
history  of  our  country  in  the  darkest,  as  well  as 
the  most  splendid,  period  of  the  Revolutionary 
war." 

Many  Indians  were  gathered  at  the  same  time 
to  witness  the  (to  themj  strange  spectacle,  and  for 
the  purpose  of  forming  a  treaty,  though  how 
fiir  they  canied  this  out,  the  Pioneer  does  not 
relate. 

The  progress  of  the  settlement  was  quite  satis- 
factory during  the  year.  Some  one  writing  a 
letter  from  the  town  says: 

"The  progress  of  the  settlement  is  sufficiently 
rapid  for  the  first  year.  We  are  continually  erect- 
ing houses,  but  arrivals  are  constantly  coming 
faster  than  we  can  possibly  provid(!  convenient 
covering.  Our  first  ball  was  opened  about  the 
middle  of  December,  at  which  were  fifteen  ladies, 
as  well  accomplished  in  the  manner  of  polite 
circles  as  any  I  have  ever  seen  in  the  old(!r  States. 
I  mention  this  to  show  the  progress  of  society  in 
this  new  world,  where,  I  believe,  we  shall  vie  with, 
if  not  excel,  the  old  States  in  every  accom- 
plishment necessary  to  render  life  agreeable  and 
happy."  ^ 

The  emigration  westward  at  this  time  was, 
indeed,  exceedingly  large.  The  commander  at 
Fort  Harmar  reported  4,500  persons  as  having 
passed  that  post  between  February  and  June, 
1788,  many  of  whom  would  have  stopped  there, 
had  the  associates  been  ])ro(iarcd  to  receive  them. 
The  settlement  was  free  from  Indian  depredations 
until  January,  1791,  during  which  interval  it 
daily  increased  in  numbers  and  strength. 

Symmcs  and  his  friends  were  not  idle  during  this 
time.  He  had  secured  his  contract  in  October, 
1787,  and,  soon  after,  issued  a  j)amphlct  stating 
the  terms  of  his  purchase  and  the  mode  he  intended 
to  follow  in  the  di.sposid  of  the  lauds.  His  plan 
wus,  to  issue  warrants  for  not  less  than  one-quarter 
.section,  which  might  be  located  anywhere,  save  on 
reservations,  or  on  land  previously  entered.  The 
locator  could  enter  an  entire  section  should  he  de- 
sire to  do  so.  The  price  was  to  be  CO5  cents  per 
acre  till  ?Iay,  1788  ;  then,  till  November,  §1  ;  and 


70 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


after  that  time  to  be  regulated  by  the  demand  for 
land.  Each  purchaser  was  bound  to  begin  im- 
provements within  two  years,  or  forfeit  one-sixth 
of  the  land  to  whoever  would  settle  thereon  and 
remain  seven  years.  Military  bounties  might  be 
taken  in  this,  as  in  the  purchase  of  the  associates. 
For  himself,  Symmes  reserved  one  township  near 
the  mouth  of  the  Miami.  On  this  he  intended  to 
build  a  great  city,  rivaling  any  Eastern  port.  He 
offered  any  one  a  lot  on  which  to  build  a  house, 
providing  he  would  remain  three  years.  Conti- 
nental certificates  were  rising,  owing  to  the  demand 
for  land  created  by  these  two  purchases,  and  Con- 
gress found  the  burden  of  debt  correspondingly 
lessened.  Symmes  scion  began  to  experience  diffi- 
culty in  procuring  enough  to  meet  his  payments. 
He  had  also  some  trouble  in  arranging  his  boundary 
with  the  Board  of  the  Ti'easury.  These,  and  other 
causes,  laid  the  foundation  for  another  city,  which  is 
now  what  Symmes  hoped  his  city  would  one  day  be. 

In  January,  1788,  Mathias  Denman,  of  New 
Jersey,  took  an  interest  in  Symmes'  purchase, 
and  located,  among  other  tracts,  the  sections  upon 
which  Cincinnati  has  since  been  built.  Retaining 
one-third  of  this  purchase,  he  sold  the  balance  to 
Robert  Patterson  and  John  Filson,  each  getting 
I  he  same  share.  These  three,  about  August,  agreed 
to  lay  out  a  town  on  their  land.  It  was  designated 
as  opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Licking  River,  to 
which  place  it  was  intended  to  open  a  road  from 
Lexington,  Ky.  These  men  little  thought  of  the 
great  emporium  that  now  covers  the  modest  site  of 
this  town  they  laid  out  that  summer.  Mr.  Filson, 
who  had  been  a  schoolmaster,  and  was  of  a  some- 
what poetic  nature,  was  appointed  to  name  the 
town.  In  respect  to  its  situation,  and  as  if  with 
a  prophetic  perception  of  the  mixed  races  that 
were  in  after  yeara  to  dwell  there,  he  named  it  Los- 
antiville,*  "  which,  being  interpreted,"  says  the 
"  Western  Annals,"  "means  I'j'ffi',  the  town;  and, 
opposite  to  ;  os,  the  mouth ;  L,  of  Licking.  This 
may  well  put  to  the  blu.sh  the  Campus  Marlins 
of  the  Marietta  scholars,  and  the  Fort  Soloit  of 
the  Spaniards." 

Meanwhile,  Symmes  was  busy  in  the  East,  and, 
by  July,  got  thirty  people  and  eight  four-horse 
wagons  under  way  for  the  West.  These  reached 
Limestone  by  September,  where  they  met  Mr. 
Stites,  with  several  persons  fi'om  Redstone.     All 

*  Judge  Burnett,  in  his  notes,  disputes  the  above  account  of  the 
origin  of  the  city  of  Cincinnati.  Ho  says  tlio  name  "LusantiTille" 
was  determined  on,  but  not  adopted,  when  the  town  was   laid  out. 

-sion  is  probably  the  correct  one,,  and  will  be  found  fully 

1  the  detailed  history  of  the  settlements. 


came  to  Symmes'  purchase,  and  began  to  look  for 
homes. 

Symmes'  mind  was,  however,  ill  at  rest.  He 
could  not  meet  his  first  payment  on  so  vast  a  realm, 
and  there  also  arose  a  difference  of  opinion  be- 
tween him  and  the  Treasury  Board  reg;irding  the 
Ohio  boundary.  Symmes  wanted  all  the  land  be- 
tween the  two  Miamis,  bordering  on  the  Ohio, 
while  the  Board  wished  him  confined  to  no  more 
than  twenty  miles  of  the  river.  To  this  proposal 
he  would  not  agree,  as  he  had  made  sales  all  along 
the  river.  Leaving  the  bargain  in  an  unsettled 
state,  CongTess  considered  itself  released  from  all 
its  obligations,  and,  but  for  the  representations  of 
many  of  Symmes'  friends,  he  would  have  lost  all 
his  money  and  labor.  His  a)ij)ointment  as  Judge 
was  not  favorably  received  by  many,  as  they 
thought  that  by  it  he  would  acejuire  unlimited 
power.  Some  of  his  associates  also  complained  of 
him,  and,  for  awhile,  it  surely  seemed  that  ruin 
only  awaited  him.  Btit  he  was  brave  and  hope- 
ful, and  determined  to  succeed.  On  his  return 
from  a  visit  to  his  purchase  in  September,  1788, 
he  wrote  .Jonathan  Dayton,  of  New  Jersey,  one  of 
his  best  friends  and  associates,  that  he  thought 
some  of  the  land  near  the  Great  Miami  "  positively 
worth  a  silver  dollar  the  acre  in  its  present  state." 

A  good  many  changes  were  made  in  his  original 
contract,  gi'owing  out  of  his  inability  to  meet  his 
payments.  At  first,  he  was  to  have  not  less  than 
a  million  acres,  under  an  act  of  CmigivsK  jms'iei]  in 
October,  1787,  authorizing  the  Ticasury  Board  to 
contract  with  any  one  who  could  pay  for  such 
tracts,  on  the  Ohio  and  Wabash  Rivers,  whose 
fronts  should  not  exceed  one-third  of  their  depth. 

Dayton  and  Marsh,  Symmes'  agents,  contracted 
with  the  Board  for  one  tract  on  the  Ohio,  begin- 
ning twenty  miles  up  the  Ohio  from  the  mouth  of 
the  Great  Jliami,  and  to  run  back  for  quantitj'  be- 
tween the  Miami  and  a  line  drawn  from  the  Ohio, 
parallel  to  the  general  course  of  that  river.  In 
1791,  three  years  after  Daj'ton  and  Marsh  made 
the  contract,  Symmes  found  this  would  throw  the 
purchase  too  far  back  fi-om  the  Ohio,  and  applied 
to  Congress  to  let  him  have  all  between  tlu^  Mi- 
amies,  running  back  so  as  to  include  1, 000, 000 
acres,  which  that  body,  on  April  12,  1792,  agreed 
to  do.  When  the  lands  were  surveyed,  however,  it 
was  found  that  a  line  drawn  from  the  head  of  the 
Little  Miami  due  west  to  the  Great  Bliami,  would 
include  south  of  it  less  than  six  hundred  thousand 
acres.  Even  this  Symmes  could  not  pay  for,  and 
when  his  patent  was  issued  in  September,  1794,  it 


-7- 


HISTORY   OF   OHIO. 


71 


gave  him  and  his  associates  248,540  acres,  exclu- 
^ive  of  reservations  which  amouuted  to  Glj,142 
acres.  This  tract  was  bounded  by  the  Ohio,  the 
two  31iauiis  and  a  due  eitst  and  west  line  run  so 
as  to  iuchide  tlio  desired  quantity.  Syuimes,  how- 
ever, made  no  f  urtlier  payments,  and  the  rest  of 
his  purchase  reverted  to  the  I'uited  States,  who 
gave  those  who  liad  bought  under  liini  ample  pre- 
emption rights. 

The  Government  was  able,  also,  to  give  him  and 
his  colonists  but  little  aid,  aud  as  danger  from  hos- 
tile Indians  wa.sin  a  measure  imminent  (though  all 
the  natives  were  friendly  to  Symmes),  settlers  wore 
slow  tc  come.  However,  the  band  led  by  Mr. 
Stites  arrived  before  the  1st  of  January,  1789, 
and  locating  themselves  near  the  mouth  of  the 
Little  Miami,  on  a  tract  of  10,OilO  acres  which 
Mr.  Stites  had  purchased  from  Symmes,  formed 
the  second  settlement  in  Ohio.  They  wore  soon 
afterward  joined  by  a  colony  of  twenty-six  persons, 
who  assisted  them  to  erect  a  block-house,  and 
gather  their  corn.  The  ti)wn  was  named  Columbia. 
While  here,  the  great  flood  of  January,  178'J,  oc- 
curred, which  did  much  to  ensure  the  future 
growth  of  Jjosantiville,  or  more  properly,  Cincin- 
nati. Symmes  City,  which  was  laid  out  near  the 
mouth  of  the  Great  Miami,  and  which  he  vaiuly 
strove  to  make  the  city  of  the  future.  Marietta 
and  Columbia,  all  suffered  severely  b}'  this  flood, 
the  greatest,  the  Indians  said,  ever  known.  The 
site  of  Cincinnati  was  not  ovei-flowed,  and  hence 
attracted  the  attention  of  the  settlers.  Denman's 
warrants  had  designated  his  purchase  as  opposite 
the  mouth  of  the  Licking;  and  that  point  escaj)- 
ing  the  overflow,  late  in  December  the  place  was 
visited  by  Israel  Ludlow,  Symmes'  surveyor,  Mr. 
Patterson  and  Mr.  Denman,  and  about  fourteen  oth- 
ers, w^ho  left  ilaysville  to  "form  a  station  and  lay 
off  a  town  opposite  the  Licking."  The  river  Wiis 
filled  with  ice  "from  shore  to  shore;"  but,  says 
Symmes  in  May,  1789,  "  Perseverance  triumphing 
over  difficulty,  and  they  landed  safe  on  a  most  de- 
lightful bank  of  the  Ohio,  where  they  founded 
the  town  of  Losantiville,  which  populates  consid- 
erably." The  settlers  of  Losantiville  built  a  few 
log  huts  and  block-houses,  and  proceeded  to  im- 
prove the  town.  Symmes,  noticing  the  location, 
says:  "Though  they  placed  their  dwellings  in  the 
most  marked  position,  yet  they  suffered  nothing 
from  the  freshet."  This  would  seem  to  give  cre- 
dence to  Judge  Burnett's  notes  regarding  tlie  origin 
of  Cincinnati,  who  states  the  settlement  was  made 
at  this  time,  and  not  at  the  time  mentioned  when 


3Ir.  Filsou  named  the  town.  It  i.s  further  to  be 
nut  iced,  that,  before  the  town  was  located  by  Mr. 
Ludlow  and  Mr.  Patterson,  !Mr.  Filson  had  been 
killed  by  the  Miami  Indians,  aud,  as  he  had  not  paid 
for  his  one-third  of  the  site,  the  claim  was  sold  to 
Mr.  Ludlow,  who  thereby  became  one  of  the  origi- 
nal owners  of  the  place.  Just  what  day  the  town 
was  laid  out  is  not  recorded.  All  the  evidence 
tends  to  show  it  must  have  been  late  in  1788,  or 
early  in  1789. 

AV'^hile  the  settlements  on  the  north  side  of  the 
Ohio  were  thus  progressing,  south  of  it  fears  of  the 
Indians  prevailed,  and  the  separation  sore  was 
kept  open.  The  country  was,  however,  so  torn  by 
internal  factions  that  no  plan  was  likely  to  suc- 
ceed, and  to  this  fact,  in  a  large  measure,  may  be 
credited  the  reason  it  did  not  secede,  or  join  the 
Spanish  or  French  faction,  both  of  which  were 
intriguing  to  get  the  commonwealth.  During 
this  year  the  treasonable  acts  of  James  Wilkinson 
came  into  view.  For  a  while  he  thought  success 
was  in  his  grasp,  but  the  two  governments  were  at 
peace  with  America,  aud  discouutenanced  any  such 
efforts.  Wilkinson,  like  all  traitors,  relapsed  into 
nonentity,  and  became  mistrusted  by  the  govern- 
ments he  attempted  to  befriend.  Treason  is  al- 
ways odious. 

It  will  be  borne  in  mind,  that  in  1778  prepa- 
rations had  been  made  for  a  treaty  with  the  Indi- 
ans, to  secure  peaceful  possession  of  the  lands 
owned  in  the  West.  Though  the  whites  held 
these  by  purchase  and  treaty,  yet  many  Indians, 
especially  the  Wabash  and  some  of  the  Miami  In- 
dians, objected  to  their  occupation,  claiming  the 
Ohio  boundary  as  the  original  division  line.  Clarke 
endeavored  to  obtain,  by  treaty  at  Fort  Harmar, 
in  1778,  a  confirmation  of  these  grants,  but  was 
not  able  to  do  .so  till  January,  9,  1789.  Rep- 
resentatives of  the  Six  Nations,  and  of  the  Wjan- 
dots,  Delawares,  Ottawa.s,  Chippcwas,  Pottawato- 
mies  and  Sacs,  met  him  at  this  date,  and  confirmed 
and  extended  the  treaties  of  Fort  Stanwix  and 
Fort  Mcluto.sh,  the  one  in  1784,  the  other  in 
1785.  This  secured  peace  with  the  most  of  them, 
save  a  few  of  the  Wabash  Indians,  whom  they 
were  compelled  to  comiuer  by  arms.  When  this 
was  accomplLshcd,  the  borders  were  thought  safe, 
and  Virginia  ])ro]ioscd  to  withdraw  her  aid  in  sup- 
port of  Kentucky.  This  opened  old  troubles,  and 
the  separation  dogma  came  out  afresh.  Virginia 
offered  to  allow  the  erection  of  a  separate  State, 
providing  Kentucky  would  a-ssume  ]jart  of  the  old 
debts.     This  the  young  commonwealth  would  not 


sr 


72 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


do,  and  sent  a  remonstrance.  Virginia  withdrew 
the  proposal,  and  ordered  a  ninth  convention, 
which  succeeded  in  evolving  a  plan  whereby  Ken- 
tucky took  her  place  among  the  free  States  of  the 
Union. 

North  of  the  Ohio,  the  prosperity  continued. 
In  1789,  Rev.  Daniel  Story,  who  had  been  ap- 
pointed missionary  to  the  West,  came  out  as  a 
teacher  of  the  youth  and  a  preacher  of  the  Gospel. 
Dr.  Cutler  had  preceded  him,  not  in  the  capacity 
of  a  minister,  though  he  had  preached  ;  hence  Mr. 
Story  is  truly  the  first  missionary  from  the  Prot- 
estant Church  who  came  to  the  Ohio  Valley  in 
that  capacity.  When  he  came,  in  1789,  he  found 
nine  associations  on  the  Ohio  Company's  purchase, 
coui[irising  two  hundred  and  fifty  persons  in  all ; 
and,  by  the  close  of  1790,  eight  settlements  had 
been  made:  two  at  Belpre  (belle  prairie),  one  at 
Newbury,  one  at  Wolf  Creek,  one  at  Duck  Creek, 
one  at  the  mouth  of  Meigs'  Creek,  one  at  Ander- 
son's Bottom,  and  one  at  Big  Bottom.  An  ex- 
tended sketch  of  all  these  settlements  will  be  found 
farther  on  in  this  volume. 

Symmes  had,  all  this  time,  strenuously  endeav- 
ored to  get  his  city — called  Cleves  City — favorably 
noticed,  and  filled  with  people.  He  saw  a  rival  in 
Cincinnati.  That  place,  if  made  military  head- 
quarters to  protect  the  Miami  Valley,  would  out- 
rival his  town,  situated  near  the  bend  of  the 
Miami,  near  its  mouth.  On  the  15th  of  June, 
Judj;e  Synimes  received  news  that  the  Wabash 
Inilians  threatened  the  Miami  settlements,  and  as 
he  had  received  only  nineteen  men  for  defense,  he 
applied  for  more.  Before  July,  Maj.  Doughty 
arrived  at  the  "Slaughter  House  " — as  the  Miami 
was  sometimes  called,  owing  to  previous  murders 
that  had,  at  former  times,  occurred  therein. 
Through  the  influence  of  Symmes,  the  detach- 
ment landed  at  the  North  Bend,  and,  for  awhile, 
it  was  thought  the  fort  would  be  erected  there. 
This  was  what  Symmes  wanted,  as  it  would 
secure  him  the  headquarters  of  the  military,  and 
aid  in  getting  the  headquarters  of  the  civil  gov- 
ernment. The  truth  was,  however,  that  neither 
the  ]iroposed  city  on  the  INIiami — North  Bend,  as 
it  alterward  became  known,  from  its  location — or 
South  Bend,  could  compete,  in  point  of  natural 
advantages,  with  the  plain  on  which  Cincinnati  is 
built.  Had  Port  Washington  been  built  elsewhere, 
after  the  clo.se  of  the  Indian  war,  nature  would 
have  asserted  her  advantages,  and  insured  tlie 
growth  of  a  city,  where  even  the  ancient  and  mys- 
terious dwellers  of  the  Ohio  had  reared  the  earthen 


walls  of  one  of  their  vast  t<imples.  Another  fact 
is  given  in  relation  to  the  erection  of  Port  Wash- 
ington at  Losantiville,  which  partakes  somewhat  of 
romance.  The  Major,  while  waiting  to  decide  at 
which  place  the  fort  should  be  built,  happened  to 
make  the  acquaintance  of  a  black-eyed  beauty,  the 
wife  of  one  of  the  residents.  Her  husband,  notic- 
ing the  affair,  removed  her  to  Losantiville.  The 
Major  followed;  he  told  Symmes  he  wished  to  see 
how  a  fort  would  do  there,  but  promised  to  give  his 
city  the  preference.  He  found  the  beauty  there,  and 
on  his  return  Symmes  could  not  prevail  on  him  to 
remain.  If  the  story  be  true,  then  the  importance 
of  Cincinnati  owes  its  existence  to  a  trivial  circum- 
stance, and  the  old  story  of  the  ten  years'  war 
which  terminated  in  the  downfall  of  Troy,  which 
is  said  to  have  originated  owing  to  the  beauty  of 
a  Spartan  dame,  was  re-enacted  here.  Troy  and 
North  Bend  fell  because  of  the  beauty  of  a  wo- 
man ;  Cincinnati  was  the  result  of  the  downfall  of 
the  latter  place. 

About  the  first  of  January,  1790,  Governor  St. 
Clair,  with  his  officers,  descended  the  Ohio  River 
from  IMarietta  to  Fort  Washington.  There  he  es- 
tablished the  county  of  Hamilton,  comprising  the 
immense  region  of  country  contiguous  to  the 
Ohio,  from  the  Hocking  River  to  the  Great 
Miami;  appointed  a  corps  of  civil  and  military 
officers,  and  e.stablished  a  Court  of  Quarter  Ses- 
sions. Some  state  that  at  this  time,  he  changed 
the  name  of  the  village  of  Losantiville  to  Cin- 
cinnati, in  allusion  to  a  society  of  that  name 
which  had  recently  been  formed  among  the  officers 
of  the  Revolutionary  army,  and  established  it  as 
the  seat  of  justice  for  Ilaniilton.  This  latter  fact 
is  certain;  but  as  regards  changing  the  name  of 
the  village,  there  is  mi  good  authority  for  it.  With 
this  importance  attached  to  it,  Cincinnati  began  at 
once  an  active  growth,  and  from  that  day  Cleves' 
city  declined.  The  next  summer,  frame  houses 
began  to  appear  in  Cincinnati,  while  at  the  same 
time  forty  new  log  cabins  appeared  about  the 
fort.. 

On  the  Sth  of  January,  the  Governor  arrived  at 
the  falls  of  the  Ohio,  on  his  way  to  establish  a 
government  at  Vinc(!nnes  and  Kaskaskia.  Prom 
Clarkesville,  he  disjiatched  a  messenger  to  Major 
Hamtramck,  commander  at  Vincennes,  with 
speeclies  to  the  various  Indian  tribes  in  this  part 
of  the  Northwest,  who  had  not  fully  agreed  to  the 
treaties.  St.  Clair  and  Sargent  followed  in  a  few 
days,  along  an  Indian  trail  to  Vincennes,  where  he 
organized  the  county  of  Knox,  comprisi'':;  all  the 


'C   a 


-» S   'y 


:^i 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


73 


country  along  the  Ohio,  from  th<'  Miami  to  the 
Wabaf-h,  aud  made  Vineennos  the  county  seat. 
Then  they  proceeded  across  the  lower  part  of  Illi- 
nois to  Kaskaskia,  where  he  established  the  county 
of  St,  Clair  (so  named  by  Sargent),  coni])risini;  all 
the  country  from  the  Wabash  to  the  ^lis,sis.sippi. 
Thus  the  Northwest  was  divided  into  three  coun- 
ties, and  courts  established  therein.  St.  Clair 
called  upon  the  French  inhabitants  at  Vincennes 
and  in  the  Illinois  country,  to  show  the  titles  to 
their  lands,  and  also  to  defray  the  expense  of  a 
survey.  To  this  latter  demand  they  replied  through 
their  priest,  Pierre  (Jibault,  showing  their  poverty, 
and  inability  to  comply.  They  were  confirmed  in 
their  grants,  and,  as  they  had  been  good  friends  to 
the  patriot  cause,  were  relieved  from  the  expense 
of  the  .survej".    ' 

While  the  Governor  was  managing  these  affairs. 
Major  Hamtraniik  was  engaged  in  an  effort  to  con- 
ciliate the  Wabash  Indians.  For  this  purpose,  he 
sent  Antoine  (Jamelin,  an  intelligent  French  mer- 
chant, and  a  tjue  friend  of  America,  among  them  to 
carry  messages  sent  by  St.  Clair  and  the  Govern- 
ment, and  to  learn  their  sentiments  and  dispositions. 
Gamelin  performed  this  important  niission  in  the 
spring  of  1790  with   much  sagacity,   and.  as  the 


French  were  good  friends  of  the  natives,  he  did 
much  to  conciliate  these  half-hostile  tribes.  He 
visited  the  towns  of  these  tribes  along  the  Wabash 
and  a-s  far  north  and  ca.st  as  the  Miami  village, 
Ke-ki-ong-ga — St.  Mary's — at  the  junction  of  the 
St.  Mary's  and  St.  Joseph's  Rivers  (Fort  Wayne). 

Gameliii's  report,  and  the  intelligence  brought  by 
some  traders  from  the  Upper  Wabash,  were  con- 
veyed to  the  Governor  at  Ka.ska.skia.  The  reports 
convinced  him  that  tlii'  Indians  of  that  part  of  the 
Northwest  were  pre]iaring  for  a  war  on  the  settle- 
ments north  of  the  Ohio,  intending,  if  possible,  to 
drive  them  .south  of  it ;  that  river  being  still  con.sid- 
ered  by  them  a-s  the  true  boundary.  St.  Clair  left 
the  administration  of  affairs  in  the  Western  counties 
t«  Sargent,  and  returned  at  once  to  Fort  Wa.shing- 
ton  to  provide  for  tlu;  defense  of  the  frontier. 

The  Indians  had  begun  their  predatory  incur- 
sions into  the  country  settled  by  the  whites,  and 
had  committed  some  depredations.  The  Kentuek- 
ians  were  enlisted  in  an  attack  against  the  Scioto 
Indians.  April  18,  Gen.  Harmar,  with  100 
regulars,  and  Gen.  Scott,  with  230  volunteers, 
marched  from  Limestone,  by  a  circuitous  route,  to 
the  Scioto,  accomplishing  but  little.  The  savages 
had  fled. 


CHAPTER    "VII. 


THE    INDIAN     AVAR    OF     17!ir)  — H.VRMAR'S     CAMPAIGN— ST.   CLAIRS    CAMPAIGN  — WAYNE'S 
CAMPAIGN— CLOSE    OF    THE    WAR. 


A  GREAT  deal  of  the  hostility  at  this  period 
was  directly  traceable  to  the  British.  They 
yet  held  Detroit  and  several  posts  on  the  lakes,  in 
violation  of  the  treaty  of  17S3.  They  alleged  as 
a  reason  for  not  abandoning  them,  that  the  Ameri- 
cans had  not  fulfilled  the  conditions  t)f  the  treaty 
regarding  the  collection  of  debts.  Moreover,  they 
did  [ill  they  could  to  remain  at  the  frontier  and  en- 
joy the  emoluments  derived  from  the  fur  trade. 
That  the}'  aided  the  Indians  in  the  ccjnflict  at  this 
time,  is  undeniable.  Just  /loir,  it  is  difficult  to 
say.  But  it  is  well  known  the  savages  had  all  the 
ammunition  and  fire-arms  they  wanted,  more  than 
they  could  have  obtained  from  American  and 
French  renegade  traders.  They  were  aLso  well 
supplied  with  clothing,  and  were  able  to  prolong 
the  war  some  time.  A  great  confederation  was  on 
the  eve  of  formation.     The  leading  sjiirits  were 


Cornplanter,  Brant,  Little  Turtle  aud  other  noted 
chiefs,  and  had  not  the  British,  as  Brant  said, 
"encoiu-aged  us  to  the  war,  and  promised  us  aid, 
and  then,  when  we  w(Te  driven  away  by  the  Amer- 
icans, shut  the  doors  of  their  fortresses  against  us 
and  refused  us  food,  when  they  saw  us  nearly  con- 
quered, we  would  have  effected  our  object." 

McKee,  Elliott  and  Girty  were  also  actively  en- 
gaged in  aiding  the  natives.  All  of  them  were  in 
the  interest  of  the  British,  a  f^ict  clearly  proven 
by  the  Indians  themselves,  and  by  other  traders. 

St.  Clair  and  Gen.  Harmar  determined  to  send 
an  expedition  against  the  Slaumee  towns,  and  se- 
cure that  p.irt  of  the  country.  Letters  were  sent 
to  the  militia  officers  of  Western  Pennsylvania, 
Virginia  and  Kentucky,  calling  on  them  for  militia 
to  co-operate  with  the  regular  troops  in  the  cam- 
paign.    According  to  the  plan  of  the  campaign. 


74 


HISTORY    or    OHIO. 


;5()0  militia  were  to  rendezvous  at  Fort  Steuben 
(. Jefferson ville),  march  thence  to  Fort  Knox,  at 
Vincennes,  and  join  Maj.  Hamtramck  in  an  expe- 
dition up  the  Wabash  ;  700  were  to  rendezvous  at 
Fort  Washington  to  join  the  regular  army  against 
the  Maumee  towns. 

While  St.  Clair  was  forming  his  army  and  ar- 
ranging for  the  campaign,  three  expeditions  were 
sent  out  against  the  Bliami  towns.  One  against 
the  Miami  villages,  not  far  from  the  Wabash,  was 
led  by  den.  Harmar.  He  had  in  his  army  about 
fourteen  hundred  men,  regulars  and  militia.  These 
two  parts  of  the  army  could  not  be  made  to  affili- 
ate, and,  as  a  consequence,  the  expedition  did  little 
beyond  burning  the  villages  and  destroying  corn. 
The  militia  would  not  submit  to  discipline,  and  wovild 
not  serve  under  regular  officers.  It  will  be  .seen 
what  this  spirit  led  to  when  St.  Clair  went  on  his 
march  soon  after. 

The  Indians,  emboldened  by  the  meager  success 
of  Ilarmar's  command,  continued  their  depreda- 
dations  against  the  Ohio  settlements,  destroying 
the  community  at  Big  Bottom.  To  hold  them  in 
check,  and  also  punish  them,  an  army  under  Cliarlos 
Scott  went  against  the  Wabash  Indians.  Little 
was  done  here  but  destroy  towns  and  the  standing- 
corn.  In  July,  another  army,  under  Col.  Wilkin- 
son, was  sent  against  the  Eel  River  Indians.  Be- 
coming entangled  in  extensive  morasses  on  the 
river,  the  army  became  endangered,  but  was  finally 
extricated,  and  accomplished  no  more  than  either 
the  other  armies  before  it.  As  it  was,  however,  the 
three  expeditions  directed  against  the  Miamis  and 
Shawanees,  served  only  to  exasperate  them.  The 
burning  of  their  towns,  the  destruction  of  their 
corn,  and  the  captivity  of  their  women  and  chil- 
dren, only  aroused  them  to  more  desperate  efforts 
to  defend  their  country  and  to  harass  their  in- 
vaders. To  accomplish  this,  the  chiefs  of  the 
Miamis,  Shawanees  and  the  Delawares,  Little 
Turtle,  Blue  Jacket  and  Buckongahelas,  were  en- 
gaged in  forming  a  confederacy  of  all  the  tribes  of 
the  Northwest,  strong  enough  to  drive  the  whites 
beyond  the  Ohio.  Pontiac  had  tried  that  before, 
even  when  he  had  open  allies  among  the  French. 
The  Indians  now  had  secret  allies  among  the  Brit- 
ish, yet,  in  the  end,  they  did  not  succeed.  While 
they  were  preparing  for  the  contest,  St.  Clair  was 
gathering  his  forces,  intending  to  erect  a  chain  of 
forts  from  the  Ohio,  by  way  of  the  Miami  and 
Maumee  valleys,  to  the  lakes,  and  thereby  effect- 
ually  hold  the  savages  in  check.  Washington 
warmly  seconded    this  plan,  and    designated    the 


junction  of  the  St.  Mary's  and  St.  Joseph's  Rivers  as 
an  important  post.  This  had  been  a  fortification 
almost  from  the  time  the  English  held  the  valley, 
and  only  needed  little  work  to  make  it  a  formid- 
able fortress.  Gen.  Knox,  the  Secretary  of  War, 
also  favored  the  plan,  and  gave  instructions  con- 
cerning it.  Under  these  instructions,  St.  Clair 
organized  his  forces  as  rapidly  as  he  could,  although 
the  numerous  drawbacks  almost,  at  times,  threat- 
ened the  defeat  of  the  campaign.  Through  the 
summer  the  arms  and  accouterments  of  the  army 
were  put  in  readiness  at  Fort  Washington.  Many 
were  found  to  be  of  the  poorest  quality,  and  to  be 
badly  out  of  repair.  The  militia  came  poorly 
armed,  under  the  impression  they  were  to  be  ]iro- 
vided  with  arms.  While  waiting  in  camp,  habits 
of  idleness  engendered  themselves,  and  drunken- 
ness followed.  They  continued  their  accustomed 
freedom,  disdaining  to  drill,  and  refused  to  submit 
to  the  regular  officers.  A  bitter  spirit  broke  out 
between  the  regular  troops  and  the  militia,  which 
none  could  heal.  The  insubordination  of  the  mi- 
litia and  their  officers,  caused  them  a  defeat  after- 
ward, which  they  in  vain  attempted  to  fasten  on 
the  busy  General,  and  the  regular  troops. 

The  army  was  not  ready  to  move  till  September 
17.  It  wiis  then  2,300  strong.  It  then  moved 
to  a  point  upon  the  Great  Miami,  where  tliey 
erected  Fort  Hamilton,  the  first  in  the  proposed 
chain  of  fortresses.  Afler  ite  completion,  tliey 
moved  on  forty-four  miles  farther,  and,  on  the  12th 
of  October,  began  the  erection  of  Fort  Jefferson, 
about  six  miles  south  of  the  present  town  of  Green- 
ville, Darke  County.  On  the  24th,  the  army  again 
took  up  its  line  of  march,  through  a  wilderness, 
marshy  and  boggy,  and  full  of  savage  foes.  The 
army  rapidly  declined  under  the  hot  sun ;  even  the 
commander  was  sufl'ering  from  an  indisposition. 
The  militia  deserted,  in  companies  at  a  time,  leav- 
ing the  bulk  of  the  work  to  the  regular  troops. 
By  the  3d  of  November,  the  army  reached  a 
stream  twelve  yards  wide,  which  St.  Clair  sup- 
posed to  be  a  branch  of  the  St.  Mary  of  the  Mau- 
mee, but  which  in  reality  wa,s  a  tributary  of  the 
Wabash.  Upon  the  banks  of  that  stream,  the 
army,  now  about  fourteen  hundred  strong,  en- 
camped in  two  lines.  A  slight  protection  was 
thrown  np  as  a  safeguard  against  the  Indians,  who 
were  known  to  be  in  the  neighborhood.  The  Gen- 
eral intended  to  attack  them  next  day,  but,  about 
half  an  hour  before  sunrise,  just  after  the  militia 
had  been  dismissed  from  parade,  a  sudden  attack 
was  made  upon  them.     The  militia  were  thrown 


HISTOKY   OF   OHIO. 


75 


into  confusion,  and  disregarded  tlic  command  of 
the  officers.  They  had  not  been  sufficiently  drilled, 
and  now  was  seen,  too  late  and  too  plainly,  the  evil 
effects  of  their  insubordination.  Through  the 
morning  the  battle  waged  furiously,  the  men  falling 
by  scores.  About  nine  oclock  the  retreat  began, 
covered  by  Maj.  Cook  and  hisj  troops.  The  re- 
treat was  a  dLsgraceful,  precipitate  flight,  though, 
after  four  miles  had  been  piussed,  the  enemy  re- 
turned to  the  work  of  scalping  the  dead  and 
wounded,  and  of  j>illaging  the  camp.  Through 
the  day  and  the  night  their  dreadful  work  con- 
tinued, one  squaw  alk'rward  declaring  "  lier  arm 
wiis  weary  scalping  the  white  men."  The  army 
reached  Fort  Jeflersou  a  little  after  sunset,  having 
thrown  away  much  of  its  arms  and  baggage,  though 
the  act  was  entirely  unnecessary.  After  remain- 
ing here  a  short  time,  it  was  decided  by  the  officers 
to  move  on  toward  Fort  Hamilton,  and  thence  to 
Fort  Wa.shington. 

The  defeat  of  St.  Clair  was  the  most  terrible  re- 
verse the  Americans  ever  suffered  i'rom  the  Indi- 
ans. It  was  greater  than  even  IJraddock's  defeat. 
His  army  consisted  of  1,200  men  and  80  officers, 
of  whom  714  men  and  G3  officers  were  killed  or 
wounded.  St.  Clair's  army  consisted  of  1,400 
men  and  8G  officers,  of  whom  800  men  and  16 
officers  were  killed  or  wounded.  The  comparative 
effects  of  the  two  engagements  very  inadequately 
represent  the  cru.shing  effect  of  St.  Clair's  defeat. 
An  unprotected  frontier  of  more  than  a  thousand 
miles  in  extent  was  now  thrown  open  to  a  foe  made 
merciless,  and  anxious  to  drive  the  whites  from  the 
north  side  of  the  Ohio.  Now,  settlers  were  scat- 
tered along  all  the  streams, and  in  all  the  forests,  ex- 
liosed  to  the  cruel  enemy,  who  stealthily  ajiproached 
the  homes  of  the  pioneer,  to  murder  him  and  his 
family.  Loud  calls  arose  from  the  pcu]ile  to  defend 
and  jirotect  them.  St.  Clair  was  covered  with  abuse 
for  ids  defeat,  when  he  really  was  notalone  to  blame 
fir  it.  The  militia  would  not  be  controlled.  Had 
Clarke  been  at  their  head,  or  Wayne,  who  succeeded 
St.  Clair,  the  result  might  have  been  different.  As 
it  was,  St.  Clair  resigned ;  though  ever  after  lie  en- 
joyed the  confidence  of  Wa-shington  and  Congress. 

Four  days  after  the  defeat  of  St.  Clair,  the  army, 
in  its  straggling  condition,  reached  Fort  Washing- 
ton, and  paused  to  rest.  On  the  Dth,  St.  Clair 
wrote  fully  to  the  Secretary  of  War.  ( >n  the  1 2th, 
Gen.  Knox  communicated  the  information  to  Con- 
gress, and  on  tlie  26th,  he  laid  before  the  Presi- 
dent two  reports,  tlie  second  containing  sugges- 
tions  regarding   future   operations.     His  sugges- 


tions urged  the  establishment  of  a  strong  United 
States  Army,  as  it  wa.s  jilain  the  States  could  not 
control  the  matter.  He  also  urged  a  thorough 
drill  of  the  soldiers.  No  more  insubordination 
could  be  tolerated.  General  Wayne  was  selected 
by  Wiishington  as  the  commander,  and  at  once  pro- 
ceeded to  the  task  as.signed  to  him.  In  June,  1792, 
he  went  to  Pittsburgh  to  organize  the  army  now 
gathering,  which  was  to  be  the  ultimate  argu- 
ment with  the  Indian  confederation.  Through  the 
summer  he  was  steadily  at  work.  "Train  and  dis- 
cipline them  for  the  work  they  are  meant  for," 
wrote  Washington,  "and  do  not  spare  powder  and 
lead,  so  the  men  be  made  good  marksmen."  In 
December,  the  forces,  now  recruited  and  trained, 
gathered  at  a  point  twenty-two  miles  below  I'itts- 
burgh,  on  the  Ohio,  called  JiCgioMville,  the  army 
itself  being  denominated  the  Legion  of  the  United 
States,  divided  into  four  sub-legions,  and  provided 
with  the  proper  officers.  Meantime,  Col.  Wilkinson 
succeeded  St.  (Jlair  as  commander  at  Fort  Wash- 
ington, and  sent  out  a  force  to  examine  the  field  of 
defeat,  and  bury  the  dead.  A  shocking  sight  met 
their  view,  revealing  the  deeds  of  cruelty  enacted 
upon  their  comrades  by  the  savage  enemy. 

While  Wayne's  army  was  drilling,  peace  meas- 
ures were  pressed  forward  by  the  United  States 
with  ecjual  pers(;verance.  The  Iro(|uois  were  in- 
duced to  visit  Philad(^l[ihiu,  and  partially  secured 
from  the  general  confedi^racy.  Tlu'y  were  wary, 
however,  and,  expecting  aid  from  the  British,  held 
aloof.  Brant  did  not  come,  as  was  hoped,  and  it 
was  plain  there  was  intrigue  somewhere.  Five 
indej)endent  embiissies  were  sent  among  the  West- 
ern tribes,  to  endeavor  to  pi-event  a  war,  and  win 
over  the  inimical  tribes.  But  the  victories  they 
had  won,  and  the  favorable  whispers  of  the  British 
agents,  closed  tlie  e.us  of  the  red  men,  and  all 
propositions  were  riyeeted  in  some  form  or  other. 
All  the  embassadors,  save  Putnam,  suffered  death. 
He  alone  was  able  to  reach  his  goal — the  Wabash 
Indian.s — and  effect  any  treaty.  On  the  27th  of 
Beeember,  in  company  with  Ileckewelder,  the  Mo- 
ravian missionary,  he  reached  Vinccnnes,  and  met 
thirty-one  chiefs,  representing  the  Weas,  Pianke- 
shaws,  Kaskaskias,  Peorias,  Illinois,  Pottawatomies, 
Slascoutins,  Kiekapoos  and  Eel  llivcr  Indians,  and 
concluded  a  treaty  of  peace  with  them. 

The  fourth  article  of  this  treaty,  however,  con- 
tained a  provision  guaranteeing  to  the  Indians 
their  lands,  and  when  the  treaty  was  laid  before 
Congress,  February  13,  1793,  that  body,  afler 
much  discussion,  refused  on  that  account  to  ratify  it. 


76 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


A  great  council  of  the  Indians  was  to  be  held 
at  Auglaize  during  the  autumn  of  1792,  when 
the  assembled  nations  were  to  discuss  fully  their 
means  of  defense,  and  determine  their  future  line 
of  action.  The  council  met  in  October,  and  v/as 
the  largest  Indian  gathering  of  the  time.  The 
chiefs  of  all  the  tribes  of  the  Northwest  were  there. 
The  representatives  of  the  seven  nations  of  Canada, 
were  in  attendance.  Cornplanter  and  forty-eight 
chiefs  of  the  New  York  (Six  Nations)  Indians  re- 
paired thither.  "  Besides  these,"  said  Cornplanter, 
"there  were  so  many  nations  we  cannot  tell  the 
names  of  them.  There  were  three  men  from  the 
Gora  nation;  it  took  them  a  whole  season  to  come; 
and,"  continued  he,  "twenty-seven  nations  from 
beyond  Canada  were  there."  The  question  of 
peace  or  war  was  long  and  earnestly  debated.  Their 
future  was  solemnly  discussed,  and  around  the 
council  fire  native  eloquence  and  native  zeal 
shone  in  all  their  simple  strength.  One  nation 
after  another,  through  their  chiets,  presented  their 
views.  The  deputies  of  the  Six  Nations,  who  had 
been  at  Philadelphia  to  consult  the  "Thirteen 
Fires,"  made  their  report.  The  Western  bound- 
ary was  the  principal  question.  The  natives,  with 
one  accord,  declared  it  must  be  the  Ohio  River. 
An  address  was  prepared,  and  sent  to  the  President, 
wherein  their  views  were  stated,  and  agreeing  to 
abstain  from  all  hostilities,  until  thej'  could  meet 
again  in  the  spring  at  the  rapids  of  the  Maumee, 
and  there  consult  with  their  white  brothers.  They 
desired  the  President  to  send  agents,  "who  are 
men  of  honesty,  not  proud  land-jobbers,  but  men 
who  love  and  desire  peace."  The  good  work  of 
Penn  was  evidenced  here,  as  they  desired  that  the 
embassadors  "  be  accompanied  by  some  Friend  or 
Quaker." 

The  armistice  they  had  promised  was  not,  how- 
ever, faithfully  kept.  On  the  6th  of  November, 
a  detachment  of  Kentucky  cavalry  at  Fort  St. 
Clair,  about  tn'enty-iive  miles  above  Fort  Hamil- 
ton, Wiis  attacked.  The  commander,  IVIaj.  Adair, 
was  an  excellent  officer,  well  versed  in  Indian  tac- 
tics, and  defeated  the  savages. 

This  infraction  of  their  promises  did  not  deter 
the  Uniti^d  States  fi'om  taking  measures  to  meet 
the  Indians  at  the  rapids  of  the  Maumee  "  when 
the  leaves  were  fully  out."  For  that  purpose,  the 
President  selected  as  commissioners,  Charles  Car- 
roll and  Charles  Thompson,  but,  as  they  declined 
the  nomination,  lie  appointed  Benjamin  Lincoln, 
Beverly  Randolph  and  Timothy  Pickering,  the  Lst 
of  March,  1793,  to  attend  the  convention,  which. 


it  was  thought  best,  should  be  held  at  the  San- 
dusky outpost.  About  the  last  of  April,  these 
commissioners  left  Philadelphia,  and,  late  in  May, 
reached  Niagara,  where  they  remained  guests  of 
Lieut.  Gov.  Simcoe,  of  the  British  Government. 
This  oificer  gave  them  all  the  aid  he  could,  yet  it 
was  soon  made  plain  to  them  that  he  would  not 
object  to  the  confederation,  nay,  even  rather  fav- 
ored it.  They  speak  of  his  kindness  to  them,  in 
grateful  terms.  Gov.  Simcoe  advised  the  Indians 
to  make  peace,  but  not  to  give  up  any  of  their 
lands.  That  was  the  pith  of  the  whole  matter. 
The  Briti.sh  rather  claimed  land  in  New  York, 
under  the  treaty  of  1783,  alleging  the  Americans 
had  not  fiiUy  complied  with  the  terms  of  that 
treaty,  hence  they  were  not  as  anxious  for  peace 
and  a  peaceful  settlement  of  the  difficult  boundary 
question  as  they  sometimes  rejjresented. 

By  July,  "the  leaves  were  fully  out,"  the  con- 
ferences among  the  tribes  were  over,  and,  on  the 
loth  of  that  month,  the  commissioners  met  Brant 
and  some  fifty  natives.  In  a  strong  speech,  Brant 
set  forth  their  wishes,  and  invited  them  to  accom- 
pany him  to  the  place  of  holding  the  council.  The 
Indians  were  rather  jealous  of  Wayne's  continued 
preparations  for  war,  hence,  just  before  setting  out 
for  the  Maumee,  the  commissioners  sent  a  letter  to 
the  Secretary  of  War,  asking  that  all  warlike 
demonstrations  cease  until  the  result  of  their  mis- 
sion be  known. 

On  21st  of  July,  the  embassy  reached  the  head 
of  the  Detroit  River,  where  their  advance  was 
checked  by  the  British  authorities  at  Detroit,  com- 
pelling them  to  take  up  their  abode  at  the  house 
of  Andrew  Elliott,  the  famous  renegade,  then  a 
British  agent  under  Alexander  McKee.  McKee 
was  attending  the  council,  and  the  commissioners 
addressed  him  a  note,  borne  by  Elliott,  to  inform 
him  of  their  arrival,  and  asking  when  they  could 
be  received.  Elliott  returned  on  the  2'Jth,  bring- 
ing with  him  a  deputation  of  twenty  chiefs  from 
the  council.  The  next  day,  a  conference  was  held, 
and  the  chief  of  the  Wyandots,  Sa-wagh-da-wunk, 
presented  to  the  commissioners,  in  writing,  their 
explicit  demand  in  regard  to  the  boundary,  and 
their  purposes  and  powers.  "The  Ohio  must  be 
the  boundary,"  said  he,  "  or  blood  will  flow." 

The  commissioners  returned  an  answer  to  the 
proposition  brought  by  the  chiefs,  recapitulating 
the  treaties  already  made,  and  denying  the  Ohio 
as  the  boundary  line.  On  the  16th  of  August, 
the  council  sent  them,  by  two  Wyandot  runners, 
a  final-  answer,  in  which  they  recapitulated  their 


>>. 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


fi)rmer  assertious,  aud  exhibited  great  powers  of 
reasoning  and  clear  logic  in  defense  of  their  po- 
sition. The  commbsioncrs  reply  that  it  is  impos- 
blo  to  accept  the  Ohio  as  the  boundary,  and  declare 
the  negotiatiun  at  an  end. 

This  closed  the  efforts  of  the  Government  to  ne- 
gotiate with  the  Indians,  aud  there  remained  of 
necessity  no  other  mode  of  settling  the  dispute 
l)ut  war.  Liberal  terms  had  been  offered  them, 
but  nothing  but  the  boundary  of  the  Ohio  lliver 
Would  suffice.  It  was  the  only  cunditi(jn  upon 
which  the  confederation  would  lay  down  its  arms. 
'■  -Vmong  the  rude  statesmen  of  the  wilderness, 
there  was  exhibited  as  pure  patriotism  and  as  lofty 
devotion  to  the  good  of  their  race,  as  ever  won  ap- 
plause among  civilized  men.  The  white  man  had, 
ever  since  he  came  into  the  country,  been  encroach- 
ing on  their  lands.  He  had  long  occupied  the 
regions  beyond  the  mountains.  He  had  crushed 
the  conspiracy'  formed  by  Pontiac,  thirty  years  be- 
fore, lie  had  taken  possession  of  the  common 
hunting-ground  of  all  the  tribes,  on  the  faith  of 
treaties  they  did  not  acknowledge.  He  was 
now  laying  out  settlements  and  building  forts  in 
the  heart  of  the  country  to  which  all  tlie  tribes 
had  been  driven,  and  which  now  was  all  they  could 
call  their  own.  And  now  they  ;i.skrd  that  it  should 
be  guaranteed  to  them,  that  the  boundary  which 
tliey  had  so  long  asked  for  should  be  drawn,  and 
a  iiual  end  be  made  to  the  continual  aggressions  of 
the  whites ;  or,  if  not,  they  solemnly  determined  to 
stake  their  all,  against  fcarfid  odds,  in  defense  of 
their  homes,  their  country  and  the  inheritance  of 
their  children.  Nothing  could  be  more  patriotic 
than  the  position  they  occupied,  and  nothing  could 
be  more  noble  than  the  declarations  of  their 
council.'* 

They  did  not  know  the  strength  of  the  whites, 
and  based  their  success  on  the  victories  already 
gained.  They  hoped,  nay,  were  promised,  aid  from 
the  British,  and  even  the  Spanish  had  held  out  to 
them  assurances  of  help  when  the  hour  of  conflict 
came. 

The  Americans  were  not  disposed  to  yield  even 
to  the  confederacy  of  the  tribes  backed  by  the  two 
rival  nations,  forming,  as  Wayne  characterized  it,  a 
"  hydra  of  British,  Spanish  and  Indian  hostility." 
On  the  16th  of  August,  the  commissioners  re- 
ceived the  final  answer  of  the  council.  The  17th, 
they  left  the  mouth  of  the  Detroit  River,  and  the 
2!Jd,  arrived  at  Fort  Erie,  where  they  immediately 

*  AnDaU  of  the  West. 


dispatched  messengers  to  Gen.  Wayne  to  inform 
him  of  the  i.ssue.of  the  negotiation.  Wayne  had 
spent  the  winter  of  171)2-93,  at  Legiouville,  in  col- 
lecting and  organizing  his  army.  April  30,  1793, 
the  army  moved  down  the  river  and  encimipcd  at 
a  point,  called  by  the  soldiers  "  Ilobson's  choice," 
because  from  the  extreme  lieight  of  the  river  they 
were  prevented  from  landing  elsewhere.  Here 
Wayne  w;is  engaged,  during  the  negotiations  lor 
peace,  in  drilling  his  soldiers,  in  cutting  roads,  and 
collecting  sup])lics  for  the  army.  He  was  ready 
for  an  immediate  campaign  in  ca.se  the  council 
failed  in  its  object. 

While  here,  he  sent  a  letter  to  the  Secretary-  of 
War,  detailing  the  circumstances,  and  suggesting 
the  jirobable  course  he  should  follow.  He  re- 
mained hero  during  the  summer,  and,  when  apprised 
of  the  issue,  saw  it  was  too  late  to  attempt  the 
campaign  then.  He  sent  the  Kentucky  militia 
home,  and,  wilh  his  regular  soldiers,  went  into 
winter  quarters  at  a  fort  he  built  on  a  trib\itary 
of  the  Great  Miami.  He  called  the  fort  Green- 
ville. The  present  town  of  Greenville  is  near  the 
site  of  the  fort.  During  the  winter,  he  scut  a  de- 
tachment to  visit  the  scene  of  St.  Clair's  defeat. 
They  found  more  than  six  hundred  skulls,  and 
were  obliged  to  "scrape  the  bones  together  and 
carry  them  out  to  get  a  place  to  make  their  beds." 
They  buried  all  they  could  find.  Wayne  was 
steadily  preparing  his  forces,  so  as  to  have  every- 
thing ready  for  a  sure  blow  when  the  time  came. 
All  his  information  showed  the  faith  in  the  British 
which  still  animated  the  doomed  red  men,  and 
gave  them  a  hope  that  could  cnil  only  in  defeat. 

The  conduct  of  the  Indians  fully  corroborated 
the  statements  received  by  Gen.  Wayne.  On  the 
30th  of  June,  an  escort  of  ninety  riflemen  and 
fifty  dragoons,  under  command  of  Jlaj.  McMahon, 
w;us  attacked  under  the  walls  of  Fort  Recovery  by 
a  force  of  more  than  one  thou.sand  Indians  under 
charge  of  Little  Turtle.  They  were  rejmlsed  and 
badly  defeated,  and,  the  next  day,  driven  away. 
Their  mode  of  action,  their  arms  and  ammunition, 
all  told  plainly  of  British  aid.  They  also  ex- 
pected to  find  the  cannon  lost  by  St.  Clair  Novem- 
ber 4,  1791,  but  which  the  Americans  had  secured. 
The  26th  of  July,  Gen.  Scott,  with  1,G00 
mounted  men  from  Kentucky,  joined  Gen.  Wayne 
at  Fort  Greenville,  and,  two  days  after,  the  legion 
moved  forward.  The  Sth  of  Augu.st,  the  army 
reached  the  junction  of  the  Auglaize  and  Mau- 
mee,  and  at  once  proceeded  to  erect  Fort  Defiance, 
where  the  waters  meet.  The  Indians  had  abandoned 


78 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


their  towns  on  the  ajiproach  of  tlie  ai'uiy,  and 
were  congregating  further  northward. 

While  engaged  on  Fort  Defiance,  Wajne 
received  continual  and  full  reports  of  the  Indians — 
of  their  aid  from  Detroit  and  elsewhere ;  of  the 
nature  of  the  ground,  and  the  circumstances, 
fivorable  or  imfavorable.  From  all  he  could 
learn,  and  considering  the  spirits  of  his  army, 
now  thoroughly  disciplined,  he  determined  to 
march  forward  and  settle  matters  at  once.  Yet, 
true  to  his  own  instincts,  and  to  the  measures  of 
paace  so  forcibly  taught  by  Washington,  he  sent 
Christopher  Jliller,  who  had  been  naturalized 
among  the  Shawanees,  and  taken  prisoner  by 
Wayne's  .spies,  as  a  messenger  of  peace,  ofieriug 
terms  of  i'riendship. 

Unwilling  to  waste  time,  the  troops  began  to 
move  forward  the  15th  of  August,  and  the  next 
day  met  Jliller  with  the  message  that  if  the  Amer- 
icans would  wait  ten  days  at  Auglaize  the  Indians 
would  decide  for  peace  or  war.  Waj'ue  knew  too 
well  the  Indian  character,  and  answered  the  mes- 
sage by  simply  marching  on.  The  18th,  the  legion 
had  advanced  forty-one  miles  from  Auglaize,  and, 
bjing  near  the  long-looked-for  foe,  began  to  take 
some  measures  for  protection,  should  they  be  at- 
tacked. A  slight  breastwork,  called  Fort  Deposit, 
was  erected,  wherein  most  of  their  heavy  baggage 
was  placed.  They  remained  here,  building  their 
works,  until  the  2f)th,  when,  storing  their  baggage, 
the  army  began  again  its  march.  After  advancing 
about  five  miles,  they  met  a  large  ibrce  of  the  ene- 
my, two  thousand  strong,  who  fiercely  attacked 
them.  Wayne  was,  however,  prepared,  and  in  the 
short  battle  that  ensued  they  were  routed,  and 
large  numbers  slain.  The  American  loss  was  very 
slight.  The  horde  of  savages  were  put  to  flight, 
leaving  the  Americans  victorious  almost  under 
the  walls  of  the  British  gan-ison,  under  Maj. 
Campbell.  This  officer  sent  a  letter  to  Gen. 
Wayne,  asking  an  explanation  of  his  conduct  in 
fighting  so  near,  and  in  such  evident  hostility  to 
the  British.  Wayne  replied,  telling  him  he  was 
in  a  country  that  did  not  belong  to  him,  and  one 
he  was  not  authorized  to  hold,  and  also  charging 
him  with  aiding  the  Indians.  A  spirited  corre- 
spondence followed,  which  ended  in  the  American 
commander  marching  on,  and  devastating  the  In- 
dian country,  even  burning  McKee's  house  and 
stores  under  the  muzzles  of  the  English  guns. 

The  14lh  of  September,  the  army  marched  from 
Fort  Defiance  for  the  Miami  village  at  the  junc- 
tion of  the  St.  Mary's  and  St.  Joseph  Rivers.     It 


readied  there  on  the  1  Tth,  and  the  next  day  Gen. 
Wayne  selected  a  site  lor  a  fort.  The  22d  of  Oc- 
tober, the  fort  was  completed,  and  garrisoned  by  a 
detacliment  under  Maj.  Ilamtramck,  who  gave  to  it 
the  name  of  Fort  Wayne.  The  14th  of  October, 
the  mounted  Kentucky  volunteers,  who  had  be- 
come dissatisfied  and  mutinous,  were  started  to 
Fort  Washington,  where  they  were  immediately 
mustered  out  of  service  and  discharged.  The  28th 
of  October,  the  legion  marched  fi-om  Fort  Wayne 
to  Fort  Greenville,  where  Gen.  Wayne  at  once 
established  his  headquarters. 

The  campaign  had  been  decisive  and  short,  and 
liad  taught  the  Indians  a  severe  lesson.  The  Brit- 
ish, too,  had  failed  them  in  their  hour  of  need,  and 
now  they  began  to  see  they  had  a  foe  to  contend 
whose  resources  were  exhaustlcss.  Under  these 
circumstances,  losing  faith  in  the  English,  and  at 
last  impressed  with  a  respect  for  American  power, 
after  the  defeat  experienced  at  the  hands  of  the 
"Black  Snake,"  the  various  tribes  made  up  their 
minds,  by  degrees,  to  ask  for  peace.  During  the 
winter  and  spring,  they  exchanged  prisoners,  and 
made  ready  to  meet  Gen.  W^ayne  at  Greenville,  in 
June,  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  definite  treaty, 
as  it  had  been  agreed  should  be  done  by  the  pre- 
liminaries of  January  24. 

During  the  month  of  June,  1795,  representa- 
tives of  the  Northwestern  tribes  began  to  gather  at 
Greenville,  and,  the  16th  of  the  month.  Gen. Wayne 
met  in  council  the  Delawares,  Ottawas,  Pottawato- 
mies  and  Eel  River  Indians,  and  the  conferences, 
which  lasted  till  August  10,  began.  The  21st 
of  June,  Buckongahelas  arrived ;  the  23d,  Little 
Turtle  aud  other  Miamis  ;  the  loth  of  July, 
Tarhe  and  other  Wyandot  chiefs  ;  and  the  18th, 
Blue  Jacket,  and  thirteen  Shawanees  and  Massas 
with  twenty  Cliippewas. 

jMcst  of  these,  as  it  appeared  by  their  statements, 
had  been  tampered  with  by  the  English,  especially 
by  JIcKee,  Girty  and  Brant,  even  alter  the  pre- 
liminaries of  Januarjf  24,  and  while  iNIr.  Jay  was 
perfecting  his  treaty.  They  had,  however,  all  de- 
termined to  make  peace  with  the  "Thirteen  Fires," 
and  although  some  difficulty  as  to  the  ownership  of 
the  lands  to  be  ceded,  at  one  time  seemed  likely  to 
arise,  the  good  sense  of  AVayne  and  the  leading 
chiefs  prevented  it,  and,  the  .30th  of  July,  the  treaty 
was  agreed  to  which  should  bury  the  hatchet  for- 
ever. Between  that  day  and  the  3d  of  August, 
it  was  engrossed,  and,  having  been  signed  by  the 
various  nations  upon  the  day  last  named,  it  was 
finally  acted  upon  the  Tth,  and  the  presents  from 


HISTORY   OF   OHIO. 


79 


the  United  States  distributed.  The  basis  of  this 
treaty  was  the  previous  one  made  at  Fort  Harniar. 
The  boundaries  made  at  that  time  were  re-affirmed  ; 
the  whites  were  secured  on  the  lands  now  occu- 
pied by  them  or  secured  by  former  treaties  ;  and 
among  all  the  assembled  nations,  presents,  in  value 
not  less  than  one  thousand  pounds,  were  distributed 
to  each  through  its  representatives,  many  thousands 
in  all.     The   Indians  were  allowed  to  ren)ove  and 


punish  intruders  on  their  lands,  and  were  permitted 
to  hunt  on  the  ceded  lands. 

"  This  great  and  abiding  peace  document  w;ts 
signed  by  the  various  tribes,  and  dated  August  3, 
1705.  It  was  laid  before  the  Senate  December  9, 
and  ratified  the  22d.  So  closed  the  old  Indian 
wars  in  the  West."  * 

*  AoDalB  of  the  West." 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

JAY'S   TREATY— THE   QUESTION   OF  STATE    RIGHTS    AND   NATIONAL  SUPREMACY  — EXTENSION 
OF   OHIO  SETTLEMENTS— LAND    CLAIMS— SPANISH   BOUNDARY   QUESTION. 

which  may  be  necessary  respecting  the  delivery 
of  the  said  posts;  the  IJnited  States,  in  the  mean 
time,  at  theii-  discretion,  extending  their  settle- 
ments to  any  part  within  the  said  boundary  line, 
except  within  the  precincts  or  jurisdiction  of  any 
of  the  said  posts. 

■  All  settlers  and  all  traders  within  the  precincts 
or  jurisdiction  of  the  said  posts  shall  continue  to 
enjoy,  unmolested,  all  their  property  of  every 
kind,  and  shall  be  protected  therein.  They  shall 
be  at  full  liberty  to  remain  there  or  to  remove 
with  all,  or  any  part,  of  their  eft'ects,  or  retain  the 
property  thereof  at  their  discretion ;  such  of  them 
as  shall  continue  to  reside  within  the  said  boundary 
lines,  shall  not  be  compelled  to  become  citizens  of 
the  United  States,  or  take  any  oath  of  allegiance 
to  the  Government  thereof;  but  they  shall  be  at 
full  liberty-  so  to  do,  if  they  think  proper;  thej' 
shall  make  or  declare  their  election  one  year  after 
the  evacuation  aforesaid.  And  all  persons  who 
shall  continue  therein  after  the  expiration  of  the 
said  year,  without  having  declared  tlu'ir  intention 
of  remaining  subjects  to  His  Britannii-  Majesty, 
shall  be  considered  a.s  having  elected  to  become 
citizens  of  the  United  States." 

The  Indian  war  had  settled  all  fears  from  that 
source;  the  treaty  with  (I reat  Britain  had  estab- 
lished the  boundaries  between  the  two  countries 
and  secured  peace,  and  the  treaty  with  Spain  had 
secured  the  privilege  of  navigating  the  Jlississippi, 
by  paj-ing  only  a  nominal  sum.  It  had  also  bound 
the  people  of  the  ^Vest  together,  and  ended  the 
old  separation  question.  There  was  no  danger 
from  that  now.  Another  difficulty  arose,  however, 
relating  to  the  home  rule,  and  the  organization  of 


WHILE  these  six  years  of  Indian  wars  were 
in  progress,  Kentucky  was  admitted  as  a 
State,  and  Pinckney's  treaty  with  Spain  was  com- 
pleted. This  last  occurrence  was  of  vital  impor- 
tance to  the  West,  as  it  secured  the  free  navigation 
of  the  jNIississippi,  charging  only  a  fair  price  for 
the  storage  of  goods  at  Spanish  ports.  This, 
though  not  all  that  the  Americans  wished,  was  a 
great  gain  in  their  favor,  and  did  much  to  stop 
those  agitations  regarding  a  separation  on  the  part 
of  K<'ntncky.  It  also  quieted  affiiirs  further 
.-until  than  Kentucky,  in  the  Georgia  and  S(mth 
Cariilina  Territory,  and  put  an  end  to  French 
and  Spanish  intrigue  for  the  Western  Territory. 
The  treaty  wa.s  signed  November  24,  1794. 
Anotlier  treaty  was  concluded  by  ISIr.  John  .Jay 
between  the  two  governments.  Lord  Greenville 
representing  the  English,  and  Mr.  Jay,  the  Ameri- 
cans. The  negotiations  lasted  from  April  to 
November  19,  179.5,  when,  on  that  day,  the  treaty 
was  signed  and  duly  recognized.  It  decided 
cftectualiy  all  the  questions  at  i.ssue,  and  was  the 
signal  for  the  removal  of  the  British  troops  from 
the  Northwestern  outposts.  This  Wiis  effected  as 
soon  as  the  proper  transfers  could  be  made.  The 
second  article  of  the  treaty  provided  that,  "His 
^lajesty  will  withdraw  all  his  troops  and  garrisons 
from  all  posts  and  places  within  the  boundary 
lines  assigned  by  the  treaty  of  peace  to  the  United 
States.  This  evacuation  shall  take  place  on  or 
before  the  1st  day  of  .June,  179(>,  and  all  the 
proper  measures  shall  be  taken,  in  the  interval,  by 
concert,  between  the  Government  of  the  United 
States  and  His  Majesty's  Governor  General  in 
America,   for  setthng  the  previous  arrangements 


80 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


the  home  government.  There  were  two  parties  in 
the  country,  known  as  Federalist  and  Anti-Federal- 
ist. One  liivored  a  central  government,  whose  au- 
thority sliould  be  supreme  ;  the  other,  only  a 
ecinijiact,  leaving  the  States  sujjreme.  The  worth- 
Icssiic'ss  of  the  old  colnnial  system  became,  daily, 
mure  apparent.  AV'hile  it  existed  no  one  felt  safe. 
There  was  no  prospect  of  paving  the  debt,  and, 
hence,  no  credit.  When  Mr.  Hamilton,  Secretary 
of  the  Treasury,  offered  his  iinaucial  plan  to  the 
country,  favoring  centralization,  it  met,  in  many 
places,  violent  opposition.  Washington  was  strong 
enough  to  carry  it  out,  and  gave  evidence  that  he 
would  do  so.  When,  therefore,  the  excise  law 
passed,  and  taxes  on  whisky  were  collected,  an 
open  revolt  occurred  in  Pennsylvania,  known  as 
the  "  Whisky  Insurrection."  It  was  put  down, 
finally,  by  military  power,  and  the  malcontents 
made  to  know  that  the  United  States  was  a  gov- 
ernment, not  a  compact  liable  co  rupture  at  any 
time,  and  by  any  of  its  members.  It  taught  the 
entire  nation  a  lesson.  Centralization  meant  pres- 
ervation. Should  a  "  compact"  form  of  government 
prevail,  then  anarchy  and  ruin,  and  ultimate  sub- 
jection to  some  foreign  power,  met  their  view. 
That  they  had  just  fought  to  dispel,  and  must  it 
all  go  for  naught?  The  people  saw  the  rulers 
were  right,  and  gradually,  over  the  West,  spreada 
spirit  antagonistic  to  State  supremacy.  It  did  not 
revive  till  Jackson's  time,  when  he,  with  an  iron 
hand  and  iron  will,  crushed  out  the  evil  doctrine 
of  State  supremacy.  It  revived  again  in  the  late 
war,  again  to  be  crushed.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that 
ever  thus  will  bo  its  fate.  "  The  Union  is  insepa- 
rable," said  the  Government,  and  the  people  echoed 
the  words. 

During  the  war,  and  while  all  these  events  had 
been  transpiring,  settlements  had  been  taking  place 
upon  the  Ohio,  which,  in  their  influence  upon  the 
Northwest,  and  especially  upon  the  State,  as  soon 
as  it  was  created,  were  deeply  felt.  The  Virginia 
and  the  Connecticut  Reserves  were  at  this  time 
peopled,  and,  also,  that  part  of  the  Miami  Valley 
about  Dayton,  which  city  dates  its  origin  from  that 
period. 

As  early  as  1787,  the  reserved  lands  of  the  Old 
Dominion  north  of  the  Ohio  were  examined,  and, 
in  August  of  that  year,  entries  were  made.  As 
no  good  title  could  be  obtained  from  Congress  at 
this  time,  the  settlement  practically  ceased  until 
1790,  when  the  prohibition  to  enter  them  was 
withdrawn.  As  soon  as  that  was  done,  surveying 
began  again.     Nathaniel  Massie  was  among  the 


foremost  men  in  the  survey  of  this  tract,  and  lo- 
cating the  lands,  laid  off  a  town  about  twelve  miles 
above  Maysville.  The  place  was  called  Manchester, 
and  yet  exists.  From  this  point,  Massie  continued 
through  all  the  Indian  war,  despite  the  danger,  to 
survey  the  surrounding  country,  and  prepare  it  for 
settlers. 

Connecticut  had,  as  has  been  stated,  ceded  her 
lands,  save  a  tract  extending  one  hundred  and 
twenty  miles  beyond  the  western  boundary  of 
Pennsylvania.  Of  this  Connecticut  IJcserve,  so 
far  as  the  Indian  title  was  extinguished,  a  survey 
was  ordered  in  October,  1780,  and  an  office  opened 
for  its  disposal.  Part  was  soon  sold,  and,  in  1792, 
half  a  million  of  acres  were  given  to  those  citizens 
of  Connecticut  who  had  lost  jtroperty  by  the  acts 
of  the  British  troops  during  the  Revolutionary 
war  at  New  London,  New  Haven  and  elsewhere. 
These  lauds  thereby  became  known  as  "  Fire  lands" 
and  the  "Sufferer's  lands,"  and  were  located  in  the 
western  part  of  the  Reserve.  In  May,  1795,  the 
Connecticut  Legislature  authorized  a  committee  to 
dispose  of  the  remainder  of  the  Reserve.  Before 
autumn  the  committee  sold  it  to  a  company  known 
as  the  Connecticut  Land  Company  for  $1,200,000, 
and  aliout  the  5th  of  September  (juit-claimed  the 
land  to  tlie  Company.  The  same  day  the  Company 
received  it,  it  sold  3,000,000  acres  to  John  Mor- 
gan, John  Caldwell  and  Jonathan  Brace,  in  trust. 
Upon  these  (juit^claim  titles  of  the  land  all  deeds 
in  the  Reserve  are  based.  Surveys  were  com- 
menced in  1796,  and,  by  the  close  of  the  next 
year,  all  the  land  east  of  the  Cuyahoga  was  divided 
into  townships  five  miles  square.  The  agent  of  the 
Connecticut  Land  Company  was  Gen.  IMoses  Cleve- 
land, and  in  his  honor  the  leading  city  of  the  Re- 
serve was  named.  That  township  and  five  others 
were  reserved  for  private  sale;  the  balance  were 
disposed  of  by  lottery,  the  first  drawing  occurring 
in  February,  1798. 

Dayton  resulted  from  the  treaty  made  by  Wayne. 
It  came  out  of  the  boundary  ascribed  to  Symmes, 
and  for  a  while  all  such  lands  were  not  recognized 
as  sold  by  Congress,  owing  to  the  failure  of 
Symmes  and  his  associates  in  paying  for  them. 
Thereby  there  existed,  for  a  time,  considerable  un- 
easiness regarding  the  title  to  these  lands.  In 
1799,  Congress  was  induced  to  issue  patents  to  the 
actual  settlers,  and  thus  secure  them  in  their  pre- 
emption. 

Seventeen  days  after  Wayne's  treaty,  St.  Clairs 
Wilkinson,  Jonathan  Dayton  and  Israel  Ludlow 
contracted  with  Symmes  for  the  seventh  and  eighth 


'-^ 


UISTOKY   OF    OHIO. 


ranj^es,  between  JIaJ  River  and  the  Little  Miami. 
Three  settlements  were  to  be  made:  one  at  the 
mouth  of  Mad  lliver,  one  on  the  Little  Miami,  in 
the  seveutli  range,  and  another  on  Mad  River.  On 
the  21st  of  September,  IT'J.i,  Daniel  C.  Cooper 
started  to  survey  and  mark  out  a  road  in  the  pur- 
chiisc,  and  Joliu  Duulaj)  to  run  its  boundaries, 
which  was  completed  before  October  4.  On  No- 
vember 4,  Mr.  Ludlow  laid  off  the  town  of  Day- 
ton, which,  like  land  in  the  Connecticut  Reserve, 
wa.s  sold  by  lottery. 

A  gigantic  scheme  to  purchase  eighteen  or 
twenty  million  acres  in  Michigan,  and  then  pro- 
cure a  good  title  from  the  Government — who  alone 
had  such  a  right  to  procure  land — by  giving  mem- 
bers of  Congress  an  interest  in  the  investment, 
appeared  .shortly  after  Wayne's  treaty.  When 
some  of  the  members  were  approached,  however, 
the  real  spirit  of  the  scheme  appeared,  and,  instead 
of  gaining  ground,  led  to  the  exposure,  resulting 
in  the  reprimanding  severely  of  Robert  Randall, 
the  principal  mover  in  the  whole  plan,  and  in  its 
speedy  disappearance. 

Another  enterprise,  equally  gigantic,  also  ap- 
peared. It  was,  however,  legitimate,  and  hence 
successful.  On  the  20th  of  February,  1795,  the 
North  American  Land  Company  was  formed  in 
Philadelphia,  under  the  management  of  such  pat- 
riots as  Robert  Morris,  John  Nicholson  and  James 
Greenleaf.  This  Company  purchased  large  tracts 
in  the  West,  which  it  di.-<posed  of  to  actual  settlers, 
and  thereby  aided  greatly  in  populating  that  part 
of  the  country. 

Before  the  close  of  1795,  the  Governor  of  the 
TeiTitory,  and  his  Judges,  published  sixty-four 
statutes.  Thirty-four  of  these  were  adopted  at 
Cincinnati  during  June,  July  and  August  of  that 
year.  They  were  known  as  the  Maxwell  code, 
irom  the  name  of  the  publisher,  but  were  pas.sed 
by  Governor  St.  Clair  and  Judges  Symmes  and 
Turner.  Among  them  w;is  that  which  provided 
that  the  common  law  of  ]"]ngland,  and  all  its  stat- 
utes, made  previous  to  the  fourth  year  of  James 
the  First,  should  be  in  full  force  within  the  Terri- 
tory. "Of  the  system  as  a  whole,"  says  Mr.  C;i.so, 
"with  its  many  imperfections,  it  may  be  doubted 
that  any  colony,  at  so  early  a  period  after  its  first 
establishment,  ever  had  one  so  good  and  applicable 
to  all." 

The  Union  had  now  safely  passed  through  it.s 
most  critical  period  af\er  the  close  of  the  war  of 
independence.  The  danger  from  an  irruption  of 
its  own  members;  of  a  war  or  alliance  of  its  West- 


ern portion  with  France  and  Spain,  and  many 
other  perplexing  questions,  were  now  eflTectually 
settled,  and  the  population  of  the  Territory  began 
rapidl}'  to  increase.  Before  the  close  of  the  year 
179t),  the  Northwest  contained  over  five  thousand 
inhabitants,  the  requisite  number  to  entitle  it  to 
one  representative  in  the  national  Congress. 

Western  I'euusylvauia  also,  despite  the  various 
conflicting  claims  regarding  the  land  titles  in  that 
part  of  the  State,  began  raj)idly  to  fill  with  emigrants. 
The  "Triangle"  and  the '•  Struck  Di.strict ''  were 
surveyed  and  put  uj)on  the  market  under  the  act 
of  1792.  Treaties  and  purchases  from  the  various 
Indian  tribes,  obtained  control  of  the  remainder  of 
the  lands  in  that  part  of  the  State,  and,  by  1796, 
the  State  owned  all  the  land  within  its  boundaries. 
Towns  were  laid  off,  land  put  upon  the  market,  so 
that  by  the  year  18(10,  the  western  part  of  the 
Keystone  State  was  divided  into  eight  counties,  viz., 
Beaver,  Butler,  Mercer,  Crawford,  Erie,  Warren, 
\'enango  and  Armstrong. 

The  ordinance  relative  to  the  survey  and  dis- 
posal of  lands  in  the  Northwest  Territory  has 
already  been  given.  It  was  adhered  to,  save  in 
minor  ca.ses,  where  necessity  required  a  slight 
change.  The  reservations  were  recognized  by 
Congi-ess,  and  the  titles  to  them  all  confirmed  to 
the  grantees.  Thus,  Clarke  and  his  men,  the 
Connecticut  Reserve,  the  Refugee  lands,  the 
French  inhabitants,  and  all  others  holding  patents 
to  land  from  colonial  or  foreign  governments,  were 
all  confirmed  in  their  rights  and  protected  in  their 
titles. 

Before  the  close  of  179(),  the  upper  North- 
western posts  were  all  vacated  by  the  Briti.sh, 
under  the  terms  of  Mr.  Jay's  treaty.  Wayne  at 
once  transferred  his  headquarters  to  Detroit,  where 
a  county  was  named  i()r  him,  including  the  north- 
western part  of  Ohio,  the  northeast  of  Indiana, 
and  the  whole  of  Michigan. 

The  occupation  of  the  Territory  by  the  Ameri- 
cans gave  additional  ini])ulse  to  emigration,  and  a 
better  feeling  of  security  to  emigrants,  who  fol- 
lowed closely  upon  the  path  of  the  army.  Na- 
thaniel Masr-ie,  who  has  alread}-  been  noticed  as 
the  fuunder  of  Manchester,  laid  out  the  town  of 
Chillicothe,  on  the  Scioto,  in  1790.  Before  the 
clo.se  of  the  year,  it  contained  several  stores, 
shops,  a  tavern,  and  was  well  populated.  With 
the  increase  of  settlement  and  the  security  guar- 
anteed by  the  treaty  of  Greenville,  the  arts  of 
civilized  life  began  to  appear,  and  their  influence 
upon  pioneers,  especially  those  born  on  the  frontier, 


"xl 


84 


HISTOKY    OF    OHIO. 


bogau  to  manifest  itself.  Better  dwellings,  schools, 
churches,  dress  and  manners  prevailed.  Life 
began  to  assume  a  reality,  and  lost  much  of 
that  recklessness  engendered  by  the  habits  of  a 
frontier  life. 

Cleveland,  Cincinnati,  the  Miami,  the  Mus- 
kingum and  the  Scioto  Valleys  were  filling  with 
people.  Cincinnati  had  more  than  one  hundred 
log  cabins,  twelve  or  fifteen  frame  houses  and  a 
l)01iulati(jii  tif  more  than  si.'c  hundred  persons.  In 
1 7 1'ti,  the  first  house  of  worship  for  the  Presby- 
terians in  that  city  was  built. 

Before  the  close  of  the  same  year,  Jlanchester 
contained  over  thirty  families ;  emigrants  from 
A'iri;iiiia  were  goiui;:  up  all  the  valleys  from  the 
(_)liio;  anil  lOlifii  •Z'.r  Zaue  had  opened  a  bridle- 
patii  ti'um  the  Ohio  lliver,  at  Wheeling,  across  the 
country,  by  Chillicothe,  to  Limestone,  Ky.  The 
next  year,  the  United  States  mail,  for  the  first 
time,  traversed  this  route  to  the  Vfest.  Zane  was 
given  a  section  of  land  for  his  path.  The  popu- 
lation of  the  Territory,  estimated  at  from  five  to 
eight  thousand,  was  chiefly  distributed  in  lower 
valleys,  bordering  on  the  Ohio  lliver.  The  French 
still  occujiied  the  Illinois  country',  and  were  the 
principal  iiihaliitants  about  Detroit. 

South  of  the  Ohio  Kiver,  Kentucky  was  pro- 
gressing favorably,  while  the  ''  Southwestern  Ter- 
ritory," ceded  to  the  United  States  by  North 
Carolina  in  1790,  had  so  rapidly  populated  that, 
in  1793,  a  Territorial  form  of  government  was 
allowed.  The  ordinance  of  1787,  save  the  clause 
prohibiting  slavery,  was  adopted,  and  the  Territory 
named  Tennessee.  On  June  U,  179G,  the  Terri- 
tory contained  more  than  seventy-five  thousand 
inhabitants,  and  was  admitted  into  the  Union  as  a 
State.  Four  years  after,  the  census  showed  a 
population  of  105,602  souls,  including  13,58-1: 
slaves  and  persons  of  color.  The  same  year 
Tennessee  became  a  State,  Samuel  Jackson  and 
Jonathan  Sharpless  erected  the  Redstone  Paper 
Mill,  four  miles  east  of  Brownsville,  it  being  the 
fir.st  manufactory  of  the  kind  west  of  the  AUc- 
ghanies. 

In  the  month  of  December,  1796,  Gen.  Wayne, 
who  had  done  so  much  for  the  develo]>ment  of  the 
West,  while  on  his  way  from  Detroit"  to  Philadel- 
phia, Wiis  attacked  with  sickness  and  died  in  a 
cabin  near  Erie,  in  the  north  part  of  Penn.sylvania. 
He  was  nearly  fifty-one  years  old,  and   was  one  of 


the  bravest  officers  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and 
one  of  America's  truest  patriots.  In  18U9,  liis 
remains  were  removed  iiom  Erie,  by  his  sou.  Col. 
Isaac  Wayne,  to  the  Radnor  churchyard,  near  the 
place  of  his  birth,  and  an  elegant  monument  erected 
on  his  tomb  by  the  Pennsylvania  Cincinnati  So- 
ciety. 

After  the  death  of  Wayne,  Gen.  Wilkinson  was 
appointed  to  the  command  of  the  Western  army. 
While  ho  was  in  coniniaiid,  Carondeltt,  the  Spanish 
governor  of  West  Florida  and  Louisian.i,  made  one 
more  effort  to  separate  the  Union,  and  set  up  either 
an  independent  government  in  the  West,  or,  what 
was  more  in  accord  with  his  wi.shes,  effect  a 
uuinn  with  the  Spanish  nation.  In  June,  1797, 
he  sent  Power  again  into  the  Northwest  and  into 
Kentucky  to  sound  the  existing  feeling.  Now, 
however,  they  were  not  easily  won  over.  The 
home  government  was  a  certainty,  the  breaches  had 
been  healed,  and  Power  was  comjjelled  to  abandon 
the  mission ,  not,  however,  until  he  had  received  a 
severe  reprimand  from  many  who  saw  through  his 
plan,  and  openly  exposed  it.  His  mission  closed 
the  efforts  of  the  Spanish  authorities  to  attempt 
the  dismemberment  of  the  Union,  and  showed 
them  the  coming  downfiill  of  their  power  in  Amer- 
ica. They  were  obliged  to  surrender  the  posts 
claimed  by  the  United  States  under  the  treaty  of 
1795,  and  not  many  years  after,  sold  their  Amer- 
ican possessions  to  the  United  States,  rather  than 
see  a  rival  J'^uropean  power  attain  control  over  them. 

On  the  7th  of  April,  1798,  Congress  passed  an 
act,  appointing  Winthrop  Sargent,  Secretary  of  the 
Northwest  Territory,  Governor  of  the  Territory  of 
the  Jlississipjii,  formed  the  same  day.  In  1801, 
the  boundary  between  America  and  the  Sj)anish  pos- 
sessions was  definitely  fixed.  The  Spani.sli  retired 
from  tlie  disputed  territory,  and  henceforward  their 
attempts  to  dissolve  the  American  Union  ceased. 
The  seat  of  the  Mississipjii  Territory  was  fixed  at 
Loftus  Heights,  six  miles  north  of  the  thirty-first 
degi'ee  of  latitude. 

The  appointment  of  Sargent  to  the  charge  of  the 
Southwest  Territory,  led  to  the  choice  of  William 
Henry  Harrison,  who  had  been  aid-de-camp  to 
Gen.  Wayne  in  1794,  and  whose  character  stood 
very  high  among  the  people  of  the  West,  to  the 
Secretaryship  of  the  Northwest,  which  place  he  held 
until  appointed  to  represent  that  Territory  in  Con- 


mSTOKY   OF    OHIO. 


85 


CIIAl'TER     I.\. 

FIRST  TERRITORIAL  REPRESENTATIVES  IN  CONGRESS— DIVISION   OF  THE  TERRITORY— FORMA- 
TION OF  STATES— MARIETTA  SETTLEMENT— OTHER  SETTLEMENTS— SETTLEMENTS  IN 
THE   WESTEIIN    RESERVE  — SETTLEMENT    OF    THE    CENTRAL   VALLEYS- 
FURTHER  .-ETTLEMENTS  IN  THE  RESERVE  AND  ELSEWHERE. 


THE  ordinance  of  1787  provided  that  as  soon 
as  there  were  5,000  persons  in  the  Territory, 
it  was  entitled  to  a  representative  assembly.  On 
October  29,  1798,  Governor  St.  Clair  gave  notice 
by  proclamation,  that  the  refjuired  population  ex- 
i.ste<l,  and  directed  that  an  election  be  hold  on  the 
third  Monday  in  December,  to  choose  representa- 
tives. These  representatives  were  required,  when 
assembled,  to  nominate  ten  persons,  whose  names 
were  sent  to  the  President  of  the  United  States, 
who  selected  five,  and  with  the  advice  and  cousiint 
of  the  Senate,  appointed  them  for  the  legislative 
coimcil.  In  this  mode  the  Northwest  passed  into 
the  second  grade  of  a  Territorial  government. 

The  representatives,  elected  under  the  proclama- 
tion of  St.  Clair,  met  in  Cincinnati,  January  22, 
1799,  and  under  the  provisions  of  the  ordinance 
of  1787,  nominated  ten  persons,  whose  names  were 
sent  to  the  President.  On  tlie  2d  of  March,  he 
selected  from  the  list  of  candidates,  the  names  of 
Jacob  Burnet,  James  Findlay,  Henry  \'ander- 
burgh,  Rdbert  Oliver  and  David  Vance.  The 
next  day  the  Senate  confirmed  their  nomination, 
and  the  first  legislative  council  of  the  Northwest 
Territory  was  a  reality. 

The  Territorial  Legislature  met  again  at  Cincin- 
nati, September  10,  but,  for  want  of  a  rpiorum, 
was  not  organized  until  the  24th  of  that  month. 
The  Hou.sc  of  Representatives  consisted  of  nine- 
teen members,  of  whom  seven  were  from  Hamilton 
County,  four  from  Ross — erected  by  St.  Clair  in 
1798;  three  from  Wayne — erected  in  179G;  two 
from  Adams — erected  in  1797;  one  from  Jeffer- 
son— erected  in  1797;  one  from  W;t«hington — 
erected  in  1788;  and  one  from  Knox — Indiana 
Territory.  None  seem  to  have  been  present  from 
St.  Clair  County  (Illinois  Territory). 

After  the  organization  of  the  Legislature,  Gov- 
ernor St.  Clair  addre-ssed  the  two  houses  in  the  Rep- 
resentatives' Chaml)er,  recommending  such  meas- 
ures ;is,  in  his  judgment,  were  suited  to  the  con- 
dition of  the  countr}'  and  would  advance  the  safety 
and  prosperity  of  the  people. 


The  Logi.slature  continued  in  ses.sion  till  the  19th 
of  December,  when,  having  finished  their  business, 
they  were  prorogued  by  the  Governor,  by  their 
own  request,  till  the  first  Monday  in  November, 
1800.  This  being  the  first  .session,  there  was,  of 
necessity,  a  great  deal  of  business  to  do.  The 
transition  from  a  colonial  to  a  semi-independent 
form  of  government,  called  for  a  general  revision 
as  well  as  a  considerable  enlargement  of  the  stat- 
ute-book. Some  of  the  adopted  laws  were  re- 
peahid,  many  others  altered  and  amended,  and  a 
long  list  of  new  ones  added  to  the  code.  New 
offices  were  to  be  created  and  filled,  the  duties  at- 
tached to  them  prescribed,  and  a  jilan  of  ways  and 
means  devLsed  to  meet  the  increased  expenditures, 
occasioned  by  the  change  which  bad  now  occurred. 

As  Mr.  Burnet  was  the  principal  lawyer  in  the 
Council,  much  of  the  revision,  and  putting  the  laws 
into  proper  legal  form,  devolved  upon  him.  He 
seems  to  have  been  well  fitted  for  the  place,  and 
to  have  performed  the  laborious  ta.sk.  in  an  excel- 
lent manner. 

The  whole  number  of  acts  passed  and  approved 
by  the  Governor,  was  thirty-.seven.  The  most  im- 
portant related  to  tlu^  militia,  the  administration  of 
ju.stice,  and  to  taxation.  During  the  ses.sion,  a  bill 
authorizing  a  lotter}'  was  passed  by  the  council, 
but  rejected  by  the  Legislature,  thus  interdicting 
this  demoralizing  feature  of  the  disposal  of  lands 
or  for  other  put  poses.  The  example  luus  always  been 
followed  by  subsecjuent  legislatures,  thus  honorably 
characterizing  the  Assembly  of  Ohio,  in  this  re- 
spect, an  example  Kentucky  and  several  other 
States  might  well  emidate. 

Before  the  Assembly  adjourned,  they  issued  a 
congratulatory  address  to  the  pc^ople,  enjoining 
them  to  "  Inculcate  the  principles  of  humanity, 
benevolence,  honesty  and  punctuality  in  dealing, 
sincerity  and  charity,  and  all  the  social  affections." 
At  the  same  time,  they  ).ssued  an  address  to  the 
Pre«sid(!nt,  expressing  entire  confidence  in  the  wis- 
dom and  purity  of  his  government,  and  their 
warm   attachment  to  the  American  Constitution. 


HISTORY   OF   OHIO. 


The  vote  on  this  address  proved,  hnwrvrr,  that  the 
diiferences  of  oj)inion  agitating  the  Eastern  States 
had  penetrated  the  West.  Eleven  Iveprcscutativcs 
voted  for  it,  and  five  against  it. 

One  of  the  important  duties  that  devolved  on 
this  Legislature,  was  the  election  of  a  delegate  to 
Congress.  As  soon  as  the  Governor's  proclama- 
tion made  its  appearance,  the  election  of  a  person 
to  fill  that  position  excited  general  attention.  Be- 
fore the  meeting  of  the  Legislature  public  opinion 
had  settled  down  on  William  Henry  Harrison,  and 
Arthur  St.  Clair,  Jr.,  who  eventually  were  the  only 
candidates.  On  the  3d  of  October,  the  two  houses 
met  and  proceeded  to  a  choice.  Eleven  votes  were 
cast  for  Harrison,  and  ten  for  St.  Clair.  The  Leg- 
islature prescribed  the  form  of  a  certificate  of  the 
election,  which  was  given  to  Harrison,  who  at  once 
resigned  his  office  as  Secretary  of  the  Territory, 
proceeded  to  Philadelphia,  and  took  his  seat.  Con- 
gress being  then  in  session. 

''  Though  he  represented  the  Temtory  but  one 
year,  "  says  Judge  Burnett,  in  his  notes,  "  he  ob- 
tained some  important  advantages  for  his  coustitu- 
cnt,s.  He  introduced  a  resolution  to  sub-divide 
the  surveys  of  the  public  lands,  and  to  ofi'er  them 
for  sale  in  smaller  tracts  ;  he  succeeded  in  getting 
that  measure  through  both  houses,  in  opposition  to 
the  interest  of  .speculators,  who  were,  and  who 
wished  to  be,  the  retailers  of  the  land  to  the  poorer 
classes  of  the  community.  His  proposition  be- 
came a  law,  and  was  hailed  as  the  most  beneficent 
act  that  Congress  had  ever  done  for  the  Territory. 
It  put  in  the  power  of  every  industrious  man,  how- 
ever poor,  to  become  a  freeholder,  and  to  lay  a 
foundation  for  the  future  support  and  comfort  of 
his  family.  At  the  .same  session,  he  obtained  a 
liberal  extension  of  time  for  the  pre-emptioners  in 
the  northern  part  of  the  Miami  purchase,  which 
enabled  them  to  secure  their  farms,  and  eventually 
to  become  independent,  and  even  wealthy." 

The  first  session,  as  has  been  noticed,  closed 
December  19.  Gov.  St.  Clair  took  occasion  to 
enumerate  in  his  speech  at  the  close  of  the  session, 
eleven  acts,  to  which  he  saw  fit  to  apply  his  veto. 
These  he  had  not,  however,  returned  to  the  Assem- 
bly, and  thereby  saved  a  long  struggle  between  the 
executive  and  legislative  branches  of  the  Territory. 
Of  the  eleven  acts  enumerated,  six  related  to  the 
formation  of  new  counties.  These  were  mainly 
disproved  by  St  Clair,  as  he  always  sturdily  main- 
tained that  the  power  to  erect  new  counties  was 
vested  alone  in  the  Executive.  This  free  exercise 
of  the   veto  power,  especially  in  relation   to  new 


counties,  and  his  controversy  with  the  Legislature, 
tended  only  to  strengthen  the  jiopular  discontent 
regarding  the  Governor,  who  was  never  fully  able 
to  regain  the  standing  he  held  before  his  in- 
glorious defeat  in  his  campaign  against  the  Indians. 

While  this  was  being  agitated,  another  question 
came  into  prominence.  Ultimately,  it  settled  the 
powers  of  the  two  branches  of  the  government, 
and  caused  the  removal  of  St.  Clair,  then  very 
distasteful  to  the  people.  The  opening  of  the 
present  century  brought  it  fully  before  the 
people,  who  began  to  agitate  it  in  all  their 
assemblies. 

The  great  extent  of  the  Territory  made  the 
operations  of  government  extremely  uncertain, 
and  the  power  of  the  courts  practically  worthless. 
Its  division  was,  therefore,  deemed  best,  and  a 
committee  was  appointed  by  Congress  to  inquire 
into  the  matter.  This  committee,  the  3d  of 
March,  1800,  reported  upon  the  subject  that,  "In 
the  three  western  counties,  there  lias  been  but 
one  court  having  cognizance  of  crimes  in  five 
years.  The  immunity  which  offenders  experience, 
attracts,  as  to  an  asylum,  the  most  vile  and  aban- 
doned criminals,  and,  at  the  same  time,  deters 
useful  and  virtuous  citizens  from  making  settle- 
ments in  such  society.  The  extreme  necessity  of 
judiciary  attention  and  assistance  is  experienced 
in  civil  as  well  as  criminal  cases.  The  supplying 
to  vacant  places  such  necessary  officers  as  niaj'  be 
wanted,  such  as  clerks,  recorders  and  others  of 
like  kind,  is,  from  the  impossibility  of  correct 
notice  and  information,  utterly  neglected.  This 
Territory  is  exposed  as  a  frontier  to  foreign  nations, 
whose  agents  can  find  .sufficient  interest  in  exciting 
or  fomenting  insurrection  and  discontent,  as 
thereby  they  can  more  easily  divert  a  valuable 
trade  in  furs  from  the  United  States,  and  also  have 
a  part  thereof  on  which  they  border,  which  feels 
so  little  the  cherishing  hand  of  their  proper  gov- 
ernment, or  so  little  dreads  its  energy,  as  to  render 
their  attachment  perfectly  uncertain  and  am- 
biguous. 

"  The  committee  would  further  suggest,  tliat 
the  law  of  the  3d  of  March,  1791,  granting  land 
to  certain  persons  in  the  western  part  of  said  Ter- 
ritory, and  directing  the  laying-out  of  the  same, 
remains  unexecuted;  that  great  discontent,  in 
consequence  of  such  neglect,  is  excited  in  those 
who  are  interested  in  the  provisions  of  said  laws, 
which  ro((uire  the  immediate  attention  of  this 
Legislature.  To  minister  a  remedy  to  these  evils, 
it  occurs  to  this  committee,  that  it  is  expedient 


^  s r- 


HISTORY   OF   OHIO. 


8T 


that  a  division  of  said  Territory  into  two  distinct 
and  separate  governments  sliould  be  made  ;  and 
that  such  division  be  made  by  a  lino  beginning;  at 
tlie  umuth  of  the  great  Miami  Ilivcr,  running 
directly  north  until  it  int<?rsect,s  the  boundary 
between  the  United  States  and  Canada."  * 

The  recommendations  of  the  connnittee  were 
favorably  received  by  Congress,  and,  the  7th 
of  May,  an  act  Wius  passed  dividing  the  Tc  r- 
ritorv.  The  main  provisiuus  of  the  act  are  as 
follows: 

"That,  from  and  after  the  4th  of  July  next, 
all  that  part  of  the  territory  of  the  Unit<'d  States 
northwest  of  the  Ohio  Kiver,  which  lies  to  the 
westward  of  a  line  beginning  at  the  Ohio,  opposite 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Kentucky  River,  and  running 
thence  to  Fort  Recover}',  and  thence  north  until 
it  intersects  the  territorial  line  between  the  l'nit<'d 
States  and  Canada,  shall,  fur  the  purpose  of  tem- 
porary government,  eunstitute  a  separate  Territory, 
and  be  called  the  Indiana  Territory. 

"  There  shall  be^established  within  the  said  Ter- 
ritory a  government,  in  all  respects  similar  to  that 
provided  by  the  ordinance  of  CongTess  passed  July 
13,  1707."  t 

The  act  further  provided  for  representatives,  and 
for  the  establishment  of  an  a.ssembly,  on  the  same 
plan  as  that  in  force  in  the  Northwest,  stipulating 
that  until  the  uumbcr  of  inhabitants  reached  five 
thousand,  the  whole  number  of  representatives  to 
the  General  Assembly  should  not  be  less  than  seven, 
nor  more  than  nine ;  apportioned  by  the  Governor 
among  the  several  counties  in  the  new  Terri- 
tory. 

The  act  further  provided  that  "  nothing  in  tlie 
act  should  be  so  construed,  so  as  in  any  manner 
to  affect  the  government  now  in  force  in  the  terri- 
tory of  the  United  States  northwest  of  the  Ohio 
River,  further  than  to  prohibit  the  exercise  thereof 
within  the  Indiana  Territory,  from  and  af\<;r  the 
aforesaid  4th  of  July  nest. 

"  Whenever  tliat  part  of  the  territory  of  the 
I'nited  States,  which  lies  to  the  ea.stward  of  a  line 
beginning  at  the  mouth  of  the  Great  Miami  River, 
and  running  thence  due  north  to  the  territorial 
line  between  the  United  States  and  Canada,  shall 
be  erected  into  an  independent  State,  and  admitted 
into  the  Union  on  an  cipial  footing  with  the  orig- 
inal States;  thenceforth  said  line  shall  become  and 
remain  permanently,  the  boundary  line  between 
such  State  and  the  Indiana  Territory." 


tLanJ  Luws 


Suto  P.niers. 


It  was  further  enacted,  "  that,  nntil  it  shall  be 
otherwise  enacted  by  the  legislatures  of  the  said 
territories,  respectiveK',  Chillicothc,  on  the  Scioto 
River,  shall  be  the  seat  of  government  of  the  ter- 
ritory of  the  United  States  northwest  of  the  Ohio 
River;  and  that  St.  A'inccnt's,  on  the  Wabash 
River,  .shall  be  the  seat  of  government  for  the 
Indiana  Ti^rritory."  * 

St.  Clair  Was  continued  as  Governor  of  the  old 
Territory,  and  William  Henry  Harri.son  appointed 
Governor  of  the  new. 

Connecticut,  in  ceding  her  territory  in  the  West 
to  the  General  Government,  reserved  a  portion, 
known  :is  the  Connecticut  Reserve.  When  .she 
afterward  disposed  of  her  claim  in  the  manner 
narrated,  the  citizens  found  themselves  without  any 
government  on  which  to  lean  for  support.  At  that 
time,  .settlements  had  begun  in  thirty-five  of  the 
townships  into  which  the  Reserve  had  been  divided  ; 
one  thousand  persons  had  established  homes  there  ; 
mills  had  been  built,  and  over  seven  hundred  miles 
of  roads  opened.  In  ISflO,  the  settlers  petitioned 
for  acceptance  into  the  Union,  as  a  part  of  the 
Northwest ;  and,  the  mother  State  releasing  her  judi- 
ciary claims.  Congress  accepted  the  trust,  and 
granted  the  re(iuest.  In  December,  of  that  year, 
the  population  had  so  increased  that  the  county  of 
Trumbull  was  erected,  including  the  Reserve. 
Soon  after,  a  large  number  of  settlers  came  from 
Fenn.sylvania,  from  which  State  they  had  been 
driven  by  the  dispute  (■oncerning  land  titles  in  its 
western  part.  Unwilling  to  cultivate  land  to 
which  they  could  only  get  a  doubtful  deed,  they 
abandoned  it,  and  c;inie  where  the  titles  were 
sure. 

Congress  having  made  Chillicothe  the  capital  of 
the  Northwest  Territory,  as  it  now  existed,  on  the 
3d  of  November  the  General  Assembly  met  at  that 
place.  Gov.  St.  Clair  had  been  made  to  feel  the 
odium  ca.st  upon  his  previous  acts,  and,  at  the  open- 
ing of  this  session,  expressed,  in  strong  terms,  his 
disapprobation  of  the  censure  cast  upon  him.  He 
had  endeavored  to  do  his  duty  in  all  cases,  he  .said, 
and  yet  held  the  confidence  of  the  President  and 
Congress.  He  still  held  the  office,  notwithstanding 
the  strong  dislike  against  him. 

At  the  second  session  of  the  A.ssembl}%  at  Chil- 
licothe, held  in  the  autumn  of  lS01,so  much  out- 
spoken enmity  was  cxpres,«ed,  and  so  much  abu.se 
heaped  u|ion  the  Governor  and  the  Assembly,  that 
a  law  was  passed,  removing  the  capital  to  Cincinnati 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


ag:iiu.  It  was  not  dostiuoil,  however,  that  the 
Ten-itorial  Assembly  should  meet  again  anywhere. 
The  unpopularity  of  the  Governor  caused  many  to 
long  tur  a  State  government,  where  they  could 
choose  their  own  rulers.  The  unpopularity  of  St. 
Clair  aro.se  partly  from  the  feeling  connected  with 
his  defeat ;  in  part  from  his  being  connected  with 
the  Federal  party,  fast  falling  into  disrepute ;  and, 
in  part,  from  liis  assuming  powers  which  most 
thought  he  had  no  right  to  exercise,  especially  the 
power  of  subdividing  the  counties  of  the  Terri- 
tory. 

The  opposition,  though  ]iowerful  out  of  the 
Assembly,  was  in  the  minority  there.  During  the 
month  of  December,  lS01,it  was  forced  to  protest 
against  a  measure  brought  forward  in  the  Council, 
for  changing  the  ordinance  of  1787  in  such  a  man- 
ner as  to  make  the  Scioto,  and  a  line  drawn  from 
the  intersection  of  that  river  and  the  Indian 
boundary  to  the  western  extremity  of  the  Reserve, 
the  limits  of  the  most  eastern  State,  to  be  formed 
from  the  Territory.  Had  this  change  been  made, 
the  formation  of  a  State  government  beyond  the 
Ohio  woidd  have  been  long  delayed.  Against  it, 
llcnresontativosWorthingtonJjangham,  Darlington, 
Massie,  Dunlavy  and  Morrow,  recorded  their  pro- 
test. Not  content  with  this,  they  sent  Thomas 
Worthington,  who  obtained  a  leave  of  absence,  to 
the  seat  of  government,  on  behalf  of  the  objectors, 
there  to  protest,  before  Congress,  against  the  pro- 
posed boundary.  While  Worthington  was  on  his 
way,  Massie  presented,  the  4th  of  January,  1802, 
a  resolution  for  choosing  a  committee  to  address 
Congress  in  respect  to  the  proposed  State  govern- 
ment. This,  the  next  day,  the  House  refused  to 
do,  by  a  vote  of  twelve  to  five.  An  attempt 
was  next  made  to  procure  a  census  of  the  Ter- 
ritory, and  an  act  for  that  purpose  passed  the 
House,  but  the  Council  postponed  the  considera- 
tion of  it  until  the  next  session,  which  would  com- 
nionre  at  Cincinnati,  the  fourth  Monday  of  No- 
vember. 

Meanwhile,  Worthington  pursued  the  ends  of 
his  mission,  using  his  influence  to  effect  that  organ- 
ization, "which,  terminating  the  influence  of  tyr- 
anny," was  to  "meliorate  tlie  circumstances  of  thou- 
sands, by  freeing  them  from  the  domination  of  a 
despotic  chief."  His  efforts  were  successful,  and, 
the  4th  of  March,  a  report  was  made  to  the 
House  in  favor  of  authorizing  a  State  convention. 
This  report  was  based  on  the  assumption  that  there 
were  now  over  sixty  thousand  inhabitants  in  the 
proposed  boundaries,  estimating  that  emigration  had 


increased  the  census  of  1800,  which  gave  the  Ter- 
ritory forty-five  thousand  inhabitants,  to  that  num- 
ber. The  conveuti(jn  was  to  ascertain  whether  it 
were  expedient  to  form  such  a  government,  and  to 
prepare  a  constitution  if  such  organization  were 
deemed  best.  In  the  formation  of  the  State,  a 
change  in  the  boundaries  was  proposed,  by  which 
all  the  territory  ncu'th  of  a  line  drawn  due  east 
from  the  head  of  Lake  Michigan  to  Lake  Erie  was 
to  be  excluded  fi'om  the  new  government  about  to 
be  called  into  existence. 

The  committee  appoiated  by  Congress  to  report 
upon  the  feasibility  of  forming  the  State,  suggested 
tlyat  Congress  reserve  out  of  every  township  sections 
numbered  8,  11,  2G  and  29,  for  their  own  use,  and 
that  Section  IG  be  reserved  for  the  maintenance 
of  schools.  The  committee  also  suggested,  that, 
"religioD,  education  and  morality  being  necessary 
to  the  good  government  and  happiness  of  mankind, 
schools  and  the  means  of  education  shall  be  forever 
encouraged." 

Various  other  recommendations  were  given  by 
the  committee,  in  accordance  with  which,  Congress, 
April  30,  passed  the  resolution  authorizing  the 
calling  of  a  convention.  As  this  accorded  with 
the  feelings  of  the  majority  of  the  inliabitants  of  the 
Northwest,  no  opposition  was  experienced ;  even 
the  Legislature  giving  way  to  this  embryo  gov- 
ernment, and  failing  to  assemble  according  to  ad- 
journment. 

The  convention  met  the  1st  of  November.  Its 
members  were  generally  JefFersonian  in  their  na- 
tional politics,  and  had  been  opposed  to  the  change 
of  boundaries  proposed  the  year  before.  Before 
proceeding  to  busiii&ss.  Gov.  St.  Clair  proposed  to 
address  them  in  his  oflScial  character.  This  propo- 
sition was  re.si,sted  by  .several  of  the  "members;  but, 
after  a  motion,  it  was  agreed  to  allow  him  to  speak 
to  them  as  a  citizen.  St.  Clair  did  so,  advising 
the  postponement  of  a  State  government  until  the 
people  of  the  original  eastern  division  were  plainly 
entitled  to  demand  it,  and  were  not  subject  to  be 
bound  by  conditions.  This  advice,  given  as  it  was, 
caused  Jefferson  instantly  to  remove  St.  Clair,  at 
which  time  his  office  cea.sed.*  "When  the  vote 
was  taken,"  says  Judge  Burnet,  "ujion  doing  what 

*  After  this,  St.  CL-iir  rpturned  to  his  old  home  in  the  Ligonier 
Vall'-y.  Pennsjiviinia,  where  he  live.l  wilh  his  chil.lr.-n  in  alinoat 
ahject  poverty.  He  harl  lost  money  in  his  public  lilc,  as  b'>  gave 
cloae attention  to  public  affairs,  to  llie  detriment  of  his  own  business. 
He  presented  a  chiint  to  Concress,  afterward,  for  supplies  furni-lied 
to  the  army,  but  the  claim  was  outlawed.  After  trying  in  vain  to 
get  the  cl-.ii'il  allowed,  he  returned  to  his  home.  Pennsylvania, 
leirning  of  his  distress,  granted  bira  an  annuity  of  $350,  afterward 
raised  toSCf^O.  He  lived  to  en.ioy  this  hut  a  short  time,  his  death 
occurring  August  31,  1S18.     He  was  eighty-four  yeara  of  age. 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


8i) 


he  advised  tliem  not  to  do,  but  one  of  thirty-three 
(Ephraim  Cutler,  of  Washington  County)  voted 
with  the  Governor." 

On  one  ]x)iut  only  were  the  proposed  boundaries 
of  the  new  State  altered. 

■'  To  every  person  who  has  attended  to  this  sub- 
ject, and  who  has  consulted  the  maps  of  the  West- 
ern country  extant  at  the  time  the  ordinance  of 
1787  was  passed,  Lake  3Iieliigan  was  believed  to 
be,  and  was  represented  by  all  the  maps  of  that 
day  as  being,  very  far  north  of  the  position  which 
it  ha.s  since  been  ^iscertained  to  occupy.  I  have 
seen  the  map  in  the  Department  of  State  which 
was  before  the  committee  of  Congress  who  framed 
and  reported  the  orJiuaiice  for  the  government  of 
the  Territory.  On  that  map,  the  southern  bound- 
ary of  Michigan  was  represented  its  being  above 
the  forty-second  degree  of  north  latitude.  And 
there  w;is  a  pencil  line,  said  to  have  been  uvmIc  by 
the  committee,  pa-s.sing  through  the  .southern  bend 
of  the  lake  to  the  Canada  line,  which  struck  the 
strait  not  far  below  the  town  of  Detroit.  The 
line  was  manifestlj'  intended  by  the  committee 
and  by  Congress  to  be  the  northern  boundary  of 
our  State;  and,  on  the  principles  by  which  coui'ts 
of  chancery  construe  contracts,  accompanied  by 
plats,  it  would  seem  that  the  map,  and  the  line 
referred  to,  should  be  conclusive  evidence  of  our 
boundary,  without  reference  to  the  real  position  of 
the  lakes. 

'■  When  the  convention  sat,  in  1802,  the  under- 
derstanding  was,  that  the  old  maps  were  nearly 
correct,  and  that  the  line,  as  defined  in  the  ordi- 
nance, would  terminate  at  some  point  on  the  strait 
above  the  Maumee  Bay.  While  the  convention 
was  in  session,  a  man  who  had  hunted  many  years 
on  Lake  Michigan,  and  w;is  well  acquainted  with 
its  position,  happened  to  be  in  Chillicothe,  and,  in 
conversation  with  one  of  the  members,  told  him 
that  the  lake  extended  much  farther  south  than 
was  generally  supposed,  and  that  a  niaj)  of  the 
country  which  he  had  seen,  placed  its  southern 
bend  many  miles  north  of  its  tme  position.  This 
information  excited  some  unea-siness,  and  induced 
the  convention  to  modify  the  clause  describing  the 
north  boundary  of  the  new  State,  .so  as  to  guard 
against  its  being  depro.sed  below  the  most  north-' 
em  cape  of  the  Maumee  Bay."* 

With  this  change  and  .some  extension  of  the 
school  and  road  donations,  the  convention  agreed 
to   the   proposal  of  Congress,  and,  November  29, 

»  Uislorical  Transactiuns of  Ohio— Judoe  Blksett. 


their  agreement  was  ratified  and  signed,  as  was 
also  the  constitution  of  the  State  of  Ohio — so 
named  from  its  river,  called  by  the  Shawunees  Ohio, 
meaning  beautiful — forming  its  .southern  bound- 
ary. Of  this  nothing  need  be  .said,  save  that  it 
bore  the  marks  of  true  democratic  feeling — of  full 
foith  in  the  people.  By  them,  however,  it  was 
never  voted  for.  It  stood  firm  until  1852,  when 
it  was  superseded  by  the  present  one,  made  neces- 
sary by  the  advance  of  time. 

The  General  Assembly  was  required  to  meet  at 
Chillicothe,  the  first  Tuesday  of  3Iarch,  1803. 
This  change  left  the  territory  northwest  of  the 
Ohio  River,  not  included  in  the  new  State,  in  the 
Territories  of  Indiana  and  Michigan.  Subse- 
quently, in  181(),  Indiana  was  mad(!  a  State,  and 
confined  to  her  present  limits.  Illinois  was  made 
a  Territory  then,  inchidins;-  Wi.scon.sin.  In  1818, 
it  became  a  State,  and  Wisconsin  a  Territory  at- 
tached to  iMichigan.  This  latter  was  made  a  State 
in  1837,  and  Wisconsin  a  separate  Territorj',  which, 
in  1847,  was  made  a  State.  Minnesota  was  made 
a  Tin'ritory  the  same  year,  and  a  State  in  1857, 
and  the  five  contemplated  States  of  the  temtory 
were  complete. 

Preceding  pages  have  shown  how  the  tcrritor}' 
north  of  the  Ohio  Biver  vi'as  peopled  by  the 
French  and  English,  and  how  it  came  under  the 
rule  of  the  American  people.  The  war  of  the 
Revolution  closed  in  1783,  and  left  all  America  in 
the  hands  of  a  new  nation.  That  nation  brought 
a  change.  Before  the  war,  various  attempts  had 
been  made  by  residents  in  New  England  to  people 
the  country  west  of  the  Alleghanies.  Land  com- 
panies were  formed,  principal  among  which  were 
the  Ohio  Company,  and  the  company  of  which 
John  Cleves  Symmes  was  the  agent  and  chief 
owner.  Large  tracts  of  land  on  the  Scioto  and 
on  the  Ohio  were  entered.  The  Ohio  Company 
were  the  first  to  make  a  settlement.  It  was  or- 
ganized in  the  autumn  of  1787,  November  27. 
They  made  an'angimients  for  a  party  of  forty-seven 
men  to  set  out  for  the  West  under  the  superrision  of 
Gen.  Rufus  Putnam,  Superintendent  of  the  Com- 
pany-. Early  in  the  winter  they  advanced  to  the 
Youghiogheny  River,  and  there  built  a  strong  boat, 
which  they  named  "Mayflower."  It  was  built  by 
Capt.  Jonathan  Devol.  the  first  shii)-builder  in  the 
West,  and.  when  completed,  was  placed  under  his 
command.  The  boat  was  launched  .Vpril  2,  1 788, 
and  the  band  of  pioneers,  like  the  Pilgrim  Fathers, 
began  their  voyage.  The  7th  of  the  month, 
they  arrived  at   the  mouth  of  the  JIuskingum, 


HISTORY   OF   OHIO. 


>>. 


their  destination,  opposite  Fort  Harmar,*  erected 
in  the  autumn  of  1785,  by  a  detachment  of 
United  States  troops,  under  command  of  Maj. 
Jolin  Doughty,  and,  at  the  date  of  the  3Iayflower's 
arrival  in  possession  of  a  company  of  soldiers. 
Under  the  protection  of  these  troops,  the  little  band 
of  men  began  their  labor  of  laying  out  a  town, 
and  comm^jnced  to  erect  houses  for  their  own  and 
subse([uent  emigrants'  occupation.  The  names  of 
these  pioneers  of  Ohio,  as  far  as  can  now  be 
learned,  are  as  follows; 

Gen.  Putnam,  Return  Jonathan  Meigs,  Win- 
throp  Sargeant  ( Secretary  of  the  Territory ),  Judges 
Parsons  and  Varnum,  Capt  Dana,  Capt.  Jonathan 
Devol,  Joseph  Barker,  Col.  Battelle,  jMaj.  Tyler,  j 
Dr.  True,  Capt.  Wm.  Gray,  Capt.  Lunt,  the 
Bridges,  Ebenezer  and  Thomas  Cory,  Andrew  Mc- 
Clure,  Wm.  Mason,  Thomas  Lord,  Wm.  Gridley, 
Gilbert  Devol,  Moody  Russels,  Deavens,  Oakes, 
Wright,  Clough,  Green,  Sbipman,  Dorance,  the 
Masons,  and  others,  whose  names  are  now  be- 
yond recall. 

On  the  19th  of  July,  the  first  boat  of  families 
arrived,  after  a  nine- weeks  joui'ney  on  the  way. 
They  had  traveled  in  their  wagi  ms  as  far  as  Wheel- 
ing, where  they  built  large  fiat-lioats,  into  which 
they  loaded  their  effects,  iucluJiug  their  cattle,  and 
thence  passed  down  the  Ohio  to  then-  destination. 
The  families  were  those  of  Gen.  Tupper,  Coh 
Ichabod  Nye,  Col.  Cushing,  Maj.  Coburu,  and 
Maj.  Goodale.  In  these  titles  the  reader  will  ob- 
serve the  preponderance  of  military  distinction. 
Many  of  the  founders  of  the  colony  had  served 
with  much  valor  in  the  war  for  freedom,  and  were 
well  ]ircpared  for  a  life  in  the  wilderness. 

They  began  at  once  the  eon.strnrtinn  of  houses 
from  the  forests  about  the  conflueuee  of  the  rivers, 
guarding  their  stock  by  day  and  penning  it  by 
night.  Wolves,  bears  and  Indians  were  all  about 
them,  and,  here  in  the  remote  wilderness,  they 
were  obliged  to  always  be  on  their  guard.  From 
the  ground  where  they  obtained  the  timber  to  erect 
their  houses,  they  soon  produced  a  few  vegetables, 
and  when  the  families  arrived  in  August,  they 
were  able  to  set  before  them  food  raised  for  the 

*The  outlines  of  Fort  Harmar  formed  a  regular  pentagon, 
embracing  wirhin  tli'-  area  about  three-fourths  of  an  acre.  Its 
walls  were  fniid-.i  (,f  l:ii-.-  horizontiil  timbers,  and  the  bastions 
of  large  uprii,'lit  I  iiiil>'r^.ibi  lilt  fiurteen  feet  in  height,  fastened  to  each 
other  by  stni's  (  l  timiu  i,  tree-riaileil  iiit')  each  i)icket.  In  the  rear 
iiikIiI.v  laid  out  fine  (raid.-ns.  It  rc.ntinned  to  be 
ted  States  troops  until  .s.pti'inli-r  ITitii.  when 
to  Cincinnati.    A  comp  i:i\ .  ini.I.  r  (^ipT,  Haskell, 


of  the  fort  JLij.  I't 

occupied    b3'    Ciii 

they  were  ordered  to  Cincinnati.    A  comp  m 

continued  to  make  the  fort  their  heai!  jnarl 

war,  occasionally   assisting  the  coloiii>ti  a 

Waterford  against  the  ludians.     When  not 

the  fort  was  used  by  the  people  of  Marietta. 


the    Inilii 


.Ma 


first  time  by  the  hand  of  American  citizens  in  the 
Ohio  Valley.  One  of  those  who  came  in  August, 
was  Mr.  Thomas  Guthrie,  a  settler  in  one  of  the 
western  counties  of  Pennsylvania,  who  brought  a 
bushel  of  wheat,  which  he  sowed  on  a  plat  of 
ground  cleared  by  himself,  and  from  which  that 
fall  he  procured  a  small  crop  of  wheat,  the  first 
grown  in  the  State  of  Ohio. 

The  Marietta  settlement  was  the  only  one  made 
that  summer  in  the  Territory.  From  their  arrival 
until  October,  when  Governor  St.  Clair  came,  they 
were  busily  employed  making  houses,  and  prepar- 
ing for  the  winter.  The  little  colony,  of  which 
Washington  wrote  so  favorablj',  met  on  the  2d  day 
of  July,  to  name  their  newborn  city  and  its  pub- 
lic sqares.  Until  now  it  had  been  known  as  "The 
Muskingum"  simply,  but  on  that  day  the  name 
Blarietta  was  formally  given  to  it,  in  honor  of  Ma- 
rie Antoinette.  The  4th  of  July,  an  ovation  was 
held,  and  an  oration  delivered  by  James  M.  ^'ar- 
num,  who,  with  S.  H.  Parsons  and  John  Arm- 
strong, had  been  appointed  Judges  of  the  Terri- 
tory. Thus,  in  the  heart  of  the  wilderness, 
miles  away  fi-om  any  kindred  post,  in  the  forests 
of  the  Great  West,  was  the  Tree  of  Liberty  watered 
and  given  a  hearty  growth. 

On  the  morning  of  the  9th  of  July,  Governor 
St.  Clair  arrived,  and  the  colony  began  to  assume 
form.  The  ordinance  of  1787  had  provided  for 
a  form  of  government  under  the  Governor  and 
the  three  Judges,  and  this  form  was  at  once  put 
into  force.  The  25th,  the  first  law  relating  to  the 
militia  was  published,  and  the  next  day  the  Gov- 
ernor's proclamation  appeared,  creating  all  the 
country  that  had  been  ceded  by  the  Indians,  east 
of  the  Scioto  River,  into  the  county  of  Washing- 
ton, and  the  civil  machinery  was  in  motion.  From 
that  time  forward,  this,  the  pioneer  settlement  in 
Ohio,  went  on  prosperously.  The  2d  of  Septem- 
ber, the  first  court  in  the  Territory  was  held,  but 
as  it  related  to  the  Territory,  a  narrative  of  its  pro- 
ceedings will  be  found  in  the  history  of  that  part 
of  the  country,  and  need  not  be  repeated  here. 

The  15th  of  July,  Gov.  St.  Clair  had  published 
the  ordinance  of  1787,  and  the  commissions  of 
himself  and  the  three  Judges.  He  also  assenililed 
the  people  of  the  settlement,  and  explained  to 
them  the  ordinance  in  a  speech  of  considerable 
length.  Three  days  after,  he  sent  a  notice  to  the 
Judges,  calling  their  attention  to  the  subject  of 
organizing  the  militia.  Instead  of  attending  to 
this  important  matter,  and  thus  providing  for  their 
safety  should  trouble  with  the  Indians  arise,  the 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


Judges  (lid  not  even  reply  t(p  tho  fiovcrnor's  letter, 
but  sent  hi  n  what  they  ealled  a ''project"  of  a 
law  for  divi:liri:r  real  estate.  The  bill  Wiis  so 
loosely  drawn  that  St.  Clair  immediatelj-  rejected 
it.  and  set  about  organizing  the  militia  himself. 
He  divided  the  militia  into  two  cla.ssi's,  "Senior" 
and  '-Junior, '  and  organized  them  b}'  ajipointing 
their  officers. 

In  the  Senior  Cla.ss,  Nathan  Cushing  was  ap- 
pointed Cajitain;  George  Inger.sol,  Lieutenant, 
and  James  Backus,  Ensign. 

In  the  Junior  Class,  Nathan  Goodale  and  Charles 
Knowls  were  made  Captiiins ;  Watson  Casey  and 
Samuel  Stebbins,  Lieutenants,  and  Joseph  Lincoln 
and  Arnold  Colt,  Ensigns. 

The  Governor  next  erected  the  Courts  of  Pro- 
bate and  Quarter  Sessions,  and  proceeded  to  ap- 
point civil  officers.  Rufus  Putnam,  Benjamin 
Tupper  and  Winthrop  Sargeant  were  made  Jus- 
tices of  the  Peace.  The  3(lth  of  August,  the  day 
the  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions  was  appointed, 
Archibald  Cary,  Lsaac  Pierce  and  Thomas  Lord 
were  also  appointed  Justices,  and  given  power  to 
hold  this  court.  They  were,  in  fact.  Judges  of  a 
Court  of  Connuon  Pleas.  Return  Jonathan  Meigs 
was  appointed  Clerk  of  this  Court  of  Quarter 
Sessiions.  Ebenezor  Sproat  was  appointed  Sheriff  of 
Washington  County,  and  also  Colonel  of  the  militia; 
\\'illiam  Callis,  Clerk  of  the  Supreme  CViurt; 
Rufus  Putnam,  Judge  of  the  Probate  Court,  and 
R.  J.  Meigs,  Jr.,  Clerk.  Following  these  appoint- 
ments, setting  the  machinery  of  government  in 
motion,  St.  Clair  ordered  that  the  2oth  of  Decem- 
ber be  kept  as  a  day  of  tlianksgiving  by  the  infant 
colonj'  for  its  safe  and  [  roj.itious  beginning. 

During  the  fall  and  winter,  the  settlement  was 
daily  increased  by  emigrants,  so  much  so,  that  the 
greatest  difficulty  was  experienced  in  finding  them 
lodging.  During  the  coldest  part  of  the  winter, 
when  ice  covered  the  river,  and  prevented  navi- 
gatit)n,  a  delay  in  arrivals  was  experienced,  only  to 
be  broken  ;is  soon  as  the  river  opened  to  the  beams 
of  a  spring  sun.  While  locked  in  the  winter's 
embrace,  the  colonists  amused  themselves  in  vari- 
ous ways,  dancing  being  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent. At  Christmas,  a  grand  ball  was  held,  at 
which  there  were  fifteen  ladies,  "whose  grace," 
sa}"s  a  narrator,  "equaled  any  in  the  East." 
Though  isolated  in  the  wilderness,  they  knew  a 
brilliant  prospect  lay  Ijcfore  them,  and  lived  on  in 
a  jo3'ous  hope  for  the  future. 

Soon  after  their  arrival,  the  settlers  began  the 
erection   of  a   stockade  fort   (  Campus    Martius  ), 


which  occu{iied  their  time  until  the  winter  of 
I79I.  During  the  interval,  fortunately,  no  hos- 
tilities from  the  Indians  were  experienced,  though 
they  were  abundant,  and  were  frequent  visitors  to 
the  settlement. 

From  a  communication  in  the  American  Pioneer, 
by  Dr.  S.  P.  Hildreth,  the  following  description  of 
Campus  Martius  is  d(!rived.  As  it  will  apply,  in 
a  measure,  to  many  early  structures  for  defense  in 
the  West,  it  is  given  entire: 

"  The  fort  was  made  in  the  form  of  a  regular 
parallelogram,  the  sides  of  each  being  ISO  feet. 
At  each  corner  was  erected  a  strong  block-house, 
surmounted  by  a  tower,  and  a  sentry  box.  These 
houses  were  twenty  feet  square  below  and  twenty- 
four  feet  sijiiare  above,  and  projected  six  feet  be- 
yond the  walls  of  the  fort.  The  intermediate  walls 
were  made  up  with  dwelling-houses,  made  of  wood, 
whose  ends  were  whip-sawed  into  timbers  four 
inches  thick,  and  of  the  requisite  width  and  length. 
These  were  laid  up  similar  to  the  structure  of  log 
houses,  with  the  ends  nicely  dove-tailed  together. 
The  whole  were  two  stories  high,  and  covered  with 
shingle  roofs.  Convenient  chimney's  were  erected 
of  bricks,  for  cooking,  and  warming  the  rooms.  A 
number  of  the  dwellings  were  built  and  owned  by 
individuals  who  had  families.  In  the  west  and 
south  fronts  were  strong  gateways ;  and  over  the 
one  in  the  center  of  the  front  looking  to  the  Mus- 
kingum River,  wils  a  belfry.  The  chamber  beneath 
was  occupied  by  Winthrop  Sargeant,  as  an  office, 
he  being  Secretary  to  the  Governor,  and  perform- 
ing the  duties  of  the  office  during  St.  Clair's  ab- 
sence. This  room  projected  over  the  gateway,  like 
a  block-house,  and  was  intended  for  the  protection 
of  the  gate  beneath,  in  time  of  an  assault.  At 
the  outer  corner  of  each  block-house  was  erected  a 
bastion,  standing  on  four  stout  timbers.  The  floor 
of  the  bastion  was  a  little  above  the  lower  story  of 
the  block-house.  They  were  S([uare,  and  built  up 
to  the  height  of  a  man's  head,  so  that,  when  he 
looked  over,  ho  stepped  on  a  narrow  pilatform  or 
"  banquet "  running  around  thesides  of  the  bulwark. 
Poii>holes  were  made,  for  musketr}'  as  well  as  for 
artillery,  a  single  piece  of  which  was  mounted  in 
the  southwest  and  northeast  bastions.  In  these, 
the  sentrie-s  were  regularly  posted  every  night,  as 
more  convenient  than  the  towers  ;  a  door  leading 
into  th(;m  from  the  upper  story  of  the  block-houses. 
The  lower  room  of  the  southwest  block-house  was 
occupied  as  a  guard-house. 

"  Running  from  corner  to  corner  of  the  block- 
houses was  a  row  of  palisades,  sloping  outward. 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


and  restini;  on  .stout  rails.  Twenty  feet  in  advance 
of  these,  was  a  row  of  very  strong  and  large  pick- 
ets, set  upright  in  the  earth.  Gateways  through 
these,  admitted  the  inmates  of  the  garrison.  A 
few  feet  beyond  the  row  of  outer  palisades  was 
placed  a  row  of  abattis,  made  from  the  tops  and 
branches  of  trees,  sharpened  and  pointing  outward, 
so  that  it  would  have  been  very  difficult  for  an 
enemy  to  have  penetrated  within  their  outworks. 
The  dwelling-houses  occupied  a  space  from  fifteen 
to  thirty  feet  each,  and  were  sufficient  for  the  ac- 
couiuiodation  of  forty  or  fifty  families,  and  did 
actually  contain  from  two  hundred  to  three  hun- 
dred persons  during  the  Indian  war. 

"  Before  the  Indians  commenced  hostilities,  the 
bloek-hou-ses  were  occupied  as  follows :  The  south- 
west one,  by  the  family  of  Gov.  St.  Clair;  the 
northeast  one  as  an  office  fur  the  Directors  of  the 
Company.  The  area  within  the  walls  was  one 
hundred  and  forty-four  feet  square,  and  affijrded  a 
fine  parade  ground.  In  the  center,  was  a  well 
eighty  feet  in  depth,  for  the  supply  of  water  to  the 
inhabitants,  in  case  of  a  siege.  A  large  sun-dial 
stood  for  many  years  in  the  square,  placed  on  a 
handsome  post,  and  gave  note  of  the  march  of 
time. 

"  After  the  war  commenced,  a  regular  military 
corps  was  organized,  and  a  guard  constantly  kept 
night  and  day.  The  whole  establishment  formed 
a  very  strong  work,  and  reflected  great  credit  on 
the  head  that  planned  it.  It  was  in  a  manner  im- 
pregnable to  the  attacks  of  Indians,  and  none 
but  a  regular  army  with  cannon  could  have  reduced 
it.     Tlie  Indians  possessed  no  such  an  armament. 

"  The  garri.son  stood  on  the  verge  of  that  beauti- 
ful plain  overlooking  the  Muskingum,  on  which 
are  seated  tho.se  celebrated  remains  of  anti(|-.iity, 
erected  probalily  for  a  similar  purpose — the  defense 
of  the  inhabitant.s.  The  ground  descends  into  shal- 
low I'avines  on  the  north  and  south  sides ;  on  the 
west  is  an  abrupt  descent  to  the  river  bottoms  or 
alluvium,  and  the  east  passed  out  to  a  level  plain. 
On  this,  the  ground  was  cleared  of  trees  beyond 
the  reach  of  rifle  shots,  so  as  to  affiird  no  shelter 
to  a  hidden  foe.  Extensive  fields  of  corn  were 
grown  in  the  midst  of  the  standing  girdled  trees  be- 
yond, in  after  years.  The  front  wall  of  palisades 
was  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  the 
Muskingum  River.  The  appearance  of  the  fort 
from  without  was  imposing,  at  a  little  distance  re- 
sembling the  military  castles  of  the  feudal  ages. 
Between  the  outer  palisadea  and  the  river  were 
laid  out  neat  srardens  for  the  use  of  Gov.  St.  Clair 


and  his  Secretary,  with  the  officers  of  the  Com- 
pany. 

"  Opposite  the  fort,  on  the  shore  of  the  river, 
was  built  a  substantial  timber  wharf,  at  which  was 
moored  a  fine  cedar  barge  for  twelve  rowers,  built 
by  Capt.  Jonathan  Devol,  for  Gen.  Putnam  ;  a 
number  of  pirogues,  and  the  light  canoes  of  the 
country  ;  and  last,  not  least,  the  Mayflower,  or 
'  Adventure  Galley,'  in  which  the  first  detach- 
ments of  colonists  were  transported  from  the  shores 
of  the  '  Yohiogany '  to  the  banks  of  the  Muskingum. 
In  these,  especially  the  canoes,  during  the  war, 
most  of  the  communications  were  carried  on  between 
the  settlements  of  the  Company  and  the  more  re- 
mote towns  above  on  the  Ohio  River.  Traveling 
by  land  was  very  hazai-dous  to  any  but  the  rangers 
or  .spies.  There  were  no  roads,  nor  bridges  aero.ss 
the  creeks,  and,  for  many  years  after  the  war  had 
ceased,  the  traveling  was  nearly  all  done  by  canoes 
on  the  river.' 

Thus  the  first  settlement  of  Ohio  pro^^ded  for 
its  safety  and  comfort,  and  provided  also  for  that 
of  emigrants  who  came  to  share  the  toils  of  the 
wilderness. 

The  next  spring,  the  influx  of  emigration  was 
so  great  that  other  settlements  were  determined, 
and  hence  arose  the  colonies  of  Belpre,  AVaterford 
and  Duck  Creek,  where  they  began  to  clear  land,  sow 
and  plant  crops,  and  build  houses  and  stockades. 
At  Belpre  (French  for  "beautiful  meadow"),  were 
built  three  stockades,  the  upper,  lower  and  middle, 
the  last  of  which  was  called  "  Farmers'  Castle," 
and  stood  on  the  banks  of  the  Ohio,  nearly  oppo- 
site an  island,  afterward  famous  in  Western  history 
as  Blennerhasset's  Island,  the  scone  of  Burr's  con- 
spiracy. Among  the  persons  settling  at  the  upper 
stockade,  were  Capts.  Dana  and  Stone,  Col.  Bent, 
William  Browning,  Judge  Foster,  John  Rowso, 
Israel  Stone  and  a  Jlr.  Keppel.  At  the  Farmers' 
Castle,  were  Cols.  Gushing  and  Fisher,  Maj.  Has- 
kell, Aaron  Waldo  Putnam,  Mr.  Sparhawk,  and, 
it  is  believed,  George  and  Israel  Putnam,  Jr.  At 
the  lower,  were  Maj.  Goodale,  Col.  Rice,  E.S(iuire 
Pierce,  Judge  I.sracl  Loring,  Deacon  Miles,  JIaj. 
Bradford  and  Mr.  Goodenow.  In  the  summer  of 
1789,  Col.  Ichabod  Nye  and  some  others,  built  a 
block-house  at  Newberry,  below  Belpre.  Col.  Nye 
sold  his  lot  there  to  Aaron  W.  Clough,  who,  with 
Stephen  Guthrie,  Joseph  Leavins,  Joel  Oakes, 
Eleazer  Curtis,  Mr.  Denham  J.  Littleton  and  Mr. 
Brown,  was  located  at  that  place. 

'•Every  exertion  po.ssible,"  says  Dr.  Hildreth, 
who  has  preserved  the  above  names  and  incidents. 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


93 


'•  for  men  in  these  circumstances,  w:is  made  to  se- 
cure iiiDil  fur  future  difficulties.  Col.  Oliver,  JIaj. 
Hatfield  White  and  John  Dodije,  of  the  Water- 
ford  settlement,  began  luilLs  on  Wolf  Creek,  about 
three  miles  fi'om  the  fort,  and  got  tliem  running; 
and  these,  the  fir.st  mills  in  Ohio,  wvre  never  de- 
stro3'ed  during  the  subse(|uent  Indian  war,  though 
the  proj)rietors  removed  their  fauiiles  to  the  fort 
at  Marietta.  Col.  E.  Sproat  and  Enoch  Shep- 
herd began  mills  on  Duck  Creek,  three  miles  from 
JIarietta,  from  the  completion  of  which  they  were 
driven  by  the  Indian  war.  Thomas  Stanley  be- 
gan mills  farther  up,  near  the  Duck  Creek  settle 
ment.  These  were  likewise  unfinished.  The  Ohio 
Coinjiany  built  a  large  liorsc  mill  near  Campus 
Marlins,  and  soon  after  a  floating  mill." 

The  autumn  before  the  settlements  at  Belpre, 
Duck  Creek  and  Waterford,  were  made,  a  colony 
was  planted  near  the  mouth  of  the  Little  Miami 
River,  on  a  tract  of  ten  thousand  acres,  purchased 
fromSyninies  by  !Maj.  Benjamin  Stites.  Inthepre- 
ceding  jiages  may  be  found  a  history  of  Symmcs' 
purchase.  Tliis  colony  maj-  be  counted  the  second 
settlement  in  the  State.  Soon  after  the  colony  at 
Marietta  was  founded,  steps  were  taken  to  occupy 
separate  portions  of  Judge  Symmcs'  jnirchase,  be- 
tween the  Miami  Rivers.  Throe  parties  were 
formed  for  this  purpose,  but,  owing  to  various 
delay.s,  chiefly  in  getting  the  present  colony  stead- 
fast and  safe  from  future  encroachments  by  the 
•savages,  they  did  not  get  started  till  late  in  the  fall. 
The  firstofthe.se  parties,  consisting  of  fifteen  or 
twenty  men,  led  by  Jlaj.  Stites,  landed  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Little  Miami  in  November,  1788, 
and,  constructing  a  log  fort,  began  to  lay  out  a 
village,  called  by  them  Columbia.  It  soon  grew 
into  prcmincnce,  and,  before  winter  had  thonjughly 
■set  in,  they  were  well  prepared  for  a  frontier  life. 
In  the  party  were  Cols.  Spencer  and  Brown,  Majs. 
Gano  and  Kibbey,  Judges  Goforth  and  Fijstcr, 
Rev.  John  Smith,  Francis  Dunlavy.  C;'.pt.  Flinn, 
Jacob  White,  John  Riley,  and  Mr.  Hubbell. 

All  the.se  were  men  of  energy  and  enterprise, 
and,  with  their  comrades,  were  more  numerous 
than  cither  of  the  other  parties,  who  commenced 
their  settlements  below  thf^ra  on  the  Ohio.  This 
village  was  also,  at  first,  more  flcmrishing;  and,  for 
two  or  three  years,  contained  more  inhabitants 
than  any  other  in  the  Miami  purchase. 

The  second  Miami  party  was  formed  at  Lime- 
stone, under  Matthias  Denham  and  Robert  Pat- 
terson, and  consisted  of  twelve  or  fifteen  persons. 
They  lauded  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Ohio,  oppo- 


site the  mouth  of  the  Licking  River,  the  24th  of 
December,  1788.  They  intended  to  establish  a 
station  and  lay  out  a  town  on  a  plan  prepared  at 
Limestone.  Some  statements  affirm  that  the  town 
was  to  be  called  "  L-os-auti'-viUc,''  by  a  romantic 
school-teacher  named  Filson.  However,  be  this  as 
It  may,  Mr.  Filson  was,  unfortunately  for  himself, 
not  long  al^er,  slain  by  the  Indians,  and,  with  him 
piobably,  the  name  disappeared.  He  was  to  have 
one-third  interest  in  the  propo.sed  city,  which, 
when  his  death  occuiTed,  w;ts  transferred  to  Israel 
Ludlow,  and  a  new  plan  of  a  city  adopted.  Israel 
Ludlow  surveyed  the  proposed  town,  whose  lots  were 
principally  donated  to  settlers  upon  certain  condi- 
tions as  to  settlement  and  improvement,  and  the 
embryo  city  named  Cincinnati.  Gov.  St.  Clair 
very  likely  had  .something  to  do  with  the  naming 
of  the  village,  and,  by  some,  it  is  asserted  that  lie 
changed  the  name  from  Lo.santiville  to  Cincinnati, 
when  he  created  the  county  of  Hamilton  the  en- 
suing winter.  The  original  purcha.se  of  the  eit^-'s 
site  was  made  by  .'Mr.  Denham.  It  included  about 
eight  hundred  acres,  for  which  he  paid  5  shillings 
per  acre  in  Continental  certificates,  then  worth,  in 
specie,  about  5  shillings  per  pound,  gro.ss  weight, 
pjvidently,  the  original  site  was  a  good  investment, 
could  Mr.  Denham  have  lived  long  enough  to  see 
its  present  condition. 

The  third  party  of  settlers  for  the  Miami  pur- 
chase, were  under  the  care  of  Judge  Symmes, 
hini.self  They  left  Limestone,  January  29,  1789, 
and  were  much  delayed  on  their  downward  jour- 
ney by  the  ice  in  the  river.  They  reached  the 
'Bend,'  as  it  was  then  known,  early  in  February. 
The  Judge  had  intended  to  found  a  city  here, 
which,  in  time,  would  be  the  rival  of  the  Atlantic 
cities.  As  each  of  the  three  settlements  a.spired 
to  the  same  po'^ition,  no  little  rivalry'  soon  mani- 
fested itself.  The  Judge  named  his  proposed  city 
North  Bend,  from  the  fact  that  it  was  the  most 
northern  bend  in  the  Ohio  below  the  mouth  of  the 
Great  Kanawha.  These  three  .settlements  ante- 
dated, a  few  months,  those  made  near  .Marietta, 
already  described.  They  arose  so  ."'oon  after,  partly 
from  the  extreme  desire  of  Judge  Symmes  to  settle 
liis  pureha.se,  and  induce  emigration  here  instead 
of  on  the  Ohio  Company's  ])urcha.se.  The  Judge 
labored  earnestly  for  this  pur])ose  and  to  further 
secure  him  in  his  title  to  the  land  he  had  aerpiired, 
all  of  which  he  had  so  far  been  unable  to  retain, 
owing  to  his  inability  to  meet  his  payments. 

All  these  emigrants  came  down  the  river  in  the 
flat-boats  of  the  day.  rude  affairs,  sometimes  called 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


"  Ark.s,'  auJ  then  tlie  ouly  safe  mode  of  travel  in 
the  West. 

Judge  Symmes  found  he  mu.st  provide  fur  the 
safety  of  the  settlers  on  his  purchase,  and,  after 
earnestly  soliciting  Gen.  Ilarmar,  commander  of 
the  Western  posts,  succeeded  in  obtainins;  a  de- 
tachment of  furty-eiuht  men,  under  Capt.  Kearsey, 
to  protect  the  inijirciveuunts  ju.st  commencing'  on 
the  Miami.  This  detachment  reached  Limestone 
in  December,  1788.  Part  was  at  once  sent  for- 
ward to  guard  Jtaj.  Stites  and  his  pioneers.  Judge 
Symmes  and  his  party  started  in  January,  and, 
about  February  2,  reached  Columbia,  wliere  the 
Captain  e.^cpected  to  find  a  fort  erected  for  his  use 
and  shelter.  The  flood  on  the  river,  however,  de- 
feated his  purpose,  and,  as  he  was  unprepared  to 
erect  another,  he  determined  to  go  on  down  to  the 
garrison  at  the  falls  at  Louisville.  Judge  Symmes 
was  strenuously  opposed  to  his  conduct,  a.s  it  left 
the  colonies  unguarded,  but,  all  to  no  purpose;  the 
Captain  and  his  command,  went  to  Louisville  early 
in  March,  and  left  the  Judn;e  and  his  settlement 
to  protect  themselves.  Judge  Symmes  immedi- 
ately sent  a  strong  letter  to  Maj.  Willis,  command- 
ing at  the  Falls,  complaining  of  the  conduct 
of  Capt.  Kear.sey,  representing  the  exposed  situ- 
ation of  the  Miami  settlements,  stating  the  indi- 
cations of  hostility  manifested  by  the  Indians, 
and  requesting  a  guard  to  be  sent  to  the  Bend. 
This  request  was  at  once  granted,  and  Ensign 
Luce,  with  seventeen  or  eighteen  soldiers,  sent. 
They  were  at  the  settlement  but  a  short  time, 
when  they  were  attacked  by  Indians,  and  one  of 
their  number  killed,  and  four  or  five  wounded. 
They  repulsed  the  savages  and  saved  the  set- 
tlers. 

The  site  of  Symmes  City,  for  such  he  designed  it 
should  ultimately  be  called,  was  above  the  reach  of 
water,  and  sufficiently  level  to  admit  of  a  conven- 
ient settlement.  The  city  laid  out  by  Symmes 
was  truly  magnificent  on  paper,  and  promised  in 
the  future  to  fulfill  his  most  ardent  hopes.  The 
plat  included  the  village,  and  extended  across  the 
peninsula  between  the  Ohio  and  Miami  Elvers. 
Each  settler  on  this  plat  was  promised  a  lot  if  he 
would  improve  it,  and  in  conformity  to  the  stipu- 
lation. Judge  Symmes  soon  found  a  large  number 
of  persons  applying  for  residence.  Astlie  number 
of  these  adventurers  increased,  in  consequence  of 
this  provision  and  the  protection  of  the  military, 
the  Judge  was  induced  to  lay  out  another  village 
six  or  se\cn  miles  up  the  rivei",  which  he  called 
South  Bend,  where  he  di.sposed  of  some  donation 


lots,  but  the  jiroject  failing,  the  village  site  was  de- 
serted, and  converted  into  a  farm. 

During  all  the  time  these  various  events  we^e 
transpiring,  but  little  trouble  was  experienced  with 
the  Indians.  They  were  not  yet  disposed  to  evince 
hostile  feelings.  This  would  have  been  their  time, 
but,  not  realizing  the  true  intent  of  the  whites  until 
it  was  too  late  to  conquer  them,  they  allowed  them 
to  become  prepared  to  withstand  a  warfare,  and  in 
the  end  were  obliged  to  suffer  their  hunting-grounds 
to  be  taken  from  them,  and  made  the  homes  of  a 
race  destined  to  entirely  supercede  them  in  the 
New  World. 

By  the  means  sketched  in  the  foregoing  pages, 
were  the  three  settlements  on  the  Miami  made.  By 
the  time  those  adjacent  to  IMariettawere  well  estab- 
lished, these  were  firmly  fixed,  each  one  striving  to 
become  the  rival  city  all  felt  sure  was  to  arise.  For 
a  time  it  was  a  matter  of  doubt  which  of  the  rivals, 
Columbia,  North  Bend  or  Cincinnati,  would  event- 
ually become  the  chief  seat  of  business. 

In  the  beginning,  Columbia,  the  eldest  of  the 
three,  took  the  lead,  both  in  number  of  its  in- 
habitants and  the  convenience  and  appearance  of 
its  dwellings.  For  a  time  it  was  a  flourishing  place, 
and  many  believed  it  would  become  the  great  busi- 
ness town  of  the  Miami  country.  That  apparent 
fact,  however,  lasted  but  a  short  time.  The  garri- 
son was  moved  to  Cincinnati,  Fort  Wa.shington 
built  there,  and  in  spite  of  all  that  Maj.  Stites,  or 
Judge  Symmes  could  do,  that  place  became  the 
metropolis.  Fort  Wa.shington,  the  mo.st  exten.sive 
garrison  in  the  West,  was  built  l>y  JIaj.  Doughty, 
in  the  summer  of  1789,  and  from  tliat  time  the 
growth  and  future  greatness  of  Cincinnati  were 
assured. 

The  first  house  in  the  city  was  built  on  Front 
street,  east  of  and  near  Slain  street.  It  was 
simiily  a  strong  log  cabin,  and  was  erected  of  the 
forest  trees  cleared  away  from  the  ground  on  which 
it  stood.  The  lower  part  of  the  town  was  covered 
with  sycamore  and  niajile  trees,  and  the  upper  with 
beech  and  oak.  Through  this  dense  forest  the 
streets  were  laid  out,  and  their  corners  marked  on 
the  trees. 

The  settlements  on  the  Miami  had  become 
sufficiently  numerous  to  warrant  a  separate  county, 
and,  in  January,  17iH),  Gov.  St.  Clair  and  his 
Secretary  arrived  in  Cincinnati,  and  organized  tlie 
county  of  Hamilton,  so  named  in  honor  of  the 
illustrious  statesman  by  that  name.  It  included 
all  the  country  north  of  the  Ohio,  between  the 
Miamis,  as  fiu-  as  a  line  running  ''  due  east  from  the 


HISTORY   OF   OHIO. 


Standing  Stone  forks  "  of  Big  Miami  to  its  inter- 
section with  the  Little  Miami.  Tlie  erection  of 
the  new  county,  and  the  aiij)ointmeiit  of  Cincin- 
nati to  be  tile  scat  of  justice,  gave  the  town  a  I'resh 
impulse,  and  aided  greatly  in  its  growth. 

Through  the  summer,  but  little  interruption  in 
the  growth  of  the  settlements  occurred.  The 
Indians  liad  permitted  the  erection  of  defensive 
works  ill  their  midst,  and  could  not  now  destroy 
them.  They  were  also  engaged  in  traffic  with  the 
whites,  and,  though  they  evinced  signs  of  discon- 
tent at  their  .settlement  and  occupation  of  tlie 
countrj-,  yet  did  not  openly  attack  them.  The 
truth  was,  they  saw  plainly  the  whites  were  always 
prepared,  and  no  opportunity  was  given  them  to 
plunder  and  destroy.  The  Indian  would  not 
attack  unless  success  was  almost  sure.  An  oppor- 
tunity, unfortunately,  came,  and  with  it  the  hor- 
rors of  au  Indian  war. 

In  the  autumn  of  1700,  a  company  of  thirty- 
six  men  went  from  Marietta  to  a  place  on  the 
Muskingum  known  as  the  Big  Bottom.  Here 
they  built  a  block-house,  on  the  cast  bank  of  the 
river,  four  miles  above  the  mouth  of  Meigs  Creek. 
They  were  chiefly  young,  single  men,  but  little 
ac()uainted  with  Indian  warfare  or  military  rules. 
The  savages  had  given  signs  that  an  attack  on  the 
settlement  was  meditated,  and  .several  of  the  know- 
ing ones  at  the  strongholds  strenuously  opiiosed 
any  now  settlements  that  fall,  advising  their  post- 
ponement until  the  next  .spring,  when  the  cjuestion 
of  peace  or  war  would  probably  be  settled.  Even 
Gen.  Putnam  and  the  Directors  of  the  Ohio  Com- 
pany advi.sed  the  po.stponement  of  the  .settlement 
until  the  next  spring. 

The  young  men  were  impatient  and  lestless,  and 
declared  them.selves  able  to  protect  their  fort 
against  any  number  of  assailants.  They  might 
have  easily  done  so,  had  they  taken  the  necessary 
precautions ;  but,  after  they  had  erected  a  rude 
block-house  of  unchinked  logs,  they  began  to  pa.ss 
the  time  in  various  pursuits;  setting  no  guard,  and 
taking  no  precautionary  measures,  they  left  them- 
selves an  e;tsy  prey  to  any  hostile  savages  that 
might  choose  to  come  and  attack  them. 

About  twenty  rods  from  the  block-house,  and  a 
little  back  from  the  bank  of  the  river,  two  men, 
Francis  and  Isaac  Choate,  members  of  the  com- 
pany, had  erected  a  cabin,  and  commenced  clearing 
lots.  Thomas  Shaw,  a  hired  laborer,  and  James 
Patten,  another  of  the  a.s.sociates,  lived  with  them. 
About  the  same  distance  below  the  block-house 
was   an    old  "Tomahawk    Improvement"   and    a 


small  Ciibin,  which  two  men,  Asa  and  Eleazur 
Bullard,  had  fitted  up  and  occupied.  The  Indian 
war-path,  from  Sandusky  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Muskingum,  passed  along  the  opposite  shore  of 
the  river. 

"  The  Indians,  who,  during  the  summer,"  says 
Dr.  Hildreth,  '•  had  been  hunting  and  loitering 
about  the  Wolf  Creek  ami  Plainfield  .settlements, 
holding  fre(|uent  and  friendly  intercourse  with  the 
settlers,  selling  them  venison  and  bear's  meat  in  ex- 
change for  gi-een  corn  and  vegetables,  had  with- 
drawn and  gone  up  the  river,  early  in  the  au- 
tumn, to  their  towns,  preparatory  to  going  into 
winter  (piartcrs.  They  very  seldom  entered  on 
any  warlike  expeditions  during  the  cold  weather. 
But  they  had  watched  the  gradual  encroach- 
ment of  the  whites  and  planned  an  expedition 
against  them.  They  .saw  them  in  fancied  security 
in  their  cabins,  and  thought  their  capture  an  easy 
task.  It  is  said  they  were  not  aware  of  the  Big 
Bottom  settlement  until  tliey  came  in  sight  of  it, 
on  the  opposite  shore  of  the  river,  in  the  afternoon. 
From  a  high  hill  opposite  the  garrison,  they  had  a 
view  (if  all  that  ])art  of  the  bottom,  and  could  sec 
how  the  men  were  occuiiied  and  what  was  doing 
about  the  block-house.  It  was  not  jtroiected  with 
pali.sades  or  pickets,  and  none  of  the  men  were 
aware  or  prepared  for  an  attack.  Having  laid 
their  plans,  about  twilight  they  cros.sed  the  river 
above  the  gan'i.son,  on  the  ice,  and  divided  their 
men  into  two  parties — the  larger  one  to  attack  the 
block-hon.se,  the  smaller  one  to  capture  the  cabins. 
As  the  Inilians  catitiously  approached  the  cabin 
they  found  the  inmates  at  supper.  Part  entered, 
addressed  the  whites  in  a  friendly  manner,  but 
soon  manifesting  their  designs,  made  them  all  pris- 
oners, tieing  them  with  leather  thongs  they  found 
in  the  cabin." 

At  the  block-house  the  attack  was  far  different. 
A  stout  Mohawk  suddenly  burst  open  the  door, 
the  first  intimation  the  inmates  had  of  the  pres- 
ence of  the  foe,  and  while  he  held  it  open  his 
comrades  shot  down  tho.-ic  that  were  within.  Bush- 
ing in,  the  deadly  tomah.awk  completed  the  on- 
slaught. In  the  assiiult,  one  of  the  savages  was 
struck  by  the  wife  of  Isaac  Woods,  with  an  ax, 
but  only  slightly  injured.  The  heroic  wonum  was 
immediately  slain.  .\11  the  men  but  two  were 
.slain  before  they  had  time  to  secure  their  arms, 
thereby  paying  for  their  failure  to  properly  secure 
themselves^  with  their  lives.  The  two  excepted 
were  John  Stacy  and  his  brother  Philip,  a  lad  six- 
teen years   of  age.     John   escaped   to   the   roof. 


r 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


where  he  was  shot  by  the  Indians,  while  begging 
for  his  Ufe.  The  firing  at  the  block-house  alarmed 
the  Bullards  in  their  cabin,  and  hastily  barring  the 
door,  and  securing  their  arms  and  ammunition,  the}' 
fled  to  the  woods,  and  escaped.  After  the  slaughter 
was  over,  the  Indians  began  to  collect  the  plunder, 
and  in  doing  so  discovered  the  lad  Philip  Stacy. 
They  were  about  to  dispatch  him,  but  his  entrea- 
ties softened  the  heart  of  one  of  the  chiefs,  who 
took  him  as  a  captive  with  the  intention  of  adopt- 
ing him  into  his  family.  The  savages  then  piled 
the  dead  bodies  on  the  floor,  covered  them  with 
other  portions  of  it  not  needed  for  that  purpose, 
and  set  fire  to  the  whole.  The  building,  being 
made  of  green  logs,  did  not  burn,  the  flames  con- 
suming only  the  floors  and  roof,  leaving  the  walls 
standing. 

There  were  twelve  persons  killed  in  this  attack, 
all  of  whom  were  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  valuable 
aid  to  the  settlements.  They  were  well  provided 
with  arras,  and  had  they  taken  the  necessary  pre- 
cautions, always  pressed  upon  them  when  visited 
by  the  older  ones  from  Marietta,  they  need  not 
have  suffered  so  terrible  a  fate. 

The  Indians,  exultant  over  their  horrible  victory, 
went  on  to  Wolf's  mills,  but  here  they  found  the 
people  prepared,  and,  after  reconnoitering  the  place, 
made  their  retreat,  at  early  dawn,  to  the  great  re- 
lief of  the  inhabitants.  Their  number  was  never 
definitely  known. 

The  news  reached  Marietta  and  its  adjacent 
settlemants  soon  after  the  massacre  occun-ed,  and 
struck  terror  and  dismay  into  the  hearts  of  all. 
Many  had  brothers  and  sons  in  the  ill-fated  party, 
and  mourned  their  loss.  Neither  did  they  know 
what  place  would  fall  next.  The  Indian  hostilities 
had  begun,  and  they  could  only  hope  for  peace 
when  the  savages  were  efiectually  conquered. 

The  next  day,  Capt.  Rogers  led  a  party  of  men 
over  to  the  Big  Bottom.  It  was,  indeed,  a  melan- 
choly sight  to  the  poor  borderers,  a.s  they  knew  not 
now  how  soon  the  same  fate  might  befall  them- 
selves. The  fire  had  so  disfigured  their  comrades 
that  but  two,  Ezra  Putnam  and  William  Jones, 
were  recognized.  As  the  ground  was  frozen  out- 
side, a  hole  was  dug  in  the  earth  underneath  the 
block-house  floor,  and  the  bodies  consigned  to  one 
grave.  No  further  attempt  was  made  to  settle 
here  till  after  the  peace  of  1795. 

The  outbreak  of  Indian  hostilities  put  a  check 
on  further  settlements.  Those  that  were  estab- 
lished were  put  in  a  more  active  state  of  defense, 
and  every  preparation  made  that  could  be   made 


for  the  impending  crisis  all  felt  sure  must  come. 
Either  the  Indians  must  go,  or  the  whites  must 
retreat.  A  few  hardy  and  adventurous  persons 
ventured  out  into  the  woods  and  made  settle- 
ments, but  even  these  were  at  the  imminent  risk 
of  their  lives,  many  of  them  perishing  in  the 
attempt. 

The  Indian  war  that  followed  is  given  fullj^  in 
preceding  pages.  It  may  be  briefly  sketched  by 
stating  that  the  first  campaign,  under  Gen  Har- 
mar,  ended  in  the  defeat  of  his  army  at  the  Indian 
villages  on  the  JMiami  of  the  lake,  and  the  rapid 
retreat  to  Fort  Washington.  St.  Clair  was  next 
commissioned  to  lead  an  army  of  nearly  three  thou- 
sand men,  but  these  were  furiously  attacked  at 
break  of  day,  on  the  morning  of  November  4, 
1791,  and  utterly  defeated.  Indian  outrages 
sprung  out  anew  after  each  defeat,  and  the  borders 
were  in  a  continual  state  of  alarm.  The  most  ter- 
rible sufferings  were  endured  by  prisoners  in  the 
hands  of  the  savage  foe,  who  thought  to  annihilate 
the  whites. 

The  army  was  at  once  I'e-organized,  Gen.  An- 
thony Wayne  put  in  command  by  Washington, 
and  a  vigorous  campaign  inaugurated.  Though 
the  savages  had  been  given  great  aid  by  the  Brit- 
ish, in  direct  violation  of  the  treaty  of  1783,  Gen. 
Wayne  pursued  them  so  vigorously  that  they  could 
not  withstand  his  army,  and,  the  20th  of  August, 
179-4,  defeated  them,  and  utterly  anniliilated  their 
forces,  breaking  up  then-  camps,  and  laying  waste 
their  country,  in  some  places  under  the  guns  of 
the  British  forts.  The  victory  showed  them  the 
hopelessness  of  contending  against  the  whites,  and 
led  their  chiefs  to  sue  for  peace.  The  British,  as 
at  former  times,  deserted  them,  and  they  were  again 
alone,  contending  against  an  invincible  foe.  A 
grand  council  was  held  at  Greenville  the  3d  day 
of  August,  1795,  where  eleven  of  the  most  power- 
ful chiefs  made  peace  with  Gen.  Wayne  on  terms 
of  his  own  dictation.  The  boundary  established 
by  the  old  treaty  of  Fort  JMcIntosh  was  confirmed, 
and  extended  westward  from  Loramie's  to  Fort 
Reoovei-y,  and  thence  southwest  to  the  mouth  of 
the  Kentucky  River.  He  also  purchased  all  the 
territory  not  before  ceded,  within  certain  limits, 
comprehending,  in  all,  about  four-fifths  of  the  State 
of  Ohio.  The  line  was  long  known  as  "  The  Green- 
ville Treaty  line."  Upon  these,  and  a  lew  other 
minor  conditions,  the  United  States  received  the 
Indians  under  their  protection,  gave  them  a  large 
number  of  presents,  and  practically  closed  the  war 
with  the  savages. 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


97 


The  only  s^L'ttloiucnt  ul'any  consequence  made  dur-  i 
iu<;the  Indian  war,  was  that  on  tlie  plat  of  Hamilton,  j 
laid  out  by  Israel  Ludlow  in  Decemlior,  I7!I4.  Soon 
after,  Darius  C.  Orcutt,  John  Green,  William  Mc- 
Clennan,  John  Sutherland.JdlinTorrenei,  Benjamin 
F.  Randolph,  Benjamin  Uavis,  I.-Jaae  Wiles,  Andrew 
Christy  and  William  Hubert,  located  here.  The 
town  wa.s  laid  out  under  the  name  of  Fairfield,  but 
was  known  only  a  short  time  by  that  name.  Until 
isol,  all  the  lands  on  the  west  side  of  the  Great 
Miami  were  owned  by  the  General  Government; 
hence,  until  after  that  date,  no  improvements  were 
made  there.  A  single  log  cabin  stood  there  until 
the  .sale  of  lands  in  April,  1801,  when  a  company 
purcha.sed  the  site  of  Ros.svillc,  and,  in  March, 
1804,  laid  out  that  t^^iwn,  and,  before  a  year  had 
passed,  the  town  and  country  about  it  was  well 
settled. 

The  close  of  the  war,  in  1795,  insured  peace, 
and,  from  that  date,  Hamilton  and  that  part  of  the 
Aliami  Valley  grew  remarkably  fast.  In  1803, 
Butler  County  was  formed,  and  Hamilton  made 
the  county  seat. 

On  the  site  of  Hamilton,  St.  Clair  built  Fort 
Hamilton  in  1701.  For  some  time  it  was  under 
the  command  of  Maj.  Rudolph,  a  cruel,  arbitrary 
man,  who  was  displaced  by  Gen.  Wayne,  and  who, 
it  is  said,  perished  ignobly  on  the  high  seas,  at  the 
hands  of  some  Algerine  pirates,  a  fitting  end  to  a 
man  who  caused,  more  than  once,  the  death  of 
men  under  his  control  for  minor  offenses. 

On  the  return  of  peace,  no  part  of  Ohio  grew 
more  rapidly  than  the  Miami  A'alley,  especially 
that  part  eomjirised  in  Butler  County. 

While  the  war  with  the  Indians  continued,  but 
little  extension  of  settlements  was  made  in  the 
State.  It  was  too  perilous,  and  the  settlers  pre- 
ferred the  security  of  the  block-house  or  to  engage 
with  the  army.  Still,  however,  a  few  bold  spirits 
ventured  away  from  the  settled  parts  of  the  Tcn-i- 
tor}',  and  began  life  in  the  wildcrne.'^s.  In  tracing 
the  histories  of  these  settlements,  attention  will  be 
paid  to  the  order  in  which  they  were  made.  They 
will  be  given  somewhat  in  detail  until  the  war  of 
1 S 1 2,  after  which  time  they  become  too  numerous 
to  follow. 

The  settlements  made  in  Washington — Marietta 
and  adjacent  colonics — and  Hamilton  Counties 
have  already  been  given.  The  settlement  at  (Jal- 
lia  is  also  n(jted,  hence,  the  narration  can  be  re- 
sumed where  it  ends  prior  to  the  Indian  war  of 
1705.  Before  this  war  occurred,  there  were  three 
small  settlements  made,   however,  in   addition   to 


those  in  Wa.shington  and  Hamilton  Counties. 
They  Were  in  what  are  now  Adams,  Belmont  and 
Morgan  Counties.  They  were  block-hr)use  settle- 
ments, and  were  in  a  continual  state  of  defense. 
The  first  of  the.se,  Adams,  wits  settled  in  the  winter 
of  1700-91  by  Gen.  Nathaniel  Ma.ssie.  near  where 
Manchester  now  is.  Gen.  Ma.ssie  determined  to 
settle  here  in  the  Virginia  Military  Tract — in  the 
winter  of  1700,  and  sent  notice  throughout  Ken- 
tucky and  other  Western  settlements  that  he  would 
give  to  each  of  the  first  twenty-five  fitmilics  who 
would  settle  in  the  town  he  proposed  laying  out, 
one  in-lot,  one  out-lot  and  one  hundred  acres  of 
land.  Such  liberal  terms  were  soon  accepted,  and 
in  a  short  time  thirty  families  were  ready  to  go 
with  him.  After  various  consultations  with  his 
friends,  the  bottom  on  the  Ohio  River,  opposite 
the  lower  of  the  Three  Islands,  was  selected  as 
the  most  eligible  spot.  Here  Ma-ssie  fixed  his  sta- 
tion, and  laid  off'  into  lots  a  town,  now  called 
Manchester.  The  little  confederacy,  with  Massie 
at  the  helm,  went  to  work  with  spirit.  Cabins 
were  raised,  and  by  the  middle  of  March, 
1701,  the  whole  town  was  inclosed  with  strong 
pickets,  with  block-houses  at  each  angle  for  de- 
fense. 

This  was  the  first  settlement  in  the  bounds  of 
the  Virginia  District,  and  the  fourth  one  in  the 
State.  Although  in  the  midst  of  a  savage  foe, 
now  inflamed  with  war,  and  in  the  midst  of  a 
cruel  conflict,  the  settlement  at  Manchester  suf- 
fered le-ss  than  any  of  its  cotcmporaries.  This 
was,  no  doubt,  due  to  the  watchful  care  of  its  in- 
habitants, who  were  inured  to  the  rigoi-s  of  a  front- 
ier life,  and  who  well  knew  the  danger  about  them. 
"  These  were  the  Bcasleys.  Stouts,  Washburns, 
Lcdoms,  Edgingtons,  Denings,  Ellisons,  Utts, 
McKenzies,  Wades,  and  others,  who  were  fully 
equal  to  the  Indians  in  all  the  savage  arts  and 
stratjigems  of  border  war." 

As  soon  as  they  had  completed  preparations  for 
defense,  the  whole  population  went  to  work  and 
cleared  the  lowest  of  the  Three  I.slands,  and  planted 
it  in  corn.  The  soil  of  the  island  was  very  rich, 
and  produced  abundantly.  The  woods  supplied  an 
abundance  of  game,  while  the  river  furnished  a 
variety  of  excellent  fish.  The  inhabitants  thus 
found  their  simple  wants  fully  supplied.  Their 
nearest  neighbors  in  the  new  Territory  were  at 
C.)lumbia,  and  at  the  French  settlement  at  Gallip- 
olis;  but  with  these,  owing  to  the  state  of  the 
country  and  the  Indian  war,  they  could  hold  little, 
if  anj',  intercourse. 


98 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


The  station  being  established,  Massie  continued 
to  make  locations  and  surveys.  Great  precautions 
were  necessary  to  avoid  the  Indians,  and  even  the 
closest  vigilance  did  not  always  avail,  as  the  ever- 
watchful  foe  was  always  ready  to  spring  upon  the 
settlement,  could  an  unguarded  moment  be  ob- 
served. During  one  of  the  spring  months,  Gen. 
Massie,  Israel  Donalsun,  William  Lytic  and  James 
Little,  while  out  on  a  survey,  were  surprised,  and 
Mr.  Donalson  captured,  the  others  escaping  at 
great  peril.  Mr.  Donalson  escaped  during  the 
march  to  the  Indian  town,  and  made  his  way  to 
the  town  of  Cincinnati,  after  suffering  great  hard- 
ships, and  almost  perishing  from  hunger.  In  the 
spring  of  1793,  the  settlers  at  Manchester  com- 
m;'nced  clearing  the  out-lots  of  the  town.  While 
doing  so,  an  incident  occurred,  which  shows  the 
danger  to  which  they  were  daily  exposed.  It  is 
thus  related  in  Howe's  Collections  : 

"  Mr.  Andrew  Ellison,  one  of  the  settlers, 
cleared  an  out-lot  immediately  adjoining  the  fort. 
He  had  completed  the  cutting  of  the  timber,rolled 
the  logs  together,  and  set  them  on  fire.  The  next 
morning,  before  daybreak,  Mr.  Ellison  opened  one 
of  the  gates  of  the  fort,  and  went  out  to  throw  his 
logs  together.  By  the  time  he  had  finished  the 
job,  a  number  of  the  heaps  blazed  up  brightly, and, 
as  he  was  passing  from  one  to  the  other,  he  ob- 
served, by  the  light  of  the  fires,  three  men  walking 
Iiriskly  toward  him.  This  did  not  alarm  him  in 
the  least,  although,  he  said,  they  were  dark-skinned 
fellows;  yet  he  concluded  they  were  the  Wades, 
whose  compli'sions  were  very  dark,  going  early  to 
hunt.  He  continued  to  right  his  log-heaps,  until 
one  of  the  fallows  seized  him  by  the  arms,  calling 
out,  in  broken  English,  '  How  do  ?  how  do  ?  '  He 
instantly  looked  in  their  faces,  and,  to  his  surprise 
and  horror,  found  himself  in  the  clutches  of  three 
Indians.     To  resist  was  useless. 

"  The  Indians  fpiickly  moved  off  with  him  in 
the  direction  of  Paint  Creek.  When  breakfast 
was  ready,  Mrs.  Ellison  sent  one  of  her  children 
to  ask  its  father  home ;  but  he  could  not  be  found 
at  the  log-heaps.  His  absence  created  no  immedi- 
ate alarm,  as  it  was  thcmght  he  might  have  started 
to  hunt,  after  conij)leting  his  work.  Dinner-time 
arrived,  and,  Ellison  not  returning,  the  family 
became  uneasy,  and  began  to  suspect  some  acci- 
dent had  happened  to  him.  His  gun-rack  was 
examined,  and  there  hung  his  rifles  and  his  pouch. 
Gen.  Jlassie  raised  a  party,  made  a  circuit  around 
the  place,  finding,  after  some  search,  the  trails  of 
four  men,  one  of  whom  had  on   shoes;  and  the 


fact  that  Jlr.  Ellison  was  a  prisoner  now  became 
apparent.  As  it  was  almost  night  at  the  time  the 
trail  was  discovered,  the  party  returned  to  the 
station.  Early  the  next  morning,  preparations 
were  made  by  Gen.  Massie  and  his  friends  to  con- 
tinue the  search.  In  doing  this,  they  fimiid  great 
difiiculty,  as  it  was  so  early  in  the  spring  that  the 
vegetation  was  not  grown  sufl&ciently  to  show 
plainly  the  trail  made  by  the  savages,  who  took 
the  precaution  to  keep  on  high  and  dry  ground, 
where  their  feet  would  make  little  or  no  imj)res- 
sion.  The  party  were,  however,  as  unerring  as  a 
pack  of  hounds,  and  followed  the  trail  to  Paint 
Creek,  when  they  found  the  Indians  gained  so 
fast  on  them  that  pursuit  was  useless. 

"The  Indians  took  their  prisoner  to  Upper 
Sandusky,  where  he  was  compelled  to  run  the 
gantlet.  As  he  was  a  large,  and  not  very  active, 
man,  he  received  a  severe  flogging.  He  was  then 
taken  to  Lower  Sandusky,  and  again  compelled  to 
run  the  gantlet.  He  was  then  taken  to  Detroit, 
where  he  was  ransomed  by  a  British  officer  for 
$100.  The  officer  proved  a  good  friend  to  him. 
He  sent  him  to  Montreal,  whence  he  returned 
home  before  the  close  of  the  summer,  much  to  the 
joy  of  his  family  and  friends,  whose  feelings  can 
only  be  imagined." 

"Another  incident  occurred  about  this  time," 
says  the  same  volume,  "which  so  aptly  illustrates 
the  danger  of  frontier  life,  that  it  well  deserves  a 
place  in  the  history  of  the  settlements  in  Ohio. 
John  and  Asahel  Edgington,  with  a  comrade, 
started  out  on  a  hunting  expedition  toward  Brush 
Creek.  They  camped  out  six  miles  in  a  northeast 
direction  from  where  West  Union  now  stands,  and 
near  the  site  of  Treber's  tavern,  on  the  road  from 
Chillicothe  to  ]Ma3-sville.  The}'  had  good  success 
in  hunting,  killing  a  number  of  deer  and  bears. 
Of  the  deer  killed,  they  saved  the  skins  and  hams 
alone.  They  fleeced  the  bears;  that  is,  they  cut 
off  all  the  meat  which  adhered  to  the  hide,  with- 
out skinning,  and  left  the  bones  as  a  skeleton. 
They  hung  up  the  proceeds  of  their  hunt,  on  a  scaf- 
fold out  of  the  reach  of  wolves  and  other  wild  ani- 
mals, and  returned  to  Manchester  for  pack-horses. 
No  one  returned  to  the  camp  with  the  Edgingtons. 
As  it  was  late  in  December,  few  apprehended  dan- 
ger, as  the  winter  season  was  usually  a  time  of  re- 
pose from  Indian  incursions.  When  the  Edgingtons 
arrived  at  their  camp,  they  alighted  from  their 
horses  and  were  preparing  to  start  a  fire,  when  a 
platoon  of  Indians  fired  upon  them  at  a  distance 
of    not    more  than    twenty    paces.      They    had 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


101 


cviJently  fouud  tho  results  of  the  whito  men's  labor, 
and  expected  they  would  return  for  it,  and  pre- 
pared to  waylay  them.  Asaliel  Edginjitun  fell 
dead.  John  was  more  fortunate.  The  sharp 
crack  of  the  rifles,  and  the  hcrrrible  yells  of  the 
savages  as  they  leaped  from  their  j)lace  of  ambush, 
frightened  the  horses,  who  took  the  track  for 
home  at  full  speed.  John  w:us  very  active  on  foot, 
and  now  an  opporttinity  offered  which  required  his 
utmo.st  speed.  The  moment  the  Indians  leaiied 
from  their  hiding  place,  they  threw  down  their 
guns  and  took  after  him,  yelling  with  all  their 
power.  Edgiugton  did  not  run  a  booty  race.  For 
about  a  mile,  the  savages  stepped  in  liis  tracks  al- 
most before  tho  bending  gra.-^s  could  rise.  The 
uplifted  tomahawk  w;is  freijuently  so  near  his  head 
that  he  thought  he  felt  its  edge.  lie  exerted 
himself  to  his  utmost,  while  the  Indians  strove 
with  all  their  might  to  catch  him.  Finally,  he  be- 
gan to  gain  on  his  pursuers,  and,  after  a  long  race, 
distanced  them  and  made  his  escape,  safely  reach- 
ing home.  This,  truly,  was  a  most  fearful  and 
well-contested  race.  The  big  Shawancc  chief,  Capt. 
John,  who  headed  the  Indians  on  this  occasion, 
after  peace  was  made,  in  narrating  the  particulars, 
said,  "The  white  man  who  ran  away  was  a  smart 
fellow.  The  white  man  run ;  and  I  run.  He  run 
and  run ;  at  last,  the  wliite  man  run  clear  off'  from 
me. ' 

The  settlement,  despite  its  dangers,  prospered, 
and  after  the  close  of  the  war  continued  to  grow 
rapidly.  In  two  years  after  peace  was  declared, 
Adams  County  was  erected  by  proclamation  of 
Gov.  St.  Clair,  the  next  year  court  was  held,  and 
in  1804,  West  Union  was  made  the  county  seat. 

During  the  war,  a  settlement  was  commenced 
near  the  present  town  of  Bridgeport,  in  Belmont 
County,  by  Capt.  Jo.scph  Belmont,  a  noted  Dela- 
ware Revolutionary  officer,  who,  because  his  State 
could  furnish  only  one  company,  could  rise  no 
higher  than  Captain  of  tliat  company,  and  hence 
alwa3s  maintained  that  grade.  He  settled  on  a 
beautiful  knoll  near  the  present  county  seat,  but 
erelong  suff'ered  from  a  night  attack  by  the  In- 
dians, who,  though  unable  to  drive  him  and  his 
companions  from  the  cabin  or  con(iuer  them, 
wounded  some  of  them  badly,  one  or  two  mortally, 
and  caused  the  Captain  to  leave  the  frontier  and 
return  to  Newark,  Del.  The  attack  was  made 
in  the  .spring  of  1791,  and  a  .sliort  time  atlcr, 
the  Captain,  having  provided  for  the  safety  of  his 
family,  accepted  a  commission  in  St.  Clair's  army, 
and  lo.st  Ids  life  at  the  defeat  of  the  General  in 


November.  Shortly  after  the  Captain  settled,  a 
fort,  called  Dillie's  Fort,  was  built  on  the  Ohio, 
opposite  the  mouth  of  (Jrave  Creek.  About  two 
hundred  and  fifty  yards  below  this  fort,  an  old 
man,  named  Tato,  was  shot  down  at  his  cabin  door 
by  the  Indians,  just  as  he  was  in  the  act  of  entering 
the  house.  His  body  was  pulled  in  by  his  daugh- 
ter-in-law and  grandson,  who  made  an  heroic  de- 
fense. They  were  overpowered,  the  woman  slain, 
and  the  boy  badly  wounded.  He,  however,  man- 
aged to  secrete  himself  and  afterward  escaped  to 
the  fort.  The  Indians,  twelve  or  thirteen  in  num- 
ber, went  off"  unmolested,  though  the  men  in  the 
fort  saw  the  whole  transaction  and  could  have 
punished  them.  Why  they  did  not  was  never 
known. 

Ou  Captiua  Creek  in  this  same  county,  occurred, 
in  May,  1704,  the  '-battle  of  Captina,"  a  fa- 
mous local  skirmish  between  some  A'irginians  fi-om 
Fort  Baker,  and  a  party  of  Indians.  Though  the 
Indians  largely  outnumbered  the  whites,  they  were 
severely  punished,  and  compelled  to  abandon  the 
contest,  losing  several  of  their  bravest  warriors. 

These  were  the  only  settlements  made  until 
1795,  the  clo.se  of  the  war.  Even  these,  as  it  will 
be  observed  from  the  foregoing  pages,  were  tem- 
porary in  all  cases' save  one,*and  were  maintained 
at  a  great  risk,  and  the  lo.ss  of  many  valuable  lives. 
They  were  made  in  the  beginning  of  tlu' war.and  such 
were  their  experiences  that  fuiilur  attempts  were 
abandoned  until  the  treaty  of  Greenville  w;ts  made, 
or  until  the  prospects  for  peace  and  safety  were 
assured. 

No  sooner,  however,  had  the  prospect  of  quiet 
been  established,  than  a  revival  of  emigration  be- 
gan. Before  the  war  it  had  been  large,  now  it 
was  largely  increased. 

Wayne's  treaty  of  peace  with  tho  Indians  was 
made  at  Greenville,  in  what  is  now  Darke  County, 
the  3d  of  August,  179').  The  number  of  Indians 
present  was  estimated  at  1 ,800,  divided  among  the 
principal  nations  as  follows:  180  Wyaudots,  381 
Delawarcs,  143  Shawanecs,  45  Ottawas,  46  Cliip- 
pewas,  240  Pottawatomies,  73  Miamis  and  Eel 
lliver,  12  Wcas  and  Piankcshaws,  anil  10  Kicka- 
poos  and  Ka.skaskia.s.  Tho  principal  chiefs  were 
Tarhe,  Buckongahelas,  Black  Hoof,  Blue  Jacket 
and  Little  Turtle.  Most  of  them  had  been  tam- 
jiered  with  by  the  British  agents  and  traders,  but 
all  had  been  so  thonjughly  cluLStiscd  by  Wayne,  and 
found  that  the  Briti.sh  only  used  them  as  tools, 
that  they  were  quite  anxious  to  make  ])cace  with 
the  '■  Thirteen  Fires."    By  the  treaty,  former  ones 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


were  established,  the  boundary  lines  confirmed  and 
enlai'ged,  an  exchange  and  delivery  of  prisoners 
eflFccted,  and  permanent  peace  assured. 

In  the  latter  part  of  September,  after  the  treaty 
of  Greenville,  Mr.  Bedell,  from  New  Jersey, 
selected  a  site  for  a  home  in  what  is  now  Warren 
County,  at  a  place  since  known  as  "  Bedell's  Sta- 
tion,'' about  a  mile  south  of  Union  Village.  Here 
ho  erected  a  block-house,  as  a  defense  against  the 
Indians,  among  whom  were  many  renegades  as 
among  the  whites,  who  would  not  respect  the 
terms  of  the  treaty.  Whether  Mr.  Bedell  was 
alone  that  fall,  or  whether  he  was  joined  by  others, 
is  not  now  accurately  known.  However  that  may 
be,  ho  was  not  long  left  to  himself;  for,  ere  a  year 
had  elapsed;  quite  a  number  of  settlements  were 
made  in  this  part  of  the  Territory.  Soon  after 
his  settlement  was  made,  Gen.  David  Sutton,  Capt. 
Nathan  Kelley  and  others  began  pioneer  life  at 
Deerfield,  in  the  same  locality,  and,  before  three 
years  had  gone  by,  a  large  number  of  New  Jersey 
people  wore  established  in  their  homes;  and,  in 
1803,  the  county  was  formed  from  Hamilton. 
Among  the  early  settlers  at  Deerfield,  was  Capt. 
Robert  Benliam,  who,  with  a  companion,  in  1779, 
sustained  themselves  ^nany  days  when  the  Captain 
had  lost  the  use  of  his  legs,  and  his  companion 
his  arms,  from  musket-balls  fired  by  the  hands  of 
the  Indians.  They  were  with  a  large  party  com- 
manded by  Maj.  Rodgers,  and  were  furiously 
attacked  by  an  immense  number  of  savages,  and 
all  but  a  few  slain.  The  event  happened  during 
the  war  of  the  Revolution,  before  any  attempt 
was  made  to  settle  the  Northwest  Territory.  The 
party  were  going  down  the  Ohio,  probably  to  the 
fells,  and  were  attacked  when  near  the  site  of 
Cincinnati.  As  mentioned,  these  two  men  sus- 
tained each  other  many  days,  the  one  having  per- 
fect legs  doing  the  necessary  walking,  carrying  his 
comrade  to  water,  driving  up  game  for  him  to 
shoot,  and  any  other  duties  necessary;  while  the 
one  who  had  the  use  of  his  arms  could  dress  his 
companion's  and  his  own  wounds,  kill  and  cook 
the  game,  and  perform  his  share.  They  were 
rescued,  finally,  by  a  flat-boat,  whose  occupants, 
for  awhile,  passed  them,  fearing  a  decoy,  but, 
becoming  convinced  that  such  was  not  the  case, 
took  them  on  down  to  Louisville,  where  they  were 
nursed  into  perfect  health. 

A  settlement  was  made  near  the  present  town  of 
Lebanon,  the  county  seat  of  Warren  County,  in 
the  spring  of  1796,  by  Henry  Taylor,  who  built  a 
mill  one  mile  west  of  the  town  site,  on  Turtle 


Creek.  Soon  after,  he  was  joined  by  Ichabod 
Corwin,  John  Csbourn,  Jacob  Vorhees,  Samuel 
Shaw,  Daniel  Bonte  and  a  Mr.  Manning.  When 
Lebanon  was  laid  out,  in  1803,  the  two-story  log 
house  built  in  1797  by  Ichabod  Corwin  was  the 
only  building  on  the  plat.  It  was  occupied  by 
Ephraim  Hathaway  a.s  a  tavern.  He  had  a  black 
horse  painted  on  an  immense  board  for  a  sign,  and 
continued  in  business  here  till  1810.  The  same 
year  the  town  was  laid  out,  a  store  was  opened  by 
John  Huston,  and,  from  that  date,  the  growth  of 
the  county  was  very  prosperous.  Three  years 
after,  the  Western  Star  was  established  by 
Judge  John  McLain,  and  the  current  news  of 
the  day  given  in  weekly  editions.  It  was  one  of 
the  first  newspaj)ers  established  in  the  Territory, 
outside  of  Cincinnati. 

As  has  been  mentioned,  the  opening  cif  naviga- 
tion in  the  spring  of  1796  brought  a  great  flood 
of  emigration  to  the  Territory.  The  little  settle- 
ment made  by  Mr.  Bedell,  in  the  autumn  of  1795, 
was  about  the  only  one  made  that  fidl ;  others  made 
preparations,  and  many  selected  sites,  but  did  not 
settle  till  the  following  spring.  That  .spring,  colo- 
nies were  planted  in  what  are  now  Montgomery, 
Eoss,  Madison,  Mahoning,  Trumbull,  Ashtabula 
and  Cuyahoga  Counties,  while  preparations  were 
in  turn  made  to  occupy  additional  territory  that 
will  hereafter  bo  noticed. 

The  settlement  made  in  Montgomery  County 
was  begun  early  in  the  spring  of  1796.  As  early 
as  1788,  the  land  on  which  Dayton  now  stands  was 
selected  by  some  gentlemen,  who  designed  laying 
out  a  town  to  be  named  Venice.  They  agreed 
with  Judge  Synimes,  whose  contract  covered  the 
place,  for  the  purchase  of  the  lands.  The  Indian 
war  which  broke  out  at  this  time  prevented  an 
extension  of  settlements  from  the  immediate 
neighborhood  of  the  parent  colonies,  and  the  proj- 
ect was  abandoned  by  the  purchasers.  Soon  after 
the  treaty  of  1795,  a  new  company,  composed  of 
Gens.  Jonathan  Dayton,  Arthur  St.  Clair,  James 
Wilkinson,  and  Col.  Israel  Ludlow,  purchased  the 
land  between  the  Miamis,  around  the  mouth  of 
Mad  River,  of  Judge  Symmes,  and,  the  4th  of 
November,  laid  out  the  town.  Arrangements  were 
made  for  its  settlement  the  ensuing  spring,  and 
donations  of  lot.s,  with  other  privileges,  were  offered 
to  actual  settlers.  Forty-six  persons  entered  into 
engagements  to  remove  fiom  Cincinnati  to  Day- 
ton, but  during  the  winter  most  of  them  scat- 
tered in  different  directions,  and  only  nineteen  ful- 
filled   their    contracts.     The    first   families   who 


'-^ 


HISTORY   OF   OHIO. 


103 


made  a  perniauent  rcMilciicL'  here,  ari-ivod  on  the 
first  day  of  April,  ITSHi,  and  at  once  set  about 
establi.sliintr  liomes.  Judge  Symmos,  however, 
becomiiiu:  unable  soon  after  to  pay  for  his  jiureha-se, 
the  land  reverted  to  the  United  States,  and  the  set- 
tlers in  and  about  Dayton  found  themselves  with- 
out titles  to  their  lands.  Congress,  however,  eauie 
to  the  aid  of  all  such  persons,  wherever  they  had 
purchased  laud  of  Syinnies,  and  pa.ssed  a  jire-emp- 
tion  law,  under  which  they  could  enter  their  lands 
at  the  regular  governmenl  price.  Some  of  the  set- 
tlers entered  their  lands,  and  obtained  titles  directly 
from  the  United  States;  others  made  arrangements 
with  Daniel  (".  Cooper  to  receive  their  deeds  from 
him,  and  he  entered  the  residue  of  the  town  lands. 
He  had  been  the  surveyor  and  agent  of  the  first 
company  of  proprietors,  and  they  a.ssigned  to  him 
certain  of  their  rights  of  pre-emption,  by  which  he 
became  the  titular  owner  of  the  land. 

AV'lien  the  State  government  was  organized  in 
18(i3,  Dayton  was  made  the  seat  of  justice  for 
Montgomery  County,  erected  the  same  year.  At 
that  time,  owing  to  the  title  question,  only  five 
families  resided  in  the  place,  the  other  .settlers  hav- 
ing gone  to  farms  in  the  vicinity,  or  to  other 
parts  of  the  country.  The  increase  of  the  town 
was  gradual  until  the  war  of  1812,  wlien  its 
growth  was  more  rapid  until  182((,  when  it  was 
again  checked  by  the  gcmeral  depression  of  busi- 
ness. It  revived  in  1827,  at  the  commencement 
of  the  Miami  Canal,  and  since  then  its  growth  has 
always  been  prosperous.  It  is  now  one  of  the 
best  cities  in  (_)hio.  The  first  canal  boats  fi'om 
Cincinnati  arrived  at  Dayton  January  25,  lS2il, 
and  the  first  one  fi-om  Lake  Krie  the  24fh  of 
June,  184.5.  In  1823,  a  weekly  lino  of  stages 
was  e.stablishcd  between  Columbus  and  Cincinnati, 
via  Dayton.  One  day  was  occupied  in  coming 
from  Cincinnati  to  Dayton. 

On  the  18th  of  September,  1808,  the  Dayton 
Repfflon/  wa.s  established  by  William  McCIureand 
George  Smith.  It  was  printed  on  a  foolscap  sheet. 
Soon  after,  it  was  enlarged  and  changed  from  a 
weekly  to  a  daily,  and,  ere  long,  found  a  number 
of  competitors  in  the  field. 

In  the  lower  part  of  Miamisburg.  in  this  county, 
are  the  remains  of  ancient  works,  scattered  about 
over  the  bottom.  About  a  mile  and  a  rpiarter 
southeast  of  the  village,  on  an  elevation  more  than 
one  hundred  feet  above  the  level  of  the  Miami, 
is  the  largest  mound  in  tlie  Northern  Staters,  ex- 
cepting the  mammoth  mound  at  Grave  Creek,  on 
the   ()hii>,  below  Wheeling,  which  it  nearly  equals 


in  dimensions.  It  is  about  eight  hundred  feet 
around  the  base,  and  rises  to  a  height  of  nearly 
seventy  feet.  When  first  known  it  was  covered 
with  forest  trees,  whose  size  evidenced  great  age. 
The  Indians  could  give  no  account  of  the  mound. 
Kxcavalions  revealed  bones  and  charred  earth, 
but  what  wa.s  its  use,  will  always  remain  a  con- 
jecture. 

One  of  the  most  important  early  settlements 
was  made  cotemporary  with  that  of  Dayton,  in 
what  is  now  lloss  County.  The  same  sj)ring, 
ITOti,  i|uite  a  colony  came  to  the  banks  of  tlu; 
Scioto  River,  and,  near  the  mouth  of  Paint  Creek, 
began  to  plant  a  crop  of  corn  on  the  bottom.  The 
site  had  been  selected  as  early  as  17!'2,  by  Col. 
Nathaniel  Ma.ssie*  and  others,  who  were  so  de- 
lighted with  th(;  country,  and  gave  such  glowing 
descrijitions  of  it  on  their  return — which  accounts 
soon  circulated  through  Kentucky — that  portions 
of  the  Presbyterian  congregations  of  Cancridge  and 
Concord,  in  Bourbon  County,  under  Kev.  llobert 
W.  Finley,  determined  to  emigrate  thither  in  a 
body.  They  were,  in  a  measure,  indviced  to  take 
this  step  by  their  dislike  to  slavery,  and  a  desire 
for  freedom  from  its  baleful  influences  and  the  un- 
ccirtiunty  that  existed  regarding  the  validity  of  the 
land  titles  in  that  Slate.  The  Rev.  Finley,  as  a 
]ireliminary  step,  liberated  his  slaves,  and  addres.sed 
to  Col.  Ma,ssie  a  letter  of  inquiry,  in  December, 
1794,  resi'arding  the  laud  on  the  Scioto,  of  which 
he  and  his  people  had  heard  such  glowing  ac- 
counts. 

"The  letter  induced  Col.  Massie  to  vi.sit  Mr. 
Finley  in  the  ensuing  March.  A  large  concourse 
of  people,  who  wished  to  engage  in  the  enterprLse, 
assembled  on  the  occa.sion,  and  fixed  on  a  day  to 
meet  at  the  Three  Islands,  in  Manchester,  and 
proceed  on  an  exploring  expedition.  Mr.  Finley 
also  wrote  to  his  friends  in  Western  Pennsylvania 

*  Nathaniel  Musfcie  was  born  in  Goochland  County,  Vs.,  Decem- 
ber 28,  17(a.  In  1780,  hn  i-ngagecl,  for  n  short  timi>,  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war.  In  1783,  he  left  for  Kentucky,  where  ho  acted  as  a 
Burveyor.  He  was  afterward  made  a  Government  surveyor,  and 
labored  much  in  thatcapacity  for  early  Ohio  proprielora  lieinp  paid 
in  laiidH,  the  aniounls  graded  by  the  danger  attached  to  the  aitrvey. 
In  I7!ll,  ho  estibliahed  Ibe  sellleuient  at  Manchester,  and  a  year  or 


afle 


nlin 


cd  hi! 


I  Ihi-  S.-i 


He 


he\ 


tinually  in  preat  danger  from  the  Indians,  but  knew  well  how  tc 
guard  aealiiat  them,  and  thus  preserved  himself.  In  1790,  ho  eatah 
lislied  the  C'hillicothe  settlement,  an'l  made  his  home  in  the  Scioto 
Vallev,  b.ing  now  ar.  ext.ri.;ive  land  owner  bv  reason  ot  hia  Ions 
surveying  service.  In  1K(17.  he  and  Return  J,  Meigs  wore  cnipet- 
itnra  for  Iho  office  of  Governor  el  Ohio.  Meiga  was  elecl.-l.  but 
Maasie  contested  hia  eligibility  to  the  .iftice,  on  the  ground- ef  his 
ahaeucofrom  the  Slate  and  Insumciency  of  time  a«  a  resident,  :oi 
required  by  the  Constitution.  Meigs  was  di-clared  ineliirible  by  the 
General  Assembly,  and  Masaie  declared  Governor.  He.  however, 
resigned  the  office  at  once,  not  desiring  it.  He  waa  often  Bepre- 
aenlative  afterward.     He  died  November  13,  1813. 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


iuforming  tbom  of  the  time  und  place  of  rendez- 
vous. 

"  About  sixty  men  met,  according  to  appoint- 
ment, wlu)  were  divided  into  tliree  companies, 
under  Jla.ssie,  Finley  and  Falenash.  They  pro- 
ceeded on  their  route,  without  interruption,  until 
they  struck  the  falls  of  Paint  Creek.  Proceeding 
a  short  distance  down  that  stream,  they  suddenly 
found  themselves  in  the  vicinity  of  some  Indians 
who  had  encamped  at  a  place,  since  called  Keeve's 
Crossing,  near  the  present  town  of  Bainbridge. 
The  Indians  were  of  thase  who  had  refused  to 
attend  Wayne's  treaty,  and  it  was  determined  to 
give  them  battle,  it  being  too  late  to  retreat  with 
safety.  The  Indians,  on  being  attacked,  soon  fled 
with  the  loss  of  two  killed  and  several  wounded. 
One  of  the  whites  only,  Joshua  Robinson,  was 
mortally  wounded,  and,  during  the  action,  a  Jlr. 
Armstrong,  a  prisoner  among  the  savages,  escaped 
to  his  own  people.  The  whites  gathered  all  their 
plunder  and  retreated  as  far  as  Scioto  Brush 
Creek,  where  they  were,  according  to  expectation, 
attacked  early  the  next  morning.  Again  the  In- 
dians were  defeated.  Only  one  man  among  the 
whites,  Allen  GilfiUan,  was  wounded.  The  party 
of  whites  coutinued  their  retreat,  the  next  day 
reached  Manchester,  and  separated  for  their  homes. 

"After  Wayne's  treaty.  Col.  Massie  and  several 
of  the  old  explorers  again  met  at  the  house  of 
Ilev.  Finley,  formed  a  company,  and  agreed  to 
make  a  settlement  in  the  ensuing  spring  (1796), 
and  rai.se  a  crop  of  corn  at  the  mouth  of  Paint 
Creek.  According  to  agreement,  they  met  at  Man- 
chester about  the  first  of  April,  to  the  number  (jf 
forty  and  upward,  from  Mason  and  Bourbon 
Counties.  Among  them  were  Joseph  McCoy, 
Benjamin  ami  William  Koilgers,  David  Shelby, 
-lamL'S  llurrod,  Henry,  Bazii  and  Reuben  Abrams, 
William  Jamison,  .James  Crawford,  Samuel,  An- 
thony and  Robert  Smith,  Thomas  Dick,  William 
and  James  Kerr,  George  and  James  Kilgrove, 
John  Brown,  Samuel  and  Robert  Templeton,  Fer- 
guson Moore,  William  Nicholson  and  James  B. 
Finley,  later  a  prominent  local  Methodist  minister. 
On  starting,  they  divided  into  two  companies,  one 
of  which  struck  across  the  country,  while  the 
other  came  on  in  pirogues.  The  first  arrived 
earliest  on  the  .spot  of  their  intended  settlement, 
and  had  comnien  -ed  erecting  log  hut.s  above  the 
mouth  erf  Paint  Creek,  at  the  '  Prairis  Station,' 
before  the  others  had  come  on  by  water.  About 
three  hundred  acres  of  the  prairie  were  cultivated 
in  corn  that  season. 


"  In  August,  of  this  year — 179C — Chillicothe* 
was  laid  out  by  Col.  Massie  in  a  dense  forest.  He 
gave  a  lot  to  each  of  the  first  .settlers,  and,  by  the 
beginning  of  winter,  about  twenty  cabins  were 
erected.  Not  long  after,  a  ferry  was  established 
across  the  Scioto,  at  the  north  end  of  Walnut 
street.  The  opening  of  Zane's  trace  produced  a 
great  change  in  travel  westward,  it  having  pre- 
viously been  along  the  Ohio  in  keel-boats  or  canoes, 
or  by  land,  over  the  Cumberland  Mountains, 
through  Crab  Orchard,  in  Kentucky. 

"  The  emigrants  brought  corn-meal  in  their  jii- 
rogues,  and  after  that  was  gone,  their  jirineipal 
meal,  until  the  next  summer,  was  that  pounded  in 
hominy  mortars,  which  meal,  when  made  into 
bread,  and  anointed  with  bear's-oil,  was  quite  jjuI- 
atable. 

"  When  the  settlers  first  came,  whisky  was  $4. .50 
per  gallon;  but,  in  the  spring  of  1797,  when  the 
keel-boats  began  to  run,  the  Monongahela  whisky- 
makers,  having  found  a  good  market  for  their  fire- 
water, rushed  it  in,  in  such  quantities,  tliat  the 
cabins  were  crowded  with  it,  and  it  soon  fell  to  50 
cents.  Men,  women  and  children,  with  s<.>me  excep- 
tions, drank  it  freely,  and  many  who  had  been 
respectable  and  temperate  became  inebriates. 
Many  of  Wayne's  soldiers  and  camp-women  settled 
in  the  town,  so  that,  for  a  time,  it  became  a  town 
of  drunkards  and  a  sink  of  corruption.  There 
was,  however,  a  little  leaven,  which,  in  a  few 
months,  began  to  develop  itself. 

"In  the  spring  of  1797,  one  Brannon  stole  a 
great  coat,  handkerchief  and  shirt.  He  and  his 
wife  absconded,  were  pursued,  caught  and  brought 
back.  Samuel  Smith  was  appointed  Judge,  a 
jury  impanneled,  one  attorney  apjiointed  by  the 
Judge  to  manage  the  prosecution,  and  another  the 
defense;  witnesses  were  examined,  the  case  argued, 
and  the  evidence  summed  up  by  the  Judge.  The 
jury,  having  retired  a  few  moments,  returned  with 
a  verdict  of  guilty,  and  that  the  culprit  be  sen- 
tenced according  to  the  discretion  of  the  Judge. 
The  Judge  soon  announced  that  tlie  criminal 
should  have  ten  lashes  on  his  naked  back,  or  that 
he  should  sit  on  a  bare  pack-saddle  on  his  pony, 
and  that  his  wife,  who  was  supposed  to  have  had 
some  agency  in  the  theft,  should  lead  the  p<iny  to 
every  house  in  the  village,  and  proclaim,  'This  is 

♦ehillicnthe  appears  to  have  been  a  favorite  name  among  the 
iTidians,  as  many  localities  were  known  l>y  that  name.  Col.  John 
Johnston  says  :  "Chillicothe  is  the  name  of  one  ol  the  principal 
trilies  of  the  Shawanees.  They  wonld  .say,  CliU-i-rolht,  olmiy,  i.  e, 
Chillicothe  town.  The  Wyandots  wonld  say.  tor  Chillicothe  town, 
Tat-u-ru-ra,  Do-tta,  or  town  at  the  leaniug  of  the  bank." 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


105 


Bi-duuou,  wlio  stole  the  g:reat  coat,  handkerchief 
auil  sliirt  ; '  and  that  Jauies  B.  Finley,  afterward 
Chaplain  in  the  State  Penitentiary,  should  see  the 
sentence  faithfully  carried  out.  Brannon  chose 
the  latt<>r  sentence,  and  the  ceremony  was  feith- 
fully  performed  by  his  wife  in  the  presence  of 
every  cabin,  under  Sir.  Finley 's  care,  after  which 
the  couple  made  ofl'.  This  was  rather  rude,  but 
effective   ]  urisprudence. 

"  Dr.  Kdward  Tiffin  and  .Mr.  Tlinnia<  Wortli- 
ington.of  Berkley  County. \' a.,  were  brothers-in-law, 
and  being  moved  by  abolition  principles,  liberated 
their  slaves,  intending  to  remove  into  the  Ter- 
ritory. For  this  purpose.  .Mr.  M'lirthington  visited 
ChilHcothe  in  the  autumn  of  17117,  and  iiurchiUM-d 
several  in  and  out  lots  of  the  town.  On  one  of  the 
former,  he  erected  a  two-story  frame  house,  the 
first  of  the  kind  in  the  village.  On  his  return, 
having  purcha.sed  a  part  of  a  farm,  on  which  his 
family  long  afterward  resided,  and  another  at  the 
north  fork  of  Paint  Creek,  he  contracted  with  Mr. 
Joseph  Yates,  a  millwright,  and  Mr.  George  Haines, 
a  blacksmith,  to  come  out  with  him  the  following 
winter  or  spring,  and  erect  for  him  a  grist  and  saw 
mill  on  his  north-fork  tract.  The  summer,  fall 
and  following  winter  of  that  year  were  marked  by 
a  rush  of  emigration,  which  spead  over  the  high 
bank  prairie.  Pea-pea,  Westfidl  and  a  few  miles 
up  Paint  and  Deer  Creeks. 

"  Nearly  all  the  first  settlers  were  either  regular 
members,  or  had  been  raised  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Toward  the  fall  of  1797,  the  leaven  of 
piety  retained  by  a  portion  of  the  first  settlers  be- 
gan to  diffuse  itself  through  the  mass,  and  a  large 
log  meeting-house  was  erected  near  the  old  grave- 
yard, and  llev.  William  Speer,  from  Pennsylvania, 
took  cliarge.  The  sleepers  at  first  served  ;is  .seats  for 
hearers,  and  a  split-log  table  was  used  its  a  jiulpit. 
Mr.  Speer  was  a  gentlemanly,  moral  man,  tall  and 
cadaverous  in  person,  and  wore  the  cocked  hat  of 
the  Revolutionary  era. 

'•Thomas  Jones  arrived  in  February,  1798, 
bringing  with  him  the  first  load  of  bar-iron  in  the 
Scioto  Vallev,  and  about  the  same  time  Maj.  Elias 
Langham,  an  officer  of  the  Revolution,  arrived.  Dr. 
Tiffin,  and  his  brother.  Jo.seph,  arrived  the  same 
month  fi'om  Virginia  and  opened  a  store  not  far 
from  the  log  meeting-house.  A  store  bad  been 
openi'il  previously  by  J(phn  McDougal.  The  17th 
of  .Vprii.  the  families  of  Col.  Wortliington  an<l 
Dr.  Tiffin  arrived,  at  which  time  the  first  marria;;e 
in  the  Scioto  A'^alley  was  celebrated.  The  parties 
were  Georire  Kilirore  and  Klizabeth  Cochran.    The 


ponies  of  the  attendants  were  hitched  to  tlu^  trees 
along  the  streets,  which  were  not  then  cleared  out, 
nearly  the  whole  town  being  a  wilderness.  Josepli 
Yates,  (icorge  Ilaincs,  and  two  or  three  others, 
arrived  with  tlu'  families  of  Tiffin  and  Worthing- 
ton.  On  their  arrival  there  were  but  four  shingled 
roofs  in  town,  <in  oni'  of  which  the  shingl(« 
were  fastened  with  pegs.  Col.  Worthington's 
house  was  the  only  one  having glas«  windows.  The 
sash  of  the  hotel  windows  was  filled  with  greased 
pa])er. 

"  Col.  Worthington  was  appointed  by  Gen.  Ru- 
fus  Putnam,  Surveyor  (reneral  of  the  Northwest 
Territory,  surveyor  of  a  large  district  of  CongTess 
lands,  on  the  c;i.st  side  of  the  Scioto,  and  Maj. 
Langham  and  a  Mr.  Matthews,  were  apjiointed  to 
.survey  the  residue  of  the  lands  whiih  afurward 
composed  the  Chillicotlu?  land  district. 

"The  same  .season,  settlements  were  made  about 
the  Walnut  Plains  by  Samuel  McCulloh  and 
others;  Springer,  Osbourn,  Dyer,  and  Thomas  and 
Hiijah  Cheiiowith,  on  Darly  Creek ;  Lamberts  and 
others  on  Sippo;  on  Fost<'r's  Bottom,  the  Fosters, 
Samuel  Davis  and  others,  while  the  following  fam- 
ilies .settled  in  atul  about  Chillieollie:  .iohn  Cnmse, 
William  Keys,  William  Lamb,  John  Carlisle,  John 
McLanberg,  William  Chandless,  the  Stoctons, 
Greggs,  Bates  and  somi;  others. 

'•  Dr.  Tiffin  and  his  wife  were  the  first  Metho- 
dist.-i  in  the  Sciotii  ^'alley.  He  was  a  local  preacher. 
Li  the  fall,  Worthington's  gTi.st  and  saw  mills  on 
the  north  fork  of  Paint  Creek  were  fini.shed,  the 
first  mills  worthy  tlie  name  in  the  valley. 

"ChilHcothe  was  the  point  from  which  the  set- 
tlements diverged.  Li  May,  17!'!t,  a  post  ofiice 
was  established  here,  and  Joseph  Tiffin  made  Post- 
master. Mr,  Tiffin  and  Thomas  Gregg  opened 
taverns;  the  first,  under  tlu;  sign  of  Gen.  Antlnmy 
Wayne,  was  at  the  corner  of  Water  and  Walnut 
streets;  and  the  last,  under  the  sign  of  the  'Green 
Tree,'  was  on  the  corner  ol'  Paint  and  Water 
streets.  In  1801,  Nathaniel  Willis  moved  in  and 
established  the  Scioto  Gazette,  probably,  the  sec- 
ond paper  in  the  Territory,"* 

In  1800,  the  ,';eat  of  government  of  tlie  North- 
west Territory  was  removed,  by  law  of  Congress, 
from  Cincinnati  to  Chillicothe.  The  .ses,sions  of 
the  Territorial  A,sseinbly  for  that  and  the  next 
vcar  were  held  in  a  small  two-story,  hewed-log 
house,  erected  in  1798,  by  Bazil  Abrams.  A  wing 
was  added   to   the  main    [lart,  of    two  stories    in 

•  RcrollertionB  of  Hon.  Thomas  Scott,  of  CbillicoUie— Howe's 


lOG 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


height.  Ill  the  lower  room  of  this  wing,  Col. 
Thomas  Gibsou,  Auditor  of  the  Territory,  kept 
hi.s  offii^e,  aud  in  the  upper  room  a  small  fiiniily 
lived.  In  the  upper  room  of  the  main  building 
a  billiard  table  \v;w  kept.  It  was  also  made  a  re- 
sort of  gamblens  and  disreputable  characters.  The 
lower  room  was  used  by  the  Legislature,  and  as  a 
court  room,  a  church  or  a  school.  In  the 
war  of  1812,  the  building  was  a  rendezvous  and 
barracks  for  soldiers,  and,  in  1840,  was  pulled 
down. 

Tlie  old  State  House  was  commenced  in  1800, 
and  finished  the  next  year  for  the  accommodatiim 
of  tlie  Legislature  and  the  courts.  It  is  said  to 
be  the  first  public  stone  edifice  erected  in  the  Ter- 
ritory. .Maj.  William  Kutledge,  a  llevolutionary 
soldier,  did  the  mason  work,  and  William  Guthrie, 
the  carpenter.  In  1801,  the  Territorial  Legislature 
held  their  first  se.ssion  in  it.  In  it  was  also  held 
the  Ci  institutional  Convention  of  Ohio,  which  be- 
gan its  sessions  the  first  Monday  in  November, 
1802.  In  March,  lb03,  the  first  State  Legislature 
met  in  the  house,  and  continued  their  sessions  here 
until  1810.  The  sessions  of  1810-11,  and  1811- 
12,  were  held  in  Zauesville,  and  from  there  re- 
moved back  to  Chillicothe  and  held  in  the  old 
State  IIousj  till  1 81 C,  when  Columbus  became  the 
permanent  capital  of  the  State. 

ftlaking  Chillicothe  the  State  capital  did  much 
to  enhance  its  growth.  It  was  incorporated  in 
1802,  aud  a  town  council  elected.  In  1807,  the 
town  had  fourteen  stores,  six  hotels,  two  newspa- 
pers, two  churches — both  brick  buildings — and 
over  two  hundred  dwellings.  The  removal  of  the 
capital  to  Columbus  checked  its  growth  a  little,  still, 
being  in  an  excellent  country,  rajiidly  tilling  with 
settlers,  the  town  has  always  remained  a  prominent 
trading  center. 

During  the  war  of  1812,  Chillicothe  was  made 
a  rendezvous  for  United  States  soldiers,  and  a 
prison  established,  in  which  many  British  prison- 
ers were  confined.  At  one  time,  a  conspiracy  for 
escape  was  di.scovered  just  in  time  to  prevent  it. 
The  plan  was  for  the  prisoners  to  disarm  the 
guard,  proceed  to  jail,  release  the  officers,  burn  the 
town,  and  escape  to  Canada.  The  plot  was  fortu- 
nately disclosed  by  two  senior  British  officers,  upon 
which,  as  a  measure  of  security,  tlie  officers  and 
chief  conspirators  were  sent  to  the  penitentiary 
at  Frankfort,  Kentucky. 

Two  or  three  miles  northwest  of  Chillicothe,  on 
a  beautiful  elevation,  commanding  an  extensive 
view  of  the  valley  of  the  Scioto,  Thomas  Worth- 


ington,*  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  influential 
men  of  his  day,  afterward  Governor  of  the  State, 
in  1806,  erected  a  large  stone  mansion,  the  wonder 
of  the  valley  in  its  time.  It  was  the  most  elegant 
mansion  in  the  West,  crowds  coming  to  see  it 
when  it  was  completed.  Gov.  Worthiugton  named 
the  place  Adena,  "  Paradise  " — a  name  not  then 
considered  hyperbolical.  The  large  panes  of  glass, 
and  the  novelty  of  papered  walls  especially  attracted 
attention.  Its  architect  was  the  elder  Latrobe,  of 
Wasliington  City,  from  which  place  most  of  the 
workmen  came.  The  glass  was  made  in  Pitts- 
burgh, and  the  fireplace  fronts  in  Philadelphia,  the 
latter  costing  seven  dollars  per  hundred  pounds  for 
transportation.  The  mansion,  built  as  it  was,  cost 
nearly  double  the  expense  of  such  structures  now. 
Adena  was  the  home  of  the  Governor  till  his  deatli, 
in  1827. 

Near  Adena,  in  a  beautiful  situation,  is  Fruit 
Hill,  the  seat  of  Gen.  Duncan  McArtliur,|  and 
later  of  ex-(lo v.  William  Allen.  Like  Adena,  Fruit 
Hill  is  one  of  the  noted  places  in  the  Scioto  Val- 
ley. Many  of  Ohio's  best  men  dwelt  in  the  valley ; 
men  who  have  been  an  honor  and  ornament  to  the 
State  and  nation. 

Another  settlement,  begun  soon  af^cr  the  treaty 
of  peace  in  1705,  was  that  made  on  the  Licking 
Bivcr,  about  four  miles  below  the  present  city  of 
Newark,  in  Licking  County.  In  the  fall  of  1798, 
John  Ratlifi"  ami  Elias  Hughes,  while  prospecting 
on  this  stream,  found  some  old  Indian  cornfields, 
and  determined  to  locate.  They  were  from  West- 
ern Virginia,  and  were  true  pioneers,  living  mainly 
by  hunting,  leaving  the  cultivation  of  their  small 
cornfields  to  their  wives,  much  after  the  style  of 

*  Gov.  W'ortbington  was  born  in  Jefferson  County,  Va  ,  about  the 
year  1769.  He  setlleit  in  Obioin  17'J8.  lie  was  a  firm  believer  in 
liberty  and  came  to  the  Territory  after  liberating  bio  slaves.  He  wm 
oti6  of  the  niiisi  efficient  men  of  bis  day  ;  was  a  member  of  tlio 
ConstitutiniKiU'nnvHuiion,  and  was  sent  on  an  important  mission 
toCon^^ti-  i>l:i;-.  I.  the  admiesiun  of  Ohio  to  the  Union.  Ho 
was  afi  III  Jr  to  Congress,  and  then  Governor.    On 

tbeexi'iii;  '  I  h,  I '•-■riiatoriai  terra,  be  was  appointed  a  men\- 
berof  111  ■  I.  i-.l  I  I  iilic  Works.in  wliiehcapacity  lie  did  mui:h 
to  advame  tlie  canals  aTid  ra  I  roads,  and  otlier  public  improve- 
ments.   He  remained  in  this  office  till  his  death. 

tGen.  Mc.irlhur  w.as  born  in  Dnlchess  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1772. 
When  tight  jeara  of  age,  his  father  removed  to  Western  Pennsyl- 
vaiiia.  When  eighteen  years  of  age,  he  served  in  Harmar'a 
campaign.  In  1792,  he  was  a  very  eflRci-ntsoldier  aniungtbe  front- 
iersmen, and  gained  their  approbation  by  bis  bravery.  In  1793,  he 
was  connected  with  Gen.  Massie,  and  afierwaid  was  engaged  in 
land  speculations  and  became  very  weallliy.  He  was  made  n  mem- 
ber of  the  Legislature,  in  1S05;  in  ISUO,  a  Colonel,  and  in  ISI18,  a 
Majc.rGaneral  of  the  militia.  In  this  capacity  he  was  in  Hull's 
surrender  at  Detroit.  On  his  return  ho  was  elected  to  Congress, 
and  in  1S13  commissioned  Brigadier  General.  He  was  one  of  the 
most  efficient  olTicers  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  held  many  important 
posts.  After  the  war,  lie  was  again  sent  to  the  Legislature  ;  in  1822 
to  Congress,  and  in  1830  elected  G..vernor  of  the  State.  By  an  un- 
fortunate accident  in  183(!.  he  was  maimed  for  life,  and  gradually 
declined  till  death  came  a  few  years  after. 


HISTORY   OF   OHIO. 


107 


their  dusky  neighbors.  They  were  botli  inveterate 
Indian  haters,  and  never  allowed  an  oj)portuuity  to 
piiss  without  carrying  out  tluir  hatred.  For  this, 
tliey  were  apprehended  after  the  treaty;  but, 
though  it  was  clearly  proven  they  had  murdered 
some  inoffensive  Indians,  the  state  of  feeling  was 
such  that  they  were  allowed  to  go  unpunished. 

A  short  time  after  their  settlement,  others  joined 
them,  and,  in  a  few  years,  tpiite  a  colony  had 
gathered  on  the  banks  of  the  Licking.  In  1802, 
Newark  was  laid  out,  and,  in  three  or  four  ye;irs, 
there  were  twenty  or  thirty  families,  several  stores 
and  one  or  two  hotels. 

The  settlement  of  Granviile  Township,  in  this 
county,  is  rather  an  important  epoch  in  the  history' 
of  this  part  of  the  State.  From  a  sketch  pub- 
lished by  Rev.  Jacob  Little  in  LS48,  in  Howe's 
Collections,  the  subjoined  statements  are  taken: 

"In  1804,  a  company  was  formed  at  Granville, 
Mass.,  with  the  intention  of  making  a  settlement 
in  Ohio.  This,  called  the  Scio/o  Compdiii/,  was 
the  third  of  that  name  which  effected  settlements 
in  Ohio.  The  project  met  with  great  favor,  and 
mui'h  enthusiasm  was  elicited,  in  illustration  of 
which  a  .song  was  composed  and  sung  to  the 
tune  of  '  Pleiusant  Ohio '  by  the  young  people  in 
the  house  and  at  labor  in  the  field.  We  annex 
two  stanzas,  which  are  more  curious  than  poetical: 

"'When  rambling  o'er  these  mountains 

.\nd  rocks  where  ivies  grow 
Thick  as  the  hairs  upon  your  head, 

'Mongst  which  you  cannot  go — 
Great  storms  of   snow,    cold  wmds  that  blow, 

We  scarce  can  undergo — 
Says  I,  my  boys,  we'll  leave  this  place 

For  the  pleasant  Ohio. 

"'Our  precious  friends  that  stay  behind, 

We're  sorry  now  to  leave; 
But  if  they'll  stay  and  break  their  shins, 

For  them  we'll  never  grieve 
Adieu,  my  friends  I — Come  on,  my  dears, 

This  journey   we'll  forego, 
And  settle  Licking  Creek, 

In  yonder  Ohio.'  " 

"  The  Scioto  Company  consisted  of  one  hundred 
and  fourteen  proprietors,  who  made  a  purcha.se  of 
twenty-eight  thousand  acres.  In  the  autumn  of 
1805,  two  iiundred  and  thirty-four  persons,  mustly 
from  East  Granville,  M;iss.,  came  on  to  the  pur- 
chase. Although  they  had  been  forty-two  days  on 
the  road,  their  first  bu.sinc.ss,  on  their  arrival,  hav- 
ing organized  a  church  before  they  left  the  East, 
was  to  hear  a  sermon.     The  first  tree  cut  was  that 


by  which  public  worship  w;us  held,  which  stood 
just  in  front  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

On  the  first  Sabbath,  November  Itj,  although 
only  about  a  dozen  trees  had  been  felled,  they  held 
divine  service,  both  forcmoon  and  afternoon,  on 
that  spot.  The  novelty  of  worshiping  in  the 
woods,  the  forest  extending  hundreds  of  miles  each 
way;  the  hard.ships  of  the  journey,  the  winter  set- 
ting in,  the  thoughts  of  home,  with  all  the  friends 
and  privileges  left  behind,  and  the  impression  that 
such  must  be  the  accommodations  of  anew  country, 
all  rushed  on  their  minds,  and  made  this  a  day  of 
varied  ilitercst.  When  they  began  to  sing,  the 
echo  of  their  voices  among  the  trees  was  so  differ- 
ent from  what  it  was  in  the  beautiful  meeting- 
house tliey  had  left,  that  they  could  no  longer 
restrain  tluiir  tears.  T/iej/  uijit  ichintheij  remem- 
hrrtd  Z!<in.  The  voices  of  (lart  of  the  choir  were, 
for  a  sea.son,  sujipressed  with  emotion. 

'■An  incident  occurred,  which  many  said  Mrs. 
Sigourncy  should  have  put  into  verse.  Deacon 
Theophilus  Ree.se,  a  Welsh  Baptist,  had,  two  or 
three  years  i)efore,  built  a  cabin,  a  mile  and  a  half 
north,  and  lived  all  this  time  without  public  wor- 
ship. He  had  lost  his  cattle,  and,  hearing  a  low- 
ing of  the  oxen  belonging  to  the  Company,  .set  out 
toward  them.  As  he  ascended  the  hills  overlook- 
ing the  town  plot,  he  heard  the  singing  of  the 
choir.  The  reverberation  of  the  sound  from  hill- 
tops and  trees,  threw  the  good  man  into  a  serious 
dilemma.  The  music  at  first  seemed  to  be  behind, 
then  in  the  tree-tops,  or  in  the  clouds.  He  stopped, 
till,  by  accurate  listening,  he  caught  the  direction 
of  the  sound ;  wcnit  on  and  pa.ssing  the  brow  of 
the  hill,  he  saw  the  audience  sitting  on  the 
level  below.  He  went  home  and  told  his  wife  that 
'  the  promise  of  God  is  a  bond  ' ;  a  Welsh  proverb, 
signifying  that  we  have  security,  equal  to  a  bond, 
that  religion  will  prevail  everywhere.  He  said : 
'  These  must  be  good  peoj)le.  I  am  not  afi'aid  to 
go  among  them.'  Though  he  could  not  under- 
stand English,  he  ci instantly  attended  the  reading 
meeting.  Hearing  the  music  on  that  occasion 
made  such  an  impicssiun  on  his  mind  that,  when 
he  became  old  and  met  the  first  settlers,  he  would 
always  tell  over  this  story.  The  first  cabin  built 
was  that  in  which  they  worshiped  succeeding 
Sabbaths,  and,  before  the  clo.se  of  the  winter,  they 
had  a  schoolhouse  and  a  school.  That  church,  in 
forty  j-ears,  received  more  than  one  thousand  per- 
sons into  its  membership. 

"Elder  Jones,  in  180(5,  preached  the  first  ser- 
mon  in    the    log   church.     The    Welsh     Baptist 


108 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


Churcli  was  organized  in  the  cabin  of  David 
Thomas,  September  4,  1808.  April  21,  1827, 
the  (iranville  members  were  organized  into  the 
(Jranville  Cluireli,  and  the  corner-stone  of  their 
house  of  worship  hiid  September  21,  1829.  In 
the  fall  of  1810,  the  first  Methodist  sermon  was 
preached  here,  and,  soon  after,  a  class  organized. 
In  1824,  a  church  was  built.  An  Episcopal 
church  was  organized  in  May,  1827,  and  a 
church  consecrated  in  1838.  In  1840,  there 
were  in  this  township  405  families,  of  whom  214 
sustain  family  worship ;  1431  persons  over  four- 
teen years  of  age,  of  whom  over  800  belong  to 
church.  The  town  had  1 50  families,  of  whom  80 
have  family  worship.  In  1846,  the  township 
furnished  70  school  teachers,  of  whom  62  prayed 
in  .school.  In  1840,  the  township  took  621  peri- 
odical papers,  besides  three  small  monthlies.  The 
first  temperance  society  west  of  the  mountains  was 
organized  July  15,  1828,  in  this  township;  and, 
in  1831,  the  Congregational  Church  passed  a  by- 
law to  accept  no  member  who  trafficked  in  or  used 
ardent  .spirits." 

It  is  .said,  not  a  settlement  in  the  entire  West 
could  present  so  moral  and  upright  a  view  as  that 
of  Granville  Township;  and  nowhere  could  so 
perfect  and  orderly  a  set  of  people  be  found. 
Surely,  the  fact  is  argument  enough  in  flivor  of 
the  religion  of  Jesus. 

The  narrative  of  Mr.  Little  also  states  that, 
when  (xranville  was  first  settled,  it  was  supposed 
that  Vforthington  would  be  the  capital  of  Ohio, 
between  which  and  Zanesville,  Granville  would 
make  a  great  half-way  town.  At  this  time,  wild 
animals,  snakes  and  Indians  abounded,  and  many 
are  the  marvelous  stories  preserved  regarding  the 
destruction  of  the  animals  and  reptiles  —  the 
Indians  being  bound  by  their  treaty  to  remain 
peaceful.  Space  forbids  their  repetition  here. 
Suffice  it  to  say  that,  as  the  whites  increased,  the 
Indians,  animals  and  snakes  disappeared,  until 
now  one  is  as  :nuch  a  curiosity  as  the  other. 

The  remaining  settlement  in  the  southwest- 
ern parts  of  Ohio,  made  immediately  afler  the 
treaty — fall  of  1795  or  year  of  1790 — was  in 
what  is  now  Madison  County,  about  a  mile  north 
of  where  the  village  of  Amity  now  stands,  on  the 
banks  of  the  Big  Darby.  This  stream  received  its 
name  from  the  Indians,  from  a  Wyandot  chief, 
named  Darliy,  who  for  a  long  time  resided  upon  it, 
near  the  Union  County  line.  In  the  fall  of  1795, 
Benjamin  Springer  came  from  Kentucky  and  selected 
some  land  on  the  banks  of  the  Big  Darby,  cleared 


the  ground,  built  a  cabin,  and  returned  for  his 
family.  The  next  spring,  he  brought  them  out, 
and  began  his  life  here.  The  same  summer  he  was 
joined  by  William  Lapin,  Joshua  and  James  Ew- 
ing  and  one  or  two  others. 

When  Springer  came,  he  found  a  white  man 
named  Jonathan  Alder,  who  for  fifteen  years  had 
been  a  captive  among  the  Indians,  and  who  could 
not  speak  a  word  of  English,  living  with  an  Indian 
woman  on  the  banks  of  Big  Darby.  He  had  been 
exchanged  at  Wayne's  treaty,  and,  neglecting  to 
profit  by  the  treaty,  was  still  living  in  the  Indian 
style.  When  the  whites  became  numerous  abnut 
him  his  desire  to  find  his  relatives,  and  adopt  the 
ways  of  the  whites,  led  him  to  discard  his  squaw — 
giving  her  an  unusual  allowance — learn  the  English 
language,  engage  in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  be- 
come again  civilized.  Fortunately,  he  could  remem- 
ber enough  of  the  names  of  some  of  his  parents' 
neighbors,  so  that  the  identity  of  his  relatives  and 
friends  was  easil}'  established,  and  Alder  became  a 
most  u.seful  citizen.  He  Wiis  very  influential  with 
the  Indians,  and  induced  many  of  them  t^i  remain 
neutral  during  the  war  of  1812.  It  is  stated  that 
in  1800,  Mr.  Ewing  brought  four  .sheep  intd  the  com- 
munity. They  were  strange  animals  tuthe  Indians. 
One  day  when  an  Indian  hunter  and  his  dog  were 
passing,  the  latter  caught  a  sheep,  and  was  shot  by 
Mr.  Ewing.  The  Indian  would  havi;  shot  Ewing  in 
retaliation,  had  not  Alder,  who'  was  fortunately 
present,  with  much  difficulty  prevailed  upon  him 
to  rt'frain. 

While  the  southern  and  southwestern  pai'ts  of 
the  State  were  filling  with  settlers,  assured  of  safety 
by  Wayne's  victories,  the  northern  and  eastern 
jiarts  became  likewise  the  theater  of  activities. 
Ever  since  the  French  had  explored  the  southern 
shores  of  the  lake,  and  English  traders  had  car- 
ried goods  thither,  it  was  expected  one  day  to  be 
a  valuable  part  of  the  West.  It  will  be  remem- 
bered that  Connecticut  had  ceded  a  large  tract  of 
land  to  the  General  Government,  and  as  soon  as 
the  cession  was  confirmed,  and  land  titles  became 
assured,  settlers  flocked  thither.  Even  before  that 
time,  hardy  adventurers  had  explored  some  of  (he 
country,  and  iirunouiiccd  it  a  "goodly  land,'' 
ready  for  the  hand  of  enterprise. 

The  first  settlement  in  the  Western  Reserve, 
and,  indeed,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  State,  was 
made  at  the  mouth  of  Conneaut*  Creek,  in  Ash- 
tabula County,  on  the  4th  of  July,  1796.     That 

*  Conneaut,  in  tbe  Senoca  language,  eignifics  "  many  fish." 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


109 


(lav.  the  first  surveyiiv.;  juirty  lamlcil  at  tlic!  mouth 
of  tills  CRi'k,  and,  (ii  iis  i'a.sl<-'iu  bank,  iioar  tho 
hike  shore,  in  tin  cups,  pledged — as  the}-  drank  the 
limpid  waters  of  the  lake — their  country's  welfare, 
with  the  ordnance  accompaniment  of  two  or  three 
fowling-pieces,  discharging  the  recjuired  national 
salute. 

The  whole  party,  on  this  occasion,  iniinbered 
fifty-two  persons,  of  whom  two  were  i'cnialcs  (Mrs. 
Stiles  and  Mr.s.  Gunn)  and  a  child,  and  all  deserve 
a  la.sting  place  in  the  history  of  the  State. 

The  next  day,  they  began  the  erection  of  a  large 
log  huilding  on  the  sainly  beach  on  the  ca.st  .side 
of  the  stream.  When  done,  it  was  named  "  Stow 
Ciistle,"  after  one  of  the  party.  It  was  the  dwell- 
ing, storehouse  and  general  habitation  of  all  the 
pioneers.  The  party  made  this  their  head<|uar- 
ters  part  of  the  summer,  and  continued  busily 
engaged  in  the  sun'cy'of  the  Ileserve.  James 
Kingsbury,  afterward  Judge,  anived  soon  after 
the  party  began  work,  and,  with  his  family,  was 
the  first  to  remain  here  during  the  winter  follow- 
ing, the  rest  returning  to  the  Ka.st.  or  going  .south- 
ward. Through  the  winter,  Mr.  Kingsbury's 
family  suff'ered  greatly  for  provisions,  so  much  so, 
that,  during  the  absence  of  the  head  of  the  family 
in  New  York  for  provisions,  one  child,  born  in  his 
absence,  died,  and  the  mother,  reduced  by  her  suf- 
ferings and  solitude,  was  only  saved  by  the  timely 
arrival  of  the  hu.sband  and  father  with  a  sack  of 
flour  he  had  carried,  many  weary  miles,  on  liis 
back.  Ho  remained  here  but  a  short  time,  re- 
moving to  Cleveland,  which  was  laid  out  that  same 
fall.  In  the  .spring  of  17!)S,  .\le.\ander  llarjier, 
William  McFarland  and  Ezra  Gregory,  with  thoir 
families,  started  from  IIarpersfi<>ld,  Dt^laware  Co., 
N.  Y.,  and  arrived  the  la.st  of  June,  at  their  new 
homes  in  the  Far  West.  The  whole  ])opulati(in  on 
the  Reserve  then  amounted  to  le.ss  than  on(^  hun- 
dred and  fiftj'  persons.  These  were  at  Cleveland, 
Youngstown  and  at  Mentor  During  the  summer, 
three  families  came  to  Burton,  and  Judge  llud.son 
settled  at  Hudson.  All  these  ]noneers  suffered 
severely  for  food,  and  from  the  icver  induced  by 
chills.  It  took  several  years  to  become  accli- 
mated. Sometimes  the  entire  neighborhood 
would  be  down,  and  only  one  or  two,  who  could 
wait  on  the  rest  "between  chills,"  were  able  to  do 
anything.     Time  and  courage  overcame,  final!}'. 

It  was  not  until  1798,  that  a  piermanent  .settle- 
ment was  made  at  the  mouth  of  Conneaut  Creek. 
Those  who  came  there  in  179(5  went  on  with  their 
surveys,  part  remaining  in  Cleveland,  laid  out  that 


summer.  Judge  Kingsbury  could  n(it  ri'niain  at 
Conneaut,  and  went  nearer  the  settU'Uieiits  made 
about  the  Cuyahoga.  In  thesjiring  of  17'.)S,  TlKjmas 
Montgomery  and  Aaron  Wright  .settled  here  an<l 
remained.  Up  the  stream  they  tiiund  some  thirty 
Indian  cabins,  or  huts,  in  a  good  .state  of  jii-cserva- 
tion,  which  they  occupied  until  they  c(juld  erect 
their  own.  Soon  after,  they  were  joined  by  others, 
and,  in  a  year  or  two,  the  .settlement  was  permanent 
and  pro.sperous. 

The  site  of  the  present  town  of  Au.stinburg  in 
A.shtabula   County   was  settled   in  the  year  1799, 
by  two  families   ii-oin   Connecticut,  who  were  in- 
duced to  come   thither,  by   Judge   Austin.     The 
Judge   preceded  them  a   short  time,  driving,   in 
1  company  with  a  hired  man.  some  cattle  about  one 
'  hundred  and  fifty  miles  through  the  woods,  follow- 
'  ing  an  old  Indian  trail,  while  the  rest  of  the  party 
came  in   a  boat  across  the  lake.     When  they  ar- 
rived, there  were   a  few-  families  at  Harpcrsburg; 
one    or   two    famihcs   at    Wind.sor,  twenty   miles 
southwest;  also  a  few  familicis  at  Elk  Creek,  forty 
miles  northeast,  and  at  \'ernon,  the  .same   distance 
!  southeast.     All  thc-se  were  in  a  destitute  condition 
for  provisions.     In    1800,  another   family  moved 
j  from  Norfolk,  Conn.     In  the  spring  of  1801,  sev- 
eral families  came  from  the  .same  place.    Part  came 
by  land,  and  part  by  water.     During  that   season, 
wheat  was  carried  to  an  old   mill   on   Elk  Creek, 
forty  miles  away,  and  in  some  instances,  half  was 
given  for  carrying  it  to  mill  and  returning  it  in 
flour. 
i       Wednesday.  October  21.  18(1],  a  church  of  six- 
;  teen    members   Wiis    constituted    in    Austinburg. 
This  was  the  first  church  on  the  Reserve,  and  was 
founded  ))y  Rev.  Joseph  Badger,  the  first  mission- 
ary there.      It   is   a   fact    worthy   of  note,  that   in 
1802.  Mr.  Badger   moved  his  family  from  Ijuffalo 
I  to  this  town,  in  the   first   wagon  that  ever  came 
from  that  place  to  the   Reserve.     In    180.S,  noted 
revivals  occurred  in  this  part  of  the  West,  attended 
by  the  peculiar  bodily  phenomenon   known  as  the 
"  shakes  "  or  "jerks." 

The  surveying  party  which  landed  at  the  mouth 
of  Conneaut  Creek,  July  4,  179(J,  .soon  completed 
their  labors  in  this  part  of  the  Reserve,  and  ex- 
tended them  westward.  By  the  first  of  September, 
they  had  explored  the  lake  coast  as  far  west  as  the 
outlet  of   the   Cuyahoga*  River,   then    considered 

•Cuyahoga,  in  tlio  Indian  languOBP,  siglilfiis  "crooliod."— 
//oire"«  0'ltfction$. 

•Tlioln.liiinBCillcd  llie  rivor  'Cn.v«h"(!linn-iili,'  'Lalio  River' 
It  i?,  cmpli  tlicillv.  fi  T^ice  riv^r.  It  rises  ia  lalces  and  emptiea  into 
H  lake."— .Kico/e-'sr  Hi  li'rij  0/  Ohio. 


^1 


110 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


by  all  an  important  Western  place,  and  one  des- 
tined to  be  a  great  commercial  mart.  Time  has 
verified  the  projihecies,  as  now  the  city  of  Cleve- 
land covers  the  site. 

As  early  as  1755,  the  mouth  of  the  Cuyahoga 
River  was  laid  down  on  the  maps,  and  the  French 
had  a  station  here.  It  was  also  considered  an  im- 
portant post  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution, 
and  later,  of  1812.  The  British,  who,  after  the 
Revolution,  refused  to  abandon  the  lake  country 
west  of  the  Cuyahoga,  occupied  its  .shores  until 
1790.  Their  traders  had  a  house  in  Ohio  City, 
north  of  the  Detroit  road,  on  the  point  of  the  hill 
near  the  river,  when  the  surveyors  arrived  in 
1796.  Washington,  Jefferson,  and  all  statesmen 
of  that  day,  regarded  the  outlet  of  the  Cuyahoga 
as  an  important  place,  and  hence  the  early  at- 
tempt of  the  surveyors  to  reach  and  lay  out  a  town 
here. 

The  corps  of  surveyors  arrived  early  in  Septem- 
ber, 1796,  and  at  once  proceeded  to  lay  out  a  town. 
It  was  named  Cleveliind,  in  honor  of  Gen.  Moses 
Cleveland,  the  Land  Company's  agent,  and  for 
years  a  very  prominent  man  in  Connecticut,  where 
he  lived  and  died.  By  the  18th  of  October,  the 
surveyors  had  completed  the  survey  and  left  the 
place,  leaving  only  Job  V.  Stiles  and  family,  and 
Edward  Paine,  who  were  the  only  persons  that 
passed  the  succeeding  winter  in  this  place.  Their 
residence  was  a  log  cabin  that  stood  on  a  spot  of 
ground  long  afterward  occupied  by  the  Commercial 
Bank.  Their  nearest  neighbors  were  at  Conne- 
aut,  where  Judge  Kingsbury  lived;  at  Fort 
Mcintosh,  on  the  south  or  east,  at  the  mouth  of 
Big  Beaver,  and  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  Raisin, 
on  the  west. 

The  next  seas(.)n,  the  surveying  party  came  again 
to  Cleveland,  which  they  made  their  headquarters. 
Early  in  the  spring,  Judge  Kingsbury  came  over 
from  Conneaut,  bringing  with  him  Elijah  Gunn, 
who  had  a  short  time  before  joined  him.  Soon 
after,  Maj.  Lorenzo  Carter  and  Ezekiel  Hawley 
came  with  their  families.  These  were  about  all 
who  are  known  to  have  settled  in  this  place  that 
summer.  The  next  year,  1798,  Rodolphus  Ed- 
wards and  Nathaniel  Doane  and  their  families  set- 
tled in  Cleveland.  Mr.  Doane  had  been  ninety- 
two  days  on  his  journey  from  Chatham,  Conn.  In 
the  latter  part  of  the  summer  and  fidl,  nearly  every 
person  in  the  settlement  was  down  with  the  bil- 
ious fever  or  with  the  ague.  Mr.  Doane's  family 
consisted  of  nine  persons,  of  whom  Seth,  a  lad  six- 
teen years  of  age,  was  the  onlyone  able  to  care  for 


them.  Such  was  the  severity  of  the  fever,  that 
any  one  having  only  the  ague  was  deemed  quite 
fortunate.  ]\Iueh  suifering  for  proper  food  and 
medicines  followed.  The  only  way  the  Doane 
family  was  supplied  for  two  months  or  more,  was 
through  the  exertions  of  this  boy,  who  went  daily, 
after  having  had  one  attack  of  the  chills,  to  Judge 
Kingsbury's  in  Newburg — five  miles  away,  where 
the  Judge  now  lived — got  a  peck  of  corn,  mashed  it 
in  a  hand-mill,  waited  until  a  second  attack  of  the 
chills  passed  over,  and  then  returned.  At  one  time, 
for  several  days,  he  was  too  ill  to  make  the  trip, 
during  which  turnips  comprised  the  chief  article 
of  diet.  Fortunately,  Maj.  Carter,  having  only 
the  ague,  was  enabled  with  his  trusty  rifle  and  dogs 
to  procure  an  abundance  of  venison  and  other  wild 
game,  His  fiimily,  being  somewhat  acclimated, 
suffered  less  than  many  others.  Their  situation  can 
hardly  now  be  realized.  "  Destitute  of  a  physician, 
and  with  few  medicines,  necessity  taught  them  to 
use  such  means  as  nature  had  placed  within  their 
reach.  They  substituted  pills  fi'om  the  extract  of 
the  bitternut  bark  for  calomel,  and  dogwood  and 
cherry  bark  for  quinine." 

In  November,  four  men,  who  had  so  far  recov- 
ered as  to  have  ague  attacks  no  oftener  than  once 
in  two  or  three  days,  started  in  the  only  boat  for 
Walnut  Creek,  Penn.,  to  obtain  a  winter's  supply 
of  flour.  When  below  Euclid  Creek,  a  storm 
drove  them  ashore,  broke  their  boat,  and  compelled 
their  return.  During  the  winter  and  summer  fol- 
lowing, the  settlers  had  no  flour,  except  that 
ground  in  hand  and  coffee  mills,  which  was,  how- 
ever, considered  very  good.  Not  all  had  even  that. 
During  the  summer,  the  Connecticut  Land  Com- 
pany opened  the  first  road  on  the  Reserve,  which 
commenced  about  ten  miles  south  of  the  lake 
shore,  on  the  Pennsylvania  State  line,  and  extended 
to  Cleveland.  In  January,  1799,  3Ir.  Doane 
moved  to  Doane's  Corners,  leaving  only  IMaj.  Car- 
ter's family  in  Cleveland,  all  the  rest  leaving  as 
soon  as  they  were  well  enough.  For  fifteen  months, 
the  Major  and  his  family  were  the  only  white  per- 
sons left  on  the  town  site.  During  the  spring, 
Wheeler  W.  Williams  and  Maj.  Wyatt  built  the 
first  grist-mill  on  the  Reserve,  on  the  site  of  New- 
burg. It  was  looked  ujjon  as  a  very  valuable  acces- 
sion to  the  neighborhood.  Prior  to  this,  each  fam- 
ily had  its  own  baud-mill  in  one  of  the  corners  of 
the  cabin.  The  old  mill  is  thus  described  by  a 
pioneer  : 

'•  The  stones  were  of  the  common  grindstone 
grit,  about  four  inches  thick,  and  twenty  in  diame- 


HISTORY   OF   OHIO 


111 


kT.  Tho  ruiinor,  or  upjior,  w;i.s  tmneJ  l)y  liaiiJ, 
by  a  pule  sot  in  the  top  of  it,  near  the  outer  edge. 
The  upper  end  of  the  pole  was  inserted  into  a  hole 
in  a  board  fastened  above  to  the  joist.s,  immedi- 
ately over  the  hole  in  the  verge  of  the  runner. 
One  person  fed  the  corn. into  tho  eye — a  hole  in 
the  center  of  the  runner — while  another  turned. 
It  was  very  hard  work  to  grind,  and  the  operatoi'S 
alternately  exchanged  places." 

In  1800,  several  settlers  came  to  the  town  and 
a  more  active  life  was  the  result.  From  this  time, 
Cleveland  began  to  progress.  The  4th  of  July, 
ISOl,  the  first  ball  in  town  was  held  at  JIajur 
Carter's  log  cabin,  on  the  hill-side.  John  and 
Benjamin  Wood,  and  11.  II.  Blinn  were  managcre; 
and  Maj-.  Samuel  Jones,  musician  and  master  of 
ceremonies.  The  company  numbered  ab(jutthirty, 
very  evenly  divided,  for  the  times,  between  tlie 
seses.  "  Notwithstanding  the  dancers  had  a  rough 
puncheon  floor,  and  lu)  better  beverage  to  enliven 
their  spirits  than  sweetened  whisky,  yet  it  is  doubts 
ful  if  the  anniversary  of  American  independence 
was  ever  celebrated  in  Cleveland  by  a  more  joyful 
and  harmonious  comj)any  than  those  who  danced 
the  scamper-down,  double-shuffle,  western-swing 
and  half-moon,  that  day,  in  Maj.  Carter's  cabin." 
The  growth  of  the  town,  fi'om  this  period  on,  re- 
mained prosperous.  The  usual  visits  of  the  Indi- 
ans were  made,  ending  in  their  drunken  carousals 
and  fights.  Deer  and  other  wild  animals  furnished 
abundant  meat.  The  settlement  was  constantly 
augmented  by  new  arrivals,  so  that,  by  1814,  Cleve- 
lanrl  was  incorporated  as  a  town,  and,  in  ISLJO,  as 
a  city.  Its  harbor  is  one  of  the  best  on  the  lakes, 
and  hence  the  merchandise  of  the  lakes  has  always 
been  attracted  thither.  Like  Cincinnati  and  Chil- 
lic(jthe,  it  became  the  nucleus  of  settlements  in  this 
part  of  the  State,  and  now  is  the  largest  city  in 
Northern  Ohio. 

One  of  the  earliest  settlements  made  in  the 
Western  Reserve,  and  by  .'^ome  claimed  as  the  first 
therein,  was  made  on  the  site  of  Youngstown,  Ma- 
honing County,  by  a  Mr.  Young,  afterward  a  J  udge, 
in  the  summer  of  1796.  During  this  summer, 
before  the  settlements  at  Cuyahoga  and  Conneaut 
were  made,  Mr.  Young  and  Mr.  Wilcott,  proprie- 
tors of  a  town.ship  of  land  in  Xortheastcrn  Ohio, 
came  to  their  po.ssessions  and  began  the  survey  of 
their  land.  Ju.st  when  they  <-amc  is  not  known. 
They  were  found  here  by  Col.  James  Ilillniaii, 
then  a  trader  in  the  employ  of  Duncan  &  Wilson, 
of  Pittsburgh,  '•  who  had  been  forwarding  goods 
across     the   country  by   pack-saddle   horses  since 


1781),  to  the  mouth  of  tho  Cuyahoga,  thence  to  be 
.shipped  on  the  schooner  Mackinaw  to  Detroit. 
Col.  Hillman  generally  had  charge  of  all  these 
caravans,  consisting  sometimes  of  ninety  horses 
and  ten  men.  They  commonly  crossed  the  Big 
Beaver  four  miles  below  the  mouth  of  the  She- 
nango,  thence  up  the  left  bank  of  the  Mahoning — 
called  by  the  Indians  "  Mahi»ii"  or  ''  Mahunicb." 
signifying  the  "  lick  ".  or  "at  the  lick" — cros.sing 
it  about  three  miles  below  the  site  of  Youngstown, 
thence  by  way  of  the  Salt  Springs,  over  the  sites 
of  Milton  and  Ravenna,  crossing  the  Cuyahoga  at 
thv-  mouth  of  Breakneck  and  again  at  the  mouth 
of  Tinker's  Creek,  thence  down  the  river  to  its 
mouth,  where  they  had  a  log  hut  in  which  to 
store  their  goods.  This  hut  was  there  when  the 
surveyors  came,  but  at  the  time  unoccujiied.  At 
the  mouth  of  Tinker's  Creek  were  a  few  log  huts 
built  by  Moravian  Missionaries.  These  were  used 
only  one  year,  as  the  Indians  had  gone  to  the  Tus- 
carawiis  River.  The.se  and  three  or  four  cabins  at 
the  Salt  Springs  were  the  only  buildings  erected 
by  the  whites  prior  to  1700,  in  Northeastern  Ohio. 
Those  at  the  Salt  Springs  were  built  at  an  early- 
day  for  tho  accommodation  of  whites  who  came 
from  West(!rn  Pennsylvania  to  make  salt.  The 
tenants  were  dispossessed  in  1785  by  Gen.  Ilarniar. 
A  short  time  after,  one  or  two  white  men  were 
killed  by  the  Indians  hero.  In  1788,  Col.  Hill- 
man  settled  at  Beavertown,  where  Duncan  & 
Wilson  had  a  store  for  the  purpose  of  trading 
with  the  Iiiilians.  He  went  back  to  Pittsl)urgh 
soon  after,  however,  owing  to  the  Indian  war,  and 
remained  there  till  its  close,  continuing  in  his  busi- 
ness whenever  opportunity  oflered.  In  1706, 
when  returning  from  one  of  his  trading  expeditions 
alone  in  his  canoe  down  the  JIalioning  River,  he 
discovered  a  smoke  on  the  bank  near  the  present 
town  of  Y'oungstown,  and  on  going  to  the  spot 
found  Mr.  Ycuing  and  ^Ir.  Woleott,  as  before  men- 
tioned. A  part  of  Col.  Ilillman's  cargo  consisted 
of  whisky,  a  gallon  or  so  of  which  he  still  had. 
The  price  of  "  fire-water  "  then  was  SI  per  quart 
in  the  currency  of  the  country,  a  deerskin  being 
legal  tender  for  SI,  and  a  doe.skin  for  50  cents. 
Mr.  Young  pro])osed  j)urchasing  a  quart,  and 
having  a  frolic  on  its  contents  during  the  even- 
ing, and  insi.sted  on  paying  Ilillman  his  cus- 
tomary price.  Ilillman  urged  that  inasmuch  as 
thev  were  strangers  in  the  country,  civility  ro- 
(|uired  him  to  furni.sh  the  means  for  the  entertain- 
ment. Young,  however,  insisted,  and  taking  the 
deerskin   used  for  his  bed — the  onlv  one  he  had — 


f' 


113 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


paid  for  his   quart  of  whisky,  and  an  evening's 
froHc  was  tlic  result. 

"  Hillman  remained  a  few  days,  when  they  ac- 
companied him  to  Beaver  Town  to  celebrate  the 
4tli,  and  then  all  returned,  and  Hillman  erected  a 
cabin  on  the  site  of  Youngstown.  It  is  not  cer- 
tain that  they  remained  here  at  this  time,  and 
hence  the  priority  of  actual  settlement  is  generally 
conceded  to  Conneaut  and  Cleveland.  The  next 
year,  in  the  fall,  a  Mr.  Brown  and  one  other  per- 
son came  to  the  banks  of  the  Mahoning  and  made 
a  permanent  settlement.  Tiie  same  season  Uriah 
Holmes  and  Titus  Hayes  came  to  the  same  locality, 
and  before  winter  ((uite  a  settlement  was  to  be  seen 
here.  It  proceeded  quite  prosperously  until  the 
wanton  murder  of  two  Indians  occurred,  which, 
for  a  time,  greatly  excited  the  whites,  lest  the  In- 
dians should  retaliate.  Tlirough  the  efforts  of 
Col.  Hillman,  who  had  great  influence  with  tlie 
natives,  they  agreed  to  let  the  murderers  stand  a 
trial.  They  were  acquitted  upon  some  technicality. 
The  trial,  however,  pacified  the  Indians,  and  no 
trouble  came  from  the  unwarranted  and  unfortu- 
nate circumstance,  and  no  check  in  the  emigration 
or  prosperity  of  tlie  colony  occurred."* 

As  soon  as  an  effective  settlement  had  been  es- 
tablished at  Youngstown,  others  were  made  in  the 
surrounding  country.  One  of  these  was  begun  by 
William  Fenton  in  1798,  on  the  site  of  the  pres- 
ent town  of  Warren,  in  Trumbull  County.  lie 
remained  here  alone  one  year,  when  he  was  joined 
by  Capt.  Ephraim  Quimby.  By  the  last  of  Sep- 
tember, the  next  year,  the  colony  had  increased  to 
sixteen,  and  from  that  date  on  continued  prosper- 
ously. Once  or  twice  they  stood  in  fear  of  the 
Indians,  as  the  result  of  quarrels  induced  by 
whisky.  Sagacious  persons  generally  saved  any 
serious  outbreak  and  pacified  the  nativ'es.  Mr. 
Badger,  the  first  mi'-sionary  cm  the  Reserve,  came 
to  the  settlement  here  and  on  the  Mahoning,  as 
soon  as  each  was  made,  and,  by  his  earnest  labors, 
succeeded  in  forming  churches  and  schools  at  an 
early  day.  He  was  one  of  the  most  efficient  men 
on  the  Reserve,  and  throughout  his  long  and  busy 
life,  was  well  known  and  greatly  respected.  He 
died  in  1846,  aged  eighty-nine  years. 

The  settlements  given  are  about  all  that  were 
made  before  the  close  of  1797.  In  following  the 
narrative  of  these  settlements,  attention  is  paid  to 
the  chronological  order,  as  far  as  this  can  be  done. 
Like  those  settlements  already  made,  many  which 

«  U»collectlons  of  Cul    Hi:lman.— //oice's  Aar.nh. 


are  given  as  occurring  in  the  next  year,  1798, 
were  actually  begun  earlier,  but  were  only  tem- 
porary preparations,  and  were  not  considered  as 
made  until  the  nest  year. 

Turning  again  to  the  southern  portion  of  Ohio, 
the  Scioto,  MuskingunI  and  Miami  Valleys  come 
jirominently  into  notice.  Throughout  the  entire 
Eastern  States  they  were  still  attracting  attention, 
and  an  increased  emigration,  busily  occupying  their 
verdant  fields,  was  the  result.  All  about  Chilli- 
cothe  was  now  well  settled,  and,  up  the  banks  of 
that  stream,  prospectors  were  selecting  sites  for 
their  future  homes. 

In  1797,  Robert  Armstrong,  George  Skidmorc, 
Lucas  SuUivant,  William  Domigan,  James  Mar- 
shall, John  Dill,  Jacob  Grubb,  Jacob  Overdier, 
Arthur  O'Hara,  John  Brickell,  Col.  Culbertson, 
the  Deardorfs,  McElvains,  Selles  and  others,  came 
to  what  is  now  Franklin  County,  and,  in  August, 
Sir.  Sullivant  and  some  others  laid  out  the  town  of 
Franklinton,  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Scioto,  oppo- 
site the  site  of  Columbus.  The  country  about  this 
locality  had  long  been  the  residence  of  the  Wyan- 
dots,  who  had  a  large  town  on  the  city's  site,  and 
cultivated  extensive  fields  of  corn  on  the  river  bot- 
toms. The  locality  had  been  visited  by  the  whites 
as  early  as  1780,  in  some  of  their  expeditions,  and 
the  fertility  of  the  land  noticed.  As  soon  as  peace 
was  assured,  the  whites  came  and  began  a  settle- 
ment, as  has  been  noted.  Soon  after  Franklinton 
was  established,  a  Mr.  Springer  and  his  son-in-law, 
Osborn,  settled  on  the  Big  Darby,  and,  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1798,  a  scattering  settlement  was  made  on 
Alum  Creek.  About  the  same  time  settlers  came 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Gahannah,  and  along  other 
water-courses.  Franklinton  was  the  point  to  which 
emigrants  came,  and  from  which  the}'  always  made 
their  permanent  location.  For  several  years  there 
was  no  mill,  nor  any  such  commodity,  nearer  than 
Chillieothe.  A  hand-mill  was  constructed  in 
Franklinton,  which  was  eommonl}'  used,  unless  the 
settlers  made  a  trip  to  Chillieothe  in  a  canoe. 
Next,  a  horse-mill  was  tried  ;  but  not  till  1805, 
when  Col.  Kilbourne  built  a  mill  at  Worthington, 
settled  in  1803,  could  any  efficient  grinding  be 
done.  In  1789,  a  small  store  was  opened  in  Frank- 
linton, by  James  Scott,  but,  for  seven  or  eight 
years,  Chillieothe  was  the  nearest  post  ofiice. 
OfVen,  when  the  neighbors  wanted  mail,  one  of 
their  number  was  furnished  money  to  pay  the 
postage  on  any  letters  that  might  bo  waiting,  and 
sent  for  the  mail.  At  first,  as  in  all  new  localities, 
a  great  deal  of  .sickness,  fever  and  ague,  prevailed. 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


113 


As  the  people  became  acclimated,  this,  however, 
ilisiippeared. 

The  township  of  Sharon  in  this  county  has  a 
history  similar  to  that  of  (Jranviile  Township  in 
Licking  County.  It  was  settled  by  a  "  Scioto 
Company,"  formed  in  Granby,  Conn.,  iu  the  winter 
of  1801-U2,  consisting  at  first  of  eight  a.s.soci:itcs. 
They  drew  up  articles  of  ;issociation,  among  which 
was  on:3  limiting  their  number  to  forty,  each  of 
whom  must  be  unanimously  chosen  by  ballot,  a 
single  negative  being  sufficient  to  prevent  an  election. 
Col.  James  Ki'bourne  was  sent  out  the  succeeding 
spring  to  explore  the  country  and  select  and  pur- 
chase a  township  for  settlement.  He  returned  in 
the  fall  without  making  any  purcluise,  through 
fear  that  the  State  Constitution,  then  about  to  be 
formed,  would  tolerate  slavery,  in  which  citse  the 
project  would  liave  been  abandoned.  While  on 
this  visit,  Col.  Kilbournc  compiled  from  a  variety 
of  sources  the  firet  map  made  of  Ohio.  Although 
much  of  it  was  conjectured,  and  hence  inaccurate, 
it  was  very  valuable,  being  correct  as  far  as  the 
State  was  then  known. 

"As  soon  as  information  was  received  that  the 
constitution  of  Ohio  prohibited  slavery,  Col.  Kil- 
bourne  purchased  the  township  he  had  previously 
selected,  within  the  United  States  military  land 
district,  and,  in  the  spring  of  18i);5,  returned  to 
Ohio,  and  began  improvements.  By  the  succeed- 
ing December,  one  hundred  settlers,  mainly  from 
Hartford  County,  Conn.,  and  Hampshire  Count}-, 
Miiss.,  arrived  at  their  new  home.  Obeying  to  the 
letter  the  agreement  made  iu  tlie  I'iast,  the  first 
cabin  erected  was  used  for  a  schoolhouse  and  a 
church  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  denomination  ; 
the  first  Sabbath  alter  the  arrival  of  the  colony, 
divine  service  was  held  therein,  and  on  the  arrival 
of  the  eleventh  family  a  school  was  opened.  This 
early  attention  to  education  and  religion  has  left 
its  favorable  impress  upon  the  people  until  this  day. 
The  first  4th  of  July  was  unirjuely  and  appropri- 
ately celebrated.  Seventeen  gigantic  tretw,  em- 
blematical of  the  seventeen  States  forming  the 
Union,  were  cut,  so  that  a  few  blows  of  the  ax,  at 
sunrise  on  the  4th,  prostrated  each  successively 
with  a  tremeudoiLS  crash,  forming  a  national  salute 
novel  in  the  world's  history."'* 

The  growth  of  this  part  of  Ohio  continued 
without  interruption  until  the  establishment  of  the 
State  capital  at  Columbus,  in  1S16.  The  town  was 
laid  out  in  1812,  but.  as  that  date  is  considered  re- 


mote in  the  early  American  settlements,  its  history 
will  be  left  to  succeeding  pages,  and  there  traced 
when  the  history  of  the  State  capital  and  State 
government  is  given. 

The  site  of  Zanesville,  in  JIuskingum  County, 
was  early  looked  upon  as  an  excellent  place  to  form 
a  settlement,  and,  had  not  hostilities  opened  in 
1791,  with  the  Indians,  the  place  would  have  been 
one  of  the  earliest  .settled  in  Ohio.  As  it  was,  the 
war  so  disarranged  matters,  that  it  was  not  till 
1T!)7  that  a  permanent  .s(!ttlement  was  effected. 

The  ^Muskingum  (country  w;ts  principally  occu- 
pi(>d,  in  aboriginal  times,  by  the  ^Vyandots,  Dela- 
wares,  and  a  few  Senecas  and  Shawanees.  An  In- 
dian town  once  stood,  yeai-s  before  the  settlement 
of  the  country,  in  the  vicinity  of  Duncan's  Falls, 
in  Muskingum  Count}',  from  which  circumstance 
the  place  is  often  called  "Old  Town."  Near  Dres- 
den, was  a  large  Shawanee  town,  called  Wakato- 
maca.  The  graveyard  was  (juite  large,  and,  when 
the  whites  first  settled  here,  remains  of  the  town 
were  abundant.  It  was  in  this  vicinity  that  the 
venerable  Maj.  Ca.ss,  father  of  Lewis  Cass,  lived 
and  died.  He  owned  4,000  acres,  given  him  for 
his  military  services. 

The  first  settlers  on  the  site  of  Zanesville  were 
William  McCulloh  and  Henry  Crooks.  The  lo- 
cality was  given  to  I'Ibenezcr  Zane,  who  had  been 
allowed  three  sections  of  land  on  the  Scioto,  Mus- 
kingum and  Ilockhocking,  wherever  the  road 
cros.sed  these  rivers,  provided  other  prior  claims 
did  not  interfere,  for  opening  "  Zane's  trace." 
When  he  located  the  road  across  the  Muskingum, 
he  selected  the  place  where  Zanesville  now  stands, 
being  attracted  there  by  the  excellent  water  privi- 
leges. He  gave  the  section  of  land  here  to  his 
brother  Jonathan  Zane,  and  J.  Mclntire,  who 
lea.sed  the  ferry,  established  on  the  road  over  the 
Mu.skingum,  to  William  .McCulloh  and  Henry 
Crooks,  who  became  thereby  the  finst  .settlers.  The 
feiT}'  was  kept  about  where  the  old  ii]i])cr  bridge 
was  afterward  placed.  The  ferry-boat  was  made 
by  fastening  two  canoes  together  with  a  stick. 
Soon  after  a  flat-boat  was  used.  It  was  brought 
from  Wheeling,  by  Mr.  Mclntire,  in  171)7,  the 
year  after  the  ferry  was  establi.«hed.  The  niad  cut 
out  through  Ohio,  ran  from  Wheeling,  Va.,  to 
Maysville,  Ky.  Over  this  road  the  mail  was  car- 
ried, and,  in  179.S,  the  firet  mail  ever  carried 
wholly  in  Ohio  was  brought  up  from  Marietta  to 
JlcCulloh's  cabin  by  Daniel  Convers,  where,  by 
arrangement  of  the  Postmaster  tJeneral,  it  met 
a  mail   from   Wheeling  and   one  from   Maysville. 


^1 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


JlcCuUoh,  who  could  liardly  road,  was  authorized 
to  assort  the  mails  and  send  each  package  in  its 
proi^cr  direction.  For  this  service  he  received 
$30  per  annum  ;  but  owing  to  his  inability  to  read 
well,  Mr.  Couvcrs  generally  performed  the  duty. 
At  that  time,  the  mails  met  here  once  a  week. 
Four  years  after,  the  settlement  had  so  increased 
that  a  regular  post  office  was  opened,  and  Thomas 
Dowden  appointed  Postmaster.  He  kept  his  office 
in  a  wooden  building  near  the  river  bank. 

^Messrs.  Zane  and  jMcIutire  laid  out  a  town  in 
1799,  which  they  called  Westbourn.  When  the 
post  office  was  established,  it  was  named  Zanesville, 
and  in  a  sliort  time  the  village  took  the  same  name. 
A  few  families  settled  on  the  west  side  of  the  river, 
soon  after  McCulloh  arrived,  and  as  this  locality 
grew  well,  not  long  after  a  .store  and  tavern  was 
.  opened  here.  Mr.  Mclntire  built  a  double  log 
cabin,  which  was  used  as  a  hotel,  and  in  which 
Louis  Philippe,  King  of  France,  was  once  enter- 
tained. Although  the  fare  and  accommodations 
were  of  the  pioneerperiod,  the  honorable  guestseems 
to  have  enjoyed  his  visit,  if  the  statements  of  Lewis 
Cass  in  his  "  Camp  and  Court  of  Louis  Philippe" 
may  be  believed. 

In  1804,  Bluskingum  County  was  formed  by  the 
Legislature,  and,  for  a  while,  strenuous  efforts  made 
to  secure  the  kState  capital  by  the  citizens  of  Zanes- 
ville. They  even  erected  buildings  for  tlie  use  of 
the  Legislature  and  Governor,  and  during  the  ses- 
sion of  1810-11,  the  temporary  seat  of  govern- 
ment was  fixed  here.  When  the  permanent  State 
capital  was  chosen  in  1816,  Zanesville  was  passed 
by,  and  gave  up  the  hope.  It  is  now  one  of  the 
most  enterprising  towns  in  the  Muskingum  Valley. 

During  the  summer  of  1797,  John  Knoop,  then 
living  four  miles  above  Cincinnati,  made  several 
expeditions  up  the  Miami  Valley  and  selected  the 
land  on  which  he  afterward  lt>cated.  The  next 
spring  Mr.  Knoop,  his  l)rother  Benjamin,  Henry 
Garard,  Benjamin  Hamlet  and  John  Tildus  estab- 
lished a  station  in  what  is  now  Miami  County,  near 
the  present  town  of  Staunton  A'illagc.  That  sum- 
mer, Jlrs.  Knoop  planted  the  first  apple-tree  in 
the  Miami  *  country.  They  all  lived  togetlier  for 
greater  safety  for  two  years,  during  wliicli  time 
they  were  occupied  clearing  their  farms  and  erect- 
ing dwellings.  During  the  summer,  the  site  of 
Piqua  was  settled,  and  three  young  men  located  at  a 
place  known  as  "  Freeman's  Prairie."     Those  who 

*The  word  Miami  in  the  Indian  tongue  signified  mother.  The 
Miamis  were  the  original  owners  of  the  valley  by  that  name,  and 
affirmed  they  were  created  there. 


settled  at  Piqua  were  Samuel  Hilliard,  Job  Garard, 
Shadrac  Hudson,  Jonah  Rollins,  Daniel  Cox, 
Thomas  Rich,  and  a  Mr.  Hunter.  The  last  named 
came  to  the  site  of  Piqua  first  in  1797,  and 
selected  his  home.  Until  1799,  these  named  were 
the  only  ones  in  this  locality  ;  but  that  year  emi- 
gration set  in,  and  very  shortly  occupied  almost  all 
the  bottom  land  in  Miami  County.  With  the 
increa.se  of  emigration,  came  the  comforts  of  life, 
and  mills,  stores  and  other  necessary  aids  to  civil- 
ization, were  ere  long  to  be  seen. 

The  site  of  Piqua  is  quite  historic,  being  the 
theater  of  many  important  Indian  occurrences, 
and  the  old  home  of  the  Shawances,  of  which 
tribe  Tecumseh  was  a  chief  During  the  Indian 
war,  a  fort  called  Ftnt  Piqua  was  built,  near  tlie 
residence  of  Col.  John  Johnston,  so  long  the  faith- 
ful Indian  Agent.  The  fort  was  abandoned  at  the 
close  of  hostilities. 

When  the  Miami  Canal  was  opened  through  this 
part  of  the  State,  the  country  began  rapidly  to 
improve,  and  is  now  jjrobably  one  of  the  best  por- 
tions of  Ohio. 

About  the  same  time  the  Jliami  was  settled,  a 
company  of  people  from  Pennsylvania  and  Vir- 
ginia, who  were  princijially  of  German  and  Irish 
descent,  located  in  Lawrence  County,  near  the  iron 
region.  As  soon  as  tbat  ore  was  made  available, 
that  part  of  the  State  rapidly  filled  with  settlers, 
most  of  whom  engaged  in  the  mining  and  working 
of  iron  ore.     Now  it  is  very  prosperous. 

Another  settlement  was  made  the  same  season, 
1797,  on  the  Ohio  .side  of  the  river,  in  Columbiana 
County.  The  settlement  progressed  slowly  for  a 
while,  owing  to  a  few  difficulties  with  the  Indians. 
The  celebrated  Adam  Poe  had  been  here  as  early 
as  1782,  and  several  localities  are  made  locally 
famous  by  his  and  his  brother's  adventures. 

In  this  county,  on  Little  Beaver  Creek,  near  its 
mouth,  the  second  paper-mill  west  of  the  AUe- 
ghanies  was  erected  in  1805-(5.  It  was  the  pioneer 
enterjirise  of  the  kind  in  Ohio,  and  was  named  the 
Ohio  Paper-Mill.  Its  proprietors  were  John 
Bever  and  John  Coulter. 

One  of  the  most  noted  localities  in  the  State  is 
comprised  in  Greene  County.  The  Shawanee 
town,  "  Old  Chillicothe,"  was  on  the  Little  Miami, 
in  this  county,  about  three  miles  north  of  the  site 
of  Xenia.  This  old  Indian  town  was,  in  the  an- 
nals of  the  West,  a  noted  place,  and  is  frequently 
noticed.  It  is  first  mentioned  in  1773,  by  Capt. 
Thomas  Bullitt,  of  Virginia,  who  boldly  advanced 
alone  into  the  town  and   obtained   the   consent  of 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


115 


the  Inilkn.s  to  go  on  to  Ki-ntmky  and  niiiko  liis 
settlement  at  the  falls  of  the  Ohio.  His  aiulucioiis 
bravery  gained  bis  request.  Daniel  Boone  \v;i.s 
taken  prisoner  early  in  1778,  with  twenty-seven 
others,  and  kept  for  a  time  at  Old  Cbillicotbe. 
Through  the  influenee  of  the  British  Governor, 
Hamilton,  who  had  taken  a  great  fancy  to  Boone, 
be  and  ten  others  were  sent  to  Detroit.  The  In- 
dians, however,  bad  an  equal  fancy  for  the  brave 
fi-ontiersman,  and  took  bim  back  to  Cbillicotbe, 
and  adopted  him  into  their  tribe.  About  the  1st 
of  June  be  escaped  from  tbcui,  and  made  his  way 
back  to  Kentucky,  iu  time  to  prevent  a  univers;il 
niassiicre  of  the  whites.  In  July,  17"!),  the  town 
was  destrojed  by  Col.  John  Bowman  and  one 
hundred  and  si.\ty  Kentuckians,  and  the  Indians 
dispersed. 

The  Americans  made  a  permanent  settlement  in 
this  county  in  1797  or  1798.  This  latter  year,  a 
mill  was  erected  in  the  confines  of  the  county, 
which  implies  the  settlement  was  made  a  slmrt 
time  previou.sly.  A  short  distance  east  of  the 
mill  two  block-bouses  were  erected,  and  it  was  in- 
tended, should  it  become  necessary,  to  surround 
them  and  the  mill  with  pickets.  The  mill  was 
used  by  the  settlers  at  "  Dutch  Station,"  in  Jliami 
County,  fully  thirty  miles  distant.  The  richness 
of  the  country  in  this  part  of  the  State  attracted  a 
great  number  of  settlers,  so  that  by  1803  tbe 
county  waa  establisbed,  and  Xcnia  laid  out, and  des- 
ignated iis  the  county  seat.  Its  first  court  liouse, 
a  primitive  log  structure,  was  long  preserved  as  a 
curiosit)'.     It  would  indeed  be  a  curiosity  now. 

Zane's  trace,  passing  from  Wheeling  to  Mays- 
ville,  crossed  the  Hockhocking*  River,  in  Fairfield 
County,  where  Lancaster  is  now  built.  3Ir.  Zaue 
located  one  of  his  three  sections  on  this  rivt'r, 
covering  the  site  of  Lancaster.  Following  this 
trace  in  1797,  many  individuals  noted  the  desira- 
bleness of  tbe  locality,  .some  of  whom  detennined 
to  return  and  settle.  "The  site  of  the  city  had 
in  former  times  been  the  home  of  the  Wyandots, 
who  had  a  town  here,  that,  in  1790,  contained 
over  .500  wigwams  and  more  than  1 ,000  souls. 
Their  town  was  called  Tftiliec,  or,  in  English,  the 
Crane-toiviijUnd  derived  its  name  from  the  prinei- 

•The  word  Hock -hock-ing  in  the  Ddaworo  language  signifies 
a  bcWe :  tlie  Shan'ances  have  it  Wen-lha-kiiyh-<iua  »t'pv,  f c  ;  boltle 
river.  John  Wliite  in  tlie  Anierioan  rioneor  says:  "Alx>nt  seven 
miles  norl  «e.^t  of  Lancaster,  there  is  a  faU  In  the  noekh..rkinE  of 
alioilt  twt  nty  t.-et.  Above  Ihe  fall  for  a  short  distince,  the  creek 
is  very  narr.nv  u-\i  straight  forming  a  nerk,  while  at  the  falls  it 
eiidfienly  widens  on  each  side  and  swells  into  the  appearance  of  the 
hody  of  alMttle.  The  whole,  when  seen  fmm  almve,  appears  exactly 
in  the  shape  of  a  bottle,  and  from  tin-*  fact  the  Indians  called  the 
river  Hock-hock-ing."— Boioe's  CoUccHom. 


jial  chief  of  that  tribe.  Another  portion  of  tbe 
tribe  then  lived  at  Toby-town,  nine  miles  west  of 
Tarhe-town  (now  Koyaltown),  and  was  governed 
by  an  inferior  chief  called  Toby.  The  chief's  wig- 
wam in  Tarbe  stood  on  the  bank  of  the  prairie, 
near  a  beautiful  and  abundant  spring  of  water, 
whose  outlet  was  tbe  river.  The  wigwams  of  the 
Indians  were  built  of  the  bark  of  trees,  set  on 
poles,  in  tbe  form  of  a  sugar  camp,  with  one  square 
open,  fronting  a  fire,  and  about  the  height  of  a 
man.  The  Wyandot  tribe  that  day  numbered 
about  .500  warriors.  By  the  treaty  of  Greenville, 
they  ceded  all  their  territory,  and  the  majority,  un- 
der their  chief,  removed  to  Upper  Sandusky.  The 
remainder  lingered  awhile,  loath  to  leave  the  Lome 
of  their  ancestors,  but  as  game  became  scarce,  they, 
too,  left  for  better  bunting-grounds."* 

In  April,  1798,  Capt.  Joseph  Hunter,  a  bold, 
enterprising  man,  settled  on  Zane's  trace,  on  tbe 
bank  of  the  prairie,  west  of  tbe  cros.sings,  at  a 
place  since  known  as  "  Hunter's  settlement."  For 
a  time,  he  bad  no  neighbors  nearer  than  tbe  set- 
tlers on  tbe  Muskingum  and  Scioto  Rivers.  He 
lived  to  see  the  country  he  had  found  a  wilderness, 
full  of  the  honu'S  of  industry.  His  wife  was  the 
first  white  woman  that  settled  in  the  valley,  and 
shared  with  him  all  the  privations  of  a  pioneer 
life. 

Mr.  Hunter  bad  not  been  long  in  the  valley  till 
he  was  joined  by  Nathaniel  Wilson,  John  and  Al- 
len Green,  John  and  Joseph  JIcMidlen,  Robert 
Cooper,  Isiuic  Shaefer,  and  a  few  otht^rs,  who 
erected  cabins  and  planted  corn.  The  next  year, 
the  tide  of  emigration  came  iu  with  great  force. 
In  the  spring,  two  settlements  were  made  in  Green- 
field Township,  each  settlement  containing  twenty 
or  more  families.  One  was  called  tbe  Forks  of 
tbe  Hockhocking,  the  other,  Yankeetowu.  Set- 
tlements were  also  made  along  the  river  below 
Hunter's,  on  Ru.sb  Creek,  Raccoon  and  Indian 
Creeks,  Plea.sant  Run,  Felter'sRun,  at  Tobeytown, 
Muddy  Prairie,  and  on  Clear  Creek.  In  the  fall, 
— 171)9 — Joseph  Loveland  and  Hezekiab  Smith 
built  a  log  grist-mill  at  tbe  Tjiper  Falls  of  the 
Hockhocking.  afterward  known  its  Rock  Mill. 
This  was  the  first  mill  on  this  river.  In  the  latter 
part  of  the  year,  a  mail  route  was  establiiihed  over 
the  trace.  The  mail  was  earned  through  on  horse- 
back, and.  in  the  .settlements  in  this  locality,  was 
lefl  at  ibe  cabin  of  Samuel  Coates,  who  lived  cm 
the  prairie  at  the  crossings  u\'  the  river. 

•  Lecture  of  Gtorgu  S.iniUis.i!i.— /foirr'i  <„:U<Uioiu. 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


In  the  fall  of  tho  next  year,  Ebenezer  Zane  laid 
out  Lancaster,  which,  until  1805,  was  known  as 
New  Lancaster.  The  lots  sold  very  rapidly,  at 
$50  each,  and,  in  less  than  one  year,  quite  a  vil- 
lage appeared.  December  9,  the  Governor  and 
Judges  of  the  Northwest  Territory  organized 
Fairfield  County,  and  made  Lancaster  the  county 
seat.  The  year  following,  the  Rev.  John  Wright, 
a  minister  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  came,  and 
ft'oni  that  time  on  schools  and  churches  were  estab- 
lished and  tlieroaftcr  regularly  maintained  at  this 
place. 

Not  far  from  Lancaster  are  immense  mural  es- 
carpments of  sandstone  formation.  They  were 
noted  among  the  aborigines,  and  were,  probably, 
used  by  them  as  places  of  outlook  and  defense. 

The  same  summer  Fairfield  County  was  settled, 
the  towns  of  Bethel  and  Williamsburg,  in  Cler- 
mont County,  were  settled  and  laid  out,  and  in 
1800,  the  county  was  erected. 

A  settlement  was  also  made  immediately  south 
of  Fairfield  County,  in  Hocking  County,  by  Chris- 
tian Westenhaver,  a  German,  from  near  Ilagers- 
towu,  Md.  He  came  in  the  spring  of  179^,  and 
was  soon  joined  by  several  families,  who  formed 
quite  a  settlement.  The  territory  included  in  the 
county  remained  a  part  of  Ros',  Athens  and 
Fairfield,  until  1 8 1 S,  when  Hocking  t^ounty  was 
erected,  and  Logan,  which  had  been  laid  out  in 
181 G,  was  made  the  cuunl}'  seat. 

The  country  comprised  in  the  county  is  rather 
broken,  especially  along  the  Hockhocking  River. 
This  broken  country  was  a  fiivorite  resort  of  the 
Wyandot  Indians,  who  could  easily  hide  in  the 
numerous  grottoes  and  ravines  made  by  the  river 
and  its  aftluents  as  the  water  cut  its  way  through 
the  .sandstone  rooks. 

In  1798,  soon  afler  Zane's  trace  was  cut  through 
the  country,  a  Mr.  Graham  located  on  the  site  of 
Cambridge,  in  Guernsey  County.  His  was  then 
the  only  dwelling  between  Wheeling  and  Zanes- 
ville,  on  the  trace.  He  remained  here  alone  about 
two  years,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  George  Bey- 
mer,  from  Somers(;t,  Pcnn.  Both  these  persons 
kept  a  tavern  ami  ferry  over  Will's  Creek.  In 
April,  1801],  Jlr.  Beymer  was  succeeded  by  John 
Beatty,  who  came  from  Loudon,  Va.  His  family 
consisted  of  eleven  persons.  The  Indians  hunted 
in  this  vicinity,  and  were  frequent  visit(jrs  at  the 
tavern.  In  June,  1806,  Cambridge  w;is  laid  out, 
and  on  the  day  the  lots  were  offered  for  sale,  sev- 
eral families  from  the  British  Isle  of  Guernsey, 
near  the  coast  of  France,  stopped  here  on   their 


way  to  the  West.  They  were  .satisfied  with  the 
location  and  purchased  many  of  the  lots,  and  some 
land  in  the  vicinity.  They  were  soon  followed  by 
otlier  families  trom  the  same  place,  all  of  whom 
settling  iu  this  locality  gave  the  name  to  the  county 
when  it  was  erected  in  1810. 

A  settlement  was  made  in  the  central  part  of  the 
State,  on  Darby  Creek,  in  Union  County,  in  the 
summer  of  1798,  by  James  and  Joshua  Ewing. 
The  nest  year,  they  were  joined  by  Samuel  and 
David  Mitchell,  Samuel  Mitchell,  Jr.,  Samuel 
Kirkpatrick  and  Samuel  McCullough,and,  in  1800, 
by  George  and  Samuel  Reed,  Robert  Snodgrass 
and  Paul  Hodgson. 

'•James  Ewing'.s  farm  was  the  site  of  an  an- 
cient and  noted  Mingo  town,  which  was  deserted 
at  the  time  the  jMingo  towns,  in  what  is  now  Logan 
County,  were  destroyed  by  Gen.  Logan,  of  Ken- 
tucky, in  17SG.  When  Mr.  Ewing  took  posses- 
sion of  his  farm,  the  cabins  were  still  standing, 
and,  among  others,  the  remains  of  a  blacksmith's 
shop,  with  coal,  cinders,  iron-dross,  etc.  Jonathan 
Alder,  formerly  a  prisoner  among  the  Indians, 
says  the  shop  was  carried  on  by  a  renegade  white 
man,  named  Butler,  who  lived  among  the  Mingoes. 
Extensive  fields  had  formerly  been  cultivated  in 
the  vicinity  of  tho  town."* 

Soon  after  the  settlement  was  establi.-hed.  Col. 
James  Curry  located  here.  He  was  quite  an  influ- 
ential man,  and,  in  1820,  succeeded  in  getting  the 
county  formed  from  portions  of  Delaware,  Frank- 
lin, JVIadison  and  Logan,  and  a  jiart  of  the  old  In- 
dian Territory.  IMarysville  was  made  the  county 
seat. 

During  the  year  1789,  a  fort,  called  Fort  Steu- 
ben, was  built  on  the  site  of  Steubenville,  but 
was  dismantled  at  the  conclusion  of  hostilities  in 
1795.  Three  years  after,  Bezaleel  Wells  and  Hon. 
James  Ross,  for  whom  Ross  County  was  named, 
located  the  town  of  Steubenville  about  the  old 
fort,  and,  by  lilwral  offers  of  lots,  soon  attracted 
quite  a  number  oi'  settlers.  In  1805,  the  town 
was  incorporated,  and  then  had  a  population  of 
several  hundred  persons.  Jefierson  County  was 
created  by  Gov.  St.  Clair,  July  29,  1797,  the  year 
before  Steubenville  was  laid  out.  It  then  included 
the  large  scope  of  country  west  of  Penn.sylvania; 
east  and  north  of  a  line  from  the  mouth  of  the 
Cuyahoga ;  southwardly  to  the  Muskingum,  and 
cast  to  the  Ohio ;  including,  in  its  territories,  the 
cities  of  Cleveland,  Canton,  Steubenville  and  War- 

*  Howe's  Collections. 


IIISTOKY   OF    OHIO. 


rcn.  Only  a  sliort  timt;,  however,  was  it  allowed 
to  retain  this  size,  as  the  increase  in  emigration 
rendered  it  necessary  to  erect  new  counties,  which 
was  ra])idly  done,  especially  on  the  adoption  t"the 
State  jrovernmeut. 

The  county  is  rich  in  early  history,  prior  to  its 
settlement  by  the  Americans.  It  was  the  homt  of 
the  celebrated  JIinj;;o  chief,  Logan,  who  resid  h1 
awhile  at  an  old  Ming(j  town,  a  lew  miles  below  t  le 
site  of  .Steubeiivillo,  the  jilace  whore  the  troo  )s 
under  Col.  William.son  rendezvoused  on  their  i  i- 
famous  raid  against  the  Moravian  Indians  ;  at  d 
also  where  Col.  Crawford  and  his  men  met,  whf  n 
starting  on  their  unfortunate  expedition. 

In  the  Reserve,  settlements  were  often  made 
remote  from  populous  localities,  in  accordance  witli 
the  wish  of  a  proprietor,  who  might  own  a  tract  of 
couutr}'  twenty  or  thirty  miles  in  the  interior.  In 
theprasentcounty  of  Geauga,  three  families  located 
at  Burton  in  1798.  They  lived  at  a  considerable 
distance  from  any  other  settlement  for  some  time, 
and  were  greatly  inconvenienced  for  the  want  of 
mills  or  .shops.  As  time  progressed,  however, 
these  were  brought  nearer,  or  built  in  their  midst, 
and,  ere  long,  almost  all  parts  of  the  Reserveoiould 
show  some  settlement,  even  if  isolated. 

The  next  year,  1TU9,  .settlements  were  made  at 
Ravenna,  Deerfield  and  Palmyra,  in  Portage 
County.  lion.  Benjamin  Tajipan  came  to  the  site 
of  Ravenna  in  June,  at  which  time  he  found  one 
white  man,  a  ^Ir.  Honey,  living  there.  At  this  date, 
a  solitary  log  cabin  occupied  the  sites  of  Buffalo  and 
Cleveland.  On  his  journey  from  New  England, 
Mr.  Tapjiau  fell  in  with  David  Ilud.son,  the  founder 
of  the  Huilscin  settlement  in  Summit  County. 
After  many  days  of  travel,  they  landed  at  a  prairie  in 
Summit  County.  Mr.  Tappan  left,  his  goods  in  a 
cabin,  built  fi  ir  the  purpose,  under  the  care  of  a  hired 
man,  and  went  on  his  way,  cutting  a  road  to  the 
site  of  Ravenna,  where  his  land  lay.  On  his  return 
fur  a  second  load  of  goods,  they  found  the  cabin 
deserted,  and  evidences  of  its  plunder  by  the  In- 
dians. Not  long  after,  it  was  learned  that  the  man 
left  in  charge  had  gone  to  Mr.  Hudson's  settle- 
ment, he  having  set  out  immediately  on  his  arrival, 
for  his  <iwn  land.  Mr.  Taj)j)an  gathered  the  re- 
mainder of  his  goods,  and  started  back  for  Ravenna. 
On  his  way  one  of  his  oxen  died,  and  he  found 
himself  in  a  vast  forest,  away  from  any  habitation, 
and  with  one  dollar  in  money.  He  diil  not  falter 
a  moment,  but  sent  his  hired  man,  a  faithful  fellow, 
to  Eric,  Penn.,  a  distance  of  one  hundred  miles 
through  the  wilderness,  with   the   compass  for  his 


guide,  requesting  from  Capt.  Lyman,  the  com- 
mander at  the  fort  there,  a  loan  of  money.  At 
the  same  time,  he  followed  the  township  lines  to 
Youngstown,  where  he  became  ac([uaintod  with 
Col.  James  Hillman,  who  did  not  hesitate  to  sell 
him  an  ox  on  credit,  at  a  fair  price.  He  returned 
to  his  load  in  a  few  days,  found  his  ox  all  right, 
hitched  the  two  together  and  went  on.  He  wa.s 
soon  joined  by  his  hired  man,  with  the  money,  and 
together  they  spent  the  winter  in  a  log  cabin.  He 
gave  his  man  one  hundred  acres  of  land  as  a  reward, 
and  iiaid  Col.  Hillman  for  the  ox.  In  a  j'car  or 
two  he  had  a  prosperous  settlement,  and  wdien  the 
county  w;is  erected  in  1807,  Ravenna  was  made 
the  seat  of  justice. 

About  the  same  time  Mr.  Tappan  began  his 
settlement,  others  were  commenced  in  other  locali- 
ties in  this  county.  Early  in  May,  1799,  Lewis 
Day  and  his  son  Horatio,  of  Granby,  Conn.,  and 
Moses  Tibbals  and  (jreen  Frost,  of  Granville, 
Mass.,  lefl  (heir  homes  in  a  one-horse  wagon,  and, 
the  29th  of  May,  arrived  in  what  is  now  Deerfield 
Township.  Theirs  was  the  first  wagon  that  had 
ever  penetrated  farther  westward  in  tliis  region 
than  Canfield.  The  country  west  of  that  place 
had  been  an  unbroken  wilderness  until  within  a 
few  days.  Capt.  Caleb  Atwater,  of  Wallingford, 
Conn.,  had  hired  some  men  to  open  a  road  to 
Town.ship  No.  1,  in  the  Seventh  Range,  of  which 
he  was  the  owner.  This  r(jad  passed  through 
Deerfield,  and  was  completed  to  that  place  when 
the  party  arrived  at  the  point  of  their  destination. 
These  emigrants  selected  sites,  and  commenced 
clearing  the  land.  In  July,  Lewis  Ely  arrived 
li-oni  Granville,  and  wintered  here,  while  those 
wlio  came  first,  and  had  made  their  improvements, 
returned  East.  The  4th  of  March,  1800,  Alva 
Day  (son  of  Lewis  Day),  John  Camj)bell  and 
Joel  Thrall  arrived.  In  April,  George  and  Rob- 
ert Taylor  and  James  Laughlin,  from  Pennsylvania, 
with  their  families,  came.  Mr.  Laughlin  built  a 
grist-mill,  which  was  of  great  convenience  to  the 
settlers.  July  29,  Lewis  Day  returned  with 
his  family  and  his  brother-in-law,  JIaj.  Rogers, 
who,  the  next  year,  also  brought  his  family. 

"3Iuch  suffering  was  experienced  at  first  on 
account  of  the  scarcity  of  provisions.  They  were 
chiefly  supplied  from  the  settlements  east  of  the 
Ohio  River,  the  nearest  of  which  was  Georgetown, 
liirty  miles  away.  The  provisions  were  brought 
on  pack-horses  through  the  wilderness.  August 
22,  Mrs.  Alva  Day  gave  birth  to  a  child — a  fe- 
male— the    first    child    born    in    the    township. 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


November  7,  the  first  wedding  took  place.  John 
Cainpljcll  and  Sarah  Ely  were  joined  in  wedlock 
by  Calvin  Austin,  E.sq.,  of  Warren.  He  wa.s 
accompanied  from  WaiTen,  a  distance  of  twenty- 
seven  miles,  by  jMr.  Pease,  then  a  lawyer,  after- 
ward a  well-known  Judge.  They  came  on  foot, 
there  being  no  road;  and,  as  they  threaded  their 
way  through  the  woods,  young  Pease  taught  the 
Justice  the  maiTiage  ceremony  by  oft  repetition. 

"  In  1802,  Franklin  Township  was  organized,  em- 
bracing all  of  Portage  and  parts  of  Trumbull  and 
Summit  Counties.  About  this  time  the  settlement 
received  accessions  from  all  parts  of  the  East.  In 
February,  1801,  Ilev.  Badger  came  and  began  his 
labors,  and  two  years  later  Dr.  Shadrac  Bostwick 
organizf^d  a  Methodist  Episcopal  church.*  The 
remaining  settlement  in  this  county.  Palmyra,  was 
begun  abnut  the  same  time  as  the  others,  by  David 
l>aniels,  in  lUi  Salisbury,  Conn.  The  next  year  he 
brouglit  out  his  family.  Soon  after  he  was  joined 
by  E.  N.  and  W.  Bacon,  E.  Cutler,  A.  Thurber, 
A.  Preston,  N.  Buis,  J.  T.  Baldwin,  T.  and  C. 
Giiliert,  D.  A.  and  S.  Waller,  N.  Smith,  Joseph 
Fislier,  J.  Tuttle  and  others. 

'•  When  this  region  was  first  settled,  there  was 
an  Indian  trail  commencing  at  Fort  Mcintosh 
(  Beaver,  Penn. ),  and  extending  westward  to  San- 
dusky and  Detroit.  The  trail  fciUowed  the  highest 
ground.  Along  the  trail,  parties  of  Indians  were 
frequently  seen  passing,  for  several  years  after  the 
whites  came.  It  seemed  to  be  the  great  aboriginal 
thoroughfare  from  Sandusky  to  the  Ohio  River. 
There  were  several  large  piles  of  stones  on  the 
trail  in  this  locality,  under  which  human  skeletons 
have  been  discovered.  These  are  supposed  to  be 
the  remains  of  Indians  slain  in  war,  or  murdered 
by  their  enemies,  as  tradition  says  it  is  an  Indian 
custom  for  each  one  to  ca.st  a  stone  on  the  grave 
of  an  enemy,  whenever  he  pa-sses  by.  These  stones 
appear  to  have  been  picked  up  along  the  trail,  and 
cast  upon  the  heaps  at  different  times. 

"At  the  point  where  this  trail  crosses  Silver 
Creek,  Fredrick  Daniels  and  others,  in  1814,  dis- 
covered, painted  on  several  trees,  various  devices, 
evidently  the  work  of  Indians.  The  bark  was 
carefully  shaved  off  two-thirds  of  the  way  around, 
and  figures  cut  upon  the  wood.  On  one  of  these 
was  dehneated  seven  Indians,  equipped  in  a  par- 
ticular manner,  one  of  whom  was  without  a  head. 
This  was  supposed  to  have  been  made  by  a  party 
on   their  return  westward,  to  give  intelligence  to 

*  Uowe'B  Collectione. 


their  friends  behind,  of  the  loss  of  one  of  their 
party  at  this  place  ;  and,  on  making  search,  a  hu- 
man skeleton  was  discovered  near  by."  * 

The  celebrated  Indian  hunter,  Brady,  made  his 
remarkable  leap  across  the  Cuyahoga,  in  this 
county.  The  county  also  contains  Brady's  Pond, 
a  large  sheet  of  water,  iu  which  he  once  made  his 
escape  from  the  Indians,  from  which  cii'cumstance 
it  received  its  name. 

The  locality  comprised  in  Clark  County  was 
settled  the  same  summer  as  those  in  Summit  County. 
John  Humphries  came  to  this  part  of  the  State 
with  G-en.  Simon  Kenton,  in  ITUO.  With  them 
came  six  families  from  Kentucky,  who  settled 
north  of  the  site  of  Springfield.  A  fort  was 
erected  on  Mad  River,  for  security  against  the  In- 
dians. Fourteen  cabins  were  soon  built  near  it, 
all  being  surrounded  by  a  strong  picket  fence. 
David  Lowery,  one  of  the  pioneers  here,  built  the 
first  flat-boat,  to  operate  on  the  Great  INIiami,  and, 
in  1800,  inade  the  first  trip  on  that  river,  coming 
down  from  Dayton.  He  took  hi.-<  boat  and  cargo 
on  down  to  New  Orleans,  where  he  disposed  of  bis 
load  of  "  five  hundred  venison  hams  and  bacon." 

Sjiringfield  was  laid  out  in  March,  1801.  Griffith 
Foos,  who  came  that  spring,  built  a  tavern,  which 
he  completed  and  opened  in  June,  remaining  in 
this  place  til!  1814.  He  often  stated  that  when 
emigrating  West,  his  party  were  four  days  and  a 
half  getting  from  Franklinton,  on  the  Scioto,  to 
Springfield,  a  distance  of  forty-two  miles.  When 
crossing  the  Big  Darby,  they  were  obliged  to  carry 
all  their  gocjds  over  on  horseback,  and  then  drag 
their  wagons  across  with  ropes,  while  some  of  the 
party  swam  by  the  side  of  the  wagon,  to  prevent 
its  upsetting.  The  site  of  the  town  was  of  such 
practical  beauty  and  utility,  that  it  soon  attracted 
a  large  number  of  settlers,  and,  in  a  few  years, 
Springfield  was  incorporated.  In  1811,  a  church 
was  built  by  the  residents  for  the  use  of  all  denom- 
inations. 

Clark  County  is  made  famous  in  aboriginal 
history,  as  the  birthplace  and  childhood  home  of 
the  noted  Indian,  Tecumseh.j"     He   was  born   in 

♦  Howe's  CoUections. 

f  Tecumseh,  or  Tecumshe,  waa  a  son  of  Puckeshinwa,  a  member 
of  the  Kiacopoke  tribe,  and  Methoataake,  of  the  Turtle  tribe  of  the 
Shawanee  nation.  They  removed  from  Florida  to  Ohio  soon  after 
theirmarriage.  The  father,  Puckeshinwa,  rose  to  the  rank  of  a  chief, 
and  fell  at  the  battle  of  Point  Pleasant,  in  1774.  After  his  death, 
the  mother,  Methoataske,  returned  to  the  south,  where  she  died  at 
an  advanced  age.  Tecumseh  was  born  about  the  year  1768.  He 
early  showed  a  passion  for  war,  and,  when  only  27  years  of  age,  was 
made  a  chief.  The  next  year  he  removed  to  Deer  Creek,  in  the 
vicinity  of  Urbana,  and  from  there  to  the  site  of  Piqua,  on  the 
Great  Miami.  In  1798  he  accepted  the  invitation  of  the  Delawares 
in  the  vicinity  of  White  River,  Indiana,  and  from  that  time  made 


HISTORY   OF   OHIO. 


121 


the  iiiJ  Iiiuian  town  of  Piqua,  the  ancient  Pi(iua 
of  the  Shawanees,  on  the  north  side  of  JIad  River, 
about  five  miles  west  of  Sprinirfield.  Tlie  town 
was  destrojed  hy  tlie  Kentucky  Kangr'rs  under 
Gen.  (ieorge  Rogers  Chirke  in  17S0,  at  the  suno 
time  he  destroj"ed  •'  Okl  ChilUcothe."  Immense 
fields  of  standing  corn  about  both  towns  were  cut 
down,  compelling  the  Indians  to  resort  to  tlie  hunt 
with  mure  than  ordinary  vigor,  to  sustain  them- 
selves and  their  wives  and  children.  This  search 
insured  safety  for  some  time  on  the  borders.  The 
site  of  Cadiz,  in  Harrison  County,  was  settled  in 
April,  1799,  by  Alexander  Henderson  and  his 
fiuiiily,  from  AViishinirton  Count}',  Penn.  When 
they  arrived,  they  found  neighbi)rs  in  tlie  persons 
of  Daniel  Peterson  and  his  family,  who  lived  near 
the  forks  of  Short  Creek,  and  who  had  preceded 
them  but  a  very  short  time.  The  next  year,  emi- 
grants began  to  cross  the  Ohio  in  gT<^at  numbers, 
and  iu  five  or  six  j-ears  large  settlements  could  be 
seen  in  this  part  of  the  State.  The  county  was 
erected  in  1814,  and  Cadiz,  laid  out  in  18U3,  made 
the  county  seat. 

While  the  settlers  were  locating  in  and  about 
Cadiz,  a  few  families  came  to  what  is  now  Monroe 
County,  and  settled  near  the  present  town  of 
Beallsville.  Shortly  after,  a  few  persons  settled  on 
the  Clear  Fork  of  the  Little  Muskingum,  and  a 
few  others  on  the  east  fork  of  Duck  Creek.     The 


next  season  all  these  settlements  received  addi- 
tions and  a  few  other  localities  were  also  occupied. 
Before  long  the  town  of  Beallsville  was  laid 
out,  and  in  time  became  quite  populous.  The 
county  was  not  erected  until  1818,  and  in  181,5 
Woudsfield  Wiis  laid  out  and  made  the  seat  of 
justice. 

The  opening  of  tlie  sea.son  of  1 800 — the  dawn 
of  a  new  century — saw  a  vast  emigration  west 
ward.  Old  settlements  in  Ohio  received  immense 
increase  of  emigrants,  while,  branching  out  in  all 
directions  like  the  radii  of  a  circle,  other  .settle- 
ments were  ccmstantly  formed  until,  in  a  few  years, 
all  j)arts  of  the  State  knew  the  presence  of  the 
white  man. 

Towns  sprang  into  existence  here  and  there ; 
mills  and  factories  were  erected ;  po.st  ofiices  and 
post-routes  were  established,  and  the  comforts  and 
conveniences  of  life  began  to  appear. 

With  this  came  the  desire,  so  potent  to  the  mind 
of  all  American  citizens,  to  rule  themselves  through 
representatives  chosen  by  their  own  votes.  Hith- 
erto, they  had  been  rul(Kl  by  a  Governor  and  Judges 
ujipoiuted  by  the  President,  who,  in  turn,  appointed 
county  and  judicial  ofiiccrs.  The  arbitrary  rulings 
of  the  Governor,  St.  Clair,  had  arrayed  the  mass 
of  the  people  against  him,  and  made  the  desire  for 
the  second  grade  of  government  stronger,  and 
finally  led  to  its  creation. 


CHAPTER     X. 


FORMATION'    OF   THE    STATE    GO-V-ERXMENT— OHIO    A    ST.\TE— THE    STATE    CAPITALS— LEGIS- 
LATION—THE  "SWEEPING    RESOLUTIONS' —TERRITORIAL  AND  STATE  GOVERNORS. 


SETTLEMENTS  increased  so  rapidly  in  that 
part  of  the  Northwest  Territory  included  in 
Ohio,  during  the  decade  from  1788  to  1798, 
des]iite  the  Indian  war,  that  the  demand  for  an 
election  of  a  Territorial  Assembly  could  uot  be 
ignored  by  Gov.  St.  Clair,  who,  having  ascertained 
that  5,000  free  males  resided  within  the  limits  of 
the  Territory,  issued  his  proclamation  October  29, 
1798,  directing  the  electors  to  elect  re])re,sentatives 
to  a  General  Assembly.     He  ordered  the  election 

bis  homo  with  them.  Ho  was  most  actiTo  in  tbo  war  of  1812 
against  tho  Americans,  and  from  tht?  tim*^  tie  began  his  work  to 
unite  the  trib<?9,  his  history  is  so  closely  identified  therewith  that 
the  reader  is  referred  to  the  history  of  that  wur  in  siiccee<ling  pages. 
It  may  notbe  amiss  to  say  that  all  stories  regarding  the  manner 
of  his  death  are  considered  erroneous.  He  was  undouhtedly  killed 
in  the  outset  of  the  battle  of  the  Thames  in  Canada  in  1814.  and  his 
liody  secretly  buried  by  the  Indians. 


to  be  held  on  the  third  Jlonday  in  December,  and 
directed  the  representatives  to  meet  in  Cincinnati 
January  22,  1799. 

On  the  day  designatccl,  the  representatives* 
a.s.sembled  at  Cincinnati,  nominated  ten  persons, 
whose  names  were  sent  to  the  President,  who 
selected  five  to  constitute  the  Legislative  Council, 

♦Those  elected  were:  from  Washington  County, Rotun)  Jona- 
than Meigs  and  Paul  Fearing;  from  Hamilton  County,  William 
Guforth,  William  McMillan,  John  Smith,  John  Ludlow,  Robert 
Benham,  Aaron  Caldwell  and  Isaac  Martin;  from  St.  Clair  County 
(Illinois),  Shadrach  Bond;  from  Knox  County  (Indiana\  John 
Small;  from  Itandulpb  County  (Illinois),  John  Kdgar;  from  Wayne 
County,  Solomon  Sibley,  Jacob  Visgar  and  Charles  F.  <  'habert  de 
Joncaire;  from  Adams  County,  Jo?*eph  I'arlington  and  Nathaniel 
Massie;  from  Jefferson  County,  James  I'ritciiarJ;  from  Uoss  County, 
Thomas  Worthington,  Elias  Langham,  Samuel  Findley  and  Kdwanl 
Tiffin.  Tho  five  gentlemen,  except  Vanderburgh,  chosen  as  tbo 
Upper  nouSB  were  all  from  counli.-<  nfterwiirJ  included  in  Ohio. 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


cir  Upper  House.  Tlie.se  five  were  Jacob  Burnet, 
James  Findloy,  Henry  Vanderburgh,  llobert 
Oliver  and  David  "V'anee.  On  the  od  of  March, 
the  Senate  confirmed  their  uomination,  and  the 
Territorial  Government  of  Ohio* — or,  more  prop- 
erly, the  Northwest — was  complete.  As  this 
comprised  the  essential  business  of  this  body,  it 
was  prorogued  by  the  Governor,  and  the  Assembly 
directed  to  meet  at  the  .same  place  September  1 6, 
1799,  and  proceed  to  the  enactment  of  laws  for 
the  Tenitory. 

That  day,  the  Territorial  Legislature  met  again 
at  Cincinnati,  but,  for  want  of  a  quorum,  did  not 
organize  until  the  24th.  The  House  consisted  of 
nineteen  members,  seven  of  whom  were  from  Ham- 
ilton County,  four  from  Ross,  three  from  Wayne, 
two  from  Adams,  one  from  Jefferson,  one  from 
Washing-ton,  and  one  from  Knox.  Assembling 
both  branches  of  the  Legislature,  Gov.  St.  Clair 
addressed  them,  recommending  such  measures  to 
their  consideration  as,  in  his  judgment,  were  suited 
to  the  condition  of  the  country.  The  Council 
then  organized,  electing  Henry  Vanderburgh,  Presi- 
dent ;  William  C.  Schenck,  Secretary,  George 
Howard,  Doorkeeper,  and  Abraham  Carey,  Ser- 
geant^at-arms. 

The  House  also  organized,  electing  Edward  Tif- 
fin, Sjieaker ;  John  Reilly,  Clerk ;  Joshua  Row- 
land, Doorkeeper,  and  Abraham  Carey,  Sergeant- 
at-arms. 

This  was  the  first  legislature  elected  in  the  old 
Northwestern  Territory.  During  its  first  session, 
it  pa.ssed  thirty  bills,  of  which  the  Governor  vetoed 
eleven.  They  also  elected  WiUiam  Henry  Harri- 
son, then  Secretary  of  the  Territory,  delegate  to 
Congress.  The  Legislature  continued  in  session 
till  December  19,  having  much  to  do  in  forming 
new  laws,  when  they  were  prorogued  by  the  Gov- 
ernor, until  the  first  Monday  in  November,  1800. 
The  second  session  was  held  in  Chillicothe,  which 
had  been  designated  as  the  seat  of  government  by 
Congress,  until  a  permanent  capital  should  be 
selected. 

May  7,  1800,  Congress  passed  an  act  establish- 
ing Indiana  Territory,  including  all  the  country 
west  of  the  Great  jMiami  River  to  the  Mississippi, 
and  appointed  William  Henry  Harrison  its  Gov- 
ernor.     At  the  autumn  session  of  the  Legislature 

*  Ohio  never  existed  as  a  Territory  proper.  It  was  known,  both 
before  and  after  the  division  of  the  Northwest  Territory,  as  the 
"Territory  northwest  of  the  Ohio  River."  Still,  as  the  country 
comprised  in  its  limits  was  the  principal  theater  of  action,  the  short 
resume  given  here  is  made  necessary  in  the  logical  course  of  events. 
Ohio,  as  Ohio,  never  existed  until  the  creation  of  the  State  in 
March,   1803. 


of  the  eastern,  or  old  part  of  the  Territory,  Will- 
iam McMillan  was  elected  to  the  vacancy  caused 
by  this  act.  By  the  organization  of  this  Territory, 
the  counties  of  Knox,  St.  Clair  and  Randolph, 
were  taken  out  of  the  jurisdiction  of  the  old  Ter- 
ritory, and  with  them  the  representatives,  Henry 
Vandenburgh,  Shadrach  Bond,  John  Small  and 
John  Edgar. 

Before  the  time  for  the  next  Assembly  came,  a 
new  election  had  occurred,  and  a  few  changes  were 
the  result.  Robert  Oliver,  of  Marietta,  was  cho- 
sen Speaker  in  the  place  of  Henry  ^^anderbuigb. 
There  was  considerable  business  at  this  sessidii ; 
several  new  counties  were  to  be  erected  ;  the  couu-' 
try  was  rapidly  filling  with  people,  and  where  the 
scruples  of  the  Governor  could  be  overcnme.  some 
organization  was  made.  He  was  very  tciiacimis  of 
his  power,  and  arbitrary  in  his  rulings,  affiiiiiiiig 
that  he,  alone,  had  the  power  to  create  new  coun- 
ties. This  dogmatic  exercise  of  his  veto  power, 
his  rii;lifs  as  vuh'r.  and  his  defeat  by  the  Indians, 
all  tiihl.  il  ;rj,iiiist  him.  resulting  in  his  displace- 
ment by  tlic  1 'resident.  This  was  done,  however, 
just  at  the  time  the  Territory  came  ft'om  the  second 
grade  of  government,  and  the  State  was  created. 

The  third  session  of  the  Territorial  Legislature 
continued  from  November  24,  1801,  to  January 
23,  1802,  when  it  adjourned  to  meet  in  Cincin- 
nati, the  fourth  Monday  in  November,  but 
owing  to  reasons  made  obvious  by  subsequent 
events,  was  never  held,  and  the  third  session 
marks  the  decline  of  the  Territorial  government. 

April  30,  1802,  Congress  passed  an  act  "to 
enable  the  people  of  the  eastern  division  of  the 
territory  northwest  of  the  Ohio  River,  to  form  a 
constitution  and  State  government,  and  for  the 
admission  of  such  States  into  the  I'nion  on 
an  equal  footing  with  the  original  States,  and  for 
other  purposes."  In  pursuance  of  this  act,  an 
election  had  been  held  in  this  part  of  the  Territory, 
and  members  of  a  constitutional  convention  cho- 
sen, who  were  to  meet  at  (Jliillicothe,  November 
1,  to  perform  the  duty  assigned  them. 

The  people  throughout  the  country  contemplat- 
ed in  the  new  St.ate  were  anxious  for  the  adoption 
of  a  Stat*  government.  The  arbitrary  acts  of  the 
Territorial  Governor  had  heightened  this  feeling  ; 
the  census  of  the  Territory  gave  it  the  lawful 
number  of  inhabitants,  and  nothing  stood  in  its 
way. 

The  convention  met  the  day  designated  and 
proceeded  at  once  to  its  duties.  'When  the  time 
arrived  for  the  opening  of  the  Fourtli  Territorial 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


123 


Leijjislature,  the  couvention  w:us  in  session  and  had 
evidently  about  completed  its  labors.  The  mem- 
bers of  the  Legislature  ( eight  of  whom  were  mem- 
bers of  the  convention )  seeing  that  a  .speedy 
terminatidn  of  the  Territurial  government  Wius  inev- 
itable, wisely  concluded  it  was  inexpedient  and 
unnecessary  to  hold  the  propo.sed  .session. 

The  convention  concluded  it.s  laboi-s  the  29th  of 
Xovember.  The  Constitution  adopted  at  that  time, 
thiiugh  rather  crude  in  .«unie  nf  its  details,  was  an 
excellent  organic  in-strument,  and  remained  almost 
entire  until  1851,  when  the  pre.sent  one  was 
adopted.  Either  is  too  long  for  insertion  here, 
but  either  will  well  pay  a  perusal.  1'he  one  adojited 
by  the  convention  in  18(12  was  never  .•submitted 
to  the  people,  owing  to  the  circumstances  of  the 
times;  but  it  was  submitted  to  Congress  February 
19,  1803,  and  by  that  body  accepted,  and  an  act 
p;u*sed  admitting  Ohio  to  the  Union. 

The  Territorial  governnuMit  ended  March  .3, 
lS(i;5,  by  the  organization,  that  day,  of  the  State 
government,  which  organization  detined  the  pres- 
ent limits  of  the  State. 

"  We,  the  people  of  the  Eastern  Division  of  the  Ter- 
ritory of  the  United  States,  Northwest  of  tlic  Itivcr 
Ohio,  having  the  riglil  of  aJmission  into  tlie  General 
Government  as  a  member  of  tlic  Union,  consistent  with 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  the  (hdinance 
of  Congress  of  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty- 
seven,  and  of  the  law  of  Congress,  entitled  '  An  act  to 
enable  the  people  of  the  Eastern  Division  of  the  Terri- 
tory of  the  United  States  Northwest  of  the  River  Ohio, 
to  form  a  Constitution  and  a  State  Government,  and  for 
the  admission  of  such  State  into  the  Union  on  an  efiual 
footing  with  the  original  States,  and  for  other  purpo- 
ses;' in  order  to  establish  justice,  promote  the  well- 
fare  and  secure  the  blessings  of  liberty  to  ourselves 
and  our  posterity,  do  ordain  and  establish  the  follow- 
ing Constitution  or  form  of  government:  .and  ilo  mu- 
tually agree  with  cich  other  to  form  ourselves  into  a 
free  and  independent  State,  by  the  name  of  the  State 
of  Ohio.  "* — Preamble,   ConstUuHon  of  1802. 

When  the  convention  fonning  the  Constitution, 
completed  it,s  labors  and  presented  the  resultvS  to 
Congress,  and  that  body  passed  the  act  forming 

*  The  name  of  the  State  is  derived  from  the  river  forming  its 
Boiithern  Iwundarj..  Ita  origin  is  somewhat  obscure,  but  is  com- 
monly a*icribed  to  tlie  Indians.  On  this  point,  C<d.  Johnston  says: 
"  The  Sliawanoeso  called  the  Ohio  River  'A'is-fce-pi-tn,  Sfpe,  i.  c,  ^Englc 
River:  The  Wyandols  were  in  tlie  country  generations  t)efore  the 
Shawanoese,  and,  consequently,  their  nameof  the  river  is  the  prim- 
itive one  and  sliuuld  stand  in  preference  to  all  others.  Ohio  may 
t>e  called  an  improvement  on  the  expression,  *0-fce-.TnA,'  and  wai?,  no 
doubt,  adopted  by  the  early  Frencti  voyagers  in  their  iK)at-^ong8, 
and  is  sub^lantialiy  the  same  wort  as  used  by  the  W'yandots:  the 
meaning  applied  by  ttie  French,  fair  and  beautiful  ' /.i  Mte  ritrr,' 
being  the  same  precisely  as  that  meant  tiy  the  Indians — 'great, 
grand  and  fair  to  lootc  upon.'  " — //oice'i  CoUedinna. 

Welwter's  Dictionary  gives  the  word  as  of  Indian  origin,  and  its 
meaning  to  be,  "  Beautiful." 


the  State,  the  territory  included  therein  was  di- 
vided into  nine  counties,  whose  names  and  dates  of 
erection  were  as  fidlows: 

Wtushingtou,  July  27,  1788;  Hamilton,  Janu- 
ary 2,  179II;  (owing  to  the  Indian  war  no  other 
countic-s  were  erected  till  peace  was  restored);  Ad- 
ams, July  10,  1797;  Jt^fferson,  July  29,  1797; 
Ro.s,s,  Autjust  20,  1798;  Clermont,  Fairfield  and 
Trumbull,  December  9,  1800;  Belmont,  Septcm- 
iicr  7,  ISOl.  These  counties  were  the  thickest- 
.-icttled  part  of  the  State,  ytrt  many  other  localities 
needed  organization  and  were  clamoring  for  it,  but 
owing  to  St.  Clair's  views,  he  refused  to  grant 
their  reipiests.  One  of  the  fir.st  acts  on  the  a.s- 
sombling  of  the  State  Legislature,  March  1,  1803, 
w;us  the  creation  of  seven  new  counties,  viz.,  Gal- 
lia, Scioto,  Geauga,  Hutlcr,  Warren,  Greene  and 
Montgomery. 

Section  Sixth  of  the  "Schedule"  of  the  Consti- 
tution retiuired  an  election  for  tlie  various  officers 
and  Representatives  necessary  under  the  new  gov- 
ernment, t«  be  held  the  second  Tuesday  of  Janu- 
ary, 1803,  the.se  officers  to  take  their  seats  and  a.s- 
suine  their  duties  March  3.  The  Second  Article 
provided  for  the  regular  elections,  to  be  held  on 
the  second  Tiie.sday  of  October,  in  each  year.  The 
Governtn-  elected  at  first  was  to  hold  liis  office 
until  the  first  regular  election  could  be  held,  and 
thereafter  to  continue  in  office  two  years. 

The  January  elections  jilactid  Edward  Tiffin  in 
the  Governor's  office,  sent  Jeremiah  Munow  to 
Congress,  and  chose  tin  Assembly,  who  met  on  the 
day  designated,  at  Chillicothe.  Michael  Baldwin 
was  chosen  Speaker  of  the  House,  and  Nathaniel 
.Massie,  of  the  Senate.  The  Assembly  ajipointed 
William  Creighton,  Jr.,  Secretary  of  State  ;  Col. 
Thomas  Gibson,  Auditor ;  William  McFarland, 
Trea.surer;  Return  J.  Meigs,  Jr.,  Samuel  Hun- 
tington and  William  Sjirigg,  Judges  of  the  Sti- 
]ireine  Court;  Francis  Dunlevy.  Wyllys  Sillitnan 
and  Calvin  I'ea.'^e,  President  Judges  of  the  First, 
Second  and  Third  Districts,  and  Thomas  Worth- 
ington  and  Jnhn  Smith,  United  States  Senators. 
Charles  Willing  Byrd  was  made  the  United  States 
District  Judge. 

The  :ict  of  Congress  forming  the  State,  con- 
tained certain  requisitions  regarding  public  schools, 
the  "  salt  springs,"  public  hinds,  taxation  of  Gov- 
ernment lands,  ■'^ymmes'  purchase,  etc.,  which  the 
constitutional  cnnvention  agreed  to  with  a  few 
minor  cimsiderations.  These  Congres.s  accepted, 
and  pa.s.sed  the  act  in  accordance  thereto.  The 
First  General  Assembly  found  abundance  of  work 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


to  do  regarding  these  various  items,  and,  at  once, 
set  themselves  to  the  task.  Laws  were  passed  re- 
garding all  these  ;  new  counties  created  ;  officers 
iipiiiilnted  for  the  same,  until  they  could  be  elected, 
and  courts  and  machinery  of  government  put  in 
motion.  President  Judges  and  lawyers  traveled 
their  circuits  holding  courts,  often  in  the  open  air 
or  in  a  log  shanty ;  a  constable  doing  duty  as 
guard  over  a  jury,  jtrobably  seated  on  a  log  under 
a  tree,  or  in  the  bushes.  The  President  Judge  in- 
s(ructed  the  officers  of  new  counties  in  their  duties, 
and  though  the  whole  keeping  of  matters  accorded 
with  the  times,  an  honest  feeling  generally  pre- 
vailed, inducing  each  one  to  perform  his  part  as 
effectually  as  his  knowledge  permitted. 

The  State  continually  filled  with  people.  New 
towns  arose  all  over  the  country.  Excepting  the 
occasional  sicknesses  caused  by  the  new  climate  and 
ficsh  soil,  the  general  health  of  the  people  im- 
proved as  time  went  on.  They  were  fully  in  ac- 
cord with  the  President,  Jelferson,  and  carefully 
nurtured  those  principles  of  personal  liberty  en- 
grafted in  the  fundamental  law  of  1 7  87,  and  later, 
in  the  Constitution  of  the  State. 

Little  if  any  change  occurred  in  the  natural 
course  of  events,  following  the  change  of  govern- 
ment until  Burr's  expedition  and  plan  of  secession 
in  1805  and  180(3  appeared.  What  his  plans 
were,  have  never  been  definitely  ascertained.  His 
action  related  more  to  the  General  Government, 
yet  Ohio  was  called  upon  to  aid  in  putting  down 
his  insurrection — for  such  it  was  thought  to  be — 
and  defeated  his  purposes,  whatever  they  were. 
His  plans  ended  only  in  ignominious  defeat ;  tlie 
breaking-up  of  one  of  the  finest  homes  in  the 
Western  country,  and  the  expulsion  of  himself  and 
all  those  who  were  actively  engaged  in  his  scheme, 
whatever  its  imports  were. 

Again,  for  a  period  of  four  or  five  years,  no 
exciting  events  occurred.  Settlements  continued  ; 
mills  and  flictories  increased ;  towns  and  cities 
grew  ;  counties  were  created  ;  trade  enlarged,  and 
naught  save  the  common  course  of  events  trans- 
pired to  mark  the  course  of  time.  Other  States 
were  made  fi'om  the  old  North  wast  Territijry,  all 
parts  of  which  were  rapidly  being  occupied  by 
settlers.  The  danger  from  Indian  hostilities  was 
little,  and  the  adventurous  wliites  were  rapidly 
occupying  their  country.  One  thing,  however, 
was  yet  a  continual  source  of  annoyance  to  the 
Americans,  viz.,  the  British  interference  with  the 
Indians.  Their  traders  did  not  scrapie,  nor  fail 
on  every  oppt)rtunity,   to   aid"  these  sons  of   the 


forest  with  arms  and  ammunition  as  occasion 
offered,  endeavoring  to  stir  them  up  against  the 
Americans,  until  events  here  and  on  the  high  seas 
culminated  in  a  declaration  of  hostilities,  and  the 
war  of  1812  was  the  result.  The  deluded  red 
men  found  then,  as  they  found  in  1795,  that  they 
were  made  tools  by  a  stronger  power,  and  dropped 
when  the  time  came  that  they  were  no  longer 
needed. 

Before  the  opening  of  ho.stilities  occurred,  how- 
ever, a  series  of  acts  passed  the  General  Asisembly, 
causing  considerable  excitement.  These  were  the 
famous  "Sweeping  Resolutions,"  passed  in  1810. 
For  a  few  years  prior  to  their  passage,  considera- 
ble discontent  prevailed  among  many  of  the  legis- 
lators regarding  the  rulings  of  the  courts,  and  by 
many  of  these  embryo  law-makers,  the  legislative 
power  was  considered  omnipotent.  They  could 
change  existing  laws  and  contracts  did  they  desire 
to,  thought  many  of  them,  even  if  such  acts  con- 
flicted with  the  State  and  National  Constitutions. 
The  •'  Sweeping  Resolutions  "  were  brought  about 
mainly  by  the  action  of  the  judges  in  declaring 
that  ju.stices  of  the  peace  could,  in  the  collection 
of  debts,  hold  jurisdiction  in  amounts  not  exceed- 
ing fitly  dollars  without  the  aid  of  a  jury.  The 
Constitution  of  the  United  States  gave  the  jury 
control  in  all  such  cases  where  the  amount  did  not 
exceed  twenty  dollars.  There  was  a  direct  con- 
tradiction against  the  organic  law  of  the  land — to 
which  every  other  law  and  act  is  subversive,  and 
when  the  judges  declared  the  legislative  act  uncon- 
stitutional and  hence  null  and  void,  the  Legisla- 
ture became  suddenly  inflamed  at  then-  independ- 
ence, an<I  proceeded  at  once  to  punish  the  admin- 
istrators of  justice.  The  legislature  was  one  of 
the  worst  that  ever  controlled  the  State,  and  was 
composed  of  many  men  who  were  not  only  igno- 
rant of  common  law,  the  necessities  of  a  State,  and 
the  dignity  and  true  import  of  their  office,  but 
were  demagogues  in  every  respect.  Having  the 
power  to  impeach  officers,  that  body  at  once  did 
so,  having  enough  to  carry  a  two-thirds  majority, 
and  removed  several  judges.  Further  maturing 
their  plans,  the  "  Sweepers,"  as  they  were  known, 
construed  the  law  appointing  certain  judges  and 
civil  officers  for  seven  years,  to  mean  seven  years 
fi'om  the  organization  of  the  State,  whether  they 
had  been  officers  that  length  of  time  or  not.  All 
officers,  whether  of  new  or  old  counties,  were  con- 
strued as  included  in  the  act,  and,  utterly  ignoring 
the  Constitution,  an  act  was  passed  in  January, 
1810,  removing  every  civil  officer  in  the  State. 


HISTOKY    OF    OHIO. 


125 


February  1(),  tlioy  i)roceeded  to  fill  all  these  va- 
cant offices,  from  State  officers  down  to  the  lowest 
county  office,  citlior  by  appointment  or  by  ordering 
an  election  in  tlio  njanner  prescribed  by  law. 

The  Constitution  provided  that  the  office  of 
judges  should  continue  for  seven  years,  evidently 
seven  years  from  the  time  they  were  elected,  and 
not  from  the  date  of  the  admission  of  the  State, 
which  latter  construction  this  headlong  Legisla- 
ture had  construed  as  tlic  meaning.  Manj'  of  the 
counties  had  been  organized  but  a  j'ear  or  two, 
others  three  or  four  years ;  hence  an  indescribable 
confusion  arose  as  soon  as  the  new  set  of  officers 
were  appointed  or  elected.  The  new  order  of 
things  could  not  be  made  to  work,  and  finally,  so 
utterly  impu.^sible  did  the  injustice  of  the  proceed- 
ings become,  that  it  was  dropped.  The  decisions 
of  the  courts  were  upheld,  and  the  invidious  doc- 
trine of  supremacy  in  State  legislation  received 
such  a  check  that  it  is  not  likely  ever  to  be  repeated. 

Another  act  of  the  Assembly,  during  this  pe- 
riod, shows  its  construction.  Congress  had  granted 
a  township  of  land  for  the  use  of  a  university,  and 
located  the  townsliip  in  Symmes'  purcha.se.  This 
Assembly  located  the  university  on  land  outside 
of  this  purcha.se,  ignoring  tlie  act  of  Congress,  as 
tliey  had  done  before,  showing  not  only  ignorance 
of  the  true  scope  of  law,  but  a  lack  of  respect  un- 
becoming such  bodies. 

The  seat  of  government  was  also  moved  from 
Chillicothe  to  Zancsville,  which  vainly  hoped  to  be 
made  the  permanent  State  capital,  but  the  next 
session  it  was  again  taken  to  Chillicothe,  and  com- 
missioners appointed  to  locate  a  permanent  capital 
site. 

These  commissioners  were  James  Findlcy,  Jo- 
seph Darlington,  Wyllys  Silliman,  Roa.son  Bcall, 
and  William  McFarland.  It  is  stated  that  they 
rep<irte<l  at  first  in  fovor  of  Dublin,  a  small  town 
on  the  Scioto  about  fourteen  miles  above  Colum- 
bus. At  the  session  of  1812-13,  the  A.s.sembly 
accepted  the  proposals  of  Col.  James  Johnston, 
Alexander  McLaughlin,  John  Kerr,  and  Lyne 
Starling,  who  owned  the  site  of  Columbus.  The 
As,scmbly  also  decreed  that  the  t«mporar\'  seat  of 
government  should  remain  at  Chillicothe  until  the 
buildings  necessary  for  the  State  officers  should  be 


erected,  when  it  would  be  taken  there,  forever  to 
remain.  This  was  done  in  ISlti,  in  December  of 
that  year  the  first  meeting  of  the  Assembly  being 
held  there. 

The  site  selected  for  the  capital  was  on  the  east 
bank  of  the  Scioto,  about  a  mile  below  its  junction 
with  the  Olentangy.  Wide  streets  were  laid  out, 
and  preparations  for  a  city  made.  The  expecta- 
tions of  the  founders  have  been,  in  this  respect,  re- 
alized. The  town  was  laid  out  in  the  .springof  1812, 
under  the  direction  of  Moses  Wright.  A  .sliort 
time  after,  the  contract  for  making  it  the  capital  Wits 
signed.  June  IS,  the  same  day  war  was  declared 
against  Great  Britain,  the  sale  of  lots  took  place. 
Among  the  early  settlers  were  George  3IcCor- 
mick,  Gc(jrge  B.  Harvey,  John  Shields,  jMichael 
Patton,  Alexander  Pattoii,  William  Altman,  John 
Collett,  William  Mcl-^lvain,  Daniel  Kooscr,  Peter 
Putnam,  Jacob  Hare,  Christian  Heyl,  Jarvis,  George 
and  Benjamin  Pike,  William  Long,  and  Dr,  John 
M.  Edmin.soii.  In  1814,  a  house  of  worship  was 
built,  a  .school  opened,  a  new.spaper — The  Wt stern 
Intdligeiicer  and  Columbus  Gazette,  now  the 
Ohio  State  Journal — was  started,  and  the  old 
State  House  erected.  In  1816,  the  "Borough  of 
Columbus"  wa.s  incorporated,  and  a  mail  route  once 
a  week  between  Chillicothe  and  Columbus  started. 
In  1819,  the  old  United  States  Court  House  was 
erected,  and  the  seat  of  justice  removed  from 
Franklinton  to  Columbus.  Until  182(),  times  were 
exceedingly  '■  slow  "  in  the  new  capital,  and  hut  lit- 
tle growth  experienced.  The  improvement  period 
revived  the  capital,  and  enlivened  its  trade  and 
growth  so  that  in  1834,  a  city  charter  was  granted. 
The  city  is  now  about  third  in  size  in  the  State, 
and  contains  man}'  of  the  most  prominent  public 
institutions.  The  jiresent  capitol  building,  one  of 
the  best  in  the  West,  is  patterned  somewhat  after 
the  national  Capitol  at  Washington  Citj'. 

From  the  clo.se  of  the  agitation  of  the  "  Sweeping 
Resolutions,"  until  the  opening  of  the  war  of  1812, 
but  a  short  time  elapsed.  In  fact,  scarcclj'  had 
one  subsided,  ere  the  other  was  upon  the  country. 
Though  the  war  was  national,  its  theater  of  opera- 
tions wa-s  partly  in  Ohio,  that  State  taking  an  act- 
ive part  in  its  operations.  Indeed,  its  liberty 
depended  on  the  war. 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


LIST  OF  TERRITORIAL  AND  STATE  GOVERNORS, 

From  the  organization  of  the  first  civil  government  in  the  Northwest  Territory   (1788  to   1802),  0/ wAi'cA  the  State  of 
Ohio  was  apart,  until  the  year  1880. 


(a)  Arthur  St.  Clair 

*Charles  Willing   Byrd 

(A)  Edward  Tiffin 

(c)  fThomas  Kirker 

Samuel  Huntington 

(d)  Return   Jonathan   Meigs.. 

■[■(Jthniel  Looker 

Thomas  Wortliington 

(p)  Ethan  Allen  Brown 

fAIlen  Trimble 

Jeremiah  Morrow 

Allen  Trimble 

Duncan  McArthur 

Robert  Lucas 

Joseph  Vance 

W  ilson  Shannon 

Thomas  Corwiu 

(f)  Wilson  Shannon 

JThomas  W.  Hartley 

Mordecai  Hartley 

William  Bebb 

(g)  Seabury  Ford 

\k)  Reuben  Wood 

(./)^  William  Medill 

Salmon  P.  Chase 

W illiam  Dennison 

David  Tod 

(k)  John   Brough 

^Charles  Anderson 

Jacob  D.  Cox 

Rutherford  B.  Hayes 

Edward  F.  Noyes 

William  Allen 

(I)  Rutherford  B.  Hayes 

(m)  Thomas  L.  Young 

Richard  M.  Bishop 

Charles  Foster 


Hamilton 

Ross 

Adams 

Trumbull 

Washington... 

Hamilton 

Ross 

Hamilton 

Highland 

Warren 

Highland 

Ross 

Pike 

Champaign  ... 

Belmont 

Warren 

Belmont 

Richland 

Richland 

Butler 

Geauga 

Cuyahoga 

Fairfield 

Hamilton 

Franklin 

Mahoning 

Cuyahoga 

Montgomery.. 

Trumbull 

Hamilton 

Hamilton 

Ross 

Sandusky 

Hamilton 

Hamilton 

Sandusky 


July      1£ 

Nov. 

March 

March 

Dec. 

Dec. 

April 


Dee. 

Dec. 

Jan. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

April 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Jan. 

Dec. 

July 

.Fan. 

Jan. 

.Ian. 

Jan. 

Aug. 

Jan 

Jan. 

.Ian. 

Jan. 

Jan. 

March 

Jan. 

Jan. 


1788 
1802 
1803 
1807 
1808 
1810 
1814 
1814 
1818 
1822 
1822 
1820 
1830 
1832 
1836 
1838 
1840 
1842 
1844 
1844 
184(i 
1849 
1850 
L85; 
18.56 
1860 
1862 
1864 
1865 
186t 


Nov. 

March  3, 
March  4, 
Dec.  I2I 
Dec.  8, 
.March  25, 
Dec.        8 


Dec. 

Jan. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

.\pril 

Dec. 

Dec. 

•Tan. 

Dec. 

July 

Jan. 

Jan. 

Jan. 

Jan. 

Aug. 

Jan. 

Jan. 


1808  Jan. 
1872  Jan. 


1874 
1876 
1877 
1878 
1880 


Jan. 
March 
Jan. 
Jan. 


1802 
1803 
1807 
1808 
1810 
1814 
1814 
1818 
1822 
1822 
1826 
1830 
1832 
1836 
1838 
1840 
1842 
1844 
1844 
1846 
1849 
1850 
1853 
1856 
1860 
1862 
1864 
18G5 
1866 
1868 
1872 
1874 
1876 
1877 
1878 
1880 


(a)  Arthur  St.  Clair, of  Pennsylvania,  was  Governor  of  the  North- 
west Territory,  of  which  Ohio  was  a  part.from  July  l.?,  1788,  when  the 
first  civil  government  was  estahlished  in  the  Territory,  until  about 
the  close  of  the  year  1802,  when  he  was  removed  by  the  President. 

*  Secretary  of  the  Territory,  and  was  acting  Governor  of  the 
Territory  after  the  removal  of  Gov.  St.  Clair. 

(6)  Resigned  March  3, 1807,  to  accept  the  otSce  of  U.  S.  Senator. 

(c)  Return  Jonathan  Meigs  waH  elected  Governor  on  the  second 
Tuesday  of  October,  1807,  over  Nathaniel  Massie,  who  contested  the 
election  of  Meiga,  on  the  ground  that  "he  had  not  been  a  resident  of 
this  State  for  four  years  next  preceding  the  election,  as  required  by 
the  Constitution,"'  and  the  General  Assembly,  in  joint  convention, 
declared  tliat  he  was  not  eligible.  The  office  was  not  given  to 
Massie,  nor  does  it  appear,  from  the  records  that  he  claimed  it,  but 
Thomas  Kirker,  acting  Governor,  continued  to  discharge  the  duties 
of  the  office  until  December  12, 1808,  when  Samuel  Huntington  was 
inaugurated,  he  having  been  elected  on  the  second  Tuesday  of 
October  in  that  year. 

(d)  Resigned  March  25, 1814,  to  accept  the  oflnce  of  Postmaster- 
General  of  the  United  States. 


i  of  Consul  to  Val- 


(e)  Resigned  January  4, 1822.  10  accept  the  office  of  United 
States  Senator. 

(  f)  Resigned  April  13,  1844,  to  accept  the  office  of  Minister  to 
Mexico. 

I.g)  The  result  of  the  election  in  1848  was  not  finally  determined  m 
joint  convention  of  the  two  houses  of  the  General  Assembly  until 
January  19,1849,  and  the  inauguration  did  not  take  place  until  the 
22d  of  that  month. 

(70  Resigned    July  15, 1853  to  accept  th 
paraiso. 

(;■)  Elected  in  October,  1853,  for  the  regular  term,  to  commence 
on  the  srccmd  Monday  of  January,  1854. 

(Jl  Died  August  29, 1SG5. 

f  Acting  Governor. 

X  Acting  Governor,  vice  Wilson  Shannon,  resigned. 

If  Acting  Governor,  vice  Reuben  Wood,  resigned. 

i  Acting  Governor,  vice  John  Brough,  deceased. 

(I)  Resigned  March  2,  1877,  to  accept  the  office  of  President  of 
the  United  States. 

(m)  Vice  Rutherford  B.  Hay< 


HISTORY   OF   OHIO. 


J27 


CHAPTER    XL 

THE  WAR  OF  1S12— GROWTH  OF  THE  STATE— CANAL,  RAILROADS  AND  OTHER  IMPROVEMENTS 
—DEVELOPMENT  OF  STATE   RESOl'RCE.S. 


IN  June,  1812,  war  was  declared  against  Great 
Britain.  Befure  this,  an  act  was  passed  liy  Con- 
gress, autliorizing  tiie  increase  oi"  the  regular  army 
to  thirty-five  thous;»nd  troops,  and  a  large  force  of 
volunteers,  to  serve  twelve  months.  Under  this 
act,  Return  J.  Meigs,  then  (JovtM-nor  of  t)hio,  in 
April  and  May,  1812,  raised  three  regiments  of 
troops  to  serve  twelve  months.  They  rendez- 
voused at  Dayton,  elected  their  officers,  and  pre- 
pared for  the  campaign.  These  regiments  were 
numbered  First,  Second  and  Third.  Duncan  Me- 
Arthur  was  Colonel  of  the  First  ;  James  Findlay, 
of  the  Second,  and  Lewis  ('iiss,  of  the  Third. 
Early  in  June  these  troops  marched  to  Urbana, 
where  they  were  joined  by  Boyd's  Fourth  Regiment 
of  regular  troo]is,  under  command  of  Col.  Miller, 
who  hail  been  in  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe.  Near 
the  miiMIe  of  Juno,  this  little  army  of  about 
twenty-five  hundred  nun.  under  command  of  Gov. 
William  Hull,  of  Michigan,  who  had  been  author- 
ized by  Congress  to  raise  the  troops,  started  on 
its  northern  march.  By  the  end  of  June,  the 
army  had  reached  the  JIaumee,  after  a  very  severe 
march,  erecting,  on  the  way,  Forts  McArthur,  Ne- 
cessitj'  and  Findlay.  By  some  carelessness  on  the 
part  of  the  American  Government,  no  official  word  . 
had  been  sent  to  the  tronticrs  ng:inlini:  the  war, 
while  the  British  had  taken  an  early  precaution  to 
prepare  for  the  crisis.  Gov.  Hull  was  very  care- 
ful in  military  etiquette,  and  refiised  to  march,  or 
do  any  offensive  acts,  unless  commanded  by  his 
superior  officers  at  Washington.  While  at  the 
Maumec,  by  a  careless  move,  all  his  personal 
eflfects,  including  all  his  plans,  number  and  strength 
of  his  army,  etc.,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 
His  campaign  ended  only  in  ignominious  defeat, 
and  wtll-uigh  paralyzed  future  cft'urts.  All  Jlich- 
igan  tell  into  the  hands  of  the  Brilish.  The  com- 
mander, though  a  good  man,  lacked  bravery  and 
promptness.  Had  Gen.  Harrison  been  in  com- 
mand no  such  results  would  have  been  the  case, 
and  the  war  would  have  probably  ended  at  the 
outset. 

Before   Hull   had  surrendered,  Charles  Scott, 
Governor  of    Kentucky,  invited   Gen.  Hanison, 


Governor  of  Indiana  Territory,  to  visit  Frankfort, 
to  consult  on  the  subject  of  ditcnding  the  North- 
west, (rov.  Harrison  had  visited  (iov.  Scott,  and 
in  August,  1812,  accepted  the  appointment  of 
Major  General  in  the  Kentucky  militia,  and,  by 
hasty  traveling,  on  the  receijit  of  the  news  of  the 
surrender  of  Detroit,  reached  Cincinnati  on  the 
morning  of  the  27th  of  that  month.  On  the  HOth 
he  left  Cincinnati,  and  the  next  day  overtook  the 
army  he  was  to  command,  on  its  way  to  Dayton. 
Afler  leaving  Dayton,  he  was  overtaken  by  an  ex- 
press, informing  him  of  his  appointment  by  the 
Government  as  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  armies 
of  the  Indiana  and  Illinois  Territories.  The  army 
reached  Piqua,  September  3.  From  this  place 
Harrison  sent  a  body  of  troops  to  aid  in  the  de- 
fense of  Fort  Wayne,  threatened  by  the  enemy. 
On  the  Gth  he  ordered  all  the  troops  forward,  and 
while  on  the  march,  on  September  17,  he  was 
informed  of  his  appointment  as  commander  of  the 
entire  Northwestern  troops.  He  found  the  army 
poorly  clothed  fi)r  a  winter  campaign,  now  ap- 
proaching, and  at  once  issued  a  stirring  addre.ss  to 
the  people,  asking  for  food  and  comfortable  cloth- 
ing. The  address  was  not  in  vain.  After  his 
apjiointment,  Gen.  Harrison  pushed  on  to  Au- 
glaize, where,  leaving  the  army  under  command  of 
Gen.  Winchester,  he  returned  to  the  interiorof  the 
State,  and  establishing  his  headcjuarters  at  Frank- 
linton,  began  active  measures  for  the  campaign. 

Early  in  March,  1812,  Col.  John  Miller  rai.sed, 
under  orders,  a  regiment  of  infantry  in  Ohio,  and 
in  July  assembled  his  enlisted  men  at  Chillicothe, 
where,  placing  them — only  one  hundred  and  forty 
in  number — under  command  of  Captain  Angus 
Lewis,  he  .sent  them  on  to  the  frontier.  Thcj'  erect- 
ed a  block-house  at  I'iqua  and  then  went  on  to 
Defiance,  to  the  main  bod)'  of  the  armv. 

In  July,  1812,  Gen.  Edward  W.."Tupper,  of 
Grallia  County,  raised  one  thousand  men  for  six 
months'  duty.  Under  orders  fmni  Gen.  AVinches- 
ter,  they  marched  through  Chillicothe  and  Urbana, 
on  to  the  Maumee,  where,  near  the  lower  end  of 
the  rapids,  they  made  an  inefl'ectual  attempt  to 
drive  off  the  enemy.     Failing  in  this,  the  enemy 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


attiicked  Tujiper  and  his  troops,  who,  thougli  worn 
down  with  the  march  and  not  a  Httle  disorganized 
through  tho  jealousies  of  the  officers,  withstood 
the  attack,  and  repulsed  the  British  and  their  red 
allies,  who  returned  to  Detroit,  and  the  Aiuericuus 
to  Fort  McArthur. 

In  the  fall  of  1812,  Gen.  Harrison  ordered  a 
detachment  of  six  hundred  men,  mostly  mounted, 
to  destroy  the  Indian  towns  on  the  Missisineway 
River,  one  of  the  head-waters  of  the  Wabash. 
The  winter  set  in  early  and  with  unusual  severity. 
At  the  same  tiiue  this  expedition  was  carried  on, 
Bonaparte  was  retreating  from  ^Moscow.  Theexpe- 
ditiiin  accomplished  its  design,  though  the  troops 
suffered  greatly  from  the  cold,  no  less  than  two 
hundred  men  being  more  or  less  frost  bitten. 

<Ti>n.  Harrison  determined  at  once  to  retake 
^Michigan  and  establish  a  line  of  defense  along  the 
southern  shores  of  the  lakes.  Winchester  was 
sent  to  occupy  Forts  Wayne  and  Defiance;  Perkins' 
brigade  to  Lower  Sandusky,  to  fortify  an  old 
stockade,  and  some  Pennsylvania  troops  and  artil- 
lery sent  there  at  the  same  time.  As  soon  as 
Gen.  Harrison  heard  the  results  of  the  Missis- 
ineway expedition,  he  went  to  Chillicothe  to  con- 
sult with  Gov.  Meigs  about  further  movements, 
anil  the  best  methods  to  keep  the  way  between  the 
Upper  Miami  and  the  Maumee  continually  open. 
Ho  also  sent  Gen.  Winchester  word  to  move  for- 
ward to  the  rapids  of  the  jVIaumee  and  prepare  for 
winter  quarters.  This  Winchester  did  by  the 
middle  of  January,  1813,  establishing  himself  on 
the  northern  bank  of  the  river,  just  above  Wayne's 
old  battle-ground.  He  was  well  fixed  here,  and 
was  enabled  to  give  his  troops  good  bread,  made  from 
corn  gathered  in  Indian  corn-fields  in  this  vicinity. 

While  here,  the  inhabitants  of  Freni-litown,  on 
the  RaLsin  River,  about  twenty  miles  from  Detroit, 
sent  W^inchester  word  claiming  protection  from  tlie 
threatened  British  and  Indian  invasion,  avowing 
themselves  in  sympathy  with  the  Americans.  A 
council  of  war  decided  in  favor  of  their  request, 
and  Col.  Lewis,  with  .550  men,  sent  to  their  relief. 
Soon  aft«r.  Col.  Allen  was  sent  with  more  troops, 
and  the  enemy  easily  driven  away  from  about 
Frenchtown.  Word  was  sent  to  Gen.  Winchester, 
who  determined  to  march  with  all  the  men  he 
could  spare  to  aid  in  holding  the  post  gained.  He 
left,  the  19th  of  January,  with  250  men,  and  ar- 
rived on  the  evening  of  the  20th.  Failing  to 
take  the  necessary  precaution,  from  some  unex- 
plained reason,  the  enemy  came  up  in  the  night, 
established  his  batteries,  and,  the   next  day,  sur- 


prised and  defeated  the  American  Army  with  a 
terrible  loss.  Gen.  Winchester  was  made  a  pris- 
oner, and,  finally,  those  who  were  intrenched  in 
the  town  surrendered,  under  promise  of  Proctor, 
the  British  commander,  of  protection  from  the 
Imlians.  This  promise  was  gi-ossly  violated  the 
next  day.  The  savages  were  allowed  to  enter  the 
town  and  enact  a  massacre  as  cruel  and  bloody  as 
any  in  the  annals  of  the  war,  to  the  everhisting 
ignominy  of  the  British  General  and  his  troops. 

Tliiise  of  the  American  Army  that  escaped,  ar- 
rived at  the  rapids  on  the  evening  of  the  22d  of 
January,  and  soon  the  sorrowful  news  spread 
throughout  the  army  and  nation.  Gen.  Hamson 
set  about  retrieving  the  disaster  at  once.  Delay 
could  do  no  good.  A  fort  was  built  at  the  rapids, 
named  Fort  Meigs,  and  troops  from  the  south  and 
west  hurriedly  advanced  to  the  scene  of  action. 
The  investment  and  capture  of  Detroit  was  aban- 
doned, that  winter,  owing  to  the  defeat  at  French- 
town,  and  expiration  of  the  terms  of  service  of 
many  of  the  troops.  Others  took  their  places, 
all  parts  of  Ohio  and  bordering  States  sending 
men. 

The  erection  of  Fort  Meigs  was  an  obstacle  in 
the  path  of  the  British  they  determined  to  remove, 
and,  on  the  28th  of  February,  1813,  a  large  band 
of  British  and  Indians,  under  command  of  Proc- 
tor, Tecumseh,  Walk-in-the-water,  and  other  In- 
dian chiefs,  appeared  in  the  Maumee  in  boats,  and 
prepared  for  the  attack.  Without  entering  into 
details  regarding  the  investment  of  the  fort,  it  is 
only  necessary  to  add,  that  after  a  prolonged  siege, 
lasting  to  the  early  part  of  May,  the  British  were 
obliged  to  abandon  the  fort,  having  been  severely 
defeated,  and  sailed  for  the  Canadian  shores. 

Next  followed  the  attacks  on  Fort  Stephenson, 
at  Lower  Sandusky,  and  other  predatory  excur- 
sions, by  the  British.  All  of  these  failed  of  their 
design;  the  defense  of  Maj.  Croghan  and  his  men 
constituting  one  of  the  most  brilliant  actions  of  the 
war.  For  the  gallant  defense  of  F'ort  Stephenson  by 
Maj.  Croghan,  then  a  young  man,  the  army  merited 
the  highest  honors.  The  ladies  of  Chillicothe  voted 
the  heroic  Major  a  fine  sword,  while  the  whole 
land  rejoiced  at  the  exploits  of  him  and  his  band. 

The  decisive  efforts  of  the  army,  the  gi-eat  num- 
ber's of  men  offered — many  of  whom  Gen.  Harrison 
was  obliged  to  send  home,  much  to  their  disgust^ — 
Perry's  victory  on  Lake  Erie,  September  10, 
1813 — all  presaged  the  triumph  of  the  American 
arms,  soon  to  ensue.  As  soon  as  the  battle  on 
the  lake  was  over,  the  Briti.sh   at  Maiden   burned 


:"!- 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


tlicir  stores,  ami  fled,  while  the  Americans,  under 
their  g:illant  couuuander,  followed  them  in  Perry's 
vessel  to  the  Canada  shure,  overtaking  them  on 
the  Kiver  Thames,  October  5.  In  tlie  battle  that 
ensued,  Tecumseh  was  slaiu,and  the  BritLsh  Army 
routed. 

The  war  was  now  practically  closed  in  the  West. 
Ohio  troops  had  done  nobly  in  defending  their 
northern  frontier,  and  in  regaining  the  Northwest- 
ern country.  Gen.  Harrison  was  s<ion  after  elected 
to  Congress  by  the  Cincinnati  district,  and  Oen. 
]>uncan  IMcArthur  was  appointed  a  Brigadier 
General  in  the  regular  army,  and  assigned  to  the 
command  in  his  place.  Gen.  JIcArthur  made  an 
expedition  into  Upper  Canada  in  the  spring  of 
1814,  destroying  considerable  property,  and  driv- 
ing the  British  farther  into  their  own  dominions. 
Peace  w;i3  declared  early  in  1815,  and  tliat  .spring, 
the  troops  were  mustered  out  of  service  at  Chilli- 
cothe,  and  peace  with  England  reigned  supreme. 

The  results  of  the  war  iu  Ohio  were,  for  awhile, 
similar  to  the  Indian  war  of  1795.  It  brought 
many  people  into  the  State,  and  opened  new  por- 
tions, before  unknown.  Many  of  the  .soldiers  im- 
mediately invested  thi;ir  money  in  lands,  and  became 
citizens.  The  war  drove  many  jjyople  from  the 
Atlantic  Coast  west,  and  as  a  result  much  money, 
for  awhile,  circulated.  Labor  and  provisions  ro.se, 
which  enabled  both  workmen  and  tradesmen  to 
enter  tracts  of  land,  and  aided  emigration.  At  the 
conclusion  of  Wayuj's  war  in  179."),  probably 
not  more  than  five  thousand  people  dwelt  in  tiie 
limits  of  the  State  ;  at  the  clo.se  of  the  war  of  1812, 
that  number  was  largely  increa.sed,  (!ven  with  the 
odds  of  war  against  them.  Aft«rthe  last  war,  the 
emigration  was  constant  and  gradual,  building  up 
tlie  State  in  a  manner  that  betokened  a  healthful 
life. 

As  soon  as  the  effects  of  the  war  had  worn  off, 
a  period  of  depression  set  in,  as  a  result  of  too 
free  speculation  indulged  in  at  its  close.  Gradu- 
ally a  stagnation  of  business  ensued,  and  many 
who  found  themselves  unable  to  meet  contracts 
luade  in  "  flush  "  times,  found  no  alternative  but 
to  fail.  To  relieve  the  pressure  in  all  parts  of 
the  West,  Congress,  about  1815,  reduced  the 
price  of  public  lands  from  S2  to  81.25 
per  acre.  This  measure  worked  no  little 
hardship  on  those  who  owned  large  tracts  of 
lands,  for  portions  of  which  they  had  not  fully 
paid,  and  ius  a  consec|Ucnce,  these  lands,  as  well 
as  all  others  of  tliis  class,  reverted  to  the 
Government.     The  general    market    was   in  New 


Orleans,  whither  goods  weie  transported  iu  flat- 
boats  built  especially  for  this  jjuposi;.  This  com- 
merce, though  small  and  poorly  rejiaid,  wa.s  the 
main  avenue  of  trade,  and  did  much  for  the  slow 
prosperit}'  prevalent.  The  few  banks  in  the  State 
found  their  bills  at  a  discount  abroad,  and  gradu- 
ally becoming  drained  of  their  specie,  either  clo.sed 
business  or  fiiiled,  the  major  part  of  them  adopt- 
ing the  latter  course. 

The  steamboat  began  to  be  an  important  factor 
in  the  river  navigation  of  the  West  about  this 
period.  The  first  boat  to  descend  the  Ohio  was 
the  Orleans,  built  at  Pitt.sburg  iu  1812,  and  in 
December  of  that  year,  while  tlie  fortunes  of  war 
hung  over  the  land,  she  made  her  first  trip  from  the 
Iron  City  to  New  Orleans,  being  just  twelve  days 
on  the  way.  The  second,  built  by  Samuel  Smith, 
was  called  the  Comet,  and  made  a  trip  as  far 
south  as  Louisville,  in  the  summer  of  1813.  The 
third,  the  Vesuvius,  was  built  by  Fulton,  and  went 
to  New  Orleans  in  1814.  The  fourth^  built  by 
Daniel  French  at  Brownsville,  Penn.,  made  two 
trips  to  Louisville  in  the  summer  of  1814.  The 
next  vessel,  the  iEtua,  was  built  by  Fulton  & 
Company  in  1815.  So  fast  did  the  business 
increase,  that,  four  years  after,  more  than 
forty  steamers  floated  on  the  Western  waters. 
Improvements  in  machinery  kept  pace  with  the 
building,  until,  in  1888,  a  competent  writer  stated 
there  were  no  less  than  four  hundred  steamers  iu 
the  West.  Since  then,  the  erection  of  railways 
has  greatly  retarded  ship-building,  and  it  is  alto- 
gether probable  the  number  has  increased  but 
little. 

The  question  of  canals  began  to  agitate  the 
Western  country  during  the  decade  succeeding  the 
war.  They  had  been  and  were  being  constructed 
in  older  countries,  and  presaged  good  and  prosper- 
ous times.  If  only  the  waters  of  the  lakes  and 
the  Ohio  Kiver  could  be  united  b)'  a  canal  run- 
ning through  the  midst  of  the  State,  thought  the 
jjeople,  prosjierous  cities  and  towns  would  arise  on 
its  banks,  and  counnerce  flow  through  the  land. 
One  of  the  firmest  friends  of  .such  im]irovemcnts 
was  De  Witt  Clinton,  who  had  been  the  chief  man 
in  forwarding  the  "  Clinton  Canal,''  in  New  York. 
He  was  among  the  first  to  advocate  the  feasibility 
of  a  canal  connecting  Lake  Erie  and  the  Ohio 
River,  and,  by  the  success  of  the  New  York  canals, 
did  much  to  bring  it  about.  Popular  writers  of  the 
day  all  urged  the  scheme,  so  that  when  the  A.ssem- 
bly  met,  early  in  December,  1821,  the  resolution, 
offered  by    Micajah   T.  Williams,  of   Cincinnati, 


130 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


for  the  appointment  of  a  committee  of  five  mem- 
bers to  take  into  consideration  so  much  of  the 
Governor's  message  as  related  to  canals,  and  see  if 
some  feasible  plan  could  not  be  adopted  whereby  a 
beginning  could  be  made,  was  quickly  adopted. 

The  report  of  the  committee,  advising  a  survey 
and  examination  of  routes,  met  with  the  approval 
of  the  Assembly,  and  commissioners  were  ap- 
pointed who  were  to  employ  an  engineer,  examine 
the  country  and  report  on  the  practicability  of  a 
canal  between  the  lakes  and  the  river.  The  com- 
missioners employed  James  Geddes,  of  Onondaga 
County,  N.  Y.,  as  an  engineer.  He  arrived  in 
Columbus  in  June,  1822,  and,  before  eight  months, 
the  corps  of  engineers,  under  his  direction,  had 
examined  one  route.  During  the  next  two  sum- 
mers, the  examinations  continued.  A  number  of 
routes  were  examined  and  surveyed,  and  one,  from 
Cleveland  on  the  lake,  to  Portsmouth  on  the  Oliio, 
was  recommended.  Another  canal,  from  Cincin- 
nati to  Dayton,  on  the  JMiami,  was  determined  on, 
and  preparations  to  commence  work  made.  A 
Board  of  Canal  Fund  Commissioners  was  created, 
money  was  borrowed,  and  the  morning  of  July 
4,  1825,  the  first  shovelful  of  earth  was  dug  near 
Newark,  with  imposing  ceremonies,  in  the  presence 
of  De  Witt  Clinton,  Governor  of  New  York,  and 
a  mighty  concourse  of  people  assembled  to  witness 
the  auspicious  event. 

Gov.  Clinton  was  escorted  all  over  the  State  to 
aid  in  developing  the  energy  everywhere  apparent. 
The  events  were  important  ones  in  the  history  of 
the  State,  and,  though  they  led  to  the  creation  of 
a  vast  debt,  yet,  in  the  end,  the  canals  were  a 
benefit. 

The  main  canal — the  Ohio  and  Erie  Canal^ 
was  not  ciiuipleted  till  1832.  The  Jlaumee  Canal, 
from  Dayton  to  Cincinnati,  was  finished  in  1834. 
They  cost  the  State  about  §G,OU((,000.  Each  of 
the  main  canals  had  branches  leading  to  important 
towns,  where  their  construction  could  be  made 
without  too  much  expense.  The  IMiamiand  Mau- 
mve.  Canal,  from  Cincinnati  northward  along  the 
Mianu  River  to  Piqua,  thence  to  the  Maumee 
and  on  to  the  lake,  was  the  largest  canal  made, 
and,  for  many  years,  was  one  of  the  most  important 
in  the  State.  It  joined  the  Wabash  Canal  on  the 
eastern  boundary  of  Indiana,  and  thereby  saved 
the  construction  of  many  miles  by  joining  this 
great  canal  from  Toledo  to  Evansville. 

The  largest  artificial  lake  in  the  world,  it  is  said, 
was  built  to  supply  water  to  the  Miami  Canal.  It 
exists  yet,  though  the  canal  is  not  much  used.     It 


is  in  the  eastern  part  of  Mercer  County,  and  is 
about  nine  miles  long  by  from  two  to  four  wide. 
It  was  formed  by  raising  two  walls  of  earth  from 
ten  to  thirty  feet  high,  called  respectively  the  east 
and  west  embankments  ;  the  first  of  which  is  about 
two  miles  in  length  ;  the  second,  about  four.  These 
walls,  with  the  elevation  of  the  ground  to  the 
north  and  south,  formed  a  huge  basin,  t(j  retain 
the  water.  The  reservoir  was  commenced  in  1837, 
and  finished  in  1845,  at  an  expense  of  several 
hundred  thousand  dollars.  When  first  built,  dur- 
ing the  accumulation  of  water,  much  malarial 
disease  prevailed  in  the  surrounding  country,  owing 
to  the  stagnant  condition  of  the  water.  The  citi- 
zens, enraged  at  what  they  considered  an  innova- 
tion of  their  rights,  met,  and,  during  a  dark  night, 
tore  out  a  portion  of  the  lower  wall,  letting  the 
water  flow  out.  The  damage  cost  thousands  cif 
dollars  to  repair.  All  who  participated  in  the 
proceedings  were  liable  to  a  severe  imprisonment, 
but  the  state  of  feeling  was  such,  in  fiercer  County, 
where  the  offense  was  committed,  that  no  jury 
could  be  found  that  would  try  them,  and  the  afiair 
gradually  died  out. 

The  canals,  so  efficacious  in  their  day,  were, 
however,  superseded  by  the  railroads  rapidly  find- 
ing their  way  into  the  West.  From  England, 
where  they  were  early  used  in  the  collieries,  the 
transition  to  America  was  easy. 

The  first  railroad  in  the  United  States  was  built 
in  the  summer  of  182G,  from  the  granite  quarry 
belonging  to  the  Bunker  Hill  Monument  Associa- 
tion to  tlie  wharf  landing,  three  miles  distant.  The 
road  was  a  slight  decline  from  the  Cfuarry  to 
the  wharf,  hence  the  loaded  cars  were  pro- 
pelled by  their  own  gravity.  On  their  return, 
when  empty,  they  were  drawn  up  by  a  single 
horse.  C)ther  roads,  or  tramways,  quickly  followed 
this.  They  were  built  at  the  Pennsylvania  coal 
mines,  in  South  Carolina,  at  New  Orleans,  and  at 
Baltimore.  Steam  motive  power  was  u.sed  in  1831 
or  1832,  first  in  America  on  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio 
Railroad,  and  in  Charlestown,  on  a  railroad  there. 

To  transfer  these  highways  to  the  West  was  the 
cjuestion  of  but  a,  few  years'  time.  The  prairies  of 
Illinois  and  Indiana  offered  superior  inducements 
to  such  enterprises,  and,  early  in  1835,  they  began 
to  be  agitated  there.  In  1838,  the  first  rail  was 
laid  in  Illinois,  at  Meredo.sia,  a  little  town  on  the 
Illinoi.s  River,  on  what  is  now  the  Wabash  Railway. 

"The  first  railroad  made  in  Ohio,"  writes  Caleb 
Atwater.  in  his  "History  of  Ohio,"  in  1838,  "was 
finished  in   183G  by  the  people  of  Toledo,  a  town 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


131 


some  two  years  old  then,  situated  near  the  mouth 
of  Maumee  River.  The  road  extends  westward  in- 
to Michigan  and  is  some  thirty  miles  in  length. 
There  is  a  road  ahout  to  bo  made  from  Cincinnati 
to  Springfield.  This  road  follows  the  Ohio  River 
up  to  the  Little  Jliami  River,  and  there  turns 
northwardly  up  its  valley  to  Xenia,  and,  passing 
the  Yellow  Springs,  reaches  Springfield.  Its  length 
must  be  about  ninety  miles.  The  State  will  own 
one-half  of  the  road,  individuals  and  the  city  of 
Cincinnati  the  other  half.  This  road  will,  no 
doubt,  be  extended  to  Lake  Krie,  at  Sandusky 
City,  within  a  few  short  years." 

'•  There  is  a  railroad."  continues  3Ir.  Atwater, 
"about  to  be  made  from  Painesville  to  the  Ohio 
River.  There  are  many  charters  for  other  roads, 
which  will  never  be  made." 

Mr.  Atwater  notes  also,  the  various  turnpikes  as 
■well  as  the  famous  National  road  trom  Baltimore 
westward,  then  completed  only  to  the  mountains. 
This  latter  did  a-s  much  as  any  enterprise  ever  en- 
acted in  building  up  and  populating  the  West. 
It  gave  a  uaticmal  thoroughfare,  which,  for  many 
years,  was  the  ]irincipal  wagon-way  from  the  At- 
lantic to  the  [Mississippi  Valley. 

The  railroad  to  which  jMr.  Atwater  refers  a.s 
about  to  be  built  from  Cincinnati  to  Springfield, 
was  what  w;ls  known  as  the  Mad  River  Raih'oad. 
It  is  commonly  conceded  to  be  the  first  one  built 
in  Ohio.*  Its  hustory  shows  that  it  was  chartered 
March  11,  1830,  that  work  began  in  1837;  that 
it  was  completed  and  opened  for  business  from 
Cincinnati  to  Milford,  in  December,  1S42;  to  Xe- 
nia, in  Augu.st,  184.^,  and  to  Springfield,  in  Au- 
gu.st,  1841).  It  was  laid  with  strap  rails  until 
about  1848,  when  the  present  form  of  rail  was 
adopted. 

()ne  of  the  earliest  roads  in  Ohio  was  what  w;ls 
known  as  the  Sandusky,  Mansfield  &  Newark  Kail- 
road.  It  was  chartered  at  first  as  the  Mom-oevillc 
&  Sandusky  City  Railroad,  March  0,  183.5.  March 
12,  1836,  the  Mansfield  &  New  Haven  road  was 
chartered;  the  Columbus  &  Lake  Erie,  March  12, 

1845,  and   the   Huron   &   Oxford,   February  27, 

1846.  At  first  it  ran  only  from  Sandusky  to 
Monroeville,  then  from  Mansfield  to  Huron.  These 

*  Hon.  E  D.  Mansfield  states,  in  1873,  tli«t  tlie  "  flmt  a/-tiiai  piece 
of  milroaJ  liii.l  in  Ohio,  was  made  on  thn  Cincinnali  A  Sandusky 
Railroad;  but,  .al»>ut  the  same  time  we  tiavo  tlie  Little  Miami  Rail- 
roa.l,  which  w.is  surveyed  in  18;!G  and  LsriT.  If  this,  the  generally 
accepted  opinion,  Is  correct,  then  Mr.  Atwater*8 statement  as  given, 
la  wrong.  His  hittorv  is,  however,  generally  concede<l  to  be  correct. 
Written  in  1838,  he  surely  ought  to  know  whereof  he  was  writing, 
aa  the  railroads  were  then  only  in  construction  ;  but  few,  if  any, 
in  operation. 


two  were  connected  and  consolidated,  and  then  ex- 
tended to  Newark,  and  finally,  by  connections,  to 
Columbus. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  follow  closely  the  history  of 
these  improvements  through  the  yeare  succeeding 
their  introduction.  At  first  the  State  owned  a 
share  in  nearly  all  railroads  and  canals,  but  finally 
finding  it.solf  in  debt  about  815,000,1)00  for  such 
improvements,  and  learning  by  its  own  and  neigh- 
bors' experiences,  that  such  policy  was  detrimental 
to  the  best  interests  of  the  people,  abandoned  the 
plan,  and  allowed  j)rivate  parties  entire  control  of 
all  such  works.  After  the  close  of  the  Jloxican 
war,  and  the  return  to  solid  values  in  1854  or  there- 
abouts, the  increa.se  of  railroads  in  all  jiarts  of  Ohio, 
as  well  as  all  parts  of  the  West,  was  simply  marvel- 
ous. At  this  date  there  are  more  than  ten  thou- 
s;md  miles  of  railroads  in  Ohio,  alongside  of  which 
stretch  innumerable  lines  of  telegraph,  a  system  of 
switt  messages  invented  by  Prof  Slorse,  and  adopted 
in  the  United  States  about  1851. 

About  the  time  railroad  building  began  to  as- 
sume a  tangible  shape,  in  1840,  occurred  the  cele- 
brated political  campaign  known  in  history  as  the 
"  Hard  Cider  Campaign."  The  gradual  encroach- 
ments of  the  slave  power  in  the  West,  its  arrogant 
attitude  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  and 
iu  several  State  legislatures  :  its  forcible  .seizure  of 
slaves  in  the  free  States,  and  the  enactment  and 
attem])ted  enforcement  of  the  "  fugitive  slave"  law 
all  tended  to  awaken  in  the  minds  of  the  Northern 
people  an  antagonism,  terminating  only  in  the  late 
war  and  the  abolishment  of  that  hideous  system  iu 
the  United  States. 

The  "  Whig  Party"  strenuously  urged  the 
abridgm<>nt  or  confinement  of  slavery  in  the 
Southern  States,  and  in  the  contest  the  party  took 
a  most  active  part,  and  elected  William  Henry 
Harrison  President  of  the  United  States.  As  he 
had  been  one  of  the  foremost  leadei-s  in  the  war  of 
1812,  a  resident  of  Ohio,  and  one  of  its  most  pop- 
ular citizens,  a  log  cabin  and  a  ban-el  of  cider  were 
adopted  as  hLs  exponents  of  popular  opinion,  as 
expressive  of  the  rule  of  the  common  ])eo)ilc  repre- 
sented in  the  cabin  and  cider,  in  turn  representing 
their  ])rimitive  and  simple  habits  of  life.  He 
lived  but  thirty  days  after  his  inauguration,  dying 
on  the  !»th  of  April,  1841,  when  John  Tyler,' the 
Vice  President,  succeeded  him  as  Chief  Executive 
of  the  nation. 

The  building  of  railroads;  the  extension  of  com- 
meree;  the  settlement  of  all  part>s  of  the  State; 
its  growth   in   commerce,  education,  religion   and 


132 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


population,  are  the  chief  events  from    1841    to  the  an  insane  idea  that  something  could   be   had  for 

Mexican  war.     Hard  times  occurred  about  iis  often  j  nothing.     The  bubble  burst  as  often  as  inflated, 

as  they  do  now,  preceded  by  "  flush"  times,  when  I  ruining  many  people,  but  seemingly  teaching  few 

speculation  ran  rife,  the  people  all  infatuated  with  \  lessons. 


CHAPTER    XII. 


MEXICAN    WAR- 


-  CONTINUED     GROWTH    OF    THE    STATE— WAR    OF    THE    REBELLION- 
PART    IN    THE    CONFLICT. 


THE  Mexican  War  grew  out  of  the  question  of 
the  annexation  of  Texas,  then  a  province  of 
Jlexico,  whose  territory  extended  to  the  Indian 
Territory  on  the  north,  and  on  up  to  the  Oregon 
Territory  on  the  Pacific  Coast.  Texas  had  been 
settled  largely  bj'  Americans,  who  saw  the  condi- 
tion of  affairs  that  would  inevitably  ensue  did  the 
country  remain  under  Mexican  rule.  They  first 
took  steps  to  secede  from  Mexico,  and  then  asked 
the  aid  of  America  to  sustain  them,  and  annex  the 
country  to  itself. 

The  Whig  party  and  many  others  opposed  this, 
chiefly  on  the  grounds  of  the  extension  of  slave 
territory.  But  to  no  avail.  The  war  came  on, 
Mexico  was  conquered,  the  war  lasting  from  April 
20,  18-46,  to  May  30,  1848.  Fifty  thousand  vol- 
unteers were  called  for  the  war  by  the  Congress, 
and  $10,000,000  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the 
Pre.sident,  James  K.  Polk,  to  sustain  the  army  and 
prosecute  the  war. 

The  part  that  Ohio  took  in  the  war  may  be 
briefly  summed  up  as  follows :  She  had  five  vol- 
unteer regiments,  five  companies  in  the  Fifteenth 
Infantry,  and  several  independent  companies,  with 
her  full  proportion  among  the  regulars.  When 
war  was  declared,  it  was  something  of  a  crusade  to 
many ;  full  of  romance  to  others ;  hence,  many 
more  were  offered  than  could  be  received.  It  was 
a  campaign  of  romance  to  some,  yet  one  of  reality, 
ending  in  death,  to  many. 

When  the  first  call  for  troops  came,  the  First, 
Second  and  Third  Reuimi'iils  nf  infantry  responded 
at  once.  Alexander  Mitclicll  was  made  Colonel  of 
the  First;  John  B.  Wellerits  Lieutenant  Colonel  ; 
and  Major  L.  Giddings,  of  Dayton,  its  Major, 
Thos.  L.  Hamer,  one  of  the  ablest  lawyers  in  Ohio, 
started  with  the  First  as  its  Major,  but,  before  the 
regiment  left  the  State,  he  was  made  a  Brigadier 
General  of  Volunteers,  and,  at  the  battle  of  Mon- 
terey, distinguished  himself;  and  there  contracted 


disease  and  laid  down  hi.s  life.  The  regiment's 
Colonel,  who  had  been  wounded  at  Monterey,  came 
home,  removed  to  3Iinnesota,  and  there  died. 
Lieut.  Col.  Weller  went  to  California  after  the 
close  of  the  war.  He  was  United  States  Senator 
from  that  State  in  the  halls  of  Congress,  and,  at 
last,  died  at  New  Orleans. 

The  Second  Regiment  was  commanded  by  Col. 
George  W.  Morgan,  now  of  Mount  Vernon  ;  Lieut. 
Col.  William  Irwin,  of  Lancaster,  and  Maj.  Will- 
iam Wall.  After  the  war  closed,  Irwin  settled  in 
Texas,  and  remained  there  till  he  died.  Wall  lived 
out  his  days  in  Ohio.  The  regiment  was  never  in 
active  field  service,  but  was  a  credit  to  the  State. 

The  officers  of  the  Third  Regiment  were.  Col. 
Samuel  R.  Curtis;  Lieut.  Col.  G.  W.'McCookand 
JMaj.  John  Love.  Tlie  first  two  are  now  dead  ; 
the  Major  lives  in  McConnellsville. 

At  the  close  of  the  finsl  year  of  the  war,  these 
regiments  (First,  Second  and  Third)  were  mustered 
out  of  service,  as  their  term  of  enlistment  had 
expired. 

When  the  second  year  of  the  war  began,  the 
call  for  more  troops  on  the  part  of  the  Government 
induced  the  Second  Ohio  Infantry  to  re-organize, 
and  again  enter  the  service.  William  Irwin,  of  the 
former  organization,  was  chosen  Colonel;  William 
Latham,  of  Columbus,  Lieutenant  Colonel,  and 
William  H.  Link,  of  Circleville,  Major.  Nearly 
all  of  them  are  now  dead. 

The  regular  army  was  increased  by  eight  Ohio 
companies  of  infantry,  the  Third  Dragoons,  and 
the  Voltigeurs — light-armed  soldiers.  In  the  Fif- 
teenth Regiment  of  the  United  States  Army,  there 
were  five  Ohio  companies.  The  others  were  three 
from  Michigan,  and  two  from  Wisconsin.  Col. 
Morgan,  of  the  old  Second,  was  made  Colonel  of 
the  Fifteenth,  and  John  Howard,  of  Detroit,  an 
old  artillery  officer  in  the  regular  army.  Lieutenant 
Colonel.     Samuel  Wood,  a  captain    in   the   Sixth 


^1 


HISTORY   OF   OHIO. 


133 


United  States  lutiintry,  was  luado  Jlajiir ;  but  was 

afterward  sueeeedeJ   by  Mill,   uf"   Vermont. 

The  Fifteenth  was  iu  a  number  of  skirmishes  at  first, 
and  later  in  the  battles  of  Contreras,  Cherubusco 
and  Chapultepec.  At  the  battle  of  Cherubusco, 
the  Colonel  was  severely  wounded,  and  Maj.  Mill, 
with  several  officers,  and  a  large  number  of  men, 
killed.  For  gallant  service  at  Contrcnis,  Col.  Mor- 
gan, though  only  twenty-seven  years  old,  w.is  made 
a  Brevet  Brigadier  Genend  in  the  United  States 
Army.  Since  the  war  he  has  delivered  a  number 
of  addresses  in  Ohio,  on  the  campaigns  in  Mex- 
ico. 

The  survivors  of  the  war  arc  now  few.  Though 
seventy-five  thousand  men  from  the  United  States 
went  into  that  conflict,  less  than  ten  thousand  now 
survive.  They  are  now  veterans,  and  as  such  de- 
light to  recount  their  reminiscences  on  tlie  fields  of 
Mexico.  They  ai'e  all  in  the  decline  of  life,  and 
ere  a  generation  passes  away,  few,  if  any,  will  be 
left. 

After  the  war,  the  continual  growth  of  Ohio, 
the  change  in  all  its  relations,  necessitated  a  new 
organic  law.  The  Constitution  of  1852  was  the 
result.  It  re-affirmed  the  political  principles  of 
the  "ordinance  of  1787  "  and  the  Constitution  of 
1802,  and  made  a  few  changes  necessitated  by  the 
advance  made  in  the  interim,  [t  created  the 
office  of  Lieutenant  Governor,  fixing  the  term  of 
service  at  two  years.  This  Constitution  yet  stands 
notwithstanding  the  prolonged  attempt  in  187"5-74: 
to  create  a  new  one.  It  is  now  the  organic  law  of 
Ohio. 

From  this  time  on  to  the  opening  of  the  late  war, 
the  prosperity  of  the  State  received  no  check. 
Towns  and  cities  grew ;  railroads  multiplied;  com- 
merce w;ls  extended;  the  vacant  lands  were  raj)idly 
filled  by  settlers,  and  everything  tending  to  the 
advancement  of  the  people  was  well  prosecuted. 
Banks,  after  much  tribulation,  had  become  in  a 
measure  somewhat  secure,  their  only  and  serious 
drawback  being  their  isolation  or  the  confinement 
of  their  circulation  to  their  immediate  localities. 
But  signs  of  a  mighty  contest  were  apparent.  A 
contest  almost  without  a  parallel  in  the  annals  of 
history ;  a  contest  between  freedom  and  slavery ; 
lictwcen  wrong  and  right;  a  contest  that  could 
only  end  in  defeat  to  the  wrong.  The  Republican 
party  came  into  existence  at  the  close  of  President 
Tierce's  term,  in  1855.  Its  object  then  was,  prin- 
cipally, the  restriction  of  the  slave  jiower ;  ultimately 
its  extinction.  One  of  the  chief  e.xponcntsand  sup- 
porters of  this  growing  party  in  Ohio,  wa.-^Salmon  P. 


Chase;  one  who  never  faltered  nor  lost  faith;  and 
who  was  at  the  helm  of  Stale;  in  the  halls  of  Con- 
gress; chief  of  one  the  most  important  bureaus  of 
the  Government,  and,  finally,  Chief  Justice  of  the 
United  States.  When  war  came,  after  the  election 
of  Abraham  Lincoln  by  the  Republican  party,  Ohio 
was  one  of  the  first  to  answer  to  the  call  for  troops. 
Mr.  Chase,  while  Governor,  had  re-organized  the 
militia  on  a  sensible  basis,  and  rescued  it  from  the 
ignominy  into  which  it  had  fallen.  When  Mr. 
Lincoln  asked  for  seventy-five  thousand  men, 
Ohio  s  (juota  w:is  thirteen  regiments.  The  various 
chaotic  regiments  and  militia  troops  in  the  State 
did  not  exceed  1 ,500  men.  The  call  was  issued 
April  15,  18()1  ;  by  the  18th,  two  regiments  were 
organized  iu  Columbus,  whither  tlu^se  companies 
had  gathered;  before  sunrise  of  the  l!)th  the  Jii-xt 
and  second  regiments  were  on  their  way  to  Wash- 
ington City.  The  President  had  only  a.skcd  for 
thirteen  regiments;  thirty  were  gathering;  the 
Government,  not  yet  fully  comprehending  the 
nature  of  the  rebellion,  refused  the  surplus  troops, 
but  G<iv.  Dennison  Wiis  authorized  to  put  ten 
additional  regiments  in  the  field,  as  a  defensive 
measure,  and  was  also  authorized  to  act  on  tlie 
defensive  as  well  as  on  the  offensive.  The  immense 
extent  of  southern  bordt^'  made  this  necessary, 
as  all  the  loyal  people  in  West  Virginia  and  Ken- 
tucky asked  for  help. 

In  the  limits  of  this  history,  it  is  impossible  to 
trace  all  the  steps  Ohio  took  in  the  war.  One  of 
her  most  talented  sons,  now  at  the  head  of  one  of 
the  greatest  newspapers  of  the  world,  says,  regard- 
ing the  action  of  the  people  and  their  Legislature : 

"  In  one  part  of  the  nation  there  existed  a  grad- 
ual growth  of  senliiMcnt  against  the  Union,  ending 
in  o|ien  hostility  against  its  integrity  and  its  Con- 
stitutional law;  on  tint  other  side  stood  a  resolute, 
and  determined  people,  though  divided  in  minor 
matters,  firmly  united  on  the  question  of  national 
supremacy.  The  jieojile  of  Ohio  stood  squarely 
on  this  side.  Belore  this  her  people  had  been  di- 
vided up  to  the  hour  when — 

"'That  fierce  and  sudilen  Hash  across  the  nigged  black- 
ness broke. 

And,  with  a  voice  that  shook  the  land,  the  guns  of  Sum- 
ter spoke ; 

**»***»♦* 

And   whereso'cr  the   summons  came,  there  rose  the 

angry  din. 
As  when,  upon  a  rocky  coast,  a  stormy  tide  sets  in.' 

"  All  waverings  then  ceased  among  the  people 
and  in  the  Ohio  Legislature.     The  Union  must  be 


■f- 


IIISTOKY    OF    OHIO. 


preserved.  Tlie  wliite  heat  of  patriotism  and  fe- 
alty to  the  flag  that  had  beeu  vietoriou.s  in  three 
wars,  and  had  never  met  but  temporary  defeat 
then  mehed  all  parties,  and  dissolved  all  hesitation, 
and,  .Vjiril  18,  18G1,  by  a  unanimous  vote  of 
ninety-nine  llepreseutativcs  in  its  favor,  there  was 
passed  a  bill  appropriating  §500,000  to  carry  into 
effect  the  requisition  of  the  President,  to  protect 
the  Xational  tlovernment,  of  which  sum  §450,000 
were  to  purchase  arms  and  e(pipments  for  the 
troops  requireil  by  that  re(juisition  as  the  quota  of 
Ohio,  and  §50,00(1  as  an  extraordinary  contingent 
fund  for  the  Governor.  The  commissioners  of  the 
State  Sinking  Fund  were  authorized,  by  the  same 
bill,  to  borrow  this  money,  on  the  G  per  cent  bonds 
of  the  State,  and  to  issue  for  the  same  certificates, 
freeing  such  bonds  from  taxation.  Then  followed 
other  such  legislation  that  declared  the  property  of 
volunteers  free  from  execution  tor  debt  during 
their  term  of  service;  that  declared  any  resident 
of  the  State,  who  gave  aid  and  comfort  to  the 
enemies  of  the  Union,  guilty  of  treason  against 
the  State,  to  be  punished  by  imprisonment  at  hard 
labor  for  life;  and,  as  it  hail  become  already  evi- 
dent that  thousands  of  militia,  beyond  Ohio's 
quota  of  the  President's  call,  would  volunteer,  the 
Legislature,  adopting  the  sagacious  suggestion  of 
Gov.  Dennison,  resolved  that  all  excess  of  volunteers 
should  be  retained  and  paid  for  service,  under 
direction  of  the  Governor.  Thereupon  a  bill 
was  passed,  authorizing  the  acceptance  of  volunteers 
to  form  ten  regiments,  and  providing  §500,000 
for  their  arms  and  equipments,  and  §1,500,000 
more  to  be  disbursed  for  troops  in  case  of  an  in- 
vasion of  the  State.  Then  other  legislation  was 
enacted,  looking  to  and  providing  against  the  ship- 
ment from  or  through  the  State  of  arms  or  mu- 
nitions of  war,  to  States  either  assuming  to  be 
neutral  or  in  open  rebellion;  organizing  the  whole 
body  of  the  State  militia;  providing  suitable  oiE- 
cers  for  duty  on  the  staff  of  the  Governor ;  re- 
(juiring  contracts  for  subsistence  of  volunteers  to 
be  let  to  the  lowest  bidder,  and  authorizing  the 
appointment  of  additional  general  oificers. 

"  Beibre  the  adjournment  of  that  Legislature, 
the  Speaker  of  the  House  had  resigned  to  take 
command  of  one  of  the  regiments  then  about  to 
start  for  Washington  City ;  two  leading  Senators 
liad  beeu  appointed  Brigadier  Generals,  and  many, 
in  fact  nearly  all,  of  the  other  members  of  both 
houses  had,  iu  one  capacity  or  another,  entered  the 
military  service.  It  was  the  first  war  legislature 
ever  elected  in  Ohio,  and,  under  sudden  pressure. 


nobly  met  the  first  shock,  and  enacted  the  first 
measures  of  law  for  war.  Laboring  under  difficul- 
ties inseparable  from  a  condition  so  unexpected, 
and  in  the  performance  of  duties  so  novel,  it  may 
be  historically  stated  that  fljr  patriotism,  zeal  and 
ability,  the  Ohio  Legislature  of  1861  was  the 
equal  of  any  of  its  successors ;  while  in  that  exu- 
berance of  patriotism  which  obliterated  party  lines 
and  united  all  in  a  common  effort  to  meet  the 
threatened  integrity  of  the  United  States  as  a 
nation,  it  surjsassed  them  both. 

"  The  war  was  fought,  the  slave  power  forever 
destroyed,  and  under  additional  amendments  to  her 
organic  law,  the  Ll^nited  States  wi]ied  the  stain  of 
human  slavery  from  her  escutchenn.  lilnTatingover 
four  million  human  beings,  niuetccn-twentieths  of 
whom  were  native-born  residents. 

"  When  Lee  surrendered  at  Appomattox  Court 
House,  Ohio  had  two  hundred  regiments  of  all 
arms  in  the  National  service.  In  the  course  of 
the  war,  she  had  furnished  two  hundred  and  thirty 
regiments,  besides  twenty-six  independent  batteries 
of  artillery,  five  independent  companies  of  cavalry, 
several  companies  of  sharii.-.h(Mjters.  largf  jiarts  of 
five  regiments  cvi'ilited  to  the  AVest  A'iigiuia  con- 
tingent, two  regiments  ereilited  to  the  Kentucky 
contingent,  two  transferred  to  the  United  States 
colored  troops,  and  a  large  proportion  of  the  rank 
and  file  of  the  Fitly-fourth  and  Sixty-fifth  Massa- 
chusetts lii'giuieuts.  also  colored  men.  Ofthe.se  or- 
ganizations, twenty-three  were  infantry  regiments 
furuished  on  the  first  call  of  the  President,  an  ex- 
cess of  nearly  one-half  over  the  State's  quota  ;  one 
hundred  and  ninety-one  were  infantry  regiments, 
furnished  on  sui>sequent  calls  of  the  President — 
one  hundred  and  seventeen  for  three  years,  twenty- 
seven  for  one  year,  two  for  six  uinnths,  two  for 
three  months,  and  forty-two  for  one  hundred  days. 
Thirteen  were  cavalry,  and  three  artillery  for  three 
years.  Of  these  three-years  troops,  over  twenty 
thousand  re-enlisted,  as  veterans,  at  the  cml  of 
their  long  term  of  service,  to  fight  till  the  war 
would  end.  " 

As  original  members  of  these  organizations,  Ohio 
furuished  to  the  National  service  the  magnificent 
army  of  310,G54  actual  soldiers,  omitting  from 
the  above  number  all  those  who  paid  commuta- 
tion money,  veteran  enlistments,  and  citizens  who 
enlisted  as  soldiers  or  sailors  in  other  States.  The 
count  is  made  from  the  reports  of  the  Provost 
Marshal  General  to  the  War  Department.  Penn- 
sylvania gave  not  quite  28,000  more,  while  Illinois 
fell    48,000    behind;     Indiana,    116,000    less; 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


^^ 


Kentucky,  235,000,  and  Massachusetts,  104,000. 
Tims  Oliio  more  than  maintained,  in  the  National 
army,  tiie  ranic  among  her  sisters  which  her  popu- 
lation supported.  Ohio  furnished  more  troops  than 
the  President  ever  required  of  her  ;  and  at  the 
end  of  the  war,  with  more  than  a  thousand  men  in 
the  camp  of  the  State  who  were  never  mu.stered 
into  the  .service,  she  still  had  a  credit  on  the  rolls 
of  the  War  Dejjartment  for  4,332  soldiers,  beyond 
the  aggregate  of  all  quotas  ever  assigned  to  her; 
and,  besides  all  these,  6,479  citizens  had.  in  lieu  of 
])ersonal  service,  paid  the  commutation ;  while  In- 
diana, Kentucky,  Pennsylvania  and  New  York 
were  all  from  five  to  one  hundred  thousand  behind 
their  quota-s.  So  ably,  through  all  those  years  of 
trial  and  death,  did  she  keep  the  promise  of  the 
memorable  disj)atch  from  her  first  war  Governor : 
"  If  Kentucky  refuses  to  till  her  quota,  Ohio  will 
fill  it  for  her." 

"Of  the.se  troops  11,237  were  killed  or  mor- 
tally wcmnded  in  action,  and  of  these  6,563  were 
left  dead  on  the  field  of  battle.  They  fought  on 
well-uigh  every  battle-field  of  the  war.  AVithin 
forty-eight  houi-s  after  the  first  call  was  made  for 
troops,  two  rcgiment.s  were  on  the  way  to  Wash- 
ington. An  Ohio  brigade  covered  the  retreat  from 
the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run.  Ohio  troops  formed 
the  bulk  of  army  that  saved  to  the  Union  the 
territory  afterward  erected  into  West  Virginia  ; 
the  bulk  of  the  army  that  kept  Kentucky  from 
seceding ;  a  large  part  of  the  army  that  captured 
F(jrt  Donclson  and  Island  No.  1 0 ;  a  great  part  of 
the  array  that  from  Stone  River  and  Chiekamauga, 
and  Mission  Ridge  and  Atlanta,  swept  to  the  sea 
and  captured  Fort  McAllister,  and  north  through 
the  Carolinas  to  Virginia." 

When  Sherman  started  on  his  famous  march  to 
the  sea,, some  one  .said  to  President  Lincoln,  '-They 
will  never  get  through;  they  will  all  be  captured, 
and  the  l.'nion  will  be  lost."  "  It  is  impossible," 
re])lied  the  President ;  "it  cannot  be  done.  Thrre 
is  a  ml;iliii/  sight  of  fight  in  one  hundred  thou- 
sand   iVfsti^rn   men.' 

Ohio  troops  fought  at  Pea  Ridge.  They  charged 
at  Wagner.  They  helped  redeem  North  Carolina. 
They  were  in  the  sieges  of  A'icksburg,  Charleston, 
Mobile  and  Richmond.  At  Pittsburg  Landing, 
at  Antietam,  Gettysburg  and  Corinth,  in  the 
Wilderness,  at  Five  Forks,  before  Nashville  and 
Appomattox  Court  House ;  "  their  bones,  reposing 
on  the  fields  they  won  and  in  the  graves  they  fill,  are 
a  perpetual  pledge  that  no  fliur  shall  ever  wave  over 
their  graves  but  that  flag  they  died  to  maintain." 


Ohio's  soil  gave  birth  to,  or  furnished,  a  Grant, 
a  Sherman,  a  Sheridan,  a  McPherson,  a  Rosecrans, 
a  MeClellan,  a  McDowell,  a  Mitchell,  a  Gilmore,  a 
Hazen,a  Sill,  a  Stanley, a  Stcadman.and  others — all 
but  one,  children ofthe country, reared  at  West  Point 
for  such  emergencies.  Ohio's  w;ir  record  shows 
one  General,  one  Lieutenant  General,  twenty-  Major 
Generals,  twenty-seven  Brevet  Major  Generals,  and 
thirty  Brigadier  Generals,  and  one  hundred  and 
fifty  Brevet  Brigadier  Generals.  Her  three  war 
Governors  were  William  Dennison,  David  Todd,  and 
John  Brough.  She  furnished,  at  the  same  time, 
one  Secretary  of  War,  Edwin  M.  Stanton,  and 
one  Secretary  of  the  Treasury.  Salmon  P.  Chase. 
Her  Senators  were  Benjamin  F.  Wade  and  John 
Sherman.  At  least  three  out  of  five  of  Ohio's 
able-bodied  men  stood  in  the  line  of  battle.  On 
the  head  stone  of  one  of  these  soldiers,  who  gave 
his  life  for  the  country,  and  who  now  lies  in  a 
National  Cemetery,  is  inscribed  these  words : 

"  \Vc  charge  the  Iivin<;  lo  preserve  that  Constitution  we 
have  died  to  defend." 

The  close  of  the  war  and  return  of  peace  brought 
a  period  of  fictitious  values  on  the  country,  occa- 
sioned by  the  immense  amount  of  currenc)'  afloat. 
Property  rose  to  unheard-of  values,  and  everything 
with  it.  Ere  long,  however,  the  decline  came,  and 
with  it  "  hard  times."  The  climax  broke  over  the 
countr}-  in  1873,  and  for  awhile  it  seemed  as  if 
the  country  was  on  the  verge  of  ruin.  People 
found  again,  as  preceding  generations  had  found, 
that  real  value  was  the  only  basis  of  true  prosper- 
ity, and  gradually  began  to  work  to  the  fact.  The 
Government  established  the  specie  basis  by 
gradual  means,  and  on  the  1st  day  of  January, 
1879,  began  to  redeem  its  outstanding  obligatiims 
in  coin.  The  efi"ect  was  felt  everywhere.  Busi- 
ness of  all  kinds  sprang  anew  into  life.  A  feeling 
of  confidence  grew  as  the  times  went  on,  and  now, 
on  the  threshold  of  the  year  1 880,  the  State  is  en- 
tering on  an  era  of  steadfast  prosperity  ;  one  which 
has  a  sure  and  certain  foundation. 

Nearly  four  years  have  ela])ed  since  the  great 
Centennial  Exhibition  was  held  in  Philadelphia ; 
an  exhibition  that  brought  from  every  State  in  the 
Union  the  best  products  of  her  soil,  fiictorias,  and 
all  industries.  In  that  exhibit  Ohio  made  an  ex- 
cellent display.  Her  stone,  iron,  coal,  cereals, 
woods  and  eveiything  pertaining  to  lier  welfare  were 
all  represented.  Ohio,  occupying  the  middle  ground 
of  tlie  Union,  was  expected  to  show  to  foreign  na- 
tions what  the  valleys  of  the  Mississippi  and  Ohio 


138 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


coukl  jmiducc.  The  State  nobly  stood  the  test 
aud  ranked  foremost  among  all  others.  Her  cen- 
tennial building  was  among  the  first  completed 
and  among  the  neatest  and  best  on  the  grounds. 
During  the  summer,  the  Centennial  Commission 
extended  invitations  to  the  Governors  of  the  several 
States  to  appoint  an  orator  and  name  a  day  for  his 


delivery  of  an  address  on  the  history,  progi'ess  and 
resources  of  his  State.  Gov.  Hayes  named  the 
Hon.  Edward  D.  Mansfield  for  this  purpose,  and 
August  9th,  that  gentleman  delivered  an  address 
so  valuable  for  the  matter  wliieli  it  contains,  that 
we  here  give  a  synopsis  of  it. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 


OHIO    IN    THE    CENTENNIAL— ADDRESS    OF    EDWARD    D.    MANSFIELD,   LL.   D.,  PHILADELnilA, 

AUGUST    9,    1870. 


ONE  hundred  j-ears  ago,  the  whole  territory, 
from  the  Alleghany  to  the  Rocky  ^Iduutains 
was  a  wilderness,  inhabited  only  by  wild  beasts  and 
Indians.  The  Jesuit  and  Moravian  missionai'ies 
were  the  only  white  men  who  had  penetrated  the 
wilderness  or  ])eheld  its  mighty  lakes  and  rivers. 
While  the  thirteen  old  colonies  were  declaring 
their  independence,  the  thirteen  new  States,  which 
now  lie  in  the  western  interior,  had  no  existence, 
and  gave  no  sign  of  the  future.  The  solitude  of 
nature  was  unbroken  by  the  steps  of  civilization. 
The  wisest  statesman  had  not  contemplated  the 
probability  of  the  coming  States,  and  the  boldest 
patriot  did  not  dream  that  this  interior  wilderness 
should  soon  contain  a  greater  population  tlian  the 
thirteen  old  States,  with  all  the  added  growth  of 
one  hundred  years. 

Ten  years  after  that,  the  old  States  had  ceded 
their  Western  lands  to  the  General  Government, 
and  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  had  passed 
the  ordinance  of  I7S5,  for  the  survey  of  the  pub- 
lic territory,  and,  in  1787,  the  celebrated  ordinance 
which  organized  the  Northwestern  Territory,  and 
dedicated  it  to  freedom  and  intelligence. 

Fifteen  years  after  that,  and  more  than  a  quarter 
of  a  century  after  the  Declaration  of  Independ- 
ence, the  State  of  Ohio  was  admitted  into  the 
Union,  being  the  seventeenth  which  accepted  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States.  It  has  since 
grown  up  to  be  great,  populous  and  prosperous 
under  the  influence  of  those  ordinances.  At  her 
admittance,  in  1803,  the  tide  of  emigration  had 
begun  to  flow  over  the  Alleghanies  into  the  Valley 
of  the  Mississippi,  and,  although  no  steamboat,  no 
railroad  then  existed,  nor  even  a  stage  coach  helped 
the  immigrant,  yet  the  wooden  "  ark "  on  the 
Ohio,  and  the  heavy  wagon,  slowly  winding  over 


the  mountains,  bore  these  tens  of  thou.sands  to  the 
wilds  of  Kentucky  and  the  plains  of  Ohio.  In 
the  spring  of  1788 — the  first  year  of  settlement — 
four  thousand  five  hundred  persons  passed  the 
mouth  of  the  Muskingum  in  three  months,  and 
the  tide  continued  to  pour  on  for  half  a  century  in 
a  widening  .stream,  mingled  with  all  the  races  of 
Europe  and  America,  until  now,  in  the  hundredth 
yearof  America'sindependence,  thefive  Statesof  the 
Northwestern  Territory,  in  the  wilderness  of  1776, 
contain  ten  millions  of  people,  enjoying  all  the 
blessings  which  peace  and  prosperity,  freedom  and 
Christianity,  can  confer  upon  any  people.  Of  these 
five  States,  born  under  the  ordinance  of  1787,  Ohio 
is  the  first,  olde.st,  and,  in  many  things,  the  gi'eatest. 
In  some  things  it  is  the  greatest  State  in  the  Union. 
Let  us,  then,  attempt,  in  the  briefest  terms,  to 
draw  an  outline  portrait  of  this  great  and  remark- 
able commonwealth. 

Let  us  observe  its  physical  aspects.  Ohio  is 
just  one-sixth  part  of  the  Northwestern  Territory 
— 10,000  S((uare  miles.  It  lies  between  Lake  Erie 
and  the  Ohio  River,  having  200  miles  of  navigable 
waters,  on  one  side  flowing  into  the  Atlantic  Ocean, 
and  on  the  other  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  Through 
the  lakes,  its  vessels  touch  on  6,000  miles  of 
interior  coast,  and,  through  the  Mississippi,  on 
36,000  miles  of  river  coast;  so  that  a  citizen  of 
Ohio  may  pursue  his  navigation  through  42,000 
miles,  all  in  his  own  country,  and  all  within  naviga- 
ble reach  of  his  own  State.  He  who  has  circumnavi- 
gated the  globe,  has  gone  but  little  more  than 
half  the  distance  which  the  citizen  of  Ohio  finds 
within  his  natural  reach  in  this  vast  interior. 

Looking  upon  the  .surface  of  this  State,  we  find 
no  mountains,  no  barren  sands,  no  marshy  wastes, 
no  lava-covered    plains,   but  one  broad,    compact 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


body  of  arable  land,  intci'seetcJ  with  rivers  and 
sitreaius  and  runiiiny;  wat<rs,  whik'  the  beautiful 
Ohio  flows  trauciuilly  b}'  its  side.  More;  than  three 
tfmes  the  surface  of  Belgium,  and  one-third  of  the 
whole  of  Italy,  it  has  more  natural  resources  in 
[iroportion  than  either,  and  is  eajiable  of  ultimately 
supporting  a  larger  [)o]mlation  than  any  equal  sur- 
face ill  Europe.  Looking  from  this  great  arable 
surface,  where  upon  the  very  hills  the  gra.ss  and 
the  forest  trees  now  grow  exuberant  and  abundant, 
we  find  that  underneath  this  surface,  and  easily 
accessible,  lie  10,000  .scjuare  miles  of  coal,  and 
4,000  square  miles  of  iron — coal  and  iron  enough 
to  supply  the  basis  of  manufacture  for  a  world ! 
All  this  vast  deposit  of  metal  and  fuel  does  not  in- 
terrupt or  take  fi-om  that  arable  surface  at  all. 
There  you  may  find  in  one  place  the  same  machine 
bringing  up  coal  and  salt  water  from  below,  while 
the  wheat  and  the  corn  grow  upon  the  surface 
above.  The  immense  masses  of  coal,  iron,  salt  and 
freestone  deposited  below  have  not  in  anj'  way 
diminished  the  fertility  and  production  of  the  soil. 

It  has  been  said  by  some  writer  that  the  char- 
acter of  a  people  is  shaped  or  modified  by  the 
character  of  the  countiy  in  which  they  live.  If 
the  people  of  Switzerland  have  acquired  a  certain 
air  of  liberty  and  indejiendence  from  the  rugged 
mountains  around  which  they  live;  if  the  people 
of  Southern  Italy,  or  beautiful  France,  have  ac- 
quired a  tone  of  ease  and  politeness  from  their 
mild  and  genial  clime,  so  the  people  of  Ohio, 
placed  amidst  such  a  wealth  of  natur<',  in  the  tem- 
perate zone,  should  show  the  be.st  fruits  of  peace- 
ful industry  and  the  best  culture  of  Christian 
civilization.  Have  they  done  so?  Have  their 
own  labor  and  arts  and  culture  come  up  to  the  ad- 
vantages of  their  natural  situation?  Let  us  exam- 
ine this  growth  and  their  product. 

The  first  settlement  oi'  Ohio  was  made  by  a 
colony  from  New  England,  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Muskingum.  It  was  literally  a  remnant  of  the 
officers  of  the  Revolution.  Of  this  colony  no 
praise  of  the  historian  can  be  its  competent,  or  as 
strong,  as  the  language  of  Washington.  He  says, 
in  answer  toin(|uirics  addressed  to  him:  "No  col- 
<itiy  in  .\^merica  was  ever  .settled  under  such  favor- 
able ausiiices  as  that  which  has  ju.st  commenced  at 
the  Muskingum.  Information,  prosperity  and 
strength  will  be  its  characteristics.  I  know  many 
of  the  settlers  personally,  and  there  never  were 
men  better  calculated  to  promote  the  welfare  of 
.such  a  community;"  and  he  adds  that  if  he  were 
a  young  man,  he  knows  no  country  in  which  he 


would  sooner  settle  than  in  this  Western  region." 
This  colony,  lefl  alone  for  a  time,  made  it,s  own 
government  and  nailed  its  laws  to  a  tree  in  the  vil- 
lage, an  early  indication  of  that  law-abiding  and 
peaceful  spirit  which  has  .since  made  Ohio  a  just 
and  well-ordered  community.  The  subsequent 
settlements' on  the  Miami  and  Scioto  were  made  by 
citizens  of  New  Jersey  and  Virginia,  and  it  is  cer- 
tainly remarkable  that  among  all  the  early  immi- 
gration, there  were  no  ignorant  people.  In  the 
language  of  Washington,  they  came  with  "  infor- 
mation," qualified  to  promote  the  welfare  of  the 
community. 

Soon  afler  the  settlement  on  the  3Iuskingum 
and  the  Miami,  the  great  wave  of  migration 
flowed  on  to  the  plains  and  valleys  of  Ohio  and  Ken- 
tucky. Kentucky  had  been  .settknl  earlier,  but  the 
main  body  of  emigiants  in  subsequent  yc;irs 
went  into  Ohio,  influenced  partly  by  the  great 
ordinance  of  1787,  securing  freedom  and  schools 
forever,  and  partly  by  the  greater  security  of 
titles  under  the  survey  and  guarantee  of  the 
United  States  Government.  So(jn  the  new  State 
gTew  up,  with  a  rapidity  which,  until  then,  was 
unknown  in  the  history  of  civilization.  On  the 
Muskingum,  where  the  buffalo  had  roamed ;  on 
the  Scioto,  where  the  Shawances  had  built  their 
towns;  on  the  Miami,  where  the  great  chiefs  of 
the  Miamis  had  reigned  ;  on  the  plains  of  San- 
dusky, yet  red  with  the  blood  of  the  white  man  ; 
on  the  >Iaume«'.  where  Wayne,  by  the  victory  of 
the  '■  Fallen  Timbers,"  had  broken  the  power  of 
the  Indian  confederacy — the  emigrants  from  the 
old  States  and  from  Europe  came  in  to  cultivate 
the  fields,  to  build  up  towns,  and  to  rear  the  insti- 
tutions of  Christian  civilization,  until  the  single 
State  of  Ohio  is  greater  in  numbers,  wealth,  and 
education,  than  was  the  whole  American  Union 
when  the  Declaration  of  Independence  was  made. 

Let  us  now  look  at  the  statistics  of  this  growth 
and  magnitude,  as  they  arc  exhibited  in  the  cen- 
sus of  the  United  States.  Taking  intervals  of 
twenty  years,  Ohio  had:  In  ISIO,  230,700;  in 
18.30,  937,90.3;  in  1850,  1,980,329;  in  1870, 
2,665,260.  Add  to  this  the  increase  of  population 
in  the  last  six  years,  and  Ohio  now  has,  in  round 
numbers,  3,000,000  of  peoiile — half  a  million 
more  than  the  thirteen  States  in  1770  ;  and 
her  cities  and  towns  have  to-day  six  times  the 
population  of  all  the  cities  of  America  one  hund- 
red years  ago.  This  State  is  now  the  third  in 
numbers  and  wciilth.  and  the  first  in  some  of 
those    institutions    which    mark   the  progress  of 


140 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


mankind.  That  a  .small  part  of  the  wilderness  of 
177G  should  be  more  populous  than  the  whole 
Union  was  then,  and  that  it  .should  have  made  a 
social  and  moral  advance  greater  tlian  that  of  any 
nation  in  the  same  time,  must  be  regarded  as  one 
of  the  most  startling  and  instructive  ficts  which 
attend  this  year  of  commemoration.  If  such  has 
been  the  social  growth  of  Ohio,  let  us  look  at  its 
physical  development ;  this  is  best  expressed  by  the 
aggregate  productions  of  the  labor  and  arts  of  a 
people  applied  to  the  earth.  In  the  census  statistics 
of  the  United  States  these  are  expressed  in  the 
aggregate  results  of  agriculture,  mining,  manufact- 
ures, and  commerce.  Lot  us  simplify  these  statis- 
tics, by  comparing  the  aggregate  and  ratios  as 
between  several  States,  and  between  Ohio  and  some 
countries  of  Europe. 

The  aggTegate  amount  of  grain  and  potatoes — 
farinaceous  food,  produced  in  Ohio  in  1870  was 
134,938,413  bushels,  and  in  1874,  there  were  157,- 
323,597  bushels,  being  the  largest  aggregate 
amount  raised  in  any  State  but  one,  Illinois,  and 
larger  per  square  mile  than  Illinois  or  any  other 
State  in  the  country.  The  promises  of  nature 
wore  thus  vindicated  by  the  labor  of  man  ;  and 
the  industry  of  Ohio  has  fulfilled  its  whole  duty 
to  the  sustenance  of  the  country  and  the  world. 
She  has  raised  more  grain  than  ten  of  the  old 
States  together,  and  more  than  half  raised  by 
Great  Britain  or  by  France.  I  have  not  the 
recent  statistics  of  Europe,  but  McGregor,  in  liis 
statistics  of  nations  for  1832 — a  period  of  pro- 
found peace — gives  the  following  ratios  for  the 
leading  countries  of  Europe :  Great  Britain,  area 
120,324  miles;  amount  of  grain,  202,500,000 
bushels;  rate  per  square  mile,  2,190  to  1; 
Austria — area  258,603  miles  ;  amount  of  grain, 
3GG, 800, 000  bushels;  rate  per  square  mile,  l,422to 
1;  France — area  215,858  miles;  amount  of  grain, 
233,847,300  bushels  ;  rate  per  square  mile,  1,080 
to  1.  The  State  of  Ohio — area  per  scjuare  miles, 
40,000;  amount  of  grain,  150,000,000  bushels; 
rate  per  square  mile,  3,750.  Combining  the  great 
countries  of  Great  Britain,  Austria,  and  France, 
we  find  that  they  had  594,785  square  miles  and 
produced  803,147,300  bushels  of  grain,  which  was,  at 
the  time  these  statistics  were  taken,  1 ,450  bushels  per 
square  mile,  and  ten  bushels  to  each  one  of  the 
population.  Ohio,  on  the  other  hand,  had  3,750 
bushels  per  square  mile,  and  fifty  bushels  to  each 
one  of  the  population ;  that  is,  there  was  five 
times  as  much  grain  rai.sed  in  Ohio,  in  proportion 
to  the  people,  as  in  these  great  countries  of  Europe. 


As  letters  make  words,  and  words  express  ideas,  so 
these  dry  figures  of  statistics  express  facts,  and 
these  facts  make  the  whole  history  of  civilization. 

Lot  us  now  look  at  the  statistics  of  domestic 
animals.  These  are  always  indicative  of  the  state 
of  society  in  regard  to  the  physical  comforts.  The 
horse  must  furni.sh  domestic  conveyances;  the 
cattle  must  furnish  the  products  of  the  dairy,  as 
well  as  meat,  and  the  sheep  must  furnish  wool. 

Let  us  see  how  Ohio  compares  with  other  States 
and  with  Eurojje :  In  1870,  Ohio  had  8,818,000 
domestic  animals  ;  Illinois,  6,925,000  ;  New  York, 
5,283,000;  Pennsylvania,  4,493,000;  and  other 
States  less.  The  proportion  to  population  in  these 
States  was,  in  Ohio,  to  each  penson,  3.3  ;  Illinois, 
2.7;  New  York,  1.2;  Pennsylvania,  1.2. 

Let  us  now  see  the  proportion  of  domestic  ani- 
mals in  Europe.  The  results  given  by  McGregor's 
statistics  are  :  In  Great  Britain,  to  each  person, 
2.44;  llus.sia,  2.00  ;  France,  1.50  ;  Prussia,  1.02; 
Austria,  1.00.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  proportion 
in  Great  Britain  is  only  two-thirds  that  of  Ohio; 
in  France,  only  one-half;  and  in  Austria  and 
Prussia  only  one-third.  It  may  be  said  that,  in 
the  course  of  civilization,  the  number  of  animals 
diminishes  as  the  density  of  population  increases  ; 
and,  therefore,  this  result  might  have  been  ex- 
pected in  the  old  countries  of  Europe.  But  this 
does  not  apply  to  Rus.sia  or  Germany,  still  less  to 
other  States  in  this  country.  Kussia  in  Europe 
has  not  more  than  half  the  density  of  population 
now  in  Ohio.  Austria  and  Prussia  have  less  than 
150  to  the  square  mile.  The  whole  of  the  north 
of  Europe  has  not  so  dense  a  population  as  the 
State  of  Ohio,  still  less  have  the  States  of  Illinois 
and  Missouri,  west  of  Ohio.  Then,  therefore, 
Ohio  showing  a  larger  proportion  of  domestic  ani- 
mals than  the  north  of  Europe,  or  States  west  of 
her,  with  a  population  not  so  dense,  we  see  at  once 
there  must  be  other  causes  to  produce  such  a 
phenomenon. 

Looking  to  some  of  the  incidental  results  of  this 
vast  agricultural  production,  we  see  that  the  United 
States  exports  to  Europe  immense  amounts  of 
grain  and  provisions ;  and  that  there  is  manufact- 
ured in  this  country  an  immense  amount  of  woolen 
goods.  Then,  taking  these  statistics  of  the  raw 
material,  we  find  that  Ohio  produces  one-fifth  of 
all  the  wool;  one-seventh  of  all  the  cheese;  one- 
eighth  of  all  the  corn,  and  one-tenth  of  all  the 
wheat ;  and  yet  Ohio  has  but  a  fourteenth  part  of 
the  population,  and  one-eightieth  part  of  the  sur- 
face of  this  country. 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


Let  us  take  anotlier — a  ccimmereial  view  of  this 
matter.  AVe  have  seen  that  Ohio  raises  five  times 
as  much  grain  per  sijuarc  mile  as  is  raised  per 
square  mile  in  the  empires  of  Great  Britain,  France 
and  Austria,  t;iken  toj^etlier.  Aft«r  makiiip:  allow- 
ance for  the  differences  of  living:,  in  the  working 
cla.sses  of  this  country,  at  least  two-thirds  of  the 
food  and  grain  of  Ohio  are  a  surplus  beyond  the 
necessities  of  life,  and,  therefore,  so  much  in  the 
commercial  balance  of  exports.  This  corresponds 
with  the  fact,  that,  in  the  shape  of  grain,  meat, 
licjuors  and  dairy  products,  this  v.ist  surplus  is  con- 
stantly moved  to  the  Atlantic  States  and  to  Europe. 
The  mono}'  value  of  this  exported  product  is  equal 
to  8100,0(KI.0(I0  per  annum,  and  to  a  solid  capital 
of  81,500,000,000,  after  all  the  sustenance  of  the 
people  has  been  taken  out  of  the  annual  crop. 

We  are  speaking  of  agriculture  alone.  We  arc 
speaking  of  a  State  which  began  its  career  more 
than  a  quarter  of  a  century  after  the  Declaration 
of  Independence  was  made.  And  now,  it  may  be 
asked,  what  is  the  real  cause  of  this  extraordinary 
result,  which,  without  .saying  anything  invidious  of 
other  States,  we  may  safely  say  has  never  been 
surpiLssed  in  any  country  ?  We  have  already 
stated  two  of  the  advantages  po.sse.ssed  by  Ohio. 
The  first  is  that  it  is  a  comjiact,  unbroken  body  of 
arable  land,  surrounded  and  intersected  by  water- 
courses, equal  to  all  the  demands  of  commerce  and 
navigation.  Xcxt,  that  it  was  .secured  forever  to 
freedom  and  intelligence  b}' the  ordinance  of  1787. 
The  intelligence  of  it,s  future  people  was  secured 
by  immense  grants  of  public  lands  for  the  purpose 
of  education;  but  neither  the  blessings  of  nature, 
nor  the  wisdom  of  laws,  could  obtiijn  such  results 
without  the  continuous  labor  of  an  intelligent 
people.  Such  it  had.  and  we  have  only  to  take 
the  testimony  of  Wa.shington,  already  quoted,  and 
the  statistical  results  I  have  given,  to  prove  tliat 
no  people  has  exhibited  more  steady  industry,  nor 
has  any  people  directed  their  labor  with  more  in- 
telligence. 

After  the  agricultural  capacity  and  production 
of  a  country,  its  most  important  physical  feature 
is  its  mineral  products;  its  capacity  for  coal  and 
iron,  the  two  great  olenicnta  of  material  civiliza- 
tion. If  we  were  to  take  away  from  Great  Britain 
her  capacity  to  produce  coal  in  such  v:ist  fjuanti- 
ties,  we  should  reduce  her  to  a  third-rate  position, 
no  longer  numbered  among  the  great  nations  of  the 
earth.  Coal  has  smelted  her  iron,  run  her  steam 
engines,  and  is  the  basis  of  her  manufactures. 
But   when    we   compare   the   coal   fields  of  Great 


Britain  with  those  of  this  country,  they  are  in.sig- 
nificant.  The  coal  fields  of  all  Hurope  are  small 
compared  with  those  of  th(^  central  United  States. 
The  coal  district  of  Durham  and  Northumberland, 
in  England,  is  only  880  square  miles.  There  are 
other  districts  of  smaller  extent,  making  in  the 
whole  probably  one-half  the  extent  <jf  that  in 
Ohio.  The  English  coal-beds  are  representiKi  as 
more  important,  in  reference  to  extent,  on  account 
of  their  thickness.  There  is  a  small  coal  district 
in  Lanca-shire,  where  the  workable  coal-beds  are  in 
all  150  feet  in  thickness.  But  this  involves,  as  is 
well  known,  tlu;  necessity  of  going  to  immense 
depths  and  incurring  immense  expense.  On  the 
other  hand,  the  workable  coal-beds  of  Ohio  are 
near  the  surface,  and  some  of  them  require  no  ex- 
cavating, except  that  of  the  horizcmtal  lead  from 
the  mine  to  the  river  or  the  railroad.  In  one 
county  of  Ohio  there  are  thn*  beds  of  twelve,  six 
and  four  feet  eich,  within  fifty  feet  of  the  surface. 
At  some  of  the  mines  having  the  best  coal,  the 
lead  from  the  mines  is  nearly  horizontal,  and  just 
high  enough  to  dump  the  coal  into  the  railroad 
cars.  These  coals  are  of  all  qualities,  from  that 
adapted  to  the  domestic  fire  to  the  very  best  qual- 
ity for  smelting  or  manufacturing  iron,  llecollect- 
ing  these  facts,  let  us  try  to  get  an  idea  of  the  coal 
district  of  Ohio,  The  bituminous  coal  region  de- 
escending  the  western  slopes  of  the  Alleghanios, 
occupies  large  portions  of  Western  Pennsylvania, 
West  Virginia,  Ohio,  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  I 
suppose  that  this  coal  field  is  not  less  than  fifty 
thousand  square  miles,  exclusive  of  Western  Mary- 
land and  the  southern  terminations  of  that  field  in 
Georgia  and  Alabama.  Of  this  vast  field  of  coal, 
exceeding  an3'thing  found  in  Hurope,  about  one- 
fifth  part  lies  in  Ohio.  Prof.  Mather,  in  his 
report  on  the  geology  of  the  State  (first  Geologi- 
cal Report  of  the  State)  says: 

"  The  coal-measures  within  Ohio  occupy  a  space 
of  about  one  hundred  and  eighty  miles  in  li-ngth  by 
eighty  in  breadth  at  the  widest  part,  with  an  area 
of  about  ten  thojLsand  s(|uare  miles,  extending 
along  the  Ohio  from  Trumbull  County  in  the  north 
to  near  the  mouth  of  the  Scioto  in  the  south. 
The  regularity  in  the  dip,  and  the  moderate  incli- 
nation of  the  .strata,  aff<ird  iiicilities  to  the  mines 
not  known  to  tho.se  of  most  other  countries,  espe- 
cially Great  Britain,  where  the  strata  in  which  the 
coal  is  imbedded  have  been  broken  and  thrown  out 
of  place  .since  its  deposit,  occa.sioning  many  slips 
and  fiiults,  and  causing  much  labor  and  expens<;  in 
again  recovering  the  bed.     In  Ohio  there  is  very 


5    "V 


142 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


little  difficulty  uf  this  kiud,  the  faults  being  small 
aud  seldom  found." 

Now,  taking  into  consideration  these  geological 
facts,  let  us  look  at  the  extent  of  the  Ohio  coal 
field.  It  occupies,  wholly  or  in  part,  thirty-six 
counties,  including,  geographically,  1-1,000  S(juare 
miles  ;  but  leaving  out  tractions,  and  reducing  the 
Ohio  coal  field  within  its  narrowest  limits,  it  is 
10,000  S([uare  miles  in  extent,  lies  near  the  surface, 
and  lias  on  an  average  twenty  feet  thickness  of  work- 
able coal-beds.  Let  us  compare  this  with  the  coal 
mines  of  Durham  and  Northumberland  (England), 
the  largest  and  best  coal  mines  there.  That  coal 
district  is  estimated  at  850  s((uare  miles,  twelve 
feet  thick,  and  is  calculated  to  contain  9,000,000,- 
000  tons  of  coal.  The  coal  field  of  Ohio  is  twelve 
times  larger  and  one-third  thicker.  Estimated  by 
that  standard,  the  coal  field  of  Ohio  contains  180,- 
000,000,000  tons  of  coal.  Marketed  at  only  m 
per  ton,  this  coal  is  worth  §300,000,000,000,  or, 
in  other  words,  ten  times  as  much  as  the  whole 
valuation  of  the  United  States  at  the  present  time. 
But  we  need  not  undertake  to  estimate  either  its 
(juantity  or  value.  It  is  enough  to  say  that  it  is  a 
((uautity  which  we  can  scarcely  imagine,  which  is 
tenfold  that  of  England,  and  which  is  enough  to 
supply  the  entire  continent  for  ages  to  come. 

After  coal,  iron  is  beyond  doubt  the  most  val- 
uable mineral  product  of  a  State.  As  the  mate- 
rial of  manufacture,  it  is  the  most  important. 
What  are  called  the  "  precious  metals"  are  not  to 
be  compared  with  it  as  an  clement  of  industry  or 
profit.  But  since  no  manufactures  can  be  success- 
fully carried  on  without  fuel,  coal  becomes  the  first 
material  element  of  the  arts.  Iron  is  unquestion- 
ably the  next.  Ohio  has  an  iron  district  extending 
from  the  mouth  of  the  Scioto  River  to  some  point 
north  of  the  Mahoning  River,  in  Trumbull  County. 
The  whole  length  is  nearly  two  hundred  miles,  aud 
the  breadth  twenty  miles,  making,  as  near  as  we  can 
ascertain,  4,000  s<|uare  miles.  The  iron  in  this  dis- 
trict is  of  various  (jualities,  and  is  manufactured 
largely  into  bars  and  castings.  In  this  iron  dis- 
trict are  one  hundred  furnaces,  forty-four  rolling- 
mills,  and  fifteen  rail-mills,  being  the  largest  num- 
ber of  either  in  any  State  in  the  Union,  except 
only  Pennsylvania. 

Although  only  the  seventeenth  State  in  its  admis- 
sion, I  find  that,  by  the  census  statistics  of  1870, 
it  is  the  third  State  in  the  production  of  iron  and  iron 
manufactures.  Already,  and  within  the  life  of 
one  man,  this  State  begins  to  show  what  must  in 
future  time  be  the  vast  results  of  coal    and  iron, 


applied  to  the  arts  and  manufactures.  In  the 
year  1874,  there  were  420,000  tons  of  pig  iron 
produced  in  Ohio,  which  is  larger  than  the  prod- 
uct of  any  State,  except  Penn.sylvania.  The 
product  and  the  manufacture  of  iron  in  Ohio 
have  increased  so  rapidly,  and  the  bajiis  for 
increase  is  so  great,  that  we  may  not  doubt  that 
Ohio  will  continue  to  be  the  greatest  producer  of 
iron  and  iron  fabrics,  except  only  Pennsylvania. 
At  Cincinnati,  the  iron  manufacture  of  the  Ohio 
Valley  is  concentrating,  and  at  Cleveland  the  ores 
of  Lake  Superior  are  being  smelted. 

After  coal  and  iron,  we  may  place  salt  among 
the  necessaries  of  life.  In  connection  with  the 
coal  region  west  of  the  Alleghanies,  there  lies  in 
Pennsylvania,  West  Virginia,  and  Ohio,  a  large 
space  of  country  underlaid  by  the  salt  rock,  which 
already  produces  immense  amounts  of  salt.  Of 
this,  Ohio  has  its  ftill  proportion.  In  a  large 
section  of  the  southeastern  portion  of  the  State, 
salt  is  produced  without  any  known  limitation. 
At  Pomeroy  and  other  points,  the  salt  rock  lies 
about  one  thousand  feet  below  the  surface,  but 
salt  water  is  brought  easily  to  the  surface  by  the 
steam  engine.  There,  the  salt  rock,  the  coal 
seam,  and  the  noble  sandstone  lie  in  successive 
strata,  while  the  green  corn  and  the  yellow  wheat 
bloom  on  the  surface  above.  The  State  of  Ohio 
produced,  in  1874,  3,500,000  bushels  of  salt, 
being  one-fifth  of  all  produced  in  the  United 
States.  The  salt  section  of  Ohio  is  exceeded  only 
by  that  of  Syracuse,  New  York,  and  of  Saginaw, 
Michigan.  There  is  no  definite  limit  to  the 
underlying  salt  rock  of  Ohio,  and,  therefore,  the 
production  will  be  proportioned  only  to  the  extent 
of  the  demand. 

Having  now  considered  the  resources  aud  the 
products  of  the  soil  and  the  mines  of  Ohio,  we 
may  properly  ask  how  far  the  people  have  employed 
their  resources  in  the  increase  of  art  and  manu- 
facture. We  have  two  modes  of  comparison,  the 
rate  of  increase  within  the  State,  and  the  ratio 
they  bear  to  other  States.  The  aggregate  value 
of  the  products  of  manufacture,  exclusive  of 
mining,  in  the  last  three  censuses  were:  in  1850, 
$G2.(5'92.000 ;  in  1860,  §121,091,000;  in  1870, 
$269,713,000. 

The  ratio  of  increase  was  over  100  per  cent  in 
each  ten  years,  a  rate  far  beyond  that  of  the  in- 
crease of  population,  and  much  beyond  the  ratio  of 
increase  in  the  whole  country.  In  1850,  the  man- 
ufactures of  Ohio  were  one-sixteenth  part  of  the 
aggregate   in   the  country;  in  1860,  one-fifteenth 


L^ 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


143 


part;  in  1870,  one-twelfth  part.  In  addition  to 
tlii.s,  we  find,  fi'oni  the  returns  of  Cincinnati  and 
C'levehind,  that  the  vahie  of  the  manufactured  prod- 
ucts of  Ohio  in  IS";),  must  have  reached  8-IUO,- 
000,000,  and,  by  reference  to  the  census  tables,  it 
will  be  seen  that  the  ratio  of  increase  exceeded  that 
of  tlic  LiTi'at  manufacturing  States  of  New  York, 
Massarliu.setts  and  Connecticut.  Of  all  the  States 
adiiiittL-d  into  the  Union  prior  to  Ohio,  Pcnn.sylvauia 
alone  has  kept  pace  in  the  progress  of  manufacture. 
Some  little  reference  to  the  manufacture  of  leading 
articles  may  throw  some  light  on  the  cause  of  this. 
In  the  productitm  of  agricultural  machinery  and 
implements,  Ohio  is  the  first  State  ;  in  animal  and 
vegetable  oils  and  in  pig  iron,  the  second ;  in  cast 
iron  and  in  tobacco,  the  third  ;  in  salt,  in  machinery 
and  in  leather,  the  fourth.  These  facts  show  how 
largely  the  resources  of  coal,  iron  and  agriculture 
have  entered  into  the  manufactures  of  the  State. 
This  great  adrance  in  the  manufactures  of  Ohio, 
when  we  consider  that  this  State  is,  relatively  to 
its  surface,  the  first  agricultural  State  in  the 
country,  leads  to  the  inevitable  inference  that  its 
people  are  remarkably  industrious.  When,  on 
forty  thousand  square  miles  of  surface,  three  mill- 
ions of  people  raise  one  hundred  and  fif^y  million 
bushels  of  grain,  and  produce  manufactures  to  the 
amount  of  §269,000,000  (which  is  fifty  bushels 
of  breadstuff  to  each  man,  woman  and  child,  and 
S13;>  of  manufacture),  it  will  be  difficult  to  find 
an}'  community  surpassing  sucli  results.  It  is  a 
testimony,  not  only  to  the  State  of  Ohio,  but  to 
the  industry,  sagacity  and  energy  of  the  American 
people. 

Looking  now  to  the  commerce  of  the  State,  we 
have  said  there  are  six  hundred  miles  of  coast  line, 
which  embraces  some  of  the  principal  internal  ports 
of  the  Ohio  and  the  lakes,  such  as  Cincinnati,  Cleve- 
land, Toledo  and  Portsmouth,  but  whose  commerce 
Ls  most  wholly  inland.  Of  course,  no  comparison 
can  be  made  with  the  foreign  commerce  of  the 
ocean  ports.  On  the  other  hand,  it  is  well  known 
that  the  inland  trade  of  the  country  far  exceeds 
that  of  all  its  foreign  conmierce,  and  that  the  larg- 
est j)art  of  this  interior  trade  is  carried  on  its 
rivers  and  lakes.  The  materials  for  the  vast  con- 
sumption of  the  interior  must  be  conveyed  in  its 
vessels,  whether  of  sail  or  steam,  adapted  to  these 
waters.  Let  us  take,  then,  the  ship-building,  the 
navigation,  and  the  exchange  trades  of  Ohio,  as 
elements  in  determining  the  position  of  this  State 
in  reference  to  the  commerce  of  the  country.  At 
the  ports  of  Cleveland,  Toledo,  Sandusky  and  Cin- 


cinnati, there  have  been  built  one  thousand  sail  and 
steam  vessels  in  the  last  twenty  years,  making  an 
average  of  fifty  each  year.  The  number  of  sail, 
steam  and  all  kinds  of  vessels  in  Ohio  is  eleven 
hundred  and  ninety,  which  is  equal  to  the  number 
in  all  the  other  States  in  the  Ohio  Valley  and  the 
Upper  Mississippi. 

When  we  look  to  the  navigable  points  to  which 
these  vessels  are  destined,  we  find  them  (jn  all  this 
vast  coast  Une,  which  extends  fi-om  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico  to  the  Yellowstone,  and  from  Duluth  to 
the  St.  Lawrence. 

Looking  again  to  see  the  extent  of  this  vast  in- 
terior trade  which  is  handled  by  Ohio  alone,  we 
find  that  the  imports  and  exports  of  the  principal 
articles  of  Cincinnati,  amount  in  value  to  SoOO,- 
000,000;  and  when  we  look  at  the  great  trade  of 
Cleveland  and  Toledo,  we  shall  find  that  the  an- 
nual trade  of  Ohio  exceeds  §700,000,000.  The 
lines  of  railroad  which  connect  with  its  ports,  are 
more  than  four  thousand  miles  in  length,  or  rather 
more  than  one  mile  in  length  to  each  ten  square 
miles  of  surface.  This  great  amount  of  railroads  is 
engaged  not  merely  in  transporting  to  the  Atlantic 
and  thence  to  Europe,  the  immense  surplus  grain 
and  meat  in  Ohio,  but  in  carrying  the  largest  part 
of  that  greater  surplus,  which  exists  in  the  States 
west  of  Ohio,  the  granary  of  the  West.  Ohio 
holds  the  gateway  of  every  railroad  north  of  the 
Ohio,  from  the  Mississipj)i  to  the  Atlantic,  and 
hence  it  is  that  the  great  transit  lines  of  the  coun- 
try pass  through  Ohio. 

Let  us  now  turn  from  the  progress  of  the  arts 
to  the  progress  of  ideas ;  from  material  to  intellect- 
ual development.  It  is  said  that  a  State  consists 
of  men,  and  history  shows  that  no  art  or  scicmce, 
wealth  or  power,  will  compensate  for  the  want  of 
moral  or  intellectual  stabilitj'  in  the  minds  of  a 
nation.  Hence,  it  is  admitted  that  the  strength 
and  perpetuity  of  our  republic  must  consist  in  the 
intelligence  and  morality  of  the  people.  A  re- 
public can  last  only  when  the  people  are  enlight- 
ened. This  was  an  axiom  with  the  early  legislators 
of  this  country.  Hence  it  was  that  when  A'ir- 
ginia,  Connecticut  and  the  original  colonies  ceded 
to  the  General  Government  that  vast  and  then  un- 
known wilderness  which  lay  west  of  the  Allegha- 
nies,  in  the  valleys  of  the  Ohio  and  jMississippi,  they 
took  care  that  its  future  inhabitants  should  be  an 
educated  people.  The  Constitution  was  not  formed 
when  the  celebrated  ordinance  of  1787  was  passed. 

That  ordinance  provided  that,  "  Religion,  mor- 
ality,   and    knowledge    being    necessary    to    good 


^1 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


goverament  and  tLe  happiness  of  mankind,  schools 
and  the  means  of  education  shall  be  forever  en- 
couraged;" and  by  the  ordinance  of  1785  for  the 
survey  of  public  lands  in  the  Northwestern  Terri- 
tory, Section  16  in  each  township,  that  is,  one 
thirty-sixth  part,  was  reserved  for  the  maintenance 
of  public  schools  in  said  townships.  As  the  State 
of  Ohio  contained  a  little  more  than  twenty-five 
millions  of  acres,  this,  together  with  two  special 
grants  of  three  townships  to  universities,  amounted 
to  the  dedication  of  740,000  acres  of  land  to  the 
maintenance  of  schools  and  colleges.  It  was  a 
splendid  endowment,  but  it  was  many  years  before 
it  became  available.  It  was  sixteen  years  after  the 
passage  of  this  ordinance  (in  1803),  when  Ohio 
entered  the  Union,  and  legislation  upon  this  grant 
became  possible.  The  Constitution  of  the  State 
pursued  the  language  of  the  ordinance,  and  de- 
clared that  "schools  and  the  means  of  education 
shall  forever  be  encouraged  by  legislative  provision." 
The  Governors  of  Ohio,  in  successive  messages, 
urged  attention  to  this  subject  upon  the  people ; 
but  the  thinness  of  settlement,  making  it  impossi- 
ble, except  in  few  districts,  to  collect  youth  in  suf- 
ficient numbers,  and  impossible  to  sell  or  lease 
lands  to  advantage,  caused  the  delay  of  efficient 
school  system  for  many  years.  In  1825,  however, 
a  general  law  establishing  a  school  system,  and  levy- 
ing a  tax  for  its  support,  was  passed. 

This  was  again  enlarged  and  increased  by  new 
legislation  in  188G  and  18-16.  From  that  time  to 
this,  Ohio  h;is  had  a  broad,  liberal  and  efficient  sys- 
tem of  public  instruction.  The  taxation  for  schools, 
and  the  number  enrolled  in  them  at  different  pe- 
riods, will  best  show  what  has  been  done.  In 
1855  the  total  taxation  for  school  purposes  was 
$2,672,827.  The  proportion  of  youth  of  school- 
able age  enrolled  was  67  per  cent.  In  1874  the 
amount  raised  by  taxation  was  87,425,135.  The 
number  enrolled  of  schoolable  age  was  70  per 
cent,  or  707,1143. 

As  the  schoolable  age  extends  to  twenty-one 
years,  and  as  there  are  very  few  youth  in  school 
afler  fifteen  years  of  age,  it  follows  that  the  70 
per  cent  of  schoolable  youths  enrolled  in  the  pub- 
lie  schools  must  comprehend  nearly  the  whole 
number  between  four  and  fifteen  years.  It  is  im- 
portant to  observe  this  fact,  because  it  has  been 
inferred  that,  as  the  whole  number  of  youth  be- 
tween five  and  twenty-one  have  not  been  enrolled, 
therefore  they  are  not  educated.  This  is  a 
mistake;  nearly  all  over  fifteen  years  of  age  have 
been  in    the    public  schools,   and    all    the  native 


youth  of  the  State,  and  all  foreign  born,  young 
enough,  have  had  the  benefit  of  the  public  schools. 
But  in  consecjuence  of  the  large  number  who 
have  come  from  other  States  and  from  foreign 
countries,  there  are  still  a  few  who  are  classed  by 
the  census  statistics  among  the  "illiterate;"  the 
proportion  of  this  class,  however,  is  let^s  in  jiropor- 
tion  than  in  twenty-eight  other  States,  and  less  in 
proportion  than  in  Connecticut  and  Ma.'^sachu.setts, 
two  of  the  oldest  States  most  noted  for  popular 
education.  In  fact,  every  youth  in  Ohio,  under 
twentv-one  vears  of  age,  may  have  the  benefit  of  a 
public-  cihu-ation;  and,  since  the  system  of  graded 
and  high  .schools  has  been  adopted,  may  obtain  a 
common  knowledge  from  the  alphabet  to  the  classics. 
The  enumerated  branches  of  study  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Ohio  are  thirty-four,  including 
mathematics  and  astronomy,  French,  German  and 
the  classics.  Thus  the  State  which  was  in  the 
heart  of  the  wilderness  in  1776,  and  was  not  a 
State  until  the  nineteenth  century  had  begun,  now 
presents  to  the  world,  not  merely  an  unrivaled  de- 
velopment of  material  prosperity,  but  an  unsur- 
passed system  of  popular  education. 

In  what  is  called  the  higher  education,  in  the 
colleges  and  universities,  embracing  the  classics 
and  sciences  taught  in  regular  classes,  it  is  the  pop- 
ular idea,  and  one  which  few  dare  to  cjuestion,  that 
we  must  look  to  the  Eastern  States  for  superiority 
and  excellence ;  but  that  also  is  becoming  an  as- 
sumption without  proof;  a  proposition  difficult  to 
sustain.  The  facts  in  regard  to  the  education  of 
universities  and  colleges,  their  faculties,  studcmts 
and  course  of  instruction,  are  all  set  forth  in  the 
complete  statistics  of  the  Bureau  of  Education  for 
1874.  They  show  that  the  State  of  Ohio  had  the 
largest  number  of  such  institutions;  the  largest 
number  of  instructors  in  their  faculties,  except  one 
State,  New  York ;  and  the  largest  number  of  stu- 
dents in  regular  college  classes,  in  proportion  to 
their  population,  except  the  two  States  of  Connect- 
icut and  Massachusetts,  Perhaps,  if  we  look  at 
the  statistics  of  classical  students  in  the  colleges, 
disregarding  preparatory  and  iiTegular  cour.ses,  we 
.shall  get  a  more  accurate  idea  of  the  progress  of 
the  higher  education  in  those  States  which  claim 
the  best.  In  Ohio,  36  colleges,  258  teachers, 
2,139  students,  proportion,  1  in  124;  in  Penn- 
sylvania. 27  colleges,  239  teachers,  2,359  students, 
proportion,  1  in  150;  in  New  York,  26  colleges, 
343  teachers,  2,764  .students,  proportion,  1  in  176; 
in  the  six  NewEngland  States,  17  colleges,  252  teach- 
ers, 3,341  students,  proportion,  1  in  105;  in  Illi- 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


145 


nois,  24  colleges,  211)  teachers,  1.701  students, 
proportion,  1  in  140. 

This  shows  there  are  more  collegiate  institutions 
in  ( )lii<)  than  in  all  New  Enirland  ;  a  irreator  num- 
luT  of  cdllfire  teachers,  and  only  a  little  smaller  ratio 
of  students  to  tlu'  jwpulation  ;  a  greater  number  of 
such  students  than  either  in  New  York  or  Pennsyl- 
vania, and,  as  a  broad,  general  fact,  Ohio  has  made 
more  progress  in  education  than  either  of  the  old 
States  which  formed  the  American  Union.  Such 
a  fact  is  a  higher  testimony  to  the  strength  and  the 
beneficent  influence  of  the  American  (lovernment 
than  any  which  the  statistician  or  the  historian 
can  advance. 

Let  us  now  turn  to  the  moral  aspects  of  the 
people  of  Ohio.  No  human  society  is  found  with- 
out its  poor  and  dependent  classes,  whether  made 
so  by  the  defects  of  nature,  by  acts  of  Providence, 
or  by  the  accidents  of  fortune.  Since  no  society 
is  exempt  from  these  classes,  it  must  be  judged 
not  so  much  by  the  fact  of  their  existence,  as  by 
the  manner  in  which  it  treats  them.  In  the  civil- 
ized nations  of  antiipiity,  such  as  Greece  and 
Rome,  hospitals,  infirmaries,  orphan  homes,  and 
a.sylums  for  the  infirm,  were  unknown.  These 
an"  the  creations  of  Christianity,  and  that  must  be 
istcemcd  practically  the  most  Christian  State  which 
most  practices  this  Christian  beneficence.  In  Ohio, 
:ls  in  all  the  States  of  this  country,  and  of  all 
Christian  countries,  there  is  a  large  number  of  the 
infirm  and  dependent  clas.ses;  but,  although  Ohio 
is  the  third  State  in  population,  she  is  only  the 
fourteenth  in  the  projiortiou  of  dependent  classes. 
The  more  important  point,  however,  was,  how  does 
she  treat  them?  Is  there  wanting  any  of  all 
the  varied  institutions  of  benevolence?  llow  does 
she  compare  vfith  other  States  and  countries  in 
this  respect?  It  is  believed  that  no  State  or  coun- 
try can  present  a  larger  proportion  of  all  these 
institutions  which  the  benevolence  ol'  the  wise  and 
good  have  suggested  for  the  alleviation  of  suffer- 
ing and  misfortune,  than  the  State  of  Ohio.  With 
3,500  of  the  insane  within  her  borders,  she  lias 
five  great  lunatic  asylums,  capal)le  of  accommodat- 
ing them  all.  She  has  a.sylums  for  the  deaf  and 
dumb,  the  idiotic,  and  the  blind.  She  has  the 
best  hosjiitals  in  the  country.  She  has  schools 
of  reform  and  hou.ses  of  refuge.  She  has  "homes" 
for  the  hoys  and  girls,  to  the  number  of  SdO,  who 
arc  children  of  .soldiers.  She  has  p<'nitentiaries 
and  jails,  orphan  a.sylums  and  infirmaries.  In 
every  county  there  is  an  infirmary,  and  in  every 
public  ins-titution,  except  the  jienitcntiary,  there  is  a 


school.  So  that  the  State  has  u.-ed  every  human 
means  to  relieve  the  suffering,  to  instruct  the  igno- 
rant, and  to  reform  the  criminal.  There  are  in 
the  State  80,000  who  come  under  all  the  various 
forms  of  the  infirm,  the  poor,  the  sick  and  the 
criminal,  who,  in  a  greater  or  less  degree,  make 
the  dependent  class.  For  these  the  State  has 
made  every  provision  which  humanity  or  justice 
or  intelligence  can  require.  A  young  State,  de- 
veloped in  the  wilderness,  she  challenges,  without 
any  invidious  comj)arison,  both  Eurojic  and  Amer- 
ica, to  show  her  superior  in  the  development  of 
humanity  manifested  in  the  benefaction  of  public 
institutions. 

Intimately  connected  with  public  morals  and 
with  charitable  in.stitutions,  is  the  religion  of  a 
people.  The  people  of  the  United  States  arc  a 
Christian  people.  The  people  of  Ohio  liave  man- 
ifested their  zeal  by  the  erection  of  churches,  of 
Sunday  schools,  and  (if  religious  institutions.  So 
far  as  these  are  outwardly  manifested,  they  are 
made  known  bj'  the  social  statistics  of  the  census. 
Tlie  number  of  church  orgiinizations  in  the  leading 
States  were:  In  the  State  of  Ohio,  0,488;  in 
the  State  of  New  York,  5,027  :  in  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania,  5,084  ;  in  the  State  of  Illinois,  4,298. 
It  thus  appears  that  Ohio  had  a  larger  number 
of  churches  than  any  State  of  the  Uni<in.  The 
number  of  sittings,  however,  was  not  (juite  as 
large  as  those  in  New  York  and  Peni'..\vlvania. 
The  denominations  are  of  all  the  sects  known  in 
this  country,  about  thirty  in  number,  the  majority 
of  the  whole  being  Methodists,  Pre.«byterians  and 
Baptists.  Long  before  the  American  liiil(]iend- 
ence,  the  Moravians  had  settled  on  the  .Alalii'iiing 
and  Tuscarawas  Rivers,  but  only  to  be  destroyed  ; 
and  when  the  peace  with  Great  Britain  was  made, 
not  a  vestige  of  Christianity  remained  on  the 
soil  of  Ohio  ;  yet  we  see  that  within  ninety  ye^irs 
fi-om  that  time  the  State  of  T)hio  was,  in  the  num- 
ber of  its  churches,  the  first  of  this  great  Union. 
In  the  beginning  of  this  address,  I  said  that 
Ohio  was  the  oldest  and  first  of  these  great  States, 
carved  out  of  the  Northwestern  Territory,  and  that 
it  was  in  some  things  the  greatest  State  of  tlu^ 
American  Union.  I  have  now  traced  the  Jihysi- 
cal,  commercial,  intellectual  and  moral  features  of 
the  State  during  the  seventy-five  years  of  its 
constitutional  history.  Tiie  result  is  to  establish 
fully  the  propositions  with  which  I  began.  Tlicse 
facts  have  brought  out : 

1.     That  Ohio  is,  in  reference  to  the   square 
miles  of  its  surfoce,   the  first  State  in  agriculture 


14G 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


(if  the  Aiii'iicaii  Union;  tliis,  too,  iivitwithstaiid- 
iug  it  lias  800,000  in  cities  au J  towns,  and  a  large 
develojjment  of  capital  and  products  in  manu- 
factures. 

2.  That  Ohio  has  raised  more  frrain  per  square 
mile  than  either  France,  Austria,  or  Great  Britain. 
They  raised  1,450  bushels  per  S((uare  mile,  and 
10  bushels  to  each  person.  Ohio  raised  3,750 
bushels  per  square  mile,  and  50  bushels  to  each 
one  of  the  population  ;  or,  in  other  words,  five 
times  the  proportion  of  grain  raised  in  Europe. 

3.  Ohio  was  the  first  State  of  the  Union  in 
the  production  of  domestic  animals,  being  far  in 
advance  of  either  New  York,  Pennsylvania  or  Illi- 
nois. The  proportion  of  domestic  animals  to  each 
person  in  Ohio  was  three  and  one-third,  and  in 
New  York  aud  Pennsylvania  less  than  lialf  that. 
The  largest  proportion  of  domestic  animals  pro- 
duced in  Europe  was  in  Great  Britain  and  Russia, 
neither  of  which  come  near  that  of  Ohio. 

4.  The  coal-field  of  Ohio  is  vastly  greater  than 
that  of  Great  Britain,  and  we  need  make  no  com- 
parison with  other  States  in  regard  to  coal  or  iron ; 
for  the  10,000  square  miles  of  coal,  and  4,000 
square  miles  of  iron  in  Ohio,  are  enough  to  supply 
the  whole  American  continent  for  ages  to  come. 

5.  Neither  need  we  compare  the  results  of 
commerce  and  navigation,  since,  from  the  ports  of 
Cleveland  and  Cincinnati,  the  vessels  of  Ohio 
touch  on  4:^,000  miles  of  coast,  and  her  5,000 
miles  of  raih'oad  carry  her  products  to  every  part 
of  the  American  continent. 

G.  Notwithstanding  the  immense  proportion 
aud  products  of  agriculture  in  Ohio,  yet  she  has 
more  than  kept  pace  with  New  York  and  New 
England  in  the  progress  of  manufactures  during 
the  last  twenty  years.  Her  coal  and  iron  are  pro- 
ducing their  legitimate  results  in  making  her  a 
great  manufacturing  State. 

7.  Ohio  is  the  first  State  in  the  Union  as  to 
the  proportion  of  youth  attending  school ;  and  the 
States  west  of  the  Alleghanies  and  north  of  the 
Ohio  have  more  youth  in  school,  proportionably, 
than  New  England  and  New  York.  The  facts  on 
this  subject  are  so  extraordinary  that  I  may  be 
e.Keused  for  giving  them  a  little  in  detail. 

The  proportion  of  youth  in  Ohio  attending 
school  to  the  population,  is  1  in  4.2;  in  Illinois,  1 
in  4.3;  in  Pennsylvania,  1  in  4.8;  in  New  York, 
1  in  .").2  ;  iu  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts,  1  iu 
8.7, 

Thi'se  proportions  show  that  it  is  in  the  West, 
and  not  in  the  East,  that  education  is  now  advanc- 


ing; aud  it  is  here  that  we  see  the  stimulus  given 
by  the  ordinance  of  1787,  is  working  out  its  great 
and  beneficent  results.  The  land  grant  for  educa- 
tion was  a  great  one,  but,  at  last,  its  chief  eifort 
was  in  stimulating  popular  education ;  for  the  State 
of  Ohio  has  taxed  itself  tens  of  millions  of  dollars 
beyond  the  utmost  value  of  the  land  grant,  to 
found  and  maintain  a  system  of  public  education 
which  the  world  has  not  surpassed. 

We  have  seen  that  above  and  beyond  all  this 
material  and  intellectual  development,  Ohio  has 
provided  a  vast  benefaction  of  asylums,  liospitals, 
and  infirmaries,  and  special  schools  for  the  support 
and  instruction  of  the  dependent  classes.  There  is 
not  within  all  her  borders  a  single  one  of  the  deaf, 
dumb,  and  blind,  of  the  poor,  sick,  and  insane,  not 
an  orphan  or  a  vagrant,  who  is  not  provided  for 
by  the  broad  and  generous  liberality  of  the  State 
and  her  people.  A  (ihaiity  which  the  classic  ages 
knew  nothing  of,  a  beneficence  which  the  splendid 
hierarchies  and  aristocracies  of  Eiu'ope  cannot 
equal,  has  been  exhibited  in  this  young  State, 
whose  name  was  unknown  one  hundred  years  ago, 
whose  people,  from  Europe  to  the  Atlantic,  and 
from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Ohio,  were,  like  Adam 
and  Eve,  cast  out — "  the  ivorld  hefore  them  where 
to  choose^ 

Lastly,  vre  see  that,  although  the  thi)-d  in  pop- 
ulation, and  the  seventeenth  in  admission  to  the 
Union,  Ohio  had,  in  1870,  6,400  churches,  the 
largest  number  in  any  one  State,  and  numbering 
among  them  every  form  of  Christian  worship. 
The  people,  whose  fields  were  rich  with  grain, 
whose  mines  were  boundless  in  wealth,  and  whose 
commerce  extended  through  thousands  of  miles 
of  lakes  and  rivers,  came  here,  as  they  came  to 
New  England's  rock-bound  coast — 

"  With  freedom  to  worship  God." 

The  cluireh  and  the  schoolhouse  rose  beside  the 
green  fields,  and  the  morning  bells  rang  forth  to 
cheerful  children  going  to  school,  and  to  a  Chris- 
tian people  going  to  the  church  of  God. 

Let  us  now  look  at  the  possibilities  of  Ohio  in 
the  future  development  of  the  American  Repub- 
lican Republic.  The  two  most  populous  parts  of 
Europe,  because  the  most  food-producing,  are  the 
Netherlands  and  Italy,  or,  more  precLsely,  Belgium 
and  ancient  Lombardy  ;  to  the  present  time,  their 
population  is,  in  round  numbers,  three  hundred  to 
the  square  mile.  The  density  of  population  in 
England  proper  is  about  the  same.  We  may 
assume,  therefore,  that  three  hundred  to  the  square 


IIISTOEY    OF    OHIO. 


147 


luilo  is,  in  round  nurabors,  tliu  limit  of  comfortable 
subsistence  under  modern  civilization.  It  is  true 
that  modern  improvements  in  agricultural  macbin- 
erv  and  fertilization  liave  greatly  increased  the 
capacity  of  production,  on  a  given  amount  of 
land,  with  a  given  amount  of  labor.  It  is  true, 
also,  that  the  old  countries  of  Europe  do  not 
po.sse.s,s  an  c(jual  amount  of  arable  land  with  Ohio 
in  proportion  to  the  same  surface.  It  would  seem, 
therefore,  that  the  density  of  po]iulation  in  Ohio 
might  exceed  that  of  any  part  of  Europe.  On 
the  otlicr  hand,  it  may  bo  said  with  truth  that  the 
American  people  will  not  become  so  dense  as  in 
Europe  while  they  have  new  lands  in  the  West 
to  occupy.  This  is  true ;  but  lauds  such  as  those 
in  the  valley  of  the  Ohio  are  now  becoming 
scarce  in  the  West,  and  we  thiuk  tliat,  with  lier 
great  capacity  for  the  production  of  grain  on  one 
hand,  and  of  illimitable  quantities  of  coal  and 
iron  to  manufacture  with  on  the  other,  that  Ohio 
will,  at  no  remote  period,  reach  nearly  tlic  density 
of  Belgium,  which  will  give  her  10,0()0,()()(l  of 
people.  This  seems  extravagant,  but  the  tide  of 
migration,  which  flowed  so  fast  to  the  West,  is 
beginning  to  ebb,  while  the  manufactures  of  the 
interior  ofl'er  gTeater  inducements. 

With  population  comes  wealth,  the  material  for 
education,  the  development  of  the  arts,  advance 
in  all  the  material  elements  of  civilization,  and  the 
still  grander  advancements  in  the  strength  and 
elevation  of  the  human  mind,  coni|uering  to  itself 
new  realms  of  material  and  intellectual  power, 
acquiring  in  the  future  what  we  have  seen  in  the 
pa.st,a  wealth  of  resources  unknown  and  undreamed 
of  wh(!n,  a  hundred  years  ago,  the  fathers  of  the 
republic  declared  their  inde])endcnce.  I  know 
how  ea,sy  it  is  to  treat  this  statement  with  ea,sy 
incredulity,  but  statistics  is  a  certain  science ;  the 
elements  of  civilization  are  now  measured,  and  we 
know  the  progress  of  the  human  race  as  we  know 


that  of  a  cultivated  plant.  We  know  the  resources 
of  the  country,  its  food-jnoducing  capacity,  its 
art  processes,  its  power  of  education,  and  the  unde- 
fined and  illimitable  power  of  the  human  mind 
for  new  inventions  and  uuimagincd  progress.  With 
this  knowledge,  it  is  not  difficult  nor  unsafe  to  say 
that  the  future  will  produce  more,  and  in  a  far 
greater  ratio,  than  the  piust.  The  pictured  scenes 
of  the  prophets  have  already  been  more  than  ful- 
filled, and  the  visions  of  beauty  and  glory,  which 
their  imagination  failed  fully  to  describe,  will  be 
more  than  realized  in  the  bloom  of  that  garden 
which  republican  America  will  present  to  the 
eyes  of  a.stoni.shed  mankind.  Long  before  another 
century  shall  have  jiassed  by,  the  single  State  of 
Ohio  will  present  fourtbld  the  population  with  which 
the  thirteen  States  began  their  independence,  more 
wealth  than  the  entire  Union  now  has ;  greater 
universities  than  any  now  in  the  country,  and  a 
developmimt  of  arts  and  manufacture  which  the 
world  now  knows  nothing  c}f  You  have  seen 
more  than  that  since  the  Constitution  was  adopted, 
and  what  right  have  you  to  say  tlie  future  shall 
not  equal  the  jjast  ? 

I  have  aimed,  in  this  address,  to  give  an  exact 
picture  of  what  Ohio  is,  not  more  for  the  sake  of 
Ohio  than  as  a  representation  of  the  products 
which  the  American  Republic  has  given  to  the 
world.  A  State  which  began  long  after  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  in  the  then  unknown 
wilderness  of  North  America,  presents  to-daj' 
the  fairest  example  of  what  a  republican  govern- 
ment with  Christian  civilization  can  do.  Look 
upon  this  picture  and  upon  those  of  Assyria, 
of  Greece  or  Rome,  or  of  Europe  in  her  best 
estate,  and  .say  where  is  the  civilization  of  the 
earth  which  can  equal  this.  If  a  Roman  citizen  could 
say  with  pride,  "  Civis  Jioninnvs  fnini,"  with  far 
greater  pride  can  you  say  this  day,  "I  am  an 
American  citizen." 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

EDUCATION*  — EARLY    SCHOOL    LAWS  — NOTES— INSTITUTES    AND    EDUCATIONAL    JOURNALS- 
SCHOOL    SYSTEM  — SCHOOL    FUNDS— COLLEGKS     (VND    UNIVERSITIES. 


WHEN  the  survey  of  the  Nortliwest  Terri- 
tory was  ordered  by  Congress,  March  20, 
1785,  it  was  decreed  that  every  sixteenth  section 
of  land  sliould  be  reserved  for  the  "maintenance 
of  pubhc  schools  within  each  township."  The 
ordinance  of  1787 — thanks  to  the  New  England 
Associates — proclaimed  that,  "  religion,  morality 
and  kiiipwk'dgc  being  essential  to  good  guvcrnuient, 
scliudls  and  the  nicansnl"  educatinn  should  forever 
be  eucouragcil,"  The  tState  Con.stitution  of  lb((2 
declared  that  "  schools  and  the  means  of  instruc- 
tion should  be  encouraged  by  legislative  provision, 
not  inconsistent  with  the  rights  of  conscience." 
In  1825,  through  the  persevering  efforts  of  Nathan 
Guilford,  Senator  from  Hamilton  County,  Ephraim 
Cutler,  Representative  from  Washington  County, 
and  other  friends  of  education,  a  bill  was  passed, 
"  laying  the  foundation  for  a  general  system  of 
common  schools."  This  bill  provided  a  tax  of  one- 
half  mill,  to  be  levied  by  the  County  Commis- 
sioners for  school  purposes ;  provided  for  school 
examiners,  and  made  Township  Clerks  and  County 
Auditors  school  officers.  In  1829,  this  county 
tax  was  raised  to  three-fourths  of  a  mill ;  in  1834 
to  one  mill,  and,  in  1836,  to  one  and  a  half  mills. 
In  March,  1837,  Samuel  Lewis,  of  Hamilton 
County ,was  appointed  State  Superintendent  of  Com- 
mon Schools.  He  was  a  very  energetic  worker,  trav- 
eling on  horseback  all  over  the  State,  delivering  ad- 
dresses and  encouraging  school  officers  and  teachers. 
Through    his   efforts   mncli   good  was   done,  and 


*  From  tho  Schoiil  Commissioners'  Reporfs,  principally  those  of 
Tliomas  W.  Harvey,  A.  M. 

Note  1.— The  first  school  taught  in  Ohio,  or  in  tho  Northwestern 
Territ<>ry,  was  in  1791.  The  first  teacher  was  JIaj.  Austin  Topper, 
eldestson  of  Gen.  Benjamin  Tupper,  hoth  Revolutionary  nfficers. 
The  room  occupied  was  the  same  as  that  iu  which  the  first  Court  was 
held,  and  was  situated  In  the  northwest  hlock-houseof  Ihefxarrieon, 


ng  111.'   IndiHii 


called  the  stockade,  at   Marietta.     r>i 

w  a,s  also  taught  at  Fort  Ilarmar.  Pi 

tiements.     A  meeting  was  held   in  r 

Eider  the  erection  of  a  school  bniMitu 

of  the  youth,  and  for  conductiii;,'   i- 

were  adopted  which  led   to  the  'ivf 

Muskingum  Academy.    The  builiiinij 

and  twenty-four  feet  wide,  and  is  y  t 

was  twelve  feet  high,  with  an  arcln-d 

foundation,  three  steps  from  tho  ground-.     Ther<'  were  two  ch: 

and  a  l.ihby  projection.     There  wiui  a  cellar  under  the  whole  bu 

ing.     It  stood  upon  a  heaulirul  lot,  fronting  the  Muskingum  Ri\ 

and  about  sixty  feet  back  fioni  the  street.    Some  large  trees  w 


l;''snlntions 

ling  called  the 

forty  feet  long 

Thebuilding 

Ddupon  a  stone 

eys 

ild- 


j  many  important  features  engrafted  on  the  school 
system.  He  resigned  in  1839,  when  the  office  was 
abolished,  and  its  duties  imposed  on  the  Secretary 
of  State. 

The  most  important  adjunct  in  early  education 
in  the  State  was  the  college  of  teachers  organized 
in  Cincinnati  in  1 831 .  Albert  Pickett,  Dr.  Joseph 
Ray,  William  H.  McGuftey — so  largely  known  by 
his  Readers — and  Milo  G.  Williams,  were  at  its 
head.  Leading  men  in  all  piu'ts  of  the  West  at- 
tended its  meetings.  Their  published  deliberations 
did  much  for  the  advancement  of  education  among 
the  people.  Through  the  effcirts  of  the  college, 
the  first  convention  held  in  Ohio  for  educational 
purposes  was  called  at  Columbus,  January  13, 
1836.  Two  years  after,  in  December,  the  first 
convention  in  which  the  different  sections  of  the 
State  were  represented,  was  held.  At  both  these 
conventions,  all  the  needs  of  the  schools,  both  com- 
mon and  higher,  were  ably  and  fully  discussed, 
and  appeals  made  to  the  people  for  a  more  cordial 
support  of  the  law.  No  succesisftil  attempts  were 
made  to  organize  a  permanent  educational  society 
until  December,  1847,  when  the  Ohio  State  Teach- 
ers' As.sociation  was  formed  at  Akron,  Summit 
County,  with  Samuel  Galloway  as  President;  T. 
W.  Harvey.  Recording  Secretary;  M.  D.  Leggett, 
Corresponding  Secretary ;  William  Bowen,  Treas- 
urer, and  M.  F.  Cowdrey,  Chairman  of  the  Executive 
Committee.  This  Association  entered  upon  its 
work  with  commendable  earnestness,  and  has  since 

upon  tho  lot  and  on  the  street  in  front.  Across  the  street  was  an 
open  common,  and  beyond  that  the  river.  Immediately  opposite 
the  door,  on  entering,  was  a  broad  aisle,  and,  at  the  end  of  the 
aisle,  against  the  wall,  was  a  desk  or  pulpit.  On  the  right  and  left 
of  the  pulpit,  against  the  wall,  and  fronting  tho  pulpit,  was  a  row 
of  slips.  On  each  sideof  the  door,  facing  the  pulpit,  were  two  slips, 
and,  at  each  end  of  the  room,  one  slip.  These  slips  were  stationary, 
and  were  fitted  with  desks  that  could  be  let  down,  and  there  were 
boxes  in  the  desks  for  holding  bo<iks  and  papers.  In  the  center  of 
the  room  was  an  open  space,  which  could  be  filled  with  movable 
Beata.     The  first  school  was  opened  here  in  1800."— ieMer  of  A.  T. 

Note  2. — Another  evidence  of  the  character  of  the  New  England 
Associates  is  the  founding  of  a  public  library  as  early  as  179G,  or 
before.  Another  was  also  established  at  Belpre  about  the  same  time. 
Abundant  evidence  proves  the  existence  of  these  libraries,  all  tend- 
ing to  the  fact  that  the  early  settlers,  though  conquering  a  wilder- 
ness and  a  savage  foe,  would  not  allow  their  mental  faculties  to 
lack  for  food.  The  cliaracter  of  the  books  shows  that  "solid" 
reading  predominated. 


^^ 


^ 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


never  abated  its  zeal.  Semi-annual  meetings  were 
at  first  held,  but,  since  185S,  only  annual  meetings 
occur.  They  are  always  largely  attended,  and  al- 
ways by  the  bust  and  most  energetic  teachers. 
The  Association  lias  given  tone  to  the  educational 
interests  of  the  State,  and  has  done  a  vast  amount 
of  good  in  jiojjularizing  education.  In  the  spring 
of  18.51,  Lorin  Andrews,  then  Superintendent  of 
the  Ma-ssillon  .school,  resigned  his  place,  and  be- 
Ciime  a  common-schocjl  missionary.  In  July,  the 
A.ssociation,  at  Cleveland,  madi^  him  its  ageut,  aud 
instituted  measures  to  sustain  him.  He  remained 
zealously  at  work  in  this  relation  until  185;},  when 
he  resigned  to  accept  the  presidency  of  Kenyon 
College,  at  Gambier.  Dr.  A.  Lord  w;us  then  chosen 
general  agent  and  resident  editor  of  the  Joimial 
of  Edxcatioii,  which  positions  he  filled  two  years, 
with  eminent  ability. 

The  year  that  Dr.  Lord  resigned,  the  ex  officio 
relation  of  the  Secretary  of  Stale  to  the  (-onimon 
schools  was  abolished,  and  the  office  of  school  com- 
missioner again  created.  H.  11.  Barney  was 
elected  to  the  place  in  October,  1853.  The  office 
has  since  been  held  by  llcv.  Ans(m  Smyth,  elected 
in  185G,  and  re-eh^cted  in  18511  ;  K.  E.  White, 
api>ointed  by  the  Governor,  November  11,  18G3, 
to  till  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation  of  C. 
W.  H.  Cathcart,  who  was  elected  in  18G2;  John 
A.  Xorris,  in  1865;  W.  D.  Ilenkle,  in  18(58; 
Thomas  W.  Harvey,  in  1871;  C.  S.  Smart,  in 
1875,  and  the  present  incumbent,  J.  J.  Burns, 
elected  in  1878,  his  term  expiring  in  1881. 

The  first  teachers'  institute  in  Northern  Ohio 
was  held  at  Sandusky,  in  September,  184.5,  con- 
ducted by  Salem  Town,  of  New  York,  A.  D.  Lord 
and  M.  F.  Cowdrey.  The  .second  was  held  at  Char- 
don,  Geauga  Co.,  in  November  of  the  same  year. 
The  first  institute  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
State  w;\s  held  at  Cincinnati,  in  February,  1837; 
the  fii-st  in  the  central  part  at  Newark,  in  March, 
1848.  Since  then  the.se  meeting's  of  teachers  have 
occurred  annually,  and  have  been  the  means  of 
great  good  in  elevating  the  teacher  and  the  public 
in  educational  int4'rests.  In  1848,  on  petition  of 
forty  teachers,  county  commissioners  were  author- 
ized to  pay  lecturers  from  surplus  revenue,  and  the 
next  year,  to  appropriate  §100  for  institute  pur- 
poses, upon  pledge  of  teachers  to  raise  half  that 
amount.  By  the  statutes  of  1804,  applicants  for 
teachers  were  re<|uirod  to  pay  50  cents  each  as  an 
examination  fee.  Onii-third  of  the  amount  thus 
raised  was  allowed  the  use  of  examiners  as  trav- 
eling expenses,  the  remainder  to  be  applied  to  in- 


stitute instruction.  For  the  year  1871,  sixty-eight 
teachers'  institutes  were  held  in  the  State,  at  which 
308  instructors  and  lecturers  were  employed,  and 
7,158  teachers  in  attendance.  The  expense  incurred 
was  §16,361.91),  of  which  810,127.13  was  taken 
from  the  institute  fund;  §2,730.34,  was  contrib- 
uted by  members;  §680,  by  county  commis- 
sioners, and  the  balance,  §1,371.50,  was  ob- 
tained from  other  sources.  The  last  report  of  the 
State  Commissioners — 1878 — shows  that  eighty- 
five  county  in.stitutes  were  held  in  the  State,  con- 
tinuing in  session  748  days;  416  instructors  were 
employed;  11,466  teachers  attended ;  §22,531.47 
were  received  from  all  sources,  and  that  the  ex- 
penses were  §10,587.51,  or  §1.71  per  member. 
There  was  a  balance  on  hand  of  §!),4t)0.74  to  com- 
mence the  next  year,  just  now  closed,  who.se  work 
has  been  as  progressive  and  thorough  as  any  former 
year.  The  State  Association  now  comprises  three 
sections;  the  general  a.ssociation,  the  superintend- 
ents' section  and  the  ungraded  school  section.  All 
have  done  a  good  work,  and  all  rejiort  progress. 

The  old  State  Constitution,  adopted  by  a  con- 
vention in  1802,  was  supplemented  in  1851  by 
the  present  one,  under  which  the  General  As.sem- 
bly,  elected  under  it,  met  in  1852.  Harvey  lliee, 
a  Senator  from  Cuyahoga  County,  Chairman  of 
Senate  Committee  on  "Common  Schools  and 
School  Lands,"  reported  a  bill  the  20th  of  March, 
to  provide  "for  the  re-organization,  supervision 
and  maintenance  of  common  schools. "  This  bill, 
amended  in  a  few  particulars,  became  a  law 
March  14,  1853.  The  prominent  features  of  the 
new  law  were :  The  substitution  of  a  State  school 
tax  for  the  county  tax  ;  creation  of  the  office  of 
the  State  School  Commissioner;  the  creation  of  a 
Township  Board  of  Education,  consisting  of  repre- 
sentiitives  from  the  subdistricts ;  the  abolition  of 
rate-bills,  making  education  free  to  all  the  youth  of 
the  State;  the  raising  of  a  fund,  by  a  tax  of  one- 
tenth  of  a  mill  yearly,  "  for  the  purpose  of  fur- 
nishing school  libraries  and  apparatus  to  all  the 
common  schools."  This  "library  tax"  was  abol- 
ished in  1860,  otherwise  the  law  has  remained 
practically  unchanged. 

School  journals,  like  the  popular  press,  have 
been  a  potent  agency  in  the  educational  history  of 
the  State.  As  early  as  1838,  the  Ohio  School 
Director  was  i.ssued  by  Samuel  Lewis,  by  K'gisla- 
tive  authority,  though  after  -six  months'  continu- 
ance, it  ceased  for  want  of  support.  The  same 
year  the  Pattalozzian,  by  E.  L.  Sawtell  and  H. 
K.  Smith,   of  Akron,   and  the    Common    School 


ikv 


150 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


Advocnfc,  of  Cincinnati,  \vei\'  i^isucd.  In  184G, 
the  School  Journal  began  to  be  published  by  A. 

D.  Lord,  of  Kirtlaud.  The  same  year  saw  the 
Free  School  Clarion,  by  W.  Bowen,  of  Massillon, 
and  the  School  Friend,  by  W.  B.  Smitli  &  Co., 
gf  Cincinnati.  The  next  year,  W.  H.  Moore  & 
Co.,  of  Cincinnati,  started  the  Western  School 
Journal.  In  1851,  the  Ohio  Teacher,  by 
Thomas  Rainey,  appeared;  the  Neivs  and  Edu- 
cator, in  1863,  and  the  Educational  Times,  in 
18GG.  In  1850,  Dr.  Lord's  Journal  of  Educa- 
tion was  united  with  tlie  School  Friend,  and 
became  the  recognized  organ  of  tlie  teachers  in 
(_)!iio.  Tiie  Doctor  remained  its  principal  editor 
until  185(5,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Anson 
Smyth,  who  edited  the  journal  one  year.  In  1857, 
it  was  edited  by  John  D.  Caldwell;  in  1858  and 
and  1859,  by  W.  T.  Coggeshall;  in  1860,  by  Anson 
Smyth  again,  when  it  passed  into  the  hands  of 

E.  E.  White,  who  yet  controls  it.  It  has  an 
immense  circulation  among  Ohio  teachers,  and, 
though  competed  by  other  journals,  since  started, 
it  maintains  its  place. 

The  school  system  of  the  State  may  be  briefly 
explained  as  follows:  Cities  and  incorporated  vil- 
lages are  independent  of  township  and  county  con- 
trol, in  the  management  of  schools,  having  boards 
of  education  and  examiners  of  their  own.  Some 
of  them  are  organized  for  school  jjurposes,  under 
special  acts.  Each  township  has  a  board  of  edu- 
cation, composed  of  one  member  from  each  sub- 
district.  The  township  clerk  is  clerk  of  this  board, 
but  has  no  vote.  Each  subdistrict  has  a  local 
board  of  trustees,  which  manages  its  school  affairs, 
subject  to  the  advice  and  control  of  the  township 
board.  These  officers  are  elected  on  the  first 
Monday  in  April,  and  hold  their  offices  three 
years.  An  enumeration  of  all  the  youth  between 
the  ages  of  five  and  twenty-one  is  made  yearly. 
All  public  schools  are  required  to  be  in  session  at 
least  twenty-four  weeks  each  year.  The  township 
clerk  reports  annually  such  facts  concerning  school 
affairs  as  the  law  requires,  to  the  county  auditor, 
who  in  tuiri  r<']iorts  to  the  State  Commissioner, 
who  r(illi.'i-t«  thi/^o  reports  in  a  general  report  to 
the  Legislature  each  year. 

A  board  of  examiners  is  appointed  in  each 
county  by  the  Probate  Judge.  This  board  has 
power  to  grant  certificates  for  a  term  not  exceed- 
ing two  years,  and  good  only  in  the  county  in 
which  they  are  executed ;  they  may  be  revoked  on 
sufficient  cause.  In  1864,  a  State  Board  of 
Examiners  was  created,  with  power  to  issue  life  cer- 


tificates, valid  in  all  jiarts  t)f  the  State.  Since 
then,  up  to  January  1,  1879,  there  have  been  188 
of  these  issued.  They  are  considered  an  excellent 
test  of  scholarship  and  ability,  and  ai'e  very  credit- 
able to  the  holder. 

The  school  funds,  in  1865,  amounted  to  $3,271,- 
275.66.  They  were  the  proceeds  of  appropriations 
of  land  by  Congress  for  school  purposes,  upon 
which  the  State  pays  an  annual  interest  of  6  per 
cent.  The  funds  are  known  as  the  Virginia  Mili- 
tary School  Fund,  the  proceeds  of  eightetui  quar- 
ter-town.ships  and  three  sections  of  land,  selected 
by  lot  from  lands  lying  in  the  United  States 
Military  Reserve,  appropriated  for  the  use  of 
schools  in  the  Virginia  Military  Reservation;  the 
United  States  Military  School  Fund,  the  proceeds 
of  one  thirty-sixth  part  of  the  land  in  the  United 
States  Military  District,  appropriated  '•  for  the  use 
of  schools  within  the  same  ;"  the  Western  Reserve 
School  Fund,  the  proceeds  from  fourteen  quarter- 
townships,  situated  in  the  United  States  Military 
District,  and  37,758  acres,  most  of  which  was  lo- 
cated in  Defiance,  Williams,  Paulding,  Van  Wert 
and  Putnam  Counties,  appropriated  for  the  use  of 
the  schools  in  the  Western  Reserve;  Section 
16,  the  proceeds  fi-om  the  sixteenth  section  of 
each  township  in  that  part  of  the  State  in  which 
the  Indian  title  was  not  extinguished  in  1803;  tlie 
Moravian  School  Fund,  the  proceeds  from  one 
thirty-sixth  part  of  each  of  three  tracts  of 
4,000  acres  situated  in  Tuscarawas  County,  orig- 
inally granted  by  Congress  to  the  Society  of  United 
Brethren,  and  reconveyed  by  this  Society  to  the 
United  States  in  1824.  The  income  of  these  funds 
is  nut  distributed  by  any  uniform  rule,  owing  to 
defects  in  the  gnaiting  of  the  funds.  The  territo- 
rial divisions  designated  receive  the  income  in 
proportion  to  the  whole  number  of  youth  therein, 
while  in  the  remainder  of  the  State,  the  rent  of 
Section  16,  or  the  interest  on  the  proceeds 
arising  from  its  sale,  is  paid  to  the  inhabitants  of 
the  originally  surveyed  townships.  In  these  terri- 
torial divisions,  an  increase  or  decrease  of  popula- 
tion must  necessarily  increase  or  diminish  the 
amount  each  youth  is  entitled  to  receive ;  and  the 
fortunate  location  or  judicious  sale  of  the  sixteenth 
section  may  entitle  one  township  to  receive  a  large 
sum,  while  an  adjacent  township  receives  a  mere 
pittance.  This  inequality  of  benefit  may  be  good 
for  localities,  but  it  is  certainly  a  detriment  to  the 
State  at  large.  There  seems  to  be  no  legal  remedy 
for  it.  In  addition  to  the  income  from  the  before- 
mentioned    funds,  a  variable  revenue   is   received 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


151 


from  certain  tiufs  ami  liceuscs  paid  to  either  county 
or  township  treasurers  for  the  use  of  schools; 
from  the  sale  of  swamp  lands  ($25,720.07  allotted 
to  the  State  in  1850),  and  from  personal  property 
LSc-luMtcd  to  the  State. 

Aside  from  the  funds,  a  State  school  tax  is  fixed 
by  statute.  Local  taxes  vary  with  the  needs  of 
localities,  are  limited  by  law,  and  are  contingent 
on  the  liberality  and  public  spirit  of  different  com- 
munities. 

The  State  contains  more  than  twenty  colleges 
and  universities,  more  than  the  same  number  of 
female  seminaries,  and  about  tliirty  normal  schools 
and  academies.  The  amount  of  property  invested 
in  these  is  more  than  SC.ddii.ddd.  The  Ohio 
University  is  the  oldest  c(.ill<>ge  in  the  State. 

In  addition  to  the  regular  colleges,  the  State 
controls  the  Ohio  State  University,  formerly  the 
Agrictdtural  and  ilechanical  College,  established 
from  the  proi-ecds  of  the  land  scrip  voted  by  Con- 
gress to  Ohio  for  such  purposes.  The  amount 
realized  from  the  sale  was  nearly  $500,000.  This 
is  to  constitute  a  permanent  fund,  the  interest  only 
t(.lK.  usrd.  Tn  ad.lltinn,  the  sum  of  $300,000 
\va^  \ntcd  liv  ihi'  ( iiizi'us  of  Franklin  County,  in 
consiiloratiiiii  of  the  location  of  the  college  in  that 
county.  Of  this  sum  $111,000  was  paid  for  three 
hundred  and  fifteen  acres  of  land  near  the  city  of 
Columbus,  and  $112,000  for  a  college  building, 


the  balance  being  expended  as  circumstances  re- 
quired, for  additional  buildings,  laboratory,  appa- 
ratus, etc.  Thorough  instruction  is  given  in  all 
branches  relating  to  .igriculturo  and  the  mechanical 
arts.      Already  cxcellciil  results  are  attained. 

By  the  provisions  of  the  act  of  .March  14,  1853, 
township  boards  are  made  bodies  politic  and  cor- 
porate in  law,  and  are  invested  with  the  title,  care 
and  cu.stody  of  all  school  property  belonging  to 
the  school  district  or  town.ship.  They  hav(^  control 
of  the  central  or  high  schools  of  their  townships ; 
prescribe  rules  for  the  district  schools ;  may  appoint 
one  of  their  number  manager  of  the  schools  of  the 
township.  aM<l  allow  him  reasonable  pay  for  his 
services;  deienninc  the  text-books  to  be  used  ;  fix 
the  liouudarics  of  district.s  and  locate  schoolhouse 
sites  ;  make  estimates  of  the  amount  of  money  re- 
quired ;  apportion  the  money  among  the  districts, 
and  are  required  to  makt;  an  annual  report  to  the 
County  Auditor,  who  incorpoiates  ilie  same  in  his 
report  to  the  State  Conimissioncr,  by  whom  it 
reaches  the  Legislature. 

Local  directors  control  the  subdistricts.  They 
enumerat(;  the  children  of  school  age,  employ  and 
dismiss  teachers,  make  contracts  for  building  and 
furnishing  schoolhouses,  and  make  all  necessary 
provision  for  the  convenience  of  the  district  schools. 
Practically,  the  entire  management  rests  with 
them. 


CHAPTER    XV. 

.\GRICULTURE— AREA    OF    THE    STATE— EARLY    AGRICULTURE    IN    THE    WEST— MARKETS— LIVE 

STOCK  — NURSERIES,     FRUITS,     ETC. —  CEREALS  — ROOT     AND     CUCURBITACEOUS 

CROPS— AGRICULTURAL   IMPLEMENTS— AGRICULTURAL   SOCIETIES— 

PO.MOLOGICAL    AND    HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETIES. 


"  Oft  (lid  (he  harvest  to  their  sickles  yielil, 

Their  t'urruw  oft  the  .stubborn  glebe  has  broke ; 

How  jocund  did  they  drive  their  teams  afield  ! 

How  bowed  the  woods  beueatli  their  sturdy  stroke." 

THE  majority  of  the  readers  of  these  pages  arc 
farmers,  hence  a  resume  of  agriculture  in  the 
State,  would  not  only  be  appropriate,  but  valuable 
as  a  matter  of  history.  It  is  the  true  basis  of 
national  prosperity,  and,  therefore,  justly  occupies 
a  foremost  place. 

In  the  year  1800,  the  Territory  of  Ohio  con- 
tained a  population  of  45,305  inhabitants,  or  a 
little  more  than  one  person  to  the  square  mile.     At 


this  date,  the  admission  of  the  Territory  into  the 
Union  as  a  State  began  to  be  agitated.  When  the 
census  was  made  to  ascertain  the  legality  of  the 
act,  in  conformity  to  the  "Conqiact  of  1787,"  ni> 
endeavor  was  made  t(j  asccrtaiti  additional  .statis- 
tics, as  now  ;  hence,  the  cultivated  land  was  not 
returned,  and  no  account  remains  to  tell  how 
much  existed.  In  1805,  three  years  after  the  ad- 
mission of  the  State  into  the  Union,  7,252,850 
acres  had  been  purchased  from  thi'  (rcneral  Gov- 
ernment. Still  no  returns  of  the  cultivated  lands 
were  made.  In  1810,  the  population  of  Ohio  was 
230,760,  and  the  land  purchased  from  the  Gov- 


153 


HISTOr.Y    OF    OHIO. 


erameut  amounted  to  9,933,150  acres,  of  which 
iiiiiouiit,  however,  3,569,314  acres,  or  more  than 
one-third,  was  held  by  non-residents.  Of  the  lands 
occupied  by  resident  laud-owners,  there  apjjear  to 
have  been  100,968  acres  of  first-rate,  1,929,600 
of  second,  and  1,538,745  acre.s  of  third  rate  lauds. 
At  this  period  there  were  very  few  exports  trcjm 
tlie  farm,  loom  or  shop.  The  people  still  needed 
all  they  produced  to  sustain  themselves,  and  were 
yet  in  that  pioneer  period  where  they  were  obliged 
to  produce  all  they  wanted,  and  yet  were  opening 
new  farms,  and  bringing  the  old  ones  to  a  productive 
state. 

Kentucky,  and  the  country  on  the  Monongahela, 
lying  along  the  western  slopes  of  the  Alleghany 
Mountains,  having  been  much  longer  settled,  had 
begun,  as  early  as  1795,  to  send  considerable  quan- 
tities of  flour,  whisky,  bacon  and  tobacco  to  the 
lower  towns  on  the  Mississippi,  at  that  time  in  the 
possession  of  the  Spaniards.  At  the  French  set- 
tlements on  the  Illinois,  and  at  Detroit,  were 
being  raised  much  more  than  could  be  used,  and 
these  were  exporting  also  large  quantities  of  these 
materials,  as  well  as  peltries  and  such  commodities 
as  their  nomadic  lives  furnished.  As  the  Missis- 
sippi was  tlie  natural  outlet  of  the  West,  any  at- 
tempt to  impede  its  free  navigation  by  the  various 
powers  at  times  controlling  its  outlet,  would  lead 
at  once  to  violent  outbreaks  among  the  Western 
settlers,  some  of  whom  were  aided  by  unscrupulous 
persons,  who  thought  to  form  an  independent 
Western  country.  Providence  seems  to  liave  had 
a  watchful  eye  over  all  these  events,  and  to  have 
so  guided  them  that  the  attempts  with  such  objects 
in  view,  invariably  ended  in  disgrace  to  their  per- 
petrators. This  outlet  to  the  West  was  thought 
to  be  the  only  one  that  could  carry  their  [jnnluce  to 
market,  for  none  of  the  Westerners  tlien  dreamed 
of  the  immense  system  of  railways  now  covering 
that  part  of  the  Union.  As  soon  as  ship-building 
commenced  at  Marietta,  in  the  year  1800,  the 
farmers  along  the  borders  of  the  Ohio  and  Musk- 
ingum Ilivers  turned  their  attention  to  the  culti- 
vation of  hemp, in  addition  totheirothercrops.  Ina 
few  years  sufficient  was  raised,  not  only  to  furnish 
cordage  to  the  ships  in  the  West,  but  large  quan- 
tities were  worked  iqj  in  the  various  rope-walks 
and  sent  to  the  Atlantic  cities.  Iron  had  been 
discovered,  and  forges  on  the  Juniata  were  busy 
converting  that  necessary  and  valued  material  into 
implements  of  industry. 

By  tlie  year  1805,  two  ships,  seven  brigs  and 
three  schocniers  had  been  built  and  rigged   by  the 


citizens  of  ^larietta.  Their  construction  gave  a 
fresh  impetus  to  agriculture,  as  bj'  means  of  them 
the  surplus  products  could  be  carried  away  to  a 
foreign  market,  where,  if  it  did  not  bring  money, 
it  could  be  exchanged  fiir  merchandise  equally 
valuable.  Captain  David  Devoll  was  one  of  the 
earliest  of  Ohio's  shipwrights.  He  settled  on  the 
fertile  ^Muskingum  bottom,  about  five  miles  above 
Marietta,  soon  after  tlie  Indian  war.  Here  he 
built  a  "floating  mill,"  for  making  flour,  and,  in 
1801,  a  ship  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  tons,  called 
the  Muskingum,  and  the  brig  Eliza  Greene,  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty  tons.  In  1804,  he  built  a 
schooner  on  his  own  account,  and  in  tlie  spring 
of  the  next  year,  it  was  finished  and  loaded  for  a 
voyage  down  the  Mis>issi]ipi.  It  w;is  small,  only  of 
seventy  tons  burdrn.  nl'u  liglit  draft,  and  intended 
to  run  on  the  lakes  i-,ist  of  New  Orlean.s.  In 
shape  and  model,  it  fully  sustained  its  name,  Nonpa- 
reil. Its  complement  of  sails,  small  at  first,  was 
completed  when  it  arrived  in  New  Orleans.  It 
had  a  large  cabin  to  accommodate  passengers,  was 
well  and  finely  painted,  and  sat  gracefully  on  the 
water.  Its  load  was  of  assorted  articles,  and  shows 
very  well  the  nature  of  exports  of  the  day.  It  con- 
sisted of  two  hundred  barrels  of  flour,  fifty  barrels  of 
kiln-dried  corn  meal,  four  thousand  pcjuuds  of 
cheese,  six  thousand  of  baciin,  one  hundred  sets 
of  rum  puncheon  shooks,  and  a  few  grindstones. 
The  flour  and  meal  were  made  at  Captain  Devoll's 
floating  mill,  ami  the  cheese  made  in  Beljire,  at  that 
date  oneof  ( (hid's  must  tlniivi>liinL;  imrieultural  dis- 
tricts. TheCaiitaiiiaiiilotliersearrieil  mi  Ijoatingas 
well  as  the  circumstances  of  the  days  permitted,  fear- 
ing only  the  hostility  of  the  Indians,  and  the  duty 
the  Spaniards  were  liable  to  levy  on  Imats  iioing 
down  to  New  Orlcaas,  even  if  they  did  m.t  lake 
it  into  their  erratic  heads  to  stop  the  entire  navi- 
gation of  the  great  river  by  vessels  other  than 
their  own.  By  such  means,  merchandise  wa.s  car- 
ried on  almost  entirely  until  the  construction  of 
canals,  and  even  then,  until  modern  times,  the 
flat-boat  was  the  main-stay  of  the  shipper  inhabits 
ing  the  country  adjoining  the  upjier  Ohio  and 
Mississippi  Rivers. 

Commonly,  very  little  stock  was  kept  beyond 
what  was  necessary  ibr  the  use  of  the  family  and 
to  perform  the  labor  on  the  farm.  The  Scioto 
Valley  was  perhaps  the  only  exception  in  Ohio  to 
this  general  condition.  Horses  were  brought  by  the 
emigrants  from  the  East  aii<l  were  charaet<>visfic 
of  that  region.  In  the  Freneh  settlements  in  Illi- 
nois and  about  Detroit,  Freneh  ponies,  marvels  of 


a fc,^ 


±iL^ 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


oil  Jurance,  were  chiefly  used.  They  were  impractic- 
able in  hauling  the  immense  emigrant  wagons  over 
I  lie  mountains,  and  hence  were  comparatively 
unknown  in  Ohio.  Until  1828,  draft  horses 
wi-re  chiefly  used  liere,  the  hest  strains  being 
brought  bj-  the  ''Tunkers,"  "  Mcnnonites,"  and 
''  Ormish," — three  risligious  sects,  whose  members 
were  invariably  agriculturists.  In  Stark,  Wayne, 
Ui limes,  and  Richland  Counties,  as  a  general  thing, 
they  ciiugTcgated  in  communities,  where  tlie  neat- 
nes.s  of  their  farms,  tlie  excellent  condition  of 
their  stock,  and  the  primitive  simplicity  of  their 
manners,  made  them  conspicuous. 

In  1828,  the  French  began  to  settle  in  Stark 
County,  where  thoy  introduced  the  stock  of  horses 
known  iis  "  Selim,"  "Florizel,"  "Post  Boy"  and 
"Timolen."  These,  crcssed  upon  the  descents  of 
the  Norman  and  Conestoga,  produced  an  excellent 
stock  of  farm  horses,  now  largely  used. 

Ta  the  Western  Reserve,  blooded  horses  were  in- 
troduced as  early  :ls  1825.  John  I.  Van  Meter 
brought  fine  hor-scs  into  the  Scioto  Valley  in  1815, 
or  thereabouts.  Soon  after,  fine  horses  were 
brought  to  Steubenville  from  Virginia  and  Penn- 
sylvania. In  Xorthern  Ohio  the  .stock  w;us  more 
miscellaneous,  until  the  introduction  of  improved 
breeds  from  1815  to  1835.  By  the  latter  date 
the  strains  of  horses  had  greatly  improved.  The 
.same  could  be  said  of  other  parts  of  the  State. 
Until  after  1S25,  only  farm  and  road  horses  were 
re((uired.  That  j'ear  a  race-course — the  first  in 
the  State — was  established  in  Cincinnati,  shortly 
followed  by  others  at  Chillicothe,  Dayton  and  Ham- 
ilton. From  that  date  the  race-horse  steadily  im- 
proved. Until  1838,  however,  all  race-courses 
were  rather  irregular,  and,  of  those  named,  it  is 
difficult  to  determine  whicli  one  has  priority  of 
date  over  the  others.  To  Cincinnati,  the  prece- 
dence is,  however,  generally  given.  In  1838,  the 
Buckeye  Course  was  established  in  Cincinnati,  and 
before  a  year  had  clap.sed,  it  is  stated,  there  were 
fifteen  regular  race-courses  in  Ohio.  The  efl^ect 
of  these  courses  was  to  greatly  stimulate  the  stock 
of  racers,  and  rather  detract  from  draft  and  road 
hor.scs.  The  organization  of  companies  to  import 
blooded  horses  has  again  renved  the  interest  in 
this  class,  and  now,  at  annual  stock  sales,  these 
strains  of  horses  are  eagerly  sought  after  by  tho.se 
having  occasion  to  use  them. 

Cattle  were  brought  over  the  mountains,  and, 
for  several  years,  were  kept  entirely  Ibr  domestic 
uses.  By  1805,  the  country  had  so  far  settled 
that  the  surplus  stock  was  liittened  on  com  and 


fodder,  and  a  drove  was  driven  to  Baltimore.  The 
drove  was  owned  by  George  Reuick,  of  Chillicothe, 
and  the  feat  was  looked  u]jon  as  one  of  great  im- 
portance. The  drove  arrived  in  Baltimore  in  ex- 
cellent condition.  The  imjietus  given  by  this 
movement  of  Jlr.  Rcnick  stimulated  greatly  the 
feeding  of  cattle,  and  led  to  the  im]irovement  of 
the  breed,  heretofore  only  of  an  ordinary'  kind. 

Until  the  advent  of  railroads  and  the  .shipment 
of  cattle  thereon,  the  number  of  cattle  driven  to 
e;ustern  markets  from  Ohio  alone,  was  estimated  at 
over  fifteen  thousand  annually',  whose  value  was 
placed  at  §(500,000.  Besides  this,  large  numbers 
were  driven  fiom  Indiana  and  lUinoi.s,  whose 
boundless  prairies  gave  free  scojjc  to  tlie  herding  of 
cattle.  Improved  breeds,  ''Short  Horns,"  "]jong 
Horns"  and  others,  were  introduced  into  Ohio  as 
early  as  1810  and  1815.  Since  then  the  stock 
has  been  gradually  improved  and  acclimated,  until 
now  Ohio  produces  as  fine  cattle  as  anj'  State  in 
tlie  Union.  In  some  localities,  especially  in  the 
Western  Reserve,  cheesemaking  and  dairy  interests 
are  the  chief  occupations  of  whole  neighborhoods, 
where  may  be  found  men  who  have  grown  wealthy 
in  thLs  business. 

Sheep  were  kept  by  almost  every  family,  in  jiio- 
neer  times,  in  order  to  be  supplied  with  wool  for 
clothing.  The  wool  was  carded  by  hand,  spun  in 
the  cabin,  and  frequently  dyed  and  woven  as  well 
as  shaped  into  garments  there,  too.  All  emigrants 
brought  the  best  household  and  fanning  imple- 
ments their  limited  means  w^ould  allow,  so  also  did 
they  bring  the  best  strains  of  horaes,  cattle  and 
sheep  they  could  obtain.  About  the  year  180U, 
Mr.  Thomas  Rotch,  a  (Quaker,  emigrated  to  Stark 
County,  and  brought  with  him  a  small  flock  of 
Merino  sheep.  They  were  good,  and  a  part  of 
them  were  from  the  original  flock  brought  over 
from  Spain,  in  1801,  by  Col.  Humphrey,  United 
States  Minister  to  that  country.  He  had  brought 
200  of  these  .sheep,  and  hoped,  in  time,  to  see 
every  part  of  the  United  States  stocked  with  Jle- 
rinos.  In  this  he  partially  succeeded  only,  owing 
to  the  prejudice  against  them.  In  181 G,  Messrs. 
Wells  &  Dickenson,  who  were,  for  the  day,  exten- 
sive w^oolen  manufacturers  in  Steubenville,  drove 
their  fine  flocks  out  on  the  Stark  County  Plains 
for  the  summer,  and  brought  them  back  fiir  the 
winter.  This  course  was  pursued  for  several  3'cars, 
until  farms  were  prepared,  when  they  were  per- 
manently kept  in  Stark  County.  This  flock  was 
originally  derived  from  the  Humphrey  importation. 
The  failure  of  Wells  &  Dickenson,  in  1824,  placed 


156 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


a  good  portion  of  tliis  flock  in  the  hands  of  Adam 
Hildebrand,  and  became  the  ba.^is  of  liis  celebrated 
flock.  Mr.  T.  S.  HumrieklidU.^e,  oi'  t'oshoeton, 
in  a  eommunicatiou  regarding  slieep,  writes  as  fol- 
io w.s  : 

'•  The  first  merinos  brought  to  Ohio  were  doubt- 
less by  Seth  Adams,  of  Zanesville.  They  were 
Humphrey's  Merinos^undoubt<.^dly  the  best  ever 
imported  into  the  United  States,  by  whatever 
name  called.  He  kept  them  part  of  the  time  in 
AVashington,  and  afterward  in  Muskingum  County. 
He  had  a  sort  of  partnership  agency  from  Gen. 
Humphrey  for  keeping  and  selling  them.  They 
were  scattered,  and,  had  they  been  taken  care  of 
and  appreciated,  would  have  laid  a  better  found- 
ation i)f  flocks  in  Ohio  than  any  sheep  brought 
into  it  from  that  time  till  1852.  The  precise  date 
at  which  Adams  brought  them  cannot  now  be  as- 
certained ;  but  it  was  prior  to  1813,  perhaps  as 
early  as  1804." 

"The  first  Soiii-hdowns,"  continues  Mr.  Hum- 
rickhouse,"  "  New  Leicester,  Lincolnshire  and  Cots- 
wold  sheep  I  ever  saw,  were  brought  into  Coshocton 
County  from  England  by  Isaac  Maynard,  nephew 
of  the  famous  Sir  John,  in  1834.  There  were 
about  ten  Southdowns  and  a  trio  of  each  of  the 
other  kinds.  He  was  offered  1500  for  his  Lin- 
colnshire ram,  in  Buffalo,  as  lie  passed  through, 
but  refused.  He  was  selfish,  and  unwilling  to  put 
them  into  other  hands  when  he  went  on  a  farm, 
all  in  the  woods,  and,  in  about  three  years,  most  of 
them  had  perished." 

The  raising  and  improvement  of  sheep  has  kept 
steady  tread  with  the  growth  of  the  State,  and 
now  Ohio  wool  is  known  the  world  over.  In  (|uan- 
tity  it  is  e(|ual  to  any  State  in  America,  while  its 
quality  is  unequaled. 

The  first  stock  of  hogs  brought  to  Ohio  were 
rather  poor,  scrawny  creatures,  and,  in  a  short 
time,  when  lefl  to  themselves  to  pick  a  livelihood 
from  the  beech  mast  and  other  nut«  in  the  woods, 
degenerated  into  a  wild  condition,  almost  akin  to 
their  originators.  As  the  country  settled,  however, 
they  were  gathered  from  their  lairs,  and,  by  feed- 
ing them  corn,  the  farmers  soon  brought  them  out 
of  their  semi-barbarous  state.  Improved  breeds 
were  introduced.  The  laws  for  their  protection 
and  guarding  were  made,  and  now  the  hog  of  to- 
day .shows  what  improvement  and  civilization  can 
do  for  any  wild  animal.  The  chief  city  of  the 
State  has  become  famous  as  a  slaughtering  place; 
her  bacon  and  sides  being  known  in  all  the  civil- 
ized World. 


Otlier  domestic  animals,  mules,  asses,  etc.,  have 
been  brought  to  tlie  State  as  occasion  rc([uired. 
Wherever  their  use  has  been  demanded,  they  have 
been  obtained,  until  the  Stat*  has  her  complement 
of  all  animals  her  citizens  can  use  in  their  daily 
labors. 

Most  of  the  early  emigrants  brought  with  them 
young  fruit  trees  or  gi-afts  of  some  favorite  variety 
fi'om  the  "  old  homestead.  '  Hence,  on  the  West- 
ern Reserve  are  to  be  found  chiefly — especially  in 
old  orchards — New  England  varieties,  while,  in  the 
localities  immediately  south  of  the  Reserve,  Penn- 
sylvania and  Maryland  varieties  predominate ;  but 
at  Marietta,  New  England  fruits  are  again  found, 
as  well  as  throughout  Southeastern  Ohio.  One  of 
the  oldest  of  tb.ese  orchards  was  on  a  Mr.  Dana's 
farm,  near  Cincinnati,  on  the  Ohio  River  bank.  It 
consisted  of  five  acres,  in  which  apple  seeds  and 
seedlings  were  planted  as  early  as  1790.  Part  of 
the  old  orchard  is  yet  to  be  seen,  though  the  trees 
are  almost  past  their  usefldness.  Peaches,  pears, 
cherries  and  apples  were  planted  by  all  the  pioneers 
in  their  gardens.  As  soon  as  the  seed  produced 
seedlings,  these  were  transplanted  to  some  hillside, 
and  the  orchard,  in  a  few  years,  was  a  productive 
unit  in  the  life  of  the  settler.  The  first  fruit 
brought,  was,  like  everything  else  of  the  pioneers, 
rather  inferior,  and  admitted  of  much  cultivation. 
Soon  steps  were  taken  by  the  more  enterprising 
settlers  to  obtain  better  varieties.  Israel  Putnam, 
as  early  as  1796,  returned  to  the  East,  partly  to 
get  scions  of  the  choicest  apples,  and,  partly,  on 
other  business.  He  obtained  quite  a  quantity  of 
choice  apples,  of  some  forty  or  fifty  varieties,  and 
set  them  out.  A  portion  of  them  were  distrib- 
uted to  the  settlers  who  had  trees,  to  ingrafl. 
From  these  old  grafts  are  yet  to  be  traced  some  of 
the  best  orchards  in  Ohio.  Israel  Putnam  was  one 
of  the  most  prominent  men  in  early  Ohio  days. 
He  was  always  active  in  promoting  the  interests  of 
the  settlers.  Among  his  earliest  efibrts,  that  of 
improving  the  fruit  may  well  be  mentioned.'  He 
and  his  brother,  Aaron  W.  Putnam,  living  at  Bel- 
pre,  opposite  Blennerhasset's  Island,  began  the 
nursery  business  soon  afl«r  their  arrival  in  the 
West.  The  apples  brought  by  them  from  their 
Connecticut  home  were  used  to  commence  the  busi- 
ness. These,  and  the  apples  obtained  from  trees 
planted  in  their  gardens,  gave  them  a  beginning. 
They  were  the  only  two  men  in  Ohio  engaged  in 
the  business  till  1817. 

In  early  times,  in  the  central  part  of  Ohio, 
there  existed  a  cui-ious  character  known  as  "Johnny 


^ 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


Appleseed."  His  real  name  w;is  John  Chapiuau. 
He  reuoived  his  namo  frum  his  habit  of  planting, 
along  all  the  streams  in  that  part  of  the  State, 
aj)plo-secds  fioui  which  sprang  many  of  the  old 
orclianls.  Ho  did  this  as  a  religious  duty,  think- 
ing it  to  be  his  especial  mission.  He  had,  it  is 
said,  been  disappointed  in  his  youth  in  a  love 
aftkir,  and  came  West  about  1800,  and  ever  after 
followed  his  singular  life.  He  was  extensively 
known,  was  quite  harndess,  very  patient,  and  did, 
without  doubt,  much  good.  He  died  in  1817,  at 
the  house  of  a  3Ir.  Worth,  near  Fort  Wayne, 
Indiana,  who  had  long  known  him,  and  often 
befriended  him.  He  was  a  minister  in  the  Swed- 
enborgian  Church,  and,  in  his  own  way,  a  zealous 
worker. 

The  settlers  of  the  Western  Reserve,  coming 
from  New  England,  chiefly  from  Connecticut, 
brought  all  varieties  of  fruit  known  in  their  old 
homes.  These,  whether  seeds  or  grafts,  were 
j)lanted  in  gardens,  and  as  soon  as  an  orchard 
could  be  cleared  ou  some  favorable  hillside,  the 
young  trees  were  transplanted  there,  and  in  time 
an  orchard  was  the  result.  Much  confusion 
regarding  the  kinds  of  fruits  thus  produced  arose, 
partly  from  the  fact  that  the  trees  grown  from 
seeds  did  not  always  prove  to  be  of  the  .same  (|ual- 
ity  as  the  seeds.  Climate,  soil  and  surroundings 
often  change  the  character  of  such  fruits. 
Many  m:\v  varieties,  unknown  to  the  growers, 
were  the  result.  The  fiuit  thus  produced  was 
oft«n  of  an  inferior  growth,  and  when  grafts  were 
brought  from  the  old  New  England  home  and 
grafted  into  the  Ohio  trees,  an  im])rovement  as 
well  :is  the  old  home  fruit  was  the  result.  After 
the  orchards  in  the  Reserve  bi^gan  to  bear,  the 
fruit  was  very  often  taken  to  the  Ohio  lliver  for 
shipment,  and  thence  found  its  way  to  the  South- 
ern and  Kastcrn  scalinard  cities. 

Among  tln'  individuals  ]ininiiiu'nt  in  introducing 
fruitsintolhc State,  wrrr  Mr.  Diile,  of  Euclid,  Judge 
Fuller,  Judge  Whittlesey,  and  Mr.  Lindley. 
George  Hoadly  was  also  very  prominent  and  ener- 
getic in  the  matter,  and  was,  perhaps,  the  first  to 
introduce  the])(^ar  to  any  extent.  Ho  was  one  of 
the  most  persistent  and  enthusiastic  amateurs  in 
horticulture  and  pomology  in  the  West.  About 
the  year  1810,  Dr.  Jarcd  Kirtland,  father  of 
Prof  J.  P.  Kirtland,  so  favorably  known 
among  horticulturists  and  pomologists,  came  from 
Connecticut  and  .settled  in  Poland,  Mahoning 
County,  with  his  family.  This  family  has  done 
more  than  any   other  in  the    State,    perhap.s,    to 


advance  fruit  culture.  About  the  year  1824, 
Prof  J.  P.  Kirtland,  in  connection  with  his  brother, 
e.stabli.shed  a  nursery  at  Poland,  then  in  Trumbull 
County,  and  brought  on  from  New  I'jngland  aljove 
a  hundred  of  their  best  varieties  of  apples,  ciicrries, 
peaches,  pears,  and  smaller  fruits,  and  a  year  or 
two  aft«r  brought  from  New  Jersey  a  hundred  of 
the  best  varieties  of  that  State;  others  were  ob- 
tained in  New  York,. so  that  they  jxjsse.ssyd  the  larg- 
est and  most  varied  stock  in  the  Western  i-ountry. 
These  two  men  gave  a  great  impc'tus  to  fruit  cult- 
ure in  the  West,  and  did  more  than  any  others 
of  that  day  to  introduce  imjirovcd  kinds  of  all 
fruits  in  that  jiart  of  the  United  States. 

Another  proujinent  man  in  this  branch  of  nidus- 
try  was  Mr.  Andrew  H.  Ern.st,  of  Cincinnati. 
Although  not  so  early  a  settler  as  the  Kirtlands, 
he  was,  like  them,  an  ardent  student  and  iiroi)a- 
gator  of  line  fruits.  He  introduced  more  than 
six  hundred  varieties  of  apjiies  and  .seven  hun- 
dred of  pears,  both  native  and  foreign.  His 
object  was  to  test  by  actual  experience  the  most 
valuable  sorts  for  the  diversified  soil  and  climate 
of  the  Western  country. 

The  name  of  Nichohis  Longworth,  also  of  Cin- 
cinnati, is  one  of  tin;  most  extensively  known  of  any 
in  the  .science  of  Injrticulture  and  pomology.  For 
more  than  fifty  years  he  made  the.se  his  especial 
delight.  Having  a  large  tract  of  land  in  the 
lower  part  of  Cincinnati,  he  established  nur.series, 
and  planted  and  disseminated  every  variety  of 
fruits  that  could  be  found  in  the  United  States — 
East  or  West — making  occasional  importations 
from  European  countries  of  siu-h  varieties  as 
were  thought  to  be  adapt(!d  to  the  Western  climate. 
His  success  has  been  variables,  governed  by  the 
season,  and  in  a  measure  b}'  his  numerous  experi- 
ments. His  vineyards,  cultivated  by  tenants,  gen- 
erally Germans,  on  the  EumpeaM  plan,  during  the 
latter  years  of  his  ex|MTicMcc  paiil  liini  a  hand- 
some revenue.  He  introdiicci!  the  famous  Catawba 
grape,  the  standard  grape  of  the  West.  It  is 
stated  that  Mr.  Longwortli  bears  the  same  relation 
t«  vineyard  culture  tjiat  Fulton  did  to  steam  navi- 
gation. Others  made  earlier  effort,  but  he  was  the 
first  to  establish  it  on  a  permanent  ba.sis.  He  Inis 
also  been  eminently  successful  in  the  cultivation  of 
the  strawberry,  and  was  the  first  to  firmly  establish 
it  on  Western  soil.  He  also  brought  the  Ohio  J'lver- 
bearing  Ra.s])l)erry  into  notice;  in  the  State,  and 
widely  disseminateel  it  throughout  the  country. 

Other  smaller  fruits  were  brought  out  to  the 
West  like  those  mentioned.     In  some  ca.ses  fruits 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


imlinonous  to  the  soil  were  cultivated  and  improved, 
aud  as  improved  fruits,  are  known  fiivorably  where- 
ever  used. 

In  chronology  and  importance,  of  all  the  cereals, 
corn  stands  foremost.  During  the  early  pioneer 
period,  it  was  the  staple  article  of  food  for  both 
man  and  bea,st.  It  could  be  made  into  a  variety 
of  firms  of  food,  and  as  such  was  not  only  palata- 
ble but  highly  nutritious  and  strengthening. 

It  is  very  difficult  to  deterniiuc  wlietlier  corn 
originated  in  America  or  in  the  Old  World.  Many 
prominent  botanists  assert  it  is  a  native  of  Turkey, 
and  originally  was  known  as  "  Turkey  wheat."  Still 
others  claimed  to  have  found  mention  of  maize  in 
Chinese  writings  antrduting  the  Turkish  <lisciivory. 
Grains  of  maize  were  found  in  an  Egyi)tian  mum- 
my, which  goes  to  prove  to  many  the  cereal  was 
known  in  Africa  since  the  earliest  times.  Maize 
wa,s  found  in  America  when  first  visited  by  white 
men,  but  of  its  origin  Indians  could  give  no  ac- 
count. It  had  always  been  known  among  them, 
and  constituted  their  chief  article  of  vegetable  diet. 
It  wa,s  cultivated  exclusively  by  their  squaws,  the 
men  coiisidi-riiig  it  beneath  their  dignity  to  engage 
in  any  manual  labcpr.  It  is  altoLirtlh'r  |irolinlile  coin 
was  known  in  the  Old  ^Vorld  long  before  the  New 
was  discovered.  The  Arabs  or  Crusaders  probably 
introduced  it  into  Europe.  How  it  was  introduced 
int«  America  will,  in  all  jmibability,  remain  un- 
known. It  may  have  been  an  indigenous  jilant, 
like  many  others.  Its  introduction  into  Ohio  dates 
with  the  settlement  of  the  whites,  especially  its 
cultivation  and  use  as  an  article  of  trade.  True, 
the  Indians  had  cultivated  it  in  .small  (|uantities  ; 
each  lodge  a  little  for  itself,  but  no  eft'ort  to  make 
of  it  a  national  support  began  until  tlie  civilization 
of  the  white  race  became  established.  From  that 
time  on,  the  increase  in  crops  has  grown  with  the 
State,  and,  excepting  the  great  corn  States  of  the 
West,  Ohio  produces  an  amount  e<(ual  to  any  State 
in  the  Uni(in.  The  statistical  tables  printed  in 
agricultural  reports  show  the  acres  planted,  and 
bushels  grown.  Figures  speak  an  unanswerable 
logic. 

Wheat  is  probably  the  next  in  importance  of  the 
cereals  in  the  State.  Its  origin,  like  corn,  is  lost 
in  the  mists  of  antiquity.  Its  berry  was  no  doubt 
used  as  food  by  the  ancients  for  ages  anterior  to 
any  historical  records.  It  is  often  called  corn  in 
<ild  writings,  and  under  that  name  is  frequently 
mentioned  in  the  Bible. 

"As  far  back  in  the  vistas  of  ages  as  human 
records  co,  we  find  that  wheat  has  been  cultivated. 


and,  with  corn,  aside  from  animal  food,  has  formed 
one  of  the  chief  alimentary  articles  of  all  nations  ; 
but  as  the  wheat  plant  has  nowhere  been  found  wild, 
or  in  a  state  of  nature,  the  inference  has  been 
drawn  by  men  of  un([uestioned  scientific  ability, 
that  the  original  plant  from  which  wheat  has  been 
derived  was  either  totally  annihilated,  or  else  cul- 
tivation has  wrought  so  great  a  change,  that  the 
original  is  by  no  means  obvious,  or  manifest  to  bot- 
anists." 

It  is  supposed  by  many,  wheat  originated  in 
Persia.  Others  affirm  it  was  known  and  cultivated 
in  Egypt  long  ere  it  found  its  way  into  Persia.  It 
was  certainly  grown  on  the  Nile  ;iges  ago,  and 
among  the  tombs  are  found  grains  of  wheat  in  a 
perfectly  sound  condition,  that  unquestionably 
have  been  buried  thou.sands  of  years.  It  may  be, 
however,  that  wheat  was  grown  in  Persia  first,  and 
thence  found  its  way  into  Egypt  and  Africa,  or, 
vice  versa.  It  grew  first  in  Egypt  and  Africa  and 
thence  crossed  into  Persia,  and  from  there  found 
its  way  into  India  and  all  parts  of  Asia. 

It  is  also  claimed  that  wheat  is  indigenous  to 
the  island  of  Sicily,  and  that  from  there  it  spread 
ajouii  the  shoi-es  of  the  Mediterranean  into  Asia 
Minor  and  Egypt,  and,  as  communities  advanced, 
it  was  cultivated,  not  only  to  a  greater  extent,  but 
with  greater  success. 

The  goddess  of  agriculture,  more  especially  of 
grains,  who,  by  the  Greeks,  was  called  Demeter, 
and,  by  the  Romans,  Ceres — hence  the  name  ce- 
reals— was  said  to  have  her  home  at  Enna,  a  fertile 
region  of  that  island,  thus  mdicating  the  source 
from  which  the  Greeks  and  Romans  derived  their 
(\iiili<i.  Homer  mentions  wheat  and  .spelt  as 
bread;  also  corn  and  barley,  aud  describes  his 
heroes  as  using  them  as  fodder  for  their  horses,  as 
the  people  in  tlie  South  of  Europe  do  at  present. 
Rye  was  introduced  into  Greece  from  Thrace,  or 
by  way  of  Thrace,  in  the  time  of  Galen.  In 
Cae.sar's  time  the  Romans  grew  a  species  of  wheat 
enveloped  in  a  husk,  like  barley,  aud  by  them 
called  "Far." 

During  the  excavations  of  Herculaneum  and 
Pompeii,  wheat,  in  an  excellent  state  of  preserva- 
tion, was  frequently  found. 

Dr.  Anson  Hart,  Superintendent,  at  one  time,  of 
Indian  Affiiivs  in  Oregon,  states  that  he  found 
numerous  patches  of  wheat  and  flax  growing  wild 
in  the  Vackemas  country,  in  Upper  Oregon.  There 
is  but  little  doubt  that  both  cereals  were  intro- 
duced into  Oregon  at  an  early  period  by  the  Hud- 
son  Bay,  or  other  fur  companies.     Wheat  was  also 


HISTORY   OF    OHIO. 


159 


found  by  Dr.  Boyle,  of  Colunibus,  Ohio,  growing 
in  a  similar  state  in  the  Carson  Valley.  It  was, 
doubtless,  brought  there  by  the  early  .Spaniard.?. 
In  15SII,  one  oi'  Cortex's  slaves  found  several  grains 
of  wheat  aeeideiilally  mixed  willi  the  riee.  The 
careful  negro  jilanted  the  handful  of  grains,  and 
succeeding  years  saw  a  wheat  crop  in  Mexico, 
which  found  its  way  uortliward,  probably  int<j 
California. 

Turn  where  we  may,  wherever  the  foot  of  civil- 
ization has  trod,  there  will  we  find  this  wheat 
plant,  which,  like  a  monument,  has  perpetuated 
the  memory  of  the  event;  but  nowhere  do  we  find 
the  plant  wild.  It  is  the  result  of  cultivation  in 
bygone  ages,  and  lias  been  produced  by  "progress- 
ive development.' 

It  is  beyond  the  limit  and  province  of  these 
pages  to  discuss  the  composition  of  this  important 
cereal ;  only  its  hi.storic  j)ro])erties  can  be  noticed. 
With  the  advent  of  the  white  men  in  America, 
wheat,  like  corn,  came  to  bo  one  of  the  staple  prod- 
uces of  life.  It  followed  the  pioneer  over  the 
mountains  westward,  where,  in  the  rich  Missis- 
sippi and  Illinois  bottoms,  it  has  been  cultivated 
by  the  French  since  lli'JO.  When  the  hardy  New 
Englanders  came  to  the  alluvial  lands  adjoining 
the  Ohio,  Muskingum  or  Miami  Rivers,  tliey 
brought  with  them  this  "staff  of  life,"  and  forth- 
with began  its  cultivation.  Who  sowed  the  first 
wheat  in  Ohio,  is  a  question  .Mr.  A.  S.  Guthrie 
answers,  in  a  letter  jiublished  in  the  Agi-icultural 
Report  of  1857,  as  follows: 

"My  father,  Thomas  (luthrie,  emigrated  to  the 
Northwest  Tt^-ritory  in  the  year  17HH,  and  arrived 
at  the  mouth  of  the  ^Muskingum  in  July,  alxnit 
three  months  after  (ien.  Putnam  had  arrived  with 
the  first  pioneers  of  Ohio.  .My  fatlua-  brought  a 
bushel  of  wheat  with  him  from  one  of  the  frontier 
counties  of  Pennsylvania,  which  h(^  sowed  on  a 
lot  of  land  in  Marietta,  which  he  clean^l  for  that 
purpose,  on  the  second  bottom  or  plain,  in  the 
neighborhood  of  where  the  Court  House  now 
stands." 

Mr.  Guthrie's  ojiinion  is  corroborated  by  Dr. 
Samuel  I'.  Ilildrelli,  in  his  "Pioneer  Settlers  of 
Ohio,"  and  is,  no  doubt,  correct. 

From  that  date  (jn  down  through  the  years  of 
Ohio's  growth,  the  crops  of  wheat  have  kept  pace 
with  the  advance  and  growth  of  civilization.  The 
soil  is  admirably  adapted  Ui  the  growth  of  this  ce- 
reiil,  a  large  luimber  of  varieties  being  grown,  and 
an  excellent  (juality  produced.  It  is  firm  in  body, 
and,  in  many  citses,  is  a  successful  rival  of  wheat 


produced  in  the  great  wheat^jjroducing  regions  of 
the  United  States — Minnesota,  and  the  farther 
Northwest. 

Oats,  rye,  barley,  and  other  grains  wore  also 
brought  to  Ohio  i'rom  the  Atlantic  Coa.st,  though 
some  of  them  had  been  cultivated  liy  the  French 
in  Illinois  and  about  Detroit.  They  were  at  first 
used  only  as  food  for  houu;  ('onsumption,  and,  until 
the  successful  attcmj)t.s  at  river  and  canal  naviga- 
tion were  brought  about,  but  little  was  ever  sent 
to  market. 

Of  all  the  root  crops  known  to  man,  the  potato 
is  probably  the  most  valuable.  Next  to  wluiat, 
it  is  clainu^d  by  many  as  the  staff  of  life.  In 
some  localities,  this  a.ssumption  is  undoubtedly 
true.  What  would  Ireland  have  done  in  her  fam- 
ines but  for  this  simple  vegetable?  The  potato  is 
a  native  of  the  mountainous  districts  of  tropical 
and  subtropical  America,  probably  from  (!hili  to 
Mexico ;  but  there  is  considerable  difficulty  in 
deciding  where  it  is  really  indigenous,  and  where 
it  has  spread  after  being  introduced  by  man. 
Humboldt,  the  learned  savant,  doubted  if  it  had 
ever  been  fimnd  wild,  but  scholars  no  less  famous, 
and  of  late  date,  have  expressed  an  o|)pnsit(' 
opinion.  In  the  wild  plant,  as  in  all  others,  the 
tubers  are  smaller  than  in  the  cultivated.  The 
potato  had  been  cultivat<:d  in  America,  and  its 
tubers  used  for  food,  long  l)efore  the  advent  of  the 
Europeans.  It  .seems  to  have  been  first  lirought 
to  ]"]urope  by  the  Si)aniards,  from  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Quito,  in  the  beginning  of  the  sixteenth 
century,  and  spread  through  Spain,  the  Netherlands, 
Burgundy  and  Ital}-,  cultivated  in  gardens  as  an 
ornament  only  and  not  for  an  article  of  food. 
It  long  received  through  Huropean  countries  the 
same  nana;  with  the  batata.s — sweet  potato,  whi(;h 
is  the  plant  meant  by  all  English  writers  down  to 
the  seventeenth  century. 

It  appears  that  the  jiotato  was  brought  from 
Virginia  to  Ireland  by  Hawkins,  a  slave-trader, 
in  15(55,  and  to  England  by  Sir  Francis  Drake, 
twenty  years  later.  It  did  not  at  first  attract  much 
notice,  and  not  until  it  wa.s  a  third  time  imimrted 
from  America,  in  1()2H,  by  Sir  \Valter  Ualiigh, 
did  the  Europeans  make  a  practical  use  of  it. 
Even  then  it  was  a  long  time  before  it  was  exten- 
sively cultivated.  It  is  noticed  in  agiicu'tural 
journals  a.s  food  for  cattle  only  as  late  as  17 lit. 
Poor  people  began  using  it,  however,  and  finding  it 
highly  nutritious,  the  Royal  Geograpliiial  Society, 
in  ICGij,  adojited  measures  for  its  propagation. 
.\bout  this  time  it  began  to  be  used  in   Ireland  a.s 


1^ 


IGO 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


food,  and  from  the  begiuniug  of  the  eighteenth  cent- 
ury, its  use  has  never  declined.  It  is  now  known 
in  every  quarter  of  the  world,  and  has,  by  cultiva- 
tion, been  greatly  improved. 

The  inhabitants  of  America  learned  its  use 
from  the  Indians,  who  cultivated  it  and  other 
root  crops — rutabagas,  radishes,  etc.,  and  taught 
the  whites  their  value.  When  the  pioneers  of 
Ohio  came  to  its  fertile  valleys,  they  brought 
improved  species  with  them,  wliich  by  cultiva- 
tion and  soil,  are  now  greatly  increased,  and  are 
among  the  standard  crops  of  the  State. 

The  cucurbitaccous  plants,  squashes,  etc.,  were, 
like  the  potato  and  similar  root  crops,  indigenous 
to  America — others,  like  the  melons,  to  Asia — 
and  were  among  the  staple  foods  of  the  original 
inhabitants.  The  early  French  missionaries  of 
the  West  speak  of  both  root  crops  and  cucurbi- 
taccous plants  as  in  useamong  theaborigiiial  inhab- 
itants. "They  are  very  sweet  and  uiii>li'S(inic," 
wrote  Manjuette.  Others  .speak  in  the. same  terms, 
though  some  of  the  plants  in  this  order  had  found 
their  way  to  these  valleys  through  tlie  Spaniards 
and  others  through  early  Atlantic  Coast  and  ^Ick- 
ican  inhabitants.  Their  use  by  the  si'ttlcrs  of  (be 
West,  especially  Ohio,  is  traced  to  New  I'higlaud, 
as  the  first  settlers  came  from  that  portion  of  the 
Union.  They  grow  well  in  all  parts  of  the  State, 
and  by  cultivation  have  been  greatly  improved  in 
(juality  and  variety.  All  cucurbitaeeous  plants 
recjuire  a  rich,  porous  soil,  and  by  proper  atten- 
tion to  their  cultivation,  excellent  results  can  be 
attained. 

Probably  the  earliest  and  most  im])ortant  imj)le- 
ment  of  husbandry  known  is  the  plow.  Grain, 
plants  and  roots  will  not  grow  well  unless  the  soil 
in  which  they  are  planted  be  properly  stirred, 
hence  the  first  rei|uirement  was  an  instrument  that 
would  fulfill  such  conditions. 

The  first  imiilcnients  were  rude  indeed  ;  gener- 
ally, stout  wooden  sticks,  drawn  through  the  earth 
by  thongs  attached  to  rude  ox-yokes,  or  fastened 
to  the  animal's  horns.  Such  plows  were  in  use 
among  the  ancient  Rgy))tians,  and  may  yet  be 
found  among  uncivilized  nations.  The  Old  Testa- 
ment furnisiies  numerous  instances  of  the  use  of 
the  plow,  while,  on  the  ruins  of  ancient  cities  and 
among  tlie  pyramids  of  Egypt,  and  on  the  buried 
walls  of  Babylon,  and  other  ixtinct  cities,  are  rude 
drawings  of  this  useful  inqilcnicnt.  As  the  use 
of  iron  became  apparent  ami  general,  it  was  util- 
ized for  plow-points,  where  the  wood  alone  would 
not  penetrate    the  earth.     They   got    their  plow- 


sliares  sharpened  in  Old  Testament  days,  also 
coulters,  which  shows,  beyond  a  doubt,  that  iron- 
pointed  plows  were  then  in  use.  From  times 
mentioned  in  the  Bible,  on  heathen  tombs,  and 
ancient  catacombs,  the  improvement  of  the  plow, 
like  other  farming  tools,  went  on,  as  the  race  of 
man  grew  in  intelligence.  Extensive  manors  in 
the  old  country  required  increased  means  of  turning 
the  ground,  and,  to  meet  these  demands,  ingenious 
meclianics,  from  time  to  time,  invented  improved 
plows.  Strange  to  say,  however,  no  improvement 
was  ever  made  by  the  farmer  liimself.  This  is  ac- 
counted for  in  his  habits  of  life,  and,  too  often, 
the  disposition  to  "take  things  as  they  are."  When 
America  was  settled,  the  plow  bad  become  an  im- 
plement capable  of  turning  two  or  three  acres  per 
day.  Still,  and  for  many  years,  and  even  until 
lately,  the  mold-board  was  entirely  wooden,  the 
point  only  iron.  Later  developments  changed  the 
wood  for  steel,  which  now  alone  is  used.  Still 
later,  especially  in  prairie  States,  riding  plows  are 
used.  Like  all  other  improvements,  they  were 
obliged  to  combat  an  obtuse  public  mind  among 
the  ruralists,  who  surely  combat  almost  every 
move  made  to  better  their  condition.  In  many 
places  in  America,  wooden  plows,  straight  ax 
handles,  and  a  stone  in  one  end  of  the  bag,  to  bal- 
ance the  grist  in  the  other,  are  the  rule,  and  for  no 
other  reason  in  the  world  are  they  maintained  than 
the  laconic  answer: 

"  My  father  did  so,  and  why  should  not  I?  Am 
I  better  than  he?  " 

After  the  plow  comes  the  harrow,  but  little 
changed,  save  in  lightness  and  beauty.  Formerly, 
a  log  of  wood,  or  a  brush  harrow,  supplied  its 
place,  but  in  the  State  of  Ohio,  the  toothed  instru- 
ment has  nearly  always  been  used. 

The  hoe  is  lighter  made  than  formerly,  and  is 
now  made  of  steel.  At  first,  the  common  iron 
hoe,  sliarpened  l)y  the  blacksmith,  was  in  constant 
use.  Now,  it  is  rarely  seen  outside  of  the  South- 
ern States,  where  it  has  long  been  the  chief  inqile- 
ment  in  agriculture. 

The  various  small  phiws  iiir  the  cidtivation  of 
corn  and  such  other  cro])s  as  necessitated  their  use 
are  all  the  re.sult  of  modern  civilization.  Now, 
their  number  is  large,  and,  in  many  places,  there 
are  two  or  more  attached  to  one  carriage,  whose 
ojierator  riiles.  These  kinds  are  much  used  in  the 
Western  States,  whose  rootless  and  stoneless  soil  is 
admii'alily  adapted  to  sucli  machinery. 

When  the  grain  became  ripe,  implements  to  cut 
it  were  in   demand.     In   ancient   times,  the  sickle 


HISTORY   OF    OUIO. 


was  the  only  iiistruiiK'iit  used.  It  was  a  short, 
curved  iron,  wIkpso  inner  edge  was  sharpened  anil 
serrated.  In  its  most  ancient  form,  it  is  dimhtfhl 
if  the  etlge  was  but  little,  if  any,  serrated.  It  is 
mentioned  in  all  ancient  works,  and  in  the  Bible  is 
freiiuently  referred  to. 

"  Thrust  in  the  sickle,  for  the  harvest  is 
ripe."  wrott!  the  sacred  New  Testament,  while 
the  Old  chronicles  as  early  its  the  time  of  Moses: 
'•  As  thou  beginnest  to  put  the  sickle  to  the 
corn." 

In  more  modern  times,  the  handle  of  the  sickle 
was  lengthened,  then  the  blade,  which  in  time  led 
to  the  scythe.  Both  are  yet  in  use  in  many  parts 
of  the  world.  The  use  of  the  scythe  led  some 
thinking  person  to  add  a  "  finger  "  or  two,  and  to 
change  the  .shape  of  the  handle.  The  old  cradle 
was  the  result.  At  first  it  met  considerabli' oppn- 
sition  from  the  laborers,  who  brought  forward  tlu^ 
old-time  argumimt  of  ignorance,  that  it  would 
cheajien  labor. 

Whether  the  cradle  is  a  native  of  America  or 
Europe  is  not  accurately  decidi'd;  probably  of  the 
mother  country.  It  came  into  common  u.se  about 
1818,  and  in  a  few  years  had  found  its  way  into 
the  wheat-pnjducing  regions  of  the  West.  Where 
small  crops  are  rai.scd,  the  cradle  is  yet  much  used. 
A  man  can  cut  from  two  to  four  acres  per  day, 
hence,  it  is  much  cheaper  than  a  reaper,  where  the 
crop  is  small. 

The  mower  and  reaper  are  comparatively  mod- 
ern inventions.  A  rude  rca]iing  machine  is  men- 
tioned ))y  Pliny  in  the  first  century.  Itwas pushed 
by  an  ox  through  the  standing  grain.  On  its 
front  was  a  sharp  edge,  which  cut  the  grain.  It 
was,  however,  impracticable,  as  it  cut  only  a  por- 
tion of  the  grain,  and  the  pc^asiuitry  ]ircfcrrc<l  the 
sickle.  Other  and  later  attempts  to  make  r<'a]icrs 
do  not  seem  to  have  been  successful,  and  not  till 
the  present  century  wa.s  a  machine  made  that  would 
do  the  work  required.  In  1826,  Mr.  Bell,  of 
Scotland,  constructed  a  machine  which  is  yet  used 
in  many  parts  of  that  country.  In  America,  Mr. 
Hu.ssey  and  Mr.  MeCormick  took  out  patents  for 
reaping  machines  of  superior  character  in  188:1 
and  18.S4.  At  first  the  cutters  of  these  machines 
were  various  contrivances,  but  both  manufacturers 
soon  adojitcd  a  s(Trated  knife,  triangular  shaped,  at- 
tached to  a  bar,  and  driven  through  '■  finger 
guards"  attached  to  it.  by  a  forward  and  backward 
motion.  These  are  the  common  ones  now  in  use, 
save  that  all  do  not  use  serrated  knives.  Siner 
these  pioneer  machines  were  introduced  into   the 


harvest  fields  they  have  been  greatly  improved  and 
changed.  Of  late  years  they  have  been  constructed 
so  as  to  bind  the  sheaves,  and  now  a  good  stout 
boy,  and  a  team  with  a  "  harvester,"  will  do  as 
much  iis  many  men  could  do  a  few  years  ago,  and 
with  much  greater  case. 

As  was  e.vpccted  by  the  inventors  of  reapers, 
they  met  with  a  determined  resistance  from  those 
who  in  former  times  made  their  living  by  harvest- 
ing. It  w;us  again  absurdly  argued  that  they  would 
cheapen  labor,  and  hence  were  an  injury  to  the 
laboring  man.  Indeed,  when  tlu;  first  machines 
were  brimght  into  Ohio,  many  of  them  were  torn 
to  pieces  by  the  ignorant  hands.  Others  left  fields 
in  a  body  wlu^n  tlui  j)roi)rietor  brought  a  reaper  to 
his  farm,  l-ike  all  such  fallacies,  these,  in  time, 
pa.ssed  away,  Ic-aving  only  their  stain. 

Following  the  rea|jcr  came  the  thresher.  As 
the  country  (illcd  with  inhabitants,  and  men  in- 
creased their  possessions,  more  rapid  means  than 
the  old  flail  or  roller  method  were  demanded.  At 
first  the  grain  was  trodden  out  by  horses  driven  over 
the  bundh's,  which  were  laid  in  a  circular  inclosurc. 
The  old  flail,  th(!  tramping-out  by  horses,  and  the 
cleaning  by  the  .sheet,  or  throwing  the  grain  up 
against  a  current  of  air,  were  too  slow,  and 
machines  were  the  result  of  the  demand.  In  Ohio 
the  manufacture  of  threshers  began  in  1846,  in 
the  southwestern  part.  Isaac  Tobias,  who  cauu; 
to  Hamilton  Irom  Mianiisburg  that  year,  com- 
menced building  the  threshers  then  in  u.se.  They 
were  without  the  cleaning  attachment,  and  simply 
hulled  the  gi-ain.  Two  yenrs  later,  he  began 
manufacturing  the  combiiicd  thresher  and  cleaner, 
which  were  then  coming  into  use.  He  continued 
in  business  till  1851.  Four  years  after,  the  in- 
crca.scd  demand  for  such  machines,  con.sec|uent 
upon  the  increa.sed  agricidtural  products,  induced 
the  firm  of  Owens,  Lane  &  Dyer  to  fit  their  estab- 
ILshment  for  the  manufijcture  of  threshers.  They 
afterward  added  the  matiufacture  of  steam  engines 
to  be  used  in  the  place  of  horse  power.  Since 
then  the  manufacture  of  these  machines,  as  well  as 
that  of  all  other  agricultural  machinery,  lias  greatly 
multiplied  and  improved,  until  now  it  seems  as 
though  but  little  room  for  inijirovi'ment  remains. 
One  of  the  largest  firms  engaged  in  the  manufact- 
\u-e  of  threshers  and  their  comiionent  machinery  is 
located  at  Mansfield— the  Anltman  it  Taylor 
Co.  Others  are  at  Ma.ssillon,  and  at  other  cities 
in  the  West. 

Modern  times  and  modern  enterprise  have  devel- 
oped a  marvelous  variety  of  agricultural  iinplement.s 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


— too  many  to  bo  meutioneil  in  a  volume  like 
this.  Under  special  subjects  they  will  occasionally 
be  found.  The  fanner's  life,  so  cheerless  in  pioneer 
times,  and  so  full  of  weary  labor,  is  daily  becom- 
ing less  laborious,  until,  if  they  as  a  class  profit 
by  the  advances,  they  can  find  a  life  of  ease 
in  farm  pursuits,  not  attainable  in  any  other 
profession.  Now  machines  do  almost  all  the  work. 
TJiey  sow,  cultivate,  cut,  bind,  thresh,  winnow 
and  carry  the  grain.  They,  cut,  rake,  load,  mow 
and  dry  the  hay.  They  husk,  shell  and  clean  the 
corn.  They  cut  and  split  the  wood.  They  do  al- 
most all ;  until  it  seems  as  though  the  day  may 
come  when  the  farmer  can  sit  in  his  house  and 
simply  guide  the  affairs  of  his  farm. 

Any  occupation  prospers  in  proportimi  to  the 
interest  taken  in  it  by  its  members.  This  interest 
is  always  heightened  by  an  exchange  of  views,  hence 
societies  and  periodicals  exercise  an  influence  at 
first  hardy  realized.  This  feeling  among  prominent 
agriculturists  led  to  the  formation  of  agricultural 
societies,  at  first  by  counties,  then  districts,  then 
by  States,  and  lastly  by  associations  of  States. 
The  day  may  come  when  a  national  agricul- 
tural fair  may  be  one  of  the  annual  attractions  of 
America. 

Without  noticing  the  early  attempts  to  found 
such  societies  in  Kurope  or  America,  the  narrative 
will  begin  with  those  of  Ohio.  The  first  agricul- 
tural society  organized  in  the  Buckeye  State  was 
the  Hamilton  County  Agi'icultural  Society.  Its 
exact  date  of  organization  is  not  now  preserved, 
but  to  a  certainty  it  is  known  that  the  Society  held 
public  exhibitions  as  a  County  Society  prior  to 
1823.  Previous  to  that  date  there  were,  doubt- 
less, small,  private  exhibitions  held  in  older  local- 
ities, probably  at  Marietta,  but  no  regular  organi- 
zation seems  to  have  been  maintained.  The 
Hamilton  County  Society  held  its  fairs  annually, 
with  marked  success.  Its  successor,  the  present 
Society,  is  now  one  of  the  largest  county  societies 
in  the  Union. 

During  the  legislative  session  of  1832-3.3,  the 
subject  of  agriculture  seems  to  have  agitated  the 
minds  of  the  people  through  their  representatives, 
for  the  records  of  that  session  show  the  first  laws 
passed  for  their  benefit.  The  acts  of  that  body 
seem  to  have  been  productive  of  some  good,  for, 
though  no  records  of  the  number  of  societies  or- 
ganized at  that  date  exist,  yet  the  record  shows 
that  "  many  societies  have  been  organized  in  con- 
formity to  this  act,"  etc.  No  doubt  many  societies 
held   fairs  from   this  time,   for  a  ereater   or  less 


number  of  years.  Agricultural  journals*  were, 
at  this  period,  rare  in  the  State,  and  the  subject  of 
agricultural  improvement  did  not  receive  that  at- 
tention from  the  press  it  does  at  this  time  ;  and, 
for  want  of  public  spirit  and  attention  to  sustain 
these  fairs,  they  were  gradually  discontinued  until 
the  new  act  respecting  their  organization  was 
passed  in  1846.  However,  records  of  several 
county  societies  of  the  years  between  1832  and 
1846  yet  exist,  showing  that  in  some  parts  of  the 
State,  the  interest  in  these  fairs  was  by  no  means 
diminished.  The  Delaware  County  Society  re- 
ports for  the  year  1833 — it  was  organized  in  June 
of  that  year — good  progress  for  a  beginning,  and 
that  much  interest  was  manifested  by  the  citizens 
of  the  county. 

Ross  County  held  its  first  exhibition  in  the 
autumn  of  that  year,  and  the  report  of  the  mana- 
gers is  quite  cheerful.  Nearly  all  of  the  exhibited 
articles  were  sold  at  auction,  at  greatly  advanced 
prices  from  the  cuiTcnt  ones  of  the  day.  The  en- 
try seems  to  have  been  free,  in  an  open  inclosure, 
and  but  little  revenue  Wiis  derived.  Little  was  ex- 
pected, hence  no  one  was  disappointed. 

Washington  County  reports  an  excellent  cattle 
show  for  that  year,  and  a  number  of  premiums 
awarded  to  the  successful  exhibitors.  This  same 
year  the  Ohio  Importation  Company  was  organ- 
ized at  the  Ross  County  fair.  TJie  Company  began 
the  next  season  the  importation  of  fine  cattle  from 
England,  and,  in  a  few  years,  did  incalculable  good 
in  this  respect,  as  well  as  make  considerable  money 
in  the  enterprise. 

These  societies  were  re-organized  when  the  law 
of  1846  went  into  effect,  and,  with  those  that  had 
gone  down  and  the  new  ones  started,  gave  an  im- 
petus to  agriculture  that  to  this  day  is  felt.  Now 
every  county  has  a  society,  while  district.  State 
and  inter-State  societies  are  annually  held;  all 
promotive  in  their  tendency,  and  all  a  benefit  to 
every  one. 

The  Ohio  State  Board  of  Agriculture  was  organ- 
ized by  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  passed  February 
27,  184G.  Since  then  various  amendments  to  the 
organic  law  have  been  passed  from  time  to  time  as 


ultur 


ritiiiD 


The  Farmera^  Record  \v:i9  published  in  Ciucinnati,  in  1831,  and 
continued  for  several  years. 

The  Ohio  Fanner  was  published  at  Batavia,  Clermont  County,  in 
1833.  by  Hon.  Samuel  Medary. 

These  were  the  early  agricultural  journals,  some  of  which  yet 
survive,  though  in  new  names,  and  under  new  management.  Others 
have,  also,  since  been  added,  some  of  which  have  an  exceedingly 
large  circulation,  and  are  an  influence  for  much  good  in  the  State. 


i. 


■^ 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


1G3 


tlie  iiecessities  of  the  Board  ami  of  agriculture  in 
the  State  (loruandcd.  The  same  day  that  the  act 
was  passed  crcaliiiir  the  State  Board,  an  act  was 
alsii  ]ia.-sod  iirovidiiijr  for  tlic  erection  of  nmiilyand 
(li>Iri(t  sniictics,  midcr  wliic-li  law,  with  .-ulisc(|UL'iit 
amciiiliiieiits.  the  jircseut  county  and  district  agri- 
cidttiral  societies  are  luauajred.  Duriuji  the  years 
from  184()  down  to  the  ])rcseiit  time,  great  improve- 
ments have  been  made  in  the  manner  of  conduct 
ing  these  societies,  rcstdting  in  exhiUitions  unsur- 
passed in  any  other  State. 

Pomology  and  horticulture  are  branches  of  in- 
dustry so  closely  allied  with  agriculture  that  a 
bri(?f  n-siime  of  their  operations  in  Ohio  will  he 
eminently  ada])ted  to  these  pages.  The  early 
])lanting  ami  care  of  fruit  in  Ohio  has  already  been 
noticed,  .\mong  the  earliest  ])ioueers  were  men  of 
fine  t;Lstcs,  who  not  only  desired  to  benefit  them- 
selves anil  their  country,  but  who  were  pos,scssed 
with  a  laudable  ambition  to  produce  the  lust  fruits 
and  vegetables  the  State  could  raise.  For  this  end 
they  studied  carefullj-  the  to]iography  of  the  coun- 
tr}',  its  soil,  climate,  and  various  influences  upon 
.such  culturi',  and  by  careful  i  xpiTinicnts  with  fruit 
and  vegetables,  proiluced  tlie  exeellenl  varieties  now 
ill  use.  ^Mention  has  been  made  of  .Mr.  Loiigworth 
and  Mr.  Krn.st,  of  Cincinnati ;  and  Israel  and  Aaron 
W.  Putnam,  on  the  Muskingum  River  ;  Mr.  Dillc, 


Judges  Fuller  and  Whittlesey.  Dr.  .Tared  Kirtland 
and  his  sons,  and  others — all  practical  eiithusiast.s  in 
these  departments.  At  first,  individual  efforts  alone, 
owing  to  the  condition  of  the  country,  could  be 
made.  As  the  State  filled  with  .settlers,  and  ini'aiis 
of  communii-ation  became  better,  a  diwire  for  an  in- 
terchange of  views  became  apparent,  resulting  in 
the  establishment  of  periodicals  devoted  to  these 
subjects,  and  societies  wluire  diflereut  tines  could 
meet  and  discuss  these  things. 

A  Horticultural  and  Pomologieal  Society  wa.s 
organized  in  Ohio  in  18(Jt5.  Before  the  organiza- 
tion of  Stat*  societies,  however,  several  distinct  or 
independent  societies  existed;  in  fact,  out  of  tlu'.se 
grew  the  State  Society,  which  in  turn  ]iroduced 
good  by  stimulating  the  creation  of  county  societies. 
All  these  societies,  aids  to  agriculture,  have  pro- 
gressed a.s  the  Stjite  developed,  and  have  done  much 
in  advancing  fine  fruit,  and  a  taslc  for  lesthetic  cul- 
ture. In  all  parts  of  the  West,  their  influence  is 
seen  in  better  and  improved  fruit  ;  its  culture  and 
its  demand. 

To-day,  Oliio  stands  in  the  van  of  the  Western 
States  in  agriculture  and  all  its  kindrcMl  associa- 
tions. It  only  needs  the  active  energy  of  her 
citizens  to  keep  her  in  this  i)lace,  advancing 
as  time  advances,  until  the  goal  of  her  ambition  is 
reached. 


CHAPTER    XVI. 


CLIMATOLOGY— OITLIXE—V.VRI.VTION 


IN    OHIO -E.STIM  ATE    IN 
— VAIUAIJILITV. 


DEGREES— RAINFALL— AMOUNT 


Till-;  climate  of  Ohio  varies  about  tour  degrees. 
Though  originally  liable  to  malaria  in  many 
di.striets  when  first  settled,  in  coiisei|uence  of  a 
dense  vegetation  induced  by  summer  heats  and 
rains,  it  has  became  very  healthful,  owing  to  clear- 
ing away  this  vegetation,  and  proper  drainage. 
The  State  is  as  favurable  in  its  .sanitary  char- 
acteristics as  any  other  in  its  locality.  Ohio  is  re- 
markable for  its  high  iiroductive  caiiacity,  almost 
every  thing  grown  in  the  temperate  climates  being 
within  its  range.  Its  e.vtremes  of  heat  and  cold 
are  less  than  almost  any  other  Stat(>  in  or  near  the 
same  latitude,  hence  (_)hio  sufl'ers  less  from  the  <x- 
treme  dry  or  wet  sca.sons  which  aft'ect  all  adjoining 
States.  These  modifications  are  mainl}'  due  to  the 
influence   of  the    Lake   Erie  waters.     The.se   not 


only  modify  the  heat  of  sumiii 
winter,     but    a]iparetitly   rediK 


I  the  cold  of 
profusion  of 
infall  in  summer,  and  favor  iiKiisturc  in  dry  pe- 
riods. No  finer  climate  exists,  all  (■ondilions  consid- 
ered, for  delicate  vegetable  growths,  than  that  por- 
tion of  Ohio  bordering  on  Lake  Krie.  This  is 
abundantly  attested  by  the  recent  extensive  devel- 
(p]iinent  there  of  grape  culture. 

Mr.  Lorin  Blodget,  author  of  "American  Clima- 
tology,"'in  the  agricultural  report  of  1 8.5:5,  says; 
"A  district  bordering  on  the  Southern  and  West- 
ern porticiiis  of  Jjake  Krie  is  more  favorable  in  this 
respect  (grape  cultivation )  than  any  other  on  the 
Atlantic  sid(>  of  thi'  Rocky  Mountiiins,  and  it  will 
ultimately  prove  capable  of  a  very  liberal  extension 
of  vine  culture." 


:>£ 


HISTORY    OF    OHIO. 


Experience  has  proven  Mr.  Blodget  correct  in 
hia  theory.  Now  extensive  fields  of  grapes  are 
everywhere  found  on  the  Lake  Erie  Slope,  while 
other  small  fruits  find  a  sure  footing  on  its  soil. 

"  Considering  the  climate  of  Ohio  by  isother- 
mal lines  and  rain  shadings,  it  must  be  borne  in 
mind,"  says  Mr.  Blodget,  in  his  description  of 
Ohio's  climate,  from  which  these  facts  are  drawn, 
"  that  local  influences  often  require  to  be  considered. 
At  the  South,  from  Cincinnati  to  Steubenville,  the 
deep  river  valleys  are  two  degrees  warmer  than  the 
hilly  districts  of  the  same  vicinity.  The  lines  arc 
drawn  intermediate  between  the  two  extremes. 
Thus,  Cincinnati,  on  the  plain,  is  2°  warmer  than 
at  the  Observatory,  and  4°  warmer  for  each  year 
than  Ilillsboro,  Highland  County — -the  one  being 
500,  the  other  1,00(1,  feet  above  sea-level.  The 
immediate  valley  of  the  Ohio,  from  Cincinnati  to 
Galli[)olis,  is  about  75°  for  the  summer,  and  54° 
for  the  year;  while  the  adjacent  hilly  districts, 
300  to  500  feet  higher,  are  not  above  7o°  and  52° 
respectively.  For  the  summer,  gwierally,  the 
river  valleys  are  73°  to  75°  ;  the  level  and  central 
portions  72°  to  73°,  and  the  lake  border  70°  to 
72°.  A  peculiar  mildness  of  climate  Ix^longs  to 
the  vicinity  of  Kelley's  Island,  Sandusky  and 
Toledo.  Here,  both  winter  and  sunnuer,  the  cli- 
mate is  2°  warmer  than  on  the  highland  ridge  ex- 
tending from  Norwalk  and  Oberlin  to  Hudson  and 
the  niirtlieastern  border.  This  ridge  varies  from 
500  to  750  feet  above  the  lake,  or  "850  to  1,200 
feet  above  sea  level.  This  high  belt  has  a  summer 
temperature  of  70°,  27°  for  the  winter,  and  49° 
for  tlie  year ;  while  at  Sandusky  and  Kelley's 
Island  the  summer  is  72°,  the  winter  29°,  and  the 
year  50°.  In  the  central  and  eastern  parts  of 
the  State,  the  winters  are  comparatively  cold,  the 
average  falling  to  32°  over  the  more  level  districts, 
and  to  29°  on  the  highlands.  The  Ohio  River 
valley  is  about  35°,  but  the  highlands  near  it  fall 
to  31°  and  32°  for  the  winter." 

As  early  as  1 824,  several  persons  in  the  State 
began  taking  the  temperature  in  their  respective 
localities,  for  the  spring,  summer,  autumn  and  win- 
ter, averaging  them  for  the  entire  year.  From  time 
to  time,  these  were  gathered  and  published,  inducing 
others  to  take  a  step  in  the  same  direction.  Not 
long  since,  a  general  table,  from  about  forty  local- 


ities, was  gathered  and  compiled,  covering  a  period 
of  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century.  This  table, 
when  averaged,  showed  an  average  temperature  of 
52.4°,  an  evenness  of  temperature  not  equaled 
in  many  bordering  States. 

Very  imperfect  observations  have  been  made 
of  the  amount  of  rainfall  in  the  State.  Until 
lately,  only  an  individual  here  and  there  through- 
out the  State  took  enough  interest  in  this  matter 
to  faithfully  observe  and  record  the  averages  of 
several  years  in  succession.  In  consequence  of 
this  fact,  the  illustration  of  that  feature  of  Ohio's 
climate  is  less  satisfactory  than  that  of  the 
temperature.  "The  actual  rainfall  of  different 
months  and  years  varies  greatly,"  says  Jlr.  Blod- 
get. "There  may  be  more  in  a  month,  and, 
again,  the  ((uantity  may  rise  to  12  or  15  inches 
in  a  single  month.  For  a  year,  tlie  variation  may 
be  from  a  minimum  of  22  or  25  inches,  to  a  maxi- 
mum of  50  or  even  00  inches  in  the  southern  part 
of  the  State,  and  45  to  48  inches  along  the  lake 
border.  The  average  is  a  fixed  quantity,  and, 
although  re((uiring  a  period  of  twenty  or  twenty- 
five  years  to  fix  it  absolutely,  it  is  entirely  certain 
and  unchangeable  when  known.  On  charts,  these 
average  quantities  are  represented  by  depths 
of  shading.  At  Cincinnati,  the  last  fifteen  years 
of  okservation  .somewhat  reduce  the  average  of 
48  inches,  of  former  years,  to  40  or  47  inches." 

Spring  and  summer  generally  give  the  most  rain, 
there  being,  in  general,  10  to  12  inches  in  the 
spring,  10  to  14  inches  in  the  summer,  and  8  to 
10  inches  in  the  autumn.  The  winter  is  the  mo.st 
variable  of  all  the  seasons,  the  soutliern  j)art  of 
the  State  having  10  inches,  and  the  northern  part 
7  inches  or  less — an  average  of  8  or  9  inches. 

The  charts  of  rainfall,  compiled  fin-  the  State, 
show  a  fall  of  30  inches  on  the  lake,  and  46  inches 
at  the  Ohio  River.  Between  these  two  points,  the 
fall  is  marked,  beginning  at  the  north,  32,  34,  36 
and  38  inches,  all  near  the  lake.  Farther  down, 
in  the  latitude  of  Tuscarawas,  Monroe  and  IMercer 
Counties,  the  fall  is  40  inches,  while  the  soutli- 
western  part  is  42  and  44  inches. 

The  clearing  away  of  forests,  the  drainage  of 
the  land,  and  other  causes,  have  lessened  the  rain- 
fall, making  considerable  difference  since  the  days 
of  the  aborigines. 


'-iU. 


HISTORY  OF  STARK  COUNTY. 


CHAPTER    I.* 

PHYSICAL   FKATIRES— GEOLOGICAL  SUKVKV— ROCK  SECTION— COALS  OK  STAUK  COINTV— BLACK- 

liANU  IRON  ORE— SURFACE    PRODUCTS— EARLY    EXPERIENCES    IN  AGKICULT- 

URE— IMPROVEMENTS    IN   FARMING  AND  STOCK-RAIS- 

ING—AGRICILTIRAL  SOCIETIES. 

n^HE  sm-f ace  of  Stai-k  Coimty  is  without  any     adjacent  counties,  wo  find  many  drained  or 


J-  striking  featiu-es.  It  is  generally  rolling, 
and  along  the  southern  border  may  be  called 
hilly,  since  the  valleys  of  some  of  the  draining 
streams  are  cut  to  a  depth  of  300  feet.  In 
most  j)arts  of  the  county,  the  surface  is  pleas- 
antly diversified  by  rounded  hills,  with  very 
gentle  slopes,  and  which  are  cultivated  to 
their  summits.  The  valleys  that  divide  these 
hills  !U'i>  broad  and  shallow,  and  rarely  show 
precipitous  sides  or  exposxu'es  of  rock.  The 
soil  is  generally  light,  often  loam,  sand  or 
gi'avel,  and  was  originally  covered  with  a  for- 
est composed  principally  of  oak,  Ijut,  in  the 
central  ])ortion  of  the  county  there  were  many 
glades   and  ojjeniugs,  where  the  timber  was 


tilled  lake-basins,  where  peat  and  marl  now 
hold  the  place  formerly  occupied  by  water. 
The  extent  of  this  kind  of  sm-f  acc>  is,  however, 
not  gi-eat,  as  Stark  has  little  marsh  land,  and, 
since  it  is  so  abundantly  supplied  with  excel- 
lent coal,  it  is  scarcely  proliable  that  the  scat- 
tered patches  of  peat  will  ever  become  of  im- 
portance, as  a  som'ce  of  fuel.  As  fertilizers, 
however,  the  muck  and  shell -marl  will  ho  of 
gi-eat  practical  vahus,  especially  on  light  and 
open  soils,  such  as  that  which  covers  most  of 
the  county.  It  may  be  important,  therefore, 
for  the  fai-mers  who  have  patches  of  swamp 
upon  their  land  to  test  them  by  boring,  to 
ascertain  whether  they  are  underlain  l)y  strata 


light.  This  consisted  hu-gely  of  willow-oak  of  peat  or  marl,  which  may  be  used  to  cheajily 
and  blackjack- oak,  which  formed  clumps  and     fertilize  their  fields. 

islands,  separated  by  spaces  overgrown  with  In  most  parts  of  Stark  County,  the  siu-face 

wild  gi-asses,  flowers'  and  serab-oak.  From  deposits  are  such  as  have  been  transported  to 
the  natiu-e  of  the  soil,  the  farmers  of  the  '  gi-eater  or  less  distances  fi'om  tlnnr  places  of 
county  have  usually  been  cultivators  of  gi'ain,  ,  origin,  and  it  is  only  on  the  hills  of  the  south- 
and  Stark  has  long  been  famous  for  its  crops  i  ern  townshif)s  that  we  find  the  soil  derived 
of  wheat.  !  from   the    decomposition    of    the    undi>rlying 

The  altitude  of  the  county  is  from  350  to  rocks.  Niimerous  facts  indicate  that  the  coun- 
7r)0  feet  alwve  Lake  Erie,  its  eastern  portion  ty  has  formerly  been  traversed  from  north  to 
r(;aching  up  on  the  gi-eat  divide  or  water-shed      south  by  a  great   line  of  drainage.      This    is 


Ix'twoen  the  Ohio  and  Lake  Erie.  Like  most 
of  the  counties  tliat  lie  along  the  water-shed, 
the  surface  of  Stark  County  is  dotted  over 
with  lakes;  of  these.  Congress  Lake,  in  Lake 
Township,  Myer's  Lake,  Sippo  Lake,  etc., 
may  be  taken  !is  examples.     Here,  too,  as  in 

•Cunlributril  l.y  J  II.  Baltic. 


now  imperfectly  represented  by  the  Tuscara- 
was River,  but  it  is  evident  that  this,  though 
a  noble  stream,  is  but  a  rivulet  compared  with 
the  flood  which  once  flowed  somewhat  in  the 
direction  it  follows,  fi'om  the  lake  basin  into 
the  Ohio.  The  records  of  this  ancient  river 
are  seen    in  the  deeply  excavated  channels. 


166 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


now  filled  with  gravel,  in  the  Tuscarawas  Val- 
ley, and  between  Canton  and  Massillon.  In 
the  valley  of  the  Tuscarawas  an  extensive 
series  of  borings  has  been  made  for  coal,  and 
these  have  revealed  the  fact  that  this  stream 
is  now  running  far  above  its  former  bed,  and 
that  it  does  not  accurately  follow  the  line  of 
its  ancient  valley.  That  old  valley  is  in  many 
places  filled  with  gravel,  and  is  now  so  thor- 
oughly obliterated  as  to  give  to  the  common 
observer  little  indication  of  its  existence.  A 
few  facts  will  show,  however,  that  this  inter- 
esting featiu-e  in  the  surface  geology  of  Stark 
County  has  a  real  existence.  The  borings  made 
for  coal  east  of  the  })resent  river,  in  Lawi'ence 
and  Jackson  Townshij)s,  have,  in  many  in- 
stances, been  carried  below  the  jiresent  streams 
without  reaching  solid  rock,  and  heavy  beds 
of  gi'avel  are  found  to  occujiy  a  broad  and 
deep  valley,  which  lies  for  the  most  jiart  on 
the  east  side  of  the  present  water-course. 
From  Fulton  to  Milliiort,  and  thence  to  Mas- 
sillon, many  borings  have  been  made,  and  in 
these,  where  the  coiu-se  of  the  auger  was  not 
aiTested  liy  l>owlders,  the  di-ift  deposits  have 
often  lieen  found  to  be  more  than  100  feet  in 
thickness.  As  the  rock  is  exposed  on  both 
sides  of  the  river  at  Massillon  and  Millport, 
it  is  seen  that  the  river  is  riuining  on  the 
west  side  of  its  ancient  trough,  and,  though  it 
here  has  a  rocky  bottom,  east  of  the  present 
course,  the  rock  would  not  be  found,  even  at 
a  considerably  gi-eater  depth.  Just  how  deep 
the  ancient  valley  of  the  Tuscarawas  is  in 
this  section  of  the  county,  there  are  no  means 
at  hand  of  ascertaining;  but  we  learn  from 
the  salt-wells  bored  at  Canal  Dover  that  the 
bottom  of  the  rocky  valley  is  there  175  feet 
below  the  surface  of  the  stream.  Another, 
and  perhaps  the  most  important  of  these  an- 
cient lines  of  di-ainage,  runs  between  Canton 
and  Massillon.  At  the  "  Fom-Mile  Switch," 
half  way  between  these  towns,  rock  comes 
near  the  surface,  and  coal  has  been  worked  at 
Bahney's  mine  and  other  places  in  this  vicin- 
ity. Explorations  have  been  made,  which 
show  that  between  "  Four-Mile  Switch"  and 
Massillon  is  a  ridge  of  rock,  which  lies  be- 
tween two  valleys,  viz.,  that  through  which 
the  Tuscarawas  flows,  and  another,  completely 
filled,  between  Massillon  and  Canton. 


Between  Massillon  and  Navarre,  the  road 
for  the  most  part  lies  upon  a  terrace,  the 
surface  of  which  is  about  seventy- five  feet 
above  the  river.  This  terrace  is  part  of  a  pla- 
teau, which  extends  in  some  places  more  than 
a  mile  east  of  the  river.  It  is  composed  of 
gi'avel  and  sand,  of  which  the  depth  is  not 
known.  On  the  other  side  of  the  Tuscarawas, 
the  rock  comes  to  the  surface,  quarries  have 
been  opened,  and  borings  for  coal  have  been 
made,  which  show  that,  for- some  miles  below 
Massillon,  comparatively  little  di-ift  covers  the 
rock.  It  is  evident,  therefore,  that  the  ancient 
river  channel  passed  under  the  terrace  over 
which  the  road  runs  from  Massillon  to  Na- 
varre. Below  Navarre,  the  river  sways  over 
to  the  east  side  of  its  ancient  valley,  striking 
its  rocky  border  on  the  "  Wetmore  Tract." 
Here  the  gravel-beds,  which  filled  the  old 
valley,  are  on  the  west  side  of  the  river. 

The  succession  of  the  rocks  which  come  to 
the  siu'face  in  Stark  Coimty  will  be  most 
readily  learned  by  reference  to  the  general 
section,  which  is  as  follows: 

1.   Soil  and  drift  deposits 10  to  100 

3.  Slialeand.siindstoiicot'liarrt'iicoal  mcas- 
lU'es  only  found  in  hilltops  of  Osna- 
biirg.  Paris,  Ximisliillcn  and  Wash- 
ington  30  to    no 

3.  Buff  fcn-uginoiis  limtstoue,  O.snaljtirg 

and  Paris 0  to      6 

4.  Black-band-iron     ore.     Osuabin-g     and 

Paris : Oto  10 

■■).  Coal  No.  7,  same  lofalities  as  No.  4.  .  .  .  1  to  3 

6.  Fire  day 1  to  3 

7.  Shale  and   sandstone,   sometimes  con- 

taining a  thin  coal  seam  near  the 
middle  hills  of  Washington.  Nimi- 
shillen,  Paris.  Osnaburg  and  Sandy  ; 
hilltops  of  Pike,  Bethlehem  and  Su- 
gar Creek 75  to  110 

8.  Coal  No.  6,  same  localities  as  No.  7. ...  3  to     6 

9.  Fii;e  clay 3  to      S 

10.  Gray  and  black  sliales,  with  iron  ore 

near  base 40  to    60 

11.  Coal  No.  5,  "thirtj'-inch  seam,"  .south- 

ern and  eastern  portion  of  the  county.  3  to      3 
13.  Fire  clay 3  to      .5 

13.  Shale   and  sand.stone,   sometimes   con- 

taining thin  coal 40  to  60 

14.  Putnam  Hill  limestone 0  to  4 

15.  Coal  No.  4,  "upper  limestone  seam". .  1  to  6 

16.  Fire  elay 1  to  5 

17.  Shale  and  sandstone,  sometimes  with 

thin  eoal  and  limestone 20  to  50 

18.  Zoar  limestone 0  to  4 

19.  Coal  No.  3,  "lower  limestone  coal  ". ...  0  to  3 
30.  Fire  elav 1  to  8 


^^ 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


FEET. 

21.  Shale  and  sandstone,  sometimes  with 

thin  coal  at  ba.sc 50  to    60 

23.  Massillon    sandstone,    sometimes  with 

thin  coal  at  lm.se 30  to  100 

'2'S.  Gray  or  l>laek  shale 5  to    50 

24.  Con]  Xo.  1,  "Massillon  eoal  ■" 0  to      (J 

2.").   Kill' elav 1  to      5 

2t>.  Shal V  .sandstone 80  to    50 

2T.  Conijldmerate 20  to    50 

The  strata  pniimcr.ited  in  the  foregoing  sec- 
tion all  l)elong  to  the  carhoniferotis  sj'stem, 
and,  with  the  exeeptiou  of  a  limited  area  iir 
thi'  northwe.stc^rn  corner,  wheri'  the  conglomer- 
ate appears,  the  entire  area  of  the  connty  is 
occui)ied  by  the  coal  mea.sures.  The  only 
outcrops  of  the  conglomerate  occur  in  the 
extreme  northwestern  i)ortion  of  the  county, 
in  the  corner  of  LawTene(>  Township,  so  that 
it  might  as  well  be  omitted  fi-om  enumeration 
among  the  rocks  of  the  eijunty.  exei'i)t  that  it 
underlies,  at  no  great  depth,  all  portions  of 
the  surface,  and  deserves  notice  as  the  easily 
recognizable  base  of  the  jiroductive  coal  meas- 
ures. It  should  also  be  mentioned  in  this 
connection  that  some  of  the  higher  sandstones 
of  the  coal  measures  sometimes  contain  ])eb- 
bles,  especially  that  over  Coal  No.  (5;  but  the 
jiebbles  in  these  beds  ai'e  usually  quite  small 
— riirely  exceeding  a  betm  in  size— so  that 
there  is  little  danger  that  they  will  be  con- 
founded with  the  tnie  conglomerate. 

The  coal  measiu'es  of  Stark  ('ounty  are 
c')m])osed,  as  usual,  of  sandstone,  limestone, 
shale,  fire-clay,  coal,  etc.,  and  include  all  the 
lower  group  of  coal  seimis — seven  in  number. 
Of  these,  the  low'est,  or,  as  we  have  named  it. 
Coal  No.  1,  the  Massillon,  or  Briar  Hill  seam, 
is  one  of  the  most  valuable  in  the  entire  series. 
This  is  well  developed  in  Stark  County,  and 
forms  one  of  the  most  important  sources  of 
business  and  wealth.  The  coal  which  is  ob- 
tained from  this  seam  is  generally  called  the 
Massillon  coal,  and  is  so  well  known  that  little 
need  be  said  of  its  character.  Thou-j;h  vary- 
ing somewhat  in  different  kx'iilities,  as  a  gen- 
eral rule  it  is  bright  and  handsome  in  appear- 
ance, contains  little  sul])hur  and  ash,  is  open- 
burning,  and  jHjssesses  high  heating  power. 
By  long  and  varied  trial,  it  has  ))roved  to  be 
one  of  the  most  serviceable  coals  found  in  the 
State.  In  Stark  County,  it  is  somewhat  more 
bituminous  than  the  coal  of  the  same  seam  in 


the  Mahoning  Valley,  but  it  is  more  like  it  in 
composition  than  its  a])pearanee  would  indi 
cate.  The  Massillon  coal  is  well  adapted  l<> 
a  great  variety  of  uses.  It  is  successfully 
employed  in  the  smelting  of  iron  in  blast  fur 
naces,  and  is  there  used  in  the  raw  state.  It 
is  also  a  good  •rolling-mill  coal,  serves  an 
excellent  purjxjse  tor  tln>  generation  of  steam, 
would  jjp  well  for  the  manufactm'e  of  gas,  and 
is  the  most  highly  esteemed  household  fuel  in 
all  the  districts  where  it  is  used.  This  combi 
nation  of  excellences  makes  it  a  special  favor 
ite  in  the  markets  of  the  lake  ports,  and  main 
tains  for  it  an  active  demantL 

The  Massillon  coal  seam,  being  generally 
cut  by  the  valley  of  the  Tuscariiwas,  forms  a 
gi'eat  numb(>r  of  outcrops  in  the  western  part 
of  the  county,  and  in  that  region  more  than  a 
hundi'ed  mines  are  o}iened  into  it,  Asthedii" 
of  all  the  rocks  in  the  county  is  southeast,  it 
passes  out  of  sight  east  of  the  Tuscarawas 
Valley,  and  along  the  etistern  margin  of  tlie 
county  it  is  at  least  2(10  feet  below  the  surface. 
It  will  thus  be  seen  that  it  ought  to  underlie 
nearly  all  the  county,  but  it  unfortunately 
hapj)ens  here,  as  in  Siunmit  and  ^lalioning. 
this  coal  lies  in  limited  basins,  and  is  absent 
from  a  larger  part  of  the  territory  where  it 
belongs.  It  is  therefore  of  much  less  practi- 
cal value  than  it  was  supposed  to  be  before 
the  iiTegidarity  of  its  distribution  was  ascer- 
tiiined.  Nevertheless,  the  most  important 
question  conne<'ted  with  the  geology  of  Stark 
County  is  that  of  the  presence  or  absence  of 
the  Massillon  coal  in  the  townships  e;ist  of 
where  it  is  mined.  X'n fortunately,  but  little 
light  has  been  thrown  upon  this  subject  by 
any  explorations  yet  made,  and,  from  the 
peculiar  character  of  this  coal  setmi,  it  is 
quite  impossible  to  predict,  with  any  certainty, 
what  will  be  the  result  of  a  systematic  search 
for  it  vrhere  it  lies  deeply  buried.  Between 
the  valley  of  the  TusciU'awas  and  the  western 
margin  of  the  coal  iU"ea  in  \Vayn<'  County, 
numeroi;s  otitcrops  of  the  Massillon  coal  have 
been  found,  a  number  of  important  basins 
have  been  oi)ened,  and  now  many  thousand 
tons  !ire  annually  mined  in  this  district. 

East  of  the  Tuscarawas  \' alley,  the  geolog- 
icid  structure  is  obsciu-ed  by  heavy  masses  of 
drift,  and  Coal  No.  1  has  not  been  mined  or 


168 


HISTORY    OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


found  to  any  extent  on  thcat  side  of  the  river. 
Near  Millport,  however,  and  still  further 
north,  and  east  around  Mud  Brook  Ghiu'ch, 
important  l)asins  of  coal  have  been  discovered, 
and  it  is  probable  that,  vfhen  the  real  difficul- 
ties of  the  search  on  this  side  of  the  river  are 
overcome,  i.  e.,  when  certain  clews  that  can  be 
followed  up  shall  have  been  fomid  it  will  be 
learned  that  valuable  deposits  of  coal  stretch 
eastward  far  beyond  any  present  knowledge. 

Considerable  boring  has  been  done  in  the 
central  and  eastern  portions  of  the  county, 
and  such  as  might  be  su])posed  would  go  far 
to  decide  the  question  of  the  reach  eastward 
of  the  Massillon  coal,  but  these  explorations 
have  not  proven  the  existence  of  any  consider- 
able body  of  this  coal  east  of  the  river.  It 
should  be  said,  however,'  that  of  the  borings 
made,  only  such  as  were  made  for  the  express 
puiTiose  of  tinding  coal  ai'e  worthy  of  anv 
confidence.  The  oil-wells,  by  which  the  whole 
county  has  lieen  pierced,  were  bored  for  oil, 
and  nothing  else.  As  a  general  rule,  every 
other  product  was  neglected,  and  where  coal 
seams  were  jiassed  throiigh,  the  evidence  of 
the  fact  afforded  by  the  sand- pump  was  im- 
heeded. 

On  the  eastern  line  of  the  coiinty,  few  bor- 
ings have  been  made  which  can  be  depended 
upon  for  giving  any  acciu'ate  information. 
At  Limaville,  in  the  northeastern  corner  of  the 
county,  the  Briar  Hill  coal  has  been  struck  in 
several  holes.  These  borings,  and  others  at 
Canton,  show  that  the  belief  that  no  valuable 
deposits  of  the  Massillon  coal  exist  east  of  the 
Tuscarawas  River,  is  without  a  solid  founda- 
tion, and  it  is  predicted  that  some  most  im- 
portant and  valuaVile  coal  basins  will  be 
reached  in  the  eastern  portion  of  the  county, 
and  where  their  presence  has  not  been  sus- 
pected. The  borings  at  Limaville  show  the 
lower  coal  of  workable  thickness.  It  exists 
over  a  considerable  area  in  that  vicinity,  as  it 
was  found  in  a  munber  of  holes  running  with 
gi-eat  regularity.  The  well  was  located  near 
Limaville  Station,  the  well  head  ten  feet 
above,  or  oTO  above  Lake  Erie.  The  coal  was 
struck  165  feet  from  the  surface,  or  405  feet 
above  the  lake.  This -shows  a  dip  of  about 
1(1(1  feet  from  the  nearest  outcrop  of  the  coal 
in  Tallmadge,  eighteen  miles  north  of  west. 


and  about  the  same  dip  fi'om  the  vicinity  of 
Ravenna,  fifteen  miles  due  north;  but  the 
coal  lies  higher  here  than  at  Massillon,  south- 
west, or  Youngstown,  northeast,  a  fact  due, 
doubtless,  to  one  of  the  folds  which  traverse 
our  coal  fields. 

The  Massillon  coal  district  is.  practically, 
one  of  the  most  important  in  the  State.  The 
niimlier  of  miners  employed  here  is  about  fif- 
teen hundi-ed.  A  capital  of  over  !f2,( )()(),()()() 
is  used  in  the  production  of  coal,  and  the  an- 
nual yield  of  the  mines  mav  be  estimated  at 
l,(t00',()(j()  tons.  Most  of  this  coal  goes  to 
Cleveland,  by  way  of  the  Lake  Shore  &  Tus- 
carawas Valley,  Cleveland,  Mt.  Vernon  &  Co- 
lumbus, and  other  railroads,  and  by  the  Ohio 
Canal.  A  large  amount  is  consumed  in  and 
about  Massillon,  where  it  is  used  for  a  consid- 
erable variety  of  manufactiu-es.  The  most 
important  use  to  which  this  coal  is  here  put 
is  for  iron-smelting,  since  it  is  the  fuel  exclu- 
sively used  in  the  two  furnaces  at  Massillon, 
and  one  at  Dover.  These  fiu-naces  have  been 
in  operation  for  many  years,  and  that  which 
they  produce  has  a  well-established  and  excel- 
lent reputation.  It  is  for  the  most  part  made 
of  black-baud  iron  ore,  and  closely  resembles 
the  Scotch  pig.  This  is  not  sur]irising,  since 
the  materials  and  methods  emialoyed  are  almost 
exactly  the  same  as  those  used  in  Scotland. 
These  have  proved  remunerative  during  jeiirs 
of  experience,  yet  the  methods  of  the  Scotch 
iron-masters  can  be  easily  shown  to  be  suscep- 
tible of  improvement.  By  adding  close  tops 
to  the  furnaces,  increasing  their  dimensions 
and  the  temperature  of  the  blast,  there  is 
little  doubt  that  most  important  economy  in 
the  use  of  the  fuel  may  be  eft'ected.  ^Vith  the 
jiresent  method  of  manufacture,  the  Massillon 
fiu-naces  consume  three  and  a  half  to  foiu- 
tons  of  coal  for  every  ton  of  iron  made.  This 
is  certainly  a  wasteful  itse  of  fxtel,  which,  from 
its  gi'eat  excellence  and  limited  quantity, 
ought  to  be  husbanded  with  the  greatest  care. 
The  Massillon  coal  constitutes  a  gi'eat  source 
of  wealth  to  the  county,  and  is  the  mainspring 
of  many  industries;  but  the  fact  should  be 
recognized  that  this  is  a  capital  which  is  daily 
being  exhausted,  and.  when  exhausted,  can 
never  be  rejinxluced.  All  the  coal  basins  now 
known    aliout   Massillon   will   be   worked   out 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


l(i!) 


within  a  generation,  and,  although  new  dis- 
coveries will  certainly  be  made,  and  much 
territory  will  become  ))roductive  whore  the 
coal  is  not  now  sujijiosed  to  exist,  still  the 
value  of  the  coal  is  so  gi-oat.  and  the  consiunj)- 
tion  of  it  so  rapidly  increasing,  that  it  is  to 
he  feai'ed  not  many  years  will  elapsi'  before 
the  supply  fi'om  this  region  will  be  exhausted. 
A  list  of  the  principal  mines  in  the  Massil- 
lon  district  is  as  follows:* 

T...1S. 

Rliodc'S  &  Co.  (01(1  Willow  IBank),  dailv  pioiliu- 

tioii 4.")0 

Rhodes  Coal  Co..  daily  production 3.j0 

C.  H.  Clark  A:  Co..  daily  production 150 

Williain.son  Coal  Co..  daily  production 150 

The  Ridsrcway  (J.   P.  Burton),  daily  production     75 
Massillon  Coal  Mining  Co.,  daily  production.  .  .  .  3-50 

Voun>;sfc]\vii  Coal  Co.,  daily  production 8.")0 

Crawfonl  Coal  Co.,  daily  production 4.50 

Willow  Bank  (new),  Henry  Holtz.  dailv  produc- 
tion  ■ 300 

Buckeye,  daily  production 100 

Fulton  Coal  Mining  Co.,  daily  production 1.50 

There  are  many  other  mines — the  "  Grove," 
the  "  Brookfield,"  the  "Mountain,"  the  "  Stof- 
fer,"  the  "  McCue,"  etc. —  of  which  there  is  no 
detailed  report  at  hiind.  The  analysis  of 
this  coal  is  as  follows: 

SperiBc  gravity 1.253    1.209     1.247     1.337     1.25U     1.328 

Water 7.60  5  fiO  0.95  3.70  4.10  2.40 

Ash 1.00  3.90  3.18  1.60  1.00  13.50 

Volatile  combMlible 31.00  3O..30  32.33  30  50  32.90  35.20 

Fixed  carbon Rl.OO  60  20  57.49  04.20  01.40  48.90 


Total 10.00  100.00  100.00  100.00  100.00  lOOOO 

Sulphur 0.49      0.19      0.88      008       1.07     0.975 

Gas,  CDl)ic  feet  per  pound...    3  42      3..')0      3  64      3.15     

The  specimens  are  from  the  following 
mines:  1.  Lawrence  Coal  Company,  lower 
bench.  2.  The  same,  u))])or  Ijench.  8.  Blue 
Chippewa.  4.  Fulton  Mining  Company.  ■">. 
Burton's  coal,  lower  bench.  <i.  Stmie.  n]}per 
bench  (thin  and  slaty). 

Some  doubt  has  lieeii  expressed  mnoug  the 
residents  of  Massillon  whether  the  coal  that 
crops  out  at  Bridgeport  is  identical  with  that 
worked  elsewhere  in  this  vicinity.  It  is  thin- 
ner, and  lies  somewhat  higher  than  that  in 
most  of  the  neighboring  mines.  Still,  its 
physical  character  and  composition,  as  well 
as  its  rt^lation  to  the  associated  rocks,  seem  to 
prove  that  it  is  really  (,'f>al  No.  1.  A  simihu- 
phase  of  the  Massillon  coal  is  seen  in  the  mine 
of  the  German  Coal  Coin]);iny,  just  north  of 

*SUte  Report,  1878. 


the  stone  (jUiUTV  ()f  Wiuthorst  &  Co.,  at  Miis- 
sillon.  Here,  also,  the  coal  is  thin,  very  much 
laminated,  and  even  somewhat  slaty.  This 
peculiiu'ity  of  stiiictiu'e  may  i)e  iittributwl  to 
the  fact  that  the  coiil  seam  in  these  two 
mines  is  ov(>rlain  by  a  gi-eat  mass  of  sandstone, 
which,  when  all  the  materiiils  wei'e  in  a  soft 
and  plastic  condition,  must  have  pressed  down 
u])ou  the  coal  in  such  ;i  way  tis  to  reduce  its 
thif'kness  ;uid  give  it  its  laminated  struetui-e. 
Borings  made  in  the  vicinity  of  Briilgeport 
and  JVIassillon  h.ive  failed  to  Hud  any  lower 
seam,  and  it  is  scarcely  possible  thiit  there 
should  be  another  below  th.it  mined.  The 
section  at  Bridgeport  is  precisely  what  it 
should  be  if  the  ]5ridgeport  coal  were  Coal 
Xo.  1. 

The  diminished  thickness  of  the  coal  in  the 
Bridgeport  and  German  Companies'  mines 
may  be  due  to  another  cause,  i.  e.,  as  well  in 
the  bottom  of  the  marsh,  where  the  coal  accu- 
mulated as  ])eat,  and  on  which,  being  relatively 
high,  the  petit  was  thin.  It  is  well  known 
thtit  the  ■'  swamps,"  or  lowest  portions  of  the 
coal  mines,  have  the  thickest  coal  in  them, 
and  this  is  simply  because  the  peat  was  deep- 
est thei'e.  On  the  ridges  or  swells  of  the  bot- 
tom, the  coal  is  thin  and  high,  because  the  top 
only  of  the  peat-b(>d  reached  over  them.  The 
b.uTen  ridges  which  so  often  sepai'ate  the  coal 
"  swamps  "  were  islands  in,  or  the  shores  of  the 
coal  mai'shes.  These  rose  above  the  watei- 
level,  and  on  their  slopes  the  peat  diminished 
in  thickness  upwiU'd  till  it  came  to  an  edge. 
When  covered  with  clay  and  sand,  and  com- 
pressed to  solid  coal,  thsit  was  thickest  where 
the  peat  w.vs  thickest  in  the  bottoms  of  thi> 
basins,  tind  thinned  tnit  to  nothing  on  the 
slopes  which  l)otinded  these  btisins. 

The  ^Massillon  coal  is  usually  overlain  by  a 
few  feet  of  shale,  and  above  this  is  found  a 
massive  sandstone,  which  is  known  as  the 
Massillon  sandsU)ue.  The  stone  of  this  sti'at- 
um  varies  considerably  in  texture  in  different 
localities  and  different  layers,  but  much  of  it 
iiffords  very  e.xcelleut  l)uilding  material,  as 
well  as  good  giindstone.  In  these,  a  large 
iind  active  iiuliistry  h;is  lieen  create*!  about 
Massillon,  Warthorst  &  Co.  giving  employ- 
ment to  II HI  men,  and  shipjiing  ^(K)  and  4<M) 
car-loads  of  block-stones,   iind   1,r)(t()  to  2,itOlt 


170 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


tins  of  grindstones  per  aunnm.  The  product 
of  this  quarry  is  mainly  sold  in  Pittshiu'gli, 
Philadelphia  and  Baltimore.  The  stones  for 
ilry  grinding — plows  and  springs,  etc.  —are 
especially  esteemed.  In  Paul's  quarries,  near 
Fulton,  a  light  vai'iety  of  this  stone  is  ground 
up.  and  the  sand  shijipod  to  Pittsburgh  for 
the  manufacture  of  glass. 

In  man}'  parts  of  Stark  County,  borings 
have  indicated  the  existence  of  a  thin  seam  of 
coal  above  the  massive  Massillon  sandstone, 
and  it  is  sometimes  referred  to  by  drillers  as 
the  "Fifteen-inch  Seam,"  but  it  is  oftener 
from  six  to  twelve  inches.  Though  persistent 
over  a  large  area,  it  has  rarely  any  economic 
value,  and  deserves  notice  simply  as  a  tolera- 
bly constant  featui'e  in  the  section,  and  one 
that  is  liable  to  be  mistaken  for  the  lower  coal. 
The  distance  which  separates  it  fi'om  the  Mas- 
sillon seam  is  qiiite  inconstant,  and  vai'ies 
fi'om  sixty  to  one  hundred  feet.  In  another 
county,  this  seam  becomes  of  workable  thick- 
ness, and  it  has  therefore  been  named  in  the 
reports  as  Coal  No.  2.  Another  thin  coal- 
seam  is  also  sometimes  found  immediately 
beneath  the  Massillon  sandstone,  but  this  is 
frequently  cut  away  by  the  forces  which  de- 
posited this  rock.  It  may  be  seen,  however, 
at  several  of  the  quarries  in  the  vicinity  of 
Massillon. 

At  a  distance  of  from  150  to  200  feet  above 
Coal  No.  1 ,  occurs  the  lowest  of  the  two  lime- 
stone seams  which  traverse  this  as  they  do  many 
other,  of  our  coal-bearing  counties.  In  Stark 
County,  Coal  No.  3  is  sometimes  absent,  some- 
times has  a  thickness  of  a  few  inches,  and 
rarely  becomes  of  any  economic  importance. 
From  twenty-five  to  fifty  feet  above  it  occm's 
the  second  limestone  coal  (Coal  No.  4).  This 
is  well  develojied  in  Stark  County,  and  in 
some  cases  has  considerable  vahie.  In  the 
subterranean,  rocky  ridge,  which  lies  between 
the  valley  of  the  Tuscarawas  and  the  old 
channel  west  of  Canton,  both  the  limestones 
refeiTed  to,  and  sometimes  both  limestone 
coals,  may  be  seen,  the  upper  one  only  being 
of  workable  thickness.  Coal  No.  5  lies  usually 
about  fifty  feet  abovi*  the  gray  limestone  over 
Coal  No.  4.  As  a  general  rule,  in  Stark 
County  it  is  two  and  a  half  to  three  feet  in 
thickness,  and  has  much  less  value  than  in 


Tuscarawas  County,  where  it  is  sometimes 
four  feet  thick  and  of  superior  quality.  West  of 
Navarre,  Coal  No.  3  has  been  opened  in  several 
places,  and  is  about  three  feet  thick — a  soft 
coking  coal,  of  fair  quality.  In  Pike  Town- 
ship, this  coal  is  found  on  both  sides  of  the 
Nimishillen,  somewhat  back  fi'om  the  stream, 
here,  as  at  Mineral  Point,  holding  its  normal 
l^osifion  about  midway  between  Coals  No.  4 
and  0.  It  is  in  this  region,  known  as  Ihe 
"  Thirty- inch  Seam,"  and  the  coal  it  furnishes 
is  generally  good.  Toward  the  south,  this 
seam  attains  its  best  development  at  Mineral 
Point,  in  the  adjacent  county. 

Typical  exposures  of  Coal  No.  3  may  be 
seen  at  the  mine  of  David  Miller,  in  Section 
12,  Canton  Townshiji,  three  miles  east  of  the 
city  of  Canton,  and  in  several  other  openings 
made  in  this  seam  south  of  this  point.  The 
coal  in  Miller's  mine  is  twenty- eight  to  thirty 
inches  thick,  overlain  by  gray  shale,  with  its 
characteristic  deposit  of  nodular  iron  ore. 
The  coal  is  bright  and  good,  more  free  from 
sulphur  than  that  of  the  seam  below,  more 
open-burning  than  the  next  higher  seam  (No. 
fi ),  which  is  so  extensively  mined  in  Osnaburg 
Township.  In  that  part  of  the  county  lying 
south  and  east  of  Canton  Tovvuship,  the  higher 
hills  reach  up  to  the  Bowen  Coal  Measures, 
and  the  black-band  ore,  which  lies  over  Coal 
No.  7.  ocem's  in  some  of  the  hilltops  of  Osna- 
biu'g  and  Paris.  Coal  No.  ()  is  here  the  prin- 
cipal seam  worked.  This  generally  lies  con- 
veniently above  di'ainage  in  the  valleys  of 
Osnaburg  and  Paris,  while  in  the  lower  part 
of  these  valleys,  which  are  traversed  by 
streams  draining  into  the  Sandy,  Coal  No.  5 
is  exposed  in  numerous  localities  as  far  up 
the  Sandy  as  Minen'a,  and  it  is  opened  on 
many  farms  for  local  uses.  In  the  very  bot- 
toms of  these  valleys,  in  a  few  places,  Coal  No. 
4,  with  its  overlying  Putnam  Hill  limestone, 
is  reached,  l)ut  it  is  scarcely  worked,  except 
along  the  Sandy.  In  Nimishillen  and  Wash- 
ington Townships,  as  the  land  is  high.  Coal 
No.  5  is  generally  buried  beneath  the  sm'- 
face.  In  Lexington  Township,  however,  on 
the  north  side  of  the  divide,  the  tributaries  of 
the  Mahoning  have  opened  the  lower  coals 
fi'eely,  and,  at  Alliance,  Coal  No.  5  lies  ten 
feet  below  the  station  (TiOO  feet  above  Lake 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


Erie),  ami  is  worked  in  a  shaft  thirty -one  feet 
deep,  in  the  western  part  of  the  village.  The 
coal  is  here  tliree  and  a  half  to  foiir  feet  in 
thickness,  of  fairly  good  (pudify,   hnt,   from 

I   the  want  of  cover,  I'ather  soft,  and  contains 

!   considerable  sulj)hur. 

Coal  No.  f)  lies  some  fifty  feet  above  Coal 
No.  5,  or  from  eighty  to  one  hundred  feet 
above  the  upper  of  the  two  lower  limestones, 
and  is  one  of  the  most  imf)ortant  and  wide- 
spread coal  seams  in  the  State.  It  is  the  "  Big 
Vein"  of  Columbiana  County,  the  shaft  coal 
at  Steubenville.  the  most  important  seam  of 
Holmes,  Tuscarawas  and  Coshocton  Counties, 
and  is  also  thti  "  Groat  Vein"  of  the  Hocking 
Valley  district.  In  Stiu-k  County,  it  runs 
tlirough  all  the  hills  east  and  south  of  Canton. 
It  is  the  coal  mined  at  several  of  the  mines  in 
Osnaburg,  and  is  thence  transported  for  black- 
smiths' use  to  all  parts  of  the  county.  In  this 
region,  it  vai'ies  fi'om  four  to  six  feet  in  thick- 
ness, and  crops  out  and  is  worked  in  numerous 
localities  in  Osiiabiu-g  and  Mapleton.  Passing 
thence  southward,  it  loses  iu  thickness  and 
importance,  imtil,  in  the  edge  of  Tuscarawas 
County,  it  becomes  less  valuable  than  the  next 
lower  seam.  At  Wapiesbm-g  it  appears  well, 
and  then  reaches  around  through  the  high- 
lands of  Paris  and  Washington  into  Colmubi- 
ana  County,  retaining  its  volume  and  value 
all  the  way  to  the  State  line.  At  New  Frank 
lin,  in  Paris,  it  shows  a  seam  live  feet  ten 
inches  thick,  with  the  usual  slate  psu-tiug 
eighteen  inches  above  the  bottom.  It  extends 
from  this  point  northward,  thi'ough  Washing- 
ton, as  fai-  as  Alliance,  but  becomes  thinner 
in  this  direction.     In  all  pai-tsof  Stark  Coun- 

j  ty.  Coal  No.  (i  is  a  coking  coal,  generally  of 
good  thickness,  and  capable  of  affording  an 
excellent  fuel  for  blacksmiths"  use  or  the;  gen- 
eration of  steam.  ^Vhen  coked,  it  may  be 
used  for  iron-smelting.  It  sometimes  con- 
tpins  considerable  sulphtu-,  but  this  may,  how- 
ever, be  eliminated  by  washing.  In  the 
southern  tier  of  townships — Sugar  Creek, 
Bethlehem,  Pike  and  Sandy — Coal  No.  I)  is 
foimd  in  most  of  the  higher  hills.  It  is,  how- 
ever, iu  this  region,  thinner  and  less  pm'e  than 
in  the  southeastern  portion  of  the  c(junty.  Its 
best  development  seems  to  be  in  Osnaburg  and 
Paris.     It  here  lies  for  the  most  part,  conven- 


iently above  drainage,  is  fi-om  foiu-  to  six  feet 
in  thickness,  with  a  slate  ])arting  from  twelve 
to  twenty  inches  abovi!  the  Ixittom.  Th(i  coal 
of  the  lower  bench  is  much  piu-er  than  that  of 
the  upper,  smd  is  the  portion  so  much  esteemed 
for  blacksmiths'  use.  From  the  large  area  it 
occupies,  its  thickness  and  its  adaptation  to 
manufacturing  jiurposes,  this  coal  holds  a 
prominent  place  in  the  mineral  resources  of 
the  county,  and  fonns  a  capital  which  will 
doubtless  be  lai-gely  di-awn  upon  in  the  dev3l- 
opment  of  various  industries. 

Coal  No.  7  is  the  highest  of  the  lower  coal 
gi'ouji,  and  no  workable  coal  is  found  aliove  it 
in  this  section  of  the  State.  In  the  counties 
lying  south  and  east  of  Stark,  where  the  mem- 
bers of  the  upper  coal  series  are  represented. 
Coal  No.  7  is  overlain  by  a  mass,  some  400 
feet  in  thickness,  of  shales  and  sandstones, 
the  former  frequently  colored  red,  which  con- 
tain little  coal,  and  hence  are  called  the  Bar- 
ren Coal  Measm-es.  The  highest  hills  iu 
Stiirk  County  ai'e  composed  of  the  lowest  por- 
tion of  this  series,  generally  a  mass  of  gi"ay 
shale,  with  more  or  less  sandstone.  The  hill- 
tops on  both  sides  of  the  valley  of  the  Sandy 
have  this  chai'acter,  and  it  is  only  here  that 
Coal  No.  7  is  found.  In  this  region  it  is  a 
thin  seam,  fi-om  one  and  a  half  to  two  and  a 
half  feet  thick,  and  the  coal  is  of  inferior 
quality,  so  that  in  Stark  County  it  has  no 
considerable  value.  It  Ijecomes,  however,  of 
much  greater  consequence  in  the  counties 
which  lie  fiu'ther  south. 

The  chief  interest  which  attaches  to  Coal 
No.  7  in  Stalk  County  comes  fi'om  the  fact  of 
its  association  with  the  black-band  ore  which 
overlies  it.  This  is  a  bituminous  shale,  highly 
impregnated  with  iron.  It  often,  though  not 
eonstanth',  forms  the  roof  of  Coal  No.  7,  and, 
wher(!  present,  attains  a  thickness  of  fi'om  three 
to  eight  feet  The  ijlack-band  ore  is  generally, 
though  not  always  overlain  by  a  ferruginous 
limestone,  in  which  the  ijuantity  of  iron  is 
sometimes  sufficient  to  render  it  a  calc.u'eous 
iron  ore.  From  the  fact  that  this  is  only 
found  in  the  to]is  of  the  hills,  it  is  sometimes 
designated  as  the  mountain  ore;  and  the 
limestone,  fi'om  its  ferruginous  character, 
assumes,  on  weathering,  a  brownish  color,  and 
hence  is  often  referred  to  as  the  "bufT"  lime- 


172 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


stone,  to  distinguish  it  from  the  bhie  lime- 
stone below.  These  ore-beds  are  detached 
outlyers  of  a  gi'eat  feiTiiginous  sheet,  which 
once  covered  much  of  Stark  and  Carroll,  and 
all  of  Tuscarawas  County.  Patches  of  this 
ore  sheet,  separated  from  their  connections  by 
the  erosion  of  the  valleys  of  the  Sandy,  Con- 
notton  and  Tuscarawas,  occur  in  the  isolated 
hills  of  Osnaljiu'g  and  Paris,  the  only  portions 
of  the  county  geologically  high  enough  to 
include  them.  Such  being  the  geological 
position  of  this  important  formation,  it  cannot 
be  expected  to  be  found  in  any  othsi-  portion 
of  the  county. 

With  such  natural  resources,  it  follows  that 
the  manufacturing  interests  should  lie  ra])idly 
developed,  and  this  result  has  followed  liuilding 
of  the  tlu'iving  manufacturing  and  mining  com- 
munities of  Canton  and  Massillon.  But  Stark 
is  no  less  favored  in  point  of  piu-ely  agi-icult^ 
lu'al  resom'ces.  The  varied  productiveness 
of  the  soil  with  which  it  is  provided,  has  made 
it  one  of  the  chief  wheat  and  fruit  producing 
counties  in  the  State,  and  enables  its  agricult- 
ure to  divide  the  domain  with  manufactiu'es. 

The  first  settlers  here  found  a  country 
thickly  covered  with  a  heavy  growth  of  tim- 
ber, and  the  land,  shielded  from  the  piercing 
rays  of  the  siui  by  the  dense  forest  foliage, 
saturated  with  the  moisture  which  the  charac- 
ter of  a  large  part  of  the  country  favored. 
To  erect  here  a  home,  and  render  the  land 
subject  to  an  amiual  tribute  for  the  siipport 
of  his  familj'.  tasked  the  powers  of  the  pio- 
neers to  their  utmost.  It  was  an  even-handed 
struggle  for  subsistence,  and  anything  accom- 
plished might  safely  be  set  down  as  an  im- 
provement. This  was  practically  true  for  the 
first  twenty  years  in  the  history  of  a  settle- 
ment. An  average  of  tive  years  was  consumed 
before  the  frontier  fann  coiild  be  relied  upon 
to  furnish  support,  anil,  in  the  meantime,  the 
fare  fm-nished  by  the  abundance  of  game  and 
wild  frait  was  eked  oxit  with  economical  pui'- 
chases  of  corn  and  wheat  from  the  older  set- 
tlements. After  erecting  a  cabin,  with  the  aid 
of  hospitable  neighbors,  from  live  to  ten  acres 
were  felled.  This  was  then  "  chopped  over," 
i.  e.,  the  trees  were  cut  into  suitalile  lengths 
for  rolling  into  piles  for  bvrrning.  After  the 
universal  bee  for  rolling  came  the  burning. 


which  fi-equently  engaged  the  services  of  the 
wife  in  attending  the  Hre,  while  the  husband 
chopped  by  the  light  thus  afforded,  carrying  on 
their  labors  often  to  the  small  hours  of  the  night. 
On  a  single  farm,  this  much  was  freijuently 
accomjslished  in  three  months,  and  a  small 
crop  of  corn  hai'vested  in  the  fii'st  year;  but 
the  average  results  were  not  so  favorable. 
The  efforts  of  the  settler  were  directed  toward 
getting  ready  for  the  "bee"  as  early  as  possi- 
ble, for  when  the  "  rolling  season "  began, 
there  was  an  uuinterru})ted  demand  upon  the 
settler  for  from  six  to  eight  weeks  in  the  fields 
of  his  neighbors.  Many  were  called  upon 
when  they  could  least  afford  the  time,  but, 
from  the  necessities  of  the  situation,  there  was 
no  refusal  possible,  and,  large  as  this  demand 
ajipears,  it  will  not  be  considered  exorbitant 
when  it  is  remembered  that  a  "  neighborhood  " 
covered  an  area  of  miles  in  extent.  With  such 
an  abundance  of  timber  and  the  total  lack  of 
foreign  demand,  the  prevailing  tendency  is  to 
underrate  the  value  of  timber,  and  to  carry 
the  work  of  clearing  to  the  very  verge  of  de- 
nuding the  land  of  this  important  aid  to  agri- 
cultm'e.  This  tendency  seems  to  have  been 
quite  marked  in  Stai'k  County.  There  was 
c{uite  an  extent  of  plains  in  the  county,  known 
for  some  time  as  "  Canton  Plains."  running 
thi'ough  the  townships  of  .Jackson.  Perry, 
Canton  anj  Bethlehem.  This  ])lain  country 
was  avoided  by  the  early  settlers,  as  it  did  not 
meet  their  judgment  as  to  what  a  pioneer  farm 
should  be,  and  the  earlier  settlements  were 
made  in  the  wood.  The  county  but  partially 
supplied  with  timber  at  tii-st.  the  rapid  clear- 
ing of  the  remaining  forest  was  soon  sensibly 
felt.  The  discovery  of  coal,  and  its  use  as 
fuel  as  early  as  1806,  in  gi-eat  measm-e  re- 
lieved the  later  demand  on  the  timber.  Ten 
years  later,  coal  began  to  be  used  as  the  prin- 
ci}>al  article  of  fuel  in  the  villages,  and  since 
then  its  use  has  gradually  extended,  imtil  but 
comparatively  little  wood  is  used.  The  build 
ing  of  railroads,  and  the  consequent  accessi- 
bility to  the  pine  forests,  has  relieved  another 
strain  upon  the  timber  of  the  county  which 
began  to  be  seriously  felt.  The  revolution  in 
the  style  of  building  has  done  much  in  this 
direction,  and  but  comparatively  little  of  the 
native  timber  finds  its  way  into  the  modern 


III^TOIIY   OF    STARK    COl'NTY. 


(Iwelliiifj.  Tlj(>re  arc.  however,  sufficient  de- 
mands, for  the  viU'ious  manufactures,  mines 
and  raih"oads,  to  l)eget  serious  appreliension 
as  to  \vher<>  the  later  sn])])ly  is  to  be  secured. 

Tlie  prevailing  system  of  agriculture  in  this 
county  may  properly  be  termed  that  of  mixed 
husliandry,  with  a  s])ecial  prominence  given  to 
the  cidture  of  wheat.  Specialties  otherwise 
tind  littli'  favor  with  the  farmers.  The  ])rac- 
tice  is  to  cultivate  the  various  kinds  of  gi-ain 
and  gi'asses.  and  to  raise,  keep  and  fatten 
stock — the  latter  business,  however,  being  a 
leading  pursuit  of  not  a  liu'ge  projiortion  of 
the  farmers.  The  early  mode  of  cultivating  the 
farming  lands  w-as  not  of  th(>  highest  ty])e. 
Provided  with  productive  soil,  and  his  father 
having  made  a  fair  su]>port  in  a  certain  line  of 
farming,  the  average  farmer  has  not  had  the 
opi)ortunity,  or  has  not  felt  the  need,  of  stud- 
ying the  principl(>s  of  such  branches  of  learn- 
ing as  relate  to  agi'ieultiu-e,  and  has  hesitated 
to  receive,  or  promptly  rejected,  the  teachings 
of  science.  A  few-  persons,  however,  were 
found  at  a  comparatively  early  day  who 
brought  to  the  lousiness  of  fiU'ming  that 
amount  of  i)atient  investigation  which  the 
greatest  industry  of  this  covmtry  demands,  and 
farmers  have  l)ecome  less  and  lessiuiwilling  to 
learn  fi-om  others.  This  has  had  its  effect 
upon  the  husbandiT  of  the  county,  which  has 
attained  a  commendable  thoroughness,  and  is 
ra])idly  improving  in  every  respect. 

The  soil  is  considerably  diversilied.  About 
three- fourths  of  the  county,  including  the 
eastern,  southern  and  western  portions,  may 
be  called  clay  and  gi-avel  soi  1 :  the  northeastern 
(xirtion,  more  level,  is  furnished  with  a  heavy 
suljsoil  of  clay,  while  the  valley  of  the  Sandy 
has  a  soil  of  sandy  loam,  which  proves  highly 
productive.  The  sm'face  soil  of  the  whole 
county  is  eom])osed  of  vegetable  mold.  On 
the  rolling  or  hilly  portions  of  th(>  county, 
this  soil  is  thin  and  light,  owing,  doubtless, 
to  the  washing  of  rains.  On  the  lower  and 
more  level  jiortions.  this  sm-faco  soil  is  found 
dee]>er,  and.  in  valleys  or  l)ottom  lands,  it 
varies  fi-om  a  few  inches  to  several  feet  in 
depth. 

The  depth  of  this  soil,  other  things  being 
ecjual,  is  a  fair  showing  of  the  value  of  the 
land.    Clay  underlies  this  surface  soil  through- 


out almost  the  entire  county,  and  varies  in 
thickness  from  a  few  inches  to  two  feet:  is 
generally  of  a  pale  .yellow  color,  and  affords 
abundant  material  for  brick-making.  It  al>- 
sorbs  water  slowly,  and  is  too  compact  for  the 
roots  of  tender  i)lants  to  ])eneti-ato  to  any  great 
depth,  and  yet  this  dull  clay  is  the  basis  of 
Stark  County's  agricultural  wealth.  Resting 
upon  a  substratum  of  gravel,  it  holds  no  more 
water  than  is  necessary  for  healthy  vegetation, 
ami  yet  j)revents  the  surface  soil  fi-om  sinking 
away  into  the  gi-avel:  holds  maum-es  which  are 
apjdied  to  the  land,  which,  when  jilowed  under 
with  clay,  forms  the  most  productive  soil. 

The  subject  of  fertilizers  has  received  con- 
siderable attention  from  the  farmers,  and  plas- 
ter is  freely  used  upon  corn  and  clover.  Lime 
is  not  much  used,  save  occasionally  to  old, 
worn-out  fields,  which  have  run  into  sour 
grass,  and  is  then  ap))li(»d  only  when  slaked. 
There  have,  however,  been  some  (^.xperiments 
made  of  spreading  it  unslaked  and  plowing  it 
under,  with  satisfactory  results.  Phosphates 
have  come  into  limited  use  of  late  years,  but 
only  as  an  experiment,  and  the  general  voice 
is  that  it  does  not ''  pay."  Nor  are  any  artifi- 
cial means  used  to  increase  the  barn-yard 
supply,  which  is  not  unfre(juently  treated  ius 
a  serious  inconvenience  rather  than  a  fortu- 
nate possession  of  the  farmer.  The  constant 
cropping  of  a  tield  for  a  considerable  numl^er 
of  years  without  renewing  is  not  often  met  with 
in  Stark  County.  Occasional  fields  on  the 
river  bottoms  are  found  which  will  bear  such 
treatment  and  give  good  returns,  but  they 
are  very  limited  in  number.  Rotation  of 
crops  has  been  the  rule  with  the  average  farm- 
er for  some  years,  corn  being  tht^  first  crop 
planted  on  sod  gi'ound.  followed  by  barley  or 
oats,  and  then  wheat;  the  latter  is  sometimes 
sown  directly  after  corn.  In  the  ordinary  rota- 
tion of  cro]is,  the  manui-e  is  generally  applied 
to  the  wheat  croj),  as  it  is  thought  it  is  more 
<>ffectively  applied  here,  and  leaves  a  better 
soil  for  the  grass  which  follows.  Deep  plow- 
ing, with  the  ^richigan  doubh-  i)low,  wius 
practiced  to  a  considerable  extent  some  tw-en- 
ty-five  years  ago,  with  variable  results.  It 
afterwai-d  fell  into  disrepute  on  account  of  its 
heav\'  draft,  or  fi-om  the  fact  that  the  upper 
soil  was  biu'ied  so  deep  that  several  seasons 


M: 


174 


HISTOT'.Y   OF    8TAKK    COUN'TY. 


were  required  to  effect  the  proper  mixtiu'e  of 
the  soils.  Later,  another  system  was  adopted, 
with  satisfactory  effects. ,  Two  plows  were 
used,  and  the  team  divided  between  them. 
A  shallow  soil-plow  turned  over  the  siu'face, 
which  was  followed  by  a  long  steel  plow 
without  a  turning-board.  The  latter  simply 
raised  and  loosened  the  subsoil  to  a  depth  of 
twelve  or  fifteen  inches,  and  upon  this  the  top 
soil  was  tiu'ued  by  a  lighter  implement.  This 
proved  a  vast  improvement  on  the  old  plan, 
fiirnishing  the  requisite  dejith  without  biUT- 
ing  the  upper  soil,  and  loosening  the  subsoil, 
thus  fm-nishing  a  natural  escape  for  the  ex- 
cessive moisture  which  the  character  of  the 
hard-pan  too  often  resists,  allowing  it  to 
escape  only  by  evaporation.  The  practice 
of  subsoiling  is  still  kept  up  in  the  north- 
eastern y)ortion  of  the  county,  where  the  sub- 
soil is  a  cold,  dark-colored  clay,  impervious 
to  water.  It  was  originally  a  beech  for- 
est, but,  cleared  and  cultivated,  it  has  proven 
excellent  pasturage,  and,  when  deeply  plowed, 
tine  corn,  oats,  rye,  flax  and  vegetables,  are 
easilj'  produced.  This  manner  of  plowing 
is  found  necessary  about  every  thi'ee  years. 

Artificial  drainage  has  not  been  extensively 
used.  A  large  portion  of  the  county  is  high, 
rolling  country,  with  a  natural  cb-ainage,  that 
has  served  the  purpose  of  can-yiug  off  the  sur- 
plus water.  In  the  northern  part,  there  is 
quite  a  marsh,  known  as  Cranberry  Swamp,  a 
portion  of  the  waters  of  which  flows  north  to 
the  lake,  but  the  larger  portion  runs  south  to 
the  Ohio  River.  Nearly  all  the  streams  run 
southward,  the  Tuscarawas  River,  in  the  west- 
ern part  of  the  county,  being  the  lai'gest. 
The  Nimishilleu  (Jreek  is  the  next  largest 
stream,  which,  with  its  western  and  eastern 
bi'anches,  drains  the  northern  and  northeast- 
ern portions  of  the  county,  and  afford  many 
fine  mill-sites.  The  Sandy  is  a  fine  stream  in 
the  eastern  portion  of  the  county.  There  has 
been  but  little  undercb'aining  in  this  county, 
except  to  draw  off  the  water  of  the  ponds  and 
swamps.  This  has  been  done  to  some  extent 
with  tile,  but  generally  by  ditching  and  filling 
the  ditch  with  bowlders,  and  then  covering  uj) 
with  rubbish  and  dirt.  Tile-draining,  as  a 
general  thing,  is  looked  upon  simply  as  a  means 
of  carrving  oft"  the  surface  water,  and  but  little 


account  is  made  of  it  as  a  means  of  improving 
the  character  of  the  soil. 

The  gi'ass  crop,  while  not  demanding  the 
same  attention  as  other  crops,  is  one  that  must 
always  prove  important.  No  regular  system 
has  been  adopted  in  regard  to  its  cultivation, 
however,  in  Stark  County.  A  kind  of  spear- 
gi'ass  and  white  clover  are  indigenous  to  the 
soil,  covering  the  common  and  soon  spreading 
over  any  cleared  and  uncultivated  land,  mak- 
ing a  fair  j)asturage.  but  proving  too  short  for 
a  good  hay  crop.  Timothy  grass,  with  clover, 
is  mainly  relied  upon  for  the  supplj^  of  hay, 
meadows  being  tm-ned  over  about  once  in  five 
years.  Meadows  are  j)astiu-ed  to  some  extent 
in  the  fall,  but  are  seldom  "  turned  out "  for 
this  jjiu-jiose,  grass  lands  l)eing  seeded  for  the 
especial  purjiose  for  which  they  are  designed. 
Meadows  are  seldom  underdi'ained,  and  have 
generally  received  very  little  attention  in  the 
way  of  top-dressing,  the  maniu-e  being  gener- 
ally applied  to  the  wheat  crop,  which  preceded 
the  seeding  down.  Orchard  and  blue  grass 
have  been  introduced  to  a  limited  extent  of 
late  years,  but  they  have  not  found  favor  among 
the  farmers.  There  is  considerable  hesitation 
manifested  in  experimenting  with  the  blue- 
grass,  as  it  is  claimed  by  many — among  them 
some  scientific  agricultimsts — that  the  Jime- 
grass,  jjoa  jindriisis,  is  the  same  thing,  modi- 
fied by  difference  of  soil  and  climate.  Clover 
is  sown  in  large  quantities  throughout  the 
county.  It  is  found  most  successful  upon  the 
uplands,  but  it  does  reasonably,  with  plaster, 
on  all  grounds.  This  is  generally  mown  the 
tu'st  and  second  years  for  hay,  and  the  third 
year,  when  full-grown,  is  plowed  under  for 
wheat  or  corn  the  next  spring.  It  is  usually 
sown  with  timothy  for  meadow^  the  latter 
being  sown  iu  the  fall,  and  the  clover  with 
the  growing  wheat  in  the  spring.  The  yield, 
when  mown,  varies  fi'om  one  and  a  half  to  two 
and  a  half  tons  per  acre.  This  combination 
constitutes  the  chief  part  of  the  pastm'age, 
and  is  in  high  favor  with  fanners. 

AMiile  the  survey  of  the  agriculture  of  Stark 
County  does  not  exhibit  the  cultivation  of  any 
specialty,  it  will  be  observed  that  wheat-cult- 
ure and  shee])-raising  have,  fi'om  the  first, 
occupied  the  larger  share  of  attention.  But, 
while  this  is  true,  these  objects  have  not  ab- 


IHSTOKY   OF    STAHK    COUXTY. 


nh 


sorbed  the  activities  of  the  fiu-mers  to  the  es- 

1   elusion  of  other  branches  of  farm  industry. 

'   The  aim  of  tho  eai-liost  settlers,  with  their 

'  lands  as  their  only  resource,  was  to  derive 
from  these  a  co)iipl(>te  sujiport,  and,  to  this 
end,  a  system  of  mixed  husbanch'y  was  a  ne- 
cessity. Their  descendants,  hedged  about  by 
the  results  of  experience,  and  aiming  to  sell 
theu'  sur]ilus  products  in  such  form  as  would 
take  from  the  land  the  smallest  amount  of  its 
f(u'tility.  have,  from  the  nature  of  tin-  case, 

I    followed  in  their  footsteps. 

The  early  settlers  were  jirincipally  of  Ger- 
man descent,  from  Pennsylvania,  and  brought 
with  them  a  strong  ]>referenco  for  wheat -rais- 
ing, and  the  county  soon  took  the  leading 
])lace  as  a  wheat  county..  In  the  eai'ly  cult- 
ure of  wheat,  a  gi'eat  many  discouragements 
were  met.  The  weevil  and  iiist  destroyed  it 
year  after  year,  and,  when  it  escaped  these, 
the  fi-ost  worked  great  damage.  But  perse- 
verance and  improved  methods  have  wrought 
a  great  success  in  the  culture  of  this  gi'.iin, 
and  it  is  now  the  leading  cro])  in  the  county. 
There  is  troulile  experienced  fi'om  insects,  bnt 

'   frosts    have    i)roved    disastrous    occasionally. 

'  The  Todd  wheat  has  been  a  favorite  variety 
with  the  farmers  of  late  years,  though  the 
Mediterranean  for  a  long  time  held  sway. 
This  was  found  the  most  favorable,  and  less 
liable  to  be  injured  by  insects  and  frosts. 
The  greatest  objection  to  this  was  its  long, 
dark  gi-ain.  liut  little  superior  to  rye;  but  the 
effect  of  soil  and  climate  greatly  im])roved  its 
(jualities,  and  it  soon  grew  a  plump,  fair 
gi-ain,  strong  in  straw  and  quite  a  favorite  for 
bread,  and  has  not  yet  entirely  lost  its  hold 
in  the  farming  comumnity.  There  is  a  gi'eat 
diversity  in  the  ])ractic(>  and  opinions  of  farm- 
ers in  regard  to  the  cultivation  of  this  grain, 
and  no  jiarticular  system  has  been  adopted. 
The  |)revailing  method  is  not  t<i  sow  \\heat  on 
the  same  fielil  oftener  than  once  in  three 
years,  and  then  only  when,  for  two  years,  it 

,  shall  have  been  in  clover.  It  does  well  to  fol- 
low barley  or  oats  with  wheat  or  rye,  but  it  is 

,  considered  bad  farming  to  havi>  wheat  or  corn 
follow  each  other.  Wheat,  in  early  years, 
wa.s  sown  among  the  standing  corn,  and  later, 
lietween  the  shocks  that  were  jilaced  in  rows 
through  the  field,  and  the  spaces  thus  left  put 


in  oats  on  the  following  spring.  The  latter 
method  is  occasionally  {iracticed  yet,  but  gen- 
erally an  oat  croj)  intervenes.  Manure  is 
generally  s])r»>ad  in  the  s])ring.  and  jdowed 
under  in  the  fall  for  wheat.  The  gi-oimd  is 
carefully  prepared,  and  the  seed  generally 
drilled  in.  The  breadth  of  laud  sown  is  pretty 
uniform,  though  discouraging  crops  have  the 
effect  to  limit  somewhat  the  acreag<>  devoted 
to  it.  The  gi-ain  is  usually  threshed  in  the 
barn,  the  machine  worked  by  the  ]iortable 
steam  engine  manufactured  in  this  county, 
being  the  favorite,  and  largely  used.  For 
some  years.  Stark  led  the  counties  of  the 
State  in  the  yield  of  this  grain,  but  its  dis- 
memberment by  the  formation  of  Carroll  and 
Summit,  together  with  the  ravages  of  insects 
and  frost,  has  reduced  the  yield  one-half. 

Rye  and  barley  are  not  extensively  culti- 
vated. Rye  is  marketed  entirely  at  home, 
both  the  black  and  white  varieties  being  sown. 
The  first,  however,  though  good  for  feed  and 
distilling,  has  rapidly  given  way  to  the  white, 
which  is  not  inferior  for  these  puii^oses,  and 
makes  a  whiter  iiouv.  Sj^ring  barley,  som(> 
years  since,  was  quite  an  imjiortant  crop,  not 
only  on  account  of  its  marketal)le  value,  but 
also  because  it  leaves  the  ground  in  tine  con- 
dition for  wheat.  The  average  crop  is  about 
twenty- live  bushels  per  acre.  Under  the  rev- 
olutionizing effect  of  the  Great  West,  how- 
ever, these  grains  are  gi-adually  losing  favor 
here,  and  are  no  longer  cultivjitcd  to  any  con 
siderable  extent.  Buckwheat  is  very  little 
cultivated  for  home  cousimiption,  and  scarcely 
enough  for  that.  Oats  is  quite  an  important 
crop,  though  what  is  raised  is  barely  sufficient 
for  home  consmnjitiou.  There  are  thi-ee  vai'i  • 
eties  cultivated  to  more  or  less  extent  — side 
oats,  brancii  oats  and  black  oats,  the  latter 
being  now  seldom  s<>en.  The  side  oats  weigh 
more  to  the  bushel,  but  are  not  so  prolific  as 
the  branch  oats.  The  average  yield  is  about 
fifty  bushels  to  the  acre.  This  is  a  reasonaijly 
sm-e  crop.  and.  though  occasionally  injurecl  by 
the  blight,  it  is  relied  upon  with  considerable 
confidence  for  homo  use.  Rust  has  at  times 
proved  a  serious  drawback  to  the  raising  of 
this  crop,  and  a  late  frost  occasionally  ruins 
the  crop,  but  these  have  not  been  troublesome 
of  late  years. 


176 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


The  com  crop,  while  not  grown  to  the  ex- 
chision  of  the  others,  is  the  one  on  which  the 
farmers  of  Stark  County  most  confidently  rely, 
and  the  laud  devoted  to  its  cultiu-e  is  only 
limited  by  the  necessities  of  the  situation.  It 
is  far  more  stable  in  its  yield,  less  liable  to 
disease,  and  may  be  slighted  in  its  cultivation 
with  greater  impiuiity  than  any  other  crop. 
The  soft  varieties  of  seed  are  generally  pre- 
ferred, and  are  usually  planted  on  sod  groiuid. 
It  is  usually  well  put  in  the  ground,  being 
prepai-ed  with  considerable  care,  and  worked 
until  it  "tassels  out."  The  old  rule  of  "go- 
ing through"  the  field  a  certain  number  of 
times  before  "  laying  by "  the  crop,  has  long 
since  been  abandoned  by  the  better  fanners. 
The  last  plowing,  after  the  corn  has  reached 
the  height  of  five  or  six  feet,  is  considered  the 
most  effective  in  its  cultivation,  but  the  exi- 
gencies of  the  season  often  prevent  the  farmer 
bestowing  this  crowning  attention.  The  farms, 
many  of  them  small,  are  worked  by  the  owner 
alone,  and  the  clover  and  wheat  cutting  com- 
ing close  together,  frequently  obliges  the 
small  farmer  to  slight  his  corn.  When,  how- 
ever, the  farmer  is  able  to  hire  help,  or  has 
boys  who  can  be  trusted  to  do  the  work,  the 
plow  is  kept  going  through  the  corn,  an  ex- 
pense which  is  amply  paid  by  the  increased 
yield.  The  crop  is  cut  and  husked  in  the 
field,  the  corn  being  stored  in  criljs.  The 
habit  of  husking  fi'om  the  standing  stock  is 
also  jiraeticed,  though  it  is  generally  con- 
ceited to  be  a  wasteful  method  of  harvesting 
this  crop.  Corn  is  sown  broadcast  for  forage 
to  a  considerable  extent. 

The  other  crops  that  oceuj>y,  or  have  occu- 
pied, a  more  or  less  prominent  place  among 
the  agricultural  products  of  the  county,  are 
potatoes  and  sorghum.  The  quality  of  the 
soil  is  well  adapted  to  the  raising  of  potatoes, 
and  farmers  who  have  given  considerable 
attention  to  the  proper  cultivation  of  this 
highly  prized  and  indispensable  esculent, 
have  always  been  well  rewarded  for  their 
labor  and  painstaking.  It  is  a  staple  vegeta- 
ble, universally  used,  always  commands  a  fair 
price,  and  its  general  cultivation  for  exporta- 
tion would  undoubtedly  prove  highly  remu- 
nerative. This  fact  seems  to  have  made  no 
impression  upon  the  farmers,  as  no  more  are 


produced  than  are  used  at  home.  The  lead- 
ing variety  is  the  early  rose,  with  the  peach- 
blow  and  peerless  cultivated  in  considerable 
quantities.  The  Neshannock  is  highly  prized 
by  many,  while  other  varieties  are  being  cul- 
tivated as  experiments,  or  to  suit  individual 
tastes.  The  average  yield  of  this  crop  is 
good,  and  is  not  often  seriously  aflected  by 
disease  or  insects. 

Sorghum  was,  in  Stark  County,  an  excep- 
tion to  the  general  rule.  It  was  introduced 
here  about  INTiT,  but  most  of  the  farmers  con- 
ceived a  dislike  to  it.  It  was  planted  in  small 
quantities  by  a  good  many,  but  it  was  allowed 
to  pass  without  any  particular  care,  and  many 
never  harvested  it  at  all.  Two  or  three  mills 
were  Isought,  but  comparatively  little  molasses 
was  manufactured.  The  first  product,  owing 
to  the  lack  of  interest  and  information,  and 
the  carelessness  with  which  it  was  manufact- 
lu'ed,  was  sorry  stulf.  This  result  re-acted 
with  discouraging  effect  upon  the  producers. 
Another  cause  which  contributed  to  this  result 
was  the  exercise  of  a  ruinous  economy  on  the 
];)art  of  the  mass  of  the  farmers.  Instead  of 
piu'chasiug  new  seed  and  sparing  no  pains  to 
make  a  fair  trial  of  this  new  crop,  the  major- 
ity of  those  who  jilanted  a  second  crop  pro- 
ciu'ed  seed  of  their  neighbors,  and  allowed  the 
farm  work  to  seriously  interfere  with  the  cul- 
tivation of  the  cane.  The  result  was  that  it 
deteriorated  in  ([uantity  and  quality,  and  the 
whole  thing  was  voted  a  faihu'e.  No  great 
effort  was  made  to  produce  sugar,  as  the  ex- 
pense proved  an  insm'inountable  barrier  to  its 
successful  prosecution. 

Tobacco  is  cultivated  here  and  there  by 
individuals,  for  the  private  use  of  the  jsro- 
ducer,  and  it  may  well  be  hoped  that  its  cult- 
ure may  not  be  further  extended.  It  is  an 
exacting  crop  upon  the  land,  and.  sooner  or 
later,  the  exhaustive  process  will  ultimately 
work  the  deterioration  of  any  neighborhood 
or  farming  district  where  its  culture  is  a 
])rominent  part  of  the  farming  operations. 

The  forests  of  Stark  County  are  well  sup- 
plied with  the  sugar  ma])le,  and  farmers  have 
not  been  slow  to  utilize  them  in  the  way  of 
making  sugar.  It  was  the  practice,  at  an  early 
date,  to  manufacture  this  product  in  grain 
.sugar,  as   it   proved  more  available    for  the 


HISTORY  OF    .STARK    COUNTY. 


177 


uses  of  the  household,  but  of  late  years  it  has 
fouml  a  more  valuable  market  in  oake.s  an<l  a.-^ 
siruj). 

A  survey  of  thi.s  l)rancli  of  Stark  County's 
agricuitiu'e  would  hardly  be  complete  without 
some  reference  to  thi'  late  fi-osts  of  INSy  and 
1845.  The  frost  of  1859  came  on  a  Satui'day 
night  in  June.  The  previous  night  had 
brought  a  fall  of  rain,  and  on  Saturday  it 
cle;u-e(l  oft'  with  a  cool  atmosphere,  which 
gi'ew  colder  ;us  night  apiu'oached.  In  the 
morning,  the  "  killing  fi-ost"  had  left  scarcely 
a  vestige  of  the  gi-owing  crops  alive.  Corn 
was  about  eight  or  ten  inches  high,  and  pota- 
toes had  reached  the  growth  that  made  the 
effect  of  fi'ost  most  damaging.  All  gi-ain  was 
ruined,  and  the  people  found  themselves  face 
to  face  with  "  perilous  times,"  if  not  starva- 
tion. The  frost  had  been  general  over  the 
State,  and  the  situation  was  considered  alarm- 
ing. Some  time  was  lost  in  unavailing  re- 
gi-ets,  and  some  crops  that  might  have  been 
saved  by  prompt  cutting  off  even  with  the 
ground  were  lost  by  delay.  Fortunately, 
there  were  some  late  crops  that  had  not  come 
forward  enough  to  become  involved  in  the 
general  disaster,  and  others  were  saved  by 
favorable  locations.  The  less  fortunate  farm- 
ers set  at  once  to  repair  the  misfortune  so  far 
as  possible.  The  com  and  potatoes  were  re- 
planted, buckwheat  was  sowed  in  the  place  of 
wheat,  and,  thanks  to  an  unusually  long  sea- 
son, these  crops  were  fairly  matured.  There 
was  a  large  proportion  of  soft  corn,  hundi-eds 
of  bushels  of  which  proved  almost  a  complete 
loss. 

Fruit  culture  hiis,  from  the  first,  occupied  a 
prominent  place  in  the  cai-e  and  attention 
of  the  farmers,  so  that  Stark  is  now  the 
leading  county  for  fi-uit  in  the  State.  As 
early  as  LStKi.  orchards  w(>re  set  out  and  con- 
siderable care  given  to  their  culture.  In  this 
yeiii,  Kev.  Mr.  Gans,  of  Lexington,  had  an 
orchard;  Valentine  Weaver,  in  Plain,  had  an 
orchard  raised  fi-om  seed  at  the  same  time; 
James  Graff,  two  miles  north  of  Canton,  fol- 
lowed in  181  IS,  as  well  as  Simon  Essig  and 
Frederick  Stump;  Jacob  Shanabager  start<>d 
an  orchard  on  the  farm  of  J.  Harmer  in  18l)t) 
and  1807.  Considerable  care  was  (exercised 
in  the  selection  of  varieties  and  in  cultivating 


the  trees,  and  among  some  of  the  early  varie- 
ties were  some  which  still  find  a  large  number 
of  cultivators.  Among  these  may  he  men- 
tioned the  Penuock,  Blair,  New  Town  Pijjpiu, 
Vandever,  llomanite,  llomau  Stem,  Sj)itzen 
berg.  Bell  Flower,  French  Pippin,  etc.  Dur- 
ing the  first  years,  apples  were  a  gi'eat 
luxury,  and  found  a  ready  sale  when  brought 
into  the  settlements  fi-om  the  older  commimi- 
ties.  They  were  brought  in  fi-om  Steubenville 
as  tjarly  as  18(>"J,  and  were  among  the  regular 
order  of  things  on  training  days.  On  these 
occasions,  tlie  wagon- loads  of  apples  were 
hailed  with  as  much  enthusiasm  as  the  loads 
of  water-melons  at  a  fair  in  these  later  days, 
and  were  ra])idly  sold  at  a  shilling  a  dozen. 
Among  the  early  varieties,  the  Blair.  th(jugh 
a  small  apj)le,  was  a  prime  favorite,  and  was 
readily  sold  at  $1  per  baiTel.  The  Romanite 
was  especially  marked  as  an  excellent  keeper, 
and  was  in  good  demand. 

Stai'k  is  well  situated  for  a  finiit  countiy. 
It  is  paiiiculai'ly  fi'ee  fi'om  frost-killing,  and. 
with  a  little  more  of  the  iron  element  in 
the  soil,  would  be  the  ideal  location  for  fruit- 
growing. The  natural  hindi'ances  to  this 
branch  of  farm  industiy,  by  intelligent  exper- 
iment and  cai'eful  husl)anch'y,  have  been  so 
far  overcome  that  much  of  the  best  fi'uit  of 
the  country  is  [n-oduced  here  in  excelli^nt  qual- 
ity and  profitable  quantity.  Among  the  lead- 
ing modern  varieties  may  be  mentioned  the 
Baldwin,  Bell  Flower,  Vandever,  Red  Canada. 
Wells  Apple,  Ohio  Nonjiareil.  and  King.  The 
last-named,  known  by  many  as  "  King  of 
Tompkins  Coimty,"  is  a  great  favorite.  It  is 
a  fine,  large  apple,  some  of  the  trait  measm'- 
ing  fom-teon  and  a  half  inches  in  circiunfer- 
ence,  and  at  the  same  time  retaining  a  fine 
fiavor  and  smooth  textiu'o.  The  demand  here 
is  not,  however,  for  a  large  aj>))le.  They  are 
found  more  liable  to  rot,  with  a  consecjuent 
greater  loss,  than  in  the  case  of  a  smaller 
apple;  fnut-growei"s  find  the  lo.ss  from  drop- 
ping fi'om  the  tree  greater,  and,  as  the  larger 
part  of  the  picked  fniit  is  marketed  in  the 
county,  the  vai'ious  demands  of  the  domestic 
economy  are  better  served  with  finiit  of  medi- 
um size.  The  a])[)le  is  the  hardiest  finiit  in 
this  locality,  and  there  are  probably  more 
acres  in  a|)ple  orchai'ds  than  in  all  other  fruits 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


combined.  The  extensive  cultivation  of  ap- 
ples in  orchards,  however,  has  Ijeen  of  com- 
pJU'atively  recent  effort.  Most  of  the  surplus 
crop  finds  a  market  in  Germany,  and  is  di-ied 
for  shipment.  The  recently  imjjroved  evap- 
orators are  used  on  most  of  the  farms,  which 
save  time  and  give  a  better  color  to  the  fi-uit, 
enhancing  the  market  value  of  the  dried  prod- 
uct 100  per  cent. 

Peaches  ai-e  not  so  successful  in  this  county. 
They  were  grown  here  as  early  as  1809,  and 
were  at  first  as  prosperous,  perhaps,  as  apples, 
but  siicceeding  years  have  wrought  such  cli- 
matic changes  that  there  is  a  good  crop  hardly 
more  than  once  in  five  years.  There  is  an 
exception,  perhaps,  to  this  rule,  in  the  case  of 
Sandy  and  Pike  Townships,  where  the  great 
bulk  of  the  peach  crop  of  this  county  is  pi-o- 
diiced.  The  peach-tree  is  found  to  mature 
too  early,  and  cousequeutly  to  rapidly  decline, 
the  average  life  of  a  tree  not  reaching  more 
than  ten  years.  The  leading  varieties  are  the 
early  and  late  Crawfords,  which,  in  the  par- 
ticular localities  mentioned,  produce  reasona- 
ble results.  There  is.  however,  no  disposi- 
tion to  sm'render  the  cultivation  of  this  fruit 
entirely.  Fresh  trees  are  being  planted,  ciu'e- 
ful  investigations  are  being  made,  and  it  is 
hoped  that  the  present  obstacles  will  be  over- 
come. 

Pears  were  found  in  this  county  at  an  early 
date,  the  first  being  cultivated  on  Adam  Ober- 
lin's  place,  on  the  Fulton  road.  Stark  takes 
the  third  place  in  the  State  in  the  gi'owth 
of  this  fruit,  and  many  orchards  of  consider- 
able size  are  devoted  to  it.  The  Bartlett, 
Flemish  Beauty,  Siecle,  White  Doyen,  etc., 
are  the  leading  varieties.  The  tendency  to 
blight,  which  the  pear-tree  shows  here  as  else- 
where in  Ohio,  has  caused  considerable  loss  in 
the  cultiu-e  of  this  frait,  but  a  remedy  has 
been  found  which,  it  is  thought,  will  elfectiT- 
ally  prevent  it.  This  is  the  application  of 
salt  to  the  ground  about  the  tree.  The  theory 
of  this  remedy  has  not  been  explained,  but, 
BO  far  as  experiments  have  been  made,  its  suc- 
cess seems  to  be  demonstrated. 

Cherries  of  the  hardier  sort  are  found  to  do 
pretty  well,  though,  as  it  is  a  fi-uit  into  which 
iron  enters  more  than  any  other,  the  soil 
here  is  found  the  best  adapted  to  the  highest 


success  in  the  cultivation  of  this  fi'uit.  The 
various  kinds  of  English  Morcllos  are  the  only 
kinds  grown  to  any  extent,  and,  though  need- 
ing considerable  attention,  they  produce  a 
fair  return.  They  are  seldom  injured  by 
frost,  and  are  planted  in  considerable  num- 
bers. The  history  of  the  plum-ti-ee  here  is 
that  of  this  fi-uit  in  most  parts  of  the  State. 
It  is  a  natural  i)lum  country,  and,  until  about 
184'),  it  was  the  surest  fruit  in  this  section; 
but  about  this  time,  the  min-uiio  came  iji,  and 
has  taken  the  fiiiit  regularly  ever  since.  Oc- 
casionally a  fair  product  is  got  from  a  single 
tree,  by  a  lavish  outlay  of  time  and  pains,  but 
the  result  does  not  warrant  the  ex]^ense  needed 
to  secm-e  it. 

The  number  of  lai-ge  towns,  with  their  large 
proportion  of  mechanic  population,  found  in 
the  county,  has  of  late  years  given  a  marked  im- 
petus to  the  cultivation  of  small  fruits  and 
vegetables.  Strawberries,  raspberries  and 
blackberries  of  the  improved  vai'ieties  are 
largely  cultivated,  and  find  a  ready  sale  at 
fair  prices  in  the  different  towns.  There  is 
no  sm-plus  for  exportation  or  for  wine-making, 
and  little  of  either  is  done  in  Stark.  Grapes 
iu'e  foiuid  to  flom'ish  here  scarcely  second  to 
any  other  place  in  the  State.  The  Concord, 
Delaware,  Lady  and  Agawaiu  are  the  leading 
vai'ieties.  The  Isabella  is  not  gi'own.  and  the 
Ionia  and  Catawba  are  unsuited  to  this  loca- 
tion, the  early  frost  of  autumn  [ireventing 
their  maturing.  These  also  find  a  ready  mar- 
ket in  the  various  towns,  and  are  not  made 
into  wine  at  all. 

Of  late  yeai's.  the  interest  and  profit  in  the 
cultivation  of  vegetables  for  the  home  market 
has  shown  a  mtU'ked  increase.  Last  year,  a 
considerable  "  annex  "  was  built  by  the  agri- 
cultural society  to  accommodate  the  display  of 
exliibits  in  this  class. 

This  success  in  fi'uit- growing  is  doubtless 
to  be  referred  not  less  to  the  intelligence  with 
which  the  sutiject  has  been  studied,  than  to 
the  natural  advantages  of  the  soil.  An  out- 
gi'owth  of  the  interest  in  this  subject  was  the 
organization  of  the  Horticultiu'al  Society. 
October  11,  1878,  by  such  gentlemen  as  J.  K. 
Neisz,  Levi  Stump,  Andrew  Pontius,  Lewis 
Essig,  H.  W.  Firestone,  J.  F.  Neisz.  W.  W. 
Reed  and  others.     This  society  has  its  meet- 


^^—r- 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


179    ] 


ings  inouthly.  at  tho  ri'sidcnces  of  its  vsirioas 
nienilx'rs,  and  lias  aecoiuplished  a  groat  dfal 
for  tlio  fi-iiit-growers  of  the  county.  Exjjeri- 
lui'uts  ai'e  constantly  being  made,  whicli  are 
fully  iliscussed  at  their  meetings,  and  the 
value  of  these  discussions  is  being  felt  and 
acted  upon  by  the  mass  of  farmers. 

In  the  matter  of  stock-breeding,  there  is  a 
very  general  interest,  tlidugh  the  number  of 
those  who  nuike  it  a,  sjieeialty,  or  a  leading 
featiu'o  of  their  f ann  industry,  is  small.  Prob- 
ably less  than  one-tenth  can  be  placed  in  this 
class,  though  among  these  may  be  included 
many  of  the  wealthier  fanners.  jVmong  this 
{wrtion  of  the  farming  community,  a  perse- 
vering, patient,  investigating  spirit  has  been 
manifested,  that  has  accomplished  large  re- 
sults for  the  stock  of  the  com  ty.  No  class  of 
stock  has  been  slighted  in  this  respiHjt,  though 
jiei'haps  hors(^  and  sheep  have  protited  most. 

It  is  quite  natiu-al  that  the  early  history  of 
the  horse  in  Stark  Coimty  should  be  somewhat 
obscure.  In  the  early  settlement,  the  natui-e 
of  fann  work  called  for  the  steady  strength, 
the  fi'eedom  fi-om  accident  and  the  ea.sy  keep- 
ing of  the  ox,  and  horses  found  no  general 
demand  until  the  pioneers  could  afibrd  the 
luxiuy  of  speed  in  ti'avel.  It  was  not  long 
before  this  demand  made  a  marked  change  in 
the  character  of  the  teams,  which  has  contin- 
ued until  now  one  would  scarcely  meet  with 
an  ox  team  in  a  month's  travel  through  the 
coimty.  Th(>  early  stock  of  horses  were  such 
as  could  1)(>  Iwnght  in  the  older  settlements, 
and  were  marked  by  no  pai'ticular  chai'acter- 
ifitic  of  breed  or  (juality.  The  only  demand 
was  for  the  (ordinary  pmi^oses  of  the  farm, 
and  the  jieople  were  not  only  not  in  a  position 
to  "  lix>k  a  gift  horse  in  the  mouth,"  but  were 
quite  as  powerless  to  be  fastidious  in  regai'd 
to  any  horse.  AxQong  the  earliest  eflbrts  to 
improve  upon  this  stock  was  the  importation 
of  a  hoi-se  loKnvn  as  "  MeiTy  Andrew,"  fi-om 
Virginia,  and  which  was  reputed  to  be  a  thor- 
oughbred animal.  The  old  settlers,  who  re- 
memlx'r  his  appeai'ance,  agi'ee  that  his  e<jual 
has  not  since  lieen  in  the  coimty.  He  was 
impoi-ted  in  182">,  liy  Dr.  Simmonds.  Henry 
Barber,  who  was  a  devoted  lover  of  fine  horses, 
had  at  this  time  a  line  imi)orted  mare,  of 
g(X)d  lilood.  und  fi-oin   these  two  animals  some 


excellent  stock  was  raised,  which  gave  the 
fii"st  impetus  to  an  effort  to  improve  the  grade 
of  horses.  About  183'.!,  John  Meyers  brought 
into  the  county  a  tine  chestnut- sorrel  stallion, 
called  "  W'indtiower."  He  was  a  good-blooded 
horse,  of  tine  parts  and  splendid  action,  and 
left  a  miirked  impress  ui)on  the  stock  of  the 
county.  He  sired  a  gi'eat  many  colts,  <md  his 
blood  can  be  traced  in  the  tine  aj)pearance  and 
action  of  many  of  the  best  horses  yet  to  be 
foimd  in  the  coimty.  In  184U,  "  Napoleon 
Morgan  "  was  Virought  fi-om  the  East,  and  first 
inti'oduced  this  strain  in  the  county.  His 
trotting  ipialities.  fine  action  and  splendid 
appearance  gave  him  a  popuhu-ity,  and  for 
several  yeai's  the  Morgan  sti'ain  was  in  high 
favor.  "  (xreen  Mountain."  a  diu-k  brown 
horse,  was  brought  here  in  ISriit,  and  was  the 
sire  of  a  number  of  valuable  horses.  The  nat- 
ui'al  tastes  of  the  people  who  settled  this 
county,  however,  did  not  lead  them  to  prefer 
this  class  of  horses,  and  in  a  few  yeai's  the 
demand  veered  ai'ound  to  those  of  heavier  jiro- 
portions.  This  led  to  the  introduction  of  the 
English  draft  horses,  "Scotch  Clyde"  and 
"  Plow  Boy."  This  class  of  horses  are  of 
Scottish  descent,  of  the  largest  size,  averaging 
from  sixteen  to  eighteen  hands  high,  with 
ponderous  bodies,  stout  limlis,  haiiy  at  the 
fetlocks,  of  high  and  noble  carriage,  and  un- 
surpassed in  weight  and  strength.  They 
occasionally  reached  a  weight  of  seventeen 
and  even  eighteen  himdred  ]iounds.  Of  late 
ye;irs,  the  Nonnan.  though  not  bred  here,  has 
been  brought  in  fi'om  ueighlxn-ing  counties, 
and  are  Ifu-gely  used  in  the  extensive  teaming 
business  which  the  mining  and  manuf  actui'ing 
interests  sujtport.  They  are  natives  of  Prance, 
and  embody  more  speed  in  action  than  the 
ordiniu-y  ih'aft  horse,  together  with  gi-eat 
strength  of  limb  and  power  of  locomotion. 
Their  average  size  is  from  sixteen  to  seventeen 
hands  high,  compact  in  Ixidy.  symmetrical  in 
shape,  clean  in  limb  and  enduring  in  lal)or. 
Their  color  is  a  fine  silver  gi"iy,  the  best 
adapted  to  withstand  the  burning  rays  of  the 
sun  in  the  field  or  on  the  highway.  Other 
horses  that  have  contributed  to  the  present  stat- 
us of  the  hoi-ses  in  Stark  County  are  "  Chil- 
ton," "  Timolwin."  "  Tuckahoe,"  and  the  Mes- 
senirer  strain.     Both  carriage  and  draft  horses 


180 


HISTOllY   OF    .STARK    COUNTY. 


are  well  represented  in  the  county,  and  a 
marked  improvement  has  been  going  on  for 
the  past  twenty  years. 

The  introduction  of  cattle  into  the  county 
was  as  early  as  the  coming  of  the  first  settler. 
Cows  were  a  necessary  jiart  of  the  pioneer's 
outfit,  without  which  his  chances  for  obtaining 
a  reasonably  comfortable  existence  were  very 
poor  indeed,  and  few  families  were  without 
them.  But,  once  here,  it  required  all  the 
cai"e  and  diligence  of  the  settler  to  protect 
them  against  the  ravages  of  wild  beasts  and 
disease.  Wolves  were  not  so  dangerous  to 
cattle  as  in  many  places,  but  now  and  then  a 
yearling  or  calf  was  sacrificed  to  their  vora- 
cious appetites.  The  murrain,  a  little  later, 
took  off  scores  of  these  animals,  entailing  con- 
siderable privation  before  they  could  be  re- 
placed. Then  the  marshes  and  the  rank  veg- 
etation took  their  quota,  so  that,  in  spite  of 
the  employment  of  all  the  available  children 
in  the  settlement  as  herders,  and  the  dosing 
of  cattle  with  alum,  soot  and  soft  soap,  hun- 
dreds fell  victinis  to  the  snares  of  a  new  coun- 
try. Under  such  circumstances,  the  effort  was 
narrowed  down  to  a  struggle  to  maintain, 
r.ather  than  improve,  the  breed.  The  short- 
horn Durhams  were  probably  the  first  intro- 
duced. These  cattle  were  introdticed  into 
Ohio  from  Kentucky  at  first,  but,  in  1834, 
the  "  Ohio  Importing  Company  "  was  formed 
to  import  short -horn  Diu'hams  from  England. 
Seven  bulls  and  twelve  cows,  nineteen  in  all, 
were  imported,  and  exhibited  the  following 
year  at  the  State  Fair.  This  company  subse- 
quently increased  the  number  of  their  imjjor- 
tation  to  thirty  head.  In  1852,  the  "  Scioto 
Importing  Company  "  imported  sixteen  head, 
and,  in  the  following  year,  a  similar  company 
formed  in  Madison  County,  imported  twenty - 
two  head.  In  1854,  similar  companies  were 
formed  in  Clinton  and  Clark  Counties,  by 
which  some  forty  more  animals  were  brought 
to  the  State.  Amid  all  this  activity  in  the 
improvement  of  stock,  it  is  not  to  be  expected 
that  the  enterprising  people  of  this  coiinty 
should  fail  to  profit  by  it.  The  Devons  are 
also  held  in  high  esteem  here.  This  is  a  strik- 
ingly distinct  breed  in  fonn  and  quality,  me- 
dium in  size,  unifonnly  red  in  color,  and 
comely  in    appearance.     This  blood,  or  that 


which  was  closely  allied  to  it,  seems  to  have 
been  imported  into  New  England  in  the  sev- 
enteenth century,  and  the  native  stock  of  that 
section  has  for  many  generations  borne  strong 
resemblances  to  this  stock.  The  stock  of  the 
county  has  been  greatly  improved  by  the  inter- 
mixture of  these  breeds,  and  it  is  estimated 
that  at  least  tlu-ee-foiu'ths  of  the  stock  of  cat- 
tle are  more  or  less  mixed  with  these  breeds. 
Among  those  who  have  been  identified  with 
this  movement  are  Edward  Brook  &  Son,  of 
Marlboro  Townshiji,  John  Shock,  of  Canton, 
and  Thomas  Chapman,  of  Bethlehem,  with 
Dui'ham  stock;  Benjamin  Thompson,  of  Lake, 
Jonas  Brougher,  of  Jackson,  and  H.  Raynolds, 
of  Canton,  with  Devon.  The  value  of  this 
stock  over  the  native  breed  is  jalainly  apparent 
in  their  keeping  qualities,  size,  form,  early 
maturity,  increase  of  milk,  and  superior  beef. 
It  is  claimed  by  the  friends  of  these  improved 
cattle  that  there  has  been  an  increase  of  one- 
third,  cit  least,  in  the  value  of  the  cattle  of  the 
county  by  their  introduction. 

Sheep  were  introduced  into  Stark  County 
almost  as  early  as  any  stock.  The  first  set- 
tlers seemed  to  have  looked  the  ground  all 
over,  and  to  have  prepared  for  an  isolf^ted 
existence  in  the  woods.  In  these  plans,  sheep 
fonned  a  conspicuous  item,  as  the  production 
of  wool  for  the  various  articles  of  clothing 
seemed  nearly  indispensable.  But  the  num- 
ber and  boldness  of  the  wolves  made  sheep- 
raising  a  burden  upon  the  fi'ontier  farmer, 
taxed  as  he  was  with  thi-  cares  and  anxieties 
of  a  "  clearing,"  that  he  could  ill  afford,  and 
many  soon  gave  up  the  experiment.  Others, 
however,  persevered  in  spite  of  discourage- 
ments, and  the  county  has  probably  not  been 
without  sheeji  since  their  first  introduction, 
though  the  number  has  been  very  small  at 
times.  After  the  wolf  had  been  exterminated 
under  the  infiuence  of  liberal  bounties  paid 
for  their  scalps,  the  dogs  caused  seriovis  havoc 
among  them,  a  fanner  sometimes  finding  as 
many  as  twenty  or  thirty  killed  and  wounded 
in  a  single  night.  It  did  not  need  any  out- 
side encouragement  to  wage  a  war  of  exter- 
mination upon  these  animals,  and  many  a 
sheep-killing  dog  was  summarily  disposed  of. 

It  is  difficult  to  detemine  the  characteristics 
of  the  early  sheep.     In   1816,  Wells  &  Dick 


liL^ 


HISTOIIY   OF    .STAUK    COIXTY 


iosoa,  large  woolea  manufacturers  at  Steuben- 
ville,  bad  large  flocks  of  Spanish  merino 
nbeej),  deriviii  fi-oiii  the  lluniphrcy  iui])orta- 
tions.  These  were  j)asturi*d  at  this  time  on 
tlie  Stark  County  ])huns,  and  were  the  talk  of 
stoek  atbnirers  of  the  State.  In  KS24,  the 
failiu'e  of  this  linn  caused  these  sheep  to  be 
Hcattere(i  in  small  parcels  all  over  the  State, 
and  they  fell  into  the  bands  of  many  who 
cared  more  to  improve  on  the  common  stock 
than  to  lu'eed  full-blooded  animals.  These 
sheep  were  characterized  by  a  light  cai'cass 
and  fleece,  though  the  latter  was  of  tine  text- 
m-e  and  good  Hber.  American  cultivation  has 
done  much  to  improve  these  original  and  sub- 
secjuent  importations,  so  that  at  this  day  no 
tine-wooled  sheep  in  the  world  excel,  and  few 
equal,  the  American  merinos  in  the  heavy 
product  of  their  fleeces,  or  the  size  and  stami- 
na of  their  Iwdies. 

Previous  to  the  Wells  &  Dickinson  flock, 
about  1  SOU. -'Mr.  Thomas  Rotch,  a  member 
of  the  Society  of  Friends,  emigi-ated  from 
Connecticut  to  this  county,  and  brought  with 
bun  a  small  flock  of  merino  sheep.  They 
were  good,  and  a  few  of  them  were  of  the 
flock  imported  by  Col.  Humphrey.  At  that 
early  day  he  hoi)od,  in  twenty  years'  time,  to 
Bee  every  faiin  in  the  coimty  stocked  with  me- 
rinos. In  this  be  partially  succeeded,  btit  a 
prejudice  against  the  breed  prevented  them 
from  becoming  so  general  as  he  had  antici- 
pated."* To  this  statement  Secretary  Klip- 
part  adds  a  note  to  the  effect  "  that  lus  wife, 
Charity,"  fi-equently  solicited  from  him  a 
fund  which  might  be  invested  for  ehai-itable 
or  benevolent  purposes.  But  he  hesitated, 
until,  one  spring  morning,  he  gave  her  two 
xirl;  merino  lambs,  and  told  her  that  she  might 
take  them  as  "  cajn'lol "  for  benevolent  pur- 
j>oses;  the  noble-heailed  wife  thankfully  ac- 
cepted them,  nureed  them  and  cm'cd  them. 
With  this,  as  foundation  of  a  flock,  she  accu- 
mulated a  smii  which,  in  course  of  time,  became 
sufKcient  to  build  and  endow  the  "  Kendall 
Charity  ScIkmjI." 

Many  efforts  have  been  subsequently  made 
by  fiuinei-s  to  improve  the  breeds,  Ijoth  native 
and  those  early  imported.  The  Vermont  me- 
rino, Cotswold  and   Liecester.  have   Ijeen  in- 

•St.te  Agricultural  Reporr.  1g.<i9. 


troduced,  but  none  have  gained  the  suffrage 
of  the  whole  county.  The  Dickinson  merinos 
still  hold  their  [)lace  with  old  wool-growers, 
while  the  younger  portion  of  wool-gi-owers 
prefer  the  \'ennont  sheep.  Thoi-e  does  not 
seem  to  be  any  middle  gi-ound  on  which  the 
two  cliusses  can  meet.  It  is  claimed  on  the 
one  part  that  the  Yennont  merinos  require 
more  cai'e  and  attention  than  the  Dickinson, 
and  that  the  increased  weight  of  the  fl(>eces  is 
caused  entirely  by  a  gummy  gi-ease  peculiai' 
to  them.  It  is  also  claimed  that  they  will  not 
tlu-ive  in  large  flocks,  and  that,  although  the 
fiber  may  be  longer,  this  advantage  is  more 
than  counterbalanced  by  the  otht^r  disadvan- 
tages. On  the  other  hand,  it  is  claimed  for 
the  Yennont  sheep  that  they  not  only  have  a 
longer  tiber,  but  finer  wool,  and  that  they  will 
clip  fi'om  half  a  pound  to  two  poimds  more 
clean  wool.  It  has  been  suggested  that  a 
cross  between  the  merino  and  Cotswold  would 
make  a  better  sheep  for  all  purjioses,  but  this 
experiment  has  not  yet  been  fully  tested. 

Swine  were  the  earliest  and  the  most  easily- 
maintained  of  any  stock  on  the  frontier  fai-ms. 
No  fiuuily  was  so  poor  as  to  be  without  them, 
and  none  weri>  so  rich  as  not  to  need  them. 
In  many  parts  of  the  county,  they  were 
allowed  to  run  at  lai-ge  in  the  forest,  gradu- 
ally taking  on  the  nature  of  the  wild  hog, 
which  was  found  hert  by  the  first  settlers. 
This  breed  of  bogs  was  of  thin  flesh,  large 
bones,  thick  skin  and  formidabh;  tusks.  They 
were  wholly  unfit  for  food,  though  the  exigen- 
cies of  pioneer  life  often  made  them  the  only 
resource.  Their  skin  was  used  for  tanning 
pui-jKises,  and  fiu-nisbed  a  very  desirable 
leather  for  horse  collars  and  other  parts  of  the 
harness.  The  woods  breed  of  hogs,  however. 
has  long  since  become  extinct  in  this  county, 
and,  where  it  used  to  take  two  yeai-s  to  make 
a  2(l(>-pound  hog,  a  HOO  and  4()()-]>ound  bog 
can  be  made  in  nine  to  twelve  months.  In 
tlu;se  animals  tbei'e  are  more  evidenctw  of  im- 
provement than  in  any  other  cla.ss  of  stock. 
The  original  breed  was  long  in  the  body,  long 
in  the  legs  and  long  in  the  snout,  famous  for 
rooting  and  jtunping  fences,  and  were  dis- 
tinctly termed  "land  sharks."  The  "  gi-ass 
breed "  and  the  Berkshires  were  introduced 
about   the   same   time,  and  a   cross    between 


182 


HISTORY  OF    STAllK    COUNTY. 


these  jirodiieed  a  hog  before  which  the  native 
swine  fast  disappeared.  The  principal  breeds 
which  have  been  more  or  less  introduced  here 
are  the  Sulfolk,  Chester  White  and  Berkshire. 
The  latter,  when  first  introduced,  were  a 
rongli,  coai"se-boned  animal,  and  were  crossed 
with  the  "  gi'ass  breed "  and  soon  abandoned 
in  their  piu'ity.  A  fine-boned  Suffolk  followed, 
but  they  were  found  as  much  in  the  one  ex- 
treme as  the  early  Berkshires  had  been  in  the 
other.  A  cross  between  these  and  the  Chester 
Wliite  has  produced  a  favorite  animal  with 
many.  A  later  Berkshire,  which  answers  the 
demands  of  the  critic,  has  been  introduced  to 
some  extent,  but  the  Chester  Whites  and  Suf- 
folks  are  preferred,  and  a  cross  between  these 
two  are  the  great  favorite  in  the  county. 
They  are  noted  for  their  rapid  growth,  fine 
form  and  fattening  qualities. 

In  poultry.  Stark  County  is  perhaps  second 
to  no  county  in  the  State.  About  186(1,  there 
was  a  marked  interest  taken  in  this  branch  of 
"  farm  stock,"  and  several  varieties  of  chick- 
ens were  introduced,  among  which  were  the 
Game.  Shanghai,  Dorking,  Brahma-Pootra 
and  Black  Spanish.  The  last-named  is  the 
only  one  that  time  has  proved  to  l^e  a  consid- 
erable improvement.  Many  turkeys  are  raised, 
but  no  special  effort  has  been  made  to  improve 
the  variety.  The  same  may  be  said  of  geese 
and  ducks.  Guinea  and  pea  fowls  are  foimd 
here  and  there.  Imt  they  are  raised  more  for 
appeai'ance  than  for  profit. 

The  Stark  County  Agi'icultm'al  Society  held 
its  first  fair  on  the  ir)th  and  Ifith  of  October, 
1850,  and  numliered  at  that  time  285  mem- 
bers. The  exhibition  of  stock  was  held  on  the 
south  part  of  the  grounds  lielonging  to  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  while  the  domestic  and 


fruit  display  was  made  in  two  rooms  of  the  West 
Tuscarawas  Street  Schoolhouse.  The  State 
Report  of  that  year  says  in  regard  to  this  fair : 
"  More  than  enough  ix)  pay  all  the  expenses 
for  diplomas,  arranging  gi'ounds,  erecting 
pens,  providing  feed,  preparing  rooms,  paying 
hands,  and  all  the  jirinting  l)ills,  were  procured 
by  the  committee  from  the  citizens  of  Canton. 
The  streets  of  Canton,  diu-ing  the  whole 
time,  were  thi'onged  with  the  members  of  the 
society,  and  with  anxious  and  admiring  spec- 
tators." After  using  this  groimd  two  years, 
the  society  bought  twelve  acres  on  the  "Yoimg 
farm,"  now  in  the  Fom-th  AVard  of  the  city. 
Here  the  gTounds  were  inclosed,  permanent 
buildings  erected,  and  a  track  built.  In  the 
coiu'se  of  some  eight  or  ten  years,  this  was 
found  to  be  too  small,  and  a  tract  of  land  ex- 
tending fi-om  Lawrence  avenue  to  the  Louis- 
ville road,  in  the  north  piirt  of  the  city  of  Can- 
ton, was  seciu'ed.  Here  a  good  half-mile 
track  has  been  constructed,  and  good  build- 
ings. In  lSf)6,  a  magnificent  hall  was  erected, 
at  a  cost  of  aljout  $B.40(*.  The  center  is 
octagonal,  eighty  feet  in  diameter,  sm-mounted 
with  a  dome  ninety  feet  high.  Wings  extend 
north  and  south,  5(5x22  feet,  each  having  re- 
cesses and  a  dome.  In  capacity  and  architec- 
tm'al  beauty,  it  exceeded,  it  is  said,  anytliiug 
of  the  kind  in  the  State  at  that  time.  The 
exhibitions  of  the  society  continue  to  increase 
in  interest,  and  considerable  inconvenience  is 
being  felt  at  the  lack  of  room,  though  the 
grounds  cover  some  forty  acres. 

[Note. — The  geological  features  of  the  foregoing 
chapter  have  beencompilerl  from  the  State  Report, 
and  the  agricultural  part  has  lieen  largely  drawn 
from  an  essay  liy  M.  Havnolds,  written  in  1866. — 
Ed.]  ■      " 


^^ 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


CHAPTER     II.* 

THE    EARLY    INH.VIUTANT.'^— I'RE-HISTORIC    OCCUPATION    AND    ItKMAIN.S    OF    ."^TAKK    COlNn  - 

CLASSIFIC.VTION    OF    EARTHWORKS— SKETCHES   OF   THK    INDIAN   TRII'.ES— 

STARK  COl'NTV  INDI.VNS  DURING  THE   BORDER   WARS 

—INTERESTING    INCIDENTS. 


THE  development  of  all  the  branches  of 
natural  science  ■within  the  last  half-cen- 
tniT  has  been  so  colossal  that  a  Hood  of  light 
has  been  thrown  upon  numberless  subjects, 
that  befoi'e  were  either  wholly  or  paiiially 
unknown.  New  fields  of  instruction  have 
been  opened  to  the  race  in  eveiy  department 
of  science,  and  a  vast  fund  of  information 
that  touches  the  sjirings  of  human  life,  and 
widens  and  elevates  the  s[ihere  of  social  use- 
fulness, has  been  placed  before  eveiy  true 
philomatheau  for  his  imjirovement.  One  of 
the  most  liaffling  undertakings  for  the  un- 
promising research  of  scientific  men,  is  to 
clear  uj)  the  mysteiy  enveloping  the  origin 
and  early  stages  of  human  life.  That  all 
earnest  efforts  looking  to  this  result  have  sig- 
nally and  wholly  failed,  is  not  because  mill- 
ions in  money  have  not  Ijeen  expended,  nor 
because  unremitting  research  of  splendid  in- 
tellects has  not  been  turned  in  this  direction; 
but  is  probably  because  the  subject  lies  beyond 
the  limits  of  the  circle  in  which  the  mind  of 
man  m\ist  move.  The  sedulous  endeavors  to 
clear  up  the  mystery  have  disclosed  many  cir- 
cimistances  connected  with  the  early  history 
of  the  human  race  that  are  of  vast  social  value, 
iuid  iu-e  regarded  with  universal  interest 
throughout  the  earth.  Many  of  the  factors 
which  combine  to  fonu  the  wonderful  organ- 
ism of  society,  many  of  the  relations  and 
forces  compelling  and  controlling  individual 
conduct,  and  many  of  the  pre-existing,  envi- 
roning conditions,  which  metamorphose  the 
laws  governing  social  intercoiu-se,  have  been 
revealed  l)y  the  persistent  labor  of  scientific 
men. 

The  general  desire  and  inclination  to  sift 
all  sul)jects  of  this  character  to  the  liottom. 
have  led  antiquarians  to  the  study  of  the  ]iv(  s 

Cl.Titributed  t.y  W  A.  C,  o<l»peci]. 


of  the  ancient  people,  now  univei-sally  known 
as  Mound-Builders.  That  a  strange  and  semi- 
civilized  people  resided  throughout  all  the 
counby  in  times  which  antedate  the  Indians' 
occui>ancy  of  the  soil  is  established  l)y  con- 
clusive evidence,  aside  from  the  almost  univer- 
sal denial  of  the  savage  tribes  of  their  having 
had  any  participation  in  the  erection  of  the 
vast  number  of  earthworks  scattered  through- 
out the  continent.  It  is  estimated  that,  in 
Ohio  alone,  there  are  1(1.(1(10  of  these  works, 
many  of  them  being  in  a  fair  state  of  preser- 
vation. All  that  is  known  of  this  mysterious 
people  has  been  discovered  from  the  decaying 
remnants  of  their  works:  but  their  origin  and 
final  fate  are  enshrouded  in  hopeless  obsciu'ity. 
Some  authorities  have  suggested  that  they 
ultimately  deteriorated  into  the  ancestoi-s  of 
the  Indian  tribes,  though  the  majority  of  in- 
telligent WTiters  on  the  suljj(>(rt  discourage 
such  a  view,  and  give  evidence  tending  lo 
show  that  an  interval  of  many  eentiu'ies 
elapsed  between  the  reign  of  the  two  races. 
Others  state  the  conviction  that  they  were 
Mongolians,  having  reached  the  Western  Con- 
tinent by  way  of  Behriiig"s  Strait,  ^'arious 
iuiti(|uarians  have  refeiT«'d  their  origin  to  the 
Hebrews,  Tartars.  Persians,  Celts,  Egyptians, 
Toltecs,  Aztecs  and  Peruvians;  but  in  most 
cases  the  reference  is  largely  speculative. 
From  their  works  must  l)e  derived  the  solu- 
tion of  their  modes  of  life:  habits;  customs; 
advancement  in  intelligence,  morals,  social 
intercourse,  and  the  means  of  sustaining  life; 
their  degi'ee  of  civilization;  th<Mr  knowledge 
of  the  arts  of  jx'ace  and  war:  their  liinguage, 
religion,  and  labor:  and  their  final  fate, 
whether  ly  e.xtinetiou  through  war,  famine,  or 
pestilence,  or  whether  thiy  became  the  ances- 
tors of  the  succeeding  Indian  tribes.  Al- 
though   the    pre-historic    remains   of    Stark 


-^ 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


Comity  are  few  in  mimber  and  comparatively 
luiinterestiug  in  detail ;  yet,  since  reseai'ch  has 
thro\vn  so  mneb  light  upon  the  suViject,  ;ind 
aroused  so  much  interest  among  scientists  and 
lovers  of  science,  a  brief  statement  will  here 
be  given  of  the  progress  that  has  been  made 
in  this  bi'anch  of  arclueology. 

The  ancient  earthworks,  conceived  to  have 
been  erected  by  the  Mound-Buildei-s,  have 
been  divided  fi'om  the  theory  of  their  special 
iises  into  mounds,  effigies  and  inclosures. 
Moiinds  are  subdivided  into  sejiulchrai,  sacri- 
ficial, templar,  observative  and  memorial. 
Effigies  are  animal,  emblematic,  symbolical 
and  religious.  Inclosures  ai'e  militai'y,  cov- 
ered, sacred  and  festival.  Em'tli  was  the 
usual  material  used  in  the  construction  of 
these  works.  Some  iu-e  found  built  wholly  of 
stone,  and  some  of  eailh  and  stone  in  varying 
proportions.  Sepulchral  momids  are  ordina- 
rily conical  in  form,  are  of  all  sizes,  varying 
in  height  fi'om  a  foot  to  seventy  feet,  and  are 
more  numerous  than  any  other  class.  Within 
them,  and  usually  at  the  center  of  the  base, 
there  are  always  foimd  bones,  which  some- 
times are  hard  and  sound,  but  usually  are 
brittle  or  in  a  crmnbled  condition.  The  uni- 
versal presence  of  human  bones  renders  the 
view  plausible,  that  these  mounds  were  used 
as  sepulchers.  They  always  contain  one  or 
more  skeletons,  together  with  implements  and 
ornaments,  sujiposed  to  have  been  placed  there 
when  the  individual  was  Ijiu'ied.  for  use  in 
the  Spirit  Land.  It  is  thought  that  the  size 
of  the  mound  bears  some  relation  to  the  illus- 
trious character  of  the  person,  in  whose  honor 
it  was  erected.  Others  infer  from  the  quan- 
tity of  bones  often  found  in  the  larger  ones, 
that  they  were  the  tombs  of  many  individuals. 
Igneous  stones,  ashes,  and  chai'coal  are  often 
found  in  proximity  with  the  skeletons,  under 
conditions  which  render  it  probable  that  fires 
were  used  in  the  burial  ceremony.  With  the 
skeletons  are  also  foivud  specimens  of  mica, 
pottery,  bone  and  coi)i5«r  beads,  and  animal 
bones.  Ordinarily  these  moimds  contain  but 
one  skeleton,  though  in  Licking  County  seven- 
teen were  foimd.  The  most  noteworthy  of 
this  class  was  one  in  Hai'din  County,  which 
contained  800  crmnbling  skeletons.  Col. 
Whittlesey  and  others,  however,  entertain  the 


opinion  that  they  belong  to  the  Indians,  who 
had  used  the  mounds  for  Ijurial  piu'poses. 
Templar  mounds  are  few  in  number,  and  are 
ordinai'ily  circular.  They  are  invariably 
truncated,  and  are  often  suri'ouuded  with  em- 
bankments, inclined  planes,  or  s^siral  path- 
ways or  steps,  leading  to  the  smumit.  They 
are  found  romid,  square,  oblong,  oval  and 
octangular,  and  generally  rest  upon  a  large 
base,  but  have  a  limited  altitude.  It  is  sup- 
posed that  these  elevations  were  sm'moimted 
with  wooden  temples,  all  traces  of  which  have 
been  removed  by  the  ravages  of  time.  These 
mounds  and  the  buildings  at  their  smumits, 
are  thought  to  have  been  erected  for  religious 
pui'[)oses.  Sacrificial  mounds  are  ordinarily 
stratified,  with  convex  layers  of  clay  and  loam 
above  a  stratum  of  sand.  They  generally 
contain  ashes,  charcoal,  igneous  stones,  cal- 
cined animal  bones,  beads,  stone  implements, 
lottery,  and  specimens  of  rude  sculptui'e. 
They  ai-e  often  found  within  iuclosm'es,  which 
are  supposed  to  have  been  associated  with  the 
religious  ceremonies  of  the  Mound-Builders. 
Altars  of  igneous  clay  or  stone  are  often  found. 
Evidences  of  fire  upim  the  altars  yet  remain, 
showing  that  viu'ious  animals  and  probably 
human  beings  were  immolated  to  secm-e  the 
favor  of  the  Great  Spirit.  These  moiuids  in- 
frequently contain  skeletons,  together  with 
implements  of  wai':  mica  from  the  Alleghe- 
nies;  shells  fi'om  the  Gulf  of  Mexico;  differ- 
ently colored  varieties  of  obsidian;  red,  pm'- 
jile,  and  green  sjiecimeus  of  porj)hpy;  and 
silver,  copper  and  other  metallic  ornaments 
and  utensils.  Observative  mounds  were  ajj- 
parently  designed  for  alarm- towers,  or  signal 
stations.  Some  wi'iters  have  fancied  that  ! 
they  "  occur  in  chains,  or  regular'  systems,  and 
that  many  of  them  still  beai-  ti'aces  of  the 
beacon  fLres  that  were  once  burning  upon 
them."  They  are  often  foimd  built  like  tow- 
ers fi-om  the  summits  of  emliankments  siu'- 
roundiug  the  inclosm'es.  One  of  the  latter,  in 
Licking  County,  has  a  height  of  twenty-five 
feet.  "Along  the  Miami  liiver,"  says  Judge 
Force,  "  are  dotted  small  mounds  or  iirojectiug 
highland  which  seem  to  have  been  built  to 
caiTy  intelligence  by  signals  along  the  valley." 
Memorial  mounds  are  of  that  class  of  tuiini/i 
intended    to    commemorate    some    important 


^ 


HISTORY   OF    .STARK    COUNTY. 


event,  or  to  perpotnate  the  memory  of  some 
tlistinguisheil  eliarncter.  Most  of  tlio  stone 
mouucls  Ijcloni^  to  tliis  elass,  and  usually  eon- 
tain  no  bones,  for  the  supposed  reason  that 
they  were  not  used  iis  sepulehei-s.  They  are 
thoucflit  to  hav(>  l)een  monuments  over  the 
illustrious  dead  of  the  Mound-Builders. 

Elliuies  are  elevations  of  earth  in  the  form 
of  men,  beasts,  birds,  reptiles,  and,  occasion- 
ally, of  inanimate  objects,  varying  in  height 
from  one  foot  to  six  feet  above  the  suiTound- 
ing  soil,  and  often  covering  many  acres  of 
land.  Mr.  Schoolcraft  expresses  the  belief 
that  this  class  of  works  were  designed  for 
"totems,"  or  "triliuliU'  symbols;"  while  Prof. 
Daniel  Wilson  and  other  ^\Titel•s  of  distinc- 
tion entertain  the  opinion  that  they  were 
ei'eeted  in  accordance  with  the  religions  belief 
of  th(>  various  trib<>s  of  Mound-Builders,  who 
worshiped  or  in  some  way  venerated  th(>  ani- 
mals or  objects  represented  by  the  elevations. 
A  large  work  near  Newark  represents  a  bird 
of  enormous  size,  with  its  wings  outspread  in 
the  act  of  flight.  Its  total  length  is  aliout 
200  feet.  An  excavation  in  this  elligy  dis- 
closed a  clay  and  stone  altar,  upon  which 
were  found  charcoal,  ashes,  igneous  stone, 
and  otlier  evidences  of  fire.  The  stuTound- 
ings  indicated  that  the  altar  had  been  used 
for  sacrificial  offerings.  It  is  called  "Eagle 
^lound."  from  its  fancied  resemblance  to  that 
bird.  Another  work  near  Newark  represents 
a  huge  alligator,  having  a  total  length  of  200 
feet  Prof.  "Wilson  believes  that  it  "  synilj(^l- 
izes  some  object  of  special  awe  and  ven(>ration 
thus  reared  on  one  of  the  chief  high  places  of 
the  nation,  with  its  accom|)anying  altar,  upon 
which  these  ancient  ])eo))le  of  the  valley 
could  witness  th(!  celebration  of  the  rites  of 
their  worship,  its  site  having  been  obviously 
selected  as  the  most  prominent  feature  in  a 
populous  district  abounding  with  militaiy, 
civic  and  religious  structures."  The  gi'eat(>st 
breadth  of  the  Ixidy  is  twenty  feet,  and  its 
body,  from  hind-legs  to  fore-legs,  is  fifty  feet. 
Each  limb  is  twenty-five  feet  long.  The  prin- 
cipal portioTis  of  the  animal  are  elevated 
about  six  feet,  while  other  portions  are  much 
lower.  The  most  remarkal)lo  earth  work  in 
Ohio  is  in  Adams  County.  Its  fonn  is  that  of 
an  enormous  serjient  more  than  a  thousand  feet 


in  length,  with  body  in  graceful  anfractuous 
folds,  and  tail  ending  in  tri|)le  coils.  The 
gi'eatest  width  of  the  bod}-  is  thirty  feet,  and 
the  effigy  is  elevated  alxiut  five  fe(>t  abov(»  the 
siuTounding  soil.  "  The  neck  of  the  figure," 
says  the  American  Cyclopedia,  "  is  stretclied 
out  and  slightly  curv»Hl.  and  the  mouth  is 
opened  wide,  as  if  in  the  act  of  swallowing  or 
ejecting  an  oval  ligm'e,  whidi  rests  partly 
within  the  distended  jiiws.  The  combined 
figiu'e  has  been  regiu'ded  V)V  some  as  a  repre- 
sentation of  the  oriental  cosmological  idea  of 
the  serpent  and  the  egg." 

Defensive  inclosures  are  ii-reg>xlar  in  fonn, 
and  are  always  on  high  ground,  in  positions 
difficult  to  api)roach  by  a  hostile  fo(>.  "The 
walls."  says  the  American  Cyclopedia.  "  gen- 
erally wind  around  the  borders  of  the  eleva- 
tions they  occupy,  and  when  the  nature  of  the 
gl'oirnd  renders  some  point  more  accessible 
than  others,  the  height  of  the  wall  and  the 
depth  of  the  ditch  in  these  weak  points  are 
proportionally  increaseil.  Tlie  gateways  ai'e 
naiTow  and  few  in  mimber.  and  well  guarded 
by  embankments  of  (>arth  placed  a  few  yards 
inside  of  the  openings  or  gateways,  but  par- 
allel with  them  and  pi'ojecting  somewhat  be- 
yond them  at  each  end.  thus  fully  covering 
the  entrances,  which,  in  some  cases,  are  still 
further  protected  by  prejecting  walls  on  (>ither 
side.  These  works  are  somewhat  numerous, 
and  indicate  a  clear  ap])reciation  of,  at  least, 
the  elements  of  fortilication.  and  unmistaka- 
l)ly  point  out  a  C(*rtain  degree  of  engineering 
in  their  general  make-up. 

"  A  large  number  of  these  defensive  works 
consist  of  a  line  of  ditches  and  embankments, 
or  several  lines,  carried  across  the  neck  of 
peninsulas  or  bluff'-hi>adlands.  formed  within 
the  bends  of  streams — an  ejisy  and  oVwious 
mode  of  foi-titication  common  to  all  rude  ])eo- 
ple-.."  The  era1)ankments  of  one  of  this  class 
in  Wan-en  Comity  are  nearly  four  miles  in 
length,  varying  in  h<>ight  from  ten  to  twenty 
feet,  to  accord  with  the  locality  to  be  pro- 
tected, and  inclose  several  hundred  acre.s. 
Covered  ways  or  jiarallel  walls  ai'e  often 
found,  either  conn(>cting  ditVerent  inclosures, 
or  portions  of  tlie  same.  Tluw  were  undoubt 
edly  designed  to  protect  those  passing  bad; 
ancl  forth  within.     There  are  largo  numlx-rs 


ISO 


HISTORY  OF    STAKK    COUNTY. 


of  sacred  iuclosures  in  the  form  of  circles, 
squares,  hexagons,  octagons,  ellipses,  parallel- 
ograms, and  others,  many  of  which  ai'e  de- 
signed and  executed  with  siu'prising  geomet- 
rical accuracy.  They  are  sometimes  found 
within  military  inclosures,  and  very  likely 
were  connected  with  the  religious  rites  and 
ceremonies  of  the  peojile,  as  small  elevations 
are  found  within  them,  which  were  evidently 
used  for  altars,  ujwn  which  sacrifices  of  vai'i- 
ous  kinds  were  offered.  Some  archpeologists 
maintain  that  many  of  the  so-called  sacred 
inclosures  were  intended  and  used  for  national 
games  and  celelirations,  and  it  is  probable 
that  those  without  the  altar  wore  used  as  such. 
The  earthworks  and  their  contents  afford 
abundant  opportunity  to  specu.late  as  to  the 
characters  and  customs  of  this  ancient^  peo- 
ple, of  whom  nothing  is  left  save  their 
crumbling  habitations.  They  were  a  numer- 
ous people,  as  is  clearly  proved  by  the  mag- 
nitude and  elaboration  of  their  works.  Their 
presence  here,  beyond  question,  antedates  the 
coming  of  Columbus,  and  very  probably  ex- 
tends back  a  thousand  years  or  more.  Per- 
haps a  majority  of  intelligent  men  who  have 
made  the  subject  a  study  jjlace  the  Mound 
Builders"  period  back  to  that  of  the  Egyptians. 
Assyrians  and  Babylonians — to  a  period  two 
or  more  thousand  years  before  the  Christian 
Era.  Some  place  them  back  much  farther  in 
the  past — back  to  a  time  when  Southern  Eu- 
rope and  the  British  Isles  were  inhabited  by 
what  is  now  Icuowu  among  antiquarians  as 
"  Fossil  Man."  The  antiquity  of  man  is  now 
an  established  fact.*  Pre-historic  archfeology, 
the  latest- born  of  the  sciences,  has  lived 
through  the  successive  stages  of  scornful  de- 
nial, doubt  and  unwilling  assent,  and  has  finally 
won  for  itself  substantial  recognition.  Even 
its  most  strenuous  opponents  are  forced  to 
concede  that  there  are  proofs  of  man's  exist- 
ence dming  a  laj)se  of  time  far  exceeding  the 
limits  of  the  previously  ajjproved  chronology. 
In  the  Quaternary  gravels  and  cavei'ns,  min- 
gled with  the  bones  of  numerous  extinct  spe- 
cies of  animals,  such  as  the  mammoth,  the 
i  woolly  rhinoceros,  and  the  cave  bear;  human 
bones  have  been  discovered,  although  compar- 

in    tlio  P..pular  Hcienee 


atively  rarely,  while  the  implements  and 
objects  of  man's  fabrication  are  found  in 
large  quantities.  Those  found  imbedded  in 
or  covered  by  stalagmitic  formation,  some- 
times many  feet  in  thickness,  render  it  impos- 
sible to  confuse  these  evidences  of  man's  pre- 
historic existence  with  those  of  a  later  date. 
The  human  remains  discovered  show  man,  at 
this  earliest  epoch,  to  have  been  possessed  of 
a  cranial  development  quite  equal  to  the  aver- 
age now.  But,  though  the  antiquity  of  man 
is  admitted,  and  the  fact  of  his  co-existence 
with  extinct  animals  during  the  Quaternary 
period  cannot  be  denied;  yet  both  the  dm\a- 
tion  of  the  Quaternary  period,  and  the  ques- 
tion of  his  existence  in  the  previous  Tertiary 
age,  are  still  stoutly  contested.  Whether  the 
duration  of  Quaternary  times  extended  over  a 
period  of  one  hundred  thousand  years,  as 
some  claim,  or  over  twenty  thousand,  or  even 
less,  can  never  probably  he  absolutely  deter- 
mined. The  most  satisfactory  explanation  of 
the  chronological  question  has  been  foimd  in 
the  systematic  esjilorations  that  have  been 
carried  on  without  interruption  since  1865,  by 
a  most  comjJetent  committee  of  the  British 
Association,  of  a  large  cavern  in  South  Devon- 
shire, near  Torquay,  called  "  Kent's  Hole." 
The  most  scrupulous  care  and  vigilant  watch- 
fulness have  characterized  these  explorations 
and  investigations.  The  following  is  a  brief 
sketch  of  what  has  been  discovered  in  the 
course  of  the  exjiloration:  The  bottom  of  the 
cavern  was  found  to  be  encmnbered  with  huge 
blocks  of  limestone  that  had  become  detached 
from  the  roof,  between  and  under  which  was 
a  layer  of  vegetable  mold  of  varying  depths, 
up  to  a  foot  or  more.  In  this  layer  were 
found  objects  of  various  periods,  running 
back  as  far  as  the  time  of  the  Roman  occuj)a- 
tion  of  the  island.  Below  this  came  a  floor, 
a  stalagmite  of  an  average  thickness  of  six- 
teen to  twenty  inches,  and  underneath  it  a 
layer  of  cave  earth  four  feet  deep,  in  which 
were  found  objects  of  man's  fabrication. 
Still  lower,  they  came  upon  a  second  floor  of 
stalagmite,  which  in  some  places  had  attained 
a  thickness  as  great  as  twelve  feet.  Below  all 
came  a  breccia  (angular  fi-agments  of  rock 
cemented  together),  in  which  were  found 
numerous  teeth  and  bones  of  the  cave  bear. 


l±^ 


HISTOKY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


187 


and  with  them  three  undoubted  flint  instru- 
ments. Now,  in  one  pai"t  of  the  cavern  is  a 
huge  boss  of  stahigmite  rising  fi'om  th(>  floor, 
and  on  it  is  inscribed,  "  llobort  Hedges,  of 
Ireland,  FebiniaiT  "iC,  H)S8."  For  neai'ly  two 
liunth'ed  yeai^s,  the  process  of  the  formation  of 
stahigmite  appears  to  have  been  going  on, 
and  still  the  letters  are  now  only  covered  by 
a  film  of  not  more  than  one-twentieth  of  an 
inch  in  thickness.  Even  gi"mting  that  the 
deposition  of  stalagmite  may  have  [)roceeded 
much  more  rapidly  under  fonuer  conditions 
than  at  present,  when  more  water  and  more 
c<irbonic  acid  may  have  peneti'ated  the  cavern, 
still  it  is  evident  what  a  lapse  of  time  is  re- 
quired to  account  for  the  fonuation  of  such  a 
mass  of  material.  Nor  can  accident  or  fi'aud 
be  invoked  to  explain  the  presence  of  these 
relics  of  man,  under  the  circiunstances  in 
which  these  have  been  found.  The  work  was 
executed  under  the  daily  su])ervision  of  the 
committee,  and  by  tnistworthy  laborers,  and 
no  intermingling  of  objects  falling  fi-om  a 
higher  level:  no  burying  of  them  in  later 
times  in  excavations  made  in  an  older  deposit: 
no  attempt  at  making  gain  fi-om  forged  arti- 
cles, palmed  off  upon  the  credulous  collectors, 
in  this  case,  is  possible. 

Much  more  might  be  quoted  in  this  con- 
nection, if  space  pennitted.  The  distant  an- 
tiquity of  the  Mound-Builders  is  not  so  well 
established  as  that  of  the  "Fossil  Man." 
While  some  intelligent  authorities  place  the  lat- 
ter twice,  or  thrice,  or  even  more  times,  back  of 
the  Mosaic  account  of  creation,  the  former  are 
allotted  a  period  in  history  conesjMjnding,  as 
has  been  said,  with  that  of  the  Egyptians, 
when  records  were  first  chi-onicled.  Many 
imjHjrtant  inferences  can  l>e  drawn  of  the 
chai'acter  of  the  Mound-Builders,  from  their 
works.  They  were  uncjuestionably  subservi- 
ent to  rulers  or  superiors,  wli<;  had  power  to 
enforce  the  erection  of  gigantic  structm-es, 
which,  considering  the  semi -barbarous  condi- 
tion of  the  people,  their  lack  of  suitable  imple- 
ments of  lal)or,  and  their  ini])erfe('t  and  in- 
sufiicieut  knowledge  of  mechanical  princii)les, 
are  surjirisingly  vast  in  extent  and  ingenious 
in  design.  Their  works  indicate  that  the  peo- 
ple were  warlike:  that  they  were  familiar 
with  many  mechanical  and  mathematical  rules; 


that  they  were  religious  and  probably  idola- 
trous; that  they  wer<>  skilled  in  the  manufact- 
m"e  of  metallic  and  bone  ornaments  and  pot- 
tery; that  they  had  attained  no  little  degree 
of  perfection  in  the  working  of  metals:  and 
that  they  were  essentially  homogeneous  in 
customs,  pursuits,  religion  and  govermnent. 
They,  of  necessity,  were  an  agi'icultural  peo- 
ple, being  too  numerous  to  live  l)y  the  chase 
alone.  They  ofl'ered  burnt  and  other  sacri- 
fices and  oblations  to  l)oth  gix)d  and  bad  spir- 
its. Dr.  Foster  says  they  worshiped  the  ele- 
ments, such  as  fire,  air  and  wat«r — also  the 
sun,  moon  and  stai-s,  and  offered  hmnan  sacri- 
tices  to  the  gods  they  worshi]>ed.  Many  im- 
plements and  ornampnts  have  lieen  found 
scattered  tlu-oughout  the  continent,  that  un- 
doubtedly belonged  to  the  Mound-Builders. 
Of  these  there  are  stone  axes,  mauls,  hammers, 
celts,  mortars,  pestles,  flint  aiTow  and  spear 
heads,  fleshing  and  skinning  instiiiments,  cer- 
emonial stones,  shuttles,  colored  slate  orna- 
ments, In-eastplatos  of  stone  or  shell,  orna- 
mental charms  or  totems,  sh(>ll  ornaments, 
rude  and  imperfect  specimens  of  potteiy, 
bone  and  metallic  ornaments,  igneous  stones, 
slate  implements  for  wea\  iug,  inscrijitions  and 
devices,  and  a  multitude  more,  of  all  sizes 
and  shapes,  whose  uses  are  unknown.  That 
many  of  these  were  made  and  used  by  the 
Indians  is  certainly  true.  It  is  (|uite  likely 
that  the  latter  people  would  learn  something 
from  their  predecessors,  especially  of  those 
implements  used  in  the  arts  of  war,  even 
though  an  iuten'al  of  many  yeiU's  elapsed 
between  the  reigns  of  the  two  races. 

It  is  now  the  design  to  give  a  brief,  accu- 
rate description  of  every  earthwork  in  the 
county,  whether  it  was  constnicted  l)y  the 
Mound-Builders  or  l)y  the  Indians.  In  Con- 
gress Lake,  in  the  northern  pait  of  the  county, 
is  a  singulai-  formation.  NciU'  the  center  of  the 
western  side  of  the  hike,  bounded  on  the  east 
by  its  waters,  and  on  all  other  sides  l)y  a  deep, 
marshy  swamp,  is  a  large  moi;nd.  some  seven- 
ty-tivo  feet  in  diameter  north  and  south,  and 
about  fifty  east  and  west.  It  is  conical,  rises 
some  fifteen  or  eighteen  feetalx)V(>  th<>  level  of 
the  swamp  and  lake,  and  is  com]>osixl  of  the 
same  material  as  the  adjacent  bluffs.  It  is 
difficult  to  determine  whether  this  is  an  arti- 


^ 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


licial  or  natiu-al  formation.  In  either  case,  it 
must  have  been  an  island  in  an  early  clay, 
and.  if  occupied  by  either  of  the  above-men- 
tioned races,  must  have  been  an  impregnable 
position.  An  excavation  of  a  few  feet  was 
made  on  the  eastern  side,  but  nothing  of  note 
was  discovered.  Futiu-e  efforts  in  this  direc- 
tion may  bring  to  light  important  facts. 

On  the  farm  of  David  Yant,  in  the  south- 
eastern part  of  Bethlehem  To\vnship,  is  a 
structure  which  must  be  refen-ed  either  to  the 
Mound-Builders  or  to  the  Indians.  In  a 
large,  level  field  on  a  low  tract  of  land,  is  a 
large  moiuid,  which  must  have  been  erected 
long  before  the  white  man  came  to  the  coiua- 
try.  The  moimd  is  some  sixty  feet  in  diame- 
ter and  five  feet  in  height,  although,  when 
first  erected,  it  is  evident  it  was  much  nar- 
rower at  the  base,  and  had  a  corresponding 
increase  in  height.  Time  has  accomplished 
the  change  by  washing  the  soil  from  the  sum- 
mit. The  mound  is  constructed  of  eaiih  and 
stone,  and,  from  the  design,  it  would  seem 
that  the  latter  was  at  first  heaped  together, 
very  likely  with  some  distinct  order  in  view, 
and  afteiTvard,  over  all  was  thrown  a  large 
quantity  of  dirt.  There  is  a  strange  tradi- 
tion regarding  this  mound,  which  is  as  fol- 
lows: Two  i)owerful  Indian  tribes  had  been 
at  war  for  many  years,  and  still  the  feud  be- 
tween them  was  unsettled,  and  the  tomahawk 
and  scalping-knife  continued  to  do  their 
dreadful  work.  The  older  sachems  of  both 
tribes  saw  that  the  hostile  jiarties  were  so 
eqiially  matched  that  both  tribes  would  be 
almost  or  wholly  exterminated  should  the 
feud  continue  until  settled  by  the  arbitrament 
of  war.  Treaties  for  peace  were  called,  liut 
no  terms  could  he  mutually  agreed  upon  that 
would  be  satisfactory  to  both  parties.  Finally, 
after  many  such  attempts  to  adjust  the  differ- 
ence by  overtiu-es  of  peace,  it  was  agreed  that 
twenty  of  the  bravest  and  strongest  warriors 
of  each  tribe  should  assemble  on  the  level 
tract  of  land  where  the  mound  now  rests,  and 
there,  with  knife  and  tomahawk  and  war-club, 
should  be  closed  in  deadly  strife,  after  which 
the  "  hatchet "  should  be  buried,  imd  peace 
should  prevail.  Accordingly,  on  a  given  day, 
the  two  parties  of  dusky  warriors,  armed  cap- 
a-pie  for  the  fray,  assembled,  and,  after  an'ay- 


ing  themselves  in  the  grotesque  paraphernalia 
of  war.  and  assuming  a  hostile  attitude  near 
each  other,  the  word  for  the  onset  sounded, 
and  the  di-eadful  work  Ijegan.     Every  art  of 
desperate  encounter  was  practiced  by  the  com- 
batants, and  the  brave  men,  one  by  one,  sank 
down  in  death,  until  at  last  but  a  single  one 
'  remained,  a  powerful  young  warrior,  the  com- 
I  ing  chief   of   his  tribe.     But  the   terms   b}' 
j  which  the  feud  was  to  be  adjusted  called  for 
the   blood    of   this   young    warrior,    and    his 
father,  an  old  man,  and  the  chief  of  his  tribe, 
I  stepped  forward,   and,  with  one  blow  of  his 
L  tomahawk,  stretched  his  son  dead  at  his  feet. 
\  The  bodies  of  the   forty  sacrificed  warriors 
:  were  placed  together  on  the  ground  where 
they    fell,    and   over  them  were    heaped  the 
stones  and  the  earth  constituting  the  present 
moimd.     If  the  tradition  be  true,  the  moimd 
shoiild  contain  the  crumbling  skeletons  of  the 
dead  warriors.     It  has  never  l)een  opened,  and 
it  will  be  left  to  some  future  historian  to  I'ecord 
the  jtrobable  truth  of  the  tradition,  after  the 
mound  has  been  opened  and  its  contents  dis- 
closed.    As  far  back  as  the  memory  of  man 
runneth,  a   large  oak  tree,  between  two  and 
three  huudi'ed  years  old,  was  growing  fi'om 
the  siunmit  of  the  mound.     This  was  removed 
many    years    ago,    and    the    soil    around    the 
mound  is  now  a  cultivated  field.     The  Mound 
Builders   are  known  to  have   erected  similar 
structui'es,    and  possibly  this  formation  may 
be  properly  referred  to  them.     Even   if  the 
moiuid  is  found  to  contain  many  crumljling 
skeletons,  or  evidences  thereof,  either  the  tra- 
dition may  be  tnie.  or  the  structure  may  have 
been  the  work  of  Mound- Builders,  as  the  lat- 
ter people  often  biu'ied  their  dead  in  large 
numbers  in  the  same  mound.     Of  course,  all 
I  positive  knowledge  on  the  sul->ject  will   ever 
I  remain  hidden,  until  all  things  shall  be  made 
'  plain.     There  is  said  to  be  a  smaller  mound 
not  far  from  the  one  just  described,  but  its 
location  could  not  be    found    by  the  wi'iter. 
At  various  places  along  the  course  of  the  Tus- 
carawas,  there  are  meager  evidences  of  the 
presence  and  work  of  a  former  people.     Sev- 
eral mounds  may  be  seen  in  the  valley  at  dif- 
\  ferent  places,  but  there  are  no  traditions  re- 
i  garding  them,  and,  beyond  reasonable  doubt, 
I  they    are    natiu-al    formations.       When    the 


±^ 


llI>T(»i;V    (»F    .vr.XHK    COUXTV 


connty  was  lirst  settled,  it  was  no  imcommon 
thing  to  discover  old  Indian  trails  intersect- 
inj;  each  other  at  various  points  in  the  county, 
and  to  find  the  crunihlinio;  remains  of  old  vil- 
lages, that  once  teemed  with  a  hu'ge  and  thriv- 
ing pojJulation.  Those  have  long  since  been 
'  removed  by  the  destructive  influences  of  time. 
There  ai'o  many  curious  earth  formations  in 
the  co\inty.  which,  after  extended  examina- 
tion, might  disclose  the  fact  that  they  were 
consti'ucted  by  the  earlier  races.  Otliei's.  no 
doubt,  have  Iseen  destroyed  by  the  husband- 
man. From  the  fact  that  Stark  County  has  a 
noticeable  lack  of  ancient  remains,  it  has  been 
infen-ed  that  the  county  was  a  portion  of  the 
neutral  land  which  separated  two  or  more 
hostile  nations  or  tribes  of  Mound- Builders. 
Large  numbers  of  (>iu'th  and  stone  works  are 
found  ak)ug  the  (Juyahoga  River  in  Summit 
County,  and  also  farther  south  on  the  Lower 
Tuscarawas,  and  on  the  Muskingum.  This 
renders  plausible  the  netitral  view  of  St.irk 
County.  Perhaps,  oV(>r  these  broad  plains, 
long  Ijefore  the  present  growth  of  timber  had 
started,  the  god  of  battles  raged  iuid  thun- 
dered. In  some  portions  of  the  count}',  large 
numbers  of  flint  aiTow  and  speai"  heads,  and 
implements  and  utensils  of  various  sorts,  are 
discovered,  some  of  which  have  been  refen-ed 
to  the  Mound-Builders,  and  some  to  the  In- 
dians. Quite  a  number  of  iron  axes  have  lieen 
found  in  the  county.  These  were  mauufact- 
m'ed  in  England,  and  shipped  to  this  country 
to  be  used  by  the  Indians  during  the  bloody 
Ixjrder  wars  of  the  last  half  of  the  last  cen- 
tury. Many  ye;u's  ago,  on  the  farm  of  ^NEar- 
tin  Bechtel,  where  his  residence  now  stands, 
a  number  of  flint  aiTow-hoads,  spear- heads 
and  ornaments  were  found  buried.  At  the 
same  time,  several  Indian  saddles  were  un- 
earthed, all  being  considerabl)'  decayed.  No 
evidenci^s  were  seen  that  Indians  had  been 
bm-ied  there.  Their  saddles,  however,  had 
been,  but  certainly  not  for  safe  keeping. 
There  is  scarcely  a  jwrtion  of  the  county  that 
has  not  a  similai-  tradition. 

Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  Indian 
history  of  Stark  County  is  extremely  meager 
as  regards  pnjminent  events,  several  interest- 
ing incidents  are  remembered,  and  will  be 
naiTated.     Perhaps  no  other  territoiy  in  the 


United  States  was  the  stage  u])(>n  which  were 
enacted  so  many  thrilling  border  incidents  a.s 
Ohio  in  early  years.  From  17.">0  until  the 
war  of  1 8 1 2.  there  was  a  continued  succession 
of  Indian  atrocities  and  alarms.  Some  of  the 
Ohio  tribes  were,  for  short  periods,  at  [)eace 
with  the  whites,  but  no  permantmt  cessation 
of  massacre  and  i>illage  could  be  anticipated. 
Other  tribes,  a.s  the  erratic  Shawauese,  con- 
stantly protested  against  the  encroachment  of 
the  whites  on  the  Indian  lands,  and  steadily 
resisted  almost  eveiy  overture  for  [)eac(». 
During  all  the  wai-s  in  wliich  the  borderers 
were  likely  to  be  involved,  an  alliance  with 
the  Ohio  Indians  was  earnestly  sought,  or  at 
least  gi"eat  inducements  were  oftered  them  to 
remain  neutral.  The  British,  on  the  Canada 
side,  through  the  artifice  or  impostiu'e  of 
their  emissaries,  lost  no  opjjortunity  of  incit- 
ing the  savages  to  l)utolier  the  white  ])ioneers 
in  Eastern  Ohio  and  "Western  Pennsylvania, 
and  to  ])illage  and  burn  tlieir  homes.  In 
17-")0.  the  members  of  some  ten  or  twelve 
tribes  lived  in  what  is  now  Ohio,  among  whom 
were  the  following:  The  Wyandots  (called 
Hurons  by  the  French),  the  Delawai'es  and 
Shawanese  (both  members  of  the  .iVlgoncpiin 
gi'oup),  the  Miamis  (also  called  Twigtwees), 
the  Mingoes  (a  branch  of  the  Iro<iuois  or  Sis 
Nations),  and  the  Ottawas  ami  Chii)i)ewa.s. 
The  Wyandots  occupied  the  country  in  the 
vicinity  of  Sandusky  River.  The  Delaware,s 
were  established  on  the  JInskingum  and  Tus- 
carawas Rivers,  and  at  a  few  other  points. 
The  Shawauese  were  chiefly  found  on  the  Sci- 
oto and  Mad  Rivers.  The  Miamis  were  on 
the  Great  and  Little  Miami  Rivers.  Tlie 
Mingoes  were  in  great  force  at  Mingo  Bottom 
near  Steuben ville,  and  at  sev(>ral  other  ])oints 
in  Ohio.  The  Ottawas  occujiied  the  valleys 
of  the  Maumee  and  Sandusky  Rivers;  and  the 
Chippewas,  few  in  number,  were  mostly  con- 
fined to  the  southern  shore  of  Lake  Erie. 
Only  four  of  these  tribes  were  present  in  such 
nitmbers  as  to  merit  a  special  sketch.  These 
ai'e  the  Wyandots,  the  Delawai'es,  the  Shaw- 
anese and  the  Ottawas. 

The  Wyandots.  as  indicated  by  the  idioms 
and  other  characteristics  of  their  language, 
were  related  to  the  Iroquois;  but,  about  the 
middle  of  the  seventeenth  centurv.  thev  em- 


"Tv:: 


190 


HISTORY  or    STARK    COl'XTY. 


braced  the  religious  faith  of  the  Roman  Cath- 
olics, and,  for  some  reason  luiknown,  severed 
their  connection  with  their  relatives,  the  Iro- 
quois, and  cast  their  lot  with  the  powerful 
Algonquins.*  Their  original  residence  was 
in  Canada,  some  authorities  fixing  their  loca- 
tion on  Georgian  Bay,  and  others,  as  Mr. 
Schoolcraft,  on  Montreal  Island.  Their  num- 
ber is  estimated  to  have  been  about  40,000 
souls.  Some  time  after  this,  they  became 
involved  in  a  war  with  the  Iroquois,  by  whom 
they  were   nearly    exterminated,  after  which 


in  Pennsylvania  at  the  close  of  the  seven- 
teenth century.  Those  in  Florida  lived  at 
peace  with  the  Spaniards,  and  afterward 
became  known  as  Savannahs,  or  Yemassees. 
These  retired  to  the  Creeks,  and  linally  joined 
the  Northern  Shawanese.  The  Iroquois 
claimed  sovereignty  over  the  Shawanese,  and 
drove  them  west.  In  1 758,  they  aided  the 
French;  but,  in  178],  sided  with  the  English. 
They  joined  the  conspiracy  of  Pontiac,  and 
were  active  in  war  until  subdued  by  Col.  Bou- 
quet.    In  1774,  enraged  at  the  attacks  of  Col. 


they    removed   first    to    Charity    Island,    and  |  Cressap,   they  roused   most   of   the  Western 


finally  to  Quebec.  They  were  found  south  of 
the  great  lakes  in  IHfiO,  by  some  French  trad- 
ers, and,  ten  years  later,  having  become  in- 
volved in  a  war  with  the  powerful  Sioux,  they 
removed  to  Michilimaekinae,  and  were  accum- 
jianied  by  Father  Marquette.  Afterward, 
they  established  themselves  at  Detroit,  their 
hunting-grounds  extending  into  Northern 
Ohio.  In  1778,  remnants  of  the  tribe  were 
yet  in  Canada,  while  the  one  at  Detroit  was 
estimated  to  comprise  about  one  hundred  and 
eighty  warriors.  In  18"29,  a  small  band  of 
the  tribe  was  located  in  Michigan.  They 
numbered  about  forty,  and  were  provided 
with  annuities  by  the  Government.  Immedi- 
ately after  the  war  of  1812,  the  princijial  por- 
tion of  the  Wyandots,  nmnbering  aliout  six 
hundred,  were  established  on  the  Sandusky 
River,  on  a  tract  of  land  eighteen  miles  long 
east  and  west,  and  twelve  miles  wdde.  In 
18iir>,  the  Wyandots  decided  to  sell  a  strip  of 
land  five  miles  wide  on  the  eastern  border  of 
their  reservation,  and  the  land  was  accord- 
ingly throvTO  into  market.     In  1848,  they  all 


tribes,  and.  in  October,  defeated  the  Virgin- 
ians at  Pleasant  Point,  but  sued  for  peace  the 
following  year.  Col.  Bowman,  who  marched 
against  them  in  1779,  was  twice  defeated. 
They  joined  the  peace  treaty  of  1 78(5,  but  took 
])art  in  the  Miami  war,  in  the  campaigns 
against  Harmar  and  St.  Clair,  but  were  reduced 
by  Gen.  Wayne,  and  then  entered  the  peace 
treaty  of  1 795.  The  main  body  was  at  this 
time  on  the  Scioto,  but  a  few  had  gone  to 
Missoiu-i,  and  another  band  had  gone  South. 
During  the  war  of  1812,  u.rged  by  Tecumseh 
and  his  brother,  the  Prophet,  they  endeavored 
to  unite  the  Western  Indians  against  the 
Americans ;  but  those  in  Ohio  remained  faith- 
ful. The  Missouri  band  ceded  their  land  to 
the  Government  in  1825,  and  the  Ohio  band 
in  1831.  In  1854,  the  band  of  Shawanese 
proper,  living  in  that  part  of  the  Indian  Ter- 
ritorv  now  included  in  Kansas,  and  consisting 
of  1,()00,0()0  acres,  numl)ered  900;  but  at  this 
time,  or  soon  afterward,  the  tribal  relations 
were  dissolved  by  treaty,  and  the  lands  divided 
in    severalty.     Besides  these,   there  were,  in 


were  transfeiTed  to  Kansas,  where  they  have     1872,  ninety  in  the  Quapau  Agency,  and  Ofi:} 


;iuce  resided,  and  the  land  of  their  reserva- 
tion was  annexed  to  the  adjoining  coimties. 

The  Shawanese  are  an  erratic  tribe  of  the 
Algoncjuin  family.  A  tradition  of  recent  ori- 
gin makes  them  one  with  the  Kickapoo  nation ; 
but  they  moved  eastward,  and  a  part  ai'e  said 
to  have  I'emained,  in  1()48,  along  the  Fox 
River,  while  the  main  body  was  met  south  of 
Lake  Erie  by  the  Iroqiiois,  and  di'iven  to  the 
Cvunberland  River.  Some  passed  thence  to 
Florida,  and  some  to  Carolina.     One  band  was 

been   t-iko:)    fnirn   tlie 


in  the  Sac  and  Fox  Agency. 

The  Ottawas,  when  first  known  to  the 
French  explorers,  were  located  on  the  Mani- 
toiilin  Islands,  and  the  northwest  shore  of  the 
Michigan  Peninsula.  They  believed  in  Mich- 
abou,  "the  great  hare,"  a  mythical  personage 
who  formed  the  earth  and  developed  men 
from  animals:  in  Mirabichi,  god  of  the  water: 
and  in  Missabizi,  "the  great  tiger."  Soon 
after  1049,  they  fied  before  the  Iroquois  to 
Green  Bay,  thence  west  beyond  the  Missis- 
sippi to  the  country  of  the  Sioux,  with  whom 
thev  became  involved  in  war,  when  they  fell 


& 

4 


fe^ 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


191 


ijack  to  Chegoimegon  before  1060,  and  tinally 
to  Mackinaw.  The  trilx'  liecame  considerably 
divided  here,  one  of  the  divisions  settling  near 
Detroit,  and  the  other  at  Mackinaw,  but  finally 
]  Hissed  over  to  Arbre  Croche.  The  grc^ater 
number  of  the  Ottawas  were  in  the  last  war 
with  the  French,  and  at  its  close,  Fontiac,  an 
Ottawa  chief,  and  one  of  the  ablest  Indians  of 
any  tril)e  that  eviT  lived,  organized  a  vast 
conspiracy  fur  the  destruction  of  the  English. 
They  were  under  British  inllueuce  during  the 
Revolution,  and  at  this  time  numbered  about 
1.5(Mt.  They  pai-ticipated  in  the  troiities  of 
178."),  ITSy  and  179"),  and  afterward,  l)y  other 
treaties,  they  ac(pxired  a  tract  of  land  on  the 
Miami,  thirty-foiu-  miles  stpiare.  By  the 
treaty  of  1888,  they  cedi>d  their  laud  around 
Lake  Michigan  for  land  south  of  the  MissoiU'i 
River,  and  soon  ceased  to  bo  a  distinct  band. 
A  band  of  Ottawas  at  Maumee  ceded  49,000 
acres  in  188(i  to  Ohio,  and  'iOO  emigi-ated  to 
the  Osage  River,  locating  south  of  tlie  Shaw- 
anese.  Some  '2'-'>0  remained  and  became  scat- 
tered in  detached  bauds.  In  18(57,  they  be- 
came citizens,  and.  in  1870,  were  removed  to 
a  reservation  of  ■24,0(30  acres  in  the  Indian 
Ten-itory.  Several  thousand  are  yet  living  in 
scattered  bauds  iu  Michigiui  and  Canada,  and 
all  are  self-sujjporting.  The  Delawares  are 
a  tribe  of  the  Algomjuiu  fmnily.  and,  when 
iiist  known  to  the  whites,  were  dwelling  in 
detached  bands,  under  separate  sachems,  on 
ihe  DelawiU'e  River.  They  styled  themselves 
iienajjpi,  or.  as  now  written.  Lenape.  or  Len- 
ni  Lenape.  The  Dutch  began  trading  with 
them  in  1010,  and  enjoyed  fi-iendly  intercoiu'se 
with  them  until  103"J,  when  the  settlement  at 
Swanendael  was  utterly  destroyed  by  a  sudden 
attack,  but  trade  w;us  soon  afterward  resumed. 
The  Swedes  made  eflbrts  to  Christianize  them, 
iuid  had  Luther's  Catechism  printed  in  their 
language.  The  Delawares  claim  to  have  come 
fi'om  the  West  with  the  Miugt)es,  who  soon 
afterward  reduced  them  to  a  state  of  vassal- 
age, and,  when  they  were  con(pu>red  l)y  the 
Five  Nations,  they  wore  termed  women  l)y  the 
latt«'r.  The  Delawares  formed  tlu-ee  families 
or  clans — the  Tm-key,  the  Tiu-tle  and  the 
Wolf.  At  the  time  of  the  "  walking  treaty," 
made  by  Penu,  the  Delawares  complained 
that  they  had  been  defrauded  in  the  interpre- 


tation of  the  treaty,  and  showed  a  reluctance 
to  "walk,"  upon  which  the  authorities  called 
ujion  the  Six  Nations,  who  ord(>red  the  Dela- 
wares, as  women,  to  retire.  The  Delawares 
were  now  thrown  among  warring  people:  and, 
though  previously  mild  and  [leaceable,  they 
now  became  energetic  and  savage,  and  con 
ducted  their  wars  with  great  ferocity  aud 
coiu'age.  In  a  war  with  the  Cheroke(>s,  tht»y 
reached  the  Ohio  River,  where  a  portion  re- 
mained until  177;{.  They  took  up  arms  and 
fought  with  the  French  at  Braddock's  defeat, 
and  elsewhere,  but  suffered  so  much  fi'om  En- 
glish attacks  that  they  finally  treated  for 
peace,  part  of  them  in  1 7r)7,  and  the  others 
after  the  fall  of  Fort  Du  Qu(>sne.  They  then 
centered  on  the  Suscjuehaima,  and  a  small 
number  soon  afterward  came  West  and  settled 
on  the  Muskingum.  They  took  up  anns  in 
the  border  war,  but  were  liadly  defeated  at 
Bushy  Run,  in  August.  170:5,  by  Bouquet 
Their  towns  on  the  Suscpu'luinna  were  pil- 
laged and  Ijm'ned,  many  were  killed  and  dis- 
persed, and,  in  1708,  they  emigrated  as  a 
body  to  Ohio.  In  1774,  they  were  again 
badly  defeated  at  Pleasant  Point,  aud  a  part 
were  afterward  engaged  in  the  Revolution. 
In  1772,  the  Christian  Delawares  settled  on 
the  Muskingmn  (which,  in  early  yoai's,  ex- 
tended as  far  north  as  the  mouth  of  Sandy 
Creek),  but  were  hastily  i-emoved  to  Sandusky 
in  1781,  by  the  Briti.sh.  Early  in  the  follow- 
ing year,  ninety- fom-  who  retiu'ued  were  mur- 
dered by  a  party  oi  enraged  Iwrderers  under 
Col.  Daniel  Williamson.  By  the  treaty  of 
1785,  the  Delawares  occupied  th(>  soil  between 
the  rivers  Cuyahoga  and  Miami.  At  this 
time,  there  were  many  scattered  bands  of  Del- 
awares, several  of  which  were  Christian,  aud 
at  peace  with  the  whites.  The  main  tribe  at 
Grand  Blaze,  with  480  warriors,  was  hostile, 
and  400,  under  Buckongehelas,  were  at  the 
defeat  of  St.  Clair  in  1 70 1 ;  but,  foiu'  years 
later,  they  joined  the  peace  treaty  at  Green- 
ville. In  1808,  there  were  800  at  Wapemin- 
skink,  a  few  at  Sandusky,  a  few  on  the  Mus- 
kingmn (and  TusCcU-awas),  and  a  large  l)ody 
at  Fairfield,  Canada.  In  1818,  the  Dela- 
wai'es,  1,800  strong,  ceded  tlieir  lauds  to  the 
L'nited  States,  and  emigrated  to  Missouri.  In 
1 829,  manv  went  to  Kansas,  aud  some  to  south 


ix: 


192 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


of  the  Red  River.  In  1853,  they  sold  all 
their  land.s  to  the  United  States,  except  their 
reservation  in  Kansas.  During  the  last  war, 
out  of  201  able-bodied  warriors,  170  enlisted 
and  served  in  the  army.  They  sold  their 
lands,  in  1S68,  to  the  Missouri  Railroad,  and 
settled  on  the  Verdigi'is  and  Cone  Rivers.  In 
ISOfi,  they  became  citizens,  though  their  clans 
—Turkey,  Turtle  and  Wolf— still  exist. 

The  Delawares  who  lived  along  the  Tuscar- 
awas and  Muskingum  Rivers  were  the  princi- 
pal tribe  with  which  Stark  County  has  to  deal. 
The  lands  upon  which  they  lived  did  not 
really  belong  to  them,  but  had  been  granted 
them  by  the  Wyandots,  whose  headquai'ters 
were  at  Sandusky,  when  they  immigrated  to 
Ohio.  Piirtions  of  the  Delaware  tribes  tlu'ough 
all  the  l)loody  Indian  wars  of  the  last  half  of 
the  last  century.  w»'re  steadfast  firiends  to  the 
white  settlers,  and  did  all  they  could  to  re- 
strain their  young  men.  Sometimes  they  were 
Buecessftil.  but  oftener  the  headstrong  yoimg 
warriors,  through  the  influence  of  the  savage 
Shawanese,  or  at  the  instigation  of  British 
agents,  refused  to  remain  at  peace,  and  took  up 
the  hatchet,  notwithstanding  the  protests  and 
entreaties  of  those  who  were  opposed  to  war. 
From  the  fact  that  the  Moravian  missionaries 
were  not  only  established  along  the  Tuscara- 
was further  south,  but  also  in  Stark  Coimty, 
the  Indians  in  this  part  of  the  State  were  no 
doubt  often  counseled  not  to  take  up  the 
hatchet  against  the  borderers.  It  may  also 
be  reasonably  concluded  that  the  Delawares 
were  often  restrained  from  indulging  in  war 
throTigh  the  influence  of  the  missionaries. 
However,  the  Moravians  could  not  do  much, 
as  there  were  always  prominent  chiefs  in  the 
tribe  who  were  bitter  enemies  of  the  white 
borderers,  and  lost  no  opportunity  to  slaughter 
and  pillage.  Th(>  following,  fi'om  the  pen  of 
a  local  writer,  was  wTitten  in  184f5:  "In  \Hi2, 
an  Indian  village  of  forty  wigwams  was 
standing  across  the  river  fi-ora  the  post  settle- 
ment. The  spot  where  the  dwellings  stood, 
and  the  streets  between  them,  as  well  as  the 
place  of  carousal,  and  where  they  used  to  play 
ball,  were  plainly  visil)le.  So  was  their  biuw- 
ing-groTind  easily  identified,  as  well  as  the 
havoc  which  some  unprincipled  fellows  com- 
mitted  about  twenty  years   ago.   in  digging 


after  some  silver  trinkets,  which  the  Indians 
used  to  biuy  with  their  dead.  The  graves 
were  dug  open,  the  silver  taken  out,  and  the 
bones  scattered  over  the  ground.  Just  across 
the  river  is  the  old  missionaiy  station.  It  is 
situated  on  the  north  side  of  the  river,  near 
its  bank,  about  three- fourths  of  a  mile  above 
the  bridge,  on  the  road  leading  from  Bolivar 
to  Bethlehem,  and  just  below  a  spur  of  the 
hill  which  approaches  the  river  above  it.  The 
stones  which  had  probably  fonned  the  back 
wall  of  the  chimney  form  a  heap  of  rubbish 
about  two  feet  high.  This  is  all  there  is  left, 
by  which  the  site  of  the  house  can  be  identi- 
fied. The  place  where  their  garden  was  dif- 
fers from  woods  around  it  by  the  total  want 
of  hea\y  timber.  This  coiresponds  in  all  re- 
s|)ects  with  the  description  given  in  Mi\  Heck- 
eweldor's  joiirnal."  It  will  be  I'emembered 
that  Frederick  C.  Post,  the  missionaiy  who  is 
)'eputed  to  have  been  the  first  permanent 
white  settler  in  Ohio,  Imilt  his  cabin  in  south- 
ern Bethlehem  Township,  where  he  lived  in 
constant  communication  with  the  Indians  for 
many  years.  The  following,  taken  fi'om  the 
sketches  of  a  local  wi'iter.  more  fully  exjilains 
Mi\  Post's  suiToundings:  "The  old  Indian 
crossing-])lace  at  the  Delaware  cajntal  (called 
Tuscarawas),  one  mile  north  of  Fort  Laurens, 
is  a  prominent  landmark  in  the  early  goo- 
graiJiical  division  of  Ohio,  as  well  as  the 
scene  of  the  most  important  events  that  trans- 
pired in  Stark  County.  Tuscarawas  Town 
was  located  upon  the  bluft"  on  the  west  side  oi 
the  Tuscarawas  River,  at  the  mouth  of  Sand}% 
on  land  now  (Februarj'.  1877)  owned  by  Sam- 
uel Biu'ns,  and  was  on  the  main  trail  fi'om 
Fort  Pitt  to  Sandusky."  The  WTiter  goes  ou 
to  say  that  near  the  southeastern  corner  of 
Bethlehem  Township  was  the  cabin  built  in 
1701  liy  Frederick  C.  Post  as  a  mission  among 
the  Indians.  It  was  located  about  a  mile 
from  the  crossing,  on  the  east  bank  of  the 
Tuscarawas.  The  ti'ading-house  of  Calhoun 
was  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  about  fifty 
rods  above  the  iron  bridge.  In  17()4.  the  mil- 
itary expedition  of  (!ol.  Bou(juet  followed  the 
Indian  trail  west  from  Fort  Pitt  into  the  heart 
of  the  Wyandot  and  Indian  eomitry,  ci'osserl 
the  Muskingum  (now  Tuscarawas)  at  the 
above-mentioned     crossing-place,     and     pro- 


^l>^^ 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


193 


ceeded  down  the  river  to  Goshegunk  (Coshoc- 
ton). Post's  house  was  about  a  mile  north 
west  of  the  Delawiu-e  capital.  The  Dela- 
wares  were  at  lirst  disposed  to  disj)ute  the 
right  of  Post  and  Heckcwelder  to  cut  down 
the  forest  aroiuid  their  cabin,  ;ind  sent  them 
word  to  desist,  and  to  appear  at  the  council 
the  following  day  to  give  .ui  account  of  their 
conduct.  At  the  head  of  this  coimcil  was 
Tamaque  (or  Beaver),  the  chief  of  the  Dela- 
i  wares,  who  said  to  Post  that  the  latter,  instead 
of  devoting  his  time  in  instructing  the  Indian 
childi-en,  was  cutting  down  the  forests  and 
taking  possession  of  the  land,  as  all  the  whites 
unlawfully  did.  Post  replied  that,  while  his 
real  object  in  coming  into  the  Indian  country 
was  to  instruct  the  chikh'en,  yet  he  must  make 
aiTangements  to  live.  He  must  have  corn  and 
vegetables,  and  could  not  raise  them  unless  he 
had  the  necessary  land.  Finally,  after  some 
fui'ther  amicable  discussion,  it  was  agi'eed 
that  Post  should  have  a  gai-den,  hfty  steps 
scjuare,  smd  this  land  was  stepped  ofl'  the  next 
day  by  the  afterwiU'd  famous,  or  infamous, 
Capt.  Pijje.  There  was  at  this  time  quite  a 
liU'ge  Indian  village  at  NavaiTe,  or  near  there. 
A  mile  down  the  river  fi-om  Post's  house  was 
a  trader  named  Calhoun,  and  farther  dcnvn 
wiis  the  Delaware  eai)ital  (Tuscarawas),  con- 
taining some  forty  wigwams.  Post  owned  a 
canoe,  and  was  in  the  habit  of  rowing  up  the 
river  until  neai'  XavjuTe,  when  he  woidd  land, 
cut  a  quantity  of  cedar  wood,  load  it  in  his 
boat,  and  retiu-n  down  the  river.  The  wood 
was  used  in  making  tubs,  etc.,  for  the  Indians. 
The  Indian  cajiital  about  this  time  is  sup- 
posed to  have  contained  some  7U(t  inhabitants. 
It  is  stated  that  the  village  was  the  capital  of 
the  Senecas,  as  well  as  the  Delawares.  No 
doubt  but  that,  in  the  eiU'ly  border  w;u-s,  white 
caj>tives  were  held  at  this  village,  and  very 
[irobably  more  than  one  white  Indian  slayer 
was  tortm-ed  to  death  on  this  spot.  Col.  Bou- 
•luot,  in  his  exj)edition  into  the  Indian  conn- 
tiy  passed  tlu'ough  the  southern  piui  of  the 
county.  His  object  was  to  sulxhu;  the  Indi 
ans,  or  awe  them  into  submission,  and  his 
iiriuy  comj)rised  some  1, ")()()  men,  all  well 
;u-med  and  prepai-od,  if  necessary,  to  chastise 
the  Indians  in  a  manner  they  would  not  soon 
forget.     Seeing  the  danger  they  were  in,  the 


Indians  came  humbly  forward  and  sued  for 
peace.  Col.  Bouquet  chai'ged  them  with  a 
wanton  violation  of  their  treaties,  but  the  In 
dians,  through  their  speakers,  Tmile  Heart, 
Custaloga  antl  Beaver,  vehemently  asserted 
that  they  were  unaljle  to  resti'ain  their  young 
men.  Col.  Bouquet  demanded  every  white 
captive  they  had,  and  finally  received  some 
300  of  these  unfortunates.  "  There  were  seen," 
says  a  wi'iter  in  the  Historical  Record,  "  fath- 
ers and  mothers  recognizing  and  clas})ing 
their  once  captive  little  ones;  husbands  hung 
ai'ound  their  newly  recovered  wives;  brothers 
and  sisters  met,  after  long  separation,  sctu'cely 
able  to  speak  the  same  language,  or  to  real- 
ize that  they  were  childi'en  of  the  same  pai'- 
euts.  In  those  interviews,  there  were  inex- 
pressible joy  and  raptm'e,  while,  in  some  cases, 
feelings  of  a  very  difl'erent  chiu'acter  were 
manifested  by  looks  or  language.  Many  were 
flying  fi'om  place  to  place,  making  eager  in- 
quu'ies  after  relatives  not  foimd,  ti'embliug  to 
receive  answers  to  their  questions,  distracted 
with  doubts,  hoi)es  and  fears;  disti'essed  and 
gi'ieved  on  obtaining  no  infonnation  of  the 
fi'iends  they  sought,  and,  in  some  cases,  petri- 
fied into  living  monuments  of  hoiTor  and  woe 
on  learning  their  unhappj'  fate."  It  is  also 
said  that  "  in  some  cases,  strong  attachments 
had  gro^NTi  up  between  the  savages  and  their 
captives,  so  that  they  wei'e  reluctantly  smren- 
dered,  some  even  not  without  tears,  accompa- 
nied with  some  token  of  remembrance." 

The  full  force  of  all  the  sanguinary  Indian 
wars  dui'iug  the  last  half  of  the  eighteenth 
century  fell  upon  the  border  settlements  in 
Western  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia,  and 
Eastern  Ohio.  The  savages  were  not  slow  in 
availing  themselves  of  every  opportunity  to 
massacre  the  pioneers,  destroy  their  homes, 
and  drag  large  numbers  of  unfortunates  into 
hopeless  captivity.  To  retaliate,  bauds  of 
daring  borderers  would  invade  the  Indian 
countiy  and  slaughter  numy  of  the  inhabit- 
ants. White  men  were  bred  to  the  one  pur- 
suit of  slaying  Indians.  Great  rivalry  existed 
among  them,  in  the  frontier  settlements,  as  to 
who  could  strike  the  severest  blow  the  far- 
thest into  the  heart  of  the  Indian  countiy, 
and  retm-n  in  safety  to  the  settlements  with 
satisfactory  proof  of  their  deeds.     They  were 


:^ 


194 


HISTORY   OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


taught  from  the  cradle  to  hate  the  Indian, 
and  their  boyish  tongues  soon  learned  to  lisj) 
maledictions  against  the  hated  race.  Indians 
were  not  merely  killed  to  avenge  wrongs  done 
by  them  to  the  whites.  The  borderers  coiu'ted 
death  and  danger  from  love  of  excitement,  or 
because  they  desired  to  boast  of  their  exploits, 
or  because  they  expected  pecuniary  gain. 
Horse-stealing  was  a  favorite  pastime,  in 
which  both  races  indulged  without  restraint, 
and  many  of  the  most  exciting  individual 
contests  recorded  in  border  history  were  the 
result  of  these  unlawful  incursions.  The 
dreadfril  and  desultory  border  warfare  he- 
came,  in  a  measure,  systematic.  Rangers 
and  scouts  were  to  be  found  all  along  the 
frontier,  who  constantly  penetrated  the  Indian 
domain  to  watch  the  movements  of  the  war- 
riors, to  wai'n  settlers  of  impending  attacks, 
and,  if  possible,  to  rescue  white  captives. 
These  daring  men  were  often  captm'ed  and 
made  to  feel  the  weight  of  savage  vengeance 
in  agonizing  deaths  by  fii-e  and  torture.  John 
Glover,  who  was  captiu'ed  diu'ing  Crawford's 
campaign  against  Sandusky,  and  who  escaped 
death  at  the  stake  as  by  a  miracle,  states  that, 
while  he  was  at  Wapitomica,  twelve  captive 
white  men  were  brought  in  from  Kentucky, 
all  of  whom  were  tortured  to  death  Ijy  the 
savages.  A  captive  was  first  stripped  naked, 
and  then,  by  means  of  charcoal  and  water, 
irns  paiuted  Hack  (a  sure  omen  of  an  awful 
death).  He  was  then  forced  to  run  the  gant- 
let. Two  lines  of  Indian  men,  women  and 
childi-en  were  formed,  two  or  three  hundi'ed 
yards  in  length,  and  about  twelve  feet  apart, 
the  men  being  armed  with  tomahawks,  knives, 
and  guns  loaded  with  powder,  and  the  women 
and  children  with  bows  and  arrows,  clubs, 
knives,  etc.,  the  object  being  to  inflict  all  but 
death  upon  the  runner,  without  checking  or 
impeding  his  ])rogress  by  a  front  lii'e.  As  the 
captive  dashed  through  the  lines  at  full  speed, 
his  body  was  shot  full  of  powder,  and  cut  and 
hacked  in  a  frightful  manner.  After  this, 
the  whole  band  piu-sued  him  round  and  round, 
beating,  bm-uing  and  torturing  him  in  every 
conceivable  manner,  until  death  at  last  came 
to  his  relief.  The  body  was  then  either  cut 
in  pieces  and  raised  on  poles,  or  given  to  the 
dogs!     Thus  ended  the  awful  tragedv.     Be- 


yond question,  the  Delaware  capital  was  the 
scene  of  incidents  of  this  character.  Perhaps 
the  hills  around  Navarre  have  echoed  with  the 
frenzied  death -cries  of  white  men,  and  the 
dreadful  y<>lls  of  exulting  savages.  There  is 
one  conflict,  between  the  Delawares  and  a 
small  band  of  scotits  from  Pennsylvania 
(probably),  the  record  of  which  may  properly 
come  within  the  limits  of  Stark  County  his- 
tory. An  account  of  this  was  wi'itten  a  num- 
ber of  years  ago  by  Dr.  Slusser,  of  Canton, 
and  will  be  given  in  his  words: 

"  On  the  occasion  of  this  encounter,  the 
party  left  the  place  of  rendezvous  for  a  scout, 
in  April.  1798.  It  consisted  of  six  men,  five 
of  whom  were  James  Downing,  Sr..  John  Cup- 
jiy,  Isaac  Miller.  George  Faulk  and  Thomas 
Dillon.  They  crossed  the  Ohio  River  at  the 
mouth  of  Yellow  Creek,  followed  up  the  north 
branch  of  that  stream  to  near  its  source,  then 
directed  their  com-se  west  to  the  head-waters 
of  Sandy.  After  reconnoitering  this  section 
of  the  country  for  miles  around  without  dis- 
covering any  signs  of  Indians,  they  concluded 
there  were  none  about.  Up  to  this  time,  they 
had  not  discharged  a  gun  for  fear  of  being 
detected.  The  rations  they  had  brought  with 
them  were  neai'ly  exhausted,  and  they  con- 
cluded to  kill  some  game  for  subsistence. 
Downing  shot  a  deer,  and  another  of  the  paity 
a  tm'key.  This  was  the  morning  of  the  fourth 
day  out,  between  Little  Sandy  and  Indian 
Rim,  As  they  had  not  yet  taken  breakfa,st, 
they  concluded  to  prepare  the  meal.  Miller 
was  kindling  a  fire:  Faulk  was  pre])aring  the 
turke)'  for  roasting:  Downing  was  in  the  ;tct 
of  bending  down  a  sapling,  upon  which  he 
intended  to  hang  his  deer,  that  he  might  the 
more  easily  skin  it;  and  Cuppy  was  sitting  at 
the  root  of  a  tree,  with  his  gun  on  his  lap, 
examining  the  lock.  A  party  of  Indians,  niuu- 
bering  eighteen  or  twenty,  as  was  afterw  ard 
ascertained,  of  the  Delaware  and  Wyandot 
tribes,  heard  the  firing,  and  thereby  detected 
the  locality  of  the  scouts.  They  divided  their 
force  into  two  parties,  with  the  view  of  ap- 
proaching them  from  different  points,  and  from 
the  direction  the  scouts  would  lie  most  likely 
to  take  in  attempting  to  escape.  One  party 
of  the  Indians  circled  around  and  advance<l 
from  the  northeast,  the  other  from  the  south- 


-r^ 


IIISTOKY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


105 


oiist.  While  Cuppy  was  engaged  with  his  gim, 
he  happened  to  look  up.  when  he  saw  at  a 
ilistance  an  Indian  peering  throngli  the  nnder- 
hnish.  Instantly  he  s])rang  to  his  feet  and 
gave  the  aliu-m.  As  soon  as  the  Indian  saw 
he  was  discovered,  he  tiU'ned  and  ran,  and  as 
he  did  so.  Cuj)py  hi'ed  at  him.  l)ut  without 
eft'ect.  Miller  and  Faulk  snatched  u])  their 
guns  and  gave  chase.  The  ground  was  spars(!ly 
timbered,  and.  as  the  two  men  continued  the 
jnu'suit.  Miller  being  in  advance.  Faulk  called 
to  him  to  halt,  as  he  knew  that  just  as  soon 
as  the  Indian  reached  a  more  heavily  timbered 
place,  he  would  stop  behind  a  tree  and  shoot 
Miller  as  he  approached.  Thereupon  Miller 
tiu'ned  about,  and  he  and  Faulk  stm-ted  back 
for  the  place  they  had  left.  ^Meanwhile,  the 
other  party  of  Indians,  coming  from  the  other 
direction,  made  their  appearance  in  great  num- 
bers. Downi-ng  said  to  Cujjpy  and  Dillon: 
'  Let  us  stand  together  and  defend  oiu-selves 
to  the  last.'  Dillon  hastily  replied:  'Each 
one  for  himself,"  and,  suiting  his  action  to 
the  sentiment,  broke  and  ran.  Downing  and 
Cuppy  kept  together,  and  moved  along  the 
higher  ground  toward  the  ft)rks  of  Sandy. 
As  the  IncUans  pressed  upon  them,  they  would 
turn,  raise  their  guns  as  though  they  intended 
to  shoot,  whereupon  the  Indians  would  jump 
about  with  the  view  of  diverting  their  aim. 
By  degrees  they  became  bolder,  and  advanced 
closer,  when  Downing  shot  the  ne.irest,  which 
had  the  effect  to  keep  the  others  at  a  greater 
distance.  Soon  after.  Downing  and  Cuppy 
caught  up  with  Dillon,  who  s(>emed  much  ex- 
haust^'d.  and  was  staggering  as  tlujugh  about 
to  fall.  Dillon  l)egged  for  (iod's  sake  that 
they  would  helj)  him,  and,  as  Downing  tui'ned 
imd  saw  his  face,  he  was  found  to  be  choking 
on  acccnmt  of  his  neck-tie.  Dillon,  in  his 
haste  in  trying  to  loosen  it  to  improvt?  his 
wind,  ])ulled  the  WTong  end  and  made  it 
tighter  instead.  Downing  cut  the  neckerchief 
with  his  knife,  thereby  relieving  the  p.mting 
Dilh^n.  who  immediately  took  a  fresh  start 
and  was  Boon  out  of  sight.  Downing  and 
(Juppy  were  both  past  middle  age,  and  some- 
what Heshy.  They  were  nearly  exhausted,  and 
knew  they  could  not  hold  out  much  longer. 
Downing  at  last  said  to  Cuppy :  '  I  can't  go 
any  fiirther;    I"ll  stand  and  fight  under  this 


thom-bosh  if  I  die ' — and  stand  he  did. 
Cuppy  at  the  siune  time  got  behind  a  tree,  and 
both  anxiously  awaitetl  the  appearance  of  the 
savages,  determined  to  make  the  l)twt  resist- 
ance they  could.  They  had  not  long  to  wait, 
for  soon  the  Indijins  were  seen  approaching. 
Downing  reserved  his  fire  until  the  foremost 
Indian  came  within  close  range,  then,  taking 
deliberate  aim,  fii-ed  and  brought  him  down, 
The  others  retui-ned  a  volley,  which  cut  the 
bushes  around  the  two  men.  Init  failed  to 
strike  either.  Miller  and  Faulk,  hearing  the 
tiring,  hastened  in  the  direction  whence  it 
came,  and,  ere  they  were  awaiv,  were  among 
the  Indians.  Miller  observed  a  lai'ge  one  with 
a  silver  half -moon  on  his  Ijreast  in  the  act  of 
loading  his  gun,  and,  just  as  the  scout  was 
drawing  a  bead  on  him,  he  gave  a  yell  and 
s]jrang  behind  a  b'ee.  Miller  soon  discoveivd 
that  the  Indians  had  so  smrouuded  him  that 
it  was  impossible  to  protect  himself  behind  a 
tree,  whereupon  he  deteiinined  u])ou  Hight  as 
the  only  means  of  preserving  his  .scalp.  Quick 
as  thought  he  s]>raiig  from  the  upper  bank. 
Emd  ran  across  the  liottom  toward  the  north 
branch  of  the  stream.  The  Indians  left 
Downing  and  Cuppy.  and  all  united  in  the 
pm-suit  after  Miller.  At  one  time,  they  were 
so  near  him  that  he  recognizeil  a  tall  warrior 
kuowni  among  the  whites  as  Tom  Jilleway. 
After  Miller  crossed  Little  Sandy  and  came 
out  in  an  open  plain,  he  thought,  as  he  after- 
ward expressed  it,  '  Now,  legs,  for  it,'  and  ran 
with  all  his  might  for  about  a  mile  and  a  half 
northwest,  until  he  reach(>d  the  highland,  or 
ridge,  when  he  stop[)ed  to  look  Itack  and  listen. 
He  could  neither  see  nor  hear  anything  of 
the  Indians.  After  resting  awhile,  he  conclu- 
ded to  return  to  the  place  where  they  were 
first  surprised,  in  the  hope  of  meeting  tlie  bal- 
ance of  thecom})any.  Not  fimling  them  there, 
and  the  day  being  far  advanced,  he  decided 
to  make  for  the  rendezvous  of  the  company, 
on  the  east  bank  of  the  Ohio  liiver.  He  con- 
tinued to  track  as  long  as  he  could  see,  and 
passed  the  night  on  a  ridge  bordering  Yellow 
Creek.  He  made  a  bed  of  chestnut  leaves 
luider  a  fallen  tree  that  lay  u])  from  the  gi'ound, 
and  slept  soundly,  amidst  the  howling  of 
wolves  and  the  screaming  of  wildcats.  Ne-tt 
day,  he  crossed  the  Ohio  at  the  mouth  of  Yel- 


J^ 


HISTORY   01^    STARK    COIXTY. 


low  Creek  and  reached  the  place  of  rendezvous, 
where  he  found  Downing,  Cupjiy  and  Dillon 
safe  and  unhiu't,  save  that  Downiug's  face  was 
much  swollen,  and  his  eyes  bloodshot  from 
overexertion.  In  the  evening  of  the  next  day, 
Faulk  made  his  appeai'ance,  and  reported  that, 
when  the  Indians  started  after  Millei,  he  hid 
himself  in  the  brush.  AVhen  they  were  out 
of  sight,  he  crossed  over  a  branch  of  Sandy 
(since  called  Indian  Run,  from  this  light)  and 
secreted  himself  on  a  hill,  where  he  could  over- 
look the  plains  south  without  being  discovered. 
He  could  see  the  Indians  in  camp,  and,  from 
their  performances,  was  satisfied,  fi'om  a  knowl- 
edge of  their  ceremonies,  that  two  of  their 
number  had  been  killed.  In  talking  over  the 
matter,  the  comjiany  were  of  the  unanimous 
opinion  that  they  had  the  Isest  of  the  fight, 
and  had  made  a  very  lucky  escape." 

The  above  sketch  was  written  a  number  of 
years  ago,  and  was  then  published  in  the  county 
jia2>ers.  It  has  passed  the  ordeal  of  public 
criticism  without  serious  injiu-y,  and  is  given 
in  full  as  wi'itten.  In  conversing  with  various 
pOTties  thi'oughout  the  county,  the  wi'iter  has 
found  some  objections  to  many  of  the  circum- 
stances connected  with  the  movements  of  the 
hostile  paiiies,  as  n;uTated  by  the  writer.  It 
is  stated  by  descendants  of  IVir.  Downing  that 
the  site  of  the  battle  was  farther  south  than 
as  stated  in  the  sketch.  Others  have  suggested 
that  some  of  the  circmnstances  described  ai'e 
overdrawn,  and  that  too  much  speculation  was 
employed  in  the  naiTUtion  of  minor  details. 
In  all  histories,  the  wi'iters,  after  becoming 
thoroughly  familiar  with  the  prominent  events, 
and  as  many  details  as  possible,  are  compelled 
to  conjecture,  fi'om  evidences  known  to  be  cor- 
rect, many  facts  which  they  record.  This  is 
done  by  all  historians,  and  curious  mistakes 
often  occur  under  the  ])en  of  the  most  careful 
writer.  The  high  social  standing  of  Dr. 
Slusser,  his  thorough  knowledge  of  pioneer 
events,  his  reputation  as  a  writer,  and  his  emi- 
nent, recognized  integrity,  place  his  writings 
far  above  insignificant  innuendoes  and  ci'iti- 
cisms. 

The  following  sketch  was  written  a  niunber 
of  yeai-s  ago,  by  Col.  E.  Ball,  of  Canton,  and 
published,  as  given,  in  one  of  the  county  pa- 
pers : 


"A  gentleman,  whose  name  is  not  remem- 
bered, had  lieen  to  Canton  on  business,  and 
stopped  on  his  way  home  (to  Lake  Townshif)) 
at  what  was  known  as  Everhaii's  Mill  (in 
Plain  Townshi)i),  and  there  reported,  in  the 
presence  of  a  number  of  fanners  and  their 
sons,  that  a  band  of  Indians  was  jiassing 
through  the  settlements  soiith  of  Canton,  lay- 
ing waste  the  country  and  spreading  death  and 
destruction  as  they  went.  He  reported  that 
they  had  jnst  laid  Rowland's  Mill  in  ashes, 
and  were  about  to  lay  siege  to  the  village  of 
Canton,  and  that  it  was  their  j)urpose  to  visit 
Cleveland  and  all  intermediate  settlements, 
and  drive  the  palefaces  out  of  the  country. 
The  settlers  of  Lake,  Green  and  Plain  Town- 
ships became  terribly  frightened.  Neighbor 
was  sent  to  sound  the  alann  to  neighbor,  and 
thus  the  sad  intelligence  spread  with  aston- 
ishing rapidity,  until  it  reached  the  ears  of 
hundi-eds.  Men  flew  to  their  cabins,  where 
each  family  held  a  council  of  war.  Every 
latch-string  was  ]iuiled  in,  the  store  of  am- 
munition was  examined,  and,  if  bullets  were 
lacking,  new  ones  were  cast.  Axes,  pitchforks, 
scythes  and  sickles  were  immediately  hunted 
up  and  brought  into  the  house,  not  only  to 
prevent  their  being  used  in  the  hands  of  the 
expected  savages,  but  for  the  purjiose  of  being 
used  as  defensive  weapons  in  the  hands  of  the 
family.  JNIany  families  carried  their  most 
valuable  articles  to  the  woods,  and  covered 
them  with  leaves  and  old  rubbish.  whUe  others 
buried  them  in  the  gi-ouud.  Many  of  those 
residing  within  a  few  miles  of  Greentown  met 
at  S(juire  Dickerhoof's,  where  they  placed 
the  wives  and  children  in  the  gawet  of  the 
cabin,  while  the  men  formed  themselves  into 
a  company.  Everybody  anned.  and  all  awaited 
the  aiTival  of  the  savages.  One  man  became 
so  much  alarmed  that  he  loaded  his  family  in 
a  two-horse  wagon,  and,  leaving  his  house  and 
such  goods  as  he  could  not  carry,  left  the 
country.  He  did  not  stop  until  he  found  him- 
self east  of  the  Allegheny  Mountains,  where 
he  had  come  from  a  short  time  before,  and 
where  he  remained  for  the  space  of  two  years, 
when  he  returned,  never  to  hear  an  end  to  the 
jeerings  of  his  neighbors  for  this  singular 
manifestation  of  backwoods  bravery.  My  own 
father  left  his  cabin,  which  was  situated  in 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


the  woods  about  a  milo  and  a  half  west  of 
CTi-t'ciitowu.  aud,  with  his  wife  and  childi'on, 
walked  to  the  residence  of  ray  grandfather,  a 
distance  of  several  miles.  Such  was  the  con- 
sternation in  the  neighborhood  that  tinally  a 
few  young  men  volunteered  to  act  as  a  scout- 
ing party.  Accordingly,  they  mounted  the  best 
horses  they  could  finil,  and.  with  their  trusty 
riries.  moved  dowu  toward  Canton.  That  vil- 
liige.  consisting  of  about  half  a  dozen  houses, 
was  found  to  be  unharmed.  Here  the  whole 
afl'air  was  fomid  to  be  a  eompl(>te  fabrication. 
The  boys  returned  and  spreatl  the  glail  tidings, 
and  thus  ended  the  last  '  Indian  war  '  in  Stiu-k 
County.'"  ^Vhether  this  Indian  alann  oc- 
curred during  the  wiu-  of  1812  is  not  stated. 
During  aiul  prior  to  this  war,  the  Indians  were 
to  be  found  m  large  numbers  at  the  old  Dela- 
ware cai)ital,  and  in  many  temporary  encamj)- 
ments  throughout  the  county.  They  were 
peaceable,  though  it  was  well  known  that  they 
might  arise  in  fiuy  at  any  moment.  It  was  a 
common  thing  to  hear  them  boast  of  their  ex- 
ploits on  the  border — of  how  many  white  men 
they  had  killed,  or  how  many  had  suffered 
death  by  torture  at  their  hands.  Some  of 
them  pnmdly  displayed  dry  tongues  or  scalps, 
stating  that  such  had  been  taken  fi'om  white 
captives.  It  is  related  that,  on  one  occasion, 
when  one  of  the  Iiulians  had  displayed  a  string 
of  dried  human  tongues,  and  liad  boasted  of 
having  killed  the  white  men,  he  was  followed 
by  Mr.  Harter,  of  Plain  Township,  and  after 
that  the  Indian  was  never  seen  again.  Mr. 
Harter  is  said  to  have  stated  significimtly, 
aftt>nvard,  "He  will  never  show  those  scalps 
again."  All'.  Bechtel  had  a  similai-  experience 
with  another,  who  is  also  said  to  have  stalled, 
about  that  time,  on  a  prolonged  trip  to  the 
ha[)])y  himting  grounds.  Occasionally,  troubles 
arose  between  them  and  the  whites,  mainly 
owing  to  the  rascality  of  the  hMn:  The  In- 
dians were  notorious  beggars,  surpsussiug  the 
tram])  in  artifice  and  expediency.  They  w»'re 
very  fond  of  swec^t  milk,  and  one  of  them  could 
envelop  a  gallon  of  that  delicious  licpiid  with 
apparent  ease.  Cows  were  fi'ecpiently  foiuid 
dry  u]>on  being  driven  home,  Imt  no  one 
seemed  to  know  what  became  of  the  milk. 
The  Indians  would  secure  wild  honey,  or  veni- 
son, or  fiu-s.  which  would  l)e  traded  for  pota- 


toes, pumpkins,  melons,  corn-meal,  flour  and 
other  provisions.  Sometimes,  when  they  foun<l 
the  whites  unwilling  to  givt»,  they  resorted  to 
artifice.  They  would  watch  the  cabin  until 
the  husband  and  father  were  absent,  when  they 
would  (piietly  present  themselves,  enter  with- 
out invitation,  seat  themselvt^s,  and  ask  for 
whisky,  or  whatever  was  wanted.  If  the  set- 
tler's wife  hesitated  or  demm-red,  a  few  hostile 
looks  and  gestiu-es  were  sufficient  to  kindle 
into  life  her  most  lavish  generosity.  If 
whisky  was  given,  the  wife  knew  that  .she  must 
immediately  get  rid  of  ht<r  tawny  guests,  or, 
when  the  licpior  had  gained  control,  she  might 
suffer  many  indignities,  and  jierhaps  serious 
injury  or  death.  "  The  northwest  quart(>r  of 
Section  20,  in  Green  Township,  formerly  be- 
longing to  Stark  County,  but  now  to  Snnnuit, 
on  lauil  |)urchased  by  Cornelius  Johnson  of 
the  United  States  in  18 1 1!,  a})()eared  to  have 
been  a  favorite  himting-groimd,  or  battle- 
ground, of  the  Indians,  as  arrow-heads, 
hatchets,  skinning  knives  and  other  imple- 
ments have  been  foimd  there  in  great  almn- 
dance.  From  the  numerous  tlint  chi]3s  found 
on  that  quai-ter  of  the  section,  it  seems  to  have 
been  a  place  for  manufactiu'ing  their  stone 
hatchets  aud  an'ow- heads.  Where  they  ob- 
tained such  large  (juantities  of  Hint  is  unknown. 
The  spot  seems  to  have  been  s(*lected  on  ac- 
count of  its  being  light-timlsered,  clear  from 
underbrush,  and  elevated  a  little  above  the 
siuTounding  lands.  Scattered  over  this  ele- 
vated plateau  were  found  piles  of  stones,  vary- 
ing in  size  fi-om  two  to  eight  inches  in  diame- 
ter, and  arranged  in  htiaps  of  from  four  by  six 
feet  to  a  little  larger  or  smaller.  Tradition 
assigns  to  thi^m  the  honor  of  hokhng  the  ashes 
of  some  wairior  or  chief,  but,  as  no  Ijones  or 
human  remains  have  ever  been  found  in  them, 
they  we  thought  by  some  peo])le  to  have  been 
sacrificial  altars,  or  monuments,  erected  to  per- 
jietuate  the  memory  of  some  great  events." 
The  above  is  cpioted  fi'om  the  wi'itings  of  Jo- 
siah  Q.  Kern.  Henrj'  Bechtel,  of  Jackson 
TowTishij),  says  that  on  one  occasion  a  settler 
who  was  sawing  logs  in  the  woods  was  u\>- 
])roached  l)y  an  Indian,  who,  after  viewing  the 
operation  with  gi-eat  interest  for  a  tim(\  left, 
and,  some  time  afterward,  when  the  settler  was 
absent,  the   Indian  retm-ned.  accompanied  bv 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


two  others,  and,  after  pointing  to  the  nicely 
sawed  logs,  took  his  ramrod  and  drew  it  back 
and  forth  at  right  angles  across  the  log,  to 
illustrate  the  manner  in  which  the  sawing  had 
been  j)erformed.  The  ease  and  simplicity  of 
the  process  were  Iseyond  the  comprehension 
of  the  red  men  of  the  woods. 

During  the  war  of  1812,  the  settlers  in  the 
county  were  apjM'ehensive  that  the  Indians 
might  timi  against  them,  in  which  case  a 
di'eadfnl  time  of  i^lood  and  death  might  be 
expected.  At  one  time,  news  was  received  that 
SOO  warriors  had  congi'egated  in  the  bend  of 
the  river  at  NavaiTe.  and  were  making  prep- 
Jirations  to  attack  the  settlers.  The  news 
came  fi'om  a  reliable  source,  and  was  ci-edited, 
and  immediate  pre])arations  were  made  to  re- 
ceive them  in  a  fitting  manner.  A  company 
of  militia  at  Canton,  commanded  by  Col. 
Sloane,  and  another  in  Sandy  Township,  com- 
manded by  Capt.  Downing,  were  hastily  as- 
sembled to  resist  the  expected  attack.  The 
few  cabins  then  in  Canton  were  ban-icaded, 
and  rendered  as  strong  as  possible  by  levers 
and  bars.  Pickets  were  sent  out  a  half-mile 
or  more  fi'om  the  village,  and  all  movements 
of  the  people  were  made  subservient  to  the 
orders  of  the  military  commanders.  All  the 
settlers  living  on  the  outskirts  of  the  settle- 
ment hurried  to  Canton,  armed  with  pitch- 
forks, sickles,  clubs,  scythes,  axes,  etc..  pre- 
pared to  sell  their  lives  at  a  high  premium  (if 
the  figiu-e  may  be  indulged  in).  Philip  De- 
walt's  tavern  became  a  sort  of  headquarters  for 
the  excited  populace.  Drums  were  improvised 
from  old  pails,  and  martial  music  soon  fired 
the  lilood  of  the  citizens  to  fever  heat.  No 
one  slept  that  eventful  night.  All  were  watch- 
ful, and  pro]ierly  so.  Indeed,  the  settlers  did 
exactly  right,  for,  if  the  report  had  been  tnie, 
their  prom])tness  would  have  disconcerted  the 
savages,  to  say  the  least.  Some  laughable  in- 
cidents are  related.  John  Shorb,  during  a 
portion  of  the  night,  was  assigned  picket  duty 
on  the  advance  line.  Wliile  on  his  beat,  on 
the  alert  for  any  suspicious  sound,  he  was 
suddenly  startled  Ijy  the  snapping  of  a  twig, 
as  if  some  person  had  incautiously  stepped 
upon  it.  Ml'.  Shorb  instantly  cocked  his  rifle, 
and  demanded,  in  stentorian  tones,  "Halt! 
who  goes  there?"     A  painfi;l    and  ominous 


silence  answered  his  words,  and  for  a  moment 
nothing  could  be  heard  but  the  rapid  beating 
of  his  heart,  and  the  soft  sighing  of  the  night 
wind  through  the  dark  forest.  Suddenly  the 
same  noise  was  repeated,  and  again  Mr.  Shorb 
commanded  a  halt.  Squatting  upon  the 
gi'oimd,  he  could  see  some  dark  object  coming 
nearly  toward  him,  and,  raising  his  rifle,  he 
took  deliberate  aim  and  fired.  A  heavA^  fall 
announced  the  success  of  the  shot,  and  Mr. 
Shorb,  after  loading  his  rifle,  stepped  cati- 
tiously   forward  to  view  his   fallen  foe.     He 

'  reached  the  spot,  and,  peering  forward,  saw 
the  bloody  corpse  of  a — cow.  He  afterward 
said.  "  That's  what  the  cow  got  for  not  an- 
swering." He  never  boasted  very  much,  how- 
ever,   of    this    exploit.     When    the   morning 

I  davraed,  the  two  companies  moved  forward  to 
discover  what  had  become  of  the  Indians. 
The  site  of  Navairewas  reached,  Imt  noblood- 

j  thirsty  savages  were  seen,  and.  after  proceed- 

1  ing  some  farther  and  not  finding  an  enemy, 
the  companies  returned  to  Canton.     The  vigi- 

I  lance  and  alarm  did  not  subside  immediately, 
but  everything,  including  the  militia  com- 
panies, was  kept  in  readiness  to  resist  a  possi- 
ble attack.  Extra  precautions  were  taken 
when  the  news  was  received  that  the  British 
were  landing  from  Lake  Erie,  with  the  inten 
tiou  of  attacking  the  settlements  in  Eastern 
Ohio.  All  apprehensions  of  danger  from  this 
soiirce  were  removed  by  the  appearance  of  a 
few  of  Hull's  half-starved,  half-clothed,  paroled 
soldiers,  who  were  the  ones  that  had  landed 
at  the  lake.  The  Indians  continued  in  the 
county,  and  in  all  Eastern  Ohio,  until  after 
the  war.  It  is  said  that,  just  before  the  battle 
of  Tippecanoe,  the  Indians  were  seen  to  be 
unusually  active.  War  dances  were  fre- 
quently held,  and  the  battle  cries  and  scalp 
halloos  could  lie  heard  above  the  boisterous 
confusion  in  the  Indian  village.  The  Indians 
would  flourish  their  tomahawks  and  scalping- 
knives,  and  the  settlers  wondered  if  another 
outbreak  was  brewing.  At  last  the  news  of 
the  liattle  of  Tippecanoe  was  received,  and 
after  that,  the  conunotion  in  the  Indian  vil- 
lages ceased,  save  an  occasional  wai'  dance,  in- 
dulged in  in  memory  of  olden  times,  and  to 
prevent  the  time-honored  customs  of  the  tribe 
from  dying  out.   The  settlers  were  often  pres- 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COINTY. 


ent  during  the  txibular  ceremonies,  and  occa- 
sionally they  took  part  in  the  dance.  When  it 
came  to  taking  food  or  soup  prepared  on  these 
occasions,  the  settlers,  one  and  all,  desired  to 
be  counted  out.  Wrestling  matches  were 
foiTued,  antl  the  "  whites  "  and  "  rods  "  w(>re  ar- 
rayed against  each  other.  Sometimes  one  suc- 
ceeded, sometimes  another.     Shooting  matches 


were  formed,  yet,  notwithstanding  the  superior 
vision  of  the  Indians,  the  whito  huntei-s  usually 
secured  the  prizes.  The  greater  portion  of 
the  Indians  left  immediately  after  the  close  of 
the  war,  though  straggling  bands  remained 
and  could  be  seen  as  late  as  1825,  or  even 
later.  The  tale  of  the  red  man  will  soon  be 
told  as  a  romance  of  the  past. 


CHAPTER     III.* 


rOST  AND  HECKEWELDKR  S   MISSION  —  EARLY  SETTLEMENT   BY   THE   WHITES  — EARLY 
HUILDINGS— COIRT   HOUSE   AND  JAIL— DIVISION  OF  THE  COUNTY— POOR 
HOUSE    AND    CHILDREN'S    HOME. 


STAEK  COINTY  can  proudly  boast  of  be- 
ing the  site  of  the  earliest  white  settlement 
in  the  State  of  Ohio.  In  about  the  year  174U, 
large  numbers  of  Moravians  had  established 
themselves  in  a  beautiful  section  of  country  at 
Bethlehfm,  Penn.  Here  they  (juietly  wor- 
shiped Gcd  and  increased  in  numbers,  and  at 
last  instituted  an  association,  the  object  of 
which  was  the  establishment  of  missions 
among  the  Indians,  that  these  wild  people 
mi^ht  learn  more  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  their 
children  be  taught  to  read  and  write.  Great  in- 
flxiences  were  brought  to  bear  by  the  Moravians, 
to  induce  grave  and  capable  men  to  dare  the 
dangers  which  would  possibly  result  frcm  cc.n- 
stant  ccmmunicaticn  with  the  Indians.  This 
course,  calculated,  as  it  was.  to  bring  to  the 
front  the  courage,  intellect  and  religious  man- 
hood of  the  Moravians,  resulted  in  the  creation 
of  a  vast  system  of  pioneer  missions,  whose 
holy  achievements  have  beet  me  embalmed  for- 
ever in  the  history  of  this  country.  Under 
the  influence  and  protection  of  the  systtm,  the 
sturdy  ministers  of  this  sect  penetrated  unmo- 
lested far  into  the  wilderness,  where  no  white 
foot  had  before  pressed,  and  where  the  wild 
forms  of  nature  were  as  yet  untouched  by  the 
fashioning  hand  of  man.  Hemes  with  the 
savages  were  not  always  secured  without  a 
stniggle.  as  is  evinced  by  the  historical  fact 
that  many  failed  to  secure  the  longed  and 
prayed  for  results—  some  eflbrts,  indeed,  re- 
sulting  in  bloodshed,  others  in  brief  and  un- 

•Ci-nlribnted  by  W.  A.  Ooodspeed. 


happy  periods  of  continuance,  while  a  few 
were  hopefully  successful  tlu'ough  a  long, 
bright  period  of  years.  One  of  the  chief  de- 
signs of  the  Moravians  was  the  creation  of  a 
friendly  feeling  betwein  thduselves  and  the 
Indians,  that  a  basis  might  be  formed  by 
means  of  which  the  foimer  might  induce  the 
latter  to  refrain  frcm  bloody  wars  upon  the 
white  pioneer  settle  ments.  This  design  was 
effectively  accomplished  in  some  instances;  in 
others,  it  utterly   failed. 

Sometimes  the  Moravians  sent  their  mis- 
sionaries to  the  Indian  villages;  but  the  most 
noteworthy  missions  known  in  history  were  es- 
tablished by  men  who  immured  themselves  amid 
the  dangers  of  the  wilderness  from  choice,  and 
quite  often  in  opposition  to  the  wishes  of  the 
Directors  of  the  Moravian  Association.  The 
early  settkment  in  Stark  County  referred  to 
above  has  been  recorded  in  detail  by  many 
writers,  all  of  whom  seem  capable  of  throwing 
some  new  light  on  the  subject.  One  thing  is 
certain:  The  results  accomi)lished  by  the  set- 
tlement have  been  greatly  overdrawn.  Kev. 
Christian  Frederick  Post,  a  regularly  ordained 
minister  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  of 
his  own  choice,  and  indejiendent  of  the  Mora- 
vian Association  at  Bethlehem.  Penn.,  came  to 
Stark  County  some  time  during  the  year  17(>1, 
and  erected  a  log  cabin,  after  which  he  imme- 
diately returned  to  Pennsylvania,  to  seek  an 
associate  who  could  teach  the  Indian  children 
to  read  and  wTite,  while  he  preached  to  tho 
adxUts.  How  long  Mr.  Post  remained  in  Stark 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUKTY 


County  at  the  time  the  cabin  was  built  is 
probably  not  known:  yet  it  could  not  have 
been  longer  than  about  a  month,  and  might 
have  been  but  two  weeks,  as  nothing  of  conse- 
quence was  accomplished  save  the  erection  of 
the  cabin.  The  cabin  was  located  on  the 
north  bank  of  the  Tuscarawas  River,  on  Sec- 
tion 25,  Bethlehem  Township,  and  within  a 
short  distance  of  the  confluence  of  the  river 
and  Sandy  Creek.  In  early  years,  the  stones 
which  had  probably  formed  the  chimney,  and 
a  quantity  of  rubbish,  marked  the  spot, 
although  at  present  scarcely  a  trace  of  the  old 
cabin  is  left  remaining.  The  important  point 
for  the  reader  to  note  is,  that,  while  Mr.  Post's 
design  was  to  establish  a  mission  among  the 
Indians,  the  jjlan  was  abandoned  before  that 
result  was  accomplished.  It  was  an  unsuc- 
cessful attempt  to  found  a  mission,  as  no  mis- 
sion was  really  founded,  save  an  imperfect 
one,  and  that  but  for  a  few  months.  Almost 
directly  south  of  Mr.  Post's  cabin,  distant 
about  two-thirds  of  a  mile,  was  the  Delaware 
village,  Tuscaroratown,  which  comprised  forty 
wigwaiiLs,  and  could  place  on  the  war  path  1 80 
warriors.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  fi'om 
Post's  mission,  and  a  few  rods  farther  down, 
but  above  Tuscaroratown,  was  a  rude  cabin 
occupied  by  a  white  trader  named  Thomas 
Calhoun,  a  moral  and  religious  man.  Below 
the  village,  a  few  wigwams  were  scattered  for 
a  distance  of  several  miles,  while  above  it,  and 
distant  about  seven  miles,  was  another  Indian 
village,  the  size  of  which  is  not  known.  These 
were  the  surroundings.  Mi'.  Post,  upon  tis 
return  to  Pennsylvania,  was  not  long  in  dis- 
covering a  suitable  associate  in  the  person  of 
John  Heckewelder.  who,  of  his  own  choice, 
and  independent  of  the  association,  signified 
his  willingness  to  accom|)any  Post  into  the 
wilderness  to  teach  the  Indian  children.  Hecke- 
welder was  but  nineteen  years  old,  and,  for 
the  purpose  of  accompanying  Post,  was  re- 
leased from  an  a])i)renticesliip  to  a  cedar 
cooper.  Other  accounts  than  the  one  above 
followed  state  that  Heckewelder  joined  Post 
with  and  under  the  consent  of  the  Association. 
This  is  prol>abl}'  true,  for  Heckewelder  states 
as  much  in  his  memoirs,  which  were  afterward 
published  in  trermany.  According  to  the  ac 
count  given  in  these  memoirs.  Post  and  Hecke- 


welder left  Bethlehem,  Penn.,  early  in  March, 
1702,  and,  after  a  harassing  joiu'ney  of  thirty- 
three  days,  through  spring  floods  and  snows, 
reached  the  log  cabin  in  Stark  County.  They 
passed  through  Fort  Pitt,  and  were  warmly 
welcomed  there  by  Col.  Bouquet  and  Capt. 
Hutchins,  then  on  duty  at  that  point.  It  is 
said  that  two  missionaries  entered  their  log 
cabin  singing  a  hymn.  Immediately  after 
their  arrival,  and  early  in  April,  Post  and 
Heckewelder  liegan  clearing  a  small  piece  of 
ground  for  a  garden,  but  were  ordered  to  de- 
sist by  the  Indians,  who  were  jealous  of  such 
acts  without  authority.  A  council  was  held, 
which  resulted  in  Capt.  Pijje's  stejjping  off  a 
small  piece  of  land  for  the  missionaries"  gar- 
den. Here  Post  and  Heckewelder  remained 
until  about  August,  at  which  time  Post  was 
required  by  the  Grovernor  of  Pennsylvania  to 
bring  the  principal  Delaware  Chiefs  to  the 
treaty  that  was  io  be  held  at  Lancaster,  Penn. 
Post  did  as  required,  and  Heckewelder  was 
left  alone  at  the  mission.  Here  lie  remained 
until  October,  when,  fearing  a  border  war,  he 
retiu-ned  to  Pennsylvania,  and  neither  he  nor 
Post  afterward  retm'ued  to  their  mission.  It 
appears,  then,  that  Post  remained  at  the  mis- 
sion about  foiu-  months,  and  Heckewelder 
about  six  months.  But  little  in  respect  to  the 
object  of  the  formation  of  the  mission  could 
possibly  have  been  accomplished  in  that  brief 
space  of  time.  Post's  mission  receives  its 
greatest  credit  from  the  fact  that  it  opened 
the  way  to  important  missions  which  suc- 
ceeded it.  It  was  was  the  beginning  of  a  se- 
ries of  missions  on  the  Tuscarawas  that  did  a  ! 
great  deal  to  prevent  the  Delawares.  at  least,  I 
fi'om  engaging  in  the  bloody  border  wars,  i 
Loskiel  has  this  to  say  of  the  Post  mission,  in  j 
his  "  History  of  the  Missions  of  the  United 
Brethi-en  among  the  Indians  of  North  Amer- 
ica:" 

"On  the  Ohio  River,  where,  since  the  last  war, 
some  of  the  Ohio  Indians  lived  who  had  been 
baptized  by  the  Brethren,  nothing  could  be  1 
done  up  to  this  time.  However,  Brother  Fred- 
erick Post  lived,  though  of  his  own  choice,  ' 
about  one  hundi'ed  English  miles  west  of  Pitts- 
burgh, at  Tuscaroratown,  with  a  view  to  com- 
mence a  mission  among  the  Indians.  The 
Brethren  wished  the  blessings  of  the  Almightv 


r^ 


IIlS^TOHY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


uixjn  his  undertaking,  and,  when  he  asked  for 
an  assistant  to  help  him  in  his  outward  con- 
cerns, and  who  might,  <hu'ing  the  same  time, 
learn  the  language  of  the  Delawan^  Indians, 
they  (the  Brethren)  made  it  known  to  the  con 
gregatiou  of  Bethlehem,  whereupon  Brother 
John  Heckewelder  concluded,  of  his  own 
choice,  to  assist  him."  And  then,  to  explain 
tlie  above  somewhat,  he  goes  on  to  say :  "We 
know  of  Post  that  he  was  an  active  and  zealous 
missioniu-y.  but  had  man-ied  an  Indian  squaw, 
contrary  to  the  wishes  and  advice  of  the 
Directory  that  had  the  oversight  of  the  Mora- 
vian missions:  and  this  act  had  forfeited  so 
much  of  his  standing  that  he  would  not  be  ac- 
knowledged as  one  of  our  missionaries  in  any 
other  manner  than  under  the  guidance  of 
another  missionary.  Whenever  he  went  fur- 
ther and  acted  of  his  own  accord,  he  was  not 
opposed,  but  had  the  good-will  of  the  society 
of  which  he  continued  a  member,  and  of  its 
Directory,  and  even  their  assistance  so  far  as 
to  make  known  his  wants  to  the  congi-egation ; 
and  they  thi-ew  no  obstacles  in  the  way  of  any 
person  inclined  of  his  own  choice  to  assist  him. 
But  he  was  not  then  acknowledged  as  their 
missionary,  nor  entitled  to  any  fmiher  or  pe- 
cuniiUT  assistance." 

Kev.  David  Zeislx-rger,  who  afterward 
formed  a  pennauent  mission  a  few  miles  down 
the  river,  also  refers  to  Post's  mission.  Maj. 
Robert  Rogers,  sent  on  an  expedition  to 
the  Western  coiuitry  from  Montreal,  ci'ossed 
the  river  at  the  fording  ])lace  at  Tuscarora- 
town  in  the  year  17()].  and  afterward  stated 
that  there  were  at  that  time  some  3.00(1  acres 
of  land,  cleai'cd  and  under  cultivation,  at  the 
Indian  village.  The  chief  of  the  Delawares 
at  this  time  was  Beaver,  and  their  principal 
war  chief  was  Shingcss,  wlio  is  su])posed  to 
liave  been  the  same  as  Buckimgahelas.  This 
noted  warrior  was  living  in  ISO-I.  In  17()1, 
when  Col.  Bouquet  marched  to  this  village 
with  his  iurny  of  l,r)00  men,  it  was  found  de- 
serted. It  will  thus  be  seen  that  the  only  im- 
I>ortant  result  of  the  Post  mission  was  the 
founding  of  a  series  of  missions-  on  the  Tus- 
carawas. Did  not  Heckewelder  do  even  more 
than  Post  to  insiu-e  a  continuance  of  the  work 
founded  by  this  mission  ?  And  yet  Post  led 
the    way,    even    against    the  wishes  of    the 


Directory  of  the  Association,  and  Wcus  in  rt^ality 
instrumental  in  laying  the  foundation  of  thi> 
succeeding  missions. 

It  is  not  the  design  in  this  chapter  to  enter 
into  the  details  of  the  fii'st  settlements  made  in 
the  different  townships  in  the  count}'.  That 
task  falls  upon  the  township  writers.  It  is 
pro[)er,  however,  at  this  point,  to  give  a  sum- 
mary view  of  the  general  early  settlement,  for 
the  pm-pose  of  giving  a  connected  account  of 
the  growth  of  the  county.  The  earliest  settlers 
throughout  Ohio,  and,  in  general,  throughout 
all  new  countries,  were  a  coiu-ageous  class  of 
men,  known  as  squatters,  whose  occupation  was 
hunting  and  trapping,  upon  which  they  almost 
or  quite  wholly  depended  for  subsistence. 
These  men  usually  thought  the  country  was 
becoming  too  thickly  settled  when  a  dozen 
families  lived  within  as  many  miles,  and,  in 
such  cases,  ordinsu-ily  moved  farther  out  into 
the  unex])lor<Mj  wilderness.  In  their  places 
CcUne  the  advance  guai'd  of  the  gi'and  army  of 
settlement  and  ])i-ogress.  It  is  always  the  case 
that  the  enterjirising,  the  energetic  and  ambi- 
tious are  the  ones  who  tirst  brave  the  hard- 
ships of  a  new  country,  and  who  thereljy  write 
their  names  on  the  most  prominent  page  of  the 
history  of  their  country.  It  is  always  the  ven- 
tvu'esome,  the  diu'ing  sjiirit,  th.it  swings  ort' 
from  the  gi'eat  army  and  strikes  in  a  new  and 
surprisingly  effective  manner  at  the  object  to 
be  attained.  Such  men  are  not  imitators; 
they  ai-e  imitated.  They  do  not  follow;  they 
lead.  They  do  not  wait  like  Micawbor  for 
something  to  turn  up:  they  turn  something 
up.  They  are  the  initiators  of  genuine  prog- 
ress. Stai'k  County  had  its  share  of  these 
men.  Their  faces  are  yet  familiar  to  the  old  set- 
tlers, altliough  their  riHes  and  traps  have  l)een 
laid  aside  long  ago.  Every  stream  knew  them ; 
every  hill  and  dah;  had  felt  the  pressm-e  of 
their  feet;  every  grove  had  re-echoed  with 
their  shouts,  and  with  the  repoi"ts  of  their 
rifles.  Their  nido  dug-out  canoes  swept 
silently  across  the  lakes  l)eneath  the  strength 
of  their  sturdy  arms.  All  this  is  now  gone. 
Waving  fields  of  grain  stand  upon  the  hills 
and  line  the  slo])ing  dales;  (lie  stealthy  foot- 
fall of  the  hunter  is  no  more;  the  busy  hum 
of  human  life  has  taken  the  place  of  silence 
and  shadow.  As  nearlv  as  can  ))e  ascertaim^d, 


>> 


002 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


the  townsliips  were  iirst  settled  as  follows: 
Canton.  March.  180,"):  Plain,  summer,  180-">; 
Nimishillen,  autumn,  1805;  Sandy,  autumn, 
1805;  Osnabur^;,  autumn,  1805;  Paris,  au- 
tumn, 1805;  Marlborough,  autumn,  1805; 
Washington,  autmuu,  1805;  Lsxington, 
spring,  180(i;  Lake,  summer,  1806;  Perry, 
summer,  18015;  Pike,  summsr,  1806;  Jackson, 
1807;  Bethlehem,  1807;  Tuscarawas,  1808; 
L-iwrence,  180S;  Sugar  Creek,  1808.  These 
dates  are  not  far  fi'om  correct.  The  settlers 
were  largely  from  the  Keystone  State,  though 
mam-  were  fi'om  the  Old  Dominion,  and  from 
the  Empire  State,  and  a  few  were  Yankees. 
Perhaps  f our-tifths  of  the  early  population  were 
of  German  descent.  Localities  in  the  county 
were  colonized  by  Yankees  and  by  French 
Catholics.  Later  years  have  served  to  reduce, 
greatly,  the  German  characteristics.  The  En- 
glish language  is  principally  spoken,  though 
there  are  places  where  the  German  prevails, 
or  where  the  vivacious  French  may  be  heard. 
Settlers  were  careful  to  locate  on  the  outskirts 
of  the  settlements,  as  in  that  case  thej'  could 
have  choice  of  land,  and  could  also  be  near 
schools,  churches,  stores,  mills,  etc.  These 
were  important  items  to  be  taken  into  con- 
sideration, as  many  a  settler  who  disregarded 
them  learned  to  his  sorrow.  It  was  important, 
also,  to  locate  near  some  good  highway.  Mill- 
ing was  a  fashionable  and  profitable  emjiloy- 
ment  The  extensive  immigration  prior  to 
1820  created  an  enormous  demand  for  native 
lumber.  Houses,  barns  and  other  Imildings 
were  erected  by  the  thousands;  but.  as  the 
demand  for  building  lumber  increased,  the 
number  of  saw-mills  to  supply  that  demand 
increased.  The  early  saw-mills  were,  of 
course,  operated  by  water-power,  and  hence 
the  selection  of  farms  having  excellent  mill 
sites  occujiied  the  attention  of  many  an  early 
settler.  Grist-mills  sprang  into  existence  to 
supply  the  demand  for  bread.  Every  township 
had  one  distillery  or  more.  There  was  an 
enormous  demand  in  eai'ly  year's  for  liquor. 
Whisky  was  upon  every  sideboard,  and  chil- 
ch'en  and  adults  daily  took  a  pull  at  the  bot- 
tle. It  was  the  custom,  just  before  eating, 
to  take  a  horn,  as  the  liquor  was  thought  not 
only  to  aid  digestion,  but  to  ftirnish  a  positive 
noiu"ishment  to  the  system.     Workmen  really 


thought  they  could  not  get  along  without  it, 
and  fi'equently  left  the  field  when  it  was  not 
f  m-nished.  The  best  of  whisky  could  be  Ixjught 
for  from  \2  cents  to  30  cents  per  gallon.  It 
is  said  that  every  house  was  a  public  house  in 
early  years.  The  latch-string  hung  out  to  all, 
and  no  one  was  turned  away  without  a  bed  or 
a  meal,  such  as  they  were.  Little  villages 
sprang  up  like  mushrooms,  from  all  quarters. 
Every  owner  hoped  that  his  village  would  be 
favorably  smiled  upon  by  fortune.  Some 
hopes  were  realized,  some  were  blasted.  Stores 
were  opened  with  sm  ill  stocks  of  goods,  that 
were  slowly  increased  as  the  patronage  ex- 
tended, or  was  auctioned  off  as  the  owner  saw 
that  his  effort  was  abortive.  People  were  with- 
out money,  yet  extensive  commerce  was  car- 
ried on  by  means  of  exchanges,  with  some 
temjjorary  measure  of  value.  There  arose  two 
prices — the  "trade  price"  and  the  "cash  price." 
This  state  of  things  often  wrought  great  hard- 
ships, but  was  finally  outgrown.  Schools  and 
religious  meetings  were  first  held  in  the  set- 
tlers' houses.  Finally,  the  old  log  schoolhouse 
was  erected.  Here  the  meetings  were  also 
held,  until  at  last  log  churches  were  built. 
TUiese  oldsehoolhouses  and  chm-ches  have  been 
rej)laced  by  many  others,  each  an  improvement 
on  the  one  preceding  it.  Thus  settlements 
and  imjirovements  have  multiplied,  with  their 
attendant  blessings. 

A  few  years  after  Columbiana  County  had 
been  created,  and  after  a  number  of  the  first 
settlers  had  located  in  what  is  now  Stark 
County,  the  territory  embraced  within  the 
limits  of  the  latter  county,  and  other  territory 
of  about  the  same  extent,  were  included  in  the 
former  county  for  election  piu'poses.  It  must 
be  imderstood  that,  when  speaking  of  Stark 
County  in  early  years,  not  only  the  present 
territory  embraced  within  the  county  limits  is 
meant,  but  also  Franklin  and  Green  Town- 
ships in  Siuiimit  Coimty,  and  Brown,  Rose  and 
Harrison  Townships  in  Carroll  County.  These 
townships,  at  the  early  organization  of  Stark 
County,  were  a  part  of  the  latter.  While  under 
the  jiu'isdiction  of  Colmnbiana  Coimty,  the 
Stark  Coimty  of  early  years  was  divided  into 
two  townships  by  a  line  passing  east  and  west 
thi'ough  the  county,  on  the  northern  line  of 
the  present  Canton  Township.     The  territory 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY 


203 


north  of  this  line  was  called  Lake  Township, 
and  that  south  of  the  line.  Canton  Township. 
These  two  townships  included  the  whole  of 
Stark  County.  Soon  after  the  Indians'  title 
to  the  land  west  of  the  Tuscarawas  was  extin- 
guished, the  ])resent  Wayne  County,  and  por- 
tions of  the  townshij>s  of  Lawyonce,  Tuscara- 
was and  Sugar  Creek,  lying  west  of  the  river, 
were  attached  to  Lake  and  Canton  for  election 
and  judicial  })iu'j)oses.  As  soon  as  the  last  two 
townships  were  created  by  Cohuubiana  County, 
which  was  done  in  liSIMi,  an  election  of  the 
necessaiy  township  officers  was  ordered.  AVho 
these  officers  were  is  not  now  known :  but  Jacob 
Loutzenheiser  was  commissioned  Justice  of 
the  Peace  of  Lake  Township,  and  James  F. 
Leonard  the  same  of  Sandy  Township.  No 
other  important  alterations  were  made  until 
the  county  was  created.  The  following  is  the 
full  text  of  the  creating  act,  j)assed  by  the 
Sixth  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Ohio, 
begun  and  held  in  the  town  of  Chillieothe.  on 
the  7th  of  December,  1807: 

Section  1.  Be  it  enucted  by  the  Gtiural  Assem- 
bly of  the  «rt<e  of  Ohio.  That  the  following  tract  of 
couiitrj'  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  erected  into  a 
separate  county  by  tlie  name  of  .Stark,  viz.:  Begin- 
niujronthe  soiitliern  boundary  of  the  Connecticut 
Reserve,  at  the  northeast  corner  of  township  luim- 
ber  nineteen  in  the  si.xlji  range:  theuee  running- 
south  between  the  tiftli  and  sixth  ranges,  to  the 
scut lieast  corner  of  the  tifleentli  township  of  said 
sixth  range:  thenee  west  witli  the  township  line 
until  it  intersects  the  eastern  boundary  line  of  the 
United  States  Military  District:  thenee  with  the 
said  eastern  boundary  line  north  to  tlie  northeast 
corner  of  the  tenth  lownsliip.  in  the  tirst  range  of 
said  military  district:  thence  west  with  the  town- 
ship lines  until  they  intersect  the  Indian  bounthiry 
line;  thence  with  said  Indian  boundary  line  to  the 

t  northwest  corner  of  fractional  tow  nsliip  niunber  ten 
of  the  tenth  range,  in  the  new  i)urehase.  south  of 
the  Connecticut  Reserve:  thenee  north,  with  tile 
line  running  between  the  tentli  and  elevenlh  ranges. 

1    to  the  nortliwest  corner  of  townshii)  number  two 

I    of  the  tenth  range:  thence  east  with  the  southern 

I   boundary  line  of  the  Connecticut  Reserve  to  the 

I   place  of  beginning. 

i       Sec  2.     That    the   said   countv   of    Stark   sindl. 

I  from  and  after  the  first  day  of  January,  one  thou- 
sand eight  huinlred  and  nine,  be  and  tlie  same  is 
hereby  declared  to  be  a  separate  and  distinct    coun- 

I  ly.  and  entitled  to  all  the  rights  and  privileges 
.  appert;iining  lo  the  same:  Prociilid.  That  all 
;u:tions  and  suits  which  may  be  |>endinjr  in  the 
';ounty  of  Columbiana  on  the  tirst  day  of  January, 
one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  nine  shall  be  pros- 
ecuted and  carried  on  to  final  judgment  and  execu- 
tion,  and  all   taxes,   tines  and   forfeitures,  which 


shall   be   then  due.  shall   be   collected   in   the   same 
manner  as  if  this  act  had  not  passed. 

Sec.  3.  That  all  that  tract  of  country  lying  wisi 
of  the  tenth  range  and  cast  of  the  sixteenth  range 
in  the  said  new  purchase,  and  south  of  the  Connect- 
icut Reserve,  and  north  of  the  United  Stales  Mili- 
tary District,  shall  be  a  separate  and  distinct  county 
bythe  name  of  Wavne:  Init,  with  the  county  of 
Stark,  shall  be  attached  to  and  made  a  part  of 
Columbiana  Countv,  until  the  said  county  of  Stark 
shall  be  organized,  and  shall  thereafter  be  and 
remain  a  part  of  the  .said  county  of  Stark  until 
otherwise  directed  by  law. 

Sec,  4,  That  there  shall  be  appointed  by  a 
joint  resolution  of  both  houses  of  the  present  Gen- 
eral Assenilily.  three  coininissioners  to  tix  the  seat 
of  justice  inUie  said  county  of  Stark,  agreeable  to 
the'  act  estalilishing  ^eats  of'justice.  who  shall  make 
report  of  their  prncniliiiirs  tii  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  of  Coluniliiana  (  .mnty,  and  who  shall  be 
governed  by  the  provision^  of  the  aforesaid  act. 

Sec.  5.  That  the  commissioners  aforesaid  shall 
be  paid  for  their  services  out  of  the  treasury  of 
Columbiana  County. 

This  act  .shall  take  effect  and  be  in  force,  from 
and  after  the  passage  thereof. 

Philemon  Bkk(  iiek. 
tipeiiker  of  tlie  House  of  liepresentotirfs. 

TnO.M.\S    KlKKKK, 

Feljruary  13,  1808.  Speoker  of  tlie  Senate. 

The  three  Commissioners  appointed  by  a 
joint  resolution  of  both  Houses  of  the  Sixth 
General  Assembly  to  locate  the  county  seat  of 
Stark  Coimty  were  Elijah  Wadsworth,  Eli 
Baldwin,  and  another,  whose  name  does  not 
appear  ujion  the  Columbiana  County  records. 
On  the  14th  of  Jime,  18(IS.  Daniel  Harbaugh, 
Joseph  Richai'dson  and  George  Alterholt,  Com- 
missioners of  Columbiana  County,  issued  an 
order,  in  accordance  with  Section  T)  of  the 
above  enactment,  upon  the  Treasiu'er  of  that 
county.  ])aying  to  each  of  the  constituted  Com- 
missioners appointed  to  locate  the  county  seat 
of  Stark  Coimty  the  sum  of  5^1;^  for  his  serv- 
ices. These  Commissioners,  after  cai-efully 
considering  the  claims  of  the  tlu-ee  villages, 
Canton,  Osnttburg  iind  Nimishillentown,  for 
the  location  of  the  county  seat,  unanimouslj- 
selected  the   former.     An   electitin  of  county 

i  officers  was  ordered,  and.  on  the  1  (ith  day  of 
March,  ISO'J,  tlie  first  Commissioners  of  Stai-k 

I  County  met  at  Canton  for  the  transiiction  of 
business.  These  men  were  John  Bower,  James 
Latuner  <ind  Jolm  Nichols.  They  met  at  the 
residence  of  James  Campbell.  ;ind  aj>pointed 

I  "William  Reynolds  Clerk  of  the  Board.     The 

i  fii-st  thing  done  was  the  division  of  the  county 


HISTOKY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


into  townshi]3s,  or,  as  wome  then  called  them, 
"election  diHtricts."  This  wan  efl'ected  as  fol- 
lows: 

Ordered  hi/  the  Board.  Tlutl  I  Ik-  (.■ouiiiy  of  Sl:irk 
be  divided  into  town.sliips  or  election  districts  as 
follows,  to  wit:  Canton  Township  (election  to  be 
held  at  the  residence  of  Saninel  Coiilton.  in  Canton) 
beginning  at  the  southeast  corner  of  the  ninth 
township  in  the  eighth  range;  thence  north  with 
the  line  between  the  seventh  and  eighth  ranges  to 
the  northeast  corner  of  the  tenth  township  in  the 
said  eighth  range;  thence  west  with  the  township 
line  to  the  west  boundary  of  the  county;  thence 
sotith  and  east  with  the  county  line  to  the  place  of 
beginning.  Plain  Township  ("election  to  be  held  at 
the  residence  of  George  Harler),  beginning  at  the 
northeast  corner  of  the  twelfth  township  in  the 
eighth  range;  thence  south  to  the  southeast  corner 
of  the  eleventh  township  in  the  eighth  range; 
thence  west  with  the  township  line  to  the  west 
boundary  of  the  county;  thence  north  and  east  with 
the  county  line  to  the  [ilace  of  beginning.  Nimi- 
shillen  Township  (election  to  be  held  at  the  resi- 
dence <if  Heiuy  Loutzcnhciser).  to  include  the 
eighteenth  and  nineteenth  townships  in  the  sixth 
range,  and  the  nineteenth  and  twentieth  townships 
in  the  seventh  range.  Osnaburg  Townslii|i  (election 
to  be  held  at  the  residence  of  William  Xaylor),  to 
include  the  seventeenth  townshi])  in  tin-  sixth  range 
and  the  eighteenth  township  in  the  seventh  range. 
Sandy  Township  (election  at  the  residence  of  Isaac 
Van  Meteri.  to  include  the  tifteenth  and  sixteenth 
townsliiiw  in  llic  sixth  range,  and  the  sixteenth 
and  s('\  inli'  iilli  townships  in  the  seventh  range. 
Fvrllnr  ,.r,i.i;,l.  That  the  clerk  do  ascertain' Df 
the  A>^o(iatr  .ludircs  of  Stark  Ccnnitv,  how  manv 
Justices  of  the  Peiice  will  be  necessaVy  in  each  o"f 
the  town.sliips  in  the  county,  and  thai  be,  having 
got  the  certificate  of  said  Associate  .Tndges,  do  pro- 
ceed to  adverti,se  an  election  in  each  of  the  sai<l 
townships,  to  be  held  on  the  first  Monday  in  April 
ne.xt  (1809),  for  the  election  of  the  number  of  .Jus- 
tices agreed  on  by  the  As.soeiate  .Tndges,  and  for  all 
other  necessary  town.ship  officers. 

In  accordance  with  Section  3  of  the  jibove 
creating  enactment,  attachin"^  the  coitnty  of 
Wayne  to  the  eonnty  of  Sttirk,  the  Commis- 
sioners, on  the  10th  day  of  April,  1809,  or- 
dered that  the  eonnty  of  Wayne  be  considered 
attached  to  Canton  Township,  and  that  the 
residents  of  that  eonnty  vote  at  the  nsttal  j)Iace 
where  the  citizens  of  Canton  Township  do. 
The  Commissioners  soon  saw  that  they  must 
levy  a  tax  to  secure  a  revenue  for  ciirrying  on 
the  expenses  of  the  county.  Not  a  road,  with 
perhaps  one  or  two  exceptions,  had  been  laid 
oitt  in  the  cormty;  and,  as  the  settlers  lieiran 
to  Come  in  very  rajjidly  at  this  tiim-.  repeated 
demands  were  made  for  bridges  and  for  better 
roads.     It  is  said  that,  diu'ing  the  winter  of  i 


1805-6,  there  were  not  to  exceed  twelve  fami 
lies  in  the  entire  county.  The  next  winter, 
there  were  about  three  times  as  many,  and  at 
the  time  the  county  was  organized,  in  1809, 
some  localities  were  quite  well  settled.  To 
meet  the  ciu-rent  expenses  of  the  county  in  the 
construction  of  roads  and  bridges,  and  the  pay 
ment  of  c(iunty  officers,  the  Commissioners,  on 
the  10th  day  of  April,  1809,  ordered  the  fol 
lowing  assessments:  Taverns  in  Canton,  a 
license  of  $9  per  anniuu;  in  all  other  parts  of 
the  county,  15  per  annum.  Ferrymen  on  the 
Tuscarawas  River,  $(i  per  annvini;  and  the 
same  on  all  other  streams  of  the  coimty 
Ferrymen  were  allowed  to  charge  as  follows: 
On  footmen,  6^  cents  each;  man  and  horse, 
12. J  cents;  team  and  loaded  wagon,  50  cents; 
all  other  vehicles,  '^1\  cents;  team  and  empty 
cart,  sled  or  sleigh,  H\  cents:  cattle  and  horses, 
each,  Ci\  cents;  sheep  and  hogs,  each,  '2  cents. 
The  following  additional  assessments  were 
made  by  the  Commissioners  in  June,  1809: 
On  all  ordinary  horses,  25  cents  annually;  on 
horses  of  the  masculine  persuasion,  the  season 
price  per  annum;  cattle,  10  cents;  on  all  other 
taxable  property,  a  levy  of  J  per  cent.  For 
the  scalps  of  wolves  and  panthers,  a  bounty 
of  50  cents  was  offered,  provided  the  animals 
were  under  six  iuonths  old:  if  over  that  age, 
$1.  The  following  year,  this  lioiuity  was 
doubled.  At  the  April  session  of  the  board, 
James  Campbell  was  appointed  County  Treas- 
urer, whereupon  he  gave  bond  for  $3,000,  with 
George  Bair  and  Philip  Shisser,  bondsmen. 
At  the  June  session,  Joseph  McGuigan  was  ap- 
pointed Sheriff.  His  bond  of  |4,000  was 
signed  by  Thomas  Giason,  Httgli  Cunningham, 
Samuel  Coulter,  Andrew  Sttckey  and  James 
Williams.  In  September,  1809,  the  Commis- 
sioners ordered  the  cotuity  of  Wayne  to  be  de- 
tached from  Canton  Township,  and  to  be  or- 
ganized as  an  independent  township  by  th(* 
name  of  "  Kilbuck."  The  citizens  of  that 
county  were  directed  to  assemble  at  the  resi- 
dence of  Benjamin  Miller,  in  Wooster,  to  elect 
the  necessary  township  officers,  which  was  ac 
cordingly  done.  This  order  of  the  Commis- 
sioners was  issued  in  accordance  with  the 
l)rayer  of  the  citizens  of  Wayne  County,  who 
had  jietitioned  for  a  separate  organization. 
The  first  road  ordered  viewed  was  a  branch  of 


^— ^k, 


HISTOUY   OF    STARK    COTNTV 


the  Steitbenville  &  Bethlehem  road,  and  was 
to  extend  fi'om  Jacob  Oswalt's  to  the  town  of 
Canton,  thence  toward  the  portage  of  the  Tus- 
carawas Kiver.  The  second  road  was  to  ex 
tend  fi-om  the  northeast  corner  of  the  county 
to  Lexington,  thence  to  Kaleigh  Day's  Mills, 
thence  to  Canton.  An  application  was  made 
for  a  road  extending  from  Canton  to  the  con- 
fluence of  Sandy  Cre<>k  and  Tuscarawas  River. 
This  was  at  first  refuse<l.  but  in  December  the 
application  was  gi-anted.  In  Decemlier,  ISOU, 
the  first  Coiu-t  of  Connnon  Pleas  was  convened 
by  Judge  Calvin  PeasL^.  More  of  this  eom-t 
will  be  learned  in  the  chapter  on  th<>  county 
bar.  In  the  aiitumn  of  ISO'J,  Samuel  Coulter 
took  the  place  of  John  Bower  as  one  of  the 
Commissioners,  the  latter  probably  having  left 
the  county.  It  was  decided  by  ballot  that 
James  Latimer's  tenn  of  ofiSce  should  be  one 
yeiU",  Samuel  Coulter's  two  years,  and  John 
Nichols'  three  years.  The  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  met  in  the  upper  story  of  S.  W.  Coulter's 
building,  and.  as  ordered  by  the  Commission- 
ers, the  Judge  "  will  be  entitled  to  receive  $3 
for  each  court."  The  following  are  the  dates 
at  which  subsetpient  townships  of  Stark  County 
were  created:  Tu.sc.u'awas.  ISIO;  Green. 
1811;  Perry,  ISKi;  BrowTi,  1815:  Jackson, 
1815:  Pike,  1815:  LawTence,  1815;  Lexing- 
ton. 1816.  and  again  in  18'21;  Sugar  Creek, 
181(3;  Lake.  181(3:  Franklin,  1810;  Bethle- 
hem, 181(3:  Harrison,  1817;  Pai-is,  1818: 
Rose,  1818;  Wa.shington.  IM8;  Marlborough, 
18'21.  During  the  year  1810.  the  Townshi]) 
Collectors  reported  and  jjaid  into  the  CDUnty 
ti'easiu-y  about  .$■20(1.  Of  this,  John  Campbell, 
Treasm-er,  turned  over  to  his  successor  $-18.55. 
In  1811,  James^)rennan  was  api)ointed  by  the 
board  to  "  keep  the  comity  measure."  It  was 
about  this  time  that  the  lirst  land  tax  was  col- 
lected, Thomas  C.  Shields  being  the  County 
Collector.  In  December,  1811,  the  lx)ard  Cimie 
to  the  conclusion  that  the  old  com-t  room  in 
Samuel  Coulter's  house  shcjuld  be  abandoned, 
and  a  better  one  entered  in  the  second  story  of 
George  Stidger's  new  brick.  The  contract  be- 
tween the  board  and  Mv.  Stidger  was  as  fol- 
lows: "Stidger  is  to  give  for  the  use  of  the 
county  the  south  half  of  the  upper  story  of 
said  house,  and  to  devote  the  same  to  the  uses 
of  a  court  room.     The  Commissionei-s  engage 


to  put  up  in  aaid  house  such  accommodations 
as  they  think  proper  for  the  court,  and  to  do 
it  with  as  little  injury  as  |)ossil)le  to  the  house, 
and  to  pay  the  said  Stidger  the  sum  of  !j!3  for 
each  and  every  court  that  may  sit  in  said  house, 
except  called  courts  for  transacting  adminis- 
trative business."  The  board  also,  at  this  time, 
rented  the  up])er  story  of  the  house  owned  by 
Daniel  Faron.  the  same  to  be  used  as  a  jail, 
and  Mr.  Faron  to  be  paid  SI  jier  mouth  for 
the  use  of  such  story.  Mr.  Stidger's  house 
was  used  as  a  court  room  under  the  above  con- 
tract until  1814.  when  the  contract  was  altered 
so  that  the  owner  was  ])aid  $-10  per  year,  and 
the  court  continued  tt)  sit  there  as  before.  lu 
1814.  the  tax  on  personal  projierty  was  raised 
somewhat.  Init  that  on  real  estate  remained  at 
J  per  cent.  James  Williams.  County  Col- 
lector for  1S1:{,  turned  over  to  the  Treasm-er 
$789.45.  less  his  commission,  etc.  Soon  after 
this  the  tax  ou  real  estate  was  raised  to  1  per 
cent.  This  was  rendered  necessary  on  account 
of  theenoi'mous  pressure  brought  to  bear  upon 
the  Conn nissi oners  for  building  bridges,  view 
ing  and  constructing  roads,  and  the  general 
expenses  of  the  county.  The  following  is  the 
rejwrt  in  full  of  John  Harris.  County  Collector, 
for  1814: 

Coi.i.ECTous  Kki'ohi,  >'r.  Dr. 

To  the  ainouiil  of  lii<  diiplic-alc  !I(!I  U3 

Bv  dcfali-ntioiis ^   14  40 

BV  tax  on  lol.s  doniitcd    to   the 

■founty  by  Bcnilccl  Wells 1  7."> 

By  coiniiiission  for  collccliii,:; .  .  !t  <!1 

15V    Tn-iisiirer'.s    rccci])!     (bili-il 

'Oft.  i4,  1814 Toil  11(1 

Bv  Trfa.surcr's  recci))!  dated  .Ian. 

8,  1815 180  DO 

Bv    Trcasmer's     receipt     dated 

'Mareli  T.  181.-. .".1   -.>(; 

^mi  *yi 

The  Collector  lor  1812  r.'ported  5;2()5.80, 
and  the  one  for  1815,  Sl,25(3.'28.  In  1815, 
the  propriety  of  building  ii  comi  house  was 
discussed;  but  the  matter  did  not  take  shape 
until  the  siumner  session  of  181(5,  when  pro- 
posals for  the  erection  of  a  lirick  cotn-t  hoiLse 
were  received.  Ou  the  28d  of  July.  I81*), 
the  Commissioners  entered  into  a  contract  with 
Thomas  A.  Drayton  and  John  D.  Henley  for 
the  erection  of  a  brick  ci)urt  house,  the  same 
to  cost  $().25(),  "  exclusive  of  the  l)ell,  l>ell- 
fi-ame,  spire,  ball  and   lightning  rod."     This 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


building,  with  some  modifications  of  details 
and  price,  was  completed  in  1817,  and  was 
immediately  occupied  by  the  county  officers. 
This  court  house,  with  various  alterations  and 
additions,  was  used  until  the  present  one  was 
built.  In  December.  IS'iy,  the  Commissioners 
authorized  the  Auditor  to  give  notice  that 
sealed  pi'oposals  for  the  erection  of  a  county 
jail  would  be  received:  and,  at  a  special  ses- 
sion in  February,  18H(I,  they  caused  to  be  re- 
corded: "After  a  careful  examination  of  the 
several  projwsals  laid  in  for  the  erection  of  a 
new  jail,  it  is  ordered  that  the  contract  be  as- 
signed to  Calvin  Hobart,  he  having  agreed  to 
furnish  materials  and  comjilete  the  work  for 
the  whole  building  for  the  sum  of  $8,000;  and 
it  is  further  ordered  that  the  said  contractor 
enter  into  bond  with  sufficient  security  for  the 
faithful  performance  of  the  work."  This 
building  was  comjileted  in  January,  1881,  and 
a  settlement  made  with  the  contractoz'.  In 
August,  1888,  the  Commissioners  considered 
the  advisability  of  altering  and  remodeling 
the  com't  house ;  whereujion,  it  was  "  ordered 
that  Dwight  Jarvis,  Esq. ,  be  authorized  to  em- 
ploy W.  W.  Knapp,  of  Massillon,  or  some  other 
comj)etent  mechanic,  to  go  to  Ravenna  and 
take  a  plan  of  the  com't  room  at  that  place, 
and  ascertain  whether  the  com't  room  at  Can- 
ton can  be  so  altered  as  to  cori'espond  with 
that,  and  to  estimate  the  cost  of  such  altera- 
tion." Nothing  further  seems  to  have  been 
done  regarding  this  order,  for,  in  March,  1834, 
Eli  Sowers  was  authorized  to  rejiair  it  in  ac- 
cordance with  a  plan  he  had  prepared,  for 
which  he  was  paid  184-1.81.  In  January,  1836, 
the  Coimnissioners  called  for  proposals  for  the 
erection  of  a  new  court  house,  to  accord  with 
a  plan  they  had  at  their  office;  biit,  for  some 
unkno%vn  reason,  nothing  further  was  done  in 
this  pailicular.  In  June,  184'2,  it  was  decided 
to  build  a  large  strvictiu'e  for  the  county  offices. 
The  contract  was  awarded  Francis  Warthorst 
in  September,  the  cost  to  be  §4,475.  The 
work  was  fairly  begun  in  March,  1848,  when 
the  Commissioners  were  petitioned  as  follows: 
"  Your  petitioners,  citizens  of  StiU'k  Coimty, 
respectfully  solicit  yoiu'  honorable  body  to  sus- 
jjend  the  building  of  the  coimty  offices  imtil 
after  the  expression  of  the  will  of  the  tax- pay- 
ing citizens  of  this  coiuity,  to  be  determined 


at  the  election  to  be  held  in  the  spring.  Yom' 
petitioners,  in  making  this  request,  would  re- 
spectfully represent  that  they  are  desirous  of 
ascertaining  whether  the  tax-paying  com- 
munity of  this  county  feel  themselves  in  a 
situation,  taking  into  consideration  the  present 
depressed  state  of  monetary  affairs  of  this 
State,  to  see  built,  at  an  additional  tax  of 
fi'om  16,000  to  $8,000,  the  said  county  offices; 
and  your  petitioners,  as  in  duty  bound,  will 
ever  pray."  After  carefully  considering  the 
petition,  it  was  "  ordered  that,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  advanced  state  of  the  work  of 
the  contractor,  and  also  the  fact  that  the  ad- 
ditional tax  will  be  necessary  to  complete  the 
building,  the  Commissioners  deem  it  inexpedi- 
ent to  comply  with  the  2)rayer  of  the  peti- 
tioners." The  buildings  were  accordingly 
completed.  In  December,  1848,  the  following 
cm'ious  preamble  and  order  was  adopted  by 
the  Cummi^sidinTs: 

AVlIKKi.  \>,  liiial  coniiilaiiil  ha^  lici'ii  iiuidc  in 
various  iHiiiimi^  ol  tlir  i-ouiity.  Unit  the  public 
offices,  crectod  tor  the  security  of  the  public  rec- 
ords and  the  convenienee  of  the  public,  have  bi'eu 
converted  into  gaming  rooms,  inducing  idleness  and 
immoral  habits;  therefore,  it  is  ordered  by  the  un- 
dersigned Commissioners  of  iStark  County,  that, 
frcmi  and  after  this  date,  every  species  of  gaming, 
whetlier  for  amusement  or  for  wager,  is  strictly 
forl)idden  and  prohibited  in  the  public  buildings. 
And  it  is  further  ordered,  that  the  Clerk  of  the 
board  funnsh  a  copy  of  the  foregoing  preamble 
and  order  for  each  room  of  the  public  buildings. 
.John  Bketz,  i 


Geokge  Hownstixk, 

WlLI.I.\M   DlI.I.ON. 

December  8,  18-18. 


Coil  Illy 
'iminnione 


On  the  Kith  of  May,  1849,  the  Commission- 
ers, in  pursuance  of  an  act  of  the  General  As- 
sembly of  Ohio,  stibseribed  1,^00  shares,  or 
$75,000,  in  the  capital  stock  of  the  Ohio  & 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Comjiany,  the  same  to 
be  paid  in  cash,  or  in  the  bonds  of  Stark 
County  at  par,  at  the  option  of  the  Commis- 
sioners, It  was  nearly  twenty  years  before 
the  last  of  these  bonds  were  paid.  The  old 
brick  coiu-t  house  erected  in  1S17,  the  jail 
erected  in  1880,  and  the  cottnty  offices  erected 
in  1848,  served  the  pttrposes  of  the  county 
until  18(37,  when  it  was  decided  to  construct 
new  and  better  buildings.  At  this  time,  the 
laws  of  the  iState  did  not  authorize  County 
Commissioners  tolevA^a  tax  to  exceed  $15,000 


^ 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


207 


for  the  purpose  of  building  court  houses.  It 
was  tlierefore  found  necessary  to  secure  a 
special  enactment  for  that  purpose.  This  was 
(lone  as  follows: 

Skction  1.  Beitiiuictedhjjthi'  Oentnil  Asseinblji 
<//  the  Stiitf  of  Ohiii.  Thill  the  roinniissioners  of 
8tark  Couiilv  be,  and  they  ai-c  hei-cliy  aiitliorizeil. 
Ill  l)uil(l  a  new  coiirl  liouse.  witli  pulilir  ciHicos.  at 
I  he  iniinty  seal  i)f  .«ai(l  county,  on  llu-  lot  now  oc- 
'  u]iii'il  livtlic  old  courl  house  and  public  otlices.  at 
I  co.sl  iio't  cMccdinir  f  IDO.dOO.  Tlic  material  in  the 
lid  court  house  and  pulilic  olliccs  may.  in  the  dis- 
iTction  of  said  eommissioners.  be  used  in  erecting 
Ihc  new  court  house,  or  sold  and  tlie  proceeds  or 
any  part  thereof  appropriated  to  the  building  or 
fuinishinir  of  said  new  court  liouse. 

Skc.  2.  To  enable  the  eoiuniissioncrs  to  carry 
into  effect  tlie  provisions  of  this  act.  they  are  here- 
by authorizid  to  transfer  to  the  building  fund 
and  Use  for  the  pm poses  of  this  act  any  surplus 
of  other  funds  now  in  the  county  treasury,  or 
which  in.iy  heivaflir  accumulate,  not  needed  for 
the  speeitie  pm-poses  for  which  said  siu-plus  was 
raiseil;  and  also  raise  by  taxation  on  the  property 
of  the  county  whatever  sum  may  lie  needed  for 
said  purpose,  not  (xceeding  in  all  the  aforesaid 
aggregate  amount  of  ^lOO.dllO;  but  the  ta.ves  so  lev- 
iedshall  not  in  any  one  year  e.\ceed  ^2O.(X)0.  In 
anticipation  of  the  collection  txf  said  ta.xes,  the 
said  commissioner-  shall  have  power  to  issue  the 
bonds  of  said  county  in  such  sums  and  upon  such 
terms,  luaring  legal  rates  of  interest,  and  redeem- 
alile  at  the  pleasure  of  said  commissioners,  which 
bonds  shall  not  lie  sold  for  less  ijian  par  value. 

Sec.  3.  Before  dc-trrniining  upon  a  plan  of  said 
building,  said  commissioners  may  personally  exam- 
ine similar  structures  anywhere  in  the  .State;  and 
the}- shall  call  to  their  assistance  a  eiinipeleiil  archi 
tect  or  engineer  to  )irepare  drafts  anil  speeilication- 
of  the  plan  iletennincd  upon;  and  the  work  of  the 
building  of  said  structure  may  be  done  either  under 
their  own  supervision  or  that  of  a  suiierintendent. 
to  be  a|)pointid  by  them  and  subject  to  their  con- 
trol, in  accordance  with  the  plan  iletermined  on  by 
them,  or  anv  inoditications  thereof  thev  mav  make. 

Sici .  4.  that  this  act  shall  take  clfect  aiul  be  in 
force  from  and  after  its  passage. 

En  A.  P.uuioTT, 
Spenker  of  the  House  of  liepresentatives. 

AnDKKW   G.   McBl'KNEV. 

Mari'h  14.  1867.  Speaker  of  tlie  Senate. 

Immediately  after  the  passage  of  this  l)ill, 
the  Commissionei-s  issued  an  order  to  the  effect 
that,  if  the  city  of  Canton  would  furnish  ^2."), 
(XMI  toward  the  general  expense  of  completing 
the  court  house,  an  order  would  be  issued  for 
the  erection  of  the  same.  This  occtUTod  on 
the  '.Ith  of  April,  ISliT;  and,  on  the  7th  of 
May,  the  City  Council  of  Canton  notified  the 
Commissioners  that  the  alKjv(>  proviso  was 
agreed  to,  and  !?"25.(M)()  woidd  hv  donated  for 


the  purpose  stated.  The  Commissioners  ad- 
vertised for  plans  and  specifications,  and,  on 
the  rith  of  October,  considered  the  following: 

II.     E.  Meyer,     lirick     building,     stone 

wing T *  IW.OOO  00 

J.  C.  Hoxie.  brick  building,  sKme  wing, 

completed loo.ooo  oo 

George  P.  Smith,  first  floor  stone,  others 

brick 110.000  00 

George  P.  Snnth.  brick  building 87,000  00 

George  P.  Smith,  brick  building,  modi- 
fications  '. 80.0(M»  00 

VV.  H.    Frazer.  stone   building  without 

furnace loo.iioo  lUi 

On  the  ISth  of  October,  the  Coimuissioners 
decided  U)  accept  the  j)lan  proposed  by  J.  C. 
Hoxie,  and  issued  orders  for  sealed  proposals 
for  the  erection  of  the  building  according  to 
this  plan.  The  following  proposals  were  re- 
ceived and  considered: 

.1.  and  G.  HicklilTer *  !I").(IOO  (M) 

Rol)  Greenlee yi,0:iH  70 

Rob  Greenlee,  Hoxic's  plan,  stone  cor- 
ners   9:5.(«s  70 

Rob    Greenlee.    Hoxic's  plan,    entirely 

stone ".  114,a3«  7o 

Payser  &  Campbell 87,3.56  00 

Miller,  Frayer  in  Smith 89,900  l»0 

J,  C.  Hoxie,  including  price  of  plan.  .  .  .  KHI.OIIO  00 

Mr.   Waterson ViT). M» 

After  due  consideration,  the  board  were 
unanimously  in  favor  of  accepting  the  proposal 
of  Payser  &  Cam]ibell.  Henry  E.  Meyer,  of 
Cle^  eland,  architect  and  engineer,  was  em- 
ployed, at  a  salary  of  S4,S14,  to  superintend 
the  erection  of  the  building.  Soon  after  this, 
Hoxie's  [)lan,  for  definite  reasons,  was  aban- 
doned, and  one  prepared  by  H.  E.  Meyer  was 
substituted  in  its  i)laco,  the  building  to  cost 
S9S,0(K).  This  iilteration  of  Hoxie's  plan  was 
used  as  an  amendment  to  such  plan.  The 
conti'act  as  amended  was  signed  by  Commis- 
sioners and  contractors  March  11,  1  ISfiS.  The 
work  on  the  building  was  commenced:  court 
house  bonds,  bearing  legal  rat  as  of  interest, 
W(>r(!  ordered  sold  at  par,  as  money  was  needed 
to  meet  the  estimates  of  the  architect;  loans 
at  rea-sonable  rates  were  effected;  and  a 
tax,  in  pursuance  of  the  above  act,  was  levied. 
The  work  progressed  rapidly,  and,  early  in 
1870,  the  building  was  completed  and  r«>ady 
for  occupancy.  Soon  afterward,  the  follow- 
ing settlement  was  made  with  Pavser  &  Camp- 
bell: 


^ 


Comiact  price  of  court  liouse $  98,000  00 

Extra  work  us  per  bill 1,974  37 

Extrn  work  as  per  estimates  of  arcliitecl       3,796  58 

Extra  work  for  phiiubini;-,  fiiriiiliire.  etc.        7,480  10 

Extra  work  wilh  stairs  and  liell 318  50 

Total $111,469  45 

The  '22d  of  February.  1.S70  (Washington's 
birthday),  was  selected  for  the  twofold  jmr- 
jjose  of  celebrating  the  day  in  memory  of 
Washington,  and  of  dedicating  the  new  coiu't 
house.  A  large  assemblage  gathered  in  the 
court  room  on  that  day,  where  appropriate 
ceremonies  were  held  in  honor  of  the  occasion. 
Elo<{ttent  and  extended  remarks  were  made  by 
Dr.  Tonner,  John  McSweeney,  Es<i.,  and 
others,  the  addresses  of  the  former  two  being 
spread,  by  order  of  the  Commissioners,  upon 
the  county  records.  The  following  explains 
itself: 

.Vt  a  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  I.e-mi  aud  lield  at 
the  court  bouse  in  the  eitv  of  Canton,  within  and 
for  the  <-ouiitv  of  Stark,  and  State  of  Ohio,  at  10 
o'eloek  A.  M.'.  on  Monday,  the  28th  day  of  Fel)ru 
ary.  in  the  year  of  our  "Lord  one  thot'isand  eiiiht 
hundred  and  seventy,  and  lieinutlie  first  term  in  tin' 
new  court  hoitsc. 

Present— 

llox.  .Joseph  Frkase.  Judge. 
\.  W.  IIei,denbr.\nd,  Clerk. 

H    .V.  DiM-.Ai;.  S/ierif. 

In  the  record  and  proceedings  of  said  Court  then 
and  there  held,  are  the  followiiif"-,  to  wit:  "  Xow 
comes  Col.  .S,  iteyer.  and  presents  to  tlie  Coiu't  the 
proceedings  and  resolutions  adopted  tit  a  meetins 
of  the  bar  and  ollicers  of  the  Court,  held  at  the 
court  house  on  the  morning  of  the  38tli  of  Februaiy. 
])revious  to  the  opening-  of  Court,  tind  moved  the 
Court  that  the  .same  be  entered  on  the  joiu'nal. 
wliicli  was  accordingly  ordered  done."  Tlie  iiro- 
eeeding's  and  resolutions  are  as  follows,  to  wit: 

"At  a  meeting  of  the  members  of  the  liar  and 
officers  of  the  Court,  held  at  the  new  court  house 
on  the  38th  day  of  February.  1870,  to  celebrate  tlie 
com|)]i'tion  of  the  same  and  its  first  occupation  for 
imblic  Iiiisiness.  on  motion  of  Col.  S.  Meyer,  Hon. 
.Tose|ili  Frease  was  appointed  Chairman,  and  A.  W. 
Ileidcnliranrl,  Secretary,  And.  on  further  motion, 
.1  committee  consisting'of  Col,  S.  Meyer,  .VIe.xaiider 
Hierre,  Robert  11,  Folgcr,  .lolin  Mi'Sweeney  and 
IIarv(\-  Launhlin  wa--  appiiiiited  to  dr;ift  resolutions 
suitalile  to  the  occasi,,ii.  The  following  was  offered 
by  till-  committee:  Tlie  committee  appointed  at  a 
meeting  of  the  bench  ami  bar  and  other  officers  of 
the  Cinirt,  to  report  a  preamlile  and  resolutions 
approjiriate  to  the  occasion  of  opening  the  new 
ccinrt  house  to  the  purposes  of  jastiee.  beg  leave  to 
ri'|i(irt  as  follows: 

•■  ■  WuERE,\s.  On  taking  pos.se.ssion  of  this  stalely 
edifice  forthe  purposes  contemplated  by  its  builders. 
the  people  of  the  county  of  Stark,  who  have  cheer- 


fully borne  great  .sacrifices  to  secure  its  construction, 
it  is  meet  and  proper  that  the  bench  and  bar.  with 
the  various  officers  of  the  Court,  who  are  called 
upon  to  exercise  their  res]>ective  functions  and  ilis- 
charge  their  respective  duties  within  its  sMcrcd  pre- 
cincts, now  aijpropriately  and  solemnly  dedicate  the 
same  to  the  iiilministration  of  justice,  therefore, 

"  •  Resolceil.  That  his  Honor.  .Judge  Frea.se.  ou 
behalf  of  the  bench  and  bar,  and  various  offices  of 
the  Court,  formally  dedicate  the  same  as  a  Temple 
of  .lustice.  where  a  ready  redress  may  e\'cr  be  found 
for  every  wrong,  and  where  the  cherished  rights  of 
jicrsonal  liberty,  security  and  right  of  property  will 
ever  be  sacredly  enforced  and  secured,  while  now 
formally  throwing  open  its  portals  for  tin' adiuinis- 
t ration  of  eyen-handed  iustice. 

••■He-mlnil,  That  the  t'ourt  be  [irayed  to  cans,- the 
proceedings  of  this  meeting,  followed  by  the  respect 
ive  names  of  the  memliers  of  the  bench  and  bar  and 
officers  of  the  Court,  to  lie  spread  on  the  journal  and 
records  of  the  Court  as  a  perpetual  meiuorial  of  the 
dedication  of  the  new  court  house. 

'■  ■  By  the  Committee.         S.  >[eveh,  Chairniiiri.'" 

Names  of  the  members  of  the  liench.  —  Hon.  .Jo- 
seph Frease,  Hon.  (Jeorge  M.  Tuttle,  lion.  Norman 
L.  Chaffe,'.  Hon.  Philo  B,  Conant. 

Names  of  the  members  of  the  bar. — S.  .Meyer, 
Alexander  Bierce,  Geor.ge  E,  Baldwin,  .1,  .1,  Parker, 
.lames  .Vmermau.  A.  L.  .lones,  .Vnsoii  Pease.  A.  L. 
Baldwin,  Robert  H.  Polger,  Harvey  l^aughlin.  Will- 
iam .McKinlev.  .Ir, ,  .lohn  Ijalini.  William  .V,  Lynch, 
W.  B.  Higby;  Ed  S.  Mever,  Ed  F.  SiJineider,  W.  C. 
Pippitt,  .James,).  Clark,  W.  W.  Clark,  Louis Schaefer. 
.lohn  C.  Stallcup.  Ceorge  W.  Raft'.  .lohn  W,  .McCord.    | 

R.  A,  Dunbar.  Shcriif;  A.  W.  Ileldenbrand.  Clerk,    i 

On  the  motion  to  adopt  the  foregoing  resolu- 
tions, stirring  and  effective  rcniarks  were  made  by 
Col.  S.  Meyi'r.  Robert  H.  Pol.ger.  Alexander  Bierce 
and  John  McSweeney,  after  which  the  resolutions 
were  unanimously  adopted,  and,  mi  niolion,  i!ie 
meeting  adiourned  .liiu-  dii . 

Whet-eupon  His  llnii,,i-,  .lu,l-e  Frease,  ill  s,,ine 
aiijiropriate  remarks,  formally  dedicated  the  new 
court  room  to  the  transaction  of  |mblic  business; 
ami,  to  further  signalize  the  occcasion  of  the  tirst 
occupation  of  said  court-room.  Court  adjourned 
until  i''.:!it  o'eloij;  lo-moriow  morning, 

.losEl'ii   FnK.\si.:,  Jiiilyi-. 

Since  the  erection  of  the  court  house,  the 
county  has  gone  to  the  expense  of  building  a 
large,  strong  jail.  The  county  buildings  and 
the  lots  itpou  which  they  stand  have  cost  the 
citizens  in  the  neighborhood  of  §'250,000.  But 
few  counties  in  the  State  have  better  court 
buildings  than  Stark.  They  are  situated  in 
the  business  center  of  the  city,  and  their  loca 
tioir  and  size  render  them  conspicuous  to  till 
who  catch  a  glimpse  of  Canton.  When  the 
court  house  was  built,  the  citizens  of  Canton 
Township,  through  their  representatives, 
agreed  to  give  $1,000  toward  the  building  of 


lUi. 


HISTOUV    OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


209 


the  coivrt-house.  provided  they  might  have  per- 
manent use  of  a  room  in  the  basement  for 
townshi])  pmiwsps.  The  Commissioners  agi-eed 
to  this,  adding,  as  a  proviso,  that  the  citizens 
would  bo  ex|iected  to  pay  more  toward  the 
room,  if  necessary. 

By  special  enactment  of  the  Ohio  Legisla- 
tm"e,  on  the  lioth  of  December,  IHH'I,  Carroll 
County  was  created,  by  which  act  Stark  Coimty 
was  robbed  of  the  townships  of  Brown  ( except 
the  northern  tier  of  sections),  Hairison,  Rose, 
and  two  tiers  of  sections  on  the  western  side 
of  Sandy.  This  bill  was  stoutly  opjK)sed  by 
the  Stiirk  Coimty  Representatives  in  the  Leg- 
islatiu'e,  and  in  general  by  the  citizens 
throughout  the  county.  Those  who  had  chosen 
the  above  towushi])s  as  theu'  homes  ch-eaded 
the  thought  of  being  sepiu'ated  from  their 
love.  "Mollie  Stai'k."  to  whom  they  had  become 
fitrongly  attached.  Notwithstanding  the  op- 
position, howei'er,  the  division  was  made,  and 
the  citizens  soon  became  reconciled  to  the  sit- 
uation. On  the  Kith  of  December,  IS;?:],  the 
Commissioners  of  Stai'k  County,  James  Haz- 
lett,  James  Downing  and  Nicholas  Stump,  and 
two  of  the  Commissioners  of  Carroll  Coimty, 
John  Shober  and  John  W.  Russell,  met  at 
Canton  to  divide  the  county  fimds.  in  accord- 
ance with  the  change  that  had  been  made  in 
the  teiTitory  of  the  coimty.  This  division  of 
fluids  was  calculated  in  the  following  manner: 
The  total  valuation  of  taxable  property  in 
Stark  Coimty  in  1832  was  Sl.'JSLmJl.  The 
valuation  of  that  in  HaiTison  Township  for  the 
same  year  was  .§58,814.  That  of  Rose,  §45,- 
811.  "That  of  Brown,  §52,958.  That  of  the 
two  tiers  of  sections  on  the  east  of  Sandy,  §13,- 
050.  That  of  one  tier  on  the  north  of  Brown, 
§5,188.  Brown,  HsuTison,  Rose  and  Sandy, 
addinl,  give  §170,085).  Northern  Brown  de- 
ducted from  this  leaves  §105,451.  Then,  as 
§1,1*8 1,001  is  to  the  amoimt  in  the  county 
treasury,  §1,170.05,  so  is  the  vahiation  of  the 
ten-itorj'  remaining  in  Stark  County,  §1,810,- 
240,  to  the  portion  of  the  funds  the  county  has 
a  right  to  retain.  This  sum  is  found  to  be 
§1,072.35,  which,  deducted  from  the  funds  in 
the  treasiu-y,  gives  what  was  paid  CaiToll 
(bounty,  the  amoimt  being  §07.70.  On  the 
17th  of  February,  1834,  the  surveyors  ap- 
jwinted  by  the  two  counties  met  at  the  resi- 


1  dence  of  John  Whitacre,  in  Pai"is,  to  locate 
the  boundiiry  dividing  the  counties.  It  may 
be  ti'uthfully  said  that  those  townships  were 
better  situated  as  part  of  the  new  county  than 

'  as  part  of  Stark.  Time  has  not  changed  the 
condition. 

In  1840,  another  bill,  which  was  passed  by 
the  Legislature,  robbed  Stark  County  of  two 
more  townships.  These  were  Franklin  and 
Green.  This  bill,  which  was  for  the  creation 
of  Summit  County,  met  with  the  bitterest  op- 
position fi-om  Rejiresentatives  and  Senators 
whose  counties  were  clipped  to  form  the  new. 
The  bill  was  introduced  in  the  House  on  the 
17th  of  December,  1830,  by  the  Chairman  of 
the  Committee  on  New  (bounties,  and,  from 
that  time  forward  imtil  its  passage,  on  the  0th 
day  of  February,  1840,  was  fought  inch  by 
inch  by  Hons.  John  Smith  and  James  Welsh, 
Stark  Coimty  Representatives,  but  without 
avail,  for,  at  the  latter  date,  it  slipped  thi-ough 
the  House  by  a  majority  of  but  thi'ce.  In 
January,  1840,  the  bill  was  taken  up  by  the 
Senate,  but  every  possible  eftbrt  was  made  to 
defeat  it  by  Mr.  Hostetter,  of  Stark,  and 
others.  The  struggle  was  long  and  severe,  but 
the  friends  of  the  mi^asure  were  too  strong, 
and  at  last  the  bill  passed  the  Senate  by  a 
majoritr  of  foiu-.  It  became  a  law  on  the  3d 
of  March,  1840.  On  the  15th  of  May,  George 
Kjreighbaiun,  John  Bretz  and  Peter  Stemmel, 
Commissioners  of  Stai'k  Coimty,  and  John  Hay, 
Jonathan  Starr  and  Augustus  E.  Foote,  Com- 
missioner of  the  new  county  of  Summit,  met 
at  Canton  to  make  an  aj)portionment  of  the 
county  fimds.  The  valuation  of  taxable 
property  in  Stark  in  1830,  was  §2,0Vt8,773. 
The  valuation  of  that  in  Green  Township  was 
§100,210,  and  that  in  Franklin  was  §0ti,940. 
The  last  two  siuns,  addinl,  give  §203,150. 
There  was  in  the  county  treasiuy  at  that  time 
§4,158.10.  By  computation  simihu-  to  that 
above,  it  was  found  that  Siuumit  Coimty  was 
entitled  to  §313,  which  sum  wfus  accordingly 
I)aid.  No  other  notable  alterations  have  lieen 
made  in  the  original  limits  of  the  coimty.  The 
following  table  shows  the  [lopulation  of  the 
coimty  at  different  periods: 

CENSl-S.  1«70.  18S0. 

Cauton  Citv 8,660        12,2611 

Canton  ToVnsliip 1  ,}».">2  2,620 


^1 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COl'NTY. 


CENSUS.  1870.  1880. 

Massillon r,Am  fi,896 

Alliance 4.(lf,;{  4.iVSH 

Pari'^ 2.()25  -ll'M 

Washington 1.980  wMiT 

Lexington 1.687  l.fUit 

Marlborough 1.870  1.(185 

Nimishillen 2M't  n.Vil) 

Osnalmrs 2,04()  2, '209 

Sandv l.lKi  l.iH") 

PilK'". 1.338  l.oOfi 

Plain 3,226  2,548 

Lake 2,113  2,119 

.Tackson 1.616  2.0.50 

Pcn-v 1,736  2,:!SM 

Beth'lclu-m 2,148  2.808 

Sugar  CrK<'k 1,779  2,228 

Tii.scarawas 2,412  2, 969 

Lawrence 3,366  4,848 

Population  in  1810 2,784 

Pojiulation  in  1820 12,406 

Population  in  1830 26,.5.58 

Population  in  1840 34,608 

Population  in  18.50 39,878 

Population  in  1860 42.97S 

Population  in  1870 .52,.5()8 

Population  in  1880 63,993 

For  a  nranber  of  years  prior  to  1807,  there 
was  considerable  talk  in  the  county  regai'ding 
the  erection  of  a  hospital  for  contagious  dis- 
eases. The  idea  met  the  approval  of  many, 
and  at  last  the  Representatives  in  the  Legis- 
lature were  instnicted  to  secure  the  passage  of 
a  bill  authorizing  the  Commissioners  of  Stark 
County  to  appropriate  fi'om  certain  funds  suffi- 
cient to  meet  such  expense.  The  following  is 
the  bill: 

Septton  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Oeneral  Assem- 
bli/  of  till'  State  of  Ohio.  Tliat  the  Commissioners  of 
Si  ark  County  are  hereby  authorized  to  seeure,  by 
lease,  donation  or  pureha.se,  a  suitable  lot,  lots  or 
piece  of  land,  in  or  near  the  incorporated  village  of 
Alliance  in  said  county,  and  to  erect  thereon  a 
building  to  be  used  maiiily  as  a  hospital  for  conta- 
gidu-  (lisiases.  They  may  also  furnish  the  same  in 
su(  li  m.iiiiH'r  as  to  secure  the  comfort  and  proper 
irfaiinciit  of  those  who  may  become  its  inmates. 

Sec.  2.  To  enable  the  Commissioners  to  execute 
the  provisions  of  this  act,  they  are  hereby  author- 
ized to  appropriate  from  the'  poor  fund  of  said 
county  an  amount  sufficient  for  tlie  puqioses  named 
in  the  foregoing  section,  not  exceeding  the  .sum  of 
$8,000. 

Sec.  3  The  Intirmary  Directors  of  said  countj' 
shall  have  the  general  nianagement  of  said  hospital 
when  completed,  and  the  same  shall  be  subject  to 
such  lawful  rules  and  regulations  as  they  may  pre- 
scribe. They  shall  provide  for  the  reception  and 
care  therein  of  paupers  chargcalile  to  said  county, 
who  may  be  afflicted  with  contagious  diseases. 
Tliey  may  also  provide  for  the  admission  of  other 
persons  suffering  from  disease,  upon  such  temis  and 


under  such  conditions  as  they  may  deem   propei-. 
They   may   al.so   place    such    hospital    temporarily 
under  the  immediate  suiiervision  and  control  of  the 
Trustees  of  Lexington  Township  in  said  county. 
Sec.  4.     This  act  shall  take  etfect  on  its  passage. 
Ed  a.  P.^RiiOTT. 
Spea/.-ir  of  the  Ilotise  of  Hepreaeiitatives. 
Andrew  G.  McBitkney. 
.Vpril  18.  18ti7.  Speaker  of  the  Senate. 

This  bill  was  passed  at  the  same  session  as 
the  one  providing  for  the  erection  of  the  coiul 
house,  and  but  a  month  later.  But  the  people 
of  the  county  found  that  they  had  upon  their 
hands  a  burden  as  great  as  they  cared  to  bear 
when  they  began  the  building  of  the  coiu-t  house, 
and  the  hospital  for  the  care  of  those  afflicted 
with  contagious  diseases  was  ch'opped  then 
and  there,  without  ceremony,  and  has  not  been 
touched  since.  The  hard  times  and  the  heavy 
taxation  immediately  succeeding  the  wiir  were 
sufficiently  oppressive  without  undertaking 
any  additional  expense  other  than  that  re- 
quired to  erect  the  court  house.  Although  the 
erection  of  such  a  building  has  not  since  been 
seriously  considered  by  the  citizens  of  the 
county,  yet  one  having  a  similai'  charitable 
object  in  view  has  been  completed  in  the 
county,  and  is  now  occupied.  Reference  is 
made  to  the  "Childi-en"s  Home,"  near  Alliance. 
The  following  is  a  portion'  of  the  law  provid- 
ing for  the  erection  of  such  building; 

SEcriON  1.  Be  it  enacted  bi/  the  General  Assem- 
bly of  the  State  of  Ohio.  That  for  the  purpose  of 
establishing  a  children's  home  in  accordance  with 
the  provisions  and  regidations  of  the  above  recited 
act,  so  fai'  as  the_y  may  be  applicable,  the  Commis- 
sioners of  any  two  or  more  adjoining  counties  in 
this  State,  not  to  exceed  ff)nr  in  number,  may.  and 
they  are  liereby  authorized,  wlien  in  their  opinion 
the  public  good  demands  it.  to  form  themselves  into 
a  joint  board,  and  proceed  to  organize  their  respect- 
ive counties  into  a  district  for  the  establishment 
and  support  of  a  cliildren's  home,  and  to  provide 
for  the  purcha.se  of  a  suitable  site,  and  the  erection 
of  necessary  buildings  thereon,  for  tlie  purposes 
contemplated  and  specified  in  the  act  to  which  this 
is  supplementar}'. 

Sec.  2.  That  said  children's  home  shall  be  for 
the  use,  protection  and  benefit  of  such  persons  res- 
ident of  the  district  wherein  located,  and  of  similar 
persons  resident  of  other  counties,  who  ma\'  be 
admitted  under  the  provisions,  requirements  and 
regulations  of  the  act  to  which  this  is  supplement- 
ary. 

Sec,  3,     Provides  forthe  appointment  of  Trustees. 

Sec.  4.     Specifies  the  powers  of  Trustees. 

Sec.  5.  The  first  cost  of  the  home,  and  the  cost 
of    all  betterments  and  additions  thereto,  shall  be 


^ 


HISTOUY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


paid  by  Ilif  counties  coinposins  tlii'  district  in  pro- 
portion to  tlic  taxable  property  of  (•a<-li  <'ounty.  as 
sliowM  l>y  their  respective  (lupiicates,  and  the  cur- 
rent expense  of  niaintaininjr  I  lie  home  and  the  cost 
of  ordinary  repairs  thereto  shall  l)e  paid  by  the 
counties  coinprisiiii;  the  district,  in  proportion  to 
the  number  of  children  from  each  cimnty  main- 
tained in  the  home  during  the  year. 

Sec.  (!.  Provides  for  the  expense  of  the  Commis- 
sioners. 

Sec.  ~.     N'ot  to  contlict  with  previous  law. 

Sec.  8.  That  this  act  shall  take  effect  and  l)e  in 
force  from  and  after  its  pa.ssage. 

CiEoiKiK  I..  Converse, 
Speaker  of  the  Ifoiine  of  lieprenentatires. 

Al.fllONSO    II.\RT, 

March  30.  1874.  Speuk-rr  of  (he  Senate. 

In  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the 
above  enactment,  the  Commissionei's  of  the 
comities  of  Stai-k.  Can-oil,  Jefferson,  Columbi- 
ana and  Mahoninj^  met  at  Salem,  Ohio,  on  the 
'2fith  of  Jtme,  1874.  to  consult  in  reference  to 
the  establishment  of  a  children's  home.  It 
was  here  decided  that  tlie  counties  of  Stark, 
Columbiana,  Portage  and  Mahoning  "  would 
make  a  compact  and  suitabh"  located  district, 
generally  easy  and  convenient  of  access."  It 
was  fiu-ther  decided  that  such  home  should 
not  cost  more  than  about  .'J40.000,  and  that 
Alliance,  or  near  there,  would  be  a  suitable 
place  for  its  location.  After  the  tidoption  of 
these  considerations,  the  President  of  the 
meeting  declai-ed  the  foiu'  last-named  counties 
foiTined  into  a  district  as  provided  in  the 
enactment.  At  subsetjuent  joint  meetings  of 
the  Commissioners,  dissatisfaction  arose,  and, 
after  extensive  discussion  and  maneuver.  Por- 
tage and  Mahoning  Counties  asked  the  ])rivi- 
lege  of  withdrawing  from  the  compact.  This 
was  granted,  and  the  next  meeting  was  held  at 
Canton,  by  the  Commissioners  of  Stark  atid 
('Olumbiana  Cotinties.  The  meeting  was  made 
public,  and  was  addressed  by  many  prominent 
men  in  both  coiuities.  all  of  whom  were  in 
ftivor  of  the  immediate  erection  of  the  home. 
About  this  time,  an  effort  was  made  by  a  few 
men  to  withfh-aw  Stark  ft-om  the  compact,  but 
without  avail.  The  following  Tnistees  were 
a|)])ointed:  C.  K.  Greiner,  five  yeai's:  James 
Davis,  four  yetirs;  Joshua  Lee,  three  years: 
Joseph  Oberlin,  two  years:  and  William  Bar- 
ber, one  year.  Two  C'ommissioners  and  two 
TVustees  were  appointed  to  purchase  a  tract 
of  land  near  Alliance.     A  farm  of  153  acres. 


owned  by  Thomas  Rakestraw,  and  located 
about  three  miles  north  of  Alliiuice,  was  ptu'- 
chased  for  $18,770,  and.  on  motion,  was  styled 
"  Fairmoimt  Children's  Home."  Plans  for 
the  building  to  be  erected  were  considered, 
and,  in  July,  1875.  the  following  proposals 
were  received: 

Robert  Greenlee *:{1.71<i  !il 

Ausn.stus  Vort :«.0(M)  00 

R.  11.  Bolen 4.i.:«^  .5.1 

E.  C.  Bard 44.79.5  00 

.lohn  K.  Poiser 33.549  20 

.Jonathan  Mevers 32,097  72 

Thomas  McEnerv 38.964  00 

Nathan  Falk. .  . ." 33.8:W  "10 

Irwin  McDonald 31.:J8:!  no 

William  Rinker *3.9.5.5  «Mi 

.1.  H.  Morrison  &  Co 30.28.5  oo 

8.  Harrold  &  Co 30.715  oo 

Campbell.  Eck  &  Co.,  Modifications 27.9.H1  !I5 

R.  H.  McCracken.  two  cottages 8.9S!i  (id 

Dull  &  Thomas,  one  cottajre 5.4.S5  <lo 

The  erection  of  the  building  was  awarded 
J.  H.  Mon-ison  &  Co.  J.  F.  Buck,  of  Lan- 
caster, was  employed  as  Superintendent,  at  a 
sahuy  of  §1,000  per  yeai'.  .John  Shirtzer  was 
hired  for  $400  to  work  a  year  on  the  fann. 
Contracts  were  mtide  to  provide  the  building 
with  gas  and  steam-heating  ap])aratus.  The 
entire  cost  of  constructing  the  liuildings  was 
$53,094.02.  and  the  expense  of  conducting  the 
home  for  the  first  year  was  $9,025.75.  The 
building  was  formally  opened  for  the  rece])tion 
of  children  during  the  spring  of  1S77.  The 
following  is  the  report  for  the  six  months  end- 
ing November  1.  1877: 

Total  children  fro.ii  Stark  Count v 87 

-Vt  the  Home  from  Stark.  Xov.  i 63 

Total  from  Columbiana  Co -57 

At  the  Home  fmm  Columbiana.  Nov.  1 41 

Punctuality  of  attendance.  Stnrk  County....  62.48 
Punclualitv  of  attendance.  Columbiana  Co...  37.52 

Total  nimiber  in  the  Home 169 

Died 7 

Sent  to  Ohio  Reform  School 2 

Discharged 2 

Excepted 1 

Sent   to  Imbecile  School :' 

Returned  to  friends ....     5 

.Vdopted 7 

Indentured ;i8 

Leaving  in  Home  Xov.  1.  1877 104 

In  pursuance  of  Section  5  of  the  alwve  enact- 
ment, it  was  found  that  Stark  slnnild  pay  three- 
fifths  of  the  cost  of  constructing  the  building, 
and  Columbiana  two-fifths.  The  expense  of 
each  cotintv  in  conducting  the  home  is  ascer- 


IIISTOKY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


tained  from  the  percentage  of  children  from 
such  cotinty  during  tlie  year.  The  number  of 
children  receiving  the  care  of  the  institution 
has  slowly  increased.  The  erection  of  the 
home  and  its  subsequent  management  ha\e  met 
with  considerable  opposition  and  discoiu'age- 
ment.  yet  the  institution,  at  present,  is  cer- 
tainly doing  good  work,  and  reflects  great  credit 
on  the  eleemosynary  spirit  of  Stark  County. 

It  may  be  an  itein  of  some  interest  to  our 
readers  to  know  the  names  of  the  different  post 
offices  in  the  county,  when  established,  etc. 
We  give  below  a  list  of  them,  as  furnished  by 
the  Post  Office  Department  at  Washington  to 
Dr.  Shisser,  who  has  kindly  jilaced  them  at 
our  disposal.     They  are  as  follows; 

Post  Uftice  When   i-stablisbed.      Name  of  first  Postmasttr. 

Cantou January  1. 1809 Samuel  Coulter. 

Paris August  2^182/ Daniel  Burgett. 

Lake December  12,  1823 Joseph  T.  UoUoway. 

Wayiu'Sburg May  19,  1824 George  Beatly 

Greenlown.,    ..  Januaiy  27, 1827 Bradley  C.  Goodwill. 

Osnaburg December  24, 1827 Christian  KuDtze 

Minerva  February  8,  1828 John  Pool. 

Bethlehem* February  8, 1828 Thomas  Hurford. 

Navarro August  14, 1843 George  W.  Swearingen. 

Barrjville May  28, 1830 Jacob  Wolfe. 

Canal  Fulton October  18,1830. .lohn  Kobinson. 

New  Franklin. ..February  20, 1832 Jesse  Shoard 

North  Indu8try..April  6,1832 B.  C.  Goodwill. 

East  Greenville..December  7,  1832 Jacob  Gregor. 

Marlborough February  8,  1833 Abraham  Brooke. 

Jobvillef Februaiy  2n,  1833 Job  Johnson. 

Mount  Union January  30,  1835 Job  Johnson. 

Magnolia May  26,  1830 John  W.  Smith. 

New  Baltimore..,February  18,1837 William  H»ines. 

Louisville March  11, 18.)7 Solomon  A.  Gorga-. 

Mapleton May  12, 1837 William  Criswell. 

Hartvillo November  4, 1837 John  D.  Willis. 

Limaville March  14, 1839 John  G.  Mi.rsi. 

West  Brookfleld.May  1,1843 Valentine  Bohn. 

Cairo April  S,  1850 Abraham  G.  Bnir. 

Alliance December  31,  1851 David  G,  Heser. 

McDonaldsville.. April  26,  1862 Benjamin  F.  Williams. 

McD..naldlville..Di8Contin'd  Oct  14,1852. 

Maximo February  15,  1863 Jacob  C.  Fry. 

North  Lawreoce.June  6,  1854 Jacob  John. 

South  Rome lune  6,  1854 Adam  Koons. 

South  Rome October  4,  1858J 

Pierce June  8, 1854? John  Croft. 

Freeburg March  29,  1856 John  S.  Cook. 

McDonaldsville. .December  29,  1857 Samuel    Litchlennater.** 

Kobertaville December  1, 1862 Peter  Adolff. 

Wilmot June  7, 1^66 Charlea  W.  Keotz. 

Richville January  12, 1872 John  Martin. 

Justus February  3.  1874 Henry  Morganthaler  Jr. 

Crystal  Springs  ..August  19,  1S74 Jamt;s  W.  Reed. 

As  early  as  December,  1834,  the  County 
Commissioners  directed  the  Auditor  to  cause  to 
be  published  in  all  the  newspapers  in  the 
county  a  notice  to  the  effect  that  the  Commis 
sionere  would  "  pay  $!(•  for  the  best  jilan  for 
a  poor  house,  or  the  ])lan  which  may  lie  adopted 

*  i  hanged  to  Navari  e. 

t  Changed  to  Mount  Union. 

'  Discontinued. 

i  Established. 

**  Re-established. 


by  the  board,  to  be  submitted  on  the  2d  of 
February,  1835."  The  '2d  came,  but  only  two 
of  the  Commissioners  were  present,  and  the 
matter  was  postponed  until  the  next  regular 
session.  It  seems,  however,  that  this  was  not 
the  first  move  in  this  direction,  as  on  the  17th 
of  December,  1833,  it  was  decided  that  the 
county  must  have  a  home  for  the  poor.  At 
this  time,  they  bought  of  John  Sliorb  and  Jolin 
Saxton  a  farm  of  aljout  150  acres,  lieing  a  j)art 
of  the  northwest  quju'ter  of  Section  33,  Town- 
ship 11,  Range  b,  paying  for  the  same  $2,- 
000.  Beyond  a  doubt,  the  subject  had  been 
broached  and  discussed  at  earlier  meetings  of 
the  boai'd,  but  this  was  the  hi'st  decided  move- 
ment toward  the  canying-out  of  the  plan.  In 
June,  1835,  John  Shank  was  employed  to  dig 
a  well  on  the  fann,  which  he  did  at  the  rate 
of  .|1.50  per  foot.  At  this  time,  a  tax  of  \  of 
a  mill  was  levied  on  the  taxable  property  of 
the  county,  for  the  purpose  of  paying  for  the 
poor  farm  and  erecting  the  necessary  public 
buildings.  In  August,  I  S:'6,  the  board  bor- 
rowed .f  1,000  of  the  Canton  Bank,  the  same  to 
be  used  toward  the  erection  of  the  poor  house. 
After  examining  several  proposals,  Abraham 
Lind  was  finally  employed  to  constnict  the 
building,  and,  on  the  14th. of  July.  1837,  it 
was  taken,  completed,  from  his  control.  The 
writer  of  this  chapter  could  not  learn  the  con- 
tract price  of  constructing  the  building.  There 
was  some  misunderstanding  regarding  the  cost 
of  the  building,  as,  in  July,  1837,  the  board 
ordered  an  e.xtra  allowance  of  §2,000  given  to 
Mr.  Lind:  Ijut.  in  September,  this  order  was 
rescinded,  and  the  whole  subject  of  settlement 
between  the  contractor  and  the  board  was  left 
to  the  following  committee  of  arbitrators: 
Lot  Good.speed.  Jacob  Bahnev,  Benjamin  Bli- 
ler,  John  Gruble  and  Peter  Troxell.  The 
terms  agreed  upon  are  not  recorded.  Since 
this  early  day,  various  improvements  and  ad- 
ditions have  been  made  to  the  farm  and  build- 
ing, until  at  present  the  institution  has  quite 
an  imposing  appearance.  The  following  is 
taken  fi'oui  a  late  number  of  the  Canton  Ri- 
punitory: 

The  infirmary  is  situated  aljout  two  miles  north 
of  the  city,  the  huildings  t)eing  several  hundred 
j'ards  Ijack  from  the  road.  They  are  reached  t)y  a 
neatly  kept  lane,  bounded  on  each  side  by  white 
washed  fences,  and  the  visitor  is  first  impres.sed  by 


-^ 


(jtXv\^  ^^W^t-^x-A^Aie?^ 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


the  air  of  neatness  and  order  that  everywhere  pre- 
vails. The  gra.ss  along  the  roadside  and  the  lawn 
before  the  building  is  smoothly  cut.  and  free  from 
any  signs  of  rubbish.  The  main  portion  of  the 
building  extends  from  north  to  south,  with  a  wing 
at  eaeh  extremity  running  backward.  The  main 
portion  is  100  feet  long,  the  north  wing  112  and  the 
Bouth  wing  UK).  It  is  two  stones  high,  with  a  large 
double  verandah  running  along  the  north  and  south 
sides.  It  was  ererted  in  1887,  and  at  the  time  of  its 
completion  must  have  been  sufficiently  ample  in  all 
respects  for  the  use  to  which  it  was  adopted,  as  well 
as  a  work  of  merit,  from  an  architectural  point  of 
view;  l)ut  such  a  length  of  time  has  elapsed  since 
then,  and  the  increasing  demand  for  room  growing 
proportionately  with  the  increase  in  population, 
now  makes  it  cimtined  and  inadc<iuate  to  the  de- 
mands upon  it.  The  noticeable  feature,  remarked 
by  all  who  visit  it,  is  the  superior  manner  in  which 
it  is  governed  and  everj-thing  relative  to  it  con- 
ducted. 

The  main  portion  of  the  building  on  the  first 
floor  is  devoted  to  the  private  use  ot  the  Superin- 
tendent and  his  family,  dining  rooms  in  several 
departments,  public  rooms,  as  the  office  and  room 
for  the  rece])tion  of  visitors,  rooms  for  household 
work  and  to  other  uses.  In  the  basement  of  the 
main  portion,  which  is  on  a  level  with  the  ground, 
are  kitchens,  storerooms  and  various  other  depart- 
ments. The  second  floor  is  devoted  to  sleeping 
apartments.  The  north  wing  is  reserved  for  the 
insane,  corriders  running  the  entire  length  of  it  on 
both  floors,  lined  on  each  side  bv  the  various  rooms. 

On  the  tirst  tloor  are  the  dining  rooms,  sitting 
rooms  and  some  sleeping  apartments.  The  wing  is 
not  entinOy  devoted  to  the  insane,  the  large  number 
of  inmates  necessitating  a  portion  of  the  .space  being 
given  to  tlie  other  inmates.  It  is  divided  into  male 
and  female  departments,  communicating  with  each 
other  by  an  iron  door,  generally  locked,  but  during 
the  day  in  warm  weather  o])en,  to  create  as  much 
draft  as  possible.  The  south  wing  is  for  the  better 
class  of  inmates,  and  corresponds  in  general  to  that 
of  the  north. 

The  gromids  comprise  230  acres  of  as  good  laud 
as  can  be  found.     It   is  kejit   in   the  best  condition 


and  yields  abundantlj-.  In  addition  to  the  various 
smaller  buildings  devoted  to  their  several  uses,  there 
is  a  large,  handsome  barn,  completed  last  summer, 
and  being  11.5.\.56  feet  in  size.  As  an  idea  of  the 
quantity  produced  by  the  farm,  the  following  yield 
of  last  year  is  given:  l,i».")0  busliels  of  wheat,  :i,(MK) 
bushels'of  corn,  1,TIM)  bushels  of  oats,  1,.")(X)  l)ushels 
of  potatoes  and  110  tons  of  hay. 

Throughout  the  entire  building  all  is  neatness  and 
order,  the  walls  and  ceilings  being  nicely  white- 
washed, and  the  wood  work  showing  frequent  appli- 
cations of  sponge  and  water.  Those  who  are  able 
among  the  inmates  are  assigned  work  suitable  for 
them;  the  men  being  employed  on  the  farm  and 
"out-door  work  generally,  while  the  females  are  sup- 
plied with  duties  about  the  house.  The  aged  and 
intinn,  and  those  in  any  luauner  disquaUiied  for 
labor,  are  to  be  seen  sitting  around  in  various  places, 
on  the  many  seats  conveniently  provided,  or  slowly 
walking  from  place  to  place,'  There  are  now  172 
inmates  in  the  infirmary,  while  the  building  contains 
eighty  rooms.  The  tirst  inmate  was  Samuel  Miller, 
aged  twenty-five,  from  jMassillon,  who  died  in  No- 
vember 1875;  the  last  entered,  Mrs,  Preast,  from 
Canton.  The  oldest  imnate  is  Tim  Sinunons,  iiged 
one  hundred  and  three,  who  came  from  Alliance 
about  two  years  ago.  Mr.  Samuel  C^romer  the  Su- 
perintendent, has  ociaipied  that  position  for  the  ])ast 
ten  years. 


At  the  Marcli  scwsion  of  the  Bosu-d  in  1885, 
iin  order  was  issued  approiiriating  Sl'JT)  to  aid 
in  defraying  the  expense  of  transporting  a  lire- 
engine  from  Phihidelphia  to  Canton,  for  use 
in  the  latter  town.  From  the  fact  thiit  the 
uses  of  steam  at  that  day  were  comjiaratively 
unknown,  and  steam  engines  at  best  \vere  hnt 
rude  affairs  com|)ar<Hl  with  tliose  at  present, 
this  movement  of  the  citizens  was  not  only  a 
noteworthy  one,  but  it  must  have  been  as  much 
of  an  experiment  as  anj^thing  else.  What  the 
se^juel  was  cannot  be  learned. 


ik 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


NAMES  OF  COUNTY  OFFICERS  FROM  THE 


1809 
1810 
1811 
1812 
181S 
1814 
1816 
1816 
1817 
1818 
1819 
1820 
1821 
1822 
1823 
1824 


J.  McGuio 

J.  McGuin 

Tho3.  C.  Shields. 


John  Patton 

.  McClure... 
Moses  Andrews. 

;a  Andrews. 

;s  Andrews. 
Moses  Andrews, 
.lohn  Au(ju8'ine. 
John  Augustine. 
John  Augustine. 
John  Aupistine. 
John  Augustine. 
John  Augiis(ine. 
Timothy  Reed.. 
Timothy  Reed.. 
John  Oasky 

1829      i*"  •'^»^'' 

jg3Q      IHeniy  Guise 


John  Myen 


TREASnREK. 


James  Carapbell- 
James  C^uipbt-ll. 
D.  L.  McClnre... 
D.  L.  McLlure... 
D.  T,.  McClure... 
D.  L.  McClure.. 
'D,  L.  McClure... 
William  Fogle... 


Harmon  Stidger 


Henry  Guise 

Henry  Guise 

George  N.  Webb 
George  N.  Webb. 
George  N.  Webb 
George  N.  Webb, 
D.  Raffensperger 
D.  ItBffensperger 
D.  RaffenspprgeriWill 
D.  Raffenspergi  -"'"' 
John  Brandon 
John  Brandon 
John  Brandon 

1844    ID.  RaffensporgerlJohn  Brandon 

^g45      H.  Shanafelt... 

1846  " 

1847 


1831 
1832 
1833 
1834 
1835 
1836 
1837 
1838 
1839 
1840 
1841 
1842 
1843 


William  Fogle... 
William  Fogle. 
William  Fogle. 
William  Fogle 
John  Bon  field 
J,,hn  Bon  field. 


Raynolds, 
Wm,  Raynolds 
Wm.  Raynolds 
Wm  R»ynold8,Jr 


H.  Hallock.... 

H.  Hallock 

J.  W.  Lsthrop... 

W.  Lathrop.... 
J.  W.  Lathrop.... 
J.  W..Lathrop.... 
J.  W.  Latlirop.... 

W.  Lathrop..., 

\\  .  Lathrop... 
J.  W.  Lathrop  .. 

John  Layton 

John  Layton 

Alpheus  Brown. 
Alpheua  Brown. 
Mpheus  Brown. 
Alpheus  Brown, 
Mpheus  Brown 
lAlpheiiB  Brown, 
Alpheus  Blown, 


PE'G  ATTORKEY. 


1  Brjce.. 
.  Brvce.. 


John  Saxton lAlpl: 

John  Saxton lAlpheus  Brown 

Abraham  t,inJ...|Alphen3  Brown 
Abraham  Lind...pan'l  Gott«haU. 
William  Dunbar pan'l  Gottshall. 
Willinm  Dunbarpan'l  Gott-hall. 
Dnnbarpan'I  Gottshall. 

William   Dnnbar 

R.  H.  McCall iDan'l  Gottshall 


R.  H.  McCall. 
R.  H.  McCall. 
R.  R.  McCall. 
J.  Keplinger. 
J  Keplinger. 
J.  Keplinger, 
Webh.  J.  Kepi 


McCully., 
McCully., 

,Alex.  McCully. 

.Alex.  McCully. 

.  W.  H.  Burke.... 

.  W.  H.  Burke  ... 

.  W.  H   Burke.... 


{glq     ::::..  George  N.  Webb.  G.  P.  McCadden..  W.  H,  Bnrk, 

5sS     ....  George  N.  Webb.  G.  P.  McCadden,.  Isaac  Stedden, 

">^'>      1— _—.v  !,„_.. 5tn..u G.  p.  McCa.dden,.  Isaac  Stadden 


Willi 

Willinm  Uryce 

D.  Raffensperger. 
D.  Raff.-nsperger. 
D.  Raffensperger. 

Arnold  Lynch 

Arnold  Lynch 

Arnold  Lyiich 

Arnold  Lynch 

Arnold  Lynch — 

jArnold  Lynch 

John  Bluer 

Ijohn  Bauer 

John  Bauer 

George  Held 

George  Held 

George  Held 

George  Held, 


John  Clark 

John  Clirk 

G.  N,  W.-bb 

G.  N.  Webb 

William  Roberts.. 
William  Roberts.. 

Abraham  Lind 

Abraham  Lind 

Henry  Slusser 

Henry  Slusser 

Elijah  Cri"man 

Elijah  Crisman.. 


Dwight  Jarvis 

Dwight  Jarvis 

Geoig'<  W.Belden.. 
[George  W.Belden,, 
ISamuel  Lahn 


1851 

1862 

IS,^ 

18.';4 

18,55 

1866 

18,67 

18,68 

18,69 

1860 

1861 

1862 

1863 

1864 

1865 

1866 

1867 

1868 

1869 

1870 

1871 

1872 

1873 

1874 

1875 

1876 

1877 

1878 

1879 

1880 


A   J  Stnhl  IPeter  Deshon- 

A,  J,  S(ah\ |Peter  Deshong 

L.  Anderson Peter  Deshong 

L    Anderson iPeter  Desbong 


John 

John 

John  Ijlhm |Samuel  Beatty 

'w,  F,  Eyans iSamuel  Beatty 

W.  F.  Evans jSimuel  Beatty 


w!  f'.  Evan8:;;;;.|Daniel  Sayler-,,,,  G    W,  Lawr^n 

W,  F.  Evans (Daniel  Sayler 

W.  F.  Evans ;Peter  Chance. 

w!  F,  Evans iPeter  Chance, 

A.  Heldcnbrand.,] Peter  Chance. 
A  Heldenbrand,,  Peter  Chance, 
A.Heldenbrand.,|B.  A,  Dunbar, 
A.  Helrtenhrand.,  R,  A,  Dunbar, 
A.  Heldenbrand„'B,  A,  Dunbar, 


Elijah  Crism  in iSamufl    Lahm 

Elijah  Crisman jsamuel   Lahm 

Peter  Barges :Samuel   Lahm 

Peter  Barges J.  D.  Brown 

Peter  Barges jj.  D.  Brown 

IPeMr  Barges Ll.  D.  Brown 

Ijamcs  Doltahen....  J.  D,  Brown 

'jauies  D'lltaben.,,,  James  Armstrong, 
ijames  Dallagban,..  James  Armstrong, 

James  Dallaghan,..|S,  Myers 

jpavid  Hshn iS,  Myers 

iDavid  Hahn |S,  Myers 

Gorge  Held iDavid  Hahu S,  Myers 

George  Held lOarid  Hahn jW.  F.  Evans 

Peter  Chance ID.  H.  Harman W.  F,  Evans 

Harmau W.  F.  Evans 

m  Barber, .„!W.  F,  Kvans 

Barber Joseph  Frease, 

Frease, 
Brown 

I  S  Rider  Thos,  McCril,.,!!!  J.  Keplinger IWiUiani  ,,  „„ 

j:  S.  Ridel-',::;;:;,.  Thos.McCaU J.  KepUnger Ijohn  Shepley ]J.  D.  Brown 

J.  S.  Rider 


,.,  P,  McCadden..  A    McGrego 

V.  R,  Feather A.  McGregor Peter  Chance, 

U  R.  Feather Henry  Cock Peter  Chance, 


.iWillii 


Anderson Teter  Mesnong...,^.  ".  ■-"'""•-    ^      -  ^    ^  p„ter  Chance William  Barber Joseph  I 

Anderson jR,  A,  Dunbar D,  R  Feather gf^^^.^  ^«^^-  Peter  Chance J.  F.  Kirk Ijoseph  I 

m  Lahm %  A.  r>"'>"ar^  •  V  ,?  JZl      He"ry  Cock        .  Peter  Chance J.  F    Kirk J.  D.  Br, 

in  Lahm bamnel  Beatty...  J.  N.  K  der ~,,'''\,,V„         j.  Kenlinger WiUiam  M»rwin...  J,  D.  Brc 


.  T,  W.  Saxton J.  Keplinger IJnhn  l-hepley [ J.  D.  Brown., 


W.  Saxton,, 
W,  Lawrence  J.  Keplinger.. 
W,  Lawrence  J,  Keplinger., 
W.  Lawrence  Henry  Cock,,, 


A.  Heldenbrand 

E.  W.  Page 

E.  W,  Page 

E.  W-  Page 

E.  W.  Page 

B.  W,  Page 

E,  W,  Page 

.lohn  T.  Hayes., 
John  T.  Haves., 
John  T,  Hayes,, 
Benj,  D.  Wilson 


,  Dunbae, 


U,  R,  Feather. 

U.  R,  Feather, 

J,.hn  Steel 

John  Steel 

Ira  M,  Allen,. 

Ira  M,  Allen,, 
William  Baxter,,  Ira  M,  Allen,, 
William  Baxter.,  Ira  M,  Allen  , 
William  Baxter,., George  Fessle 
William  Baxter.,  George  Fessle 

J,  P  Rouch George  Fessle 

P.  Rouch :S  R.  Geib 

P.Roucli |T,  Sullivan 

J,  P.  Ronch T.  Sullivan..., 

H.  Alterkrusi 


Ed.  A.  Lee,, 


.  A   A, 
A.  A, 
,  C.  L.  Reifsniiler. 
.  C.  L.  Reifsmiler. 
.  C.  L,  Reifsmiler, 

,  J.  Keplinger 

.  J.  Keplinger 

„  J,  Keplinger 

,.  M.  E.  Wilcox.... 
..  M.  E.  WilcuX..,, 
..  M.  E.  Wilcox... 
..  M.  E.  Wilcox... 


Bates iRodman  Lovett iS.  Mye 

Bates iRodnmii  Lovett |S,  Myers 

Bates iRodnvin  Lovett G.  K.Baldwin 

Rodman  Lovett ,G.  E.  Baldwin 

D,  V.  Clark C.  F.  Manderson,,, 

D  V,  Clark JC,  F.  Manderson... 

J.  F.  Kirk ,W.  A,  Lynch 

J,  F,  Kirk |W.  A.  Lynch 

Daniel  Dewalt W.  McKinley,  Jr., 

Daniel  Dewalt.. 

Daniel  Dewalt.. 

Daniel  Dewalt.. 

J.  E,  Mentzer,,., 

J,  E,  Mentzer, 


H,  Alterkr 


.  T,  Sulli' 


W.  McKinley,  J: 
,W.  A.  Lynch... 
,W,  A,  Lynch,,, 
J.  J,  Parker,,,. 
J.J,  Parker... 
R.  A.  Shields,,, 
!r,  a.  Shields.,. 
iR,  A,  Shields.. 
iR.  A.ShieldSi.. 
iHenry  Harter. 
w:  Bariiahy iGeorge  Cock... ...... JHenry  Harter. 


J  A    Souerbeck..  M.  E.  Wilcox H,  \llerkruse.... 

,  J,  A.  Souerbeck.  P.  Manley ,H.  Alterkruse..., 

J  A.  Souerbeck,.  P.  Manley !B.  H,  Anderson. 

,  J,  A.  Souerbeck..  P.  Manley ,R  H.  Anderson. 

.  Wm.  A.  Creach..  J.  W.  Barnaby Phillip  Shilling, 

,.  J,  N.  Ramsey..,. 


NOTE.-This  list  show's  the  dates  of  election,  not  those  of  entering  upon  duty. 


^. 


-^K*. 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  COUNTY,  IN  1809,  TO  1875. 


Year. 

SURVETOK. 

COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS. 

PROBATE  JUDGE. 

COMMON    PLEAS 
JUDGE 

18U9 
1810 

Among   the   early|J.  Latimer 

Surveyors    were  J.  Latimer 

Daniel  McClure.J.  Latimer 

Alex.         Porter,  J.  Latimer 

M.     Oswalt,     .I.'j.  Latimer 

F.    Leonard,    R. . I.  Latimer 

Williams        anIJ.  Laiimer 

others.                    'W.  Alban 

W.  All.an 

J.  Nichols 

J.  Nichols 

S.  Coulter 

S.  Coulter 

Oflice  of  Probate  Judge 
established  1851. 

Calvin  Paise. 
B.i.j..min  Rupgles. 
Bf-iij«niin  Kugjilea. 
Belijiiinin  Ilugglea 
Benjamin  Hug.  les. 
Benjami'i  Ruggtes. 
George  Todd. 
Benjamin  Tajipan. 
Den?«niin  Tappao. 

H.  Eherhard 

H.  Kberlmrd 

II.  Eberhard 

I.  Kryd.r 

J.  Kryder 

J.  Snxton 

J.  Saxton 

J.  SaxloD 

W.  Foglo 1       

1813 
1814 
1815 
1816 
1817 

W.  Fugle 

W.  Fogle 1 

W.  Fogle 1 

J.  Drennan* 1 

lohn  Sluss 1 

John  Slues 

1818 

...W.  Alban 

Be„j„min  T«pp«i^ 
Benjamin  Tiippan. 
Benjamin  Tsppan. 
Benjamin  Tappatk. 
J.  11.  Hallock. 

18-^1 

...  S.  Harris 

1.  Saxton 

John  Sluss 

J.  Bowers 

J.  Rowers 

J.  Bowers 

1826 

..'P.  Moltice 

W.  Christmas 

W.  Ch  list  mas 

J.  II.  Hallock. 

182G 

J.  H.  Hallock. 

J    U   Hallock. 

J.  11.  Hallock. 

J.  Hazlett 

T.  Hczlelt 

J.  U.  Hall.  ck. 

N.  Stump 

J.  U.  Halbick. 

J.  H.  Hallock. 

J.  Sorrirh 

I.  Hazlett 

J.  Hazlett 

J.  Soirich 

J.  Soriich 

J.Sorrich 

G.  Kteighbaum 

0.  Kreiphl.aum 

G.  Kr.  ighbauni 

W.  Dillon 

N.  Slump 

J.  H.  Hallock. 

J.  11.  Hallock. 

...]J.  Downing 

N.  Stump 

J.  H.  Hallock. 

John  Whltacre. 
John  Whitacre. 
John  Whi.acre. 
Michael  Slump 
Michael  Stump. 
Michael  Stump. 
Miclia.  1  Slump. 
Andrew  Lynch. 
.\ndrew  Lynch. 
Andrew  Lynch. 
Arnold  Lynch.. 
Arnold  Lynch.. 
Arnold  Lynch.. 
John  Whitacre. 
John  Whitacre. 
John  Whitacre. 
John  Whitacre. 
J.'hn  Whitacre. 
John  Whitacre. 
.lohn  Whitacre. 
J.hn  Whitacre. 
John  Whitacre. 
J.  G.  Willard... 
J.  G.Willard... 

...iP.  Slimmel 

...  P.  Stimmel 

...  P.  Ftiuimel 

....P.  Slimmel 

....  P.  Stimmel 

N.  Stump 

J.  H.  Hallock. 

G.  W.  Beldrn. 

G.  W.  BeldtD. 

J.  Brelz 

G.  W.  Belden. 

G.  W.  Belden. 

J.  Brelz 

G.  W.  Belden. 

1S4J 

....'g.  HoweUBtine 

...G.  Howenstine 

.     G.  Howenftine 

....:G.  Howenstine 

....|G.  Howenstine 

....G.  Howenstine 

....J.  B.  Hoover 

....jJ.  Kurtz 

....J.  Kurlz 

...J.  Kurtz 

.....1.  Kurtz 

....|J.  G.  Lester 

....;L.  Alexander 

....  L.  Alexander 

....I.  Estep 

....  1.  Eale|i 

....  E.  Teeters 

....Ie.  Teeters 

W.  Dillon 

W\  Dillon 

W.  Dillon 

W.  Dillon 

J    Bretz 

G.  W.  Belden. 

G.  W.  Belden. 

18)4 

■1  Gallatil 

John  Pearce. 

L.-'chlott 

J.  Schlott 

M.  Sheplar 

M.Sheplar 

M.  Sheplar 

M.  Sheplar 

John  Pearce. 

1848 

J.  (iallalif 

John  Pearce. 

J.  Kurtz 

John  Pearce. 

1851 
1852 

S.  Smith 

S.  Smith 

S.Smith 

J.  G.  Lester 

J.G.  Lester 

J.  G.  Lester 

L.  Alexander 

L.  .\lexander 

L.  Alexander 

G.W.ilf 

G.  Wolf. 

Geofge  W.  Rafl. 

George  W.  Raff. 

George  W.  Raff. 

Isaac  Hazlett 

Isaac  Hszltt- 

Isaac  Hazlelt 

W.  II.  Burke 

W.  H.  Burke 

W.  11    Burke 

J.  W.  Underbill 

J.  W.  Underbill 

G.  W.  Belden. 
G.  W.  Belden. 

.853 
1854 
1855 
18.16 
1857 
1858 
1859 

M.  Sheplar 

M.  Sheplar 

C.  M.  Russell 

C.  JI    Russell 

C.  M.  Russell 

A.  .Mahl 

A.  .Slahl 

G.  W.  Belden. 
0.  W.  Belden. 
John  Clark.* 
L.  W.  Potter. 
L.  W.  Potter. 
J.  A.  Ambler.t 
J.  A.  Ambler. 

A.  .Slahl 

S.  Smith 

S.  Smith 

S.  Smith 

18«1 

J.ihn  Whitacre. 
John  Whitacre. 
John  Whitacre. 
J.  G.  Williams. 
J.  G.  Williams. 
J.  G.  Williams. 
J.  G.  Williams. 
J.  G.  Williams. 
J.  G.  Williams. 
R.  K.  tt  ilson.... 
R.  E.  Wilson.... 
R.  E.  Wilson.... 
,J  G.  Williard... 
!j.  G   Williard... 
'J.  0  Williard... 

.lohn  Moll 

John  Holl 

John  Holl 

B.  A.  Wi.a 

R.  A.  Wise 

....E.  Teeters 

....A.  Stal.l 

....Ia.  .Slahl 

J.  A.  Ambler. 
J.  A.  Ambler. 

18C:i 

G.  Wolf. 

G.  Wolf. 

G.  w-oir 

R.  Lee 

R.  Lee 

R.Lee 

a  Lee 

H.  Lee 

R.  Lee 

J.  Woo-l 

J.  W.  Underbill 

J.  W.  Underbill 

J   W   Underbill 

J.  A.  Ambler. 

1865 

...  R.  R.  Porter 

....  R.  R.  P.rter 

....|R.  R.  Porter 

....  R.  R.  Porter 

....  R.  R.  Porter 

.....R.  R   Porter 

....  C.  Zollars 

....C.  Zollars 

0.  W.  Lawrence... 

L.  .Miaefer 

L.  .Shaefer 

L.  Shaefer 

J.M.Trubey 

J.  M.Tiubey 

J.M.Tri.bey 

1807 
1808 
1800 
1870 
1871 
187-2 

J.  W.  Underbill 

J.  W.  Underbill 

J.  W.  Undeihlll 

J.  W.  Underbill 

J.  W.  Underbill 

A.  HeWenbrand 

A.  Heldenhrand 

A.  Heldenhrand 

A.  Heldenhrand 

A.  Heldenhrand 

Joseph  Frea«e. 
Joseph  Krease. 
J.}8e|)b  Frease. 
.lose)<h  Krease. 
Joseph  Kreaso. 
Jos.  ph  Kr.ase. 

1874 

....IL.  Raber 

J.  P.Hirman 

J.  W.od 

Jos.'ph  Frease. 
J'rscph  Freaee. 
Joseph  Frease. 
S.  Meyer. 

1870 

....,L  Baher 

....  L.  Raber 

....  L.  Raher 

....  L.  lUher 

Frank  Millho<.p.... 

J.  Poorm.n 

J.  Poorman 

J.  Poorman 

W.  Gnest 

W.  Guest 

J    \Voo.l 

1877 

NSS 

E.  Hazen 

A.  Heldenlran.l 

1879 
188(1 

E.  Hazen 

E.  Hazen 

A.  H-ldenbran.! 

A.  Ileldenbrand 

S.  Meyer. 
S.  Meyer. 

NoTK— This  list  thowd  the  datuo  of  elcctiuii,  not  those  of  entering  iipou 

*Pro  tem. 

+J.  W.  Church,  addltlonHl  Judg-.  U58, 1859, 18G0, 18C1, 1862. 


TV" 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


CHAPTER     IV.* 

F.AKLV    ('HUR(  H    HISTOKV— PIONEER  MINISTERS— SCHOOLS— EARLV  SrHOOLHOUSES— STATISTICS 
—RAILROADS  AND  CANALS— THEIR    EARLY  CONSTRUCTION— I'ERFECT   RAIL- 
ROAD SYSTEM    OF   THE    COUNTY— I'RO.IECTED  ROADS. 


FOR  the  first  ten  or  twenty  years  after  set- 
tlements began  in  what  is  now  Stark  Coun- 
ty, society  was  but  little  divided   bj-   sectional 
lines.     In  church,  politics  and  social  matters,  i 
neighborhoods   for   miles   about    were   closely  ! 
allied  by  tiie  necessities  of  the  situation,  and  ■ 
the  people  in  the  spirit  of  true  democracy   in- 
quired only  into  the  moral   worth  of  the  new- 
comer.    The  majority  of  the  adults  among  the 
early  settlers  of  the  county  had  been  members 
of  some  one  of  the  Christian  churches  of  their 
native  States  or  countries,  and  at  the  first  op-  , 
portunitj'  arrangements  of  more  or  less  per- 
manent character  were  made  for  Christian  wor- 
ship.    Sectarian  feelings,  under  the  exigencies 
of  the   occasion,   were  lost   sight  of.  or  kept  ' 
strictly  in  abeyance,  and  the  different  religious  ! 
sects  and  denominations  united  to  establish  and  i 
continue    religious    worship   on    the    Sabbath,  j 
Exercises  were  held  in  the  cabins  of  the  set- 
tlers, new  and  unoccupied  buildings,  barns,  or  I 
in  any  place  suited  to  the  convenience  of  the  j 
time.     Services  commenced  with  the  "  singing  \ 
of  a  hymn,  in   which  all  took  part,  and  were  ! 
able  to  keep  time  and   sing  in  unison  without  | 
the  aid  of  organ  or  musical  instrument,"  as  we 
were  informed  by  an   aged  pioneer.     After  the 
singing,  a  prayer  was  offered,  when   a   sermon 
would  be  rea(i  by   some  one.  and  exhortations 
made,  after  which  another  hymn  was  sung,  and 
the  congregation  dismissed.     Sa\s  our  inform- 
ant ;  •'  Many  of  those  who  witnessed   these  re-  j 
ligious  exercises  in  the  then  wilderness  cannot  1 
have  forgotten  the  zeal,  the  good  feeling,  the  I 
solemnity,    that   was    apparent.       (iod    smiled 
graciously  on  the   first  settlers  and    conferred  ' 
upon  them  many  and  rich  blessings  while  em- 
ployed   in   rearing  homes  in  these  wilds.      .\.t 
the    Sabbath    prayer-meetings    there    was    a 
marked  reverence,  anil  not  a  few  can  date  back 
to  those  times  and  places  their  first  and  lasting  I 
religious  impressions." 

The  churches  of  Stark  County   liave  passed 

'Contributed  lij'  W.  H.  Pcrrin. 


through  great  changes  since  the  days  of  their 
early  organization.  Many  have  died  out,  some 
have,  as  an  organization,  changed  their  creed, 
and  others  have  sprung  up  and  supplanted  the 
older  established  ones.  Religion  itself,  we 
almost  fear  sometimes,  is  like  everything  else 
we  have  at  the  present  day — slightly  adulterat- 
ed, and  wholly  unlike  the  old  genuine  article 
proclaimed  in  the  sermon  upon  the  Mount.  It 
may  be,  however,  that  wc  entertain  some  old 
fogj-  ideas  on  the  subject,  now  obsolete,  and 
not  in  keeping  with  the  age  in  which  we  live. 
We  will,  therefore,  leave  criticism  to  those  who 
are  more  dissatisfied  with  church  management 
than  we  are,  and  will  devote  our  attention  t  > 
the  organization  of  churches  and  church  so- 
cieties in  this  county. 

The  early  settlers  of  the  couutj-  were  morall}' 
inclined,  and  religious  meetings  were  held 
almost  as  soon  as  actual  settlements  were  made. 
Just  when  and  upon  what  precise  spot  the 
first  church  society  was  organized,  we  are  un- 
able to  say.  In  Plain  Township  we  have  an 
account  of  religious  meetings  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Stough  as  early  as  ISOIJ,  and  of  the  erection  of 
a  church  there  in  1800.  A  church  was  built 
in  Jackson  Township  in  1814,  bj-  all  religious 
denominations  at  that  time  represented  in  the 
township.  It  was  of  hewed  logs  and  called 
"  Zion's  Church."  The  first  preaching  in  Osna- 
burg  Township,  of  which  we  have  reliable  in- 
formation, was  by  Rev.  William  Mitchell,  a 
Methodist  circuit-rider.  He  was  also  the  first 
preacher  in  Sugar  Creek  Township.  Rev.  Eld- 
ward  Otis  was  one  of  the  pioneer  Baptist 
preachers  of  the  county.  The  first  church  in 
Sandy  Township  was  built  by  the  Presbyterians 
and  Lutherans,  of  which  denominations  Rev. 
Joshua  Beer  (Presbyterian)  and  Rev.  !Mr. 
Wagenholtz  (Lutheran)  were  the  first  pre'ach- 
ers  in  this  section.  St.  John  s  Catholic  Church 
was  organized  in  Canton  in  1818,  and  the  Pres- 
bj'terian  Church  in  1821.  A  Methodist  Church 
was  organized  in  Lexington  Township  in  1810, 


-*3t; 


^K^ 


HISTORY  OF   STARK   COUNTY. 


■Jll 


and  a  church  built  in  1827.  Revs.  Weir  and 
Faust.  Lutlieran  and  German  Reformed  minis- 
ters, were  pioneers  in  Stark  County,  The  Dun- 
kards  were  tlic  first  relisiious  sect  in  Nimishillen 
Township.  'I'lio  (.^tuakens  built  the  lirst  eliurcli 
in  Marlborough  Towuwliip,  and  Rev.  Kicliard  S. 
Goe,  a  Swedenborgiaii.  was  tlie  first  preacher 
in  Bethlehem. 

Thus  the  different  secticms  of  the  county 
were  lirouiihl  under  religious  influence,  by  the 
organization  of  churches,  and  the  erection  of 
temples  of  worship,  until  at  the  present  writing, 
there  are  in  the  county  over  130  church  build- 
ings, costing  from  .'fl.SOO  to  $80,000  and  up- 
ward each.  This  showing  is  pretty  good  evi- 
dence that  the  jjeople  have  not  retrograded 
from  their  early  religious  training. 

EdiicittiioKiJ. — Nothing  is  more  characteristic 
of  the  settlement  of  Ohio  than  the  prominence 
which  educational  efl'ort  early  attained  in  its 
social  development.  The  settlements  were 
sparse,  and  money  or  (jther  means  to  secure 
teachers  were  obtained  with  great  difficulty, 
liut  parents  and  children  alike  seemed  to  ap 
predate  the  great  advantage  which  knowledge 
bestowed,  and  made  endless  sacrifices  to  gain 
this  coveted  gift.  In  many  cases  in  Stark 
County,  schools  were  begun  and  carried  on 
without  much  hope  of  reward,  and  ])rincipally 
as  a  lalior  of  love.  Houses  were  liuilt  for 
school  purposes,  before  there  were  children 
enough  in  the  ne'ighborhood  to  form  a  very  full 
school. 

These  early  schoolhouses  were  rude  in  con- 
struction, and  partook  much  of  the  same  gen-' 
eral  plan,  Logs  were  cut  si.xteen,  eighteen  or 
twenty  feet,  according  to  the  population  of  the 
district,  and  of  these  logs  the  walls  were  com- 
posed. When  raised.  "  shakes  "'  or  clapboards 
covered  the  building.  A  rude  fire-place,  clap 
board  door,  puncheon  fioor,  the  cracks  filled 
with  chinks,  and  daubed  over  with  mud,  com- 
pleted the  primitive  schoolhouse  of  the  pioneer 
period.  The  window,  if  any,  was  made  b}" 
cutting  out  a  log  the  full  length  of  the  build- 
ing, and  over  the  opening  in  winter  was  placed 
a  well  greased  paper,  that  served  to  keep  out 
the  storm  and  admit  the  light.  Just  under 
this  window,  two  or  three  strong  pins  were 
driven  into  the  log  in  a  slanting  direction,  and 
on  these  pins,  a  long  puncheon  was  fastened, 
thus  forming  the  desk  upon  which  the  writing 
was  done.     For  seats,  they  used  benches  made 


from  small  trees,  cut  in  lengths  of  ten  or 
twelve  feet,  split  oi)en,  and,  in  the  round  side, 
two  large  holes  were  bored  at  each  end,  which 
received  the  supporting  legs,  and  house  and 
furniture  was  complete.  The  books  used  by 
the  pupils  were  as  primitive  as  the  liousc 
The  most  popular  reader  was  the  New  Testa- 
ment, when  it  could  be  obtained,  though  occa- 
sionally a  copy  of  the  old  ■  Kuglish  Reader  ' 
was  found,  and  vcrv  rarely,  the  ■  ("olurabiau 
Orator  "  was  in  the  family  ;  Pike's  and  Smiley 's 
Arithmetics  ;  •■  Webster's  Speller  "  was  first 
used,  and  after  awhile  the  "  Elementary  Speller  " 
came  in,  (Jrammar  was  seldom  taught  :  when 
it  was.  the  te.'ct  l)ooks  were  Murray  s  or  Ivirk- 
ham's  grammars.  Tin;  primitive  schoolhouses 
were  in  keeping  with  the  homes  of  tlu;  pupils. 
They  were  warm,  if  nothing  more,  as  it  was 
only  necessary  to  make  a  bee  and  re-mud  the 
spaces  between  the  logs  each  fall  before  cold 
weather  came  on.  Chilctrcn  who  were  bare- 
footed till  the  school  ttomnuMiced,  and  some- 
times till  the  snows  covered  the  hills  and  ice 
the  streams,  were  not  so  sensitive  to  cold  as 
pupils  of  these  latter  days,  '  I  have  often, ' 
said  an  old  gentleman  to  us,  •■  seen  boys  sliding 
down  hill,  and  uijon  the  ice  with  l)are  feet  till 
mid-winter," 

It  was  easier  to  build  the  houses  and  warm 
them,  however,  than  to  obtain  money  to  pay 
teachers,  small  as  the  wages  were — often  but 
§1  a  week  for  women,  and  .*2  or  $3  for  men. 
and  board  with  the  pupils.  Books  cost  money, 
and  money  was  a  commodity  that  was  scarce 
in  the  country,  so  the  l)ooks  were  not  easy  to 
obtain.  There  was  no  changing  of  readers 
then  e\'ery  session,  as  some  gassy  representa- 
tive of  a  publishing  house  got  the  ••  weather- 
gauge ''  of  a  school  board,  and  convinced  them 
that  the  old  readers  in  use  were  aireadj'  obso- 
lete, as  at  the  present  day.  The  instructors  of 
those  early  times  would  make  ;i  poor  show 
beside  our  present  highly  accomplished  teach- 
ers, so  far  as  knowledge  of  text  l)ooks  is  con 
cerned.  It  is  no  slander  to  say  that  teachers 
who  could  not  master  S(|iuire-root.  or  who  had 
not  seen  the  inside  of  a  grammar,  were  more 
numerous  than  those  who  dared  to  make  pre- 
tensions to  such  i|ualificatious.  There  was 
first  no  public  fund  availal)le.  and  in  a  later 
period  the  fund  for  the  ])ayment  of  teachers 
was  quite  small,  and  what  was  lacking  was 
made  up  by  assessment  /</■'.  inin  on  those  who 


Sl« 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


attended  tlie  school ;  hence  the  teacher  was 
often  compelled  to  wait  for  a  part  of  the  small 
sum  promised  him.  till  it  could  be  collected. 
But  let  it  not  be  supposed  that  there  was  no 
good  work  done  in  these  schools.  Tiie  reading, 
the  spelling,  the  writing  and  the  ciphering,  so 
for  as  the  teacher  could  go,  need  not  have  been 
ashamed  to  stand  beside  that  of  these  days  of 
high  culture  and  extended  literary  attainment. 
The  seeils  sown  broadcast  in  the  forests  have 
germinated  and  grown  during  these  many  }-ears, 
and  now  wo  behold  the  magnificent  harvest. 

"  Culture's  hiuid 
lias  st-alkTil  verdure  o'er  the  hiud  ; 
And  smih-s  and  fragrance  rule  .serene, 
■Where  barren  wild  usurp'd  the  scene." 

Prominent  among  the  teachers  of  an  early 
da}'  in  the  common  schools — and  they  were 
very  common  schools  in  those  days — may  be 
mentioned  the  following  persons,  viz.,  William 
Lee,  Andrew  Murray,  John  Laughlin,  Andrew 
Johnson,  Alpheus  Brown,  Lewis  Probst,  a  Mr. 
Stevens.  James  Grounds,  Cyrus  Spink,  Thomas 
Carmichael,  Dr.  B.  Michener,  David  Lawson 
and  others,  whose  names  are  forgotten.  The 
first  schoolhouse  in  tiie  count}'  is  supposed  to 
have  been  built  in  Sand}'  Township,  about  the 
year  1807.  and  the  first  built  in  Canton  Town- 
ship in  the  fall  of  1808.  Another  schoolhouse 
known  as  the  ■■  Cameron  Schoolhouse"  was 
built  in  Sandy  Township  in  1815.  The  first 
school  taught  in  Nimishillen  Township  was 
taught  in  1814.  in  a  schoolhouse  built  upon  the 
land  of  Ulrieh  Spenley.  Lexington  Township 
had  a  school  in  18:i0  ;  Marlborough's  first 
schoolhouse  was  built  in  1825.  A  German 
school  was  taught  in  Canton  in  a  log  barn  in 
1800,  and  in  Plain  Townsliip,  we  are  told  that 
a  Mr.  Stevens  taught  a  school  in  the  fall  of 
1808.  and  al)out  the  same  year  Bethlehem 
Township  had  its  first  school.  The  first  select 
school  in  Perry  Township  was  taught  by  the  late 
Gen.  Cyrus  Spink.  .\  log  schoolhouse  was  built 
in  Jackson  Township  very  early  and  was  occu- 
pied by  a  school,  taught  by  Thomas  Carmichael. 
Dr.  Michener  was  the  next  teacher  in  Jackson, 
and  is  still  remembered  on  account  of  his  love 
for  pure  English.  The  first  school  in  Sugar 
Creek  Township  was  taught  on  the  McFerren 
farm,  and  the  first  in  Tuscarawas  was  taught  in 
the  winter  of  1 812-1  o,  and  was  a  night-school. 
Its  first  day  school  was  taught  some  time  later. 
These   early   schools    were    all    ■'  subscription 


schools  ;"  that  is,  each  family  subscribed  so 
many  scholars,  for  which  they  paid  so  much 
per  scholar  for  the  session,  as  there  were  no 
public  funds  then.  In  contrast  to  that  period, 
we  give  the  following  statistics  from  the  last 
report  of  the  State  Commissioner  of  Public 
Schools  : 

Balance  on  liand  Seiiteml)er  1.  ISTs $  .s.-).901  79 

State  tax 30,909  00 

Irreducible  school  fund 4.573  06 

Local  ta.\  for  schools  and  sehooUiouse 

purposes 100,122  18 

Amount  received  on  sale  of  bonds .52.104  02 

From   fines,  licenses  and  other   sources  3,017  86 


Total  receipts |256,()27  91 

Amount  paid  teachers — 

Primarv.,,,  173,160  84 
High..".....   10,.517  19 

*.S3.678  03 

Managing  and  superintend- 
ing       3,61.5  00 

Sites  and  buildings 38,417  16 

Interest    on    redemption    of 

Ijonds 2.5,138  97 

Fuel    and   other  contingent 

expenses :...    23.S03  39 


Total  expenditures. 


.$174,952  55 


Balance  on  hand  September  1,  1879 |  81,975  36 

Receipts  from  counties $32,472  79 

Payments  to  counties 30,909  00 


E.xcess  of  receipts.  .  .  . 
Youth  between  6  and  21  vears — 

Boys '. 10,405 

Girls 10,295 


!?     1..563  79 


Colored- 


Girls 


96 


20,796 


Total 

Xuiuber  of  schoolhouses — 

Townships,  primarv 149 

Separate  districts,  primarv 32 

High ,■ 2 

—    34 
Total 183 

Value  of  school  propertv — 

Townships,  primary $198,400  00 

Separate  districts,  primary  .'1245,- 
000  00;  high,  $60,000  0() $305,000  00 


Total  in  county $503,400  00 

Different  teachers  employed — 

Townsbips,  primarv.  males,    177; 

females,  125 ", 302 

Sejiarate  districts,  priniarj",  males,  26;  females, 

86;  higb,  males,  13;  "females,  5 130 

Total 432 


vl^ 


insTOHY    OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


Average  wages  paid  teachers  per  month — 

Townships,  primary,  mah-s iJ3;5  00 

primary,  females 19  00 

Separate  distriets.  primary,  males 51  00 

primary,  females 34  00 

lii!.'li.  males 64  00 

hisli,  females .^):3  00 

Number  of  different  pupils  enrollefl — 

Townships.  |>rimarv,  males,   ."i.KW;    fe 

males,  4,31^ ." 9,4.-)2 

Separate  districts,  primary,  males,  2,873 
females,  2.94i):  hish,  males,  :547;  fe- 
males. 432 ; 6,651 

Total 16,103 

Avcragt'  daily  attcndani( — 

Township*,  primary,  males,  2,254:  fe- 
males, 1 ,9iM ". 4,245 

Separate  districts,  primary,  males,  2,015; 
females,  2,020:  high,  males.  259;  fe- 
males. 318 4.621 

Total 8,866 

In  addition  to  the  common  and  graded 
schools  of  the  county,  there  is  no  lack  of  in- 
struction of  a  higher  order.  Academies,  sem- 
inaries and  colleges  within  the  county  limits, 
afford  to  the  student  ample  means  of  a  com- 
plete, or  even  classical  education.  These  in- 
stitutions of  learning  will  be  fully  written  up 
in  other  chapters  of  this  work.  Mount  Union 
College,  the  Charity  .School  of  Massillon,  Can- 
ton Academy,  and  the  defunct  Alliance  College 
will  receive  appropriate  mention  in  their  re- 
spective chapters.  It  is  our  aim.  in  this  chapter, 
to  take  but  the  merest  glance  at  the  church 
and  educational  history,  but  to  notice  brieflj' 
the  organization  of  schools  and  churches,  leav- 
ing their  progress  and  advancement  for  other 
departments  of  this  work.  With  these  words 
of  explanation,  we  will  turn  to  another  subject. 
77(1  Pii^s. — There  is  no  more  important 
feature  in  the  history  of  the  county's  social  de- 
velopment, or  one  which  more  accuratelj^  meas- 
ures it.  than  the  newspaper.  .\  public  servant 
in  the  truest  sense,  it  lives  only  l)y  the  volun- 
tary support  of  the  people,  and  as  a  matter  of 
necessity,  in  the  main,  reflects  the  average  sen- 
timent, enterprise  and  moral  development  of 
the  community  in  which  it  appears.  The  peo- 
ple who  settled  ."^tark  County,  though  an  intel- 
ligent people,  were  not  so  great  readers  or  close 
students  as  their  neighbors,  the  Yankees  of  tlie 
'•  Reserve. "  but  they,  at  an  early  day.  showed 
their  appreciation  of  the  local  press  in  a  sub- 
stantial manner  which  led  to  the  establishment 
of  tlicCantdu  Rijiiisitiinj  in   the  early  part  of 


1815.  This  was  the  first  newspaper  issued  in 
the  present  boundary  of  Stark  County  Hither- 
to the  people  had  been  dependent  for  news  on 
papers  published  elsewhere,  but  now.  they  had 
a  paper  of  their  own,  which  gave  them  quite  a 
metropolitan  air.  and  almost  intoxicated  them 
with  their  own  importance.  The  tiles  of  the 
liepositorij  have  been  bound  and  carefully  pre- 
served, aud  from  tiiem  we  may  learn,  not  only 
much  of  the  history  of  the  county,  but  of  the 
country  at  large.  In  the  lirst  volume  one  may 
read  of  Napoleon  at  Waterloo,  and  nearly  sixty 
years  later  of  the  misfortune  of  another  Na- 
poleon at  Sedan.  It  was  established  by  John 
Saxton,  and  is  still  owned  by  the  Saxtons,  and 
is  Kepublicau  in  its  political  vie>vs.  The  Sturk 
County  Denwcnil  was  started  in  188H  by  John 
Bernard.  It  is  now  owned  by  A.  .McGregor  & 
Son.  and  is  the  leading  Democratic  journal  in 
this  section  of  the  State. 

The  press  of  the  coiinty  can  only  receive  a 
general  mention  in  the  present  chapter,  as  it  is 
full}'  written  up  elsewhere  in  Ihis  work.  As 
one  of  the  chief  matters  of  interest  and  im- 
portance in  each  city  and  town,  the  press  will 
be  noticed  with  due  attention  in  the  historj'  of 
those  places.  For  general  reference,  however, 
we  give  the  following  list  of  the  papers  pub- 
lished in  the  count}'  at  the  present  time  ;  Can- 
ton :  Canton  Rrpositon/ :  Storl,-  {'minty  Demo- 
cmt  :  Canton  Reptihliaiii  :  Ohio  Volks  Xrltiiug  : 
Canton  Courier.  Massillon  :  American  :  Indi- 
pendent.  Alliance  ;  Riviiir  :  StnnJiird.  Canal 
Fulton:  Fulton  Slgiml.  Minerva:  Moiiifm: 
There  have  been  a  number  of  papers  established 
in  the  county,  which  tloiirislied  for  a  brief  sea- 
son— swept  over  the  scene  "  like  untamed 
meteors,  flashed,  darted  and  ti/.zled."  and  then 
went  out.  Their  obituaries  will  appear  in  the 
historj-  of  the  towns  where  they  lived  and  died. 

Roads  (Hid  Hujliirai/x. — .\mong  the  great 
forces  that  develop  the  moral  growth  of  a  com- 
munity are  the  thoroughfares  that  connect  it 
with  the  outside  world.  They  are  the  arteries 
which  carry  the  elements  of  the  growth  and 
vigor  from  the  centers  of  church  and  school 
influence,  and  of  commercial  activity,  to  re- 
moter points  ;  and  the  great  hindrance  to  the 
rapid  gro\yth.  both  moral  and  material,  in  fron- 
tier communities  in  that  early  day.  was  this 
lack  of  easy  communication  with  the  rest  of 
the  world.  Information  of  all  sorts  was  meager 
and  generally  inaccurate,  and  a  place  ten  miles 


f' 


230 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


awaj-  was  less  known  to  tlie  pioneers  for  the 
first  fifteen  or  twenty  j'ears  than  Europe  is  to 
us  to-day.  The  papers  were  ahnost  universal!}- 
taken  up  too  much  with  State  and  national 
affairs  to  mention  local  matters,  and  there  was 
nothing  to  incite  the  communitj'  to  a  generous 
rivalry,  or  to  awaken  an  enterprising  enthu- 
siasm. 

( )ne  of  the  first  roads  in  Stark  County  was 
known  as  the  •  Wooster  Road,"  and  passed 
through  the  county  east  and  west.  It  was  on 
this  road  that  ■'  Buckwheat  Bridge"  was  built, 
one  of  tiie  first,  if  not  the  first  bridge  in  the 
county.  The  I'oad  passed  through  a  large 
swamp  near  Canton,  and  into  this  swamp  large 
quantities  of  buckwheat  straw  were  thrown,  and 
covered  with  sand  and  gravel,  from  which  fact  it 
received  the  name  of  Buckwheat  Bridge.  This 
was  the  commencement  of  public  roads,  and 
other  important  highways  followed  in  rapid 
succession.  For  several  years  after  settlements 
were  made,  the  establishment  of  roads  was  un- 
settled. Kach  settler  undertook  to  make  a 
road  to  suit  his  own  convenience.  This,  together 
with  the  une\en  and  hilly  nature  of  the  ground, 
has  been  the  means  of  roads  running  in  almost 
any  direction,  except  to  the  cardinal  points  of 
the  compass.  It  is  proverbial  that  the  roads  of 
Stark  County  are  about  as  zigzag  as  the\-  very 
well  can  be  made,  unless  there  were  more  hills 
to  go  around.  Notwithstanding  their  crooked- 
ness, however,  the}'  are  about  as  good  as  are 
to  be  found  in  any  community  where  there  are 
no  pikes.  Bridges  span  the  streams,  and  the 
steepest  of  the  hills  are  graded  down,  thus 
making  the  roads  as  nearly  level  as  circum- 
stances will  allow. 

The  next  public  thoroughfares  to  the  wagon- 
roads  were  the  canals.  These  artificial  water 
highways  antedate  the  Christian  era,  and  were 
employed  as  a  means  of  irrigation  and  com- 
munication by  the  Assyrians,  Egyptians  and 
Hindoos,  and  also  by  the  Chinese,  whose  works 
of  this  kind  are  unri\aled  in  extent.  These 
canals,  however,  were  uniformlj'  level,  and  it 
was  not  until  the  fifteenth  century  that  locks 
were  invented,  showing  thus  how  canals  might 
be  advantageously  used  for  inland  navigation. 
It  was  not  until  little  more  than  half  a  century 
ago.  that  canals  received  much  attention  in  the 
United  States.  The  Ohio  Canal  was  finished 
from  Cleveland  to  Akron  in  1 827,  and  through 
to   Portsmouth,  on  the  Ohio  River,  in   1830. 


The  project,  with  estimates  of  its  cost,  was 
brought  to  the  notice  of  the  Legislature  in 
1824,  and  commissioners  appointed.  An  act 
was  passed  in  1825,  for  interior  impi'ovement 
by  a  system  of  canals.  The  Ohio  Canal  was 
chartered,  and  work  begun  on  it  lietween  Akron, 
in  Summit  County,  and  Cleveland.  In  Decern 
ber,  182.'i,  the  line  was  located  between  Akron 
and  Massillon,  and  the  contract  for  its  con 
struction  let  in  January,  182G.  So  rapidly  was 
the  work  pushed  forward  that  the  canal  was 
completed,  and,  as  we  have  said,  opened  through 
to  Portsmouth  in  1830.  This  highway  of  com- 
munication was  the  inauguration  of  a  new  era. 
It  revived  all  branches  of  business,  and,  for  the 
first  time  since  the  settlement  of  the  county, 
merchants  paid  cash  for  wheat.  Indeed  its 
effects  were  felt  throughout  the  entire  country. 
The  old  Sandy  &  Beaver  Canal,  which 
touches  tlie  southeast  corner  of  the  count}', 
was  built  many  }^ears  ago,  and  was  intended  as 
a  kind  of  feeder,  both  in  water  supply  and 
commerce,  to  the  Ohio  Canal.  It  extended 
from  (ilasgow,  on  the  Ohio  River,  to  Bolivar  in 
Tuscarawas  County,  on  the  Ohio  Canal.  From 
some  cause,  it  was  abandoned  more  than  thirty 
years  ago.  It  still  remains,  as  a  means  of  ir- 
rigation and  drainage  to  the  district  through 
which  it  passes.  Its  history,  however,  has 
little  to  do  with  the  history  of  Stark  County, 
touching,  as  it  does,  a  very  small  corner  of  the 
county.  But  a  measure,  growing  out  of  its 
construction,  interested  and  excited  the  people 
of  the  city  of  Canton,  and  of  the  county,  con- 
siderably at  one  time,  viz..  the  "  Nimishillen 
&  Sandy  Slackwater  Navigation  Company." 
"  What's  in  a  name  ?  "  said  Shakespeare,  and 
really  there  seemed  in  this  case  to  be  very 
little  in  this  tremendous  name,  for  the  enter- 
prise finally  failed.  It  was  the  design  of  this 
company  to  build  a  canal  by  way  of  the  Nim- 
ishillen and  Sandy  Creeks  to  the  Sandy  & 
Beaver  Canal,  some  miles  north  of  its  junction 
with  the  Ohio  Canal.  It  was  to  pass  through 
Canton,  thus  giving  it  water  communication 
with  the  world,  and  hence  all  of  her  business 
men  of  that  day  took  an  active  interest  in  the 
pi-oject.  (Iround  was  broken  on  Walnut  street 
with  the  most  imposing  ceremonies,  A  plow, 
drawn  by  ten  yoke  of  oxen,  and  large  enough 
almost  to  make  a  canal  at  one  fuirow,  was  used 
to  make  the  commencement  on  this  new  inter- 
nal improvement.     The  Sand}'  &  Beaver  Canal, 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


•-•21 


in  tlie  meantime,  drat^ged  slowly  along,  and 
this  ontorprise  was  contingent,  in  some  meas- 
ure, upon  tiie  completion  of  that  ;  funds,  too, 
became  scarce,  and  railroads  were  beginning  to 
attract  notice  throughout  the  country,  all  of 
which,  taken  together,  finally  caused  the  aban- 
donment of  the  Nimishillen  &  Sandy  Slack- 
water  Navigation  project.  Hut  the  railroad 
has  destroyed  to  a  great  extent  tlie  value  of 
.  canals,  as  a  means  of  travel  and  transporta- 
tion, except  so  far  as  carrying  heavy  frieghts, 
which  are  in  no  hurry  to  reach  their  destina- 
tion. 

The  I'ailroads  now  claim  our  attention,  and 
as  pul)lic  liiirhw.-i^s  constitute  perhaps  the  most 
inU'resting  chapter  in  the  history  of  our  coun- 
try. The  origin,  progress  and  perfection  of  the 
railroad  system  arc  modern  wonders  that  must 
ever  command  our  earnest  admiration.  Wholly 
unknown  to  the  commercial  world  three-fourths 
of  a  ccntuiy  ago.  the  railway  has  become  the 
greatest  single  factor  in  the  development  of  the 
material  and  social  progress  of  not  onl}  of  the 
United  States  and  other  civilized  nations  of  the 
earth,  hut  its  inestimable  blessings  are  being 
rapidh'  extended  into  the  hitherto  semi-civilized 
and  barbarous  portions  of  the  globe.  Though 
.some  rude  tramways  had  previousl3'  been  used 
in  the  mining  regions  of  England,  the  first  at- 
tempt at  railroad  building  in  the  United  States 
was  in  1807.  Tt  was  but  a  few  hundred  yards 
in  length,  and  was  built  for  the  transi)i)rting  of 
gravel  from  the  top  of  Beacon  Hill  down  into 
Charles  street,  in  the  city  of  Boston,  the  rails 
being  entirely  of  wood,  and  the  propelling 
power,  the  momentum  of  the  loaded  cars,  which, 
in  descending,  by  means  of  a  rope  attachment, 
pulled  the  em|)ty  cars  np,  a  double  track,  of 
course,  being  necessary  to  the  proper  working 
of  the  road.  As  late  as  1827,  the  then  longest 
railroad  in  the  United  States  was  from  the 
Mauch  Chunk  Coal  Mines  to  the  Ticliigh  River, 
in  Pennsylvania,  a  distance  of  nine  miles.  The 
loaded  cars  were  run  from  the  mines  to  the 
river  by  their  own  gravity,  and,  on  being  emp- 
tied, were  drawn  back  to  the  mines  by  mules. 

The  American  people,  from  this  time  forward, 
became  deeply  interested  in  railroad  enterprises, 
and  from  1827  to  18.30.  several  short  lines,  run 
by  horse-iwwer.  were  constructed.  The  first 
locomotive  propelled  by  steam,  to  tuin  a  wheel 
upon  the  .VmeriiaM  coiitinent.  b(Mng  a  clumsy, 
uneiiuth  importation  fnun  England,  called    the 


"  Stourbridge  Lion,  landed  in  New  York  in 
1820.  So  slow,  however,  was  the  develoijmcnt, 
that  the  railroad  running  from  Charleston,  S.  ('., 
to  Augusta,  Ga.,  a  distance  of  ISO  miles,  and 
then  the  longest  railroad  in  the  world,  was,  in 
1S:5I{,  operated  by  steam  power  for  only  the 
first  100  miles,  the  last  thirty  being  by  negro- 
power.  This  was  owing  to  a  sharp  incline  that 
the  modern  engine-driver  would  laugh  at,  hut 
which  it  was  then  sui)posed  only  a  stationary 
engine,  with  the  proper  hoisting  apparatus,  could 
overcome.  But  this  was  before  such  achieve- 
ments in  the  railroad  era  as  luidging  the  Mis- 
sissippi and  Ohio  Rivers  and  the  (a-ossing  of 
the  Rocky  >Iountains  with  trains.  The  first 
locomotive  ever  built  in  .Vraerica,  called  the 
•  Best  Friend."  was  used  upon  this  road  during 
its  construction.  It  was  Ituilt  at  the  "  West 
Point  Foundry  Shops."  in  New  York,  and  for- 
warded to  Charleston  by  the  ship  Niagara,  in 
October,  18;!0.  The  first  trial  trip  was  made 
on  a  small  portion  of  the  road  out  of  Charles- 
ton. November  2.  18S0.  running,  according  to 
the  report  of  the  excursion  in  the  Charleston 
('o»/)vV)-,  as  ••  on  the  wings  of  the  wind,  at  the 
rapid  speed  of  fifteen  to  twenty  miles  an  hour  ; 
aimihilating  time  and  space,  and.  like  the  re- 
nowned John  Ciilpin.  'leaving  all  the  W(^rld  be- 
hind.' "  The  ■'  Best  Friend  "  was  daily  in  serv- 
ice, transporting  workmen  and  materials  used 
in  the  construction  of  the  road,  until  the  17th 
day  of  .June,  18M1.  when  it  became  disabled  by 
a  singular  accident,  and  the  road  was  without 
a  locomotive  for  several  months.  Of  this  dis- 
aster to  the  ■•  Be.st  Friend."  the  Charleston 
f^ '»(/■(>)•  of  June  18.  1831.  gave  the  following 
account  :  ■  The  locomotive.  ■  Best  Friend.' 
started  yesterday  morning  to  meet  the  lumber 
cars  at  the  forks  of  the  road,  and  while  turning 
on  the  revolving  i)latform,  the  steam  was  suf- 
fered to  accumulate  by  the  negligence  of  the 
fireman,  a  negro,  who.  pressing  on  the  safety- 
\alve,  prevented  the  surplus  steam  from  escap- 
ing, by  which  means  the  boiler  burst  at  the 
bottom,  was  forced  inward,  and  injured  Mr. 
Darrell.  the  engineer,  and  two  negroes.  The 
one  had  his  thigh  lirokeii.  and  the  otlier  received 
a  severe  cut  in  the  face,  and  a  slight  one  in  the 
rteshy  part  of  the  lireast.  Mr.  Darrell  was 
scalded  from  the  shoulder-blade  down  his  back. 
The  boiler  was  thrown  to  the  distance  of  twen- 
ty-five feet.  *  *  *  '  *  The  accident 
occurred  in  consequence    of  the  negro  lioldiuii 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY 


down  the  safetj'-valve   while   Mr.  Darrell   was 
Mssisting  to  airauge  the  lumber  cars. " 

It  will  seem  strange  to  the  trained  railroad 
<iperator  of  the  present  day  that  such  an  acci- 
dent from  such  a  cause  could  have  been  possi- 
ble ;  but  it  must  be  remembered  that  the  en- 
gineer, himself  almost  wholly  unskilled  in  lo- 
comotive driving,  had  to  perform  all  the  func- 
tions of  conductor,  brakeman,  etc.,  in  addition 
to  his  own  proper  duties,  his  only  help  being 
such  as  above  indicated,  common,  unskilled 
laborers,  unable  to  distinguish  lietween  the 
lever  of  a  safety-valve  and  the  crank  of  a 
grindstone.  But  without  further  tracing  the 
growth  of  tlie  railroad  system  of  the  United 
States,  now  forming  a  perfect  net-work  of  iron 
and  steel  in  every  portion  of  the  coiintr}',  which 
daily  and  nightly  and  continuously  run  thou- 
sands of  locomotives  and  tens  of  thousands  of 
freight  and  passenger  cars  loaded  with  thou- 
sands of  tons  of  the  products  of  the  country, 
with  valuable  merchandise  from  any  and  every 
part  of  the  world,  and  with  tens  of  thousands 
of  precious  human  beings,  dashing  with  light- 
ning speed  from  cit}-  to  city,  and  from  State 
to  State,  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  and 
from  the  Lakes  to  the  Gulf,  we  will,  with  a  few 
statistics  of  some  interest,  turn  our  attention 
to  the  sketching  of  the  difl'erent  railroads  in 
Stark  County.  In  January.  1832,  it  was  re- 
ported that  there  were  nineteen  railroads,  either 
completed  or  in  course  of  construction  in  the 
United  States,  and  that  their  aggregate  length 
was  nearly  1,4(10  miles.  Though  Congress  af- 
forded no  material  aid  in  this  new  era  of  inter- 
nal improvements,  yet  this  sameyear  it  exempt- 
ed from  duty  the  iron  imported  for  railways 
and  inclined  planes,  and  actually  used  for  their 
construction.  In  1840,  it  has  been  estimated 
that  oui'  yearly  a\'erage  of  railroad  construction 
was  about  500  miles.  In  1850,  this  average 
had  increased  to  1.500  miles.  In  I860,  it  was 
nearly  10,000  miles,  and  in  1871  it  was  stated 
that  enterprises  requiring  an  expenditure  of 
S8<)(). (10(1, (100  and  involving  the  construction  of 
20,00(1  miles  of  railroad  were  in  actual  process 
of  accomplishment.  In  1872,  the  aggregate 
capital  of  the  railroads  of  the  United  States, 
which  were  estimated  to  embrace  one-half  the 
railroads  of  the  world,  was  stated  to  amount 
to  the  enormous  sum  of  $3,159,423,057,  their 
gross  revenue  being  $473,241,055.  At  the 
present   time  their  estimated  capital    is   over 


$5,000,000,000,  an  amount  almost  bankrupting 
the  science  of  numbers  to  comprehend. 

The  first  railroad  touching  Stark  County, 
and  which  was  carried  to  a  successful  termina- 
tion, was  the  present  Cleveland  &  Pittsburgh 
Railroad.  Prior  to  this,  however,  railroad  en- 
terprises had  been  strongly  agitated  in  the 
county.  In  1830-31,  a  road  was  chartered  to 
run  from  Pittsburgh  to  some  eligible  point  on 
the  Ohio  Canal.  Another  early  survey  was  for 
a  road  on  the  present  line  of  the  Valley  Rail- 
road. The  people  of  Stark  County  took  con- 
siderable interest  iu  these  projected  roads,  and 
for  a  time  there  seemed  to  be  a  strong  proba- 
bilit}-  of  the  county  getting  a  railroad.  But 
the  time  had  not  j-et  come,  and  the  projects 
were  abandoned,  on  account,  it  is  said,  of  the 
supposed  impracticability  of  the  routes.  It 
was  not  until  nearly  twenty  years  later  that  a 
road  was  built  from  Pittsburgh  through  Stark 
Count}',  upon  a  less  advantageous  route  as  to 
heav}'  graiies.  The  Cleveland  &  I'ittsburgh 
Railroad  which,  as  we  have  said,  was  the  first 
road  in  the  county,  passing  through  a  corner  of 
Lexington  Township  and  the  town  of  Alliance, 
gives  Stark  but  a  few  miles  of  track.  A  char- 
ter was  granted  for  this  road  by  the  Legislature 
of  Ohio  on  the  14th  day  of  March,  183G. 
AA'ork  upon  the  road  not  being  commenced 
within  the  three  years  designated  in  the  law, 
the  charter  became  dormant,  and  remained  so 
for  six  years,  when,  by  an  act  passed  March  11, 
1845 — just  nine  years  after  the  granting  of  the 
original  charter — the  project  was  revived  and 
the  charter  amended.  The  promoters  of  the 
enterprise,  though  the  times  were  hard  and 
money  scarce,  prosecuted  the  work  as  rapidly 
as  similar  enterprises  were  then  built,  though 
very  slowly  in  comparison  witli  more  modern 
railroad  operations,  the  road  not  being  com- 
pleted on  the  Cleveland  end  as  far  as  Hudson, 
in  Summit  County,  until  the  latter  part  of  the 
winter  of  1851-52.  From  the  beginning  the 
Cleveland  &  Pittsburgh  has  been  under  an  able 
and  efficient  management,  and  has  never  ex- 
perienced any  of  those  reverses  and  drawbacks 
so  common  to  railroad  corporations  in  their 
earlier  days,  and  so  disastrous  and  unprofitable 
to  the  original  stockholders  and  builders.  So 
small  a  part,  however,  of  this  road  is  in  this 
county,  that  an  extended  notice  of  it  can  be  of 
no  great  interest  to  our  readers.  It  was  duly 
finished,  and  it  gave  to  Stai-k  County  two  sta- 


liL^ 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


223 


tions.  Alliance  and  Limaville.  wliich  was  better 
tlian  no  railroad. 

The  Pittsburgli.  Fort  Wajne  &  Chicago Rail- 
wa3-  was  the  next  railroad  built  through  the 
county.  From  the  most  reliable  (acts  to  be 
obtained,  the  history  of  this  road  may  be  tlius 
brieJly  given  :  In  February.  184S,  the  Legisla- 
ture of  Ohio  passed  an  act  incorporating  the 
•  Ohio  A;  I'ennsylvauia  Railroad  (,'ompaiiy." 
On  the  1 1th  of  April  following,  the  Legislature 
of  Pennsylvania  passed  a  similar  act,  making 
the  company  a  corporation  of  that  State. 
The  act  of  incorporation  of  the  Oiiio  Legisla- 
ture gave  the  company  power  to  construct  a 
railroad  from  Mansfield,  in  Richland  County, 
eastward  by  way  of  Wooster,  Massillon  and 
Canton,  to  some  point  on  the  east  line  of  the 
State,  within  the  county  of  Columbiana,  and 
thence  to  the  cit}'  of  Pittsburgh  ;  and  from 
.Mansfiekl  westwardly  to  the  west  line  of  the 
State.  The  work  on  this  road  was  commenced 
in  July.  184ii.  and  the  entire  track  was  laid  and 
the  road  was  opened  for  travel  from  I'ittsburgh 
to  Crestline  on  the  Ilth  of  April.  1853.  The 
Board  of  Directois  had  determined,  in  L850,  to 
make  Crestline  the  terminus  of  the  Ohio  & 
Pennsylvania  Railroad.  This  made  further 
action  necessary  bj"  the  people  west  of  this 
place,  and  the  subject  was  warmly  discussed 
for  some  time  by  the  counties  through  which  it 
must  pass,  west  of  Crestline — ettbrts  that  were 
cventualiv  successful. 

On  the^Oth  of  March,  1851,  the  Ohio  Legis- 
lature granted  a  cliarterto  the  ••  Ohio  &  Indiana 
Railroad  Company."  for  the  purpose  of  building 
a  road  from  some  point  on  the  Cle\eland  & 
Columbus  Railniad,  through  Bucyrus  and  Up- 
per Sandusky  to  the  west  line  of  the  State, 
and  thence  to  Fort  Wayne,  in  Indiana.  The 
organization  of  the  company  was  completed  at 
Bucyrus  on  the  4th  of  July,  and  olPicers  elected. 
On  the  10th  of  the  same  month  J.  H.  Straughn 
was  elected  Chief  Engineer,  and  work  at  once 
commenced  in  making  surveys  for  the  road. 
In  September  following,  the  Directors  ti.ved  the 
eastern  terminus  of  the  road  at  Crestline,  to 
connect  with  the  Ohio  &  Pennsylvania  Railroad. 
In  January.  1.S52,  the  contract  was  let  for  the 
entire  distance  between  Crestline  and  Fort 
VV'ayne.  and  prosecuted  with  so  much  vigor 
that  on  the  1st  of  November,  1854.it  was  ready 
for  the  passivge  of  trains.  The  jjeople  in  the 
counties  between  Fort  Wayne  and  Chicairo.  de- 


termined to  make  a  strong  ett'ort  to  build  the 
last  link  in  the  chain  between  Philadelphia  and 
Chicago.  A  convention  was  called  at  Warsaw, 
Ind.,  in  September,  185:i,  for  devising  ways  and 
means  for  accomplishing  the  object.  This 
meeting  was  largely  attended,  and  the  object  in 
view  was  finally  accomplished.  In  1856,  the 
work  was  so  nearly'  completed  on  this  new  line, 
that  b}'  using  a  portion  of  the  Cincinnati.  Penn- 
sjlvania  &  Chicago  Railroad,  a  continuous  line 
was  opened  on  the  10th  of  November,  1856, 
from  Pittsburgh  to  Chicago.  On  the  1st  of 
August.  1856.  the  three  corporations — the 
'■  Ohio  &  Pennsylvania."  the  ••  Ohio  &.  Indiana,  ' 
and  the  •  Fort  Wayne  &  Chicago '' — were  con- 
solidated under  the  name  and  title  of  the  ■•  Pitts- 
l>urgh,  Fort  Wayne  &  Chicago  R<iilway,"  by 
which  name  it  has  ever  since  been  known. 
Stark  County  took  stock  in  the  original  Ohio 
&  Pennsylvania  road  to  the  amount  of  §105,000. 
This  was  increased  ui)  to  1854,  l>y  the  issue  of 
stock  dividends,  to  $127,0(10.  When  the  con- 
solidation of  the  three  companies  took  place, 
the  Ohio  tt  Pennsjivania  stock  was  consid- 
ered more  valuable  than  that  of  the  other  com- 
panies, and  in  the  new  issue  of  stock  certificates, 
the  amount  held  by  Stark  County  became,  in 
roinid  numbers.  $172,000.  which  was  subse- 
(juently  sold  by  the  commissioners  to  paj'  oti' 
the  bonds  issued  by  the  county  for  the  payment 
of  the  original  stock.  Such  is  a  synopsis  of 
the  facts  pertaining  to  the  building  of  this,  one 
of  the  best  railroads  in  the  United  Stales,  and 
the  first  to  lay  its  lines  through  the  full  length 
or  width  of  Stark  County. 

The  Pittsburgh,  Fort  Wayne  iV:  Chicago  Raii- 
w'ay  belongs  to  the  I'ennsylvania  system,  and 
is  the  direct  source  of  its  communication  with 
the  great  West.  Says  a  local  writer,  dilating 
upon  the  subject :  '•  Where  was  once  an  isolated 
wilderness  is  now  a  thriving  garden,  connected 
with  all  parts  of  the  continent.  Less  than  a 
generation  ago,  the  necessary  supplies  of  life 
could  be  secured  only  b^'  tedious  journeys 
through  almost  trackless  forests  ;  now  we  take 
the  cars  and  speed  away  to  the  best  market  in 
th(!  workl  in  less  time  than  the  pioneers  went 
forty  miles  to  mill  on  horsel)ack,  with  a  bushel 
of  grain  divided  between  the  two  ends  of  the 
sack." 

A  railroad  operated  at  present  by  the  Pitts- 
burgh, Fort  Wayne  &  Chicago  Railroad,  or 
rather  bj-  the  Pennsylvania  Company,   known 


TT 


M 


324 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


as  the  "  Massillon  &  Cleveland  Railroad,'  de- 
serves some  mention  in  this  connection,  as  a 
part  of  the  Stark  County  system.  The  Massil- 
lon &  Cleveland  Railroad  (commonly  called  the 
Massillon  Branch)  was  built  by  the  Massillon 
&  Cleveland  Railroad  Company,  and  runs  from 
Clinton,  in  Summit  County,  to  Massillon,  in 
this  county,  a  distance  of  some  eight  or  ten 
miles,  only.  This  road  was  leased  to  the  Pitts- 
burgh. Fort  Wayne  &  Chicago  Railway  Com- 
pany June  22,  1869  ;  lease  assigned  by  that 
company  to  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Com- 
pany July  1,  18(59  ;  and  by  that  company  and 
the  Pittsburgh,  Fort  Wayne  &  Chicago  Rail- 
way Company  lease  assigned  to  the  Pittsburgh. 
Mount  Vernon,  Columbus  &  London  Railway 
Company  (now  Cleveland,  Mount  Vernon  & 
Delaware  Railroad  Company).  November  4, 
1 869.  The  road  is  owned  by  the  Massillon  & 
Cleveland  Railroad  Company-,  and  is  now  (1881) 
operated  by  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Com- 
pany operating  the  Pittsburgh,  Fort  Wayne  & 
Chicago  Railway. 

The  Cleveland.  Tuscarawas  Valley  &  Wheel- 
ing Railway  is  the  next  road  claiming  our 
attention.  It  enters  Stark  County  at  the  north- 
west corner,  passes  through  Canal  Fulton,  Mas- 
sillon. bearing  southwest  through  Sugar  Creek 
Township,  and  leaving  the  county  near  the 
southwest  corner.  It  was  originally  chartered 
as  the  •  Cleveland,  Medina  &  Tuscarawas  Rail- 
road," and  work  begun  on  the  northern  end  of 
it  as  early  as  1852,  and  a  considerable  amount 
of  grading  done  between  Grafton  and  Seville. 
The  main  interest  in  this  road  centered  in  Me- 
dina County,  which  at  that  time  was  without 
railroad  communication.  Bonds  were  issued, 
stock  subscribed,  and  great  energy  displaj'ed 
by  the  jjeople  of  that  county.  But  the  enter- 
prise met  with  many  reverses  and  misfortunes. 
The  bonds  which  had  been  issued  and  placed 
in  the  hands  of  a  broker  in  New  York  for  ne- 
gotiation, were  squandered  by  him  and  ul- 
timately lost  to  tlie  company.  This  misad- 
venture prostrated  the  whole  enterprise,  and 
work  on  the  road  stopped  at  once,  leaving  large 
liabilities  to  be  borne  by  those  who  had  taken 
an  active  part  in  the  project.  Though  greatly 
disappointed,  the  people  of  the  sections  to  be 
most  benefited  by  it.  were  by  no  means  dis- 
couraged or  disi)irited  by  the  unfortunate  ter- 
mination of  their  enterprise,  and  ways  and 
means  of  reviving  the  Tuscarawas  road  were 


constantly  discussed.  Many  pi-opositions  were 
made,  and  routes  suggested,  when,  on  the  Slst 
of  March,  1871.  the  Lake  Shore  &  Tuscarawas 
^'^alley  Railroad  Company  was  organized.  The 
company  went  to  work,  solicited  subscriptions 
along  the  route.  Massillon  responding  with 
$25,00(1  and  Navarre  $17,000.  Under  the  new 
organization  work  was  liegun  on  the  southern 
end  of  the  road  at  (jrafton  on  the  iid  of  No- 
vember, 1873,  much  of  the  old  road-bed  being 
used.  The  title  was  finally  changed  to  the 
•'  Bl3'ria  &  Black  River  Railroad  Company," 
and  under  this  organization  completed.  The 
subse(|uent  history  of  this  road  has  not  been 
completely  satisfactory,  though  quite  in  keep- 
ing with  the  general  history  of  railroads.  Be- 
coming involved,  a  receiver  was  appointed  in 
1874,  and  on  the  26th  of  January.  1875,  it  was 
sold,  and  the  name  and  title  again  changed, 
this  time  to  the  ■'  Cleveland.  Tuscarawas  Valley 
&  Wheeling  Railway  "  (which  title  it  still  bears) 
and  a  new  company  formed  to  operate  it.  In 
1879.  the  road  was  extended  from  Urichsville 
to  Wheeling  by  the  way  of  Flushing.  It  has 
twenty-three  and  eighty-seven  hundredths  miles 
of  main  track  in  Stark  County,  with  sidings  at 
Massillon  and  Canal  Fulton,  and  is  of  consider- 
able value  to  the  county. 

The  Valley  Railwa}'.  extending  from  t'le\e- 
land  to  Canton,  is  another  railroad  that  is  of 
material  benefit  to  Stark  Couniy,  and  at  the 
same  time,  of  the  utmost  advantage  to  Canton, 
as  giving  it  more  direct  communication  with 
Cleveland.  As  early  as  18(19.  a  charter  was 
obtained  for  the  Akron  lV;  Canton  Railway, 
which  afterward  developed  into  tlie  larger  and 
more  important  enterprise,  the  ^'alley  Railway, 
dul^'  incorporated  on  the  21st  of  .\ugust,  IS"]. 
The  authorized  capital  stock  of  the  company 
was  .$3,000,000,  the  road  to  run  from  Cleveland, 
in  Cuyahoga  County,  via  Akron,  in  Summit 
County.  Canton,  in  Stark  County,  through  Tus- 
(varawas  and  Carroll  Counties  to  Bowerston.  in 
Harrison  County,  on  the  Pan  Handle  Railroad. 
The  first  great  inoxement  for  the  promotion  of 
the  enter()rise  was  made  at  a  meeting  held  at 
the  Academy  of  Music,  in  Akron,  on  the  4th 
day  of  January,  1872.  Bepresentatives  from 
Cleveland.  Canton.  Wheeling  and  intermediate 
points  on  the  contemplated  route  were  in  attend- 
ance. The  meeting  was  presided  over  b}-  James 
A.  Saxton,  Esq.,  of  Canton,  with  Mr.  H.  Coch- 
ran, of  Wheeling,  as  Secretary,  and  Hon.  Ste- 


HISTOUV    OF    STAKK    COUNTY. 


225 


phen  H.  Pitkin,  of  Akron,  as  Assistant  Secretary. 
Daviil  L.  King.  Esq..  of  Akron,  briefly  stated 
the  ()l)jects  of  the  meeting,  saying  that  the  proj 
ect  of  a  roaii  down  the  valley  of  the  Cuyahoga, 
from  Akron  to  Clevehuid.  and  south  from  Ak- 
ron to  Canton  and  Wheeling,  was  no  new  proj- 
eot.  Sueh  a  road.  Mr.  King  said,  w(juld  devel- 
op large  ([uantities  of  coal  an<l  other  minerals 
south  :)f  Akron,  and  a  locomotive,  after  draw- 
ing an  ordinary  train  to  Akron,  could  by  rea- 
son of  continuous  down  grade,  draw  as  manj' 
loaded  cars  from  Akron,  as  the  same  locomotive 
could  draw  empty  cars  back.  The  importance 
and  feasibilit}'  of  the  road  was  conceded  by 
all.  the  discussion  being  mainlv  over  the  ques- 
tion of  gauge,  estimates  being  presented  show- 
ing the  comparative  cost  of  both  the  standard, 
four  feet  eight  and  one-half  inches,  and  the 
narrow,  three  feet  tracks.  At  the  conclusion  of 
the  discussion,  the  following  resolution  was 
unanimously  adopted  : 

Reiiohed.  Tlial  it  he  tlic  sense  of  this  meeting  that 
all  our  efforts  lie  devoted  to  raising  stock  for  the 
ordinary  four  fool  eight  and  one-half  inch  gauge. 

Subscription  books  were  opened  at  Cleveland, 
Akron,  Canton,  and  intermediate  points  (m  the 
loth  day  of  January.  1872.  and  a  vigorous 
campaign  opened  ■  all  along  the  line,"  for  rais- 
ing the  necessary  funds  to  build  the  road. 
Cleveland  parties  were  pledged  to  raise  $500,00(1. 
the  quota  assigned  to  Akron  and  Canton  being 
$150,000  each,  with  such  additional  amounts 
as  could  be  raised  at  intermediate  points  in  the 
several  counties  interested.  Meetings  were 
held,  speeches  were  made  and  subscriptions  were 
obtained  with  commendable  celerity.  Canton 
was  the  first  to  announce  that  her  full  share 
was  raised.  Akron  coming  in  so<jn  afterward 
with  a  similar  good  report.  Cleveland,  how- 
ever, was  backward,  trusting  t<)  the  plan  of  rais- 
ing the  re(|uisite  amount,  under  the  Boessel 
law,  by  a  tax  upon  the  citj'.  The  pnjposition, 
however,  was  voted  down,  though  the  amount 
pledged  was  subsequentl}'  raised  by  voluntary 
subscriptions  to  the  capital  stock  of  the  com- 
pany through  the  vigorous  efforts  of  her  solicit- 
ing committees.  Other  localities  subscribed 
more  or  less  liberally,  so  that  the  total  amount 
sub.scribed  in  each  of  the  three  counties  was 
as  follows  :  Cuvahoga,  $508,250  ;  Summit, 
1191,700;  Stark.  ?14!l,750.  The  first  .stock-  ' 
holder's  meeting  was  held  .\pril  24,  1872,  at 
which  .lames  Farmer,  Aml)rose   B.  Stone,    and 


Nathan  B,  Payne,  of  Cleveland  :  David  L.  King 
and  John  F.  Sieberling,  of  Akron,  and  .James 
A,  Saxton  and  (ieorge  Cook,  of  ("anton,  were 
elected  Directors,  At  a  subsecjuent  meeting  of 
the  Directors  the  same  day.  James  Farmer  was 
elected  President ;  David  L.  King,  Vice  Presi- 
dent, and  Warwicli  Price,  Secretary  and  Treas- 
urer, At  a  meeting  of  the  Directors  held  May 
10,  1872,  Plymouth  II,  Dudley,  of  Akron,  was 
appointed  chief  engineer  for  the  road.  The 
route  was  fiuall}  agreed  upon,  and  the  contract 
for  building  the  entire  line  from  Cleveland  to 
Bowerstoii  was  awarded  to  Nicholas  E.  A'an- 
sickle  and  Arthur  L.  Conger,  of  Akron,  on  the 
3d  da}'  of  February,  1873,  The  work  was  com- 
menced at  once,  and  a  report  made  to  the  Board 
of  Directors  on  the  5th  of  August,  1873,  stated 
that  nearl}'  two  thirds  of  the  distance  from 
Cleveland  to  Canton  were  graded,  and  that  with 
favorable  weather  the  remainder  could  be  com- 
pleted and  ready  for  track-laying  by  the  1st  of 
October,  These  anticipations,  however,  were 
not  realized,  and  a  difference  of  opinion  having 
arisen  between  the  Directors  and  contractors, 
Messrs.  Vansickle  and  Conger,  the  contract  was 
canceled,  and  the  work  suspended  on  the  16th 
of  May.  1874.  Reuben  Hitchcock  was  elected 
President  of  the  company,  .\pril  24.  1874.  but 
on  account  of  failing  health,  a  few  months  later, 
was  compelled  to  tender  his  resignation,  and 
David  L,  King  was  elected  in  his  place,  on  the 
25th  of  September,  with  James  Farmer  as  Vice 
President.  The  general  stagnation  of  business, 
and  especiall}'  of  all  new  railroad  enti>rprises. 
following  the  failure  of  Jay  Cooke  &  Co..  ren- 
dered the  immediate  resumption  of  work  im- 
possible. The  Directors,  as  a  condition  prece- 
dent to  Mr.  King's  acceptance  of  the  i'residency. 
individuallj-  assumed  the  entire  liabilities  of  the 
companj',  which,  owing  to  inability  to  collect 
stock  subscriptions,  amounted  to  over  S150,0()0 
— a  burden  from  which  the  Directors  were  not 
relieved  until  .\pril,  1870.  But,  by  the  self- 
sacrificing  assumption  of  this  res[X)nsibility, 
the  life  of  the  company  was  saved  through  the 
long  period  of  financial  distress  the  country 
was  then  experiencing,  P'ailing,  through  the 
stringency  of  the  times,  to  secure  aid  in  this 
countrv  to  complete  the  road,  at  the  earnest 
solicitation  of  the  board,  Mr,  King  sailed  for 
England,  on  the  Gth  day  of  February,  1875,  to 
present  the  advantages  of  the  investment  to 
the  capitalists  of  London,      .\fter  weeks  of  pa- 


22G 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


tient  effort,  struggle  and  disappointment,  he 
finally  succeeded  in  securing  a  proposition  for 
the  sale  of  the  company's  bonds  on  highly  ad- 
vantageous terms,  and  a  time  was  fixed  for  the 
execution  of  the  contract.  On  the  morning  of 
the  day  agreed  upon  for  closing  the  matter  up, 
the  puljlication,  in  the  London  papers,  of  the 
report  of  a  committee  of  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, discrediting  the  value  of  American  se- 
curities in  general,  and  railroad  securities  in 
particular,  together  with  a  cable  dispatch  re- 
ceived from  New  York,  published  in  the  same 
papers,  that  the  Toledo,  Wabash  &  Western 
Railroad  (a  very  large  amount  of  the  bonds  of 
this  road  being  held  in  London)  had  passed  into 
the  hands  of  a  Receiver.  By  the  advice  of  the 
parties  with  whom  he  had  been  in  negotiation, 
Mr.  King  returned  home  without  liaving  ac- 
complished the  object  of  his  mission,  to  '-await 
the  logic  of  events. '  as  it  was  considered  dam- 
aging to  future  sales,  on  the  return  of  prosper- 
ity at  home,  to  urge  the  bonds  of  the  company 
further  upon  the  attention  of  English  capital- 
ists at  that  time.  The  nierits  of  the  line  were, 
from  time  to  time,  brought  by  President  King 
before  the  capitalists  of  Cleveland  and  the 
East,  and  a  succession  of  struggles  to  keep  the 
enterprise  alive  were  continued  for  three  jears 
longer,  happily  resulting  in  placing  the  bonds 
on  highly  favorable  terms  at  home  with  Cleve- 
land and  New  York  capitalists,  the  capital  stock 
having  in  the  meantime  (April  13,  1876)  been 
increa'sed  from  $3,000,000  to  $6,500,000.  On 
the  7th  day  of  August.  1S78,  the  work  on  the 
line  between  Cleveland  and  Canton  was  resumed 
by  the  new  contractors.  ^lessrs.  Walsh  and 
Moynahan,  the  first  rail  upon  the  line  being 
laid  and  the  first  spike  driven  by  President 
King,  at  Akron,  at  a  point  near  the  ■■  Old 
Forge."  at  12  o'clock  M..  on  the  26th  day  of 
October,  1878,  track-laying  being  immediately 
proceeded  with  from  this  point  both  ways,  and 
also  commenced  in  Cleveland  a  few  days  there- 
after. The  oiierations  of  tiie  new  contractors 
not  proving  satisfactory  to  the  company,  the 
contract  with  them  was  annulled,  on  tlie  25th 
da}'  of  January,  1870,  and  the  work  again  tem- 
porarily suspended.  Subsequently,  a  new  con- 
tract was  made  with  Messrs.  Strong  and  Gary, 
and  work  resumed  on  the  3d  day  of  June, 
1879.  The  road  was  finally  completed  through 
from  Cleveland  to  Canton,  in  the  winter  of 
1879-80.     The    first    continuous    train     from 


Cleveland  to  Canton,  with  the  officers,  Directors, 
and  other  friends  and  promoters  of  the  road  on 
board,  started  from  Cleveland  at  9:30  A.  M.. 
Januar}'  28,  1880.  Making  short  stops  at  the 
several  stations  on  the  route,  tlie  train  arrived 
at  Canton  about  1  o'clock  P.  M.  Starting  from 
Canton  on  the  return  trip  at  3  o'clock  P.  M., 
the  run  from  Canton  to  Akron,  twenty-two 
miles,  was  made  in  thirty-eight  minutes,  the  en- 
tire trip  from  Canton  to  Cleveland,  fifty-nine 
miles,  being  made  in  two  hours — a  remarkable 
run,  considering  the  newness  of  the  road,  and 
evincing  a  very  excellent  degree  of  work  in 
the  laying  of  the  track  and  the  ballasting  of 
the  road-bed.  The  first  regular  trains  com- 
menced running  February  2.  1880,  and  have 
continued  uninterruptedly  to  the  present  time, 
with  constantly  increasing  freight  and  passen- 
ger traffic,  and  though,  by  reason  of  the  partial 
occupation  of  the  ground  by  other  similar  en- 
terprises and  prospective  connections,  the  ex- 
tension of  the  road  beyond  Canton  has  been 
indefinitely  postponed,  tiie  Valley  Railway  may 
well  be  considered  a  successful  venture  for  its 
promoters,  and  a  ver}'  valuable  actpusition  to 
the  travel  and  transportation  facilities  of  the 
people  all  akmg  the  line. 

The  Tuscarawas  Branch  of  the  Cleveland  & 
Pittsburgh  Railroad  touches  a  corner  of  two 
townships  in  Stark  County,  passing  through 
Minerva,  in  Paris  Township,  and  Waynesburg, 
in  Sandy  Township.  It,  however,  has  but  a 
limited  space  in  the  railroad  history  of  the 
county.  It  was  built  a  good  man}-  years  ago. 
and  extends  from  Bayard  to  New  Philadelphia. 
Its  completion  at  a  time  when  Stark  had  few 
railroads,  gave  it  some  importance,  but  at  pres- 
ent, when  her  system  is  well  nigh  perfect,  it  is 
of  no  material  benefit,  except  to  the  two  towns 
through  which  it  passes. 

The  latest  accession  to  the  railroad  system 
of  Stark  County  is  the  Connotton  Valley  Rail- 
way. It  is  a  narrow-gauge  road  (three  feet) 
and  though  intended  more  esj)eciallj-  f<u-  the 
transportation  of  coal,  its  complement  of  roll- 
ing-stock embraces  an  adequate  supply  of  box 
freight  cars,  and  elegantly  finished  and  furnished 
passenger  coaches.  The  southern  terminus  of 
the  road  is  at  Bowerston,  on  the  Pan  Handle 
road  in  Hariison  County,  and  its  northern  ter- 
minus Fairport,  on  Lake  Erie,  with  a  branch  to 
the  city  of  Cleveland.  The  line  passes  through 
Carroll,  Stark,  Summit,  Portage  and  Cuyahoga 


±1^ 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


Counties  ;  the  capital  stock  is  $3,000,000.  tiie 
funds  beinjj;  furnished  mainly  by  Boston  cap- 
italists, though  a  majoi-ity  of  the  Directors  are 
the  proverbial  ■•  Ohio  men."  The  Connotton 
project  grew  out  of  the  old  Oiiio  &  Toledo 
road,  runninii;  from  C'arrolton  to  Minerva. 
This  road  was  bought  in  1878 -70  by  N.  A. 
Smith,  V.  (i.  Patterson  and  others,  who  extend- 
ed it  to  Dell  Roy.  Some  tinu'  in  187!)  Mr. 
Patterson  conceived  tin;  idea  and  made  it  pub- 
lie,  of  running  the  road  from  Oneida,  the  orig- 
inal northern  terminus  of  the  Ohio  &  Toledo 
road,  to  Canton.  He  succeeded  in  interesting 
other  parties  both  at  home  and  aliroad,  result- 
ing in  the  final  organization  of  the  Connotton 
Valley  Railway  Company-.  No  aid  or  donations 
or  bonds  were  asked,  only  a  free  right  of  way. 
Work  was  begun  and  pushed  forward  so  vigor- 
ously that  the  road  was  completed  to  Canton 
early  in  .May,  1880,  and  appropriately  celebrated 
by  an  excursion  of  its  friends  from  the  south- 
east to  Canton,  where  they  were  dined  and 
wined  to  their  hearts'  content.  Its  completion 
to  Osnaburg  \'illage  a  short  time  previous,  was 
duly  celebrated  in  that  suburban  burg. 

Upon  the  completion  of  the  road  to  Canton, 
it  was  decided  to  extend  it  on  north  to  Fair- 
port,  on  Lake  Erie,  two  miles  north  of  Paines- 
ville.  with  a  branch  to  Cleveland.  An  ettbrt 
was  made  to  sell  the  Alliance  &  Lake  Erie  road 
to  the  company,  but  this  offer  was  declined,  the 
company  preferring  to  build  a  new  road,  if  a  free 
right  of  way  could  be  obtained,  rather  than 
undertake  the  organization  of  any  more  rail- 
road wrecks,  as  the  Ohio  &  Toledo  had  been 
rather  expensive  in  this  respect.  Work  was 
begun  on  the  northern  extension  under  the  most 
favorable  auspices,  and  at  tlic  pn^sent  writing 
it  is  l)eing  rapidly  pushed  forward.  The  entire 
length  of  the  road  is  118,  sixty-two  miles  of 
which  is  now  fMay.  1881)  in  running  order,  be- 
ing completed  as  far  north  as  Mogadore,  in 
Summit  County,  and  as  far  soutli  as  Dell  Roy, 
in  Carroll  County,  and  it  is  expected  that  cars 
will  be  running  over  the  entire  line  by  July  of 
the  present  year.  This  road  passes  through 
from  sixteen  to  twenty  miles  of  valuable  coal 
fields,  fine  beds  of  iron  ore,  potters'  clay,  build- 
ing-stone, etc.,  besides  having  on  its  line  some 
of  the  most  enterprising  manufacturing  cities 
and  villages  in  Northern  Ohio. 

The  present  officers  of  the  road  are  as  fol- 
lows :   William  J.  Rotch.  of  New  Bedford.  Mass., 


President;  Samuel  Allen,  of  Dell  Roy,  Carroll 
County,  Vice  President ;  .\.  B.  Proval,  of  Canton, 
Stark  County,  Secretary-  and  Treasurer  ;  W.  N. 
Moffat,  formerly  of  the  Pittsburgh.  Kort  \\ayne 
&  Chicago  Railroad,  Superintendent,  and  Robert 
Leamouth,  formerly  of  the  Pan  Handle  road. 
Roadraasler.  The  machine  and  repair  shops, 
and  the  general  ortices  of  the  company,  are 
located  at  Canton.  The  Depot  buildings  are 
among  the  finest  in  the  country,  and  an  orna- 
ment to  the  city.  The  main  building  is  230 
feet  long  and  extends  from  Tuscarawas  street 
to  Fifth  street,  and  is  40  feet  wide,  exclusive 
of  porches  which  run  along  the  entire  building 
on  each  side.  The  structure  is  built  of  pressed 
brick,  laid  in  black  mortar,  and  with  white  sand- 
stone trimmings,  giving  it  a  very  handsome 
appearance.  It  has  a  tower  on  Tuscarawas 
street,  96  feet  high,  containing  an  elegant  clock 
which  tells  off  the  passing  moments  by  Colum- 
bus time.  The  first  floor  is  devoted  to  waiting- 
rooms,  toilette  rooms,  ticket  and  telegi'apli 
offices,  baggage  room,  etc.  Upon  the  second 
floor,  which  is  reached  by  both  a  front  and  l)aek 
stairwaj-,  are  eleven  rooms,  used  as  follows : 
General  manager's  office,  general  business  office, 
Secretar}-  and  Treasurer's  office  :  Auditor's  of- 
fice ;  general  freight  office  ;  general  ticket  agent's 
office  ;  Conductor's  room  ;  Superintcmdent's  of- 
fice ;  train  dispatcher's  office ;  roadmaster's 
room  ;  Chief  Engineer's  office,  and  Engineer 
Corps'  room,  all  of  which  are  finished  off  in  the 
best  style,  and  are  well,  and  even  elegantly,  fur- 
nished. 

In  addition  to  the  railroads  of  the  county 
now  in  acti\e  operation,  or  in  (jrocess  of  actual 
construction,  there  are  (juite  a  number,  that  as 
yet  have  only  been  constructed  on  paper.  The 
Steubenville,  Canton  &  Lake  Eric  is  one  of  the 
latter  kind.  It  is  tlu;  object  of  the  comi)any 
advocating  this  line  to  run  a  road  up  Wills 
Creek,  and  taji  th(!  Island  Creek  road,  a  few 
miles  from  Steubenville.  Thence  to  Salineville 
where  it  will  tap  the  Cleveland  ifc  Pittsburgh, 
and  also  a  new  r<^ad  coming  down  from  New 
Lisbon.  Thence  it  is  to  go  to  Minerva  anil  Can- 
ton, connecting  at  the  latter  place  with  the  I'itts- 
burgh.  Fort  Wayne  A:  (,"hicago  load.  From 
Canton  it  will  have  direct  communication  with 
Cleveland.  It  is  in  the  hands  of  practical  and 
energetic  men.  and  no  doubt  but  it  will  sooner 
or  later  be  built.  It  will  be  a  valuable  accession 
to  the  Stark  County  system  when  c<)m|)leted. 


^1 


238 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


The  Cleveland,  Canton.  Coshocton  &  Straits- 
ville  Railroad,  is  an  enterprise  that  was  organ- 
ized some  years  ago,  and  at  one  time  seemed 
likely  to  develop  into  a  reality.  A  company 
was  formed,  a  charter  gj'anted  for  a  standard 
gauge,  to  connect  with  the  Valley  Railway  at 
Canton,  con.sideralilcstock  sulisoriln>d,  and  work 
actiiidly  l)ci,niii  mi  tlir  liiiv  ol  i-ikkI.  and  a  good 
deal  of  grading  was  <l()nr.  Hut  from  somecause 
it  languished  and  work  linally  ceased.  Recent- 
ly (May,  1881)  it  was  purchased  by  the  Connot- 
ton  Valley  Railwaj',  and  will  he  finished  imme- 
diately as  a  narrow-gauge  road.  It  is  to  be  ex- 
tended 105  miles  in  a  southwesterly  direction 
from  Canton,  passing  through  Massillon,  Co- 
shocton, Straitsville  and  the  Hocking  Valley 
coal  district,  reaching  man^-  important  towns, 
notably  Zanesville  and  Cosiioeton,  and  termi- 
nating at  a  central  point  in  the  Hocking  Valley 
coal-field.  It  will  be  a  valuable  feeder  to  the 
Connotton  Valley  system,  and  of  the  greatest 
advantage  to  Canton,  in  bringing  immense  quan- 
tities of  coal  and  other  freight  to  its  doors  for 
transfer  and  re-shipment. 

The  property  acquired  by  the  Connotton  in 
this  purchase,  involves  the  right  of  wa3'  through 
the  central  part  of  ()hio  for  50  miles,  and  an 
amount  of  grading,  upon  which  was  expended 
S(Mne  $400,000.  Work  was  begun  on  this  ex- 
tension under  the  auspices  of  the  new  manage- 
ment, and  it  is  believed  tiiat  much  of  it  will  be 
finished  during  the  present  summer. 

The  Baltimore,  Pittsburgh  &  Chicago  Rail- 
way, which  we  lielieve  is  also  a  narrow  gauge, 


is  another  paper  railroad,  at  least  so  far.  From 
the  agitation  of  the  project,  however,  it  is  alto- 
gether possible  to  build  such  a  road,  especially 
if  it  is  sufficiently  pushed  forward  in  the  pres- 
ent great  railroad  ijoom  now  passing  over  the 
entire  country.  The  surveyors  of  this  projected 
road  have  just  survej'ed  a  route  through  Min- 
erva, in  this  county,  and  down  the  Sandy  \'al- 
ley,  and  of  this  route  they  speak  in  high 
favor. 

The  Canton  &  Canal  Dover  Railroad  is  an- 
other of  the  prospective  roads  of  Stark  County. 
It  has  been  incorporated  and  a  company  formed 
with  a  capital  of  $750,000.  It  will  be  23  miles 
in  length  and  will  connect  the  Valley  Railway 
with  the  Pittsburgh  roads,  and  will  also  form 
the  connecting  link  between  Marietta  on  the 
Ohio  River  and  Cleveland.  This  road,  thougii 
short,  will  be  an  important  one  to  Canton  and 
to  the  county  at  large. 

How  many  more  railroad  irons  Stark  County 
has  in  the  fire  it  is  impossible  to  say,  but  doubt- 
less there  are  a  number  of  projected  roads  that 
have  not  yet  come  to  the  surface.  We  have 
noticed  all  the  roads  of  the  county  that  have 
been  completed,  as  well  as  those  contemplated, 
so  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  obtain  fticts  re- 
garding them.  If  any  have  been  omitted  it  is 
an  oversight  and  occurred. through  the  multi- 
plicity of  roads  to  be  looked  after  and  written 
up.  The  railroads  form  an  important  part  of 
county's  history,  but  space  allows  but  a  brief 
sketch  of  them  in  a  work  of  this  character,  and 
we  leave  the  subject  without  further  remark. 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


CHAPTER    v.* 

WAK   [IISTORY— THE  RKVOLUTION— CAPT.  STIlKiER  S  (  OMPANV  OF  I8I-J— STAUK  COINTV   lllRINT. 

THE  MEXICAN   WAR— OPENIXG    SCENES   OF   THE   GREAT   REBELLION— SKETCHES  OF 

THE   l!F.(iIMENTS  — THE  DRAFT— AID    ANU    OTHER    SOCIETIES  — (iR EAT 

I:E-UXI0N  of  1880— OBSERVANCE  OF  DECORATION   DAY. 


When  till-  liiii;;  yiMis  have  riilkd  slowly  away. 
E'l'ii  to  the  (lawn  of  carlli's  funeral  day; 
When  at  till'  Arclian^els  tiunipct  and  tread. 
Uisp  up  the  faee.«  and  forms  of  the  dead; 
******* 
Then  the  glad  ears  of  each  war-martyred  son 
I'rcMidly  ^liall  bear  the  glad  tidings  "well  done." 
l!lr--in'L:v  t'oi-  garlands  shall  cover  them  over. 
I'aiciii  uMil  husband  and  lirother  and  lover. 
(Jod  will  reward  those  dead  heroes  of  ours. 
And  cover  them  over  with  beautiful  flowers. 

—  ('arletoii. 

DIFFERENCES  of  opinion  have  beon  ad- 
justed from  time  immemorial  by  the  ar- 
bitrament of  war.  Individuals,  dissatisfied 
with  existing  relations,  have  invoked  the  god 
of  battles,  and  ttu-ned  the  red  hand  of  slaugh- 
ter against  their  brethren.  Others,  instigated 
by  pa.ssion,  ambition  or  caprice,  have,  by  the 
powereof  will  or  genius,  strewn  the  earth  with 
human  clay,  and  filled  the  heavens  with  woful 
lamentations.  Nations,  delighting  in  con(|uest, 
and,  seemingly,  in  slaughter,  have  shaken  the 
eaiih  with  their  elephantine  tread,  and  scat- 
tered the  hard-earned  ])rotluct8  of  civilization 
with  infinite  disregard.  Others  have  united 
in  hideous  schemes  to  deluge  the  world  with 
blooil,  until  the  name  of  civilization  has  seemed 
a  synonym  for  unlimited  reproach.  Enlight- 
ened man  converts  into  an  art  the  barbarous 
plans  of  hiuuan  destruction,  and  tjstablishes 
institutions  of  learning  wherein  ai-e  taught  the 
most  gigantic  and  expeditious  modes  of  termi- 
nating life.  The  world  witnesses  a  strange 
paradox  when  man,  after  thousands  of  years 
of  moral  and  intellectual  advancement,  still 
resorts  to  his  physical  nature;  to  seciu-e  sub- 
servience to  his  desires.  Might,  not  right,  still 
rules  the  world  with  despotic  sway.  War,  as 
a  result  of  dissimilar  views,  necessarily  fol 
lows  from  conflicting  enlightenment  in  all  de- 
partments of   human    thought.     So    long   as 

'<V.i,liiliut.-d  bv  W,  A   li.>.)ilsr.oeil. 


minds  refuse  to  see  alike,  cemflicts  will  ixjcur, 
storms  of  war  will  trouble  the  earth,  and  the 
reign  of  jieace  will  be  clouded.  The  first 
war  with  which  Stark  C(;unty  had  any  con 
nection  was  the  Revolution.  Although  at  that 
time  no  white  men  lived  within  the  present 
limits  of  the  county,  except,  j)erhaj)s,  a  few 
missionai'ies,  whose  object  was  jieace,  yet  so 
many  of  the  settlers  who  afterward  ctime  to 
the  county  were  in  the  struggle  for  independ- 
ence, that  reference,  though  brief,  must  be  made 
to  that  vrar.  The  causes  of  the  Revolution  and 
the  terms  hy  which  the  cokmies  becam(>  free 
and  independent,  are  Um  familiar  to  be  de- 
tailed here.  It  is  thought  that  the  hju-dest 
times  the  country  has  ever  seen  immediately 
succeeded  the  establishment  of  peace.  The 
colonies  were  no  less  than  bauknijit,  and  priva- 
tions and  hardships  intlie  most  direful  degi-ee 
were  willingly  Iwrne  when  victory  and  peace 
were  secm'ed.  The  paper  moiu'y,  by  means  of 
which  the  war  was  eaiTied  on,  was  worthless, 
and  the  harvests,  of  necessity,  had  been  so 
neai'ly  neglected  that  stai-vation  stared  the  colo- 
nies in  the  face.  Time  alone,  and  at  last,  re- 
trieved the  havoc  of  WJU'.  ^Vhtm  the  c(juntry 
had  in  a  measure  recovered  from  the  stroke, 
enterprising  men  and  women  Ijegan  to  push 
Westward.  The  Govermueut  offered  extra  in- 
ducements to  settlers,  and  finally  the  rush  for 
the  West  became  so  gi'eat  that  the  settlers  bi^- 
gan  to  unlawfully  invade  the  territory  of  the 
Western  Indians.  This  brought  down  u])on 
them  numerous  and  Ijloody  wars  with  the  sav- 
ages. Soon  after  Ohio,  as  a  State,  was  created, 
settlers  began  to  Ixildly  appear,  regardless  of 
the  rights  of  their  red  neighbors  It  has  l)een 
estimated  that  10  per  cent  of  the  white  men 
who  located  in  the  county  prior  to  ISl.'i  had 
been  engaged  in  the  war  for  inilependence. 
The  names  of  manv  of  them  will  be  found  in 


230 


HISTOBY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


the  biographical  dejiartment,  of  this  volume. 
At  last  another  war  with  Great  Britain  cast 
its  dark  shadow  over  the  laud.  When  it  be- 
came known  in  the  We.st  that  war  was  inevita- 
ble, and  had  really  been  declared,  the  settle- 
ments were  tilled  with  distnistful  forebodings. 
A  coalition  between  the  British  and  the  In- 
dians was  anticipated,  and,  as  soon  as  it  be 
came  certain  that  this  di'eaded  alliance  had 
been  efteeted.  the  [>ioneers  tlu'oughoiit  Eastern 
Ohio  made  hasty  preparations  for  defense. 
Block-houses  were  erected  in  the  more  exposed 
localities,  and  in  all  places  the  militia  mus- 
tered and  ecjuijiped  themselves  with  the  imple- 
ments of  war.  In  almost  eveiy  settlement  in 
the  eastern  part  of  the  State,  companies  were 
organized  for  a  determined  resistance  against 
any  foe  that  might  appear.  A  large  block- 
house, about  eighty  feet  scpiare,  was  built  at 
Wooster,  but  Canton,  being  an  older  settlement, 
in  a  less-exposed  situation,  and  well  supplied 
with  brave  men,  concluded  to  forego  the  lux- 
Tuy  of  such  a  building.  As  nearly  as  can  be 
ascertained,  Canton,  at  that  time,  was  the  head- 
(juarters  of  the  Third  Regiment  of  the  Second 
Brigade  of  the  Fom'th  Division  of  Ohio  Mili- 
tia. Several  companies  belonging  to  this  regi- 
ment had  been  accustomed,  for  a  number  of 
years,  to  muster  in  different  portions  of  the 
county,  principaly  at  the  county  seat.  At  last 
a  call  for  troops  was  issued,  and  a  movement 
was  instituted  to  effect  the  organization  of  a 
company  at  Canton  fi'om  the  militia.  George 
Stidger,  who  had  seen  active  service  in  fonner 
yem's  in  the  Eastern  States,  and  who,  it  is  said, 
had  been  honored  with  a  General's  conuuis- 
sion,  was  elected,  or  appointed.  Captain.  The 
company  was  yet  incomplete,  when  a  di'aft  was 
ordered,  and  enough  men  were  seciu'ed  to  form 
a  respectable  company  of  about  seventy.  Sev- 
eral men  were  di-afted,  who,  fi'om  the  fact  that 
they  had  families  dependent  upon  them  for 
support,  foimd  it  extremely  inconvenient  to 
leave  home,  and  substitutes  were  called  for. 
One  luuiih'ed  dollars  became  the  prevailing 
price  for  a  substitute,  and  a  sufficient  number 
to  meet  the  demand  were  secured  at  this  figm'e. 
The  following  is  a  complete  list  of  the  mem- 
bers of  this  company,  secured  after  a  gi-eat 
deal  of  trouble,  from  the  Third  Auditor  of  the 
United  States  Treasiuy,  where  the  rosters  of 


the  Ohio  volunteers  of  the  war  of  1(S12  are  on 
file:  George  Stidger,  Captain;  Robert  Cam- 
eron, Lieutenant;  Daniel  McChu'e.  Ensign; 
John  Miller,  John  Shorb.  William  V.  Cham- 
berlain, Clu'istian  Flickinger,  Sergeants; 
George  Cribs,  Jacob  Essig.  John  Rowland. 
Moses  Andrews.  Corporals:  Thomas  Neily, 
Bugler;  and  the  following  privates;  Ezekiel 
Alexander,  William  Andrews,  James  Andrews, 
Thonias  Alexander,  William  Brouse.  -Tames 
Black,  Phillip  Brouse,  John  Brouse,  John 
Cutshall  (perhaps  Gotshall),  John  Clinger, 
George  Crasimore,  John  Carper,  Benjamin 
Croninger,  Garret  Cruson.  Alexander  Cam- 
eron, Samuel  Duck.  George  Dewalt.  Adam  Es- 
sig, John  Elder,  Daniel  Farber,  James  Gaff, 
Rol)ert  Gaff,  Thomas  Hoffard,  John  Kroft. 
John  Koontz,  George  Kirkpatrick,  Heni-y  Liv- 
ingston, Samuel  McClellin,  George  Monroe, 
Jacob  Myers,  James  Moore,  John  Potts,  Sam- 
uel Patton,  John  Rogers,  Abraham  Roose. 
James  Riddle,  John  Rise,  Jacol)  Swigert,  John 
Slusser.  William  Smith,  Daniel  Stephens, 
Thomas  Shields,  John  Shineberger,  Jacob  Slus- 
ser, Robert  SoiTels  and  Bezaleel  Thompson. 
It  is  not  known  whether  this  is  the  roster  at 
the  time  of  muster  in  or  muster  out.  It  is  prob- 
able that  others  than  those  mentioned  above 
sei'\'ed  in  this  companj',  in  which  case  their 
names  would  appeal-  on  the  roll,  as  made  out 
by  the  officers  of  the  com])any  at  the  time  such 
men  sei-ved.  Such  rolls  are  probably  long  ago 
destroyed.  It  is  probable  that  the  company 
was  ordered  into  the  sei'\Tce  of  the  Govern- 
ment during  the  siumner  of  1812.  The  period 
of  enlistment  was  six  months.  The  British 
and  the  Indians  were  congregating  at  or  aear 
Detroit,  and  to  hold  them  in  check,  several 
companies,  organized  in  the  eastern  part  of  the 
State,  and  in  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia,  were 
ordered  to  the  Mamnee  River,  where  they  were 
to  mass  and  unite  on  a  means  of  attack  or  de- 
fense. Capt.  Stidger's  comi)any  was  tirst  or- 
dered to  Wooster,  where  the  troops  remained 
a  month  or  more,  doing  guard  duty  and  enjoy- 
ing themselves  in  a  multitude  of  ways.  Their 
base  of  supplies  was  at  Canton,  where  beef, 
corn-meal,  flour  and  other  provisions  were  pre- 
pared and  forwarded  by  wagon.  Scouts  were 
dispatched  to  inspect  the  neighboring  Indian 
villages,  and  to  notify  the  troops  and  the  set- 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


tlements  of  impending  clangor.  Finally,  the 
e(iiii{)any  received  orders  to  proceed  westward 
to  Penysbnrg,  on  the  Mauniee  River,  and  to 
rejjort  there  t<?the  commanding  General.  The 
Stark  County  boys  remained  in  this  vicinity, 
enjoying  tlieniselves  in  every  manner  except 
encountering  the  enemy,  nntil  a  short  time  be- 
fore their  period  of  enlistment  had  ex})ired, 
wlien  they  were  discharged  and  sent  homo. 
They  had  seen  no  active  sei-vice.  much  to  their 
declared  disappointment.  After  this,  although 
they  were  not  in  the  service,  yet,  knowing  that 
the  war  was  not  over,  and  tliat  attacks  from 
Indians  might  l)e  expected  at  any  moment, 
they  did  not  disband,  but  miistereil  regularly 
one  or  more  times  a  week,  to  be  in  readiness 
for  a  jjossilile  attack,  or  for  another  call  from 
the  Government.  However,  tliey  were  not 
called  out  again. 

Diu-ing  the  early  stages  of  the  war,  a  regi- 
ment of  soldiers  from  Pennsylvania,  pa.ssing 
throtigh  Canton  with  some  thii-ty  jiieces  of  ord- 
nance, stopped  for  the  night.  It  is  related 
by  Daniel  I)(>walt.  whose  father  kept  a  tavern, 
that  one  of  the  men  in  charge  of  a  cannon 
traded  both  his  horses,  which  were  good  ones, 
l>ut  used  up  by  the  journey,  for  one  horse  be- 
longing to  the  former,  giving  at  the  same  time 
!?iSt>  to  boot.  "As  I  sold  one  of  the  horses 
soon  afterward  for  SI 0(1,  that.'"  says  Mr.  De- 
walt.  "  was  the  best  horse  trade  I  ever  made." 
Many  interesting  incidents  are  related  of  cir- 
cumstances gi-owing  out  of  the  war.  On  one 
occasion,  it  was  reported  by  several  men  who 
had  just  an-ived  from  the  North,  that  the  Brit- 
ish were  coming,  that  they  had  lie(>n  seen  dis- 
embarking from  vessels  on  the  lake,  and  that 
their  appearance  might  be  expected  at  any 
moment.  This  was  sufficient  to  rouse  the  citi- 
zens to  the  utmost,  and  immediate  ])re])arations 
were  made  to  receive  the  enemy  in  a  titting 
manner.  Dwellings  were  liarricaded.  scouts 
were  sent  out  to  recoiiiioiter.  and.  amidst  great 
excitement,  an  informal  organization  of  militia 
was  effected.  Finally,  a  few  ragged,  half- 
clothed  men  a])peared,  who  announced  that 
they  and  their  comrades  were  the  parties  thiit 
had  landed  at  the  lake.  They  were  a  portion 
of  (jcn.  Hull's  ]>arpled  soldiers.  The  citizens 
slowly  relaxed  their  vigilance,  though  they  con- 
tinued to  guard   all  points  against   an  unex- 


pected attack.  "While  an  attack  from  the  Brit 
ish  was  po.ssibl»>,  it  was  not  regarded  asproba 
l)le,  and  the  settlers  in  Stark  County  were  not  a]  > 
prehensive  on  that  score;  but  the  Indians  were 
looked  upon  in  a  different  light.  Large  niuii 
bers  w(>re  not  far  distant  during  the  war,  ;ind 
reports  were  oft<'U  in  swift  circulation  that 
they  meditated  an  attack  on  the  whites.  Two 
comj)anies  of  militia  were  musfa'red  in  the 
county,  one  under  Ca])t.  Downing  and  the  other 
under  Cajrt.  Sloane.  While  these  companies 
were  not  in  the  service  of  the  Government,  they 
must(>red  regularly,  and  were  ke])t  in  reaili- 
ness  to  be  called  out  at  any  moment,  for  the 
])rotection  of  the  neighboring  settlements,  in 
ease  of  an  attack  from  the  redskins.  Compara- 
tively nothing  is  rememb(>red  of  these  militia 
companies.  It  is  (piite  certain  that  they  took 
one  or  more  exciu-sions  with  a  view  of  holding 
bands  of  Indians  in  check,  who  were  thought 
to  be  contemplating  an  attack. 

Stark  Coimty  took  a  prominent  part  in  the 
war  with  Mexico.  All  are  familiar  with  the 
circmnstances  resulting  in  this  war.  Brietly. 
the  causes  gi-ew  out  of  the  admission  of 
Texas  into  the  Union.  The  "Lone  Star  State  " 
had  been  a  province  of  ]\Iexico,  but,  a  few 
yeai's  previous  to  its  annexation  to  the  Uuite<l 
States,  had  thrown  oft'  the  lnn'd(>ns()me  Spanish 
yoke,  and  organized  an  independent  govern 
nient.  War  followed  lietween  Texas  and 
Mexico,  and,  at  the  liattle  of  San  Jacinto, 
which  occun-ed  in  ISHC).  the  Texans  eaptlU'ed 
Santa  Anna,  Dictator  of  ^Mexico,  together  with 
a  large  par-t  of  his  army,  and  succeeded  in  com- 
pelling him  to  acknowledge  their  independ- 
ence, which  he  did  very  much  after  the  fash- 
ion of  the  )i!an  referred  to  in  IJutlcr's  Hudi- 
bras : 

"lie  that  (■oiii|)lics  ;ij;;iiiist  liis  will. 
Is  of  his  own  (ipinidii  slill." 

The  succeeding  tre;ity  was  wholly  disre- 
giu-ded  by  the  Mexicans,  who  continued  their 
former  policy  toward  the  hostile  province. 
From  this  time  onward,  petitions  were  fre- 
({uently  presented  to  the  United  States  by  the 
Texans,  praying  for  admission  into  the  Union. 
There  was  a  strong  jiolitical  element  in  the 
countiy  opposed  to  this:  and.  to  strengthen  the 
feeling,  and  ju-event.  if  ])ossil>le.  the  United 
States  from  comi>lying  with  the  jirayer,  M<'xico 


^1 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY 


declared  that  t}ie  admission  of  Texas  would  be 
regarded  as  sufficient  cause  for  a  declaration  of 
war  with  the  [States.  In  the  Presidential  can- 
vass of  1 844.  the  annexation  of  Texas  was  one 
of  the  leading  issues  l)efore  the  ]ieople,  and  Mr. 
Polk,  whose  party"  favored  the  admission  of 
Texas,  being  elected,  this  was  taken  as  a  pub- 
lic declaration  on  the  subject.  After  this. 
Congress  had  no  hesitancy  in  granting  the 
petition  of  Texas,  and.  on  the  1  st  of  March. 
184r).  formally  received  her  into  the  sisterhood 
of  States.  Mexico  at  once  liroke  off  all  diplo- 
matic relations  with  the  United  States,  recall- 
ing her  Minister  and  making  immediate  pre- 
parations for  war.  In  May,  1S4H,  Congi-ess 
passed  an  act  authorizing  the  Pi-esident  to  ac- 
cept the  services  of  TiO. 000  volunteers,  and  ap- 
propriating $  1 0,000.000  for  the  prosecution  of 
the  war.  Immediately  following  this  was  a 
requisition  by  the  President  on  the  Governor 
of  Ohio  for  'J,400  volunteers,  in  three  regi- 
ments, and  the  Secretary  of  War  xu'ged  all  pos 
siblo  expedition  in  their  enlistment.  The  call 
was  for  infantry,  or  riilemen.  who  were  to  or- 
ganize and  rejiort  at  Cam])  "Washington,  Cin- 
cinnati. 

At  this  time,  the  old  militia  law  was  in  force 
thi-oughout  the  State,  recjuiring  the  enrollment 
of  all  able-bodied  men  lietweeu  the  ages  of 
eighteen  and  foi'ty-tive,  for  militwy  duty. 
Massillon  was  the  headquarters  of  the  Sixth 
Division  of  the  Ohio  Militia,  the  division  com- 
mander being  Maj.  Gen.  Dwight  Jai'vis,  of  j 
that  city.  On  the '  L\"ith  of  May.  1 84(5,  he  is-  [ 
sued  an  order  to  the  several  commandants  of 
brigades  in  the  Sixth  Division,  requiring  them 
to  muster  their  conmiands,  to  ascertain  how 
many  men  could  be  got  in  readiness  for  war. 
Canton  was  the  h(^adquai-ters  of  the  Second 
Brigade  of  the  Sixth  Division,  the  brigade  com- 
mander being  Brig.  Gen.  Samuel  Lahm,  who 
immediately  ordered  the  organized  militia  of 
Stark  County  to  muster  as  follows;  The  First 
Battalion  of  Light  Infantry,  at  Canton,  on  the 
5th  of  June:  the  First  Regiment  of  Infantry, 
at  Osnabiu'g.  on  the  (Uh  of  June:  the  Second 
Regiment  of  Infantry,  at  Bethlehem,  on  the 
8th  of  Jime:  and  the  Third  Regiment  of  In- 
fantry, at  New  Berlin,  on  the  Uth  of  June. 
This  order  was  followed  by  others  to  the  same 
effect,  from  the  various  regimental  command- 


ers, and  fi'om  Lieut.  Col.  Daniel  Gotshall,  of 
the  First  Battalion.  On  Friday,  the  5th  of 
June,  the  First  Battalion,  consisting  of  one 
company  from  Canal  Fulton,  one  fi'om  Bethle 
hem,  one  from  Greentown,  one  from  Louis- 
ville, one  fi'om  Osnaburg  and  one  from  Canton 
— in  all,  six  companies,  of  alwut  400  line-look- 
ing men — mustered  at  Canton,  and,  as  a  body, 
offered  their  services  for  the  war,  A  few 
weeks  prior  to  this  event,  Capt.  James  Allen, 
who  had  commanded  a  company  in  Texas  in 
1836,  opened  an  enlistment  office  at  Canton 
and  issued  a  call  for  volunteers.  Men  came 
promptly  forward,  and,  by  the  5th  of  June, 
the  company  was  nearly  half  completed.  The 
5th  was  an  animating  day,  for  bands  of  martial 
music  jiaraded  the  streets  to  fire  the  dormant 
spirits  of  the  citizens  with  the  glory  of  war. 
Thrilling  speeches  were  made,  and  many  were 
added  to  the  company  of  Capt.  Allen.  In  the 
afternoon,  the  splendid  ceremony  of  forming 
a  hollow  square  was  executed  by  the  militia, 
and  a  fine  sword  was  presented  to  Capt.  Allen, 
amidst  the  rattle  of  musketry  and  the  roll  of 
drums.  The  partially  formed  company  were 
in  full  uniform,  and  kindled  the  admiration  of 
all  as  they  marched,  with  wonderful  regularity 
and  precision,  tlu'ough  the  crowded  streets  of 
the  county  seat.  It  required  but  a  short  time 
after  this  memoral)le  day  to  complete  the  en- 
rollment of  the  necessary  nivmber  of  men,  and 
Capt  Allen  notified  his  superiors  that  his  com- 
pany was  ready  for  marching  orders.  The 
call  of  the  Governor  for  j!,4()0  voluntew's  was 
so  promptly  filled  that,  on  the  8th  day  of  June, 
he  announced  that  many  more  than  the  required 
munber  had  enlisted,  a  port-ion  of  whom  could 
not  be  accepted.  It  is  said  that,  when  the  mil- 
itia throughout  the  State  were  called  upon  to 
muster  and  ascertain  how  many  could  lie  got  in 
readiness  for  the  war,  80  volunteered  atXenia; 
3(5  in  Warren  County;  2(5  in  Muskingiun:  '2.0 
in  Fairfield;  6  in  Lorain:  63  in  Ross;  V)  in 
Darke;  over  40  in  Portage;  208  in  Clermont: 
49  in  Seneca;  30  in  Sandusky:  41  in  Licking; 
and  nearly  400  in  Stark.  Massillon  was  made 
a  secondary  depot,  where  companies  raised  and 
supplies  obtained  in  this  portion  of  the  State 
were  ordered  to  report  for  the  inspection  of 
Gen.  Jarvis.  Capt.  Allen's  comjiany  was  ac- 
cepted by  the  Governor  before  the  10th  of  Jime. 


^ 


HISTOIIY  OF   .STARK   COUNTY. 


and,  on  the  13tli.  received  orders  to  report  at 
Ciimj)  Washington,  Cincinnati.  Before  stain- 
ing, the  company  received  fi-om  the  citizens 
of  Massillon  money  and  sii|)pli('s  to  thevahie 
of  abont  S2W.  Tlic  hidics  of  that  city  pre- 
piU'ed  a  fine  flag,  which  was  presented  in  their 
names  to  the  company,  in  a  tine  speech  by 
Gen.  Jai-vis,  to  w^iich  Capt  Alien  responded 
in  the  following  glowing  and  elo(jnent  words: 
"For  the  distinguished  m.u-k  of  respect  and 
confidence  just  extended  us  by  the  ladies  whom 
vou  rejircsent,  I  would,  in  my  own  Ijehalf,  and 
in  behalf  of  the  company  with  whose  com- 
mand I  have  been  honored,  endeavor  to  thank 
you.  were  I  gifted  with  fitting  language  to  ex- 
press our  common  gi-atitude.  This  beautiful 
flag,  an  ottering  of  generous  and  holy  heart.-, 
shall  be  to  us  a  hallowed  treasure.  The  gift 
of  pure  and  lovely  women,  we  shall  look  upon 
it  iis  a  consecrated  emblem,  and  oiu'  hearts 
draw  inspiration  of  goodness  fi-om  its  cont<>m- 
plation.  It  is  l)e<jueathed  to  us  from  bosoms 
as  pure  and  tone  as  the  unstained  azm-e  of  its 
field,  and  fi'om  aflections  as  bright  as  the  stars 
in  its  mimic  galaxy;  and  it  shall  be  our  pride 
iuid  duty  to  love  and  honor  and  ])rotoct  it  while 
life  thi'obs  in  oiu'  pulses  and  strength  lingers 
in  om-  arms.  Present  our  adieux  to  the  ladies 
who  have  thus  so  highly  honored  us.  and  say 
to  them  that  we  have  sworn  never  to  prove 
unwoi-thy  of  their  confidence  --"'■'( /•  to  dlxijiticc 

The  company  "sailed"  for  Cincinnati  on  the 
18th  of  June,  followed  Ijy  the  tears  and  loving 
farewells  of  finends,  and  the  well- wishes  of  all. 
So<jn  after  reaching  Camp  Washington,  the 
"  Stark  Rangers,"  as  they  were  called,  were  as- 
signed to  the  Third  Regiment,  which  eomj)rised 
ten  companies,  as  follows:  Allen's,  of  Stark 
County;  AVooth-u£l"s,  of  Norwalk;  Ford's, 
of  Mansfield;  Patterson's,  of  St.  Clairsville; 
Nole's,  of  Zanesville;  Moore's,  of  Wooster; 
McLaughlin's,  of  Mansfield:  McCook's,  of 
Steub<>nville;  Meredith's,  of  Coshocton;  and 
Chapman's,  (jf  Seneca  County.  The  org;miza- 
tiun  and  ecpiipment  of  this  regiment  were  soon 
eft'ected.  and,  on  the  ^id  of  Jun(>,  1^40,  it  was 
ordered,  first  to  New  Orl(>aus,  and  thence  across 
the  gidf  to  Point  Isabel,  Texas.  Capt.  Allen's 
company  consisted  of  eighty-fom-  fine-looking 
men,  as  follows:    James  Allen,  Captain;  Sam- 


uel Beatty,  First  Lieutenant:  Jacob G.  Frick, 
Second  Lieutenant;  .\bijah  W.  Baker,  First 
Sergeant;  William  Hill)ert.  Second  Sergeant; 
William  S.  Hartmau.  Third  Sergeant;  Louis 
E.Clement.  Fourth  Sergeant:  R;dph  S.  Court 
ney.  First  Corporal;  William  McCurdy,  Sec- 
ond Corjxiral;  Roliert  Clayton,  Third  Corjjoral; 
Alonzo  Waters.  Foiu-th  Corporal:  anil  the  fol- 
lowing privates;  Theodore  Gibbons.  James  R. 
Stall.  Findley  McGr.-w.  John  L.  Cross.  W.  C. 
ToiTence,  John  Shannon,  Isaac  Doxey.  Philip 
Martin.  William  Tawkey,  Louis  Heniinger. 
Charles  Bradley,  Myron  ^Monroe.  John  Link, 
John  Dickas.  Jereljoam  Creighton,  Frederic 
Kisner.  Jacob  W.  Rex.  John  I'lam.  Charles  H. 
Coombs,  Andrew  P.  Gallaher.  Ferdinand  W. 
Haack,  Thomas  Thompson.  Jacol)  Sebold, 
Jacob  Eversole,  Mathias  Fox,  John  W.  Wag- 
ner, John  Matson,  John  R.  Walter,  George 
Stitzel,  Joel  B.  Martin,  Amlirose  Essner,  Sam- 
uel Stall.  Jacob  Fontainheim.  Peter  Kroft. 
Michael  Matter,  John  Stephens,  .John  Mim- 
grew,  Mai'tiu  Bohrer,  Mathias  Hoover,  Jacob 
Reed,  George  M.  Bolinger,  John  B.  Collins. 
Robert  M.  Shilling,  George  A.  Klingel.  John 
Cotwinlde.  John  Garret,  Wm.  Dobson,  Abra- 
ham Metz.  John  Fitzsimiuons.  Patrick  Fitz- 
patrick.  Isaiah  Keltn(>r.  George  TofHer,  John 
Ankeney,  Frederic  Souter.  Frederic  Hobel, 
William  H.  Chi'istmas,  James  Elliott,  Charles 
Floom.  Dewitt  C.  Whiting,  William  W.  Has- 
tings, Augustus  Overtel.  John  Schlink,  Fred- 
eric Marsh,  Ambrose  Meeks,  .John  C.  Meloney, 
Frederic  Yogelgesong,  Alexander  Shirer,  John 
Brischt,  Peter  Finney.  Thomas  Barnd.  Sauuiel 
C.  Fry,  Chi'istian  Ledig  ami  .John  Cox.  This 
company,  as  given,  left  Massillon,  but  all  did 
not  retiu'n.  Sinne  of  the  poor  l)oys  fell  under 
the  stroke  of  the  deadly  diseases  of  the  South, 
and  their  graves,  like  the  tomb  of  Moses,  ;iro 
imkuown.  The  company  was  designated  K, 
and  its  position  was'ou  the  e.\treme  left  wing 
of  the  Third  Regiment.  It  was  iibout  ten  days 
in  going  from  Cincinnati  by  boat  to  New  Or- 
leans. After  remaining  encmujied  about  ten 
days  at  Camp  .Jackson,  near  New  Orleans, 
and  on  the  site  of  Gen.  Jackson's  celebrated 
liattle-field,  the  right  wing  of  the  regiment 
was  ordered  on  board  a  schooner,  and  dire<-ted 
to  report  at  Point  Isabel,  Texa.s.  The  left 
wing,  of  which  tlie  "Stark  Rangei-s"  formed  a 


2m 


HISTORY   OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


])?irt,  embarked  on  board  a  l)rig,  commanded 
by  Capti.  Tliora]is(.)n,  and,  after  a  short,  stormy 
passage,  lauded  at  Brazos  Island.  After  a  few 
\\'eeks.  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  the  month 
C'f  the  Rio  (irande.  and  soon  afterward  to 
Bereta.  thence  to  Brownsville,  and  finally  to 
Matamoras.  aiTiving  at  that  point  about  the 
1st  of  August,  1S4-I).  After  remaining  en- 
camped for  a  short  time,  the  regiment  was 
divided,  and  the  companies  sent  to  different 
towns  along  the  Rio  Grande,  to  guard  Govern- 
ment stores  and  repel  sundry  attacks  from 
Mexican  guerrillas.  Company  K  was  ordered 
into  winter  ((uarters  at  Fort  Ferides,  where  it 
I'cmained  until  the  "id  of  January,  lS-1-7,  when 
marching  order.s  were  received  to  {)roceed  to 
C;miai-go,  where  the  troops  arrived  tlu-ee  days 
later.  Some  time  aftenvard,  they  were  ordered 
to  Monterey,  and,  when  on  the  way,  learned  of 
the  battle  of  Buena  Yista.  They  were  met  by 
Gen.  Taylor  when  within  about  twenty-live 
miles  of  Monterey,  who  ordered  a  jjortion  of 
the  regiment  in  pursuit  of  a  fragment  of  the 
defeated  Mexican  army.  After  a  harassing 
though  bloodless  pursuit  of  three  or  fom-  days, 
the  troops  returned  and  proceeded  to  Monterey, 
and  encami)ed  (ijijiosite  Black  Foii.  but  soon 
afterward  were  ordered  to  Saltillo.  Here  the 
small-pox  broke  out  among  the  citizens,  and, 
to  avoid  the  contagion,  the  troops  were  or- 
dered to  pitch  their  tents  on  the  battle-tield  of 
BuenaYista.  The  "Stark  Rangers"  remained  in 
this  vicinity  until  some  time  in  May,  1S47,  when 
they  were  ordered  to  the  Rio  Grande,  th(>nce  by 
boat  to  Brazos  Island,  and  finally  to  New  Or- 
leans, where,  on  the  24th  of  June,  1S47,  their 
term  of  enlistment  having  expired,  they  were 
mustered  out  of  service,  and  the  boys,  those  re 
mainiug,  with  light  hearts,  turned  their  faces 
toward  thei)-  homes  in  Ohio.  The  "  Stark  Ran- 
gers" had  paa'tici])ated  injio  engagement  diu'- 
ing  the  campaign,  except  perhaps  a  few  shots 
with  Mexicjm  gueiTillas.  It  is  related  by  Mi-. 
F.  W.  Haack,  one  of  the  company  yet  living 
at  Canton,  that  the  boys  at  times  received 
rough  usage  from  their  conunanding  officers. 
He  states  that,  when  the  companj'  were  being 
conveyed  on  board  the  lirig  across  the  gulf  from 
the  mouth  of  the  Mississipj)!  to  Brazos  Island, 
the  jsrovisions  were  brought  out  and  scattered 
along  on  deck,  just  as  the  farmer  scatters  the 


corn  for  his  swine.  They  were  subjected  to 
the  severest  military  discipline  while  en- 
camped at  dift'ereut  points  along  the  Rio 
Grande,  and  when  one  of  their  number  died- 
Martin  Bohi-er — he  was  not  given  a  decent 
bm'ial,  although  he  left  abundant  means  which 
could  be  itsed  for  that  piu'pose.  Mi'.  Haack 
says  that  the  boys  were  strictly  forbidden  to 
forage,  but  that  they  often  disobeyed  orders 
in  this  respect.  One  day,  when  on  the  march, 
he  had  charge  of  one  of  the  wagons  in  the  com- 
missary train,  and,  seeing  a  niunlier  of  fine 
fowls  at  one  of  the  Mexican  farms,  he  caught 
quite  a  number  and  secm-ed  them  in  his 
wagon.  When  he  reached  the  next  encamp- 
ment and  was  unloading  his  live  freight,  he 
was  suddenly  approached  by  old  "Rough  and 
Ready."  who  was  sitting  sideways,  in  a  dirty 
and  dilapidated  suit  of  clothing,  on  a  bony 
old  horse.  The  General  noticed  the  fowls,  and 
instantly  inquired,  in  a  loud  tone:  "Where  in 
h — 1  did  you  get  those  chickens  ?"  Mi\  Haack, 
with  some  misgivings,  informed  him,  where- 
upon the  General,  after  a  pause,  said,  in  a  low 
tone,  reflectively:  "Y-e-e-s;  well,  you  may  cook 
one  of  them  for  me,  and  I'll  be  around 
shortly."'  Mr.  Haack  did  as  ordered,  prepar- 
ing it  in  his  best  style,  wifh  an  abundance  of 
rich  and  excellent  gra\T.  The  Geneial  ap- 
peared promptly,  sat  down  to  the  meal,  and 
continued  to  eat  and  eat,  until  Mi'.  Haack 
thought  he  would  never  get  enough.  Finally, 
when  all  had  disappeared,  he  arose  fi'om  the 
camp-stool,  and,  walking  up  to  Mr.  Haack, 
said,  quietly:  "Look  here,  you  prepare  another 
of  those  chickens  the  same  way,  and  I'll  send 
around"  ( naming  a  favorite  subordinate  ofticer ). 
Mr.  Haack  did  so,  whereupon  the  officer  came 
forward  and  dispatched  the  fowl  with  even 
greater  celerity  than  had  the  General.  When 
nothing  was  left,  he  departed,  with  heart  tilled 
with  glowing  panegyrics  for  the  skill  of  the 
cook. 

Great  hardships  were  endured  by  the  boys, 
on  account  of  the  e.xtremely  hot  weather  and 
the  inferior  quality  and  quantity  of  their  ra- 
tions. They  were  often  compelled  to  drink 
water  from  ponds  covered  with  a  filthy  green 
scum,  and  it  is  no  wonder  that  their  robust 
physical  development  often  succumbed  to  the 
deadl}'  Mexican  miasma.     Capt.   Allen,  in  a 


IIlsTol!!'   OF    STARK    COUNTY 


■.'35 


letter  to  some  friend  in  Massillon,  dated  at 
Cumai-go.  Februai-y  22,  1847,  rcpoi-is  the  fol- 
lowing regaixling  hiseoiupiiny:  "John  Brischt 
died  August  S.  lS4(i:  William  H.  Christmas 
died  Aiignst  12,  IMl):  O.  C.  Billings  died 
August  17.  lN4t):  John  Ankouy  died  October 
20,  I84();  ■\Villiaui  Hilbert  died  November  24, 
1840;  Martin  Bohrer  accidentally  til-owned  in 
the  Kio  Grande  December  27,  1S4():  George 
Stitzel  died  December  29,  184(5;  Frederick 
Habel  died  January  8,  1847.  All  these  deaths 
MCCUiTed  at  Matamora.s,  and  were  mostly  caused 
by  raging  fevers.  In  the  meantime,  the  fol- 
lowing were  dischai-ged  for  various  reasons: 
Robert  Clayton,  who  died  at  Cincinnati  on  his 
retm*n  home;  Joel  B.  MfU'tin;  .\bijah  W.  Ba- 
ker: George  Toffler;  William  Dobson;  Ma- 
thia-s  Hoover;  Alexander  Scheirer;  Frederick 
Marsh ;  John  Hendershot,  who  died  at  Spring- 
lield.  Ohio,  on  his  retiu-n;  Samuel  C.  Fry: 
Mathias  Fox;  and  Peter  Kroft,  who  died  at 
Cincinnati  on  his  way  home,  and  was  buried 
in  ihe  [Jotter's  field.  One  of  the  company, 
Kalph  S.  Coui'tney.  had  deserted,  and  joined. 
it  is  supposed,  one  of  the  Indi.ma  companies. 
The  Captain  also  reported  that  his  company 
had  received  recruits  iintil  it  mustered  about 
seventy  men.  Early  in  July,  1847,  the  com- 
[lauy  reached  home,  and,  on  the  evening  of 
the  17th  of  July,  1847.  they  were  given  a  splen- 
did reception  and  supjjer  at  the  residence  of 
Chi-istian  Cramer.  Although  the  company 
had  been  discharged,  the  war  was  not  over, 
and  Capt.  Taneyhill  was  authorized  to  enlist 
a  comi)any  in  StiU'k  County,  and,  Ijy  the  17th 
i.'f  July.  1847.  he  had  seciu-ed  about  sixteen 
volunteers,  but  the  company  was  never  com- 
l)leted.  MTien  the  Third  Regiment  was  mus- 
tered out  of  sei-vice.  Col.  Curtis  volunteered 
again  for  the  war,  and  was  soon  afterward  ap- 
|)ointed  Governor  of  Saltillo.  JIaiiy  years 
have  piussed  away  since  the  Mexican  wai\  and 
many  of  the  "  St:u-k  Rangers  "  iu'e  laid  at  rest 
in  the  grave.  The  brave  Mexican  soldiers 
must  not  be  forgotten  lunidst  the  glorii's  and 
grand  achievements  of  the  last  great  wai'.  So 
far  .is  knowTi.  all  of  Capt.  .\llen's  company  are 
dead  except  the  following:  Samuel  Beatty. -liv- 
ing in  Stark  County ;  Jacob  G.  Frick.  William 
S.  Hartman,  Louis  E.  Clement,  in  California; 
Theodore    Gibbons,  in    California:  John    L. 


Cross,  in  Ohio;  John  Shannon,  in  Indiana; 
Isaac  Doxey.  near  Massillon:  Jerelxj.un 
Creighton.  in  Summit  County;  John  Ulam. 
in  Indiana;  Amb-ew  P.  Gallagher,  in  Stark 
County:  Ferdinand  W.  Haack.  near  Canton; 
Thomas  Thompson,  at  Akron;  Jacob  Se- 
bold,  in  Stark  County;  Jacob  Eversole, 
in  Canton;  John  W.  Wagner,  iu  Califor- 
nia ;  John  R.  Walter,  in  Stark  County : 
.Ambrose  Essner,  in  Canton:  Samuel  Stall,  in 
Indiana;  Jacob  Fontaiuheim.  iu  Wayne 
County;  George  M.  Bollinger,  in  Massillon; 
John  Fitzsimmons,  in  Illinois;  Isaiah  Kiltner, 
in  Ohio;  Charles  Floom,  in  Stai-k  County: 
Dewitt  C.  Whiting,  in  Tuscarawas  County; 
and  Frwlerick  Yogelgesong.  in  Canton.  Thus 
ends  the  brief  record  of  the  i)art  Inmie  by 
Stark  County  in  the  war  with  ^lexico.  It  may 
be  said  that  st-veral  of  the  Iwys  who  had  sei-ved 
with  Capt.  Allen  in  Mexico  also  enlisted  and 
sei-ved  in  the  last  gi-eat  war  Ix'tweeii  the 
States. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  give  a  lengthy  sum- 
mary of  the  causes  which  led  to  the  war  of  the 
rebellion.  Occun-ing  as  it  did  but  twenty 
years  ago,  its  weai-y  marches,  dreadful  suft'er- 
ings  from  disease,  and  daring  achievements 
on  the  field  of  battle,  are  yet  green  iu  the  rec- 
ollection of  maimed  and  honored  i)articipants. 
Continued  mid  extensive  ])rei)arations  for  war 
were  made  in  the  South  long  before  the  North 
ceased  to  l)elieve  that  the  diffeiences  which  bit- 
terly divided  the  two  factions  of  the  Govern- 
ment might  be  amicably  adjustwl.  Armed 
and  hostile  bands  of  the  rebelli/us  citizens  of 
the  South  seized,  at  every  opportunity,  large 
quantities  of  military  stores,  and  took  forcible 
possession  of  important  strategic  points;  but 
still  the  North  was  hopeful  that  ))eace  woukl 
prevail.  President  Lincoln,  with  that  kind 
forbearance — that  magnanimous  ])hilanthro()y 
or  charity  which  ever  distinguisheil  him.  and 
which  enrolls  his  niime  on  the  brightest  page 
of  moral  and  intellectual  greatness — wisely 
hesitated  tx)  l)egin  the  contest,  in  ho]ie  that 
the  South  would  accede  to  the  d»>mands  of  the 
Government  and  lay  downi  the  weajioiisof  wai'. 
Hot-blooded  Alwlitionists  in  the  North  lu-ged 
him  re]ieatedly  to  strangle  the  hydra  of  seces- 
sion in  its  infancy,  but  still  he  hesitated. 
He  knew  well  the  desolation  that  would  deluge 


^' 


236 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


the  country,  for  he  had  seen  practical  evidences 
of  the  fieiy  spirit  which  characterized  the 
Southern  people.  Statesmen  in  the  North 
viewed  with  reluctance  or  contempt  the  steady 
and  aggressive  movements  for  war  in  the  South, 
and  declai-ed  that  the  jieople  in  rebellion  would 
not  have  the  temerity  or  corn-age  to  continue 
the  wiir  longer  than  ninety  days.  Finally,  the 
blow  fell  like  a  knell  upon  Sumter,  and  in- 
stantly kindled  a  flame  of  fiery  indignation 
throughout  the  North.  People  of  all  parties 
forgot  everything,  save  that  the  countiy  given 
them  by  their  ancestors  was  in  imminent  peril. 
Business  was  almost  wholly  sTispended,  and 
the  citizens  gathered  in  neighlioring  villages 
to  face  the  situation  and  encoiu-age  one  another 
with  hopeful  words.  Intense  excitement  every- 
where prevailed  Scores  of  militia  regiments 
tendered  their  services  to  the  Government, 
and  when,  at  last.  President  Lincoln  called 
for  75,000  men  to  put  down  the  rebellion,  a 
wave  of  relief  swept  throughout  the  North. 
Ohio  alone  offered  over  80,000  men,  the 
greater  portion  of  whom  were  rejected. 

Massillon  was  the  first  place  in  Stark  Coiinty 
to  give  ])ublie  expression  of  the  feeling  on  the 
suliject  of  the  war.  Notices  were  circulated  on 
the  16tb  of  Ajiril,  1H61,  for  a  mass  meeting  of 
the  citizens  at  Madison  Hall  on  the  same  even- 
ing ;  and  the  room  was  packed  with  excited  men 
of  all  ])arties.  Gen.  Jarvis  called  the  meeting 
to  order,  and  R.  H.  Folger,  Esq.,  who  was  ai> 
j)ointed  Chairman,  announced  that  the  object 
of  the  meeting  was  to  consider  what  the  "exi- 
gencies of  the  hour  demanded."  He  reviewed 
the  situation  in  loyal  and  eloquent  words,  and 
stated  that  the  call  of  the  President  for  troops 
must  be  promjitly  and  abundantly  met.  At  the 
conclusion  of  his  speech,  three  times  three 
cheers  were  given,  and  immediately  thereafter 
a  committee  of  three  was  appointed  to  di-aft 
resolutions  expressive  of  the  sense  of  the  meet- 
ing. The  memliers  of  the  committee  were 
Gen.  Dwight  Jarvis,  Jolm  MeClymoud  and 
Hon.  J.  S.  Kelley.  The  following  resolutions 
were  prepared,  and  adopted  with  a  ringing 
iind  unanimous  vote: 

WiiKUEAs,  Till'  Government  being  in  imminent 
ilanjjer  Uam  formidable  and  organized  liand.s  of  law- 
less men,  bound  t.oii'ether  for  tlie  puqiose  of  re.sist- 
ing  the  execution  of  the  laws;  and  believing  as  we 


do.  that  it  is  indispensable  that  the  laws  should  at 
all  times  he  kept  invifilate  and  the  integrity  of  the 
Union  pri'served.  therefore. 

Hexiilnd.  That  we  will  not  stop  to  inquire  who  is 
President  of  the  United  States  in  times  of  danger; 
l)ut  that  if  is  the  duty  of  every  good  eitizen  to  sus- 
tain the  Government  with  alaciity  and  with  a  will. 

Resolrt'd.  That,  at  such  times,  we  will  bury  all 
paity  feelings,  and  unite  as  a  band  of  brothers  to 
sti-engthen  tlie  constituted  authorities  of  our  country. 

Rexolnil  That  the  call  of  the  Governoi-  is  weil- 
limeil  and  patriotic,  and  will  meet  with  a  jirompt 
response. 

Ri'sidntf,  That  we  cannot  afford  to  have  rebels  and 
traitors  in  our  midst,  for  "He  that  is  not  for  our 
country,  is  against  it." 

Hi'siilreil.  Tliat  we  have  yet  a  counliy  and  a  consti- 
tnlion,  wliicli  we  have  inherited  froni  our  fathers— 
a  lianner  under  whii-h  their  l)lood  was  shed. 

Rousing  and  patriotic  speeches  were  made 
by  many  of  the  prominent  citizens,  and  finally 
the  meeting  was  adjourned,  to  meet  again  on 
the  following  Monday  night.  The  Riposltiny 
of  the  following  week,  in  speaking  of  this 
meeting,  said:  "The  meeting  throughout  was 
the  grandest  exhibition  of  genuine  patriotism 
we  have  ever  witnessed;  and  was  ftilly  indic- 
ative that  there  is  a  national  party  ready  to 
vindicate  the  honor  and  integrity  of  the  Gov- 
ernment against  all  traitors,  wherever  dis- 
persed." At  Massillon,  the  names  of  100 
young  men  were  enrolled  on  Thursday  and 
Friday,  April  18  and  19.  This  was  the  com- 
pany of  which  Alliert  F.  Beach  was  Captain. 
It  was  fully  organized  and  ready  to  march  to 
the  field  oil  Monday,  the  22d  of  April,  1861. 
Immediately  after  the  meeting  at  Massillon, 
others  were  held  at  almost  every  town  in  the 
county,  and  in  every  instance  movements  were 
effected  to  enlist  companies  for  the  wai'.  A 
rousing  meeting  was  held  at  Alliance,  and 
many  signified  their  willingness  to  enlist,  and 
their  names  were  em'olled.  Canton  was  some- 
what slow  in  holding  a  mass  meeting  of  the 
citizens.  Small  assemblages  of  men  convened 
to  listen  to  loyal  words,  but  no  general  meeting 
was  held  until  the  9th  of  May,  when  almost 
the  entire  county  met  at  Canton  to  listen  to 
the  following  speakers:  Jolm  McSweeney, 
Esq.,  Hon.  B.  F.  Leiter,  Mi-.  Upham,  H.  M. 
McAbee,  Seraphim  Meyer,  R.  H.  Folger  and 
othws.  This  was  one  of  the  largest  and  most 
enthusiastic  meetings  ever  held  in  Stark 
County.  It  is  stated  that,  about  this  time, 
at  least  one  thousand  men  in  the  county  sig- 


IIISTUUY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


nified  their  willingness  to  serve  the  Govern- 
ment A  company  had  lu'cn  organized  at  Can- 
ton a  number  of  yeaj-s  before,  and  was  known 
iis  the  "  Canton  Zouaves,"  James  AN'allace  be- 
ing Captain.  Another  comjiany,  called  the 
"Canton  Light  Guards,"  had  also  l)een  organ- 
ized under  the  State  militia  law.  This  was 
commanded  by  Capt  Sann  el  Beatty.  The 
headquarters  of  these  two  (•om|)anies  were  at 
Canton.  A  company  at  Alliance,  known  as 
the  ''  Alliance  Guards."  un<ler  Capt  James 
McGarr,  ofi'ered  its  services  for  the  war.  The 
company  at  Massillon  under  Capt.  Beacli  was 
called  the  "Massillon  Light  Guards."  These 
foiu-  c^)m]1anies,  aft(T  b(>ing  re-orgiuiized  ;uk1 
recruited,  left  the  county  early  in  May,  and, 
by  the  middle  of  June,  all  were  on  duty  Ul 
Westeni  ^  irginia.  "Williams"  Battery."  com- 
manded by  Ca[)t  \V.  S.  Williams,  went  from 
Caut*in  to  Colnmb\is.  ami  finally  into  ^'irgiuia, 
alwut  the  same  time.  In  the  meantime  and 
thereafter,  the  rapid  enlistment  of  Stark 
County  men  went  on.  Every  eflbrt  was  made 
by  prominent  men  at  this  time,  and  afterwiuxl. 
to  till  the  (juota  of  troops  called  for,  l)ut  at 
last  the  county  was  compelled  to  resort  to 
the  draft.  A  military  committee  was  ap- 
pointed, iuul  a  local  liounty  was  oflered  for 
volunteers,  and  the  di-aft  was  postiumed;  Imt 
at  last  it  came,  on  the  1st  of  October,  1S()"J,  at 
which  time  571  men  were  drafted,  about  -^OO 
of  whom  were  sent  into  the  field.  Diu'ing  the 
l)rogi-ess  of  the  war,  and  especially  at  its  early 
stages,  there  were  a  number  of  men  in  the 
county,  some  of  them  being  jirominent  citi- 
zens, who  consei<>ntiously  thought  that  the 
Gov(>niment  had  no  right  to  coei-ce  the  s(»ced- 
ing  States.  Someof  these  men  were  outsjwken 
in  th(Mr  opinions,  resisted  the  progress  of  the 
enlistment  and  the  draft,  and  got  into  serious 
difllculty  for  so  doing.  On  several  occasions. 
o|)en  riots  of  a  mild  nahu'e  resulted  from  the 
clashing  of  public  sentiment  on  the  (juestions 
gi'owng  out  of  the  wju".  Several  arrests  were 
made,  and  at  last  open  or  public  opposition  to 
the  war  was  avoided.  About  the  7th  of  No- 
vember, INOl,  the  military  committee  reported 
that  N")!  volunteers  had  enlisted  from  Stark. 
Th<'  following  is  a  list  of  the  numl)er  of  vol- 
unt<'ers  in  the  field  from  the  county  at  the 
time  of  the  annual  assessment  in  INO'i: 


Paris .j9  City  of  Canton I-m 

Wa.<liin}xton  +i  Plain 32 

Lcxin.irton 103  Lake 85 

Mailljorouirh 65  .Isickson  28 

Xiniisliillcn 47  Pcny 121 

( )siialiur!; 31  Bcthlcbcni '>i> 

Sandy 45  Sugar  Crc(^k f>3 

Pike 43  Tnscarawas 35 

Canton 29  bavvrcnce "1 


Total ....467  Total. 

(Jrand  Total.  l.l.V; 


.(>s!t 


This  list  embraces  only  those  enlisted  for 
three  years  or  during  the  war.  Two  or  more 
camps  were  established  in  the  county  -Camp 
Massillon  at  that  town,  and  Camp  Ford  at 
Alliance.  The  fair  grounds  at  Canton  were 
used  as  a  military  cam|).  The  first  calls  for 
sanitarv  aid  came  from  Western  ^  irginia  diu'ing 
the  fall"  of  1S61.  On  the  ir)th  of  October,  the 
ladies  of  Cant<jn  met  at  the  residence  of  J.  F. 
Kaynolds  to  organize  a  Ladies'  Aid  Society. 
The  following oliicers  were  elected:  Mr.s.  J.  G. 
Lester,  President:  Mrs.  E.  Buckingham,  Sec- 
retary: and  Mi-s.  J.  A.  Saxton,  Tretistirer. 
The  following  conunittees  were  appointed:  To 
tb'iift  a  constitution,  Mrs.  Isaac  Harter,  Mrs. 
Dr.  Wallace,  JIi-s.  J.  G.  Lester  and  Mi-s.  E. 
Buckingham:  General  soliciting — First  Wiird, 
Mrs.  Pierong,  Mrs.  Lewis  Miller.  Mrs.  E. 
C.  Patterson.  Mrs.  George  llavnolds;  Second 
Ward,  Mrs.  C.  Aultmau,  Mrs.  T.  W.  Sax- 
ton,  Mrs.  W.  K.  Miller,  Miss  Henrietta 
Buckius:  Third  Ward.  Mrs.  Dr.  Whiting.  Mrs. 
S.  Mever.  Mrs.  Thomas  Patton.  Mrs.  M.  Wiki- 
dal:  Fourth  Ward.  Mrs.  G.  Prince,  :Mrs.  Dr. 
Shisser,  Mrs.  Shock,  Mrs.  O.  P.  Stidger:  in 
the  vicinity,  Miss  M.  Harry,  Mrs.  William 
Raynolds,  Mrs.  H.  Kaynolds,  Mrs.  William 
Williams,  Mrs.  Simon  Miller,  Mrs.  Cassilly, 
Miss  Medill.  Almost  every  township  in  the 
county  organized  a  similar  society,  and,  in 
truth,  it  may  be  said  that  the  entire  county 
resolved  itself  into  a  committee  of  the  whole 
to  see  that  the  families  of  volunteers  did  not 
suffer,  and  to  solicit  money,  provisions  and 
supplies  of  clothing  to  be  sent  into  the  fi(>ld. 
Thousands  of  dollars  worth  of  hos])ital  and 
camp  supplies  were  sent  from  the  count}'  tlur- 
ing  the  war.  The  citizens  of  the  cimnty  sul)- 
scribed  over  ^'HO.OOO  tx)  the  Govermnent  loan 
of  treasui'v  notes  prior  to  November,  1S()1. 
Two  regiments  were  organized  at  Ciunp  Miis- 


d^ 


IIISTOKY   OF    «TARK    COUNTY. 


^^illon  during  the  early  antumn  of  186'i.  On 
the  Hdth  of  August,  when  one  of  these  was 
laiistered  into  the  service.  Gov.  Tod  was  pres- 
ent, and  spoke  to  a  vast  assemblage  that  had 
gathered  to  witness  the  military  review  of  the 
two  uewlj'  formed  regiments.  The  coiTnty  sent 
a  company  of  men  on  the  bloodless  squirrel 
campaign  to  Cincinnati.  The  company  was 
coinmauded  by  Capt.  Dougherty,  of  Green- 
town,  and  about  forty  of  the  men  belonged  to 
the  "Liike  Ritles."  Massillou  furnished  eight- 
een colored  volunteers  for  the  Fifth  United 
States  Infantry,  while,  so  far  as  known,  no 
other  portion  of  the  county  furnished  a  c^)lored 
man.  at  least  at  that  time. 

It  is  the  design,  in  the  following  pages,  to 
give  a  brief  though  e.\act  sketch  of  every  regi- 
ment which  served  the  Government  diu'ing  the 
last  war.  and  which  contained  a  company  or 
more  of  Stark  Coitnly  men.  While,  in  the 
main,  the  record  given  by  Whitelaw  Reid  has 
been  followed,  yet,  in  almost  every  instance, 
depai'tiu'es  have  Iteeu  made  fi'om  his  text, 
as  the  writer,  after  careful  inquiry,  has  dis- 
covered his  errors.  The  alterations  will  be 
oltserved  in  reading  the  sketches.  In  nu- 
merous instances,  dates  have  been  coiTeeted; 
and  infrequently  serious  mis-statements  of  fact 
have  been  discovered  by  having  Mr.  Reid's  ac- 
counts carefully  read  by  soldiers  who  served 
in  the  regiments.  A  great  many  regiments, 
sketches  of  which  are  not  given,  contained 
men  fi'om  Stark  County.  As  complete  a  list 
of  these  as  can  Ije  given  will  l)e  found  Ijelow. 
The  following  regiments  contained  men  from 
Stark  ('ounty:  One  Hundred  and  Fifteenth, 
Seventy-sixth,  Sixty-fourth,  Eleventh,  Eight- 
eenth "United  States,  One  Hundred  and  Fourth, 
One  Hundred  and  Seventh,  Nineteenth,  Fifty- 
first,  Sixty-first.  One  Huntb-ed  antl  Second, 
Ninth,  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-ninth. 
Twenty -sixth  Battery  (some  fifteen  men). 
Forty-fifth  N.  G..  Third  Battery,  Thirteenth, 
Twenty-sixth,  Second  Michigan,  One  Hunth-ed 
and  Sixty -third.  Tenth  Cavalry,  Sixth  Cavalry, 
Second  Cavalry,  Fifteenth  Illinois,  Sixty -fifth. 
One  Hundred  and  Sixty -second.  Seventeenth 
Tennesee,  Seventy- eighth.  One  Hundred  and 
Twentieth,  Forty-third,  Third,  Fifty-fifth, 
Sixth  Michigan,  One  Hundi-ed  and  Sixty - 
fom-th.    Sixteenth,  Fourth,    Sixty-third,    One 


Htmdred  and  Seventy- eighth,  Second,  One 
Himdred  and  Twenty-fifth.  Thirty -second. 
Fifty-eighth,  Fortieth,  First,  Seventeenth  Ten- 
nessee, Seventy-first,  Fiftieth,  One  Htmdred 
and  Twenty-second,  Forty-first,  Forty-second, 
One  Httndred  and  Tenth,  One  Hundred  and 
Sixty- fottrth.  Tenth.  Ninety-ninth  Pennsyl- 
Vcinia,  Forty-fifth.  Forty-eighth  Indiana, 
Eighteenth,  Sixth  Battery,  One  Hundred  and 
Sixty-tliird,  Eighty-sixth.  One  Hunth-ed  and 
Fifteenth.  One  Httncbed  and  Ei;;hty- eighth, 
and  Third  Cavalry. 

The  Fourth  Ohio  Regiment  was  organized 
at  Camp  Jackstm,  Columbus,  April  2-"),  18P)1, 
and  contained  one  company  from  Stark  County, 
tmder  the  following  officers:  James  Wallace, 
Captain:  Percy  S.  Sowers,  First  Lieutenant; 
George  F.  Lair,  Second  Lietttenant.  The  com- 
pany, known  as  the  "  Canton  Zouaves,"  had 
been  organized  before,  under  the  militia  law 
of  the  State,  and  as  soon  as  the  war  broke  out 
it  was  immediately  re-organized  and  filled  ttj), 
and  hastily  left  for  Columbus  to  seetu'e  a  place 
in  one  of  the  first  thirteen  regiments.  It  was 
assigned  to  the  Fourth  Regiment,  commanded 
by  Lorin  Andrews,  Colonel:  James  Cantwell, 
Lieutenant  Colonel:  James  H.  Goiknau, 
Major.  These  were  the  otficers  dtu-ing  the 
three-months  enlistment.  On  the  2d  of  May, 
the  regiment  moved  to  Camp  Dennisou,  and, 
on  the  4th  of  the  same  month,  was  mttstered 
into  the  three-months  service  by  Capt.  Gordon 
Granger.  On  the  r)th  of  June,  a  majority  of 
the  regiment  signified  their  \villingness  to 
enter  the  three-years  service,  and  were  accord 
ingly  mustered  in,  their  enlistment  dating 
from  that  day.  The  regiment  moved  to  Graf- 
ton, W.  Va.,  reaching  that  point  on  the  2^id 
of  June.  It  moved  through  Clarksburg  and 
Bitckliannon,  and  aiTivei  at  Rich  Mountain 
on  the  9th  of  July,  bttt  did  not  participate  in 
the  battle,  being  held  as  a  reserve.  In  July, 
it  was  brigaded  with  the  Ninth  Ohio  and 
How's  Battery,  Fottrth  United  States  Artillery, 
Col.  Robert  McCook  commanding,  the  brigade 
being  Gen.  McClellau's  advance  gu;u'd  dtu'ing 
his  West  Virginia  campaign.  After  a  variety 
of  movements,  during  which  the  regiment  pur- 
sited  the  enemy's  forces  and  gttarded  several 
httndred  prisoners  ttntil  they  were  paroled,  oc- 
cttpying,  in   the   meantime,  Beverly.  Httttons- 


>: 


IIISTOKV   OF    STAUK    COrXTY. 


239 


ville  anil  New  Creek,  it  mai'ched  to  Pendleton, 
Va..  reaching  tliat  section  the  7th  of  August. 
On  the  7th  of  Heptemlier.  Coin{)anie.s  A,  F  and 
Iv.  under  Maj.  Godman.  skirmished  the  r(>hols 
at  Petei-slinrg,  capturing  a  hirge  (pi'intity  of 
])rovisions,  animals  and  some  prisoners.  Col. 
Cantwell.  with  six  eom])anies.  moved  on  Kom- 
ney  on  tlie  'i-Mi  of  Scjitomber.  and.  after  a 
brisk  tight,  d  ove  the  rebels  out,  losing  thirty- 
two  men  wounded.  Col.  Andrews  having  died 
at  his  home  in  Ohio  of  camj)  fever,  his  suc- 
cessor. .John  S.  Mason,  was  ai)])ointed  on  the 
4th  of  t)ctober.  and.  ten  days  later,  assumed 
command.  On  the  "ioth,  the  regiment  marched 
to  New  Creek,  and  the  next  day.  with  Gen. 
Kelley"s  command,  moved  on  Romney.  driving 
the  enemy  from  that  place,  and  capturing  all 
his  l>aggage.  two  pieces  of  artillery,  and  a 
numlier  of  prisoners.  Romney  was  occupied 
until  January  7.  ISfi'J.  when  the  regiment  at- 
tacked the  rebels  at  Blue  Gap.  svu-prised  and 
ib'ove  them  fi'om  a  fortitied  position,  captui'ing 
all  the  cam]  I  eipii])age  and  two  field  pieces. 
Dm-iug  .January.  IMVj.  a  new  brigade  was 
formed,  consisting  of  the  Fourth  and  the 
Eighth  Ohio.  Clark's  United  States  Battery. 
I)amm"s  First  Virginia  Battery.  Robinson's 
and  Huutingt<^)u"s  First  Ohio  Batteries,  known 
as  the  ikj'tillerv  Brigade  of  Lauder's  Division, 
commanded  liy  Col.  Mason.  On  the  lOth  of 
January,  the  regiment  moved  to  Pattei-son's 
Creek,  and.  on  the  4th  of  February,  to  Paw 
Paw  Tunnel.  It  occupied  Winchester  and 
Mai'tinslmi'g.  making  the  former  ])lace  a  biise 
of  supjilies.  whence  detaclunents  were  sent  out 
inditterentilirections  until  the  24th  of  March, 
when  it  started  in  pursuit  of  "Stonewall"  Jack- 
son, whb  had  been  defeated  at  Kemstown  the 
day  ]>revious.  It  moved  as  far  as  Strasbm-g. 
and.  on  the  :50th.  to  Edenburg.  On  the  17th 
of  A])ril.  it  skirmished  on  the  way  to  New  Mar- 
ket, and  afterward  occupied  Moore's  farm,  and 
linally  retm-ned  to  New  Market.  It  joined 
McDowell  on  the  2'2d  of  May.  marching 
thi'ough  Liu'ay.  Front  Royal,  Chester's  Gaj), 
W;u-rent<jn.  Catlett's  Station,  and  linally 
reached  Frodoricksbm-g,  Yn.  The  next  day  it 
moved  back  to  the  valley,  and,  on  the  >!((th, 
reached  Front  Royal,  tlriviug  the  enemy  fi"om 
that  place  and  captmnng  a  hu'ge  quantit}'  of 
amimuntion.  supplies,  and  a  number  of    pris- 


oners. After  remaining  in  this  vicinity  until 
the  2yth  of  June,  the  regiment  was  transferred 
to  the  Peninsula,  arriving  at  HaiTison's  Land- 
ing on  the  1st  of  July,  .\bout  the  middle  of 
August,  it  marched  to  Newport  News.  It  oc- 
cupied Alexamh'ia.  Centerville,  Fairfax  Court 
House,  Fort  Gaines,  D.  C,  Harper's  Ferry, 
Let^sburg.  Halltown,  Gregory's  Gap,  Rector- 
town,  Piedmont,  Salem.  AVarrenton,  reaching 
Falmouth  some  time  in  November.  Here  it 
remained  in  cam))  mitil  the  12th  of  Docemljer, 
when,  under  tho  command  of  Col.  Mason,  it 
crossed  the  Rapidan  into  Fredericksburg,  and 
was  thi'own  to  the  fi'ont  as  skirmishers,  holding 
that  position  imtil  the  next  day,  when  the  des- 
perate charge  was  made  through  the  streets  of 
the  city.  The  regiment  received  the  first  fire 
of  the  rebel  artillery  on  the  right  of  the  na- 
ti(mal  line,  and  lost,  during  the  engagement, 
five  officers  and  forty-three  enlisted  men,  out 
of  I  IT)  engaged.  It  suft'ered  terribly,  and  Col. 
Mason  was  made  a  Brigadier  G(^neral  for  his 
conduct  diu-ing  the  battle.  The  Foirrth  re 
tm'ned  to  Falmouth,  where  it  remained  until 
the  2.Sthof  April,  iS(jr!,  and  then  psu'ticipated 
in  Hooker's  remarkable  laovement  on  Chancel- 
lorsville.  On  the  -id  of  May,  the  battalion  en- 
gag.'d  the  enemy,  and  captm'ed  one  stand  of 
colors  and  over  one  hundred  prisoners,  among 
whom  were  nine  commissioned  officers.  It  lost 
in  killed  and  woimded  seventy -eight  men.  On 
the  6th  of  May,  the  regiment  moved  back 
to  Falm(juth.  On  the  14th  of  June,  it 
marched  north  to  assist  in  the  movement 
to  check  Gen.  Lee,  who  had  invaded  Penn- 
sylvania. Gettysbiu'g  was  reached  on  the 
1st  of  July,  and  the  regiment  took  part 
in  that  great  l)attle.  It  was  one  of  the  three 
regiments  that  drove  the  rebels  from  Cemetery 
Hill,  and  received  the  highest  commendations 
from  G-ens.  Hancock.  Howard  and  Gilibon. 
It  lost  thirty-seven  men  killed  and  wounded. 
After  occujiying  numerous  positions  in  Vir- 
giniaand  MiU'yland — at  one  time  beingordered 
to  New  York  City  to  quell  the  riots  there,  and 
at  other  times  marching  in  a  circuit  through 
Virginia,  skiiiuishing  with  the  rebels  at  Bristo 
Station,  and  at  Robinson's  Cross  Roads  on  the 
27th  of  Oct<jber.  leasing  at  the  latter  place  I 
twenty-eight  men  killetl  and  wounded — the 
regiment  finallv.  on  the  1st  of  December,  went 


240 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


into  winter  quarters  near  Stephensburg,  Va. 
On  tlie  0th  of  February,  it  advanced  to  Mor- 
ton's Ford,  crossed  tlie  river  and  had  a  skir- 
mish with  the  enemy,  losing  seventeen  men 
woiinded.  It  reerossed  the  river  on  the  7th 
and  encamped  near  Stephensburg.  where  it  re- 
mained until  the  bloody  battles  of  the  Wilder- 
ness occiuTed.  In  all  this  arduous  and  bloody 
campaign,  the  Foiu'th  participated.  It  lost, 
during  the  twenty-seven  days,  ending  early  in 
June,  as  follows:  On  the  oth  of  May.  84:  on 
the  lOth,  at  Spottsylvania.  Mo;  on  the  I'ith,  at 
second  Spottsylvania,  3I-:  on  the  13th. near  the 
same  place,  4;  on  the  iSth,  in  crossing  North 
Anna  River,  11:  on  th»»  2Hd,  at  Hanover  Junc- 
tion, H:  on  the  24th,  near  the  same  place.  H: 
June  3,  at  Cold  Harbor,  2(h  June  <"),  at  same 
place  2:  making  a  total  of  141 )  lost,  out  of 
33")  men  who  Ijegan  the  campaign  with  the 
gallant  regiment.  Those  figures  s])eak  vol- 
mues,  and  cover  the  nol)le  Fomth  with  the 
Itright  flowers  of  undying  honor.  At  the  close 
of  the  campaign,  the  term  of  service  having 
expired,  the  regiment  was  mustered  out.  Those 
who  had  re-enlisted  as  veterans  were  retained, 
and  organized  into  a  l)attalion  called  the 
Fourth  Ohio  Battalion,  and  placed  on  duty  in 
and  ai-omid  Washington  City,  where  they  re- 
mained until  the  final  muster  out  during  the 
closing  scenes  of  the  war.  The  Fourth  Ohio 
Infantry  marched  1,975  miles,  and  traveled. 
by  railroad  and  transport,  2.279  miles,  mak- 
ing an  aggregate  of  4,254  miles  traveled.  It 
was  one  of  the  best  regiments  sent  from  Ohio. 
The  Thirteenth  Regiment  had  about  two 
companies  from  Stark  County.  Company  A 
was  enlisted  at  Massillon,  and  was  oflicered  as 
follows:  A.  F.  Beach.  Captain;  D wight  Jar 
vis.  First  Lieutenant:  Phillip  Wendling.  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant.  At  the  re-organization  for 
the  three- years  enlistment.  James  Whittaker 
Ijeeame  Second  Lieutenant,  the  other  officei-s 
remaining  the  same.  Company  B  I  ? )  was  en- 
listed in  the  county,  and  its  Captain  was  Jos- 
eph T.  Snider.  The  regiment  was  organized 
at  Camp  Jackson  about  the  20th  of  April. 
ISfil,  with  the  following  officers  in  command: 
W.  S.  Smith.  Colonel;  C.  B.  Mason.  Lieuten- 
ant Colonel:  J.  G.  Hawkins.  Major.  On  the 
9th  of  May.  it  was  transferred  to  Camp  Den- 
nison.  and  on  the  3(tth  of  June,  it  started  for 


Western  Virginia  to  re-enforce  the  command 
of  Gen.  McClellan.  It  reached  Pai-kersbm-g 
on  the  1st  of  July,  and.  dm'ing  the  next  two 
months,  made  fi'equent  scotits  into  the  sm-- 
rounding  countiy.  going  to  Greeidand  Gap, 
Oakland,  Clarksbm-g,  Sutton,  making  Oakland 
its  headquarters;  but  nothing  of  note  trans- 
pired. The  Thirteenth  participated  in  the 
Imttle  of  Carnifex  Ferry  on  the  K'th  of  Sep- 
tember, and,  from  that  date  imtil  the  fith  of 
November,  encamjied  at  Gauley  Bridge,  hav- 
ing fi'equent  skirmishes  with  the  enemy.  Ben- 
ham's  Brigade  was  composed  of  the  Tenth, 
Twelfth  and  Thirteenth  Ohio  Regiments,  and 
'  on  the  I2th.  with  other  tro(_)ps,  started  in  pur- 
j  suit  of  Gen.  Floyd,  with  Company  A  of,  the 
Thirteenth  deployed  as  skirmishers.  The  regi- 
ment lost  one  killed  and  two  wounded  at  Cotton 
Hill,  and  soon  afterward  was  transfeiTed  to  near 
Louisville.  Ky.  After  moving  to  Elizabeth- 
town.  Bacon  Creek.  Bowling  Green  and  other 
points,  the  regiment,  on  the  22d  of  January,  ad- 
vanced with  Buell's  army  toward  Nashville. 
j  which  was  reached  on  the  2<)th,  and  encamped 
two  miles  beyond.  After  a  variety  of  move- 
1  mens,  during  which  the  Thirteenth  was  often 
!  divided,  it  started,  on  the  2d  of  April  (exce]>t 
I  Companies  A  and  G).  to  re- enforce  Gen. 
I  Grant,  who  was  anticijtating  aii  attack  fi'om 
the  rebels  at  Pittslnu-g  Landing.  After  a  ter- 
rible march,  it  reached  the  battle-tield  on  the 
morning  of  the  <Hh.  and  was  immediately  or- 
dered to  the  front  on  the  right  of  Nelson's 
conunaud.  It  swept  upon  the  enemy  about  8 
o'clock  A.  M.,  and  was  confi-onted  by  the  fa- 
mous Washington  Battery  (rebel),  of  New  Or- 
leans. After  a  desperate  stiiiggle,  the  Thir- 
teenth captured  this  entire  battery,  but,  as  the 
rebels  swept  the  Vnion  army  back  toward  the 
river,  it  was  recaptm-ed  by  them,  and  the  Thir- 
teenth was  compelled  to  fall  back.  At  1 
o'clock,  when  the  Federal  troops  made  their 
last  advance,  the  gallant  Thirteenth  again 
captured  the  Washington  Battery.  The  regi- 
ment lost  heavily  dvu-ing  the  two-days  battle. 
I  The  enemy  retreated,  and  soon  afterward  the 
regiment  participated  in  the  movement  toward 
Corinth,  reaching  that  point  about  the  1  st  of 
May.  Eai'ly  in  June,  it,  with  other  troops, 
advanced  toward  Chattanooga,  and,  when 
there,  performed  guard  duty,  but  soon  after- 


HISTORY   OF    STAHK    COT^XTV 


241 


ward  encamjted  at  Battle  Creek.  On  th«>  '3  tth, 
it  receivod  orders  to  move  north  to  intercept 
Gen.  Bragg,  who  con  tern  phited  an  attack  on 
Ohio  and  Indiana  For  thirty-six  terribh' 
days,  the  regiment  and  its  army  patiently 
toiled  through  the  hot  sim,  suftering  intensely 
from  the  dust,  thii-st  and  half  rations,  and 
finally  reached  Louisville,  having  passed  the 
rel>el  anuy  on  the  way.  The  regiment  t<x)k  an 
inactive  part  in  the  attack  on  Pem-ville  on 
the  Sth  of  October.  S(X)n  after  this.  Gen. 
Rosecrans  assumed  command  of  the  Anny  of 
the  Ohio,  which  was  immediately  pushed  for- 
ward toward  Nashville.  The  regiment  in- 
dulged in  se\'eral  skirmishes,  losing,  near  La 
vergne,  two  men  killed,  several  womided,  and 
Lieutenant  Bates,  of  Company  B.  captm-ed. 
The  Thirteenth  was  in  Crittenden's  Division, 
on  the  left  wing.  Thomas'  Division  was  in 
the  center,  and  McCook's  on  the  right.  The 
whole  army  moved  forward  in  this  form,  skir- 
mishing with  the  enemy,  driving  him  back, 
and  reaching  Stone  River  on  the  evening  of 
the  'iUth  of  December.  McCooks  cohumi  did 
not  arrive  mitil  the  next  day.  On  the  morn- 
ing of  December  8 1 ,  the  Thirteenth,  under 
Col.  Hawkins,  was  ordered  in  fi'om  outpost 
duty,  and  took  position  with  its  Ijrigade  (the 
Fourteenth)  imder  Col.  Fyfl'e.  The  regiment 
and  its  wing  were  ordered  to  attack  the  enemy 
across  the  river,  but,  while  l)eing  executed,  the 
order  was  countermanded,  and  the  division  fell 
back  to  stem  the  tide  of  defeat  that  had  fallen 
upon  McCook  on  the  right.  The  Thirteenth 
fell  back  to  the  Murfreesboro  Pike,  and  was 
formed  in  battle  array  on  the  left  of  the  sec- 
ond line,  covering  the  Thirty-ninth  Ohio.  An 
advance  was  ordered,  and,  after  desperate 
fighting,  the  Thirty -ninth  was  forced  back, 
bnt  was  immediately  relieved  by  the  Thirteenth, 
which  checked  the  enemy  nntil  it  in  turn  was 
outflanked.  At  this  time.  Col.  Hawkins  was 
shot,  and  the  command  devolved  ujxm  Maj. 
Dwight  Jarvis.  The  regiment  fought  on  until 
Hanked  on  both  sides  by  the  enemy,  wliim  it 
slowly  fell  back,  becoming  somewhat  disor- 
dered in  the  movement  by  a  rebel  liattery  which 
played  upon  the  rear.  It  halted  when  the  line 
of  reserves  wiis  reached,  and  assisted  in  check- 
ing the  enemy's  advance.  In  one  hour's  dura- 
tion, the  Thirteenth   lest  142  oflicei-s  and  men 


in  killcxl,  wounded  and  missing.  It  partici- 
pated in  other  movements  at  this  point  during 
the  next  few  days,  iuid  lost,  during  he  series 
of  engagements,  IN")  men  killed,  wounded  and 
missing.  The  regiment  moved  southward  with 
the  iU'my  lat<'  in  June,  \W6,  passing  thi-ough 
McMinnville  and  Chattanooga,  enc^iuuj)iiig  at 
Rossville  on  the  '.*th  of  September.  On  the 
I'.fth  and  '20th  of  September,  it  was  activi^ly 
engsiged  at  the  bloody  battle  of  Chickamauga, 
and  pres(>rved  its  brilliant  record  imsullied. 
Lieut.  Col.  Mast  was  killed,  and  many  others 
shared  the  same  fate.  On  the  2'.^d,  it  had  a 
severe  skirmish  with  the  enemy  at  Mission 
Ridge.  During  the  latter  part  of  November, 
it  was  with  that  grand  movement  which  swept 
the  rebels  fi'om  Missionary  Ridge,  antl,  it  is 
claimed,  was  the  tu-st  regiment  to  plant  its 
colors  on  the  enemy's  works.  Sergeant  Daniel 
Ritter,  of  Company  A,  being  the  tu'st  to  scale 
the  fortifications.  The  regiment  lost  severely 
in  this  affair.  It  participated  in  the  move 
ment  against  Longstreet,  but,  iiside  fi'om  se- 
vere mai'ches  and  sufferings,  and  a  lively  skir- 
mish at  Dandridge,  nothing  of  note  transpired. 
About  this  time,  leave  of  absence  was  given  t<^) 
visit  home.  Those  who  did  not  re-enlist  were 
transferred  to  the  Fifty-ninth  Ohio.  On  the 
oth  of  January,  181)4,  three- foiu'ths  of  the 
members  of  the  Thii'teenth  re-enlisted  for  an- 
other three-years  sei-vice,  the  muster  being 
delayed  until  the  l(h;h  of  February,  Col. 
Dwight  Jarvis  being  in  command.  Late  in 
February,  the  veteriuis  returned  home,  enjt)yed 
their  fiu-lough  of  thirty  ilays.  at  the  end  of 
which  time  they  retm-ned  to  Chattanooga. 
The  regiment  was  attached  to  the  Third  Bri- 
gade, Third  Division,  Fourth  Army  Corj)s,  of 
Gen.  Thomas'  command.  It  moved  south  on 
the  Atlanta  cam])aign,  skirmishing  at  several 
points.  Brisk  skirmishing  occurred  during 
the  10th,  11th  ;ind  l'2th  of  May,  near  Resaca, 
when  the  enemy  fell  back  toward  Dalton. 
During  the  numerous  skirmishes  around  this 
point,  the  Thirt(>enth  lost  severely.  For  sev- 
eral days  after  the  lath,  it  skinnished  heavily 
near  and  south  of  Calhoun.  On  the  '27th  of 
May,  the  Third  Division,  instead  of  falling 
u{X)n  the  enemy's  fiank  at  Lost  Mountain,  at- 
tacked, by  mistake,  its  center.  The  Thirteenth 
formed  the  second  line  of  the  advance,  and,  as 


242 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


the  first  line  went  down  imder  a  fearful  fire 
from  the  enemy,  the  second  line  charged  the 
works  with  a  cheer,  on  the  donble-(jxiick,  and 
the  Itattle  became  close  and  hot.  From  4  P. 
M.  until  U,  all  eft'orts  to  capture  the  works  were 
unavailing,  and  at  last  the  gallant  regiment 
was  withdrawn.  Its  ammiuiition  was  gone,  and 
dozens  of  its  men  lay  killed  and  wounded  on 
the  bloody  field.  The  non- veterans  were  miis- 
tered  out  of  service  about  the  21st  of  Jxuie, 
and  soon  afterward  the  remainder  of  the  regi- 
ment was  consolidated  into  four  compfuiies, 
known  as  the  Ohio  Veteran  Vohinteer  Infantry 
Battalion,  commanded  by  Maj.  J.  T.  Snider. 
The  entire  battalion  numbered  200  men,  of 
whom  eighty  were  sick  or  on  special  duty.  On 
the  10th  of  -Time,  the  Thirteenth  Battalion 
moved  southward,  and  participated  in  the 
charge  up  Kenesaw  Mountain,  losing  six  men 
killed  and  wounded.  While  throwing  up  in- 
trenchments  around  Atlanta,  several  men  were 
injured,  one  being  killed.  On  the  night  of 
the  "^Uth  of  August,  the  battalion,  as  skirmish- 
ers, kept  up  a  heavy  fire  to  conceal  the  with- 
drawal of  a  brigade.  The  battalion  moved  in 
piWHixit  of  Hood  to  Jonesboro  and  Lovejoy  Sta- 
tion, participating  in  the  severe  battle  at  the 
latter  place  on  the  2d  of  Sejitember,  and  los- 
ing several  men,  killed  and  wounded.  After 
a  rest  in  camj)  near  Atlanta,  which  was  greatly 
enjoyed  by  the  battalion,  it  finally,  on  the  4th 
of  October,  started  north  with  Thomas,  in  pur- 
suit of  Hood.  The  race  to  Nashville  was  won 
by  the  Union  army,  but  not  without  a  bloody 
engagement  at  Franklin.  The  Thirteentli 
reached  Nashville  on  the  8d  of  December,  and 
here  the  Union  troops  were  besieged  until  the 
middle  of  the  month.  The  Thirteenth  was  not 
engaged  on  the  loth,  but,  on  the  following 
day,  charged  the  enemy's  works,  mowing  down 
his  men,  and  losing  many  in  return.  The 
Thirteenth  moved  in  piu'suit,  and  finally  went 
into  camp  at  Huntsville,  Ala.,  where  it  re- 
mained until  the  1st  of  March,  18(35,  when  it 
was  ordered  to  East  Tennessee.  Here  the 
news  of  Lee's  surrender  was  received,  and  the 
battalion  was  ordered  to  Nashville,  where  it 
an-ived  on  the  V)th  of  June.  On  the  Kith,  the 
Foiu-th  Corps  was  ordered  to  Texas.  The 
Thirteenth  reached  New  Orleans  on  the  27th, 
and  left  July  7.  for  Indianola,  Texas,  arriving 


on  the  10th.  It  mai'ched  to  Green  Lake, 
where  it  afterward  suifered  teiTibly  from  ma- 
larial diseases:  but,  on  the  4th  of  September, 
moved  to  San  Antonio,  which  was  found  to  be 
a  much  better  place  in  a  sanitai-y  point  of 
view.  Here  it  remained  until  December  f), 
LSfv"),  when  it  was  mustered  out  of  the  United 
States  service.  Columbus,  Ohio,  was  reacheil 
on  the  17th  of  January,  LSfifi,  and  here  the 
brave  boys  were  paid,  discharged  and  sent 
home.  Thus  ended  the  long  service  of  this 
gallant  and  faithful  old  regiment.  It  also  was 
among  the  l^est  regiments  from  Ohio. 

The  Nineteenth  was  one  of  the  regiments 
which  grew  out  of  the  excitement  occasioned 
by  the  surrender  of  Fort  Sumter.  It  had  but 
one  company  fi-om  Stark  County  during  the 
three-months  enlistment.  The  regimental  offi- 
cers for  this  period  were:  Samixel  Beatty,  of 
Canton,  Colonel:  E.  W.  Holliugsworth,  Lieu- 
tenant Colonel:  Lewis  P.  Buckley.  Major;  B. 
B.  Brashear.  Surgeon.  Company  A,  known  as 
the  "  Canton  Light  GrTiards,"  was  in  partial 
organization  under  the  old  State  militia  law, 
and,  as  soon  as  the  blow  fell  upon  Sumter, 
the  company  immediately  tendered  their  serv- 
ices to  the  Governor.  Samuel  Beatty,  whi> 
had  served  in  the  war  with  Mexico,  had  been 
elected  Captain  of  the  company,  and,  when  Le 
was  selected  Colonel  of  the  regiment  to  which 
Oompany  A  belonged,  Charles  F.  Manderson 
succeeded  him  as  Captain.  The  company,  im- 
der  Capt.  Beatty,  encamped  on  the  fair-groimd 
at  Canton,  to  await  orders  from  the  Governor, 
and  to  perfect  itself  in  field  movements.  From 
the  fact  that  the  three-months  term  of  service 
expired  on  the  2;W  of  July,  Company  A,  at 
least,  must  have  been  mustered  into  the  serv- 
ice about  the  28d  day  i.f  April,  1861.  This 
was  probably  done  while  the  company  was  yet 
encamped  at  Canton.  The  company  was  or- 
dered to  report  at  Camp  Taylor,  near  Cleve- 
land, about  the  middle  of  May.  1861,  and,  on 
the  27th  of  the  same  month,  was  conveyed, 
with  the  remainder  of  the  Nineteenth,  to  Camp 
Jackson,  Columbus.  Companies  A  and  B  were 
armed  and  equipped  at  the  State  Arsenal,  and 
sent  to  Bellair,  while  the  other  eight  compa- 
nies were  ordered  to  Camp  Goddard,  Zanesville, 
to  perfect  themselves  in  the  ch'ill.  Companies 
A  and  B  did  gnard  duty  at  Bellair  until  June 


r 


HISTORY  OF    STAUK    COUNTY. 


n-i 


3,  and  after  that  date,  and  until  the  2()th,  at 
Glover's  Crap  and  Manninfjtou.  The  compa- 
nies of  the  regiment  were  then  reunited  at 
Bollair,  and,  on  th(>  '21st  of  June,  were  con- 
veyed on  steamers  to  Parkersljiu'o^,  and,  while 
at  this  j)oint.  the  Nineteenth  was  organized, 
with  tlu'ee  others,  into  a  brigade,  nnder  the 
command  of  Gen.  W.  S.  Rosecrans.  On  the 
'irith  of  June,  the  trooi)s  moved  by  rail  to 
C'larksburg.  On  June  '-'U,  the  Nineteenth 
miu'ched  to  Buchanan,  reaching  that  point  on 
the  '2d  of  July,  and  five  days  later  aiTived  at 
Roiiring  Creek,  and  encamped  in  front  of  the 
fortified  rebel  position  on  Rich  ^Mountain.  Of 
the  battle  which  followed,  Gen.  Rosecrans 
said:  "Seven  companies  of  the  Nineteenth 
deployed  into  line,  and  delivered  two  splendid 
volleys,  when  the  enemy  broke."  And  later: 
"The  Nineteenth  distinguished  itself  for  the 
eo(jl  and  handsome  mimner  in  which  it  held 
its  post  against  a  Hank  attack,  and  for  the 
manner  in  which  it  came  into  line  and  deliv- 
ered its  tu'e  near  the  close  of  the  action." 
Three  of  the  meji  were  slightly  wounded  in 
this  engiigement.  On  the  "iSd  of  July,  its  teiin 
of  service  having  expired,  it  moved  first  to 
Webster,  and  thence  to  Columljus.  Ohio,  where 
it  iirrived  on  the  "iTtli  of  July.  By  the  oth  of 
August,  the  boys  were  all  at  home,  reeoiinting 
their  valorous  deeds  to  eager  listeners. 

The  regiment  was  much  more  fully  repre- 
sented l)v  Stark  County  men  dm'ing  the  three- 
yeai's  enrollment.  A  niunber  of  the  officers, 
at  the  close  of  the  thi'ee-mouths  tenn  of  serv- 
ice, busied  themselves  in  recruiting  the  regi- 
ment for  the  three-years  service,  and,  by  the 
'20th  of  September,  nine  companies  reported, 
and  were  mustered  into  thc^  service.  Among 
these  were  Company  A.  imder  Capt  C.  F. 
Miuiderson:  C'orn])<my  F,  under  Capt.  "\V.  H. 
Allen:  about  two-thirds  of  Company  I,  under 
Capt.  William  Rakestraw;  and  about  twenty 
men  of  Comj)any  D,  making  a  total  of  aboiit 
tliree  companies  from  Stark  County.  By  th(> 
7th  of  November.  ISfil.  the  Nineteenth,  under 
the  command  of  Col.  Samuel  Beatty,  was  fully 
armed  and  equipped  at  Cam])  Dennison.  Nine 
days  later,  it  removed  U)  Cincinnati,  thence  by 
steamer  to  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  was  the  first 
regiment  to  enter  Camp  Jenkins,  five  miles 
from  the  citv.     Here  it  remained,  under  Gen. 


Mitchell,  until  December  ('),  when  it  proceeded 
to  Lebanon,  Ky. :  thence  itmarch(<d  forty  miles 
to  Columbus,  reaching  that  point  on  the  loth 
of  December,  and  was  soon  aft(>i'ward  brigaded 
with  the  Fifty-ninth  Ohio.  Second  and  Ninth 
Kentucky  Infantry,  and  Haggard's  regiment 
of  cavalry,  constituting  the  Eleventh  Brigade, 
Gen.  J.  T.  Boyle  commanding.  While  at  Co- 
lumbia, the  ri>giment  receive<i  a  fine  silk  llag 
fi-om  the  ladies  of  Canton.  On  the  17th  of 
Decemljer.  Capt.  Rakestraw  died  of  dijihtheria. 
The  regiment  marched  to  Renick's  Creek,  on 
the  Ciunberland,  on  the  17th  of  January,  18<)"2, 
and  soon  afterward  moved  up  the  Cumberland 
to  Jamestown,  where  it  was  joined  by  the  Sixth 
Ohio  Battery.  Position  was  taktm  at  the  mouth 
of  Greasy  Creek,  to  prevent  Zollicofl'er  from 
joining  t\n',  enemy  at  Nashville.  While  lying 
at  Cohunbia.  the  regiment  suffered  teiTibly 
from  measles  and  ty]ihoid  fever.  Within  a 
few  days,  over  two  hundred  ni(>n  were  in  the 
hospital,  and  several  died  of  these  diseases. 
Alx>ut  the  middle  of  Fel)ruary.  lMj'2.  the  regi- 
ment moved  back  to  Cohunbia.  After  march- 
ing to  Glasgow  and  Bowling  Grt^n.  the  regi- 
ment was  finally  ordered  to  Nashville,  which 
})lace  was  reached  on  the  I  Oth  of  March.  The 
regiment  encamped  on  the  Muvfreesljoro  Turn- 
pike, five  miles  from  the  city.  The  march 
fi'om  Bowling  Green  had  been  170  miles,  dm'- 
ing a  portion  of  which  the  men  were  little  bet- 
ter than  bare- footed.  On  the  ISth  of  March, 
the  regiment  started  for  Savannah,  (m  the Ten- 
n<>ssee.  and.  by  April  (>.  was  within  fourteen 
miles  of  that  place.  It  was  Smiday,  and  here 
the  distimt  b<jomof  c.umon  was  jilainly  heard, 
firing  the  troops  with  new  life  and  m'ging  them 
to  the  double-(|uick  in  hopes  of  reaching  the 
field  to  assist  in  deciding  the  confiict.  At  dark, 
the  r(>giment  emliarked  for  Pittsburg  Land- 
ing. On  its  an'ival.  a  sorry  scene  was  pre- 
sented. The  I'nion  troops  had  been  thrown 
back  in  wild  disorder  by  the  exultant  rebels, 
and  thousands  of  sti'agglers  and  wounded  men, 
with  woebegone  faces,  lined  the  river's  l>ank. 
The  Nineteenth  disembarked  ;uid  went  into 
line  of  l)attle  in  the  dark^less  ami  rain,  on  the 
field,  to  be  in  i-eadine.ss  for  tUe  coming  confiict 
on  the  moiTow.  At  daylight,  the  enemy, 
flushed  with  his  success  of  the  previous  day, 
o}>ened  the  carnival  of  death  with  the  rattle  of 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


musketry,  and  soon  both  armies  were  hurled 
t<jgether  like  gigantic  locomotives.  The  Union 
troops,  smarting  with  their  shameful  defeat 
of  the  previous  day,  met  the  swarming  legions 
of  rebellion  with  reckless  determination,  and 
soon  the  tables  of  Sunday  were  partly  turned. 
The  Nineteenth  deposited  their  knapsacks, 
and  sti-ij)ped  off  all  useless  weight  for  the 
coming  tight.  Oen.  Boyle  said  of  the  Nine 
teenth"  "  The  C(  >h  nw\  i  H'.-atty )  and  Gapt.  Man- 
derson  (Acting  Major i  held  their  men  steady, 
and  deported  themselves,  as  did  their  officers 
and  men,  with  coolness  and  courage,  until  the 
Colonel  ordered  them  back  to  a  position  fi-om 
under  the  fire  of  the  enemy's  liattery.  This 
])osition  was  held  until  the  gims  of  the  enemy 
were  silenced  by  the  well-directed  Ike  of 
Capt.  Bartlett's  Battery.  Maj.  Edwards 
(Acting  Lieutenant  Colonel)  was  shot  dead 
fiom  his  horse,  and  a  ntunber  of  privates  were 
killed  and  woimded."  The  regiment  si)ent 
ten  days  without  tents  or  camp  equipage,  in 
the  mud  and  rain  and  the  di'eadfiil  stench  of 
the  battle-field.  After  this,  it  participated  in 
the  advance  on  Corinth,  and  the  siege  of  the 
same.  Near  Fanningham,  on  the  22d  of  May, 
the  regiment  had  six  men  wounded  in  a  picket 
skirmish,  two  of  whom  died  of  their  woTinds. 
It  entered  Corinth  on  the  'iUth,  and,  on  the 
3d  of  Jiuie,  went  as  far  as  Brovvrisboro  in  pur- 
suit of  the  enemy.  It  then  retm-ned  to  luka, 
joined  Gen.  Buell's  column,  and  marched  with 
it  to  Florence,  Ala.,  and  to  Battle  Creek,  where 
it  arrived  Jvily  14.  On  the  21st  of  August,  it 
marched  to  Nashville,  and,  with  the  aiiny  of 
Buell,  made  that  arduous  mai'ch  to  Louisville, 
Ky. 

The  Nineteenth  marched  to  near  PeiTyville, 
starting  October  1,  and  reaching  that  point 
on  the  Sth,  too  late  to  participate  in  the 
battle  there.  It  joined  in  the  pm'suit  of  the 
enemy,  and  near  Crab  Orchard  had  a  running 
skirmish,  captiu'ing  a  cannon,  with  its  accou- 
terments.  It  mai'ched  through  Somerset  and 
Glasgow  to  Gallatin,  doing  provost  duty  for 
two  weeks,  and  finally  joined  its  division  at 
Hermitage,  jjassing  tlu'ough  Nashville,  and 
encamping  near  the  State  Lunatic  Asylum. 
About  this  time.  Col.  Beatty  was  appointed 
Brigadier  General,  and,  on  the  2t)th  of  De- 
cember,  the  regiment,  commanded  by  Maj.  C. 


F.  Manderson,  moved  toward  Murfreesboro. 
It  was  tlu'own  across  Stone  River  on  the  31st, 
but  was  compelled  to  withdraw,  and,  re-cross- 
ing the  river,  it  aided  in  cheeking  the  advance 
of  the  rebels  on  the  right.  Under  the  personal 
lead  of  Gen.  Rosecrans,  Beatty's  brigade 
charged  the  enemy,  drove  hiui  about  three- 
foxu'ths  of  a  mile,  and  held  the  position  until 
relieved.  The  regiment,  with  other  troops, 
crossed  Stone  River  January  2,  1N(33,  and  re- 
ceived the  charge  of  the  rebel  column  under 
Breckinridge,  but  was  forced  back  until  the 
massed  artillery  could  play  upon  the  advanc- 
ing enemy,  when  the  latter  was  driven  across 
the  river  with  gi'eat  slaughter.  It  was  one  of 
the  two  to  cross  Stone  River  first,  and,  with 
the  assistance  of  men  of  other  regiments,  capt- 
ured four  pieces  of  artillery  from  the  famous 
Washington  (Louisiana)  Battery.  A  mile  of 
ground  was  gained,  and  when  the  battle  ended 
with  darlcness,  the  regiment,  which  had  entered 
with  441)  men,  came  out  with  but  237,  having 
lost  nearly  half  in  killed,  wounded  and  miss- 
ing. Maj.  C.  F.  Manderson  was  promoted  to 
Lieutenant  Colonel  January  5.  The  whole 
army  remained  at  Mm-freesboro  until  Jtine 
2S,  when  the  Nineteenth  was  marched  to  Mc- 
Minnville,  where  it  remained  until  August  IB, 
when  it  crossed  the  Cumberland  Mountains, 
reaching  Lee  &  Gordon's  Mills  on  he  13th  of 
September.  Two  men  of  Company  D  were 
killed  in  a  skirmish  at  Crawfish  Springs.  On 
the  ISth  of  September,  the  regiment,  with 
other  troops,  was  ordered  to  advance  upon  the 
enemy,  which  order  was  executed  with  a  cheer. 
The  rebels  were  driven  back,  and  a  battery 
and  several  prisoners  were  captured.  But  the 
captors  were  in  tui'U  driven  back  by  a  heavy 
force  of  the  enemy,  and  were  iinfortunatelj' 
mistaken  for  the  rebels  and  fired  upon  by  other 
Federal  troops,  causing  the  loss  of  several 
men.  The  regiment  fought  hard  on  the  20th 
at  Chickamauga,  and  at  nightfall  withdrew 
with  the  army  to  Chattanooga,  having  lost 
about  one  hundred  men  in  killed,  wounded 
and  missing.  The  Nineteenth  remained  in 
Chattanooga  during  the  siege,  and,  on  the  23d 
of  November,  took  part,  in  the  advance  on  Or- 
chard Knob,  losing  some  twenty  men  killed 
and  wounded.  On  the  25th,  it  participated 
in  the  charge  on  the  rebel  works'  at  the  foot  of 


t^ 


HI.STORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


245 


Mission  Ridge,  and.  without  orders,  climbed 
the  steep  sides  of  tlie  mountain,  driving  the 
rebels  in  confusion  down  the  ojiposite  side. 
and  losing  one  man  killed  and  thirteen  wound- 
ed. It  returned  to  Chattanooga,  and  then, 
with  Sherman,  moved  toward  Knoxville,  suf- 
fering sev(>rely  during  the  niarcli,  leaving  foot- 
[irints  in  blood  on  the  snowy  ground.  The 
regiment  moved  to  Strawbeiry  Plains  and  Flat 
Creek,  and  400  men,  on  the  1st  of  January. 
1864.  re-enlisted  at  the  latter  place  as  veteran 
volunteers.  From  tlie  4th  until  the  Kith,  the 
regiment  marched  to  Chattanooga,  where  the 
veterans  were  mustered  in  and  the  others  mus- 
tered out.  The  regiment  then  returned  to 
Ohio,  reaching  Cleveland  on  the  16th  of  Feb- 
ruivry. 

The  regiment  finally  started  for  Knoxville, 
Teim.,  where  it  an-ived  March  24,  1864.  On 
the  yth  of  April,  it  moved  to  McDonald's  Sta- 
tion, and  there  began  preparing  for  the  At- 
lanta campaign.  On  the  6th  of  May,  Sher- 
man's whole  army  began  tliis  important  move- 
ment, and  the  Nint>teenth  was  sent  to  Parker's 
Gap  to  hold  that  pass.  Afterward,  it  partici- 
pated in  the  fight  at  New  Hope  Chm-ch,  where 
about  fifty  men  were  killed  and  wounded.  It 
was  engaged  at  Kenesaw,  at  Peach  Tree  Creek, 
at  the  crossing  of  the  Chiittahoochie  River, 
and  was  under  fu-e  almost  daily  up  to  the 
evacuation  of  Atlanta.  It  also  passed  with 
Sherman  around  to  the  right  of  Atlanta,  en- 
gaging in  the  affair  at  Jonesboro.  On  the  2d 
of  Septemlier,  it  participated  in  the  action  at 
Lovejoy  Station,  where,  among  other  casual- 
ties. Col.  Manderson  was  severely  wounded  in 
the  spine.  Seventy  men  were  killed  and 
wounded.  It  captured  tht;  enemy's  front  line 
of  works,  and  held  it  for  thi'ee  days.  The  loss 
to  the  regiment  in  the  Atlanta  campaign  was: 
Killed,  two  commissioned  officers  and  twenty- 
eight  men;  wounded,  six  commissioned  olli 
cers  and  ninety-six  men:  missing,  thirteen  men. 
When  Sherman  started  on  his  march  to  the 
sea,  the  Nineteenth  was  ordered- back  toward 
Nashville  to  aid  in  oftposiug  Gen.  Hood. 
During  the  investment  of  Franklin,  it  lost  a 
few  men,  and  a  few  more  at  Nashville.  It 
followed  Hood  to  the  Tennessee  River,  and, 
on  the  ."ith  of  Jaiuuu-y,  186."),  was  established 
at  Huntsville.  where  it  rt^maiued  until  April. 


On  the  17th  of  March,  Col.  Manderson  re- 
signed, fi'om  physical  disability,  and  Lieut. 
Col.  Nash  assumed  command.  In  April, 
it  moved  into  East  Tennessee,  but  soon  re- 
turned to  Nashville.  In  June,  it  started  for 
Texas,  and  suffered  severely  from  hard 
marches,  On  the  21st  of  October,  18f;r),  the 
gallant  Nineteenth  was  mustered  out  of  serv- 
ice at  San  Antonio.  Texas,  and  the  tired  boys 
started  joyously  toward  home.  It  reached 
Columbvis,  Ohio,  November  22,  and  was  paid 
off  and  dischai-ged  at  C!amp  Chase  three  days 
later,  and  the  brave  boys,  after  nearly  five 
years  of  active  and  honorable  service,  started 
for  home,  and  were  welcomed  all  along  the 
joiuTiey  by  crowds  of  grateful  people. 

The  Seventy-sixth  Regiment  contained  about 
two  companies  fi-om  Stark.  The  officers  were: 
Company  K,  James  M.  Jay,  Captain;  David 
R.  Kelley,  First  Lieutenant:  Mark  Sjieny, 
Second  Lieutenant.  Company  I,  Edward 
Briggs,  Ca])tain:  James  M.  Blackman,  First 
Lieutenant:  John  H.  Hardgi'ove,  Second  Lieu- 
tenant. The  regimental  officers  were:  Charles 
R.  Woods,  (Colonel:  William  B.  Woods,  Lieu- 
tenant Colonel;  Willard  Warner,  Major; 
Charles  R.  Pierce,  Sm-geon;  John  W.  Mc- 
Carty,  Chaplain.  The  regiment  was  recruited 
for  three  years'  service  at  Newark,  Ohio,  where 
it  was  organized  on  the  Kth  of  February,  1862. 
It  immediately  proceeded,  via  Padueah,  Ky., 
to  Fort  Donelson,  and  took  an  active  ])art  in 
the  engagement  there.  On  the  6th  of  March, 
it  moved  to  Crump's  Landing,  where  it  re- 
mained until  the  81st,  when  it  marcheil  to 
Adamsville,  and  took  position  in  Gen.  L(>w 
Wallace'sdivision,on  the  right  of  Gen.  Grant's 
army.  It  made  a  forced  mai'ch,  on  the  ()th  of 
April,  to  Pittsbiu-g  Landing,  going  into  line 
of  battle  at  dark,  and  being  constantly  under 
tire  during  the  remainder  of  the  fight.  In  a 
recoimaissance  toward  Corinth  toward  tlu>  last 
of  April,  it  charged  the  rebels,  di'ove  them 
from  their  position,  and  destroyed  their  camp 
equipage.  It  moved  with  the  army  to  Cor- 
inth, thence  to  Memphis,  where  it  arrived  ou 
the  17th  of  June,  having  marched  l-JO  miles 
with  wagon  su])i)lies.  On  the  24th  of  -luly,  it 
moved  down  the  river  and  encamj)ed  at  Hele- 
na, Ark.  Here  it  was  placed  in  the  Second 
Brigade,  Third  Division.    It  jiarticipated  in  the 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY, 


movement  down  the  river  to  Milliken's  Bend 
in  August,  where  a  rebel  regiment  from  Louis- 
iana was  siu-prised,  and  its  camp  and  garrison 
equipage  captm'ed.  The  enemy  was  followed 
nine  miles,  and  forty  ]5risouers  were  captured. 
A  ])Oi-tion  of  ho  Seventy-sixth  participated  in 
the  movement  on  Haines"  Bhiff,  when  four 
siege-guns,  two  field  pieces  and  a  large  (pian- 
tityof  fixed  aimuunition  were  captured.  Early 
in  October,  the  regiment  moved  to  St.  Gene- 
vieve, Mo.,  and  a  week  later,  to  Pilot  Knob, 
where  it  rested  and  re-organized.  On  the 
12th  of  November,  it  retm-ned  to  St.  Gene- 
vieve, and  embarked  for  Camp  Steele,  Miss. 
In  December,  it  formed  part  of  the  expedition 
against  Vicksburg,  but  did  not  engage  the 
enemy.  It  moved  u])  the  river  about  the  lOth 
of  January,  bS(')3,  landing  at  Arkansas  Post. 
The  night  of  the  1  ()th,  the  regiment  marched 
six  miles  through  mud  and  water,  and,  by  '2 
o'clock  next  morning,  occupied  the  canton- 
ments of  the  enemy.  Shortly  after  daylight, 
they  moved  upon  the  enemy's  works,  and, 
about  1  o'clock,  charged  within  one  hiuidred 
yards  of  the  rifle-pits,  halted,  opened  fire;  and 
held  the  position  for  three  hom-s,  when  the 
enemy  surrendered.  On  the  '2:5d,  the  regiment 
moved  to  Yomig's  Point,  La.  Dm-ing  Febni- 
ary,  the  regiment  worked  largely  upon  the 
canal  in  progress  across  the  neck  of  land  op- 
posite Vicksiim-g.  On  the  '2d  of  April,  it 
moved  to  Greenville,  Miss.,  and,  on  the  7th, 
routed  the  rebels,  under  Col.  Ferguson,  on 
Deer  Creek.  It  destroyed  a  million  dollars' 
worth  of  corn  and  cotton,  and  retm-ned  to 
Greenville  with  large  numbers  of  cattle,  horses 
and  mules.  About  three  hmidred  negroes  fol- 
lowed, who  afterward  served  in  colored  regi- 
ments. 

During  the  last  of  April,  it  occupied  Young's 
Point  and  Milliken's  Bend,  and,  early  in  May, 
moved  to  the  rear  of  Yieksburg,  arriving  at 
the  river  on  the  Bth.  At  Fourteen  Mile  Creek 
it  had  a  V)risk  skirmish  with  the  enemy's  cav- 
alry; and  at  Jackson  it  charged  the  enemy's 
works,  which  were  evacuated,  and  the  city 
surrendered.  It  moved  on  Yieksburg,  and 
established  itself  near  the  river  and  within 
600  yards  of  the  main  lines  of  the  enemy. 
The  guns  of  the  enemy  in  front  were  silenced. 
Heavy  derails  were  made  for  strengthening 


the  works;  and  during  the  nights  eight  guns 
were  taken  from  the  sunken  gunboat  Cin- 
cinnati, and  placed  in  position  with  telling 
effect.  After  the  surrender  of  Yicksbm'g,  it 
moved  in  pursuit  of  Johnson,  reaching  Jack- 
son on  the  10th  of  July.  Here  it  was  em- 
j)lo)'ed  in  foraging  and  making  reconnois- 
sances.  It  rested  and  re-organized  at  Big 
Black  Bridge.  In  September,  it  moved  to 
Memphis,  thence  to  Corinth,  and,  diu'ing 
October  and  November,  marched  and  skir- 
mished in  Northern  Alabama  and  Tennessee, 
arriving  at  Chattanooga  in  time  to  join  Gen. 
Hooker,  in  the  assault  on  Lookout  Mountain. 
The  regiment  was  engaged  at  Mission  Ridge, 
and,  on  the  '27tli  of  November,  charged  up 
Taylor's  Ridge  under  a  heavy  tire,  suffering 
a  fearful  loss.  In  one  company  of  twenty 
men,  eight  were  killed  and  eight  wounded; 
and  seven  men  were  shot  down  while  carrying 
the  regimental  colors.  The  regiment  finally 
went  into  winter  quarters  at  Paint  Rock,  Ala. 
In  January,  1804,  about  two-thirds  of  the 
regiment  re-enlisted  as  veterans;  and,  early 
in  February,  the  i-egiment  returned  to  Ohio 
on  furlough,  and  was  warmly  welcomed  by 
the  citizens.  The  Seventy-sixth  went  away 
962  strong,  and  retmned  in  two  years  with 
less  than  thi'ee  hundred.  It  returned  to  Paint 
Rock  in  March,  and,  on  the  1st  of  May,  started 
for  Chattanooga,  where  it  arrived  on  the  6th, 
and  jiushed  ftirward  twelve  miles.  It  moved 
through  Snake  Creek  Gaj),  and  continued  to 
advance  until  the  evening  of  the  14th,  when  it 
charged  across  the  fields  with  its  brigade, 
under  a  hot  tire,  and  gained  a  footing  on  the 
tirst  line  of  hills  west  of  Resaea.  The  enemy 
evacuated  tliat  point  about  the  1 6th,  and  the 
regiment  advanced  to  Dallas. 

In  June,  the  regiment  moved  Lo  Rossville, 
thence  to  within  four  miles  of  Atlanta,  where 
it  arrived  on  the  '20th  of  July.  Here  the  reg- 
iment with  the  Thirteenth  Ohio  recajitured 
four  twenty-pound  Parrott  guns:  and  later, 
the  Fifteenth  Corps,  of  which  the  Seventy- 
sixth  formed  a  part,  was  charged  uptjn  three 
successive  times  by  heavy  masses  of  the  ene- 
my, but  without  avail.  One  thousand  of  the 
rebel  dead  were  fcjund  in  front  of  the  Fif- 
teenth Cori>s.  On  the  13th  of  August,  the 
regiment  captured    fifty   prisoners.     On    the 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


±K^ 


20th,  it  marched  southward  toward  Jones- 
boro;  imd,  on  the  night  of  the  30th,  formed 
in  line  iicross  Flint  Eiver.  The  rebels 
charged  the  line  on  the  following  day,  but 
were  repulsed.  After  remaining  at  East 
Point  about  a  month,  the  regiment  on  the  4th 
of  October,  crossed  the  C'hatta]ioochi(>,  marched 
tlirough  Marietta,  Resaca,  Snake  Creek  Gap, 
and,  on  the  10th,  skirmished  with  the  enemy 
at  Ship's  Gap.  On  the  18th,  it  bivouacked  at 
Summerville.  where  the  non-veterans  were 
mustered  out.  In  November,  the  regiment 
started  with  Sherman  for  the  sea,  passing 
through  McDonough,  Indian  S])rings,  Clinton, 
Irwintown.  and  down  the  Ogeechee  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Canoochee,  thence  westward  to 
Savannah,  twenty-six  days'  march  frcm  At- 
lanta. Here  it  jierformed  jirovost  guard  duty 
until  the  Uth  of  January,  1805.  when  it  em- 
barked for  Beaufort,  S.  C,  and  soon  afterward 
marched  to  Gardner's  Corners.  On  the  31st, 
it  started  on  the  campaign  of  the  Carolinas. 
It  skirmished  at  Columbia,  and,  after  the 
evacuation  of  tlie  city,  performed  ]>rovost- 
guard  duty  for  fi.ur  days.  The  regiment 
moved  to  Fayetteville  on  the  l'2th  of  March, 
thence  to  Bentonville,  and  finally  to  Raleigh, 
where  it  remained  until  Johnston's  surrender. 
The  Seventy-sixth  then  marched  to  "Washing- 
ton, D.  C  where  it  shared  in  the  gi-and  review, 
and  shortly  afterward  moved  to  Louisville. 
Ky.,  where  it  was  mustered  oitt  of  service. 
It  then  j)roceeded  to  Columbus.  Oliio,  and  was 
discharged  on  the  '24tli  of  July,  I8f')r).  The 
regiment,  during  its  term  of  service,  partici- 
pated in  forty-four  battles  and  skirmishes: 
moved  tl,0'ir)  miles  by  foot,  rail  and  water, 
and  passed  through  eleven  rebellious  States. 
Two  hundred  and  forty-one  men  wei-e  wounded 
in   battle;  851    died   on   the  field  or   in    hos- 


pitals 


zll  carrv 


scars  as  evidences   of  their 


struggle  with  the  enemy;  and  "282  have  the 
seeds  of  disease,  contracted  in  the  line  of  duty. 
It  is  a  siid,  but  noble  record,  and  the  surviv- 
ors may  well  be  proud  of  the  part  they  took 
in  establishing  the  permanence  and  gi-eatness 
of  the  Am<>rican  I'nion. 

In  June.  1802.  Capt.  Andrew  V.  P.  Day 
enlisted  a  company  of  10'2  men  in  Stai-k 
County,  for  the  100-day  service,  in  the  Eighty- 
sixth  Regiment.     The  company   was  I,   and 


was  officered  as  follows:  Andrew  Day,  Cap- 
tain; Charles  C.  Brandt,  First  Lieutenant; 
Samuel  S.  Blackford,  Second  Lieutenant. 
Company  G,  of  the  Eighty-sixth,  was  partly 
composed  of  Stark  County  men.  The  regi 
ment  was  organized  at  Camp  Chase  on  the 
11  til  day  of  June,  1802.  It  was  order.-d  t<> 
West  ^'irginia,  and.  on  the  17th  of  June, 
arrived  at  Clarksburg.  Here  it  was  stationed 
to  guard  the  railroatl  'and  jjrotect  Grafton, 
which  town  was  the  base  of  su])plies  for  a 
large  number  of  troops.  On  the  27tli  of  .July. 
Companies  A,  (',  H  and  I,  under  the  command 
of  Col.  Hunter,  were  ordered  to  Parkorsburg 
in  anticipation  of  a  raid  u])on  that  point. 
The  citizens  were  found  greatly  excited,  and 
the  companies,  with  the  exce]»tion  of  H,  which 
was  ordered  (o  difl'erent  points  on  the  railroad 
east  of  the  city,  remained  to  guard  Parkers- 
biirg.  In  August,  this  d(>tachment  was  ordered 
back  to  Clarksburg,  and  thence  toward  Bev- 
erly as  far  as  Hut(onsvill{>  <o  repel  the  threat- 
ened invasion  of  Ohio  by  the  rebels  under 
Jenkins.  The  latter  did  not  appear,  and  the 
Eighty-sixth  returned  to  Clarksbm-g,  reaching 
that  place  about  the  20th  of  July.  After- 
ward, in  this  vicinity,  Jenkins  succeeded  in 
destroying  nearly  §200,000  worth  of  Govern 
ment  stores.  It  was  thought  at  one  time  that 
he  contemplated  an  attack  on  Clarksburg, 
alhu'ed  by  the  temi^ting  chance  of  destroying 
the  large  stores  th.ere,  and  anticipating  this 
movement  the  Iroojis  removed  the  stores  to 
Fairmount  and  "Wheeling.  The  Eighty-sixth 
remained  at  and  near  C'larksburg,  prepared  to 
make  a  vigorous  defense.  Jenkins,  probably 
aware  of  the  condition  of  things,  continued 
on  toward  "^'eston  and  the  Ohio  River.  Scon 
after  this,  the  three  montlis'  term  of  enlistment 
expiixnl,  and  the  r(>giment  was  ordered  to 
Canij)  Delaware,  Ohio,  where  it  arrived  on  the 
18th  of  September.  Seven  days  later,  it  was 
paid  and  mustered  out  of  tin;  service.  The 
regiment  was  afterward  re-organized  under 
a  six  months'  enlistment;  but  contained  no 
men  from  Stark  County.  In  the  One  Hiiu- 
dred  and  Fourth  Regiment,  Companies  B,  E 
an<l  {)art  of  A  were  from  Stark  County.  The 
officers  w(>re:  Company  B.  Jesse  K.  Coats, 
Captain;  Franklin  A.  Perdue,  First  Lieuten- 
ant; Andrew  J.  Southworth,  Second  Lieuten- 


4 


248 


HISTORY    OF    STARK    COUNTY 


iint.  Company  E.  Ainlrew  J.  Bahney,  Cap- 
tain; Aufriistns  B.  Ricks,  First  Lieiiteuant; 
Shepherd  M.  Knapp,  Second  Lieutenant. 
Company  A,  Oscar  W.  Stearl,  Captain;  George 
V.  Kelly.  First  Lieutenant:  William  SL 
Jameson,  Second  Lieutenant.  The  regimental 
officers  were:  James  W.  Keiley.  Colonel;  Asa 
S.  Mariner,  Lieutenant  Colonel;  Lorin  D. 
Woodsworth.  Major.  It  is  very  probable  that 
other  comjianies  than  those  mentioned  con- 
tained men  from  Stark  County,  as  the  regi- 
ment was  organized  at  Camp  Ma.ssillon. 
About  the  1st  of  September,  the  regiment  left 
the  last-named  camp  for  Cincinnati,  and  upon 
its  arrival  was  sent  across  the  river  to  Cov 
ington,  and  went  into  camp  three  miles  out 
on  the  Alexandria  Turnpike,  to  prevent  the 
threatened  attack  of  Kirby  Smith  on 

••Tlic  ■qwvn  of  the  West/ 
In  lu'V  :;'iirliin(ls  dressed. 
On  the  banks  of  tlic   Beautiful  River." 

Later  it  was  sent  to  Covington,  and  thence 
to  Flirt  Mitchell,  where,  in  a  slight  skirmish 
with  rebels,  one  man  was  killed  and  five 
wounded.  The  rebel  loss  was  twice  as  great. 
This  was  the  tirst  and  only  blood  spilled  in 
defense  of  the  "Queen  City."  September  12, 
the  regiment  marched  toward  Lexington  in 
pursuit  of  the  rebels,  and  suffered  intensely 
on  the  way.  At  Lexington,  the  regiment  re- 
mained until  the  6th  of  December,  and  while 
here  received  the  comi^liment  from  the  com- 
manding officer  of  being  the  best  disciplined 
regiment  in  the  command.  On  the  6th  of 
December,  it  moved  to  Clay's  Ferry,  on  the 
Kentucky  Biver,  and.  on  the  following  day, 
reached  Richmond.  Here  it  assisted  in  con- 
structing formidable  earthworks.  On  the 
27th  of  December,  the  regiment  moved  to 
Danville,  to  intercept  John  Morgan's  guerrilla 
force.  Slight  skirmishing  occurred,  and  the 
troops  moved  back  to  Frankfort  in  January, 
1868.  Here  the  regiment  was  mounted,  and 
assigned  provost-duty  until  Febniary  21, 
when  it  marched  to  Danville  through  the 
fiirious  snow  storm.  On  the  second  night, 
Hiirrodsbiu'g  was  reached.  It  remained  in 
Kciituck}',  watching  the  rebel  force  under 
Morgan,  Pegram  and  Cluke,  until  the  fol- 
lowing summer,  and  finally  joined  Gen.  Burn- 
side  at  Knoxville  early  in  September,  1863. 


Dui'iug  this  period,  the  regiment  suflered 
numerous  hard  marches  and  privations,  and  on 
one  occasion  lost  twenty-five  men  captured.  It 
was  also  placed  in  the  First  Brigade,  Third 
Division,  Twenty-third  Army  Coi-ps,  under 
Gen.  Hartsuff,  the  First  Brigade,  under  orders 
marched  with  such  rapidity  to  Cmuberlaud  Gap 
as  to  receive  a  complimentary  telegi-am  from 
President  Lincoln.  Gen.  Bm-nside  demanded 
the  surrender  of  the  Gap,  but  was  refused.  Just 
as  he  was  preparing  to  carry  it  with  the  bay- 
onet, the  rebel  leader  surrendered  his  entire 
command  as  prisoners  of  war.  The  One 
Hundred  and  Fourth  was  the  first  regiment 
to  enter  the  works.  In  November,  at  the 
siege  of  Knoxville,  the  regiment  was  ordered 
to  the  south  side  of  Holston  River,  where  it 
had  a  spirited  engagement,  and  the  enemy 
was  repulsed  with  considerable  loss.  Great 
hardships  were  endured  by  the  men  diu"ing 
the  siege.  Later,  it  skirmished  with  the 
retreating  rebels  under  Gen.  Longstreet.  It 
spent  the  winter  in  tln^  vicinity  of  Blain's 
Cross-Roads,  and  during  this  dreary  period 
was  but  half  fed  and  half  clothed.  In  April, 
1864,  it  was  ordered  to  Cleveland,  Tenn.,  where 
the  troops  were  preparing  for  the  Atlanta 
campaign.  It  moved  forward  with  the  army, 
and  in  the  desperate  assault  at  Utoy  Creek 
lost  twenty-six  officers  and  men  killed  and 
wounded.  It  accompanied  the  movement  to 
Jonesboro,  but  did  not  participate  in  the 
engagement.  It  tore  up  railroads  and 
guarded  lines  of  communication  until  the 
fall  of  Atlanta,  when  it  marched  to  Decatur. 
In  October  it  moved  North  with  Gen.  Thom- 
as, passing  through  Marietta,  Acworth,  Alla- 
toona,  Cassville,  Kingston,  Rome,  Calhoun, 
Resaca,  Snake  Creek  Gap,  Gaylorsville,  and 
finally  reached  Cedar  Bluff,  Ala.  Near  the 
last  of  the  month,  it  moved  to  R(jme,  Ga., 
thence  to  Dalton,  where,  on  the  fith  of  No- 
vember, it  took  cars  for  Nashville.  It  moved 
to  Spring  Hill,  Columbia,  Pulaski,  thence 
back  to  Cohunbia,  where  it  had  a  skirmish 
with  a  force  of  rebel  cavalry.  After  this,  in 
other  skirmishes,  it  lost  several  men  killed 
and  wounded.  It  participated  in  the  fight  at 
Franklin,  the  severest  in  which  it  was  ever 
engaged,  losing  sixty  killed  and  wounded, 
including   Capt.   Kimball   and    Lieut.   Bard, 


^r 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


who  were  both  shot  dead.  Several  Lieuten- 
ants were  severely  wounded.  The  battle  be- 
gan at  5  o'clock  on  the  uvenini^  of  November 
80,  and  lasted  five  liours.  After  the  fight,  the 
regiment  marclied  to  Nashville,  where  it  re- 
mained until  December  80.  when  it  mcjved  to 
the  right,  and,  in  a  slight  skiiTuisli,  lost  tlu-ee 
men  wounded.  On  the  10th,  it  participated 
in  a  charge  on  the  enemy's  works.  In  Janu 
arv,  the  regiment  was  transferred  to  Federal 
Point,  X.  C.  On  the  18th  of  February,  it 
skinnished  with  the  rebels  near  Fort  Ander- 
son, losing  live  men  killed  and  wovinded. 
Two  days  later,  at  Old  Town  Creek,  it  charged 
the  enemy,  losing  two  killed  and  twenty 
wounded.  After  occupying  several  points  and 
taking  part  in  the  gi'and  review  at  Raleigh,  it 
was  fijially  mustered  out  of  service  on  the 
17th  of  June,  1865,  at  Greensboro.  On  the 
27th  of  June,  it  was  paid  off  and  discharged 
at  Cleveland. 

The  One  Himdred  and  Seventh  Regiment 
was  represented  by  more  than  a  company 
from  Stark  County.  The  regiment  was  largely 
German,  and  was  organized  at  Camp  Taylor, 
near  Cleveland,  August  25,  1802.  Seraphim 
Meyer,  of  Canton,  was  chosen  Colonel: 
Charles  Mueller,  Lieutenant  Colonel :  George 
Ai'nold,  Major;  and  C.  A.  Hartman,  of  Cleve- 
land, Surgeon.  It  remained  at  Cleveland 
preparing  for  the  field  until  the  latter  part  of 
September,  when  it  was  ordered  to  Covington, 
Ky.  Companies  A  and  D  and  about  fifty 
m(>n  of  Company  H  were  from  Stsirk  County. 
The  officers  of  Company  A  were;  Captain, 
Peter  Sisterhen;  First  Lieutenant,  Jacob 
Hose;  Second  Lieutenant,  John  H.  Piero. 
Tliose  of  Company  D  were:  Cajitaiu,  Ber 
nard  Steiner;  First  Lieutt^nant,  Samuel  Sur- 
bui'g;  Second  Lieutenant,  William  T.  Beeh- 
tel.  Those  of  Company  H  were:  Ca])tain, 
Augustas  Vignos:  First  Lieutenant,  John 
Sinning;  Second  Lieutenant,  Philip  Setzler. 
The  regiment  was  ordered  to  Covington  to 
assist  in  repelling  the  threatened  attack  of 
Kirby  Smith  on  Cincinnati.  At  the  end  of  a 
week,  it  was  ordered  to  D(>laware,  Ohio,  and 
soon  afterward  to  Washington,  D.  C,  where 
it  was  employed  for  nearly  a  week  on  the  for- 
tifications of  that  city.  Early  in  November, 
it  was  ordered  to  Fairfax    C.  H.,  Virginia, 


and  two  weeks  later  to  Stafford  C.  H.,  where 
it  was  assigned  to  the  Second  Brigade,  First 
Division,  Eleventh  Anny  Corps,  Maj.  Gen. 
Sigel  commanding.  Two  weeks  later,  it  was 
ordered  on  a  tianking  expedition  to  the  left 
and  rear  of  Fredericksburg,  to  co-operate  with 
Gen.  Burnside  on  a  second  attack  against 
that  point,  but  the  design  was  foiled  by  bad 
roads,  and  thi-  regim<'nt  fell  back  with  the 
army  to  Brooks  Station,  where  it  went  into 
winter  quarters.  On  the  2Uth  of  April,  18<)8, 
the  whole  division  moved  across  the  Rappa- 
hannock to  Chancellorsville,  and  took  part  in 
the  bloody  battles  there  on  the  '2d  ;ind  8d  of 
May.  Tlie  regiment  went  into  battle  under 
Col.  Jleyer,  and  the  corps  under  Gen.  Howard. 
While  the  stonn  of  battle  was  threatening, 
the  commanding  officer  rode  along  the  lines 
to  encom-age  the  men,  which  he  did  by  telling 
them  that  the  enemy  would  attack  them  in 
front,  and  that  they  must  fire  low  and  not 
throw  away  a  single  shot.  But  the  Fates 
had  decreed  othei-wise.  That  womlerful  man, 
"  Stonewall "  Jackson,  completely  flanked  the 
Union  lines,  and  with  his  legion  of  desperate 
rebels  swept  like  a  spirit  of  destniction  upon 
our  lines,  scattering  the  men  like  chaff  before 
the  gale.  The  One  Hiuidred  and  Seventh 
suffered  terribly,  losing  120  officers  and 
men  killed,  woimded  and  missing.  The  Reg- 
imental SiU'geon,  Dr.  Hartman.  was  instantly- 
killed  by  a  hea.vj'  shot  which  strack  him  in 
the  abdomen,  tearing  him  in  a  frightful  man- 
ner. Company  D.  from  Stark  Coxtnty.  lost 
some  twenty  men  killed,  womided  and  miss- 
ing. Company  A  lost  about  as  heavily,  and 
Company  H  lost  eighteen  men.  On  the  Oth 
of  May,  the  regiment  returned  to  Brooks  Sta 
tion,  where  it  remained  until  .Jime  12,  wh<>n 
it  was  ordered  North  to  assist  in  intercepting 
Gen.  Lee,  who  had  invaded  Pennsylvania. 
It  passed  through  Catlett's  Station,  Manassas 
Jimction,  Centerville,  Frederick  City,  and 
Emmettsbiu-g,  reaching  Gettysburg  on  the 
morning  of  the  1st  of  Jidy,  and  instantly  en- 
gaging in  the  Ijattleou  tlu'  right  wing.  Diu-- 
ing  the  day,  it  was  compelled  to  fall  back 
through  the  town  of  Gettysburg  to  Cemetery 
Hill,  where  it  remained  during  the  continu 
ance  of  the  battle.  AMiile  falling  back,  the 
regiment  lost  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing 


550 


HISTORY  OF    STAHK    COUNTY. 


"250  officers  and  mou.  On  the  second  day's 
fight  it  participated  in  the  headhing  charge, 
capturing  a  flag  from  the  Eighth  Louisiana 
Tigers,  and  again  losing  heavily.  The  regi- 
ment went  into  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  about 
55(^  strong,  and  came  out  with  less  than  one 
hundred  and  fifty  men,  rank  and  file.  Lieut. 
Col.  Mueller  was  wounded  in  the  arm.  Capt. 
Steiner,  of  Company  D,  was  shot  through  the 
bowels,  from  which  he  afterward  died.  Ad- 
jutant Young,  who  captured  the  rebel  flag, 
was  severely  woiuided.  Capt.  Vignos,  of 
Canton,  had  his  right  ann  terribly  shattered, 
necessitating  amputation,  which  was  not  per- 
formed, however,  until  two  or  three  days  after 
the  battle.  Nothing  daunted  by  the  fearful 
loss,  the  remnant  of  the  regiment,  111  guns 
strong,  joined  in  pursuit  of  the  rebel  amiy, 
following  it  to  Hagerstown,  thence  to  Cat- 
lett's  Station,  in  Virginia.  On  the  1st  of 
August,  the  regiment  was  removed  on  trans- 
jiorts  to  Folly  Island.  S.  C,  where  it  per- 
formed picket  duty  until  January,  1804,  when 
it  was  removed  by  boat  to  Kiowah  Island. 
It  waded  over  to  Seabrook  Island,  di-iving 
the  rebels  from  that  point,  and  return  iiig  to 
Folly  Island,  where  it  remained  until  the  7th  of 
February,  when  a  similar  expedition  was 
made  across  Seabrook  Island  to  John's  Island, 
in  order  to  cover  the  operations  of  Gen.  Gil- 
more  at  Olustee,  Fla.  A  lively  skirmish  was 
had  with  the  rebels  at  John's  Island.  It  re- 
turned to  Folly  Island  on  the  11th  of  Febru- 
ary, and,  on  the  'JHd,  was  taken  on  transports 
to  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  where  it  had  several 
light  skirmishes  with  the  enemy.  In  July  it 
moved  to  Fernandina,  but,  a  month  later,  re- 
tm-ned  to  Jacksonville.  On  the  '2Utli  of  De- 
cember, it  was  taken  on  transports  to  Devos 
Neck,  S.  C,  where  it  had  several  skirmishes 
with  the  enemy,  losing  five  men  killed  and 
about  fifteen  wounded.  It  afterward  marched 
to  Pocataligo  Station,  thence  to  Gardner's 
Corners,  where  it  did  picket  duty  some  seven 
days.  It  then  with  some  detention  marched 
to  Charleston,  S.  C,  and  soon  afterward  was 
taken  by  boat  to  Georgetown,  doing  pick(>t 
duty  there  until  the  23d  of  March,  when  it 
moved  to  Sumterville,  meeting  and  defeating 
the  enemy,  and  capturing  three  pieces  of 
artillery,   six   horses    and    fifteen   prisonere, 


with  the  loss  of  four  men  wounded.  At  Sin- 
gleton Plantation  it  met  the  enemy,  and  lost 
two  men  wounded.  Near  this  point  it  de- 
stroyed considerable  railroad  property.  On 
the  l*)th  of  April,  1865,  the  news  of  the  sur- 
render of  Lee  and  Johnston  reached  the  regi- 
ment. It  moved  back  to  Georgetown,  and 
three  weeks  afterward  was  conveyed  by 
steamer  to  Charleston,  doing  provost  duty 
until  July  10,  when  it  was  mustered  out  of 
the  sei'vice  and  sent  to  Cleveland,  at  which 
point  the  men  received  their  pay,  and  imme- 
diately started  with  light  hearts  to  meet  the 
loved  ones  at  home,  and  to  receive  the  wann- 
est thanks  of  their  fellow-citizens. 

In  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifteenth  Regi- 
ment, Companies  B,  E  and  F  were  almost  or 
quite  wholly  from  Stark  County,  and,  in  addi- 
tion to  this,  about  thirty  men  of  Company  K 
were  from  Massillon,  some  twenty  of  Compa- 
ny I  from  near  Alliance,  and  a  few  from  the 
county  in  Company  D,  making  a  total  of  al;)out 
four  companies  from  ''Molly  Stark."  These 
comjianies  were  officered  as  follows:  Com- 
pany B,  Lewis  F.  Hake,  Captain;  John  S. 
Orr,  First  Lieutenant;  William  Pence,  Second 
Lieutenant.  Company  E,  .Joseph  S.  Harter, 
Captain;  J.  G.  Mohler,  First.  Lieiitenant;  G. 
M.  Hershev,  Second  Lieutenant.  Company 
F,  Alfred  J.  Ware,  Captain;  H.  C.  Ellison, 
First  Lieutenant;  H.  C.  March,  Second  Lieu- 
tenant. Company  K,  William  Ramsey,  Cap- 
tain: A.  W.  Thompson,  Fii-st  Lieutenant;  J. 
N.  Campbell,  of  Stark  County,  Second  Lieu- 
tenant. The  regiment  was  organized  at 
Camp  Massillon  in  August,  18(]2,  and  was 
mustered  into  the  service  September  18,  1862, 
by  Capt.  A.  E.  Drake,  of  the  Second  United 
States  Infantry.  The  regimental  officers 
were:  Jackson  A.  Lucy,  Colonel;  Thomas 
C.  Boone,  Lieutenant  Colonel ;  Isaac  H.  Fitch, 
Major;  H.  B.  Johnson,  Surgeon.  The  regi- 
ment was  at  first  98")  strong,  received  during 
its  term  of  service  over  three  hundred  recruits, 
and  at  muster-out  numbered  630  officers  and 
men.  About  the  1st  of  October,  1862,  the 
regiment  was  ordered  to  report  to  Gen. 
Wright  at  Cincinnati,  where  it  arrived  on  the 
4th.  Five  days  later,  it  was  separated  in  two 
divisions  of  five  companies  each,  one  under 
the  command  of  Lieut.  Col.  Boone,  proceed- 


HI.STORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY 


l^ 


ing  to  Cainpj Chase,  Columbus,  to  do  guard 
duty,  and  the  other,  under  Col.  Lucy,  remain- 
ing at  Cincinnati,  to  act  as  provost  guard. 
The  two  divisions  exchanged  commanders  in 
November,  IHii'I,  Col.  Lucy  going  to  Mays- 
ville.  Ky.,  and  Lieut.  Col.  Boone  remaining 
at  Cincinnati.  Col.  Lucy,  with  five  companies 
of  the  regiment,  was  ordered  from  Maysville 
to  Covington  in  December,  1 8(52,  where  the 
troops  did  provost-duty  until  October,  1808, 
when  they  were  relieved  and  ordered  to  report 
ro  Gen.  Rosecrans  at  Chattanooga.  Reaching 
Murfreesboro,  it  was  joined  by  the  other  divis- 
ion, and  was  ordered  to  report  t«  the  post- 
commander  for  duty.  A  portion  of  the  regi- 
ment was  at  once  mounted,  and  sent  after 
rebel  guerrillas,  infesting  the  country  between 
Nashville  and  Tullahoma.  In  Jime,  18(54, 
that  portion  of  the  regiment  not  moimted  was 
posted  in  block-houses  on  the  Nashville  & 
Chattanooga  Railroad,  to  prevent  the  track 
from  being  destroyed  by  the  guerrillas.  In 
August,  one  of  the  block-houses  luider  the 
protection  of  S(>rgt.  Flohr,  of  Company  B, 
w;is  captured  by  rebel  forces  under  Gen. 
Wheeler.  Another  one,  commanded  by  Lieut. 
Orr  of  the  same  company,  was  attacked  at  the 
same  time,  but  the  rebels  were  handsomely 
repulsed.  Lieut.  Oit  lost  three  men  killed 
and  seven  wounded,  out  of  the  detachment  of 
forty  men.  Soon  after  this.  Company  K 
(mounted)  siuprised  and  captiu-ed  a  squad  of 
guerrillas,  losing  Sergt.  Richmond  killed 
and  three  men  W(junded.  Portions  of  Cum- 
})anies  C,  F  and  G  were  aftenvard  captm-ed  by 
rebel  forces  luider  Forrest.  One  of  the  block- 
houses was  assaulted  and  surroimded  l\v  reb- 
els, and  for  fifteen  days  the  garrison  dared 
not  venture  outside.  Another  command(>d  by 
Lieut.  Harter  was  assaulted  by  th(>  enemy 
with  three  j)ieces  of  rified  artillery,  and,  from 
y  o'clock  in  the  morning  until  dark,  a  contin- 
uous fire  was  kept  up,  occasioning  a  loss  of 
two  killed  and  five  wounded.  Under  cover 
of  the  night,  the  gaiTison  withdi'ew  to  Nash- 
ville. -One  battalion  of  the  regiment  with 
other  troops  garrisoned  Murfreesboro,  when 
that  place  was  attacked  by  Gen.  Buford. 
After  five  houi's  of  hard  fighting,  Gen.  Rt)us- 
seau  repulsed  the  reb(>ls  with  heavy  loss. 
The  membei-s  of  Companies  B.  C,  F  and  G, 


eighty  in  nmnber,  who  had  been  captured  in 
the  block-houses  already  referred  to,  and  who 
had  been  paroled  and  placed  on  board  the  ill- 
fated  steamer  Sultana  bound  for  the  North, were 
killed  and  wounded  by  a  terrible  explosion 
on  board  the  boat.  The  regiment  jierformed 
other  guard  duty  in  Tennessee  until  the  23d 
of  June,  18(55,  when  it  was  mustered  out  of 
service  by  Capt.  W.  8.  Wilson,  A.  C.  M., 
receiving  its  final  discharge  and  pay  at  Cleve- 
land July  7,  1865. 

Col.  Boone,  at  Cincinnati,  had  charge  of  all 
prisoners,  militarj'  and  political,  and  of  for- 
warding troops  to  their  respective  regiments. 
He  was  in  command  there  when  the  civil  and 
military  authorities  were  brought  in  conflict. 
The  Colonel  refused  to  obey  the  writ  of  habeas 
corpus  issued  by  Judge  Paddock,  of  Hamilton 
County,  for  the  delivery  of  certain  deserters 
to  thecivil  authorities:  whereupon  a  wan-ant 
for  the  arrest  of  the  Colonel  was  issued,  but 
could  not  be  executed,  on  account  of  the  guard 
which  cpnstantly  surrounded  the  person  of 
the  commanding  ofiicer.  In  July,  18(38,  Col. 
Boone  called  out  his  battalion  to  assist  in  the 
pursuit  of  John  Morgan,  and,  in  October  of 
the  same  year,  the  regiment  proceeded  to  the 
front,  and  was  assigned  to  the  Foiu-th  Divis- 
ion, Twentieth  Anny  Coqis.  Although  this 
regiment  was  thoroughly  reliable  and  well- 
di-illed,  it  was  not  pennitted  to  be  massed  on 
the  field  at  any  time. 

The  One  Huncked  and  Sixty-second  Regi- 
ment, with  the  exce])tiou  of  one  comjiany 
from  Brown  County,  was  wholly  from  Stark 
Coiuity.  The  regimental  officei-s  were:  Eph- 
raim  Ball,  Colonel;  James  E.  Dougherty, 
Lieutenant  Colonel;  Benjamin  A.  White- 
leather,  Major.  Many  of  the  men  were 
wealthy  or  in  good  circmnstances.  The  reg- 
iment was  mustered  into  the  1(M(-day  service 
in  Ma\-,  18(54,  at  Camj)  Chase,  when  Compa- 
nies A,  C,  F  and  K  were  assigned  duty  at 
Tod  Ban-acks,  near  Cohuubus,  and  the  remain- 
ing comi)anies  at  Camp  Chase,  where  they 
remain(>(l  until  they  were  ordered  into  Ken- 
tucky to  assist  in  repelling  John  Morgan. 
The  regiment  arrived  at  Covington  the  day 
after  Morgan's  defeat  at  Cynthiana.  Several 
companies  were  placed  on  duty  here,  and  the 
remainder   of  the    regiment    sent  down   the 


rrr 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUXTY. 


river  to  Carrolton.  wliieh  was  threatened  by 
Moses  Webster's  men.  Two  companies  on 
horses  scoured  the  country,  but  Webster  was 
"conspicuous  for  his  absence."  After  a  few 
days,  the  companies  returned  to  Covington, 
and  perfonned  post-duty.  After  performing 
some  other  service,  the  regiment,  on  the  4th 
of  September,  1864,  was  mustered  out  of  the 
service  at  Camp  Chase. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-eighth  Reg- 
iment had  one  company  (I)  or  thereabouts 
from  Stark,  under  the  command  of  W.  A.  Mil- 
ler, Cajitain.  The  men  were  recruited  for 
one  year's  service  in  the  fall  of  1864.  The 
regiment  was  organized  by  Lieut.  Col.  A.  C. 
Johnson,  at  Camp  Chase,  on  the  29th  of  Sep- 
tember, and  was  immediately  ordered  to  re- 
port to  Gen.  Thomas.  Nashville,  Tenn.  It 
did  guard  duty  here  two  weeks,  and  was  then 
sent  to  Tullahoma,  where  Lieut.  Poland,  of 
Company  B,  while  scoiiting  with  a  detach- 
ment of  men  near  Manchester,  captured  John 
Seal,  a  noted  guerrilla  and  miu'derer,  and  exe- 
cuted him  without  the  formalities  of  a  court- 
martial.  During  the  winter  of  1864,  the 
regiment  was  transferred  to  Murfreesboro. 
Col.  Johnson  was  appointed  Chief  of  Artil- 
lery, and,  during  the  movement,  superintended 
the  transfer  of  artillery  and  ordnance;  and, 
while  Miirfreesboro  was  besieged  by  Gen. 
Hood,  the  Colonel  was  Chief  of  Ai-tillery  on 
Gen.  Rousseau's  staff.  Frequent  sorties  were 
made  in  force  from  the  fort  for  foraging  pur- 
poses, under  the  command  of  Gen.  Milrcy, 
with  severe  fighting.  The  regiment  under 
Col.  Joab  Stafibrd  was  closely  engaged,  on 
one  occasion  losing  both  of  its  color  bearers. 
In  the  fight  at  Wilkerson's  Pike,  it  was  with 
the  force  under  Gen.  Milroy,  when  two  fine 
twelve-pounder  Na])oleons  and  200  prisoners 
were  cajitured.  After  Hood  was  defeated  at 
Nashville,  the  regiment  was  'brigaded  in  the 
Third  Brigade.  First  Division,  Twenty-third 
AiTiiy  Cor]is.  and  ordered  to  North  Carolina. 
It  landed  at  Moorehead  City,  and,  a  few  days 
later.  ]iartici{)ated  in  a  smart,  skirmish  with 
the  enemy  under  Gen.  Johnston,  at  Wise's 
Fork.  It  joined  Gen.  Shennan  at  Goldsboro, 
and  moved  with  him  to  Raleigh,  and,  after 
Johnsti_)n's  surrender,  was  ordered  to  Charlotte, 
N.  C.  where  it  performed  gaiTison-dnty  until 


mustered  out  of  service  Jime  29,  1865.  It 
was  finally  paid  and  discharged  at  Camp 
Chase.  Ohio,  July   10,  1865. 

The  One  Hundi-ed  and  Eighty-fourth  Reg- 
iment was  recruited  to  sei-ve  for  one  year,  and 
had  one  company  (B)  under  the  command  of 
Capt.  Joseph  Allen,  from  Stark  County.  It 
was  organized  on  the  21st  of  February,  1865, 
and  was  ordered  tc  Nashville.  Tenn.,  where  it 
remained  a  short  time  doing  garrison-duty. 
It  finally  moved  to  Chattanooga,  thence  to 
Bridgeport,  Ala.,  which  point  was  reached 
about  the  21st  of  March,  and  was  engaged  in 
])rotecting  an  important  railroad  bridge  over 
the  Tennessee  River.  It  also  guarded  the 
track  between  J3ridge])ort  and  Chattanooga,  a 
distance  of  about  thirty  miles.  Wliile  per- 
forming this  duty,  detachments  of  the  regi- 
ment stationed  in  block-liouses  and  forts  along 
the  road  had  frequent  encounters  with  the 
rebel  guerrillas  and  squads  of  rebel  cavalry. 
On  the  25th  of  July,  it  was  ordered  to  Edge- 
field for  gaiTison-duty,  remaining  here  until 
it  was  mustered  oiit  of  service  on  the  20th  of 
September,  1865.  It  was  paid  and  discharged 
at  Camji  Chase,  September  27,  1865.  The 
regiment  was  a  capable  one,  being  largely 
composed  of  men  who  had  seen  active  service 
in  other  regiments.  Its  bravery  was  not  tested 
on  the  field  of  battle. 

The  Third  Independent  Battery,  known  as 
Williams'  Battery,  and  consisting  of  about 
thirty  men  with  one  gun,  was  orgsmized  raider 
the  old  militia  law  before  the  commencement  of 
the  war.  Wlien  the  guns  of  Sumter  spoke, 
Capt.  William  S.  Williams,  of  Canton,  who 
had  gone  to  Michigan,  i-eturned  to  Canton, 
and  was  aiithorized  to  enlist  volunteers  for 
the  artillery  service,  and  his  old  "gun  squad" 
as  a  body  placed  their  names  upon  the  roll. 
Daniel  Lanker  was  First  Lieutenant  of  the 
squad.  The  services  of  the  battery  were  ten- 
dered the  Governor,  who  accepted,  and  the 
boys  were  ordered  to  report  at  Cohunbus  din- 
ing the  latter  part  of  .Jiuie,  1861.  Here  they 
were  luiited  with  Capt.  Cotter  with .  about 
thirty  men  with  one  gun,  all  to  be  under  the 
command  of  Capt.  Cotter,  who  outranked 
Capt.  Williams  by  seniority  of  commission. 
The  two  old  guns  were  exchanged  for  new 
six-pound  rifled  guns;    and  the  battery  was 


HISTORY   OF    STAUK    COrNTV 


iK 


iirdereil  to  CTallijKjlis,  whure  it  remained  two 
weeks,  tliilling  and  pieparini^  for  the  field. 
It  was  then  ordereti  h])  the  Great  Kanawha, 
and  attached  to  Gen.  Cox's  division  in  West- 
ern Yiri^inia.  It  ])articipatwl  in  the  tii;ht  at 
Scarey  Creek,  shelling  Gen.  Wise's  forces 
from  their  works,  and  losiuj^  one  man  mor- 
tally wtmnded.  The  battery  had  a  lively 
skirmish  at  (Charleston,  and  captured  one  ^^un. 
Some  two  months  later,  it  participated  in  the 
lif^ht  at  Hawk's  Ne.st,  where  one  of  the  Canton 
boys  lost  an  arm.  The  battery  then  moved 
back  to  Kanawha  Falls,  and  soon  afterward, 
its  tenn  of  enlistment  (three  months)  haviri}^ 
expired.  Gen.  Cox  reqiw^sted  the  lioys  to  re- 
main until  they  were  relieved,  which  they 
accordinjrly  did.  In  November,  the}'  were 
ordered  to  Columbus,  where  they  were  mus- 
tered out  and  sent  home.  Capt.  Williams 
returned  to  Canton  to  recruit  for  the  three 
years'  artillery  service.  He  secui'ed  about 
eiirhty  men  an.d  F.  J.  Myers,  of  Canton,  and 
W.  J.  Monii;,  of  Minerva,  about  as  mauv  more 
—in  all  101— and,  in  Febniary,  1802,  the 
company  w-as  ordered  to  Camj)  Denison, 
where  the  followinu;  officers  were  elected: 
William  S.  Williams,  Captain;  \V.  J.  Mong. 
Senior  First  Lieutenant:  F.  J.  Myer.s,  Jun- 
ior First  Lieutenant:  W.  G.  Watson,  Sen- 
ior Second  Lieutenant;  Thomas  J.  Blackman. 
Junior  Second  Lieutenant.  Here  the  battery 
was  provided  with  four  six-])ound  rifled  lironze 
guns,  and  two  six-])ouiid  smooth-bore  lironze 
guns,  together  with  all  necessary  accouter- 
ments,  horses,  etc.  In  March,  the  battery  was 
ordered  to  Benton  Barracks,  St.  Louis.  Mo., 
where  it  remained  until  about  the  1st  of  April, 
when  it  was  conveyed  to  Pittsburg  Landing, 
arriving  there  Sunday  night  at  the  close  of 
the  fu'st  day's  battle.  As  the  boats  iipproached 
the  place,  thousands  of  wounded,  frightened 
and  desperate  men  lined  the  river  bank. 
Some  had  concealed  themselves  at  the  extreme 
edge  of  the  bank,  clinging  to  roots  or  any- 
thing that  would  sup]>ort  them.  Here  it  is 
said  originated  the  army  ex]iression  "grab  a 
root."  The  sight  was  sickening.  Scores  of 
surgeons  were  busily  engaged  amputating 
limbs  that  were  ])iled  in  heaps  on  the  bank. 
Strong  men  grew  white  as  death  at  the  dread- 
ful scene.     Capt.  Williams  inquired  for  the 


coimuanding  (Tt>neral.  but  no  one  seemed  to 
know  where  he  was.  The  Ca])tain  ])ressed 
one  of  the  su()erior  officci-s  for  orders,  and  the 
latter  at  last  im])atiently  exclaimed:  "Oh 
just  go  out  here  anywhere:  it's  no  trouble  to 
ttnd  g<H)d  shooting."  Accordingly  the  guns 
were  taken  ashore,  and  everything  got  in 
readiness  for  the  conflict  of  the  morrow.  The 
day  dawned,  and  the  battery  assisted  in  driv- 
ing th(>  rebels  back  ill  full  retreat.  Soon 
aft(>rward,  the  b;itteiy  assisted  in  the  siege  and 
ca]iture  of  Corinth  and  at  the  battle  of  luka. 
It  moved  with  Gen.  Grant  in  the  first  advance 
toward  Mcksbui-g;  but  fell  back  when  the 
base  of  su])i)lies  was  cut  by  Forrest.  At  Mem- 
j)his  the  bovs  received  new  clothing,  etc. 
About  the  1st  of  February,  180:-5.  the  Third 
Battery  moved  with  Gen.  Grant  to  Grand 
Gulf,  below  'S'ickslmrg.  Some  time  before 
this  Capt.  Williams,  for  gallant  and  merito- 
rious service,  was  made.\cting  Chief  of  Artil- 
lery of  Gen.  Logan's  Division,  the  ajipoint- 
ment  being  confiiTaed  in  August.  This  gave 
him  rank  equivalent  to  Brigadier  General- 
ship. After  this  he  was  the  intimate  friend 
and  associate  of  corps,  division  and  brigade 
commanders,  and  was  considered  by  these 
officers  as  Bonaparte  considered  Marshals 
Murat  or  Ney.  He  was  held  in  res(>rv<'  until 
the  crisis  of  the  battle,  and  then  his  powerful 
brigade  of  artillery  was  tlu'own  to  the  most 
difficult  ])osilion,  and  never  failed  to  com- 
mand the  admiration  and  congratulations  of 
sujierior  officei's  by  the  consternation  it  cast 
in  the  ranks  of  the  enemy.  Ca]>t.  W'illiams 
received  the  highest  coimnission  possible  in 
the  artillery  service.  The  batteiy  partici 
i;ated  in  the  artillery  fight  at  Raymond,  Jack- 
son and  C'hami)ioii  Hills.  At  the  latter  [dace, 
it  went  into  an  advance  position  on  the  gal- 
lop, within  about  seven  hundred  yards  of  a 
heavy  rebel  battery,  which  did  not  i)erceive 
his  approach.  Capt.  Williams  noticed  that 
his  men  were  nen'ously  impatient,  and  to  cool 
down  their  tenijieratiire  quietly  issued  his 
orders  betwe<'n  (he  pufl's  of  his  pi])e,  which 
he  skn\ly  light<>d  with  a  sun-glass.  \Vlien 
this  was  accomplished,  the  men  had  been  told 
to  throw  their  shells  into  the  rebel  battery — 
everj-  shot  to  be  cast  under  an  apj^le-tree  in 
the  center  of   the  enemv's  batterv.     At   the 


;^ 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COX'NTY. 


word  every  gun  Ijelched  forth  its  missiles  of 
death,  repeating  the  volley  again  and  again 
with  dreadful  results.  Nothing  of  the  rebel 
battery  escaped,  save  a  limber  and  two  horses, 
all  else,  except  a  few  prisoners,  being  torn  to 
pieces  by  the  shells.  The  six  guns  captured 
here  were  tiu'ued  over  to  Com])auy  F,  of  the 
Thirty-second  Regiment,  which  aftenvard 
became  the  Twenty-sixth  Ohio  Batteiy,  and 
which  contained  aboiit  fifteen  men  from  Stark 
C'ounty.  At  this  battle,  Ca})t.  Williams  with 
four  batteries  formed  a  V  to  check  the  rapid 
advance  of  seven  regiments  of  rebels.  Can- 
ister from  the  twenty-four  guns  was  thrown 
into  the  advancing  ranks,  which  retreated  in 
disorder.  A  fence  which  was  standing  di- 
rectly in  the  v^ay  of  this  destructive  volley 
went  down  as  though  stricken  by  a  tornado. 
The  battery  entered  Vicksburg  on  the  4th  of 
July,  and  soon  afterward  moved  with  Sher- 
man against  Meridian,  participating  in  the 
tights  at  Cliutcjn,  Jackson  and  Meridian,  los- 
ing several  men  killed  and  wounded.  It  re- 
turned to  Vicksburg,  where  it  remained  until 
the  spring  of  1804,  when  it  was  ordered  out 
to  participate  in  the  Atlanta  campaign.  It 
was  supplied  with  new  twenty-jiound  Parrott 
guns  at  Vicksburg.  It  moved  first  to  Cairo, 
thence  up  the  Ohio  and  Cumberland  Rivers,  , 
and  finally  marched  across  the  country  to 
Huntsville,  Ala.,  thence  to  Rome,  Ga.,  joining 
Cren.  Sherman's  army  at  Big  Shanty.  At 
this  time,  it  was  in  the  Seventeenth  Cor2)s, 
then  commanded  by  Gen.  Frank  Blair,  and 
o)ierated  with  it  at  Kenesaw  Mountain  and 
Nicojack  Creek.  On  the  22d  of  July,  at  Leg- 
gett's  Bald  Knob,  it  was  engaged  from  11 
o'clock  A.  M.  until  sundown.  This  was  one 
of  the  hottest  engagements  it  was  in  during 
the  war.  The  battery  was  attacked  from  all 
sides,  and  often  the  men  fought  hand  to  hand. 
Capt.  Williams  lost  one  of  his  gnns;  and  hero 
it  was  that,  as  stated  by  one  of  the  Generals  | 
at  a  late  re-union:  ''Capt.  Williams  cried 
like  a  child."  In  fifteen  minutes  the  gun  was 
re- taken.  Those  were  the  kind  of  men  belong-  [ 
ing  to  the  Third  Battery,  and  those  were  the 
kind  that  quelled  the  rebellion.  The  battery 
was  sup])lied  with  new  guns  at  Atlanta,  and 
moved  back  to  Nashville  with  Gen.  Thomas, 
but  before  this  it  took  part  in  the  fights  at 


Jonesboro  and  Lovejoy  Station.  After  the 
battle  of  Nashville,  it  was  transferred  to  Fort 
Donelson,  where  it  remained  some  three 
months,  and  was  then  ordered  to  Camp  Tay- 
lor, Cleveland,  and  mustered  out  of  the  service 
August  1,  ISC)."),  and  the  brave  boys  remain- 
ing returned  to  their  homes.  The  battery 
lost  some  fifty  men  during  its  service.  Capt. 
Williams  was  presented  with  a  fine  gold- 
mounted  saber,  belt  and  sash  by  the  mem- 
bers of  his  company;  and,  while  at  Vicksljurg, 
was  presented  with  a  miniature  Parrott  gun 
cast  from  rebel  projectiles  by  the  members 
of  his  battery,  in  one  of  the  foundries  at 
Vicksburg.  Caj)!  Williams  is  at  present 
Vic(^  President  of  the  Society  of  the  Army  of 
the  Tennessee,  a  fine  and  merited  compliment 
to  a  brave  man. 

This  closes  the  brief  and  imperfect  sketches 
of  the  regiments  containing  a  considerable 
number  of  Stark  County  men.  Two  weeks  of 
continuous  labor  have  been  spent  to  improve 
the  sketches  as  given  by  Whitelaw  Reid,  and 
to  furnish  additional  matter  of  interest  to  the 
citizens  of  the  county.  History  at  best  is 
but  a  partial  narration  of  2)articulars,  and 
this  will  answer  as  an  apology  for  whatever 
imperfections  are  found  in  these  pages. 
This  cha])ter  cannot  be  properly  closed  with- 
out reference  to  the  great  reunion  held  in 
the  city  of  Canton  on  the  1st  of  September, 
1880.  It  was  determined  the  year  before  to 
hold  the  next  meeting  of  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Repxtblic  at  Canton,  and  from  that  time 
onward  preparations  on  a  gigantic  scale  were 
begun  and  executed  by  select  committees 
appointed  for  the  pm-pose.  Mi'.  C.  Aultman 
was  selected  as  President;  Joseph  Biechele 
and  Jacob  Miller,  Vice  Presidents,  and  an 
extensive  bureau  of  committees  was  ajjpointed 
for  the  ensuing  year.  During  the  winter  of 
1879-80,  through  the  agency  of  a  loan  and 
bureau  association,  about  $2,500  were  realized. 
Other  means  were  em])loyed,  and,  at  last, 
when  the  great  day  came,  some  six  or  eight 
thousand  dollars  had  been  accumtilated.  The 
citizens  of  tlu>  county  decided  to  give  a  grand 
free  dinner  at  the  fair  grounds,  and,  to  meet 
the  occasion,  over  twenty-five  thousand  feet 
of  lumber  were  itsed  in  constructing  tables, 
seats,  etc.,  and  that  portion  of    the  grounds 


IIISTOllY  OF    sTAKK    ((JUXTY 


inclosed  by  the  track  was  almost  wholly  taken 
up  by  those  tables.  The  day  dawned  bright 
and  clear,  and  the  citizens  were  aroused  by 
the  roll  of  (hnmis  and  the  report  of  caniKJu. 
The  business  portion  of  the  city  and  a  large 
uimiber  of  ])rivate  residences  were  one  gi'and 
] profusion  of  evergreen  boughs,  flags  and  dec- 
orations. Almost  the  whole  county  turned 
out  for  the  occasion,  and  it  is  said  40,000 
strangei-s  were  in  the  city.  The  following 
distinguished  persons  were  present:  Presi- 
<lent  and  AIi's.  Hayes.  Gen.  Garfield.  Gov. 
Foster,  E.\-Gov.  Bishop,  Gens.  Shenuan,  Ha- 
zen,  Deveus,  Crook,  CaiToll,  Kennedy,  Gib- 
son. Heckenlooper,  Meyer,  Poe,  Leggett,  Bar- 
nett.  Robinson.  Beattv,  Yoris.  Manderson, 
Wiley.  Com.  Wells,"  Col.  Corbin.  Hon. 
.Stanley  Matthews,  Webb  Hayes,  Hon.  Amos 
Townsend,  Maj.  Goodspeed,  Col.  Dewstoe  and 
several  others.  During  the  forenoon  the 
procession  was  fonned  as  follows: 

^laj.  CJcii.  Samuel  Huatty  and  IStafV. 

(iiand  .Vrmy  Band 

Wallace  Grays. 

Open  landrail,  drawn  liy  four  white  horses,  (■oiilain- 

ina-  Pivsidcnl  Hayes  and  suite.     Two  open 

carriasrcs.  wifli  Ocn.  Gaiflcld,  Ex 

(iov.  Fiishop,  Maj.  McKinliy. 

and  oilier  |iroinincnt  otti 

i-crs  and  cilizcns. 

Twenty-lliird  li.-iincnl  ( ».  V.  I.  [Ueiii(n|. 

'  (iilirahar  Hrigadit  [(!.■)  nicnl. 

(ircentowii  Baiwl. 

Third  liatterv. 

Carrolllon   Baiid. 

Thirty -seconil  RcKiniinl  ().  V.  I.  [."iO  men]. 

(lompanies  I.  K  and  I<\  Scvciitv-sixtli  Hcginient  O. 

V.  I.  [100  inenl. 

Xinotv-eifrlitli  Keirinicnt  ["jOnieii]. 

Fii-st' Ivcjrhncnt  ().  V.  I.  [3  men]. 

Mechanics'  Band,  of  Younsrstown. 

Eiirhtli  Hcirinicnl  ().  X.  G."  Band. 

Xinoteinth   HcLdnicnl  ().  V.  I.  |2.")()nuii|. 

New  Berlin  Hand. 

Woosler  Guards. 

Thirteenth  Kegiuient  [40  men). 

Xavarre  Band. 

Fifteenth  Regiment  Veteran  Drum  Corps. 

One  Hinidred  and  Seventh  Ueiriment  [1.54  men]. 

Knights  of  Pythias  Band.of  Cleveland. 

Detaeliments  of  tiie  Eighth  and   Eighty-s<-veiith 

Pennsylvania  Hegimenls. 

Cuyahoga  Counly  Soldiers'  Cnirpn  [."iOO  men]. 

New  Philadel|iliia  Drum  Corps. 

.Manstield  National  Band. 

One  Hundred  and  Twentieth  Kegiment  [2'i  men]. 

Fifty-first  Kegiment  [li  men]. 

Second  Iowa  I'i  men]. 

Seventh  Regiment  fsever^d  men]. 


Hancock  Legion  [l-W  men]. 

Fay's  Cornet  Banil.  of  Clevelanrl. 

Congress  Band. 

Sixteenth  Reitinient  ['i')  men]. 

Dallon  Band. 
Forty-first   Kegiment  [60  men] . 
Fifth  RegimenI  [colored.  1.5men[. 
Leelonia  Band. 
One  Hundred  and  Fifteenth  Kegiment  [:^00nicii[. 
Dover  Drum  Corps. 
Si.xth  Oliio  Battery  [«  nien|. 
Massilloii  Drum  Cor])s. 
One  Hundred  ami  Fourlli  Kciimenl  ['^'VO  men]. 
Allianci-  Band. 
Riehville  Band. 
Sherman's  Brigade  [".250  men]. 
Canton  City  Band. 
Alh'^lianv  Veteran  "Corps  [T.")  men[. 
Veteran  Fife  Corps. 
Massillon  City  Band. 
Beaver  Falls  Drum  Corps. 
Beaver  Falls  Veterans  |liO  men), 
Cniontown  Band. 
Akron  City  Band. 
One  Hundred  anil  Second  Kegiment  [several  men]. 
The  wareasrle  '•Old  .Vbe." 
Steele  Cadets,  of  Woosler. 
East  biverpool  Band. 
East  Liverpool  Veleraiis  [100  men|. 
Members  of  the  Eleventh  Penn.sylvania  Cavalry, 
Twentveiglith,  Fourth  and  Eleventh  Penn- 
sylvania bifantry. 
Citizens  in  Carriages. 

This  sjilendid  procession  was  over  an  hour 
in  passing  a  given  jioint,  and  on  its  march 
was  accompanied  \>\  tiiousands  of  the  citizens. 
At  the  fair  grounds  the  vast  ;issemi)lage  par- 
took of  the  diniKU'  prepared.  Each  township 
had  a  sep^a-ate  table,  ornamented  with  a  large 
maltese  cross  at  its  center,  upon  which  was  the 
name  of  the  township.  Fivi>  stetim  engines 
wei"e  used  in  forcing  the  water  from  twenty- 
one  pumps,  the  water  to  be  used  for  C(X)k- 
ing  purposes.  About  foiu-  humh'ed  wait- 
ei-s  ministered  to  the  wants  of  the  public, 
and  the  distinguished  persons  were  distrib- 
uted around  among  the  townships,  so  that 
none  of  the  latter  would  be  left  out  in  the 
cold,  as  it  were.  Mayor  Yalleley  delivered  the 
welcoming  speech,  and  Gen.  Kennedy  rej)lied 
on  behalf  of  the  visitors.  Then  the  great  men 
of  the  ntitiou  were  brought  forward,  one  by 
one,  and  introduced,  and  were  greeted  by  the 
vast  asscnublage  with  loud  acclamations  and 
thundering  che<>rs.  Si)eeches  were  delivered 
by  the  following  jiersons  in  about  the  order 
given:  President  Hayes,  Gt>n.  Garfield,  Gen. 
Xv.  T.  Slun-man.  Hon.  Stanley  Matthews,  Gen. 


"a>   V 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


Wiley,  Ex-Gov.  Bishop,  Maj.  McKinley,  Gov. 
Foster,  Gen.  Voris.  Gen.  Devens,  Geu.  Crook, 
Senator  Sullivan  and  others.  At  night,  on 
the  square  in  Canton,  1500  worth  of  fireworks, 
in  charge  of  an  experienced  man  from  New 
York,  were  exhibited  to  25,000  people.  The 
crowd  jiresent  during  the  day  was  the  largest 
ever  in  Canton.  Although  the  costs  were  veiy 
great,  vet,  so  great  had  been  the  effort,  that 
the  citizens  found  they  had  left  about  $1,000, 
which  has  since  been  subscribed  to  the  mon- 
ument fund.  It  may  be  said,  in  conclusion, 
that  the  citizens,  generally,  celebrate  Decora- 
tion Day  in  a  fitting  manner.  Some  distin- 
guished sjieaker  is  obtained,  who  reviews  the 
achievements  of  the  honored  dead,  and  dem- 
onstrate that   their  death   was   not   in  vain. 


The  silent  mounds  of  sod  are  lovingly  decked 
with  sweet  blossoms,  and  over  the  i)recioii8 
dust  of  the  dead  heroes  waves  the  liright  ban- 
ner they  died  to  sustain.  Let  us  not  forget 
them,  but  jjlace  their  names,  like  jewels  in 
memory's  golden  urn,  to  be  treasured  iu  ever- 
lasting remembrance.  It  is  sad,  though  glo- 
rious, to  think  of  the  noble  lives  sacrificed  on 
the  bloody  altar  of  secession:  but  we  forgive 
it  all,  and  accept  the  advice  of  the  sweet  sing- 
er: 

"From  the  silence  of  sorrowful  hours 
The  desolate  mourners  n'o. 
Lovinjrlv  Indeii  witli  Howers. 

.Uikefor  the  friend  and  the  for^. 
Under  the  sod  luid  tlie  dew, 

WaitiuL;  the  judgment  day. 
Under  the  roses  the   lilue. 
Under  tlie  lilies  th.'  (Jray." 


CHAPTER    VI." 


Ul  l!T  ..\N'D  B.\R- 


IMMON    I'LKAS- 


-.\.S.S()CIATE  .AM) 
.\NU   PRKSHNT. 


I'UHSIIIKXT  .IIDOKS— LAWVKU.s.    I'AST 


ON  Tuesday,  the  18th  day  of  ApriUSOO,  the 
first  Court  of  Common  Pleas  was  held  in 
Stark  County,  at  the  house  of  Philip  Dewalt  in 
Canton.  Present,  the  Hon.  Calvin  Pease,  Pres- 
ident Judge  ;  Thomas  Latimer,  James  Camp- 
bell and  George  Pair.  Associates.  Under  the 
Constitution  of  1802,  Section  1  of  Article  3,  it 
was  provided  that :  '■  The  judicial  power  of  this 
State  both  as  to  matters  of  law  and  eipiitj', 
shall  be  vested  in  a  Supreme  Court,  in  Courts 
of  Common  Pleas  for  eacli  countj-,  in  Justices 
of  tlic  i'eace  and  in  such  other  courts  as  the 
Legislature  may  from  time  to  time  establish." 
Section  3d  of  the  same  article  provided  that 
the  Courts  of  Common  Pleas  should  consist  of 
a  President  and  Associate  Judges,  *  *  *  *  not 
more  than  three  nor  less  than  two  Associate 
Judges,  who,  during  their  continuance  in  office, 
should  reside  in  the  county  for  which  they  were 
appointed.  The  terras  of  the  Courts  being  es- 
tablished annually  by  the  General  Assembly, 
the  Common  Pleas  met  pursuant  to  an  act  fixing 
the  times  of  holding  the  courts  throughout  the 
State,  the  county  of  Stark  being  then  in  the 
Fourth  Judicial  Circuit. 

On  the  19th  of  April.  1809,  John  Harris  was 

«Oun-.ribuleJ  l.y  R    H.  Fi.Ifer. 


appointed  Clerk  ;  William  Raynolds,  Jr..  Depu- 
ty, and  John  Sloane,  Recorder.  As  a  matter 
of  history,  although  not  germane  to  the  subject, 
it  is  proper  to  state  Mr.  Sloaiie  subsequently 
removed  to  Wooster  in  the  County  of  Wayne, 
was  Colonel  of  a  regiment  in  the  war  of  1812. 
and  served  ten  years  in  the  National  Hou.se  of 
Representatives,  retiring  from  public  life  on  the 
-tth  of  March,  1829,  having  been  defeated  in  the 
election  in  1828,  by  Gen.  John  Thompson,  of 
Columbiana,  which  county  with  Stark  and 
Waj'ne  constituted  the  district.  In  1826.  Col, 
Sloane  was  elected  for  the  last  time,  Stark 
County  giving  him  the  preponderating  vote  and 
a  majority  in  the  district  of  ninety-six  votes.  He 
was,  however,  elected  Secretary  of  State  bv  the 
Ohio  Legislature  and  was  United  Slates  Treasur- 
er under  the  Fillmore  Administration.  On  the 
19th  of  December.  1809.  William  Raynolds,  Jr., 
Esq.,  was  appointed  Clerk  of  the  Court  of  Com- 
mon Pleas,  and  held  the  office  until  December 
19,  181G,  being  the  full  period  of  seven  years, 
when  he  received  the  appointment  of  Clerk 
pro  ten).,  which  he  held  until  April  2,  1818,  when 
he  was  re-appointed  Clerk,  and  held  the  office 
until  November  0,  1824,  when  John  Myers  was 
appointed  Clcrky//vj  fun.,  and  held  the  office  until 


:±: 


HISTOIIY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


257 


the  24th  of  June.  1825.  when  he  was  appointed 
Clerk. 

Mr.  Harris,  the  first  Clcrii  of  the  Court, 
was  afterward,  in  1812.  elect(>(l  Associate  Jud^c. 
After  the  expiration  of  iiis  ollicial  h'vm.  he  stud- 
ied law  ;  was  admitted  to  praciicc  about  the 
year  1819.  and  was  prominent,  as  a  member  of 
the  bar.  for  near  forty  years  ;  was  twiee  elected 
to  tiie  House  of  Kopresentatives  in  the  General 
Assembly  of  tlie  State  of  Ohio.  On  retiri  ng  from 
the  practice  of  the  hiw,  he  removed  to  Onialia, 
Neb.,  where  he  died  in  October.  1863,  at  tlie  age 
of  eighty  years.  His  remains  were  brought 
to  Canton  and  were  deposited  in  the  beautiful 
cemeter\-  west  of  tiie  city.  William  Raynolds. 
Jr..  Esq..  his  Deputy  Clerk  and  successor,  was 
one  of  the  most  active  of  the  business  men  and 
pioneer  settlers,  and  was  foremost  in  ever\'  public 
enterprise  ;  liberal  and  generous,  he  commanded 
and  enjoj'cd  the  esteem  of  all  who  knew  him  ;  he 
died  in  182!).  at  the  age  of  forty  years.  B}-  com- 
paring dates,  it  will  be  seen  that  he  was  made 
Clerk  of  the  Courts  as  soon  as  he  was  eligible. 
The  President  Judge,  Hon.  Calvin  Pease,  after- 
ward Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  came  into 
the  State  about  the  time  it  was  admitted  into 
the  Union,  and  settled  in  the  County  of  Trum- 
bull, where  he  continued  to  reside  until  his 
death,  in  1841.  He  was  an  able  lawyer  and  up- 
right Judge,  as  all  who  knew  him  will  bear  wit- 
ness. His  repartee  was  so  habitual  that  he  could 
scarcely  restrain  it  on  the  bench,  even  in  pro- 
nouncing the  opinion  of  the  Supreme  Court  in 
banc,  as  the  earlier  volumes  of  the  Oliio  Reports 
occasionally  show.  The  increasing  population 
of  the  State  and  conse(jucnt  increase  of  new 
counties  rendered  a  corresponding  increase  of 
circuits  and  judges  necessary-,  and  in  1810 
Stark  County  was  placed  in  a  Judicial  Circuit 
with  Belmont,  Jefferson,  Tuscarawas  and  Co- 
lumbiana, and  on  tiie  17th  of  April,  1810, 
court  was  held  b^-  Hon.  Benjamin  Iiuggles  and 
the  Associates.  Judge  Buggies  continued  on 
ttie  circuit  until  October  10,  1815,  when  Hon. 
George  Tod  appeared  as  President  Judge. 
Meanwhile,  March  7,  1S12.  John  Harris  had 
been  elected  an  .Vssociate  Judge  in  place  of 
Thomas  Latimer,  and  February  24.  1814.  James 
Clarke  in  place  of  George  Bair,  and  in  1815, 
August  7,  John  Hoover  and  Samuel  Coulter 
were  Associates.  While  Hon.  George  Tod  was 
President  Judge,  he  held  court  but  one  3'ear  in 
this  count3-  and  with  him  was  associated  the 


late  Hon.  William  Henry  as  one  of  the  Associ- 
ate Judges.  Judge  Henry  came  into  what  is 
now  Stark  County  in  1807,  immediately  after 
that  portion  of  the  county  kTiown  as  the  '■  new 
purchase,"  which  is  that  portion  west  of  the 
Tuscarawas  River,  and  is  included  in  the  Treaty 
of  Fort  Industry  made  in  1805,  was  acquired 
by  that  treaty,  and  assisted  in  the  surveys  of 
the  tenth,  eleventh  and  Iwelftli  ranges.  After 
his  term  of  service  as  Associate  .Judge  expired, 
he  was  elected  to  the  House  of  Representatives 
in  tlie  State  Legislature,  and  discharged  his 
duty  faithfully.  After  serving  the  people  in  that 
capacity,  he  went  into  busin(>ss  as  a  merchant 
and  was  successful.  On  retiring  from  business, 
he  removed  to  Wooster  and  resided  there  until 
his  death. 

Judge  Tod  was  a  profound  lawyer,  an  emi- 
nent jurist,  and  left  a  record  as  an  upright  Judge 
of  which  no  superior  can  be  found  in  the  State. 
The  constant  changes  of  county  lines  and  the 
formation  of  new  judicial  circuits  had  bj-  this 
time  put  Stark,  Columbiana,  Jefferson,  Harri- 
son and  Tuscarawas  into  a  circuit,  and  Hon, 
Benjamin  Tappan  was  elected  by  the  Legisla- 
ture President  Judge,  who  held  the  place  for 
the  full  term  of  seven  years,  from  1810  to  1823, 
On  leaving  the  bench,  he  published  a  volume 
known  as  Tappan's  Reports,  which  adorns  the 
shelves  of  lawyers'  lil)raries  all  over  the  State. 
No  mere  sketch  of  his  life  here  could  do  justice 
to  him.  It  will  only  be  when  the  lives  of  Ohio's 
eminent  and  truly  great  men  shall  be  written 
that  the  name  of  Benjamin  Tappan,  the  jurist 
and  statesman,  will  have  its  proper  place  on  the 
historic  page,  nor  will  any  history  of  Ohio  ap- 
proximate correctness  without  it.  During  the 
President  Judgeship  of  Tappan,  the  following 
gentlemen  were  his  Associates :  James  Clark, 
of  Sugar  Creek,  and  Thomas  Hurford  and  George 
Stidger,  of  Canton,  all  of  whom  were  of  the 
pioneer  settlers  and  of  a  character  and  class  to 
build  up  and  improve  the  new  country.  Judge 
Clark  was  a  farmer,  and  the  others  farmers  and 
merchants,  owning  .some  of  the  best  and  now 
the  most  valuable  land  in  the  county. 

In  1823,  Hon  Jeremiah  H.  Hallock,  of  Steu- 
benville,  Jefferson  County,  was  elected  Presi- 
dent Judge  and  re-elected  in  1830,  and  served 
the  two  full  terms  of  seven  years  each,  during 
which  periods  the  following  gentlemen  were 
As.sociate  Judges  ; 

Hon.  William  Christmas,  merchant.of  Canton. 


358 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


who  had  studied  law  and  been  admitted  to 
practice. 

James  Clark.  alrea<ly  referred  to. 

John  Kryder.  of  Plain  Township. 

JacoV)  Hostetter.of  Minerva,  Paris  Township. 

John  Everhard,  Massillon,  Perr^'  Township. 

Harman  Stidger  and  Eli  Sowers,  of  Canton. 

Peter  Loutzenhiser,  of  Plain,  and  Jacob  Mil- 
ler, of  Massillon,  all  of  whom  are  dead  save 
Judge  Loutzenhiser,  who  now  resides  in  Plain 
Township  at  his  old  homestead  with  the  wife  of 
his  j'outh,  both  of  whom  have  long  since  passed 
fourscore  years,  and  are  in  the  eninynu'iil  of 
excellent  health.  Judge  Hallock  is  renicnibered 
bj-  the  writer  as  a  man  of  stern  uprightness 
and  Christian  character,  and  as  judge  laid  down 
his  judicial  robes  as  unsullied  as  when  he  first 
assumed  them.  Judge  Stidger  remained  on  the 
bench  but  a  short  time,  when  he  resigned  and 
was  elected  Clerk  of  the  Court,  which  office  he 
held  for  the  constitutional  term  of  seven  years. 
The  other  gentlemen  held  their  offices  for  the 
full  term,  except  Judge  Miller,  who  died  in 
1843,  Iiefore  his  term  of  service  expired  ;  they 
were  all  of  the  best  men  in  the  eount\'  that 
could  have  been  selected  for  the  place,  and 
those  who  survive  them  may  point  to  their  rec- 
ord with  just  pride. 

During  the  seven  years  that  succeeded  Judge 
Hallock's  term  of  service  on  the  Common  Pleas 
Bench  in  the  Fifth  Circuit — the  Legislature  hav- 
ing at  the  session  of  1816-17  changed  the 
number — was  occupied  by  the  late  Hon.  George 
W.  Belden,  with  whom  the  writer  became  ac- 
quainted in  the  then  village  of  Massillon  in 
1828,  Mr.  Belden  being  at  that  time  a  clerk  in 
a  store  at  that  place,  having  left  a  printing 
office  in  Miildlebury.  Portage,  now  Summit 
Count}' — the  office  of  the  Portage  Journal,  a 
weekly  newspaper,  edited  by  Messrs.  Bowen  & 
Mason.  Mr.  Bowen  and  Mr.  Belden  abandoned 
the  "  art  preservative "  about  the  same  time,  Mr. 
Bowen  to  study  law,  and  commence  practice  at 
Marion,  and  was  finally  elected  a  Supreme 
Judge.  Mr.  Belden.  after  fulfilling  his  engage- 
ment in  the  store  at  Massillon,  worked  for  a 
short  time  on  the  O/iio  Rcpositori/.  The  writer 
well  ii'iu<>mljers  seeing  him  work  off  the  paper 
im  a  Kamage  press  and  also  at  work  at  case  in 
that  office.  He  commenced  the  stud}'  of  med- 
icine and  surgery,  with  Dr.  Marlin  Johnson,  of 
Middlebury,  and  after  perhaps  a  year's  study, 
he  abandoned  that,  and  took  \ip  Blackstone  and 


Chitty,  finished  his  studies  and  went  into  part- 
nership with  Hon.  John  Harris  already  referred 
to.  While  in  that  partnership,  he  was  elected 
Prosecutiug  Attorney,  which  office  he  held  two 
terms,  when  he  was  elected  President  Judge, 
through  the  influence  of  Hon.  D.  A.  Stark- 
weather, then  a  prominent  uiember  of  the  Stark 
County  bar.  Judge  Belden  at  rnce  saw  and 
realized  the  responsibility  of  his  position.  The 
bar  of  Stark  County,  in  those  days  proverbial 
for  its  strengtii,  had  Harris,  who  was  the 
Nestor  of  the  brethren,  having  then  been  at  the 
bar  nearly  twenty  years  ;  Hon.  Hiram  (triswold, 
now  of  Leavenworth,  Kansas  ;  Loomis  &  Lahm, 
Starkweather  i&  Jarvis.  E.  P.  Grant,  Samuel 
Pease,  and  many  others  referred  to  particular- 
ly hereafter,  whose  names  adorn  the  Ohio,  and 
Ohio  State  Reports,  in  addition  to  whom  were 
lawyers  from  the  neighboring  circuits  ;  from 
Wooster,  Hon.  Edward  Avery  and  Levi  Cox, 
and  many  more  whose  names  liaA'e  passc^d  from 
memory.  In  Columbiana,  the  late  Judge  C. 
D.  Coffin,  whose  recent  death  at  Cincinnati 
calls  up  memories  of  the  early  days  of  the 
bench  and  bar  in  the  circuit.  Brewer,  Mason,  W. 
D.  Ewing  and  Russell.  At  Steubenville,  the 
Brothers  Collier,  Wright.  Goodenovv  and  Tap- 
pan  ;  at  Cadiz,  Harrison  County,  a  bar  at  the 
head  of  which  was  the  honored  Chauncy  Dewey, 
and  W.  B.  Beebe  ;  at  CarroUton,  which  became  a 
count}'  seat  in  1832,  Johnson,  better  known  in 
Ohio  now  as  Bill  Johnson,  since  Judge  of  the 
Superior  Court  of  Hamilton  County ;  John 
Pearce,  since  President  Judge,  and  one  of  the 
most  accomplished  gentlemen  and  scholarly 
lawyers  in  the  circuit,  and  Stanton,  afterward 
the  great  war  Secretary,  who,  although  a  resi- 
dent of  Steubenville,  seldom  tailed  to  be  at 
CarroUton  at  court,  while  New  Philadelphia,  in 
Tuscarawas  County,  seemed  to  be  a  focal  point 
at  which  the  lawyers  from  the  entire  circuit, 
and  also  from  the  counties  of  Holmes.  Coshoc- 
ton and  Muskingum,  gathered,  at  the  Common 
Pleas  and  Supreme  Courts. 

At  tlie  head  of  the  Tuscarawas  County  bar 
was  Joseph  C  Hanee.  Esq.,  where  he  yet  re- 
mains, honored  and  respected,  the  senior  mem- 
ber of  the  bar  in  that  ccuinty.  With  that  array 
of  talent  and  legal  learning  before  him.  ready 
to  take  exceptions  to  his  rulings,  did  the  youth- 
ful Judge  enter  upon  his  seven  years  of  official 
duty.  So  youthful  was  his  appearance  that  his 
official  title  seemed  misapplied.     He,  however. 


ilLSTOHV    OF    >TAI;K    ((HWJV, 


served  the  full  term,  and  at  the  close  of  which, 
the  bar  of  the  circuit  felt  that  he  had  discharged 
his  dut\'  faitlifully.  He  was  succeeded  h}'  Hon. 
John  Pearce.  of  Carrolllon.  who  took  his  seat 
as  President  Judge  of  the  Fiftii  Judicial  Circuit 
in  Stark  County,  April  15, 1844,  and  held  the  po- 
sition until  1851;  was  then  re-eiecti'(l  and  held 
until  1852.  when  the  Judges  elected  under  the 
present  constitution  of  Olifo  took  their  seats  and 
the  judicial  system  of  Ohio  underwent  an  entire 
change.  Instead  of  a  Common  Pleas  Court 
with  four  Judges,  one  learned  in  tlie  law  and 
three  country  gentlemen,  the  Common  Pleas 
wa.<  reduced  to  one  Judge,  who  must  l)e 
learned  in  tiie  law,  and  instead  of  the  Supreme 
Court  meeting  aiunially  in  each  county,  two 
out  of  the  four  judges  composing  the  court, 
the  Constitution  provides  for  a  District  Court, 
that  must  be  composed  of  three  Judgos  of 
the  Common  Pleas  of  the  judicial  district, 
and  one  Supreme  Judge,  any  three  of  whom 
shall  form  a  quorum,  for  the  transaction  of  any 
business  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  court. 

During  the  terms  of  service  I)V  Judge  Pearce 
from  1844  to  January,  1852,  Daniel  Raflen- 
sperger  was  Clerk  and  Hon.  Messrs.  John  W. 
Oreenwood,  James  S.  Kelley.  Samuel  Schrantz. 
James  Hazlitt,  David  Welker  ami  Tliomas 
Blackburn,  the  last  of  whom  with  Hon.  Peter 
Loutzenhiser,  already  noticed,  are  all  of  the  As- 
sociate Judges  who  remain  in  Stark  County,  as 
landmarks  of  the  old  Constitution  of  Ohio, 
and  of  the  judicial  system  organized  under  its 
wise  provisions. 

At  the  first  election  for  Judges  under  the 
new  Constitution,  adopted  in  1851.  Judge  Bel- 
den  was  almost  unanimously  elected  Common 
Pleas  Judge  of  the  first  subdivision  of  the 
Ninth  Judicial  District,  composed  of  the  coun- 
ties of  Stark,  Columbiana  and  Carroll  ;  he  held 
the  office  about  two-thirds  of  the  term  of  five 
years,  when  he  resigned  and  Hon.  John  Clarke, 
of  New  Lisbon,  was  appointed  l)y  Gov.  Medill 
to  fill  the  vacanc}-  until  the  time  for  an  election 
siiould  arrive.  On  his  resignation.  Judge  Bel- 
den  returned  to  the  bar  and  immediately  went 
into  a  lucrative  practice,  in  wliicli  lie  continued 
until  his  death  in  18()!t.  Asa  lawyer,  including 
all  that  is  understood  by  the  term.  Judge  Hel- 
den  had  few  ecjuals  and  certainly  no  superior  in 
this  section  of  Ohio,  and  at  his  death  left  many 
warm  friends  who  will  ever  cherish  his  name 
and  meraorv. 


At  the  expiration  of  Judge  Clarke's  term  of 
service,  which  was  at  the  election  following  his 
appointment,  to  till  tlie  vacancy,  Hon.  Lvman 
W.  Potter,  of  New  Lisbon,  was  nominated  and 
elected  for  the  full  term.  He  held  the  office  until 
some  time  in  the  year  185S,  when  he  resigned 
and  Hon.  Jacob  A,  Ambler,  of  Salem,  Colum- 
biana County,  was  a[)pointed  and  held  until  the 
next  annual  election,  when  he  was  electe<l  for 
the  une.\pired  term  of  Judge  Potter,  and  in 
Octol)er,  1861,  was  elected  for  a  full  term  of  five 
years,  when  he  was  succeeded  In'  Hon.  Joseph 
Frease,  of  Canton,  who  served  two  full  terms. 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  Hon.  Seraphim 
Meyer,  who  is  now  closing  his  first  term.  Since 
the  adoption  of  the  present  constitution  of  the 
State,  the  judicial  force  in  several  of  the  dis- 
tricts has  been  Increased  b}'  special  acts  of  the 
Legislature.  Tlie  fii'st  suixli  vision  of  the  Ninth 
District  was  authorized  by  special  enactment  to 
elect  a  Judge,  and  Hon,  John  W.  Church,  since 
deceased,  was  elected,  and  before  his  term  of 
service  expired  the  act  was  repealed.  An  in- 
crease of  business  in  later  j-ears  rendered  it 
again  necessary  for  an  increase  of  Judges  for 
the  district,  and  the  Legislature  re-enacted  the 
former  law.  and  Hon.  Peter  A,  Laubie,  of  Salem, 
was  elected  and  is  now  serving  his  second  term 
of  five  years,  he  having  the  counties  of  Colum- 
biana and  Carroll,  and  Judge  Meyer  the  county 
of  Stark.  Stark  County  may  be  said  to  have  been 
favored  in  her  Judges.  Since  the  people  have 
been  authorized  to  elect,  the  wisdom  of  the  pro- 
vision in  the  constitution  of  1851.  allowing  them 
to  do  so,  has  been  fully  justified  by  the  selection 
of  worthy  men  to  fill  all  the  judicial  positions 
in  the  county.  The  wisdom  of  the  measure  was 
very  much  doubled,  but  with  rare  exceptions 
the  result  has  been  favorable,  and  few  if  anj- 
would  be  found  to  go  back  to  the  old  mode  of 
electing  Judges,  which  was  by  the  Legislature 
on  joint  ballot  of  the  .'^enate  and  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives, 

The  .Vssociate  Judges  to  whom  reference  has 
been  made  could  come  together  as  a  ''  Called 
Court,"  and  attend  all  probate  and  testamentary 
business,  appointing  executors,  administrators 
and  guardians,  and  in  that  respect  facilitatetl 
business  which  otherwise  would  have  had  to  re- 
main for  the  stated  terms  of  the  Court,  Up  to 
about  1845,  the  Supreme  Conrt  on  the  circuit 
had  exclusive  jurisdiction  in  divorce,  when  l)y 
act   of    the  General   Assembly    the  power   to 


260 


HISTORY  OF    STAKK    COUNTY. 


divorce  was  given  to  the  Common  Pleas.  The 
Legislature  also  used  to  exercise  the  right  to 
annul  the  marriage  contract  until  Judge  Read 
in  a  most  able  opinion  in  the  Supreme  Court  in 
banc  took  the  power  aw.iy  from  that  liody. 
These  matters,  having  had  the  attention  of  the 
bench  and  bar  of  the  State,  are  deemed  worthy 
of  a  brief  consideration  here. 

As  already  noticed,  the  first  Court  of  Com- 
mon Pleas  was  held  on  the  18th  of  April,  1809. 
The  first  case  on  the  docket  was  that  of  James 
Pearce  and  others,  plaintiffs,  against  Isaac  Van 
Meter,  defendant.  The  action  was  debt,  $42  ; 
damages,  $40.  The  law's  delay  was  as  appar- 
ent then  as  in  later  days,  as  judgment  was  not 
rendered  until  the  April  term,  in  1810,  when  the 
plaiutitfs  recovered  against  the  defendant  a  judg- 
ment on  default  for  $42  debt  and  $24.72  dam- 
ages, and  $9.77^  costs,  $6  of  which  was  a  docket 
for  the  plaintifl^s'  attorney.  At  the  close  of  the 
entry  on  the  appearance  docket  are  the  words, 
"  and  defendant  in  mercy,"  then  follows  :  "  Ca. 
sa.  issued  to  August,  1810."  In  those  days 
there  was  imprisonment  for  debt  in  Ohio,  and 
whether  the  ca.  sa. — cajnas  ad  satisfaciendum — 
was  ever  returned  with  the  body  of  the  defend- 
ant, the  record  does  not  show.  Potter,  supposed 
to  be  Horace  Potter,  of  Columbiana,  attorney 
for  plaintiflTs,  and  Obadiah  Jennings,  of  Jeffer- 
son County,  for  the  defendant.  The  first  term 
of  the  Court  lasted  just  long  enough  to  transact 
the  following  :  "  At  a  Court  of  Common  Pleas, 
begun  and  held  for  the  County  of  Stark,"  after 
reciting  the  time  and  place,  "  Ordered,  that  John 
Harris  be  appointed  Clerk  j'^o  tempore  to  this 
Court  until  a  permanent  Clerk  be  appointed. 
Ordered,  that  Sampson  S.  King  be  appointed 
Prosecuting  Attorney  until  a  permanent  ap- 
pointment be  made. 

"  James  Leeper  vs.  Hamilton  J.  Hamilton. 
Bill  in  Chancery.  This  day  came  the  plaintiff 
by  his  attorney,  and  the  Court,  on  hearing  the 
petition  read.  Ordered,  that  the  pendency  of 
this  petition  be  published  in  the  Western  Herald, 
printed  in  Steubenville,  and  that  a  subpa'ua  is- 
sue directed  to  John  Cox  of  Brooke  County, 
Virginia,  returnable  at  the  next  terra,  to  be  by 
him  served  on  the  defendant.  Ordered,  that 
the  Court  do  now  adjourn  sine  die. 

•'  Calvin  Pease,  President." 

The  next  term  of  the  Court  was  held  on  the 
15th  day  of  August,  1809,  by  Judge  Pease, 
President,  and  Judges  Latimer  and  Bair.     At 


this  term  a  grand  jurj',  and  the  first  in  Stark 
County,  was  impaneled  and  William  Nailor  ap- 
pointed foreman,  "and  the  jur}- having  received 
the  requisite  documents  retired  to  their  room." 
A  "  traverse  "  jury  that  had  been  summoned 
appeared,  but,  there  being  no  business  for  them, 
they  were  discharged.  Several  journal  entries 
were  made  occupying  the  time  of  the  Court  one 
day,  including  the  labors  of  the  Grand  Jury, 
who  "  came  into  court  and  made  no  present- 
ments." They  returned  an  indictment  in  the 
case  of  the  State  of  Ohio  against  George  Stidger. 
indorsed  "  Not  a  True  Bill." 

The  following  entry  of  a  part  of  the  proceed- 
ings of  that  term  is  deemed  worthy  a  place  in 
this  history  : 

John  Sloank       j 

w.  I  In  Deht. 

George  Thompsox.  J 

This  day  came  the  plaintitf  hy  his  attorney  and  there- 
upon came  John  Shorli,  who  acknowledged  himself 
special  biil  in  this  case  in  the  sum  of  $2-56,  lo  be  levied 
of  his  gijods  and  chattels,  lands  and  tenements,  condi- 
tioned that  the  said  George  Thompson  shall  be  and  ap- 
pear before  the  court  at  their  December  term  next, 
and  that  if  judgment  be  entered  against  him  he  will 
pay  the  debt  and  cost  or  render  his  body  in  execution. 

The  names  of  Jennings,  Tappan,  King,  Ma- 
son, Edgington.  Wright — Hon.  J.  C,  afterward 
Supreme  Judge — and  Reddick,  are  the  names  of 
practicing  law3'ers  who  appear  of  record  on  the 
first  appearance  docket  of  Stark  Comity  Com- 
mon Pleas,  and  which  contains  all  the  appear- 
ances entered  from  the  organization  of  the  court 
to  January  21.  1812.  The  journal  of  the  court 
furnishes  the  names  of  man^-  distinguished 
lawyers  residing  in  neighboring  counties,  but 
the  names  of  Roswell  M.  Mason  and  Sampson 
S.  King  are  all  who  appear  as  tho.se  of  resident 
lawyers  until  after  1815. 

The  old  Supreme  Court  of  Ohio,  who  shall 
write  its  history  and  do  it  justice  ?  In  prepar- 
ing historical  sketches  of  a  single  county,  the 
history  of  the  old  Supreme  Court  from  its  or- 
ganization would  be  out  of  place.  So  far  as  its 
labors  in  separate  counties  have  become  a  part 
of  the  history  ,of  each  county,  a  brief  mention 
may  be  made. 

On  the  adoption  of  the  consti  tu  tion  of  1 802,the 
Supreme  Courtof  Ohio  consisted  of  three  Judges, 
the  Legislature  having  the  power  to  increase 
the  number  to  four,  two  of  whom  were  required 
to  hold  court  in  every  county,  once  in  each  year, 
the  court  was  required  b^-  law  to  divide  the 


HLSTOUY  OF    STARK    COUXTY. 


201 


State  into  two  districts,  tiie  eastern  and  western, 
ancl  tlie  Judsjes  were  assijjned  by  agreement 
among  tlicmselves  to  the  districts,  wliicii  ar- 
rangement continued  for  many  years  and  until 
tile  Judges  made  other  arrangements  relieving 
each  other,  the  court  being  constantly  in  ses- 
sion in  some  portion  of  the  State,  until  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Supreme  Court  in  banc,  which 
was  held  at  Columbus,  by  alltlie  Judges.  The 
twenty  volumes  of  the  Ohio  Iteports  are  the 
result  of  the  faithful  labors  of  that  body  as  a 
court  in  banc  and  which  have  made  Ohio  the 
•'  Land  of  the  Law."  The  Judges  were  elected 
for  seven  years,  and  from  1802  to  1851.  almost 
a  half  century,  the  Supreme  Court  of  Ohio  not 
only  commanded  the  respect  of  the  bar  of  the 
State  for  the  uniformity  of  its  decisions,  but  of 
the  neighboring  States  and  the  highest  judicial 
tribunal  in  the  laud,  the  Supreme  Court  of  the 
United  States.  Over  the  expiring  embers  of 
the  old  Supreme  Court  of  Ohio,  in  the  year 
1851,  under  the  provisions  of  the  new  constitu- 
tion, the  present  Supreme  Court  came  into  ex- 
istence, and.  while  inadequate  in  point  of  num- 
bers to  meet  the  needs  and  demands  of  the  State, 
— has  vindicated  its  industrv  in  thirt3"-five  well 
tilled  volumes  of  Ohio  State  Reports.  Of  the 
old  Supreme  Court  but  three  of  the  Judges  yet 
remain  ;  the  honored  names  of  CoUett,  McLean, 
Sherman,  Pease.  Burnett,  Hitchcock.  Wright, 
Lane,  Grimke,  Birchard.  Reed,  Wood,  Spald- 
ing. Caldwell  and  Ranney,  the  last  three  of  whom 
are  the  surviving  members,  will,  with  the  names 
of  those  which  may  have  Ijeen  here  overlooked, 
always  grace  the  history  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
Ohio,  and  their  memories  ever  be  kindly  cher- 
ished by  the  bar  of  the  State.  Most  of  the 
Judges  above  named  have  iield  court  in  this 
count}-  and  are  well  remembered  by  the  older 
members  of  the  bar  who  yet  remain  after  forty 
years'  practice.  Among  the  early  members  of 
the  bar.  in  addition  to  those  already  named,  is 
iiUther  Blodgett,  who  went  to  Lawrence  Co., 
Ohio,  where  he  continued  to  reside  and  practice 
until  his  death. 

In  ISIG.  in  what  was  then  a  celebrated  case, 
that  of  Moses  Gleason  againsf  Nathaniel  Skin- 
ner, an  action  to  recover  damages  for  uttering 
and  publishing  certain  ma'icious,  false  and 
slanderous  words  of  and  concerning  the  plain- 
tiff, was  the  first  appearance  of  James  W.  La- 
throp.  He  was  associated  with  Mr.,  afterward. 
Judge  Hallock.  for  the  plaintiff;  for  the  defend- 


ant, Wright  and  G-oodenow.  In  this  case  the 
late  Gen.  Samuel  Stokelj'.  also  of  counsel  for  the 
defendant,  made  his  maiden  speech,  having  just 
been  admitted  to  practice.  The  slanderous 
words  were,  ■■  Moses  Gleason  is  a  thief,  he  stole 
my  ha}'  on  the  vvild  meadows."  In  those  daj-s 
the  wild  meadows  in  the  northeastern  part  of 
Ferry  Township  were  resorted  to  for  hay.  They 
were  Govern uient  lands,  and  people,  especially 
•'new  comers  '  who  had  not  been  able  to  clear 
up  their  own  land  and  raise  food  for  their  cat- 
tle in  winter,  relied  on  them,  Mr,  Skinner  had 
cut  and  cocked  up  several  tons  of  hay,  some  of 
which  was  taken,  an<l  he  charged  Gleason  with 
the  larceny.  I'roni  the  well  known  ability  of 
the  counsel  employed,  the  case  must  have  been 
most  ably  tried.  In  the  list  of  witnesses  ap- 
pear the  names  of  Thomas  A.  Drayton,  Aaron 
Chapman.  Nathaniel  Ray,  Edward  Nelson.  Mat- 
thew Macy,  Alexander  Johnson,  and  many 
others  whose  names  appear  also  among  the 
pioneer  settlers  of  Perry  and  Jackson  Town- 
ships. 

From  1811)  to  ISL'it.  the  bar  of  Stark  County 
did  not  increase  rapidly  in  numbers.  As  nearly 
as  can  be  ascertained,  John  Harris.  Loorais  & 
Metcalf,  James  W.  Lathrop,  Almon  Sortwell, 
who  died  in  1840,  David  A.  Starkweather, 
Sanders  Van  Rensselaer  and  Hiram  Griswold 
composed  the  number,  all  of  whom,  except 
Mr.  Griswold,  have  passed  away.  Messrs. 
Loomis  &  Metcalf  graduated  together  from  the 
same  college,  the  Union  College,  of  Sche- 
nectady, New  York  :  selected  law  as  a  profes- 
sion, were  admitted  to  practice  at  the  same 
time,  formed  a  partnership,  and  came  to  Can- 
ton, where  the}'  practiced  as  i)artners  for  many 
years,  when  Metcalf  moved  to  Pittsburgh,  and 
Loomis  to  New  Lisbon,  the  partnership  still 
continuing,  the  Ohio  branch  being  under  the 
control  of  Mr.  Loomis,  and  the  Pittsburgh 
branch  managed  by  Mr.  iMetcalf.  Mr.  Loomis 
continued  to  practice  in  Stark  County  for 
many  years,  and  when  the  late  Gen.  Samuel 
Lahm  came  to  the  county,  he  at  once  formed  a 
partnership  with  Mr.  Loomis,  which  lasted  for 
several  years,  and  until  .Mr.  Loomis  joined  his 
life-long  friend  and  partner  in  Pittsburgh. 
The  firm  of  Loomis  &  Metcalf  continued  until 
dissolved  l)y  the  death  of  Mr.  Metcalf  Mr. 
Jioomis  continued  in  practice  at  Pittsburgh  for 
many  years,  and  finally  removed  Ut  Cleveland, 
where  he  died  a  few   vears  since.     He  was  a 


262 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


man  uf  rare  ability  and  learning,  and  com- 
manded the  respect  of  tlie  bench  and  bar  in  all 
the  courts  in  which  he  practiced,  including  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States.  During 
his  residence  at  New  Lisbon,  he  was  elected  to 
Congress  to  fill  an  unexpired  term,  and  after 
that  election  steadily  refused  all  political  pre- 
ferment. Mr.  Van  Rensselaer  was  of  the  family 
of  that  name  in  the  State  of  New  York,  a 
gentleman  of  fine  attainments,  but  did  not  re- 
main in  the  practice  after  1829.  Mr.  Lathrop, 
whose  name  appears  more  prominently  in  the 
sketches  of  the  State  S3'stem  of  Common 
Schools,  was  prominent  as  a  lawyer  until  Jan- 
uary, 1828,  when,  as  will  be  remembered,  lie 
died  at  Columbus,  daring  his  term  of  service  as 
Representative  in  the  State  Legislature. 

In  the  year  182!l,  Hon.  Hiram  (iriswold. 
above  referred  to.  was  admitted  to  practice  at 
Bucyrus.  in  Crawford  County,  after  the  proper 
course  of  study  with  the  late  Hon.  Van  R. 
Humphrey,  of  Hudson,  then  in  Portage  County, 
now  in  Summit.  On  coming  to  Canton,  Mr.  firis- 
wold  at  once  took  a  prominent  place  at  the  bar, 
and  largely  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  the  people 
of  the  county,  from  whom,  had  he  remained  in 
the  county,  he  could  have  had  an}-  political  pre- 
ferment from  the  county  or  Congressional  Dis- 
trict. About  the  year  1852,  he  removed  to 
Cleveland,  where  he  was  at  once  elected  to  the 
State  Senate,  but  not  feeling  satisfied  with  his 
prospects  there,  removed,  after  a  few  years,  to 
Leavenworth.  During  his  residence  m  this 
county,  he  was  Reporter  for  the  Supreme  Court 
of  Ohio  six  years,  and  came  within  one  or  two 
votes  of  being  elected  L'nited  States  Senator,  at 
the  time  of  the  late  Senator  Wade's  first 
election  to  that  body.  During  his  long  and 
active  practice,  he  has  always  ably  sustained 
himself. 

About  the  time  Mr.  Griswold  settled  in  Can- 
ton, Luther  L.  Foote.  Esij..  a  young  lawyer 
and  scholarly  gentleman,  came  to  the  tlien 
little  village  of  Massillon,  the  ground  plat  of 
which,  but  three  years  before,  was  covered 
with  the  leafy  honors  of  the  forest,  and  opened 
an  office.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Yale.  He, 
however,  did  not,  nor  could  succeed  as  a  law- 
yer, and  left  to  seek  ■'  fresh  fields  and  pastures 
new  "  In  the  Sunn}'  South,  since  which  time  it 
is  not  known  that  he  has  been  heard  of  by  any- 
body in  this  county.  In  1831.  Gen.  Dwight 
Jarvis,  who  had,  in  1822,  finished  his  profes- 


sional studies  at  Canton,  and  located  in  Athens. 
Athens  County,  Ohio,  returned  to  Canton,  and 
formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Starkweather 
which  firm  almost  iramediatelj-  took  the  lead 
in  the  business  of  the  county.  Mr.  Jarvis  was 
one  of  the  most  careful  managers  of  the  de- 
tails of  the  business  of  a  law  office  that  has 
over  been  in  the  county,  while  Mr.  Stark- 
weather, fond  of  his  ease  and  a  fox-hunt,  would 
have  Mr.  Jarvis  prepare  the  cases,  and  he,  Mr. 
S.,  would  try  them.  This  firm  lasted  eleven 
years,  until  the  spring  of  1842,  when  the 
late  Hon.  Alexander  Bierce  became  a  member 
of  the  partnership,  its  style  being  Stark- 
weather, Jarvis  &  Bierce.  Mr,  Bierce  had  been 
in  practice  in  Massillon  near  three  years,  when 
he  was  tendered  an  equal  partnership  in  the 
old  established  firm,  and  continued  a  member 
until  1848,  when  the  senior  partners  with- 
drew from  practice,  and  a  partnership  was 
formed  by  Mr.  Bierce  and  Hon.  Anson  Pease, 
of  Massillon.  which  continued  twenty-four 
years,  when  it  was  dissolved  by  the  death  of 
Mr.  Bierce,  ot  whom  it  may  be  well  said,  "  he 
icijs  a  laim/er."  Few  men  who  practiced  in  the 
courts  of  Ohio  ever  commanded  more  attention 
than  did  Alexander  Bierce.  He  was  a  man 
of  fine  analytical  mind,  unyielding  integrity. 
and  a  thorough  .knowledge  of  the  law  ap- 
plicable to  his  cases,  he  was  rarely  o\'erruled 
in  the  Supreme  Court,  as  the  reported  cases 
in  which  he  was  of  counsel  fully  show.  The 
respect  entertained  for  him  by  his  breth- 
ren of  the  bar  was  exhibited  by  one  of  the 
largest  bar  meetings  ever  held  in  the  court 
house,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  at  which  reso- 
lutions of  a  most  complimentary  character 
were  passed,  and  spread  in  the  journal  of  the 
court. 

Among  the  members  of  the  Stark  County 
bar  who  have  gone  hence,  none  are  remembered 
in  more  kindness  than  Hon.  David  A.  Stark- 
weather. From  the  year  1827  to  the  last  day 
of  his  residence  in  Stark  County,  near  forty 
years,  it  can  safely  be  said  of  him  he  never 
had  an  enemy.  Always  a  Democrat  of  the 
straightest  sect,  ttie  bitterness  of  parties  in  the 
heated  canvass  of  1828  and  1832,  did  not  dis- 
turb his  private  friendships.  On  the  occasion 
of  his  death,  one  of  the  city  papers  at  Cle^e- 
land  contained  the  following  notice.  As  it  was 
written  by  a  gentleman  always  politically  op- 
posed to  him,  its  magnanimity  is  but  the  more 


^  k- 


.w 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


SUo 


apparent,  and  the  more  appreciated  l\v  his  sur- 
viving friends  : 

The  Hon.  David  A.  Slarkwciulnr.  fatlur  in-law 
of  till'  Hon.  A.  T.  Bvinsniadc.  died  at  tlie  hitter's  resi- 
dence. No.  768  Cusleail  Avenue.  yest(  rdiiy  morning 
after  liaving  been  entirely  lielple.'^s  for  a  year  past 
from  a  paralytic  stroke. 

Mr.  Starkweather  formerly  lived  in  Stark  County, 
and  was  a  genlleman  long  and  well  known  through- 
out the  State,  having  been  quite  prominent  in  the 
profession  of  the  law  and  in  politics.  For  three 
successive  terms  he  was  a  meinlier  of  the  State 
IjCgislature  and  also  spent  two  terms  in  the  State 
Senate,  with  honor  to  himself  and  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  his  constituents.  He  also  represented  the 
Stark  County  District  in  CniiLirev.  fcir  two  terms, 
and  while  tliere  greatly  di-tinuui-lnil  himself.  One 
of  the  most  notalile  of  hi-  m  r\  in  -  ulule  there  was 
his  speech  upon  the  Oregon  (^notion,  which  lirought 
out  the  warmest  personal  commendations  from 
John  Qtiincy  Adams.  He  w  as  selected  liy  President 
Pierce  in  18o4,  as  Miinster  Plenipotentiary  to 
Chili,  and  served  there  with  the  same  distinguished 
honor  noticed  in  other  positions.  He  retired  from 
the  practice  of  the  law  some  time  since  and  has  of 
late  been  residing  with  his  daughter.  The  only 
children  left  by  the  deceased  are  Mrs.  Hrinsniade 
and  Hamilton  Starkweather,  of  Oregon.  He  leaves 
one  In-other  ii\  New  York,  and  the  late  Judge  Stark- 
weather was  a  cousin. 

In  politics,  the  decea.sed  was  a  Democrat,  having 
been  President  of  two  State  Democratic  Conven- 
tions, and  in  18.32,  acting  as  President  of  the 
National  Convention  of  the  party. 

Mr.  Starkweather  must  have  been  admitted 
to  the  bar  as  earlj'  as  1825.  when  he  opened  an 
ofiiee  in  Mansfield,  and  practiced  there  with 
marked  success,  until  he  came  to  this  county, 
which  was  his  final  residence,  except  the  period 
of  his  illness  at  Clcvehind.  AVhen  the  lirm 
of  Starkweather.  Jarvis  &  Bierce  was  dissolved, 
Mr.  Jarvis.  who  during  his  residence  at  Canton, 
had  married  Miss  Frances  I'phain.  of  Clarcmont. 
N.  II.,  removed  to  Massillon  where  lie  died 
Februaiy  14.  1803.  aged  sixty-six.  I>uring 
his  residence  at  Massillon,  he  was  elected  Major 
General  of  the  Sixth  Division  of  Ohio  Militia, 
having  been  Brigade  Inspector  with  tiie  rank 
of  Major  during  the  early  days  of  Ocn.  Joiui 
Augustine.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  decided 
military  taste,  in  politics  a  Federalist  and 
ardent  admirer  of  Jay.  Hamilton,  and  the  Fed- 
eral leaders  of  Revolutionary  times,  and  as 
earnest  in  his  dislike  of  Jeflersoii  and  the  He- 
piiblican  leaders,  as  they  were  called.  As  a 
lawyer  he  maintained  a  good  reptttation  always, 
until  age  compelled  him  to  seek  that  ■■  Blest  re- 
tirement, ti'iend   of  life's  decline. "  which  with 


numerous  friends  he  enjfjyed,  always  dispensing 
a  generous  hospitality  at  his  elegant  residence 
in  the  city. 

Among  other  members  of  the  bar  of  Stark 
County,  whose  names  adorn  her  dockets  and 
briefs  through  a  period  of  nearly  thirty 
3-ears,  and  which  will  be  found  in  the  files 
as  frequently  as  that  of  almost  any  one  from 
1835  to  1855,  is  that  of  the  late  Hon.  Samuel 
Pease,  who  came  to  Massillon  in  Novem- 
ber, 1831,  opened  an  office  and  succeeded,  as 
a  lawj'er.  a  Juris  consu/l  and  pleader.  As  an 
advocate  to  a  jury  he  never  sought  celebrity. 
In  the  social  circle  he  had  few  ecjuals  and  was 
fond  of  personal  comfort.  He  died  in  18G7.  at 
the  age  of  05.  surviving  his  wife  but  a  few 
j-eai's. 

There  was  also  among  the  old  members  of 
the  bar,  who  took  his  place  in  the  profession 
long  prior  to  IS-J(I,  the  late  Hon.  James  P. 
Brown,  and  also  (ien.  Samuel  Lahm.  Mr. 
Brown  was  from  the  State  of  New  York,  and 
Gen.  Lahm  from  the  State  of  Maryland.  They 
were  prominent  in  the  profession,  Mr.  Brown 
having  been  fretpiently  elected  Prosecuting 
Attorney,  as  was  (ien.  Lahm,  who  also  repre- 
sented this  district  in  Cotigress,  and  the  Sena- 
torial District  in  the  (Miio  Senate,  and  the 
county  in  the  House  of  Representatives.  He 
was  a  man  of  untiring  energy  in  everything 
he  undertook.  He  left  the  bar  and  went  to 
farming,  owning  many  hinidred  broad  acres 
between  Canton  and  Massillon,  which  he  culti- 
vated successfully.  He  died  in  ^lav,  1870,  at 
his  residence  in  Canton. 

Mr.  Brown  was  an  industrious,  earnest  la- 
borer at  the  bar,  and  continued  until  just  before 
or  during  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  when  he 
removed  to  Omaha,  Nelnaska.  where  he  died 
on  the  1st  day  of  July,  ISSO,  aged  seventy 
years.  He  was  a  son-in  law  of  Hon.  John 
Harris.  The  remains  of  both  repose  in  Canton 
Cemetery.  Harris  it  Brown  had  been  a  law 
firm  in  Canton  for  many  years,  and  in  active 
practice,  and  in  the  fitness  of  things  their  final 
resting  place  is  near  the  scene  of  their  strug- 
gles and  successes. 

Of  those  who  practii'cd  in  the  courts  of 
Stark  county  prior  to  l.'s40.  but  one  remains, 
either  at  the  bar  or  on  the  bench.  On  looking 
around  the  bar  at  a  term  of  court,  none 
of  tlie  old  faiuiliar  faces  are  to  be  seen.  Not 
one  ' 


264 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY 


"  They  arc  no  longer  licre  ;  they  are  all  gone 
Into  tiie  land  of  shadows — all  save  one. 
Honor  and  reverence  and  the  good  repute 
That  follows  faithful  service  as  its  fniit 
Be  unto  him  whom  living  we  salute." 

Tlie  reader  of  these  sketches,  accjuainted 
with  Hon.  ^erapliira  Meyer.  Jtidge  of  the  Com- 
mon Pleas  Court  of  Stark  County,  and  ex  officio 
Judge  of  the  District  Court  of  Ohio,  need  not 
be  told  that  it  is  he  to  whom  reference  is  made. 
In  1828,  a  few  weeks  after  navigation  was 
opened  on  the  Oiiio  canal  to  Massillon.  a  family 
of  immigraats  from  the  Department  of  Upper 
Alsace,  in  the  tiicn  Kingdom  of  France,  arrived 
at  the  little  village  which  was  the  southern 
terminus  of  internal  navigation  of  the  State  ;  of 
that  family  Judge  3[eyer  was  a  son.  The 
family  remained  at  .Massillon,  or  rather  at 
Kendall,  for  the  two  hamlets  were  not  then,  as 
now,  one  and  indivisible,  about  twelve  days, 
when  they  removed  to  Canton,  where  they  have 
remained. 

In  1838,  Mr.  Meyer  was  admitted  to  practice 
l)y  the  Supreme  Court  on  the  circuit  at  Spring- 
field, in  the  county  of  Clark,  and  at  once  opened 
an  office  in  Canton.  Being  master  of  the  fter- 
man  and  French  languages,  as  well  as  a  fine  Iwllcy 
/p?/jy,v  scholar,  and  an  intensely  close  student,  he 
has  attained  a  standing  at  the  bar  as  a  lawyer 
and  on  tiie  bench  as  a  judge  that  commands  the 
respect  of  the  district  embracing  the  counties 
of  Stark,  Carroll  and  Columbiana,  Portage, 
Trumbull  and  Mahoning,  and  Lake,  (Icauga 
and  Ashtabula,  to  all  of  which  counties,  as  a 
l)istrict  Judge,  his  official  duties  call  him. 
rUiring  his  practice  at  the  bar,  he  was  a  member 
of  the  firms  of  Dunbar  &  Meyer,  Brown  & 
Meyer,  and  Meyer  &  Manderson.  On  the 
breaking-out  of  the  war  of  the  rebellion.  Judge 
Meyer's  two  sons  did  not  wait  to  be  called  on 
for  the  military  service  of  the  country  ;  they 
volunteered  immediately,  and  remained  in  the 
service  until  the  close  of  the  war,  when  they 
returned,  bearing  upon  their  persons  evidence 
of  their  courage  in  the  shape  of  honorable 
scars,  the  result  of  wounds  received  in  many 
well-fought  battles.  One  son,  (len.  E.  S.  Mej'er, 
has  been  remembered  by  President  Garfield,  in 
the  appointment  of  Attorney  for  the  Northern 
District  of  Ohio,  and  the  other  is  the  senior 
partner  in  the  well-known  law  firm  of  Meyer  & 
Piero,  at  Canton.  For  their  distinguished  serv- 
ices to  the  country,  they  will  ever  l)e  gratefully 


remembered.  When  the  One  Hundred  and 
Seventh  Regiment  of  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry 
was  raised,  Judge  Meyer,  then  Prosecuting 
Attorney  of  Stark  County,  resigneil,  and  ac- 
cepted the  command  of  the  regiment,  and  its 
history  from  the  day  it  marched  from  Camp 
Cleveland  to  the  day  it  was  mustered  out  of  the 
service,  Jul}'  10,  18(35,  attests  its  bravery  and 
its  service  to  the  country,  especially  at  Chan- 
cellorsville  and  (jrettysburg.  He  who  would 
learn  its  history,  almost  written  in  the  blood  of 
the  gallant  men  of  whom  it  was  composed, 
should  read  '  Ohio  in  the  War."  No  Ohio 
regiment  furnishes  a  more  terrible  record  of  its 
slaughter,  or  one  of  more  distinguished  gal- 
lantry. Col.  Meyer,  after  severe  sickness  and 
suffering,  was  compelled  to  resign  on  the  8th 
of  February,  18fi4,  and  returned  to  his  home  in 
Canton,  and  was  for  a  long  time  unfit  even  for 
the  lightest  labors  in  his  profession.  On  re- 
gaining sufficient  healtli  and  strength,  he 
resumed  practice,  formed  a  partnership  with 
Gen.  C.  F.  Manderson,  and  at  the  dissolution  of 
which,  engaged  with  his  son,  C.  T.  jMeyer,  Esq., 
which  continued  until  he  assumed  the  duties  of 
the  judgeship,  in  Jaimary,  1877. 

In  1839,  Hon.  H.  B.  Hurlbut,  thenayounggen- 
tleinan  just  entered  the  profession,  came  to  Mas- 
illon  from  Cleveland,  and  opened  an  office.  Act- 
ive and  energetic,  he  soon  acquired  a  paying 
business,  and  "  gathered  gear."  After  Judge 
Underhill  came  to  the  bar,  Messrs.  Hurlbut  & 
Underhill  formed  a  partnership.  After  the  disso- 
lution of  which,  about  the  year  1845,  Hon.  D.  K. 
Cartter  removed  to  Massillon  from  Akron,  and 
there  was  a  partnership  formed  immediately 
between  him  and  Mr.  Hurlbut,  by  the  style  of 
Cartter  &  Hurlbut,  which  lasted  until  Mr.  Cart- 
ter was  elected  to  Congress,  this  district  being 
then  composed  of  Stark  and  Wajne  Counties, 
and  that  partnership  was  dissolved.  Mean- 
while, Hon.  Arvine  C.  Wales,  "  a  native  of  Stark 
Count}-,  and  to  the  manner  born."  was  admitted 
to  practice  with  the  most  flattering  prospects, 
and  a  partnership  was  formed  bj-  the  style  of 
Hurlbut  &  Wales.  Mr.  Hurlbut,  who  had  con- 
tinued to  "  gather  gear,"  had  gone  into  banking 
largelj-  with  the  late  Dr.  Isaac  Steese,  Joseph 
J.  Brooks  and  Sebastian  Brainerd,  Esqs.,  of 
Massillon,  all  of  whom  have  passed  "  into  the 
land  of  shadows,"  and  he  withdrew  from  prac- 
tice and  removed  to  Cleveland,  where  he  has 
since  been  engaged  in  hanking  and  railroad  en- 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


-^ 


terprises  with  tliu  habitual  success  that  has  al- 
ways attended  his  efforts.  Judge  Cartter  is  Chief 
Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  District 
of  Columbia,  Ijeiiitr  apjiointcd  thereto  hx  Pres- 
ident Lincoln  twt'uty  vcars  since. 

Judge  Cartter  came  to  Stark  County  a  Dem- 
ocrat ;  as  such  was  elected  and  re-elected  to 
Congress  ;  when  his  Congressional  terms  ex- 
pired, he  returned  to  his  constituency  without 
any  political  atfiliations  tliat  placed  him  in  unity 
with  either  AVhigs  or  Democrats.  On  the  form- 
ation of  the  Republican  party,  he  became  an 
active  member.  Having,  meanwhile,  removed 
to  Cleveland,  he  was  appointed  a  delegate  to 
the  Chicago  Convention,  and  claims  the  honor 
of  President  Lincoln's  nomination  l)y  that  body. 
Mr.  Wales  resides  at  his  Spring  Hill  farm,  just 
outside  of  the  city  limits  of  Massillon,  a  scien- 
tific and  practical  farmer  ;  is  President  of  the 
Stark  County  Agricultural  Society,  and  an  active 
member  of  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture.  He 
always  has  a  generous  welcome  for  all  who  call 
on  him.  In  public  life,  he  has  served  the  peo- 
ple of  this  Senatorial  district — theTwenty-lirst, 
composed  of  Stark  and  Carroll  Counties — for 
the  unexpired  term  of  Gen.  B.  F.  Potts,  ap- 
pointed Governor  of  Montana  Territory,  and 
the  full  succeeding  term. 

Among  the  lawyers  of  Stark  County,  of  fifty 
years  since,  was  William  Bryce,  Hs(i.  In  1826. 
he  was  a  stone-cutter,  and  cut  much  of  the 
stone  work  of  the  "  Fulton  I^oek,"  on  the  Ohio 
Canal.  He  concluded,  on  finishing  his  job.  that 
he  could  do  better  as  a  special  pleader  tium  in 
cutting  stone  on  the  public  works,  and  entered 
an  otflce  in  Canton  as  a  student.  He  put  in 
many  years  of  close  study,  but  finally  succeed- 
ed in  reaching  the  goal  of  his  ambition,  which 
was  his  admission  to  the  courts  of  Ohio  as  an 
attorney  and  counselor  at  law  and  solicitor 
in  chancery.  His  briefs  were  "  few  and  far  be- 
tween." He  tried  politics  and  was  elected  Re- 
corder of  the  County  for  one  term,  which  ended 
his  official  labors.  His  last  ajipearance  in 
court  was  as  plaintiff  to  secure  compensation 
or  commissions  for  having  been  employed  to 
sell  patent  steam  gauges.  He  has  been  dead 
many  years. 

Among  the  memtjers  of  the  bar  forty-five 
years  ago.  should  be  m('utioned  Klijaii  P.  Grant, 
a  most  accomplished  lawyer  and  scholar,  a  pro- 
found thinker  and  believer  in  a  re-organization 
of  society  by  which   great  and  lasting  l)enefits 


should  accrue  to  mankind.  In  the  pursuit  of  his 
theory,  based  upon  the  doctrines  of  Fourier  and 
other  socialists,  he  expended  a  fortune  and 
many  years  of  valuable  time,  and  died  in  the 
city  of  Canton  a  few  years  since.  He  was  a 
gentleman  of  many  genial  qualities,  and  will 
always  be  kindly  remembered.  Among  the 
lawyers  of  the  Stark  County  bar,  prior  to  lS4ti, 
was  Benjamin  F.  Leiter.  During  iiis  practice, 
he  was  of  the  firms  of  IJeldon  &  Leiter,  Leiter 
&  Pool  and  Leiter  &  Treat,  and  at  one  time 
with  Edward  L.  Carney,  Esq.;  was  editor  of 
the  StarL-  ('iiiiiit//  Democrat.  Mr.  Leiter  came 
to  Canton  from  the  State  of  Maryland,  before 
the  organization  of  union  schools,  and  taught 
school  in  the  winter  ;  worked  as  a  common  la- 
borer in  the  summer  ;  was  elected  a  Justice  of 
the  Peace  ;  got  some  ideas  of  law,  and  studied 
with  Gen.  Sanniel  Lahm  ;  was  elected  to  the 
Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  Ohio, 
and  was  Speaker  of  both  branches.  In  1854 
and  1856,  he  was  elected  to  Congress,  as  a 
member  of  the  American  party  or  K.  N.'s.  Ou 
the  breakiug-oul  of  the  war,  he  entered  into 
the  Union  cause  with  energy  ;  hail  two  sous  in 
the  army,  one  of  whom  was  killed  in  battle,  the 
other  making  an  honoralile  record.  i>h-.  Leiter 
dieil  a  few  years  ago  at  his  residence  in  Canton. 
On  the  Ineakingout  of  the  war,  Mr.  Treat  at 
once  went  into  the  service,  since  which  he  has 
not  returned  to  Canton,  nor  is  it  known  what 
became  of  him.  Mr.  Pool  removed  to  Cleve- 
land, anil  went  into  the  army,  and  now  resides 
in  New  York  City,  and  is  engageil  in  banking. 
Of  the  older  members  of  the  bar  who  com- 
menced their  professional  life  in  this  county 
next  to  Judge  .Meyer,  are  Hon.  Louis  Schaefer. 
of  Canton,  and  Robert  II.  Folger,  of  Massillon. 
They  were  examined  and  admitted  together  on 
the  1st  day  of  March.  ISH'.  at  New  Lisbon,  liy- 
the  Sui)reme  Court,  then  on  the  circuit,  J.,ane 
and  Wood.  J.  J.,  holding  the  term.  Mr.  Schae- 
fer was  born  on  the  25th  of  December,  1815.  in 
Arrondisscmcnt  of  Sarragusmines.  Department 
de  la  Mosselle.  now  llio  i!c|iul)lic  of  France,  ar- 
rived in  tiie  city  of  I'liiladelpliia  June  7,  1830.  in 
Stark  County  September  following  ;  has  lived  in 
Canton  since  18:51.  Commenced  the  study  of  the 
law  with  (Jriswold  tVc  tirant,  March,  1840.  the 
two  years  of  study  required  by  law  having  ex- 
pired on  the  day  he  was  admitted.  Mr.  Folger 
was  born  in  Chester  Co.,  Penn.,on  the  1  llh  of  Jan- 
uary, 1812,  and  came  to  Kendal,  now  the  Fourth 


26G 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


Ward  or  the  city  of  Massillon,  with  his  parents 
in  1813,  and  lived  there  until  February  4,  182S, 
when  the  famil}'  removed  to  Massillon  where  he 
has  resided  ever  since,  and  should  he  and  Mr. 
Schaefer  be  favored  to  keep  within  "  this  mor- 
tal coil  "  until  March  1,  1882,  they  will  have 
been  at  the  bar  of  Stark  County  and  in  practice 
forty  years.  Mr.  Folger  commenced  his  pro- 
fessional studies  in  the  office  of  Samuel  Pease, 
where  he  remained  until  November,  1841,  when 
he  went  into  the  office  of  Gen.  D wight  Jarvis, 
and  completed  his  studies.  Next  in  the  order 
of  time  is  Hon.  James  W.  Underhill,  admit- 
ted near  the  close  of  the  year  1842,  and  went 
into  practice  at  Massillon  where  he  remained 
until  elected  Probate  Judge,  which  he  held  by 
re-election  four  terras,  having  flrst  served  one 
term  in  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the 
State  Legislature.  He  was  a  member  of  several 
partnerships  in  addition  to  the  firm  of  Hurlbut 
&  Underhill  ;  during  his  residence  in  Massillon 
he  was  of  the  firm  of  Folger  &  Underhill.  and 
Keith  &  Underhill,  and  since  his  retirement 
from  the  Probate  Judgeship,  has  been  in  part- 
nership with  John  Lahm,  Esq.  Being  much 
eng.aged  in  railroad  building,  he  is  devoting 
little  time  to  the  law.  Among  the  young  men 
who  came  to  the  bar  in  the  early  forties  and 
opened  offices  in  Massillon,  were  F.  M.  Keith, 
from  Lorain  County,  who  came  in  1840  and 
formed  a  partnership  with  Hon.  S.  Pease,  and 
the  firm,  while  it  lasted,  enjoj'ed  a  successful 
practice  ;  George  Miller,  a  son  of  Hon.  Jacob 
Miller,  Associate  Judge  ;  Leavitt  L.  Bowen  and 
David  M.  Bradshaw.  On  the  dissolution  of  the 
firm  of  Pease  &  Keith,  Keith  and  Miller  at  once 
formed  a  partnership  and  i-emained  together 
until  the  death  of  Judge  Miller  compelled  a 
dissolution  to  enable  Mr.  Miller  to  look  after 
the  estate.  Mr.  Miller  was  a  3'oung  gentleman 
of  education,  a  graduate  of  Jefferson  College 
Penn.,  and  excellent  native  ability,  and  could  he 
have  lived  and  devoted  his  time  to  the  law, 
would  have  taken  a  high  rank  in  the  profession  ; 
he  served  one  terra  in  the  Legislature  and  died, 
suddenly,  in  1850.  at  the  age  of  thirty-five.  On 
the  dissolution  of  the  firm  of  Keith  &  ^Miller,  a 
partnership  was  formed  by  Messrs.  Keith  & 
Bowen,  but  the  changes  were  so  rapid  that  it  is 
not  certain  how  long  this  firm  lasted.  When 
Mr.  Bradshaw  came  to  Massillon,  he  and  Bowen 
formed  a  partnership  by  the  style  of  Bradshaw 
&  Bowen.     On  the  dissolution  of  which  Messrs. 


Bradshaw  and  Wales  formed  a  partnership  which 
was  dissolved  by  the  death  of  Mr.  Bradshaw  in 
1852.  Mr.  Keith  removed  to  White  Cloud, 
Kan.,  before  the  war  and  on  the  breaking-out 
of  hostilities,  entered  the  service  and  rose  to  the 
rank  of  Colonel  ;  at  the  clo.se  of  the  war  he  re- 
turned to  his  practice  in  Doniphan  Co.,  Kan. 

Among  the  gentlemen  of  the  bar  in  Stark 
County,  against  whose  names  the  •'  fatal  aster- 
isk of  death  is  set,"  is  that  of  Hon.  William  K. 
Upham.  Mr.  Uphara  was  a  native  of  Vermont, 
a  son  of  Senator  Upham,  and  came  to  New 
Lisbon  about  the  year  1843.  and  after  practic- 
ing law  there  several  years,,  removed  to  Can- 
ton ;  he  was  a  distinguished  lawyer,  distin- 
guished in  all  that  is  included  in  the  term.  As 
is  now  recollected,  he  died  in  1807,  while  at- 
tending court  in  Malioning  Countj'.  Out  of  re- 
spect for  his  memory,  the  bar  of  Stark  County 
erected  a  beautiful  marble  monument  over  his 
remains  in  Canton  Cemetery. 

Mr.  Bowen,  on  his  di.ssolving  with  ^Ir.  Brad- 
shaw. went  first  to  Omaha.  Neb.,  and  after  a 
few  3'ears'  residence  there  went  to  Denver,  Colo., 
in  its  early  days,  where,  with  him,  "  life's  fitful 
fever  "  ended. 

Another  lawyer  who,  in  a  comparatively  early 
day.  was  a  meml)er  of  the  Stark  County  bar, 
was  Col.  Lyman  Huraphre}'.  a  resident  first  of 
Deerfield,  whence  he  removed  to  Marlborough, 
studied  with  Hon.  H.  (iriswold,  and  had  he 
commenced  early  in  life,  would  have  succeeded 
in  the  profession  as  he  was  above  what  is  termed 
the  average  man,  intellectually,  and  by  educa- 
tion. His  son,  Hon.  Lyman  U.  Huraphrey,  on 
the  1st  of  January,  1881,  closed  his  second  term 
as  Lieutenant  Governor  of  Kansas,  and  is  now 
engaged  in  a  successful  law  practice  in  that  State. 
After  the  war,  in  which  he  bore  a  conspicuous 
and  honorable  part,  he  went  West ;  the  respect 
entertained  for  him  by  the  citizens  of  his  native 
count}'  is  kindly  and  affectionately  reciprocated. 
A  later  addition  to  the  death  roll  of  Stark 
Count}'  lawyers  is  found  in  the  names  of  Horace 
P.  Dunbar,  Esq.,  of  Canton,  and  James  Harsh, 
Esq.,  of  Massillon.  Mr.  Dunbar  studied  and 
was  adraitted  at  Canton,  where  he  opened  an 
office,  and  continued  in  practice  until  1861, 
when  he  surrendered  to  the  "  King  of  Terrors." 
Mr.  Dunbar  was  one  of  the  raost  agreeable  gen- 
tlemen at  the  bar,  of  a  high  sense  of  honor  in 
practice  ;  he  will,  for  his  urbanit}'  and  agreeable, 
social  intercourse,  be  remembered  as  a  gentle- 


•-  ^.>. 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY 


267 


man  with  whom  it  was  pleasant  to  be  associated. 
Mr.  Harsii  was  a  native  of  Massillon,  studied 
Lis  profession  in  Fiiidlay,  Hancock  Co.,  wiiern 
be  married  Miss  O'Neill  and  l)ecame  a  memlier 
of  the  firm  of  O'Neill,  Blackford  &  Harsh.  Af- 
ter remaining  at  Findlay  a  few  years  after  ad- 
mission to  the  bar.  he  came  to  his  old  home  to 
engage  in  practice.  He  had  been  snl)ject  to 
hemorrhage  ol'  the  lungs  which  was  increased 
while  in  the  army,  where  he  served  as  Captain, 
and  death  followed  a  sudden  attack  in  1870. 
He  was  about  forty  \-ears  of  age  at  his  death,  and 
gave  promise  of  great  usefulness  as  a  lawyer. 
He  was  an  only  son  of  Hon.  George  Harsh,  of 
Massillon. 

In  1844,  Hon.  AiLson  Pease,  who  had  studied 
with  K.  H.  Folger  mo.st  of  the  time  required  by 
law.  receivcil  his  certificate  of  admission  to  the 
bar  and  at  once  opened  an  otHce  at  Massillon, 
where  iie  has  remained  in  active  practice. 
For  twentj'-four  out  of  the  thirty-seven  years 
that  have  elapsed  since  he  commenced  as  an 
attorney  and  counselor  at  law,  he  was  a  part- 
ner of  the  firm  of  Bierce  &  Pease,  then  of 
Pease  &  Ricks,  and  now  Pease  &  Baldwin. 
Mr.  Pease  was  a  member  of  the  Constitutional 
Convention  of  1874,  serving  on  important  com- 
mittees in  that  body,  and  commanding  the  re- 
spect of  the  members.  In  1847,  John  Lahra, 
Es(i.,  now  a  resident  of  Canton,  took  his  place 
among  the  lawyers  of  the  county,  and  has 
faithfully  kept  it  through  the  third  of  a  century 
that  has  since  elapsed,  commanding  the  respect 
of  the  court  and  his  brethren  as  well  as  the 
confidence  of  his  clients.  Three  years  of  the 
time  since  Mr.  Lahm  came  to  the  bar,  he  served 
as  Clerk  of  the  courts,  to  the  entire  acceptance 
of  the  bench  and  bar,  all  of  whom  entertain 
most  pleasant  recollections,  not  only  of  his 
urbane  and  gentlemanly  deportment,  but  of  the 
skill  and  ability  with  which  he  discharged  the 
duties  of  the  ofiicc. 

In  1851,  Hon.  Joseph  Frease.  who  had  lived 
in  the  county  from  l)oyhood,  came  from  Sugar 
Creek  Township,  to  the  liar,  having  studied,  as 
is  now  remembered,  with  Hon,  Hiram  (Jriswold. 
In  a  few  \'ears  he  was  elected  Prosecuting  At- 
torney, After  serving  one  term  in  that  posi- 
tion, he  was  elected  and  re-elected  Common 
Pleas  Judge,  and  was  succcedeil  at  the  annual 
election  in  1876,  hj-  Hon.  S.  Meyer,  the  present 
incumbent.  Excepting  the  time  Judge  Frease 
was  on  the  bench,  he   has  enjoyed   an  active 


practice  and  in  his  official,  professional  and 
personal  relations,  has  always  commanded  the 
esteem  and  confidence  of  the  community.  As 
a  Judge,  he  was  ever  courteous  and  conserva- 
tive, and  the  records  of  the  superior  judicial 
tribunals  of  Ohio,  will  show  as  few  reversals  of 
his  decisions  as  of  any  judge  who  has  filled  that 
position.  He  is  now  in  active  practice,  the  sen- 
ior member  of  the  firm  of  Frease  <.^  Case.  Anoth- 
er prominent  member  of  the  bar  during  his 
residence  in  this  county,  was  Hon.  William 
Dunbar,  who  practiced  successfully  in  the 
courts  of  the  State.  .\  portion  of  the  time 
during  his  residence  in  this  county,  he  was 
senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Dunbar  &  .Meyer, 
after  the  dissolution  of  which  firm  he  removed 
to  Mount  \'ernon,  Knox  Co,,  Ohio.  He  came 
to  the  bar  about  1 84:-i. 

About  the  same  time  Hon.  Thomas  (Joodman, 
now  a  respected  citizen  of  Chicago,  was  ad- 
mitted to  practice  but  paid  little  attention  to 
the  law.  Fire  Insurance  being  a  subject  to 
which  he  had  devoted  much  careful  study,  he 
sought  a  wider  field  in  which  to  labor  and  has 
met  with  success.  Among  the  Judges  of  the 
Ninth  Judicial  District  who  have  honored  Stark 
County  Common  Pleas  and  District  Courts  by 
their  presence,  the  names  of  Hon.  .^Iessrs.  Day, 
Hitchcock,  Belden,  Conant,  Hotl'raan,  Tuttle, 
Taylor,  the  two  brothers,  Horace  and  I']li  T. 
Wilder,  Potter.  Chaffee,  Church,  Woodbury, 
CanHold,  Ambler,  Clark,  Lauliie,  Lee,  Frease, 
Meyer,  .Vrren,  Sherman.  Spear,  will  ever  be 
held  in  kind  remembrance  by  the  brethren  of 
the  bar  of  Stark  County,  who  in  triumph  or 
defeat  have  appeared  before  them.  Among 
the  early  transcripts  from  Justices'  dockets  on 
file  in  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  is  one  of 
which  the  following  is  an  extract.  "  This  day 
came  the  said  parties,  and  the  defendant  being 
unruly  and  noisy,  was  ijy  the  court  ordered  into 
silence,  when  he  replied,  profanely  taking  the 
name  of  l!od  in  vain,  whereupon  he  was  by  the 
court  ordered  into  the  custody  of  the  Constable, 
and  becoming  more  noisy  and  profane,  he  was 
fined  25  cents,  and  on  his  swearing  by  the  sec- 
ond person  in  the  Trinity,  was  by  the  court 
fined  5(1  cents,  whereupon  hefioddamti  all  the 
Constables  in  the  township  of  Sugar  Creek,  and 
was  by  the  court  fined  75  cents,  when  he  he- 
came  so  disorderly  as  to  (lod  dam  all  the  Jus- 
tices of  the  Peace  in  the  township,  and  this 
court  in  particular,  for  which  he  was  fined  SI, 


268 


HISTOKV   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


making  a  total  sum  of  $2.25,  and  on  refusing 
to  pa}'  the  same,  execution  was  issued  therefor 
which  was  delivered  to  the  Constable,  who  re- 
turned tlie  same  in  due  time  unsatisfied,  for 
want  of  goods  and  chattels  whereon  to  levy. 
It  is  '  surmised,'  however,  that  the  defendant 
has  lands  and  tenements  sulyect  to  lev}-  and 
sale  on  execution."  In  those  days  and  under 
an  entry  stating  that  it  was  suggested  that  the 
defendant  had  lands  and  tenements  subject  to 
levy  and  sale  on  execution,  the  Common  Pleas 
was  authorized  to  issue  a  iSritr  Facins,  and 
bring  the  defendant  into  court,  and  if  he  was 
not  found  on  the  issuing  of  the  first,  a  second 
one  was  issued,  and  if  returned  "nihil"  the 
plaintiff"  was  entitled  to  an  execution  for  the 
Justices  judgment  and  costs. 

On  another  occasion,  the  writer,  in  the 
course  of  his  practice,  had  occasion  to  meet 
Mr.  James  B.  Craig,  then  a  young  gentleman, 
just  admitted,  before  the  same  justice,  and 
when  it  was  common  to  classify  actions  under 
the  nomenclature  of  the  English  Common  Law, 
such  as  assumpsit,  debt  and  covenant.  This 
was  known  as  an  iiidchitatiiii  Ksaumjisit,  for 
goods  sold  and  delivered.  The  plaintiflf  made 
out  his  case  and  rested,  when  Mr.  Craig,  now 
Gen.  Craig,  of  Missouri,  on  the  part  of  the  de- 
fendant, moved  for  a  nonsuit,  and  argued  his  mo- 
tion at  lensith  ;  the  plaintiffs  counsel  followed, 
and  Mr.  Craig  closed  the  argument,  where- 
upon the  Justice  decided  the  motion  "  thusly  :  " 
"  Well,  gentlemen,  you  have  argued  this  motion 
with  tact,  wit,  ingenuity  and  pathos,  but  the 
motion  is  overruled.  If  the  defendant  has  any 
proof,  let's  have  it."  On  Mr.  Craig  saying  he 
had  no  proof  to  offer,  the  Justice  at  once  ren- 
dered judgment  for  the  plaintiff',  saying  he 
thought  there  had  been  a  d — d  sight  of  fooling 
over  it,  and  that  it  was  about  time  to  stop  it. 
The  case  was  tried  in  Tuscarawas  County, 
to  which  the  Justice  had  removed.  Mr.  Craig 
shortly  afterward  removed  to  Jlissouri,  has 
been  a  member  of  Congress,  and  during  the 
war  rose  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier  General  ; 
he  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  force  of 
character. 

The  township  of  Sugar  Creek  is  entitled  to 
honorable  mention  for  having  furnished  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Stark  County  bar,  who,  althongh  he 
seldom  appeared  in  the  higher  courts,  was 
nevertiieless  a  gentleman  of  much  force  of 
character,  and  commanded  respect.     Reference 


is  had  to  Henry  W,  Stambaugh,  Esq.,  who,  after 
serving  many  years  as  a  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
was  admitted  to  practice  by  the  old  Supreme 
Court  on  the  Circuit  of  Canton.  He  was  a 
brother  of  the  late  Hon.  David  W.  Stambaugh, 
a  prominent  member  of  the  Ohio  bar  in  Tus- 
carawas County,  and  Senator  from  the  Third  Dis- 
trict at  the  time  of  his  deatii,  a  few  years  since. 

Among  the  .young  gentlemen  who  have  come 
to  the  bar,  and  passed  away  under  the  dispen- 
sation of  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  no  one  de- 
serves more  honorable  mention  tlian  Frank 
Spalter,  who,  in  September,  18,'i8,  entered  the 
office  of  Hon.  Louis  Schaefer,  in  Canton,  as  a 
student,  of  whom  Mr.  Schaefer  says,  "  he  was 
a  man  of  superior  intellect  and  acquirements, 
having  a  finished  French,  German  and  English 
education."  He  had  been  book-keeper  for  the 
well-known  house  of  Sharpless  &  Sons,  Phila- 
delphia. He  remained  in  Mr.  Schaefer's  office 
two  years,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  at 
CarroUton,  the  late  Hon.  William  K.  Upham 
being  of  the  examining  committee,  and  who 
remarked,  after  the  examination,  "  That  boy 
knows  more  about  the  elementary  books  than 
does  the  whole  committee.  " 

After  his  admission,  Mr.  Spalter  opened  an 
office  in  Canton,  and  continued  until  1861, 
when  he  was  one  of  the  first  to  enlist,  and  was 
killed  in  the  battle  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  in 
18C3.  He  was  a  native  of  Berlin,  now  the 
capital  of  the  German  Empire,  and  arrived  in 
the  United  States  in  185(i  ;  politically,  he  was 
a  thorough  Abolitionist,  and  exhibited  his  faith 
by  pouring  out  his  life's  blood  in  the  cause  of 
human  rights.  Mr.  Schaefer  was  his  friend  and 
patron,  and  with  characteristic  benevolence 
aided  him  all  through  his  studies,  '•  without 
fee  or  reward,  or  the  hope  thereof"  a  generosity 
that  was  well  timed,  as  Frank  was  without  a 
surplus  of  this  world's  goods  then.  Of  the 
judges  named  in  the  foregoing  list.  Judges 
Potter,  Church,  Belden  and  Canfield  have  gone 
to  their  final  account,  as  has  Judge  Pearce,  of 
the  old  organization. 

At  this  time,  it  is  believed  that  the  following 
is  a  correct  list  of  the  members  of  the  bar  in 
Stark  County. 

Canton. — Hon.  S.  Meyer,  Judge,  Messrs.  Frease 
&  Case  (this  firm  is  composed  of  Hon.  Joseph 
Frease  and  F.  E.  Case),  A.  D.  Braden,  J.  J. 
Parker,  J.  P.  Fawcett,  A.  C.  Hiner,  George  E. 
Baldwin,  and  Robert  S.  Shields,  of  the  firm  of 


H1.STOUY  OF    riXAUK    OOIXTY. 


269 


Baldwin  &  Shields,  Louis  Schaefer,  and  Louis 
>f.  Schaefer.  linn  of  SchaofcM'  &  Son,  Peter 
Chance,  Anihonv  House),  {'.  1{.  Miller,  John 
M.  .Myers.  Will  Wynn,  William  A.  Lynch, 
William  H.  May.  and  Austin  Lynch,  composing 
the  firm  of  Lynch.  Day  &  Lynch,  Turenne  C. 
Meyer,  and  William  J.  Piero.  firm  of  Meyer  & 
Piero,  Joim  Laiim,  ,J.  \V.  Cnderhill.  F.  W. 
Bond,  Charles  C.  Tpham,  K.  K.  Russell.  Julius 
Whiting,  Jr.,  L.  M.  Jones,  IL  H.  Spencer,  Henry 
A.  Wise,  Hon.  William  McKinley,  member  of 
Congress,  .Miner  McKinley,  Allen  A.  Carnes, 
T.  f .  McCarly.  J.  S.  Hudson.  H.  F.  Faust.  H. 
W.  Harter,  Prosecuting  Attorney,  Stark  County, 
William  W.  Clark,  and  James  J.  Clark,  firm  of 
W,  W.  &  J.  J.  Clark.  A.  W.  Hildenhrand,  Pro- 
hate  Judge.  G.  W.  Raff,  Col.  I*.  S.  Sowers,  and 
John  C.  Mong. 

MassiUoii. — Anson  T'ease  and  F.  L.  Baldwin, 
firm  of  Pease  &  Baldwin,  R.  H.  Folger  and 
John  0.  Oarrett.  firm  of  Folger  &  Garrett,  L. 
C.  Cole.  Mayor  of  the  city,  and  Robert  W.  Mc- 
Caughey,  firm  of  Cole  &  McCaughey.  Isaac 
Ulman,  Kugcne  G.  Willison,  Robert  .\.  Pinn, 
Otto  V,.  Young,  William  McMillan  and  Anilrew 
C.  Robertson. 

Allimuc. — Haryey  Laughlin.  Amos  Burden, 
A.  L.  Jones  ;  these  gentlemen  may  be  classed 
as  the  oldest  lawyers  in  Alliance,  having  been 
at  the  bar  thirty-seven,  thirty-two  and  twentj'- 
seven  years  respectively,  and  are  gentlemen 
who  command  respect,  all  having  held  ofticcs 
of  trust  and  profit,  and  are  prominent  in  the 
profession.  The  rest  of  the  members  of  the 
bar  in  that  flourishing  city  are  James  Amer- 
man.  Samuel  F.  Rsseck.  David  Fording,  William 
C  Pippitt.  .1.  M.  Harrison.  James  A.  Coulter. 
.\.  B.  Hoover.  Jndson  D.  Lewis,  James  C. 
Stanley.  >L  M.  King. 

Cnnol  Fulton. — William  G.  Myers  and  James 
Sterling. 

/f„,ir;/h—?i.  S.  Geib. 

Since  the  organization  of  the  county,  there 
have  been  many  who  have  entered  the  profes- 
sion, and  opened  oHices  in  various  portions  of 
the  county,  but  not  succeeding,  have  gone, 
some  into  other  professions,  and  of  some  it  may 
be  written  : 

"  Thfv,  the  younir  and  stronir.  wlio  ilicrislicd 

Noble' lonjrin.irs  for  tlif  strife. 

By  the  Wiiyside  fell  anil  perislicil. 

Wears'  with  the  marrh  of  life." 

Among  those,  however,  who  have  entered  the 


profession  in  this  county  at  comparatively  a 
late  dat(!  is  Gen.  Charles  F.  Manderson,  and 
whom  Stark  County  regards  one  of  her  own 
sons.  Mr.  Manderson,  in  lS(i().  in  March,  was 
admitted  to  practice  at  Ravenna,  Portage 
County,  after  having  studied  with  Hon.  Lewis 
Schaefer  and  the  late  Hon.  William  K.  Upham. 
On  tile  breaking-out  of  the  war  in  1861,  in 
April,  ,Mr.  Manderson  entered  the  army  as  a 
Lieutenant  in  Compan3^  A,  Nineteenth  Ohio 
Volunteer  Infantry,  Col.  Samuel  Beatty,  and 
continued  in  the  service  until  1H()5,  having 
risen  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier  General  of  \o\- 
unteers,  for  meritorious  services.  He  immedi- 
ately formed  a  partnership  with  Col.  Meyer, 
the  firm  being  Meyer  &  Manderson,  which 
lasted  until  October,  18()!1,  when  the  firm  was 
dissolved,  and  (ien.  Manderson  removed  to 
Omaha.  Neb.,  where  he  now  resides,  in  a  suc- 
cessful practice. 

In  181G.  the  old  court  house  of  Stark  County 
was  received  from  the  architect  and  builder  by 
the  Commissioners,  and  without  ceremony,  so 
far  as  can  be  ascertained,  dedicated  to  the  uses 
for  which  it  was  erected.  Those  who  have 
seen  the  court  houses  at  New  Philadelphia 
and  Millersburg  can  form  an  adequate  idea  of 
the  buildings  erected  as  temples  of  justice  in 
the  early  days  of  Ohio,  The  people  builded.  as 
well  as  they  knew,  they  were  willing  to  be 
taxed  all  that  they  could  bear,  and  the  old 
court  house  was  a  fair  specimen  of  the  public 
buildings  in  Ohio,  including  the  old  State 
House,  at  Columbus,  and  the  Cnited  States 
court  house  for  the  District  of  Ohio,  also  at 
Columbus,  which  will  be  remembered  as  having 
stood  in  front  of  th»>  first  Neil  House.  A  view 
of  the  last-described  buildings  will  be  found  in 
Howe's  Historical  Collections,  and  the  old 
Slate  House,  as  there  represented,  is  strikingly 
like  our  old  court  house.  With  all  its  imper- 
fections, it  has  pleasant  memories.  Within  its 
walls,  the  old  members  of  the  bench  and  bar 
named  in  these  sketches,  who  have  gone  ■■  to 
the  promised  land,"  achieved  a  reputation  that 
will  last  while  words  are  preserved.  In  that 
old  building,  the  first  death  penalty  in  Stark 
County  was  pronounced,  the  case  being  The 
State  of  Ohio  cs.  (Christian  Bachtel,  the  indict- 
ment in  which  was  prosecuted  by  Messrs. 
Starkweather  &  Jarvis,  the  defense  being 
managed  by  Messrs.  John  Harris  and  Orlando 
Metcalf.     Few  remain  who  witnessed  that  trial. 


270 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


Forty-eigiit  years  have  passed  into  the  great 
ocean  of  time,  bat  tlie  circumstance  is  not  for- 
gotten, too  sadly  liave  recent  similar  events 
refreshed  the  mem  or  \- of  the  long  past.  The 
old  building  has  gone  ;  it  onlj'  graces  the  page 
of  history.  In  1867,  Oen.  Ed  F.  Schneider,  a 
member  of  the  bar.  and  Senator  from  this  dis- 
trict, and  who  died  in  the  city  of  Berlin,  the 
seat  of  govfrnraent  ot  the  German  Empire, 
while  making  a  tour  of  Europe,  procured  the 
necessary  legislation  to  enalile  the  Commis- 
sioners of  the  county  to  build  a  new  court 
house.     The   Commissioners  at  once  took  the 


necessary  steps,  the  work  was  let  to  contrac- 
tors, and  finished  for  occupation  at  the  Febru- 
ary term  of  the  Common  Pleas  Court,  A.  D. 
1870.  The  taking  possession  of  the  noble  struc- 
ture, the  gathering  together  of  a  large  num- 
ber of  the  citizens  of  the  county,  the  presence 
of  distinguished  members  of  the  bar  from  neigh- 
boring counties,  among  whom  were  Hon.  John 
McSweeny,  of  Wooster.  and  Hon.  J.  T.  Brooks, 
of  Salem,  all  tended  to  clothe  the  occasion  with 
uncommon  interest.  The  proceedings  of  the 
court  and  bar  on  that  occasion  will  be  found  in 
the  chapter  on  the  organization  of  the  county. 


C  II  AFTER     \ll.* 

THK   MEDTTAL    PROFES.SION  —  KARLV    PRACTICE    AXD    PRACTITIONERS  — I'REVALFNT  DISEASES  — 
AUVANXH   IN   .MKDU'AL  AND  SI'lKUCiL  SCIENiK. 


DIVINITY,  Law  and  Medicine  are  institu- 
tions that  characterize  civilized  society. 
They  constitute  the  foundation  upon  which  the 
distinctive  features  of  our  superstructure  rest. 
The  heathen  has  his  religion  ;  the  barbarian,  a 
law  unto  himself,  and  the  savage,  a  crude  idea 
■of  the  healing  art ;  but  what  are  known  and  rec- 
ognized as  the  /ciinicd  professions,  exist  only 
among  enlightened  nations. 

In  the  beginning,  the  first  of  these  most  likely 
called  into  requisition,  was  that  of  medicine. 
The  "  accidents  by  flood  and  Held,"  and  the 
'•  ills  that  flesh  is  heir  to,"  must  be  met  and 
treated.  How  successfully,  would  depend  upon 
the  progress  made  bj*  observation  and  experi- 
ence. In  the  early  settlement  of  Stark  County, 
the  inhabitants  were  in  a  measure  thrown  upon 
their  own  resources  for  the  means  whereby  to 
relieve  suflfering  humanity.  The  first  case  of 
sickness  and  death  that  occurred  in  the  county 
was  that  of  James  Culbertson,  in  the  fall  of 
1805.  He  was  in  the  employ  of  James  F.  Leo- 
nard, surveyor  and  land  jobber,  as  an  assistant, 
and  his  duties  consisted  mainly  in  helping 
about  camp,  procuring  food,  cooking,  and  aid- 
ing to  show  emigrants  land.  From  cxpDsnre. 
he  contracted  a  severe  cold,  which  settled  upon 
his  lungs.  There  was  no  ph3'sieian  nearer  than 
Steubenville,  a  distance  of  sixty  miles,  and  it 
was  out  of  the  question  to  send  there  for  help, 

•  Ccintributed  liy  Dr.  Lew  Slusscr. 


SO  his  comrades  had  no  alternative  but  to  do 
what  they  could  for  his  relief  They  made  a 
decoction  of  snake  root,  which  they  gave  him  ; 
applied  hot  fomentations  to  his  chest,  and  as 
his  prospects  of  recovery  became  darker,  ad- 
ministered spiritual  consolation.  The  man  died 
on  the  fourth  day  after  he  was  taken  down  and 
was  buried  on  the  Keed  farm,  immediately 
north  of  the  present  location  of  the  county  fair 
grounds. 

The  second  death  was  that  of  a  son  of  John 
Bowers,  of  Nimishillen  Tp.  He  was  taken  with 
a  fever  in  winter  of  1800-7.  The  few  neighbors 
— none  nearer  than  five  miles — were  promptly 
on  hand  with  profl'ers  of  assistance  in  whatever 
way  it  could  be  rendered.  Every  means  sug- 
gested that  was  within  reach,  was  tried,  but  to 
no  avail.  The  boy  lingered  and  died.  He  was 
buried  in  the  woods  and  a  tree  cut  to  fall  upon 
the  grave  that  the  body  might  not  be  disturl)ed 
by  the  wolves.  The  first  case  of  surgery  that 
occurred  in  the  count}-  was  that  of  Philip 
Smith,  residing  in  the  same  township.  While 
at  work  clearing  he  was  struck  by  a  limb  of  a 
falling  tree,  and  his  leg  broken  in  two  places. 
A  young  son  with  him  at  the  time  immediately 
started  for  help,  and  in  a  few  houns  several  of 
his  neighbors  were  on  hand,  ready  to  render 
such  assistance  as  they  were  able.  No  time 
was  lost  sending  for  a  doctor,  as  there  was  none 
within  reach.     A  few  minutes'  consultation  de- 


HISTORY   OF    STAItK    COIN'TV. 


cided  a  plan  of  action.  Tliej-  straightened  the 
fractured  liml).  enveloped  it  with  elm  l):irk 
peeled  from  the  tree  and  held  the  splints  in 
place  l)y  wrapping  them  with  withes.  lie  was 
Uiken  home  on  a  sled,  and  as  he  was  addicted 
to  an  indulgence  in  intoxicatingdrink.  he  begged 
for  a  dram.  This  only  excited  a  taste  for  more, 
and  he  was  allowed  to  have  it,  or  rather  his  wife 
was  compelled  to  furnish  it.  There  is  a  witness 
still  living  who  will  testify  that  Philip  Smith, 
while  confined  to  his  bed  six  weeks  with  a 
broken  leg.  drank  six  gallons  of  whisky.  At  the 
end  of  that  time  the  splints  were  removed  and 
the  leg  was  to  all  appearaiice  i)erfect,  and  upon 
subsequent  trial,  lound  completely  restored. 
This,  in  proof  of  the  common  saving,  that  the 
whisky  of  olden  times  was  less  pernicious  in  its 
eflecls  upon  tlie  human  system  than  that  manu- 
factured at  the  present  day. 

Tlie  first  birth  in  the  county  was  in  180tj, 
a  boy.  to  the  wife  of  Hugh  Cunningham,  a  resi- 
dent of  Plain  Township.  On  this  occasion, 
Mrs.  Jacob  Loutzenheiser,  mother  of  Judge 
Peter  Loutzenheiser.  otHciated  as  midwife. 
For  man}-  years  after  the  settlement  of  the 
county,  and  long  after  physicians  were  within 
reach,  was  it  the  custom  to  empio}-  females  in 
cases  of  this  nature.  It  was  a  rare  case  that 
a  physician  was  called  in.  And,  so  far  as  re- 
sults are  known  of  success  in  the  management 
of  bthnr  in  former  years,  as  compared  with 
later  times,  it  is  lielieved,  b}-  those  who  have 
investigated  the  subject,  that  the  showing  is  in 
favor  of  ■■  ye  olden  times."  This  may  be  account- 
ed for,  either  in  the  habits  of  pioneer  life  being 
more  favoralile  to  developing  and  strengthen- 
ing the  system,  thereby  better  enabling  the 
patient  to  withstand  the  wear  and  tear  of 
labor  ;  or,  because  there  was  less  interference 
with  the  otTorts  of  nature. 

Fifty  years  ago,  there  were  but  few  medical 
colleges  in  the  United  States,  and  graduates 
were  not  then,  as  now,  roaming  over  the 
country  seeking  situations.  The  population 
of  Stark  County  had  attained  considerable 
growth  before  a  phj-sician  settled  among  them, 
and  after  the  first,  it  wsis  years  before  the 
second  came.  To  a  gi'cat  extent,  the  people 
were  compelled  to  rely  upon  themselves  for 
relief  in  case  of  sickness  or  accident.  In  ever}' 
community,  there  were  those  who  pretended 
to  a  knowledge  of  disease  and  its  treatment. 
They  were  not  governed  by  principles  in  practice. 


Theirs  was  a  routine  system.  It  was  bleed. 
l)lister  and  physic.  No  matter,  whether  the 
individual  had  been  kicked  by  a  horse,  had 
the  ague  or  the  itch,  all  the  same,  he  must 
be  bled,  and  then  jjliysicked.  In  springtime, 
the  house  of  the  man  who  had  a  lancet,  and 
could  bleed,  was  a  sort  of  trystingplace  on 
Sundays,  where  young  i)eople,  especially 
women  in  an  interesting  condition,  would  col- 
lect, in  order  to  be  bled,  under  an  impression 
that  it  was  good  for  the  health.  The  gunsmith 
and  blacksmith  pulled  teeth.  They  would 
wrap  the  fulcrum  of  a  turnkey  with  a  silk 
handkerchief  and  yank  out  the  largest  molar. 
They  opened  felons  with  a  razor. 

A  large  proportion  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Stark  C(junty  were  of  (ierman  descent,  and  not 
favorably  disposed  toward  a  liberal  education. 
They  were  inclined  to  be  superstitious,  and 
believed  in  the  power  of  words  as  a  remedial 
agent.  There  were  those  who  claimed  they 
could,  by  words,  stop  bleeding,  take  out  fire, 
arrest  a  felon,  cure  sore  mouth,  check  the  tits, 
and  perform  divers  other  miraculous  feats. 

The  diseases  most  prevalent  in  early  times, 
were  of  a  malarious  character.  Fever  and 
ague,  bilious  fever,  and  dysentery,  during  the 
summer,  and  pneumonia  and  pleurisy  in  the 
winter.  The  orthodox  treatment  of  the  former 
was  by  bleeding,  emeto-cathartics,  and  Peru- 
vian bark.  Quinine  had  not  then  been  intro- 
duced. The  chief  domestic  remedies  were 
boneset,  dogwood,  and  snakeroot.  The  treat- 
ment of  pneumonia  and  pleurisy  was  bleeding, 
blistering,  calomel,  opium  and  tartar-emetic. 
The  absurd  practice  of  interdicting  cold  water 
in  fever,  and  excluding  fresh  air  from  the  sick- 
room, was  religiously  observed.  T'he  physical 
laljor  attending  practice  at  that  day,  was,  at 
times,  very  great.  The  only  way  of  getting 
o\er  the  country  was  on  horseback.  The  roads 
were  rough,  and  in  the  winter,  very  muddy. 
Often  much  of  the  distance  to  a  house  was  l)y 
a  bridle-path.  Hut  few  of  the  streams  were 
bridge<l.  and  in  time  of  high  water,  there  was 
no  alternative  Init  to  plunge  in  and  swim  across. 
It  was  not  an  unfrequent  occurrence  for  the 
I  physician  to  be  called  after  night,  fifteen  or 
twenty  miles  away,  much  of  the  distance  over 
muddy  roads  and  through  dense  forests  ;  the 
place,  a  log-cabin  with  only  one  room,  and  no 
resting-spot  save  the  puncheon  fioor. 

Since    then,  a   wonderful    change   has  been 


—       9 


272 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


wrought,  not  only  in  lightening  the  labor  of 
professional  work,  but  what  is  more  generally 
appreciated  and  commended,  in  those  things 
which  minister  to  the  relief  of  the  sick.  Al- 
most ever}'  branch  of  scientific  research  has 
contributed  to  the  advancement  of  the  science 
of  all  sciences — the  conservation  of  human 
life.  Through  chemistry,  microscopy,  exper- 
imental physiology,  new  and  more  perfect 
methods  of  investigating  disease  have  been 
introduced  by  which  its  diagnosis  has  become 
more  certain.  The  discover}-  has  been  made 
by  pharmaceutical  chemists  of  the  active  prin- 
ciples of  various  drugs,  by  which  they  have 
been  rendered  more  certain  in  their  effect, 
and  less  nauseous.  In  therapeutics,  the  mod- 
ern physician  has  many  advantages  over 
his  predecessor  in  the  facility  and  safety  with 
which  surgical  operations  can  be  performed 
under  the  influence  of  ether  or  chloroform  and 
the  use  of  medicines  hypoderraically,  more 
especially  for  the  speedy  relief  of  intense  pain. 
He  has  chloral  hydrate,  the  bromides  and  man}- 
other  valuable  remedies  unknown  as  medicine 
in  former  years.  Different  systems  of  practice 
have  arisen  in  the  past,  and  will  in  the  future. 
It  is  for  the  regular  .scientific  physician  to  in- 
vestigate their  respective  merits,  appropriate 
what  is  good,  and  reject  that  which  is  worthless. 
From  hydropathy,  he  has  discovered  that  water 
is  generally  a  harmless  comfort  to  the  sick, 
whether  u.sed  externally  or  internally,  and  has 
many  valuable  uses  as  a  curative  agent, 
though  not  a  cure-all.  Homoeopathy  has  taught 
what  nature  will  do  for  the  restoration  of  dis- 
turbed functional  action.  Eclecticism  enlarged 
the  field  of  vegetable  remedies,  and  barren 
must  be  the  new  system,  claiming  the  patron- 
age of  community  that  has  not  some  merit. 

Scientific  medicine — that  grounded  upon  ra- 
tional ideas,  has  acquired  such  momentum  that 
all  medical  pathirs  and  ixms  can  have  but  one 
of  two  fates — extinction  or  absorption.  They 
may  exist  for  a  time  in  name,  but  they  die  in 
fact.  The  aggregate  experience  and  accumu- 
lated learning  of  the  profession,  inevitably  as- 
similate all  that  is  good,  and  as  surely  elimi- 
nate all  that  is  bad  or  nonsensical  in  patholog- 
ical or  therapeutic  theories.  For  centuries, 
medicine  has  constantly  advanced,  appropriat- 
ing to  itself  all  that  is  demonstrably  efficient 
in  the  alleviation  of  bodily  ills,  however  irreg- 
ular its  source.     It  has  in  its  ranks,  an  army 


of  pioneers,  sappers  and  miners,  armed  with  all 
the  appliances  of  advanced  science,  toiling  day 
and  night,  from  youth  to  old  age,  in  an  effort 
to  discover  something  still  more  efficacious  for 
the  relief  of  suffering  humanity.  There  can  be 
no  "schools"  in  scientific  medicine.  Truth 
has  no  compromises  to  make.  Opposition  only 
lives  l\y  martyrdom  or  imitation,  or  both  com- 
bined. Medicine  is  progessive,  and  the  com- 
ing physician  will  have  advantages  far  sur- 
passing those  of  the  present  day,  in  methods 
and  instruments  for  exact  diagnosis,  more  cer- 
tain knowledge  as  to  the  action  of  medicines, 
and  understand  better  the  effect  of  certain  ail- 
ments and  occupations  on  the  human  organ- 
ism. As  we  review  the  past,  and  reflect  upon 
the  progress  made,  we  wonder  what  will  the 
future  bring  forth  '!  In  the  hope  that  a  short 
biographical  sketch  of  the  early  practitioners 
of  the  county  would  add  to  the  historical  in- 
terest of  the  work,  we  have  gathered  the  fol- 
lowing list.  No  statement  has  been  made  not 
believed  to  be  truthful.     The  writer  would 


Nor 


"  Nothing  extenuate 
■t  down  aught  in  malice.' 


The  first  physician  located  in  Stark  County 
was  Andrew  Kappe.  He  was  born  in  Paris, 
France,  17"!'.  Having  lost  both  his  parents 
when  quite  young,  he  was  left  to  the  care  of  an 
aunt,  residing  near  the  border  of  Germany. 
His  medical  education  was  obtained  in  Frank- 
fort-on-the-Rhine.  After  serving  several  years 
as  Surgeon  in  the  army,  he  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica, sailing  from  Hamburg,  September  11, 1804, 
and  landing  at  Baltimore  May  5,  1805,  the 
voyage  occupying  over  seven  months.  He  re- 
mained in  Baltimore  about  one  year,  then  came 
to  Steuben ville,  where  he  resided  until  1808. 
The  same  year  he  changed  his  location  to  Can- 
ton, where  he  remained  the  rest  of  his  life. 
His  practice  extended  over  a  wide  range  of 
country — l)e}ond  the  Tuscarawas  Ki^■er  and 
east  of  Sandy.  The  difficulty  of  obtaining  for- 
eign drugs  at  that  early  day.  compelled  him  in 
many  instances  to  rely  upon  indigenous  plants. 
To  prepare  them  for  use  involved  much  time 
and  labor,  and  he  was  often  compelled  to  work 
late  at  night  after  a  day  spent  in  visiting  dis- 
tant patients.  On  one  occasion,  while  manipu- 
lating with  an  acid,  an  explosion  took  place, 
throwing  some  of  the  ingredient  into  his  eye 
whereby  it  was  destroyed.     He  was  very  ex- 


IIISTOUY   OF    STARK    COINTV 


acting  in  his  treatment  of  patients,  insisting 
upon  every  direction  being  carefully  observed. 
He  was  proprietor  of  an  eye  salve,  Icnown  as 
"  Dr.  Happe's  Invalual)le  E3-e  Salve,"  selling 
large  ipiantities  and  gaining  for  it  considerable 
local  reputation.  He  obtained  the  formula 
from  a  French  i)liysician  aboard  the  vessel  in 
which  he  sailed  to  America.  During  the  voy- 
age, this  ph3-sician  was  taken  seriously  ill,  and 
Dr.  Kappe  gave  him  special  attention.  On  his 
recovery,  feeling  grateful  for  the  services  ren- 
dered him,  he  said  to  Dr.  Rappe  that  money  lie 
had  none,  but  he  had  the  recipe  for  an  ■■  inval- 
uable eye  salve  "  which  he  would  give  him,  with 
the  request  that  he  would  never  part  with  it — 
and  he  never  did,  it  being  kept  in  the  family  to 
this  day.  Dr.  Rappe  was  married  in  Steuben- 
ville  to  Mary  .'^liorb,  daughter  of  John  Shorb. 
They  had  seven  children,  only  three,  however, 
lived  through  infancy.  These  were  John  8. 
Rappe.  now  of  Upper  Sandusky,  Ohio;  the 
late  Mrs.  Henry  H.  .Myers,  and  the  late  Mrs. 
Louisa  Faber  Kimball.  The  Doctor  died  Feb- 
ruary 5.  1842.  of  pleurisy,  after  a  short  illness, 
leaving  property  of  considerable  value,  ac- 
(jnired  by  professional  industrj'. 

William  Gardner  came  from  Albany,  N.  Y., 
and  located  in  Kendall  (now  "P'ourtli  Ward  "  of 
.^lassillon)  in  1813.  He  was  married  in  1816 
to  Sarah  B.  Earl,  daughter  of  the  hotel  pro- 
prietor with  whom  he  boarded.  The  j'ear  fol- 
lowing, he  removed  to  Norwalk,  Huron  County, 
where  he  continued  in  active  practice  until 
182.5,  when  he  returned  to  Stark  County  and 
settled  in  Canton.  Here  he  remained  until  his 
death  in  1833.  Dr.  Gardner  was  heavj-set, 
broad-shouldered,  quick  in  action  and  highly 
esteemed  for  integrit}-.  He  was  regarded  a 
man  of  more  than  ordinary  abilitj',  aud  had  an 
extensive  practice.  Independent  iu  thought, 
he  did  not  hesitate  to  express  his  opinions, 
though  in  opposition  to  the  popular  current. 
His  law  suit  with  Nicholas  Lichley,  will  be  re- 
membered by  many  still  living.  A  daughter 
of  Lichley  had  .some  trouble  of  the  e^-es  and 
was  brought  to  Gardner  for  treatment.  Instead 
of  improving,  under  various  applications,  her 
sight  became  worse,  and  finally  she  went  totallj- 
blind.  Lichley,  being  an  impulsive  man,  and 
rather  free  talker,  did  not  hesitate  to  charge 
Gardner  with  mal-treating  the  ease,  whenever 
the  subject  was  introduced  in  his  presence. 
This  talk  became  verv  annoying  to  Dr.  (lardner, 


and  for  the  puri)ose  of  vindicating  himself 
brought  suit  for  slander,  laying  his  damages  at 
$2,01(0.  His  attorneys  were  Harris  &  Belden. 
Lichley  employed  Starkweather  -and  Jarvis. 
They  were  the  two  strongest  firms  at  the  Stark 
County  bar.  The  case  excited  a  wide-spread 
interest,  and  the  court  house  was  crowdeil  dur- 
ing the  progress  of  the  trial.  Starkweather 
was  then  in  the  zenith  of  his  reputation  as  a 
jury  lawyer.  He  had  the  blind  girl  seated  in 
front  of  the  jury  while  he  addres,sed  them,  aud 
whenever  he  made  an  appeal  in  behalf  of  his 
client,  the  poor  girl  would  turn  up  her  sightless 
orbs,  imploring,  as  it  were,  sympathy  ibr  her 
father.  The  defense  claimed  that  the  blindness 
was  caused  by  culpable  carelessness — introduc- 
ing into  the  eyes  something  different  from  what 
was  intended — aud  this  theory  w.as  sustained 
by  the  testimonj-  of  Dr.  Bennett,  a  well  known, 
reputable  physician  of  Bolivar.  The  jury  re- 
turned a  verdict  for  the  defendant ;  thereupon, 
Lichley  brought  suit  against  Gardner  ibr  mal- 
practice, laying  his  damages  at  SI 0,000.  Be- 
fore the  trial  was  reached,  Gardner  died  and 
the  case  was  withdrawn.  This  was  the  first 
mal-practice  suit  in  the  count}-. 

The  two  Bonfields,  John  and  Thomas  S., 
brothers,  settled  in  Canton  soon  after  the  war 
of  1812.  They  were  from  Baltimore,  and  both 
graduates  of  the  medical  school  of  that  citj'. 
John  was  an  Assistant  Surgeon  of  the  arm}-  at 
the  time  of  the  attack  upon  Fort  McHenry. 
He  was  a  strange  genius,  and  many  thought  too 
much  learning  had  disturbed  his  balance.  He 
was  slovenly  in  dress,  wore  his  hair  long  and 
straggling,  and  would  often  appear  with  a  red 
bandana  as  a  neck-tie.  He  was  slow  of  speech, 
and  kept  his  horse  so  poor  that  the  boys  would 
caw  after  him  on  the  streets.  Many  reposed 
great  faith  in  his  medical  skill,  particularly  in 
the  treatment  of  fevers.  He  had  an  itching  for 
olflce,  and  was  repeatedly  a  candidate,  though 
never  successful.  He  came  within  one,  in  a 
race  of  half  a  dozen  for  the  County  Treasurer's 
office.  He  married  a  daughter  of  William  Cun- 
ningham, by  whom  he  had  several  children. 
Several  years  after  her  death,  he  returnt'il  to 
Baltimore,  where  he  died  in  1835. 

Thomas  S.  was  very  unlike  his  brother  John. 
He  was  a  tidy,  dapper  young  man,  fluent  talker, 
(piick  in  his  movements,  and  prompt  to  respond 
to  calls.  He  was  a  fast  rider,  stood  in  his  slir- 
ru()s.  projecting  his  body  forward,  apparcnitly 


y^: 


274 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


iroing  taster  than  liis  horse.  He  was  popular 
as  a  physician,  and  had  an  extensive  practice. 
He  died  in  1855,  leaving  a  large  landed  estate, 
now  very  valuable. 

Thomas  Hartford  came  from  Connecticut, 
and  settled  in  Canton  in  1818.  He  was  a  kind 
iiearted  man,  and  generous  to  the  poor,  as  the 
following  rrr/titfiiit  notice  in  a  RijKisitori/  of 
1S20  would  indicate  : 

■•  Dr.  Thomas  Hartford  herchi/  informs  such 
as  are  in  indigent  circumstances,  in  the  county 
of  Stark,  that  in  eases  of  sickness,  mh-icr  and 
merJiriiie  will  be  given  to  them  gratia." 

That  he  was  not  prompted  to  make  this  offer 
from  ulterior  motix'cs,  is  evident  from  the  be- 
quest in  his  will,  giving  a  large  proportion  of 
his  real  estate  to  the  poor  of  Canton.  After 
some  ten  years  of  general  practice,  Dr.  Hartford 
engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  ;  and.  about 
1833"  removed  to  Pittsburgh.  Penn. 

James  Jerow  came  to  Canton  in  1820.  He 
was  from  one  of  the  New  England  States,  and 
was  reputed  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  intel- 
ligence, and  well  educated  in  his  profession. 
In  managing  a  case,  he  was  ver^-  decided  and 
exacting,  and  would  tolerate  no  interference. 
If  there  was  any  hesitancy  about  carrying  out 
his  instructions,  any  distrust  manifested  as  to  his 
skill  or  judgment,  or  a  disposition  to  try  a 
remedy  recommended  by  another,  straightway 
would  he  give  the  parties  to  understand  tiiat 
unless  he  had  the  exclusive  and  uninterrupted 
control  of  the  case  he  would  retire.  He  would 
take  the  whole  responsibilitj'  or  none.  He  died 
in  1825  of  a  malignant  fever.  John  Coulter, 
the  first  medical  student  in  Stark  County, 
studied  with  Dr.  Jerow. 

Justin  Scott,  a  surgeon  in  the  war  of  1812, 
located  in  Kendall  about  the  year  1815.  From 
what  can  l)e  learned  of  him.  he  was  regarded 
b}'  the  community  a  well  qualified  physician 
and  a  skillful  surgeon.  He  remained  in  Kendall 
several  years,  then  removed  to  Burton,  Geauga 
County,  Ohio. 

George  Breysacher  was  born  and  educated 
in  Germany,  and  settled  in  Canton  in  1819.  It 
was  said  he  had  been  a  Surgeon  under  Bona- 
parte, which  gave  him  considerable  reputation. 
He  did  an  extensive  practice,  particularly  among 
the  German  people,  native  and  foreign.  He 
was  a  fine  horseman  and  a  great  hunter,  always 
rode  at  break-neck  speed  with  several  dogs  fol- 
lowing him.     He  was  once  seen  comins;  into 


town  with  two  deer  on  his  horse  that  he  had 
shot.  He  died  in  1844.  One  of  his  sous, 
Augustus  L.,  was  a  Surgeon  in  the  confederate 
army,  and  Medical  Director  of  Hardee's  Corps. 

Joseph  Simmons  was  one  of  the  early  phy- 
sicians of  Canton.  He  came  from  Pennsylvania 
in  1820  ;  was  a  man  of  fine  personal  appearance, 
scrupulously  neat  in  dress,  and  bore  himself 
with  an  aristocratic  air.  He  did  not  succeed 
in  securing  a  satisfactory  run  of  business,  not 
because  of  any  question  as  to  his  ((ualifica- 
tions,  but  by  reason  of  this  seeming  hauteur  in 
his  manner.  The  same  has  driven  many  a 
well-qualified  young  man  from  the  ranks,  while 
a  bloviating  ignoramus  has  succeeded  in  mak- 
ing money.  Dr.  Simmons  remained  in  Canton 
about  ten  years,  when  he  removed  to  Cincinnati. 
There  he  continued  several  years,  then  changed 
his  location  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  died  about 
two  years  ago. 

Joseph  Watson  was  of  Quaker  descent,  born 
in  1798,  near  Philadelphia,  Penn.  His  ele- 
mentary education  was  such  as  the  scant  oppor- 
tunities of  the  time  and  place  afforded.  He 
eomme^lced  the  study  of  medicine  in  1821. 
with  Dr.  Wood,  of  Lycoming  County,  remain 
ing  with  him  a  year.  In  the  fall  of  1822,  he 
came  West,  stopping  in  Wrightstown.  Belmont 
Co.,  Ohio.  Here  he  resumed,  the  study  with 
Dr.  Hartley,  and  continued  with  him  until  he 
decided  to  look  up  a  location  to  practice.  He 
visited  Cadiz,  New  Philadelphia,  Wooster  and 
Dover  (now  called  Dalton),  and  when  he  made 
known  at  the  latter  place  the  object  of  his  visit, 
he  was  so  strongly  urged  to  settle  among  them 
that  he  decided  to  do  so.  The  town  was  with- 
out a  physician,  and  he  had  several  calls  before 
he  could  hang  out  a  shingle.  He  soon  had  all 
he  wanted  to  do.  His  work  was  laborious. 
Disturbed  at  all  hours  of  the  night,  long  rides 
over  rough  roads,  exposed  to  all  kinds  of 
weather,  will  eventually  dampen  the  zeal  of 
most  men,  so  after  a  residence  of  ten  years  in 
Dover,  Dr.  Watson  concluded  to  change  the 
field  of  his  operations,  and,  in  the  fall  of  1833. 
came  to  Massillon,  which  at  that  time  was  the 
rising  town  of  this  part  of  the  State.  While  in 
practice  at  Massillon,  he  had  several  partners, 
including  Dr.  Michener  and  Dr.  Bowen,  both 
men  of  well-known  professional  reputation.  Dr. 
Watson  withdrew  from  active  practice  about 
1843  and  engaged  in  the  drug  business,  in 
which  he  built  up  a  large  wholesale  and  retail 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


tiiule.  In  this  he  eoiitiiuieil  until  1877,  when  ad- 
monished liy  advancing:  years  und  failing  vigor, 
that  it  was  lime  for  him  to  retire  I'rom  active 
work.  Dr.  Watson  was  married  in  1824  to 
Mar}'  Ann  Walton,  of  Columbiana  Co..  Ohio. 
The  couple  are  enjoying  life's  peaceful  evening 
together — the  only  remaining  link  in  the 
county  connecting  the  old-time  practitioners 
with  the  present. 

Beriah  Brooks,  John  Shaw  and  Josiah  (!ale 
were  physicians  who  located  in  Kendall  be- 
tween 1820  and  1825.  Brooks  moved  over  to 
Massillon  as  soon  as  it  was  started,  and  died 
there  in  1881.  dale  abandoned  practice  for  a 
contract  on  the  canal,  and  Shaw,  after  remain- 
ing several  years,  left  for  parts  unknown. 

Thomas  and  John  Townsend.  brothers,  re- 
moved from  Wooster  to  Massillon  about  the 
year  1828.  and  set  up  in  [jractice  together. 
They  remained  a  few  years,  when  Thomas  went 
to  Wheeling.  Va.,  where  he  died.  The  last 
known  of  John  he  had  drifted  to  California. 

Robert  Estep  was  born  in  Fayette  Co.,  Penn., 
in  1793  ;  served  an  apprenticeship  at  the  trade 
of  silversmith  ;  pursued  that  calling  several 
years,  when  he  concluded  to  study  medicine. 
After  reading  eighteen  months,  he  commenced 
practice  in  I'aris,  .^tark  Co..  in  1824.  He  soon 
ac(|uired  a  widespread  reputation,  not  only  as 
a  skilful  practitioner,  but  as  a  surgeon  of  more 
than  ordinary  ability.  Twice  he  performed  the 
Cicsarean  section,  the  only  physician  of  the 
county  that  ever  attempted  it.  He  several 
times  operated  for  cataract  and  cut  for  stone. 
In  1834.  he  removed  to  Canton,  where  he  en- 
joyed an  extensive  practice  until  his  death  in 
1852.  at  the  age  of  fifty-uine.  The  honorary 
degree  of  M.  1).  was  conferred  upon  him  by  the 
Ohio  Medical  College,  in  1835. 

Joseph  H.  Kstep.  -son  of  Robert  Estep.  was 
horn  in  ISlSt.  He  followed  painting  until 
twenty-three,  when  he  took  u|)  the  study  of 
medicine,  lie  read  with  his  father,  and  grad- 
uated at  the  Cleveland  Medical  College  in 
1847.  He  commenced  practice  at  Waynes- 
burg,  and  soon  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  prf)fit- 
ablc  run  of  custom.  When  the  California  gold 
excitement  overspread  the  land,  he  yielded  to 
the  temptation  and  went  there.  He  remained 
there  several  years,  during  which  time  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  first  Legislature.  On 
his  return  in  1852,  he  settled  in  Canton.  Here 
he  continued  in  practice  until  failing  health  in- 


duced him  to  return  to  California  in  1873.  He 
died  in  187().  Dr.  Estep  was  twice  married. 
His  first  wife  was  Miss  Policy.  l)y  whonj  he 
had  three  children.  His  second  wife  was  Miss 
Rank  ;  Ijy  her  he  had  no  issue.  He  was  a  man 
of  considerable  natural  talent,  an  original 
genius,  a  ready,  forcible  writer,  not  much  of  a 
stuilent.  but  extravagantly  fond  of  light  litera- 
ture, and  inclined  to  take  the  world  easy. 

Perkins  Wallace  was  born  in  Trumbull  Coun- 
ty, Ohio,  in  1808.  Studied  medicine  with  Dr. 
Thomas  Bonfield.  Canton,  and  graduated  at  the 
Ohio  Medical  College,  Cincinnati,  in  1833.  Hi; 
commenced  the  practice  of  medicine  at  Bran- 
dy wine  Mills.  Summit  Co.;  from  thence  he 
removed  to  Akron,  where  he  remained  al)out 
two  years,  when  he  again  changed  his  location 
to  Massillon.  Here  he  continued  until  1850,  do- 
ing an  extensive  practice.  Considerations  out- 
side of  professional,  influenced  him  to  remove 
to  Canton,  where  he  remained  until  his  death 
in  18(i8,  aged  sixty.  Dr.  Wallace  was  married 
in  1835  to  Rebecca  Raynolds.  by  whom  he  had 
six  children. 

Lorenzo  M.  Whiting  was  born  in  Litchfield 
County,  Conn.,  in  1811.  Received  his  medical 
degree  at  Williams  College  in  1835.  and  located 
in  Canton  in  183(;.  Dr.  Whiting  has  continued 
longer  in  practice  at  the  one  place  than  any 
physician  who  has  ever  lived  in  Stark  County. 
He  has  always  been  held  in  high  esteem,  not 
only  as  a  practitioner  of  medicine,  but  as  a  gen- 
eral scholar,  versed  in  literature  and  the  sci- 
ences. His  consultation  calls  have  exceeded 
those  of  any  other  practitioner,  a  proof  of  his 
standing  with  the  community.  He  was  ap- 
pointed a  Trustee  of  the  Northern  Ohio  Lu- 
natic Asylum,  by  (lov.  Chase,  in  185(1.  During 
the  rebellion,  he  was  appointed  by  (lov.  Den- 
isou  one  of  the  Board  of  Examiners  of  Sur- 
geons to  Ohio  regiments,  also  Examining  Sur- 
geon for  Stark  County  and  for  the  Board  of 
Enrolment  for  the  Seventeenth  Congressional 
District  of  Ohio,  which  position  he  held  until 
the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  Pension  Surgeon 
from  1802  until  October,  1880,  when,  by  reason 
of  ill  health,  he  resigned.  He  was  likewise 
Censor  of  Cleveland  .Medical  College.  In  all 
these  varied  positions  he  discharged  the  <luties 
devolving  upon  him  with  entire  satisfaction  to 
all  parties  concerned.  The  Doctor  was  struck 
with  paralysis  in  the  summer  of  1880,  since 
which  time,  he  has  been  unable  to  practice. 


276 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


Auren  W.  Whiting  was  born  in  Connecticut 
in  1826.  Educated  in  tiie  High  School  of  West- 
field,  Mass.  Read  medicine  witii  Dr.  W.  B.  De 
Forest,  Colebrook,  Conn.,  and  in  1846  matricu- 
lated at  the  Medical  Department  of  Yale  Col- 
lege. After  one  course  of  lectures,  he  came  to 
Canton,  and  engaged  with  his  l)n)ther  L.  M., 
continuing  the  study,  and  griidually  taking  up 
practice.  He  attended  a  second  course  of  lect- 
ures at  Cleveland,  graduating  in  1850.  He  lo- 
cated first  in  Massillon,  where  he  remained  until 
1858  ;  then  spent  about  eighteen  months  in 
Europe,  visiting  the  hospitals  of  Paris  and  other 
large  cities.  Soon  after  his  I'eturn  from  J]urope, 
he  was  elected  Assistant  Physician  of  the 
Northern  Ohio  Lunatic  Asylum,  which  position 
he  held  several  year.s.  During  the  rebellion, 
he  was  a  contract  surgeon,  doing  duty  in  the 
field  hospitals  near  Georgetown.  At  the  close  of 
the  war,  he  settled  in  Canton,  where  he  has  since 
remained,  making  a  specialty  of  chronic  diseases. 

Carl  F.  Brackebush  was  born  and  educated 
in  ( iermany.  He  came  to  this  country  in  1835, 
and  first  settled  in  Osnaburg,  but  remained 
there  but  a  short  time,  when  he  removed  to 
Canton.  He  was  considered  well  educated  in 
his  profession,  and  liad  an  extensive  practice. 
He  died  in  1849,  of  neuralgia  of  the  heart, 
caused  by  exposure  in  professional  labor. 

F.  D.  H.  Dallwick  was  born  in  Cassel,  Ger- 
many, in  1814,  and  received  his  medical  educa- 
tion in  that  countrj'.  He  came  to  Stark  County 
in  1833,  first  settling  in  Greentown.  From 
there  he  removed  to  Canton,  where  he  remained 
some  years.  He  was  the  first  physician  ap- 
pointed to  the  County  Infirmary.  From  Can- 
ton he  removed  to  Canal  Fulton,  where  he  died 
in  1849.  His  wife  was  Louisa,  daughter  of 
Christian  Palmer,  a  pioneer  settler. 

Joseph  H.  Mathews  was  born  in  England. 
He  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Robert  Estep, 
and  received  his  degree  from  the  Cleveland 
Medical  College.  He  commenced  practice  as 
a  partner  of  his  preceptor,  and  on  his  decease 
was  associated  for  some  years  with  Dr.  Wallace. 
On  their  dissolution.  Dr.  Mathews  continued 
practice  until  within  a  year,  accumulating  con- 
siderable property.  He  is  now  connected  with 
the  Diebold  Safe  &  Lock  Company.  His  wife, 
now  deceased,  was  Mary  A.  Shorb,  daughter  of 
John  Shorb. 

Barak  Michener  was  born  1779,  in  Chester 
County,    Penn.     His  grandparents  came  over 


with  William  Penn.  His  educational  oppor- 
tunities in  his  youth  were  extremely  meager, 
but  he  was  a  young  man  of  good  natural  abil- 
itj-  and  indomitable  energy,  by  reason  of  which, 
he  became  a  man  of  very  considerable  learn- 
ing. While  yet  a  boy,  his  father  removed  to 
Jetferson  County,  Ohio,  and  when  about  eight- 
een j-ears  of  age,  he  started  out  for  himself, 
coming  to  Lawrence  Township,  Stark  County, 
where  he  had  relatives  living.  Working  here 
a  short  time,  he  engaged  in  teaching  near  Ken- 
dall. About  1825,  he  commenced  teaching  in 
Canton,  and  it  was  while  engaged  in  this  pur 
suit,  that  he  conceived  the  idea  of  studying 
medicine.  He  read  with  Dr.  Gardner,  and  com- 
menced practice  with  hirn,  never  having  at- 
tended lectures.  He  removed  to  Massillon  in 
1834,  and  for  several  years  was  associated  in 
practice  with  Dr.  Watson.  It  was  about  this 
time  that  Asiatic  cholera  made  its  appearance 
as  an  epidemic  in  the  neighborhood,  carrying 
ofl'  more  people  than  has  any  epidemic  in  the 
same  length  of  time,  before  or  since.  In  the 
treatment  of  this  disease.  Dr.  Michener  had  an 
extensive  experience,  and  his  success  was  above 
the  average.  He  was  an  original  thinker,  and 
not  a  routine  prescriber.  In  1839,  he  removed 
on  to  a  farm  near  West  Brookfield,  continuing 
to  i^ractice  until  1849.  when  he  went  west  to 
Freeport,  111.,  where  he  remained  until  1853, 
when  he  again  emigrated  vvest,  purchasing 
land  near  Adel.  Dallas  Co.,  Iowa.  He  had  re- 
linquished practice,  and  was  living  upon  and 
improving  this  land  when  he  died  March  10. 
1878  A  son  of  the  Doctor  is  a  physician,  was 
engaged  in  practice  in  Adel,  but  removed  to 
Dallas,  Tex.,  and  is  now  a  planter. 

John  Schertzer  was  Ijorn  1799.  in  Franklin 
County,  Penn.  The  education  of  the  Doctor, 
owing  to  the  limited  facilities  of  the  time  and 
his  place  of  residence,  was  not  very  extended. 
He  began  the  study  of  medicine  when  about 
eighteen  years  of  age,  with  Dr.  Jacob  Grulib,  of 
Lelianon  County,  Penn.,  and  obtained  his  de- 
gree of  Doctor  of  Medicine  from  Jetferson  Med- 
ical College.  Philadelphia.  After  practicing  at 
several  places  in  the  counties  of  Lebanon  and 
Franklin,  he  removed  to  Massillon,  Stark  Co., 
in  1835,  where  he  continued  practice  until  ap- 
pointed Postmaster  by  President  Lincoln,  which 
office  he  held  nine  years.  He  was  elected  State 
Senator  in  1850,  serving  one  term.  He  died 
in  1880. 


2ii. 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY 


Jeremiah  V.  Schertzer  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, 1821,  had  a  common-school  education, 
and  read  medicine  with  his  fallier.  He  at- 
tended lectures  at  Jefferson  Medical  College, 
Philadelphia,  and  began  practice  with  his  father 
in  1844.  He  is  still  a  resident  of  Massillon, 
and  engaged  in  medical  practice.  Dr.  Pcliortzer 
was  married  in  1848  to  Mary  Ellen  Ogden, 
daughter  of  Hugh  Ogden,  of  Massillon. 

Daniel  L.  Gans  was  born  in  Fayette  County, 
Penn..  1819.  At  an  early  age,  he  manifested 
a  taste  for  reading,  and  a  preference  for  the 
study  and  practice  of  medicine.  At  eighteen, 
he  engaged  with  an  older  brother,  a  practicing 
physician  of  Moundville.  Va..  and  with  him, 
he  remained  as  a  student  two  years,  complet- 
ing iiis  medical  course  in  the  Ohio  Medical 
College.  Cincinnati.  He  commenced  practice 
in  Smilhtickl.  Penn.,  three  miles  from  his  birth- 
place, and  continued  there  about  eighteen 
months,  then  removed  to  Magnolia,  Tuscarawas 
County.  Ohio.  He  lived  here  eight  years,  and 
during  this  time,  puschased  a  large  faim  in 
Pike  Township,  near  Sparta.  T'pon  this  he  re- 
raoveil  in  1850,  and  has  lived  here  ever  since, 
devoting  his  leisure  from  practice  to  overseeing 
his  farm,  and  giving  attention  to  breeding  tine 
stock,  particularly  sheep  and  cattle.  Dr.  Gans 
was  married  in  1845,  to  Margaret  Hanna,  of 
Stciibcuville.  They  have  four  children — two 
sons  and  two  daugliters. 

J.  I'.  Barrick  was  Ijorn  in  1818.  in  Morgantown, 
Itockingham  Co.,  Va.  His  father  was  a  farmer, 
and  Ix'fore  this  son  was  grown,  he  removed  to 
Columliiana  Co.,  Ohio.  His  opportunities  for 
ac(iuiriiig  an  education  in  early  life  were  quite 
limited.  He  married  young,  and  at  the  time  of 
his  marriage  was  in  the  employ  of  James  Far- 
mer, merchant,  of  Salineville.  .*^oon  after,  he 
went  to  Cleveland  and  engaged  with  Dr.  Ilenry 
Everett,  with  whom  he  studied  medicine.  He 
located  in  the  practice  at  Massillon  in  1842, 
and  continued  in  the  profession  until  his  death 
in  1870.  He  received  the  honorary  degree  of 
M.  D.  from  the  Cleveland  Medical  (^'ollege  in 
18()t;.  Dr.  Barrick  was  married  the  second 
time  to  Mrs.  Clarissa  A.  Baldwin,  of  .Massillon. 
He  served  a  number  of  years  in  the  City  Coun- 
cil, and  in  the  Board  of  Education,  of  which  he 
was  a  member  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He 
was  of  a  social  disposition  and  popular  with 
the  people. 

Ficderick  T.    llurxthal   was  born   in   Balti- 


more, Md.,  in  1814.  His  father  was  a  mer- 
chant. His  early  education  was  such  as  the 
local  schools  afforded  opportunity  to  accpiiic. 
He  read  medicine  under  Dr.  Willard  Paiker.  of 
New  York  City,  and  graduatc^d  from  the  College 
of  Ph\\sicians  and  Surgeons.  New  York,  in 
1845.  He  began  practice;  in  Magnolia.  Tusca- 
rawas Co..  and  continued  in  that  place  until 
1847,  when  he  removed  to  Massillon.  Dr. 
Hurxthal  served  in  the  arm>-  during  the  late 
war  as  Surgeon  of  the  Nineteenth  Ohio  \'olun- 
teer  Infantry.  His  death,  which  occurred  under 
specially  sad  circumstances,  was  the  result  of 
an  injury  received  by  a  fall  on  the  platform  at 
the  railroad  station  in  Canton,  Feb.  3.  ISiiS. 
Dr.  H.  was  a  live  member  of  the  profession— a 
close  student,  always  abreast  of  the  improve- 
ments of  the  day.  and  a  frequent  contributor 
to  the  journals. 

Abraham  .Metz  was  born  in  Stark  County  in 
1828.  His  father  was  a  pioneer  settler  of  1807. 
He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  in 
which  he  taught  when  a  mere  lad.  He  began 
the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Kalilor,  in  Co- 
lumbiana Countj'.  and  attended  a  course  of 
lectures  at  Willoughby  .Medical  College.  The 
summer  following,  he  enlisted  in  the  Mexican 
war,  Third  Ohio  Regiment,  and  was  appointed 
Hospital  Steward,  much  of  the  time  doing  the 
work  of  an  Assistant  Surgeon.  After  his  re- 
turn from  Mexico,  he  resumed  his  medical 
studies,  and  graduated  at  Cleveland  Medical 
Colk'ge  in  1848.  He  c()mmenced  practice  at 
North  Georgetown,  Columbiana  County,  re- 
maining there  about  a  year,  then  went  West, 
settling  at  Big  Lick,  Hancock  Co..  Ohio.  From 
here  he  went  into  Seneca  County,  where  he 
continued  until  1854,  when  he  changed  his  loca- 
tion to  Massillon,  He  soon  after  made  a  spe- 
cialty of  diseases  of  the  eye,  and  became 
widely  known  as  a  successful  practitioner  in 
that  line.  He  also  gave  attention  to  general 
surgery,  and  was  recognized  as  a  skillful  ope- 
rator. I'ndcr  the  disadvantages  of  a  countrv 
location,  he  kept  alireast  of  the  rapid  growth 
of  his  sijccialt}-.  He  was  one  of  the  founders 
of  Charity  Hospital  .Medical  College  (now  the 
]\Iedical  Department  of  Wooster  I'niversity)  at 
Cleveland,  of  which  institution  he  was  one  of 
the  original  ]'\icidty.  occupying  the  chair  of 
Ophthalmology,  wliidi  |)lacc  he  tilled  at  the 
tiuie  of  his  death,  February  1.  187ti.  He  was 
Surgeon    of    the   Pittsburah.    Fort    Wavnc   <.V 


378 


HISTORY  OF    STAKK    COUNTY. 


Chicago  Hailvvaj-,  and  was  frequently  sent  be- 
j'ond  his  district  when  accidents  occurred  in- 
volving serious  or  important  surgical  opera- 
tions. Dr.  Mclz  was  cniphaticallv  a  self-made 
man.  With  very  limited  educational  advan- 
tages, he  made  himself  master  n(jt  only  of  our 
own  language,  but  aapiircd  such  a  knowledge 
of  the  (Jerinan  and  Frencli  as  enabled  him  to 
read  without  ditticulty  their  publications.  By 
his  indomitable  energy  he  overcame  obstacles 
presented  in  his  researches,  that  would  have 
appalled  most  young  men.  He  is  tiie  autlior  of 
a  work  entitled  "Histology  of  the  Eye,"  now 
used  as  a  text-book  in  many  of  our  medical 
colleges;  has  also  contrilnitetl  many  articles  to 
the  journals  of  the  day.  Dr.  Metz  was  a  genial 
companion,  inclined  to  make  the  most  of  what 
this  life  aftbrdcd.  and  long  will  be  remembered 
for  his  many  excellent  traits  of  character.  He 
was  married  in  1840  to  Klizabeth  Patterson,  of 
Columbiana  County,  by  whom  he  had  one 
child,  a  daughter — lioth  still  living. 

Hermann  J.  THil.  was  born  in  Saxony.  182:!. 
Read  niedicnie  with  his  father  and  obtained  his 
degree  at  a  medical  school  in  Dresilen,  184B. 
He  was  associated  in  practice  with  his  father 
until  1848,  when  he  came  to  America  and  lo- 
cated in  Bethlehem.  Stai'k  County.  Here  he 
renunned  until  1853.  when  he  removed  to  Boli- 
\  ar.  where  he  continued  about  three  years,  dur- 
ing which  time  he  was  physician  to  the  ''  Zoar 
Community."  From  1856  to  1858,  he  was  a 
resident  ol'  Dunleith,  111,,  from  there  he  re- 
turned and  settled  in  Massillon  ;  here  he  re- 
mained about  seven  yeai's,  when  the  desire  for 
change  prompted  him  to  locate  in  Navarre. 
In  the  spring  of  1877,  he  made  a  trip  to  Europe, 
and  while  at  the  home  of  his  youth  was  taken 
sick  and  died  December  20,  of  the  same  year. 
Though  somewhat  eccentric  and  subject  to  fit- 
ful moods,  the  doctor  was  always  considered  a 
good  physician. 

(i.  Kersey  Thomas  was  liorn  in  York  County, 
i'enn..  1818.  of  Quaker  parents.  He  came  to 
Salem.  Obit),  when  ([uite  young,  and  at  the  age 
of  eighteen  began  the  study  of  medicine  with 
!>r.  Benjamin  Stanton.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
two,  he  married  Rebecca  Shaw  and  settled  in 
Marlboro  and  commenced  practice.  His  wife 
died  in  1849.  and  in  1852  he  married  Eliza  L. 
Smyth,  a  teaciier  in  the  Marlboro  Union  School. 
In  185(1,  he  went  to  l^hiladelphia  where  he 
spent  over  a  year  pursuing  his  medical  studies, 


and  in  1857  he  settled  in  Alliance.  In  1862, 
he  was  appointed  .Surgeon  of  the  One  Hundred 
and  Fourth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantrj-,  but  his 
health  soon  failed,  and  in  December  of  the 
same  year,  he  was  prostrated  with  paralysis, 
resigned  his  commission  and  was  brought  home 
on  a  lounge.  In  18(54,  his  second  wife  died, 
and  in  1868  he  married  Mrs.  Rosanna  Milner. 
He  died  March  10,  1869,  of  congestion  of  the 
brain.  Dr.  Thomas  was  considered  a  man  of 
more  than  ordinary  ability.  In  practice,  his 
taste  was  in  favor  of  surgery.  At  the  time  of 
his  death,  he  was  Surgeon  of  the  two  railroads 
passing  through  Alliance. 

Levi  Haldeman,  born  in  Columbiana  County  ; 
read  medicine  with  Drs.  Robertson  &  Carey,  of 
Hanoverton,  same  county,  attended  lectures  at 
Louisville,  Ky.,  and  commenced  practice  in 
Minerva,  Stark  County,  in  1S39.  He  did  an 
extensive  business  up  to  1860,  when  he  left  the 
profession  to  engage  in  oil  si)eculation,  in 
which  he  has  accumulated  several  large  for- 
tunes. He  is  the  only  physician  of  the  coun- 
t}',  who  has  ever  had  a  case  of  well-marked, 
unmistakable  hydrophobia.  The  case  was  that 
of  Andrew  Shultz,  bit  I13'  a  small  dog,  who  in 
three  weeks  after,  manifested  symptoms  of  h}'- 
drophobia,  terminating   fatally  in  three   daj's. 

Francis  Joseph  Wernet,  born  in  Baden,  Ger- 
many, 1812  ;  studied  medicine  in  Basle,  and 
graduated  at  Freyburg  ;  came  to  America  in 
1842  ;  settled  first  in  Pittsburgh,  but  the  health 
of  his  wife  becoming  impaired  as  was  supposed 
from  local  causes,  he  removed  to  Canton  the 
next  j'ear,  and  there  remained  in  practice  until 
his  death  in  1862.  He  had  five  children.  Mrs. 
Wernet  died  in  1881. 

William  J.  Parker  was  born  in  Jefl'erson 
County,  Ohio,  1812  ;  his  parents  came  from 
North  Carolina.  He  commenced  the  study  of 
medicine  with  his  uncle,  Dr.  Parker,  of  Bel- 
mont County-,  Ohio,  at  twenty  years  of  age,  and 
set  up  in  practice  when  twenty-five,  at  Saline- 
ville  in  company  with  Dr.  Farmer.  He  re- 
mained here  four  years,  and  then  after  having 
resided  and  practiced  in  Fairfield,  Columbiana 
and  New  Lisljon,  all  in  the  same  county  until 
1866,  he  removed  to  Alliance  where  he  re- 
mained until  his  death  in  1880. 

J.  L.  Leeper  was  born  in  Norfolk.  Va..  1818  ; 
educated  at  Cannonsburg,  Penn..  and  studied 
medicine  in  Brooke  County,  West  Va.  He  came 
to    Navarre   in    1847,  and  continued  there  in 


I^ 


t 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


279 


active  practice  until  1867,  when  he  removed 
on  to  his  farm  in  I'erry  Township  where  lie  still 
resides.  Pr.  Lecper  is  a  clever,  social  gentle- 
man and  popular  with  his  neighbors. 

William  S'eely  was  born  in  Jcfl'erson  Count}-. 
1810.  lie  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Thomas 
Wood  (late  of  f'incinnati),  and  was  associated 
witii  him  in  practice  for  a  time.  In  1843.  he 
.settled  in  New  Franklin,  Paris  Township,  since 
which  time,  he  has  continued  in  practice  in 
ditferont  localities  in  the  eastern  portion  of  the 
county.  .Mliancc  and  Mount  Union. 

Charles  Kay  was  born  in  New  Jersey  ;  read 
medicine  in  Warren  County,  Ohio  ;  settled  in 
Kast  Fairfield,  where  he  practiced  over  thirty 
years.  In  1849,  he  received  the  honorary  de- 
gree of  medicine,  antl  in  18G0,  removed  to  Alli- 
ance, where  he  has  since  resided,  engaged  in 
active  practice. 

David  A.  Artcr  was  born  in  Columbiana 
(Jounty,  Ohio,  in  1820.  His  early  education 
was  what  the  common  and  select  schools  of 
that  day  ati'ordcd.  He  read  medicine  with 
Drs.  Robertson  and  Cary.  of  Hanoverton,  who 
had  in  their  day  a  wide-spread  reputation  and 
did  an  extensive  practice.  He  graduated  at 
the  .Miami  .Medical  College,  Cincinnati,  in  1845, 
and  soon  after  located  in  F^ast  Fairfield,  Colum- 
biana Co.  F'rom  thence  he  removed  to  Carroll- 
ton,  where  he  remained  a  number  of  years,  and 
in  18C5,  he  removed  to  Canton.  He  has  been 
in  active  practice  some  thirty-six  3ears.  He 
was  married  in  1844  to  Alm^-ra  Ferral.  by  whom 
he  had  four  children.  She  died  in  1850,  and 
ho  married  Sarah  M.  McCall,  of  Harri.son 
County.  Dr.  Arter  was  commissioned  h\  (Jov. 
Tod.  Captain  of  Cavalry,  during  the  rebellion, 
and  for  two  years  served  as  Deputy  Revenue 
("oUector.  The  Doctor  has  been  more  success- 
ful than  most  of  the  brethren  in  collecting  and 
saving  his  earnings,  as  he  is  now  in  very  com- 
lorlable  circumstances. 

.John  H.  Wilson  was  born  in  Mahoning  Coun- 
ty, Ohio,  in  1828.  He  read  medicine  with  Dr. 
John  Dickson,  Pittsburgh,  Penn.,  and  attended 
lectures  in  Cleveland  in  lS4(i-47.  Commenced 
practice  in  .\ustiiitown.  Mahoning  County,  re- 
maining there  but  a  short  time,  and  came  to 
.Vlliance  in  1841).  where  he  has  practiced  ever 
since — being  the  oldest  practitioner  in  the  town. 
He  attended  a  second  course  of  lectures  at 
Cleveland  in  the  winter  of  1853-54,  graduating 
in  the  spring. 


Lewis  Slusser,  born  in  Canton  in  1820  ;  edu- 
cated at  home  schools  and  Jeft'erson  College, 
Pennsylvania,  the  latter  of  which  he  was  com- 
pelled to  leave  while  in  the  Junior  year,  by  rea- 
son of  pulmonary  trouble.  For  this,  he  sought 
a  warmer  climate,  and  while  in  (Jeorgia  teach- 
ing, he  commenced  the  stud}'  of  medicine,  re- 
citing regularly  to  a  preceptor.  He  attended  a 
first  course  of  lectures,  at  the  National  Medical 
College,  Washington  City,  in  1845-4fi.  The  sec- 
ond, at  the  Ohio  Medical  College,  Cincinnati, 
graduating  March,  1840.  The  interim  between 
lectures,  nearly  three  years,  he  was  with  Dr. 
Haldeman,  of  Minerva,  practicing  under  in- 
structions. Soon  after  graduating,  he  located 
in  Canal  Fulton,  where  he  remained  in  practice 
until  the  war  of  the  rel)elliou.  when  he  entered 
the  service  as  Surgeon  of  the  Si.xty-ninth  Ohio. 
While  in  the  array,  he  served  on  post,  field  and 
start"  duty.  He  was  on  the  operating  corps,  in 
all  the  prominent  engagements  of  the  Army  of 
the  Cumberland  and  the  Army  of  (ieorgia,  and 
after  the  arrival  of  Sherman's  army  at  Savan- 
nah, he  was  assigned  in  charge  of  an  ocean  hos- 
pital transport,  engaged  in  conveying  sick  and 
wounded  to  Northern  hospitals.  Immediately 
after  being  mustered  out  with  his  regiment,  he 
was  re-commissioned  Surgeon  of  the  Twenty- 
sixth  Ohio,  ordered  to  New  Orleans,  and  thence 
to  Texas,  where  he  served  until  mustered  out 
with  the  last  remnant  of  the  army,  November, 
18G5.  On  his  return  from  the  army,  he  .settled 
in  Canton,  where  he  has  since  remained.  Dr. 
Slusser  was  twice  elected  to  represent  Stark 
County  in  the  State  Legislature,  serving  from 
1858  to  18G1.  He  was  appointed  Superintend- 
ent of  the  Insane  Hospital  at  Newburg,  which 
position  he  held  from  1874  to  1876.  Was  Sur- 
geon ten  yeai's  of  the  Pittsliurgh,  Fort  Wayne 
&  Chicago  Railway.  Has  frequently  written 
for  the  medical  journals,  and.  of  late  years,  has 
taken  quite  an  interest  in  the  early  history  of 
Stark  County,  collecting  and  recording  events 
for  preservation.  He  has  been  twice  married. 
His  first  wife  was  Sarah  C.  Pearee,  daughter  of 
Dr.  Joseph  Pcarce.  of  Huron,  Ohio.  She  died 
while  with  him  in  the  army,  in  1863.  His  pres- 
ent wife  is  Helena  A.,  daughter  of  C.  F.  Ricks, 
of  Massillon. 

The  first  physician  to  lfx;ate  in  Canal  Fulton 
w\as  William  Myers.  He  read  with  Dr.  Gard- 
ner, of  Canton.  Dr.  Myers  was  in  Fulton  but 
a  short  time  when  he  chan<rcd   his  residence  to 


280 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


Sandj'ville.  Here  he  tliod  oF  coiisuiiiption.  The 
next  in  Jiawrence  Township,  was  Dr.  S.  Dol- 
bear.  and  following  him  Alexander  Porter.  We 
have  been  unable  to  procure  any  definite  in- 
formation in  regard  to  the  early  history  of  these 
men. 

Henry  Houtz  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
came  to  Ohio  with  his  father,  who  was  a  pio- 
neer settler  of  Wayne  County.  The  subject  of 
our  sketch,  after  completing  his  school  studies, 
engaged  for  a  time  in  teaching,  and  then  com- 
menced the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  L.  (!. 
Harley,  of  Dalton.  Completing  the  preliminary 
course,  he  attended  lectures,  and  graduated  at 
Jeft'erson  Medical  College.  Philadelphia,  and 
commenced  practice  in  Canal  Fulton  about 
1838.  He  remained  here  until  1849,  when  he 
sold  out  and  removed  to  Cleveland,  where  he  is 
still  living. 

Abram  Houtz  read  medicine  with  his  brother 
Henry.  (Iraduated  at  Jefferson  Medical  Col- 
lege, and  commenced  practice  in  Seville,  Medina 
County.  Removed  to  Canal  Fulton  in  1849, 
and  continued  there  in  practice  until  his  death 
in  1880. 

Lucius  Howard  practiced  medicine  in  Fulton 
about  ten  years,  then  removed  to  Keene,  Co- 
shocton County,  where  he  was  killed  by  his 
brother-in-law. 

Jacob  Zinsser,  a  student  of  Dr.  r)allwick, 
practiced  in  Fulton  some  six  years,  and  died 
there  in  1854. 

Harrj'  M.  JlcAbee  was  located  several  years 
in  Canton  as  a  practitioner,  but  abandoned  the 
profession  for  that  of  the  ministry,  in  which  he 
was  engaged  when  the  civil  war  broke  out.  He 
entered  the  army  as  Surgeon  of  the  Fourth  Ohio 
Volunteer  Infantry,  resigned  his  commission  in 
1863,  and  engaged  with  the  establishment  of 
C.  Aultman  &  Co.  as  a  traveling  agent,  and 
was  in  their  emplo}'  when  he  was  killed  in  a 
railroad  collision  on  the  Lake  Shore  Road  at  the 
age  of  thirty-seven.  He  was  a  man  of  consider- 
able ability,  well  posted  in  raedi(^al  literature, 
and  an  acceptalile  preacher. 

J.  K.  Dougherty  was  born  in  Beaver  County. 
Penu..  in  1820  ;  read  medicine  with  Dr.  E.  M. 
Pyle,  Richmond,  Jefferson  County,  Ohio  :  prac- 
ticed five  years  in  Pennsylvania,  and  for  thirty- 
two  years  in  Greentown.  He  was  married,  in 
1844,  to  Phoebe  Thompson,  of  Carroll  County, 
Ohio,  who  died  in  1847.  He  was  married  again, 
in  1849,  to  Angeline  (xorgas.     Dr.  Doughertv 


was  Lieutenant  Colonel  of  the  One  Hundred 
and  Sixty-second  Ohio  National  Guard,  and  was 
four  mouths  in  the  service.  He  is  still  in  active 
practice,  with  a  fair  prospect  of  continuing  yet 
many  years.  He  stands  well  as  a  man  and 
practitioner. 

L.  E.  Dougherty  was  born  in  Oreentown  in 
1853  ;  read  medicine  with  his  father,  Dr.  J.  E. 
Dougherty,  and  graduated  at  Columbus  Medi- 
cal College  in  1879.  He  married,  the  same 
year,  Clara  Hart,  of  Summit  County,  and  has 
since  been  practicing  in  company  with  his 
father. 

Levi  L.  Laraborn  was  h(irn  in  Chester  County, 
Peiui.,  in  1829.  and  came  to  Ohio  when  eight 
years  of  age.  He  read  medicine  with  Dr.  Solo- 
man  Shrieve,  of  Damascus.  He  attended  lect- 
ures in  Philadelphia  and  Cleveland,  graduating 
at  the  latter  place  in  1849  :  commenced  prac- 
tice in  Mount  Cnion.  where  he  remained  fifteen 
years;  removed  to  Alliance  in  18ti3,  where  he 
continued  practice  until  1866.  then  retired  from 
the  pi'ofession,  and  engaged  in  banking  and 
speculating  in  real  estate.  Dr.  L.  was  nomi- 
nated a  candidate  for  Representati\e  to  the 
Legislature — session  1S58-59.  He  was  elected 
Clerk  of  that  body — session  1860-61  ;  was  a 
candidate  for  Senator  in  1874,  and,  in  1876,  for 
Congress.  During  the  administration  of  Gov. 
Bishop,  he  vvas  a  Trustee  of  the  Deaf  and  Dumb 
Asylum.  Dr.  riamborn  is  an  effective  pulilic 
speaker. 

T.  Clarke  .Miller  was  born  in  Butler  (!ounty, 
Penn.,  in  1842.  He  began  the  study  of  medi- 
cine in  1861  ;  but  soon  after  enlisted  as  a  pri- 
vate soldier,  and  served  as  such  during  the  first 
three  years  of  the  wai-,  in  Company  F.  Ninth 
Pennsylvania  Reserve  Corps,  with  the  ••  Army 
of  the  Potomac."  After  his  discharge,  he  con- 
tinued the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  M.  \i. 
Miller,  of  Blairsville.  Penn.  Tn  1865,  he  at- 
tendetl  lectures  in  Charity  Hospital  Medical 
College  at  Cleveland,  afterward  continuing  his 
studies  with  Dr.  W.  J.  Scott,  of  Cleveland.  "He 
received  his  degree  from  Charity  Hospital  Medi- 
cal College  in  1867,  after  which,  he  continued 
practical  study  as  House  Surgeon  in  St.  Vin- 
cent's Hospital  for  one  year  ;  located  first  in 
Newburgh,  Cuyahoga  Co..  Ohio,  where  he  re- 
mained about  two  years,  then  removed  to  Cleve- 
land, and  practiced  there  until  187(!,  when  he 
changed  his  location  to  Massillon.  While  in 
Cleveland,   he  was  a  member  of  the   visiting 


^^^ 


^A 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY 


staft'  of  St.  Vincent's  Hospital,  and  served  two 
terms  as  Coroner  of  Ciiyalioga  County,  an  im- 
portant and  responsible  position.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Kxamining  Surgeons 
for  Pensions.  He  was  elected,  in  1873,  to  the 
chair  of  obstetrics  in  the  Medical  Department 
of  Wooster  I'niversity  at  Cleveland,  which  place 
he  still  occupies.  He  is  the  United  States  Ex- 
amining Surgeon  for  reiisions  at  Massillon. 
I>r.  .Miller  was  married,  in  1869.  to  Mary  A. 
Culliertson.  of  Blairsville,  Penn. 

Albert  \V.  Hidenour  was  born  in  Washington 
County.  Md..  in  1848.  At  about  ten  years  of 
age,  he  removed  with  his  father's  family  to 
Oliio.  His  early  education  was  in  the  common 
and  academic  schools.  He  began  the  study  of 
medicine  in  18(5(1.  with  his  l)rother.  Dr.  W.  T. 
Ridenour,  of  Smithville.  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio.  He 
attended  lectures  at  Charity  Hospital  Medical 
College.  Cleveland,  in  18()().  and  the  year  follow- 
ing at  the  Ohio  Medical  College.  Cincinnati, 
from  which  institution  he  received  his  degree. 
He  began  practice  in  Denmark,  Morrow  Co., 
Ohio,  in  18(58.  After  one  year,  he  removed  to 
Wadsworth.  Medina  County,  and,  after  remain- 
ing at  this  place  a  few  months,  he  located  in 
Canal  Fulton,  where  he  remained  about  two 
and  a  half  years  ;  then,  in  1871,  located  in  Mas- 
sillon, where  he  has  since  remained.  Dr.  Ride- 
nour served  in  the  late  war  as  musician  and 
Hospital  Stewanl.  He  was  married,  in  1S()9, 
to  Emma  F.  Miller,  daughter  of  Abram  Miller, 
of  Canal  F\dton.  He  is  now  Railroad  Surgeon, 
and.  for  a  number  of  years,  has  been  Health 
Officer  of  Massillon. 

Lehman  Danziger  was  born  in  (xermany, 
1805.  After  graduating  at  the  high  school  in 
Holzminden,  Hcrzogtiuun  Braunschweig,  he 
entered  the  University  of  (ioettingen.  and  com- 
pleted a  medical  course  which  re(iuired  five 
years.  Soon  after  graduating  he  entenul  the 
service  of  the  Russian  government  as  a  mili- 
tary physician.  At  the  expiration  of  three 
years  he  resigned  his  commission  and  located 
in  Bremen.  At  the  age  of  forty,  he  came  to 
America  and  for  three  years  practiced  in  New- 
Oxford.  Adams  County,  Penn..  thence  to  Can- 
ton, where  he  has  since  remained.  Dr.  Danziger 
is  at  present  the  oldest  practicing  physician  in 
the  county,  being  now  in  his  sevenlj'-seventh 
year — over  fifty  years  in  practice,  and  yet  able 
and  willing  to  attend  a  call  any  hour  of  llie 
night. 


Thomas  H.  Phillips  was  born  in  Washington 
County,  Penn,.  18H9.  He  was  educated  at 
Jefferson  College  and  read  medicine  with  Dr. 
(icorge  H.  Cook,  of  Cannonsburg,  Penn.  He 
graduated  at  Jefferson  Medical  College,  Phila- 
delphia, with  the  Class  of  18()4.  Immediately 
after  graduating,  he  was  appointed  Assistant 
Surgeon  of  the  Seventy-ninth  Pennsylvania 
Regiment,  and  remained  with  them  in  the  field 
during  their  continuance  in  the  service.  At 
the  close  of  the  war  he  commenced  the  practice 
of  medicine  in  Middletown.  Penn..  remained 
there  several  years,  then  changed  his  location 
to  Canton,  where  he  has  since  remained.  Dr. 
Phillips  was  married  in  18G8  to  Irene  M.  Lind- 
sey,  by  whom  he  has  one  child,  a  daughter, 
Mrs,  Phillips  died  in  187(5  of  phthisis.  The 
Doctor  has  been  Physician  to  the  County  In- 
firmary ;  is  now  Surgeon  of  the  \' alley  Railwaj-, 

R.  P,  Johnson  was  born  in  Stark  County, 
183il,  Head  medicine  with  Dr.  h.  L.  Lamborn, 
Alliance,  and  graduated  at  the  Cincinnati  Col- 
lege of  Medicine  and  Surgery-,  in  1861 .  ( >pened 
an  office  same  spring  in  Mount  Union.  In 
September.  1862.  entered  the  army  as  Assistant 
Surgeon  One  Hundred  and  F'ourth  Ohio  Vol- 
unteer Infantry.  Remained  less  than  a  year 
and  during  that  time  was  on  hospital  duty  at 
Lexington,  Ky.  On  leaving  the  army  he  set- 
tled in  Dcerfiekl.  where  he  remained  eighteen 
months.  In  1864,  he  re-entered  th('  army  as 
Contract  Surgeon,  serving  on  post  hospital 
duty  at  Springfield  and  Chicago.  At  the  close 
of  the  war  he  settled  in  Alliance,  where  he 
practiced  about  ten  years,  then  removed  to 
Canton  where  he  has  since  remained.  He  is  at 
present  Station  Surgeon  to  the  Pittsburgh,  Fort 
Wayne  &  Chicago  Railway,  and  the  (lonnotton 
^'alley  Railway-,  likewise  to  the  County  Jail. 
He  was  married  in  1857  to  Miss  Marianna  Hunt, 
by  whom  he  has  had  four  (children,  two  still 
living, 

W,  E.  Rukenbrod  is  a  native  of  Carroll  Coun- 
ty, born  1850,  Commenced  reading  medicine 
with  Dr,  R.  B.  Rush,  .Salem,  Ohio,  in  1S7(I,  dur- 
ing which  time  he  practiced  two  years  under 
instructions.  (Iraduated  at  the  Pulte  Medical 
College.  (!incinnati,  1875,  and  afterward  had 
charge  of  Dr.  Rush's  business  six  months, 
while  he  was  on  a  trip  to  Europe.  Settled  in 
Canton  in  1875,  and  lias  remained  here  since. 
Was  married  July,  1878,  to  .Aliss  Kate  Jackson, 
daughter  of  C,  H,  Jackson, 


282 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


E.  O.  Portman  was  boru  in  Switzerland,  and 
came  to  this  country  witti  his  parents,  who  set- 
tled in  Bethlehem  Township.  He  read  med- 
icine with  Dr.  Metz.  of  Massillon.  graduated  at 
Cleveland,  1871,  and  immediately  after  located 
in  Canton. 

Samuel  A.  Conkliu.  born  1841,  in  Washing- 
ton County,  I'enn.,  commenced  reading  med- 
icine in  1864  with  Dr.  John  Kelly,  of  Claysville, 
Washington  County,  Penn.,  graduated  in  Cleve- 
land, 1867,  and  settled  in  Belle  Vernon,  Penn., 
where  ho  remained  some  six  years,  then  re- 
moved to  Canton,  1873.  He  was  married  in 
1868  to  Miss  Laura  Bughera,  of  Fayette  Coun- 
ty, Penn.  Dr.  Conklin  was  for  several  years 
Physician  to  the  County  Jail,  and  also  to  the 
County  Infirmary,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Education  as  well  as  the  Health 
Board. 

James  Fraunfelter  was  born  in  Ashland  Coun- 
ty, Ohio,  1846.  He  studied  medicine  with  Dr. 
f.  S.  Hunter,  of  Ashland.  Graduated  in  1871. 
at  Long  Island  College  Hospital,  and  in  1872 
at  Jefferson  College.  Philadelphia.  Commenced 
practice  the  same  year  in  Canal  Fulton,  and 
continued  there  until  the  spring  of  1881,  when 
he  removed  to  Canton.  He  married  Miss  Kate 
Roseberry,  of  Ashland. 

(xeorge  B.  <!ock  read  medicine  with  Dr.  Bow- 
en,  of  Akron,  and  attended  lectures  at  Cleve- 
land, 1868.  He  has  been  settled  in  practice  at 
several  difl'erent  places,  but  at  the  present  is  in 
Canton,  and  Coroner  of  the  county.  He  was 
married  in  1865  to  Miss  A.  E.  (Ireenwood, 
daughter  of  Judge  Greenwood,  of  Paris. 

Of  the  physicians  of  Paris  who  came  after 
Dr.  Robert  Pjstep  left,  was  Dr.  Charles  Preston. 
He  practiced  there  some  years  and  died.  Dr. 
James  L.  Beebout  located  there  in  1844,  and 
died  in  1864.  Dr.  J.  Beebout  removed  from 
Sandyville  to  Paris  soon  after  the  death  of 
James  L.,  and  yet  resides  there.  In  addition 
to  these,  were  Drs.  (rugleman,  Geiger,  Gray. 
Baker,  Barris,  Bates  and  others. 

In  Osnaburg,  there  are  the  two  Drs.  White- 
leather,  both  natives  of  the  county  and  both 
graduates. 

Samuel  Wolf  was  born  in  Osnaburg,  Stark 
County,  1818.  He  studied  medicine  with  Dr. 
George  K.  Pardee,  of  Wadsworth,  Medina 
Co.,  and  in  1843  attended  a  course  of  lectures 
at  Cleveland  Medical  College.  He  commenced 
the   practice    of  medicine   in    Osnaburg,   but 


removed  to  Wilmot  in  1846.  where  he  has  since 
remained. 

C.  P.  Wolf,  son  of  Samuel,  was  born  in 
Wilmot,  1849.  studied  with  his  father  and 
graduated  at  Cleveland  Medical  College,  1874. 
He  has  since  been  in  partnership  with  his 
father,  and  together  they  do  an  extensive  prac- 
tice. 

David  Crise  was  born  in  Westmoreland 
County,  Penn.,  in  1846.  He  graduated  at 
Jefl'erson  Medical  College  in  1872,  and  located 
in  Beach  City  in  1877. 

M.  A.  Robinett,  born  in  Ohio  in  1844,  read 
medicine  with  Dr.  Pomerean,  of  Miliersburg. 
Graduated  at  Cleveland  in  1869.  and  settled  in 
Beach  City  in  1874. 

W.  C.  Putnam  was  born  in  Sugar  Creek 
Township,  Stark  County,  in  1852.  He  gradua- 
ted at  the  Ohio  Medical  College  in  1871,  and 
after  practicing  a  short  time  in  Van  Wert 
County,  and  in  Brookfield,  this  county,  located 
in  Justus,  near  his  old  home. 

Mrs.  Eliza  L.  Thomas,  the  first  female  phy- 
sician located  in  Stark  County,  was  born  in 
Willoughby,  Ohio.  She  commenced  the  study 
of  medicine  with  her  husband.  Dr.  Thomas, 
soon  after  their  marriage,  and  graduated  in 
Philadelphia  during  their  residence  in  that  city. 
On  their  return  to  Alliance,  she  engaged  in 
general  practice  with  her  husband,  and  her  suc- 
cess would  compare  favorably  with  the  general 
run  of  male  practitioners.  Called  to  assist  in 
the  delivery  of  a  dead  IVetus,  she  absorbed 
septic  poison  through  an  abrasion  of  the  hand, 
contracted  pyemia,  and  with  which  she  died.  She 
was  highly  esteemed  by  the  community  in 
which  she  lived,  and  lier  loss  was  much  de- 
plored. 

Mrs.  Sarah  C.  Heaton  was  born  in  Lancaster 
County,  Penn.,  in  1839.  Her  maiden  name 
was  Cooper,  and  she  was  reared  a  Quaker.  She 
read  medicine  one  year  with  Dr.  P.  L.  Hatch, 
of  Minneapolis,  Minn.,  and  one  year  under  Dr. 
Mary  E.  Wilson,  of  Lancaster,  Penn.,  graduat 
ing  in  1875,  at  the  '  Woman's  Medical  Col 
lege  of  Penns3'lvania. "  She  raari'ied  the  fol- 
lowing 3'ear  Dr.  J.  G.  Heaton,  and  the  two  im- 
mediatel}'  after  established  themselves,  in  Al- 
liance, as  practitioners  of  medicine.  In  the 
following  June,  the  husband  died,  and  Mrs. 
Heaton  has  continued  in  the  business  since, 
doing  a  respectable  share  thereof  It  should 
have  been  mentioned  that  Dr.  Heaton  had  been 


lIIrSTOHV   OF    STARK    CUlXTY 


located  in  Alliance  about  ten  years  previous  to 
his  marriage. 

Lybia  Moulton  was  born  in  I'ortage  County, 
Ohio,  in  1837.  Read  medicine  with  Dr.  Ward, 
of  Suffield  in  1858.  and  graduated  at  the  I'ni- 
versitj-  of  Michigan  in  18G0.  He  has  been  in 
practice  in  Hartville  eighteen  years. 

Byron  J.  Douds  was  born  in  184()  in  Lake 
Township,  Stark  Count}'.  Enlisted  at  the  age 
of  fifteen  in  the  Eight^'-sixth  Ohio  ^'olunteer 
Infantry,  and  served  with  the  regiment  until 
expiration  of  term  of  enlistment.  Re-enlisted 
in  United  States  Navy,  and  while  in  that  arm 
of  the  service,  was  chosen  b}-  the  commanding 
officer  for  a  special  work  requiring  great  phys- 
ical endurance,  firmness  and  fidelit}'.  After 
expiration  of  term  of  enlistment,  pursued  col- 
legiate studies  at  Oberlin  and  Mount  I'nion. 
Read  medicine  with  Dr.  L.  M.  Whiting,  and 
took  special  course  under  Dr.  J.  H.  vSaulsliury. 
of  Cleveland.  Graduated  in  1870,  at  Cleveland 
Medical  Department  T^niversity  of  Wooster. 
and  commenced  practice  in  Canton  immedi- 
ately aft«r.  He  is  at  present  Physician  to 
Stark  County  Infirmary-.  Married  in  1S7.")  to 
Miss  Ella  Hilles,  of  Mount  Union. 

Frank  Pennock.  born  in  Stark  County  in 
1852,  educated  at  the  home  schools,  read  med- 
icine with  Dr.  J.  H.  Day.  Limaville.  Attended 
first  course  of  lectures  at  Ann  Arbor.  Mich., 
and  graduated  at  Cleveland  in  1878.  Formed 
a  connection  with  Dr.  Day,  and  continued  with 
him  until  his  death.  Married  in  1880  to  Miss 
Isabella  McCallum,  of  Stark  County. 

James  McConkey,  born  and  educated  in 
England,  has  been  located  in  Mapleton  about 
twenty  years,  and  doing  a  respectable  business. 

Allen  W.  Weidler  was  born  in  Lancaster 
County,  Penn.,  and  came  to  Stark  County 
about  1848.  He  practiced  for  a  number  of 
j'ears  in  New  Ucrlin,  but  is  now  a  resident  of 
McDonaldsville,  Jackson  Township.  He  is  the 
Paracelsus  of  Stark  Count}".  Has  a  number  of 
specifics,  among  them, '•  A  Sure  Cure  for  the 
Typhoid  Fever,"  the  formula  of  which  lie  otl'ers 
to  sell  to  the  United  States  (iovcrnment  for 
'■  :J25,000,  not  a  cent  less." 

A.  P.  L.  Pease  was  born  in  Massillou  in 
1847,  and  is  a  son  of  Hon.  Anson  Pease.  He 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  began 
the  study  of  medicine  in  1868,  in  the  office  of 
the  late  Dr.  Abraham  Metz.  In  1871.  he  grad- 
uated from  the  Medical   Department  of  Woos- 


ter University,  in  Cleveland,  ami  ininiediately 
began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  his  na- 
tive town.  At  the  expiration  of  about  a  year, 
he  removed  to  Pittsburgh,  wliere  he  remained 
until  October.  1875.  at  whicli  time  he  returned 
t«  Massillon.  He  served  in  the  army  during 
the  late  war.  as  a  private  in  the  1  Oil-days 
service.  His  marriage  with  .Miss  Anna  Delia 
Gillespie,  of  Pittsburgh,  was  celebrated  on  the 
18th  day  of  September.  1877. 

William  H.  Kirkland  is  a  native  of  Crawford 
Co.,  Ohio,  where  his  birth  occurred  in  1840. 
His  education  was  received  at  the  common 
schools,  and.  in  1870.  he  began  the  study  of 
iioniii'opatli}  in  the  office  of  Dr.  ^\'.  A.  Whippey, 
of  (loshen.  Ind.  He  attended  lectures  in  the 
Cleveland  Homa'opathic  Hospital  College  dur- 
ing the  session  of  1S72-7H.  and  soon  afterward 
established  himself  in  practice  at  Canal  Dover. 
Tuscarawas  County.  At  the  expiration  of  about 
nine  months,  he  removed  to  Ooshen  Ind., 
where  he  continued  the  practice  in  conjunction 
witii  his  former  preceptor.  Dr.  Whippe}'.  until 
January,  1875.  when  he  returned  to  .Massillon. 
In  1878.  he  again  attended  medical  lectures, 
and  finally  graduated  at  the  above-mentioned 
college.  He  was  a  private  in  Company  K. 
Eighty-second  Regiment  Ohio  \'olunteer  In- 
fantry, during  the  late  war.  In  18S1.  ho  was 
married  to  Jliss  Helen,  daughter  nf  James 
Xeal,  of  Massillon. 

Everett  H..  son  of  Dr.  J.  P.  Barrick,  was 
born  in  Massillon  in  1845.  The  public  schools 
of  his  native  town  furnished  his  early  educa- 
tion, but  later  lie  attended  the  Iron  City  Col- 
lege, of  Pittsburgh.  From  1805  to  18G8.  he 
was  engaged  in  the  drug  liusiness  in  Cleveland, 
a  portion  of  the  time  with  Vaupel  &  Moore, 
hut  at  the  latter  date  he  began  the  study  of 
medicine  with  Dr.  Proctor  Thayer,  of  the  latter 
city.  He  attended  lectures  at  the  Cleveland 
Medical  College,  at  which  institution  he  grad- 
uated in  the  spring  of  1872.  He  practiced  his 
profession  in  Cleveland  until  1875,  when  he  re- 
moved to  !\Iassillou  and  associated  himself  with 
his  father.  In  October.  1875,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Clara  H.,  daughter  of  Hor- 
ace (I.  Hitchcock,  of  Cleveland. 

Henry  Clay  Royer  is  a  native  of  Steuben 
Co.,  X.  y.,  his  birth  occurring  at  Bath,  in  July. 
184G.  He  began  the  study  of  homieopathy  in 
1872,  under  Dr.  Baxter,  of  Cleveland,  and  grad 
uated  at  the  Honifeopathic  College,  of  that  city. 


2b-l 


HISTORY    OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


in  1875.  He  began  practicing  at  Seville,  Ohio, 
the  year  before  his  graduation,  and,  when  his 
college  course  was  completed,  returned  to 
Seville,  remaining  there  until  187G.  when  here- 
moved  to  .Massillon  and  formed  a  partnership 
with  Dr.  Kirkland.  He  was  married  in  Janu- 
ary, 181)6,  to  Miss  Lucy  E.,  daughter  of  Jotham 
T  Williams,  of  New  York  State.  T)i:  Royer  is 
at  present  a  mem[)erorthe  Board  of  Health  of 
Massillcjn. 

Jaines  F.  (Jardner  was  born  in  Leeds,  York- 
shire. Knglaud,  in  183G,  and  when  three  years 
of  age  was  brought  by  his  parents  to  Stai-k 
County,  locating  first  at  Canton,  but,  in  18-10, 
removing  to  Bethlehem.  He  was  educated 
mainly  at  Meadville.  I'enn.,  and  at  Mouut 
I'nion  College,  Stark  County,  and,  in  1855,  be- 
gan the  stud}'  of  medicine  with  Dr.  J.  D.  Otis, 
of  Navarre,  but  in  1857  went  to  Columbus, 
where  his  medical  studies  were  continued  under 
the  supervision  of  Dr.  J.  D.  Hamilton.  He  at- 
tended lectures  at  Columbus  and  Cleveland, 
and.  in  1860.  received  his  degree  at  the  latter 
city.  He  (jracticed  his  profession  three  years 
at  Canal  Fulton,  and  then  entered  the  arm}-  as 
Assistant  Surgeon  of  the  Tenth  Ohio  Cavalry, 
and,  for  a  short  time,  did  staff  duty.  After 
his  return,  he  remained  one  j-ear  at  Canal 
Fulton,  and  then,  in  1866,  removed  to  West 
Bidoktield.  He  was  married.  June,  1866.  to 
iMiss  Theresa,  (laughter  of  Xavier  Kern,  of 
Tuscarawas  Township. 

Thomas  J.  Keed.  born  July,  1838,  is  a  native 
of  Coshocton  County,  and  began  reading  medi- 
cine with  Dr.  Carroll,  of  Keene,  Ohio.  In  1864, 
he  took  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine  from 
Jefferson  Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  and 
afterward  took  a  special  course  in  the  '■  Lying- 
in-Hospital  '  of  that  city.  During  the  late  war, 
he  served  as  Acting  Assistant  Surgeon  ;  and, 
in  1866.  located  at  ^lassillon.  where  he  has 
since  practiced  his  profession.  His  wife,  to 
whom  he  was  married  in  1869,  was  Miss  Isabella 
Dickey,  of  Massillon.  Dr.  Reed  has  served  a 
number  of  jears  as  member  of  the  Board  of 
Health  of  Massillon. 

Simpson  J.  Harniount  is  a  '■  Buckeye,"  his 
birth  occurring  at  Lima,  Allen  County,  in  Sep- 
temlier,  1852.  His  general  education  was  com- 
pleted in  1873,  by  his  graduation  at  the  Ohio 
Wesleyan  University,  Delaware,  Ohio.  His 
study  of  medicine  was  begun  in  1873,  with  Dr. 
Buell.  of  New  Philadelphia  ;  but,  after  a  short 


time,  he  removed  to  Massillon,  and  commenced 
studying  under  Dr.  Metz  He  attended  lectures 
at  Cleveland,  and  finally  graduated  in  medicine 
at  Cincinnati.  He  has  since  been  located  in 
Massillon.  and  has  given  his  special  attention 
to  diseases  of  the  eya.  In  October,  1880,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Emma  T. 
Ruchti,  of  Cleveland. 

William  H.  Becher  was  born  in  Stark  County 
in  1848.  His  education  was  such  as  could  be 
obtained  from  the  country  schools.  He  com- 
menced the  study  of  medicine  in  1865,  gradu- 
ating in  1860.  He  has  a  farm  in  Pike  Town- 
ship, upon  which  he  resides,  doing  considerable 
country  practice.  He  has  been  twice  married. 
His  post  oflfice  address  is  North  Industry,  Stark 
Co.,  Ohio. 

John  H.  Tressel  was  born  in  Carroll  Count}- 
in  1833.  He  was  educated  at  Mount  Union 
College,  graduating  in  1860.  He  read  medicine 
with  Dr.  S.  F.  Rukenbrod,  of  Malvern  ;  attended 
lectures  at  Cleveland  Medical  College,  and  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  M.  D.  in  1863  ;  commenced 
practice  in  Malvern,  but  removed  to  Alliance 
in  1873.  Fie  was  appointed  Railway  Surgeon 
in  1876.  Dr.  T.  married,  in  1862,  Miss  Susan- 
nah T.  Hawkins,  of  Mahoning  County. 

George  C.  Welch  was  born  in  Harrison  County, 
Ohio,  in  1838  ;  attended  lectures  at  Cleveland, 
graduating  in  1870  ;  first  commenced  practice 
at  Kilgore,  Carroll  County  ;  remained  there 
one  year,  then  removed  to  Carrollton,  thence 
to  Mechanicstown,  where  he  remained  thirteen 
years.  In  1878,  he  located  in  Waynesburg. 
He  is  married  to  Abigail  A.  Hine,  of  Trumbull 
County. 

A.  B.  Walker  was  born  in  Jefferson  County, 
Ohio  ;  attended  medical  lectures  in  Chicago, 
and  graduated  in  Philadelphia  in  1881.  He  is 
located  in  Canton. 

E.  h.  Walker  was  born  iu  Knox  Count}-, 
Ohio  ;  attended  first  course  of  lectures  at  Ann 
Arbor,  Mich.,  and  graduated  in  Cleveland  in 
1869  ;  practiced  several  years  in  Holmes  County, 
and  located  in  Canton  in  1872.  He  is  now 
Health  Officer  of  the  city. 

A.  H.  (Jans  is  a  native  of  Stark  County  ; 
was  born  in  1847.  He  studied  medicine  with 
Dr.  D.  L.  Gans,  of  Sparta,  and  graduated  at 
Cleveland  in  1870.  He  commenced  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine  in  Navarre  the  same  year,  and 
has  continued  there  since,  steadily  increasing 
in  professional  reputation  and  business. 


^1 


'-^ 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


285 


William  I'.  Preston  was  born  in  Virginia, 
and  cann'  with  his  father's  family  in  1825,  to 
Columbiana  County.  Ho  read  meiiicMue  with 
his  hrotln-r,  [>r.  C.  II.  rrcston,  and  began  prac- 
tice in  lHH!t  at  Malvern.  Carroll  County.  He 
remained  here  but  a  short  time,  and  removed 
to  Hoiivar.  forming  a  partnership  with  Dr. 
Bennett.  On  the  death  of  his  brother.  C.  H.. 
he  moved  to  I'aris.  and  continued  there  ten 
years  ;  then  to  Alliance,  where  he  resided  until 
1857  ;  then  to  Mendota,  III.,  where  he  remained 
until  18(JS.  when  he  returned  to  Alliance,  his 
present  residence.  Dr.  I'reston  obtained  a  di- 
ploma from  a  Cincinnati  College.  He  was  in 
the  war  of  the  rebellion  as  Contract  Surgeon. 
He  was  married,  in  184;!.  to  Miss  Cynthia  Iv 
Tinker,  of  liandolph.  Poitage  County. 

Milton  M.  Call  ill  was  born  in  New  York 
State  in  1840.  A  tier  receiving  a  good  educa- 
tion at  the  common  schools  and  at  West  Green- 
field Academy,  he.  in  the  fall  of  18(i5.  began 
studying  mettieine  with  Dr.  Nathan  Spencer,  of 
Greenfield.  In  18(i()-(iS,  he  attended  lectures 
at  the  Homo'opathic  Hospital  College.  Cleve- 
land, receiving  his  diploma  in  February.  18(18. 
and  immediately  located  at  Brookfield.  N.  V.. 
where  he  continued  to  practice  for  three  years, 
at  the  end  of  which  time  he  moved  to  Massillon, 
Ohio,  and  four  years  later,  to  Canton,  where  he 
has  since  resideil  and  practiced.  In  January. 
1860,  he  married  Miss  Rozella  D..  daughter  of 
Anson  T.  Clark,  of  Brookfield.  N.  V. 

A.  C.  Brandt  was  born  in  Ashland  County 
in  July.  1852.  He  was  educated  at  the  schools 
of  Haysville.  and  at  Lebanon  College,  and  read 
medicine  in  187;i  with  Dr.  T.  S.  Hunter,  of 
Ashland.  He  attended  lectures  at  the  Bellevuc 
Hospital  Medical  College.  New  York  City, 
from  which  institution  he  graduated  in  1877. 
He  ■•  hung  out  his  shingle  "  in  Canton  in  Janu- 
ary. 1878,  and  has  since  remained  there  in 
active  practice.  For  a  young  man,  he  has  met 
with  marked  success.  In  1878  and  1879,  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Health  of  Can- 
ton, and,  since  his  location  in  the  city,  has 
been  Secretary  of  the  Stark  County  .Nledical 
Society. 

Judson  H.  Day  (deceased)  was  born  in  Deer- 
field,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio.  Septemlier  2.  1804. 
He  read  medicine  under  Dr.  Meiiary,  of  Deer- 
fielil,  and  finished  under  Dr.  Shreve.  of  Mas- 
sillon. Soon  after  this,  he  began  practicing,  a 
portion  of  the  time  at   Lima  and   for  a  short 


period  at  Marlboro,  Stark  County,  He  was  a 
successful  practitioner  during  his  long  career. 

Leon  B.  Santee  is  a  native  of  Mahoning 
County,  Ohio,  his  birth  occurring  in  June,  1853. 
His  early  education  was  received  from  the 
common  schools.  He  attended  the  Mount 
I'nion  College,  and  graduated  in  July,  1875. 
After  reading  medicine  with  Dr.  Miller,  of  Alli- 
ance, for  a  short  time,  he  entered  the  Medical 
Department  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  graduated  in  medicine  March,  1878.  In 
April,  1878.  he  went  to  ilarlboro  and  formed  a 
partnership  with  Dr.  Harper,  and  has  since  re- 
mained there  in  active  practice. 

W.  O.  Baker  was  born  in  Northampton 
County.  Peiiii.,  December  12.  1827.  He  began 
the  stud^'  of  medicine  at  the  age  of  twenty  in 
opposition  to  the  wishes  of  his  parents.  He 
finally  attended  the  Jeflerson  Medical  College, 
of  Philadelphia  in  1852.  but.  owing  to  a  lack  of 
means,  did  not  gratluate.  He  began  practicing 
in  Nimishilleii  Township  in  1855,  and  located 
in  JiOuisville  in  1858  ;  here  he  has  since  resided 
and  practiced  In  September,  1873.  he  re- 
ceived a  diploma  from  Cleveland  Medical  (Col- 
lege.    He  has  an  extensive  practice. 

John  Schilling  was  born  near  Frankfort  on 
the  JIaiii,  in  Germany,  Octol)er  10, 1794.  After 
receiving  a  fine  classical  education  at  the  Euro- 
pean schools,  he,  at  the  age  of  twenty-five 
years,  began  studying  medicine,  and  finally,  in 
about  183C.  graduated  at  the  Wurtsburg  Medi- 
cal College.  In  1837,  he  came  to  the  United 
States,  practicing  first  at  Bolivar,  Ohio,  and 
later,  at  Louisville  and  Osnaburg.  In  1852, 
he  opened  a  drug  store  at  Crestline,  Ohio,  but 
at  the  end  of  eighteen  months  returned  to 
Louisville  and  again  began  practicing.  Here 
he  remained  at  work  until  187ti,  when  advanc- 
ing years  and  failing  vigor  compelled  him  to 
cease  active  practice.  He  has  had  a  long  and 
eventful  experience  in  the  practice  of  medicine. 
Died  the  present  year. 

A.  S.  Sheets  was  born  in  Columbiana  County 
in  1824.  When  he  was  six  months  old,  his 
father  was  accidentally  killed,  and  the  boy  was 
thrown  among  strangers.  He  studied  medi- 
cine with  Dr.  Dillenbaugh,  and.  in  1846,  went 
to  I'Vemoiit.  Ohio,  where  he  practiced  three 
years,  and  then  removed  to  Huntington,  Ind. 
After  practicing  there  for  some  time  he  lost 
health,  and  his  practice  languished.  In  1857, 
he  located  at  Harrisburg.  Stark  County,  where 


IW" 


:\^ 


286 


HISTORY  OF    STAKK    COUNTY. 


he  has  since  remained,  practicing  and  fanning 
to  some  extent. 

J.  1^.  Schilling  was  born  in  Louisville  in 
September.  1840.  In  1857,  he  began  read- 
ing medicine  under  his  father's  supervision, 
and  in  1860,  attended  lectures  at  the  Western 
Reserve  College,  the  medical  department  being 
located  at  Cleveland.  His  medical  education 
was  completed  b3'  his  graiiuation  from  the  Star- 
ling Medical  College  of  Columbus,  during  the 
winter  of  1863-64.  He  immediately  hung  out 
his  shingle  in  Louisville,  where  he  has  since 
remained  in  active  practice. 

J.  S.  Beucler  was  born  in  Switzerland  in 
1820.  He  received  a  good  education,  and 
taught  several  terms  of  school  in  his  native 
land.  His  medical  studies  were  begun  in  185:!. 
Two  years  later,  he  came  to  Louisville,  Ohio, 
and  began  practicing  his  profession.  With  the 
exception  of  three  years  spent  in  Waj-ne 
Countj',  he  has  since  remained  in  practice  at 
Louisville. 

J.  P.  Callahan  was  born  in  Mahoning  County 
in  1835.  and,  when  about  nineteen  3'ears  of  age, 
began  reading  medicine  with  Dr.  J.  M.  Hole,  of 
Greenford,  and,  in  1869,  graduated  at  the  Ec- 
lectic Medical  College  of  Pennsylvania.  He 
practiced  ten  years  at  Berlin  Center,  and,  in 
1870,  located  at  Alliance,  where  he  has  since 
resided,  practicing  his  profession. 

John  V,  Lewis  was  born  in  Greenford.  Ma- 
honing Co,,  in  1836,  and  read  medicine  with 
Dr.  A.  Wiekart,  of  his  native  town,  after  which 
he  attended  lectures  at  the  Eclectic  Medical 
Institute  of  Cincinnati.  He  practiced  at  East 
Berlin.  111.,  for  a  time,  hut  at  length  returned 
to  Ohio  and  formed  a  partnership  with  his  pre- 
ceptor. In  1869.  he  graduated  from  the  above- 
mentioned  institution,  and,  in  1871,  located  at 
Alliance,     Here  he  has  since  remained, 

Joseph  Ddworth,  a  native  of  Columbiana 
County,  studied  medicine  in  Mount  Union,  and 
afterward  attended  lectures  at  the  Cleveland 
Medical  College,  but  did  not  graduate.  He  lo- 
cated in  Mount  Union,  where  he  enjoyed  a 
lucrative  practice  until  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  event  occurred  in  November,  1878.  He 
was  elected  to  the  State    Legislature  in  1808. 

A.  H.  Day  was  born  in  Deerfield,  Ohio,  No- 
vember. 1815.  He  began  the  study  of  medicine 
in  1840  with  his  brother.  J.  H.  Day."  He  studied 
thus  for  three  years  and  then  began  practicing 
in  Columbiana  County,   and   after  six  months 


went  to  New  Baltimore  where  he  has  been  the 
greater  portion  of  the  time  since.  Through 
his  long  practice  he  has  had  reasonable  suc- 
cess. 

J.  H.  Rogers  was  born  in  Wayne  (_!ounty, 
Ohio,  in  November,  1847.  His  medical  studies 
were  begun  in  the  fall  of  1873,  under  Dr. 
Barnes,  of  Fredericksburg,  Ohio,  In  1875-76, 
he  attended  medical  lectures  at  the  Uni\ersity 
of  Wooster.  Cleveland,  from  which  institution 
he  graduated.  Soon  after  this  he  began  prac- 
ticing at  Beech  City,  where  he  remained  until 
the  fall  of  1878.  and  then  went  to  Louisville, 
where  he  has  enjoyed  a  lucrative  practice  since, 

A,  B,  Campbell  was  born  in  Canada,  where 
he  first  began  the  study  of  medicine.  He  after- 
ward attended  the  University  of  ^lichigan  at 
Ann  Arbor,  graduating  from  the  medical  de- 
partment in  April,  1871,  He  practiced  for  two 
years  in  Summit  County,  and  then  removed  to 
Canal  Fulton,  where  he  has  since  remained. 
During  the  winter  of  1880-81,  he  attended  the 
Jefferson  Medical  College  of  Philadelphia  to 
further  perfect  himself  in  his  profession. 

H,  Dissinger  is  a  native  of  Summit  County, 
Ohio,  He  began  the  study  of  medicine  in  1875, 
under  Dr,  D.  Rowe.  of  Manchester.  In  1878. 
he  graduated  at  the  Medical  College  of  01ii(j, 
Cincinnati  ;  he  is  also  a  graduate  of  the  Long 
Island  Hospital  College  of  Brooklyn,  New 
York,  In  December,  1878,  he  located  at 
Canal  Fulton  and  has  secured  a  large  practice, 

C,  M,  Dickson  is  also  a  native  of  Summit 
County,  He  began  the  study  of  medicine  with 
his  father,  Dr,  M.  M.  Dickson,  under  whose  di- 
rection he  remained  one  year.  He  then  entered 
the  Medical  ('oUege  at  .\nn  Arbor,  Mich., 
and  graduated  in  ISSO.  He  practiced  seven 
months  in  Port  Clinton,  Summit  County,  and 
then  removed  to  Canal  Fulton,  where  he  has 
since  been  in  active  practice. 

Z.  T.  Goucher  is  a  native  of  the  Keystone 
State.  He  studied  medicine  with  his  father, 
Dr,  C,  W.  Goucher,  and  at  last,  after  a  collegiate 
course,  graduated  at  the  University  of  Michi- 
gan, Ann  Arbor,  in  1873,  He  then  practiced 
at  Inwood,  Ind.,  three  years,  and  also  three 
years  at  Lester's  Ford,  Indiana.  He  removed 
to  Ohio  and  practiced  two  years  at  Orrville,  and 
then  located  in  North  Lawrence,  where  he  has 
since  resided  and  practiced, 

J.  W.  ^IcCort  began  the  study  of  medicine 
with   Dr.   Carter,  of  Carrollton  ;  attended  lee- 


(ANTON    TOWNSHIP. 


387 


tures  in  Cincinnati,  unci  tinally  •iraduated  in 
medicine  at  the  Beilevue  Medical  Hospital. 
New  York.  He  located  in  W'ayneslmiii  in 
1872.  and  has  since  remained  there  with  a 
flourishing  practice. 

B.  S.  Diblile  has  been  located  in  Minerva  in 
the  practice  of  medicine  over  thirty  years, 

Ui'.  Sanor,  of  the  same  place,  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  fStark  county  a  number  of  years. 

A  biographical  sketch  of  Dr.  (leorge  Holtz 
of  New  Berlin,  and  Dr.  J.  Steese  of  I'niontown. 
will  appear  in  anothc-r  part  of  thi'  work. 

J.  M.  Bye  is  a  native  of  Columbiana  Counlv. 
and  a  graduate  of  the  Medical  l»epartment  of 
the  University  of  Michigan.  Ann  Arbor,  Mich- 
igan. He  has.  enjoyed  an  active  practice  at 
Waynesburg  since  1865. 

Alexander  F.  Atwell  was  born  in  Columbiana 
County  :  read  medicine  with  I)rs.  Frease  & 
Graham,  of  Hanover,- and  has  been  practicing 
at  Waynesburg  more  than  twenty  years. 

As  dentistry  may  be  considered  an  adjunct 
of  medicine,  it  is  proper  to  mention  that  the 
first  dentist  in  Stark  countv  was  S.  1',  Hullihan. 


He  w;is  a  self-made  man  had  learned  the  sil- 
\ersmith  trade,  and  afterward  took  up  dentis- 
try, and  followed  it  some  live  years  in  Canton, 
then  removed  to  ^Vheeling,  Va,,  where  he  ac- 
(|uired  a  high  reputation,  not  only  as  an  expert 
ilentist.  but  as  a  surgeon  in  special  operations. 
As  early  as  1830.  a  Medical  Society  was 
formed,  composed  of  the  most  reputable  and 
prosperous  meml)ers  of  the  profession,  located 
in  different  parts  of  the  county.  They  contin- 
ued to  meet  regularly  semi-annually  and  for  a 
time  (|uartcrly,  until  internal  dissensions  arose, 
created  by  the  introiluction  of  personal  quarrels, 
based  on  alleged  violations  of  the  code  of  ethics. 
For  a  time  the  societ}"  would  be  dissolved, 
and  again  convoked  under  a  new  nyimf — flour- 
ish temporarily,  only  to  again  wane.  At  pres- 
ent it  has  oidy  a  sickly  existence,  .Most  of  the 
members  belong  to  the  l^nion  Medical  Associa- 
tion, of  North  eastern  Ohio,  which  meets  quar- 
terly, having  a  representation  from  a  number  of 
counties,  is  a  much  larger  body,  and  the  meet- 
ings always  interesting  and  profitable,  which 
contributes  to  cripple  the  county  organization. 


CHAPTER    VIII.=^ 


(ANTilN  TOW.NSHll'— iT.-<  liKNERAL   .V.N'D   I'HVSICAL  FEATURES— MEYERS    L.\KE— SETTLEMENT   KY 

\VHITE.S— AN   ISCIlJEXT— ORIfUNAL  PLAT  OK  CANTON— SLUSSERS  MILL 

—  INDIANS  — SCHOOLS  —  A   RETROSPECTION. 


■Sec  Xatiirr  i 
With  jd.v  rrpiiys  the 


■Idthed  in  smiles, 
laborer  for  hi-. 


Mn,is 


i^'^ANTON  TOWNSHII'  was  one  of  tlu-  lirst 
\_J  townships  orgamzed  in  the  county.  It  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Plain  ;  ea.st  by  Osna- 
burg  ;  south  by  Pike  ;  and  west  by  Perry  Town- 
ship. It  is  six  miles  square,  and  covers,  there- 
fore, an  area  of  thirtj'six  square  miles,  or 
thirty-six  complete  sections  of  land.  Situated 
but  a  few  miles  south  of  the  summit  that  divides 
the  valley  of  the  Ohio  from  that  of  the  great 
lakes,  it  has  some  geographical  features  com- 
mon to  both  ;  but  the  predominating  ones  are 
those  of  the  Ohio  River  basin,  to  which  it 
properly  belongs.  The  surface  features  are 
varied — rolling  and  inclined  to  bo  hill}\  in  the 
northeastern     portion  ;     in    the    northwestern. 

=*  Cuntribilted  by  Prof.  Daniel  Wijrley. 


it  is  almost  a  level  plain  ;  south  of  the  cen- 
tral section  line,  it  becomes  more  and  more 
hilly,  until  in  the  southeastern  and  southwest- 
ern portions  it  is  very  rough  and  hill3-  ;  and 
this  is  particularly  the  case  along  the  Nimi- 
shillen  Creek  just  before  it  leaves  the  town- 
ship, where  steep,  precipitous  banks  rise  on 
both  sides  to  an  elevation  of  150  to  200  feet, 
and  extend  back  in  each  direction,  east  and 
west,  for  a  considerable  distance.  The  Ninii 
shillen  is  hemmed  in  by  ridges  of  moderate 
elevation  through  its  whole  extent,  inclosing 
bottom  land  of  great  fertility  from  half  a  mile 
to  a  mile  in  width.  Hurford's  Hill,  a  little  west 
of  south  from  Canton,  and  Buck  Hill,  about 
two  miles  southwest,  not  more  than  one  and  a 
half  miles  distant  from  each  other,  are  remark- 
able from  the  fact  that,  while  each  of  them  is 
of  about  the   height   of  125    feet,  they  dift'er 


V 


288 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY 


radically  and  materially-  from  each  otiier,  and 
represent  quite  closel}-  the  dift'erence  of  the 
sections  in  which  thej-  are  situated.  The 
former  is  composed  of  shales  of  slate,  several 
coal  veins,  fire  clay  and  limestone,  and  it  is 
characteristic  of  the  whole,  or  nearly  the  whole, 
eastern  and  southern  parts  of  tiie  township. 
Tlie  latter  is  a  mound  of  gravel-drift  forma- 
tion, and  characterizes  the  northwestern  part. 
The  eastern  and  southern  sections,  including 
all  parts  of  the  township  east  of  the  Nimi- 
shiilen  and  its  west  branch,  belong  to  the  forest 
region  of  North  America.  A  small  branch, 
rising  from  springs  in  swamp  land,  a  little 
south  of  the  middle  section  line  of  the  town- 
ship, and  emptying  into  the  Nimishillen  three- 
eighths  of  a  mile  below  the  junction  of  its 
east-and-west  branches,  is  the  southern  bound- 
ary, as  the  West  Nimishillen  is  the  eastern,  of  a 
sandy-soil  region  extending  in  a  northwesterly 
direction  to  the  Tuscarawas  River.  The  south- 
ern portion  of  this  region  in  Canton  Township 
h:id  sonic  small  timber  :  but  eighty  years  ago, 
tlie  greater  part  of  it  was  without  trees  and 
covered  with  long  grass,  and  was  the  first  of  a 
series  of  prairies  west  of  the  AUeghauies. 
which,  gradually  growing  larger,  at  last  culmi- 
nated in  the  great  prairies  of  the  Northwest. 
The  lands  here  are  fertile  gravel  lands  of  drift 
formation,  and  are  at  this  time  in  a  high  state 
of  cultivation,  ranking  among  the  first  lands 
in  the  county  for  the  raising  of  all  kinds  of 
grain.  Most  of  the  hilly  portions  of  the  town- 
ship, and  the  valleys  inclosed  by  them,  are 
clay  lands,  though  gravel  and  sand  hills  are  by 
no  means  uncommon  among  them.  They  are 
mostly  underlaid  with  coal  strata  of  sutHcient 
thickness  to  be  profitably  worked.  The  soil  is 
generally  fertile  on  these  hills  and  in  the  val- 
leys, and  jields  a  rich  return  to  the  labor  of  the 
husbandman,  while  the  coal  beneath,  readily 
mined  from  the  hillsides,  gives  a  double  source 
of  income,  and  makes  the  land  very  valuable. 
From  the  northeastern  part  of  the  township  a 
branch  of  the  Nimishillen  Creek,  flowing  south- 
westerly and  in  a  westerly  direction,  meets  the 
Middle  Branch  of  the  same  creek  coming  from 
the  north,  just  northeast  of  Canton,  and  they 
there  form  what  is  familiarly  known  as  the  P]ast 
Creek,  whi(;h,  flowing  in  a  southwesterly  direc- 
tion two  and  a  half  miles,  forms  a  junction  with 
the  West  Creek,  south  of  Canton,  and  makes, 
with  this,  the   Nimishillen   Creek.     From  this 


point  the  Nimisiiillen  flows  in  a  southwesterly 
course  through  the  township.  The  West  Creek 
comes  from  the  northwestern  part  of  the  town 
ship,  and  on  its  wa}'  it  receives  the  outlet  from 
Meyer's  Lake.  Besides  the  tributary  from  the 
west,  already  mentioned  above  as  dividing  the 
gravel  from  the  clay  lands,  the  Nimisiiillen,  far- 
ther down,  has  another  small  tributary  from  the 
east.  [Springs  and  small  rivulets  are  very  nu- 
merous, and  these,  with  the  creeks,  render  the 
soil  well  watered. 

Meyer's  Lake  is  in  the  northwestern  part  of 
the  township,  and  is  a  beautiful  sheet  of  clear 
water,  supplied  partly  by  the  natural  rainfall, 
and  partly  l)y  numerous  springs  in  its  bottom 
coming  from  the  gravel  formation  of  the  section 
and  its  northwestern  extension,  described  above. 
This  lake  is  one  of  a  number  of  similar  bodies 
of  fresh  water  found  in  this  part  of  the  State  of 
Ohio.  It  is  now  from  a  half  to  three-fourths  of 
a  mile  long,  with  perhaps  an  average  width  of 
one-fourth  of  a  mile.  Formerly  the  lake  undoubt- 
edly was  of  much  greater  extent,  as  evidenced 
from  the  swamp  lands  at  its  northwestern, 
and  more  particularly  at  its  southern  and  south- 
eastern extremities.  Its  outlet  has  its  origin  in 
the  last-named  place.  Its  northern  shore  i.s  a 
precipitous  bluff,  back  of  which  is  lieavj'  tim 
ber  land,  mostly  yet  standing.  The  lake  has 
long  been  a  favorite  resort  for  the  boys  fond  of 
fishing,  and  when  we  say  bo3-s  we  mean  many 
of  larger  growth  as  well  as  the  smaller  ones.  It  is 
well  supplied  with  the  fish  common  to  this  part 
of  the  country,  and  it  seems  that  the  supply  is 
inexhaustil)le.  To  those  skilled  in  Sir  Isaac 
Walton's  favorite  ait,  it  scarcely  e\er  refuses  to 
give  a  favorable  response. 

This  lake  is  also  the  natural  isuppl}'  for  the 
water  consumption  of  Canton  City,  though,  on 
account  of  deficiencies  of  one  kind  and  the  other, 
the  cit^'  has  to  depend  to  a  considerable  extent 
on  the  West  Nimishillen  Creek  for.  its  water 
supply,  for  fire  |.)rotection  and  even  for  ordinary 
demands. 

With  the  exception  of  swamp  lands  about 
Meyer's  Lake  and  along  the  Nimishdien  Creek, 
the  lands  of  Canton  Township  are  profitable  for 
cultivation  ;  the  swamp  lands  will,  one  day  or 
other,  also  be  turned  to  good  account ;  and,  as 
this  township  is  on  the  direct  line  of  the  wheat- 
growing  section  of  the  State,  and  its  bottom 
landsare  almost  or  quite  equal  to  those  of  the 
Lower  Muskingum,  Scioto  and  Miami  Valleys 


V 


^± 


(  AXTOX    TOWXSUIP. 


289 


for  tlie  growth  of  Indian  corn,  it  is  fairly  pre- 
sumable that  no  other  portion  of  Ohio  has 
greater  agricultural  advantages ;  and.  that 
these,  with  its  mineral  resources,  render  the 
township  rieli  among  the  richest  in  the  means 
of  supporting  comfortably  a  large  population. 

Though  the  western  portion  of  the  township 
is  said  to  be  on  the  line  of  the  great  storms  from 
the  Northwest,  with  a  few  exceptions,  it  has  as 
3et  escaped  their  fury  ;  and  the  times  they  iliil 
come  they  were  of  very  limited  extent  in  width, 
and  not  nearly  as  destructive  as  in  most  other 
parts  of  the  country  subject  to  their  direful 
visitations.  The  climate  is  generally  good,  and 
tends  to  long  life  and  happiness  ;  neither  too 
excessively'  cold  in  winter  nor  loo  hot  in  sum- 
mer ;  neither,  on  the  average,  loo  wet  nor  too 
dry. 

The  prevailing  type  in  tlie  p()|)ulation  of  the 
township  is  Pennsylvania  Cierman.  noted  for  its 
industry,  frugality  and  slow  but  stead}'  jirogress. 
The  Yankee  spirit  of  radical  progression  has 
not  been  wanting  ;  the  versatile  Frenchman,  the 
sprightly  Irishman  and  the  solid  Ocrman  from 
Fatherland  have  all  made  their  intluence  felt  : 
and  these  have,  with  tlu^  prevailing  Pennsylva- 
nians.  succeeded  in  giving  a  spirit  of  progressive 
conservatism  which  has  made  Canton  Township 
pef)ple  successful,  prosperous  and  safe  against 
all  ordinary  reverses  in  business.  Her  fanners 
are  noted  for  .solidity,  intelligence,  industry, 
thrift ;  her  capital  city  for  rapid  growth,  great 
and  even  world-renowned  manufactures,  and  a 
citizenship  which,  for  general  safety  in  business 
and  for  jiulilit'  virtue,  stands  among  the  fairest 
in  this  or  any  other  land. 

The  early  pioneers  in  the  settlement  of  Stark 
County  commenced  near  the  present  site  of  the 
city  of  Canton.  Previous  to  the  year  1805,  the 
land  ollice  for  all  this  part  of  the  country  was  at 
.'^teubenville,  in  .letfcrson  County,  of  which  origi- 
nally this  county  was  a  part.  Connected  with 
the  land  office  was  -James  V.  Leonard.  He 
seems  to  have  been  the  first  one  who  came  into 
Canton  Township  with  the  purpose  of  renuiin- 
ing  and  making  a  permanent  settlement.  In 
March.  1805.  in  company  with  James  and  Henry 
Barber,  he  established  a  station  just  northeast 
of  the  present  city,  and  near  the  county  fair 
grouiMls.  on  the  well  known  Reed  farm.  This 
farm  has  the  reputatiim.  therefore,  of  being  the 
first  settled  in  the  township  and  in  the  county. 
Leonard  and  the  Uarber  brothers  took  pains  to 


induce  other  settlers  to  come  here,  and  showed 
them  lands  suitable  for  location  ;  and.  when  re- 
quired, surveyed  and  measured  them.  Leonard, 
as  a  land  surveyor.  raad<'  frequent  trips  to  Steu 
benville  ;  and.  on  one  of  these  lri|)s.  he  iniluced 
one  of  his  personal  friends  named  James  Cul- 
bertson,  to  come  back  with  him.  Soon  after 
coming  here,  however,  the  latter  was  attacked 
with  intlamation  of  the  lungs,  and  died  on  the 
5th  ot  October.  1805.  his.being  the  lirst  death 
among  the  white  people  in  the  county.  Others 
from  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland  came  during 
the  fall  of  1805.  who  located  lands,  and  did  some 
clearing  ;  but  returned  to  their  Eastern  homes 
before  winter.  Soon  after  the  establishment  of 
Leonard's  Station,  another  was  esial)lished  liy 
Butler  Wells  and  Daniel  .McClure.  who  were 
also  surveyors  from  Steubenville,  upon  lands 
located  and  owned  by  Bezaleel  Wells,  about  two 
miles  northwest  of  Canton,  near  what  was  then 
called  the  Large  Spring,  now  well  known  as 
Meyer's  Lake,  so  named  from  .Vndrew  .Mej'ers, 
who  afterward  owned  a  large  body  of  land 
around  it.  Wells  and  Mc(/lure  brought  work- 
men with  them  to  build  upon  the  lands  and  to 
cultivate  theni,  their  effort  being  most  likely 
the  first  one  foi'  a  systematic  occu|)ancy  and 
cultivation  in  the  township.  These  stations  of 
Leonard  and  Wells  were  chosen  with  good 
judgment  and  discrimination  ;  tlu;  one  being 
in  the  undulating  forest  region  almost  at  the 
very  entranc'c  of  the  less  ruggeil  and  hilly 
lands  between  the  branches  of  the  Nimishilleu 
Creek,  as  com|)arc(l  with  the  lands  east  and 
south  of  Canton,  whicli,  though  good  lands 
for  farming  and  rich  in  mineral  resources,  were 
not,  at  this  early  period,  so  well  adapted  to 
please  the  eyes  of  emigrants  from  the  older 
settlements  .seeking  a  new  location  ;  the  other, 
upon  the  plains  west  of  the  Nimishilleu,  otfering 
a  tempting  bait  to  settlers  desirous  of  finding 
land  already  cleared,  and  waiting  for  the  farmer 
to  come  in,  possess  and  bring  out  its  rich  re- 
sources. .\s  a  coiLsecpience  of  this  foresight  on 
their  part,  these  stations  soon  became,  at  this 
early  period,  the  points  to  which  emigrants 
came  in  their  search  for  new  homes.  The  wood- 
less lands  of  the  prairie,  however,  did  not.  for  a 
long  time  at  first,  receive  from  the  early  settlers 
the  attention  which  from  their  agricultural 
worth,  they  should  have  had.  Most  of  them 
preferred  the  vfooded  lands  northward  from 
Canton,  and  hence,  the  early  settlement  of  Plain 


I9 


^ 


HISTOIiY    OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


Township  is  almost  coincident  witli  that  of 
Canton  Township. 

In  Jul}',  1806.  Leonard  united  in  marriage 
with  a  daughter  of  James  Barber,  one  of  his 
associates,  which  is  worthy  of  special  note  as 
the  first  marriage  in  Stark  County. 

In  the  autumn  of  1805,  Leonard  surve\'ed 
and  platted  the  original  Canton,  and  at  the  first 
sale  of  lots  by  public  outcry,  in  ISOfi,  he  pur- 
chased the  lot  on  tlie  southwest  corner  of 
Seventh  and  Market  streets,  and  erected  thereon 
a  brick  building,  so  long  and  so  well  known  as 
the  Oi^erlj-  corner,  which  stood  a  relic  of  the 
olden  times  until  the  3ear  1879,  when  it  was 
torn  awa}'  to  give  place  for  Slierrick  &  Mil- 
ler's large  and  imposing  hardware  store  and 
building.  Later,  he  removed  to  Plain  Town- 
ship, thence  to  Jackson  Township,  afterward 
to  Summit  County,  and  finally  to  Cleveland, 
where  he  died  at  an  advanced  age.  Meeting  as 
he  did,  at  that  early  period,  all  classes  of  per- 
sons, who  had  come  West  to  look  up  new  loca- 
tions for  themselves  and  families,  he  had  many 
adventures,  and  in  after  3'ears,  took  great 
pleasure  in  relating  these  and  stories  of  the 
pioneer  times.  One  of  these  may  give  a  better 
insight  into  the  then  condition  of  things  by 
being  given  here.  A  stranger  from  the  East 
came  to  the  station,  during  Leonard's  absence 
on  a  trip  to  Steubenville,  to  register  lands  for 
various  persons  in  the  land  office  there,  which 
he  had  measured  for  them.  It  was  on  a  Satur- 
day, in  the  spring  of  the  year  1805  ;  the  Bar- 
ber Brothers  and  Culbertson,  who  were  in  charge 
of  the  station,  were  engaged  by  the  stranger  to 
show  him  the  lands  as  far  from  the  station  as 
it  was  safe  to  venture,  on  the  following  day. 
Sunday.  The  stranger  had  brought  with  him 
$338  in  silver,  in  a  heavy  cloth  sack,  in  which 
he  also  carried  his  provisions  for  the  journey  ; 
for  greater  security,  before  starting  out  to  look 
at  land,  he  placed  this  in  the  trunk  of  a  hollow 
tree,  and  carefully  covered  the  opening  with 
moss,  so  that  it  might  not  be  discovered  by 
any  one  during  his  absence.  Returning  to  the 
station  late  on  Sunday  evening,  he  concluded 
to  let  it  remain  in  the  tree  until  the  next  morn- 
ing. But  what  were  his  terror  and  astonisli- 
ment  when,  on  Monday  morning,  he  could  find 
no  trace  of  sack,  or  monc}',  or  the  very  neces- 
sary, in  those  days,  bread  and  meat.  The  man 
was  inconsolable,  and  as  there  was  an  encamp- 
ment of  Indians  in  the  neighborhood,  he  natu- 


rally charged  the  theft  upon  them.  But  as 
he  could  find  no  trace  of  his  money,  and  an 
encounter  with  the  Indians  to  justify  his  sus- 
picious and  recover  it.  was  entirely  out  of  the 
question,  he  went  homeward  with  a  heavy 
heart ;  $300  in  those  days  was  a  large  amount, 
and  it  was  doubtless  the  man's  whole  fortune, 
the  savings  from  many  years  of  previous  in- 
dustry and  economy.  On  the  wa}'  back,  he 
met  Leonard  and  told  him  of  his  loss,  and  also 
of  his  suspicions  against  the  Indians.  Leonard 
consoled  the  man  as  best  he  could,  and  assured 
him  of  Ills  own  belief  that  wolves,  and  not  the 
Indians,  were  the  thieves,  and  that,  probably, 
the  money  would  be  again  recovered  at  some 
later  da}'.  Four  months  later,  three  men  from 
Pennsylvania  were  looking  over  the  land,  about 
a  half  mile  from  the  tree-trunk  in  which  the 
money  had  been  placed,  to  find  a  desirable  lo- 
cation, when  one  of  them  picked  up  a  piece  of 
the  ticking  sack  ;  this,  of  course,  led  the  man 
who  was  conducting  them  to  relate  the  story 
of  the  stranger's  loss,  wheieupon  all  made 
diligent  search,  and  found  nearly  all  of  the  stolen 
treasure.  Wolves,  indeed,  true  to  their  in- 
stinct, and  lured  by  the  savory  smell  of  cooked 
meat,  had  discovered  the  hiding-place,  and 
carried  oft'  sack,  bacon  and  money  ;  but  as  they 
had  no  special  need  of  the  last,  they  left  it 
lying  anmnd  loose  among  the  leaves  of  the 
forest. 

Among  those  who  selected  and  located  land 
in  Canton  Township,  in  the  year  1805,  were 
David  Bechtel,  Jacob  Aultman,  the  Baer  fam- 
ily, Philip  Schlosser  (afterward  written  Slus- 
ser),  and  William  Ewing.  The  original  title 
conveying  one-fourth  of  Section  11  to  David 
Bechtel  was  signed  by  Thomas  Jefferson. 
President  of  the  United  States,  and  James 
Madison.  Secretary  of  State,  and  is  still  in  pos- 
session of  the  farail}'.  Bechtel  came  from 
Maryland  to  Columbiana  County  in  1803;  in 
1805,  he  located  his  land  in  Canton  Township  ; 
and  in  the  fall  of  1806  he  came  back  with  a 
hired  man,  built  himself  a  log  cabin,  cleared 
three  acres  of  land,  and  sowed  it  with  wheat. 
He  then  returned  to  Columbiana  County,  and, 
having  taken  unto  himself  a  wife,  the  j'oung 
married  couple  removed  to  their  new  home,  in 
the  spring  of  1807  ;  here  he  lived  until  his 
death,  in  the  year  1833.  David  Bechtel  was 
one  of  the  first  .settlers  in  the  township  who 
turned  his  attention  to  the  raising  of  fruit.     His 


#* 


CANTON    TOWNSHIP 


291 


orchard  was  plaiiti'd  upon  high  ground,  where 
it  would  bo  less  liable  to  injury  (Vom  frost,  and 
while  planting  tor  the  future,  he  lived  long 
enough  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  his  labor.  He 
was  also  a  great  hunter,  and  when  away  from 
home,  he  was  always  accompanied  by  his  trusty 
rifle,  even  when  attending  a  funeral.  He  also 
wore  a  large  knife  attached  to  a  girdle  by  his 
side.  One  night  his  dogs  treed  three  bi-ars  on 
one  tree,  near  his  cabin,  and  held  them  there 
till  morning,  when  he  shot  them.  On  another 
occasion,  he  had  a  tight  with  a  stag,  which,  but 
for  his  faithful  knife,  would  probably  soon  have 
made  an  end  of  him.  Tiiinkiug  that,  inasmuch 
as  the  animal  fell  immediately  when  he  tired, 
he  had  killed  him,  Bechtel  went  up  to  him,  and 
he  lay  apparently  dead,  not  moving  a  limb, 
but  when  he  had  drawn  his  knife  to  cut  otf  the 
stag's  head,  and  had  taken  hold  uf  the  antlers 
to  turn  his  head  around,  the  deer  veiy  suddenly 
leaped  to  his  feet,  attacked  his  assailant,  and 
with  one  prong  of  his  antlers,  nailed  him  to  a 
tree  b}'  his  left  hand.  In  this  dangerous  posi- 
tion, Beehtel's  own  presence  of  mind,  and  great 
strength,  proved  his  salvation  ;  a  less  deter- 
mined and  plucky  man  would  certainly  have 
perished.  With  almost  superhuman  strength, 
he  plunged  the  knife  into  the  stag's  breast,  and 
the  latter  fell  o\er  dead  in  realitj',  thus  releas- 
ing Bechtel  from  his  imminent  peril.  The  ball 
from  Beehtel's  ritie  had  only  struck  the  skull 
of  the  stag,  and  rendered  him  tempcjrarilj'  in- 
sensible. Bechtel  also  followed  trapping  suc- 
cessfully, and  gathered,  from  time  to  time,  a 
very  great  number  of  Otter  and  other  kinds  of 
pelts  along  the  Nimishillen  Creek,  On  Beeh- 
tel's farm,  there  was  an  Indian  bnrying-gi-ound 
or  mound.  Many  remains  of  arrows  and  stone 
arrow-heads,  together  with  many  other  articles 
of  use  among  the  Indians,  made  of  stone  and 
iron,  have  been  found  there. 

It  has  been  said  that  a  building,  which  stood 
upon  this  mound  many  years  ago,  was  frequently 
visited  by  the  ghosts  of  the  Indians  sleeping 
underneath,  but,  like  other  ghost  stories,  the 
report  lacks  authentic  contirmation.  Despoiled 
as  these  Indians  often  were,  in  tho.se  early  days, 
of  their  lands  and  their  homes,  it  would  not  be 
at  all  wonderful  if  departed  spirits  could  at  all 
return  to  earth,  that  theirs  slKnild  return  once 
in  awhile  t<j  disturb  the  slumbers  of  the  chil- 
dren of  their  despoilers,  Bechtel  was  a  good 
man  in  general,  was  a  good  neighlior,  and  was 


honored  with  the  respect  of  the  community  in 
which  he  lived,  having  been  elected  for  several 
successive  terms  to  the  responsible  position  of 
County  Commissioner,  in  which  place  his  acts 
gave  general  satisfaction  ;  but  he  did  not  like 
the  Indians  who  at  that  time  were  yet  quite 
numerous  in  his  neighborhood.  One  of  these 
had  the  impudence  to  <lisplay  a  number  of  hu- 
man tongues  on  a  string,  and  to  boast,  Indian 
fashion,  that  they  were  the  tongues  of  white 
men  whom  he  had  killed  with  his  own  hand. 
Boasting  thus  on  one  occasion  in  the  presence 
of  Bechtel  and  others,  the  Indian  and  he  left 
the  company  at  the  same  time,  and  the  Indian 
was  never  seen  afterward.  The  supposition 
generally  was  that  Bechtel  had  used  his  oppor- 
tunity and  assisted  his  red-skin  brother  home  to 
the  happy  hunting-grounds  of  his  fathers.  How- 
ever it  may  have  been,  Bechtel  kept  his  own 
counsel  well,  and  posterity  are  left  to  conjecture 
the  truth  as  best  they  may,  I'olitically,  Mr. 
Bechtel  belonged  the  old  Jctfersonian  school. 

Philip  Slusser  came  from  Cumberland  Coun- 
ty. Penn.,  to  Beaver  County  in  the  year  1804. 
The  next  spring  he  came  to  Stark  County,  chose 
a  quarter-section  of  land  directly  east  of  Can- 
ton, and  had  the  same  entered  in  the  land  ottice 
at  Steubenville.  He  then  returneil  to  Penn- 
sylvania, and  in  the  autumn  of  1805,  leaving 
his  wife  and  younger  children  in  the  old  home, 
he  came  back  with  his  three  sons,  Philip,  Peter 
and  John,  and  his  daughter  Elizabeth,  to  take 
charge  of  the  housekeeping  branch  of  the  busi- 
ness, together  with  eight  or  ten  laborers.  He 
erected  the  tirst  mill  in  the  county  for  grinding 
wheat  and  other  grains.  This  mill,  so  long 
and  so  favorablj-  known  as  the  Roland  Mill, 
has  played  a  by  no  means  unimportant  part  in 
the  early  settlement  of  Canton  and  the  town- 
ship. Previous  to  its  establishment,  the  settlers 
were  obliged  to  go  thirty  or  forty  miles  away 
to  the  older  settlements  for  their  Hour,  and  not 
at  all  unfrequently  itre(juircd  a  number  of  days 
to  get  it  ground,  to  say  nothing  of  the  long  and 
wearisome  journeys  to  mill  and  back  home 
again.  It  must  be  remembered  that  in  those 
days  our  pioneer  settlers  did  not  have  the  bene- 
fit of  well-established  and  worked  roads  ;  the 
greater  part  of  the  country  between  them  and 
the  older  settlements  was  an  unbroken  wilder 
ness,  and  the  roads  were  often  mere  patiis 
through  the  woods.  Some,  accordingly,  were 
obliged  to  live  almost  entirely  upon  wild  game 


ir^ 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


and    fish,   or    used    hand-mills   and    depended 
largely-  upon    hominy   for  their  grahi  supply. 
Others  took  a  piece  of  iron  plate,  perl'orated  it, 
and  ground  their  corn,  or  rather,  we  should  say, 
crushed  it  through  the  perforations  by  rubbing 
it  on  the  rough  side  of  the  iron  plate.     Neces- 
sity is  said  to  be  the  mother  of  invention,  and 
the  necessities  of  the  fathers  in  the  then  West- 
ern wilds  of  our  country  led    them    to  adopt 
many  ditforent  ways  to  provide  for  themselves 
and  their  families.     Soon   after  the  establish- 
ment of  the  Slusser  Mill,  another  one,  a  small 
log  house  upon  four  stone  pillars,  was  erected 
a  few  miles  northwest  of  Canton,  on  the  West 
Branch   of  the  Nimishillen,    where   the    well- 
known  Trump's  mill  now  stands,  for  grinding 
Indian  corn.     Two  rough  stones  were  used,  but 
according  to  tradition,  the  corn  meal  turned  out 
from  this  mill  was  so  coarse  and  full  of  sand 
that  it  was  not  even  fit  for  making  the  once  fa- 
mous Johnny  cake,  the  favorite  morsel  in  those 
days  upon   many  a  pioneer's   table.     It  need 
hardly  be  added   that  the  miller,  in  that  mill, 
received,  on  this  account,  the  hearty  benedic- 
tions of  the  girls  and  women  of  the  period,  such 
as  only  such  girls  and  women  knew  how  to  give 
j   them.     A  saw-mill  was  added  to  this  mill  a  lit- 
tle later,  but  was  carried  away  by  a  flood  the 
same  year   it  was  built  ;  a  consequence,  pre- 
sumably,  of   the  bad  corn   meal  made  there. 
Slusser's  mill  seems  to  have  done  good  work 
from    the  beginning  of  its  establishment,  and 
naturally  drew  custom,  not  only  from   Canton 
but  also  from  Plain  Township  north.     Among 
other  reminiscences  connected  with  the  mill  is 
the  following  :  On  one  occasion.  Elizabeth  Har- 
I   ter.  a  fifteen-year-old  daughter  of  George  Har- 
]   ter.  of  Plain  Township,  was  sent  to   mill  with 
i   five  and  one-half  l)ushels  of  wheat,  three  bush- 
j   els  in  one  bag  and  the  remainder  in   another. 
j   She   carried    the  lighter    bag  upon  one  horse 
,   which  she  rode,  and  the  other  upon  one  which 
i   she  led  ;  she  was  detained  at  the  mill  until  late 
'   in  the  afternoon,  when  she  started  home  with 
her  Hour,     There  was  no  road  except  a  path 
through  the  dense  woods  for  a  part  of  the  way,  ' 
and  as  it  was  rapidly  becoming  dark  she  pushed 
her  horses  forward,  as  soon  as  she  left  Canton 
!   behind,  so  as  to  reach  home  in  good  time.    But 
the  path  soon  became  more  and  more  indistinct, 
j   and  she  finally  deviated  from  it  somewhat,  when 
I   the  overhanging  boughs  of  the  trees  swept  the 
I   bag  of  flour  off  from  the  horse  she  was  leading. 


Here  was  a  new  difiBculty,  and  she  was  about  at 
her  wits'  ends  :  but  the  girls  of  that  time  did 
not  readily  yield  to  trifles,  and  Elizabeth  dis- 
mounted and  used  her  best  endeavors  to  put 
the  sack  back  to  its  place  ;  she  did  succeed  in 
getting  it  upon  her  shoulder,  but  her  strength 
was  not  great  enough  to  throw  it  over  the 
horse  ;  she  worried  herself  with  it,  however,  a 
long  time,  and  w^as  about  giving  up  in  despair, 
with  the  thought  of  going  back  to  Canton  until 
morning,  as  she  had  yet  several  miles  home, 
when  an  old  settler,  Frederick  Rodacker,  hap- 
pened to  come  along,  and  threw  the  sack  upon 
the  horse.  As  by  this  time  it  had  become  quite 
dark,  he  advised  her  to  go  with  him  home,  and 
she  did  so.  But  her  mother  was  naturall}-  veiy 
much  alarmed  at  her  daughter's  long  absence, 
and,  thinking  that  Elizabeth  had  lost  her  way 
in  the  woods,  she  blew  a  horn  for  more  than 
half  the  night,  so  that  her  daughter  might  dis- 
cern the  way  to  the  house.  Early  the  next 
morning,  after  having  been  hospitably  enter- 
tained by  Mr.  Rodacker,  she  retuined  home 
with  her  flour,  to  the  great  joy  of  the  entire 
family.  It  was  of  such  material  that  our  early 
settlers  were  made  ;  they  could  go  out  with 
their  husbands  and  fathers,  and  help  them  clear 
the  land  and  roil  the  logs  together  for  burning, 
satisfied  with  a  cold  lunch  for  dinner,  from 
morning  until  night.  Elizabeth  Harter  after- 
ward became  .Mrs.  Baer.  and  still  later,  Mrs. 
(irubb.  and  is  still  living  in  a  green  old  age. 
She  is  active  beyond  her  years,  and  has  a  good 
memory  of  those  early  times.  Few.  if  any,  of 
the  girls  of  this  day  would  venture  or  could 
accomplisli  what  she  has  done. 

Philij)  Slusser  was  born  in  the  Cppcr  Rhine 
country  of  (iermany.  and  was  a  man  of  decided, 
upright  character.  He  was  one  of  the  first 
Commissioners  of  this  county,  and  was  held  in 
high  esteem  Ijy  all  who  knew  him.  He  died 
ill  tlK'  year  1828.  His  sons,  Philip  and  Peter, 
removed  later  to  Tuscarawas  Township,  while 
his  third  son  John,  carried  on  a  saw-inill.  com- 
menced as  earlj'  as  1807,  for  many  jears,  John 
Slusser  was  the  father  of  our  respected  fellow- 
citizen  and  highly  successful  physician,  l>r, 
Ijcwis  Slusse'-,  who  has  represented  the  county 
in  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State,  and,  in 
later  years,  was  Superintendent  of  the  New- 
burg  Asylum  for  the  Insane  near  Cleveland. 
In  connection  with  his  business  in  the  saw- 
mill, John  Slusser  soon  became  apt  in  the  use 


J^  «  ^  ^f^tcvUek 


t^ 


CANTON    TOWNSHIP. 


293 


of  tools,  and.  as  tlien  there  was  no  cabinet- 
maker in  the  county,  he  was  often  called  upon 
to  furnish  bedsteads,  cradles,  cupboards  and 
other  articles  of  household  furniture,  until  he 
found  it  necessary,  finally,  to  make  this  his 
regular  business,  which  he  continued  on  East 
Tuscarawas  street,  east  of  Walnut,  until  he 
retired  from  active  business.  He  died  in  the 
year  1S5!I.  Concerning  a  great  flood  on  the 
East  Creek,  such  as  has  not  since  occurred,  he 
has  given  us  the  following"  account :  •'  In  June, 
1807,  it  thundered  and  rained  without  intermis- 
sion for  two  days  and  two  nights,  and  the  Xim- 
ishillen  raised  rapidl}'  and  overflowed  its  banks. 
The  log  house  of  my  father  stood  between  the 
creek  and  the  mill-dam,  and  had  about  four  feet 
of  water  on  the  first  floor.  It  was  just  as  high  on 
the  west  side  of  the  creek.  Everything  in  the 
house  was  taken  up  to  the  garret  of  the  house, 
excepting  a  barrel  of  whisky  (an  article  gen- 
erally used  and  considered  necessarj'  in  those 
days),  and  one  or  two  other  heavy  articles  that 
could  not  be  removed.  It  was  considered  un- 
safe for  several  days  to  attempt  crossing  the 
stream.  After  it  had  fallen  a  few  feet,  a  man 
by  the  name  of  Brown  came  from  one  of  the 
settlements  east  of  us  on  his  wa^'  to  Canton  to 
purchase  some  tools.  He  was  acquainted  with 
some  of  the  mill-hands  and  wanted  to  be  taken 
over  the  swollen  creek.  Mr.  F'ischel  and  his 
son  took  him  safely  over,  but  when,  about  sun- 
down, they  were  trying  to  return,  they  were 
carried  away  by  the  force  of  the  stream,  ran 
against  the  trunk  of  a  tree  and  were  thrown 
into  the  water.  John  Fischel  swam  to  the  east- 
ern shore  ;  his  father  was  carried  by  the  force 
of  the  stream  to  the  western  shore,  and  lirown 
was  drowned.  His  corpse  was  found  a  few 
days  afterward  about  fifty  rods  from  the  place. 
The  mill-hands  buried  him  upon  a  high  bank 
of  the  creek  about  one  hundred  rods  from  the 
mill.  Brown  was  known  to  be  a  good  swim- 
mer, and  it  is  thought  that  he  was  thrown 
against  the  trunk  of  a  tree,  or  was  in  some 
waj-  rendered  powerless,  when  otherwise  he 
could  readily  and  easily  have  saved  himself. 
Tic  was  the  second  person  buried  in  Stark 
County. 

In  those  days,  wolves  and  bears  were  plenty 
all  over  this  country,  and  ready  for  any  prey 
that  offered  itself  to  their  clutches.  It  was  no 
uncommon  event  for  the  old  settlers  to  be 
awakened  out  of  their  sleep  at  night  by  the 


cries  of  distress  coming  from  one  or  the  other 
of  their  domestic  animals.  The  ready  gun  was 
at  all  such  times  called  into  recpiisition,  and 
did  good  service  both  by  ridding  the  settle- 
ments of  one  or  more  of  the  undesirable  in- 
truders, and  by  .serving  notice  upon  others  to 
keep  their  distance.  The  present  generation 
can  scarcely  appreciate  the  anuojaiices  which 
for  years  accompanied  the  eflbrts  of  the  old 
pioneers  to  open  up  this  new  country  to  civili- 
zation and  progress,  where  now,  in  less  than 
three  quarters  of  a  century,  peace  and  plenty 
prevail,  and  luxury  even  crowns  the  freciuent, 
festive  board.  ISut  most  of  the  annoyances  of 
those  days,  outside  of  those  necessarily  inci- 
dent to  all  pioneer  life,  came  from  the  four- 
footed  inhabitants  of  these  Western  wilds. 
The  Indians  of  the  neighborhood  were  peace- 
fully disposed  toward  their  "white  brothers," 
I  by  whom  they  had  been  generallj-  treated  in  a 
i  fair,  kind  and  friendl}-  manner.  These  Indians 
j  belonged  to  the  Delaware  and  Chippewa  tribes, 
and  had  their  chief  encampment  hereabouts, 
at  the  junction  of  the  two  branches  of  the 
i  Nimishillcn  Creek,  south  of  Canton.  They 
would  often  visit  the  new  settlers,  to  the  num- 
I  ber  of  200  or  ''AH)  at  a  time,  and  were  generally 
well  behaved,  except  occasionally,  when  under 
I  the  influence  of  the  white  man's  fire-water, 
'  some  of  the  more  belligerent  of  the  tribe  would 
j  get  into  quarrels,  sometimes  with  the  whites 
and  sometimes  among  themselves  ;  but  very 
few  adventures  of  a  serious  character  are  re- 
lated to  have  occurred  in  this,  as  in  many  other 
parts  of  the  countrj'.  How  much  of  this  was 
,  the  result  of  the  strong  Pennsylvania  type  of 
the  early  settlers,  it  is  not  possible,  of  course, 
.at  this  day,  accurately  to  determine  ;  though 
it  probably  was  not  without  its  influence. 
Among  the  few  well-authenticated  adventures 
j  of  the  early  period  is  one  of  Dr.  Cunningham's, 
with  the  Indians.  Dr.  Cunningham  was  an 
Irishman,  and  Uxanaged  in  some  way  to  give 
serious  and  deadly  otl'ense  to  the  Indians,  b^' 
whom  he  was,  in  turn,  watched  and  followed  up 
with  great  bitterness.  Though  peacefully  in- 
clined, vengeance  upon  an  enemy  and  revenge 
for  an  injury  done  them  were,  here  as  else- 
where, an  essential  part  of  an  Indian's  make-up. 
The  white  man,  fearing  for  his  life,  fled  west- 
ward as  far  as  Mansfield,  but  finding  himself 
hotly  pursued  by  his  relentless  enemies,  and 
fearing  that  sooner  or  later  he  might  fall  alive 


294 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


into  their  baiuls.  lie  ended  the  fh;ise  by  putting 
a  musket  bail  tln'ough  his  own  head.  It  is  also 
stated  that,  at  a  later  period,  after  Hull's  sur- 
render, during  the  last  war  with  (ireat  Brit 
ain,  most  of  the  men  from  these  parts  were 
paroled,  and  returned  immediatelj-  to  their 
homes.  When  a  squad  of  them  oarae  to  Can- 
ton, it  so  happened  that  a  number  of  friendly 
Indians  were  in  town  trading.  At  this  time, 
when  tlie  passions  of  the  citizen-soldiery  of  the 
Western  country  were  especially  bitter  against 
the  Indians  for  the  part  the  hostile  tribes,  un- 
der the  influence  of  British  emissaries,  had 
been  playing  in  the  war,  the  sight  of  even 
friendly  ones  was  sufficient  to  excite  a  desire 
and  a  determination  to  attack,  and.  if  possible, 
destroy  them,  but  the  more  considerate  white 
residents  of  the  town  restrained  the  desire  of 
the  soldiers,  until  the  Indians,  getting  an  inti- 
mation of  the  brewing  storm,  wisely  concliidcd 
to  get  out  of  the  way  for  a  season.  Had  it  not 
been  for  the  red  man's  considerate  action,  it 
would  be  hard  to  imagine  the  direful  results  of  a 
rash  attack  upon  them,  either  at  the  time  or  in 
after  years.  They  did  not  venture  l>ack  again 
until  after  the  close  of  the  war.  when  m(_)st  of  tlie 
bitterness  against  them  had  subsided.  In  later 
years,  as  the  white  population  increased,  the 
Indians  who  remained  occupied  mostly  a  semi- 
mendicant  position,  and  could  often  be  seen  on 
the  streets  picking  up  six-penny  pieces  for  a 
show  of  their  skill  at  shooting  with  the  bow 
and  arrow.  On  these  occasions  they  were  fre- 
quently accompanied  by  their  squaws,  exposing 
beadwork  and  baskets  for  sale,  in  the  making 
of  which  article,  the  Indian  women  were  justly 
celebrated  ;  but  contrasted  with  the  mendicant 
organ-grinder  of  this  more  enlightened  age. 
the  uncouth  son  of  the  forest  exhibiting  his 
skill  in  archery  to  make  money  does  not  stand 
out  in  the  worst  light  either.  But  the  Indian 
and  his  manner  of  life  have  long  since  departed, 
and  his  memory  only  lives  among  the  tradi- 
tions of  a  few  of  the  oldest  inhabitants. 

Canton  Township  has  been  rapidly  develop- 
ing her  resources,  and  already  supports  a  large 
population  ;  but  her  capacity  in  this  direction 
is  far  from  being  exhausted.  Indeed,  she  has 
not  yet  commenced  to  approximate  even  the 
limit  of  lier  powers.  The  da^s  of  large  farms 
and  much  unremunerative  labor,  or,  to  say  the 
least,  not  adequately  remunerative  farming,  are 

ginning   to   wane.      The   tendency    to    hold 


fewer  acres,  and  to  farm  them  more  scientifical- 
ly, and,  therefore,  more  thoroughly,  grows 
apace  ;  and  what,  with  her  natural  advantages 
and  commercial  relations  to  Canton  City,  she 
will  be  yet  aljle  to  accomplish,  is  hardly  a  mat- 
ter of  conjecture  any  longer.  Her  history, 
however,  is  so  interwoven  with  that  of  the  city, 
cotemporary  with  the  township,  that  we  must 
reserve  for  the  former  much  of  what  is  to  be 
said  of  her  history  as  equallv  the  property  of 
both. 

In  addition  to  Canton,  the  township  includes 
the  village  of  North  Industry,  on  the  west 
bank  of  the  Ximishillen.  near  the  southern  line 
of  the  township,  a  flourishing  little  village,  in 
the  immediate  vicinity  of  which  is  Browning's 
mill,  doing  a  thriving  business,  under  the 
management  of  Mr.  0.  F.  Browning,  a  resident 
of  Canton.  In  the  town.ship.  outside  of  the 
city,  there  are  also  Trump's  Mill,  on  the  site  of 
the  second  oldest  mill  in  the  county,  northwest 
of  Canton,  and  the  Stark  Mill,  about  one  and  a 
half  miles  south  of  the  city,  both  of  which  do 
an  extensive  milling  business,  together  with 
the  East  Canton  Mill,  on  the  site  of  the  old 
Slusser  Mill,  to  which  extensive  reference  has 
been  made  above  in  this  chapter. 

Before  closing,  it  will  well  subserve  the  pur- 
pose of  history  to  refer  to  more  personal  reminis- 
cences than  have  been  given  above  of  some 
parties  already  mentioned,  and  of  some  others, 
among  the  early  settlers  of  this  township. 
Among  these,  we  take  first  the  death  of  James 
Culbertson.  He  was  born  in  Franklin  County, 
Feun..  of  wealthy  parents,  who  gave  him  a 
liberal  education.  He  married  a  lady  of  con- 
siderable property,  and  commenced  life  under 
very  favorable  circumstances.'  At  or  about 
the  close  of  the  Kevolutionary  war,  he  united 
as  a  .young  man  with  a  body  of  horse-troops,  at 
that  time  so  popular,  and  in  this  connection 
contracted  a  habit  of  hard  drinking,  which 
eventually  led  to  financial  embarrassment  and 
domestic  infelicity.  He.  therefore,  left  his 
family  and  friends,  in  the  hope  of  retrieving 
his  waning  prospects  in  the  West.  As  before 
said,  he  came  in  companv  with  Leonard,  from 
Steubenville,  in  the  year  1805.  to  the  station  of 
the  latter  on  the  old  Reed  farm.  In  the 
autumn  of  the  same  year,  he  went  on  a  visit  to 
an  Indian  trader,  located  at  the  mouth  of 
Sandy.  According  to  the  prevailing  hospital- 
ity of  the  times,  he  indultjed  very  freely  in  the 


^  s- 


CANTON    TOWNSHIP. 


205 


use  of  whisky,  and  being  obligfi.1  to  lie  out 
of  night,  in  a  country  beset  with  heavy  fogs, 
ho  contracted  a  severe  cold,  from  which  in- 
flammation of  the  lungs  ensued  soon  after  his 
return  to  Leonard's  Station.  There  was  no 
physician  nearer  than  Steiihenville.  but  his 
comrades,  thrown  upon  their  own  resources, 
did  the  best  they  could  for  the  unfortunate 
sufferer,  but  in  vain,  for  he  died  four  days 
after,  during  the  last  week  of  October,  1805, 
and  was  buried,  without  cotlin  or  ceremony,  by 
his  associates.  Henry  Friday.  Hugh  Cunning- 
ham. .James  F.  Leonard,  and  the  latter's 
brother,  in  a  beautiful  grove  near  the  station. 
The  gvAxe  is  unmarked  by  stone  or  marble 
slab,  but  is  within  pistol  shot  i>f  tiie  present 
county  fair  groinids. 

Nearly  fifty  years  ago.  a  man  by  tiie  n;ime 
of  Christian  Bachtel  lived  near  Nortli  Industry, 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  township,  and  was. 
likewise,  addicted  to  habits  of  dissipation.  He 
frequently  came  home  under  the  influence  of 
liquor,  and,  consequently,  there  were  frequent 
family  broils.  His  wife,  an  industrious  and 
economical  woman,  was  compelled,  by  her  hus- 
band's excesses,  to  do  the  best  she  could  to 
support  herself  and  children.  One  night,  after 
his  wife  had  retired  for  the  night,  he  came 
home  maddened  with  liquor.  Words  naturally 
ensued,  but,  at  last,  she  turned  away  from  him. 
and  was  apparently  asleep.  He  then  struck 
her  witii  an  ax-helve,  fracturing  her  skull, 
and.  upon  her  moaning,  g:ive  her  a  second 
stroke,  to  make  sure  of  her  deatli.  He  took 
up  the  youngest  child,  sleeping  by  the  mother's 
side,  and  placed  it  in  a  bed  with  the  other 
chihlren.  With  a  few  articles  of  clothing,  his 
wife's  earnings,  and  a  flask  of  whisky,  he  went 
from  his  home  a  fugitive,  to  wander  he  knew 
not  whither.  Self-accused  of  the  horrible  crime 
wliich  he  had  committed,  his  only  support  in 
his  dire  extremity,  the  whisky-tlask.  he  was 
overt^iken  in  two  or  three  days  near  Wooster. 
within  thirty  miles  of  the  scene  of  the  tragedy, 
arrested,  and  brought  back,  witliout  resistance, 
to  jail  at  Canton.  His  trial  occurred  a  few 
montiis  later.  In  the  trial,  the  State  was  rep- 
resented by  Starkweather  &  Jarvis :  the 
prisoner  bj-  Harris  &  Metcalf  The  defense 
set  up  for  the  doomed  man  was  his  own  in- 
sanity and  the  infidelity  of  his  wife.  He  was. 
nevertheless,  convicted  of  murder  in  the  first 
degree.     .Judge  Lane  presided  over  tl:e  court. 


and  sentenced  Bachtel  to  l>e  iiung  on  Friday. 
November  22.  18:58,  a  sentence  that  was  punct- 
ually executed. 

To  the  credit  of  this  township  and  county,  it 
might  be  added  that  this  was  the  first  and  lost 
execution  of  a  murderer  from  1833  to  188(1. 
when  three  young  men,  boys  almost,  for  crimes 
committed  in  the  east  and  west  ends  of  the 
county  respectively,  paid  the  penalty  of  mur- 
der by  hanging  within  the  confines  of  our  pres- 
ent city  prison.  Now.  as  then,  there  was  a 
great  crowd,  and  some  military,  upon  precau- 
tionary considerations  generally  approved  liy 
our  thinking  people,  but  no  parade,  and  no 
publicity  in  the  execution.  It  is  claimed  that 
IO,()fl()  people  attended  the  execution  of  Bach 
tel  :  half  that  number  would  probably  I'e 
nearer  the  cf)rrect  figure. 

.Meyer's  Lake,  from  the  earliest  settlement  i>f 
the  township,  has  always  been  a  favorite  resort 
for  sportsmen,  fishermen  and  pleasure-seekers. 
But  witii  all  tiur  l)((atiiig  and  bathing  done  here 
for  more  than  seventy  years,  there  has  been  but 
one  case  of  drowning.  Robert  Stewart  under- 
took, in  the  year  1810,  to  swim  across  the  lake 
for  the  purpose  of  getting  a  boat.  On  account 
of  the  many  springs  with  which  the  lake 
abounds,  some  of  tiiem  very  powerful  ones,  the 
water,  even  in  midsummer,  near  the  middle  of 
the  lake,  is  fresh  and  chilly.  Stewart  was  re- 
puled  to  be  a  good  swimmer,  but  1)ecoming  be- 
numbed or  i)eing  overtaken  witii  cramps,  lie 
was  drowned  iu  his  attempt,  A  cannon  from 
Canton  was  brongiit  into  speedy  requisition, 
and  fired  over  the  water  in  the  hope  of  raising 
the  body,  but  witliout  result.  -V  few  days 
after,  however,  the  body  was  found,  and  was 
buried  on  the  point  which,  from  this  circum- 
stance, has  ever  since  been  known  as  Dead 
Man's  Point.  The  lake  is  now  known  exclu- 
sively by  the  name  of  Meyer's  Lake,  and  de- 
rives this  name  from  .\ndrew  Meyer,  who,  in 
the  year  181().  came  into  Canton  Township, 
and  purchased,  in  1818,  3,0(10  acres  of  land, 
including  the  lake  and  the  lands  about  it.  from 
Bazaleel  Wells.  Being  a  man  of  energy,  of 
means  and  of  good  business  habits,  he  kept 
about  him  a  number  of  worthy  and  reliable  la- 
borers to  develop  the  rich  resources  of  the 
vast  tract  of  land  which  by  this  purchase  came 
into  his  possession,  and.  without  ever  having 
held  any  public  position,  he  exerted  a  large  in- 
lluence  in  the  early  Sfttleuient  (if  the  township 


HISTORY   OF    STAKK    COrXTY 


and  of  the  eily  of  Canton.  Andrew  Meyer  was 
born  in  Bonn,  Prussia,  in  the  year  1762.  He 
served  nine  years  as  a  soldier  in  the  allied  ar- 
mies of  P]urope  against  Napoleon,  in  the  latter 
part  of  the  last  century,  but.  in  18(t2,  be  emi- 
grated to  America,  and  settled  in  Baltimore 
City,  Md.  Here  he  pursued  the  business  of  a 
brass  founder  a  number  of  years,  and  being 
successful  ill  liusincss.  he  soon  became  sole 
owner  of  two  \cssels  engaged  in  the  ocean 
trade,  and.  at  the  same  time,  part  owner  in 
several  others.  He  served  personally  in  the 
war  with  England  in  1812.  as  a  volunteer,  giv- 
ing the  faithful  services  of  an  old  soldier 
against  the  enemies  of  his  adopted  countr}-. 
He  took  an  active  part  in  the  battles  of  Balti- 
more and  Bladensburg.  against  Lord  Ross,  the 
British  commander.  In  that  war.  it  will  be  re- 
membered, (heat  Britain  was  fighting  to  secure 
a  mastery  of  the  sea  and  the  right  of  im- 
pressing American  seamen  of  British  birth  into 
her  service  wherever  found.  Our  Government 
found  it  necessary  to  adopt  measures  that 
would  have  a  tendency  to  render  British  com- 
nierce  insecure,  and,  as  her  nav3-  (w-hich.  how- 
ever, did  most  brilliant  service  during  the  war), 
was  eutirel\-  inadequate  for  the  purpose,  the 
Government  accepted,  and  authorized  to  engage 
in  the  service  of  the  United  States  against 
Great  Britain,  a  number  of  vessels  belonging 
to  private  parties,  and  hence  these  ships  took 
the  name  of  privateers.  Two  such  vessels — 
the  ■'  Joseph  '  and  the  ■■  Mary  " — were  armed 
and  e(iuipped  at  his  own  expense  by  the  sub- 
ject of  tliis  sketch,  put  into  the  (Jovernment 
service,  and  they  did  a  good  share  in  the  busi- 
ness of  privateering.  Several  of  the  ships,  also, 
in  which  ^Ir.  Meyer  was  onl3'  a  part  owner, 
were  in  the  same  service,  and  all  met  with  good 
success  except  one,  which,  attempting  to  run 
the  blockade  of  Baltimore  by  night,  came  un- 
fortunatelj-  right  up  by  the  side  of  a  British 
frigate,  and.  by  a  broadside  from  the  latter,  was 
so  riddled  that  tlie  crew  were  forced  to  take  to 
the  lioats.  when  in  a  few  minutes  the  privateer 
sunk,  and  the  vessel,  with  a  rich  cargo  con- 
tributed by  British  merchantmen,  went  to  the 
the  bottom  a  total  loss.  The  crew  escaped  and 
made  a  safe  landing,  without  the  loss  of  a  man. 
Andrew  Clever  was  the  father  of  three  sons 
and  two  daughters.  After  his  death  in  1849, 
his  vast  propertj'  was  divided  among  these 
children,  and.  as  it  was  entailed  pi'operty  to  the 


deceased's  grandchildren,  nearly  the  whole  of 
it  is  yet  in  the  possession  of  his  heirs,  most  of 
them  to-day  useful  and  honored  members  of 
society  among  us.  Mr.  Meyer's  age  was  be- 
yond the  ordinary  period  allotted  to  human 
life  when  he  died  in  1849.  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
seven  years.  In  him,  as  in  man}-  others  of  the 
older  settlers  of  Stark  County,  the  destinies  of 
two  centuries  and  of  two  continents  were 
closely  united.  The  first  building  for  the  ac- 
commodation of  the  public  at  Meyer's  Lake 
was  erected  by  Meyer  &  Cross  in  1806,  and 
served  its  purpose  well  until  the  increasing  de- 
mands of  the  place  as  a  popular  resort  induced 
the  present  owner,  our  esteemed  fellow  citizen, 
Mr.  Joseph  A.  Meyer,  a  grandson  of  Andrew 
Meyer,  to  build  during  the  winter  of  1879-80, 
the  new  "Lake  Park  Hotel,"  on  the  north 
bluff-bank  of  the  lake.  The  building  is  two 
stories  high,  and  is  well  adapted  to  accommo- 
date a  large  number  of  guests,  with  all  the 
comforts  at  hand  to  make  their  staj-  at  this 
pleasant  place  agreeable  aad  beneficial.  A 
twelve-foot  veranda  extends  on  both  floors 
entirelj'  around  the  building,  and  it  is  sur- 
monnted  with  a  tower  in  the  center  of  the 
front,  eighty  feet  high.  The  whole  is  neat,  and 
indicates  good  taste  on  the  part  of  the  pro- 
jectors. The  architecture  is  a  combination  of 
the  Gothic  and  Swiss  styles,  and  does  credit  to 
the  abilit}'  of  Mr.  F.  O.  Weary,  architect,  by 
whom  the  design  was  furnished.  The  con- 
struction of  the  building  was  under  the  care  of 
Mr.  D.  C.  Miller.  With  the  increased  accom- 
modations both  for  invalids  and  pleasure-seek- 
ers now  furnished,  the  popularity  of  Meyer's 
Lake  as  a  place  of  public  resort,  is  constantly 
increasing.  By  care  on  the  part  of  the  pro- 
prietors, and  the  observance  of  strict  rules  of 
piopriety  and  order  on  the  part  of  visitors, 
there  is  no  good  reason  wh3-  the  '■  Lake  Park 
Hotel"  may  not  be  as  popular  a  place  of  resort 
as  many  of  the  older  watering-places  of  the 
East.  The  first  boat-house  at  the  lake  was 
erected  b}'  the  Eclipse  Boat  Club,  of  Canton, 
in  1873.  This  club  held  their  first  regular  re- 
gatta August  12,  1876,  and  have  held  one  each 
year  since.  Thej-  have  been  well  sustained, 
and  are  becoming  each  jear  more  and  more 
popular  with  the  staid  citizens  of  the  solid  old 
Pennsylvania  Dutch  city  of  Canton  and  the 
surrounding  towns. 

Readers  of  Russian  history   and  adventure 


CANTON    TOWNSHIP. 


have  often  been  regaled  by  liiglily  vivifiand  ex- 
citing stories  of  the  attacks  and  pursuit  of 
travelers  by  wolves.  We  doubt  if  anything 
more  trying  ever  occurred  there  than  was  ex- 
perienced here  among  the  earli<'r  settlers  in 
Ohio.  As  a  sample  of  these,  a  friend  fur- 
nishes us  the  following  authentic  scrap  of  our 
early  history  :  Tn  1802,  Messrs.  Slinglufl'  and 
DeardorfT.  in  their  Western  trip.  arri\ed  at  a 
point  near  Canton,  on  their  waj'  to  Tuscarawas 
County,  and  encamped  on  the  Ijanks  of  Meyer's 
Lake.  They  were  weary  and  much  exhausted 
from  the  want  of  rest  and  sustaining  food. 
But  with  all  their  fatigue  and  sutlering,  they 
were  charmed  and  refreshed  by  the  prospec:t 
presented  before  and  all  about  them.  The  lake 
laj-  immediately  before  them,  and  on  its  rip 
pling  surface,  fanned  by  the  gentle  breezes  of 
the  evening,  the  rays  of  the  setting  sun  were 
reflected  in  a  thousand  forms  of  beauty  and 
splendor.  The  banks  were  decked  with  flowers 
of  different  colors  and  of  the  fairest  hues,  while 
evergreens  of  the  deepest  green,  enlivened  the 
scene.  Wild  fowl,  in  countless  numbers,  were 
sailing  ga}!^'  over  the  water,  or  feeding  along 
the  banks.  Their  bright  plumage  and  grace- 
ful movements  ga\'e  a  sense  of  peace  and  secur- 
itj'  to  our  weary  travelers,  and  they  went  on 
cheerfully,  and  with  the  prospect  of  quiet 
slumbers  and  an  undisturbed  rest  before  them. 
to  prepare  their  frugal  meal  and  an  encamp- 
ment for  the  night.  It  was  a  beautiful  picture, 
guaranteeing  secure  repose,  and  the  travelers 
laid  themselves  down  confidently  to  sleep,  and 
to  dream  of  home  or  the  great  work  to  be 
wrought  out  by  their  hands  in  these  \Vestern 
wilds  in  the  near  future.  They  did  sleep  a 
little  while,  but,  suddenly  awakening,  they 
heard  the  dismal  howls  of  scores  of  barking 
wolves  about  their  camj).  The  glaring,  fiery 
eyes  of  the  fierce,  bloodthirsty  animals,  seemed 
pressing  toward  thcun  from  all  directions. 
There  was  no  safety  but  in  precipitate  flight. 
Their  horses,  fortunately,  as  weary  but  now 
ex(:ited  as  their  riders,  were  near  at  hand,  and 
were  quickly  saddled  and  mounted.  It  was 
several  miles  to  the  cabin  of  the  nearest 
pioneer  settler,  and  it  soon  became  a  race  for 
life.  For  a  short  distance,  they  rode  along 
the  lake,  the  wolves  falling  back  liefore  them, 
then,  suddenly  turning  their  horses,  thej'  rode 
rapidly  in  an  opposite  direction,  both  horses 
and   riders,   by   this   time,  fully   alive   to   the 


horrors  of  the  situation.  The  wolves,  for  a 
few  minutes  foiled,  became  even  more  furious 
than  before,  and  soon  followed  on  their  track, 
in  constantly  increasing  numbers,  until,  in  the 
rai)idity  and  excitement  of  the  chase,  their  hot 
breath  could  almost  be  felt,  as  it  came  from 
the  hungry,  furious  throats  of  the  now  mad- 
dened animals.  Soon  they  reached  an  Opening 
in  the  woods  ;  the  light  from  the  log  fires  of 
the  pioneer  settler  was  seen  in  the  distance. 
Ten  minutes  more,  and  the}'  would  be  saved 
from  every  danger  for  the  night.  Suddenly,  a 
huge,  black  wolf  sprang  at  the  flank  of  Dear- 
dorffs  horse,  and  was  only  compelled  lo  relin- 
quish his  hold  by  the  free  application  of  Dear- 
(lorfl!"s  heavy  whip,  but  at  the  very  moment  of 
deliverance,  his  horse  stumbled,  fell,  and  threw 
him  over  his  head  in  the  \'ery  midst  of  the 
excited  animals.  But  for  Ids  companion, 
Slinglufl',  he  would,  with  his  horse,  have  been 
torn  in  pieces  and  devoured  within  a  very  few 
minutes.  Seeing  the  situation,  and  appreciating 
the  danger  of  his  friend  and  companion.  .Sling- 
luff,  with  remarkable  presence  of  mind,  quick- 
ly wheeled  his  horse  round,  and  commenced 
uttering  a  series  of  yells  and  screeches,  even 
more  unearthly  than  those  of  the  infuriated 
beasts  themselves ;  they  were  momentarily 
checked  in  the  very  moment  of  their  triumph. 
DeardorfT,  in  the  meantime,  quickly  remount- 
ed, and  before  the  wolves  recoxered  from  their 
astonishment  and  confusion  from  Slinglufl's 
ruse,  both  reached  the  settler's  clearing,  and 
were  safe. 

In  these  earlier  days  the  schoolmaster  was 
also  abroad  to  help  in  the  openingup  of  both  the 
material  and  the  intellectual  capabilities  of  this 
then  frontier  country.  The  first  schoolhouse  in 
Stark  County  was  erected  in  tin;  year  1807.  on 
the  Aultman  place,  Section  12,  of  Canton  Town- 
ship, The  schoolhouse  was  made  of  round 
logs,  and  was  seven  feet  high,  with  a  clapboard 
roof  and  puncheon  floor.  As  a  substitute  for 
windows,  small  square  holes  were  cut  out  in  the 
logs,  small  sticks  were  set  in.  and  the  holes 
were  then  (;overed  with  greased  paper.  Logs 
with  feet  set  in  and  covered  with  boards,  were 
the  writing  desks,  and  slabs  from  the  saw-mill 
of  Mr.  Slusser,  with  legs  attached,  furnished  the 
seats  of  this  and  many  other  primitive  school- 
houses.  John  Han-is,  who  afterward  attained 
considerable  celebrity  as  a  lawyer  in  Canton, 
was  the  first  teacher.     The  school  books  then 


298 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


used  were  Dil worth's  Speller,  the  Old  and  New 
Testainent  of  the  Bible  as  readers,  and  Goiigh's 
Aritliiiictie.  with  its  luone^'  calculations  all  in 
the  old  Knglish  currency  of  pounds,  shillings 
and  pence.  Geograph}'  and  grammar  were  not 
then  taught,  nor  indeed  for  man}-  years  after. 
Some  descendants  of  the  early  pioneers  are  yet 
occasionally  found,  so  conservative  are  tiie 
people  in  this  localitj',  who  doubt  the  expe- 
diencT  or  the  necessit}'  of  those  studies  in  onr 
|)iiblic  schools.  We  are  glad,  however,  to  sa\-, 
that  their  number  is  very  small.  Christopher 
Bair  succeeded  Harris  as  teacher  in  this  school. 
In  the  early  days,  as  before  and  since  in  Penn- 
sylvania, the  "  barring  "  out  of  teachers  was 
very  common  here  in  Ohio.  On  public  days, 
such  as  Christmas  and  Xew  Year's,  pupils  in 
schools  deemed  it  the  duty  of  the  teacher  not 
only  to  give  them  a  holiday  but  also  to  treat 
the  ci'owd.  Tn  the  primitive  daj's  a  treat  of 
this  kind  meant  whisky  for  the  larger  boys  and 
something  pleasing  for  the  smaller  children, 
and  the  few  girls  who  had  time  to  go  to  school. 
As  a  rule,  teachers  demurred  to  the  demand 
and  a  struggle  between  teacher  and  pupils  was 
generally  the  result  ;  the  "  barring  "  process 
was  the  usual  tactics  of  the  pupils  to  bring  the 
teacher  to  terms,  when  it  became  a  contest 
partly  of  physical  endurance  and  partly  of  tact 
and  skill  on  the  part  of  the  teacher  in  outwitting 
his  pupils.  The  parents,  having  themselves  in 
their  younger  days  been  participants  in  similar 
contests,  citlu'r  sided  with  the  youngsters  or 
approvingly  winked  at  their  doings  ;  and  many 
teachers  of  the  times  were  rather  anxious  to  in- 
vite the  struggle.  One  of  these,  in  connection 
with  this  first  school  in  Canton  Township,  is  on 
record,  and  its  relation  hero  maybe  not  without 
interest,  even  though  there  is  not  much  instruc- 
tion in  it.  John  Criswell,  a  tall,  raw-boned  man, 
who  prided  himself  greatly  on  his  disciplinary 
powers  in  governing  a  school,  was  teacher  a 
few  jears  after  Bair.  The  da^'  before  Christmas 
the  larger  boys  determined  that  they  must  have 
a  treat  and  that  the  master  should  fnrnish  the 
liquor.  According  to  previous  arrangement  op- 
erations were  delayed  until  noon,  when,  accord- 
ing to  his  usual  custom,  it  was  known  that  the 
teacher  would  bo  awav  for  awhile  :  the  young- 
er children  were  sent  home,  and  then  com- 
menced the  operation  of  barring  out.  Among 
the  boys  prominent — some  of  them  still  living 
— were  the  Keams,  Aultmans.  Latimers,  Bairs 


Sherricks  and  Trumps.  When  the  teacher  re- 
turned he  found  the  door  effectually  -  barred." 
The  openings  in  the  logs  for  windows  would  not 
admit  the  bod}-  of  any  ordinary  man,  and  when 
Criswell  found  the  doors  closed  against  him  he 
at  once  became  angrj-  and  excited.  He,  of 
course,  demanded,  in  a  peremptory  tone,  the 
opening  of  the  door.  When  told  that  the  con- 
ditions of  surrender  were  a  bottle  of  whisky 
and  a  dismissal  of  the  school  for  the  next  day, 
he  refused  at  once  and  threatened  dire  ven- 
geance upon  the  heads  (or  backs)  of  the  perpe- 
trators. His  threats  did  not  amount  to  much, 
and  when  he  attempted  to  get  in  b_v  tearing  off 
the  clapboards  of  the  roof,  the  bojs  so  pounded 
his  fingers  that  he  was  glad  to  desist ;  when  he 
tried  to  come  down  the  chimney  thej*  smoked 
him  back  ;  and  he  was  at  his  wits'  end.  Neces- 
sity is  said,  however,  to  be  the  mother  of  inven- 
tion, and  Criswell  improvising  a  battering-ram 
from  a  heavj-  fence  rail,  succeeded  at  last  in 
breaking  in  the  door  and  became  himself  mas- 
ter of  the  situation.  He  did  not  act  generousl}- 
under  the  circumstances  and  could  only  be 
placated  by  a  severe  bodil\-  chastisement  of  the 
offenders.  The  boj-s  got  it.  but  they  never  for- 
gave the  teacher  ;  many  of  them  no  k)nger  at- 
tended school,  and  the  teacher  soon  lost  his  in- 
fluence for  good  in  that  localit}'. 

William  E  wing  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers 
already  mentioned.  Coming  from  AUeghenj' 
County,  Pennsylvania,  he  erected  a  cabin  in 
Section  2  of  Canton  Township,  in  the  fall  of 
1805,  and  in  the  spring  of  1806,  came  with  his 
wife  and  five  children  to  occupy  it.  His  goods 
and  .some  articles  of  furniture,  purchased  at 
Beaver,  were  Ijrought  to  his  new  home  on 
horseback.  For  several  years,  in  the  begin- 
ning, it  was  diflicult  for  him,  as  for  man}-  others 
of  the  older  settlers,  to  raise  money  enough  to 
pay  taxes  and  meet  the  urgent  necessities  of 
their  families.  People  then  had  often  to  de- 
pri\e  themselves  of'  what  now  would  be  con- 
sidered absolute  necessities,  and  were  to  a  great 
extent  thrown  upon  their  own  resources.  Ew- 
ing  has  the  credit  of  being  one  of  the  most 
successful  hunters,  perhaps  absolutely  the  most 
successful,  that  ever  lived  in  the  township  or 
county.  He  killed,  on  an  average,  from  seventy 
to  eighty  deer  during  the  season,  in  addition  to 
many  bears,  wolves  and  wild-cats.  This,  also, 
he  made  a  source  of  revenue.  When  he  had 
more  meat  than  the  needs  of  his  own  family 


^ 


CAXTON    TOWXsIIII'. 


required,  he  sold  to  needy  emigrants,  while  he 
tanned  the  skins  for  clothing  and  moccasins  for 
himself  and  liis  family.  He  and  his  boys  wore 
Inickskin  clothes  antl  shoes  for  many  years, 
and  until  sheep  could  be  suct^essfully  raised, 
svhicb.  on  account  of  the  wolves,  was  at  first 
impossible.  But  these  were  the  fashions  of  tlie 
dav.  The  women  wore  '■  liiisey."  and  weri'  not 
much  concerned  with  spring  and  fall  changes 
of  fashion. 

In  June,  1811.  an  eclipse  of  the  sun  occurred. 
The  settlers  at  this  period  were  almost  entirely 
cut  off  from  intercourse  with  the  Kast,  and  had 
had  no  word  of  the  coming  phenomenon.  Ew- 
ing  and  his  sons  were  out  hoeing  corn  at  the 
time.  It  became  so  dark  that  the  stars  were 
visible  in  the  heavens,  and,  what  was  even 
more  remarkable,  the  chickens  went  home  to 
roost.  Mr.  Sowers,  afterward  Judge  Sowers, 
of  Canton,  with  others,  was  engaged  in  shing- 
ling a  roof  on  the  Kautfman  House,  corner  of 
Ninth  and  Market  streets.  Canton.  Every  per- 
son looked  for  the  immediate  coining  of  the 
da\'  of  judgment,  but  were  much  relieved  when 
the  eclipse  was  over,  that  the  sun  occupied  his 
old  place  in  the  heavens,  and  that  nothing 
terrible  had  occurred. 

Speaking  of  the  habits  of  these  earlier  days, 
we  kuow  of  no  better  way  of  closing  this  chap- 
ter than  bj-  giving  here  the  statement  of  one  of 
the  old  settlers  himself:  ••  Times  ain't  as  they 
used  to  be,"  he  remarked  to  a  friend  of  fewer 
years,  while  sitting  together  on  a  store  box  in 
front  of  one  of  our  stores  only  a  few  vears  ago. 
It  was  between  sundown  and  dark  :  the  weather 
was  pleasant  and  the  pavement  crowded  with 
ladies  and  gentlemen  promenading.  Evidcntlj- 
the  remark  was  made  by  the  suggestion  of 
what  the  old  gentleman  saw  transpiring  before 
him  ;  the  younger  man  feeling  some  interest  in 
the  matter  and  desirous  of  drawing  his  old 
friend  out  in  the  way  of  a  more  modern  •  inter- 
view." asked.  ■  How  was  it  in  earlier  times  ?" 
"  Quite  different.  Fifty  years  ago.  Canton  had 
a  population  of  4(»0  or  500.  I  suppose  there 
was  as  much  pride  then  as  now,  and  young 
people  were  just  as  anxious  to  make  a  tine 
appearance  :  but  the  fashions  were  s(.>mewhat 
different  and  were  not  changed  so  often,  ('al- 
ico  was  then  the  prevailing  material  for  ladies 
fine  dresses,  such  as  were  worn  in  making  calls, 
attending  religious  meetings  or  evening  parties. 
The  more  elderlv  wore  bombazet  or  bombazine. 


Six  yards  were  amply  sufficient  for  a  pattern. 
An  article  called  homespun  wool,  of  cotton  and 
wool,  was  usually  worn  al)oul  the  house,  when 
engaged  in  ordinary  domestic  duties.  The 
bonnets  were  straw  or  leghorn,  with  large 
crowns  and  extensive  fronts.  The  style  worn 
by  the  older  women  was  not  much  unlike  those 
worn  l)y  the  Quakers.  It  was  made  of  black 
or  dark  colored  silk,  with  a  large  crown  and 
points  in  front.  The  calash,  made  of  berage 
and  to  fold  back  like  a  buggy  top,  was  the  rage 
for  a  long  time.  There  were  no  milliners  in 
town  at  that  time,  but  there  were  those  who 
were  handy  with  the  needle,  ingenious  and 
tasty,  who  did  the  work  for  those  who  could 
not  "do  it  themselves.  High-top  combs  were 
fashionable  and  the  hair  was  worn  in  puff's. 
Little  or  no  jewelry  was  worn  ;  a  ring  or  a 
breast  pin  was  coveted  b}'  many,  but  owned  by 
few. 

■  Fashionable  young  men  wore  tight-bodied 
swallow-tailed  coats,  with  large  high  collars, 
buff  or  white  vests,  stockinet  pants,  high-top 
boots,  wrinkled  or  fair,  with  a  tassel  in  front, 
high  shirt  collars  reaching  to  the  ears,  and  a 
few  wore  ruttles.  (iold  watches  were  '  few  and 
far  between,'  but  a  ■  bull's  eye,'  with  a  metallic 
fob  chain,  seal  and  key  was  usually  sported. 
The  fashions  didn't  change  then  as  often  as 
they  do  now.  The  same  bonnet  or  hat  was 
worn  for  years.  Men  wore  their  hats  eight  or 
ten  years,  and  yet.  not  half  worn  out.  would 
barter  them  to  the  hatter  in  part  pay  for  a  new 
one  of  later  style.  The  same  bonnet  was  worn 
as  long,  the  trimming  perhaps  changed  every 
two  or  three  years.  There  were  social  part  ies 
in  those  days",  but  there  was  some  regard  paid 
to  proper  hours  for  meeting  and  dispersing. 
The  company  assembled  at  early  candle-lighting 
and  went  home  at  reasonable  bedtime,  and  had 
no  ice  cream  or  oyster  suppers  or  lager.  The 
extent  of  our  indulgence  was  in  small  beer  and 
gingerbread.  The  mode  of  conveyance  was 
mostly  on  horsel)ack.  Every  young  man  as- 
pired to  ha\e  his  own  horse,  and  they  were 
good  horsemen  in  those  days.  Fart  of  ever}- 
lady's  outfit  was  a  side-saddle.  There  were  but 
few  vehicles  and  they  were  rude  compared  with 
those  of  the  present  day.  Buggies  were  un- 
known ;  what  was  called  a  ■  dearborn  ' — a  body 
adjusted  upon  wooden  springs — was  all  I  re- 
member seeing,  except  Dr.  Hartford's  gig 
which  he  brought  from  the  East.     There  were 


rrf- 


.w 


300 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


other  characteristics  of  that  day — some  that  it 
would  be  well  for  our  people  yet  to  practice, 
I  could  tell  j-ou,  but  the  court  house  clock  has 
struck  9  and  it  is  time  to  be  in  bed,  so  good 
night. " 

(Jur  old  friend's  history  of  the  olden  fashions 
and  modes  of  life  was  intended  more  to  apply 
to  the  people  of  the  town  of  Canton  of  sixty 
years  ago.  than  to  the  people  of  the  country  ; 
but  with  but  little  change  it  may  be  applied  to 
the  latter  also.     Those  were  the  da3's  of  log- 


rollings for  the  men,  and  merr^-  spinning-wheels 
for  the  girls  and  women  ;  of  hard  work  during 
the  day,  an  early  going  to  bed  at  night,  and 
sound,  refreshing  slumbers  until  the  early 
hours  of  new  morning  called  to  renewal  of 
work.  A  simpler  and  more  natural  life  than 
that  led  by  most  people  of  the  present  day  ; 
fewer  indulgences  in  eating  and  drinking,  and 
greater  freedom  from  the  aches  an<l  pains  and 
sufferings  which  indulgence  causes. 


CHAPTER    IX.* 

THI-;  IITV  UF  (WNTUN  — ITS   FIRST  .SALE  OF  LOTS  — OKKilNAL   llorMlARlE-— THF   LAND  ((FFil'E— 

EARI.V   INDUSTRIES— FARMERS'   BANK  — TEMl'ERANCE  REFORM  — IMONEEK 

SPORTS  — FIRST   POST   OFFICE  — (IHERLY   CORNER. 


PREVIOUS  U)  the  year  1805,Bezaleel  Wells, 
of  Steubenville,  who  was  descended  from 
the  Quakers,  and  was  a  man  of  means  and  with 
a  speculative  turn  of  mind,  entered  in  the  land 
office  at  that  place,  a  number  of  sections  of 
land  west  of  the  Nimishillen  Creek,  including 
the  portion  now  embraced  within  the  limits  of 
the  city  of  Canton,  and  extending  beyond  and 
including  Meyer's  Lake,  for  many  years  called 
Wells'  Lake.  In  1805,  as  he  anticipated  the 
speedy  organization  of  a  new  county,  with  an 
eye  to  speculation  he  determined  to  lay  out  a 
town  on  jDart  of  his  purchase,  and  make  a  con- 
test to  secure  for  it  recognition  as  the  new 
county  seat.  There  were  already'  two  contest- 
ants in  the  field,  a  paper  town  named  Nimishil- 
len town,  not  far  from  the  present  Louisville, 
in  Nimshillen  Township,  which,  for  want  of  lot 
purchasers  and  buildings,  never  came  to  any- 
thing, and  the  already  projected  town  of  Osna- 
burg.  five  miles  east  of  Canton,  which,  platted 
and  entered  a  few  months  earlier  than  Canton, 
already  contained  several  houses.  West  of  the 
Nimishillen  were,  at  that  time,  the  plains  or  bar- 
rens, destitute  alike  of  timber  and  stone  suit- 
able for  building.  These  disadvantages  re- 
sulted in  the  choice  of  the  site  between  the  two 
branches  of  the  Nimishillen,  in  preference  to  a 
location  a  little  further  west,  which  presented 
somewhat  superior  advantages  in  some  respects. 
The  town  was  survej^ed  and  platted  liv  James 

«Coiitrilj\ileclhv  Prof.  Daniel  Worlc-T, 


P.  Leonard,  and  the  plat  was  regularly  recorded 
in  Columbiana  Connty.  in  the  Clerk's  office  at 
New  Lisbon.  At  this  time,  this  was  a  part  of 
Columbiana  County.  A  tew  lots  were  disposed 
of  at  private  sale  in  the  fall  of  1805.  and  a  few 
cabins  were  erected.  In  the  spring  of  180G,  a 
public  sale  of  lots  occurred.  That  a  crowd 
might  be  brought  together  at  this  sale,  a  horse 
race,  to  come  off  the  same  day  at  Canton,  was 
extensively  advertised,  and  the  result  was  that 
many  people  from  Steubenville,  New  Lisbon 
and  Beaver  were  pre.sent,  more  interested,  how- 
ever, it  seems,  in  the  races  than  in  the  sale  of 
lots.  Some  lots  were  sold,  but  at  a  merelj-  nom- 
inal price.  But  a  good  beginning  had  been 
made.  The  original  plat  had  the  boundaries 
of  the  streets  at  this  time  known  as  North 
street,  Saxton  street  (formerl}-  East),  South 
street  and  Wells  street  (forraerl3-  West).  At 
the  sale  of  lots  above  mentioned,  Leonard 
bought  the  lot  on  the  corner  of  Market  and 
Seventh  streets  for  a  trifle,  with  the  understand- 
ing that  he  would  immediately  liuild  a  brick 
house  upon  it,  with  a  view  of  inducing  others 
to  come  in  and  help  build  up  the  new  town. 
The  house  was  built  by  Leonard,  according  to 
contract,  and  stood  until  the  year  1879,  and  is 
yet  well  remembered  by  most  of  those  residing 
in  Canton  as  the  old  "  Oberly  Corner,"  where 
Sherrick  &  Miller's  large  and  imposing  hard- 
ware store  at  present  stands.  The  first  settler 
in  Canton   was  Garret  Crusen,  who  started  a 


CANTON    TOWNSHIP 


301 


tavern  on  North  Market  street,  between  Fourth 
and  l"'illii  streets.  His  house  was  a  log  cabin, 
with  one  room  about  eighteen  feet  sqiuiri',  which 
served  amply  all  the  purposes  of  the  day,  as 
bar.  dining  and  silling-room.and  kitchen  ;  two 
small  shed  additions  furnished  comfortable 
sleeping  apartments  for  the  family  and  guests, 
and  a  storeroom  for  general  iiurposes.  Jcjhn 
Matthews,  a  butcher,  had  a  cabin  on  South 
Market  street,  where  Dumont's  grocery  now  is. 
with  a  pen  at  the  rear  of  the  lot  used  as  a 
slaughter-house.  John  Bower,  a  blacksmith, 
built  a  cabin  and  blacksmith-sliop  on  part  of 
the  lot  now  occupied  by  the  court  hou.se.  and 
on  this  lot  the  first  well  in  town  was  dug. 
Bower  did  not  tind  his  trade  suttteient  to  meet 
the  demand  for  the  support  of  his  family,  and 
he.  too,  went  to  keeping  tavern.  Having  ex- 
posed himself  a  great  deal  at  night  in  fishing. 
he  soon  after  took  sick  and  died.  The  families 
of  the  parties  just  named  were  the  only  ones 
in  Canton  in  the  3-ear  180G.  Several  other 
cabins  were  erected,  but  were  not  occupied  un- 
til later.  Mis.  Matthews  died  in  the  spring  of 
1808.  of  child-bed  fever  ;  hers  was  the  first 
death  in  the  town,  and  her  child  the  first  one 
born  in  Canton.  I'p  to  the  year  1807.  there 
was  no  regularly-established  road  eastward,  and, 
west  of  the  Tuscarawas  l{i\er,  the  country  was 
yet  all  a  wilderness,  and  the  sons  of  the  forest 
held  undisputed  sway.  But  in  this  year  a  road 
was  laid  out  between  New  Lisbon  and  Canton, 
afterward,  with  some  alterations,  between  Os- 
naburg  and  Canton,  known  as  the  State  road. 
Being  a  more  direct  route,  and  affording  a  bet- 
ter accoramoilation  to  travelers,  it  soon  be- 
came the  favorite  road  for  those  seeking  homes 
in  the  Far  West,  as  Canton  was  then  called,  or 
coming  here  to  speculate  in  lands.  On  this 
road  were  two  noted  places — noted  for  directly 
opposite  reasons— viz.  ;  "  Hahn's  Bottom," 
dreaded  because  it  was  a  very  difficult  matter 
to  get  over  it  with  a  heavy  load,  and  •'  Shull's 
Tavern,"  a  place  of  good  cheer  to  every  weary 
traveler  when  once  it  was  reached,  as  everj- 
one  on  the  road  trieil  to  do.  who  needed  a  stop- 
ping-place overnight.  By  means  of  this  new 
road.  Canton  was  brought  into  closer  connec- 
tion with  the  eastern  counties  and  States  ;  par- 
ties who  had  been  out  prospecting  gave  flatter- 
ing accounts  of  the  prospects  of  the  new  town, 
and  the  result  was  that  a  number  of  persons 
came  here  durina  the  summer  and  fall  of  1807. 


with  a  view  to  settlement  in  or  near  Canton,  or 
for  business.  Among  those  who  came  for  bus- 
ine.ss  were  Philip  Kroft,  with  a  stock  of  goods 
from  Pittsburgh  ;  Hugh  Cunningham,  in  the 
tinning  business,  with  which  he  associated  the 
selling  of  whisky  to  the  Indians,  contrary  to 
law.  on  the  corner  of  Market  and  Fifth  streets  ; 
John  Shorh,  with  a  stock  of  goods  from  Balti- 
more, consisting  mainly  of  tobacco,  tea,  hard- 
ware implerai'uts,  leather,  some  drugs,  a  small 
supply  of  cotton  goods,  such  as  ••  cross-bar  " 
ginghams  and  a  few  pieces  of  calico,  in  one  cor- 
ner of  Leonard's  new  building,  and  George 
Kirkpatrick,  who  had  a  blacksmith-shop  on  the 
east  end  of  the  court  house  lot.  Col.  Thomas 
(Til)s()n.  John  Nichols.  Christian  Palmer  and 
John  Harris  were  also  about  this  time  identi- 
fied with  the  interests  of  the  town.  Still  other 
parties  made  investments,  but  went  East  again 
in  the  fall,  with  the  intention  of  returning  with 
their  families  early  during  the  following  year. 
I'hilip  Krofts  building  had  itut  two  rooms,  the 
front  one  occupied  liy  his  family  and  the  rear 
one  containing  his  stock  of  goods  ;  as  there 
was  only  one  outside  door,  customers  had  to 
pass  through  the  family  room  into  the  store. 
Hugli  Cunningham  incurred  the  displeasure  of 
the  Indians,  and  shot  himself  for  fear  of  falling 
into  their  hands.  An  account  of  his  tragic  fate 
has  been  given  in  the  preceding  chapter.  John 
Shorb  also  brought  his  family,  consisting  of  his 
wife  and  three  children,  with  him,  from  Balti- 
more to  Canton.  He  was  a  much-honored  and 
highly  respectable  man  :  many  of  his  descend- 
ants are  still  residents  of  Canton  and  the  vicin- 
ity ;  others  are  scattered  about  in  diflerent 
parts  of  the  country.  We  shall  have  more  to 
say  of  Mr.  Shorb  later  in  this  history  of  Can- 
ton. The  winter  of  1807-8  was  a  dreary  one 
for  the  few  residents  (jf  the  town  ;  there  were 
no  mails,  no  newspapers,  and  but  very  few 
books  ;  habits  of  living  were  changed  and  many 
comforts  and  even  necessities,  which  they  had 
in  plenty  in  the  old  homes,  were  scarce  or  en- 
tirely wanting  ;  the  bleak  winds  from  the  plains 
beyond  the  creek,  with  not  a  tree  to  break  their 
force,  came  with  their  fury,  penetrating  houses 
and  even  clothing,  and  chilling  to  the  blood  ; 
and  the  only  break  to  the  almost  unbearable 
monotony  was  furnished  by  the  coming  together 
occasionally  of  the  older  settlers  from  the  town- 
ships round  about,  and  the  relation  of  advent- 
ures in  hunting  or  in  dealing  with  the  Indians. 


302 


HISTORY   OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


The  men,  in  this  way,  managed  to  get  through 
tile  winter  with  tolerable  composure,  but,  ac- 
cording to  all  accounts,  the  women,  who  were 
to  a  great  extent  debarred  the  comforts  of  any 
and  every  alleviation  of  their  hard  condition, 
became  inconsolable  and  begged  their  husbands 
to  return  at  once  to  their  former  homes.  But 
the  winter  passed,  and,  with  the  coming  of 
spring,  many  new  ari'ivals  soon  cheered  up  the 
spirits  of  the  most  despondent.  Of  those  who 
settled  in  Canton  in  1808  and  took  an  active 
interest  in  the  prosperity  of  the  town,  we  have 
the  names  of  ( reorge  Stidger,  8amuel  Coulter, 
Moses  Andrews.  John  Sterling,  Dr.  Andrew 
Rappee,  Philip  Ilewalt,  James  Drennan,  Joseph 
Handlan.  Jdliii  Hunter,  Daniel  Fasher,  and 
Alexander  and  John  3IcConnell.  Gen.  Stidg€r, 
one  of  the  most  prominent  of  these,  was  nat- 
urally fitted  to  become  a  leader  of  men  in  all 
movements  of  a  public  character.  He  was  a 
large,  portly  man,  of  commanding  appearance, 
agreeable  in  his  manners,  attached  to  his 
friends,  and  ready  always  to  do  them  a  favor, 
but,  when  opposed,  a  formidable  combatant. 
He  exerted  a  great  and  generally  a  good  influ- 
ence in  the  community.  Samuel  Coulter,  a 
staid  Presbyterian,  rented  Leonard's  new  brick 
house  and  commenced  keeping  tavern,  as  the 
hotel  business  was  then  called,  with  the  sign  of 
the  ■'  Green  Tree."  John  Sterling,  a  quick, 
bustling  kind  of  a  man,  a  sprightly  talker,  and 
one  popular  with  the  people,  came  from  Wash- 
ington, Penn..  bringing  with  him  a  stock  of 
goods  from  Pittsburgh.  He  had  before  bought 
out  Hugh  Cunningham,  and  immediately  took 
possession  of  the  frame  building,  corner  of  Mar- 
ket and  Fifth  streets,  with  his  family  and  stock 
of  goods.  Mi-s.  Sterling  was  a  woman  of  heroic 
mold,  and  came  with  her  husband  carrying  her 
two  little  daughters  along  on  horseback — Fan- 
nie (the  elder,  afterward  Mrs.  Binkley),  and 
Eliza  (a  babe,  afterward  Mrs.  Daniel  Dewalt). 
one  behind  her  on  the  horse,  the  other  in  her 
arms.  A  brick  building  was  erected  on  this 
site  in  1819,  On  the  southwest  corner  of  Mar- 
ket and  Tuscarawas  streets,  now  occupied  by 
the  First  National  Bank,  a  two-story  log  build-  | 
ing,  built  by  John  Shorb.  had  been  purchased 
by  J'hilip  Dewalt,  and  he  also  commenced  keep- 
ing tavei-n  therein  with  the  sign  of  the  "  Spread 
Eagle."  This  corner  has.  from  this  circum- 
stance, always  since  been  known  as  the  Eagle 
corner,  and  the   imposing  brick   block  upon  it 


now  goes  by  the  name  of  the  Eagle  Blo(;k.  Mr. 
Shorb  removed  to  his  fiirm  immediately  west 
of  town  and  lived  there  until  his  death.  The 
McConnell  brothers  were  carpenters,  and  built 
a  frame  house  on  the  east  side  of  the 
square.  Dr.  Rappe,  a  German,  and  the  first 
ph3-sician  to  locate  in  this  county,  after  his  ar- 
rival in  this  country,  went  first  to  Steuben- 
ville.  Here  he  made  the  acquaintance  of  the 
Shorb  family,  and  was  shortly  afterward  mar- 
ried to  Mr.  Shorb's  daughter.  On  coming  to 
Canton,  he  erected  a  building  on  the  southwest 
corner  of  the  square,  the  cellar  under  it  having 
been  dug  bj-  an  Indian  squaw.  For  many 
years  Dr.  Itappe  was  the  only  doctor  in  town. 
His  practice,  extending  over  a  large  area  of 
country,  was  laborious  but  great  and  remuner- 
ative. He  acquired  considerable  propertj',  and 
accumulated  more  means  by  the  legitimate  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  than  any  physician  of  Can- 
ton has  ever  been  able  to  do  since.  He  was  the 
proprietor  of  an  eye  sahe.  called  '■  Rappe's 
Invaluable  Eye  Salve,"  that  maintained  a  good 
reputation  for  its  healing  properties  long  after 
his  death. 

The  boundary  lines  of  Stark  County  vvc^re 
established  February  \H.  1808.  In  June,  fol- 
lowing, the  Commissioners  of  Columbiana 
County  appointed  Eli  Baldwin  and  Elijah 
Wadsworth  to  fix  the  county  'seat.  Nimishil- 
lentown  soon  backed  out  of  the  contest,  and 
was  soon  lost  to  the  geography  of  the  county 
forever.  The  question  was  narrowed  down  to 
a  choice  between  Osnaburg  and  Canton.  Stren- 
uous eflbrts  were  made  by  the  patrons  and 
friends  of  both  places.  Osnaburg  had  the  ad- 
vantage of  containing,  at  this  time,  a  larger 
population,  and  of  having  building  material 
more  abundant  and  more  convenient  than  Can- 
ton. 

James  Lceper,  the  jiroprietor  of  Osnaburg, 
was  quite  a  demonstrative  talker,  but  of 
somewhat  unsteady  habits.  The  bleak  winds 
from  the  plains  were  urged  with  much  force 
against  Canton.  But  Bezaleel  Wells,  the  pro- 
prietor of  the  latter  place,  a  man  of  few  words 
but  of  fine  personal  appearance,  excellent  rep- 
utation, impressive  in  what  he  did  say  by  his 
earnest,  honest  language,  a  member  of  the  con- 
vention that  formed  the  first  constitution  of 
the  State,  and  liberal  in  his  offers  to  donate  lots, 
by  the  sale  of  which  much  of  the  expense  in 
erecting  county  buildings  might  !je  raised,  more 


CAXTOX    TOWNSHIP. 


303 


^irongiy  impressed  the  members  of  the  com- 
uiission  than  Leepev.  A  f'tor  a  proper  inspection 
of  the  ground,  and  hearing  the  arguments  in 
favor  of  each  i)hice.  Canton  was  chosen  as  tiie 
count3-  scat,  in  January,  1800,  the  Legishxture 
completed  the  action  necessary'  to  make  Stark 
an  independent  county. 

.Vftcr  the  survey  of  lands  in  1808,  west  of 
the  Tuscarawas  River,  a  land  oflicc;  was  estab- 
lished in  Canton,  with  James  (^lib.son  as  Regis- 
ter and  John  Sloanc  as  Receiver.  In  January, 
180!».  a  post  oMice  was  established  here,  and 
James  Coulter  was  the  first  Postmaster.  The 
mail  was  carried  on  horseback,  once  a  week, 
from  New  Lisbon  to  C:  nton.  At  the  time  of 
the  location  of  the  town,  and  for  some  3ears 
afterward,  a  lake,  covering  some  thirty-  acres 
of  ground  immediately  adjoined  it  on  the  north- 
east. It  was  supplied  by  Shriver's  Run,  from 
strong  springs  north  of  town.  In  many  places 
this  body  of  water  was  more  than  six  feet  deep, 
and,  as  it  was  abundantly  supplied  with  fish, 
it  was  a  great  resort  for  the  fishermen  of  the 
period.  Shriver's  Run  was  also  the  outlet  of 
this  water,  but  its  course  was  a  considerable 
ilistnnce  west  of  tiie  present  run.  which  was 
changed  to  accommodate  several  tanneries  in 
the  cast  part  of  the  town.  At  the  edge  of  the 
lake  stood  a  cottonwood  tree,  which,  for  nearly 
two  generations,  was  the  meeting-place  of  the 
l)oys  when  about  to  engage  in  their  active  out- 
iloor  sports.  The  lake  was  drawn  off.  in  pur- 
suance of  an  act  of  the  Ucnera!  Asseniljlv.  in 
ISIC. 

The  fiist  courts  were  held  in  the  Kagle  Tav- 
ern. kei)t  by  Philip  Dewalt.  and  afterward  they 
were  held,  in  ISIO,  for  a  short  time,  in  an  up- 
per room  at  Coulter's.  His  cellar  was  used  as 
a  Jail.  The  first  criminal  was  that  of  a  man 
convicted  of  larceny  for  stealing  corn  ;  he  was 
sentenced  by  the  court  to  ten  "days  imprison- 
ment in  the  cellar-jail.  At  this  time  whipping 
was  yet  considered  a  legitimate  punishment  for 
the  commission  of  crime,  and  it  is  said  that,  in 
this  case,  the  court  hesitiited  between  the  usual 
infliction  of  -forty  lashes  save  one."  for  such 
crimes,  and  imprisonment ;  but  as  it  was  in  evi- 
dence that  the  man  was  moved  to  steal  the 
corn  on  account  of  actual  need  in  his  family, 
the  Court  mercifully  gave  the  sentence  of  im- 
prisonment. A  refusal  to  pay  debt,s  was  also 
in  those  days  a  crime,  and  a  prominent  citizen 
refusing  to  a  pay  a  judgment  for  debt  rendered 


against  him  on  the  ground  of  its  injustice,  was 
put  in  jail  until  the  matter  was  adjusted. 

Roswell  W.  3Iason.  Canton's  first  resident 
!aw3-cr.  came  here  in  ISld.  He  purchased  ten 
acres  of  Wells,  immediately  west  of  town,  and 
built  a  twoslory  frame  house  just  aliout  where 
the  beautiful  residence  of  Mr.  Jacob  Miller 
now  stanils  on  West  Tuscarawas  street,  so  long 
and  well-known  as  the  property  of  .Air.  Samuel 
Lahm.  Law  business  however,  was  meager  in 
this  new  coiuitry.  and  the  prospects  in  the  near 
future  were  not  very. encouraging.  Jlr.  Mason 
accordiugl)-.  after  living  here  somewhat  iso- 
lated for  se\eral  years,  removed  to  Warren. 
His  house  remaining  unoccupied  for  some  time, 
soon  presented  a  forlorn  appearance,  and  on 
accoiuit  of  the  creaking  of  doors  and  windows 
was  soon  regarded  with  superstitious  eye  as  a 
'haunted  house"  by  many  of  the  dwellers  in 
Canton.  A  family  by  the  name  of  Rurchfield 
lived  in  it  a  short  time.  l)ut  were'  soon  fright- 
ened away  from  it  by  the  many  strange  and 
unusual  noises  which  disturbed  their  sleep  at 
night.  The  ghosts,  however,  were  considerate 
enough  not  to  let  themselves  be  seen,  and  were 
entirely  exorcised  some  years  later  by  Rev. 
James  .Morrow,  who  bj-  Ins  piety  and  a  little 
necessary  repairing,  got  rid  of  them  all  without 
much  ado.  Jerry  J,,ind,  who  is  still  living,  was 
engaged  during  this  time  in  trapping  muskrats 
along  the  banks  of  the  West  Creek,  and  he 
avers  that  the  exaggerated  reports  about  the 
haunted  house  made  it  difficult  for  him  to 
keep  his  hat  on  his  head  w-hen  he  was  passing 
the  house  before  daylireak  in  the  morning,  in 
going  or  returning  from  his  traps.  But  Mr. 
Lind  was  no  more  fortunate  in  .seeing  the 
ghosts  than  others. 

In  Decemlier.  1811.  the  sessions  of  the 
court  were  removed  to  the  Stidger  Tavern, 
newly  erected,  on  the  site  of  the  present  St. 
Cloud  Hotel :  the  upper  story  of  a  house  near 
\>\.  occupied  by  Daniel  Faun,  was  rented  for  a 
jail.  The  seconil  resident  lawyer  of  Canton. 
Jeremiah  H.  llalleck,  came  here  in  LSI 2,  but 
soon  afterward  removed  to  Steubenville.  He, 
some  years  later,  became  President  Judge  of 
the  circuit,  and  served  with  great  acceptance 
in  this  capacity  for  fourteen  years.  Many  yet 
living  remember  him  well  as  a  true  gentleman, 
as  well  as  an  upriaht.  conscientious  Judge. 
Judge  llalleck  died  in  1847. 

William   llavnolds  was  the  first  Clerk  of  the 


8(4 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


Court  in  fact,  although,  until  he  reached  his 
majority  John  Harris  was  nominally  Clerk  with 
Eaynokls  as  Deputy.  Mr.  Rajnolds  came 
here  as  a  .younp;  man.  and  grew  up  with  the 
town.  He  was  a  man  of  consideralile  informa- 
tion and  of  strict  integrity,  and  exerted  great 
influence  in  the  earlier  and  somewhat  later 
days  of  Canton,  upon  all  who  came  in  contact 
with  him.  He  has  the  credit  of  having  been 
in  many  things  a  kind  of  "Sir  Oracle''  among 
the  people  of  this  vicinity. 

The  first  county  jail  located  on  a  lot  donated 
to  the  county  by  Mr.  ^^'ells,  corner  of  Third 
and  Market  streets,  was  completed  in  the  _year 
1814.  The  northern  part,  intended  for  the  jail, 
was  constructed  of  a  double  tier  of  hewed  logs, 
with  a  partition  dividing  it  into  two  cells,  one 
for  debtors  and  the  other  for  criminals;  each 
of  these  had  an  entrance  from  the  hall,  with  a 
heavy  door  of  two-inch  oak  plank,  covered 
with  plate  iron.  The  south  part  of  this  build- 
ing was  intended  as  a  residence  for  the  Sheriff 
of  the  county.  It  was  a  frame,  but  both  parts 
were  weather-boarded  together  to  give  it  the 
appearance  of  l)eing  a  single  .structure.  Seve- 
ral sessions  of  the  court  were  held  in  the  fam- 
ily part  of  this  building  just  before  the  com- 
pletion of  the  old  court  house,  on  the  north- 
west corner  of  the  square  and  Tuscarawas 
street.  This  was  built  in  181G.  at  a  cost  of 
nearly  $G,000,  and  was  in  its  day  quite  a  pre- 
tentious structure. 

Among  those  who  settled  in  Canton  previous 
to  the  year  1812,  were  Winans  Clark,  William 
Fogle.  James  Hazlett  Jacob  Sowers,  James 
Leeds,  Thomas  Hurford  and  Samuel  and  John 
Patton.  and  each  of  these  men  exerted  con- 
siderable influence,  in  his  own  way,  in  shaping 
the  destin}-  of  the  town.  Clark  was  a  butcher, 
attentive  to  his  Itusiness,  and  made  money. 
He  built  the  brick  house  on  Market  street,  be- 
tween Ff)urth  and  Fifth,  now  owned  by  John 
R.  Miller.  He  remained  here  only  about  ten 
years,  and  then  removed  to  Arkansas.  William 
Fogle  was  from  Germany.  Fpon  his  arrival  in 
the  country,  he  first  settled  at  a  place  called 
'•  The  Glades, "  in  Somerset  County,  Penn.,  and 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine.  From 
some  dissatisfaction  or  other  with  his  profes- 
sion, he  concluded  to  go  AVest  and  change  his 
business.  He  stopped  awhile  at  New  Lisbon, 
but  soon  after  came  on  to  Canton.  He  pur- 
chased the  lot  now  owned  bv  Mr.  Martin  Wiki- 


dal,  northwest  corner  of  Fifth  and  .Market 
streets,  upon  which  a  small  frame  building  had 
been  previously  erected.  In  this  he  opened  a 
store,  and,  among  other  things,  he  kept  on  hand 
a  general  assortment  of  drugs,  which,  as  a  phy- 
sician, he  had  selected  with  a  special  view  to 
the  needs  of  this  new  country.  Although 
known  as  a  physician,  he  did  not  engage  in 
general  practice  ;  but,  upon  request,  would  fre- 
quently prescribe  in  cases  of  sickness,  and, 
upon  emergency',  he  would  sometimes  even 
visit  a  patient.  Dr.  Fogle,  as  he  was  familiarly 
called,  was  a  successful  merchant,  and  accumu- 
lated some  property.  He  had,  as  he  deserved, 
the  confidence  of  the  people,  and,  as  a  man  of 
good  judgment,  and  more  than  ordinar}-  intel- 
ligence, his  counsel  and  advice  were  frequently 
sought  by  others.  His  great  popularity  is  wit- 
nessed by  the  fact  that  he  was  for  many  years 
cashier  of  tiie  "  Farmers'  Bank  of  Canton,''  that 
he  was  twice  elected  County  Commissioner,  and 
that  he  held  and  acceptabl}-  filled  the  office  of 
County  Treasurer  for  eight  successive  terms. 
He  built  the  residence  on  the  northwest  side  of 
the  square  where  Mr.  Wikidal  resides  ;  but  not 
satisfied  that  this  building  might  not  soon  be 
eclipsed  in  Canton  by  some  more  elegant  struct- 
ure, and  himself  taking  great  pride  in  a  fine 
residence,  he  conceived  the  idea  of  building  one 
so  grand  that  no  one  in  town  would  be  able  to 
excel  it.  He.  therefore,  engaged  Abraham 
Donghenbaugh,  a  reputable  carpenter  with 
architectural  taste,  to  design  and  superintend 
the  construction  of  the  colonnade  structure  on 
the  hill  on  Xorth  Market  street,  still  standing, 
which  was  erected  without  restrictions  as  to 
cost.  It  was,  indeed,  a  noble  structure,  and 
honoied  the  public  pride  of  the  projector,  and 
the  good  taste  of  the  architect.  Rut  ••  vanity 
of  vanities  "  is  .written  of  all  earthh"  works,  and 
he  who  dreams  to  do  what  future  generations, 
in  a  progressive  age,  will  not  surpass,  has  sim- 
ply the  pleasure  of  his  dream  and  nothing  more. 
The  well  on  this  lot  is  the  deepest  in  the  city, 
being  nearly  ninety  feet  deep.  While  it  was 
Jjeing  walled,  an  old  man  by  the  name  of  Rutf- 
ner  fell  into  it  and  was  killed.  The  building 
originally  had  a  platform  on  the  roof  of  the 
main  part,  which  gave  a  good  outlook  over  the 
surrounding  country.  At  the  time  of  Bachtel's 
execution  for  murder,  it  was  crowded  with  peo- 
ple eager  to  see  the  sight.  The  grounds  around 
the  building  were  tastefully  laid  out  in  walks. 


(ANTON    TOWNSHIP. 


whifli  urtonletl  tine  promeiuules.  and,  on  this 
account,  evening  parties  gi\cn  Ijy  tlie  family  to 
the  young  people  of  Canton  arc  yet  rememljcred 
by  some  of  our  now  older  people  as  very  enjoy- 
able occasions.  Dr.  Fogle  died  in  1847,  aged 
eighty -seven  years. 

Coteraporary  with  Ur.  Fogle,  and,  like  him, 
engaged  in  the  pursuit  of  merchandising,  was 
James  Hazlett.  He  came  from  Ireland  while 
yet  in  his  minorit}',  first  settled  in  Belmont 
County.  Ohio,  and,  in  1811,  came  to  Canton. 
He  commenced  business  in  a  frame  building  on 
the  southeast  corner  of  the  public  square  ;  and, 
having  been  prosperous  in  business,  he  erectetl 
on  the  old  site  a  two-story  brick  house,  which, 
though  materially  changed,  is  still  standing, 
and  is  now  known  as  the  McKinle\'  Block. 
Mr.  Hazlett  was  much  respected  as  a  friend 
and  neighbor  ;  in  his  younger  years,  in  connec- 
tion with  the  store  business,  he  was  connected 
with  other  branches  of  business,  among  which 
may  be  named  a  tan-yard,  corner  of  Seventh 
and  \\'alnut,  a  forge  or  bloomary  at  Sparta, 
in  Pike  Township,  and  a  furnace  at  North  In- 
dustry ;  but  ever}-  one  of  these  has  "  gone  the 
way  of  all  tiesh,"  and  are  no  more  recognized 
in  the  land  of  the  living.  He  was  at  an  early 
day  elected  one  of  the  Associate  Judges  of  the 
Count}-,  and  held  the  place  until  these  unneces- 
sar}'  appendages  were  done  away  with  by  our 
present  State  Constitution.  An  incident  oc- 
curred in  the  heated  ''  Log  Cabin  and  Hard 
Cider"  campaign  of  1S40,  between  tlen.  Har- 
rison, of  Ohio,  and  Martin  Van  Buren,  of  New 
York,  rival  candidates  for  the  high  ottice  of  the 
President  of  the  United  States,  in  which,  at  the 
election,  Mr.  Hazlett's  vote  was  challenged. 
He  had,  at  this  time,  exercised  the  privilege  of 
an  American  voter  for  thirty  years  without 
challenge  ;  he,  of  course,  acted  in  good  faith, 
and  believed  he  had  the  right  to  vote,  but,  un- 
der the  naturalization  laws,  his  vote  was  rejected. 
His  political  friends  were  naturally  indignant 
at  the  rejection  of  his  vote  ;  but  he  himself, 
with  a  keen  sense  of  justice  in  the  premises, 
and  a  high  regard  for  the  prerogatives  of  an 
American  citizen,  took  no  umbrage,  and  was 
only  sorry  that  he  had  so  long  unwittingl}-  vio- 
lated the  law.  Before  the  next  election,  with- 
out opposition  from  either  part}-,  his  disability- 
was  removed. 

The  Patton  Brothers,  Samuel  and  John,  were 
closelv  identified  with  the  earlier  davs  of  Can 


ton.  Samuel  kept  a  tavern  stand  in  a  frame 
building  on  the  corner  of  Court  and  Tuscara- 
was streets.  Several  years  later,  he  took  charge 
of  the  Slidger  House  on  the  ground  now  occu- 
pied by  the  St.  Cloud  Hotel.  Here  he  died. 
John  was  a  teacher,  and  held  school  in  a  frame 
building  on  Market  street,  south  of  the  old 
Oberl}-  corner.  He  is  said  to  have  been  a  man 
of  line  personal  app(!arance,  and  very  popular 
among  the  ladies.  He  afterward  removed  to 
Bolivar,  Tuscarawas  County,  where  he  died 
some  years  ago. 

Thomas  Hurford.  father  of  Alexander,  still 
living  among  us,  was  born  in  Chester  County, 
Pcnn.,  where  he  learned  the  milling  liusiness. 
He  worked  for  awhile  in  a  mill  belonging  to 
Bazaleel  Wells  at  Steubenvillc  ;  then  rented  the 
mill  and  ran  it  in  his  own  name.  During  the 
time,  he  took  a  tlat-boat  loaded  with  flour  to 
New  Orleans,  and,  on  this'  venture,  cleared 
$:i,500.  With  this  money  he  came  to  Canton, 
and  entered  a  ijuarter-section  of  land  just  south 
of  the  present  city  limits  ;  he  was  so  closely 
identified  with  Canton  from  his  social  dispo- 
sition, and  thi!  frequency  of  his  visits  to  town, 
that  he  was  always  considered  as  one  of  the 
early  residents.  He  liuilt  the  mill  yet  standing, 
but  for  many  3ears  no  longer  in  active  use, 
just  southwest  of  Oak  Orove.  Though  the 
sound  of  its  grinding  has  for  many  years  not 
been  heard,  it  is  still  in  the  old  place — one  of 
the  remaining  monitors  of  times  long  past  and 
gone.  Mr.  Hurford  was  very  fond  of  compan}-, 
and  particularly  fond  of  discussions  on  religious 
matters.  He,  having  been  born  and  reared  in 
Chester  County,  Penn.,  a  region  of  country  al- 
most entirely  oix-upied  by  Quakers,  the  follow- 
ers of  William  Penn,  the  founder  of  the  State 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  in  the  very  vicinitj-  of  Phil- 
adelphia, the  City  of  Brothcrl}-  Love,  was  very 
naturally  under  Quaker  influences  in  his  earlier 
years.  He  tells  his  own  story  of  the  reasons 
which  caused  him  to  dofl"  the  habit  of  his 
religious  faith  and  early  training.  Having 
been  sent  to  Winchester,  Va.,  at  an  early 
day,  on  business  for  his  employers,  he  was 
assailed,  while  passing  along  one  of  the  streets, 
b}'  a  cry  from  an  upper  window,  as  he  sup- 
posed, •'  You're  a  Quaker,"  but  looking  up  he 
could  see  no  one  from  whom  the  insult- 
ing language,  as  he  construed  it,  had  come. 
He  went  on,  but  after  a  few  steps,  he  heard  the 
same   cry    repeated.      Naturally    indignant   at 


30G 


HISTORY   OF    STAKK    COUNTY. 


what  he  considered  an  insult  to  his  religion,  he 
angrily  turned  round  to  discover  the  impudent 
assaulter,  but  no  one  was  in  sight  on  the  street 
or  at  the  windows.  Several  hours  after  this,  as 
he  was  passing  the  same  locality,  came  a  third 
time  tlie  cry.  ■  You're  a  Quaker."  when,  turning 
(juiekly,  he  discovered  the  guilty  party  to  be  a 
parrot  exposed  in  a  cage  at  an  upper  window. 
This  trivial  circumstance  so  mucli  annoyed 
him,  that  he  took  off  his  Quaker  dress  imme- 
diately upon  his  return  home,  and  never  re- 
sumed it  afterward.  Upon  such  little  things, 
sometimes,  do  the  destinies  of  men  and  nations 
hang. 

Jacob  Sowers,  grandfather  of  Percy  Sowers, 
an  attorney  of  the  city  of  lo-day.  came  in  the 
year  1809.  to  Canton,  from  Maryland,  and 
bought  with  him  his  two  sons,  Frederick  and 
Eli.  The  old  geifcleman  intended  to  make  some 
investments  in  his  own  name,  but  not  finding 
things  in  all  respects  to  his  taste,  and.  conclud- 
ing to  defer  tlie  matter  to  some  future  time,  re- 
turned f]ast.  leaving  his  two  sons  here.  Fred- 
erick was  bound  to  George  Cribs  to  learn  the 
trade  of  a  potter.  He  liked  neither  his  master, 
nor  the  trade,  left  without  ceremony,  and  went 
back  to  his  native  State,  where  afterward  he 
became  a  highly  successful  Baptist  minister, 
but  contracting  a  severe  cold  from  immersing 
in  the  winter  season,  he  died  from  the  effects 
of  it,  Kli,  the  other  son.  was  apprenticed  to 
Alexander  Cameron,  to  make  of  himself  a  prac- 
tical carpenter.  He  served  out  his  time,  mar- 
ried a  daughter  of  fleorge  Dunbar,  and,  for 
many  years,  carried  on  this  business  extensively 
and  successfully,  until,  witli  the  acquisition  of  a 
competency,  advancing  years  admonished  him 
to  retire  from  active  luisiness.  He  was  elected 
one  of  the  Associate  Judges  of  the  county,  and 
filled  the  position  with  credit  for  a  number  of 
3'ears.  Tlie  Judge  often  spoke  of  the  great 
eclipse  of  1811.  when  he.  with  others,  was  en- 
gaged in  shingling  the  old  Kaufmann  House, 
corner  of  Ninth  and  Market  streets.  The  sun 
gradually  disappeared,  darkness  soon  en\'elopcd 
everytliiiig  aliout  them,  and  the  men,  one  and 
all.  iii'ccipitatclv  aliaiidoncd  the  roof  witii  llie 
impression  (bred  of  tlie  want  of  knowledge  and 
considerable  suijerstition)  that  the  world  was 
coming  to  an  end,  or  that  some  other  dreadful 
calamit}'  was  immediately  impending.  The  sun. 
however,  soon  brightened  up  again  and  the 
world  still  stands.  > 


In  these  earlier  days,  and  some  of  the  later 
ones,  people  hereabouts,  without  fixing  precise 
dates,  would  refer  to  things  which  happened 
before  or  nftcr  the  war  of  1812  with  Great  Brit- 
ain. Hence  the  references  above  given  of 
those  who  were  here  before  1812.  There  were, 
of  course,  many  others,  who  either  made  no 
record,  or,  following  the  Westward  course  of 
rule  and  civilization,  have  entirely  passed  away 
from  the  recollections  of  men. 

Many  of  the  pursuits  of  former  times  have 
passed  away,  and  a  few  words  touching  the  arts 
that  the  improvement  of  machinery  or  greater 
facilities  elsewhere  have  destroyed,  are  in  place. 
In  pioneer  days,  here  as  elsewhere,  those  pur- 
suits which  minister  to  man's  immediate  com- 
forts and  needs  were  the  first  ones  started  and 
longest  continued.  A  young  lady's  outfit,  in 
town  as  in  country,  then,  alwajs  included  a 
spinning-wheel  and  its  accompanying  reel. 
From  the  first  settlement  of  the  county,  and 
for  a  couple  of  score  of  years  thereafter,  these 
articles  were  in  great  demand  ;  at  one  time, 
there  were  no  less  than  three  establishments  in 
Canton  engaged  in  their  manufacture,  those, 
namely,  of  Joseph  Handlin,  Joseph  Musser  and 
Jacob  Bncher.  Ilandlin  left  first,  Musser  ran 
away  with  another  man's  wife,  but  Mr.  Bucher 
continued  in  the  business  as  long  as  there  was 
anything  to  do.  and  amassed  a  very  respecta- 
ble fortune.  But  the  music  of  'the  one- 
stringed  piano,"  as  some  one  has  facetiously 
called. the  spinning-wheel,  no  longer  enlivens 
the  dreary  long  winter  nights,  or  the  sultry  late 
summer  evenings.  Tom  Marshall,  from  Steu- 
benville,  where  he  had  previously  engaged  iu 
the  same  business,  started  a  nail  factory  and 
continued  it  for  a  few  years.  He  heated  his 
iron-plate  iu  a  forge,  and  cut  and  headed  the 
nails  by  machinerj'.  His  shop  was  on  Tusca- 
rawas street,  about  where  the  parsonage  of  the 
First  .Mctliddist  Churcli  now  stands.  He  could 
and  did  make  from  fifteen  to  twenty  pounds  a 
da}-,  which  sold  readily  at  50  cents  a  pound. 
Messrs.  'Webb.  Toiler,  Schrf)ggs,  Sweeney  and 
Albert  carried  on  the  hatting  business  at  an 
early  day  and  for  many  years.  Hats,  at  that 
time,  were  made  only  of  fur  and  wool,  both 
kinds,  a  stiff  hat  with  a  high  crown.  When  a 
man  or  a  boy  wanted  a  hat,  he  went  to  the  hat- 
ter and  had  his  head  measured,  and  the  hat, 
made  over  the  measure,  would  be  finished  in 
a   month   or  six   weeks.     It   was  not  a  great 


(  AXroX    TOW  N>IIII' 


wliilo,  howevi'i'.  before  tho  rueieluints  bt^gau  to 
bring  on  bats  and  slices  from  the  Kast.  The 
hatters  and  shoemakers,  of  course,  considered 
this  an  intrencbment  upon  their  prerogative, 
and  tlie3'  made  common  cause  against  tlie  mer- 
ciiants ;  but  the  old  tight  of  sup|)ly  and  de- 
mand, and  of  the  right  to  buy  goods  in  any 
legitimate  way.  where  they  could  be  bought  for 
the  least  money,  won  the  da^"  eventually  ;  the 
war  cca.sed.  the  merchants  had  the  trade,  and 
the  hatters  and  shoemakers  were  obliged  to 
yield.  The  hatters  finally  left  the  field,  and 
those  of  them  who  remained  in  town,  went 
into  other  business.  There  have  been  as  many 
as  nine  tanneries  in  different  parts  of  Canton, 
mostly  on  or  near  Shriver's  Kun.  and  seven  of 
the  nine  running  at  the  same  time  ;  now  there 
is  none.  The  same  might  be  said  of  the  hat- 
ters, who.  after  the  first  fight  with  the  mer- 
chants, were  only  known  here  by  an  occasional 
itinerant  coming  once  in  awhile,  to  brush  up 
and  renovate  old  hats  ;  a  year  or  two  since, 
however,  an  old  and  experienced  hatter  from 
I'hiladelphia  htcated  in  Canton,  and  though  he 
does  not  pretend  to  cope  with  the  older  houses 
Hast  or  West,  in  making  new  hats,  he  has  suc- 
ceeded in  establishing  a  good  business  in  the 
renovating  line.  In  the  former  days,  there 
were  Sterlings,  Stidger's,  Kroft's,  Fogle's,  Slus- 
scr's.  Hazlett's,  Christmas'.  Dobbs'  and  Kim- 
balls  tanneries,  the  last  seven  at  the  same 
time.  As  this  circumstance  indicates  there 
was  a  very  urgent  demand  f(jr  leather,  so  ur- 
gent indeed,  sometimes,  that  people  would  take 
it  awa\  before!  the  leather  had  been  fully  and 
properly  tanned.  A".  R.  Kimball,  who  started 
his  tanner\'  in  1882.  at  the  corner  of  Cherry 
and  Third  streets,  where  Alexander's  woolen 
factory  is  now  located,  ground  his  bark  bj- 
steam-power,  and  as  his  was  the  first  steam 
engine  ever  seen  in  Canton,  it  was  a  great  curi- 
osit}-,  and  attracted,  for  awhile,  crowds  of 
people  eager  to  see  this  wonderful  substitute 
of  heat  and  water  for  horse-power.  The  engi- 
neer was  named  Albert  Kugle,  and  the  boys  of 
the  period  considered  hira  the  greatest  man  in 
town.  The  stage  driver,  up  to  this  time,  was 
the  man  of  most  importance  in  the  eyes  of  the 
boys,  l)ut  he  had  to  yield  to  Kugle.  .\s  g.ame 
was  then  abundant,  and  every  man  and  boy 
considered  himself  deficient  in  something  essen- 
tial to  liis  manhood,  if  he  had  not  a  gun  or  did 
not  know   how   to  use  one.  and   as  emigrants 


going  further  WvM  brought  this  part  of  their 
outfit  here,  the  demand  for  guns  and  rifles  was 
sufficient  to  keep  three  shops  ruiniing.  .Vdani 
Kimmel.  John  Clark  and  Jacob  Danner  engaged 
in  the  business,  and  the}'  all  made  money  out 
of  it.  Associated  with  the  regular  gun  busi- 
ness, Mr,  V.  A,  Schneider,  the  pioneer  hardware 
merchant  of  Canton,  started  and  kept  in  opera- 
tion for  some  time,  a  gun-barrel  factory  on 
Fifth  street,  between  Walnut  and  Cherry.  The 
building  was  afterward  diverted  into  other 
uses ;  it  is  still  standing,  but  has  been  turned 
into  a  number  of  tenement  houses.  Among 
others  of  those  who  pursued  in  former  years, 
what  are  now  entirely  or  comparatively  lost 
arts  in  Canton.  George  Faber,  a  man  of  decid- 
edl}'  inventive  turn  of  mind,  and  a  good  citi- 
zen, manufactured  for  several  years  all  kinds 
of  cards,  such  as  vvool-cards,  horse-cards  and 
the  like. 

Although  a  distinct  portion  of  the  history  of 
Stark  County  will  be  devoted  to  the  medical 
fraternity,  in  which  all  the  pioneer  physicians 
will  receive  full  notice,  we  deem  it  due  to  the 
history  of  Canton  to  revert  brief!}-  to  the  earlier 
doctors,  who  came  here  after  Dr.  Rappe,  of 
whom,  as  the  first  one,  a  fuller  notice  has  above 
been  given.  After  him,  the  brothers  John  and 
Thomas  Ronfield  came  and  practiced  in  this 
city  and  neighborhood.  Dr.  John  came  first. 
and.  though  a  man  of  decided  abilitj'.  was 
somewhat  odd  in  his  manners  and  dress,  and 
had  a  penchant  for  hohling  some  public  otiice, 
an  ambition,  however,  which  he  was  never  able 
to  gratify.  Dr,  Thomas  S,  came  shortly  after, 
and  was  in  nearl}'  every  respect  totally  unlike 
his  brother  ;  ho  was  a  popular  practitioner,  a 
zealous  member  of  the  Methodist  Church  and  a 
noted  skater.  After  these  came  Dr.  Thomas 
Hartford,  who  first  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession  and  afterward  in  merchandising. 
Highly  successful  in  both  callings,  he  amassed 
considerable  wealth,  which  by  his  will,  alter 
making  liberal  provision  for  his  widow  during 
her  lifetime,  he  bequeatlied  as  a  perpetual  poor 
fund  to  till!  cit}'  of  Canton.  Dr.  Hartford  re- 
moved to  Pittsburgh  in  1S32.  and  lived  there 
in  ease  and  comfort  all  the  balance  of  his  days. 
Dr.  James  Jerow  was  the  fiflli  physician,  a  good 
practitioner,  l)ut  a  very  ttecided  and  somewhat 
arbitrary  man.  He  died  in  1825,  of  a  malig- 
nant fever.  Dr.  George  Breyseciier,  the  next, 
came  from  Germany,  and  settled   in  Canton  in 


308 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


1819.  He  was  reputed  a  good  physician  and  a 
very  successful  hunter.  Drs.  (lardner  and  Sim- 
mons came  here  in  or  about  182(1.  Tlie  former 
died  in  Canton.  The  latter,  aljout  the  year 
1830,  removed  to  Cincinnati,  and  afterward  to 
St.  Louis,  where  he  died  only  a  few  years  ago. 
Many  of  these  older  settlers  have  left  histor- 
ical reminiscences  highly  interesting  and  in- 
structive. We  will  give  a  few  of  these  which 
we  deem  of  especial  interest.  John  Shorb.  who 
came  here  in  1807,  was  a  native  of  Zweibruecken, 
in  (Termany,  and  when  yet  (juite  young,  he 
came  and  settled  in  Baltimore,  where  he  mar- 
ried Catharine  Gross,  a  sister  of  Mrs.  Andrew 
Me3-er,  from  Neiderbronu,  Elsass.  Mr.  Shorb 
had  pursued  ditferent  branches  of  business  in 
Baltimore,  and  had  made  some  mone}'  before 
he  came  to  Canton.  He  kept  store  a  few  years, 
first  in  Leonard's  building,  and  afterward  in  his 
own  l)uilding.  (riving  up  the  store  to  his  son 
John,  he  removed  to  his  farm  just  northwest  of 
the  old  city  limits,  now,  however,  nearly  all 
within  the  city.  When  he  went  East  in  after 
3ears  to  buy  goods,  he  invariablj'  made  the 
trip  on  horseback,  accompanied  at  difterent 
times  by  his  wife,  a  feat  of  horsemanship  that 
but  few  women  of  the  present  day  would  dare 
to  attempt.  In  1815,  he  became  President  of 
the  first  bank  in  the  town,  called  "The  Farmers' 
Bank  of  Canton."  He  did  considerable  busi- 
ness also  in  real  estate.  He  took  an  active  part 
in  public  affairs,  and  was  always  ready  to  give 
a  helping  hand  to  his  neighbors.  An  example 
will  perhaps  give  some  insight  into  this  part  of 
his  character.  It  was  customary  in  the  early 
times  for  sea  captains  to  bring  over  emigrants 
destitute  of  means,  and.  in  order  to  pa^'  their 
passage  and  expenses,  to  sell  them  out  to  serv- 
ice for  a  number  of  yeai's.  Sometimes  whole 
families  were  thus  sold  out  into  this  condition 
of  white  slavery.  A  Swiss,  by  the  name  of 
Imhoff,  was  one  of  this  kind  of  emigrants.  He 
came  from  Basle,  and  was  a  tailor  by  trade. 
He  was  sold  to  one  of  these  ••  dealers  in  human 
flesh,"  who  was  instinctively  a  tj'rant.  Soon 
finding  his  condition  unbearable.  Imhotf  took 
the  first  favorable  chance,  as  man}'  others  in 
like  positions  did,  and  ran  away,  taking  his  fam- 
ily along  with  him.  With  other  parties  going 
West,  he  came  first  to  Plain  Township,  and  then 
to  Canton.  He  had  been  pursued,  and  on  the 
day  of  his  arrival  here,  he  was  caught  by  his 
pursuers,  together  with  his  family,  and  they  were 


in  danger  of  being  taken  back  to  their  sla\ery, 
and  to  suffer  the  punishment  of  whipping  for 
running  away.  They  were  almost  exhausted 
with  weariness  and  the  want  of  sustaining  food, 
and  the  terrible  fate  awaiting  them  if  they  should 
be  taken  back  to  Philadelphia  l)ecoming  known, 
many  of  the  then  residents  of  the  town  took 
compassion  on  them,  and  one  of  them,  John 
Shorb.  being  in  good  circumstances  ottered 
to  buy  their  fieedom.  The  pursuers  were  at 
first  unwilling  to  make  any  terms  for  the  release 
of  Imhofl'  and  familj',  but  they  were  soon 
brought  to  terms  I)}'  the  loud  mutterings  of  the 
anger  of  the  people,  and  the  threats  of  lynch 
law  if  they  did  not  quickly  accept  their  money 
and  leave.  One  who  vouches  for  the  truth  of 
this  transaction  said  :  "  The  scoundrels  took 
themselves  ofl"  might}-  quick  when  thej'  heard 
of  hanging."  Shorb  was  a  zealous  member  of 
the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  and  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  first  congregation  in  Canton. 
He  was  injured  while  giving  a  helping  hand  in 
the  erection  of  the  old  Catholic  Church  corner 
of  North  and  Poplar  streets,  and  on  the  24th 
of  July,  1824,  he  died  from  his  injuries,  at  the 
age  of  sixty -fi\'e  j-ears. 

Philip  Dewalt  was  also  one  of  the  noteworthy 
pioneers  of  Canton,  and  came  here  in  1808. 
His  parents  came  from  (rerniany  to  America  in 
the  year  17(11,  and  Philip  was  born  on  the 
vessel  during  the  vo3'age  over  the  ocean.  The 
family  went  first  to  Hanover.  York  Co.,  Penn., 
next  to  Center  County,  and  finally,  to  Stark 
County  in  1808.  The  parents  lived  to  great 
old  age  ;  the  lather,  aKso  named  Philip,  died  at 
the  age  of  one  hundred  and  five  jears,  and  the 
mother  at  one  hundred.  Both  were  buried  in 
the  old  graveyard  on  Plum  street  in  Canton. 
The  subject  of  our  sketch  first  engaged  in 
making  -small  beer"  and  'pepper  cakes," 
but  in  the  winter  following,  commenced  keep- 
ing the  ''  Spread  Eagle  '  tavern  ;  he  did  a  good 
business.  From  1809  to  1812,  large  numbers 
of  people  from  the  East  came  to  look  up  and 
locate  lands,  and  iNIr.  Dewalt  had  often  as 
many  as  twenty  guests  passing  the  night  with 
him.  His  son.  Daniel  Dewalt,  now  over  eighty 
years  old,  still  resides  here  and  knows  more 
about  the  early  settlement  of  Canton,  from  his 
own  knowledge,  than  any  other  citizen.  At  the 
end  of  twenty  years,  Philip  Dewalt  sold  the 
Eagle  Hotel  to  his  oldest  son,  George,  and 
built   another   tavern    stand  on  the  northeast 


1^ 


CANTON    TOWNSHIP. 


309 


corner  of  Tuscarawas  and  I'hini  streets.  He 
died  in  1844,  aged  eight\--tliree  years.  His 
wife  Eva  was  called  home  some  seventeen  years 
before  at  the  age  of  sixty-four  years.  They 
had  a  family  of  seven  children,  live  sons  and 
two  daughters,  of  whom  ■•Old  I'ncle  Dan,''  tol- 
erably hale  and  hearty,  alone  survives,  one  of 
the  last  links  connecting  the  primitive  age  of 
Canton  with  the  present.  A  history  of  Canton 
would  be  very  incomplete  without  a  more  (>x- 
tended  notice  of  '■  Uncle  Dan."  In  the  spring 
of  1809,  he  went  to  school  to  a  Mr.  Oeorge 
Gcisweil,  northeast  of  the  present  fair  grounds, 
and  received  instruction  in  reading,  writing  and 
arithmetic,  both  in  English  and  German.  The 
tuition  in  this  school  was  50  cents  per  month 
One  Andrew  Johnson,  taught  the  lirst  English 
school  in  Canton,  in  a  log  schoolhouse,  erected 
in  1807  on  the  lot  now  occupied  by  the  court 
house.  Daniel  Dewalt  made  fair  progress  in 
school,  and  afterward  helped  bis  father  in  the 
tavern.  He  attended  to  the  horses  in  the  sta- 
ble and  blacked  boots  for  the  guests,  sometimes 
assisted  by  his  mother,  and  frequently  did  not 
get  done  with  his  work  until  after  1  o'clock  in 
the  morning.  He,  however,  pocketed  all  the 
cash  paid  for  this  service  himself,  and  often 
drove  a  profitable  trade.  He  took  to  horses 
naturally  when  ((uite  young,  and  while  yet  a 
boy  did  some  sharp  Iradhig,  as  early  as  the 
year  1812,  when  the  last  war  with  Great  Britain 
broke  out.  About  this  time  he  owned,  in  his 
own  name,  a  Hock  of  sixty  sheep,  which  found 
good  and  abundant  subsistence  on  tiie  rich 
plains  near  Canton.  One  day  a  farmer  came 
to'  the  Eagle  Tavern,  with  a  tolerably  good 
horse,  which  he  wanted  to  exchange  for  sheep. 
Daniel  gave  him  four  sheep  and  took  the  horse. 
.\  few  days  after,  his  father  sent  him  on  busi- 
ness to  New  Philadelphia,  and  he.  of  course, 
took  his  horse  along  with  him.  On  the  way  he 
saw  a  very  beautiful,  dark  chestnut  horse, 
which  took  his  fancy,  and  he  traded  his  own 
iiorse  and  a  gold  watch,  worth  $:!0  or  -S40,  for 
him.  When  he  came  home  on  his  nol)le  charger, 
he  was  a  wonder  to  his  father  and  ail  the  peo- 
ple at  the  hotel.  He  traded  this  horse  again  a 
few  days  later  to  the  soldiers,  at  that  time  en- 
camped on  the  court  house  lot,  receiving  in 
exchange  two  other  horses  and  $75  in  money  ; 
one  of  these  he  sold  soon  afterward  for  $100. 
He,  some  years  later,  learned  watch-making 
and  jewelry  business,  but  not  finding  this  his 


particular  forte,  he  has  spent  the  greater  part 
of  his  life  in  trading.  He  was  generally  suc- 
cessful in  his  ventures.  In  the  summer  of 
1809,  there  was  a  great  scarcity  in  horse  feed 
in  this  neighborhood,  and  to  meet  the  urgent 
demand,  Philip  Dewalt  sent  to  New  Lisbon,  a 
distance  of  thirty-three  miles.  His  two  daugh- 
ters, Mary  and  Nancy,  aged  respectively  twelve 
and  fourteen  years,  made  the  journey  in  two 
days.  They  rode  horseback  anil  leading  other 
horses  bj'  the  bridle,  brought  three  sacks  of 
oats  on  each  horse.  Those  days  developed 
hearty  and  brave  women,  as  well  as  hard}'  and 
daring  men,  women  wiio  were  in  every  respect 
helpmeets  to  their  linsl>ands  in  town  and 
country. 

Before  proceeding  to  other  early  reminis- 
cences it  will  be  well  to  give  a  resume  of  the 
early  settlers  which,  from  a  paper  published  a 
number  of  years  since,  we  find  read}'  to  our 
hands,  as  follows,  viz.:  "  The  first  white  settler, 
not  only  in  Canton  but  in  Stark  Count}",  was 
James  Leonard,  who  came  here  in  1805.  The 
first  white  child  was  born  a  couple  of  miles 
north  of  Canton,  on  the  Spangler  farm,  and  was 
a  daughter  born  to  Hugh  ('unningham,  who, 
however,  lived  but  a  short  time.  The  first  mar- 
riage was  that  of  James  F.  Leonard  with  Sarah 
Barber,  in  1806.  Leonard  built  the  same  year 
the  first  brick  house,  on  the  old  Oberly  corner. 
The  first  death  was  that  of  James  Culbertson, 
in  October,  1805.  The  first  grist-mill  was 
erected  by  Philip  Shisser  in  1807.  The  first 
saw-mill  was  set  up  the  same  year  on  the  pres- 
ent site  of  Trump's  Mill.  The  lirst  tavern  was 
started  by  Garret  Crusen.  on  Jlarket  street,  be- 
tween Fourth  and  Fifth  streets,  in  a  log  house. 
The  first  well  in  town  was  dug  on  this  lot.  The 
first  store  was  opened  by  Alirahain  Kroft,  cor- 
ner of  Market  and  Fifth  streets,  in  1807.  The 
first  blacksmith  who  did  work  here  was  John 
Bower,  who  built  his  shop  and  commenced  bus- 
iness in  1809,  on  the  court  house  lot.  The  first 
shoemaker  was  Barney  Mayhan,  on  Poplar 
street,  between  Fourth  and  Fifth,  in  1809.  The 
first  tailor  was  L(!vi  Jones,  on  South  Market 
street,  between  Seventh  and  Eight  streets,  in 
1808.  The  first  wheelwright  and  chair-maker 
j  was  Joseph  Handlan  in  1807.  The  first  wagon- 
maker  was  Jacol)  Sirine,  in  1818.  The  first 
[  cabinet-maker  was  Peter  M.  Bainbridge.  on 
I  West  Tuscarawas  street,  in  1815.  The  first 
1  house  joiner  was  John   Hanna.  in  1809.     The 


^ 


310 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COT'NTY 


first  brick-layers  were  James  McMahaii  and 
Stillinger,  partners  in  business,  in  1812  ;  they 
also  followed  stone-eiitting  and  jilastering.  The 
first  tan-yard  was  started  by  Abraham  Ki'oft, 
in  1808.  The  first  lawyer  was  Roswell  Mason, 
in  1810.  The  first  Doctor  was  Andrew  Rappee, 
in  1808.  The  first  teacher  was  Andrew  John- 
son, in  1808.  The  first  resident  minister  of  the 
Gospel  was  Rev.  Anthony  Weier,  in  1812.  The 
first  drug  store  was  opened  by  Jacob  Sala  in 
1820,  though  drugs  were  extensively  sold  in 
Canton  by  other  parties  before  this  time.  The 
first  hatter  was  George  Stidger,  on  the  St. 
Cloud  cornel',  in  1809.  The  first  tinner  and 
copper-smith  was  John  Buckius.  East  Tuscara- 
was street,  in  1811.  The  first  saddler  was  John 
Read,  in  1814,  who  occupied  asiiop  in  common 
with  a  tailor  by  the  name  of  Parker.  The  first 
gunsmith  was  Adam  Kimmel.  in  1816.  The 
first    watchmaker    was    Alexander   Wilson,    in 

1814.  The  first  butcher  was  James  Matthews. 
in  1809.  The  first  brewery  was  built  by  Thomas 
Hartford  and  Samuel  Coulter,  near  the  East 
Bridge,  in  1820.  and  was  operated  by  John 
Cake.  The  first  barber  shop  was  started  by 
William  Baker  in  1820.  Previous  to  this  time 
the  citizens  of  Canton  shaved  themselves.  The 
first  gravestone  cutter  was  Josepli  Trout,  who 
came  here  in  1809.  The  first  printing  office 
was  started  by  John  Saxton  in  1815;  this  is 
still  in  existence,  and  is  carried  on  by  his  son, 
Thomas  Saxton,  and  is  well  known  as  the  Ri- 
pository  establishment,  on  Court  street.  The 
first  portrait  painter  was  John  K.  Dunbar,  in 
1827.  The  first  church  edifice,  a  low  frame 
building,  was  erected  by  the  Lutherans,  on  the 
lot  upon  which  the  Presbyterian  Church  now 
stands,  corner  Tuscarawas  and  Phim  streets,  in 
1810.  The  first  regular  schoolhouse  was  built 
on  the  opposite  corner,  where  the  West  school 
building  now  stands,  in  1811.  The  first  steam 
engine  wss  brought  to  Canton  by  V.  R.  Kim- 
ball, in  1833,  and  put  to  service  in  grinding 
bark  at  his  tannery  on  the  corner  of  Cherry  and 
Third  streets." 

As  connected  closely  with  these  varied  busi- 
ness interests  of  early  Canton,  we  here  give  a 
brief  history  of  the  first  bank.     In  the   year 

1815,  a  meeting  of  the  business  men  of  tlie 
town  was  called  for  the  purpose  of  organizing 
a  bank.  The  population  at  this  time  was  about 
500.  There  were  seven  stores,  and  several 
flour-mills   drawing   trade  to    Canton    from    a 


;  great  distance  on  all  sides.  At  the  close  of  the 
war  of  1812,  a  new  impetus  was  given  to  busi- 
ness ;  immigration  from  the  East,  which,  dur- 
!  ing  the  war.  had  nearly  ceased,  set  in  again, 
I  and  there  soon  arose  a  demand  for  greater 
facilities  in  the  way  of  furnishing  an  adequate 
supply  of  circulating  medium,  and  in  making 
transfers  of  funds.  Wooster,  thirty  miles  west 
of  Canton,  began  to  loom  up  as  a  rival  town, 
and.  what  at  this  time  appears  rather  laughable 
than  otherwise,  the  contest  for  superiority  was 
I  almost  entirely  based  upon  the  relative  advan- 
i  tages  of  Killbuck  and  Nimishillen  Creeks  for 
i  future  purposes  of  navigation.  The  meeting 
I  called,  as  above  stated,  was  considereil  a  good 
stroke  of  policy  to  gain  other  advantages. 
Five  Trustees  were  appointed  viz.  :  John 
Shorb.  William  Fogle.  Samuel  Coulter.  Thomas 
Taylor  and  James  Hazlett.  with  instructions  to 
take  initiatory  steps  at  once  to  compass  the 
end  desired.  In  the  month  of  April  a  notice 
was  published  in  the  O/u'n  Rcjiasitory  for  a 
meeting  at  the  Eagle  Tavern,  of  Philip  Dewalt, 
to  hold  an  election  for  nine  Directors  of  a  bank 
I  to  be  called  •  The  Farmers'  Bank  of  Canton," 
the  word  '  Farmers  "  being  adopted  at  the  sug- 
gestion of  Dr.  Fogle.  At  this  election,  Thomas 
Hartford,  John  Shorb,  John  Myers,  William 
Fogle.  Winans  Clark,  James  Hazlett,  Philip 
Slusser,  Jacob  Myers  and  George  Stidger  were 
chosen  directors.  John  Shorb  was  made  Presi- 
dent, and  William  Fogle.  Cashier.  Subscrip- 
tion books  were  immediately  opened  to  raise 
stock  for  the  new  bank  at  Canton,  at  Tallmadge, 
at  Stow  and  at  Cleveland.  In  the  summer  of 
1815.  a  banking  house  was  erected  on  Lot  28, 
which  is  no  longer  standing,  and  in  the  fall  of 
the  same  year  it  was  occupied  as  such,  tuid  the 
bank  went  into  operation.  They  at  once  issued 
notes  for  ciroulatiDn  and  sent  them  out  upon 
their  mission  for  good  or  for  evil.  At  that 
time,  there  was  considerable  opposition  to  a 
paper  currency,  and.  at  the  February  terra  of 
court  in  the  year  181G,  an  indictment  was 
found  against  •■  John  Shorb,  President  of  the 
Farmers'  Bank  of  Canton,''  for  •  signing  and 
making  bank  notes  without  being,  by  law, 
authorized  to  do  so."  George  Tod  was  Presi- 
dent Judge,  and  John  Hoover,  Samuel  Coulter 
and  William  Henry,  Associate  Judges  of  the 
Common  Pleas  Court  at  the  time.  At  the 
trial,  however,  the  sympathies  of  the  com 
munity  must  have  been  largely  with  the  bank, 


^  a 


CANTON    TOWNSHIP. 


:51l 


and  that  they  wanted  it  sustained,  was  evident 
from  tlie  fact  that  tile  juiT,  after  hearing  the 
case,  returned  a  verdict  of  not  guilty,  without 
even  the  formality  of  retiring  to  make  up  their 
verdict.  Jeremiah  H.  Halleclv  represented  the 
prosecution,  and  ^lessrs  Wright  and  Tappan 
the  defense.  But  this  decision,  prompt  and 
decisive  as  it  was  for  the  bank,  did  not  relieve 
it  from  all  its  troubles  in  this  direction.  Dur- 
ing the  same  year,  Henry  Swartz,  who  owed 
the  bank  S800  on  his  note,  resisted  its  payment, 
on  the  ground  that  tlie  bank  had  issued  paper 
money  in  violation  of  law.  Tliis  case  was 
argued  at  length  by  J.  W.  Lathrop  for  the 
bank,  and  by  John  >I.  Goodenow  for  the  defend- 
ant. The  court,  liowever,  again  gave  judgment 
in  favor  of  the  l)ank,  and  the  legality  of  this 
branch  of  its  business  seems  to  have  been  thus 
finally  established.  The  bank  also  issued  frac- 
tional currency  to  a  considerable  amount,  of 
which  counterfeits  soon  made  their  appearance. 
Tlie  Repasitori)  of  that  date  warns  the  public 
against  them  in  this  wise  :  •'  'J'hey  are  from 
75  cents  downward,  printed  on  deep  fancy  pink 
paper,  with  larger  type  than  the  genuine,  and 
dated  May  3,  1810.'  It  seems  that  a  publisher 
of  a  newspaper  near  the  center  of  the  State, 
manufactured  with  impunity  a  considerable 
amount  of  this  fractional  currency,  and  escaped 
prosecution  on  account  of  the  fear  of  being 
able  to  prosecute  him  successfully  for  an^-  penal 
ofl'ense.  John  Sterling  and  Thomas  Alexander 
were  elected  Directors  of  the  bank  in  1811). 
James  Drennan  was  Cashier  in  1817,  and  gives 
notice  that  -  a  dividend  of  4  per  cent  on  the 
capital  stock  actually  paid  in.  will  be  paid  to 
stockholders,  or  their  legal  representatives." 
From  a  bank  statement  published  in  December, 
1818,  there  vi&s,  capital  stock  paid  in,  S83,710  ; 
notes  in  circulation,  $20,308  ;  debts  due,  $18, - 
000;  deposits.  $3,112;  bills  discounted,  $75, 
162  ;  specie  on  hand,  $1,90!)  ;  notes  of  other 
banks,  $1 .400.  .\  financial  crisis  was  approach- 
ing, and  the  bank  soon  liegan  to.  feel  its  effects. 
They  struggled  on  and  endeavored  to  weather 
the  storra  until  November,  1818,  when  as  many 
other  banks  had  already  been  compelled  to  do, 
they  suspended  specie  payments,  but  gave 
notice  that  they  would  continue  '  to  redeem 
their  notes  in  good  chartered  paper.  '  In  Janu- 
ary, 1820,  in  compliance  with  an  amendment 
of  a  law  then  in  force,  the  board  of  Directors 
was    increa.sed    to   thirteen.     Renewed    efforts 


were  made  to  sustain  the  bank's  credit  and  its 
life;  but  the  reserve  forces  were  insuHicient, 
and  in  March,  1821,  the  bank  building  and  lot. 
and  the  ollice  furniture  were  sold  at  pufilic 
auction.  The  first  "  Farmers'  Bank  of  Canton  " 
was  dead.  It  was  afterward  resuscitated,  bill 
its  later  history  is  not  so  closely  identified  with 
the  purpose  of  our  work,  and  we  do  not  deem 
it  necessary  to  pursue  it  any  further. 

We  find  the  following  interesting  biograiih- 
ical  sketch  of  one  of  the  first  Board  of  Directors 
of  the  bank,  and  the  last  of  them  all  to  pay  the 
last  debt  of  man  to  nature  was  Mr.  Jacob  i^Iy- 
ers  :  ••  He  came  to  this  county  in  1810,  finding 
it  only  a  wilderness.  Though  they  were  few 
and  far  between,  the  hearty  old-fashioned  hos- 
pitality of  the  early  pioneers  was  a  topic  on 
which  Mr.  Myers  loved  to  dwell,  and  he  wa.s 
himself  one  of  its  best  exponents.  In  the  Ihll 
of  1811.  he  returned  to  Hagerstown,  Md.,  antl. 
while  there,  he  built  a  wool-carding  machine. 
In  the  spring  of  1812,  he  returned  to  Canton, 
whore  he  ever  afterward  resided.  He  brought 
his  carding-machine  with  hiin,  it  being  the  first 
erected  in  this  part  of  Ohio.  It  was  put  into 
operation  on  the  site  known  as  Roland's  Mill. 
Both  mill  and  carding-niacliiiie  having  been 
Iiurned  out.  he  bought  a  lot  in  (Janton,  south- 
west corner  of  .Market  and  Figlith  streets,  re- 
built his  shop  on  the  same,  and  ran  it  by  horse- 
power. Mr.  .Myers  was  once  the  owner  of  part 
of  the  land  on  which  Massillon  now  stands,  near 
the  confluence  of  Siiipo  Creek  with  the  Tuscara- 
was. On  this  he  built  a  saw-mill  and  a  powder- 
mill,  on  a  site  on  Sippo  Creek,  a  short  distance 
above  where  the  Sippo  Mill  now  stands.  This 
was  the  first  and  only  powder-mill  in  Stark 
County.  At  the  time  of  which  we  speak,  the 
Indians  had  a  camp  on  the  high  bank  west  of 
the  Tuscarawas  River,  now  partly  occupied  by 
the  site  of  West  ,Massillon.  In  "]815.  Mr.  My- 
ers sold  his  Massillon  property,  including  the 
land  and  the  saw  and  powder  mills,  to  Folger  & 
Coffin.  He  al.so  sold  his  Canton  town  property, 
and.  in  1810,  leased  the  tract  upon  which  he 
built  his  mill,  just  south  of  Canton,  on  Cherry 
street,  and  where  he  lived,  until  his  death,  fifty 
seven  years,  lie  leased  the  land  because  being 
school  land  it  could  not  be  .sold  ;  but  it  after- 
ward became  his  by  purchase.  He  afterward 
erected  a  tlistillery.  the  foundation  of  which 
still  remains,  though  the  superstructure  has  long 
since  disappeared.     (J rain  at  that  time  was  a 


^■. 


312 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


drug,  as  there  was  more  raised  than  was  re- 
quired for  liome  consumption,  and  there  was  no 
foreign  market,  at  least  no  means  of  transpor- 
tation. Wheat  was  25  cents  a  bnshel.  and  rye 
from  15  to  20  cents.  Mucli  of  the  surplus 
crop  was  converted  into  whisky,  and  Mr.  My- 
ers soon  had  a  large  quantity  on  hand.  For 
the  purpose  of  disposing  of  it  to  the  best  ad- 
vantage, he.  in  company  with  Daniel  Slanker, 
who  had  a  mill  in  Jackson  Townsliip.  and  iiad 
a  lot  of  flour  on  hand,  built  a  boat  on  the  Tus- 
carawas River,  at  a  point  known  as  the  "  Old 
Bridge,"  a  short  distance  above  the  present 
stone  bridge.  This  was  in  1823,  at  a  time  when 
our  forefathers  anticipated  great  results  from 
the  navigal)le  qualities  of  the  Nimishillen  and 
Tuscarawas.  This  boat,  loaded  with  300  bar- 
rels of  flour,  pork  and  whisky — Shmker  furnish- 
ing the  flour  and  pork,  and  Myers  the  whisky — 
started  for  New  Orleans,  where  they  expected 
to  find  ready  sale  lor  the  cargo.  The  crew  con- 
sisted of  five.  In  addition  to  the  owners,  who 
accompanied  the  craft,  there  were  John  Brown, 
of  Bethlehem,  and  Eli  Myers,  of  Osnaburg, 
who  were  the  steersmen.  There  was  another, 
whose  name  is  forgotten,  who,  anxious  to  see 
the  world,  gave  his  services  as  a  sort  of  rousta- 
bout for  the  passage.  They  floated  with  the 
current  and  tied  up  at  night.  All  went  along 
smoothly  until  near  Zanesville,  on  the  Muskin- 
gum River  ;  there  they  ran  against  a  raft  of 
logs,  tore  off  a  side  plank,  and,  notwithstanding 
every  ettbrt  at  the  pump,  the  boat  sank.  To 
raise  the  vessel,  it  was  necessary  to  unload. 
After  it  was  raised,  repaired  and  reloaded,  the 
parties  engaged  a  man  by  the  name  of  Kincaid, 
who  had  considerable  experience  as  a  river-man, 
to  take  charge  of  the  vessel  and  cargo,  dispose 
of  it  to  the  best  advantage,  and  make  due  re- 
turn. Slanker  and  Myers  returned  home  ;  Kin- 
caid, instead  of  going  to  New  Orleans,  went  up 
the  Cumberland  as  far  as  Mussel  Shoals  ;  there 
sold  out,  and  vamoosed.  He  was  pursued, 
eanght  in  Kentucky,  and  lodged  in  jail  at  Louis- 
ville, The  parties,  finding  the  trouble  and  ex- 
pense of  prosecuting  him  likely  to  cost  more 
than  they  could  recover,  al)andoned  the  suit. 
Tlie  same  year.  Dr.  Andrew  Rappee,  of  Canton, 
loaded  a  flat  on  the  Tuscarawas  River  with  like 
commodities  for  New  Orleans  ;  but  they  ran 
aground  near  Zoar,  and  the  enterprise  was 
abandoned.  During  Mr.  Myers'  long  residence 
of  two  generations  in  Canton,  he  always  sus- 


tained the  character  of  an  honest,  upright 
citizen.  He  was  a  man  of  decided  and  inde- 
pendent opinions,  kind  of  heart  and  open-handed 
to  the  poor.  In  his  intercourse  with  his  neigh- 
bors, he  practiced  the  golden  rule — he  made  it 
a  point  to  do  unto  others  as  he  would  be  done 
by.  He  took  his  share  of  the  privations,  and 
sustained  his  part  in  life  as  became  a  good  citi- 
zen from  first  to  last,  during  the  long  life,  which 
measured  in  its  span  the  growth  of  this  great 
nation.  In  October,  1863,  he  had  a  stroke  of 
palsy  in  his  right  side,  and  he  was  (juite  feeble 
ever  afterward.  In  October,  1872,  he  had  a 
stroke  which  partially  paralyzed  his  left  side  ; 
the  ultimate  result  of  these  severe  attacks  being 
his  death  at  the  advanced  age  of  nearly  ninety 
years.'' 

Forty  or  fifty  years  ago,  as  is  incidentally 
mentioned  in  the  above  sketch  of  Mr.  Myer.-^, 
much  of  the  surplus  grain  raised  hereabouts 
was  manufactured  into  whisky  ;  in  those  days 
lager  beer  and  other  beers  were  unknown 
among  the  people  in  this  Western  world  ;  whis- 
k3'  was  used  to  some  extent  in  almost  every 
family  ;  the  morning  bitters  were  as  regular  as 
the  morning  meal  ;  and  places  where  liquor 
was  sold,  were  the  taverns  under  a  stringent 
license  law,  to  do  a  lawful  business,  and  to  keep 
a  decent  and  respectable  house.  While  drunk- 
enness was  probably  not  as  prevalent  then  as 
now,  there  was,  however,  enough  of  it  to  awaken 
attention,  and  to  cause  measures  to  be  taken 
for  its  suppression.  Modern  temperance  move- 
ments were  in  their  infancy,  and  were  to  a  great 
extent  entirely  unknown  in  Canton.  Occasion- 
ally, however,  measures  were  taken  for  the  cure 
of  drunkards,  by  citizens,  which  though  not 
always  strictly  within  the  law,  were  at  times 
(juite  effective.  We  find  a  vivid  description  of 
the  application  of  one  of  those  methods  in 
print,  headed,  ■'  Crusading  in  Ye  Olden  Times," 
which  is  as  follows  ;  "  Forty  years  ago,  or  there- 
abouts, when  whisky  sold  at  three  cents  a 
glass,  and  drujikards  were  made  according  to 
law  under  the  old  license  system,  they  h.ad  a 
summary  way  of  reforming  topers,  that  often 
proved  more  effective  than  moral  suasion.  It 
was  in  the  days  of  the  old  apprenticeship  sys- 
tem, when  Canton,  with  a  population  of  less 
than  two  thousand  inhabitants,  contained  more 
of  that  class  of  boys  than  can  be  enumerated 
at  the  present  time,  notwithstanding  it  boasts 
five   times  the  number  of  inhabitants.     To  a 


^ 


CANTON    TOWNSHIP. 


Slti 


considerable  extent  they  constituted  of  a  class  of 
tliemselves,  isolated  from  the  societ}'  of  others. 
They  were  mostly  from  the  country,  removed 
from  the  ]);iternal  influences,  and  ready  for  al- 
most any  kind  of  deviltry.  When  a  "greeny  " 
came  to  t<jwn,  they  were  sure  to  take  liim 
through  a  process  of  hazing.  There  were  no 
police  in  tiiose  da3"s.  and  the}-  generally  man- 
aged to  keep  out  of  tlie  way  of  the  Constables. 
There  are  many  yet  living  who  rememl)er  how 
these  young  fellows  got  after  the  drunkards. 
If  caught  on  the  streets  after  night,  they  were 
sure  t<i  be  taken  through  a  process  that  may  be 
called  the  hydropathic  and  motorpathic  system, 
the  modus  operandi  of  which  will  be  described 
in  the  case  of  Scth  Godder.  Seth  was  a  shoe- 
maker by  trade — a  clever,  social  roan — who  fell 
into  the  ruinous  habit  of  indulging  in  strong 
drink.  It  was  not  long  before  his  family  came 
to  want,  and  then  his  wife,  a  good,  industrious 
woman,  was  compelled  to  take  in  washing  and 
work  out  in  order  to  keep  the  wolf  from  the 
door.  She  bore  witii  her  husband's  weakness  as 
long  as  patience  was  any  virtue,  then  reasoned 
with  him,  entreated  and  threatened,  all  to  no 
purpose.  Finally,  she  concluded  to  let  the 
••Regulators  "  take  him  in  hand.  She  talked 
with  John  Caskey,  an  apprentice  in  the  Rcpns- 
ilori/  office,  and  a  ringleader  among  the  b'hoys 
of  that  day  ;  she  told  him  slie  had  exhausted 
all  her  resources  in  trying  to  reform  her 
drunken  husband  and  failed  ;  and  now  she 
wanted  the  boys  to  take  him  in  hand  and  do 
anylliing  they  plea,sed  with  hiui,  only  not  to 
take  his  life.  As  several  topers,  caught  on  the 
street  after  night  had  alreaily  been  taken  in 
hand,  Godder,  to  avoid  similar  treatment,  had 
taken  the  precaution  to  wend  his  way  home  be- 
fore dark.  On  the  evening  of  the  day  up(Mi 
wliicli  the  event  we  are  about  to  chronicle  oc- 
curred, (iodder  came  home  drunker  than  usual, 
and.  if  possible,  made  himself  more  disagree- 
able to  his  family  than  ever  before,  Mrs,  God- 
der lost  no  time  in  notifying  Caskey  of  the 
condition  of  her  husband,  and  re(|uested  that 
he  be  taken  in  hand  forthwith.  The  company 
was  summoned.  There  were  John  Hoover, 
Sam  Cove,  John  Moblej%  George  McNabb  and 
a  lot  more  of  choice  spirits,  including,  if  we 
rcineniber  rightly,  (ioorgc  Haas  and  John  Huck- 
ius.  They  repaired  to  the  house  of  Godder, 
found  him  quite  demonstrative,  and  asked  him 
to  take  a  walk.     He  at  first  declined,  but  find- 


ing it  useless  to  resist,  at  last  apparently 
yielded.  They  led  him  to  the  town  pump,  then 
on  West  Tuscarawas  street,  set  him  under  the 
spout,  and  held  him  there,  while  two  or  three 
of  the  boys  did  the  pumping,  and  it  was  effect- 
ually done  to  the  extent  of  drenching  him 
completely.  Meanwhile  a  fence-rail  had  been 
procured,  astraddle  of  which  Seth  was  assisted, 
and  securely  held  by  one  on  each  side,  while 
two  stout  boys  carried  the  rail  on  their  should- 
ers. As  they  moved  off  singing  •Jim  Crow." 
Godder  joined  in  the  sport,  but  as  the  rail- 
bearers  would  give  him  an  occasional  bound 
and  gyratory  movement,  the  treatment  became 
somewhat  p;\inful.  and  he  began  to  protest. 
They  asked  him  to  quit  drinking,  but  lie  re-  1 
fused.  They  renewed  the  march,  and  the  rail 
movement.  He  swore  worse  than  the  '•  arm\' 
in  Flanders."  On  North  Market  street,  at  the 
public  pump,  they  gave  him  another  dose  more 
copious  than  the  first.  The  night  was  some- 
what cool,  and  the  patient  became  chilled.  Re- 
mounting him  on  the  rail,  the  march  was  re- 
sumed. It  continued  until  (iodder  became 
apparently  quite  subdued  and  helple.ss.  Speak- 
ing to  him  without  obtaining  an  answer,  a  halt 
was  ordered,  and  on  lowering  the  rail  it  was 
discovered  that  he  was  apparent!}-  dead — cold, 
clammy  and  speechless.  Terribly  frightened, 
the  bo^s  hastily  bore  him  to  his  home,  while 
one  of  their  number  summoned  I)r,  Brysecker, 
On  being  placed  in  a  warm  bed,  by  the  appli- 
cation of  mustard  to  the  extremcties  and  hot 
pi^ppermiut  tea  internally,  he  gradually  revived, 
but  the  shock  to  his  nervous  system  confined 
him  to  the  house  for  several  weeks.  He  be- 
came a  sober  man.  Never  again,  as  long  as  he 
lived  in  Canton,  did  he  drink  intoxicating 
liciuor.  He  secured  the  respect  and  esteem  of 
the  comiuuiiitv.  We  have  often  thought  t In- 
same  treatment  would  be  more  effectual  in  cur- 
ing our  most  notorious  drunkards  of  the  pres- 
ent day.  than  fines  and  imprisonment." 

In  that  earlier  day.  there  was  also  among 
many  of  our  young  people  a  desire  to  add  im- 
provement to  amusement,  and  the  history  of 
facts  concerning  the  earlier  theatrical  perform- 
ances in  Canton  should  also  have  a  place  here. 
Thes(!  performances,  it  must  be  remembered, 
were  given  by  home  talent  exclusively.  The 
first  effort  of  the  kind  was  on  Christmas  Eve, 
in  the  3-ear  1817.  It  was  rendered  in  the  long 
room  of  John  Patton's  tavern,  standing  on  the 


IILSTORY   or    STARK    COUNTY. 


lot  now  occupied  by  the  St.  Cloud.  The  per- 
formances, as  advertised,  were  •'  The  most  in- 
teresting parts  of  the  celebrated  tragedy  of  Pi- 
zarro,  to  which  will  be  added  patriotic,  senti- 
nieutal,  moral,  humorous  and  comic  dialogues 
and  single  speeches."  On  the  evening  of  July  3. 
1818,  at  the  same  place,  "Douglas,  or  the  No- 
ble Shepherd,'  was  performed,  and  on  the  even- 
ing of  the  t3th,  a  repetition  of  "  Pizarro,  or  the 
Spaniards  of  Peru.'  was  given.  As  there  are 
none  now  living  who  have  any  distinct  recol- 
lection of  the  particulars,  the  names  of  manj- 
of  the  performers  and  patrons  of  this  early 
drama  have  gone  into  unmerited  oblivion. 
Among  them,  however,  were  Samuel  Buckius, 
John  P.  Coulter.  Joseph  Alexander.  Lewis 
Barnes.  James  Sloan,  Jacob  Rapp,  Samuel 
Penniwell,  John  Shorb  and  Adam  Fogle  ;  Chris- 
tian Palmer,  a  violinist  of  some  note  and  pre- 
tensions in  that  da}",  led  the  orchestra.  In  the 
winter  of  1822-2;>,  the  "Thespian  Society  of 
Canton"  was  organized.  William  Raynolds 
was  one  of  the  most  active  in  getting  up  this 
organization,  and  to  his  efforts  its  success  was 
largely  owing.  Their  first  performance  was  in 
the  south  part  of  the  Eagle  Tavern,  then 
owned  and  occupied  by  George  Dewalt.  now 
also  among  the  things  of  the  past.  The  main 
play  first  presented  on  this  occasion,  was  the 
tragedy  of  •  Barbarosa,  or  the  Usurper,  of  Al- 
giers ; "  this  was  followed  by  an  after-piece, 
called  "  She  Stoops  to  Conquer,''  from  Uold- 
smith.  The  male  performers  were  William 
Christmas,  James  Beggs,  James  Allen.  Prank 
and  Jeff  Raynolds,  James  Graham.  Harmon 
Stidger,  I)i'.  Jerome,  Val.  Buckius,  Lewis  Fo- 
gle, and  the  two  Coulters.  Dr.  Thomas  Bon- 
field,  F.  J.  Myers,  Madison  Raynolds  and  Lewis 
Fogle  performed  the  female  parts  in  these 
plays.  William  Raynolds  acted  in  the  double 
capacity  of  prompter  and  stage  manager.  The 
scenery,  made  of  curtain  calico  and  wall-paper, 
exhibited  considerable  taste  and  ingenuity. 
The  next  play  rendered  was  "  Othello."  in 
which  James  Allen  represented  the  Moor,  and 
Frank  Myers,  Desdemona.    Although  the  stage 

I  (.lecorations  and  scener}'  were  necessarily  of  a 
rustic  character,  and  the  wardrobe  scant  and 
only  improvised  for  the  occasion,  all  accounts 
agree  that  these  entertainments  were  quite  at- 

;  tractive  and  successful,  quite  as  much  so.  in- 
deed, to  that  generation  as  the  more  preten- 
tious, but  certainly   not  more  creditable  per- 


formances of  to-da}'  often  are.  And  there  was 
one  beauty  about  them  from  which  the  modern 
theater,  especiallj-  when  some  celebrated  "star" 
is  to  be  on  the  boards,  has  gone  far  awaj-,  the 
admission  fee  was  25  cents,  and  no  reserved 
seats.  There  was  but  this  one  season  of  per- 
formances in  the  Eagle  Tavern.  When  our 
native  talent  next  came  to  the  front,  it  was  at 
Trump's  Tavern,  a  two-stor^'  brick,  on  the  cor- 
ner of  East  Tuscarawas  and  Cherry  streets. 
Among  the  plays  rendered  here  with  great  suc- 
cess, were  " The  Robbers."  '•  Damon  and  Pjth- 
ias,"  "Servant  with  two  Masters,"  "The  Re- 
view, or  the  Wag  of  Windsor,"  and  "  Robin 
Rougii  Mead."  In  the  play  of  "Coriolanus," 
Andrew  Myers  took  the  place  of  the  leading 
character.  Besides  the  persons  already  named, 
the  performers  at  Trump's  included  William 
Boweu,  Dwight  Jarvis,  Henry  Dickinson,  Adam 
Bowers  and  Thomas  and  Joseph  Blackburn, 
The  last-named  afterward  became  a  popular 
clown  in  a  traveling  circus,  and  was  performing 
in  England  at  the  time  of  Queen  Victoria's 
coronation.  There  were  about  the  same  time, 
also,  .some  performances  at  the  house  of  Jacob 
Wareham,  on  West  Tuscarawas  street,  where 
Mr.  George  Althouse  resides.  About  the  year 
1828,  Joseph  Shorb,  who  kept  store  in  a  one- 
story  frame  building,  erected  another  story  up- 
on the  same  building  and  had  it  fitted  up  ex- 
I)ressly  for  theatrical  entertainments.  The 
stage  fixtures,  scenery  and  accommodations  for 
the  audience  were  at  that  time  considered  very- 
good.  The  house  was  usually  well  filled,  and 
the  receipts  at  each  performance  amounted  to 
125  or  $30.  Performances  were  given  in  this 
place  about  once  a  week  for  five  or  six  suc- 
cessive winters.  The  principal  actors,  some  of 
whom  as  jurists  and  other  professional  men 
attained  great  celebrity  at  a  later  day,  were 
Hiram  Griswold,  G.  W,  Belden,  Andrew  Myers, 
John  Rappe,  Isaac  Steese,  William  and  Henry 
Mj-ers.  Henry  and  John  Buckius,  William 
Clark,  0.  P.  Stidger,  William  Fogle  and  Jacob 
R,  Palmer,  A  few  of  these  as  respected  and 
honored  citizens  are  still  residing  in  Canton, 
Isaac  Hartman,  James  Cameron  and  Daniel 
Burgert  are  remembered  as  the  principal  repre- 
sentatives of  female  character,  '■  The  Broken 
Sword"  was  a  popular  piece  pla3'ed  here,  as 
was  also  "Bombastes  Furioso, "  a  very  laugha- 
ble farce,  Dan  Meeds,  commonly  known  as 
"Black  Dan,"  led  the  orchestra.     The  Shorb 


-4v 


CANTON    TOWNSHIP. 


315 


property  changed  hands  about  the  year  1834, 
and  after  this  a  new  company  was  organized, 
and  the  upper  rooms  of  the  old  academy, 
known  as  the  -Salt  Box,"  were  fitted  up  for 
their  accommodation.  A  German  artist  by  the 
the  name  of  Schweighoffer,  painted  the  scenery, 
which  was  considered  very  good.  Perform- 
ances were  given  here  every  week  or  two  for 
several  winters.  Among  the  more  notable  new 
actors,  who  here  appeared  upon  the  scene  were 
S.  P.  Ilullihan,  Sol  Stout,  John  Taylor,  Isaac 
Hartman.  H.  P.  Dunbar,  Eli  Sala  and  James 
Armstrong.  Among  the  boys  acting  female 
parts  were  William  Mathews,  F.  L.  Carney, 
John  L.  Saxton  and  George  Dunbar.  Jr.  Since 
the  close  of  the  performances  at  the  "Salt 
Box."  some  forty  j'ears  ago,  there  has  been  no 
effort,  we  believe,  to  organize  the  home  talent, 
except  upon  a  few  special  occasions,  in  this  di- 
rection. At  the  expiration  of  the  academy 
performances,  one  of  the  most  pleasant  of  the 
enjoyments  of  the  olden  tiTne  came  to  an  un- 
timely end. 

Horse-racing  was  also  one  of  the  popular 
pastimes  of  the  pioneer  period.  A  horse-race 
excited  general  interest  and  attention,  and  always 
drew  a  crowd.  At  the  first  sale  of  lots  in  Can- 
ton, then  competing  with  Osnal)urg  for  the 
count}-  seat,  Bezaleel  Wells,  the  proprietor  of 
the  town,  arranged  for  a  race  in  order  to  draw 
the  people  together  from  a  distance,  and  suc- 
ceeded. Our  old  and  esteemed  friend  and  fel- 
low-citizen in  }*lain  Township,  Judge  Loutzen- 
heiser,  was  present,  and  is  authorit}'  for  the 
statement  that  there  was  a  great  crowd,  and 
also  for  the  additional  one.  that  the  people  were 
more  interested  in  the  racing  of  the  horses,  than 
the}-  were  in  the  sale  of  the  town  lots.  The 
race-course  was  on  Market  street,  from  North 
to  Tuscarawas  streets,  which  was  especially 
prepared  for  the  occasion  by  the  grubbing  and 
the  clearing  away  of  timber  and  underbrush. 
Canton,  if  not  exactly  born  of  a  horse-race,  com- 
menced with  one  under  the  auspices  of  the 
father  of  the  town,  and  though,  perhaps,  not 
one  of  her  peculiar  institutions,  the  horse-race 
was  a  popular  institution  with  the  pioneers  of 
this  as  of  nearly  every  new  town  then  growing 
up  in  the  West.  '  Like  parent,  like  ciiild," 
holds  good  for  towns  as  well  as  for  people.  For 
a  generation  and  longer,  nearly  every  town  and 
village  in  this  part  of  the  country  boasted  in 
the  possession  of  a  horse  never  beaten  on  the 


turf.  Not  only  the  owner  of  such  a  horse,  but 
with  him  every  man  and  boy  was  willing  to 
back  up  the  town's  favorite  by  bets  of  money, 
or  whatever  else  of  value  they  happened  to 
possess  down  to  a  bull-eye  watch,  a  dog-knife 
or  tin-whistle.  Betting  in  those  days  was  very 
general,  whereas  now  it  is  confined  almost  en- 
tirely to  professional  sporting  men.  There 
were,  however,  also,  in  those  days,  men  who 
made  it  a  regular  business  to  travel  the  country 
with  running  horses,  and  who  were  ready  to 
match  them  for  a  consideration,  with  anything 
that  offered.  There  was  another  set  of  fellows, 
owners  of  horses,  well  calculated  to  take  in  the 
unwary  and  too  eager  betters  on  horse-fiesh. 
Their  horse  was  a  kind  of  '•  Sleepy  Davy,"  and 
they  went  round  in  disguise  pretending  to  fol- 
low some  other  business,  by  which  ruse  they 
frequently  threw  people  off  their  guard.  An 
adventure  of  theirs  with  Cantonians  of  two  gen- 
erations ago,  will  well  illustrate  their  method 
of  proceeding.  On  a  warm  summer  day,  a 
stranger  might  have  been  seen  leading  a  horse 
up  Tuscarawas  street.  He  was  clothed  in  the 
style  of  the  day,  but  his  clothes  were  somewhat 
the  worse  for  the  wear  and  exposure  they  had 
undergone.  He  wore  a  dilapidated  stove-pipe 
hat,  and  a  swallow-tail  coat  mounted  with  brass 
buttons.  The  horse  had  on  a  riding-saddle 
loaded  with  tinware.  The  man  and  his  horse 
moved  along  as  though  they  were  tired,  and  as 
they  approached  Cherry  street,  a  lot  of  boys 
playing  there  caught  sight  of  them,  and  at  once 
began  poking  fun  at  them.  The  man  paid  no 
attention  to  the  boys,  Ijut  moved  along  uncon- 
cernedly until  he  reached  the  Bell  Tavern,  now 
the  American  Hotel,  then  kept  by  Hahn,  where 
he  stopped  and  hitched  his  horse  to  the  sign- 
post. At  that  day.  Canton  received  the  mail 
but  twice  a  week,  and  newspapers  were  rarel} 
seen ;  the  coming  of  a  stranger  never  failed 
to  draw  a  crowd  eager  to  learn  the  news 
from  the  outside  world.  The  old  man.  how- 
ever, paid  but  little  attention  to  them,  but 
kept  on  talking  about  the  assortment  and  prices 
of  the  tinware  he  exposed  for  sale,  until  some 
one  in  the  crowd  made  an  ironical  remark  about 
his  horse,  upon  which  the  owner,  being  quick 
to  see  and  to  improve  his  opportunity,  offered 
to  run  him  against  anything  there  was  in  town. 
Jess  Kaffensperger,  who  was  then  carrying  on 
blacksmithingat  the  corner  diagonally  opposite, 
was  the  owner  of  a  little  gray  that,  in  several 


±iL 


316 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


competitive  trials,  liad  given  proof  of  gor d 
racing  qualities,  and  Jess  was  of  the  opinion 
that  he  was  harcl  to  beat,  and  had  intimated  his 
desire  to  match  him  againsCany  horse  that  came 
to  town.  John  Rex,  then  a  bo^'  of  some  twelve 
years  of  age,  was  present  and  heard  the  ped- 
dler's banter  to  run  his  old  horse  against  any- 
thing there  was  in  town,  and  he  at  once  ran 
over  and  told  Raffensperger  that  there  was  a 
man  over  at  Hahn's  who  wanted  a  race.  Jess 
immediately  dropped  his  apron  and  went  over 
to  the  tavern.  When  told  that  the  horse 
hitched  to  the  sign-post  was  the  one  it  was 
proposed  to  run  against  his  little  gray,  he  con- 
sidered himself  badly  sold  by  some  one,  so 
mopy  and  unlike  a  racer  did  the  old  horse  ap- 
pear— like  his  master,  he  was  playing  his  role 
well.  But  when  Jess  was  convinced  that  the 
peddler  was  in  earnest,  he  felt  inclined  to  hu- 
mor what  he  regarded  a  good  joke,  and  asked 
the  peddler  how  much  he  wanted  to  wager  on 
the  race.  The  latter,  taking  out  his  wallet  and 
counting  over  his  money  (all  in  silver)  very  de- 
liberately, replied,  that  he  had  $5,  which  he 
was  willing  to  stake  on  the  result.  "  Oh  ;  "  said 
Jess,  somewhat  contemptuously,  "I  wouldn't 
run  my  horse  for  less  than  125.  If  j-ou  can 
raise  that  amount,  I'll  show  you  how  easy  it  is 
to  part  a  fool  and  his  money."  That  was  more 
than  the  peddler  could  raise,  he  said,  but  if  any 
gentleman  in  the  crowd  would  loan  him  S20,  he 
would  give  the  horse,  saddle  and  tinware  as 
security.  By  this  time,  the  crowd  were  getting 
eager  for  the  race,  and  were  thrown  entirely  off 
their  guard  ;  so  that  when  another  stranger, 
who  had  joined  them  without  being  observed, 
stepped  forward,  and  just  for  tiie  fun  of  seeing 
the  race,  accepted  the  peddler's  security,  and 
advanced  the  S20,  not  the  least  suspicion  was 
aroused,  and  the  stakes  were  at  once  put  up, 
and  preparations  made  for  the  race.  The  ped- 
dler stripped  his  horse  of  the  tinware  and  sad- 
dle, and  .sought  among  the  boys  for  some  one 
to  ride  his  horse  :  but  the  old  horse's  move- 
ments were  so  awkward  that  the  boys,  fearing 
he  would  stumble  and  fall,  placed  too  high  an 
estimate  on  their  own  necks  to  accept  the  posi- 
tion, and  the  old  man  was  obliged  to  ride  his 
own  horse.  Eli  Sala  rode  Raffensperger's 
horse.  The  race  track,  at  this  time,  was  just 
south  of  town  as  it  was  then,  from  Coulter's 
house  to  Frederick's  hill,  or  as  it  would  now  be 
known,  on   Market  street,  from  the  Melchoir 


Bros,  to  the  residence  of  Mr.  Peter  Housel  be- 
low the  railroads.  To  this  place  all  parties  re- 
paired ;  judges  were  selected,  and  all  things 
were  made  ready  for  the  race.  In  the  mean- 
while the  stranger,  who  had  advanced  the  $20, 
took  all  the  bets  that  offered.  When  the  horses 
were  about  to  start,  the  peddler's  horse  ex- 
hibited so  much  spirit  that  it  required  two  men 
to  hold  him  until  the  word  was  given,  and  at 
the  word.  "  Go  ! "  he  dashed  out  like  a  streak, 
soon  took  the  lead,  and  came  out  at  the  end 
several  lengths  ahead.  The  Cantonians  were 
badly  taken  in.  and  no  one  more  so  then  Raf- 
fensperger himself  ;  his  remark  about  the  ease 
of  parting  a  fool  and  his  money  was  indeed 
verified,  but  ''the  saddle  was  on  the  other 
horse."  He  and  other  citizens,  for  a  long  time, 
were  shy  of  traveling  racers,  especially  of  the 
"  sleepy  "  kind. 

In  the  summer  of  1834,  a  compan}'  of  enter- 
prising and  liberal  minded  citizens  of  Canton, 
had  a  circular  track  constructed  immediatelj- 
west  of  town  on  land  owned  then  by  John 
Harris,  now  part  of  the  estate  of  Simon  Miller, 
deceased.  Tliere  were  races  dail}',  distance  from 
one  to  four  miles  and  repeat.  The  horses  entered 
were  all  blooded  stock,  and  brought  here  from 
a  distance,  the  majority  of  them  from  West 
Virginia.  The  most  notable  feature  of  the  en- 
terprise, and  one  that  will  be  longest  remem- 
bered, was  the  new  gambling  devices  for  the 
first  time  introduced  into  this  community  kn  .wii 
as  '•  roulette ''  and  "  sweat  cloth,"  by  which 
many  of  our  people  both  from  town  and  coun- 
ti'y  were  inveigled  into  a  trial  of  their  "  luck ;" 
some  escaped  with  only  a  slight  scorching, 
while  others  lost  all  they  had.  This  track  was 
kept  up  two  seasons,  when  by  a  colipcration 
with  parties  at  Massillon,  it  was  removed  to 
grounds  midway  between  the  two  towns,  and 
continued  there  one  season  more,  but  as  the 
patronage  was  not  suflScient,  the  enterprise  was 
abandoned. 

Before  concluding  this  chapter  on  the  early 
settlement  and  reminiscences  of  Canton,  noth- 
ing seems  more  proper  than  to  give  a  history  of 
the  Oberly  Corner,  which  from  the  beginning 
till  within  a  very  few  years  past,  has  played  so 
important  a  part  in  the  history  of  the  citj'.  We 
give  it  almost  verbatim  from  an  article  in  the 
liepositorij  of  a  couple  of  years  ago,  and  signed 
by  the  familiar  letters.  L.  S.  It  says:  '•  The  lot 
on   which    the    building   stood,    was   sold    by 


^J. 


CAXTOX    TOWNSHIP. 


317 


Bozaleel  Wells,  the  proprietor  of  the  town,  to 
James  F.  Leonard,  in  1806,  the  year  the  town 
was  located.  The  deed  names  the  considera- 
tion $1,  from  which  we  would  infer  it  was  a 
gift.  Leonard  (an  uncle  of  William  Barlier), 
was  a  surveyor  and  land-jobber,  and  laid  off 
and  platted  the  town,  and  was  in  a  position  to 
render  Wells'  service,  and  the  probabilities  are, 
that  the  gift  was  made  either  for  favors  received 
or  expected.  At  this  time  it  was  '  hip  and 
thigh  '  between  Osnaburg  and  Canton,  which 
should  lie  the  county  seat.  This  consideration 
may  have  been  the  agreement  of  Leonard  to 
improve  the  lot,  and  put  up  a  building  upon  it 
at  once.  At  an}-  rate,  the  bricks  were  made 
the  same  summer,  just  outside  the  original 
town  plat,  near  where  the  Schaefer  Rink  was 
until  lately.  As  early  as  the  weather  would 
permit  in  the  spring  of  1807,  work  was  com- 
menced, and  the  building  was  completed  and 
ready  for  occupancy  in  the  fall,  being  the  first 
brick  house  erected  in  the  county.  There  was 
no  cellar  under  the  liouse,  for  the  reason  that 
no  wallingstone  could  be  procured  within  a 
reasonable  distance.  The  first  occupant  was 
John  Shorb.  He  came  from  Maryland  that 
year,  and  brought  with  him  a  small  st<Jck  of 
store  goods.  He  remained  in  it  but  one  year, 
when  Samuel  Coulter, from  Washington  County, 
Penn.,  rented  it  for  a  tavern.  Before  the  expi- 
ration of  the  year.  Coulter  bought  the  property  i 
of  Leonard,  for  S600,  and  put  up  a  frame  addi- 
tion, intended  for  a  dining-room  and  kitclien. 
Under  this  part  was  a  cellar,  walled  only  on 
two  sides,  with  bowlders.  This  was  the  second 
tavern  in  Canton,  then  known  ijy  the  traveling 
public  as  "  Coulter's  Tavern,  sign  of  the  Green 
Tree."  In  the  winter  of  1808-()S),  a  post  ofHce 
was  established  in  Canton,  and  Coulter  was  ! 
appointed  Postmaster.  There  was  but  one 
mail  a  week,  and  that  was  (rarried  on  horse- 
back  to  and  from  New  Lisbon,  in  Columbiana 
County.  Canton  was  then  on  the  western  bor- 
der of  civilization.  All  that  country  west  of 
the  Tuscarawas  River  was  given  up  to  roving 
bands  of  Indians.  The  upper  story  of  Coulter's 
building  was  partitioned  into  three  rooms.  The 
waj-  up  was  by  a  ladder,  through  a  trap  door 
in  tile  floor  above.  The  reason  for  adopting 
this  mode  of  ascent  does  not  ap[)ear.  In  this 
upper  story,  County  Court  was  held  for  several 
sessions.  The  Hon.  Calvin  Pease,  then  Presi- 
dent Judge,  a  resident  of  Warren,  was  in  the 


habit  of  walking  from  one  county  seat  to 
another  in  the  discharge;  of  the  functions  of  his 
office.  It  was  out  of  the  question  to  travel 
with  a  vehicle,  and  the  probability  is  the  Judge 
preferred  walking  to  riding  on  horseback. 
The  hole  under  the  frame  building  was  used 
as  a  jail.  In  it  there  must  have  been  several 
incarcerated,  for  there  are  those  still  liv- 
ing who  remember  one  imprisoned  for  debt 
and  one  for  stealing  corn.  The  County  Com- 
missioners also  iield  their  sessions  in  this  build- 
ing. At  the  April  sessions  in  180!),  it  was 
•'  ordered  tliat  for  every  wolf  or  panther  scalp, 
luider  six  months  old,  50  cents  be  paid,  anti 
for  every  one  over  that  age,  $1."  They  also 
'•ordered  that  Samuel  Coulter  be  paid  $3  for 
the  time  each  session  of  court  was  held  in  his 
house."  John  Harris,  then  a  youiig  man  of 
energ\%  was  engaged  in  teaching  school,  and 
doing  odd  jobs  of  surveying.  He  was,  also,  a 
fine  singer,  and  at  the  solicitation  of  friends,  he 
started  a  singing-school  in  the  court  room  of 
tlie  Coulter  tavern.  For  a  time  it  flouiished. 
liut  the  difficulties  and  embarrassments  en- 
countered by  the  female  scholars  in  their  efforts 
at  climbing  the  ladder  to  the  second  story, 
deterred  them  from  going,  and  the  school  was 
finally  abandoned  for  want  of  the  female  accom- 
paniment. The  organization  was  turned  into 
a  debating  society.  Here  they  met  weekly  to 
discuss  "  Which  affords  the  greater  pleasure, 
tiie  pursuit,  or  the  possession  of  an  object,"  or 
•■  Which  was  the  greater  man.  Hannibal  or 
Julius  Cffisar?"  Sometimes  their  discussion 
took  a  metaphysical  turn,  and  then  they  had 
the  question,  '■  Is  there  such  a  principle  in  the 
human  mind  as  disinterested  l:)enevolence '?" 
The  principal  disputants  were  Samuel  Coulter, 
John  Harris,  John  Patton.  uncle  of  Thomas 
Patton,  Daniel  McClure,  Roswell  Mason,  Moses 
Andrews,  William  Raynolds,  father  of  John 
Ilaynolds,  Dr.  Stidger,  Dr.  Jerome  and  Jere- 
miah H.  Halleck,  afterward  President  Judge  of 
this  district,  and  John  Sloan  and  Col.  (Jil)son, 
then  connected  with  the  land  office  in  Canton. 
It  was  in  this  debating  society  that  John  Har- 
ris developed  that  forensic  ability,  which,  in 
after  years,  distinguished  him  as  a  prominent 
member  of  the  bar,  the  compeer  of  Tajjpan, 
Wright,  (ioodenow.  Loomis.  Silliman  and  Tom 
Fwing,  Sr..  with  all  of  whom  he  came  in  con- 
tact. Coulter  continued  his  tavern  until  1820. 
when  he  concluded  to  relinquish  the  business. 


•^'  <s- 


±4- 


318 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


He  had  a  farm  below  town,  the  same  land  which 
is  now  occupied  by  several  thousand  people, 
knonn  as  South  Canton.  (.)n  it  he  had  built  a 
frame  house,  the  one  formerly  occupied  by  Mr. 
Peter  House).  Coulter  rented  his  Canton  prop- 
erty to  Dr.  Thomas  Hartford,  who  came  to 
Canton  that  spring  from  New  York  State.  Dr. 
Hartford  was  a  man  of  large  heart,  kind  and 
benevolent.  As  an  instance  of  his  generous 
feeling,  here  is  an  advertisement,  copied  from 
the  Reposihini  of  June  12,  1820  ; 

'Mr.  Thomas  Hartford  hkrebv  informs  such 
as  are  in  indigent  circumstances,  in  the  county 
of  Stark,  that  in  cases  of  sickness  (tilvicf  and 
iiiedicine  will  be  given  to  them  ymtis.''  Imag- 
ine a  physician  of  Stark  Count}'  of  the  present 
day,  offering  to  the  poor  of  the  county  advice 
and  medicine  ynituitomlij.  Such  examples, 
however,  were  no  more  cliaracteristic  of  that 
day  than  of  the  present.  It  is  in  proof,  that  a 
cotemporary  physician,  for  three  visits  in  a 
case  of  fever,  took  the  only  cow  a  poor  man 
had.  Then  no  propert}'  was  exempt  from  exe- 
cution for  debt,  and  rather  than  have  iier  levied 
upon  bv  tlie  Constable,  and  sold  for  what  she 
would  bring,  he  gave  her  to  the  rapacious  doc- 
tor. There  is  no  doubt  that  Dr.  Hartford  was 
sincere  in  making  this  proposition,  that  it  was 
in  good  faith,  and  not  for  ■•  buucoml)& ''  or  to 
advertise  himself  It  is  well  known  that  his 
heart  went  out  in  charity  for  the  poor.  His 
munificent  bequest  to  the  poor  of  Canton,  which 
the}-  are  enjoying  to-day,  is  only  one  of  the 
many  evidences  showing  his  l)enevoleut  dis- 
position. In  1821,  Dr.  Hartford  Itought  the 
property  from  Coulter  for  $2,000.  The  price 
was  considered  high,  but  it  was  in  a  time  of 
general  prosperity,  and  prices  had  become  in- 
flated. The  Doctor  had  a  drug  store  in  the 
lower  room  in  connection  with  his  practice.  In 
a  few  years  after,  his  nephew,  John  Titus,  came 
from  the  East,  and  assisted  him  as  clerk.  Witli 
drugs,  he  also  kept  Ary  goods.  There  are  many 
still  living  in  Canton  who  will  remember  John 
Titus,  from  the  sport  they  bad  as  boj's  at  his 
expense.  In  1830,  Hartford  sold  the  south 
half  of  the  lot  to  Luther  L.  Foote,  his  brother- 
in-law,  for  S600.  As  the  number  of  physi- 
cians increased  in  Canton,  Dr.  Hartford  gradu- 
ally withdrew  from  practice.  He  continued  his 
store,  and  would  prescribe  for  all  who  applied 
without  charge.  He  was  then  in  good  circum- 
stances, owning  considerable  real  estate  in  and 


around  Canton,  He  never  had  anj-  children, 
Mrs.  Hartford  was  much  like  her  husband,  and 
was  a  very  estimable  lad}-,  highly  esteemed  by  all 
who  enjoyed  her  personal  acquaintance.  Law- 
yer Metcalf  of  Canton,  a  particular  friend  of 
Dr.  Hartford's,  removed  to  Pittsburgh,  and  in 
a  year  or  two  after  induced  the  Doctor  to  follow 
him.  Following  the  Doctor's  removal,  the 
property  was  occupied  by  different  parties  as 
rentors.  Canton  at  that  time  was  flat,  Massil- 
lon  taking  the  lead,  and  the  rent  was  merely 
nominal.  Among  the  different  occupants  re- 
membered was  Joe  Parker,  a  tailor,  with  a 
wooden  leg,  who  for  several  years  was  bell- 
ringer.  At  that  time  a  town  ordinance  recjuired 
the  court  house  bell  to  be  rung  at  8:30  A,  M,, 
at  12  M,  and  at  9  P,  M,  The  ringing  at  night 
was  the  signal  for  the  stores  to  close,  work  to 
cease  in  the  mechanic  shops,  the  bojs  to  leave 
the  streets,  and  e\er}-body  to  retire  to  their 
virtuous  couches.  The  apprenticeship  sj'stem 
was  then  in  vogue,  and  men  in  the  mechanical 
arts  worked  fifteen  hours  a  day.  There  were 
no  saloons.  Topers  kept  their  whisky  at 
home,  or  got  it  at  the  taverns.  The  only  luxury 
to  be  had  in  town  was  spruce  beer  and  ginger- 
bread. But  we  are  wandering  from  the  text, 
Dr,  Hartford  sold  tlie  corner  half,  including  the 
brick  house,  in  1839,  to  John  Bauer,  for  $1,500, 
Bauer  opened  a  grocery,  whicli,  in  after  years, 
partook  of  the  character  of  a  saloon,  Bauer 
was  County  Recorder  from  1843  to  J  845,  In 
1840,  he  sold  out  to  a  company  compo,sed  of 
Henry  Somers,  David  and  John  (Jarber  and 
Abram  Richards,  They  rented  the  propert}'  to 
Christian  Oberlj-,  who  purchased  it  in  1861,  for 
the  same  they  gave.  During  the  time  3Ir, 
Oberl}'  occupied  the  old  brick  and  its  back  ad- 
dition, and  the  property  adjoining  it  on  the 
south  he  has  used  it  as  an  eating  house 
and  saloon.  In  the  year  1877,  Mr.  Oberlj'  sold 
twenty-three  feet  front  and  two  hundred 
back  to  the  alley  in  the  rear,  to  Sherrick  & 
Miller,  for  ;?10,000.  During  flush  times  he 
could  easily  have  had  double  that  amount. 
Sherrick  &  Miller,  one  of  our  best  established 
hardware  firms,  both  of  them  gentlemen  of 
great  business  capacity,  of  great  experience 
particularly  in  their  line  of  business,  and  of 
strict  integrity  and  morality,  tore  down  the  (jld 
corner  building,  the  old  time-honored  brick 
that  had  weathered  the  storms  of  more  than 
seventy  }-ears,  and  erected  in   its  place  their 


J, 


.u 


CANTOX    TOWNSHIP. 


319 


splendid  three-story  brick  building,  twentj'- 
three  feet  by  one  liundred  and  eleven,  in  the 
year  1879,  and  us  soon  as  it  was  finished  re- 
moved their  bnsiness  into  it.  The  building  is 
both  a  credit  to  them  and  an  honor  to  the  city. 
The  old  one  had  a  checkered  experience,  and 
was  equally  honored  in  its  day  ;  but  all  old 
things  must  yield  to  the  progressive  spirit  of 
the  age. 

Everything  almost  of  a  tangible  nature  hav- 
ing reference  to  the  original  incorporation  of 
the  village  or  town  of  t'anton  has  been  lost. 
and,  so  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  learn,  after 
the  most  diligent  inquiry,  there  is  no  one  now 
living  among  us  able  to  give  definite  informa- 
tion on  the  subject.  But  from  an  act  passed 
by  the  General  Assembly,  entitled  '■  An  act  to 
incorporate  the  town  of  Canton,"  in  March, 
1838.  when  C.  Anthony  was  Speaker  of  the 
House  of  Representatives,  and  George  I.  Smith 
was  Speaker  of  the  Senate,  in  Section  18  of 
said  act.  we  find  a  repealing  clause  referring  to 
a  preceding  act  for  the  same  purpose,  as  follows  : 
"  That  the  act  entitled  •  An  act  to  incorporate 
the  town  of  Canton,  in  the  county  of  Stark.' 
passed  the  thirtieth  day  of  January,  eighteen 
hundred  and  twenty-two  ;  and  the  act  entitled 
'  An  act  to  amend  the  act  entitled,  An  act  to  in- 
corporate the  town  of  Canton,  in  the  county  of 
Stark,'  passed  February  ninth,  eighteen  hundred 
and  twenty-nine,  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby  re- 
pealed.' .\s  early  as  the  year  1822.  therefore. 
Canton  was  an  incorporated  town  or  village ; 
from  some  later  public  action,  it  seems  that  in- 
corporated town  and  incorporated  \illage  were 
at  that  time  treated  as  synonymous  terms. 
The  act  of  1838  provided  for  a  <livision  of  the 
town  into  four  wards,  bounded  precisely  as  the 
four  wards  of  the  city  are  at  this  time.  It  pro- 
vided for  a  Town  Council  consisting  of  the 
Mayor.  Recorder,  and  two  members  of  each 
ward,  and  into  the  hands  of  this  body  "  the 
government  of  said  town,  and  tlie  exercise  of 
its  corporate  powers"  were  vested.  In  August 
of  the  same  year,  1838,  the  names  of  John 
Myei's,  Mayor,  and  of  Arnold  Lynch,  Recorder, 


appear  upon  the  ordinance  book.  In  May,  1839, 
from  the  same  source  we  find  that  Jacob  Rex 
was  Mayor,  and  1).  A.  Agnew,  Recorder.  On 
tlie  old  ordinance  book  we  find  the  last  ordinance 
of  the  Town  Council,  entitled  ■  An  ordinance 
to  regulate  the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors  and 
for  other  purposes."  passed  -Vug.  14,  1852,  at- 
tested by  Benjamin  F.  Leiter,  Mayor,  and  J.  B. 
Estep,  Recorder,  and  then  two  blank  pages  evi- 
dently left  for  recording  some  other  ordinances, 
which  for  some  reason  or  other  was  never  done, 
and  the  next  ordinance  recorded  is  in  the  name 
of  the  ••  Incorporated  Village  of  Canton."  passed 
in  July,  1853,  and  is  attested  by  John  Lahm, 
Mayor,  and  J.  B.  Estep,  Recorder.  The  expla- 
nation of  this  apparently-  anomolous  change  of 
names  is  probably  found  in  the  fact  that  after 
the  adoption  of  tlie  new  constitution  of  the 
State,  in  1852.  the  Legislature,  early  in  1853, 
passed  an  act  whereby  a  new  classification  of 
towns  was  ordained,  and  Canton,  under  the  law, 
became  an  incorporated  village.  About  this 
time,  viz..  July,  1853,  with  u  change  in  the  name 
of  the  corporation,  there  seems  to  have  been  a 
general  overhauling  of  the  older  ordinances  for 
tiie  direction  of  the  Mayor,  the  Recorder,  the 
Marshals  and  the  Treasurer,  and  prescribing 
their  duties,  as  well  as  ordinances  regulating 
the  li(iuor  traffic  and  providing  against  offenses 
of  various  kinds  opposed  to  the  public  moral- 
ity. The  village  organization,  however,  con- 
tinued only  about  one  year,  when,  under  author- 
ity of  the  same  law  by  which  she  had  become 
a  village,  an  act  of  the  Village  Council,  March 
22,  1854,  changed  Canton  into  a  city  of  the  sec- 
ond class;  and  under  the  present  classification 
it  is  in  the  third  grade  of  second  class  cities. 
John  Lahm  at  this  time  was  still  -^layor,  and 
James  B.  Estep,  Recorder.  Atler  this  time, 
the  ordinances  were  attested  by  the  President 
of  the  Council,  and  the  Clerk  of  the  city. 
Thomas  Goodman  was  the  first  President,  and 
James  B.  Estep,  the  first  Clerk  under  the  new 
organization.  This  organization  of  Canton  con- 
tinues substantially  the  same  to  the  present 
time. 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


CHAPTER    X.* 

THE  (ITV  OF  CANTON— I'lS  GROWTH   AND   INCRKASE  OF  WEALTH —  SLAClvWATER  NAVIlJATION— 

OKIOIN  OF  AULT.MAX  WORKS— PRESENT  I'ROI'ORTIOXS  OF  THEIR  BUSINESS— OTH  ER 

MACHINE  WORKS  AND  INDUSTRIES— CAPITAL  AND  LAIiOR  EMPi  OYED 

—CENSUS    STATISTICS  — WATER    WORKS,    ETC.,    ETC 


■■  Like  (locks,  one  wheel  another  one  must  drive: 
Affairs  by  diligent  labor  only  thrive." — Chapman. 

THE  war  of  1812  greatly  interfered  with 
immigration  Westward,  and  the  tide  did 
not  set  in  again  with  much  vigor  until  some 
years  after  it  was  o\'er.  Still,  (juite  a  number 
of  families,  many  of  whose  descendants  are 
still  residing  here,  came  in  after  the  war,  and 
before  the  year  1.S20.  Among  these  may  be 
enumerated  the  Buckius,  the  Dunbar,  the  Rex, 
the  Saxton,  the  Myers,  the  Sherrick,  the  Dan- 
nor,  the  Kitzmiller,  the  Hanes,  the  Trump,  the 
Hippy,  the  White,  the  Sprankle,  the  Smith,  the 
Bueher,  the  Webb  and  the  Whipple  families, 
with  others  whose  names  have  not  been  learned. 
When  immigration  commenced  again,  Canton 
had  the  steady  and  gradual  growth  eharaetor- 
istic  of  most  other  Western  towns  at  the  time. 
One  of  the  greatest  hindrances  in  the  way  of 
progress  was  the  lack  of  facilities  for  carr>'ing 
to  market  the  surplus  products  of  the  sur- 
rounding country.  At  that  time  there  were  no 
railroads,  there  was  no  canal,  and  the  ordinary 
roads  in  poor  condition  and  impas.sal)le  for 
heavily-loaded  teams  a  great  part  of  the  year. 
Consequently,  such  articles  as  butter  and  eggs 
brought  only  a  nominal  price,  and  even  wheat, 
oats  and  corn  were  extremely  low.  The  ordi- 
nary prices  of  these  things  were  before  1830  as 
follows  :  Eggs,  4  cents  a  dozen  ;  butter,  6  cents 
a  pound  ;  wheat  from  25  to  30  cents  a  bushel, 
and  corn  and  oats  from  12  to  15  cents,  and  that 
not  in  cash,  but  in  trade.  Of  course  every 
navigable  stream  was  regarded  as  an  inestima- 
ble feature  of  the  country  through  which  it 
pass-ed  ;  Canton,  in  the  forks  of  Nimishillen 
Creek,  was  at  the  head  of  navigation.  Boats, 
called  pirogues,  capable  of  carrj'ing  a  ton,  were 
in  common  use  for  ordinary  transportation,  and 
flat-boats  for  flour,  bacon  and  whisky.  The.se 
started  just  below  town,  and  their  usual  destina- 
tion was  New  Orleans.    In  the  earlier  days,  before 

*Cuntiibut«l  by  Prof.  Duniel  Worley. 


the  country  was  cleared  up,  the  usual  stage  of 
I  water  in  the  Nimishillen  and  Tuscarawas  was 
much  higher  than  after,  and  this  made  naviga- 
tion, at  least  part  of  the  year,  possible  for  light 
craft ;  but  at  the  best  it  was  difficult,  and  at- 
tended with  much  risk  to  property.    The  pirogue 
and  flat-boat  furnished  a  partial   relief  but  by 
no  means  all  that  the  wants  of  a  rapidly  devel- 
oping country  called  for.     The  completion  of 
the  Ohio  Canal,  in  1830,  gave  a  new  impetus  to 
general   business  .and  the  farming  interest  of 
the  country  far  and   wide,  but  it  was  a  severe 
blow    to  the  commercial  interests  of  Canton. 
The  Ohio  Canal  was  eight  miles  distant,  and  on 
its  bank  a  new  and  rival  town  sprang  up,  and 
soon  became  the  center  of  trade  for  fifty   or 
sixty    miles    around.     Massillon's    prosperity 
and  rapid  growth   worked  great  disadvantage 
to  the  interests  of  Canton  for  many  years,  and 
excited     a    jealousy    between   the   two   towns 
which  was  not  removed  for  a  great  while.     To 
oflTset  the  .advantage  of  the  canal  to  Massillon, 
a   number   of  enterprising  citizens  of  Canton 
projected    the    Nimishillen    and    Sandy   Slack- 
water  Navigation  Company,  for  the  purpose  of 
building  a  canal  along  the  Nimishillen  Creek 
to  connect  with  the  Sandy  and  Beaver.     Work 
was   commenced    and   considerable    was  done 
toward  constructing  this  branch  canal,  in   an- 
ticipation of  the  great  impetus  it  would  give 
again  to  business  ;  there  was  a  teraporarj'  re- 
vival, and  in  view  of  immense  profits  to  insure 
siieedily,  much  pro})erty  at  high  prices,  changed 
hands  :  but,  alas  !  for    human    hopes    and    ex- 
pectations.    A  panic  followed,  when  work  had 
Init  rightly  commenced,  and  the  enterprise  was 
abandoned  :  those  who  had  bought  property  at 
high  figures  a  short  time  before  suffered  loss. 
The  failure  of  this  project  put  even  a  greater 
damper    on    the    prospects   of    Canton.     For 
twenty  years  there  was  but  little  improvement, 
if  there  was  not  indeed  an  actual  retrogression. 
Massillon  became  noted  as  the  wheat  citv.  and 


CANTON   TOWNSHIP. 


321 


went  rapidly  forward,  and  Canton  stood  still. 
So  it  continued  until  the  j-ear  1851,  when  the 
Pittsburgh,  Fort  Wayne  &  Chicago  Railroad 
was  located  just  south  of  the  town,  as  it  was  at 
that  day  ;  tliis  road  went  into  operation  in  the 
early  part  of  1852,  as  far  west  as  Massilloii. 
The  railroad  company  did  not  alwaj-s  act  in  the 
most  favorable  way  toward  Canton,  nor  did 
they  assist  an}-  by  offering  specitd  facilities  in 
building  up  her  interests  :  it  is  even  claimed 
by  some  that  there  was  a  constant  disposition 
to  discriminate  against  her,  until  when,  within 
a  very  few  j'ears,  the  opening  up  of  the  Valley 
Railroad  to  Cleveland  gave  a  new  outlet  East 
and  West  to  Canton  industries.  In  view  of  the 
early  completion  of  the  Pittsburgh,  Fort  Wayne 
&  Chicago  Railroad,  nevertheless,  Bull,  Ault- 
man  &  Co.,  determined  to  remove  their  works 
from  Greentown  to  Canton  to  avail  themselves 
of  the  advantages  of  the  new  railroad,  secured 
lots  on  the  line  of  the  road,  erected  their  build- 
ings, and.  in  the  latter  part  of  1851,  they 
brought  their  tools  and  fixtures  from  Green- 
town  to  Canton,  and  a  brighter  day  began  at 
once  to  dawn  upon  this  city  ;  the  gloom  and 
depression  of  many  \'ears  graduallj-  removed, 
and  Canton  again  entered  upon  the  march  of 
progress,  which  has  gone  on  steadily  forward 
ever  since,  with  but  little  interruption,  and  that 
hut  temporary.  As  the  removal  of  this  busi- 
ness to  Canton  is  the  date  of  a  new  era,  it  will, 
undoubtedl}'.  be  of  great  service  to  the  younger 
portion  of  our  citizens,  and  to  after  generations 
of  Canton's  children,  as  well  as  eminently  just 
to  the  memory  of  the  honored  members  of  the 
firm,  to  put  in  permanent  form  a  complete  his- 
tory of  the  rise  and  progress  of  these  works  in 
Canton,  as  we  find  it  in  the  Chicago  Commer- 
cial Adcertlser,  of  February  2G,  1880,  which  is 
acknowledged  as  accurate  and  satisfactory,  as 
follows  : 

When  it  is  considered  that  within  the  brief 
period  of  a  quarter  of  a  century  the  wonderfully 
etfective  mowing-machine  of  to-day  has  been 
brought  to  its  present  stage  of  i)erfeclion  by 
the  pre-eminent  genius  and  skill  of  American  in- 
ventors, the  mind  dwells  upon  the  fact  with  un- 
stinted admiration,  heightened  by  tlie  tliought 
of  how  completely  this  marvellous  aid  to  the 
husbandman  has  revolutionized  the  methods  of 
agricultural  pursuits.  Tlie  model  and  pro- 
gressive farmer  of  the  present  day  may  well 
look  back  a  couple  of  decades  and  wonder  how 


he  possibly  could  have  accomplished  his  har- 
vesting by  the  tedious  processes  then  com- 
monly employed — how  he  ever  could  have 
garnered  his  crops  with  the  old-fashioned 
scythe,  sickle  and  grain  cradle.  Certain  it  is 
that  were  it  not  for  our  labor-saving  agricult- 
ural machines,  this  country  would  not  now 
enjoy  her  proud  position  of  being  the  principal 
grain-producing  and  world-feeding  nation, 
whereby  her  wealth  is  augmented  by  hundreds 
of  millions  of  dollars  annually.  The  me- 
chanical facilities  thus  supplied  have  within  a 
few  years  given  a  surprising  impetus  to  the  de- 
velopment of  our  agricultural  resources,  and 
by  their  great  economy  in  gathering  the  crops, 
have  enableil  us  to  beat  the  w(jrld  in  producing 
cheap  breadstufls,  as  our  gratifying  export  sta- 
tictics  plainly  indicate.  The  invention  and 
perfection  of  American  harvesting  machiner}-, 
then,  may  rightly  be  regarded  as  one  of  the 
chief  promoters  of  our  country's  rapid  develop- 
ment antl  remarkable  prosperity  ;  and  in  the  light 
of  this  fact,  it  seems  almost  incredible  that  the 
original  introduction  into  use  of  these  now  in- 
dispensable auxiliaries  to  the  successful  cultiva- 
tion of  the  soil  was  attended  with  verj'  serious 
obstacles,  not  the  least  of  which  was  the  strong 
prejudice  and  opposition  manifested  by  farmers 
and  farm  laborers  to  the  employment  of  these 
"new  tangled"  devices.  Deeming  that  a  con- 
cise and  accurate  history  of  the  mowing  ma- 
chine and  kindred  farm  apparatus  would  prove 
of  interest  to  many  people,  and  in  view  of  the 
fact  that  the  city  of  Canton  is  the  recognized 
headquarters  in  this  line  of  production,  we 
have  devoted  considerable  lime  to  collating  in- 
formation upon  this  interesting  subject. 

The  opening  of  this  historical  sketch  takes 
us  back  to  the  year  1848,  when  in  the  little 
rural  borough  of  Greentown,  a  village  of  some 
300  souls,  situate  about  nine  miles  north  of 
Canton,  Mr.  Cornelius  Aultmau,  who  had 
learned  the  machinist's  trade,  made  the  patterns 
and  built  on  his  own  account  five  of  the  old 
Hussey  Reapers — the  first  machines  of  the  kind 
ever  made  in  Ohio,  with  the  exception  of  a  few 
made  at  Martin's  Ferry,  opposite  Wheeling,  in 
the  year  previous.  Mr.  Michael  Dillman,  a  pro- 
gressive farmer  with  ample  means,  living  near 
Greensburg,  Summit  Co.,  had  purchased  and 
used  one  of  these  machines  during  the  season, 
and  was  .so  well  pleased  with  its  work  that  he 
proposed  joining  Mr.  Aultman  in  his  new  un- 


;x^ 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


dertakiiiff,  and   aoc(jnlingly,  in  the   spring  of 

1849,  they  both  removed  to  Plainfield,  Will  Co., 
111.,  where  they  constructed  these  machines  for 
two  seasons — some  thirtj'-seven  in  all — and  the 
neighlioring  larmers  came  to  their  shop  and 
bought  them  readilj'.  The  Hussey  was  a  one- 
wheeled  machine,  adapted  only  for  reaping  pur- 
poses. In  the  spring  of  1850,  Mr.  Husse3',  of 
Baltimore,  Md.,  the  inventor  of  this  machine, 
but  who  had  done  very  little  toward  manufact- 
uring and  introducing  it,  learning  that  it  was 
being  successfullj'  produced  in  the  West,  con- 
cluded that  it  was  worth  looking  after,  joui-- 
neyed  to  Illinois  and  informed  the  makers  that 
he  held  patents  on  the  machine,  and  claimed 
royalty  on  all  that  had  been  turned  out.  The}- 
finally  settled  the  matter  by  paying  him  ^?15  on 
each  machine. 

After   the   close   of  the   harvest  season,   in 

1850,  Mr.  Aultman  sold  out  his  Interest  at 
Plainfield,  and  returned  to  Greentown  in  De- 
cember of  that  year.  The  manufacture  of  the 
Hussey  machine  was  continued  at  Plainfield 
for  a  time,  and  the  business  was  sul)seiiuently 
removed  to  Joliet,  111.,  where  the  same  machine 
was  manufactured  for  a  number  of  years,  and 
afterward  the  Bell  machine,  until  about  1858, 
when  the  proprietors  there  secured  a  license  to 
build  liic  Buckeye  m:icliiiies.  After  Mr.  .\ult- 
mans  return  to  ( iicciituwn.  .Mr.  Ephraini  Ball, 
manilestingmuch  CDnliilenee  in  him,  wanted  him 
to  l)uy  an  interest  in  the  foundry  located  there, 
then  run  in  the  name  of  Wise  &  Ball.  Mr. 
Aultman  had  contemplated  returning  again  to 
the  West,  but  said  if  Mr,  Ball  would  consent  to 
move  the  establishment,  within  three  years,  to  a 
more  eligible  locality,  he  would  take  an  interest 
therein.  This  was  agreed  to,  and  he  thereupon, 
about  March  1,  1851.  purchased  the  one-third 
interest  of  Michael  Wise,  and  a  like  interest  of 
Lewis  Acker,  in  the  foundry.  Shortly  after- 
ward, Mr.  Aultman  transferred  a  one-sixth  in- 
terest to  his  brother-in-law,  David  Fouser,  one- 
sixth  to  Ueorge  Cook,  who  was  a  wagon-maker 
by  trade,  and  one-sixth  to  his  stcpluDtlicr, 
Lewis  Miller,  leaving  Mr.  Aultman  one-sixth 
interest,  and  Mr.  Ball  one-third.  The  firm  now 
became  Ball,  Aultman  &  Co.,  and  they  at  once 
proceeded  to  enlarge  their  l)usiness.  For  the 
season  of  1S51.  tiiey  turned  out  twelve  Hussey 
machines  and  six  threshers,  all  of  which  were 
sold  to  farmers  in  the  vicinity.  But  the  firm 
did  not  have  absolute  "  plain  sailing"  indis- 


posing of  their  machines,  inasmuch  as  there 
was  a  strong  feeling  of  prejudice  existing  in 
the  minds  of  farmers  and  farm  hands  against 
the  radical  "  innovation."  In  this  connection, 
many  things  occurred  that  were  positively 
amusing,  while  other  situations  were  equally 
perplexing.  But  these  prejudices  and  hard 
feelings  gradually  wore  away,  and  after  two  or 
three  years  had  elapsed,  and  the  farming  com- 
munity generally  had  begun  to  properly  appre- 
ciate the  valuable  aid  furnished  by  harvesting 
machinery,  the  bitter  contest  well  nigh  ceased. 
The  Hussej-  machine,  as  we  have  said,  worked 
well  as  a  reaper,  but  could  not  be  used  as  a 
mower.  A  demand  sprung  up  for  a  device 
that  would  meet  this  want,  and  in  answer 
thereto,  the  Ketcham  Mower  was  invented,  and 
placed  on  the  market,  in  1851,  and  in  1852, 
quite  a  number  of  these  machines  were  put 
into  use.  About  the  same  time,  the  Allen 
Mower,  made  in  the  \'icinity  of  New  York  Citj-, 
was  introduced.  Both  of  these  were  one- 
wheeled  machines,  and  did  not  meet  with 
marked  su(;cess. 

After  the  harvest  of  1851.  the  Pittsburgh, 
Ft.  Wayne  and  Chicago  Railway,  having 
then  been  graded,  and  soon  ready  to  be  opened 
to  Canton,  Messrs.  Ball  and  Aultman  came 
to  the  latter  j)lace,  and  looked  over  the  sromicl, 
with  the  view  to  securing  better  manufacturing 
and  shipping  facilities.  They  selected  three 
lots  on  the  line  of  the  new  railway,  each  45x40 
feet,  being  a  part  of  the  present  site  of  their 
works,  returned  and  reported  to  their  associ- 
ates what  they  could  do.  and  there\ipon,  they 
unanimously  decided  to  remove  to  Canton. 
The  committee  immediately  came  here  and 
consummated  the  purchase.  Mr.  xVultman,  who 
was  recognized  as  manager,  moved  to  Canton, 
on  the  Kith  of  Septeml)er  following,  and  put 
up  brick  buildings — wood-shop,  40x60  feet  ; 
finishing-shop,  55x40  feet  ;  and  molding-shop, 
65x40  feet,  tlie  former  two,  of  two  stories,  the 
last,  of  one.  In  December.  1851.  they  trans- 
ported their  tools  and  fixtures  from  (rreentown 
to  (lanton,  and  commenced  operations.  A 
stock  com|)any  was  then  formed,  each  partner 
putting  in  what  he  could,  and  sharing  the 
profits  in  ratio  thereto.  At  this  juncture,  Mr. 
Jacob  Miller,  farmer,  and  brother  of  Lewis 
Miller,  became  a  copartner,  contributing  to 
the  capital  the  sum  of  $1,000.  An  inventory 
of  the  tools,  etc.,  was  taken,  and  each  of  the 


■r?n 


TANTON    TOWNSHIP. 


:{23 


five  copartners  (Ephraim  Ball,  Cornelius 
Aultman,  rieorgc  Cook,  Lewis  Miller  and 
Jacol)  Miller)  was  credited  with  his  pro- 
portionate interest.  The  total  capital  of  the 
coinpan)',  when  they  started  in  (Janton.  including 
material,  property  at  (Jreentown.  and  estimated 
value  of  -'good  will,"  was  §4..">(l().  For  the 
harvest  of  1852.  they  built  twenty-five  Hussey 
Machines,  with  six-foot  iron  finger-bars,  to  be 
used  as  mowers,  being  intended  for  combined 
machines.  They  worked  satisfactoril}'  as 
reapers,  but.  for  several  reasons,  they  failed  as 
practical  mowers.  In  the  fall  of  1852,  up  to 
which  time  Mr.  Aultman  had  done  the  bu3'ing 
and  selling,  and  keeping  books  for  the  concern, 
he  went  to  Illinois,  and  there  made  the 
accjuaintance  of  Thomas  R.  Tonner.  who  was 
known  as  a  good  book-keeper,  and  being  favor- 
ably impressed,  prevailed  upon  him  to  come 
to  Canton,  and  keep  their  books.  When  Ton- 
ner arrived  here  he  had  just  a  dime  in  his  pocket. 
He  proved  a  valuable  man,  as  he  was  very 
systematic,  and  regulated  things  generalh'. 
He  was  made  the  Cashier,  and  the  partners  had 
to  go  to  him  when  tluiv  wanted  money.  Before 
that,  they  were  in  the  habit  of  helping  them- 
selves, when  there  was  cash  in  the  till,  each 
one  charging  himself  with  whatever  sura  he 
appropriated.  When  clerking  in  Pennsjl- 
vania,  Tonner  had  got  accustoraeil  to  the  ways 
of  that  region,  one  of  whieh  was  a  trifle  un- 
l)usiness-like.  to  wit.  when  a  note  fell  due,  it 
was  not  considered  as  a  comi)romise  of  credit 
to  allow  it  to  go  unhonored  for  a  week  or  so. 
He  started  out  in  Canton  with  this  notion 
clinging  to  him.  but  Aultman  sai<l  they  must 
take  care  of  their  notes,  iti  order  to  maintain 
their  credit,  to  his  mind  a  very  important 
matter.  Tonner  soon  saw  this  in  the  same 
light,  and  looked  well  after  the  notes,  even  if 
by  so  doing,  the  firm  were  obliged  to  do  with- 
out pocket-money  for  a  time.  To  this  well- 
established  credit,  they  attribute  their  success- 
ful weathering  of  the  panic  of  1857,  as.  had  it 
not  been  for  their  reputation  for  commercial 
honor,  they  could  not  have  passed  through 
that  trying  ordeal  unscathed.  The  business  of 
the  company  so  rapidly  increased,  that  it  was 
found  necessary  to  procure  additional  clerical 
assistance,  and  in  1855.  Mr.  James  S.  Tonner, 
l»rother  of  Thomas,  was  employini  as  book- 
keeper, after  which,  the  latter  was  enabled  to 
devote  more  time  to  the  general  business.     A 


few  weeks  after  T.  li.  Tonner  came  here,  in 
1852,  Mr.  Aultman  bought  out  Fouscr's  one- 
sixth  inteiest.  and  turned  it  over  to  Tonner.  thus 
laying  the  foundation  of  the  handsome  fortune 
he  amassed  before  his  death.  For  the  har\est 
of  1853.  they  built  twent^'-fivc  Hussey  Reap- 
ers, and  also  twenty-five  of  the  Bell  Machines, 
the  latter  intended  for  both  mower  and  reaper. 
In  1853.  having  abandonecl  the  idea  of  making 
a  combined  machine,  tliej'  turned  their  atten- 
tion to  the  work  of  devising  a  practical  single 
mower.  In  that  summer,  the  Ketcham  machine, 
having  achieved  some  measure  of  success,  a 
committee  of  three,  consisting  of  Ball,  Ault- 
man and  Lewis  Miller,  were  appointed  to  get 
up  a  mower.  Ball  was  a  pattern-nuiker  by 
trade,  and  made  the  patterns  for  the  concern. 
The  committee  put  their  heads  together,  and 
as  the  result  of  protracted  consultation,  study 
and  experiment,  they  constructed  in  the  same 
year,  a  mower,  a  light,  small  aflfair.  and  sub- 
jected it  to  a  practical  test,  but  it  did  not  prove 
a  success  for  all  kinds  of  grass.  They  kept 
busily-  at  work,  nevertheless,  and  originated 
another  one-wheeled  machine,  somewhat  differ- 
ent from  the  first,  and  it  seemed,  on  the  in- 
itiative trial,  to  be  entirely  satisfactory.  Ac- 
cordingl3-,  they  built  eight  or  ten  of  this  pattern, 
and  sold  six  or  eight  of  them  in  185.3.  But 
their  fortune  was  not  yet  assured,  for  the 
machines  were  found  too  weak  ;  they  all  broke 
down,  and  were  returned  as  worthless.  Some 
of  the  company  got  discouraged,  but  Mr. 
Aultman  said,  •'  try  again."  Before  it  was 
ascertained  that  the  machines  were  an  absolute 
failure,  the  harvest  of  1853  was  over.  The 
committee  was  continued,  and  liuring  that 
fall,  Mr.  Aultman  made  a  drawing  for  a  two- 
wheeled  machine,  the  first  attempt  ever  made 
to  devise  such  a  mower.  This  drawing  was 
submitted  to  Ball  and  Miller,  who  made  some 
suggestions  as  to  modifications  therein,  and 
from  that  drawing,  after  some  months  of  patient 
effort,  was  at  length  evolved  what  was  knijwn 
as  Ball's  Ohio  Mower.  The  first  machine  of 
this  style  was  built  in  the  summer  of  1854. 
Mr.  Ball  was  the  pattern-maker,  and  .Mr.  .Vult- 
man,  thi!  superintendent.  The  model  was  made 
and  the  patents  applied  for  in  the  fall  of  1854. 
Interference  was  eventually  declared  between 
Ball's  application  and  one  made  by  Jonathan 
Haines,  of  Fekin,  111.,  which  was  contested. 
Haines  proving  priority  on  some  of  his  claims 


r 


324 


HISTOKY  or    STARK   COUNTY. 


as  presented  at  the  Patent  Office,  a  patent  was 
granted  to  hun,  in  August,  1854.  Thereupon, 
Mr.  Aultman  went  to  Fekin,  and  bought 
of  Haines  the  right  to  manufacture  for  the  State 
of  Ohio. 

In  tlie  spring  of  1855,  Ball,  Aultman  &  Co. 
commenced  to  build  some  twenty-five  of  the 
Ohio  machines,  and  had  everything  ready  to 
erect,  when,  on  the  5th  of  May  following,  fire 
destroyed  their  main  buildings  and  contents, 
including  all  the  machines.  Just  as  the  com- 
pany were  in  a  fair  way  to  establish  a  flourish- 
ing business,  this  disaster  not  only  robbed  the 
firm  of  their  all,  but  left  left  them  deeply  in 
debt.  Right  here,  the  firm  realized  the  advan- 
tage of  taking  care  of  their  credit,  and  of 
promptly  meeting  their  obligations  previously. 
Having  good  credit,  fortified  by  a  reputation 
for  strict  integrity,  they  progressed  with  the 
buildings,  and  by  the  1st  of  August,  in  less 
than  three  months  after  the  fire  occurred,  the 
new  w(jrics  were  completed,  the  machiner}'  was 
set  up,  and  everything  in  readiness  for  a  fresh 
start.  While  the  shops  were  being  rebuilt, 
they  put  wood  benches  into  a  shed  that  had 
escaped  the  conflagration,  and  by  dint  of  hard 
work,  they  turned  out,  by  hand,  five  mowers 
and  twelve  Hussey  reapers  for  the  harvest  of 
1855.  On  the  1st  of  August,  theN'  started  up 
the  works,  and  ran  night  and  day.  Fortunately 
for  them,  the  harvest  of  that  year  was  an 
abundant  one,  and  consequently,  the  demand 
for  machines  was  active.  Farmers  were  so 
anxious  to  .secure  them  that  they  would  come 
in  and  engage  machines  not  yet  constructed,  and 
pay  for  them  in  advance.  This  proved  quite  a 
godsend  to  the  struggling  firm,  as  it  aided  them 
materially  in  tiding  over  their  existing  financial 
stress.  After  starting  up,  they  built  some 
twenty  threshers  before  the  season  was  over, 
and  could  have  disposed  of  a  much  larger 
number.  The  next  winter,  they  went  cour- 
ageously to  work,  and  constructed  500  Ohio 
^lowers,  fifty  Hussey  reapers,  and  fifty  Pitts 
threshers,  for  the  harvest  of  1856.  Aultman 
and  Miller,  desiring  to  get  up  a  more  simple 
machine  than  the  Ohio,  went  to  work,  and 
devised  the  first  Bucke^'e  Mower  (called  origin- 
ally the  Aultman  &  Miller  machine),  a  two- 
wheeled  rear-cut  implement,  and  in  June,  1856, 
secured  a  patent  on  a  double-rule  hinge,  which 
allowed  the  finger-bar  to  be  raised  vertically, 
thus  facilitating  transportation  to  and  from  the 


field.  Only  one  of  the  rear-cut  machines  was 
built,  and  in  the  fall  of  1856,  it  was  changed  to 
a  front-cut,  an  approved  principle  that  has  ev»r 
since  been  adhered  to.  For  the  harvest  of 
1857,  they  built  1,000  Ohio  machines,  some 
six  or  seven  of  the  new  Buckeye,  100  threshers, 
and  fifty  Hussey  reapers.  In  July  of  that  year, 
both  the  Buckeye  and  the  Ohio  were  practically 
tested  in  a  competitive  field-trial,  at  Hamilton, 
Ohio,  and  the  Buckeye  came  out  ahead.  Kn- 
couraged  by  this  success,  one  of  each,  of  the 
Bucke3e  and  Ohio  machines,  were  taken  to  the 
famous  field-trial  at  Syracuse,  in  the  same 
month,  held  under  the  auspices  of  the  United 
States  Agricultural  Society.  When  the  trial 
came  ofl',  ever}-  spectator  was .  greatly  elated 
with  the  ea.sy,  neat  work  of  the  Buckeye,  and 
the  judgment  was  in  its  favor,  corroborated  by 
the  award  thereto  of  the  highest  prize,  the 
grand  gold  medal.  In  Fei)ruary,  1S58,  Ball 
sold  his  interest  in  the  firm,  and  then  went  to 
work  and  put  up  his  own  buildings,  in  the 
samej'ear.  In  1850,  he  placed  the  Oluo  Mower 
on  the  market,  in  competition  with  the  Buckeye, 
continuing  to  build  it  up  to  about  1865.  When 
Mr.  Ball  retired  from  the  firm  of  Ball,  ^Vultman 
&  Co.,  the  style  of  the  house  changed  to  C. 
Aultman  &  Co.,  under  which  it  has  won  its 
enviable  honors  the  world  over,  and  this  title 
has  continued  ever  since.  In  the  fall  of  1857, 
they  had  enlarged  their  works  40  by  120 
feet,  a  three  storj-  brick  structure,  thus  doub- 
ling their  capacity,  so  that  they  were  well  pre- 
pared to  take  advantage  of  the  ■'  boom  "  they 
felt  sure  they  were  to  experience,  by  reason  of 
the  splendid  success  of  the  Buckeye  at  the  fairs 
of  that  season. 

For  the  season  of  1858,  Messrs.  Aultman  & 
Co.  built  not  far  from  1,500  Bucke3-e  mowers 
and  150  threshers.  In  this  year,  they  commenced 
to  make  a  practical  success  of  the  combined 
machine,  with  reaper  attachment.  In  the  fall 
of  1858,  this  machine  was  exhibited  very  gen- 
erally all  over  the  country,  and  also  participat- 
ed in  almost  innumerable  field  trials,  sometimes 
at  three  or  four  at  the  same  time  in  different 
sections,  and  it  almost  invariably  took  the  first 
premiums. 

In  June,  1858,  patents  were  granted  on  the 
front-cut  Buckeye,  application  having  been  made 
therefor  in  the  fall  of  1857.  This  was  a  trans- 
fer from  rear  to  front-cut,  requiring  a  radical 
change  in  the  organization  of  the  machine  ;  the 


^t^mctA^T^ 


J^ 


CANTON    TOWNSHIP. 


325 


most  important  feature  of  improvement  inher- 
ing in  tlie  folding  of  the  cutter  over  the  front 
of  the  frame,  allowing  it  to  lie  Hat,  securing  un- 
equaled  convenience  in  transportation,  and  giv- 
ing the  Buckeye  the  pronounced  lead  over  all 
competing  harvesting  machines.  •'  It  shut  right 
up  like  a  jack-knife,"  and  was  propelled  on  the 
road  as  easily  as  a  two-wheeled  cart.  Ault- 
man  <&  Co.  retained  control  of  this  valuable  im- 
provement, and  no  other  make  of  machine  could 
adopt  it. 

They  continued  to  sedulously  experiment, 
making  improvements  from  year  to  year  in 
minor  details,  upon  which  they  secured  patents, 
taking  out  some  twentj-  difl'erent  patents,  ex- 
clusive of  those  granted  in  1858.  For  the  sea- 
son of  1859  they  turned  out  1,800  Buckeye 
mowers  and  reapers  and  150  threshers,  which 
number  would  have  been  consideratily  increased 
had  it  not  been  for  the  killing  frosts  in  June  of 
that  3-ear.  They  had  licensed  to  build  the 
Buckeye  for  certain  territory.  Running  out  of 
machines  at  Canton,  the}-  bought  a  number 
from  the  licensers  and  sold  them  in  their  terri- 
tor}-.  They  invented  an  attachment  to  the 
Buckeye  whereljy  the  binding  of  grain  was  done 
by  two  men  riding  on  the  machine,  of  which 
thej-  built  but  a  few  and  only  for  that  season. 
Their  machines  continued  to  be  exhibited  at 
fairs  and  tested  at  field  trials,  coming  off  victo- 
rious in  every  honorable  contest.  This  extraor- 
dinary success  greath'  stimulated  popular  de- 
mand, and  for  the  harvest  of  1860  they  con- 
structed about  2.800  of  the  Buckeye  and  over 
200  threshers.  For  1861  they  turned  out  2.600 
Buckeye  machines  and  some  260  threshers. 
Notwithstanding  the  augmented  production  and 
the  breaking  out  of  the  war.  the  demand  was 
In  excess  of  the  supply,  as  the  crops  of  that 
season  were  excellent.  The  means  of  the  firm 
accumulated,  so  that  they  were  now  able  to 
paj'  cash  for  their  materials.  For  the  har- 
vest of  1862  they  built  over  3.000  of  the 
Buckeye  and  upward  of  300  threshers.  Their 
trade  now  extended  over  a  large  territory,  even 
to  California,  and  into  all  parts  of  the  Union, 
except  that  portion  of  the  Smith  which  the  war 
shut  out  from  our  commerce.  In  1863.  they 
constructed  no  less  than  3. GOO  mowers  and 
reapers  and  nearly  400  threshers.  This  was  to 
them  a  very  bus}'  season,  forthe}'  again  greatly 
enlarged  their  works.  In  the  fall  and  winter 
of  1862-63,   their  present  commodious  office 


building  was  erected,  and  during  the  summer 
of  1863  the  capacity  of  their  blacksmith  shop 
was  doubled,  and  a  larg(>  molding  shop,  more 
than  three  times  the  size  of  the  former  one,  was 
built.  They  also  put  in  a  fine  125  horse-power 
engine  and  a  full  complement  of  improved  ma- 
chlner}'.  The  demand  for  their  agricultural  ma- 
chines had  Increased  so  rapidh'.  and  their  ship- 
ping facilities  at  Canton  were  so  poor  (fortunate- 
ly, this  drawliack  will  not  exist  much  longer), 
that  they  recognized  the  necessity  of  "  branch- 
ing out,"  and  having  carefully  looked  over  the 
ground  they  finally-  determined  to  locate  a 
branch  establishment  at  Akron,  that  point  seem- 
ing to  aflibrd  the  requisite  additional  advantages 
for  their  manufacturing  purposes.  Accordingly, 
in  the  fall  of  1863  they  commenced  putting  up 
their  buildings  in  tliat  city,  and  got  out  there 
500  machines  for  the  harvest  of  1864.  Lewis 
Miller  removed  to  Akron  and  became  superin- 
tendent of  the  establishment  there.  These 
works  have  since  l)een  materially  enlarged  and 
improved,  until  they  now  turn  out  from  11.000 
to  12,000  machines  per  year,  employing  at  the 
present  time  nearly  500  mechanics. 

In  1864,  the  firm  built  about  4,500  mowers 
and  reapers  and  425  threshers,  and  in  1865, 
the}'  built  both  at  Canton  and  Akron  about 
8,000  Buckeye  machines  and  500  threshers.  In 
March  of  that  year,  Mr.  Thomas  K.  Tonner,  one 
of  the  partners,  died.  He  became  an  Invalid 
in  1850.  and  was  not  able  thereafter  to  confine 
himself  closely  to  business.  The  decedent  had 
constructed  a  will  making  liberal  bequests  to 
relatives,  and  turning  over  the  residue  of  his 
estate  to  Mr.  Aultman  for  management. 

In  the  fall  of  1865,  for  the  better  organiza- 
tion of  their  immense  business,  both  concerns 
were  incorporated  separately,  under  the  State 
laws.  The,  incorporators  at  Canton  were  C. 
Aultman,  Lewis  .Miller,  Jacob  Miller  and  George 
Cook  ;,and  those  at  Akron  were  C.  .Vultman, 
Lewis  AMiller,  John  II.  Buchtel  and  (Jcorge  W. 
Crousc.  The  original  capital  of  the  corporation 
at  Clinton,  which  was  continued  under  the  style 
of  C.  Aultman  &  Co.,  was  ;!450,000,  which  In 
1870  was  Increased  to  $1,000,000.  and  about 
three  years  ago  to  $1 ,500,000.  The  first  officers 
of  the  corporation  of  C.  Aultman  &  Co.  were  : 
C.  Aultman.  l^resident ;  John  Tonner.  Secre- 
tary ;  James  S.  Tonner,  Treasurer  ;  Jacob  Mil- 
ler, Superintendent.  The  original  capital  of  the 
Akron  concern  was  $300,000.  and  about  three 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


j-ears  ago  it  was  augmented  to  $1 ,000,01)0.  This 
establishment  wa.s  incorporated  under  the  style 
of  Aultman,  Miller  &  Co.,  witii  the  following 
otflcers  :  John  R.  Biichtel,  President ;  George 
W.  Crouse,  Secretary  and  Treasurer  ;  Lewis 
Miller,  Superintendent. 

About  the  year  1871,  they  commenced  to  ex- 
port machines  to  p]uropean  countries,  and  the 
foreign  demand  for  the  world-famed  products 
of  this  establishment  have  since  largely  in- 
creased. They  have  won  man^'  honors  at  ex- 
hibitions and  field  trials  abroad,  and  the  "  Buck- 
eye "  reaper  and  mower,  "  Sweepstakes  "  thresh- 
er and  Canton  Monitor  engine  are  coming  to 
lie  approximately  as  well  known  and  highly 
appreciated  across  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  as 
they  are  at  home. 

At  the  present  time,  no  part  of  the  original 
buildings  of  C.  Aultman  &  Co.  is  remaining, 
as  at  different  times  they  have  been  rebuilt.  In 
1868,  a  considerable  portion  of  the  present 
colossal  structures  was  put  up,  and  from  time 
to  time  they  have  continued  replacing  the  old 
with  the  new,  making  extensive  enlargements 
and  modern  improvements,  until  now  thej'  are 
entitled  to  the  credit  of  having  the  largest  ag- 
ricultural machine  manufactory  in  the  world. 
A  brief  summing-up  of  the  merits  and  advan- 
tages and  most  notable  triumphs  of  the  several 
Buckej-e  machines,  followed  by  a  sketch  of  the 
works  of  C.  Aultman  &  Co.,  fitly  concludes  this 
article. 

Ever  since  the  famous  national  field  trial 
of  mowing  machines  at  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  in  July, 
1857,  when  the  "  Buckej-e  "  was  awarded  the 
highest  prize,  the  grand  gold  medal,  over  all 
competing  machines,  its  onward  march  in  pop- 
ular world-wide  fiivor  has  been  marked  by  a 
succession  of  brilliant  triumphs  in  numerous 
competitive  field  trials  with  all  other  makes  of 
mowers,  not  only  on  this  continent,  but  in  for- 
eign countries  as  well — winning  the  laurels  of 
victor}'  in  every  fair  and  honorable  contest. 

The  frame  of  the  Buckeye  mower  is  made  of 
cast  iron,  in  one  piece,  braced  with  wrought 
iron.  It  is  strong,  stiff,  and  not  at  all  liable  to 
get  out  of  line.  The  gearing  is  still  constructed 
on  the  .same  admirable  plan  that  was  originally 
adopted  for  this  machine.  The  system,  one  set 
of  bevel  gears  to  give  the  first  and  slower  mo- 
tion, and  the  spur  gears  to  give  the  last  and  ac- 
celerated speed,  is  universally  conceded  to  be 
the  best,  simplest,  safest  and  most  durable  and 


perfect  ever  devised.  Rival  manufacturers  have 
long  cudgeled  their  brains  in  desperate  eflbrts 
to  bring  forth  a  system  of  gearing  or  some  ori- 
ginal motion  which  would  approacli  the  Buck- 
eye in  simplicity  and  efficiency,  but  they  have 
been  compelled  to  give  up  in  despair.  The 
summing  up  of  the  principal  advantages  of  the 
Buckeye  comprehends  its  scientific  simplicity 
and  perfection  of  construction,  superior  strength 
and  durability,  thoroughness  of  work,  lightness 
of  draft,  fixcility  of  operation  and  immunity 
from  danger  of  serious  accident  to  the  driver. 
The  new  automatic  side-delivery  reaper  is  one 
of  the  greatest  inventions  of  the  age,  and  is 
built  and  sold  only  in  connection  with  the  Buck- 
eye mower.  The  pronounced  superioritj-  of  this 
apparatus,  as  compared  with  the  so-called 
"  reel-rake,"  is  clearly  manifest  in  its  admir- 
able operation.  It  will  cut  nearly  14  per  cent, 
or  about  one-seventh,  more  grain  per  da}',  than 
any  reel-rake  having  the  same  length  cutter-bar, 
the  horses  walking  at  the  same  rate.  Moreover, 
the  Buckeye  is  guaranteed  to  have  no  equal  in 
lodged  and  tangled  grain,  as  is  proven  by  the 
testimony  of  many  practical,  reliable  farmers 
who  have  thoroughly  tested  its  admirable  quali- 
ties under  the  most  adverse  circumstances. 

The  Buckeye  dropper  is  a  prime  favorite 
with  the  farmers  who  do  not.  raise  very  large 
crops,  because  it  is  the  simplest  form  of  reaper  ; 
the  easiest  to  handle  and  operate  ;  its  work  is 
equal  to  the  best,  and  it  is  the  least  expensive. 
With  the  Buckeye  as  a  dropper,  the  driver  is 
enabled  to  drop  the  gavel  at  the  proper  time, 
which  obviates  scattering  the  grain,  and  being  a 
front-cut  machine,  the  platform  is  immediately 
under  the  driver's  eye,  thus  relieving  him  of 
the  straining  and  wearisome  effort  of  constantly 
looking  behind  to  ascertain  the  size  of  the  gavel, 
while  his  attention  should  be  upon  the  team 
and  watching  for  obstructions.  Taken  in  con- 
nection with  the  Buckeye,  this  is  unquestionably 
the  safest,  simplest,  most  economical  and  reli- 
able harvesting  machine  ever  produced. 

The  Buckeye  Harvester  is  on  every  hand  ac- 
knowledged to  be  the  leading  light-draft  har- 
vester in  the  field.  In  cutting  with  this  ma- 
chine, the  cut  grain  falls  directly  upon  a  travel- 
ing endless  apron,  transmitting  it  to  the  double 
canvas  elevator,  which  deposits  it  all  upon  the 
l)inding  table.  Two  men  bind  the  sheaves,  lay- 
ing the  bundles  upon  a  slatted  table,  until  half 
a  shock  is  gathered,  when  all  is  dropped  ready 


"IV 


J^± 


CANTON    TOWNSHIP. 


;«7 


for  shocking.  It  is  claimed  that  with  regard  to 
perfect  proportions,  superior  material  and  work- 
manship, simplicity  and  strength,  case  of  man- 
agement, excellent  finish  and  great  capacity, 
the  Buckeye  harvester  stands  without  a  peer. 
These  liarvesters  are  so  made  that  a  self-binding 
attachment  can  readily  be  affixed  subsequently, 
should  it  be  desired.  The  many  advantageous 
conveniences  of  this  popular  machine  need  only 
be  seen  to  be  appreciated. 

The  Buckeye  self-binder  machine  did  not 
enter  the  competitive  field  as  early  as  some 
others,  but  in  the  few  seasons  that  it  has  been 
in  the  market,  its  success  has  been  such  as  to 
win  the  highest  encomiums  of  praise  from  all 
who  have  given  it  a  fair  trial.  Messrs.  Ault- 
man  &  Co.  promise  for  the  harvest  of  1881  a 
self-binder  with  important  improvements,  plac- 
ing it  as  to  intrinsic  merit  in  advance  of  any- 
thing in  this  line  ever  brought  before  the 
public.  In  construction,  it  is  singularly-  sim- 
ple, and  therefore  not  at  all  liable  to  get  out  of 
order,  while  in  all  its  working  parts  the  most 
ingenious  devices  are  adopted  to  secure  the 
most  satisfactory  results  from  its  use.  It  is  a 
wonderful  labor-saver,  requires  but  little  atten- 
tion in  operation,  and  is  destined  to  triumph 
over  all  competition.  It  uses  less  wire  than 
any  other  binder  ;  the  tightness  of  the  band  is 
regulated  by  a  tension,  speedily  adju.sted,  and 
this  tightness  is  limited  only  by  the  strength 
of  the  wire.  The  grain  saved  by  the  binder 
will  pay  for  the  wire  consumed.  A  host  of 
those  who  have  used  this  admirable  device  tes- 
tify that  it  proves  all  that  is  claimed  for  it  in 
every  description  of  grain. 

For  the  long  period  of  twenty-nine  years  the 
incomparable  Sweepstakes  thresher  has  been 
manufactured  by  Messrs.  C.  Aultman  &  Co., 
and  tiiey  have  spared  neither  cflbrt  nor  expense 
to  bring  it  to  a  state  of  absolute  perfection. 
Tlie  practical  record  of  the  Sweepstakes  ex- 
hibits a  series  of  magnificent  successes  that  is 
altogether  without  a  parallel,  and  it  is  such  as 
to  iifford  the  purchaser  the  most  emphatic 
guarantee  of  entire  satisfaction  in  its  use. 
Great  improvements  have  been  made  from  year 
to  year,  and  sufficient  time  has  elapsed  to 
thoroughly  test  the  threshers,  as  now  built,  in 
ail  conditions  of  grain,  as  well  as  in  fiax,  tiuio- 
tliy,  clover  and  rice.  No  other  thresher  has 
been  so  severelj-  tested,  and  the  grand  result 
fully  justifies  its  manufacturers  in  claiming  for 


the  Sweepstakes  the  championship  of  the  thresh- 
er familj-  in  America. 

The  needs  of  threshcrmcn  for  a  better  engine 
than  had  ever  been  built  had  long  been  pressc'd 
upon  the  attention  of  the  inanulacturers  of  tlie 
Buckeje  machines.  Forced  I)}-  these  require- 
ments upon  them,  in  the  centennial  year  they 
commenced  the  construction  of  the  -'Monitor" 
engine.  The  best  skilled  advice  and  the  ripest 
experience  of  the  most  practical  threshers  and 
mechanics  were  brought  into  requisition  to  aid 
them  in  making  the  portable  engine  which 
would  be  pronounced  nearest  perfect.  After 
fully  consulting  every  plan  presented,  they 
made  choice  of  the  vertical  engine  and  boiler, 
of  the  model  upon  which  the  Monitor  is  built. 
It  was  exactly  adapted  to  a  special  field  of  op- 
erations, and  the  satisfaction  rendered  by  it 
has  been  so  perfect  that  it  cannot  be  overstated, 
and  its  decided  advantages  over  other  engines 
are  attested  by  the  emphatic  and  unsolicited 
approbation  of  all  who  have  used  it.  Everj- 
year,  so  far,  the  number  required  of  them  has 
been  greatly-  in  excess  of  the  manufacturing 
capacity  of  the  works,  and  this  has  compelled 
them  to  make  a  large  addition  to  their  shops, 
which  will  double  their  facilities  for  turning 
out  these  universally  approved  engines. 

Parties  who  have  experimentallj'  tested  the 
Canton  Monitor  Traction  Engine,  and  those  who 
have  had  it  in  use  during  the  last  two  years, 
speak  in  unqualified  terms  of  its  extraordinary 
working  qualities,  pronouncing  it  a  perfect  suc- 
cess in  all  respects.  For  propelling,  threshing 
and  machinery  operating  purposes  it  stands 
without  a  rival.  A  farmer  who  has  thoroughly 
tested  it  says  :  "  It  has  so  far  answered  every 
call  upon  its  resources,  and  is  always  ready  for 
use.  I  have  a  Taylor  &  Chandler  muley  side- 
cut  saw-mill,  and  your  Kl-liorse  engine  drives  it 
at  the  rate  of  4(1(1  to  5(10  strokes  per  minute, 
and  the  thing  works  like  a  charm.  I  am  now 
running  a  full  line  of  fiax  machinerj',  consist- 
ing of  a  roller  gang  break,  beater,  picker,  etc.. 
and  have  abundant  power.  I  prefer  the  Mon- 
itor because  tlie  number  of  flues  gives  a  great- 
er heating  surface.  The  boiler  being  perpen- 
dicular, the  action  of  the  fire  comes  directly 
upon  the  lieating  surface.  It  requires  less  fuel 
and  also  a  shorter  time  to  raise  steam.  The 
cylinder,  placed  between  the  steam  chest  and 
tiie  heater,  is  protected  from  the  cold  atmos- 
phere— therefore   there   is  less  condensing  in 


3->S 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


the  cylinder  and  less  bilging ;  and  being  per- 
pendicnlar,  it  is  not  liable  to  become  untrue 
through  the  wear  of  the  weight  of  the  machin- 
ery, as  is  the  case  in  a  horizontal  engine.  As 
a  traction  or  locomotive  engine,  I  consider  it 
superior."  The  compound  or  -'jack-in-the-box  " 
gear  is  a  very  ingenious  device,  whereby  one 
wheel  may  be  made  to  revolve  independent  of 
the  other,  so  that  in  turning,  the  wheel  going 
the  faster  receives  the  greater  power,  thus  en- 
abling the  engine  to  be  headed  in  any  desired 
direction  with  great  facility.  N(3  other  porta- 
ble engine  has  this  admirable  feature.  The 
independent  steam  pump  for  supj^lying  and 
emptying  the  boiler,  which  can  be  run  with  or 
without  ^iie  main  engine,  is  also  a  most  advan- 
tageous adjunct.  A  massive  sprocket  chain 
running  over  sprocket  wheels  communicates 
the  power  from  the  fly-wheel  to  the  counter- 
shaft, which  is  much  stronger,  more  direct  and 
reliable  than  the  lievel  gearing  ordinarily  used. 
Among  the  latest  improvements  is  the  link 
motion,  similar  to  that  of  the  locomotive, 
whereby  the  engine  can  be  propelled  forward 
or  backward  without  stopping.  The  speed  on 
the  road  is  regulated  by  a  governor,  while  the 
starting  and  stopping,  reversing  and  steering, 
are  under  perfect  control  of  the  engineer  with- 
out leaving  his  seat.  It  is  fitted  up  with  all 
necessary'  steam  engine  connections,  and  the 
gear  is  encased  in  order  to  exclude  all  dust  and 
dirt.  The  whole  engine  rests  on  rubber  springs, 
preventing  concussion,  and  all  in  all  it  is  the 
most  complete  and  successful  traction  engiue 
ever  invented. 

Tiiis  colossal  establishment  took  its  start  in 
Canton  in  the  year  1851,  with  a  working  capi- 
tal not  exceeding  §4,500.  The  original  propri- 
etors were  Cornelius  Aultman,  Lewis  Miller, 
Jacob  Miller  and  George  Cook,  the  latter  now 
deceased.  Thej'  and  their  associates  were  the 
original  inventors  and  patentees  of  all  the 
Buckeye  harvesting  machines.  The  more  re- 
cent additions  to  their  list  of  successful  man- 
ufactures are  the  Buckeye  Self-Binding  Har- 
\ester,  the  Canton  Monitor  Engine,  and  the 
Traction  lload  Engine,  all  of  which  are  well 
calculated  to  conserve  the  exalted  reputation 
of  this  house  for  producing  the  most  celebrat- 
ed and  efficient  agricultural  machines  in  the 
world.  The  works  embrace  the  following 
named  structures  :  Building  for  threshing  and 
wood-working  machinery,  brick,  400  by  50  feet, 


four  floors.  Reaper  warehouse,  brick,  181  bj- 
60  feet,  four  floors.  Iron  machinerj-  building, 
brick,  147  Ijy  GO  feet,  four  floors.  Iron  finish- 
iug  building,  brick,  70  by  GO  feet,  three  floors. 
Core,  pattern  and  engine  liouse,  brick,  150  by 
60  feet,  two  floors.  Engine  shop,  brick,  302 
by  50  feet,  two  floors.  Moiiling  room,  brick, 
125  by  75  feet,  one  floor.  Blacksmith  shop 
and  iron  room,  brick,  313  by  41  feet,  one  floor. 
Five  acres  of  wooden  structures,  comprising 
wagon  shop,  boiler  works,  testing  house,  paint 
shops,  store-rooms  for  thresher  and  engines,  etc. 
These  structures  have  a  total  floor  area  of 
459,528  square  feet,  or  upward  of  ten  and  a 
half  acres,  being  some  three  and  a  half  acres 
larger  than  the  next  largest  agricultural  imple- 
ment works  in  existence.  This  mammoth  es- 
tablishmenthas  eleven  distinct  departments,  giv- 
ing employment  to  an  aggregate  of  550  skilled 
workmen,  the  monthly  pay-roll  amounting  to 
$25,000.  The  motive  power  comprises  two  en- 
gines each  of  120-horse  power,  and  one  engine 
of  50-horse.  Their  products  find  a  ready  and 
expanding  market  in  both  hemispheres.  While 
at  the  works,  we  noticed  a  shipment  of  their 
world-celebrated  machines  to  Algiers,  Africa. 
They  have  branch  offices  and  supply  depots  at 
Paris,  France,  London,  England,  Baltimore, 
Chicago,  Cincinnati,  and  other  leading  distrib- 
uting points,  while  they. also  have  general  and 
local  agents  in  all  the  agricultural  sections. 

Agricultural  machinery  has  revolutionized 
the  pursuits  of  the  farmer  throughout  the  civ- 
ilized world,  and  Canton  may  justly-  be  proud 
of  the  pre-eminence  which  the  success  of  C. 
Aultman  &  Co.'s  works  have  achieved  for  her. 
Their  growth  and  development  have  been  coin- 
cident with  her  own,  and  in  the  past  histor}'  of 
Canton  thej'  have  been  a  \'ery  great  part  of 
that  growth.  But,  in  addition  to  the  above 
described  works,  and  the  brief  history  of  the 
Ball  works  included  therein,  the  citizens  of 
Canton  are  equally  proud  of  her  other  manu- 
facturing interests  that  within  the  past  few- 
years  have  assumed  such  large  proportions. 
The  history  and  description  of  those  that  fol- 
low we  glean  from  the  same  source  as  that 
which  precedes.  And  first  we  call  attention  to 
the  Peerless  Reaper  and  Mower,  which  was 
invented  and  originally  brought  out  by  Mr.  W. 
K.  Miller  in  the  year  1857,  and  put  on  the 
market  by  Russell  &  Co.,  of  Massillon,  Ohio. 
It  was  the  third  successful  two-wheeled  mowino- 


ihL^ 


CANTON    TOWNSHIP. 


329 


machine  with  flexible  finger-bar,  being  preceded 
in  its  introduction  b}-  onl}^  Ball's  Ohio  and  the 
Buckeye.  The  distinctive  and  patentable  fea- 
ture in  the  Peerless  was  the  manner  of  con- 
necting the  finger-bar  and  cutters  to  the  main 
frame.  Tlie  original  patents  were  issued  to 
Mr.  Miller,  the  inventor,  in  1857.  The  Peer- 
less was  the  first  successful  two-wheeled  reaper, 
in  this,  that  it  was  the  initial  introduction  of  a 
practical!}-  operative  flexible  reel.  Formerh', 
the  two-wheeled  machine  had  carried  the  raker 
on  the  main  truck,  who  reeled  in  the  grain  by 
hand  and  discharged  the  sheaf  on  gavel  in  the 
rear  of  the  platform  ;  or  placed  him  on  the 
platform,  so  that  the  gavel  was  discharged 
with  a  hay  fork — both  of  which  plans  were 
objectionable.  But  in  the  Peerless  the  reel 
was  made  to  conform  to  the  inequalities  of  the 
ground,  as  did  likewise  the  flnger-bar — these 
parts  acting  independently  in  their  up  and 
down  movements  of  the  main  truck,  while  in 
their  progressive  course  they  were  controlled 
by  the  truck  upon  which  the  raker  was  seated, 
who  discharged  the  gavels  at  one  side  of  the 
platform,  with  an  ordinary  hand  rake,  leaving 
room  for  the  machine  on  its  return  cut.  The 
Peerless  was  the  first  maciiine  to  adopt  the 
valuable  device  whereby  the  finger-bar  could  be 
successfully  folded  and  carried  in  a  perj)eiidic- 
ular  position,  thus  facilitating  transportation. 
In  the  3'ear  1871,  commodious  brick  buildings 
were  erected  in  Canton  b}  the  new  firm  of  C. 
Russell  &  Co.,  and  the  manufacture  of  the 
Peerless  machine  was  thereupon  transferred 
from  Massillon  to  this  city.  Tlie  Canton  firm 
comprised  the  following  members ;  Clement 
Russell,  N.  S.  Russell,  Joseph  K.  Russell, 
Thomas  H.  Russell,  George  Ij.  Russell,  James 
S.  Tonner  and  W.  K.  Miller,  who  continued  to 
improve  and  manufacture  the  Peerless  up  to 
and  including  the  year  1878,  at  which  time  the 
machine  was  thoroughly  re-formed  in  all  its 
parts,  except  in  the  devices  used  and  manner  of 
arrangement  for  giving  motion  to  the  cutters, 
whicli  in  previous  protracted  use  had  proved 
practically  perfect  and  all  that  was  required, 
Tliis  last  re-organization  was  effected,  not  so 
much  because  of  defects  in  the  mechanism,  but 
only  to  modi!}-  the  machine  to  existing  require- 
ments demanded  by  the  modern  popular  fashion. 
.\  large  request  hail  been  made  for  smaller  and 
lighter  machines  which  should  possess  the 
features   of    gi-eater   simplicitj-,    reduction    in 


number  of  parts,  superior  convenience,  accessi- 
bility and  durability.  Hence,  with  a  view  to 
satisfyingthese  demands  of  progressive  farmers, 
the  new  Peerless  was  invented  and  introduced 
to  the  public  for  the  harvest  of  187!',  embrac- 
ing all  its  old,  long-tested  and  well-established 
characteristics,  with  the  addition  of  a  newly- 
organized  sweep-rake,  patented  by  W.  K,  Miller. 
This  highly  approved  rake  differs  from  tliat 
upon  the  old  Peerless  in  these  important  par- 
ticulars :  It  is  divested  of  about  one-half  its 
former  weight  of  material  ;  is  located  near  to 
the  cutters  and  i)oint  of  vibration  ;  requires  no 
adjustment  for  different  kinds,  qualities  or  con- 
ditions of  crops — harvesting  witli  equal  ease 
and  perfection  the  siiortest  barley  or  tlie  tallest 
rye.  This  greatly'  improved  rake  is  entirely" 
under  the  facile  control  of  the  driver,  who  can 
make  the  sheaves  as  frequently  as  desired, 
accommodating  its  operation  to  any  condition 
of  gi'ain.  wlietlier  light  or  heavy  ;  or  it  ma}- 
readily  be  arranged  to  work  automatically 
altogether.  The  cutting  apparatus  with  rake 
and  platform  attached  are  also  under  easy  con- 
trol of  the  driver,  wlio  can  raise  or  depress  the 
cutters  and  rake,  for  the  purpose  of  gathering 
up  short,  tangled  or  fallen  grain,  thus  prevent- 
ing all  waste. 

The  Peerless  Reaper  Company,  successore  to 
the  firm  of  C.  Russell  &  Co.,  was  organized  De- 
cember 1,  1879,  having  been  duly  incorporated 
under  the  State  laws  thirty  days  before.  Offi- 
cers :  Isaac  Harter.  President ;  W.  A.  Creech. 
Treasurer  ;  W.  K.  .Miller  (inventor  of  the  Peer- 
less Reaper  and  Mower).  Superintendent.  Their 
works  in  Canton  are  finely  located,  directly  on 
the  line  of  the  Pittsburgli.  Fort  Wayne  &  Chi- 
cago Railway,  and  in  all  their  arrangements 
they  are  specially  adapteil  to  the  peculiar  busi- 
ness carried  on  tliereiti.  Tiie  main  building,  a 
substantial  brick  slate-roof  structure  of  four 
floors,  including  basement,  measures  225x50 
feet,  with  an  ••  L  '  (50x210  feet,  a  part  with  two 
floors  and  a  part  (the  foundry),  one  floor  and  a 
center  spur  40x150  feet,  one  floor,  containing 
the  engine  room  and  smith-shop.  The  engine 
is  of  80-horse  power,  and  the  battery  of  two 
tubular  boilers,  120-horse.  The  works  have  a 
fine  equipment  of  modern  improved  machinery 
and  every  needed  lacility  for  systematic  and 
economical  production.  Their  present  annual 
capacity  is  5,000  machines,  employing  200 
hands.      The    Peerless    Mowers   and    Reapers 


^ 


330 


HISTORY  or    STARK    COUNTY. 


have  found  a  ready  market  all  over  this  conti- 
nent, and  have  been  considerably  introduced  in 
France,  Germany,  Belgium,  Norway  and  Russia. 

The  Canton  establishment  of  the  noted  cor- 
poration known  as  the  Whitman  &  Barnes 
Manufacturing  Co.  is  a  branch  of  the  Akron 
and  Syracuse  houses,  and  was  put  in  operation 
in  November,  1878,  in  the  works  formerly  oc- 
cupied by  Ballard,  Fast  &  Co.  Mr.  George  A. 
Barnes  is  the  efficient  Superintendent.  Here 
are  manufactured  for  the  local  harvesting  ma- 
chine companies  superior  mower  and  reaper 
knives  and  sickles,  the  works  turning  out  some 
50.000  ■'  sections  "  per  month,  and  3,500  knives. 
Tlie  power  is  supplied  by  a  fine  OO-horse  power 
engine.  Forty  hands  are  employed,  to  whom 
the  sum  of  $1,300  is  disbursed  monthly  for 
wages.  The  premises  have  a  frontage  of  320 
feet  on  Walnut  street,  200  feet  on  the  railroad, 
a  depth  of  138  feet,  and  a  rear  measurement  of 
170  feet. 

Officers  of  the  Whitman  &  Barnes  Manufact- 
uring Co.:  George  Barnes,  President;  A.  L. 
Conger,  Vice  President ;  George  E.  Dana.  Sec- 
retary;  I.  C.  Alden,  Treasurer;  W.  W.  Cox, 
Assistant  Treasurer.  The  excellence  of  the 
goods  produced  by  the  vast  corporation  under 
notice  has  secured  for  them  the  patronage  of 
the  largest  and  most  reputable  mower  and 
reaper  manufecturers,  both  in  America  and 
Europe.  In  their  several  establishments,  they 
employ  a  total  of  400  skilled  workmen,  while 
their  aggregate  annual  production,  which  is 
steadily  increasing,  already  reaches  the  sum  of 

i*(;:)0,oi)ii. 

Tlie  Torrent  Light- Power  Boiler  Feed-Pump, 
manufactured  1.13'  E.  E.  Miller  &  Co.  is  attract- 
ing much  attention  among  engineers,  experts 
and  the  class  of  manufacturers  who  have  occa- 
sion to  usesteam-iiumiis.  Iiy  reason  of  its  novel 
and  ingenious  mechanism,  and  its  practical 
efficiency,  wonderful  convenience  and  uneqiialed 
economy  in  service.  This  model  pump  is  the 
result  of  long  and  patient  study  on  the  jiart  of 
its  inventors.  E.  E.  and  C.  M.  Jliller.  of  this 
this  city,  and  they  are  entitled  to  great  credit 
for  their  signal  success  in  devising  and  perfect- 
ing so  useful  an  adjunct  to  the  steam  engine, 
and  which  has  been  accorded  the  highest  en- 
comiums of  commendation  by  the  many  who 
have  put  it  into  practical  use.  This  pump 
supplies  a  want  long  felt  by  those  emploving 
light  steam  power  ;  and  it  is  especially  designed 


and  adapted  for  use  in  connection  with  thresh- 
ing, traction,  sawing,  portable  and  small  sta- 
tionary engines,  as  it  combines  all  the  requi- 
sites which  go  to  constitute  a  successful  inde- 
pendent boiler-feeder,  that  can  be  run  irrespect- 
ive of  whether  the  main  engine  is  in  motion  or 
not.  Being  entirely  independent  of  the  en- 
gine, as  it  takes  the  steam  direct  from  the 
boiler,  it  can  be  located  at  auj-  convenient  and 
advantageous  point  in  the  boiler  or  engine 
room.  It  can  be  run  fast,  slow,  or  stopped  en- 
tirely, as  desired,  thus  relieving  the  engine 
proper  from  the  constant  friction  and  wear  of 
an  attached  pump  which  must  be  kept  in  opera- 
tion while  the  engine  is  running,  whether 
needed  or  not.  It  will  work  perfectly  under 
any  given  pressure  of  steam,  requiring  not  tiie 
least  regulating  or  attention. 

The  lifting  power  of  the  "  Torrent"  is  greater 
than  that  of  any  inspirator  or  injector,  and  it 
can  easil}'  be  run  b^-  hand  with  the  same  power 
when  there  is  uo  steam.  Using  the  expansive 
steam,  it  effects  a  material  saving  of  steam  over 
all  pumps  without  fl3-wheels,  and  the  so-called 
injectors,  etc.  It  is  impossible  to  burst  the 
feed- water  pipes,  when  b}-  carelessness  or  other- 
wise the  water  is  shut  off  between  the  pump 
and  boiler,  as  by  the  excessive  pressure  on  the 
plunger  the  Torrent  will  .ha  immediatel}' 
stopped. 

Mr.  C.  M.  Miller,  one  of  the  inventors  of  the 
Torrent  pump,  is  also  the  inventor  of  the  cele- 
brated "  Canton  Monitor  Engine  "  and  "  Trac- 
tion Engine,"  manufactured  I)y  C.  Aultman  & 
Co.,  of  whose  engine  and  boiler  departments  he 
is  the  efficient  general  superintendent.  The 
Torrent  independent  pump  is  used  on  both 
these  engines,  with  the  best  results.  The  fact 
tiiat  it  is  adopted  by  the  above-named  firm  is  a 
first-class  indorsement  of  its  merits.  Although 
in  the  market  but  a  short  time,  it  is  rapidly 
superseding  the  ordinary  attached  pumps  and 
injectors  long  before  the  public,  which  is  suffi- 
cient evidence  of  its  excellent  work.  There  is 
not  a  State  in  the  Union  where  this  pump  has 
not  been  introduced,  while  in  Chicago  and  the 
Northwest,  it  has  already  had  a  large  sale,  and 
where  it  is  in  constantly  increasing  demand. 

The  success  of  the  firm  of  Joseph  Dick  & 
Bro.  is  something  noteworthy.  Thej'  com- 
menced liusiness  here  some  five  years  ago,  in 
the  manufacture  of  haj-,  straw  and  corn-stalk 
cutters,  splitters    and    crushers,   small    horse- 


:±. 


CANTON    TOWNSHIP. 


331 


powers,  etc.  The  first  j-ear  they  made  just 
seven  cutters,  while  last  season  the  number 
lurnet)  out  was  over  400,  and  this  was  con- 
siderablj'  less  than  the  number  ordered.  This 
remarkable  increase  is  indicative  of  the  fact 
that  the}'  have  been  fortunate  enough  to  hit 
upon  the  most  practical  and  effective  device 
for  the  given  purpose  ever  contrived — the 
ingenious  invention  of  Mr.  Joseph  Dick.  These 
approved  machines  have  been  shipped  to  all 
parts  of  the  Union,  as  well  as  to  Australia, 
and  wherever  introduced  and  operated  the}- 
give  complete  satisfaction,  on  account  of  their 
strong  and  simple  mechanism,  easy  and  rapid 
working,  and  perfection  in  cutting,  splitting 
and  crushing.  These  machines  are  made  of 
ditl'erent  sizes,  the  largest  having  a  capacity 
for  cutting  from  3,000  to  5.000  pounds  per 
hour,  according  to  material  and  length  of  cut. 
They  are  suited  for  either  steam  or  horse  pow- 
er, and  so  arranged  as  to  cut  on  both  sides  of 
the  main  shaft,  thus  cutting  from  two  boxes 
instead  of  one.  The  shear-plates  are  made 
adjustible,  and  are  independent  of  the  working 
parts.  All  the  working  parts  are  encased. 
The  advantages  claimed  for  this  apparatus  are 
that  it  will  cut  hay,  straw,  etc.,  in  a  superior 
manner  :  also  that  it  will  cut,  split  and  crush 
eorn-,stalks  with  or  without  the  ears  on  ;  that 
the  splitting  and  crushing  device  will  not  de- 
stroy the  tender  parts  of  the  stalks,  while  re- 
ducing the  coarse  portion  to  a  proper  grade  of 
fineness  ;  besides  other  meritorious  features 
previouslv  enumerated, 

Messrs,  Dick  &  Bro,'s  one  to  six  horse- 
powers are  in  extensive  use  for  dri\ing  their 
feed  cutters,  etc.,  with  or  without  a  belt  or 
jack.  Their  band-jacks,  of  two  sizes,  are 
similar  to  the  ordinary  jack  used  for  threshing 
purposes,  with  the  exception  of  being  arranged 
to  hitch  the  coupling  on  either  shaft,  so  that 
the  line-shaft  can  be  attached  direct  onto  the 
pulle3-shaft  if  desired,  and  a  slower  speed  at- 
tained than  if  the  line-shaft  is  attached  to 
bevel  gear  wheel  shaft.  This  firm  likewise 
manufacture  Joseph  Dick.  Jr.'s.  patent  com- 
bined hand  and  foot  power  attachment,  .Mr, 
I'ick  has  devotett  much  time  and  .study  to  de- 
vising a  plan  whereby  the  hand-crank  can  be 
combined  with  an  oscillating  foot-treadle  so  as 
to  obtain  a  power  from  both  devices  simul- 
taneously by  one  operator.  He  lias  succeeded 
in  perfecting   this   valuable   improvement,  by 


which  greatly  increased  power  can  be  obtained 
over  the  ordinary  vibrating  treadle.  This  ad- 
mirable arrangement  can  be  applied  to  a  great 
variety  of  hand-power  machinery,  and  needs 
only  a  trial  to  be  highl}-  appreciated.  All  the 
aforenamed  appliances  are  meeting  with  splen- 
did success, 

A  look  through  the  extensive  and  finely- 
equipped  Red  Jacket  Plow  Works  of  A,  Ball  & 
Co,  presents  a  scene  of  great  activity  and 
industry,  affording  the  beholder  an  idea  that 
something  is  made  here  which  is  in  popular 
request.  This  is  found  to  be  the  famous  ■'Red 
Jacket"  Plow — an  implement  whicii  has  gained 
wide  renown  over  a  large  portion  of  the 
Western  countrj'.  This  plow  is  indeed  '•  a 
thing  of  beauty,"  iis  well  as  utilit}-,  economy, 
strength  and  durability.  The  beam  is  made 
of  the  best  quality  of  wrought  angle  iron,  by 
means  of  a  novel  and  ingenious  device  invent- 
ed and  patented  by  Jlr,  Ball,  which  forms  and 
perfects  the  beam  at  a  single  operation,  and 
without  the  use  of  which  this  peculiar  beam 
could  not  be  constructed.  It  is  the  only  beam 
ever  contrived  that  forms  a  direct  attachment 
and  support  to  every  part  of  the  plow,  while 
its  curved  shape  insures  the  greatest  strength 
and  rigidit}-,  certainly  superior  to  any  wood  or 
or  cast  beam.  Its  unapproached  lightness, 
finnness  and  durability,  as  well  as  adaptability 
to  various  conditions  of  soil,  combine  to  render 
the  '•  Red  Jacket  "  a  most  desirable,  econom- 
ical and  easy  working  plow.  That  it  is  in  high 
favor  with  the  farming  community  is  demon- 
strated by  the  fact  that  the  demand  therefor 
is  constantly  in  excess  of  the  supply,  thus  ne- 
cessitating a  large  addition  to  the  works  this 
season,  whereby  their  producing  capacity  will 
be  increased  fully  one-third.  No  traveling 
men  are  employed,  as  these  superior  imple- 
ments sell  readily  on  their  merits. 

While  Messrs.  Ball  &  Co,  make  the  Red 
Jacket  Plow  tiieir  leading  specialty,  they  also 
manufacture  some  fifteen  other  kinds  and 
styles  of  plows,  to  suit  different  soils  and  con- 
ditions, including  the  favorite  •'  Tornado  " 
brand,  all  of  whicli  find  appreciative  patrons 
in  the  various  sections  of  country,  to  the  re- 
quirements of  which  they  are  best  adapted. 

Tiie  Red  Jacket  Plow  Works  are  as  well 
and  substantiallj'  built  shops  as  any  in  the 
State.  The  main  building  is  of  brick,  two 
stories,  with  dimensions  of  70x100  feet  ;  the 


33-2 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


blacksmith  and  molding  shop,  100x40  feet : 
the  grinding  and  finishing  department.  36x50 
feet :  the  engine  room.  36x20  feet  ;  the  ware- 
house 30x140  feet.  These  works  are  ver}-  con- 
veniently arranged,  and  supplied  with  every 
modem  mechanical  device  calculated  to  facili- 
tate and  economize  the  manufacture  of  the 
several  styles  of  plows  here  produced.  The 
number  of  hands  given  regular  employment  is 
thirty,  and  the  total  value  of  implements  turned 
out  in  1879  was  150.000.  which  aggregate  will  be 
considerably  exceeded  this  year.  The  Red 
Jacket  aiid  other  plows  made  irt  this  establish- 
ment are  weU  known  and  in  extensive  use 
throughout  the  States  of  Ohio.  Indiana.  Michi- 
gan. Wisconsin  and  Western  Pennsylvania, 
and  the  demand  therefor  is  steadih"  augment- 
ing. Messrs.  A.  Ball  &  Co.  have  been  pro- 
prietors of  these  works  some  three  years,  and 
by  superior  skill,  indefatigable  efforts  and  ex- 
cellent management,  they  have  carried  this 
industry  forward  to  a  condition  of  substantial 
prosperity. 

Bueher.  Gibbs  &  Co.  also  manufacture  plows 
on  a  large  scale,  at  their  extensive  works  on 
East  Tuscarawas  street,  which  have  a  wide- 
spread and  well-deserved  reputation.  They  are 
an  old  c-ompany.  well  situated,  and  their  work 
is  well  done  and  well  known  over  a  large  extent 
of  country.  They  have  done  much  to  build  up 
and  establish  the  building  of  Canton  on  a  firm 
foundation.  They  employ  between  seventy  and 
eighty  hands,  and  turn  out  about  $120,000  of 
work  annually. 

The  Chieftain  Hay  Rakes  are  also  mannfact 
ured  in  Canton  in  great  numbers,  and  are  wide- 
ly and  favorably  known,  never  failing  to  give 
satisfaction  where  they  have  been  introfluce<l. 
and  that  is  in  every  direction,  both  far  and 
near.  They  are  always  in  demand,  and  meet 
with  a  ready  sale.  The  business  was  carried 
on  by  Mrs.  J.  B.  WUson.  admirably  and  suc- 
cessfully, for  several  years  after  the  death  of 
her  husband,  who  started  the  business  many 
years  ago.  Her  father.  Adam  Koontz.  deceased, 
was  an  excellent  business  man,  and  she  seems 
to  have  inherited  much  of  his  business  ability. 
There  was  probably  no  business  in  Canton  car- 
ried on  more  systematically,  energetically  or 
successfully  than  hers.  A  short  time,  about  a 
year.  ago.  she  disposed  of  the  business  to  sev- 
eral parties,  who,  under  the  title  of  the  Chieftain 
Hay  Rake  Company,  have  since  carried  it  on. 


The  inventor  of  Ney"s  Patent  Lever  Hay 
Elevator  and  Conveyer,  having  for  years  been 
engaged  in  building  and  putting  up  hay  eleva- 
tors, found  that  most  of  tliose  in  use  did  not 
properly  perform  their  work,  and  failed  of  giv- 
ing satisfaction  to  the  farmers  employing  them. 
He  therefore  set  at  work  to  invent  an  elevator 
that  would  embody  all  the  advantages  and  avoid 
the  defects  of  those  heretofore  in  use  ;  one  that 
would  give  entire  satisfaction.  This  he  claims 
to  have  done  in  the  invention  which  we  describe 
in  this  article. 

This  invention,  as  set  forth  in  the  inventor's 
application  for  letters  patent,  relates  to  the  con- 
trolling of  the  carriage  and  the  operation  of  the 
elevating-head  in  that  class  of  elevators  in 
which  the  load  is  elevated  by  means  of  a  head 
or  block  operated  by  a  rope  and  pulleys,  to  a 
carriage  or  frame  which  travels  back  and  forth 
on  an  elevated  track,  and  carries  the  load  held 
by  the  head  to  any  desired  point  within  the 
limits  of  the  track  :  and  it  has  for  its  objects 
to  simultaneously  lock  the  elevating-head  and 
release  the  carriage  when  the  load  has  been  ele- 
vated, and  to  simultaneously  release  the  ele- 
vating-head and  lock  the  carriage  when  it  is 
returned  after  the  load  has  been  deposited,  both 
of  which  operations  are  performed  automat- 
ically, to  prevent  any  accidental  movement  of 
the  de\ices  by  which,  the  locking  and  releasing 
are  obtained,  and  to  guide  and  operate  the  ele- 
vating-head so  as  to  insure  its  engagement 
with  the  locking  de\-iees  and  attachments  to  the 
carriage  or  frame  :  and  its  nature  consists  in 
pro\iding  a  stationary'  disk  having  a  concave 
face,  and  locked  at  one  end  of  the  track,  and 
arranged  to  engage  with  a  locking  lever,  or  arm. 
and  hold  the  carriage  or  frame  while  the  load 
is  being  elevatetl.  and  release  the  elevating-head 
when  the  carriage  is  returned,  for  which  purpose 
the  lever,  or  arm.  is  provided  with  a  projection, 
which  ensrages  the  concave  face  of  the  disk  ;  in 
providing  a  spring  located  on  the  locking  lever, 
or  arm.  for  preventing  any  accidental  movement 
of  the  arm  ;  in  providing  a  hook  or  latch  pi%- 
oted  or  connected  to  the  arm,  or  lever,  so  that 
the  movement  of  the  arm.  or  lever,  will  operate 
the  hook  or  latch  as  required,  for  engagement 
with  or  disengagement  from  the  elevating- head  ; 
in  providing  a  bell-shaped  guide,  located  on 
the  carriage  or  frame  beneath  the  engaging  hook 
or  latf;h,  and  having  an  oi^ening  into  which  the 
point  or  latch  projects,  through  v>  hich  opening 


:^ 


AXTriV    TOWNS  HI  P- 


a  slatted  point  on  the  elevating-L- 
to  engage  the  locking  arm.  or  lever,  uiid  •  >j^".-rate 
the  lever  to  throw  the  latch  or  hook  into  en- 
gagement with  the  elevating-head. 

The  attachment  of  the  lifting  rope  is  such 
that  it  cannot  twist  and  even  if  it  did  it 
would  be  all  right  before  the  lifting-head  had 
reached  the  locking  arm  or  lever. 

However  formidable  max  seem  the  descri{>- 
tion  of  this  new  invention,  it  is  but  proper  to 
remark  that  its  operation  is  simple  and  perfect. 
In  short-  as  a  labor  sa\-ing  device,  it  is  a  pro- 
nounced success.  These  elevators  are  manu- 
factured bv  Messrs.  Ney  &;  Kiunev.  at  Canton. 
Ohio. 

The  great  corporation,  known  as  the  Diel»oki 
Safe  &  Lock  Company.  o{)erates  the  seci>nd 
lai^est  industrial  establishment  in  Canton,  and 
has  accomplished  much  in  the  direction  of  dis- 
seminating and  conserving  the  fair  fame  of  this 
city's  products  for  positive  excellence  in  style, 
quality,  finish  and  durability.  The  business, 
of  which  this  vast  concern  is  the  outgrowth, 
was  originally  established  many  years  ago  in 
Cincinnati  by  the  firm  of  Diebold.  Bahman  & 
Co..  who  were  succeeded  by  Diebold  &  Kienzle. 
Their  business  so  rapidly  increased  that  in  the 
course  of  time  their  manufacturing  facilities 
proved  inadequate  to  meet  the  augmenting  de- 
mand for  their  superior  safes,  and  consequently 
they  concluded  to  seek  another  site  for  the 
erection  of  new  and  greatly  enlarged  works. 
Finding  in  Canton  an  eligible  location  for  this 
enterprise,  they  determineil  to  remove  their 
establishment  from  Cincinnati  to  this  city,  which 
change  was  eifectetl  in  the  year  1 872.  To  accom- 
mrtlate  their  expanding  op>erations,  they  had 
erected  extensive  brick  workshops.  esi>ecially 
designed  and  adapted  for  the  requirements  of 
this  particular  industry,  and  in  its  admirable 
plan  of  arrangement,  convenience  in  every  de- 
partment, and  facility  and  economy  of  manu- 
facturing operations,  the  firm  brought  to  l>ear 
their  combineil  skill  and  experience,  thus  de- 
veloping and  completing  the  model  safe  works 
of  the  world.  This  is  the  only  safe  manufact- 
ory on  the  continent  specially  built  and  ar- 
rangeil  for  the  purpose  to  which  it  is  devoted, 
and  unquestionably  its  facilities  for  the  rapid 
production  of  safes,  if  equaled,  are  unsur- 
passed. 

Since  these  works  were  first  erected,  it  has 
been  found  necessarv,  in  or\ler  to  answer  the 


growing  popular  demand  fnr  their  prodoct.  to 

CO:.- - 

str  -  '  - 

as  ■  - 

objects  in   this  liiriving  iodusuiai  cuy.     Tire 
main  building  is  of  brick,  with  slate  roof.  50 
feet  in  width.  ha\ing  a  frontage  of  4<> '  '"    "     : 
Mulberry  street  :  250  feet  on  the  lin- 
Pittsburgh.  Fort  Wayne  &  Chicago  T.^ 
and  150  feet  sooth  on  the  alley.    This  series  oi 
mammoth  buildings   forming  three  sides  of  a 
hollow  square.  !-     '         -'   ries.     The':'  "r 
tachments  or  ^  one  story.  - 

east  from  the  M  -     -:-t  section,  e  :        - 

the  filling  room,  measuring  llMJx4t»  feci;  lire 
brass  foundrv.  75x40  f*^t :  the  engine  room. 
25x30  feet,  and  thi-   -  .-----..- 

There  are.  besides.  ~ 

the  rear,  used  for  the  -        _  -       -  - 

buildings  are  heateti  Laruugiivui  by  su:am. 
Each  department  is  supplied  with  a  foil  equip- 
ment of  improved  machinery  and  appliances 
requisite  to  the  expeditious  performance  of  the 
work  in  its  several  stages,  and  there  is  no  de- 
vice or  convenience  which  the  t^t  of  science 
and  experienc-e  could  commend  as  advanta- 
geous which  has  not  U-eu  adopted  by  this  en- 
terprising and  progressive  concern.  Their  ar- 
rangements for  receiving  materials  and  shipping 
finished  product  are  all  that  need  be  desired. 
A  siding  from  the  Pittsburgh  Fort  Wa\-ne  & 
Chic-ago  Railroad  r::   -      _'      '  '       -   of 

the  works,  and  con:.  -      -  -e 

new  Valley  Railway   -  --s 

can  be  unloaded  just  where  tiic-y  are  wauted. 
and  the  ponderous  safes,  which  are  shipped  to 
all  parts  of  the  country,  are  •  skidded ""  directly 
on  to  the  cars  for  transportation,  without  ex- 
pense for  handling  or  drayage.  The  present 
capacitv  of  the  works  is  thirty  complete  safes 
per  day. 

In  the  year  1S74.  the  style  of  the  firm 
changed  to  Diebold.  Norris  &:  Co..  and  in  1S76. 
a  joint  stock  company  was  or^amzed  and  in- 
corporated, under  the  name  of  the  Diebold  Safe 
&  Lock  Company,  and  the  Juisiness  has  since 
been  conducted  by  '.'  '•  '■'' 

ample  c-Apital.  thor'_ 
system,  fortifieil  by        _    ,     .  ■     .      \; 
are   enabled  to  succwssiuilv  compete  wi;ii  i.. 
other  makers   of  safes.     The   officers   of   the 
company  are  W.  W.  Clark.  President :  John  W. 
Xorris.  Vice   President :   D.   Tvler.   Secretary 


'W 


334 


IIl^STORY  OF    (STARK    COUXTY. 


and  Treasurer.  The  gentleman  last-named  has 
general  charge  of  the  works  and  their  products. 

Branch  stores  and  warerooms  of  tiie  coin- 
pan}'  are  established  at  57  State  street,  Chicago, 
under  the  management  of  Mr.  John  W.  Norris, 
Vice  President;  at  312  California  street,  San 
Francisco  ;  27  Canal  street,  New  Orleans  ;  103 
Superior  street,  Cleveland ;  291  Broadway-, 
New  York ;  5G  Sudbury  street,  Boston  ;  89 
Main  street,  Houston,  Texas.  At  all  these  dis- 
tributing depots  a  full  line  of  these  safes  is 
carried.  There  is  no  occasion  for  hesitancy  in 
stating  that  the  manufactures  of  this  establish- 
ment, which  are  to  be  found  in  almost  every 
place  of  any  importance  on  this  broad  conti- 
nent, have  withstood  the  severest  tests  from 
fire,  and  the  desperate  attempts  of  burglars, 
with  more  uniform  success  than  any  other  make 
of  safes  on  the  market. 

The  great  fire  in  Chicago  fully  demonstrated 
their  splendid  heat-repelling  qualities.  No  less 
than  878  of  the  Diebold  safes  were  subjected 
to  that  terribly  trying  ordeal,  and  the  record 
shows  that  they  preserved  their  contents  in- 
tact and  uninjured.  Had  they  never  been  thus 
tested  in  any  othei'  instance,  this  single  striking 
fact  would  be  amply  sufficient  to  convince 
every  one  of  their  strictly  fire-proof  qualities  ; 
but  in  thousands  of  cases  have  they  been  tried 
with  equal  severity,  and  with  equall}-  success- 
ful results.  Hence  there  is  now  no  question 
rai.sed  on  this  score.  Quite  as  important,  how- 
ever, is  the  assurance  of  a  safe  being  abso- 
lutel}'  burglar-proof  That  this  can  justly  be 
claimed  for  the  safe  under  notice  is  evidenced 
by  brief  reference  to  its  approved  scientific 
principle  of  construction.  The  entire  surface 
is  of  solid  steel  of  a  quality  and  temper  best 
capable  of  resistance  to  hammering  and  drill- 
ing. The  improved  tenon  and  groove  employed 
renders  these  safes  air-tight  and  prevents  the 
introduction  of  wedges  or  explosive  com- 
pounds ;  while  l)y  the  use  of  the  Burton  cut- 
off  spindle,  which  this  companj'  exclusively 
controls,  angular  connection  is  made  with  the 
lock,  thus  obviating  direct  entrance.  The  lock 
itself  is  thoroughly  protected  by  alternate  lay- 
ers of  iron  and  steel,  which  are  perfect  protec- 
tion against  both  powder  and  drill.  Thus  is 
this  usuall}'  most  vulneralile  part  of  the  safe 
rendered  absolutely  impeneti-able.  Another  of 
the  notable  improvements  adopted  by  this  com- 
pan}'  is  a  patent  round-cornered  door,  of  which 


the}-  are  the  sole  manufacturers,  protected  liy 
patent  issued  in  1877,  whereby  the  strength 
and  inaccessibility  of  their  safes  are  greatly 
promoted.  All  in  all,  it  can  advisedl}-  be 
claimed  that  for  reliability,  durability  and  me- 
chanical perfection,  the  Diebold  Safe  &  Lock 
Co.'s  safes  are  without  an  equal  in  the  market. 

Their  line  of  manufacture  comprises  liank, 
store,  office  and  house  safes,  safe-deposit  vaults 
and  vault  doors,  express  boxes  and  railroad 
safes,  jail  and  other  wrought-iron  work  wherein 
superior  strength  and  safety  are  factors. 

A  safe-deposit  vault  for  the  German-Ameri- 
can Bank,  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  has  recently  been 
completed  by  this  company.  This  burglar- 
proof  work  has  outer  walls  of  solid  metal  two 
and  a  half  inches  thick,  constructed  of  one 
slab  of  the  Chrome  Steel  Co.'s  five-ply  metal, 
one  of  Park  Bros.  &  Co.'s  five-ply,  one  of  An- 
derson &  Co.'s  five  pi}-,  a  fourth  of  Park  Bros. 
&  Co.'s  three-ply.  and  one  layer  of  charcoal 
iron  inside.  The  corners  are  perfectly  solid — 
the  steel  being  specially  angled  for  the  purpose, 
so  that  the  would-be  burglar  has  no  advantage 
from  a  corner  seam  or  joint  to  start  with. 

The  method  employed  for  making  the  metal 
for  safe  walls  may  be  briefly  described  as  fol- 
lows :  If  for  five-ply,  then  three  pieces  of  iron 
are  set  in  the  ingot  mold  at  the  proper  dis- 
tance apart,  and  the  intervening  spaces  filled 
with  molten  steel.  The  ingot  is  then  rolled  into 
slabs,  and  is  ready  for  the  safe-maker'.s  use. 
When  three-ply  is  to  be  made,  the  same  process  is 
followed,  except  that  only  one  piece  of  iron  is 
set  into  the  mold.  This  company  make  all  the 
locks  for  their  safes  and  vaults  of  the  combina- 
tion pattern,  and  they  arc  pronounced  unex- 
celled in  point  of  safety,  it  being  actually  im- 
possible to  pick  them,  or  to  throw  back  the 
bolts  without  knowing  the  combination. 

Their  largest  piece  of  work  was  the  San 
Francisco  Safe  Deposit  Company's  vaults. 
The  vault  of  this  magnificent  safe  has  dimen- 
sions of  twenty-seven  feet  in  width,  thirty-two 
feet  in  length,  and  fourteen  feet  in  height.  Its 
walls  are  of  the  best  welded  wrought  iron  and 
steel,  three  inches  in  thickness,  and  compactly 
knitted  together  by  double  rows  of  conical 
bolts.  The  sides,  floor  and  top  are  overlaid 
with  nine  inches  of  fire-proof  cement,  with  an 
outer  layer  of  iron — the  whole  adjusted  in 
heavy  masonry.  The  vault  is  provided  with 
double  doors  at  either  end,  the  outer  ones  being 


■^ 


CANTON    TOWNSHIP. 


33=) 


six  inches  tiiick,  each  made  inaccessible  to  the 
unauthorized  by  two  of  the  Diebold  Safe  & 
Lock  Co.'s  Peerless  Burghir-proot'  Locks.  The 
interior  of  tlie  vault  has  4, GOO  compartments, 
varying  in  dimensions.  3,000  of  which  are  fur- 
nished with  key  locks,  separately  and  distinctly 
operative,  and  the  remaining  1  .GOO  have  su- 
perior coml)ination  locks.  This  wonderful 
product  of  mechanical  ingenuity  and  skill  was 
awarded  to  the  Diebold  Company,  in  competi- 
tion with  about  a  dozen  bidders,  and  was  com- 
l)leted  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  parties 
for  whom  it  was  constructed,  at  an  expenditure 
of  $100,000.  Some  idea  of  the  magnitude  of 
this  contract  may  be  formed  when  it  is  stated 
that  no  less  than  fort3'-seven  ears  were  required 
to  transport  these  colossal  vaults  in  sections 
across  the  continent.  The  manufacture  of  this 
monster  specimen  of  mechanic  art  maj'  well  be 
denominated  one  of  the  signal  achievements  of 
American  skill  and  enterprise. 

The  Mercliants'  Safe  Deposit  Vaults,  owned 
and  controlled  b\'  the  Jlerchants'  National 
Bank  of  Chicago,  are  probablj',  next  to  the  San 
Francisco  vault,  the  largest  in  the  country-,  and 
were  constructed  bj-  the  Diebold  Co.  This 
magnificent  vault  is  one  of  Chicago's  objects  of 
interest,  and  is  inspected  by  visitors  with  many 
expressions  of  coufitlence  in  its  impregnabilit}-, 
and  the  utility  and  convenience  of  the  safe  de- 
positories. These  vaults  have  a  capacity  for 
over  4,000  safe  deposit  boxes.  A  large  ma- 
jority of  the  banks  and  corporations  of  Chicago 
use  the  Diebold  safes,  as  do  also  the  American 
and  United  States  Express  Companies,  the 
North- Western  and  other  railroads,  and  the  lead- 
ing merchants,  prominent  among  which  are 
P'leld.  Leiter  &  Co.;  C.  M.  Henderson  &  Co.; 
Hll)l)ard,  Spencer  i  Co.;  W.  W.  Kimball,  and 
hundreds  of  others.  The  Palmer  House  has  a 
strong  and  at  the  same  time  beautiful  and 
unique  safe,  made  especially  for  Mr.  Palmer, 
upon  plans  fnrnisiied  by  the  company.  But  it 
would  be  impossible  to  give  a  list  of  all  the 
patrons  of  this  corapanj-.  Sutlice  It  to  sa}-, 
that  where  contracts  are  awarded  on  the  opin- 
ions of  disinterested  experts,  the  Diel)old  safe 
generally  gets  the  preference,  for  then  all  the 
strong  points  receive  due  consideration. 

The  numerous  new  uses  to  which  steel  is 
now  being  put.  as  Is  indicated  b}-  the  rapidly- 
increasing  demand  for  this  metal,  go  to  prove 
that  we  have  already  crossed  the  threshold  of 


the  "  steel  age."  Stimulated  by  this  augment- 
ing demand  on  every  hand  for  fine  grades  of 
steel  for  almost  innumerable  purposes,  the  en- 
terprising and  progressive  steel  manufacturers 
of  this  countr}'  have  of  late  years  perfected 
and  introduced  new  and  improved  productive 
processes,  whereby  they  are  enabled  to  make 
a  far  better  quality  of  steel  than  they  were 
capable  of  producing  ten,  or  even  five,  years 
ago.  .  So  great  has  been  this  improvement, 
ment,  that  latterlj-  the  finest  grades  of  the  out- 
put of  American  steel  works  have  received  the 
unqualified  Indorsement  of  the  most  experi- 
enced antl  exacting  users  of  this  metal  in  their 
industrial  operations — those  who,  a  few  years 
since,  had  really  believed  it  to  be  impossible 
for  our  home  manufacturers  to  make  such  a 
quality  of  this  article  as  would  compare  favor- 
ably with  the  fine  Shetheld  and  other  long-time 
famous  foreign  steels.  But  what  is  the  situa- 
tion in  this  regard  at  present  ?  The  answer  is 
a  most  gratifying  one.  To-daj-  our  manufact- 
urers of  saws,  tools,  cutlery,  and  man^-  other 
products  re(iulring  the  highest  grade  of  ma- 
terial, are  employing  exclusively  steel  of 
American  make,  as  it  proves  fully  equal  to  the 
best  foreign  product,  and,  consequeutlj',  has 
almost  entirely  supplanted  the  latter  in  the  do- 
mestic market. 

Canton  enjoys  the  credit  of  having  one  of  the 
most  complete  manufactories  of  steel  in  the 
country — the  Canton  Steel  M'orks — of  which 
Messrs.  Bolton,  Bulley  it  Co.  are  the  proprie- 
tors. The  premises  occupied  by  these  works 
have  an  area  of  about  two  and  a  half  acres, 
very  conveniently  situated  on  the  line  of  the 
Pittsburgh,  Fort  Wayne  &  Chicago  Railway, 
with  switch-track  connection  with  both  that 
and  the  Vallc}'  Railway,  and  will  have  direct 
connection  with  all  the  railroads  now  under 
construction  t<j  this  city,  thus  affording  them 
first-class  receiving  and  shipping  advantages  in 
every  din^ctlon.  Their  liulldlngs  comprise  an 
iron-clad  rolling-mill,  sixty-four  by  two  hun- 
dred and  seventy  feet,  with  an  addition  sixteen 
by  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet,  used  as  a  boiler 
room.  The  open-hearth  melting-shop  is  thirt}- 
by  eighty  feet,  crucible  shop  thirty  by  sixtj-- 
five  feet,  and  warehouse  thirty-six  by  eighty- 
five  feet ;  open-hearth  shop  twenty-nine  by 
seventy-one  feet,  machine-shop,  laboratory  and 
other  adjuncts  admirably  adapted  for  the  suc- 
cessful pro.sccution  of  this  industry.     The  mo- 


336 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


tive  power  is  supplied  by  four  steam  engines, 
with  combined  capacity  of  700  liorse.  Ttie 
meclianical  equipment  is  of  a  superior  order, 
embracini;  all  the  modern  improved  appliances 
needful  for  the  expedite  and  economic  produc- 
tion of  the  finest  steel.  There  are  two  mills, 
one  twenty-inch  and  the  other  twelve- inch,  with 
a  solid  foundation  composed  of  165,000  brick 
under  the  twenty-inch  mills  and  engines. 
Three  steam  hammers,  one  and  one-half,- one- 
half  and  one-fourth  tons,  are  employed,  together 
with  many  ingenious  and  expensive  tools  and 
devices  for  the  varied  processes  required  in  the 
several  stages  of  manufacture.  Among  these 
is  a  Pratt  '&  Whitney  (Flartford)  Hollaway's 
machine  for  cutting  shafting  to  exactly  uniform 
lengths — a  very  valuable  apparatus.  One  of 
the  notable  conveniences  of  this  model  estab- 
lishment is  a  system  of  tramways  traversing  in 
all  directions  the  mills  and  yard,  upon  which 
the  raw  material,  product  in  process  of  manu- 
facture and  finished  goods  are  transported  with 
great  facility.  The  capacity-  of  the  melting- 
shops  is  fourteen  tons  ever}-  twenty-four  hours, 
double  turn.  There  is  a  well-appointed  ma- 
chine-shop for  performing  necessary  repairs, 
and  in  every  department  a  scene  of  tiie  most 
intense  activitj-  is  presented.  Tlie  reporter 
took  a  tour  of  inspection  through  the  shops, 
and  was  impressed  with  the  perfect  conven- 
ience of  arrangement  apparent  on  every  hand, 
and  the  thorough  sj'stem  established  through- 
out the  works — important  factors  in  the  suc- 
cessful management  of  so  extensive  an  nidustry 
as  is  here  carried  on.  The  fine  laboratory  of 
this  concern  is  under  the  immediate  charge  of 
Mr.  R.  H.  BuUey,  one  of  the  firm,  who  is  an 
expert  chemist,  and  possesses  an  intimate 
knowledge  of  the  science  of  steel  working. 
They  have  the  most  approved  appliances  for 
making  both  crucible  and  open-hearth  steel,  but 
are  at  present  producing  only  the  latter,  as  by 
this  process  the)-  are  enabled  to  manufacture  a 
quality  of  steel  which  excels  the  crucil)le  iu 
every  particular. 

Mr.  Ogden  Bolton,  of  this  firm,  has  secured 
letters-patent  upon  an  important  improvement 
in  the  manufacture  of  steel  b}'  the  open-hearth 
process,  the  same  consisting  iu  first  charging 
the  carbon  on  the  bottom  of  the  open  hearth, 
and  charging  the  blooms  or  soft  steel  or  any 
part  of  them  on  top  of  the  carbonaceous  matter 
previous  to  fusion,  so  that  the  iron  maj-  melt 


on  the  surface  of  the  carbon  and  become  car- 
burized  as  it  percolates  through  it.  By  this 
process  the  carbon  is  packed  in  boxes  or  canis- 
ters and  charged  on  the  bottom  of  the  open 
hearth,  and  then  the  blooms  or  soft  steel  there- 
on. When  the  mass  is  melted,  after  or  at  the 
time  molten  metal  is  tapped  from  the  furnace, 
ferro-manganese  or  spiegeleisen  is  added.  Bj' 
this  new  method  is  attained  the  production  of 
high  grades  of  steel,  suitable  for  tools,  etc.,  for 
which  the  more  expensive  crucible  steel  has 
heretofore  lieen  exclusivel}-  employed.  It  is 
a  carburizing,  not  a  decarburizing,  process, 
whereby  a  grade  of  steel  is  produced  equal  in 
qualit_v  to  the  best  English  tool-steel.  Messrs. 
Bolton,  Bulle^'  &  Co.  manufiicture  the  various 
descriptions  of  the  fine  east-steel,  including  pat- 
ent rolled  machinery  steel,  oil  and  water  tem- 
pered spring  steel,  round  and  square  edged  tire 
steel,  gun-barrel  and  set-screw  steel,  and  tool 
steel,  making  the  latter  a  specialty,  as  also 
patent  polished  machinery  steel  of  superior 
quality  and  finish.  All  these  goods  have  achieved 
an  enviable  reputation  wherever  the}'  have  been 
used,  and  are  in  constantly  increasing  demand. 
This  firm  produce  several  grades  of  steel,  uni- 
formly tempered  for  special  purposes,  designat- 
ed by  colored  labels.  The  "  Canton  "  brand 
(yellow  label)  is  best  suited  for  the  hardware 
trade,  answering  for  machinists,  blacksmiths, 
etc.  The  "  Canton  Soft ''  (blue  label)  is  adapted 
for  oil-well  jars,  and  tools  subject  to  constant 
concussions.  The  "  Canton  Hard  '  (dark  red 
label)  is  only  required  for  taps,  dies,  reamers, 
lathe  tools,  and  other  work  necessitating  a 
strong,  hard  edge.  The  '•  Canton  Extra  Hard  " 
and  "  Canton  Choice  "  are  designed  for  specific 
purposes.  Their  warehouse  is  pronounced  to 
liave  the  most  convenient  and  advantageous 
stoi'age  facilities  of  any  similar  concern  in  the 
countrj".  There  is  a  sj-steraatic  arrangement 
and  classification  of  the  different  grades  and 
brands  produced,  so  tliat  they  are  enabled  to 
suppl}'  orders  with  perfect  aceuracj'  and  great 
dispatch.  Here  they  keep  in  stock  some  150 
to  200  tons  of  well  assorted  finished  product. 
The  present  capacity  of  these  works  is  3,000  net 
tons  per  year,  giving  occupation  to  140  skilled 
mechanics.  Their  annual  output  on  present 
basis  of  operations  reaches  ^-100,000  in  value. 
They  have  an  extensive  trade  in  all  sections  of 
the  country,  especially  in  the  West,  selling  a 
large  amountof  goods  in  Chicago.  Theirsuperior 


-£. 


CANTON    TOWNSHII' 


337 


spring  steel  is  used  by  four  ol'tlie  largest  manu- 
facturers of  springs  in  the  West.  A  warehouse 
list  of  their  varied  product,  containing  full 
directions  as  to  ordering  any  required  descrip- 
tions of  steel,  is  furnished  at  reiiuest. 

The  Canton  Wrought  Iron  Bridge  Company,  a 
large  and  successful  establishment,  was  orig- 
inalh'  put  in  operation  about  fifteen  years  ago, 
and  was  a  partnership  concern  up  to  1871, 
when  it  was  incorporated  under  the  State 
laws,  with  a  capital  of  $10(3.000.  This  coni- 
pan\'  have  built  more  highway  bridges  since 
they  started  than  any  other  works  in  the 
country.  They  have  erected  about  3,300 
spans,  varying  iu  length  from  20  to  301  feet, 
and  in  width  from  (i  to  120  feet,  aggregating 
over  33  miles  in  length.  This  work  has  been 
erected  in  twent3--fi\e  different  States  and  the 
Dominion  of  Canada,  and  includes  nearly  all 
forms  of  truss,  arch,  swing  and  plate  bridge 
and  iron  piers.  The  material  they  use  iu  the 
construction  of  bridges  is  specially  manufact- 
ured for  them  under  the  most  rigid  speci- 
fications, as  to  tensile  strength  and  fiuality, 
and  is  critically  tested  on  its  arrival  at  the 
shops.  Their  bridges  are  built  on  scientific 
principles,  approved  b3'  long  and  thorough  ex- 
perience, and  the  utmost  caution  is  exercised 
in  their  erection.  In  all  the  work  they  have 
executed,  there  has  not  been  a  single  case  of 
failure  or  accident,  under  protracted  usage  for 
road  travel  or  excessively  trying  tests.  Such 
an  exceptional  record  is  certainlj-  worthy  of 
consideration. 

Their  facilities  for  accurate  and  reliable  work 
are  unequaled  by  those  of  anv  similar  estab- 
lishment, and  enal)le  them  to  complete  con- 
tracts with  great  dispatch.  The  skilled  work- 
ing force  of  the  Canton  Wrought  Iron  Bridge 
Company  average  150  men,  and  their  product 
last  year  aggregated  §500,000.  Olticers :  I). 
Hammond,  President ;  J.  Abbott.Vice  President 
and  Chief  Engineer  ;  C.  H.  Jackson,  Treasurer 
and  Secretary. 

Mr.  P.  P.  Bush,  proprietor  of  the  well- 
known  Novelt}'  Iron  Works,  is  a  practical  ma- 
chinist of  long  experience,  and  was  formerly 
established  in  business  in  New  Haven,  Conn. 
In  1871,  concluding  to  locate  at  a  point  easy 
of  access  to  the  great  Western  markets,  he 
fixed  upon  Canton  as  an  advantageous  place 
for  the  prosecution  of  his  industrj-,  and  in 
that   year   removed  his  tools  and  fixtures  to 


this  city,  taking  the  shops  forraerlv  occupied 
l)v  the  Canton  iMalleal)le  Iron  Works,  where  he 
has  ever  since  transacted  a  successful  business. 
At  these  works  are  constructed  in  the  most 
faithful  and  scientific  manner,  several  styles  of 
stationary  engines,  mill  machinery,  and  archi- 
tectural iron  work,  for  which  the  shops  have 
admirable  facilities  and  appliances.  In  these 
lines  they  supply  chiefly-  the  local  trade,  selling 
largely  to  the  towns  and  cities  in  Stark  and 
adjoining  counties.  Mr.  Bush  owns  the  largest 
stock  of  patterns  in  Northern  Ohio,  and  hence 
his  peculiar  advantages  for  executing  with  dis- 
patch every  class  of  work  in  the  stated  depart- 
ments. He  is  now  putting  iron  fronts  into 
two  new  buildings  in  Canton,  and  is  kept  quite 
busy  on  first-class  contracts,  giving  enii)loy- 
ment  to  an  average  of  thirty-five  skilled  me- 
chanics. His  product  in  1879  amounted  to 
$65,000.  The  fouiKhy  has  a  measurement  of 
COxlGO  feet,  and  the  machine  shop  60x60 
feet.  These  buildings  are  situated  in  close 
proximity  to  the  railroads,  thus  affording 
unsurpassed  shipping  facilities.  The  most 
widely-known  of  Mr.  Bush's  manufactures  is 
the  ••  Imperial  "  job  printing  press,  which 
possesses  some  important  features  of  advantage 
over  any  other  press  in  the  market.  Its  peculi- 
arities of  construction  and  mechanism  are  : 
All  the  working  parts  are  built  upon  horizontal 
steel  bars,  capable  of  sustaining  a  tensile  test 
of  fifty  tons  each,  without  liability  to  fracture. 
The  impression  is  made  with  a  powerful  tog- 
gle, giving  a  dead  dwell  on  the  impression, 
while  the  entire  force  of  the  impression  is  ex- 
erted upon  these  steel  bars.  No  springing  of 
the  platen  or  bed  is  possible,  and  a  stpiare. 
uniform  impression  is  insured,  the  power  being 
applied  directl}'  hrhind  the  bed,  thus  obviating 
all  slurring.  The  tension  of  the  rollers  is 
easily  regulated  by  a  single  nut  on  the  spring, 
so  that  the  pressman  can  adapt  the  pressure 
to  any  sized  form.  The  press  runs  easily  and 
smoothly,  and  can  be  speeded  according  to  the 
dexterity  of  the  feeder.  Its  superior  simplicity, 
strength,  power,  ease  and  economy  of  running, 
and  facility  of  making-ready,  are  recommend- 
ations which  eveiy  practical  job  printer  will 
appreciate.  A  novel  feature  about  this  press 
is  that  there  is  not  a  cam  in  the  entire  mechan- 
ism ;  the  first  and  onlj-  jobber  ever  made  on 
this  principle.  The  device  for  giving  motion 
to  the  inking-rollers  is  also  new.     All  the  mo- 


ihL, 


338 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


tions  are  direct,  there  are  no  springs,  nothing 
likely  to  get  out  of  order,  and  the  press  is  the 
acme  of  simplicits'.  The  fraternity  will  do 
well  to  correspond  with  Mr.  Bush  regarding 
this  wonderful  and  most  successful  invention. 
The  proprietors  of  the  Canton  Spring  Works, 
Messrs.  D.  Cobaugh  and  H.  L.  Kuhns,  have  met 
with  signal  success  during  the  past  two  years 
in  the  manufacture  of  carriage,  wagon  and  seat 
springs  of  unsurpassed  iiuality  and  finish.  They 
succeeded  to  the  spring  liusiness  of  Ballard, 
Fast  &  Co.,  and  by  dint  of  incessant  perse- 
verance, practical  skill  and  good  management, 
have  built  up  a  trade  of  which  they  have  rea- 
son to  be  proud,  and  which  redounds  to  the 
credit^  this  thriving,  industrial  city.  They 
employ  only  the  best  quality  of  material,  with 
thoroughly  experienced  workmen  in  every  de- 
partment, and  every  requisite  mechanical  device 
to  secure  the  most  economical  and  perfect  pro- 
duction of  their  uniformly  excellent  goods. 
The  importance  of  the  proper  strength  and 
safety  of  vehicle  springs  is  generally  appreci- 
ated, and  in  this  connection  we  have  to  say  that 
the  Canton  Spring  Company  practically  and 
criticallj-  tests  every  spring  before  it  leaves 
the  shops,  thus  making  sure  that  no  faulty  or 
defective  goods  are  ever  placed  on  the  market 
by  them.  The  Canton  springs  have  attained 
an  extended  celebrity,  and  are  in  such  active 
demand  that  it  is  found  difficult  to  keep  up 
therewith,  rendering  it  necessary  to  increase  the 
producing  capacity  of  the  establishment  in  or- 
der to  supply  the  rapidly  growing  wants  of 
their  patrons,  who  are  located  as  far  AVest  as 
California,  east  to  Baltimore,  throughout  Ohio, 
and  in  all  parts  of  the  Northwest  and  South- 
west. Everywhere  that  these  goods  have  been 
introduced  and  put  into  practical  use,  there  is 
only  one  expression  in  regard  to  them — that 
they  possess  great  tensile  strength,  elasticity 
and  durability,  and  are  equal  to  the  best  in 
regard  to  quality,  style  and  workmanship.  These 
works  emploj-  eighty  skilled  artisans,  and  pro- 
duced last  year  springs  to  the  amount  of  135,- 
000,  which  at  current  prices  would  foot  up  to 
about  $200,000.  In  1879,  they  used  between 
1,300  and  1,400  tons  of  steel,  a  large  portion  of 
which  was  made  in  this  city,  it  being  of  unsur- 
passed quality  for  this  purpose.  Tiie  main 
building  has  dimensions  equivalent  to  300  by 
40  feet,  and  there  is  a  switch  track  running  into 
the   yard,  afR)rding  first  class   facilities  for  re- 


ceiving materials  and  shipping  product  to  all 
parts  of  the  couutrj^ 

In  a  long  time  we  have  not  seen  a  more  con- 
venient and  useful  contrivance  than  the  patent 
revolving  book-case  manufactured  of  different 
styles  and  patterns  by  Mr.  John  Danner,  of  this 
city.  During  the  last  five  jears  he  has  made 
these  cases,  and  so  highly  appreciated  and  popu- 
lar have  they  become  that  a  large  and  flnel}-  ap- 
pointed establisiiment  is  required  to  produce 
them  in  sutlicient  quantities  to  suppl}'  the  ever 
increasing  demand  from  all  parts  of  the  conti- 
nent and  even  foreign  countries.  Already  over 
C,000  of  these  serviceable  and  beautiful  -articles 
have  been  sold,  and  are  in  constant  use  by  law- 
yers, clergymen,  phj'sicians,  business  men,  public 
and  private  libraries,  courts,  public  institutions, 
reading  rooms,  literary  and  musical  societies, 
public  offices,  etc.  These  revolving  book-cases 
are  far  more  convenient  than  the  ordinary  book- 
ease,  occupy  but  little  space,  and  hold  more 
books  than  an3-  other  receptacle  of  equal  pro- 
portions ever  devised.  The  books  on  either  of 
the  four  sides  arc  readily  accessible  to  anj-  one 
sitting  at  a  table,  or  before  the  fire,  without 
moving  his  chair  or  rising.  These  cases  re- 
volve on  an  entirely  new  principle,  whereby  a 
slight  pressure  of  the  liand  will  bring  either 
side  to  view.  The  mechanism  is  so  simple  and 
durable  tiiat  it  is  not  at  all  liable  to  get  out  of 
oi'der,  while  the  case  is  so  substantially  con- 
structed that  it  will  last  a  lifetime.  These  ar- 
tistically finished  cases  are  made  in  the  most 
faithful  and  workmanlike  manner,  r)f  the  best 
selected  Western  ash  and  black  walnut,  and  are 
an  ornament  to  an^-  library  or  parlor.  The 
cases  are  made  of  any  desired  size  and  style  of 
finish,  with  wood  or  marble  top.  Mr.  Danner 
exhibited  one  of  his  elegant  revolving  cases  at 
the  Paris  International  Exhibition  in  1878. 
On  the  top  of  the  case  was  a  large  model  of  an 
American  schoolhouse.  The  exhibit  was  made 
under  the  auspices  of  the  National  Bureau  of 
Education,  and  nothing  in  this  department  was 
so  much  admired  for  its  beauty  and  utility. 
Its  appreciation  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  it 
was  honored   with  the  award  of  a  gold  medal. 

For  a  long  period  of  twent3'-one  years  the  re- 
putable firm  of  H.  W.  Werts  &  Co.  have  been 
engaged  in  the  manufiicture  of  fine  carriages  in 
this  city.  For  this  purpose  they  occupy  two 
spacious  buildings — a  neat  and  substantial 
brick  structure,  corner  of  Seventh  and  Poplar 


^i^ 


CANTON    TOWNSHIP 


■i.i'.) 


streets,  of  three  stories  above  the  basement, 
with  (liineiisions  of  forty-five  b^-  one  hundred 
antl  fifteen  feet,  and  the  wooil  department,  of 
two  stories,  frame,  thirty-live  b^-  seventy-five 
feet.  These  works  are  fitted  up  with  all  the 
modern  eonveniences  and  mechanical  devices 
calculated  to  facilitate  manufacturing  opera- 
tions on  an  extensive  scale.  The  basement  of 
the  main  building  is  used  for  storing  finished 
work.  On  the  street  floor  is  a  tastefully  fitted 
up  business  office,  leading  off  from  which  is  a 
commodious  repository,  where  may  be  seen  on 
exhibition  a  fine  stock  of  light  carriages  of 
graceful  proportions  and  elegant  finish.  In  the 
rear  part  is  tlie  smith  shop,  and  on  the  ne.vt  floor 
above  is  the  trimming  department  and  a  large 
storage  wareroom.  The  third  story  is  occupied 
for  painting  and  finishing  purposes.  In  all 
their  work  they  use  only  the  most  carefully 
selected  materials,  consulting  especially  the  re- 
quisites to  that  degree  of  lightness,  which  is 
compatible  with  proper  strength  and  great  dur- 
ability. With  this  desirable  end  in  view,  they 
employ  steel  axles,  steel  tires,  the  best  stock 
for  wheels,  Knglish  and  French  upholstering 
cloths  that  will  not  fade,  and  never  anv  split 
leather.  All  their  trimmings  are  first-class,  and 
the  paint  and  varnish  used  are  the  best  and 
most  durable  the  market  atlbrds.  It  is  not  suf- 
ficient for  them  to  turn  out  goods  that  look  well 
on  the  surface  ;  Init  the  work  all  through,  even 
to  the  smallest  particular,  is  performed  in  the 
most  painstaking  manner,  with  the  greatest  care 
that  nothing  shall  tsnter  into  the  construction 
of  their  vehicles  which  shall  prove  in  service 
otherwise  than  the  finest  and  best.  By  this 
means  Messrs,  Werts  &  Co,  have  succeeded  in 
establishing  a  reputation  of  the  highest  order, 
whicli  they  are  assiduous  in  permanentlj*  main- 
taining. They  give  employment  to  some  twenty- 
five  workmen,  most  of  whom  are  thoroughly  ex- 
perienced in  their  respective  trades,  so  that 
while  all  the  material  used  is  of  the  best  ([uality 
the  workmanship  is  correspondingly  excellent. 
Their  average  annual  production  of  fine  car- 
riages is  about  130,  valued  at  $30,000, 

The  well  known  concern,  the  Canton  Cutlery 
Company,  is  busily  at  work  turning  out  the  fine 
cutler}-  for  the  production  of  which  it  is  deserv- 
edly so  widely  noted.  The  line  of  goods  here 
made  embraces  a  great  variety  of  pocket  cutlery 
of  approved  styles  and  the  most  perfect  finish. 
While  so  many  other  establishments  have  retro- 


graded in  the  quality  of  their  product  and  flood- 
ed the  market  with  cheap  and  well-nigh  worth- 
less goods,  the  com|>any  under  notice  have 
strictly  adhered  tf)  their  original  standard  (piali- 
ty,  using  only  the  best  Jessup's  steel  and  em- 
ploying the  most  skillful  workmen.  Hence  they 
can  safely  warrant  all  their  goods  to  be  of  uni- 
form and  superior  ([uality.  These  works  have 
been  in  operation  since  1872.  and  are  now  pro- 
ducing about  $35,000  worth  of  goods  annually, 
employing  thirty  five  hands  and  three  traveling 
salesmen. 

One  of  the  prominent  and  thriving  indus- 
tries of  ('anion  is  tlie  manufacture  of  .soap, 
which  business  is  prosecuted  on  a  large  scale 
by  Mr,  Joseph  Biechele,  successor  to  the  firm 
of  C,  Hiechele  &  Bro.  This  establishment  was 
founded  liy  C,  Biechele,  in  1847,  and  the  busi- 
ness was  carried  on  in  a  small  wa>'  until  1858, 
Meanwhile,  the  reputation  of  the  fine  quality  of 
Biechele's  soaps  had  rapidly  spread,  and  the 
steadily  increasing  demand  therefor  necessi- 
tated the  enlargement  of  the  works  and  the 
improvement  of  their  manufacturing  facilities. 
Consequently,  in  1858,  a  larger  factory  was 
erected,  modern  appliances  were  introduced, 
and  at  the  same  time  the  present  proprietor 
became  a  partner  in  the  concei'n.  The  works 
were  successfully  operated  for  about  ten  years 
by  C.  Biechele  &  Bro.,  when,  in  1868,  Joseph 
bought  out  the  interest  of  his  brother,  thus 
becoming  sole  proprietor.  The  constantl}' 
growing  popularity'  and  sale  of  his  product 
called  for  another  enlargement  of  the  works, 
which  was  accomplished  in  the  year  following. 
New  kettles,  steam  boilers  and  all  other  ap- 
proved conveniences  were  adoptetl,  having  in 
view  the  rapid  and  economical  production  of 
the  several  famous  brands  of  soap  made  here. 
By  this  means,  Mr.  Biechele  found  himself  able 
to  successfully  compete,  in  regard  to  both 
quality  and  price.  wit;h  the  largest  soap  manu- 
facturers of  Chicago,  Cincinnati,  Butlalo.  New- 
York  and  I'hiladelphia,  and  his  trade  expanded 
steadily  over  a  wide  area  of  territory,  both 
Kast  and  West.  It  has  been  his  undeviating 
aim  and  purpose  to  make  the  best  soap  that 
can  be  produced  by  the  exercise  of  constant 
care,  skill  and  long  practical  experience,  and 
hence  he  uses  only  the  best  selected  materials 
to  be  obtained,  employs  thoroughly  trained 
workmen,  and  conducts  every  manufacturing 
operation    under   painstaking  personal  su|)er- 


HISTOIIY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


vision.  Herein  lies  the  secret  of  his  marked 
snccess.  Mr.  Biechele  is  not  content  with  hav- 
ing established  a  far-reaching  reputation  for 
the  excellence  of  his  goods,  and  then,  as  is  too 
often  the  ease,  graduallj'  deteriorating  the 
quality,  witlj  the  vain  expectation  that  former 
fame  will  serve  in  lieu  of  present  merit ;  but, 
on  the  contrary,  his  laudable  endeavor  is  to 
produce  better  soap  to-daj'  than  it  was  possible 
for  him  to  make  jesterday,  and  thus  to  main- 
tain for  all  time  the  credit  his  goods  have  so 
honorably  achieved. 

Mr.  Biechele  is  now  manufacturing  some 
twenty  different  brands  of  laundry  soaps,  the 
leading  of  which  are  the  California,  Pure 
White,  White  Laundry,  Pearl,  Best  Family 
and  Banner.  These  well-known  brands  find 
ready  sale  throughout  the  country,  and,  indeed, 
the  demand  so  rapidly  increases  as  to  render 
the  present  capacity  of  the  works  too  small  to 
meet  it.  This  being  the  situation,  arrange- 
ments are  making  to  enlarge  the  factory  next 
spring,  whereby  its  producing  capacity  will  be 
materially  increased.  The  present  dimensions 
of  the  building  are  150  by  52  feet,  and  it  will 
be  enlarged  to  175  by  100  feet,  two  stories 
high.  Biechele's  Pure  White  Soap  is  strictly 
pure,  and  manufactured  chiefly  fi'om  vegetable 
oils,  giving  it  medicinal  properties.  It  is  ex- 
cellent for  both  toilet  and  laundry  purposes. 
His  Magic  Soap  is  highly  commended,  and  will 
do  its  work  well  without  the  use  of  a  wash- 
board, if  directions  are  followed.  The  toilet 
soaps  made  at  this  establishment  are  noted  for 
their  fine  quality  and  delicate  [lerfLime.  Among 
these  are  the  Palm,  Domestic  Wliite  and  Mot- 
tled Castile,  Magnolia,  White  Lily,  Turkish 
Bath,  Glycerine,  etc.  Four  traveling  agents 
are  constantly  employed  in  selling  Biechele's 
soaps,  which  have  become  the  favorite  of  every 
good  housekeeper  over  a  vast  area  of  territory. 

Canton  bjasts,  also,  of  two  woolen  mills, 
which,  though  not  so  pretentious  as  some  of 
the  larger  mills  in  the  East,  do  a  domestic  busi- 
ness quite  as  important  for  people  in  this  part 
of  the  country.  The  Canton  City  Woolen  Fac- 
tory of  L.  Alexander  &  Son  is  one  of  these. 
They  manufacture  cassimeres,  satinets,  cloths, 
jeans,  flannels,  Ijlankets,  stocking  yarn  and  all 
kinds  of  woolen  goods.  The^-  use  a  thirty  horse- 
power engine  in  propelling  their  machinery- ; 
ten  hands  are  regularly  employed  at  a  weekly 
expense  of  $100.     Their  trade,  alread\'  large. 


is  constantly  on  the  increase,  and  is  derived 
mainly  from  Stark  and  the  adjoining  counties. 
The  other  is  the  Eagle  Woolen  Mill  of  Bobbins 
Brothers,  which  furnisiics  employment  to  some 
twenty  persons,  whoso  agtirrgate  wages  is  about 
$300  per  month.  This  firm  works  two  sets  of 
machinery,  and  use  the  self-acting  spinning 
mules.  They  manufacture  goods  about  like 
the  other  mill,  and,  besides  a  large  home  trade, 
they  find  good  sale  for  their  goods  in  the  West, 
to  which  part  of  the  countr\-  they  ship  a  good 
many  of  them. 

There  are  also  two  box  factories  here  in  active 
operation.  The  one  run  by  Mr.  J.  C.  Lantz, 
with  a  force  of  twelve  workmen.  They  manu 
facturc  wooden  boxes,  largely  for  the  Biechele 
Soap  Works,  bee-hives  and  faucets.  This  estab- 
lishment is  in  a  flourishing  condition.  The 
other  establishment,  of  Mr.  Charles  E.  Wrigley, 
manufactures  paper  boxes  exclusively,  in  mak- 
ing which  the)'  are  now  consuming  about  a  ton 
of  paper  a  week.  He  employs  seven  haiids. 
He  makes  all  the  packing  boxes  for  the  mal- 
leable iron  works  in  Canton,  and  one  thousand 
every  week  for  a  druggist  firm  in  Louisville, 
Ohio.  The  malleable  iron  works  just  referred 
to  is  a  new  concern,  but  recently  located  in 
Canton.  These  works  are  under  the  firm  of 
Efiel,  (Jilliom  &  Co.,  and  do  an  extensive  busi- 
ness. They  already  emplo\-,  though  in  o[,)er- 
ation  here  only  a  few  months,  over  one  hundred 
and  fifty  hands,  and  are  continually  increasing 
their  force.  When  they  get  into  full  operation, 
they  will  emploj-  two  hundred  and  fifty.  They 
are  at  present  paj'ing  their  hands  about  $1,500 
a  week.  This  establishment  manufactures  all 
kinds  of  saddlery  hardware,  which  they  sell  im- 
mediately to  wholesale  jobbers. 

Among  Canton  industries,  prominent  and 
well  established,  is  the  paper  mill  of  Bachert, 
Silk  &  Co.  This  mill  has  been  in  existence  for 
about  a  quarter  of  a  century,  and  has  been  un- 
der its  present  management  for  seventeen  years 
past.  The  original  structure,  which  was  a  two- 
story  brick  l)uilding.  IKtxKIO  feet,  has  been  en- 
larged, until  now  it  covers  an  ai'ea  of  150  feet 
square,  and  contains  two  stories  and  a  basement. 
They  manufacture  every  kind  of  manila,  wrap- 
ping, tea  and  tissue  paper.  The  capacity  of 
the  works  is  about  three  tons  per  day.  They 
employ  thirty-five  hands,  with  a  monthly  pay 
roll  of  $1,200  per  month.  Their  paper  goes  to 
the  Cleveland  Paper  Company  at  Cleveland  and 


^jg*      *^. 


.w 


CANTON   TOWNSHIP. 


Chicago.  This  firm  stands  among  the  most  re- 
liable in  Canton,  and  is  doing  a  very  satisfact- 
ory and  successful  business. 

There  are  many  other  branches  of  business 
carried  on  in  Canton,  which,  tiiough  apparently 
small  when  viewed  in  detail,  do  a  great  part 
toward  promoting  the  success  of  Canton's  in- 
dustries. As  a  sample  we  may  here  remark, 
that  not  less  than  fifty  hands  are  employed  in 
UKiking  cigars  by  tiie  different  manufacturers 
in  the  city.  So  too,  it  is  in  many  otiier  branches 
of  trade. 

From  the  above  exhibit  of  llie  multiplicity 
and  varied  character  of  the  manufacturing  in- 
terests in  this  city,  growing  up  and  strengtlien- 
ing  tiicmselves  under  many  ailversc  prospects 
in  the  past,  there  now  appears  glorious  promise 
for  rapid  growth  and  increase  in  future,  inas- 
much as  Canton,  naturally  so  well  situated  for 
building  up  and  fostering  manufacturing  inter- 
ests, will  soon  be  in  commercial  communication 
with  all  parts  of  the  country  b}-  means  of  the 
several  railroads  about  centering  in  this  city. 

But  the  business  importance  of  Canton,  even 
at  this  time,  is  not  to  lie  seen  alone  in  her  varied 
manufacturing  interests.  Her  wholesale  and 
retail  establishments,  in  every  line  of  trade,  are 
worthy  also  of  consideration.  Our  space  will  not 
permit  us  to  notice  them  all  in  detail,  and  we  will, 
therefore,  be  comiiflled  to  notice  only  a  few 
of  tlie  older  cstaMislimcnts  in  different  branches 
of  business.  There  are  several  wholesale  houses 
doing  each  of  them  an  extensive  trade.  Promi- 
nent among  them  is  the  wholesale  grocerj-  house 
of  B,  DauneniilUr  iV  Sons.  There  are  few  houses 
in  any  large  metropolis  which  for  extent,  con- 
venience and  fullness  of  stock  are  superior  to 
that  of  this  enterprising  firm,  as  the  following 
sketch  will  set  forth  :  This  Inisiness  was  origi- 
nally founded  by  Kimball  Brothers  ;  and,  in 
ISti'.i,  the  present  firm  succeeded  them,  at  ;!() 
Soutli  Market  street,  and  subsequently  removed 
to  the  corner  of  Market  and  Tuscarawas  streets. 
Their  trade  steadily  increased  in  volume,  until 
it  was  found  necessary  to  secure  more  commo- 
dious quarters.  Accordingly,  last  year  the  firm 
erected  the  present  elegant  and  spacious  brick 
building  on  Market  and  Fifth  streets,  very 
eligibly  located,  having  a  frontage  of  30  feet  on 
Market  street,  140  feet  on  Fifth  street,  and  a 
wing  50  feet  deep  in  the  rear.  There  are  four 
floors  in  one  department  and  five  in  the  other, 
fitted  up  with  every  convenience  for  the  storage 


and  handling  of  the  immense  stock  of  g«xxls 
here  carried.  One  of  Crane  Brothers'  (Chicago) 
improved  elevators,  with  a  capacity  of  S.OOO 
pounds,  0x7  feet  in  size,  runs  from  the  base- 
ment to  the  top  fioor,  rendering  each  depart- 
ment equally  accessible.  Having  windovVs  on 
three  sides,  ample  light  is  admitte'd  to  all  the 
rooms,  so  that  not  a  single  gas  jet  is  needed 
until  some  time  after  sunset. 

There  are  entrances  on  both  streets  into  the 
fine,  large  otlice  and  sample  room,  measuring 
28x30  feet,  tastefully  fitted  up,  and  lighted  by 
six  French  plate-glass  windows.  The  stock 
comprises  a  full  line  of  general  groceries,  wtVHlen 
ware,  brooms,  cigars,  tobaccos,  teas,  coffees, 
canned  goods,  sugars,  sirups,  oils,  soajis,  fish, 
candies,  crackers,  and  everything  else  usnally 
carried  in  an  establishment  of  this  character. 

W.  A.  McCrea's  wholesale  house  of  small 
wares,  the  only  one  of  the  kind  between  Pitts- 
burgh and  Chicago,  does,  perhaps,  the  next  Inisi- 
ness to  Dannemillers,  in  Canton.  This  estab- 
lishment is  in  the  Herbruck  and  Kaufman  block, 
on  East  Tuscarawas  street.  Mr.  McCrea's  trade 
lies  principally  in  Ohio  and  Pennsylvania,  and 
five  traveling  salesmen  are  regularly  employe<l 
by  him.  He  carries  a  stock  of  about  $35,000 
and  his  annual  sales  aggregate  !{;120, 000,  with  a 
healthy  increase  from  year  to  year.  Besides 
these  wholesale  establishments,  there  are  three 
wholesale  licjuor  stores  in  Canton,  all  doing  a 
good  business,  viz.  :  the  stores  of  L.  J.  Jliday 
&  Co.,  in  their  own  hand.some  three-story  brick 
building  erected  last  year  on  North  Market 
street,  with  ainiual  sales  amounting  to  $C5.000  ; 
of  Schalm  Brothers,  on  north  side  of  East  Tus- 
carawas street,  with  annual  sales  amounting  to 
$75,000  ;  and  of  Mr.  S.  Bear,  who  openeil  his 
store  in  the  Wernet  Building,  south  side  of  East 
Tuscarawas  street,  and  is  also  doing  a  thriving 
business.  The  retail  Imsiness  in  dry  goods, 
groceries,  clothing,  drugs,  furniture,  boots  and 
shoes,  etc.,  is  also  fully  represented  in  the  city. 
Among  the  many  only  a  few  can  V)e  noticed 
bricHy  here:  As  far  back  as  the  year  1 81 5. 
Mr.  Jacob  Ilex  started  a  tailor  shop  in  the  pres- 
ent Rex  Building,  corner  of  Tuscarawas  and  Bex 
streets.  Mr.  John  P.  Bex  learned  the  trade 
with  his  father,  and  in  1840  succeeded  him  in 
the  business,  which  has  liccn  continue<l  on  Ihc 
old  site  ever  since.  The  boot  and  shoe  firn)  of 
J.  C.  Bockius'  .Sons  is  one  of  the  oldest  cst'ili- 
lished  houses  of  the  kind  in  Ohio,  perhaps  the 


'  ^  S r- 


Z^^ 


^1 


342 


HISTORY  OF   STARK   COUNTY. 


very  oldest.  Mr.  J.  C.  Bockius,  the  father  of 
the  present  proprietors,  opened  a  shoe  shop  on 
the  5th  of  May.  1820.  in  .in  old  frame  building 
which  stood  on  the  site  of  the  court  house. 
This  building  was  removed,  with  the  slioj),  in 
1822.  to  tlje  site  of  the  Bockius  property  on 
South  Market  street.  In  1 836,  it  was  moved  one 
lot  north,  and  in  1845  back  again,  where  the 
brick  building  now  stands.  In  1S8C.  the  first 
stock  of  Eastern  machine-made  boots  and  shoes 
were  brought  to  Canton  by  Mr.  Bockius,  and 
these  goods  were  then  quite  ano\elty.  Previous 
to  that  time,  men  would  go  to  the  tanncrj',  buy 
their  own  leather  and  then  have  shoes  made  for 
the  whole  family  b^-  the  shoemaker.  Shoemak- 
ers were  then  scarce,  and  as  all  the  work  was 
done  by  hand,  it  was  necessarily  slow  ;  some- 
times there  would  so  many  orders  on  the  books 
that  families  would  have  to  wait  as  long  as 
four  or  five  months  for  their  shoes.  To  avoid 
such  delay,  many  persons  were  accustomed  to 
order  a  supply  some  months  before  they  were 
actually  needed.  The  introduction  of  shoes 
from  ttie  East  already  made,  therefore,  wrought 
quite  a  revolution  in  the  business.  In  1851, 
Mr.  Bockius  bought  the  ground  upon  which  the 
store  is  now  located,  on  the  east  side  of  the  pub- 
lic square  and  erected  the  three-story  brick  build- 
ing in  which  it  is.  In  October.  1848.  Mr.  L.  V. 
Bockius.  and  in  1870.  Mr.  Ed.  Bockius  became 
members  of  the  firm,  and  after  their  father's 
death  only  a  few  years  since,  they  continued  the 
business,  Mr.  E.  Bockius'  death,  this  spring,  left 
the  elder  brother,  L.  V.  Bockius,  as  sole  surviv- 
ing p;irtuer.  Three  persons  are  given  constant 
employment  on  custom  work,  and  four  are  em- 
ployed as  clerks  in  the  store.  The  stock  car- 
ried along  varies  from  $8,000  to  $10,000,  and 
about  .$25,000  worth  of  goods  are  sold  annually. 
In  the  dry  goods  line,  John  Schilling,  identified 
with  the  business  in  Canton  since  1846  ;  Zollars 
&  Co.,  of  which  firm  Mr.  Zollars  has  been  en- 
gaged in  this  line  of  trade  for  some  thirty  years 
and  more,  and  A.  Herbruck,  for  twenty  years 
associated  with  Mr.  Schilling,  and  since  1874 
doing  business  in  his  own  name,  deserve  hon- 
orable mention.  ZoUar's  store  was  for  many 
3-ears  before  1846.  and  afterward  on  its  present 
site,  conducted  by  Mr.  Isaac  Harter,  deceased, 
a  man  of  great  business  capacit}'.  administra- 
tive ability  and  the  strictest  integrity.  Mr. 
Zollars,  a  young  man  of  limited  means,  entered 
his  store  in   1846  ;  in  the  year  1852,  he  was 


taken  into  the  business  as  a  partner  ;  Mr.  Har- 
ter sold  out  his  interest  to  Samuel  Bard  in 
1862,  who  only  remained  eighteen  months  in 
the  new  firm,  when  Mr.  Zollars  succeeded  to 
the  entire  business.  In  1865,  Mr.  Peter  Barlet 
was  taken  in  as  a  partner,  and  he  has  been  in 
the  firm  ever  since.  Mr.  Harter,  soon  after  re- 
tiring from  the  dry  goods  business,  went  into 
the  banking  business,  and  was  the  founder  of 
one  of  the  safest  and  best  conducted  hanking 
institutions  in  the  State  of  Ohio.  Strict  in 
tegrity  and  honorable  dealing  made  Mr.  Bar- 
ter's name  respected  and  his  bank  a  trusted  one 
far  and  wide.  To  his  credit  be  it  said,  no  trust 
reposed  in  him  was  ever  betrayed.  His  sons, 
since  his  death,  have  continued  the  banking- 
business  upon  the  same  substantial  basis,  as 
that  upon  which  their  honored  father  built  up 
an  established  business  and  a  fair  fortune.  Zol- 
lars &  Co's.  store  employs  seven  clerks,  and 
they  do  an  immense  business,  which  is  yearlj' 
increasing.  Besides  dealing  in  dr}-  goods  and 
carpets,  in  which  his  sales  amount  to  $30,000 
annually,  Mr.  A.  Herbruck  also  engages  in 
wholesaling  timothy  and  clover  seed,  of  which 
he  handles  about  $30,000  worth  every  3-ear. 
Mr.  Schilling  carries  a  full  line  of  dry  goods, 
is  widely  and  favorably  known  all  over  Stark 
Count}'  and  is  doing  a  thriving  business.  He 
is  a  safe  business  man,  and  from  an  humble 
clerk  in  V.  R.  Kimball's  thirty-five  years  ago, 
he  has  gone  gradually  onward  and  upward,  un- 
til now  he  ranks  among  the  best  and  most  suc- 
cessful business  men  of  the  city.  The  jewelry 
establishment  of  Mr.  .Joseph  A.  Meyer's  is  one  of 
the  oldest  business  houses  now  remaining  in 
Canton.  Mr.  Mej'er  himself  is  of  old  pioneer 
stock,  and  is  highly  respected  by  all  who  know 
him  socially  or  in  business.  His  establishment 
was  originally  started  in  1837,  b}'  Mr.  Samuel 
C.  Fry,  who  sold  out  to  Mr.  Meyer  in  1858. 
He  carries  a  full  assortment  of  watches,  clocks, 
solid  and  plated  ware,  spectacles  and  jewelry 
of  all  kinds.  Mr.  M.  Ruhman,  still  doing 
business  in  the  Harter  Block,  is  the  pioneer 
merchant  in  ready-made  clothing.  He  com- 
menced his  business  in  Canton,  nearly  on  his 
present  site,  in  the  3^car  1851,  and  in  his  thirty 
j-ears'  residence  in  Canton  has  built  up  a  char- 
acter for  honesty  and  fair  dealing  among  a 
wide  circle  of  friends  and  customers.  These 
are  brief  sketches  only  of  some  of  the  estab- 
lishments   which   started    business   in    Canton 


«^  n 


^^^^r^tL^t^t^.^^/^f^<^^^^^-<s 


CANTON   TOWNSHIP. 


343 


when  it  was  j-et  a  village,  and  before  it  began 
to  put  on  the  hal)iliments  and  airs  of  a  city. 
With  the  development  of  the  rich  resources  of 
the  surrounding  country,  and  the  growth  of  the 
town,  business  has  multiplied  an  hundred-fold, 
and  Canton's  trade  in  every  branch  of  mercan- 
tile business  has  Ivept  pace  with  the  demands 
of  tlie  times.  Therj  is  probably-  not  a  cit}-  of 
the  same  size  in  the  West,  whose  business  is  in 
every  respect  upon  so  sound  and  firm  a  basis  ; 
and  when,  in  panickj-  times,  business  houses  all 
over  the  land  have  been  going  bj'  the  lioard  by 
the  thousands,  scarcely  a  ripple  of  the  wave  of 
destruction  has  been  felt  among  the  business 
firms  of  Canton. 

As  the  manufacturing  and  mercantile  int(U'- 
ests  have  become  so  varied  and  so  extensive, 
exchange  and  banking  facilities  were  naturally 
demanded  bj'  tiie  business  interests  of  the 
growing  town.  Notice  has  already  been  taken  of 
the  first  bank  in  primitive  times.  This  was  re- 
suscitated in  after  3"ear3,  and  served  the  public 
necessity  for  a  long  period.  Incidentally  also 
the  starting  of  the  First  National  Bank  and  of 
Mr.  Isaac  Harter's  Savings  Deposit  Bank  has 
been  mentioned.  For  man}'  years  the  Stark 
County  Bank  of  Mr.  James  A.  Saxton  did  a 
good  work  in  meeting  the  needs  of  the  public, 
with  these  other  Ijanks.  In  later  years,  Mr. 
George  D.  Barter  started  his  bank,  on  Tuscara- 
was street,  east  of  tlie  public  square,  which 
from  the  first  received  the  confidence  of  the 
people.  The  Farmers'  Bank  was  started  a  few 
j'cars  ago,  and  is  also  upon  a  substantial  foun- 
dation, and  doing  a  good  business,  A  year  or 
two  since,  the  Cit}-  Bank  of  Canton,  which  had 
done  business  a  little  while,  and  then  dissolved 
Ijy  the  mutual  agreement  of  the  stockholders, 
was  again  started  up  under  a  new  management, 
as  the  Cit3"  National  Bank,  with  Dr.  P.  H.  Barr, 
the  popular  druggist  in  the  old  and  well-estal)- 
lished  drug  store  of  Dr.  C.  J.  (leiger,  deceased, 
as  President,  and  Henry  C.  KUison,  a  former 
Auditor  of  Stark  Count\\  as  Cashier.  Thus 
Canton  is  supplied  with  five  banks  at  this  time, 
all  in  good  condition,  and  doing  an  extensive 
business. 

From  1852  until  within  the  past  two  or  three 
years,  the  only  shipping  facilities  enjoyed  Ijy 
the  merchants  and  manufacturers  of  this  city 
were  furnished  by  the  Pittsburgh,  Fort  Wayne 
&  Chicago  Railroad,  which  were  for  the  most 
part  not  as  liberal  to  her  interests,  nor,  as  one 


would  think,  to  the  interests  of  the  company 
itself,  as  the  good  of  a  growing  city,  with  well- 
estaljlished  and  successfully  conducted  busi- 
ness, and  in  the  midst  of  resources  which  gave 
promise  of  much  grander  development  and  in- 
creased importance,  seemed  to  demand.  Com- 
petition is  said  to  be  the  life  of  trade,  and 
probabl}-  railroads,  as  well  as  other  branches  of 
business,  are  all  the  better  for  a  little  healtliy 
competition.  But  the  dawn  of  a  better  day  in 
this  regard  also,  is  breaking  upon  the  business 
interests  of  ('anton.  She  alreatly  enjoys  the 
advantages  of  cheap  eoal  and  cheap  living,  and 
the  chief  remaining  factor  to  secure  increased 
success  to  her  industries,  in  the  way  of  cheap 
transportation,  is  rapidly  lieiug  provided. 
Already  the  effect  of  tlu;  opening  of  the  Valley 
Railroad  to  Akron  and  Cleveland,  in  the  begin- 
ning of  the  year  1880,  is  favorably  felt.  This 
road  had  been  projected  several  years  before, 
and  was  pushed  chiefiy  l)y  capitalists  of  Cleve- 
land ;  but  the  citizens  of  Akron  and  Canton 
did  not  fail  to  appreciate  the  benefits  which 
would  accrue  to  themselves  in  its  construction, 
and  they,  in  company  with  the  people  of  other 
smaller  towns  along  the  line  of  the  road,  gave 
a  helping  hand,  until  at  last  it  was,  after  the 
usual  delays,  trials  and  tril)ulations,  an  accom- 
plished fact.  Since  Its  operation,  it  has  lieen 
doing  good  business,  much  better,  indeed,  than 
most  new  roads  at  so  early  a  period  in  their 
history.  What  it  needs  now  to  insure  its 
greater  benefit  to  both  stockholders  and  the 
people  on  the  line  of  the  road  is  an  extension 
southward  from  Canton  to  bring  it  into  connec- 
tion with  the  coal  and  iron  of  the  southern  por- 
tion of  the  State.  This  undoubtedly  will  soon 
also  be  accomplished.  So  far  as  Canton  is 
concerned,  the  ^'alley  road  has  already  brought 
the  l)nsiness  transportation  of  the  city  away 
from  the  monopoly  of  the  Pittsburgh,  Fort 
Wayne  &  Chicago  Railroad  Company,  and  this 
last-named  corporation  now  gives  better  terms 
to  shippers  than  ever  before.  The  Valley  Rail- 
road has  located  the  main  pas.senger  and  freight 
depots  near  the  crossing  of  the  Fort  Wayne 
road,  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  city,  but 
recently,  for  the  convenience  of  passengers,  a 
neat  and  commodious  passenger  depot  lias 
been  fitted  up  on  West  Tuscarawas  street,  which 
makes  it  more  convenient  for  passengers  from 
the  hotels  and  the  greater  part  of  town  than 
the  main  depot.     The  Connolton  Valley  Rail- 


^1 


HlSTOUy   OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


way  Company  continued  Its  road  last  year  to 
Canton,  and  it  lias  been  completed  this  year 
already  to  Kent,  and  before  the  end  of  the  sea- 
son will  probably  be  in  full  running  order  to 
Cleveland,  But  the  railroad  history  is  more 
fully  given  in  another  chapter  of  this  work. 

A  late  writer  says  of  the  people's  social  life  : 
The  citizens  of  Canton  are  not  given  to  dis- 
play. They  are  a  quiet,  order-loving  people. 
None  of  them  have  a  boastful  spirit.  It  might 
be  well  for  the  town  if  some  of  its  people  were 
given  to  "  blowing  their  own  horn."  But  thej' 
do  not  seem  to  be  so  inclined.  Hence  we  feel 
assured  that  the  subjoined  statistics  of  indus- 
trial enterprise  here  for  the  j-ear  1879  are 
within  proper  limits  : 

Employes.      Pioilnct. 

C.  Aultmau  &  Co 5.50  .f  9.000.000 

Diebold  Safe  &  Lock  Co 2.50  1,000.000 

Wrouirht  In m  Bridsre  Co 1.50  .500.000 

Canton   Steel  Works 140  400,000 

C.  Russell  it  Co 70  27.5,000 

J.  Biecliele 26  180,000 

Canton  Spring  Works 80  135,000 

Bucher,  Gilibs  &  Co 75  125,000 

Whitman  &  Barnes  Mfg  Co 40  70,000  \ 

Novelty  Iron  Works 35  65,000  I 

A.  Ball  &  Co 30  .50,000  I 

E,  E.  Miller  &  Co 30  .50,000; 

Canton  Cutlery  Co 35  35,000 

John  Danner." 20  30,000 

H.  W.  Werts  &  Co 25  30,(X)0  j 

Canton  Saw  Works 15  30,000 

J   Dick  &   Bro 7  10,000 

Floiirini:  Mills 80  900.000 

Woolen  Mills 65  3.50,000 

Brewery  interest 30  100,000  i 

Minor  Estat)lishnientK 225  275,000  j 

I.timlicr  yards 80  225.000  ! 

I 

Grand  tot al 2058  f  6.830.000  j 

We  may  add  that  upon  personal  inquiry   we  i 
find  the  above  figures  far  below  the  actual  facts,  ! 
at  this  present  time,  in  many  of  these  establish- 
ments, as  they   are  probably   in   nearly   all  of 
them.     In   the  above  table,   for  instance,  the  | 
Peerless  Reaper  Company,  which  appears  as  C. 
Russell  &  Co.,  in  1879,  employed  only  seventy  I 
hands,  and  put  out  $275,000"  worth  of  work.  ' 
Last  year,  they  had  eighty   hands,  and   built 
over  fifteen  hundred  of  their  popular  machines, 
and  were  unable  to  supply  the  demand.     This 
year,  their  working  force  has  been  increased  to 
125    hands  ;  they  intend  making,   the  present 
season,  2,500  machines,  and  the  value  of  their 
production  will  not  fall  short  of  $375,000,  an 
increase  in   two  years  of  nearly   50  per  cent. 


A  very  large  increase  of  working  force  and  of 
inanufectured  material  has  also  been  made  the 
present  year,  by  the  Aultman  Co.,  by  the 
Diebold  Lock  &  Safe  Co.,  by  the  Buclier  & 
Gibbs  Plow  shops,  and  doubtless  in  nearly  all 
the  other  establishments.  In  few  or  none,  on 
the  other  hand,  has  there  been  any  decrease, 
showing  a  constantly  increasing  demand  for 
Canton  manufactures. 

A  very  satisfactoiy  test  of  the  business  im- 
portance of  a  place  to  those  who  are  interested 
in  statistics  and  figures  is  furnished  by  the 
post  office  transactions.  For  the  following 
facts  in  this  line  we  are  indebted  to  Mr.  Charles 
S.  Cock.  Deputy  Postmaster  of  Canton.  The 
money  order  department  of  this  office  amount 
ed  to  over  $50,000,  and  the  postal  receipts  to 
more  than  $20,000,  leaving  a  net  revenue  to 
the  Postal  Department  of  the  country  of  $15,000. 
This  shows  an  increase  over  the  previous  year 
of  nearly  25  per  cent.  Thirty  thousand,  or 
thereabouts,  three-cent  stamps  and  stamped 
envelopes  are  sold  now  per  month,  1 2,000  or 
15,000  postal  cards  and  20,000  one-cent  envel- 
opes are  also  sold  each  month,  mainly  to  the 
business  and  manufacturing  firms  of  the  city  ; 
the  demand  is  constantl}-  increasing.  It  is  es- 
timated that  the  receipts  in  the  post  office  bus- 
iness of  the  city  proper  will  be  this  year  .sev- 
eral thousand  dollars  in  advance  of  last  year. 
This  is  certainly  a  good  showing,  and  will 
secure  for  the  city  a  free  deliver}-  within  a  ver^' 
short  period  of  time. 

Another  item  of  interest  denoting  progress 
is  furnished  by  the  census  reports,  and  these 
will  show  a  most  remarkable  increase  in  the 
citj'  of  Canton  within  the  limits  of  the  present 
generation.  Before  railroading,  and  with  Mas- 
sillon,  by  means  of  her  canal  facilities,  in  the 
ascendant,  the  total  population  of  Canton  Citj' 
in  1850  was  2,603  ;  this  was  also  previous  to 
the  removal  of  the  mower  and  reaper  works 
from  (rreentown  to  Canton.  The  population 
ten  years  later,  in  1860,  was  4.041,  an  increase 
of  55  per  cent.  In  1870,  the  population  had 
gone  up  to  8,660,  an  increase  in  ten  years  of 
114  per  cent.  By  the  census  of  1880,  just  ; 
completed,  the  population  is  12,258,  an  increase 
in  the  past  ten  years  of  41^  per  cent,  vviiich,  if 
Canton  authorities  had  done  as  many  other 
towns  in  the  State,  similarh-  situated,  had  done, 
would  have  been  much  greater  than  the  data 
show  to  be  the  fact.     There  are  iu  all  directions 


-®  y^ 


t^ 


CAXTOX    TOWNSHIP. 


345 


outlying  additions  sufficient  to  increase  the 
figures  on  population  at  least  1,000  more,  which 
for  all  business  purposes  are  part  and  parcel  of 
the  city,  and  ought  in  justice  to  be  brought 
within  the  municipal  corporation.  The  popula- 
tion of  Canton  Township,  exclusive  of  thecit}-. 
for  the  same  periods,  stands  as  follows  :  in  1850, 
1.719;  in  1860,  1,704;  in  1870,  1,952;  and  in 
1880,  2,015.  We  have  not  the  figures  at  hand 
to  give  the  population  of  the  cit}-  and  township 
anterior  to  1850. 

Previous  to  the  year  1869,  some  action  had 
been  taken  by  the  City  Council  to  utilize  the 
water  of  Mc^-er's  Lake,  as  a  permanent  water 
supply  for  Canton,  both  for  domestic  and  manu- 
facturing use,  and  for  protection  against  fire. 
The  committee  of  tlie  former  City  Council  had 
decided,  on  examination,  to  adopt  the  Holly 
system,  and  J.  L.  Pillsbury,  an  experienced 
civil  engineer,  had  made  surveys  and  estimates 
which  clearly  indicated  the  practicability  of  the 
work.  In  the  organization  of  the  City  Council 
in  1869.  Messrs  Louis  Schaefer,  Jacob  Hawk 
and  T)aniel  Worley  became  the  Water- Works 
Committee,  and,  at  a  later  da3-,  were,  under  the 
law,  elected  the  first  Board  of  Trustees  of 
Water- Works.  Under  their  management,  aided 
by  the  wise  and  experienced  counsel  of  Mr. 
Pillsburj'.  the  work  was  pressed  forward  rap- 
idly :  the  citizens  of  Canton,  by  vote,  authorized 
measures  for  raising  the  necessary  funds:  and 
b}'  February.  1870,  the  works  were  in  success- 
ful operation.  On  the  first  public  trial  of  the 
new  water- works  Pel).  22.  1870,  the  District 
Court  was  in  .session,  and  the  Judges  were 
specially  invited  to  witness  their  working.  Up- 
on the  recommendation  of  the  civil  engineer, 
a  niajorit}'  of  the  committee  on  water-works 
had  adopted  the  cement  pipe  for  mains  through 
the  city.  These  had  hardly'  dried  long  enough 
for  anj'  test.     The  day   was  cold  and  windy. 


Everj'thing,  however,  went  off  well,  until  engi- 
neer and  trustees  l)ecame  infatuated  and  con- 
sented to  an  undue  increase  of  the  pressure, 
which  blew  out  a  waste  at  the  West  Creek. 
There  was  a  hurrying  and  a  flurrying  among 
Trustees  and  engineer  until  the  exact  loealit}- 
of  the  trouble  had  been  discovered.  This  was 
on  a  Saturday,  and  by  the  following  Sunday 
evening,  everything  had  been  put  again  into 
good  running  order.  The  cement  pipes  in  this 
soil  did  not  prove  a  success,  and  they  have 
been  gradually-  replaced  b}-  iron  pipe,  which 
with  tlie  extensions  made  from  year  to  year, 
gives  Canton  to-da}'  one  of  the  best  sj'stems  of 
protection  against  fire  to  be  found  anywhere. 
The  larger  manufacturing  establishments  have 
not  onl}-  introduced  the  water  for  ordinary  use, 
but  have  also  connections  for  emergencies  from 
fire  by  which  thej-  can  almost  entirely  save  them- 
selves from  the  ravages  of  this  king  of  terrors. 
With  regard  to  the  next  great  want  of  Canton, 
a  system  of  complete  sewerage,  not  so  much 
can  be  said  favorabl^y.  The  following  remarks 
of  another  in  this  connection  are  very  much  to 
the  point,  and  in  the  hope  that  the  early  future 
history  of  the  citj'  may  record  the  suggestions 
therein  contained  as  an  accomplished  fact,  they 
are  introduced  at  this  place. 

While  Canton  is  well  located  there  is  no 
doubt  as  to  the  susceptibility  of  its  improve- 
ments in  a  sanitar}'  .sense.  Its  vital  statistics 
go  to  prove  that  malaria  infects  its  atmosphere. 
What  it  needs  is  a  thorough  system  of  drain- 
age. ■  The  project  is  quite  feasible,  by  reason 
of  the  favorable  lopogi-aphy  of  the  city.  A. 
fall  of  four  inches  to  the  hundred  feet  is  ample, 
and  Canton,  because  of  her  magnificent  loca- 
tion, is  capable  of  this  advantage.  An  incline 
of  three  inches  is  better  than  many  places 
enjoy. 


i,  \  ' 


HISTORY   OF    STAKK    COUNTY. 


CHAPTER    XL* 

Till';    CITY    OF    CANTON  — EDlTATIdNAL    AGKNCIE-;  —  THE    I'RESS  — JOHN    SAXTON    AND 
McCREIiOK,  THE  VETERAN   EDITORS —PRESENT  NEWSl'Al'ERS  — CANTON  SCHOOLS 
—  ('HUR(;H    HISTORY  — SECRET    AND    BENEVOLENT    INSTITUTIONS. 


MAN  is  composed  of  mind  and  matter.  In 
his  individual  development,  and  in  the 
developments  of  civilization  and  progress,  both 
factors  deserve  careful  recognition.  Mind  con- 
trols matter,  wliile,  on  the  other  hand,  material 
influences  have  great  weight  in  directing  the 
operations  of  the  mind.  It  is  not,  of  course, 
the  province  of  the  historian  so  much  to  discuss 
philosopliical  problems  as  to  make  a  fair  pre- 
sentation of  facts  in  a  somewhat  logical  manner, 
so  that  the  philosopher  may  afterward,  from  the 
study  of  the  facts,  be  prepared  the  better  to 
speculate  on  the  probabilities  of  the  future. 
We  have  thus  far  presented  almost  exclusivel}' 
the  material  aspects  of  the  growth  and  develop- 
ment of  this  city  and  township  ;  but  we  have 
not  lost  sight,  by  any  means,  of  the  most  im- 
portant of  all  fiicts  that  mental  culture  is  of  the 
highest  importance  in  every  true  and  real  prog- 
ress of  any  people  or  communit3'.  To  his 
credit,  it  may  be  truthfully  said,  that  the  founder 
of  Canton,  Mr.  Bezaleel  Wells,  recognized  this 
fact  in  the  beginning,  and  donated  in  the  plat- 
ting of  the  original  town  of  Canton,  one  lot  for 
school  purposes  and  one  for  church  purposes. 
The  old  Union  School  building  on  West  Tus- 
carawas street,  and  the  Presbyterian  Church 
directly  opposite,  are  now  upon  the  sites  of  the 
donor,  a  living  proof  of  his  high  estimate  of 
education  and  religion  as  essential  factors  in 
the  prosperity  of  any  town.  And  imbibing  the 
spirit  of  the  founder,  the  great  body  of  the  people 
of  Canton,  from  the  beginning  until  now,  have 
always  been  the  friends  of  liberal  education,  and 
of  the  moral  influences  of  the  Christian  Church. 
In  modern  times,  also,  the  press  has  become  a 
ver}'  potent  lever  in  the  same  direction.  Ad- 
mitting that  its  influence  has  not  always  been 
used  to  promote  the  best  interests  of  the  people, 
it  is  nevertheless  true  that  the  press  does  much 
for  the  education  of  anj^  community,  whether, 

*  Contriljuted  by  Prof.  Daniel  Wurley. 


on  the  whole,  it  be  for  good  or  evil,  though  we 
may  here  express  our  own  private  opinion  that 
it  is  generally  for  good  rather  than  evil.  In 
discussing  the  educational  agencies  of  Canton, 
we  shall,  therefore,  first  present  a  brief  history 
of  journalism  in  this  city,  and  some  reminis- 
cences of  the  pioneer  newspaper  men  of  the 
earlier  times.  The  following  general  history  of 
the  Canton  press  was  prepared  b}'  one  in  the 
business  for  many  years,  and  may  be  accepted 
as  accurate : 

The  newspapers  of  Canton  represent  the  so- 
cial, moral  and  material  interests  of  the  city 
and  county  with  unusual  journalistic  enterprise 
and  abilit}'.  Moreover,  the  gentlemen  who  give 
dignity  to  the  noble  calling  of  journalism  here, 
are  genial,  whole-souled  men,  whom  it  is  a 
pleasure  to  meet,  and  to  whose  good  qualities 
of  heart  and  brain  we  bear  cheerful  testi- 
mony. 

The  Canton  Hcpositun/  was  the  first  news- 
paper in  Canton  or  Stark  County,  and  one  of 
the  first  five  or  six  in  Ohio,  the  first  number  of 
which  was  printed  March  30,  1815,  by  John 
Saxton.  The  paper  is  still  in  existence  as  the 
Canton  Repositorj/,  and  until  1871,  the  time  of 
his  death,  the  original  proprietor  was  connected 
with  the  paper  in  the  capacity-  of  owner  or  ed- 
itor. The  files  of  the  Repository  have  been 
carefully  preserved.  The  veteran  editor,  in  his 
inaugural  sheet,  pledges  that  -'truth  shall  be 
his  guide,  the  public  good  his  aim,"  and  lays 
before  his  readers  the  latest  foreign  news  ;  the 
report  of  A.  J.  Dallas,  Secretary  of  the  Treas- 
ury, to  the  Committee  of  Ways  and  Means,  upon 
the  state  of  the  public  credit,  the  circulating 
medium,  etc.;  the  proceedings  of  the  Thir- 
teenth Congress,  among  whose  acts  was  one 
fixing  the  army  list  at  10,000  men  ;  news 
from  the  war  with  Algiers,  and  local  intelli- 
gence. 

In  1831,  Joshua  Saxton,  John's  brother,  en- 


r?T^ 


CANTON    TOWNSHIP. 


tered  the  business  and  remained  several  years. 
Fie  then  removed  to  Urbana,  and  begsin  the  pub- 
lication of  the  Citizen  ami  Odzitlr,  wliere  he 
still  lives.  His  retirement  from  active  news- 
paper work  took  place  only  a  few  inonth.s  ago, 
having  been  proprietor  and  editor  of  one  jour- 
nal for  forty-two  years.  In  18.51,  Thomas  W., 
John  i^axton's  son,  was  taken  in  as  partner,  and 
in  1871,  the  Rrjtositun/,  with  Tliomas  as  sole 
proprietor,  was  consolidated  with  the  Ripub- 
licun.  published  by  Josiah  Hartzell.  In  1874, 
W.  T.  Baseom  purchased  Ilartzcll's  interest, 
and  the  paper  took  the  name  of  tlic  Canton  Re- 
posiiori/.  Mr.  Basconi  died  in  1877.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1878,  a  daily  edition  of  the  Rcjmsiiin-j/ 
was  begun,  and  is  still  continued.  It  is  the 
only  daily  in  vStark  County,  and  is  an  almost 
indispensable  medium  of  intelligence  to  the 
people  of  Canton.  It  is  conducted  with  ability 
and  energ}-  liy  Mr.  Thomas  W.  Saxtoti,  the 
sole  proprietor,  assisted  by  a  competent  corps 
of  writers  and  reporters.  The  jolj  printing 
department  is  one  of  the  most  complete 
in  Northern  Ohio,  and  turns  out  large  ([uan- 
tities  of  work  for  the  great  manufactories  of 
Canton. 

The  O/iio  Volks-Zdtuiig.  eight  pages.  15x22, 
was  established  by  the  Ohio  Volks-Zeitung  Com- 
pany, J-anuary  23, 1879,  and  is  the  only  (ierman 
paper  printed  in  Stark  County.  It  has  a  large 
circulation  in  Stark  and  the  neighboring  coun- 
ties as  well  as  throughout  Ohio  and  tlu;  adjoin- 
ing States.  As  early  as  1820.  the  (lerinan  pop- 
ulation of  Canton  and  Stark  County  had  largely 
increased  by  emigration  from  Pennsylvania, 
Maryland  and  Europe,  so  that  in  October,  1821, 
Edward  Schaefcr.  a  German  printer  from  Frank- 
furt-on-t he-Main,  established  in  Canton  the 
WistJiclu-  Biuhach/ir  and  Stark  and  Wayne 
Count}'  Aiizi'igcr.  being  the  second  olde.st  Ger- 
man newspaper  published  in  the  State  of  Ohio. 
In  182(5,  Shaefer  moved  to  (iermantown,  Ohio, 
when  John  Sala  continued  the  paper  here  and 
afterward  took  Solomon  Sala  and  I).  C.  Lelimus 
into  partnership.  In  August,  18:51,  Peter 
Kaufmann  came  from  Philadelphia  and  bought 
out  the  paper,  which  by  that  time  had  taken 
the  patriotic  name  of  Vaterlanxh  frcund  ttiul 
Gi'ist  firr  Zeit. 

In  company  with  Franz  Ilawerecht  and  Carl 
C.  Fink,  Kaufmann  published,  in  1838,  the  first 
German  almanac  in  Canton.  In  the  course  of 
time  several  chanj^es  were  made  in  the  owner- 


ship, until  John  Raeber  came  here  in  August, 
1858,  with  a  printing  olliee  from  Holmes  Coun- 
ty, and  estal)lishc(l  ihe  Ihultlu  in  O/i/o,  in  place 
of  which  the  Oliin  Staaia-Zcituufj  appeared  on 
the  15th  of  September,  1873  ;  this  was  sold  to 
the  Ohio  Volks-Zeitung  Company,  on  the  8th 
of  November,  1879. 

To  give  sufficient  room  for  increased  reading 
matter  and  advertisements,  the  Ohio  Volks- 
Zeitung  was  enlarged  to  its  present  size,  31x15, 
December  4,  1879,  and  is  now  one  of  the  lead- 
ing German  Democratic  papers  in  the  north- 
eastern part  of  Ohio.  The  paper  is  very  ably 
edited  and  conducted,  and  rellecls  credit  upon 
the  enterprising  community  in  w  Inch  it  is  pub- 
lished. 

The  Stark  County  Ih  ntonnt  was  established 
in  June.  1S33.  liy  a  gentleman  named  Bernard, 
who  died  of  cholera  after  running  it  about  six 
months.  It  was  then  taken  charge  of  by  Will- 
iam Dunbar,  who  carried  it  on  successfully  un- 
til about  1836  or  1837.  when  he  sold  out  to 
Daniel  Gotshall.  who  published  the  paper  until 
April,  1847,  when  he  sold  to  Messrs,  Carney  and 
Leiter.  These  gentlemen  published  it  until 
May,  1848,  when  it  was  sold  to  John  and  A. 
McGregor.  The  former  dying  in  September  of 
that  year,  !Mr.  A.  Mctiregor  has  continued  as 
editor  ever  since,  with  the  exception  of  about 
eighteen  mouths  in  1858  and  1859,  when  it  was 
edited  by  Thomas  Beer.  The  Democrat  is 
ably  conducted  and  has  a  large  circulation. 
It  has  been  and  continues  to  be  the  organ 
of  the  party  in  this  county ;  it  being,  in 
fact,  the  only  English  Democratic  paper  in 
Stark  County. 

John  Saxton,  as  the  jnoneer  printer  and  edi- 
tor of  Canton,  a  resident  of  this  city  for  fifty- 
six  years,  a  good  citizen  and  a  Christian  man, 
has  iseen  so  closely  identified  with  the  progress 
of  the  town,  that  more  than  a  passing  notice  is 
due  his  memory.  He  was  born  at  Huntingdon, 
Penn.,  on  the  28th  of  September,  1792,  and 
was  the  eldest  of  a  large  family.  It  is  well 
known  that  in  April,  1815,  he  stsirted  the  Ohio 
Repoxiton/,  on  which  he  labored  without  inter- 
ruption for  lifty-six  consecutive  years.  In  1815, 
he  wrote  and  published  an  account  of  the  bat- 
tle of  Waterloo,  and  the  arrest  of  the  first 
Napoleon.  In  1870,  he  wrote  and  published 
an  account  of  the  battle  of  Sedan,  and  the 
arrest  of  Napoleon  the  third.  It  is  believed 
that  not  another  man  in  the  United  States  has 


HISTORY   OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


Jahared  so  long  at  one  place  on  one  newspaper. 
What  an  amount  of  work  he  has  performed  ! 
What  volumes  of  truths  he  has  laid  before  his 
readers !  His  selections  were  always  useful, 
always  interesting,  always  inculcating  pure 
principles.  Nothing  licentious  or  unclean  ever 
found  a  place  in  his  columns.  No  matter  what 
party,  school  or  creed  to  which  a  man  might 
belong,  he  could  always  find  either  in  editorial 
or  selection,  something  wiiich  would  aflbrd 
pleasure  and  instruction.  In  his  political  views 
he  was  always  sincere,  and  earnestly  advocated 
what  he  honestly  believed.  Those  views  are  so 
well  known  that  in  these  brief  notes  we  forbear 
to  speak  further.  In  matters  of  religion,  he 
was  a  devout  Presbyterian.  In  the  winter  of 
1833-34,  he  united  with  the  church  then  under 
the  pastoral  care  of  the  Eev.  T.  M.  Hopkins. 
He  at  once  became  an  active,  zealous  laborer 
in  the  cause  of  his  divine  Master.  There  was 
no  half  way  work  about  him.  No  looks  of 
solemn  sourness,  and  mere  Sunday  perform- 
ance. His  was  a  cheerful,  happ3',  conscien- 
tious, loving,  performance  rf  religious  duty. 
He  was  a  Christian  all  over,  in  daily  work,  in 
heart  and  in  purse.  It  was  not  a  religion  of 
constraint,  but  of  freedom.  He  cho.se  the  true 
and  right  way  because  he  loved  it.  He  said  of 
wisdom. 


"llcr  wavN  arc  ways  of  i)l(asa)ili]cs>. 
And  all'hiT  pallis  arc  peace." 

He  preached  .religion  in  his  daily  life.  He  lit- 
erally went  about  doing  good.  No  one  doubted 
his  piety,  for.  like  the  Apostle  James,  he  be- 
lieved that  pure  religion  and  undefiled  before 
God  and  the  Father  is  this ;  to  visit  the  father- 
less and  widow  in  their  affliction,  and  to  keep 
himself  unspotted  from  the  world.  He  had 
the  wisdom  which  was  from  above,  first  pure, 
tiien  peaceable,  gentle,  easy  to  be  entreated, 
full  of  mercj'  and  good  fruits,  without  partiality 
and  without  hypocrisj-.  His  evcry-day  work 
was  planned  for  the  good  of  others.  He  l)e- 
gan  and  ended  it  with  a  careful  reading  of  the 
Scri()tures  and  with  prajer.  He  ascertained 
who  was  sick  and  who  needy,  and  had  about  as 
many  patients  for  his  daily  visits  as  a  ph^-si- 
cian  in  a  moderate  practice.  It  might  be  sup- 
posed that  his  increasing  deafness  would  inca- 
pacitate him  for  such  a  work,  but  if  he  could 
not  hear  the  voice  of  the  patients  he  would  go 
and  see  them,  feel  their  pulse,  give  them   the 


benefit  of  his  sunny  smile,  and  perhaps  pray 
with  them.  Never  obtrusively,  but  always  so 
gentlj-  and  kindly  was  this  done,  that  in  the 
circle  of  his  acquaintance  he  was  alwaj'S  gladly 
welcomed,  and  many  a  one  would  have  felt  as 
much  disappointed  if  they  had  missed  his  visit 
as  they  would  that  of  their  physician.  Nor 
was  this  practice  ephemeral  or  spasmodic.  It 
was  a  life  duty  with  him.  Not  only  duty,  but 
he  loved  to  (lo  it.  His  church  was  the  object 
of  his  special  regard.  He  arranged  his  busi- 
ness and  the  daj'  of  publication  of  his  paper 
with  a  view  to  being  alwa^-s  present  at  the 
prayer  meeting.  At  one  time,  he  changed  his 
publication  day  so  that  the  issue  of  his  paper 
should  never  interfere  with  his  attendance  at 
the  prayer  meeting.  There  was  a  time,  many 
years  ago,  in  which  a  season  of  spiritual  de- 
clension had  reduced  the  number  of  attendants 
to  onlv  four  or  five.  Then  it  was  unfashiona- 
ble to  be  a  Christian,  and  it  was  almo.st  as  well 
known  before  meeting  as  after,  who  would  be 
there.  His  faith  never  flagged,  his  punctuality 
never  remitted,  he  was  alwaj^s  there.  It  is  be- 
lieved that  in  thirty-five  years,  unless  absent 
from  town,  he  never  missed  a  prayer  meeting. 
His  deafness  was  a  sore  trial  to  him.  He  could 
only  hear  by  means  of  a  trumpet.  That  he 
always  carried  with  him.  The  time  came  when 
even  that  did  not  enable  him  to  hear,  but  his 
attention  was  not  even  then  remitted.  He 
would  occupj-  his  place.  His  minister  gave 
him  a  memorandum  of  the  hymns  and  lent  him 
his  sermon  in  manuscript  to  read.  One  great 
desire  of  his  life  was  to  see  a  new  and  commo- 
dious house  of  worsliip  erected  on  the  spot 
where  the  old  inconvenient  building  stood  ;  he 
lived  to  see  it  done,  and  hoped  to  hear  the  Gos- 
pel there.  His  son  James,  in  order  to  enable 
his  father  to  hear,  visited  certain  churches  in 
the  East,  where  speaking  tubes  were  con- 
structed in  such  manner  as  to  come  to  the  ear 
by  a  flexible  tube,  and  had  one  constructed  for 
him  in  the  new  church  ;  he  was  delighted  with 
the  prospect  now  before  him,  but  as  Moses  on 
Pisgah's  top  could  see  the  land  of  promise, 
but  did  not  enter,  so  father  Saxton  saw  the 
work  complete,  and  just  one  week  before  the 
dedication,  passed  awaj'  without  enjoying  it. 

His  evenness  of  temper  was  remarkable. 
The  writer  has  known  him  intimately  for  thirty- 
three  years,  for  more  than  twenty  of  them 
lived  side   by   side   with  him,  had  dailj-  inter- 


CAXTOX    TOWNSHIP. 


^ 


course  with  him,  and  yet  remembers  onlj'  one 

occasion  in  which  that  temper  was  riiffletl. 
For  a.  man  of  so  much  decision  of  character, 
sucli  clear  and  well  delinod  views,  and  such 
earnestness  in  maintaining  them,  it  furnishes  a 
remarkable  illustration  of  the  power  of  his 
judgment  over  his  passions.  He  had  a  great 
fondness  for  children.  lie  recognized  tliem, 
knew  who  they  were,  remembered  their  names, 
talked  to  them,  often  gave  them  his  advice. 
His  genial  ways  and  loving  smile  so  attracted 
tlieir  attention  and  won  their  regard,  tiiat  the\- 
loved  him. 

In  times  when  printing  facilities  bore  no  com- 
parison to  tho.se  of  the  present  day,  when  in- 
formation in  r(!gard  to  current  events  could 
only  be  jjrocured  liy  great  labor,  when  mails 
were  few  and  far  between,  when  post-riders 
had  tfl  convey  them  over  the  mountains  by 
painful  and  tedious  work,  often  fording  swollen 
streams  and  struggling  through  the  mire  in 
primitive  roads  and  primeval  forests,  when  the 
rude  hand-levei-  press  was  the  best  printing 
machine  in  use.  and  when  the  ink  was  distrili- 
uted  by  a  ball-pad  instead  of  a  roller,  it  was  no 
trilling  task  to  get  out  a  weekly"  newspaper  with 
regularity.  In  an  editorial  written  by  him 
fifty-tive  years  later,  he  thus  alludes  to  his 
early  labors  : 

It  would  bf  tliflicult  for  u  person  of  this  genera- 
tion to  imagine  llie  forbidding  a-speet  of  this  region 
in  the  year  1815.  It  was  the  y<'ar  which  was  signal- 
ized by  the  conclusion  of  the  second  war  with  the 
mother  country,  and  which  firmly  estalilishid  our 
complete  independence  as  a  nation.  The  l)usiness 
affairs  of  the  coinilry,  which  had  been  prostrated. 
were  made  yet  worse  by  the  impoverished  and  \v()rs<- 
tlian  worthless  currene}'  of  tlie  period. 

Canton  was  a  village  of  three  hundred  inhabit- 
ants, and  no  paper  was  printed  west  of  it.  From 
ISl.")  to  1819,  the  HejHMitori/  W'as  printed  in  the  build 
ing.  and  in  the  very  room  now  occupied  by  I''esslers 
grocery.  It  was  "then  removed  to  tin-  Kantfnian 
hnildiiig.  still  standing,  on  Soutli  Market  street. 
whire  il  remained  until  l.sii,  when  I  removed  it 
again  to  my  own  premises  near  by.  where  it  had  a 
home  until  the  consolidation  of  the  Rej/tmti'ri/  and 
Republinin,  in  1808.  My  first  article  in  my  first 
paper,  printed  March  30.  181.5,  was  a  prospectus, 
wliicli  lead  as  follows  : 

"TO  THE  I'lIil.ICK. 
"'In  a  government  where  the  blessing  of  Freedom 
is  en.ji>ye(l  and  .justly  cstimatiMl,  it  is  aeknowledgecl 
by  all  thai  the  <lissemination  of  correct  practical 
knowledge  is  of  the  tirst  importance.  The  continu- 
ance of  that  freedom,  the  ineslimabh'  birthright  of 
every  American,  must  depend  upon  the  Intelligence. 


Patriotism  and  virtue  of  the  people.  The  estab- 
lishment of  Newspapers  are  the  mo.st  easy  and  con- 
venient means  of  gaining  that  correct  ini'orn'ialion, 
respecting  tlieir  political  concerns,  which  will  enable 
them  to  judge,  with  accuracy.  Ibc  wisdom  or  folly 
of  their  rulers.  Strongly  impressed  with  these  sen- 
timents, the  editor  pledijcs  himself  to  Ins  patrons, 
that  'truth  shall  be  his  guide,  the  public  good  his 
aim.'  In  avowing  his  attachment  to  one  of  the  two 
political  parties  which  at  jiresent  so  tmhappily  di- 
vide om'  country,  be  is  free  in  declaring  that  his  is 
an  attachment,  not  of  party,  but  from  principle  ; 
the  result,  not  of  interest,  prejudice  or  passion,  but 
founded  on  imjiarlial  iuvesti,gation.  It  is  an  attach- 
ment to  the  prin<-iiiles  avowed  by  the  immortal 
Sages  who  declared  our  Independence — to  the  form 
of  Government  guaranteed  by  the  Federal  constitu- 
tion, and  a  disciple  of  the  school  of  Washington. 
.\  candid  and  fair  investigation  of  political  subjects 
is,  uiidoiibledly,  the  sweet  palladium  of  National 
Freedom  :  liljeral  and  well  informed  men,  of  all  par- 
ties, are  invited  to  make  it  a  liepositori/  of  their  sen- 
timents— the  editor  reserving  on  all  occasions,  the 
right  of  e.vcrcising  a  decided  control  over  everything 
offered  for  insertion.  He  will  reject  everj-thing 
which  he  may  deem  illiberal,  unjust  or  impolitick, 
everything  calculated  imnccessarily  to  e.xcite  party 
prejudice  or  animosity,  or  lo  wound  llut  feelings  of 
individuals,  .\ctualed  by  such  motives,  and  guided 
by  such  t<'nct.s,  he  submits,  <-heerfiUly,  the  merits  of 
bis  laliors  and  his  cause  to  an  enlghtened  publick." 
Such  were  the  sentiments  that  gave  birth  to  the 
(Jhio  li(  jtositury,  and  these  were  my  promises  made 
fifty  five  years  ago.  But  where  are  the  then  living 
witnesses  who  can  testify  in  regard  to  my  fulfillment 
of  llicni  V  Alas!  they  have  all  gone  before  me  to 
their  linal  account.  Their  children  and  their  chil- 
dren's children,  one  after  another,  have  risen  up. 
The  few  familiar  names  of  that  day  are  multiplied 
over  and  over  again.  The-  few  rude  traces  of  the 
improvements  that  then  siinieed,  disapi)car  day  by 
day.  The  village  of  three  hundred  is  now  a  city 
of  twelve  thousand,  and  the  wilderness  ;d)out  now 
"blossoms  as  the  rose"  with  fruits  and  fields  and 
homes  that  exhibit  the  highest  efforts  of  modein 
civilization.  Duringall  this  period,  a  merciful  Provi- 
dence has  sp.-u-ed  my  life,  and  enaliled  me  lo  |)ar- 
ticipate  in  the  working  out  of  these  wonderful 
changes.  Il  has  been  my  pleasure  every  week  to 
witness  I  he  regular  appearance  of  my  paper,  and  to 
know  that  as  an  instrumentality  of  usefulness  and 
power  it  has  kept  pace  with  the  growth  and  expan- 
sion of  the  institutions  of  which  it  has  been  an  index. 

His  newspaper  longevity  is  strikingly  illus- 
trated by  the  fact  that  he  recorded  the  liiial 
battles  of  both  Napoleons — Waterloo  and  .Se- 
dan. 'J'he  article  in  the  ]'i ixisitdii/  and  lirjiuh- 
liciiii  of  September  0.  187<l, 'setting  forth  this 
fact,  was  commented  upon  by  editors  all  over 
the  country.  We  reproduce  this  very  extraor- 
dinary example  here  : 

In  turning  over  the  leaves  of  the  Repositori/  tiles, 
back   fiftj'-five   years  ago,  we   find   in  some  pages 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


striking  points  of  similarity  to  those  tlmt  wc  print 
to-day.     Tako  the  following  examples  ; 

From   thp  ReposUory    of  .^ugUHt,  From  the  Respoilory  ami   R<^nb- 
24,  1816.  licnn  of  Si-ptemlier  0,  1370. 

FROM  FRANCE.  THE  WAR. 


IPARTfi.         I  UBPUBLIC   PaucI.A 


BoBton,  August  5,  1815. 
The  brig  Abellinu,  Capt.  Wyor. 
has  just  arrived  from  Frauce,  and 
brings  Paris  papers  to  June  23. 
Th*^y  contain 


London,  September  3. — A  spe- 
cial correspondence  of  the  Tribune 
telegraphs  from  the  King's  h^tid- 
■  THE  WHOLE  quarters  at  Vendre&t,  near  Sedan, 
Friday  :  The  battle  of  Sedan  be- 
gan at  G  o'clocli  on  the  morning 
of  Septem  er  1.  Two  Prussian 
corps  were  fn  position  on  the 
West  of  Sedan,  having  got  there 
by  long-forced  marches  to  cut  off 
tlie  French  r.-treat  to  Mezieres. 
South  of  .Sedan  wjw  the  first  Ba- 
varian Corps,  and  east,  across  tiie 
Meuse.  the  St-'coud  Bavarian  corps. 
The  Saxons  were  on  the  northeast 
with  the  Guards.  I  was  with  the 
King  throughout  the  day,  on  the 
hill  above  St.  Meu^e,  commanding 
a  splendid  view  of  the  valley  of 
the  Meuse  and  of  the  field.  After 
a  tremendous  battle,  the  Prus- 
sians, having  completely  sur- 
rounded  Sedan,  and  the  Bavarians 
having  entered  the  fortifications, 
the  Emperor  capitulated  at  five 
o'clock  and  fifty  minutes  P.  M. 

In  his  letter  to  the  King  of 
Prussia  he  said  :  •'  As  I  cannot 
die  at  the  head  of  my  army,  [  lay 
my  sword  at  the  feet  of  your 
Majesty."  Napoleon. 

Brussels,  September  3.  —  The 
Prince  Imperial  of  France  has 
arrived  at  Chemay,  thirty-two 
miles  southeast  of  Mons.  and  has 
been  at  the  palace  of  the  Prince 
of  Chemay. 


FRENCH    ARMV, 

on  the  18th  of  June,  with  the  loss 
of  all  its  cannon,  baggage  and 
stores; 

The  rapid  flight  of  Bonaparte; 

His  abdication  of  the  throne; 

The  choice  of  a  provisional  gov- 
ernment of  five  persons; 

The  Declaration  of  the  Em- 
peror, to  wit : 

Frenchmen  !  In  commencing 
the  war  to  support  the  independ- 
ence of  the  French  nation  I  had 
calculated  upon  the  co-operation 
of  all.  I  had  reason  to  hepe  for 
success,  and  I  have  braved  all 
the  denunciations  of  the  powers 
against  me.  Circumstances  are 
changed.  I  offer  myself  asacrifice 
to  the  hatred  of  the  enemies  of 
France. 

MV   POLITICAL    LIFE   IS    ENDEU, 

and  I  proclaim  my  son  under  the 
title  of  Napoleon  II.  Emperor  of 
the  French. 

Done  at  the  palace  of  Elysium, 
the  22d  of  June,  1815. 

[Signed],      Napoleon. 
Boston,  August  5,  1815. 

It  appears  by  Wellington's 
official  account  of  the  battle 
fought  at  Waterloo,  in  Belgium, 
that  Bonaparte  was  defeated  with 
a  loss  of  20,000  killed  and  wound- 
ed, 200  cannon  and  two  eagles. 
The  loss  on  the  part  of  the  allies 
is  also  severe. 

Seldom  is  the  artive,  business  life  of  a  man  pro- 
longed to  such  a  period  as  li;is  lliis  one.  the  termini 
of  uiiieli  are  marked  l)y  siicli  siariling  events.  As 
will  be  seen  elsewhere,  Mr.  .John  Saxton.  who  en- 
joved  this  rare  .good  fortune,  died  nii  Sumhiv  last, 
theUith  instant, 

A  man  universally  beloved  1)3' okl  iiml  young,  ■ 
Mr.  Saxton,  made  a  ^■el•y  narrow  escape  with  ' 
bis  life  in  the  fall  of  1808,     A  .young  man  with  j 
a  great  show   of  outward   piety,  and  one   who 
made  long  and  eloquent  prayers  at  the  prayer-  1 
meetings  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and   was  [ 
greatly  beloved  by  the  sisters  of  the  congrega- 
tion, rentetl  the  cellar  of  the   house   in    which 
Mr,  Saxton   had   resided   for   inanv    years  (the 


house  within  a  few  weeks  torn  down  to  make 
room  for  the  extension  of  the  new  and  beautiful 
post  office  building  of  Mr.  James  A,  Saxton)  for 
storing  apples  purchased  for  shipment  to  the 
Eastern  market.  He  had  bought  and  stored 
therein  about  1,200  bushels,  when  he  took  out  an 
insurance  on  them  of  $2,500.  The  name  of  the 
young  man  was  J.  W.  Meyer,  and  he  came  from 
Pittsburgh.  It  is  strongly-  suspected,  and  in  the 
lightof  afterevents,  reasonably  certain,  that,  aft- 
er taking  out  his  insurance,  he  had  procured  car- 
bon oil,  and  sprinkled  barrels  and  boards  with  it, 
and  then  in  the  later  part  of  the  evening  set 
fire  to  it.  He  was  positively  known  to  have 
gone  into  the  cellar  about  9  o'clock  ou  that 
evening.  It  was  soon  after  the  close  of  the 
prayer- meeting  at  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  Father  Saxton  had  already  retiretl  for  the 
night.  Providentially  the  prayer-meeting  at 
the  Baptist  Church  on  South  Market  closed 
somewhat  later  than  usual,  and  parties  on  their 
way  home  from  the  church  discovered  the  fire 
and  gave  the  alarm,  and  it  was  put  out  before 
getting  into  full  headway.  Moyer  was  arrested 
and  tried  by  the  court,  but  by  the  superior 
efforts  of  able  counsel  was  ac(}uitted  by  the  jury. 
It  was  currently  reported  at  the  time  that  hav- 
ing no  money  to  hire  counsel,  he  had  secured 
the  services  of  the  gentleman  who  defended 
him,  by  executing  a  chattel  mortgage  to  him 
on  the  apples  which  had  not  been  materially  in- 
jured by  the  fire,  and  that  after  being  saved  from 
the  penitentiary  by  his  attorney,  he  had  en- 
deavored to  cheat  him  out  of  his  fee  in  the  sale 
of  the  apples.  Moyer  soon  found  public  opinion 
too  strong  against  him  in  Canton  and  went  to 
other  parts.  He  came  finall}-,  it  is  said,  to  an 
untimely-  end,  a  proof  that  ''  the  way  of  the 
transgressor  is  hard."  Mr.  Saxton  was  a  soldier 
in  the  war  of  1812,  between  the  United  States 
and  England.  While  in  the  service,  upon  gar- 
rison duty  at  Black  Rock,  near  Buftalo,  he  par- 
tiallj^  lost  his  hearing  by  an  accident.  In  the 
discharge  of  .some  duty  he  was  under  a  large 
canon,  when  a  soldier  fired  it  off,  paralyzing 
the  organs  of  hearing.  This  was  the  greatest 
physical  misfortune  of  his  life. 

Mr.  Saxton  commenced  the  publication  of 
the  Repository  tluring  the  administration  of 
James  Madison.  He  belonged  to  the  Repub- 
lican party  of  that  d.ay.  He  was  suljsetiuently  a 
Whig,  but  espoused  the  present  Republican  par- 
ty upon  its  first  organization.     He  voted  for  the 


CANTON    TOWNSHIP. 


following  Presidential  candidates  :  James  Mad- 
ison, James  Monroe,  John  Quiney  Adams,  also 
for  Henry  Clay,  in  1882  ;  for  Harrison  in  183G 
and  1840,  for  Clay  aj^ain  in  1844,  Taylor  in  1848, 
Suott  in  1852,  Fremont  in  1850,  Linoohi  in 
1860  and  18G4,  and  Grant  in  ISCS. 

The  biosjraphy  of  John  .Saxton,  ealls  to  mind 
the  fact  tliat  Hon.  Joseph  .Medill,  now  one  of 
the  editors  of  the  Chieai^o  Trihaiif.  began  his 
newspaper  life  with  .^Ir.  Saxton.  In  1831.  when 
Mr.  Medill  was  abont  seven  or  eight  years  old 
— his  parents  then  residing  at  Massillon,  Ohio, 
— his  father  took  him  to  Canton  to  attend  a 
Revolutionarj-  Soldiers'  eelebration,  and  sub- 
scribed for  the  Rc/josifori/,  which  he  continued 
to  take  unlil  his  death,  in  1808  In  the  winter 
of  183S-3H,  the  younger  Medill  began  writing 
for  Mr.  Saxton's  paper,  upon  education  and 
kindred  topics.  During  the  (;ampaign  of  1840, 
he  eontriljuted  almost  wcekl\-  to  the  paper, 
many  of  his  articles  being  used  as  editorials. 
Mr.  Medill  generally  called  at  the  olficc  on  pub- 
lication day,  when  Mr.  Saxton  would  press  him 
into  the  service  in  ••  writing  the  mail, "  after 
which,  the  young  man  would  be  loaded  down 
with  papers  for  the  subscribers  on  his  route 
homeward.  About  1840,  Mr.  Medill  ''learned 
the  ease,''  and  frequently  helped  in  getting  out 
the  paper.  He  continued  to  write  for  it  until 
about  1845,  contributing  many  articles  during 
the  campaign  of  1844,  when  he  was  editing  the 
Cleveland  Leader.  He  relates  that  Mr.  Saxton 
usually  composed  his  editorials  at  the  ease,  fre- 
quentl}'  doing  this  while  engaged  in  conversa- 
tion with  his  friends  in  the  office.  About  the 
year  1858  or  185!l.  Mr.  Medill's  brother,  the  late 
Maj.  William  H.  .Medill,  established  the  liipiib- 
h'caii  at  Canton,  which,  a  few  years  afterward, 
was  eonsolidateil  with  the  Rfpository.  The 
Messrs.  ."Medill's  father  was  a  warm  friend  of 
.Mr.  Saxton,  and,  during  thirty  years  of  his  life, 
frequisntly  contributed  to  the  columns  of  his 
paper. 

In  leaving  the  record  of  Father  Saxton,  it  is 
but  appropriate  to  refer  to  the  somewhat  won- 
derful career  of  John  .McGregor,  one  of  tiie 
original  proprietors  of  the  Sturk  ('ounfi/  Denw- 
cr<il  under  its  present  management,  which,  from 
1848  to  this  date,  has  been  with  but  little  inter- 
mission under  the  editorial  control  of  his  son, 
A.  McGregor,  a  period  of  nearly  thirty-three 
years  John  ^McGregor  made  his  advent  in 
this  city  for  the  purpose  of  assisting  his  son,  A. 


McGregor,  in  a  private  school  of  the  latter,  in 
the  early  part  of  the  year  1848.  Soon  after, 
the  Democrat  was  purchased  by  the  two,  and 
has  remained  in  the  family'  from  that  time  to 
the  present.  In  taking  control  of  the  paper  on 
the  24th  of  May,  1848,  the  new  editors  pre- 
sented their  position  as  follows  :  "  The  paper 
will  be  conducted  as  heretofore  upon  Demo- 
cratic principles.  We  are.  and  alwaj's  have 
been,  opposed  to  a  Bank  of  the  United  States, 
and  to  a  paper  currency  in  any  shape,  believing 
with  .Mr.  Webster,  that  banking  enriches  the 
•  rich  man's  Held  with  the  sweat  of  the  poor 
man's  brow.'  We  are  opposed  to  a  protective 
tariff,  and  fishing  bounties,  believing  that  they 
will  cripple  commerce  and  tax  communities,  to 
benetit  the  maimfacturer,  the  iron  master,  the 
sugar  grower,  and  the  fisherman.  VVe  are  op- 
posed to  all  moiKi/Ki/ies.  Iielieving  that  all  that 
is  necessary  to  raise  our  country  to  the  highest 
pitch  of  greatness  and  glory  is  -n  cleur  course 
and  IK)  favor.'  We  are  in  favor  of  an  inde- 
pendent treasury,  believing  that  the  people  are 
better  (lualifled  to  take  care  of  the  pul)lic  monej' 
than  is  any  soulless  corporation.  We  are  in 
favor  of  electing  all  public  ollicers,  believing 
that  the  people  are  better  qualified  to  choose 
their  own  servants,  than  any  President,  Gov- 
ernor, Legislature,  or  Court  is  of  choosing  for 
them.  These  are  our  opinions  on  the  subjects 
mentioned,  and  these  subjects  we  will  discuss 
calml}'  and  reasonably  in  the  Demoerat.  We 
will  not,  knowingly,  injure  an}'  man  in  reputa- 
tion or  feeling,  and  if,  by  inadvertence,  anything 
should  be  inserted  that  is  wrong  or  unjust  to 
any  individual,  we  shall  always  be  ready,  when 
convinced  of  the  wrong  done,  to  make  the 
anifiuh:  hoiwrabh.  Having  no  personal  feelings 
to  gratify",  with  respect  to  any  one — being  un- 
der the  control  ol'  no  man  or  set  of  men,  we 
shall  avoid  all  personal  altercations,  and  shall 
not  allow  oth(Ts  (through  the  Demdcrat)  to 
malign,  traduce,  or  abuse  any  man  in  the  com- 
munity, nor  shall  we  be  guilty  of  such  conduct 
ourselves.  I'rniciji/e.t,  not  men,  is  our  motto. 
While  we  wish  '  to  do  unto  others  as  we  wish 
them  to  do  unto  us,'  we  shall,  also,  act  upon  the 
converse  of  the  [jroposition,  and  ccact  from 
others  such  usage  as  we  are  willing  to  accord 
them.  Guided  by  these  principles  and  senti- 
ments, the  Democracy  of  Stark  County  will,  at 
all  times,  find  us  at  our  post,  ready  to  do  our 
best  in  the  cause  of  freedom,  equal  riffhts.  equal 


35'.' 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


hiirdens,  constifutlonnl  rr/onn,  and  the  defense 
of  our  common  country  against  internal  and 
external  foes.'' 

John  McGregor,  the  senior  editor,  died  on 
the  following  (ith  of  September,  at  Wadsworth, 
Medina  County,  his  place  of  residence  in  this 
State.  He  was  born  in  Hamilton,  Lanarkshire, 
Scotland,  on  the  28th  day  of  June,  1706.  At 
fourteen  years  of  age,  he  removed  to  London, 
and  was  pl.aced  under  the  care  of  the  Rev, 
Alexander  Fletcher,  preparatory  to  his  entering 
college.  After  graduating,  a  few  years  later, 
at  the  University  of  Glasgow,  he  adopted  the 
vocation  of  a  teacher  in  his  native  town,  Ham- 
ilton. By  nature  an  ardent  Republican,  he  en- 
gaged with  ardor  in  the  cause  of  freedom,  and 
was  a  distinguished  member  of  the  Radical 
party  of  1819.  in  Scotland.  His  talents  and 
energy  made  him  a  conspicuous  leader  of  the 
Rehch — they  were  called  rebels  in  those  days — 
and  he  was  appointed  to  head  the  revolt  in 
Hamilton.  In  the  spring  of  this  year,  1819,  all 
parts  of  Great  Britain  were  rife  for  insurrection, 
but  whilst  millions  of  men,  in  England,  Ireland 
and  Scotland,  had  '  pledged  their  lives,  their 
fortunes  and  their  sacred  honor."  to  stand  firm 
in  the  hour  of  trial,  there  was  treachery  some- 
where, and  the  Government  being  made  aware 
of  the  plans  of  the  leaders,  used  its  huge  and 
mighty  power  to  crush  out  the  rebellion,  and 
this  was  quickly  accomplished.  Of  course,  the 
leaders  being  known  were  marked  as  victims  to 
satiate  the  demands  of  the  offended  and  in- 
censed rulers.  John  McGregor,  as  one  of  these, 
preferring  liberty,  at  auj'  price,  to  a  sdjourn  in 
prison,  tied  to  the  mountains,  and  managed  to 
elude  those  employed  by  the  British  Govern- 
ment to  arrest  the  rebels,  until  the  storm  of 
governmental  wrath  had  blown  over,  and  par- 
don had  been  granted  to  all  the  leaders  of  the 
revolt  who  remained  alive.  Seeing  that  all 
hopes  of  establishing  a  British  Republic  were 
abortive,  Mr.  McGregor  with  his  family,  then 
consisting  of  his  wife,  his  son,  A.  McGregor, 
and  his  three  daughters  born  in  Scotland,  deter- 
mined to  emigrate  to  America.  In  1827,  he 
settled  in  Addison  County,  in  the  State  of  Ver- 
mont, where  he  resided  until  18.3.3,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Medina  County  inthis  State.  At  the 
time  of  his  decease,  besides  the  four  children 
brought  along  from  the  old  countr}-  as  men- 
tioned above,  five  other  children  had  been 
added  to  Mr,  Mc(}regor's  family.    Mr.  McGregor 


was  somewhat  known  in  Canton  as  a  teacher  of 
youth,  before  he  assumed  the  more  complex  and 
arduous  duties  of  an  editor.  In  the  strictest 
acceptation  of  the  word,  he  was  a  genfleman. 
In  politics,  he  was  rigidly  Arm  but  courteous. 
As  a  scientific  man.  he,  then,  had  but  few  equals. 
He  died  honored  and  respected  by  all.  and  with- 
out an  enemy.  His  mantle  has  fallen  on  worthy 
shoulders,  in  the  person  of  his  son,  A,  McGregor, 
Esq.,  the  present  editor  of  the  Democrat. 

Besides  the  papers  mentioned  above,  Canton 
has  two  papers  of  more  recent  origin,  one  the 
Canton  RrpuliUnta,  yet  in  its  first  volume,  ed- 
ited and  published  by  Robert  C.  Cassidy,  advo- 
cating Republican  principles  from  a  proposed 
higher  moral  and  social  standpoint  than  is  often 
taken  by  the  political  press  of  our  country. 
The  other,  tiie  Canton  Coi/n'ei;  a  paper  devoted 
to  the  advocacy  of  the  most  radical  and  ad- 
vanced views  of  the  modern  temperance  re 
form,  which  is  controlled  and  edited  by  R.  C. 
Mosgrove.  Both  these  papers  are  conducted 
with  marked  abilit}'.  Of  those  wjio  have  con- 
tributed freely  and  largely-  to  the  press  of  Can- 
ton, and  who  have  had  much  to  do  in  former 
years  in  shaping  public  opinion,  and  are  yet  of 
great  influence  in  the  communitj-,  the  names  of 
Dr.  L.  Slusscr  and  Louis  Schaefer,  Esq.,  stand 
out  prominently  ;  indeed  a  large  part  of  this 
history  of  Canton  citj'  and  township  is  compiled 
from  their  contributions.  That  "  the  pen  is 
mightier  than  the  sword  "  has  lieen  instanced 
on  very  many  occasions,  and  the  history  of 
Canton  is  no  exception.  Ignoring  the  fact  that 
at  times  the  political  press  has  been  severe, 
possibly  unjust  and  abusive,  it  maj-  still  be 
said  that  the  press  of  this  cit^',  without  ex- 
ception, has,  as  a  rule,  favored  every  movement 
looking  to  the  material  and  intellectual  im- 
provement of  the  people,  and  the  cause  of  true 
morality  and  religion  has  had  but  little,  if  any, 
cause  to  lament  the  power  of  a  free  and  untram- 
meled  press.  And  this  is  as  it  should  always 
be  in  a  free  country. 

Along  back  so  far  ago  as  the  year  1837,  the 
temperance  movement  commenced  in  Canton, 
as  in  other  parts  of  the  country.  The  Baptist 
Church  seems  to  have  taken  the  initiative  sev- 
eral years  before  this  time  as  the  following  ac- 
tion will  show  :  "  Regarding  the  evils  of  intem- 
perance and  its  desolating  effects  upon  the  hap- 
piness of  individuals,  public  and  private  virtue, 
and  the  welfare  of  the  community,  it  was  de- 


(ANTON    TOWNSHIP. 


:ir>:i 


claivil  .May  22,  1834,  to  be  tlie  strong  and  de- 
liberate conviction  of  tbe  church,  that  the  time 
bad  arrived  when  no  professed  disciple  of  (!lirist 
could  manufacture,  buy,  sell,  or  use  ardent 
spirit  as  a  drink  without  being  guilty  of  im- 
morality, and  violating  his  profession  as  a 
Christian,  and  it  was  resolved  that  entire  ab- 
stinence from  the  manufacture,  use  and  sale  of 
this  article  should  be  an  invariable  eoniiition  for 
membership  and  good  standing."  The  historian's 
position  will  not  allow  him  here  to  sit  in  judg- 
ment upon  the  wisdom  and  propriety  of  the 
positions  taken  in  this  action,  and  the  same  will 
hold  true  in  regard  to  other  temperance  move- 
ments and  organizations  for  other  purposes.  It 
is  his  province  to  state  the  fticts,  but  he  cannot 
help  saying  here,  that  in  the  absence  of  almost 
everything  of  a  tangible  nature,  after  his  most 
diligent  researches  in  regard  to  the  rise  and 
progress  of  the  temperance  movement  in  Can- 
ton, he  is  extremely  gratified  to  be  able  to  start 
his  brief  discussion  of  this  part  of  the  subject 
from  this  earliest  action  in  that  direction. 
Without  being  able  to  fix  dates  or  furnish  par- 
ticular reminiscences,  Mr.  John  Danner.  an  old 
resident,  and  a  lifelong  active  and  consistent 
temperance  man.  informs  us  that  this  movement 
in  Canton  has  gone  through  al)out  the  same 
stages  and  the  same  experiences  as  in  the  other 
older  settled  parts  of  the  country.  The  original 
temperance  agitation,  as  appears  in  the  above 
cited  action,  was  directed  solely  against  spirit- 
uous li(iuors,  and  no  effort  was  made  to  prevent 
the  use  of  malt  licjuors.  wine  and  cider  as  a 
beverage.  This  made  but  little  headway  against 
the  evils  of  intemperance,  and  it  was  not  long 
until  pledges  were  urged  and  taken  also  against 
the  use  of  the  latter.  One  of  the  more  prom- 
inent movements  against  the  use  of  all  alcoholic 
beverages  is  known  as  the  Washingtonian 
movement.  The  organization  was  specifically 
distinguished  from  all  previous  movements  in 
this  direction  as  the  reformed  drunkards'  or- 
ganization, and  was  carried  forward  mainly  by 
the  recital  of  experiences  on  the  part  of  men 
who  had  been  victims  of  the  inordinate  desire 
for  strong  drink,  and  had  taken  the  pledge. 
These  experiences,  laughable  at  times  and  piti- 
able by  turns,  addressed  as  they  were  to 
men's  emotions,  ran  like  wild-lin;  throughout 
the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land.  Ac- 
cording to  our  friend  Danner,  the  Washing- 
tonian movement  struck  Canton  before  the  year 


1840.  The  Presiilential  campaign  of  this  year 
was  known  as  the  ■  Hard  Ci<U'i'  Campaign,  " 
and  the  effect  of  it  upon  "  NVushingtoiiians  " 
was  sadly  demoralizing.  .Many  went  back  to 
their  cups  and  never  rallieil  again.  Following 
the  days  of  Washitjgtonianisra  came  the  Sons, 
the  Daughters  and  the  Cadets  of  Temperance, 
organizations  to  some  extent  secret  in  charac- 
ter. While-these  still  live  in  some  places,  they 
have  long  since  been  buried  in  Canton.  I'p  to 
the  time  of  these  organizations,  everything  was 
ostensibly  carried  forward  under  the  inrtuence 
of  •'  moral  suasion."  but  while  tlu^  (Constitutional 
Convention  of  Ohio,  which  framed  the  present 
State  Constitution,  was  in  session,  a  strong 
pressure  was  brought  to  bear  upon  the  mem- 
bers b}-  the  more  radical  temperance  people  of 
the  State,  to  take  away  the  prestige  of  selling 
lifjuor,  by  refusing  license  for  its  sale  in  the 
Constitution  of  the  State.  The  convention 
yielded  so  far  as  to  present  an  article  on  license 
to  a  separate  vote  of  the  people.  .V  vigorous 
campaign  followed  ;  the  constitution  was 
adopted,  but  the  article  providing  for  license 
was  rejected.  The  views  presented  against  this 
article  were  that  the  sanction  of  the  law  made 
the  business  of  selling  liquor  respectable,  and 
that  if  this  sanction  were  removed,  it  would 
soon  cease  to  be  so  ;  that  men  would  by  the 
force  of  public  opinion  be  compelled  to  desist 
from  it  entirely.  But  not  so  ;  instead  of  the 
licensed  houses  under  penalties  for  violating 
the  laws,  there  was  free  trade  in  liciuor.  and  the 
traffic,  at  tirst  open  and  public  as  before,  multi- 
plied tenfold,  and  finally  took  refuge  in  base- 
ments and  behind  green  screens  and  painted 
windows.  This  was  the  beginning  of  the  mod- 
ern saloon  business,  and  it  may  be  styled  also 
very  appropriately  the  '  transition  stage  "  of 
the  temperance  movement,  not  only  in  Canton, 
but  all  over  the  State  of  Ohio.  After  this  be- 
gan the  period  of  legal  prohibition,  which  com- 
bined with  various  special  movements  to  com- 
bine features  of  all  the  previous  stages,  have 
been  going  on  for  a  period  of  nearly  thirty 
years,  but  which  are  of  recent  origin  and  have 
hitherto  been  so  unproductive  of  marked  and 
permanent  results  that  they  can  hardly  as  yet 
be  considered  historical.  Among  the  present 
active,  energetic  temperance  men  of  Canton,  we 
give  the  names  of  Samuel  J.  Rockhill.  for  some 
years  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools,  ami  Maj. 
Frank  Baird. 


^=^pr 


354 


HISTOIjy  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


There  are  two  lodges  of  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity in  Canton.  One  of  these,  Canton  Lodge, 
No.  GO,  held  its  first  meeting  on  the  Istof  March, 
1821,  under  a  dispensation  from  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  Ohio.  The  officers  were  Closes  An- 
derson, Master  ;  James  IXinnan,  S.  Warden  ; 
B.  C.  froodwill,  J.  Warden,  and  J.  W.  Lathrop, 
Secretary.  William  Coolman  was  the  first  del- 
egate to  the  (J rand  Lodge  for  Canton  in  Decem- 
ber, 1821.  The  lodge  was  dedicated  January 
15,  1822,  by  Rial  McArthur,  Deputy  Orand 
Master,  and  at  this  time  received  its  charter. 
This  lodge  is  now  in  a  prosperous  condition 
and  is  composed  of  125  members.  The  present 
officers  are  Henry  A.  Wise,  Master  ;  Joseph 
Weaver,  S.  Warden  ;  R.  Bauhof,  J.  Warden  ; 
W.  H.  Wyant,  Secretary  ;  H.  Bowen,  Treasurer  ; 
and  M.  Frederick,  now  one  of  the  oldest  mera- 
bers.  Tiler.  Eagle  Lodge,  No.  431,  was  organ- 
ized by  members  drawn  from  Canton  Lodge. 
The  first  officers  were  Herman  Mej'er,  W.  Mas- 
ter ;  J.  F.  Bauhof,  S.  W.  ;  G.  W.  Lawrence,  J. 
W.  ;  M.  Ruhman,  Treas.  ;  A.  M.  Shane,  Sec'y. 
This  lodge  had  an  auspicious  beginning,  and 
has  prospered  from  the  start.  It  has  a  mem- 
bership at  this  time  of  seventy-two  members. 
The  present  officers  are  C.  F.  Laiblin,  W.  M.  ; 
J.  F.  Bauhof,  S.  W.  ;  A.  J.  Underbill,  J.  W. ; 
M.  Ruhman,  Treas.  ;  T.  C.  McDowell,  Sec'y.  ; 
M.  Fulraer,  Sr.  Deacon  ;  William  Ball,  Jr.  Dea- 
con, and  M.  Frederick,  Tiler.  Whether  all  its 
claims  upon  antiquity  arc  well  founded  or  not. 
Freemasonry  is  the  oldest,  most  wide-spread, 
and  in  our  judgment  the  most  perfectl}'  organ- 
ized of  all  the  fraternities.  We  are  sorry,  there- 
fore, at  not  being  able  to  present  any  interest- 
ing reminiscences  of  Masons  in  the  earlj'  set- 
tlement of  Canton. 

X;mi.^!/I„  Lo,/,,,.  X,K  .to,  [.  0.  ().  /''.—Was 
instituted  Jiuif '.I.  1S45,  0.  F.  Stidger,  James 
Armstrong,  (ieorgc  .Miller,  Ralph  A.  Ingersoll, 
and  (i.  T.  Clark  having  been  the  Charter  Mem- 
bers. This  lodge  has  been  for  years  in  a  pros- 
perous condition,  and  now  numbers  over  200 
members.  Stark  Lodge,  No.  513,  was  institut- 
ed Ma}-  15.  1872,  by  members  from  Nimisilla 
Lodge,  and  now  numbers  about  one  hundred 
members.  Manheim  Lodge,  No.  408  (German), 
was  also  instituted  by  members  of  the  old 
lodge,  August  27,  186S.  Canton  Encampment, 
No.  112,  a  higher  branch  of  the  order,  was  in- 
stituted August  3,  1868,  and  is  prospering. 
All  these  lodges  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  meet  in  the 


third  story  of  Whiting  &  Poyser's  Building, 
corner  of  Seventh  street  and  the  public  square. 

The  Knights  of  Honor,  Canton  Lodge,  No.  94 — 
Was  instituted  March  15,  1875,  witli  about  fifty 
charter  members,  and  Canton  Council,  No.  373, 
American  Legion  of  Honor,  was  instituted  De- 
cember 10,  1880,  with  156  charter  members. 
These  orders  are  both  for  the  purpose  of  pro- 
viding insurance  for  their  members  at  a  veiy 
low  cost.  Up  to  this  time  onl}'  one  of  the 
members  has  died  in  this  cit}',  and  the  amount 
of  .$2,000  was  paid  to  the  family  of  the  deceased. 
We  are  indebted  for  the  above  facts  relating  to 
the  fraternities  mentioned,  mainly  to  Mr.  Will- 
iam H.  Wyant,  and  expix'ss  our  regret  at  not 
being  able  to  make  them  fuller  and  more  explicit. 
There  are  undoubtedly  other  orders  of  a  similar 
character,  which  deserve  as  honorable  mention 
as  those  named,  but  our  limited  space  prevents 
any  further  notice  of  them. 

The  early  settlers  in  this  township  and  city 
being  mostly  Pennsylvanians  or  native  Gei'- 
mans,  had  a  high  regard,  as  a  rule,  for  intelli- 
gence from  their  standpoint,  and  for  a  .sound 
moralitj'.  It  must  be  acknowledged  by  the 
writer  of  this  part  of  the  history  of  Stark 
County,  himself  a  Penn.sylvanian,  that  their 
estimate  of  intelligence  would  not  answer  the 
gauge  of  the  present  time,  nor  was  it  up  to  the 
New  Kngland  standard  ;  but,  beneath  it  all  lay 
the  natural  conservatism  of  the  German  char- 
acter to  '•  make  haste  slowlj'."  ''  Try  all  things, 
and  hold  fast  that  which  is  good,"  is  sound 
doctrine  in  many  more  things  than  in  questions 
of  religious  doctrine  and  practice.  Schools 
and  schoolmasters,  in  German  and  English, 
though  both  partaking  largelj-  of  the  primitive 
tj'pe,  were  a  part  and  parcel  of  the  original 
settlement  of  this  township  and  city.  And  one 
thing  is  to  be  said  right  here  in  favor  of  this 
old  German  conservatism,  the  schools  here 
have  never  retrograded  ;  though  slowl}-,  still 
advancing,  they  stand  equal  to  the  best  in  the 
whole  country  to-da}'.  Radicalism,  in  auj- 
sphere  of  progress,  makes  many  mistakes  and 
blunders,  which  require  time  for  their  correc- 
tion, while  a  progressive  conservatism  with 
fewer  mistakes  to  correct,  is  likely  to  move 
forward  more  steadily  and  more  successfully 
in  accomplishing  its  object.  Some  of  the  earlier 
school  efforts,  reminiscences  of  teachers,  and 
school  experiences  have  been  given  in  former 
chapters.     Among  the  first  teachers  of  Canton, 


CANTON    TOWNSHIP. 


355 


besides  those  already  mentioned,  Capt.  Darius 
Lyman  may  be  raontionefl  with  honor ;  he 
taiigiit  successfully  in  (Linton,  for  three  or  four 
years  al)out  1820-2S,  when  he  removed  to 
Wadsworth,  Medina  Co.,  where  he  is  still  living, 
though  over  ninety  jcars  of  age  and  quite  fee- 
ble. Bradley  C.  Goodwill  was  also  one  of  Can- 
ton's earl}'  and  honored  teachers.  About  the 
year  1830,  William  Dunbar  taught  school  in 
this  city.  Before  1830  was  also  a  Mr.  Lyman. 
In  and  after  1831  came  Dr.  Harrick  Michener, 
and  Messrs.  Monks,  Timothy  Hopkins,  James 
Allen  and  Beck.  Dr.  .Michener  was  not  only 
a  successful  teacher,  but  also  a  distinguished 
one.  He  studied  medicine,  practiced  some 
years  in  Massillon,  and  afterward  removed  to 
Illinois.  Andrew  Monks,  priding  himself  par- 
ticularly in  teaching  penmanship  and  figures, 
was  a  somewhat  peculiar  man.  He  was  a  very 
heavy  man,  with  extremely  large  abdominal 
development,  and  withal,  pretty  fond  of  his 
toddy.  One  of  the  boys  of  the  day,  still  living 
and  honored  in  this  city,  states  that  it  was 
almost  his  daily  habit  when  school  had  closed 
for  the  day  to  repair  to  Clark's  Tavern  in  the 
Fourth  Ward  and  indulge  with  anj-  boon  com- 
panions he  might  chance  to  meet  there.  As 
Monks  in  li(}uor  was  very  fond  of  discussion,  he, 
on  many  occasions,  provoked  quarrels  between 
himself  and  his  friends,  when,  in  accordance 
with  the  custom.  '■  in  such  cases  made  and  pro- 
vided," all  parties  would  adjourn  to  a  neighbor- 
ing tan-yard  and  settle  the  dispute  by  "a 
knock-down  argument,"  in  which  Monks,  from 
his  great  •■  weight,"  usually  came  off'  victor. 
Mr.  B.  F.  Leiter,  when  he  first  came  to  Canton 
from  the  State  of  Maryland,  taught  school  for 
awhile,  afterward  studied  law,  was  first  elected 
to  the  State  Legislature  at  Columbus,  where  he 
occupied  the  chair  in  a  heated  contest  between 
the  two  parties  to  get  control  of  the  House  of 
Representatives,  under  i)eculiar  and  somewhat 
embarrassing  circumstances,  and  was  afterward,  ' 
in  1S54,  and  again  in  1850,  elected  to  the  Lower 
House  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States. 
He  continued  to  reside  in  Canton  until  his 
death.  Mr.  James  Cowles,  a  graduate  of  Yale, 
opened  a  school  in  the  old  .\cademy  liuilding, 
but  only  remained  a  year  or  two.  A.  .Mcliregor 
taught  one  of  the  public  schools  in  the 
winter  of  1842^3,  .Messrs.  E.  L.  (]arney  and 
John  Sheridan  teaching  with  him  during  the 
same  winter.     Mr.  .McGregor  afterward  had  a 


select  school  until  1848,  having  associated  with 
him  his  father.  John  .Mc(!regor,  during  the  last 
part  of  the  time,  when  both  became  coiuiected 
with  the  publittation  of  the  Slark  ('onii/i/  Ihmo- 
criit.  John  McfJregor  died  the  same  year  ;  A. 
McGregor  still  edits,  as  vigorously  as  ever,  the 
Democrat.  Ira  .M.  Allen  took  the  .McGregor 
select  school  and  continued  it  until  1849,  when 
he  became  the  first  Superintendent  of  the  Union 
School.  A  few  years  later,  he  took  charge  of  the 
Charity  School  at  Kendal,  now  a  part  of  Massil- 
lon. Mr.  Allen,  after  a  lapse  of  some  years,  is 
again  at  this  time  in  charge  of  that  school.  Be- 
fore proceeding  to  consider  the  present  school 
system  of  the  city,  this  is  the  place  to  state  that, 
in  1838.  Rev.  Mr.  Goshorn  and  his  wife  opened  a 
Female  Seminary  in  the  city,  under  the  auspices 
of  the  .Methodist  Church,  as  will  be  seen  under 
the  history  of  the  .Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
given  further  along  in  this  chapter.  They 
taught  in  the  seminary  quite  successfully  for  a 
number  of  years,  or  until  about  the  year  1845, 
when  they  left.  An  interregnum  of  a  year  or 
so  occurred,  when  the  Trustees,  finding  no  one 
in  the  Methodist  Church  desirous  or  willing  to 
take  the  seminary,  authorized  Louis  Schaefer, 
Esq.,  to  correspond  with  Rev.  Mr.  .Mealy,  and 
If  possible,  to  secure  him  as  Principal  of  the 
seminarj-.  Some  correspondence  had  already- 
passed  between  Mr.  Schaefer  and  Mr.  Mealy 
with  reference  to  another  position,  which,  how- 
ever, he  had  declined.  The  Trustees  of  the 
seminary  oflered  the  use  of  their  building  for 
one  year  free  of  rent,  showing  a  very  liberal 
spirit,  when  it  is  remembered  that  the  institu- 
tion was  under  Methodist  auspices,  and  Mr. 
Mealy  was  a  IjUtheran  .Minister.  He  accepted 
the  pnjfter  made  him.  and  at  once  removed  to 
Canton  with  his  wife  and  only  daughter,  who 
afterward  became  the  wife  of  ].,ouis  Schaefer. 
Mr.  .Mealy  continued  in  the  seminary  only  one 
year.  A  few  years  later,  he  purchased  the 
Witting  drug  store,  the  stand  now  occupied  by 
Dr.  P.  II.  Barr,  so  long  and  so  favorably  known, 
over  most  of  the  county,  as  the  old  Geiger 
drug  store;,  on  east  Tuscarawas  street.  .NIr. 
and  Mrs.  ]\[eal}-  spent  the  remainder  of  their 
days  in  Canton  ;  they  are  gone  from  among  us, 
as  is  their  daughter  and  only  child,  Mrs. 
Schaefer  ;  but  the  remembrance  of  their  Chris- 
tian kindiu'ss  and  sociability  remain  fresh  and 
fixed  in  the  hearts  and  memories  of  many  of  the 
present  residents  of  the  city.     After  Mr.  Mealy's 


H56 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COl'NTY. 


retirement  from  tlie  seminary,  it  remained  un- 
occupied until  it  was  sold  and  diverted  into 
other  uses  ;  it  did  a  go<xl  work,  thougli  its  life 
was  short,  and  its  memory  is  Ijlessed. 

A  convention  composed  of  delegates  i-epre- 
senting  German  citi«ens  from  all  parts  of  the 
United  States,  was  held  at  Phillipsburg,  Penn., 
August  i;^,  iS41,  to  promote  the  study  of  Ger- 
man and  Euglish  classical  literature,  and  the}' 
resolved  to  erect  a  seminar}-  for  that  purpose. 
Louis  Schaefer,  of  Canton,  was  a  member  of 
that  convention,  and  although  then  a  3-oung 
man,  he  was  appointed  general  collecting 
agent  for  the  United  States,  to  raise  funds  to 
establish  such  an  institution.  For  some  reason 
or  other,  the  project  failed  of  realization.  But 
Mr.  Schaefer  has  to-day,  in  his  hands,  a  sub- 
scription list,  with  original  and  copied  signa- 
tures, among  the  names  upon  which  appear 
John  Tyler,  President  of  the  United  States ;  T. 
Ewing,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  ;  Daniel 
Webster,  Secretary  of  State  ;  Fr.  G  ranger,  Post- 
master General  ;  Henry  Claj-,  United  States 
Senator  ;  Daniel  Sturgeon,  United  States  Sena- 
tor ;  John  Bell,  Secretary  of  War  ;  John  0. 
Calhoun,  United  States  Senator,  and  E.  Whit- 
tlesey, Auditor  of  the  Treasury. 

In  1840  or  1841,  parties  in  Canton,  interested 
in  the  cause  of  education,  made  arrangements 
to  take  possession  of  the  school  propert}-  do- 
nated bj'  Mr.  Wells,  and  erect  thereon  a  male 
academy  ;  the  newly  organized  English  Luther- 
an congregation  paid  a  part  of  the  money  nec- 
essar}'  to  erect  the  building,  with  the  privilege 
of  using  the  first  floor  as  a  place  of  worship 
until  it  should  be  required  for  school  purposes. 
The  building  was  erected,  but  the  school  did  not 
prosper  to  any  great  extent.  In  the  spring  of 
1840,  a  compan}'  consisting  of  Isaac  Harter, 
William  Hawk,  Martin  Wikidal,  Christian  Pal- 
mer, Abraham  Lind,  Jacob  Flohr,  George  De- 
walt  and  Louis  Schaefer,  bought  the  rights  of 
the  original  Trustees  on  easy  terms,  organized 
under  a  written  constitution  still  in  the  hands 
of  Mr.  Schaefer,  and  authorized  the  latter  to 
secure  the  services  of  Rev.  Dr.  A.  B.  Bierde- 
mann  as  Principal,  which  he  did.  The  arrange- 
ment seems  not  to  have  been  entirely  satisfac- 
tory ;  Dr.  Bierderaann,  whom  the  writer  of  this, 
in  after  years,  knew  personally  and  somewhat 
intimately,  vpas  a  fine  scholar,  and,  in  most  re- 
spects, a  genial  man  ;  but  he  was  also  a  man 
of  very  firm  convictions  and  even  prejudices. 


and  of  an  unyielding  character  under  opposition. 
At  an}'  rate,  the  Board  of  Trustees  and  he  did 
not  harmonize,  and.  at  a  meeting  held  Novem- 
ber 10,  184G,  he  was  reijuested  formally  to  sur- 
render his  lease  of  the  academ}-  building,  or 
rather  that  part  of  it  used  for  school  purposes. 
This  he  did,  other  teachers  followed  but  with 
indifferent  results,  and  a  few  years  later  the 
academy  building  became  the  nucleus  of  the 
present  school  sjstem  of  Canton,  and  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  control  of  the  Board  of  Education. 
In  the  year  1849,  a  general  act  was  passed  by 
the  General  Assembly  of  Ohio,  entitled  -'an 
act  for  the  better  regulating  of  public  schools," 
but  a  year  before  this,  by  a  public  vote  of  the 
people,  a  public  school  was  organized.  Pre- 
viously, all  the  schools  of  the  village  were  un- 
der private  management,  and  no  special  arrange- 
ments had  been  made  for  the  education  of  the 
poorer  classes  of  children.  The  teachers  of  the 
former  period  were  generally  devoted  and  ear- 
nest educators,  whose  souls  were  in  the  work,  and 
they  laid  deep  and  strong  the  foundation,  upon 
which  the  present  condition  of  general  intelli- 
gence and  educational  progress  in  Canton  has 
been  attained.  Among  them,  A.  McGregor 
and  Ira  M.  Allen  were  with  the  first  advocates 
of  the  public  school  system.  Upon  the  re-or- 
ganization of  the  public  schools  of  Canton  un- 
der the  law  of  1849,  Mr.  Allen,  who  had  already 
taught  one  year  in  them,  was  elected  the  first 
Superintendent  of  the  Canton  Union  School. 
Among  those  who  did  good,  successful  work, 
against  all  opposition,  for  the  establishment  of 
the  public  schools  by  a  vote  of  the  people,  the 
name  of  Mr.  G.  W.  Huntington  stands  pre- 
eminent. He  lived,  too.  long  enough  to  witness 
the  good  results,  which  the  people  and  their 
children  secured  for  themselves  by  the  \ote  of 
that  election  day  so  many  years  ago.  The  op- 
position came  principally  from  the  wealthier 
classes,  and  was  somewhat  formidable,  though 
a  few  prominent  property-holders  gave  the 
project  their  favor  from  the  beginning,  and 
nearly  all  have  ever  since  given  the  public 
school  work  their  cordial  support.  Canton  was 
at  this  time  a  village  of  less  than  four  thousand 
inhabitants.  Mr.  Allen  was  succeeded  by  Hon. 
H.  S.  Martin  in  1854.  The  original  records  of 
the  Board  of  Education  have  been  either  lost 
or  destroj'ed,  and  there  are  no  trustworthy 
statistics  of  the  schools  prior  to  the  year  1855. 
In  July  of  that  j'ear,  Mr.  Martin  was  re-elected 


Jd  a^ ..^er/zi' 


^LJZ^' 


CANTON    TOWNSHIP. 


357 


Superintendent,  and  teacher  in  the  iiigh  school, 
with  eight  assistant  ladj-  teachers  in  the  lower 
departments,  as  follows  ;  Two  in  the  (J  rain  mar 
Stiiool ;  one  in  the  Secondary  (C.  and  D.  Gram- 
mar School)  ;  four  in  the  primary  schools  ;  and 
one  in  a  mixed  school.  Among  these  was  Miss  j 
Betsey  S.  Cowles,  who  is  j-et  well-known  all  j 
over  the  State  as  of  one  of  the  best  teachers 
that  have  graced  the  profession  in  Ohio.  From  ' 
the  nearest  calculation  that  can  be  made  upon 
the  meager  data  of  this  period  at  hand,  tlie 
number  of  pupils  in  all  the  schools  did  not,  in  , 
the  year  1855,  amount  to  five  hundred.  Tlie  i 
Superintendent's  salary  was  S800,  and  that  of 
the  lady  teachers  ranging  from  §150  to  S400. 
.Mr.  Martin  continued  in  the  schools  until 
January  1.  18G4,  a  term  of  over  eight  years. 
His  former  pupils  invariably  speak  well  of  him, 
and  some  of  them  are  at  this  time  still  teach- 
ing in  the  Canton  Public  Schools.  He  left  the 
superintendency  to  take  his  seat  in  the  Senate 
of  Ohio,  to  which  distinguished  position  he  had 
been  elected  at  the  preceding  October  election. 
In  the  Senate,  he  was  a  warm  friend  and  sup- 
porter of  all  measures  looking  to  the  greater 
efBcienc}-  of  the  school  work  ;  and,  if  we  are 
not  mistaken,  ho  served  as  a  member  of  the 
Standing  Committee  on  Public  Schools  through- 
out his  entire  term  of  two  years'  service.  He  is 
still  a  resident  of  Canton,  and  a  warm  friend 
and  patron  of  the  schools.  His  successor  was 
Mr.  H.  S.  Leland,  who  continued  as  Superin- 
tendent during  the  remainder  of  that  school- 
year,  and  the  greater  part  of  the  following  one. 
On  acci>unt  of  misunderstanding  and  ditlirul 
tics,  which,  for  a  time,  seriously  threatened  the 
success  of  the  school  work  in  Canton,  he  resigned 
his  position  in  the  latter  part  of  May,  1865. 
His  siircvssor.  Daniel  Worley,  who  had  before 
served  a  pc-riud  of  ten  years  or  more  as  Professor 
of  Mathematics  and  Natural  Philosophy  in 
Capital  University  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  but  who 
at  the  time  was  residing  in  Western  Pennsyl- 
vania, was  unanimously  elected  by  the  Board 
of  Kducation,  on  the  13th  of  June  following, 
l)ut  he  did  not  take  the  position  until  the  be- 
ginning of  the  next  school  year,  in  September, 
1865.  Mr.  Worley  was  annuallj- re-elected  un- 
til Jinic.  1874,  when,  under  the  new  school  law, 
he  was  the  first  School  Superintendent  in  Ohio, 
to  l)i'  I'Iccted  for  a  period  of  three  years.  Ow- 
ing to  the  failure  of  his  health  mainly-,  he 
however,  only   served    two  years   of  this  ap- 


pointment, and,  after  a  period  of  eleven  years' 
continuous  service  in  the  schools,  resigned  his 
position  in  June,  1876.  In  accepting  his  resig- 
nation the  Board  of  Education  passed  a  series 
of  ver}'  complimentar}-  resolutions,  and  showed 
their  further  confidence  in  his  administration  of 
the  school  work  by  appointing  Mr.  John  II. 
Lehman,  long  associated  with  Mr.  Worley  in 
the  school  work  in  Canton,  as  his  successor, 
that  the  work  might  be  continued  in  the  same 
general  spirit  as  before. 

Mr.  Lehman  is  still  in  charge  of  the  schools. 
Though  Mr.  Worley 's  salary  was,  during  the  hit- 
teryears  of  his  superintendency,  SI  ,800,  Mr.  Leh- 
man's was  made  $1,500  ;  l)ut  it  is  gratifying  to 
the  writer  to  be  able  to  saj\  that  the  hitter's  serv- 
ice has  been  so  satisfactory',  that  in  re-electing 
Mr.  Lehman  Superintendent  a  month  or  so  ago, 
the  Board  of  Kducation  made  his  salary  $2,000 
per  annum  for  the  new  term,  this  being  the  high- 
est salary-  ever  paid  any  Superintendent  in  Can- 
ton. Since  their  organization,  the  schools 
have,  therefore,  been  under  the  charge  of  the 
five  following-named  Superintendents  : 

Ira  M.  Allen,  from  1849  to  1854. 

H.  S.  Martin,  from  1854  to  ISlU. 

H.  S.  Leland,  from  18G4  to  18(55. 

Daniel  Worley,  from  1865  to  1876. 

John  H.  Lehman,  from  1876  to  the  present 
time. 

During  Mr.  Martin's  administration,  additions 
were  made  to  the  old  Union  School  liuilding, 
and  a  small  new  schoolhouse,  with  two  rooms, 
was  built  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  city,  now 
for  the  first  time  beginning  to  be  numbered 
among  the  cities  of  the  State.  During  Mr. 
Leland's  time,  preparations  were  made  for  a 
new  school  building  in  the  south  part  of  the  city, 
but  it  was  not  erected  until  after  his  successor 
had  taken  charge.  During  Mr.  Worley's  time, 
the  Board  of  Kducation  erected,  in  addition  to 
the  one  last  named,  a  building  of  four  rooms  in 
the  northeastern  part  of  the  cit}-  ;  one  of  six 
r(>oms  in  the  eastern  part,  and  one  f)f  two  rooms 
for  primary  pupils  in  llu'  southeasti'rn  part,  and 
one  of  si.x  rooms  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the 
cit}'.  With  all  this  increase  of  l)ulldings  and 
rooms,  the  rapid  growth  at  this  time  always 
showed  a  great  lack  in  adequate  .school  facili- 
ties. The  need  of  a  new  and  better  Central 
High  Schol  building  became  every  day  more 
apparent,  and  the  Board  of  Education  were  at 
last  constrained  to  take  the  sense  of  the  people 


358 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


upon  the  question  of  borrowing  money  upon 
bonds  for  a  series  of  3-ears,  and  a  tax  to  meet 
the  principal  and  interest  as  thej'  became  due, 
so  that  they  might  be  able  to  erect  several  new 
buildings  for  primary  and  grammar  schools  the 
next  season.  Fierce  opposition  was  made  against 
the  proposition  ;  but,  after  a  warm  contest,  the 
majority  of  the  people  decided  favorably.  The 
Board  of  Kducation  commenced  the  good  work 
bravel}'  at  first,  in  accordance  with  the  instruc- 
tions of  the  people  ;  but  the  clamor  of  the  lead- 
ing capitalists  soon  scared  them,  and  the  work 
was  left  to  progi'ess  more  leisurely*  as  before. 
Nevertheless,  in  1877,  during  Mr.  Lehman's 
time,  four  rooms  were  added  ;  in  1878  four 
rooms;  in  1870-80,  six  rooms,  togetlier  with 
two  additional  rooms  to  the  south  building 
in  1876-77.  Steps  have  also  been  taken  for 
the  erection  of  a  building  of  six  rooms  in  the 
northwestern  part  of  the  city,  and  an  adtlition 
of  two  rooms  to  the  building  on  East  Kiglith 
street  during  the  present  summer,  making  eight 
additional  departments  for  next  year.  The 
present  growth  and  importance  of  Canton  among 
the  cities  of  the  State  imperativeh-  demand  a 
better  and  more  commodious  Central  and  High 
School  building  than  the  old  schoolhouse  on 
West  Tuscarawas  street.  The  growth  of  the 
sciiools  and  of  the  city  may  be  seen  from  the 
following  exhibit  |)repared  and  pulilisiied  five 
years  ago 

Total  enrollment  for  year  ending  August  3f, 
1855,  about ." '. ,500 

Total  enrollnicut  for  year  ending  August  31. 
1865 " ; 9(i5 

Total  enrollment  for  year  ending  August  81, 
1875 ■ :. 1,674 

No.  teachers  in  18.54-55,  male.  1 ;  female,  8;  total,  9 
No.  teachers  in  1864-65,  male,  3;  female,  11;  total,  14 
No.  teachers  in  1874-7.5,  male.  7;  fem.alc,  26;  total,  38 

Average  .salarie.s  paid  in  18.54-.55 $   800    $2r,0 

Average  salaries  paid  in  1864-65 900       314 

Average  salaries  paid  in  1874-75 1,037       4'33 

The  status  of  the  schools  last  3' ear  is  kindly 
furnished  us  by  Superintendent  Lehman,  as  fol- 
lows : 

School  year  1879-80.— Total  enrollment,  day 
schools,  2,453  ;  night  schools,  174  ;  total,  2,627. 
Number  of  teachers,  including  Superintendent, 
male,  11  ;  female,  39  ;  total,  50. 

For  the  year  1880-81.  just  closed,  the  in- 
crease in  enrollment  will  be  not  less  than  300, 
with  four  additional  teachers,  and  a  prospect  of 
even  a  greater  increase  during  the  next  school 


year.  About  30  per  cent  of  the  pupils  enrolled 
in  the  primaries  find  their  wa}'  into  the  gram- 
mar schools,  and  about  20  per  cent  of  tho.se  in 
the  grammar  schools  take  a  partial  or  complete 
course  in  the  high  school  ;  but  it  is  gratifying 
to  all  the  true  friends  of  popular  education  to 
know  the  fact  that  within  the  past  decade  the 
number  of  pupils  continuing  longer  in  the 
schools,  and  of  those  completing  the  entire 
course  is  at  least  25  per  cent  greater  than  before. 

The  course  of  study  below  the  high  school 
provides  for  a  thorough  drill  in  the  common 
Englisli  liranches,  including  vocal  music,  draw- 
ing and  object  lessons  in  elementary  science. 
In  the  high  school,  pupils  are  taken  throuah  a 
tolerably  thorough  academic  course  in  language 
(Latin  and  (German),  matlieraatics  and  natural 
science.  With  frequent  reviews,  the  pupils  in 
the  departments,  from  the  A  Primar}'  upward, 
are  suljjected  to  the  test  of  a  written  examina- 
tion several  times  a  ^ear.  Candidates  for  grad- 
uation in  the  high  school  are  examined  at  the 
end  of  their  course,  and  are  given  a  diploma 
only  after  passing  satisfactory  examinations  in 
all  the  .studies  of  the  course,  with  the  exception 
that  in  language  only  the  full  course  in  one  of 
the  languages  stated  is  required. 

Pupils  enter  the  school  at  six  years  o:'  age. 
To  complete  the  entire  course  ordinaril}-,  with 
a  pupil  of  average  ability,  requires  eleven 
3-ears.  Of  these,  four  years  are  given  to  the 
Primaries — D,  C,  B  and  A  ;  four  years  to  the 
Grammar  Schools — D,  C,  B  and  A  ;  and  three 
years  to  the  High  School.  Promotions  are 
made  at  stated  times  by  the  Superintendent, 
but  provision  is  also  made  for  promoting  pu- 
pils at  other  times,  whose  natural  capacity  or 
diligent  application  euables  them  to  advance 
more  rapidl3'  than  the  average  of  the  class  in 
whicli  the3'  may  chance  to  be  at  any  time.  On 
the  otlier  hand,  pupils  not  properl3'  sustaining 
themselves  are  equally  liable  to  demotion.  Be- 
sides these  regular  grades  of  schools,  the  Board 
of  Education,  under  the  requirements  of  the 
general  school  law  of  the  State,  have  provided 
for  German-English  schools,  with  three  teach- 
ers, in  which  the  gradation  of  the  other  schools 
is  observed  as  nearl3'  as  !na3'  l>e,  as  far  as  tlie 
B  Grammar  Grade,  or  througli  six  years  of  the 
school  course.  Man3'  of  the  high  school  pu- 
pils and  graduates  of  former  years  now  fill  re- 
sponsible positions  at  home  and  abroa<l,  whose 
whole  preliminary  training  was  derived  from 


■^0 


CANTON    TOWNSHIP. 


our  public  schools.  Through  their  influence  in 
and  upon  societj',  they  are  paj-ing  back  into  the 
treasurj-  of  the  public  security  and  good, 
much,  yea,  infinitely  more  than  was  expended 
upon  their  education  from  the  pulilic  purse. 

Besides  the  excellent  public  schools  of  Can- 
ton, there  are  pannhial  schools  (English  and 
(iiMinaii)  of  the  Koiuaii  Catholic  Churclies,  with 
seven  teachers,  enrolling  during  the  year  not  less 
than  six  or  seven  hundred  pupils  ;  a  parochial 
school  of  the  German  Lutheran  Ciuirch,  with 
one  teacher  and  from  sixty  to  seventy  pupils 
during  the  year ;  a  select  school  for  bo3"s  and 
girls,  started  and  sustained  b^'  Prof  Worley, 
May  1,  1877,  who  is  still  at  the  head  of  it,  with 
a  yearly  enrollment  of  about  fifty  ;  and  an 
aeadtmy  upon  the  ground  of  the  Collegiate  In- 
stitute of  a  few  years  ago,  with  two  teachers — 
Mr.  Spencer  and  Miss  Danner — and  about  tiie 
same  yearl}-  enrollment.  All  these  schools  in 
their  particular  spheres,  are  doing  good  work  in 
the  field  of  education.  In  conclusion,  it  may 
be  remarked  that  at  no  previous  time  in  their 
historj-  have  the  schools  of  Canton  been  dearer 
to  the  hearts  of  the  people  than  the}'  are  now, 
and  as  increased  facilities  are  afforded  from 
^•car  to  year,  they  will,  under  wise  and  discreet 
management,  assuredly'  increase  also  in  effi- 
ciency, in  thoroughly  preparing  the  mass  of  our 
growing  j-outh  for  the  responsil)ilities  of  the  fut- 
ure, and  in  beneficent  results  upon  society  in 
general,  which  are  onl}-  to  be  secured  through 
the  intelligence  and  virtue  of  the  people. 

Canton  was  originally  settled  by  a  class  of 
men  from  the  East  and  from  '•  Vaterland,"  who 
revered  Deity  and  loved  religion  of  tiie  primi- 
ti\e  type.  For  the  first  few  years,  the  early  set- 
tlers of  course  found  it  a  hand-to-hand  struggle 
to  meet  the  wants  of  life  ;  but  the  first  ditficnl- 
ties  in  this  direction  having  been  surmounted 
in  a  short  time,  they  began  soon  to  desire  the 
spiritual  provender  they  had  enjoyed  in  the  old 
homes  left  lieliind  thi-m.  At  lirst  this  was  spar- 
ingly furnished,  and  the  more  rclislied.  Attliat 
earl}-  day,  an  occasional  visit  from  a  mission- 
ary was  hailed  with  delight ;  to-day,  with  so 
raanj-  churches  and  regular  services  every 
Lord's  Day,  how  ver}'  many,  e\en  of  the  de- 
scendants of  those  old  pioneers,  neglect  en- 
tirely' to  enter  a  church  or  to  show  any  other 
reverential  recognition  of  the  Divine  Being, 
As  a  rule,  however.  Canton  people  are  a  God- 
fearing people,  and  her  churches  are  well  main- 


tained.   A  list  of  them  here  given  will  show  no 
lack  for  persons  of  all  descriptions  : 

The  German  Lutheran  Ciuirch,  East  Tusca- 
rawas street  ;  First  M.  E.  Church,  corner  Pop- 
lar and  Tuscarawas  streets ;  Second  M.  E. 
Church,  South  Market  street,  near  William 
street ;  First  Presbyterian  Church,  Plum  and 
Tuscarawas  streets  ;  English  Lutheran  Cluiicli, 
West  Tuscarawas  street ;  First  Baptist  Clnircli, 
Ninth  and  Market  streets  ;  St,  Paul's  J}piscopal 
Church,  Tenth  and  Poplar  streets  ;  Disciples' 
Church  of  Christ,  Seventh  and  Poplar  streets  ; 
St.  Johns  English  (,'atholic  Churcli,  Plum  and 
North  streets ;  St.  Peter's  German  Catholic 
Church,  Poplar  street,  above  North  ;  Evangel- 
ical Church,  Fourth  and  Ilerbruck  streets ; 
First  German  Bcform  Church,  East  Tuscarawas 
street,  near  Herbruck  ;  Trinity  Church,  Second 
Reform,  90  East  Tuscarawas  street ;  United 
Brethren  Church.  Charles  street.  South  Can 
ton  ;  Mission  Chapel  >L  E,  Churcli,  Cherry 
street  and  Washington  avenue  ;  Winebrennarian 
Church,  East  Tuscarawas  street,  near  creek. 

Most  of  the  old  pioneers  were  of  Lutheran 
and  Reformed  stock,  and  hence  these  denomina- 
tions deserve  first  consideration.  The  first 
preaching  in  this  neighl)orhood  was  held  in  the 
barn  of  Michael  Heed,  who  lived  on  the  (juarter- 
section  just  north  of  the  present  fair  grounds 
He  had  a  double  log  barn,  and  the  threshing- 
floor  was  the  auditorium.  The  seats  were 
slabs  from  Slusser's  saw-mill.  The  preacher  was 
Father  John  Staueh,  a  Lutheran,  whose  home 
was  in  Beaver  County.  Penn.,  and  he  came  at 
stated  periods  during  the  summer  months  as 
early  as  the  year  180(>,  Alternating  with  him 
was  Father  Mahnenschmidt,  of  the  Reformed 
Church,  preaching  at  the  same  place.  The 
meetings  were  always  well  attended,  as  people 
of  all  classes  came  from  every  quarter,  with  a 
j  desire  to  hear  the  latest  news,  as  well  as  to  dis- 
charge their  religious  duties.  In  the  winter, 
private  houses  and  the  taverns  were  used  less 
fre(iucntly  as  places  of  meeting,  especially  the 
dining-room  of  Dewalt's  tavern.  There  are 
some  reminiscences  of  this  early  period  worthy 
of  mention,  of  which  we  single  out  one  only. 
The  boys  and  girls  of  the  early  day  usually 
went  "barefooted  ;"  they  would  carry  their 
shoes  and  stockings  along,  and  would  put  them 
on  before  appearing  in  the  presence  of  the 
great  congregation  ;  but  after  the  services  they 
would  invariably  doff  the  said  incumbranc-es 


360 


HISTORY    OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


and  return  home,  as  far  as  feet  were  concerned, 
in  :i  primitive  state.  In  1810,  tlie  German 
Lutlieran  anil  Reformed  congregations  took 
possession  of  the  lot  on  West  Tuscarawas 
street  (now  occupied  hy  tiie  Presbyterian 
Church),  donated  Ijy  Bezaleel  Wells  for  a  house 
of  worship,  and  erected  on  it  a  small  frame 
structure  for  a  meeting-house.  The  building 
was  never  plastered,  but  served  its  purpose  for 
a  short  time,  and  several  sermons  were  preached 
in  it.  In  the  meanwhile,  about  1808,  Rev. 
Anthony  Weier,  a  Lutheran  nimister,  took 
cliarge  of  the  congregation,  and  he  was  the 
first  resident  minister  in  Canton,  and  through 
his  influence  the  two  congregations  purchased 
from  JMr.  Wells  the  grounds  upon  East  Tusca- 
rawas street,  upon  which  are  at  this  time  a 
Lutheran  Churcli  and  parsonage,  and  a  Re- 
formed Church  and  schoolhouse.  Many  were 
not  well  satisfied  with  this  arrangement,  and  it 
was  several  years  before  they  became  recon- 
ciled. Steps  were  taken  at  once  to  erect  a 
brick  church.  As  an  insufficient  amount  was 
subscribed,  the  progress  of  the  building  was 
slow.  For  several  years  it  stood  under  roof 
unfinished,  and  in  tlie  meantime  was  stru  k 
by  lightning  and  considerably  shattered.  Up 
to  this  time  the  Reformed  congregation  did 
iiot  have  the  services  of  a  regular  pastor. 
Occasional  supplies  were  given  by  Revs.  3Iah- 
nenschmidt  and  Sounendecker. 

The  first  regular  preacher  was  Benjamin 
Foust,  who  began  his  ministration  in  1818.  The 
frame  cliurch  was  occupied  liy  the  two  congre- 
gations about  four  years,  aud  then  thej'  bought 
the  lots  on  East  Tuscarawas  street,  where  they 
now  are,  and  built  the  brick  church  in  1822, 
both  societies  occupying  the  same  building  un- 
til 1863.  Benjamin  Foust  died  in  1832,  and 
was  succeeded  l>y  Rev.  Peter  Herbruck,  who 
was  then  only  a  little  over  nineteen  years  old. 
At  the  first  communion  there  were  only  twentj-- 
six  communicants  present,  and  the  pastor's 
salary  at  the  time  was  $40  per  annum,  and 
kept  rising  until  1858,  when  it  reached  $100. 
This  was  his  local  station,  but  he  preached  at 
various  points  in  four  counties,  ranging  from 
eight  to  thirteen  places.  The  gentleman  is  the 
oldest  active  minister  ;  that  is,  oldest  in  one 
place  in  the  county,  and  is  still  hale  and  hearty, 
bidding  fair  to  be  among  us  yet  for  many  j'ears. 
He  resides  in  an  old-fashioned  house  east  of 
the  church,  almost   concealed   Irom  view  by  a 


mass  of  trees  and  flowering  shrubbery.  A 
cozy  studj'  is  his  usual  location  and  where  he 
receives  his  visitors. 

Rev.  Herbruck  is  still  in  charge  of  this  old 
congregation,  and  will,  within  a  few  months,  be 
able  to  celebrate,  with  his  people,  the  jubilee  of 
his  connection  with  them.     Up  to  this  time  he 
has  attended  two  thousand  and  sixty-six  funer-   I 
als,  has  baptized  four  thousand   nine  hundred    i 
aud  ninety-seven  persons,   has  confirmed   two   | 
thousand  four  hundred  and  forty-six,  and  has 
married  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  sixt}-- 
one  couples  ;    a   record    which,   it  is   believed, 
cannot  be  efpialed  by  that  of  any  one  pastor  in    ', 
one  place  in  Ohio  or  elsewhere  in  this  country.   : 
The  church  was  finished  in  1822,  and  occupied 
jointly  by  the  two  congregations  until  1852. 

Rev.  A.  Weier,  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  died 
in  1828.  The  first  organization  of  thiscongre-  I 
gation  was  effected  about  the  years  1812  or  ! 
1813.  Among  the  first  appear  the  names  of  i 
Simon  Essing,  Jacob  Becher,  a  Mr.  Kraft,  Jacob 
Rapp,  Jacob  Bucher,  Jacob  Rex,  George  De- 
walt,  Philip  Dewalt,  John  Coleman,  George 
Schneider.  John  Leininger  and  Jacob  Kitzmiller.  i 
After  Weier,  Rev.  Prof  William  Schmidt  had 
charge  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  congrega- 
tion, commencing  his  ministrations  in  the  latter 
part  of  the  year  1828.  During  his  connection  I 
the  Joint  Evangelical  Lutheran  Synod  of  Ohio 
and  adjoining  States  started  the  project  of  a 
Theological  Seminar}-,  and  made  Prof  Schmidt 
the  Theological  Professor.  His  first  class  was 
organized  in  Canton,  in  1830.  The  seminary 
was  finall}-  located  in  Columbus,  Ohio,  and,  in 
1831,  the  Professor  removed  with  his  class  to 
this  place,  and  for  several  j-ears  and  to  the  time 
of  his  death,  in  1830,  he  filled  the  position  ably 
and  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  Synod. 
While  residing  in  Canton,  he  united  in  marriage 
with  Mi.ss  Rebecca  Buckius,  a  daughter  of  John 
Buckius,  who  had  emigrated  with  his  familj'  to 
Canton  some3'ears  before  from  Alexandria,  Va. 
It  may  be  an  interesting  reminiscence  here  to 
sa\'  that  John  Buckius  was  the  last  man  to  look 
upon  the  face  of  George  Washington,  first  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States.  Mr.  Buckius  was, 
at  the  time  of  Washington's  death,  a  tinner  in 
Alexandria,  and  sealed  the  lead  casket  which 
contained  his  mortal  remains  before  they  were 
laid  away  to  rest  at  Mount  Vernon.  Three 
daughters  of  Prof  Schmidt  yet  survive.  The 
oldest  is  the  wife  of  Prof  Worley,  in  Canton  ; 


-^1^. 


CANTON   TOWNSHIP. 


the  second  the  wife  of  Rev.  M.  B.  Lenkcr,  Ly- 
kens,  Penu.  ;  and  the  jouiigest  the  wife  of  Rev. 
Prof  E.  Schmidt,  of  Capital  University,  Colum- 
bus, Ohio.  The  theological  department  of  this 
university-  is  the  same  coinmenced  in  Canton, 
over  fifty  years  ago.  Pastors  following  Rev.  I'rof. 
Schmidt  were  Rev.  J.  J.  Fast,  in  1831,  or  there- 
abouts ;  Cadiz,  Yale}-,  Melsheimer,  J,  I).  Xune- 
macher  ;  Fast  again  ;  G.  J.  Bruegle,  from  1862 
to  1866  ;  J.  C.  Schulz,  from  186(1  to  187(1  ;  then 
J.  J.  Fast  again  provisionally  until  1872  ;  on 
the  8th  of  September.  1872,  Rev.  A.  H.  Feld- 
mann,  took  charge,  and  has  served  the  congre- 
gation ever  since.  The  present  number  of 
communicants  is  about  three  hundred.  Rev. 
Mr.  Feldmann  also  supplies  the  Hvangelical 
Lutheran  Congregation  at  (Jsnaburg  every' two 
weeks.  At  this  time  regular  services  are  held 
in  both  the  English  and  German  languages. 
In  1852,  the  Reformed  Congregation  withdrew 
and  erected  a  brick  church  on  the  west  part  of 
the  premises,  leaving  the  old  church  in  posses- 
sion of  the  Lutherans.  They  occupied  it  until 
1 868.  when  it  was  taken  down,  and  the  present 
new  church  erected,  a  handsome  brick  structure, 
with  two  spires  of  unequal  height  on  the  north- 
east and  southeast  corners.with  two  large  double 
door  entrances  in  front,  and  one  at  the  side  for 
the  Sunday-school.  The  church  proper  is  a 
large  hall  nearly  fifty  feet  high,  frescoed,  car- 
peted and  contains  pews  capable  of  seating  six- 
hundred  persons,  altliough,  with  a  little  prepai'a- 
tion,  room  can  be  made  for  one  thousand  :  rose 
windows  panel  the  sides,  and  gas  chandeliers 
near  the  ceiling,  under  bright  reflectors,  illumi- 
nate the  evening  services.  A  commodious  pul- 
pit in  the  ''  west "  accommodates  the  sacred 
desk.  In  the  rear  of  this  are  two  small  rooms 
for  the  ministers,  and  still  further  back  is  a 
lecture-room,  provided  with  a  blackboai'd  for 
illustrating  Scriptural  lessons,  while  texts  plenti- 
fully bedeck  the  walls.  A  '-winding  stairs" 
leads  up  to  the  second  story,  where  is  found 
the  organ  loft,  and  west  still  are  a  number  of 
class-rooms  used  for  Sunday-school  purposes. 
Th(!  entire  building  is  heated  by  means  of  two 
iunncnsc  furnaces. 

.Vbout  the  year  1837,  a  number  of  members 
of  the  German  Lutheran  congregation,  desirous 
of  securing  services  in  the  English  language, 
more  particularly  for  their  children,  and  the 
majority  being  unwilling  to  grant  them  this 
privilege   in    the   old   church,    they  organized 


under  Pastor  J,  J.  Fast,  deceased.  The  follow- 
ing history  of  the  English  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church,  prepared  a  few  years  ago  by  a  promi- 
nent member,  will  present  the  facts  in  a  clear 
and  concise  maimer : 

About  the  year  1837,  a  portion  of  the  English- 
speaking  meiiibers  of  tlic  I.utheran  Church  being 
desirous  of  Iniving  occjisioiial  services  in  the  English 
language,  anil  t)i-i!ig  frusli-.it<'(i  in  tliis  by  the  C.er- 
man  members,  withihi-w  from  the  ccingregation  and 
formed  a  new  organization  under  the  pastoral  ebarge 
of  Rev.  John  J.  Fast.  They  were  joined  by  -ev.  ral 
members  of  the  German  {{efornieil  Chureh.  ulm 
were  also  desirous  of  attending  worship  in  the  I'.n 
glish  language,  and,  soon  afterward,  the  organiza- 
tion was  incorporated  as  the  "  Evangelical  Congrega- 
tion of  Canton.  Ohio."  Although  always  served  by 
Lutheran  ministers,  it  had  no  direct  eouneetion  with 
any  Synod  milil  some  vears  afterward.  The  town 
hall,  in  the  old  market  "house,  which  formerly  stood 
on  the  north  side  of  the  public  square  (now  the  en- 
gine house  at  the  corner  of  Eighth  and  Poplar 
streets),  was  engaged  for  their  purposes,  and  was 
used  as  a  place  of  worship  tnilil  184'i  or  1843.  After 
serving  the  congregation  for  a  year  or  more,  Mr. 
Fast  removed  to  Cincinnati,  b\it  after  three  or  four 
years'  ab.sence  returned,  and  a.gain  took  charge  of  the 
congregation— they  meanwhile  being  witho\it  a  Pas- 
tor." In'lH4()  or  184"l,  an  arrangement  was  made  with 
the  Trustees  of  the  Canton  .Male  Seminary  (now 
forming  a  part  of  the  \V<'st  Union  School  building), 
by  whiehtheeongn'galioii.ineoiisideralidnof  §1,U(»0 
p'aid  into  the  building  fund  of  the  seminary,  were  to 
be  permitted  to  oeeupv  the  main  hall  on  the  tirst 
floor  of  that  iiislitntion  as  a  place  of  worship,  until 
the  room  would  be  needed  "for  educational  pur- 
l)oses,"  when  it  was  to  be  surrendered  and  the  con- 
gregation was  to  receive  back  the  money  so  paid  into 
the  building  fund. 

After  the  erection  of  the  Seminary  buildings,  the 
congregation  titted  up  its  room  with  pulpit  aiirl  piu~. 
and  at  once  took  i)0.s.session  of  its  new  sanctuary. 
In  184-2,  the  Hev.  -Mr.  Wadsworth,  who  had  just 
graduated  from  the  Lutheran  Theological  Seminary 
at  (Jettvsburg,  Peim,,  came  to  Canton  in  search  of 
acharge.  After  preaching  a  few  times  forthe  congre- 
gation, a  majority  of  membei-s  favored  a  change  ol 
ministers,  aiid  accordingly  gave  Mr.  Wadsworth  a 
"call."  Some  of  the  nienibers  being  ilissali^li-d 
with  the  action  of  the  majority,  temi">rarily  with 
drew  from  the  congregation,  and  for  a  time  atlciidcil 
the  Presbyterian  and  other  churches.  .Mr.  \Vail>- 
worth  reinained  about  one  year,  when  a  Inonehial 
affection  compelled  him  to  "cease  preaching.  Rev. 
Dr,  Hamilton  was  iie.xt  emi)loye(l  by  the  congrega- 
tion, and  he  continued  to  serve  it  until  bSt.-i,  when  it 
was  found  necessary,  on  account  of  the  ilislaud-  at 
which  the  Doctor  lived  from  Canton,  his  other  <-n- 
.gagements,  and  th<'  dillieully  in  holding  services  at  a 
time  to  suit  the  various  memliers.  lo  enga.^c  a  mini-- 
ti-r  who  would  reside  in  Canton  and  ilevole  his  en- 
tire attintion  lo  the  congregation.  A  "call"  was 
accordingly  extended  to  Rev.  A.  J.  Karn,  which  was 
accei)te(l,  and  Mr.  Karn  remained   Pastor  for  about 


^•t 


fiivir  years.  During'  his  iiKMimbciify.  thi'  congrega- 
l.ion  tidurislicil.  iiml  nidst  of  tlir  iiu'iiilicrs  who  had 
wit.liiirawii  when  Mr.  Wadswnrtli  liccanic  Pa.stor,  re- 
turned. Mr.  K.  was  sneeeeded  by  Kev.  L.  Rizer, 
who  eoutiiuied  Iwo  years,  and  after  him  came  Rev. 
B.  H.  Biltle  for  oiie'year.  Aliimt  Ibis  time,  the  sub- 
ieet  of  a  new  elnireh  Imilding  was  tirst  mooted,  and 
Rev.  S.  A.  3lealy.  who  then  resided  in  Canton,  to 
aid  in  ereetin,g  one  preached  to  the  congre.Lration  for 
a  time  witlioiit  compensation,  but  his  healtli  failing. 
Rjv.  W.  P.  Ruthrauff,  of  SlnOlsburg,  Penn.,  was 
next  employed,  and  during  bis  pastorate  of  .seven 
years,  tin'  elinrch  edifice  now  occupied  by  the  con- 
.gregation  was  erected. 

The  members  of  the  coimre.galioii  wim  had  eome 
into  it  from  the  Uerman  Reformed  Church  bcin.i;- 
now  all  dead,  the  name  of  the  firganizatiou  was 
about  Ibis  lime  (that  is.  during  Air.  Ruthraulf 's  in- 
cumbency), chaii,!;ed  to  "Evangelical  Lutheran  Con- 
irregiitioii."  and  it  was  attached  In  Pittsburgli  Syuoil 
of  the  Ev.-nigelieal  Lutheran  Church.  This  Synoil- 
ieal  conneetiiin  priMlui'ed  several  protests  from  other 
Svuodsof. the  cburcli.  The  congregation  was  witliin 
the  bouiidsof  the  Joint  Synod  of  Ohio,  to  wlncli  the 
Ciiiuan  Church  at  the  east  I'ud  of  t..\vn  belong.f. 
and  also  within  the  Iiomids  of  the  P^ast  iSynod  of 
Ohio,  which  is  attached  to  the  (4enrral  Synod  nf  the 
church.  The  Joint  Svnod  is  independent'of  theCien- 
era!  Synod.  The  lines  of  the  Piltslmrgb  Svnod  did 
not  at" that  time  extend  into  Ohio,  but  Slv.  Hulbraiitr 
being  a  member  of  that  S.ynod,  the  emigregatinn 
voted  to  .LMi  info  it  also,  and  bein.y'  received  liy  the 
Synod,  it  rcm.'uned  in  connection  with  if  until  lS6:i, 
when  it  withdrew  and  united  with  the  Last  Ohio 
Svinid,  where  if  still  renuiius. 

"Mr.  RuthrautT  was  followed  by  Rev.  1).  (Jarvcr, 
who  rennuucd  about  three  years".  While  Mr.  (Jar 
ver  was  Pastor,  the  .steeple  of  the  churc-h  was  blown 
down  by  a  high  w  ind.  and  the  erection  of  a  new  one 
and  other  lu'ces.sary  repairs,  eo.st  the  congregation  a 
considerable  sum  of  money.  For  several  months 
after  Mr.  (iarvcr's  wilhilraw'a!  the  congregation  was 
witboul  a  Pastor,  beiui;-  tem|)orarilv  served  by  Rev. 
J.  A.  Kunkleman  and  others.  In 'lH(«.  Rev.  G.  F. 
Sli'lling  took  charge  of  the  ccmgre.n.ition  and  re- 
niaiin'd  one  year.  Xe.\t  came  Rev.  jidin  \\'.  (ioodlin, 
who  continued  four  vears  and  was  succeeded  in 
IHIi!)  I,y  Rey.  L.  .M.  Kul'uis.  the  present  Pastor,  whose 
term  of  service  has  been  longer  than  that  of  any  of 
his  juedecessors.  (.)f  all  the  ministers  who  have'reg- 
uUuiy  servi'd  this  congrei;ation  only  four  are  now 
Hamilton,'    Stellinsj."    (ioodlin     and 


-Re 


living 
Kuhn 

The  following  personal  sketch  of  Dr.  Rulins, 
now  the  I'astor  of  the  Knglisli  Lutheran 
Cliiirch.  uiid  second  to  Rev.  P.  Herbvuek,  the 
longest  resident  minister  in  the  city,  will  be  of 
interest  to  his  many  friends  here  ancl  elsewhere  ; 

Mr.  Ivuhiis  i.s  a  native  of  Western  Pennsylvania, 
educated  at  Wittenberg  College,  Springfield,  Ohio, 
which  institution  conferred  upon  him  the  title  of 
Doctor  of  Divinity  in  IHTfi.  He  entered  the  minis- 
try in  the  spring  o'f  18.VJ.  and  his  lir.st  charge  was  at 
Freejiort  and  Leeehsburg.  Penn.,  within  a  few  miles 


of  where  he  was  born,  and  he  preached  there  for  four- 
teen years,  in  a  neighborhood  where  his  father  was 
foiuider  of  the  church,  and  lie  contirmed.  It  is  very 
i  seldom  that  a  young  man  can  so  long  and  favorabl)' 
serve  a  ccingre.L;ation  at  his  own  home,  which  goe.s 
greatly  to  (iisprove  the  old  adage  "that  a  prophet  i.s 
not  honored  in  bis  own  country."  In  the  spring  of 
1800,  lie  took  charge  of  a  Lutlieran  Church  at  Belle- 
fontaine,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  until  18li9,  when 
he  was  called  here,  thus  making  eleven  yeans  of  pas- 
torate in  Canton,  and  now  being  the  secoinl  oldest 
minister  in  the  city.  He  has  a  pleasant  countenance, 
and  numbers  among  his  friends  members  of  every 
church  in  the  city,  besides  being  on  a  friendly  foot- 
ing with  all  the  clergy,  which,  sad  to  say,  cannot  he 
said  of  ministers  in  every  community.  The  com- 
municants number  210.  .Since  he  came  here,  he  has 
received  180  members,  but  many  removals  have 
taken  place.  He  has  baptized  ei,ghty-seven  chil- 
dren ;  married  eighty-one  cou]>Ies  ;  but  upon  con- 
sulting some  old  yellow  musty  records,  which  we 
have  found  in  most  minislerial  sanctums,  could  not 
give  C(jrrect  burial  figures,  as  lie  officiated  at  many 
funerals  outside  of  his  regular  congregation. 

Trinity  Second  Reformed  Church  was  organ- 
ized out  of  the  German  Reformed  congrega- 
tion in  1870,  with  nineteen  members.  J,  B. 
Shoemaker,  of  Lancaster,  I'enu.,  was  first  Pas- 
tor. E.  Herbruck  tooli  charge  of  the  congre- 
gation in  May,  1873.  When  he  took  charge  of 
the  congregation  the  membership  was  thirtj'- 
iive,  and  now  numbers  160.  At  the  beginning 
of  his  pastorate  tliere  was  a  heavy  debt,  which 
is  not  yet  all  paid.  Church  cost  $8,000  ;  pews 
free ;  seats  350.  He  has  officiated  at  the  fol- 
lowing :  Baptisins,  174 ;  marriages,  seventy- 
four  ;  deaths,  fift^-three,  A  few  months  ago. 
Rev,  E.  Herbruck  resigned  his  position  and  re- 

j  moved  to  Tiffin,  to  take  the  editorial  chair  of 
the  German  Rcforinal  Mcsscngi-r,  the  English 
organ  of  this  church  in  the  West. 

Tilt  Roman  Calliolir  Cliiirch — Was  represent- 
ed in  the  quite  early  settlement  of  Canton. 
John  Shorb,  who  came  to  Canton  as  early  as 
1807,  with  his  wife  and  three  children,  was  the 
first  resident  Catholic  in  the  place.  Soon  after 
the  war  of  1812,  other  Catholic  families  came 
to  town,  and  to  ditferent  parts  of  the  County  ; 
of  the  families  settlitig  in  this    neighborhood 

\  were  Andrew  ]Me3-ers,  Stephen  Shorb,  George 
Hossofross,  the  Pirrong  brothers,  Joseph  Trout, 
Adam  Rider.  Cassilj',  Owen  Grimes,  Martin 
Zimmerman,  John  Gillig,  Floom,  and  McCor- 
mick.  As  early  as  1818,  before  this  portion  of 
tile  State  belonged  to  a  diocese,  the  Dominican 
Fathers,  who  had  been  sent  West  as  mission- 
aries, held  occasional  services  at  Mr,  Shorb's 


~n'r. 


CANTON    TOWNSHIP. 


363 


house,  oil  the  locality  still  occupied  by-  liis  de- 
scendants. The  missionaries  came  about  twice 
a  3'ear,  and  when  the  weather  permitted  the 
services  were  held  in  ii  grove  in  front  of  the 
house.  The  time  of  the  inectiiii;  was  made 
known  in  good  time  in  advance,  and  parties 
from  a  great  distance,  in  Stark  and  adjoining 
counties,  were  sure  to  he  present.  Catholic  de- 
votion to  the  services  of  the  Church  is  proverb- 
ial, and  worth}'  of  closer  imitation  liy  members 
of  otiier  coiumunions.  Tile  first  Catholic  serv- 
ice, in  Ohio,  was  at  Gallipolis,  in  1793  ;  the 
second  in  Perry  County,  in  1812  ;  and  the  third 
in  Shorb's  Grove.  Canton,  in  181G.  As  the 
people  came  from  great  distances,  as  much  as 
thirt}-  and  forty  miles  to  attend  these  meetings, 
though  bringing  their  own  provisions  with  them, 
it  was  often  a  difficult  matter  to  provide  lodging 
places  for  them.  Mr.  Shorb  was  a  zealous 
worker  in  the  cause  of  his  religion,  and  it  was 
his  ambition  to  iiave  a  church  in  Canton.  In 
his  visits  to  Baltimore  and  other  parts  of  the 
country  numerously  inhabited  by  Catholics,  he 
made  it  a  part  ot  his  business  to  get  contribu- 
tions to  the  accomplishment  of  this  end.  When 
sufficient  means  for  a  start  had  been  collected, 
he  generously  donated  a  site  for  the  new  church 
upon  his  own  grounds,  and  gave  his  personal 
attention  to  the  construction  of  the  church 
thereon.  The  building,  commenced  in  1 823,  and 
tinished  the  following  year,  was  a  structure  40 
by  90  feet,  a  section  of  the  East  part  being  par- 
titioned off  for  family  use.  Mr.  Shorl)  was 
fatally  injured  at  the  raising  of  the  building, 
by  a  rafter  falling  from  the  hands  of  a  work- 
man and  striking  him  on  the  head  ;  he  died  the 
following  day,  lamented  not  only  by  his  faniil}- 
and  his  church,  but  also  by  the  entire  coinmu- 
nit}-.  who  knew  his  personal  worth  as  an  upright 
man,  desirous  of  promoting,  by  every  means  in 
his  power,  the  best  interests  of  the  town  of 
Canton. 

The  first  priest  in  charge  of  the  church  here 
was  John  A.  Hill,  a  nephew  of  Lord  Hill,  of 
England.  He  commanded  a  regim(!nl  at  the 
battle  of  Waterloo.  He  was  married  soon  after 
this,  when  both  he  and  his  wife  became  con- 
verted to  the  Roman  Catholic  religion.  Mu- 
tually impressed  afterward  with  tlu^  idea  that 
they  must  devote  the  balance  of  their  lives  to 
the  service  of  the  church,  they  agreed  to  sep- 
arate, she  entering  a  convent  in  Italy,  and  he 
an   institution  of  learning,  to   qualify  himself 


for  the  priesthood.  After  completing  a  course 
of  stud}",  he  was  sent  to  America,  and  served 
as  a  missionary  for  several  years.  He  came  to 
Canton  in  182i,  where  he  continued  his  labors 
successfully  until  death  called  him  home  from 
his  earthly  labors  and  usefulness.  He  was 
buried  September  3,  1828,  at  his  own  request, 
under  the  eaves  of  the  church,  but  lat(;r  his  re- 
mains were  remo\ed  to  Somerset,  Perry  Co., 
Ohio.  Father  Hill  was  loved  b}'  his  (lock  and 
highly  esteemed  in  the  community.  He  was  a 
lover  of  children,  and,  without  respect  to  de- 
nominational distinctions,  was  generally  beloved 
by  the  children  of  the  town.  He  was  a  man  of 
a  strong  social  turn  of  mind,  enjoyed  a  game 
of  chess,  and,  it  is  said,  he  would  occasionally 
try  his  skill  with  William  Raynolds,  Dr.  Sim- 
mons and  William  Christmas,  the  prominent 
chess  players  of  Canton  at  that  time.  For  sev- 
eral j'ears  after  his  death,  the  church  was  with- 
out a  regular  Pastor.  Fathers  Miles,  Martin 
and  others  officiated  at  intervals.  From  1830 
to  1834,  Rev.  John  M.  Henni  was  in  charge  of 
St.  John's.  During  his  pastorate,  in  1832, 
Bishop  Fenwick,  of  Cincinnati,  after  attending 
a  jubilee  in  Canton,  was  taken  with  cholera  on 
his  waj'  home  in  the  stage,  and  died  near  Woos- 
ter,  Ohio.  Rev.  J.  S.  Alemany  followed  Rev. 
Henni  in  this  pastorate.  Rev.  Henni  afterward 
became  Archbishop  of  the  diocese  of  .Milwau- 
kee, and  Rev.  Alemany  the  Archbishop  of  the 
diocese  of  San  Francisco.  The  St.  John's 
Church  was  twice  enlarged  to  meet  the  growing 
necessities  of  the  congregation.  For  about  ten 
years  after  Rev.  Alemany's  time,  pastoral 
changes  were  frequent.  In  1844,  al)Out  twenty- 
five  families  left  the  English  Church,  and  under 
Rev.  H.  Lahr  organized  a  German  Catholic 
Church,  under  the  name  of  St  Peter's,  and 
mi'asures  were  at  once  taken  for  the  erection  of 
a  German  church  edifice.  Among  the  later 
Pastors  of  St.  John's  Church  were  Fathers  Do- 
berty,  Lindersmith  and  Bartolett.  During  the 
pastorate  of  the  latter,  a  new  church  was  built, 
one  of  the  finest  in  the  city,  at  a  gn^at  sacrifice 
of  labor  on  the  part  of  the  Pastor,  and  sym- 
pathetic efforts  and  co-operation  on  the  part  of 
the  people  of  his  charge.  This  congregation 
has  steadily  increased,  and  now  numbers  not 
far  from  two  hundred  families.  We  conclude 
this  notice  of  the  Catholic  Cliurch  in  (Canton  by 
a  l)rief  history  of  St.  Peter's  Koinan  Catholic 
Church. 


364 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


As  stated  above,  this  congregation  was 
founded  in  1844  b}-  Rev.  H.  Lahr,  who  died  in 
Cincinnati  a  few  years  ago.  The  membership 
at  that  time  was  about  thirty-five  families,  who 
had  separated  from  old  St.  John's  Church,  which 
was  too  small  to  contain  all  its  members.  Un- 
der the  worthy  pastorate  of  Rev.  F.  M.  Boff  and 
J.  B.  Uhlman,  the  numberof  members  increased 
rapidl}',  so  that  in  the  year  1865,  when  Rev. 
Arnould,  the  present  Pastor,  took  charge  of  the 
congregation  it  numbered  206  families.  In 
1874,  the  old  church  building  being  considered 
too  small,  the  Pastor  called  a  meeting  of  the 
congregation,  at  which  it  was  decided  to  erect 
a  large  church  edifice,  the  cost  of  which  was 
not  to  exceed  the  sum  of  880,000,  at  the  same 
time  a  building  committee  was  formed  with 
Rev.  V.  Arnould  as  President ;  Josepii  Biechele, 
Treasurer  ;  William  Dannemiller,  Secretar}'  ; 
Joseph  Schott  and  George  Gonder,  Advisers  ;  all 
active,  energetic  men.  The  plan  was  made  at 
once  by  H.  Engelbert,  of  New  York,  in  the 
Gothic  style.  In  September,  1874,  the  founda- 
tion was  built,  and  in  June,  1875,  the  corner- 
stone was  laid  with  appropriate  ceremonies  b}- 
Right  Rev.  Bishop  Fitzgerald,  of  Little  Rock, 
Ark.,  the  Bishop  of  Cleveland  being  then  ab- 
sent on  account  of  ill  health.  The  building 
measures  164x74  feet.  The  ornamental  plas- 
tering or  stucco  work  was  done  by  Carroll  & 
Nolan,  a  Cleveland  firm  of  great  experience  and 
ability  ;  the  wood  work  was  under  the  direction 
of  Stephen  Wagner,  of  Canton,  a  very  consci- 
entious and  skillful  mechanic  ;  the  whole  under 
the  immediate  superintendence  of  the  reverend 
Pastor.  The  building  is  one  of  the  finest  in 
the  State.  The  school  children  number  280, 
and  are  instructed  by  four  teachers.  The  Sun- 
day school  is  attended  by  300.  During  his 
pastorate,  the  clergyman  has  baptized  1,495  ; 
married  195  couples;  buried  198  persons. 

This  congiegation  now  numbers  abont  300 
families,  and  is  still  under  the  charge  of  Rev. 
Father  Arnould,  a  faithful  Pastor,  and  a  whole- 
souled,  genial.  Christian  gentleman.  St.  John's 
is  at  this  time  under  the  charge  of  Rev.  Father 
McGuire,  a  man  of  rare  taste  and  culture,  and 
the  congregation  seems  to  be  flourishing  under 
his  pastorate.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  the 
priests  in  charge  of  the  Canton  Catholic 
Churches  have,  as  a  rule,  been  men  of  more 
than  ordinary  abilit3',  some  of  them  attaining 
high  positions  in  the  church,  and  to  this  fact 


much  of  the  success  of  Catholicism  in  this  citj- 
is  mainly  attributable. 

The  ministers  of  the  Presbyterian  denomina- 
tion, on  missionary  tours  through  this  part  of 
the  countrj-,  first  made  their  appearance  in  Can- 
ton about  the  year  1809,  though  previous  to 
that  time  there  were  some  families  in  town  of 
that  persuasion.  Itinerant  ministers  of  differ- 
ent denominations  had  worshiped  in  favorable 
weather  in  Michael  Reed's  barn,  about  a  mile 
from  town.  In  the  winter  season  and  bad 
weather,  services  were  held  in  private  houses 
until  the  erection  of  the  first  court  house,  corner 
of  Third  and  3Iarket  streets.  The  first  minister 
of  whom  there  is  any  definite  account  was  Rev. 
JoshiiaJSecr.  He  lived  in  Springfield,  now  in 
Summit  County,  but  he  seems  to  have  labored 
in  Canton,  at  stated  periods,  until  1815.  There 
is  an  entry  of  a  marriage  in  the  records  of  Stark 
County,  solemnized  by  him  December  18, 1811. 
To  a  certificate  of  a  still  later  date,  he  signs 
himself  Joshua  Beer,  V.  D.  M.,  Presbyterian 
Church,  Canton.  From  this  fiict.  it  is  tolerably 
certain  that  an  organization  existed  at  a  very 
early  date  ;  but  as  no  records  are  known  to  be 
in  existence,  but  little  can  be  said  about  it. 
From  1817  to  1 81 9,  Rev.  James  Adams  officiated 
quite  frequently,  and  there  are  several  marriages 
solemnized  by  him  on  record.  The  names  of 
some  of  the  other  ministers  visiting  here  in 
the  earl}'  days  were  Mathews,  ^^allandigham 
(father  of  Clement  L.  Vallandigham,  a  Demo- 
cratic legislator  and  congressman  a  few  years 
back,  a  man  of  great  personal  power,  of  pleasing 
address,  and  of  great  importance  to  his  part}') 
and  Cleland.  In  the  alisence  of  a  regular  set- 
tled Pastor  and  fixed  services,  the  church  did 
not  at  first  attain  very  marked  success.  In 
1820,  Rev.  James  McClean  took  charge  of  it,  and 
found  it  in  a  very  weak  condition.  He  began 
his  labors  in  the  old  brick  court  house,  erected  a 
few  years  before  his  coming.  John  Harris, 
esteemed  a  good  singer,  led  the  singing.  In 
his  second  sermon,  Mr.  McClean  spoke  of  the 
"  utility  and  importance  of  Sunday  schools.  " 
This  discourse  so  impressed  his  congregation 
that  a  meetmg  was  called  at  the  court  house  the 
following  Thursday  evening  to  consider  the 
matter.  It  was  there  resolved  to  establish  a 
Sunday  school,  and  a  committee  was  appointed 
to  complete  such  an  organization.  This  school 
met  for  the  first  time  in  the  court  house  on  De- 
cember 2,  1820,  and  was  the  first  Sunday  school 


fc^ 


CANTON    TOWNSHIP. 


iu  the  couut\\  It  had,  in  the  start,  fifty-six 
scholars.  Rev.  .McClean  continued  to  preach 
during  the  winter  and  siinuner  following  ;  but 
spent  a  considerable  portion  of  his  time  in  visit- 
ing destitute  localities  in  the  surrounding  coun- 
try. I'p  to  the  lime  of  Mr.  McClean's  advent 
in  Canton,  no  records  of  the  church  seem  to 
have  been  kept.  In  the  minute  book  of  the 
session,  the  following  entry  appears  :  Mr.  Mc- 
Clean. not  finding  any  records  of  a  regularly 
orgtinized  congregation,  a  meeting  was  called 
and  held  on  the  13th  of  Septeml)er.  1821,  and 
proceeded  to  the  election  of  three  Klders.  viz., 
Samuel  Coulter,  James  Latimer  and  Roliert 
Latimer.  These  brethren,  having  accepted  the 
ollice,  were  ordained  antl  installed  on  the  27th 
of  September,  and  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's 
Supper  was  administered  on  the  following  Sab- 
bath, Mr.  McClean  being  assisted  liy  Rev.  A. 
Hanua,  of  Fredericksburg.  The  membership  at 
that  time  was  twenty -seven.  Mr.  McClean  con- 
tinued his  services  until  the  spring  of  1822,  and 
six  new  members  were  added  to  the  church. 
He  left  the  field  because  of  the  non-payment  of 
his  salary.  As  the  Trustees,  Robert  Latimer, 
George  Dunbar  and  James  Gaff,  Sr.,  were  un- 
able to  collect  the  subscriptions,  they  were  sued 
by  the  minister,  and,  confessing  judgment  by 
default,  had  to  make  good  the  amount  from 
their  own  pockets.  .Mr.  McClean  was  an  Ku- 
glishman  b^*  birth,  and  was  a  man  of  quite  a 
stylish  appearance.  For  more  than  three  years, 
the  new  congregation  was  without  a  Pastor ; 
but  occasional  services  were  given  by  Revs. 
James  Adams,  James  Snodgrass  and  A.  Hanna, 
who  had  charges  not  far  distant.  In  October, 
1825.  J.  B.  Morrow,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presby- 
tery of  Winchester,  A'a..  was  engaged.  After  a 
foimal  call,  he  was  ordained  and  installe<l  b}' 
the  Presbytery  of  Richland  on  June  21,  lS2t), 
when  the  ordination  sermon  and  charge  to  the 
new  minister  were  given  respectively  li}'  Rev. 
James  Rowland,  of  Mansfield,  and  Rev.  James 
Snodgrass,  of  Pigeon  Run.  Rev.  Mr.  Morrow 
continued  as  Pastor  until  December,  1880,  and 
during  the  time  of  his  charge  there  were  seventy- 
six  additions  by  profession  and  letter,  and  losses 
bj-  dismissal,  death  and  suspension  of  fifty,  leav- 
ing at  his  retirement  a  membership  of  fifty -six. 
The  Sunday  school  was  maintained  during  Mr. 
Morrow's  connection  with  the  church.  From 
an  old  librarj-  register  of  ]82!1,  it  appears  that 
Jacob  Rex  was  the  Superintendent,  and  that 


Mary  L.  Craighead,  Eliza  Laird,  Catharine 
Harry,  Mary  Coulter,  Amanda  Gaff,  Thomas 
Christmas,  James  Ikizlett,  Seth  Godden,  Joseph 
Parker,  Joseph  Heckman  and  Eliza  Porter  were 
the  teachers.  At  this  time,  thej-  numbered  about 
one  hundred  scholars  in  the  school.  The  lot 
now  occupied  by  the  Presbyterian  Church  and 
parsonage  was  donated  by  Mr.  Wells,  as  we  have 
had  occasion  to  remark  above,  to  any  religious 
society  who  would  take  possession  of  it  for  a 
house  of  worship.  In  181(1,  members  of  the  Lu- 
theran and  Reformed  denominations  first  availed 
themselves  of  the  benefit  of  this  grant,  and  as 
early  as  the  year  1810,  they  erected  thereon  a 
small  frame  church,  and  held  possession  of  the 
premises  until  1 821 .  The  location  did  not  please 
the  meral)ers.  and  it  was  at  last  surrendered, 
and  the  frame  structure  was  sold  and  removed. 
About  the  year  1827,  the  Presbyterians  took 
possession  of  the  lot,  and  commenced  building 
a  church,  but  by  want  of  means  and  negligence 
it  was  not  pushed  forward  to  completion,  and 
Mr.  Morrow,  thoroughly  discouraged  and  dis- 
heartened, resigned  his  place  and  removed  to 
New  Philadelphia.  Spiritual  declension  fol- 
lowed, and  the  Sunday  school  soon  ceased  its  ! 
operations.  There  was  occasional  preaching  by 
ministers  iu  search  of  new  charges,  but  they 
received  little  encouragement  until  Rev.  T.  M. 
Hopkins,  of  New  York,  came  along.  His  wife 
and  himself  were  known  as  experienced  teach- 
ers, and  he  was  induced  to  come  to  Canton,  to 
start  a  school,  and  to  preach  for  the  congrega- 
tion. General  apathj-  prevailed  among  the 
members  of  the  church  ;  many  persons  of  in- 
fluence in  the  communitj-  had  imbibed  infideli- 
ty from  Paine's  "  Age  of  Reason, '  and  made  pub 
lie  opposition  to  the  cause  of  religion  ;  and.  on 
the  whole,  the  field  did  not  seem  to  be  a  very 
inviting  one.  After  an  interval  of  four  3  ears 
in  the  services  of  the  church.  Rev,  Hopkins 
took  the  charge.  He  was  in  the  prime  of  life, 
vigorous  and  enthusiastic  in  the  cause  of  his 
Master,  and  at  once  took  hold  of  his  work  in 
this  new  and  neglected  field  with  a  vim  that  in- 
dicated success.  The  earlier  members  of  the 
congregation  were  John  Harris,  Samuel  Coulter, 
Robert,  Thomas  and  James  Latimer,  James 
Gaff,  James,  Harry  and  Ebenezer  Shaw.  There 
were  others,  who  by  previous  training  and  per- 
sonal preferences  were  led  into  sympathy  with 
the  Presbyterian  movement,  and  gave  it  from 
time  to  time   substantial    encouragement.     In 


^ 


-^ — i 


3G() 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY 


this  connection  appear  tlie  names  of  James 
Hazlett,  William  Christmas,  Dr.  Hartford,  Will- 
iam Raynolds,  John  Sloan,  Seth  Godden,  James 
Lathrop,  George  Sloan,  George  Dunl)ar,  Sr.,and 
William  Drayton,  all  of  whom  were  in  their 
day  men  of  influence  in  the  community.  To 
add  to  the  complications  mentioned  before,  Mr. 
Hopkins  found  at  first  a  considerable  opposi- 
tion growing  out  of  the  new-school  doctrines  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  which  at  that  time 
were  especially  canvassed  in  his  church,  and 
which  he  himself  had  adopted  as  the  trne  basis 
upon  which  to  build  up  a  regenei-ated  church. 
He  went,  nevertheless,  earnestly  to  work,  re-or- 
ganized the  congregation,  and  in  a  3ear  or  two 
began  to  see  the  fruits  of  his  labors.  The 
cause  of  the  unfinished  church  edifice  was  tak- 
en up  anew,  the  women  of  the  congregation 
took  the  matter  vigorously  in  hand,  the  money 
was  raised,  and  the  church  was  finished  and 
dedicated  in  1833.  Its  internal  arrangement 
and  construction  were  of  the  ancient  order, 
with  a  gallery  on  three  sides,  the  (ihoir  occupj-- 
ing  the  side  directl>'  in  front  of  the  minister. 
The  floor  pews  were  boxes  witii  doors,  and  the 
seats  narrow  and  straight-backed  and  high, 
suggesting  anything  else  than  ease  and  com- 
fort. Mr.  Hopkins,  nevertheless,  was  a  popu- 
lar minister,  and  his  services  were  well  attend- 
ed. He  was  an  outspoken  temperance  man, 
and  his  courage  may  be  judged  when  it  is  stat- 
ed as  a  fact,  that  while  it  was  the  universal  cus- 
tom of  merchants  in  his  day  to  keep  the  whis- 
ky bottle  on  the  counter  for  the  convenience 
of  the  customers,  he  was  the  first  in  the  town  | 
to  condemn  and  publicly  denounce  the  traffic  in 
spirituous  liquors.  Soon  after  the  dedication 
of  the  new  ehursh  in  1833.  he  removed  to  an- 
other field  on  account  of  personal  difficulties 
among  the  members  of  the  congregation,  which 
seriously  interfered  with  his  pastoral  adminis- 
tration. Mr.  Hopkins  was  followed  soon  after 
by  Rev.  Mr.  Reeves.  He  was  a  good  man.  but 
hardh-  able  to  cope  with  the  situation. 

While  he  was  in  charge,  an  Evangelist,  by 
the  name  of  Rev.  J.  P.  Aver}',  held  a  series  of 
meetings  for  several  months  in  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  though  members  of  other 
churches  in  sympath}-  with  the  movement,  took 
an  active  part,  also,  in  the  meetings.  5Ir.  Averj' 
was  eminently  successful  in  stirring  up  the 
"  dry  bones,"  and  as  a  result  of  bis  efforts,  more  ' 
than  a  hundred    converts    were   reported,  and 


among  them  some  who  had  before  boasted  of 
their  infidelity.  As  is  apt  to  occur  with  purely 
sensational  religionists,  many  of  those  in  the 
'■  time  of  temptation  "  fell  away,  but,  probably, 
the  most  disastrous  effect  of  the  excitement 
occasioned  by  Mr.  Avery's  preaching,  was  that 
the  taste  of  the  congregation  for  the  plain  and 
simple  statement  of  Gospel  truths  was  much 
disturbed,  and  it  is  recorded  by  one  of  our 
chroniclers  of  passing  events,  that  "  Mr.  Reeves 
found  himself  inadequate  to  supplj-  the  pabu- 
lum desired  bv  the  congregation,  and  he  had  a 
call  to  another  field,  the  soil  of  which  required 
less  stirring.  "  Rev.  Mr.  Taylor  followed  Mr. 
Reeves,  and  being  himself  a  man  of  decided 
convictions,  he  succeeded  in  !)ringing  the  con- 
gregation into  active  connection  with  the  new 
school  branch  of  the  church.  Mr.  Taylor  was 
a  good  speaker,  and  stood  well  generallj-  with 
the  congregation  and  the  community.  He  re- 
mained onlj-  four  years,  but  during  his  pastor- 
ate, the  church  was  remodeled  inside,  and  its 
appearance  and  comfort  greatly  improved. 
Rev.  E.  Buckingham  su(!ceeded  Mr.  Taylor,  in 
1846,  and  remained  in  conthiuous  charge  for  a 
period  of  twenty-six  years.  Mr.  Buckingham 
was  a  man  of  strong  convictions,  in  some 
things  with  a  strong  leaning  to  bigotry,  but  at 
the  same  time  honest,  conscientious  and  zealous 
in  advancing  the  best  interests  of  his  charge, 
according  to  his  own  convictions.  There  can 
be  no  doubt  that  the  substantial  position  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Canton,  to-day,  is  very 
largelj'  due  to  his  earnest,  active  and  long-con- 
tinned  labors  in  this  field.  During  his  very 
long  services,  Mr.  Buckingham  retained  the  love 
and  esteem  of  the  greater  part  of  his  congre- 
gation. A  man  of  noble  impulses,  and  fearless 
in  the  discharge  of  every  duty,  as  he  regarded 
it,  he  sometimes  came  out  very  plainly  in  his 
public  discourses,  and  taking  a  lively  interest 
as  he  did  in  all  public  (piestions,  he  not  unfre- 
(j[uentl3'  trod  very  closely  upon  the  toes  of  some 
of  his  parishioners,  and  little  bickerings  and 
dissatisfactions,  accordingl}-,  arose  from  time 
to  time  ;  but  as  he  never  compromised  his  call- 
ing, and  did  not  knowingly  lend  his  influence 
or  countenance  to  anything  which  might  bring 
reproach  upon  the  cause  of  Christ,  and,  while 
positive,  was  always  the  urbane  and  obliging 
gentleman,  he  retained  a  strong  hold  upon  the 
affections  of  his  people  until  the  last.  After 
his  resignation  in  Canton.  Mr.  Buckinofham  re- 


CANTON    TOWNSHIP. 


moved  to  Muskingum  County,  and  took  charge 
of  Putnam  Female  Seminary  until  iiis  death. 
His  remains  were  brought  to  Canton  and  in- 
terred in  the  cemetery  west  of  the  city.  Dur- 
ing liis  pastorate  in  1850,  a  lielfry  was  attached 
to  the  cluirch  edifice  and  a  bell  purchased,  the 
one  still  in  use ;  in  1853,  a  parsonage  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  $2,200  ;  in  1857,  the  church 
was  incorporated  under  the  title  of  "  The  First 
Presbyterian  (cluirch  of  Canton;"  in  ]85(!, 
measures  were  inaugurated  and  carried  out  for 
the  building  of  the  stone  church,  corner  of  Tus- 
carawas and  Plum  streets,  at  a  cost  of  about 
$40,000.  Mr.  Whitelock,  of  Chicago,  was  the 
architect.  Mr.  Buckingham  was  a  warm  friend 
of  our  public  schools,  and  did  very  much  dur- 
ing his  stay  in  Canton  to  enhance  their  popu- 
larity and  usefulness.  When  he  left  at  last,  it 
would  be  hard  to  decide  which  felt  the  worse, 
his  congregation  or  the  community  at  large. 
A  few  months  after  Mr.  Buckingham  left  Can- 
ton, Rev.  W.  J.  Park  received  and  accepted  a 
call  to  this  pastorate.  He  gave  promise  of 
great  usefulness  in  this  field,  but  after  a  few 
years"  service  and  communion,  on  or  near  the 
5th  day  of  June,  1871),  he  became  complicated 
in  grave  charges  ;  his  connection  with  the  con- 
gregation was  dissolved  in  July,  1870,  and  on 
the  7th  of  September  of  the  same  year,  he  was. 
.conditionall\'.  deposed  from  his  office  by  the 
I'resbyteiy  to  which  he  and  the  congregation 
belonged.  From  that  time  on  until  very  re- 
cently, the  congregation  has  had  no  settled 
minister.  In  January  of  this  year.  1881.  Kev. 
David  K.  Platter  received  a  call,  and  in  pursu- 
ance of  an  acceptance  thereof,  entered  upon 
his  duties  last  March.  He  was  regularly  in 
stalled  on  Tuesday  evening.  May,  31.  1881. 
The  folhnviiig  brief  account  of  his  installation 
will  be  of  interest  in  the  future  : 

Tlic  iiistalhition  of  Rev,  D.  E.  Platl.T  as  Pa^itor 
of  the  First  Frcshytcrian  Church,  hy  a  comiiiilU'e 
appoiiUcd  l>v  the  Prcshytory  of  Mahoning,  took 
phici'  last  evening;  in  tlic  prosr-nce  of  a  larire  coiii;!'!-- 
gallon.  The  services  were  o])enc(l  by  tin:  choir 
singiiisr  "  How  Hcauliful  I'poii  IIkj  Mountains." 
The  Kev.  I).  II.  Kvans.  Pastor  of  the  First  Pnshy- 
terian  Clnircliof  Younf^slown,  prcsitk'd  anil  preached 
a  sermon  approprialc  to  the  ocoasion.  after  wlii<-li 
he  proposed  the  Cnnslitntional  (juestions  to  the 
Pastor-elect,  then  to  tin-  |)cople.  The  Kev.  X.  P. 
Bailev.  I>.  D..  of  Massilloii.  then  delivered  the 
chai-'Tc  to  the  Pastor,  and  tlie  Rev.  A.  B.  Maxwell. 
l,,eeIonia,  tlie  eliarfie  to  the  people,  at  the  conchision 
of  whieli  the  installing  prayer  was  offered  hv  Mr. 
Evans,  and  the  services  closed  with  the  henediclion 


by  the  Pastor.  The  floral  decorations,  the  work  of 
y\r.  Harry  Meyers,  assisted  by  ,some  of  the  ladies  of 
the  chureli.  were  very  tine,  and  drew  favorable  eom- 
nienls  from  many  admirers. 

Of  the  very  earliest  movements  of  the 
Methodists  in  Canton,  in  the  absence  of  authen- 
tic records,  but  little  is  known.  The  first 
active  Methodists  of  whom  there  is  any  knowl- 
edge were  William  Hill  and  Philip  Schlosser. 
These  men  fre(niently  met,  discussed  the  situa- 
tion, and  deprecated  ihe  lack,  according  to 
their  judgment,  of  religious  interest  among  the 
first  settlers  ;  they  accordingly  agreed  to  help 
improve  every  opi)()rtunity  to  encourage  meet- 
ings for  divine  worship.  Whenever  a  missionary 
came  to  town  they  made  themselves  active  in 
providing  and  giving  notice  of  the  place  of 
meetings.  These  and  a  few  other  of  the  earlier 
Methodists  frequently  came  together  in  private 
houses,  afterward  in  the  old  log  court  house, 
and  still  later  in  the  old  schoolhouse,  corner  of 
Plum  and  Tuscarawas  streets.  For  many 
years  the  members  of  this  persuasion  were 
accustomed  to  meet  in  this  old  school  bnilding 
on  Sunday  morning  for  prayer  and  class  meet- 
ings, and  to  preserve  their  identity  as  a  special 
denomination  of  Christians.  During  this  time, 
it  is  said,  that  .)ohn  McLean,  afterward  Judge 
of  the  Ignited  States  Supreme  Court,  but  at  that 
time  a  young  man,  on  a  tour  through  Northern 
Ohio,  stopped  over  Sunday  in  the  Eagle  tavern, 
kept  by  Philip  Dewalt.  He  had  been  from  his 
youth  an  ardent,  devoted  Methodist,  and  to  his 
latest  day  he  made  it  a  point  to  attend  relig- 
ious service's  on  the  Lord's  Daj-,  and  he  never 
missed  an  opporttinily  to  do  so  if  his  health 
permitted  hiin  to  lie  out.  His  case  is  one  of 
many  others  among  our  public  men,  who  con- 
sistently, by  profession  and  jiractice.  have  given 
their  approval  to  the  doctrines  of  our  holy 
religion.  On  the  Sunday  morning  he  spent  in 
Canton,  Judge  McLean  inquired  of  Jlr,  Dewalt 
whether  there  was  any  Methodist  meeting  in 
Canton  on  that  day,  and  was  informed  that 
there  was  probably  such  a  meeting  in  the 
schoolhouse.  After  finding  out  the  location  of 
the  schoolhouse  he  directed  his  steps  thither, 
and.  on  entering  and  taking  a  seat,  he  found  a 
small  number  of  persons  holding  a  prayer- 
meeting.  This  closed  soon  after,  and  Mr. 
Schlosser  announced  a  class-meeting,  and  re- 
quested all  not  members  of  the  church  to 
leave,  and  all  not  members  left ;  but  Mr.  Mc- 


308 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    (BOUNTY. 


Lean  remained.  For  liis  benefit  the  request  to 
leave  was  repeated  more  emphatically",  but  he 
still  kept  his  seat,  and  the  exercises  commenced. 
The  presence  of  a  stranger  of  such  command- 
ing appearance  as  Judge  Mcljcan  put  a  damper 
upon  the  meeting.  There  was  no  enthusiasm, 
and  the  meeting  for  a  time  was  exceedingly 
cold  and  formal,  until  finally  Father  Schlosser, 
addressing  the  stranger,  asked  if  he  had  any- 
thing to  say.  Upon  this  invitation  the  Judge 
arose,  and,  in  a  low,  distinct  voice,  narrated  his 
experience.  He  talked  very  impressively,  elo- 
quently, and  with  such  pathos  as  had  never 
liefore  been  heard  in  their  meetings  ;  he  carried 
his  audience  with  him,  and  soon  there  was  not 
a  dry  eye  in  the  room.  Mr.  Schlosser,  upon 
his  conclusion,  congratulated  him  on  being  a 
better  man  than  he  had  thought  he  was.  As 
early  as  the  year  1825,  the  society  had  acquired 
considerable  strength  and  influence.  Among 
the  active  new  members  were  John  and  Thomas 
Bonfield,  John  Webb,  Mother  Cake,  Peter  Tof- 
ler  and  Newberry  Cline.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jacob 
R_ex,  originally  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  united 
with  them.  At  this  time  Canton  was  a  "  regu- 
lar appointment,"  with  preaching  once  a  month, 
and  five  years  later,  in  1830,  every  two  weeks. 
The  regular  place  of  meeting  was  the  upper 
room  of  the  old  Academj',  corner  of  Tusca- 
rawas and  I'lura  streets.  Revs.  Frey,  Plimpton 
Ruekel,  Kent,  Graham,  Sheppard  and  Hany  0. 
Sheldon  were  among  the  earlier  preachers  on 
this  circuit.  Sheldon  was  somewhat  peculiar  : 
a  stout,  muscular  man,  he  did  not  hesitate  long 
to  take  rowdies  in  hand  who  disturbed  his 
religious  meetings,  and  he  could  gencrallj',  as 
it  became  well  known  that,  being  without  fear, 
he  would,  if  necessary,  Jigid  for  the  Lord,  as 
well  as  labor  for  him.  Mr.  John  Buckius  tells 
of  his  being  nearly  beaten  on  one  occasion. 
Mr.  Sheldon,  after  the  introductory  services 
were  over,  got  up  to  preach,  and  began  by  say- 
ing, "  I  have  been  thinking  of  two  texts,  and 
revolving  them  in  my  mind  as  No.  1  and  No.  2, 
and  am  undecided  which  to  take."  George 
Toller,  a  well-known  character  of  the  town, 
called  out  promptly,  "Take  No.  1."  The  min- 
ister was  astounded,  but  soon  recovered  himself 
and  responded,  "So  be  it,"  and  announced  as 
the  text,  "  He  being  dead,  yet  speaketh,"  upon 
which  he  then  preached  an  excellent  and 
impressive  sermon.  The  first  camp-meetings 
were  held  for  several  years  in  William  Hill's 


woods,  two  miles  northwest  of  town,  drawing 
immense  crowds  of  people.  They  were  after- 
ward held  in  Williams'  woods,  north  of  town, 
and  subsequently  in  the  Yohe  settlement,  on 
the  Steubenville  road. 

In  1830,  a  lot  was  purchased  on  Kiglith  street, 
near  the  corner  of  Plum  street,  and  a  frame 
church,  40x50  feet,  was  built  npon  it  by  Thomas 
Cunningham.  There  being  no  pavements  at 
that  day  except  on  Market  antl  Tuseai-awas 
streets,  and  very  muddy  walking  in  every  other 
part  of  the  town  during  the  winter,  a  tanbark 
walk  was  constructed  to  the  church.  Soon  after 
the  completion  of  the  church  building.  Rev. 
Milton  Colt,  who  was  then  on  this  circuit, 
took  sick  at  Father  Tofler's  and  died.  He  was 
buried  upon  the  church  lot.  but  his  remains 
were  afterward  removed  to  the  cemetery.  Da- 
vid White  and  Joshua  Saxton,  of  the  Reposi- 
tory, William  Dunbar  and  Daniel  Gotshall,  of 
the  Drmocrat,  George  N.  Webb,  Sheriff  of  the 
county,  and  William,  were,  at  this  time,  all 
prominent  and  active  members.  The  oldest 
members  still  living  are  Frederick  Hafer,  re- 
siding on  North  Poplar  street,  and  Barbara  Ann 
White,  on  Cherry  street.  Next  to  them  come 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Patterson,  on  South  Market  street, 
who  settled  in  Canton  in  1837.  Rev.  John  M. 
Goshorn  and  wife  came  to  Canton  the  following 
year,  and  started  a  female  seminary.  Thcj-  were 
active  members  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and 
were  both  well  fitted  to  conduct  a  first-class 
school.  Mainly  through  the  instrumentality  of 
Dr.  Thomas  Bonfield,  backed  by  the  liberality 
of  a  few  generous  citizens  not  members  of  the 
church,  means  were  secured  to  erect  a  good- 
sized  seminary  building,  on  the  lot  adjoining 
the  church,  corner  of  Eighth  and  Plum  streets. 
This  building  still  stands,  though  for  almost  a 
generation  past  it  has  no  longer  been  used  for 
school  purposes.  It  has  also  been  greatl}' 
changed  and  remodeled  within  and  without,  and 
has  for  many  jears  been  used  as  a  residence  by 
Mr.  John  Buckius  and  family.  The  brick  house 
on  the  corner  of  Poplar  and  Fifth  streets,  so 
well  known  as  the  old  Grant  corner,  was  occu- 
pied as  a  boarding-house,  and  was  the  first 
house  in  town  furnished  with  a  bell-pull.  This 
was  a  very  great  temptation  to  the  young  gen- 
tlemen of  the  town  desirous  of  obtaining  inter- 
views with  the  young  ladies,  which  were  only 
sparingly  granted  by  the  worthy  Princii)als. 
The  seminary  was  well  patronized  ;  pupils  from 


CANTON    TOWNSHIP. 


360 


a  distance  were  in  attendance,  Graduation  Day 
was  made  memorable,  and  tlic  exercises  well 
attended  ;  and  this  institution  did  much  to  ele- 
vate the  standard  of  female  education  in  Can- 
ton. On  the  openinii;  of  the  seminary,  the  con- 
gregation, feeling  assured  of  more  liberal  con- 
tributions, secured  the  services  of  a  stationed 
minister,  Kev.  Kdward  Burkett,  who  was  the 
first  stationed  minister  of  the  Methodist  Church 
in  Canton.  It  soon  became  evident,  however, 
that  the  congregation  was  too  weak  to  give  him 
au  :idc(|uale  support,  and  they  were  therefore 
coinpcllcd  again  to  forego  regular  Sunday  serv- 
ice, and  re-enter  the  circuit.  This  embraced 
( 'anion.  Hartville,  Greentown,  Greensburg, 
Bethlehem,  .Sparta  and  IMiller's  Church,  in  Pike 
Township.  The  ministers  who  followed  .Mr. 
Burkett  on  the  circuit  were  Rev.  Messrs.  White, 
Hare,  Cramer,  Baker,  McCue,  Swasey,  Mc.Vbee, 
Jackson  and  Scott,  with  probably  a  few  others 
whose  names  have  not  been  ascertained.  McCue 
was  here  in  1840,  and  became  a  convert  to  .Mil- 
lerism,  a  prevalent  hallucination  of  that  da}' 
which  dazed  the  minds  of  a  great  many  good 
people  all  over  the  country.  Believing  the  end 
of  all  things  and  the  daj-  of  judgment  to  be 
near  at  hand,  McCue  turned  his  horse  out  to 
grass,  arrayed  himself  in  a  white  ascension  robe, 
and  put  himself  in  readiness  patiently  to  wait 
the  summons  of  Gabriel's  trumpet  to  meet  the 
Savior  in  the  air.  But  alas  !  Mr.  Miller's  signs 
and  calculations  were  not  as  infallible  as  the}- 
were  thought  to  be,  and  the  angel  did  not  blow 
the  trumpet  at  the  appointed  time.  The  com- 
pletion of  the  Pittsburgh,  Fort  Wayne  &  Chi- 
cago Railroad  through  Canton  in  1851-52,  and 
the  advent  of  Ball,  Aultman  &  Company,  who 
were  active  members  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
gave  the  organization  here  new  life  and  vigor. 
The  congregation  increased,  the  contributions 
grew  apace,  and  it  was  not  long  before  they  had 
rc;j,u!ar,  stated  preaching.  The  old  church  on 
i;iL;liih  >lreet  was  soon  deemed  inadequate,  and 
ill  l^ti2.  a  large  and  at  the  time,  and  to  the 
time  of  its  destruction,  a  very  grand  and  im- 
posing structure  was  erected  for  the  use  of  the 
congregation,  on  the  corner  of  Poplar  and  Tus- 
carawas streets.  An  old  citizen  of  Canton  says, 
that  '■  upon  its  occupancy,  a  new  order  of  wor- 
ship and  paraphernalia  were  instituted.  The 
cushioned  seats,  carpeted  aisles,  grand  organ, 
and  the  promiscuous  seating  of  the  sexes  were 
regarded  by  many  as  a  wicked  innovation.  The 


style  of  preaching  was  also  changed,  being  less 
emotional  and  more  logical,  directed  more  to 
the  head  than  the  heart.  Shouting,  which  con- 
stituted so  prominent  a  feature  in  protracted 
meetings  and  revival  occasions,  became  almost 
obsolete.  The  old  members  were  slow  to  accept 
the  new  departure,  but  the  world  moves,  and 
they  were  compelled  to  move  with  it  or  be  left 
by  the  wayside."  The  new  church  was  built 
upon  the  site  of  the  first  St.  Cloud  Hotel, 
erected,  furnished  and  kept  by  Mr,  John  Buck- 
ius  and  his  son-in-law.  Will  Hawk.  It  was 
burned  down  but  a  short  time  before.  This 
church  edifice  was  .'dso  destroyed  b}-  fire  on  the 
first  Sunday  in  January  of  the  present  year, 
1881,  The  weather  had  been  excessively 
cold  for  a  number  of  days,  and  it  took  a  great 
amount  of  firing-up  to  make  the  audience  room 
comfortable  during  the  meetings  held  in  it  for 
a  few  days  previous  to  holding  communion 
services.  On  this  Sunday  a  large  congregation 
bad  assembled  with  the  Pastor,  Rev.  Dr.  H. 
Miller,  and  the  services  appropriate  to  the  cele- 
bration of  the  Lord's  Supper  had  progressed 
almost  through  the  act  of  blessing  the  elements 
of  the  communion.  While  on  their  knees,  en- 
gaged in  prayer,  two  or  three  gentlemen  dis- 
covered fire  in  the  upper  part  of  the  churc-h, 
and  gave  the  alarm.  Confusion  prevailed  for  a 
moment,  but  a  few  hasty  and  earnest  words 
from  the  Pastor  restored  order,  and  in  a  very 
few  minutes,  the  congregation,  without  accident, 
had  escaped  from  the  doomi^d  building,  but  not 
a  moment  too  soon.  In  a  minute  (>r  two,  the 
flames  burst  furiously  through  the  roof,  and  be- 
gan mounting  the  tall  and  stateh'  tower  which 
surmounted  the  building,  and  in  a  few  hours, 
notwithstanding  the  heroic  efforts  of  the  fire 
department  to  stay  the  ravages  of  the  destroy- 
er, it  was  a  total  wreck,  and  nearly  all  its  con- 
tents were  burned  up  with  it.  The  congregation, 
however,  not  disheartened,  resolved  to  go  ahead 
as  soon  as  the  weather  would  permit,  and 
"  build  a  new  temi)le,  which  should  surpass  the 
glory  of  the  old  one,  "  At  this  writing  the 
work  is  progressing  rapidly,  and  will  be  pushed 
energetically  forward  to  completion.  The  de- 
signs for  the  new  building  are  gotten  u|)  bv  .Mr, 
Frank  O.  Weary,  and  are  to  be  seen  at  his  cjtlice 
in  the  County  Survej-or's  room  at  the  court 
house,    -\  writer  in  one  of  the  local  papers  says  : 

Judginjr  from  these  liesigns  tlx^  huilding  will  be 
of  one  of  the  finest  cliurch  structures  in  this  part  of 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


tlie  State.  It  will  be  a  mixture  of  the  gotliic  and 
modern  styles  of  nrohitecture,  and  will  he  built  of 
pressed  brirk.  witli  Berea  stone  trimmings.  The 
length  of  the  strueture  will  be  one  hundred  and 
thirty-four  feet,  in  the  shape  of  a  letter  T.  with  the 
cross"  arm  running  east  and  west  at  tlic  sduth  end  of 
the  l)u!lding.  The  front  will  be  seventy-nine  feet 
long,  with  three  entrances,  a  stairway  turret  on  the 
east  side,  and  tlie  tower  rising  to  a  height  of  one 
hundred  and  tlurty-five  feet  at  the  west.  The  audi- 
ence room,  whiehwill  be  on  the  first  floor,  is  73x65 
feet.  The  pulpit  will  be  located  at  the  north  end 
with  the  choir  and  organ  back  of  it.  Main  entrances 
are  on  each  side  of  the  pulpit.  The  seats  are  de- 
.signed  in  amphitheater  style,  and  the  floor  is  raised 
two  feet  igher  in  the  rear  tliau  in  the  front.  In  the 
center  of  the  sides  of  the  auditorimn  are  large  win- 
dows, topped  by  gables  on  the  outside.  Three  ad- 
dional  double  windows  are  on  each  side.  Tliree 
large  doors.  l.").\18  feet,  at  the  south  end  of  the  audi- 
ence room,  .separate  it  from  tlie  Sundiiy  sihodl  nnim  ; 
when  desired,  these  dciurs  slide  down  iiiln  \tU~.  pro- 
vided for  the  purpose,  iiiid  thus  throw  the  I  wo 
rooms  into  one.  The  Sunday-school  ronm  will  be 
divided  into  two  stories,  each  of  which  will  contain 
five  cla.ss-rooms,  arranged  in  a  sciiii circle,  and  fac- 
ing tlie  general  Sunday-school  room,  at  the  north 
end  of  which  is  the  Su]icriiitcndent's  platform.  The 
class-rooms  are  tcj  lie  separated  from  the  regular 
Sunday-school  room  by  doors  with  glass  panels, 
Thi'  cc'iling  of  the  audience  room  will  be  tinishcd  in 
walnut  paneling  and  fresco  work  ;  that  of  the  Sun- 
day-school room  will  be  made  dome-shaped  with  a 
skylight  at  the  top.  The  means  of  entrance  and 
exit  to  the  first  floor  are  numerous.  The  audience 
room  is  provided  with  two  large  entrances,  and  the 
Sunday  school  room  with  four.  The  north  end  of 
the  structtu'e  will  be  raised  five  feet  from  the  ground, 
and  the  .south  end  seven  feet.  This  makes  a  nice, 
airy  basement,  which  will  be  divided  into  lecture 
and  supper  rooms,  ladies'  and  gentlemen's  parlors, 
cooking  and  serving  kitchens,  store  rooms,  pantries, 
toilet  rooms,  janitor's  room,  cloak  rooms  and  boiler 
room.  In  the  latter,  will  be  located  the  steam  boil- 
ers, which  will  furnish  the  heat  for  the  building. 
Ventilating  registers  will  be  ]mt  in  the  wainscoting 
of  the  audience  and  Sunday  school  moms,  which 
will  be  connected  by  flueswith  the  veiilihitiiig  tower, 
located  at  the  juncture  of  the  roof  of  the  main  build- 
ing and  the  hip  roof  of  the  Sunday  school  part  of  the 
Ktructure.  The  inner  part  of  the  building  will  be 
finely  finished  in  walnut,  and  the  larire  windows  will 
be  furnished  with  stained  glass.  The  roof  will  be 
surmounted  by  an  ornamental  tile  casing,  and  the 
gables  will  be  topped  with  stone  trimmings.  In  the 
tower,  a  place  will  be  made  for  a  chime  of  bells. 
The  contract  for  the  foundation,  to  be  of  Massillon 
stone,  has  been  let  to  Jlr.  John  Melbourne,  who  will 
begin  work  as  soon  as  the  ruins  are  cleari'd  away. 
Contracts  for  the  other  work  will  be  let,  and  it  is 
expected  that  the  building  will  be  under  roof  before 
.snow  flies.  The  estimated  cost  of  this  magnificent 
structure  will  be  between  .f  60,000  and  .f  75,000. 

While  the  groat  mass  of  the  old  congregation 
readilj-  adapted  themselves  to  the  new  order  of 


things,  there  were  always  some  imbued  with 
the  more  emotional  fervor  of  the  older  t3'pe  of 
American  Methodism,  who  could  not  bring 
themselves  into  full  sympathy  with  their  breth- 
ren in  what  they  considered  unwarranted  inno- 
vations. These  at  last  left  the  First  Church, 
effected  an  organization  as  the  vSecond  M.  E. 
Church,  and  erected  a  large  brick  church  on 
South  M.irket  street,  neat  but  plain,  and  with- 
out steeple  or  dome.  There  is  no  organ  in 
this  church,  and  the  services.  Including  "  revi- 
vals," are  more  nearly  like  those  of  the  primi- 
tive Methodist  Church.  As  there  arc  in  every 
communitj-  men  and  women  in  whom  the  en5o- 
tional  naturally-  forms  the  greater  part  of  their 
intellectual  and  moral  nature,  there  is  probably 
necessity  also  in  religious  matters  to  arrange 
by  organization  that  these  be  provided  I'or  ;  at 
any  rate,  this  organization  seems  to  have  meas- 
urably flourished  from  the  start.  Whether  the 
emotional  or  the  rational  ought  to  have  the 
higher  value  in  any  religious  S3Stem  is  not  for 
the  impartial  historian  to  determine  ;  the  mid- 
dle ground  is  probably'  the  safe  one  ;  a  religion 
without  place  for  the  emotional  in  man's  nature 
tends  to  formality  and  dogmatism  ;  a  religion 
which  ignores  man's  rational  being  tends  on 
the  one  side  to  superstition,  on  the  other  to 
fanaticism ;  true  religion  addresses  man's 
higher  intellectual  powers,  and  through  these, 
under  subjection  to  faith,  seeks  to  guide  and 
control  the  affections,  the  feelings  and  the  will. 
A  third  Methodist  frame  church  building  was 
erected  a  few  jcars  ago  in  the  Fourth  Ward,  in 
the  immediate  vicinitj-  of  the  north  school 
building  as  a  point  for  missionary  operations. 
This  movement,  however,  has  up  to  this  time 
not  resulted  in  anything  tangible  or  permanent. 
There  are  also  two  Jletiiodist  churches  in  the 
township,  one  in  Section  2C  and  the  other  in 
Section  30. 

The  First  Baptist  Church  was  started  in 
April,  1840.  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Danner, 
Thomas  (ioodman  and  Robert  C.  Latimer,  at 
which  time  the  services  of  Elder  John  Winter, 
of  Warren.  Ohio,  were  secured  at  a  salary  of 
$300.  April  22,  1849,  a  Sabbath  school  was 
formed  with  fourteen  scholars.  The  communi- 
cants to  the  ciiurch  at  this  tiine  numbered 
seven.  In  1852,  Mr.  Danner  agreed  to  build  a 
church  if  the  Home  Mission  Society  would  pay 
$500  for  pastor's  salary  for  one  }'ear,  and  at  tlie 
end   of  the  year  he  would   guarantee  it  free 


lANTOX    TOWNSHIP. 


371 


from  debt,  which  the  societj-  agreed  to  do. 
June  25,  1853.  the  church  was  dedicated  by 
Hev.  John  Winter,  I'astor.  The  church,  situ- 
ated on  the  soutlieast  corner  of  Tenth  and  Mar- 
Icct  streets,  seating  350  people,  was  used  for 
eighteen  years.  In  1871,  the  new  church  on 
.N'iiith  and  Marltct  streets  was  built  at  a  cost  of 
$.")(!  (1(1(1,  wliich  is  now  free  from  debt,  with  275 
(•(iinnuinicants.  Kcv.  K.  W.  Lounsbury,  the 
present  Pastor,  came  here  in  March,  1877.  and 
is  well  liked  by  his  congregation. 

In  1853,  a  few  Episcopalians  associated  them- 
selves together  and  held  services  under  the 
nameof ''Church  of  the -Vdvent,' until  18G8;  the 
number  of  Kpiscopalians  increased,  and  a  num- 
ber of  lots  were  purchased  at  the  northwest  cor- 
ner of  Tenth  and  South  Popular  streets,  Easter 
.M(inil;iy,  March  29,  ISO'.I  ;  a  Vestry  was  electeil, 
:iii(l  the  Kev.  J.  ('.  Laverty  called  to  the  rector- 
ship. In  September  of  the  same  year,  turf  was 
cut  for  the  erection  of  a  new  church — the  pres- 
ent edifice,  which  was  soon  after  finished,  with 
several  thousand  dollars  indebtedness  resting 
upon  it.  Mr.  Laviuly  reduced  the  debt  largely. 
His  resignation  took  place  in  the  summer  of 
1875.  October  1,  1870,  the  Rev.  Joseph  1'. 
Cameron  was  called  to  the  rectorship,  which 
continued  until  .\ugust  1,  1878.  He  al.so 
reduced  the  church  debt,  which  was  finall3'  en- 
tirely paid  in  1881,  under  Kev.  Frederick  Burt 
.\vcry.  Rector,  now  in  charge,  who  came  to  the 
parisii  the  hist  Sunday  in  August.  1880.  The 
church  property  now  consists  of  a  frame  edifice, 
with  a  seating  capacity  of  300,  well-furnished 
walnut  seats,  pipe-oi-gan,  chancel  windows  and 
side  windows  of  stained  glass :  the  church 
is  painted  and  in  good  repair.  The  whole  is 
now  paid  for,  as  are  also  the  two  lots — tiie  one 
on  which  the  church  is  built,  and  the  adjoin- 
ing one  reserved  for  the  rectory.  Value  of  the 
property,  about  $10,000.  Although  a  number 
of  the  old  members  iiave  been  removed  by 
di'alh  and  otherwise,  the  communicant  list 
has  been  increa.sed,  by  confirmation  and  trans- 
fers, by  twenty  new  members.  The  Sunday- 
school  numbers  sixty-five  scholars,  ten  otticers 
and  teachers.  The  Ladies'  (Juild  has  for  its 
officers,  Mrs,  I>,  Tyler,  President  ;  Mrs.  A.  (J. 
Uart,  Secretary,  The  officers  of  the  church  : 
Rev.  Frederick  Burt  Avery,  Rector.  Vestry- 
men, E.  W,  Amsden,  Senior  Warden  ;  William 
Britton,  Junior  Warden  ;  J.  H.  Mathews,  M.  D., 
Treasurer  ;  A.  (J.  Dart.  Clerk  of  Vestrj'  ;  Capt. 


Williams,  J.  W.  Young,  D.  Tyler,  H.  Church- 
man, John  Snj-der. 

The  Evangelical  Church  took  this  cit}'  as  a 
mission  field,  .\.  1).  1852  ;  and  the  same  year, 
Rev.  Peter  Wicst  was  sent  here  as  a  missionary. 
He  immediately  set  to  work  to  build  a  church, 
which  was  completed  in  1853.  The  building 
was  a  neat,  one-stoiy  brick,  wliich  answered  its 
purpose  at  that  time.  The  church  was  reliuilt 
in  the  year  1874,  under  the  adininislratioii  of 
Rev.  T.  Bach,  as  preacher  in  charge  of  the  con- 
gregation, and  Kev.  S.  B.  Kring,  as  Presiding 
Elder.  The  edilice  is  now  two  stories  high. 
This  church  is  located  on  the  east  corner  of 
Ilerbruck  and  Fourth  streets,  on  a  lot  donated 
by  Mrs.  Barbara  Voung.  When  this  congrega- 
tion was  organizeil  in  1852,  there  were  but 
twelve  members,  viz.,  Isaac  Voegelgasong  and 
wife,  John  Hane  and  wife,  Peter  Tream,  Phillip 
Tream,  (lotlieb  Kasher,  Sister  Kitzmiller,  Cath- 
arine Dittenhaver.  Lewis  Voegelgasong  and 
Mr.  Leininger  and  wife.  Brother  Hane  served 
the  church  of  his  choice  temporarily.  The 
Brethren  I.  Voegelgasong,  P.  Tream  and  J. 
Hane,  obligated  themselves  to  the  Conference 
to  pay  $10  a  year  to  the  missionary  cause  in 
order  that  they  might  be  supplied  with  a  mis- 
sionary. Rev,  Jacob  Burkett  was  the  succes- 
sor of  Rev,  Wiesl,  and  his  Labors  were  crowned 
with  a  success  that  resulted  in  the  conversion 
of  quite  a  number  of  souls.  This  gave  the 
work  a  new  impulse,  and  ever  since  that  time 
the  influence  and  the  borders  of  the  church 
have  been  extended.  Kev,  (i.  F,  Spreng  was 
the  first  Presiding  Elder  presiding  at  this  place. 
At  present,  Kev,  J.  .\.  Yount  is  the  Pastor  of 
this  congregation,  and  Rev,  J,  A,  (Jrinim,  Pre- 
siding Elder,  The  future  for  the  congregation 
seems  to  l)e  bright.  A  present,  this  church  has 
about  one  huiulred  and  seventj"  communicants. 

The  Church  of  (lod  is  located  on  east  Tusca- 
rawas street.  Rev.  M,  M,  Beck,  of  West  Leba- 
non, Ohio,  Pastor,  This  is  a  plain  brick  struc- 
ture surmounted  by  a  small  spire,  containing 
no  bell.  The  church  is  60x40  feet  and  will 
seat  150  persons  comfortably.  It  was  built  in 
1876,  at  a  cost  of  $3,300,  and  is  not  yet  free 
from  debt.  Inside  the  church  is  roughly  plas- 
tered, and  has  plain  benches  and  a  small  gallery. 
The  illumination  is  furnished  by  coal  oil  lamps, 
and  the  heating  apparatus  consists  of  two 
stoves.  The  congregation  consists  of  eighty 
communicants.     They  believe  in  immersion  and 


i>  "V 


^ 


372 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


accept  the  Bible  as  their  foundation  rock.  The 
society  was  organized  about  ten  years  ago,  b}' 
Rev.  Mr.  Beclf." 

The  United  Brethren  Church  is  on  Charles 
street,  and  is  built  of  brick  with  a  seating 
capacity  of  about  one  hundred  and  fiftj'.  It  is 
lighted  and  heated  in  the  old-fashioned  st3'le. 
A  small  spire  with  a  bell  surmounts  the  church. 
Rev.  S.  W.  Koontz  is  Pastor. 

The  Disciples'  Church  of  Canton  dates  back 
for  its  organization  for  more  than  a  score  of 
3'ears,  and  has,  under  a  number  of  able  Pastors, 
enjoyed  a  fair  share  of  prosperity.  The  church 
building  is  on  the  corner  of  Poplar  and  Seventh 
streets.  Rev.  Mr.  Henselman  is  the  present 
Pastor  ;  he  serves  besides  a  congregation  at 
New  Berlin  in  Plain  Township,  and  one  newly 
organized,  with  a  neat  frame  church  lately 
built  at  North  Industry  in  this  township. 

A  small  brick  Lutheran  Church  has  also 
been  erected  about  a  half-mile  north  of  North 
Industry,  on  the  Canton  road,  which  though 
occupied  a  few  times  for  divine  worship  is  not 
yet  quite  finished. 

Last  of  all,  init  doing  a  good  work  in  its  own 


sphere  of  activity,  is  the  Mennonite  Church 
just  east  of  Canton,  which  was  built  during,  or 
about  the  year  1830,  b>-  Jacob  Rowland.  Jo- 
seph Rohrer  was  the  first  minister,  with  the 
following  members  :  Jacob  Rowland  and  wife, 
Mrs.  David  Schriver,  Mrs.  Henry  Hull,  and 
Christian  Wengard  and  wife.  About  the  year 
1  852,  Mr.  Rohrer  moved  to  Indiana  ;  from  that 
time  till  about  1870,  Revs.  Smith  and  New- 
comer, from  Columbiana  County,  officiated. 
The  old  log  church  was  torn  down,  and  the 
present  brick  structure  erected  in  the  year 
1875,  since  which  time.  Michael  Rohrer  has 
been  the  principal  minister  with  from  fifteen  to 
twenty  members. 

In  concluding  these  sketches  of  the  Canton 
churches,  the  writer  deems  it  due  to  the  pub- 
lishers and  himself  to  say  that  it  is  to  be  re- 
gretted that  so  many  of  the  ministers  take  so 
little  interest  in  securing  a  histor3-  of  their 
church  organizations  in  permanent  form,  such 
as  this  work  would  afl'brd  them  an  opportunity 
of  doing.  With  a  few  exceptions,  they  failed 
to  co-operate  heartilj'  in  the  work,  and  left  the 
historian  to  do  the  best  he  could. 


CHAPTER     XI  I.* 


i'KKRY  TOW.NSHIl'  — NA.MK    ANU    OlUiANlZATlON 
SETTLKUS—flRST  RKLIGIOCS  MECTINdS— 
TRIES— THE  OHIO  ("ANAL— KDL'CA 

'■  (Tiither  we  from  the  shadowy  past 
The  straggling  beams  that  linger  yet." 

— Spenser. 

AT  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Commission- 
ers of  Stark  County,  on  the  7ih  day  of 
December,  1813,  it  was  "  ordered  that  the  tenth 
township  of  the  ninth  range  be,  and  the  sa  '.  e 
is  hereby  made  known  as  a  separate  and  dis- 
tinct township  Ijy  the  name  of  Perry.  The  in- 
habitants of  said  new  township  will  meet  at 
the  house  of  Samuel  Patton,  in  Kendal,  on  the 
last  Saturday  in  February,  and  proceed  to  elect 
township  officers." 

From  the  above  it  will  be  seen  that  the  town- 
ship took  its  name  from  Commodore  Oliver 
Hazard  Perry,  the  hero  of  Lake  Erie  in  the 
war  of  1812.  The  battle  at  Putin-Bay  had 
been  fought  but  about  three  months  previous 

*Ountributed  by  Robert  II.  Folj^er. 


SEriLEMKNT-  AN    INCIDENT  —  OTH  Elv  E.VRi.Y 

VILL.VGE  (»K   K'ENDAI I'lONEER  fNDf.S- 

TIONAL— THE  CIIaRITV  S>"H0()L. 

to  the  above  order,  and  as  the  success  of  Amer- 
ican arms  in  that  liattle  had  saved  the  frontier 
settlements  from  being  overrun  I13'  the  British 
and  Indians,  the  naming  of  the  first  township 
that  was  organized  in  the  county,  after  the  bat- 
tle, was  a  fit  recognition  of  the  benefits  which 
accrued  to  the  pioneer  settlers  of  the  exposed 
region.  Comparatively  few  settlements  had 
been  made  on  what  was  known  as  the  "  New 
Purchase, "  which  was  the  territor3'  l3ing  west 
of  the  Tuscarawas  Branch  of  the  Muskingum, 
in  what  is  now  known  as  the  townships  of  Sugar 
Creek,  Jackson  and  Lawrence.  West  of  the 
Tuscarawas  River  in  Stark  (Jounty,  no  organ- 
ization had  been  made  prior  to  1810,  nor  in 
Wa3'ne  prior  to  1812.  In  1810,  the  township  of 
Tuscarawas  had  been  organized  and  its  first 
census  sliowed  145  inhabitants  of  all  ages. 
South  of  the  forty-first  parallel  of  latitude. 


^y^^i>n.-^^^       {J<J  (Xyt^^X^yt^ 


PERKY    TOWNSHIP. 


373 


the  lands  were  known  as  Congress  lands  to  dis- 
tinguish them  from  the  Western  Reserve,  Now 
Connecticut  and  the  Fire  lands  as  that  portion 
lying  nortli  of  the  forty-lirst  parallel  was  called. 
Much  of  the  land  now  iiichidcd  in  the  town- 
ships of  Bethlehem,  I'erry,  Jackson,  Lawrence 
and  Franklin,  in  the  county  of  Summit,  was 
surveyeil  b^-  Ebenezer  Ruckingham  in  the  year 
ISOO,  and  a  man  of  the  name  of  Carpenter. 
The  Tuscarawas  was  then  the  boundary  line 
between  the  United  States  and  the  Indians, 
which  was  the  reason  why  the  balance  of  these 
townships  was  not  surveyed  at  the  same  time. 
Mr.  Buckingham  was  afterward  one  of  the 
Commissioners  of  the  Canal  Fund  of  Ohio,  and 
lived  many  years  at  Zanesville,  where  he  died, 
closing  a  long,  active  and  useful  life.  As 
already  noticed,  I'errj'  is  called  Township  10 
of  the  ninth  Range.  In  forming  the  ranges, 
the  I'nited  States  began  on  the  base  of  the 
Western  Reserve,  at  the  east  line  of  the  State, 
or  the  base  line  of  the  Western  Reserve,  or 
latitude  forty-one  degrees  north,  and  every  six 
miles  west  was  a  range,  numbering  from  east 
to  west.  The  townships  on  the  east  side,  or 
first  range,  counted  from  the  Ohio  River  north 
to  the  base  line  oi  the  Reserve. 

Pursuant  to  the  order  of  the  Commissioners, 
the  voters  of  Perry  Township  met  in  Kendal, 
now  the  Fourth  Ward  of  the  city  of  Massillon, 
on  the  last  Saturda}'  in  February,  1814,  and 
elected  the  township  officers,  but  who  were 
elected  to  the  particular  otlices,  cannot  be  as- 
certained, as  no  person  is  now  living  who  was 
present  at  the  election,  nor  is  there  a  record  to 
be  found  of  an  earlier  date  than  1825.  Who 
were  the  first  Trustees,  Treasurer  and  Clerk, 
Supervisors,  Fence  Viewers  and  Overseers  of 
the  Poor  and  their  succes.sors  for  the  first 
eleven  j-ears  cannot  be  stated  with  entire  cer- 
taintj- 

Among  the  residents  of  the  township  at  the 
date  of  its  organization,  were  Jacob  Bahr\ey, 
John  Waggoner.  I'hilip  Jacoby,  (Jeorge  Amick, 
Frederick  Stump,  Roliert  Barr,  Michael  Rose. 
Stephen  Shorb,  William  Armstrong,  William 
McCaughe3',  James  McCaughey,  Paul  Beard, 
Ceorge  Miller.  Jonathan  Neely,  Abraham  Uol- 
laday  and  Daniel  Hitter,  all  of  whom  with  others 
were  residents  of  the  south  end  of  the  town- 
ship. In  Kendal  and  in  the  immediate  neigh- 
borhood were  William  Henry,  already  men- 
tioned. Thomas  Rotch.  Charles  Collin,  Zaccheus 


Stanton,  Moses  Gleason,  John  Hendley,  Abel 
Strong,  Benjamin  Franklin  Coleman,  Rowlaml 
Coleman,  Alexander  Skinner,  Charles  K.  Skin- 
ner, Joseph  Morton  and  Thomas  Rotch,  who 
resided  at  Spring  Hill,  the  present  residence  of 
Hon,  A.  C.  Wales  ;  John  Hall,  Arvine  Wales, 
Ephraiin  Chidester,  Royd  J.  Mercer,  Edward 
Nelson,  John  Bowman,  Aaron  (Ihapman,  Am- 
brose Chapman,  Austin  Allen,  Richard  Whaley, 
John  Shobe,  a  German,  who  Ijuilt  a  powder-mill 
on  the  south  side  of  Sippo  Creek,  about 
twenty  rods  east  of  the  llouring-mill  of  iMessrs. 
Warwick  &  Justus  in  the  First  Ward  of  the 
cit^-  of  Massillon.  The  powder-mill,  as  lemem- 
bered  by  the  writer,  was  a  log  building,  in  one 
end  of  which  old  John  slept  with  kegs  of  pow- 
der piled  up  around  his  bed,  and  around  his 
fire,  wooden  trays  of  the  explosive  material 
were  arranged  for  drying.  He  never  feared  a 
blow-up  except  from  lightning  ;  on  the  appear- 
ance of  a  thunder  storm,  he  was  sure  to  vacate 
his  mill  and  dwelling  until  the  storm  was  over 
and  danger  Ironi  lightning  had  disappeared. 
Among  the  prominent  of  the  early  settlers  in 
1812,  and  who.se  infiuence  tended  to  lay  brond 
and  deep  the  foundations  of  social  oriler  in 
Perry  Township,  were  Thomas  Rotch  and  his 
wife,  Charitj'  Rotch,  members  of  the  Society  of 
Friends,  natives  of  New  Bedford,  Mass.,  who 
mo\e<l  from  there  to  Hartford,  Conn.,  and  from 
Hartford  to  Stark  County.  With  him  came 
Arvine  Wales  and  the  late  Charles  K.  Skinner, 
who  with  Mr.  Wales  became  permanently  iden- 
tified with  the  growth  of  the  township,  and,  as 
will  be  seen  hereafter,  with  the  now  city  of 
Massillon.  Thomas  and  Charity  Rotch  were 
prominent  members  of  the  Society  of  Friends, 
both  being  recommended  ministers  according 
to  the  discipline  of  the  society.  The  village  of 
Kendal  was  laid  out  l)y  Thomas  Rotch,  in  1811, 
who  named  it  after  a  prominent  manufacturing 
town  in  the  West  of  England.  On  laying  out 
the  village,  Mr.  Rotch  sought  at  once  to  utilize 
the  water-power  of  Sippo  Creek,  the  principal 
outlet  of  Sippo  Lake,  in  the  northeastern  part 
of  the  township,  by  l)uilding  a  woolen  factory 
and  saw-mill,  both  of  which  have  long  since 
gone  to  decay.  Mr.  Rotch's  policj'  was  not 
such  as  tended  to  advance  the  growth  of  his 
village,  nor  was  the  condition  ol'  the  new  coun- 
try favorable.  The  immigration  was  entirely 
agricultural.  A  land  otliee  was  established  at 
Canton,  of  which   Col.  Gibson  and  Col.  John 


HLSTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


Sloane  were  Register  and  Receiver  respectively, 
and  as  fast  as  land  came  into  market,  it  was 
entered. 

On  the  18th  of  June,  1812,  war  was  declared 
against  Great  Britain  by  the  United  States, 
which  exposed  the  frontier  settlements  to 
incursions  of  the  British  and  Indians,  especially 
after  Hull's  surrender,  when  many  of  the  set- 
tlers of  the  new  country  went  back  to  their 
former  homes.  The  paralysis  of  all  sorts  of 
business  which  followed  the  declaration  of  war 
can  hardly  be  realized  at  this  late  period,  and 
which  continued  many  years,  and  retarded 
improvements  of  all  kinds.  At  the  close  of 
the  war,  in  1814,  the  General  Assembly  sought 
to  relieve  the  embarrassment  in  which  all  sorts 
of  business  was  plunged  by  chartering  banks, 
which  went  into  operation  without  capital,  but 
soon  suspended  operations,  and  nowhere  was 
the  embarrassment  of  the  country  greater  than 
in  the  Tuscarawas  Valley.  There  was  no  sur- 
plus of  provisions  of  any  kind  for  many  years, 
and  when  the  surplus  came  wheat  sold  for 
25  cents  per  Inishel,  when  it  would  sell  at  all,  as 
late  as  182ti,  and  all  cereals  proportionallj*  low, 
potatoes  at  twelve  and  a  half  cents,  while  salt 
commanded  at  one  time  $3  per  bushel  of  fift}'- 
six  pounds. 

On  the  14th  of  the  ninth  month,  in  1823, 
Thomas  Rotch  died  at  Mount  Pleasant,  in  Jef- 
ferson County,  while  attending  the  Yearly 
Meeting  of  the  Society  of  Friends  (Quakers), 
and  was  buried  there  ;  he  was  born  at  New 
Bedford,  Mass.,  on  the  13th  of  the  seventh 
month,  1767,  consequently  was  but  little  more 
than  fiftj--sis  years  of  age  ;  he  is  well  remem- 
bered by  the  writer  as  a  man  of  fine  presence 
and  great  shrewdness  in  all  business  matters, 
and,  as  all  Quakers  did  and  do,  bore  faithful 
testimony  against  human  slaver}'.  He  was 
frequently  called  on  to  protect  the  fugitive 
slave  on  his  flight  to  Canada,  and  never  was 
known  to  let  the  call  pass  unheeded.  A  single 
instance  will  illustrate  his  devotion  to  his  prin- 
ciples on  that  subject,  as  well  as  his  courage. 
In  the  spring  of  the  year  1820,  a  woman  with 
two  children  called  at  his  residence  and  satis- 
fied him  that  they  were  fugitive  slaves  ;  he  at 
once  provided  them  with  a  place  of  safety  in 
the  second  story  of  a  spring  house  almost 
adjoining  his  residence.  In  the  morning  of  the 
following  day,  immediately  after  breakfast,  a 
couple  of  strangers  on   horseback  rode  up  to 


the  door  and  inquired  if  Mr.  Rotch  lived  there, 
and,  on  being  answered  in  the  affirmative,  com- 
menced to  make  their  business  known,  which 
was  that  of  slave- hunters,  one  being  known  as 
a  man  who  was  in  the  habit  of  aiding  slaves  to 
escape,  advising  them  what  route  to  take,  then 
following  them  for  the  reward  ottered  by  their 
masters  ;  the  name  of  De  Camp,  the  slave- 
catcher,  had  become  as  familiar  as  household 
words.  Thomas  heard  him  very  patiently 
describe  the  woman  and  children,  and  say  that 
he  had  traced  them  to  his  (Thomas')  residence, 
and  produced  a  warrant  for  their  seizure  issued 
under  the  act  of  Congress  of  1793,  and  sup- 
posed his  work  was  done — that,  the  Quakers 
being  a  law-abiding  people,  the  mother  and 
children  would  be  at  once  delivered. 

After  he  had  exhausted  his  vocabulary, 
Thomas  said,  '■  Dost  thou  think  thou  can  take 
the  woman  and  her  children  here  if  thou  canst 
find  them  ?"' 

"  Cert.iinly,"  replied  the  slave-catcher. 

"  Well, "  said  Thomas,  '■  thou  maj-  be  mis- 
taken. Thou  hast  not  found  them  yet,  and 
shouldst  thou  find  them,  thou  might  have 
trouble  to  take  them." 

The  strangers  had  not  been  invited  into  the 
house,  and  while  the  dialogue  was  going  on  be- 
tween Thomas  and  him  having  the  warrant,  the 
farm  hands,  of  whom  Thomas  kept  three  or 
four,  gathered  around,  and  seeing  such  a  crowd, 
the  strangers  began  to  look  at  each  other  and 
evinced  alarm,  which  Thomas  was  not  slow 
to  notice,  and,  breaking  a  momentary  silence, 
said  to  the  person  having  the  warrant. 

"  Dost  thou  know  a  man  who  follows  the 
business  of  slave-catching  by  the  name  of  De 
Camp '?  " 

"  I  do,"  answered  De  Camp,  for  it  was  he,  and 
was  betraying  fear  of  bodily  harm,  and  inquired, 
"  Have  you  any  business  with  me  ?  M3'  name 
is  De  Camp."  By  this  time,  the  men  of  Thomas' 
household,  himself  included,  had  formed  a  sort 
of  circle  around  the  slave-catchers.  Thomas 
replied  with  the  utmost  coolness, 

"  I  expect  very  soon  to  have  some  very  im- 
portant business  with  thee,  and  it  will  be  well 
for  thee  to  be  prepared  for  it.  " 

De  Camp  and  his  confrere  concluded  it  would 
be  best  to  beat  a  retreat,  which  they  did  with 
out  delay.  On  reaching  their  horses,  they  sprang 
into  their  saddles  and  left  the  Spring  Hill  farm 
and  its  Quaker  occupants,  and  never  again  called 


PERRY    TOWNSHIP. 


;!75 


there  for  human  chattels.  The  home  of  Thomas 
and  Charity  Rotcli,  like  that  of  the  "village 
preaclier's  modest  mansion  "'  at  "  sweet  Au- 
l)urn.' 

■  Was  known  to  all  tlie  vajrnuit  train. 
Hi-  chid  their  wandcrinirs  and  rclicvid  their  pain  ; 
Tlie  IcjiiL'  reincnihered  lieiiLiMr  \\;i-  lii~  LMie^t. 
Who.-;e  iieanl  deMcndin-  vu,  |,t  hi^  ;,-,d  ],n:i-[  : 
Tlie  naked  spendthrift,  now  ih.  lonpr  ]ir(nul. 
Claimed  kindred  there  iind  li:id  hi.s  elaims  allowed." 

There  are  few  now  who  remember  Thomas 
and  Charity  Rotc-h.  Those  who,  in  ■'  mem- 
orj-'s  waste, "  can  bring  up  the  reminiscences  of 
the  long-inurned,  long-forgotten,  long-gone 
past,  will  cherish  their  memory  in  great  kind- 
ness, Thomas  Rotch  died  in  the  prime  of  life. 
Could  he  have  lived  another  decade  and  par- 
ticipated in  the  great  changes  in  the  Tusca- 
rawas Valle}',  with  his  wealth  and  enterprise, 
the  history  of  Perr}-  Township  would  have 
borne  on  its  pages  a  record  of  improvements 
beyond  what  is  shown  even  now  by  the  enterpris- 
ing pioneers  who  succeeded  him,  and  who  gave 
lavishly  of  time  and  money  in  the  development 
of  the  resources  of  our  favored  township. 

It  is  not,  however,  to  the  enterprising  cap- 
italist alone  that  credit  should  bo  given  for  the 
wonderful  development  that  Perry  Township 
exhibited  in  the  decennial  period  from  1820  to 
181-50.  It  is  to  the  men  who  hewed  down  the 
forest  and  ran  the  plowshare  beam  deep  through 
the,  until  then,  unbroken  sward.  They  came 
with  strong  arms  and  willing  hearts,  to  find  a 
new  home  and  to  found  a  new  empire.  The 
harvest  yielded  to  their  sickle,  and  their  pos- 
terity and  successors  arc  their  heritors.  With 
them  came  also  another  class  of  men,  also  pi- 
oneers, wlio  contributed  their  share  toward 
developing  "  the  new  country.'  Thcj-  were  just 
in  advance  of  the  pernlanent  settlers,  and 
stayed  until  the  charms  of  forest  life  overcame 
the  desire  to  remain  where  progress  toward 
political  and  social  organization  got  in  the  ad- 
vance. Of  that  class  was  Massuin  Metcalf,  who 
came  in  1810  and  remained,  a  few  years,  when 
he  left,  saying,  "  The  country  is  too  thickly  set- 
tleil  ;  I  must  go  where  I  cannot  see  the  smoke 
of  my  neighbor's  chimney,  nor  hear  his  dog 
bark, "  and  he  went  to  parts  unknown. 

Among  the  hardy  pioneer  settlers,  and  who 
were  among  the  earliest  to  build  their  cabins, 
and  whose  doors  were  always  open  to  the 
stranger,  were  the  Castleman  brothers  ;  their 
niimes  were  John,  Ilenrv,  Richard  and  David, 


with  their  brother-in-law.  Jacob  Ross.  Con- 
nected with  them  by  marriage  was  a  familj-  by 
the  name  of  Meek.  Fond  of  the  chase,  not  a 
deer  or  bear  escaped  their  rifles  when  they 
started  for  game.  The  last  wolf  that  was  killed 
in  the  neighborhood  north  of  .Massillon  was 
brought  down  by  the  interring  rifle  of  one  of 
the  Castleman  brothers.  Ross  claimed  that  In; 
was  the  first  white  child  born  west  of  the  Ohio 
River.  He  that  as  it  may,  a  better  type  of 
manhood  than  Jake  Ross  was  rarely  found 
among  the  hardy  pioneers  of  that  day.  Ex- 
cepting John  Castleman.  all  the  families  left 
Stark  County  soon  after  the  organization  of 
Perry  Township.  John  was  a  citizen  of  Ken- 
dal and  Massillon  until  his  death,  which  was 
occasioned  by  a  tree  falling  upon  hiin,  from 
which  he  lingered,  a  helpless  cripple,  for  many 
3ears,  Ilis  wife,  Margaret  Meek,  survived  him 
until  a  few  years  since,  and  lived  to  a  good  old 
age.  a  fine  type  of  the  women  who  sought  homos 
with  their  families  in  the  trackless  forests  of 
the  Western  country.  At  her  death,  she  left 
four  children — Mrs,  Lyon,  of  Cleveland,  and 
George  and  William  Castleman  and  Mrs.  Roof 
(since  deceased),  of  ^lassilon. 

In  1813  and  1814.  before  and  after  the  organi- 
zation of  the  township,  immigration  increased 
beyond  any  former  period,  and  continued  to  in- 
crease, especially  when  the  attention  of  the  Leg- 
islature was  turned  to  internal  improvcinonts. 
Land,  however,  did  not  rise  in  value  until  183(1, 
and  within  the  personal  knowledge  of  the  writer, 
1,000  acres  of  '  the  ]jlaius  "  in  the  south  end  of 
Perry  Township  sold  for  S4.2.")  per  acre  ;  the 
sale  was  made  in  1824  by  Capt.  Mayhcw  Fol- 
ger  to  Mr.  William  R.  Dickinson,  of  Steuben- 
ville,  and  paid  for  in  cloth  manufacturi^d  at  the 
'•  Steubenville  Factory, '  of  which  Messrs.  Bel- 
zaleel  Wells,  one  of  the  framers  of  the  Con- 
stitution of  Ohio,  of  1802,  and  Mr,  Dickinson 
were  proprietors. 

In  the  same  year  first  above  mentioned, 
among  the  "new  comers,''  were  Capt,  Mayhew 
Folgor  and  his  wife  Slary,  and  their  family,  his 
brother-in-law,  Thomas  Cottin,  whose  wife,  Anna 
CoHin,  was  a  sister  of  Capt,  Folger,  and  who 
took  up  by  original  entry  and  obtained  by  pur- 
chase the  lands  sold  to  Mr.  Dickinson,  above 
referred  to.  The  newness  of  the  country,  and 
its  social  condition  being  so  different  from  any- 
thing that  Thomas  Coffin  and  his  wife,  who, 
with  Capt.  Folger  and  his  wife,  were  natives  of 


376 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY, 


the  Island  of  Nantucket,  Mass.,  had  ever  seen, 
discouraged  Thomas  and  he  sold  his  interest  in 
the  Western  lands  to  Capt.  Folger,  who  re- 
mained at  Kendal  until  February,  1828,  when 
he  removed  to  Massillon.  During  the  year 
1813.  also  came  Bradford  Kellogg  and  rented 
the  building  on  Lot  No.  2  in  Kendal,  then 
owned  by  Arvine  Wales.  He  and  his  two  sons 
opened  a  brick  yard  immediately  south  of,  near 
the  extreme  east  end  of,  now  North  street,  and 
which  was  afterward  known  as  the  Free  Bridge 
Road,  until  Massillon  and  Kendal  were  united, 
and  North  street  was  extended  to  its  present 
eastern  terminus.  At  that  brick  yard  were 
made  the  first  l^ricks  manufactured  west  of 
Canton.  Kellogg  and  his  sons  came  from  Hud- 
son, in  I'ortagc  County,  and  brought  the  first 
oxen  driven  under  the  yoke  in  the  township, 
and  which  were  nsed  for  tramping  the  cla3'  out 
of  which  the  bricks  were  made  for  Alexander 
Skinner,  Esq.,  who  erected  the  first  brick 
house  in  the  township,  and  which  was  the  first 
west  of  Cantim.  The  walls  of  the  house  were 
laid  by  Calvin  Hobart  and  Peter  Humphrey  ; 
the  building  now  stands  on  Front  street  in 
Ken<lal.  where  for  sixty-five  years  it  has  stood 
a  proud  monument  of  the  skill  and  integrity  of 
the  builders,  and  is  a  better  piece  ol  work,  even 
now,  than  much  of  the  brick-work  built  a  half 
a  centurj'  since.  Messrs.  Hobart  and  Hum- 
phrey removed  to  Wooster  in  1817,  where  the)- 
remained  until  1827.  when  Hobart  returned  to 
Massillon  and  built  one  of  the  first  brick  houses 
that  was  built  there,  and  was  finally  drowned 
in  the  canal  on  the  night  of  July  4,  1833.  The 
brick  house  on  F>ont  street  is  now  owned  and 
occupied  by  citizen  Anton  Vogt,  and  bids  fair 
to  stand  the  storms  of  many  years.  Mr.  Skin- 
ner removed  to  Loudonville,  then  Richland 
County,  and  died  there.  At  the  close  of  1813 
and  commencement  of  1814,  and  during  the 
latter  year,  the  population  of  the  township  in- 
creased largelj'.  and  the  increase  was  of  valua- 
ble citizens,  among  whom  were  Jonathan  Win- 
ter, his  wife  Nancy,  son  Abner  and  family,  and 
daughters  Sarah  and  Catharine.  Uncle  Jona- 
than, as  he  was  familiarly  called,  was  a  Quaker, 
had  been  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  the  Revolu 
tion,  and  was  fond  of  "  shouldering  his  cane 
and  showing  how  fields  were  won."  He  drew  a 
pension,  but  escaped  a  wound  on  the  battle- 
field. Prominent  among  tiie  arrivals  that  year 
were  Dr.  William  Gardner,  from  Albany,  State 


of  New  York,  the  first  physician  in  the  town- 
ship ;  from  here  he  removed  to  Norwalk,  Huron 
County,  remained  there  a  few  years  and  then 
returned  to  Stark  County  and  located  in  Can- 
ton, where  he  died  in  1833.  Dr.  Gardner  was 
prominent  as  a  physician,  and  earnest  in  his 
convictions,  rarely  yielding  when  once  having 
formed  an  opinion  ;  also,  about  the  time  of  Dr. 
Gardner's  arrival,  came  John  C.  McCoy,  from 
the  city  of  Baltimore,  a  journeyman  tailor, 
afterward  well  known  in  the  Pittsburgh  Method- 
ist Conference  as  Rev.  J.  V.  McCoy,  a  useful 
and  popular  preacher  ;  from  here  lie  removed 
to  Loudonville,  Ashland  Co.,  Ohio,  thence  to 
Washington  County,  thence  to  Athens  County, 
where  he  died  a  few  years  ago,  honored  and  re- 
spected as  a  Christian  gentleman.  In  the  early 
part  of  1814,  came  Thomas  A.  Drayton,  after- 
ward a  resident  of  Canton,  and  Hosea  W.  Tin- 
ker, all  useful  mechanics,  who  are  pleasantly 
remembered  by  the  few  who  yet  remain  to  fur- 
nish items  for  these  sketches.  About  the  time 
of  the  organization  of  the  township,  a  family 
known  as  the  Andrews  family  came  into  the 
township,  consisting  of  the  father,  Richard,  Eve, 
the  mother,  and  five  sons,  Daniel,  Adam, 
Charles,  David  and  Richard  ;  the  old  man  en- 
tered the  fractional  section  upon  which  now 
stands  the  manufacturing  establishment  of  Rus- 
sell &  Co.,  the  station  house  of  the  Pitts- 
burgh, Fort  Wayne  &  Chicago  Railway,  and 
the  other  l)uildings  of  that  corporation,  the  re- 
spective residences  of  Mrs.  Julia  Jarvis,  Her- 
man Schreiber  and  all  others  on  South  Erie 
street  below  the  railway,  all  of  which  went  for 
intoxicating  liquors,  which  were  drank  in  the 
family. 

Richard  Andrews  had  a  son-in-law,  John 
Wolf,  who,  with  two  sons,  Richard  and  Samuel, 
are  sleeping  their  last  sleep  in  drunkards'  graves. 
Among  the  chattels  brought  from  Maryland  bj' 
the  Andrews  family  was  a  stalwart  negro, 
known  as  Black  Jack,  John  Tibbs  being  his  real 
name.  On  the  family  leaving  Hagerstown  thej' 
were  about  to  sell  Jack,  and  were  offered  $550 
for  him,  but  upon  his  promising  to  stay  by  and 
support  the  old  folks  as  long  as  they  lived,  they 
brought  him  to  Ohio.  Jack  soon  learned,  how- 
ever, that  the  old  Constitution  contained  a 
clause  in  the  Bill  of  Rights  prohibiting  slav- 
ery, and  he  told  his  old  master  and  mistres.s 
that  he  would  fulfill  his  part  of  the  bargain, 
but  he  would  not  work  to  support  the  drunk- 


PERKY    TOWNSHIP. 


377 


en  sons,  and  left  them  and  lived  afterward  in 
Jackson  T<)\vnshi|>.  where  he  married,  earned  a 
fann,  suhl  it,  moved  into  jjawrcnce,  where  he 
pureliased  another  farm,  ami  remained  until  the 
passage  of  the  Fugitive  Slave  law,  when  he 
went  to  Canada  and  ended  his  days,  fearing 
that  some  remote  heir  of  tlie  Andrews  family 
might  come  from  Maryland  ami  claini  him. 

t'p  to  the  elose  of  1814,  few  seltlciiients  had 
l)een  made  in  the  township  west  of  the  Tusca- 
rawas River.  On  the  fractional  section  west 
and  opposite  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Jarvis.  now 
owned  bv  the  heirs  of  the  late  Peter  Runser, 
was  located  a  sturdy  Irish  pioneer,  William 
Whitcraft  ;  he.  however,  sold  out  and  removed 
to  Lawrence  Township.  He  was  an  energetic 
citizen  and  at  his  death  left  a  worthy  family. 
He  sold  to  Ilczekiah  Bull,  of  Hartford,  t'onu.. 
who  settled  on  the  land  and  remained  until 
1820,  when  he  died. 

Mr.  Bull  was  a  Democrat  of  the  New  Hnglnnd 
Jeffersonian  type,  thoroughly  imbued  witli  an 
intense  dislike  to  the  Federal  p:irty.  the  Hart- 
ford Convention  and  New  Knglanil  politics  in 
their  length  and  breadth.  He  was  exceeding!}' 
earnest  in  advocating  and  defending  the  war  of 
1812.  and  the  administration  of  President 
Madison.  He  was  a  kind  neighbor  and  genial 
gentleman  in  his  social  intercourse.  In  point 
of  culture,  he  and  his  family  were  among  the 
first  in  the  then  new  and  really  wild  region. 
A'ery  soon  after  his  arri\al  here,  two  of  his 
daughters  were  married,  Hetty,  to  Alexander 
Skinner,  Es<i.,  brother  of  the  late  Hon.  C.  K. 
Skinner,  and  Hoyland  to  Thomas  Taylor,  Esq.. 
a  son  of  whom.  .\.  A.  Taylor,  Esq..  is  the  own- 
er of  the  extensive  flouring-mill  on  Erie  street, 
in  Massillon.  .Mrs.  Bull  died  a  short  time  after 
lur  husband,  and  the  family,  sons  and  daugh- 
ters, removed  to  Loudonville,  where  all  except- 
ing Mrs.  Taylor  and  Mrs.  Sheldon  died.  Hon. 
John  W.  Bull,  a  grandson,  a  member  of  the 
present  Legislature,  from  Ashland  County,  re- 
sides in  Loudonville,  and  is  alwaj-s  ready  to 
extend  a  generous  hospitalit}'  to  his  many 
friends.  Durmg  the  years  1812-14,  the 
supply  of  provisions  was  not  efpial  to  the  de- 
mand, and  (,'harles  K.  Skinner.  Edward  Nelson 
and  Charles  Collin,  who  was  a  Nantucket  ship 
carpenter,  built  a  boat  and  went  to  Coshocton, 
where  corn  was  plentj-,  the  Muskingum  bottoms 
alwaj-s  yielding  an  abundance,  and  brought 
several  loads,  which  sold  readily    for   $2    per 


bushel.  Excepting  Charles  CotHn.  none  of  them 
knew  much  in  regard  to  the  management  of  a 
boat,  and  on  one  occasion  coming  up,  the}' 
struck  on  the  Cedar  Ripple,  a  few  miles  below 
where  Massillon  now  is.  and  came  near  losing 
boat  and  cargo. 

The  first  religious  society  organized  west  of 
Canton  in  Stark  (,'ounty  was  the  •  Kendal  Pre- 
parative .Meeting  of  the  Society  of  Friends, ' 
their  .Monthly  Meeting  being  at  .Marlborough. 
Quarterly  Meeting  at  Salem,  and  the  Yearly 
Meeting  being  held  at  Mount  Pleasant,  Jefter- 
son  County.  It  is  supposed  that  all  these  or- 
ganizations existed  as  early  as  181:!.  The  prin- 
cipal meml)ers  of  Kendal  Preparative  .Meeting 
were  Isaac  Bowman,  Richant  Williams,  Zac- 
cheus  Stanton,  Charles  Cotlhi.  Thomas  liotcli. 
Mayhew  Folger.  Joseph  Hobson,  Jonathan 
Michener.  .Mathew  Macy.  a  brother-in-law  of 
Charles  Coffin,  Thomas  Coffin,  Mieajah  Macy 
and  others,  all  of  whom,  with  a  single  excep- 
tion, were  heads  of  families.  Thomas  Coffin 
could  hardly  be  called  a  member  of  that  meet- 
ing, as  he  returneil  to  I'hiladelphia  :  his  wife,  a 
sister  of  Ma>hew  Folger  and  mother  of  the  late 
Lueretia  Mott.  surviveil  him  thirty  years.  The 
influence  of  that  little  Quaker  meeting  was 
strongly  felt  in  the  community.  So  far  as  any 
religious  sentiment  was  recognized,  they  were 
in  the  majority.  The}'  were  first  to  erect  a 
place  for  meeting  for  worship,  called  by  them 
a  ■'  meeting  house,"  which,  when  erected,  they 
opened  for  a  school,  and  it  shouUl  be  said  of 
them,  they  '■  bore,  with  liberty  and  law,  the 
Bible  in  their  train."  Next  to  them  and  about 
the  same  time,  or  shortly  after,  came  the  Metho- 
dists to  Kendal,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  following 
extract  of  a  letter  from  the  late  Rev.  Adam 
Poe,  I).  I).  It  will  also  be  seen  that  the  labors 
of  the  Methodists  were  mainly  on  the  west  side 
of  the  river  until  the  peri(xl  above  referred  to. 

Dr.  I'oe  says  :  "  At  a  session  of  the  Western 
Annual  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Cluirch,  held  at  a  chapel  in  Shelby  County. 
Ky.,  November  1.  1810,  Rev.  James  Dixon 
was  appointed  to  Tuscarawas  Circuit  in  the 
Muskingum  District  ;  Rev.  James  Quinn,  Pre- 
siding Klder.  The  Tuscarawas  Circuit  then 
embraced  all  the  country  along  the  Tu.scarawas 
River  from  New  I'ortage  to  Coshocton,  taking 
in  the  new  settlements  on  both  sides  of  the 
river.  He  formed  small  societies,  and  only  re- 
turned seventy-seven  members  in  all  that  terri- 


z-,s 


HISTORY  OF    STAUK   COUNTY. 


tory  at  the  end  of  the  year.  At  the  next  ses- 
sion of  the  Conference,  which  was  held  at 
Cincinnati,  October  1,  1811,  Rev.  William 
Mitchell  was  appointed  to  the  Circuit.  Rev. 
James  Qninn,  Presiding  Elder.  Mr.  Mitchell 
reported  one  hundred  and  forty-two  members 
at  the  close  of  his  year.  I  am  not  sure  whether 
1  >ixon  formed  a  society  in  Tuscarawas  Township, 
Imt  during  the  winter  of  1811-12.  Mitchell  or- 
ganized a  societj-  at  the  house  of  Peter  John- 
.son,  Esq.,  and  preached  to  them  regularly 
every  two  weeks,  since  which  there  has  always 
been  a  Methodist  society  in  the  township.  The 
Western  Conference  was  divided  in  1812,  and 
the  Ohio  Conference  formed,  which  held  its 
first  session  in  Chillicothe,  October  1,  1812. 
At  this  Conference,  David  Young  was  appointed 
Presiding  Elder  of  the  Muskingum  District, 
and  John  Somerville  was  appointed  to  Tuscara- 
was Circuit,  and  seems  to  have  had  consider- 
able success,  for  he  returned  four  hundred  and 
ninety-one  members.  During  this  year,  m}' 
first  personal  acquaintance  with  the  societj'  at 
Johnson's  commenced,  and  during  the  ensuing 
summer,  the  meetings  were  removed  to  the 
house  of  Joseph  Poyser.  This  was,  I  think, 
the  first  regularl}-  organized  religious  society 
in  the  township. 

"  At  the  second  session  of  the  Ohio  Confer- 
ence, which  was  held  at  Steubenville  Septeml)er 
1.  1813,  Rev.  John  Graham  was  appointed  to 
Tuscarawas  Circuit.  At  the  next  session,  held 
at  Cincinnati  September  8,  1814,  Rev.  John 
Cord  was  appointed  to  that  circuit.  At  the 
next  session,  which  was  held  at  Lebanon,  Ohio, 
September  14,  1815,  Rev.  Curtis  Goddard  was 
appointed  to  the  circuit.  The  next  session  of 
the  Conference  vifas  held  at  Louisville,  Kj.,  and 
Rev.  Archibald  Mcllroy  was  appointed  to  the 
circuit,  the  societ}'  meeting  at  Joseph  Poyser's. 
now  the  residence  of  John  Christman,  Esq.  At 
the  next  session  of  the  Conference,  held  at 
Zanesville,  Ohio,  September  3, 1817,  Rev.  James 
McMahon  was  appointed  to  the  Tuscarawas 
Circuit.  At  the  close  of  tlie  year,  he  reported 
41 1  members.  This  venerable  gentleman  is  still 
living  and  active  in  the  ministry.  His  address 
is  Chesterville,  Morrow  Co.,  Ohio.  He  could 
probably  give  j-ou  a  more  minute  historv  of  the 
society  than  I  can.  Peter  Johnson  and  Joseph 
Poyser  are  both  dead.  As  the  regular  preach- 
ing, during  this  period,  was  at  both  their  houses, 
if  living  they  no  donbt  could  be  more  particular 


in  the  history  of  the  societ}'  meetings  there. 
Rev.  John  C.  McCoy  became  a  resident  in  Ken- 
dal, I  think  in  1813  or  1814  ;  and,  there  being 
no  Methodist  society  there,  he  joined  in  Tus- 
carawas Township.  His  address  is  Marietta, 
Ohio.  Wesley  Hatton,  still  a  resident  of  Tus- 
carawas Township,  was  also  among  the  early 
members  of  the  society.  Also  Miss  Catharine 
Thacker,  now  Mrs.  Nathan  Eldredge.  Mr. 
Thomas  Eldridge,  an  uncle  of  Nathan,  was  like- 
wise an  earl}'  and  active  member  of  the  society. 
I  think  he  is  still  living,  but  do  not  know  his 
present  address." 

The  letter  from  which  the  foregoing  extract 
was  taken  was  written  July  28,  1853.  Dr.  Poe 
was  correct  as  to  the  death  of  Peter  Johnson. 
He  was  well  known  to  the  writer,  as  was  Poyser, 
who  lived,  until  within  a  few  j'ears  pa.st,  and 
died  in  Canton.  All  the  other  persons  named 
by  Dr.  Poe,  except  Mrs.  Eldredge,  have  been 
dead  many  years.  She  now  lives  with  her 
nephew,  William  Motfit,  Esq.,  about  three  miles 
southwest  from  Massillon,  on  the  Millersburg 
road. 

The  Ohio  Conference  included  within  its 
boundaries  the  entire  State  of  Ohio,  and  much 
more.  The  Muskingum  District  remained  in 
that  Conference  until  1824,  when  the  General 
Conference  erected  the  old  Pittsburgh  Confer- 
ence, so  affectionately  remembered  b}'  all  the 
old  Methodists  in  the  valley  of  the  Tuscarawas, 
which  remained  as  erected  by  the  Conference 
of  1824  until  the  year  1848,  when  it  was  so 
changed  as  to  put  Perry  Township  into  the 
North  Ohio  Conference,  where  it  remained 
until  1856,  when  the  Pittsburgh  Conference  was 
restored  to  its  original  boundaries.  The  Gen- 
eral Conference  of  187G  changed  the  map  of  the 
Conference  so  as  to  bound  it  on  the  east  by  the 
State  Line,  between  the  States  of  Ohio  and  Penn- 
sylvania, and  Ohio  and  Virginia.  The  first  Meth- 
odist preaching  in  Perry  Township,  east  of  the 
Tuscarawas  River,  was  by  Josiah  Foster,  preach- 
er on  the  circuit,  and  as  Presiding  Elder  of  the 
Muskingum  District  he  preached  at  the  house  of 
Rev.  J.  C.  McCoy,  in  Kendal,  once  in  five  or 
six  weeks,  and  as  early  as  181G.  During  the 
succeeding  six  years,  it  is  impossible  to  learn 
with  certainty  in  whose  charge  the  Muskingum 
District  and  Tuscarawas  Circuit  were.  In  1822, 
before  the  erecting  of  the  Pittsburgh  Confer- 
ence, Thomas  R.  Ruckle,  a  young  Irishman, 
was  appointed  to  the  circuit,  and  came  around 


PERRY    TOWNSHIP. 


379 


once  in  five  weelts,  preactiing  in  tlie  school- 
room in  Kendal,  sciiool  tlien  being  in  tlie  east 
wing  of  wliat  is  called  the  '•  L  "  house,  a  build- 
ing built  by  Kphraini  Chidester,  grandfather  of 
Dr.  Ephraim  Chidester,  of  Massillon.  The 
school  was  then  taught  by  the  late  Dr.  B. 
Michener,  whose  recent  death  in  Iowa  at  the 
age  of  eighty  was  generally  noticed  in  the 
public  journals.  The  Doctor  being  then  a 
Quaker,  in  unity  with  the  society,  and  disposed 
to  controversy,  and  lle\'.  Mr.  Ruckle  being 
■  set  in  defense  of  the  Gospel,"  soon  got  up  a 
debate  on  paper,  which  was  kept  up  for  a  long 
time,  and  finally  tiled  out  bj-  consent  of  the 
disputants  themselves.  The  Methodists  had 
no  place  for  meeting  at  this  period  ;  their  leader 
in  everything  pertaining  to  the  church.  John 
C.  JMcCoy,  had  married  a  young  lady  bj-  the 
name  of  Coml}-  and  removed  to  Loudonville, 
and  Methodism  in  Ferry  Township  made  little 
progress,  increasing,  however,  a  little  from  year 
to  year,  and  always  holding  its  gains  until  it 
acquired  strength  enough  to  unite  with  the 
Freemasons  in  1840,  to  have  a  place  known  as 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Massillon, 
and  which  is  fully  noticed  in  the  sketch  of  that 
city. 

Among  the  early  Presbyterians  who  settled 
in  the  township  were  John  and  Garrett  Cruson. 
two  brothers,  and  their  families,  their  sister, 
Mrs.  Anna  Burhans.  Ephraim  Chidester.  Daniel 
Myers  and  his  familv,  Austin  Allen,  Boyd  J. 
Meicer,  and  two  or  three  other  families  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  township,  but  no  organiza- 
tion in  the  way  of  a  church  was  had  until  after 
the  now  city  of  Massillon  was  laid  out.  and 
which  will  be  noticed  in  its  proper  place. 

The  tirst  thing  almost  that  was  done  by 
Thomas  Botch  on  laying  out  and  recording  the 
plat  of  the  village  of  Kendal,  was  to  get  a  post 
otlice  established  on  the  great  east-and-west 
route  through  the  State,  previous  to  which  Can- 
ton was  the  post  ofHce  for  all  the  region  round- 
about. Thomas  was  appointed  Postmaster,  and 
John  C.  McCoy  his  deputy,  as  the  Postmaster 
lived  a  mile  out  of  town.  McCoy  withdrew 
from  the  ortice.  and  Matthew  Macy  was  ap- 
pointed Deputy,  or,  as  that  officer  was  called. 
Assistant  Postmaster,  and  held  the  place  until 
the  death  of  Thomas  Rotch.  when  he  was  ap- 
pointed Postmaster,  and  held  the  office  until  it 
was  discontinued  in  1829.  Matthew  Macy  was  a 
man  of  rare  integrity  and  rare  business  qualifica- 


tions. A  native  of  the  island  of  Nantucket,  Mass.. 
he,  as  was  common,  indeed  it  was  the  rule,  went  to 
sea  on  board  a  whale  ship  bound  to  the  Pacific 
Ocean,  but  getting  crippled  by  a  fall  he  left  the 
ship  he  went  out  in  and  returned  in  a  home- 
ward bound  vessel,  arriving  at  Nantucket  soon 
after  the  commencement  of  the  war  of  1812. 
The  ship  he  went  out  in  was  captured  by  a 
British  cruiser,  so  that  he  lost  his  share  of  the 
cargo.  Finding  no  emplo3ment  at  home  in 
consequence  of  his  crippled  condition  (from 
which  he  never  recovered),  he  came  to  Ohio  and 
was  a  clerk  in  Thomas  Botch's  store,  taught 
school,  was  with  Arvine  Wales,  an  ailministrator 
who  settled  Botch's  estate  after  his  death,  and 
held  various  offices  of  trust.  His  wife  was  a 
daughter  of  James  Austin,  a  Vermont  Quaker, 
who  removed  from  Montpelier  in  1817  to 
Kendal. 

The  first  blacksmith  in  the  township  was 
Jesse  Otis.  His  shop  was  in  Kendal,  and  he 
was  ready  for  business  as  soon  as  a  shop  could 
be  built.  The  first  tanner  in  the  township  was 
Thomas  Williams,  whose  tanyard  antl  currying- 
shop  were  in  Kendal,  on  the  north  side  of  State 
street,  which  was  the  great  thoroughfare  from 
east  to  west.  Originally,  the  road  from  Canton 
west  diverged  in  a  nortwesterly  direction  on  the 
top  of  the  hill  near  the  Russell  farm,  running 
through  the  farm  now  owned  by  the  heirs  of 
the  late  John  Yingling.  then  occupied  liy  Zac- 
cheus  Stanton,  and  intersecting  the  cast  end  of 
State  street,  in  Kendal,  which  street  it  followed 
to  the  west  end,  where  it  diverged  to  the  south- 
west until  it  struck  a  point  now  known  as  the 
cast  end  of  Cherry  street,  in  Massillon,  thence 
west  to  the  Tuscarawas  River,  where  a  toll 
bridge  was  built  and  furnished  the  only  cross- 
ing-place on  the  river  in  the  township,  except- 
ing at  the '■  high  banks  "  at  the  northern  ter- 
minus of  Clay  street,  in  the  city  of  Massillon, 
and  at  Barr's  Fording,  three  miles  south,  near 
where  are  now  the  Wormington  Coal  Mines.  The 
stock  in  the  toll  bridge  was  mainly  owned  by 
Judge  William  Henry,  who  had  purchased  the 
fractional  section  of  land  on  the  west  side  of 
the  river,  and  erected  the  brick  house,  yet 
standing  there,  in  which  he  ••  kept  store  "  and 
lived  with  his  family.  As  immigration  into 
Stark  and  Wayne  Counties  was  in  excess  of 
any  period  before  or  since,  the  location  for  busi- 
ness was  the  best  west  of  Canton  or  perhaps 
in  the  countv.     The  toll  bridge  became  a  most 


-\^ 


380 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


odious  mon()pol3',  and  the  people  everywhere 
determined  that  it  should  not  exist.  Their  ef- 
fort was  to  get  a  road  laid  out  from  the  diver- 
gence east  of  the  citj'  on  a  straight  line  west,  or 
as  nearl}-  so  as  practicable,  to  the  fording  place, 
the  now  northern  terminus  of  Clay  street, 
thence,  after  crossing  the  river  at  that  fording 
place,  as  nearly  west  as  possible,  until  it  should 
intersect  the  old  Wooster  road.  This  plan,  of 
course,  would  onlj'  answer  wlien  the  river  could 
be  forded.  It  was  at  once  determined  to  build 
a  free  bridge,  which  was  done,  and  trade  was 
then  diverted  over  the  new  route,  and  the  old 
toll  bridge  went  to  dec-aj',  and  is  remembered 
by  but  few  of  the  present  residents  of  the  Tus- 
carawas Valley.  After  the  free  bridge  was 
erected,  it  was  sought  to  be  destroyed  by  cut- 
ting away  its  principal  supports  at  the  eastern 
end.  Tradition  says  that  David  Andrews,  al- 
ready referred  to  in  these  pages,  did  the  job, 
for  which  he  received  a  fiddle,  a  silver  watch 
and  a  quart  of  whisky.  The  bridge  was  re- 
paired and  served  the  people  for  many  3^ears, 
until  an  additional  straightening  of  the  road 
from  Canton  to  Wooster  made  Main  street,  in 
Massillon,  the  great  thoroughfare,  when  the 
principal  crossing  of  the  river  was  located 
where  it  now  is. 

The  first  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  Perry  Town- 
ship was  a  blacksmith  by  the  name  of  Francis 
Smith,  the  grandfather  of  citizen  George  W. 
Hathaway,  of  Massillon.  Justice  Smith  moved 
to  Brookfield,  in  Tuscarawas  Township,  where  he 
died.  He  was  succeeded  by  Capt.  Nathaniel 
Ray,  a  retired  shipmaster,  from  Nantucket,  and 
it  may  be  said  of  him  that  he  was  a  -'charac- 
ter." While  it  was  true  of  him  that  he  had  been 
a  shipmaster,  his  sailing  had  been  confined  to 
coasting  from  Portland,  Me.,  to  the  Capes  of 
Florida  and  New  Orleans.  He  had  followed 
that  mode  of  life  until  he  felt  that  he,  too,  ought 
to  join  the  vast  crowd  that  was  seeking  a  new 
home,  so  he  came  to  Kendal.  He  had  an  un- 
fortunate habit  of  mixing  whisk3-  with  his 
water  in  considerable  quantities,  and  when 
under  the  influence  of  the  mixture,  had  little 
control  over  himself  On  one  occasion,  while 
driving  his  iron-gray  mare  before  a  "  Dearborn  " 
wagon,  as  they  were  called  in  those  days,  a 
wheel  came  ofl',  and  he,  considerably  under  the 
inflnence  of  the  whisk}-  he  had  drank,  dropped 
the  lines  and  jumped  out.  As  he  struck  the 
ground  the  mare  started  for  home,  and  got  there 


with  what  was  left  of  the  carriage.  As  Ray  fol- 
lowed, he  found  the  pieces.  He  had  the  wheel 
on  his  shoulder  that  dropped  from  the  wagon 
while  he  was  driving.  Meeting  one  of  the  neigh- 
bors he  swore  he  would  kill  the  mare,  but  on 
getting  home  he  compromisetl  by  simply  cut- 
ting off  her  ears,  a  feat  Ray  never  survived  so 
as  to  remain  at  Kendal,  so  he  packed  up  and 
went  back  to  Nantucket,  got  a  little  ves.sel  and 
resumed  his  old  avocation  as  master  of  a 
coaster,  and  finally  anchored  there. 

The  first  store  that  was  opened  in  Kendal  or 
in  the  township  was  opened  liy  Thomas  Rotch  ; 
next  to  him  came  William  Henry  and  Gilber- 
tharp  Earle,  and  lastly  in  Kendal,  Isaiah  Brown, 
noticed  more  particularly  in  the  sketches  of 
Massillon.  The  embarrassment  in  all  business 
matters,  stagnation  of  trade,  and  especially  the 
ruin  of  commerce  upon  the  ocean,  upon  which 
New  England  subsisted,  occasioned  by  the  war 
of  1812,  drove  many  shipmasters  and  New 
England  people  to  the  West,  and  the  year  1814 
was  strongly  marked  by  the  increase  from  that 
quarter.  Among  those  who  came  into  Perry 
Township  that  year  were  Gilbertharp  Earle  and 
his  family,  Capt.  James  Duncan,  a  retired  ship- 
master from  the  merchant  service,  his  residence 
having  been  at  Portsmouth,  N.  H..  and  manj' 
others.  These  gentlemen  are  mentioned  particu- 
larly because  of  the  important  parts  they  sus- 
tained on  the  historic  stage,  as  did  Alexander 
Johnston,  Esq.,  who  came  into  the  township  a 
year  or  two  earlier,  and  before  the  township  was 
organized. 

Gilbertharp  Earle  was  born  June  19,  1772, 
at  Burlington,  N.  J.,  and  was  married  at  Upper 
Freehold,  Monmouth  Co.,  to  Sarah  Cook,  Octo- 
ber 10,  1799  ;   he  remained  at  Burlington  until 

1813,  when  he  removed  to  Canton  in  the  autumn 
of  that  year,  and  remained  until  the  spring  of 

1814,  when  he  removed  to  Kendal.  He  en 
tered  at  the  land  office  the  fractional  Section 
on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  known  as  No.  6, 
and  after  merchandising  at  Kendal  and  remov- 
ing to  Canton  again,  where  he  remained  but  a 
year  or  two,  returned  to  his  farm,  gave  his  atten- 
tion to  farming  and  the  dispensing  of  a  gener- 
ous hospitality  that  will  ever  be  gratefullj'  re- 
membered by  all  who  shared  it.  The  residence 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Earle  was  a  resort  for  young 
and  old,  and  all  were  made  happy  by  the  unfailing 
politeness  always  kindly  tendered.  On  arriv- 
ing at  Kendal,  the  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Earle 


^ummJ  JtC^yuA^yfJv 


PEUKV    TOWXSHll' 


:iSl 


consisted  of  Sarah  B.,  who  married  Dr.  (rard- 
ner,  by  whom  she  was  lol't  a  widow  in  1S38, 
and  moved  to  Marmar,  Wasliiiiirton  Co.,  Ohio, 
and  married  Henr}-  Fearing,  i'lsq.  ;  slie  died  on 
tlic  SOtii  day  of  July.  l.S7(i;  Jolni,  wlio  died 
January  8,1855:  Tlionias  Karle,  M.  !>..  now 
living  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
.six  ;  Hannah,  now  the  wile  of  Hon.  Harlow 
Cliapin  living  at  Harmar,  at  the  age  of  seventv- 
four :  Frances,  who  married  (Jen.  (Gardner 
Field,  a  notice  of  whose  death  will  be  found  in 
the  sketch  of  the  city  of  .^lassillon  ;  she  after- 
ward married  Edward  ("lark,  Esq.,  of  Harmar, 
and  died  on  the  2Gth  day  of  February,  1879. 
Gilbertharp  Earle.  Jr..  horn  in  February, 
1812,  and  died  at  his  residence  near  tliis  city 
in  September,  1873.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Earle  had 
three  children  born  in  Ohio,  but  one  of  wiiom 
survives,  Mrs,  Rebecca  Johnson,  widow  of  the 
late  Hon.  Matthew  Johnson,  member  of  the 
Legislature  of  Ohio  in  1837  and  1838  from  this 
county,  and  3Iarshal  for  the  Northern  District 
of  (Jhio.  during  the  administration  of  Presi- 
dent Bnclianan.  Mr.  Earle  died  January  it, 
1850,  at  the  age  of  seventy -eight,  and  Mrs. 
Earle  died  at  Harmar  in  1855,  aged  sevent}'- 
iiine ;  they  led  useful  and  acti\e  lives,  Mr. 
Earle  having  filled  important  public  trusts. 

The  organization  of  the  townsliip  as  a  polit- 
ical and  social  organization  fell  into  the  hands 
of  men  who  studied  the  public  weal  and  carried 
out  praclicall}'  views  and  plans  that  met  the 
entire  approbation  of  the  community.  '■  Schools 
and  the  means  of  instruction."  as  recommended 
in  that  grand  instrument,  the  old  Constitution 
of  Ohio,  were  encouraged,  a  refined  social  in- 
tercourse all  o\er  the  township  was  establislied, 
that  is  affectionately  remembered  by  tlie  now 
old  men  who  survive.  In  the  language  of  the 
great  British  essaj-ist : 

"  Tlicn  none  wjis  for  a  jiaity  ; 

Tlien  all  were  for  the  State- : 
'I'licn  the  frreat  ni:in  liclpi-d  tlic  poor. 

.\n(l  the  poor  man  IovcmI  the  jjrcal. 
Then  lands  were  fairly  portioned. 

Then  >poils  were  fairly  sold; 
The  Romans  were  like  brothers 

In  the  brave  (lavs  of  old." 

When  Mr.  Duncan  left  Portsmouth,  his  ob- 
jective point  was  the  State  of  Virginia,  that 
portion  now  included  in  West  Virginia,  and  es- 
pecially Brooke  and  Ohio  ("ounties.  At  Wheel- 
ing, he  had  friends,  Messrs.  Jacob  Atkinson 
and  Peabody    Atkinson,  brothers,  and   a   Mr. 


Peterson.  He  remained  in  those  counties  for  a 
year  or  two,  and  married  Miss  Eliza  T.  Vilette, 
and  with  the  two  brothers  Atkinson  con- 
eluded  as  a  sort  of  horseback  adventure  to 
visit  the  "  Rotch  Settlement."  Accordingly  the 
three  gentlemen  started  on  horseback  in  the 
spring  and  came  to  Kendal,  and  stop|)ed  at  a 
hotel  kept  by  John  Bowman,  a  Pennsylvania 
Dutchman,  which  was  the  only  one  in  the  vil- 
lage, and  was  the  first  hotel  opened  in  the  town- 
ship. It  soon  became  known  that  there  were 
strangers  from  I\irtsinouth.  X.  II..  in  town,  and 
as  there  were  several  New  England  families 
already  in  the  village  and  vicinity,  a  (Quaker 
woman,  who  with  her  husband,  had  a  year  or 
two  before  visited  Portsmouth,  strangers,  and 
received  genuine  New  England  hospitality,  said 
to  her  husband.  •■  Thee  had  better  go  and  call 
on  the  strangers  ;  they  may  be  connected  with 
the  families  who  were  so  polite  to  us.  and  if  so, 
we  shoidd  at  least  invite  them  to  dine." 

The  Quaker  head  of  the  family  said  to  his 
wife,  ••  I  should  be  glad  to  invite  them  at  any 
rate,  and  if  thee  thinks  thee  can  make  out  a 
dinner  for  them.  I  will  call  on  them  and  invite 
them  for  to-morrow."  The  preliminaries  being 
thus  settled,  he  called  on  the  strangers,  had  a 
long  talk  with  them  in  regard  to  the  county 
and  State  of  Ohio,  its  prospects,  and  invited 
them  to  dine  ;  the  invitation  was  promptly  ac- 
cepted, and  after  dinner  they  all  rode  over  a 
considerable  portion  of  the  township,  exam- 
ined the  water-power  of  the  Sippo  Creek,  rode 
over  the  grounil  plat  of  the  now  city  of  Mas- 
sillon,  and  the  strangers  were  favorably  im- 
pressed ;  they  went  no  further  west,  returned 
to  Wheeling,  and  Wellsbiirg.  Va..  and  Mr. 
Duncan  returned  shortly  afterward  and  pur- 
chased the  Estremadura  farm,  now  owned  b\' 
the  Kegler  heirs,  and  purchased  the  quarter- 
section  on  which  the  city  is.  in  part,  laid  out. 
The  purchase  was  made  for  the  water-power  of 
Sippo  Creek,  and  near  where  now  stands  the 
Masonic  Lodge,  an<i  the  merchant  fiouring-mill 
of  Isaac  N.  Dexter.  Mr.  Duncan  erected  a  Hour- 
ing-mill  and  saw-mill,  having  first  erected  a 
dam  across  the  creek,  near  where  East  street. 
Massillon.  now  crosses  the  creek.  The  plac^e 
was  known  as  Duncan's  Mill,  as  it  had  no  other 
way  of  distinginshing  it  from  any  other  point 
in  the  Tuscarawas  Valley. 

There  was  one  member  of  Mr.  Earle's  family 
when  he  came  into  the  township,  who  yet  lives 


Ml 


:?82 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY 


in  the  township  just  outside  the  city  limits  at 
the  age  of  ninet^y-six  jears,  Mrs.  llebecca  Staf- 
ford, her  maiden  name  being  Coolt,  a  sister  of 
Mrs.  Earle  ;  she  married  Abel  Stafford,  one  of 
the  colony  wlio  settled  in  Tuscarawas  from 
Essex  County,  N.  Y.,  by  whom  she  was  left  a 
widow  many  years  sinoe.  She  is  iu  the  enjoj-- 
ment  of  excellent  health  and  bids  fair  to  see 
the  one  hundredtli  anniversary-  of  her  birthdaj'. 
Tiie  name  of  Aunt  Rebecca  Cook  sixty  years 
ago,  was  as  •■  familiar  as  household  words." 
She  has  life-long  been  a  remarUal)le  woman, 
and  her  bright  intellect  makes  her  liome  a 
pleasant  place  to  visit;  her  reeol lection  of  the 
events  of  early  times  is  clear. 

The  stagnation  of  business,  scarcity  of  mono}- 
and  almost  cessation  of  immigration,  commenc- 
ing soon  after  the  close  of  the  war,  seemed  to 
paralyze  the  energies  of  every  body  ;  a  surplus 
of  agricultural  products  was  always  on  hand, 
and  no  outlet  to  market ;  a  general  feeling  of 
discouragment  pervaded  the  community  ;  when 
land  would  sell  at  all,  it  sold  for  merely  nomi- 
nal prices,  compared  with  its  real  value.  To 
get  rid  of  the  increasing  produce  on  his  hands 
after  the  building  of  his  mill,  Mr.  Duncan 
erected  a  distillery,  a  log  liuilding  which  stood 
near  the  corner  of  Charles  and  Mill  streets, 
Massillon,  the  first  distiller  being  Seth  Chase, 
a  native  of  Vermont,  who  had  settled  in  Tus- 
carawas Township.  As  time  wore  on,  Mr. 
Duncan  accumulated  a  large  quantity  of  whisky, 
and,  in  1822.  he  determined  to  load  a  flat-boat 
with  flour,  whisky  and  potatoes  for  the  New 
Orleans  market.  The  idea  had  hardly  entered 
his  mind,  until  he  went  with  all  possible  haste 
to  (Uiarles  CoHin,  and  contracted  for  the  build- 
ing of  a  boat  to  be  launched  in  the  Tuscarawas, 
and  loaded  with  flour,  whisky,  potatoes,  bacon, 
and,  in  short,  anything  that  would  sell  in 
Southern  market.  The  boat  was  built  and 
launched  exactl}-  where  now  is  the  eastern  end 
of  the  arched  stone  bridge  in  Massillon  ;  the 
amount  of  her  tonnage  is  not  recollected,  nor 
can  it  be  ascertained.  She  was  built  bottom 
up  and  turned  over  into  the  water  with  entire 
success  ;  her  upper  works  were  immediately 
set  up  and  Hnislied  ;  a  fortunate  rise  in  the 
river  was  taken  advantage  of,  teams  were  em- 
plo^-ed  which  worked  night  and  day,  and  with 
the  rise,  the  boat  was  loaded,  and  in  the  early 
spring  of  the  year,  the  '•  Walk  in  the  Water," 
as  Mrs.  Duncan  had  named  the  boat,  started  on 


her  voyage.  Much  apprehension  was  felt  lest 
the  dam  across  the  river  at  Zoar,  and  Baker's 
dam  at  New  Philadelphia,  should  be  in  the 
wa}-,  but  the  flood  kept  up  and  the  dams  were 
crossed  in  safety. 

The  Muskingum  was  reached  and  being  at 
flood-tide,  having  the  waters  of  the  Tuscarawas 
and  Walhonding  to  keep  it  up,  Capt.  Duncan 
had  company  to  the  (Jhio,  Coshocton  and 
Zanesville  and  other  towns  on  the  river  being 
engaged  in  shipping  to  New  Orleans.  No  time 
was  lost  in  reaching  Cincinnati.  On  arriving 
tliere,  Capt.  Duncan  found  the  market  buoyant 
for  his  entire  cargo,  and  sold  out  boat  and  cargo 
at  a  fine  advance,  and  walked  from  Cincinnati 
to  Kendal,  where  he  then  resided.  His  success 
was  followed  with  other  and  similar  ettbrts, 
none  of  which,  however,  were  near  so  successful. 

Mr.  Duncan's  success  was  only  an  additional 
stimulus  to  greater  improvements  in  the  valley, 
in  which  all  liis  fortunes  were  staked,  his  am- 
bition for  improvement  was  only  restrained  b}' 
his  means.  On  his  return  from  Cincinnati,  he 
and  Mr.  Skinner  immediatel}'  formed  the  part- 
nership of  C.  K.  Skinner  &  Co.,  and  first  put 
up  a  carding-machine,  picker  and  the  other  ap- 
pliances, simply  for  carding  wool  and  reducing 
it  to  rolls  for  the  spinning-wheel,  Mr.  Skinner 
having  been  bred  to  the  business  while  in  the 
service  of  Thomas  Rotch,  and  such  was  their 
success  that  the  flouring-mill  was  soon  turned 
into  a  woolen  manufactory,  and  was  known  as 
the  "  Free  Bridge  Woolen  Factory  Fifty  rods 
east  of  the  Tuscarawas  Free  Bridge,"  and  was 
continued  as  a  woolen  factory;  an  addition  was 
made  in  which  the  works  for  manufacturing- 
flax-seed  oil  were  erected,  and  the  business  of 
manufacturing  oil  was  carried  on  for  manj- 
years. 

Under  the  untiring  energy  of  Mr.  Duncan,  in 
which  he  was  ably  seconded  by  Mr.  Skinner,  the 
improvements  of  this  portion  of  the  Tuscara- 
was Valley  were  rapidly  accelerated.  Among 
the  old-time  landmarks  of  a  pre-historic  period, 
so  far  as  the  city  of  Massillon  is  concerned,  is 
the  building  now  owned  by  James  Bayliss,  Esq., 
and  occupied  by  T.  Clarke  Miller,  M.  D.,  and 
which  was  erected  in  1823,  the  east  end  being 
first  used  by  Mr.  Duncan  for  a  dry  goods  store, 
the  west  end  beipg  occupied  by  Mr.  Duncan  as 
a  residence  Ibr  his  family.  The  year  1824, 
however,  was  the  turning-point  for  business  in 
the  entire  length  of  the  Tuscarawas  Valley,  and 


-$1 


M± 


PERKY    TOAVNSIIIP 


383 


especially  in  so  much  of  it  as  lies  in  the  county 
of  Stark.  In  tliat  year,  1824,  the  Legislature 
of  Ohio,  which  ha<i  had  for  several  years  the 
subject  of  internal  iniproveraent  in  one  form  or 
.•mother  before  it,  resolved  to  proceed  ;  and  an 
act  was  passed  February  24,  directin<i;  the  Com- 
missioners, who  had  been  already  appointed,  to 
continue  their  labors  and  (Mn|)loy  an  able  engi- 
neer and  assistiints.  Tlie  reports  of  the  Com- 
missioners were  so  favorable,  that,  in  1825,  an 
act  was  passed  "to  provide  for  the  internal  im- 
provement of  tlie  State  of  Ohio  by  navigable 
canals,"  and  agr(H!ably  to  the  provisions  of 
wliich  act  the  Ohio  Canal,  iVora  Cleveland  to 
l'<n-tsmouth,  was  built. 

Immediately  upon  the  passage  of  the  last- 
mentioned  act,  Jlr.  Dinicau  commenced  and 
never  ee.-iscd  his  labors  until  the  canal  was  lo 
cated  in  the  Tuscarawas  Valley,  and  on  the  east 
side  of  the  Tuscarawas  Kiver.  On  the  18th 
day  of  January,  1826,  forty-four  sections,  com- 
mencing at  the  .south  side  of  the  Summit  Lake 
in  Portage,  now  Summit  County,  on  the  Portage 
Summit,  and  extending  south  to  the  second 
lock  south  of  the  city  of  Massillon.  near  the  resi- 
dence of  Mrs.  Jarvis,  a  distance  of  twenty-seven 
miles,  .soutii  of  the  now  city  of  Akron,  were 
let  to  contractors,  the  letting  taking  place  in 
Kendal  at  Mr.  Duncan's  residence,  which  was 
the  only  brick  house  in  the  village,  and  which 
will  be  remembered  by  the  reader  as  the  one 
erected  bj-  Alexander  Skinner,  Esq. 

As  soon  as  it  was  settled  beyond  peradven- 
ture  where  the  canal  was  to  be  located,  Mr. 
Duncan  commenced  to  purchase  land  in  the 
valley  north  and  south  of  the  tracts  alread\- 
owned  by  him,  and  also  commenced  to  laj-  out 
a  town,  which  extended  from  North  street,  on 
the  north,  adjoining  the  residence  of  Dr.  Joseph 
Watson,  to  South  street,  adjoining  the  "  Excel- 
sior Works,"  west  to  the  Tu.scarawas  River 
(bcyoiid  that  boundary  the  land  was  owned  I>y 
Judge  William  Henry),  and  east  to  High  street, 
wliicli  bordered  on  lands  owned  by  the  estate 
ot  Thomas  Rotch,  deceased.  Excepting  on  the 
south.  .Mr.  Duncan  took  in  all  the  territory  he 
owned.  The  fractional  section  on  the  east  side 
of  the  river,  not  owned  by  Mr.  Duncan,  lying 
between  his  land  and  the  river,  was  owned  by 
Hon.  P.  A.  Karthans,  of  Baltimore,  having 
been  entered  by  him  at  an  early  day,  and  on 
which  a  large  portion  of  the  village,  between 
the  canal  and  river,  was  laid  out.     The    new 


town  was  called  Massillon,  taking  its  name 
from  Jean  Baptiste  Massillon,  a  celebrated 
Roman  Catholic  French  Bishop,  of  the  days 
of  Jiouis  XIV,  of  France.  The  name  was 
suggested  by  Mrs.  Duncan,  who  was  a  tine 
French  scholar,  and  of  whom,  it  raaj^  be  said 
in  passing,  she  was  a  niece  of  the  Hon.  Charles 
Hammond,  one  of  the  early  cdiUn's  of  the 
Cincinnati  Gazritc,  and  a  woman  of  rare  edu- 
cation and  social  qualities. 

The  first  school  in  the  township  was  taught 
by  William  Mott,  a  young  Quaker  of  limited 
education,  but  earnest  in  his  efforts  to  dogood, 
faithful  and  upright ;  he  realized  his  incapacity, 
and  soon  (juit  teaching,  and  worked  in  Thomas 
Roteh's  woolen  factory,  and  finally  returned  to 
the  East.  Next  to  him  as  a  teacher  was  Cyrus 
Spink,  a  man  of  education  and  excellent  habits. 
As  a  teacher  for  those  days  he  was  a  success. 
But  one  of  his  pupils  yet  remains  within  the 
bounds  of  his  territory  as  a  teacher,  now  draw- 
ing rapidly  to  the  seventh  decennial  period  of 
life,  and  another  now  residing  at  Mantua  Station 
in  Portage  County,  Ohio,  just  entered  upon  his 
seventy-eighth  year.  Mr.  Spink,  on  leaving 
Kendal,  went  to  Wooster  and  remained  there 
until  his  death  on  the  lilst  of  May,  1859.  At 
the  time  of  his  death  he  was  a  member  of  Con- 
gress elect  from  that  district,  and  was  sixty- 
seven  years  of  age.  He  was  JMajor  (Jeneral  of 
the  Military  Division  in  which  Wooster  is  situ- 
ated, and  life-long  sustained  the  reputation  of 
an  upright  man.  Among  the  teaclu^rs  of  that 
day  was  Ruth  Logue,  a  Quaker,  afterward  the 
wife  of  Nathan  Galbraith,  of  New  Garden,  Col- 
umbiana County.  She  was  a  model  woman  as 
teacher  and  in  every  other  respect.  The  writer 
can  well  .say  of  her,  as  was  written  l)y  C.old- 
sniitli  of  tlie  \illage  master  of  Sweet  Auburn, 
she  was  a  woman. 

•Severe  and  stem  to  view, 
I  knew  licr  well  as  cvcrv  Iniant  knew  ; 
Full  well  ha.l  h.Hliriu'  truu'nlcs  learned  to  trace 
Tlic  (lay '^  cli^a-lci->  in  her  ninniing  face  : 
Yet  .she  was  kind,  (ir  if  si^vcre  in  aught. 
The  love  she  bore  to  learninj;  was  in  fault." 
The  children  she  taught  loved  her,  and  the 
few  who  yet  remain  to  visit  the  old  plaj-ground 
on  the  '•  (Jreen  "  in  Kendal,  cherish  for  her  af- 
fectionate memories. 

The  wa>-  schools  were  organized  and  con- 
ducted, the  mode  of  teaching,  indeed  every- 
thing connected  with  education  in  those  days, 
was,  perhaps,  the  best  that  could  be  under  the 


384 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


circii instances  ;  but  while  tluit  is  eonceded,  it  is 
a  wonder  that  eiiildren  learned  anything  useful, 
or  received  just  impressions  of  anything  calcu- 
lated to  serve  them  in  the  future.  The  founda- 
tions for  usefulness,  however,  were  laid,  and 
many  of  the  men  and  women  educated,  in  part, 
in  those  schools,  poor  as  they  were,  have  writ- 
ten their  names  high  up  on  the  historic  page, 
the  women  as  teachers,  and  the  men  have  taken 
their  places  in  all  the  learned  professions,  and 
as  legislators  in  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
State  and  in  Congress. 

On  one  occasion,  a  teacher  came  to  Kendal 
and  called  on  Capt.  Mayhew  Folger,  who  was 
always  among  the  first  to  interest  himself  in 
the  cause  of  education,  and  made  known  his 
desire  to  have  a  school,  and  represented  himself 
as  well  qualified.  Capt.  Folger  gave  him  pen 
and  ink  and  said  if  he  would  draw  a  subscrip- 
tion paper,  he,  Capt.  Folger,  would  subscribe  a 
certain  number  of  scholars  ;  the  teacher  drew  up 
bis  paper  misspelling  about  half  the  words  ;  his 
attention  was  called  to  that  defect  in  his  own 
education,  when  he  replied  with  the  utmost 
coolness,  "  Spelling  is  not  very  essential.'' 

Until  1825,  there  was  no  uniform  school  sys- 
tem in  Ohio.  'In  that  year,  the  friends  of 
schools  and  canals,''  says  the  late  Chief  Justice 
Chase,  in  his  admirable  historical  sketch  of 
Ohio,  preliminary  to  his  great  work.  "  Chase's 
Statutes,"  "  united  in  the  Legislature,  and  the 
following  systems  of  internal  improvement  and 
general  instruction  were  simultaneously  brought 
into  being.  The  act,  from  that  year,  imposed 
a  general  tax  of  one-half  of  one  mill  on  the 
dollar  for  the  support  of  schools,  and  provided 
fortheirestablishment  in  every  township."  The 
schools  were  championed  by  the  Hon.  James 
W.  Lathrop,  a  member  of  the  House  from  Stark 
County.  On  Mr.  Lathrop's  return  to  his  con- 
stituency at  the  adjournment  of  the  Legislature, 
a  hue  and  cry  was  raised  against  him.  which 
threatened  his  defeat  as  a  candidate  for  re-elec- 
tion ;  he  was,  however,  re-elected  by  a  reduced 
majority,  the  objection  to  him  was  the  increased 
taxation  to  support  common  schools.  '•  Peo- 
ple do  not  want  so  much  learning,"  said  a  prom- 
inent farmer,  whose  grandson,  in  1840,  gradu- 
ated from  JeflTerson  College,  Penn.sylvania,  at 
the  head  of  his  class,  Mr.  Lathrop  returned  to 
the  Legislature  and  remodeled  the  "  act  entitled 
the  act  organi.'iingthe  common  schools  of  Ohio, " 
increasing  the  taxation  and  improving  the  law 


generally.  The  clamor  against  him  was  increased 
tenfold,  but  he  was  re-elected  in  1827  ;  and 
true  to  his  convictions,  he  started  again  to  im- 
prove, by  amendments  to  the  former  acts,  '■  The 
Common-School  System  of  Ohio.''  While  en- 
gaged on  his  work,  he  was  stricken  down  by 
disease  and  died  ;  his  wife,  a  resident  of  Canton, 
rode  to  Columbus  on  horseback,  arriving  in 
time  to  witness  his  death  :  his  remains  were 
laid  away  in  one  of  the  cemeteries  of  the  (lan- 
ital Cit}',  and  remained  there  until  1873,  when 
Hon.  Samuel  C.  Bowman,  then  member  of  the 
House  of  Representatives  from  this  county,  of- 
fered a  resolution  providing  for  their  removal 
to  Canton.  The  resolution  was  at  once  adojjted, 
and  the  Stark  County  members  of  the  House 
and  Senate  were  appointed  a  Joint  Committee 
to  attend  to  the  removal.  Hon.  Ellis  N.  John- 
son, Jr.,  being  the  colleague  of  Mr.  Bowman 
and  Hon.  Arvine  C.  Wales  from  the  Twenty-first 
District,  vStark  and  Carroll,  being  the  Senator, 
the  Committee  and  remains  being  attended  by 
Frederick  Blankner,  Esij.,  Third  Assistant  Ser- 
geant-at-Arms  of  the  House. 

Mr.  Lathrop  having  been  an  honored  mem- 
ber of  Canton  Lodge,"No.  60,  of  A.,  F.  &  A.  M., 
the  brethren  of  both  lodges  in  that  city  met  the 
remains  at  the  railwaj-  station  at  Canton,  and. 
under  their  care,  the  remains  were  deposited  in 
the  beautiful  cemetery  of  that  city.  A  large 
number  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  Canton 
and  Massillon  paid  their  respects  to  the  remains 
of  the  founder  of  the  common-school  sjstem  of 
Ohio  !)}•  their  pre.sence  at  the  interment;  re- 
marks, suited  to  the  occasion,  were  made  by 
gentlemen  from  both  cities,  but  no  eulogy  can 
ever  do  justice  to  the  memory  of  James  W. 
Lathrop.  A  monument  to  his  memory  "  more 
durable  than  brass, '  should  be  at  once  erected, 
u|)(in  which  should  l)e  inscribed,  simply,  ■'  The 
Founder  of  Common  Schools,"  with  the  name 
of  tlie  distinguished  citizen  ;  and,  as  Daniel 
Webster  said  of  Bunker  Hill  Monument.  ■  there 
let  it  stand  and  meet  tlie  sun  in  his  coming  ;  let 
the  earliest  light  of  the  morning  gild  it,  and 
parting  day  linger  and  play  upon  its  summit." 

Still  the  imperfections  of  the  common  schools 
were  such  that  select  schools  were  everywhere 
springing  up,  until  repeated  legislation  has 
given  the  township,  as  well  as  the  entire  State, 
tlie  best  school  system  in  the  West. 

Perry  Township  was  never  behind  other  por- 
tions of  the  county  in  its  attention  to  education. 


=jrr 


PKHRY    TOWNSHIP. 


:wr. 


The  excellent  school  taught  by  IJarak  Miehener, 
in  Kendal,  before  he  studied  medicine,  brougiit 
pupils  from  Canton  who  were  taught  the  rudi- 
ments of  a  common  English  education.  Tiie 
year  1817  brought  many  "  new-comers  "  from 
New  England,  among  wliom  were  Thomas  Reed 
and  Richard  Bn^ed,  and  their  families,  from 
Lynn  ;  and  Sylvanus  Hathaway  and  his  famil\-, 
originally  from  New  iJedford,  Mass.  The  first 
two  went  into  the  then  lately  organized  town- 
ship of  .Jackson,  and  llathavvay  stopped  at 
Kendal,  where  he  died  in  a  few  years.  Miss 
Eliza  Reed,  one  of  the  three  children  of  Thomas 
Reed,  was  married  to  Mr.  0.  K.  Skinner  in  1822. 
They  lived  in  Kendal  and  in  Massillon  forty- 
four  years,  she  dying  in  1860  at  the  age  of  si.\- 
ty-nine  ;  her  life  was  one  of  great  usefulness. 
Before  her  marriage,  she,  too,  was  a  teacher  of 
a  select  school  at  Kendal. 

The  first  orchard  planted  in  the  township  is 
on  the  south  side  of  the  road  between  Massillon 
and  Canton,  on  what  is  now  the  farm  of  Mr. 
Daum,  and  it  is  believed  to  have  been  planted 
by  Jonathan  Chapman,  l)etter  known  as  Johnny 
Appleseed,  who  was  well  known  through  this 
part  of  Ohio  during  the  earliest  settlement  of 
which  any  account  can  be  had,  as  a  planter  of 
orchards.  He  is  well  remembered  as  going 
from  house  to  hou.sc  and  calling  for  apple  seeds. 
The  fruit  then  had  was  brought  from  the  East 
in  wagons,  and  sold  at  fabulous  prices.  A  full 
sketch  of  Johnny  Appleseed  will  be  found  in 
"  Howe's  Historical  Collections  of  Ohio,"  in  the 
history  of  Richland  County.  The  next  orchard 
was  planted  in  the  south  end  of  the  township 
by  John  Reamer,  on  a  trac^t  of  land  sold  b^' 
him  to  Mayhew  Folger,  and  sul)sequently  owned 
by  Mr.  Coder.  After  Mayiiew  Kolger  purchased 
the  land,  a  portion  of  the  trees  were  trans- 
planted to  the  orchard  formerly  within  the  now 
city  limits  of  Massillon,  where  stands  the  resi- 
dence of  Henry  Beatty,  Estj.  On  the  west  side 
of  the  river  and  now  in  the  Second  Ward  of  the 
city,  was  another  early  orchard,  planted  by  Al- 
exander Johnson.  Esq.,  already  mentioned  in 
these  pages.  He  had  scr\'ed  in  the  army  (jf  the 
United  States  with  (len.  Wayne  in  his  campaign 
in  179-i.  He  came  from  Western  Pennsylvania. 
and  was  of  as  hardy  a  race  of  men  as  ever  peo- 
pled any  country,  and  was  a  man  of  as  high  a 
sense  of  honor  and  integrity  of  character  as 
ever  aided  in  the  formation  of  society.  Earnest 
in  liis  convictions  and  true  to  himself,  he  never 


was  false  to  anybody  else.  He  was  killed  in 
1841  by  falling  from  his  hay  mow  on  the  sharp 
paling  of  his  liay  ladder  in  his  barn  on  the 
farm  where  now  resides  iiis  son,  Jonathan  John- 
son, just  outside  the  cmIv  limits  of  Massillon,  at 
about  the  age  of  seventy. 

This  township  claims  the  distinction  of  hav- 
ing first  introduced  Spanish  Merino  sheep  into 
this  portion  of  Ohio.  Thomas  Rotch  intro- 
duced them  ;  they  were  driven  from  Hartford. 
Conn.,  and  were  the  product  of  importations 
from  Spain  made  in  1803.  by  Col.  David  Hum- 
phreys. The  next  i inportations  of  merino  sheep 
into  tiio  Tuscarawas  Valley  were  by  Bezaleel 
Wells  and  William  R.  Dickenson,  of  Steuben- 
ville.  -Mr.  Dickenson  being  the  owner  of  the 
celebrated  merino  ram  '•  Bolivar,"  which  took 
the  premium,  a  silver  cup,  in  Baltimore.  Boli- 
var was  sent  from  Mr.  Dickenson's  farm,  '■  Es- 
trcniadura, "  in  this  township,  in  a  covered  cart 
in  charge  of  a  faithful  shepherd,  and  at  an  ex- 
hibition of  flne-wooled  sheep  from  all  parts  of 
the  United  States,  Perry  Township  bore  away 
the  prize. 

.\mong  the  institutions  oi  Perry  Township 
of  which  everybody  should  be  proud,  is  the 
Cluirity  School,  of  Kendal,  sometimes  called 
the  Rotch  School,  founded  on  the  following  be- 
quest in  the  will  of  Charity  Rotch  : 

llaviiiij  for  many  years  past  been  very  desirous  of 
pn)motiii,L,Mlic  cstiili'lislinicnt  of  :i  bciiovolciit  insti- 
tution foi-  till-  cMlucalioii  of  (U'slilutc  orphans  and 
indigent  eliil<ln'n,  more  pnrtieularly  those  wliose 
parents  :ire  <if  ilepiaved  morals.  Iliiif  they  nia.y  he 
trained  in  liiil)ils  of  iiwlustr}-  and  economy  ;  it  is 
my  will  llial  my  e.xecnlors  convert  the  remainder 
of  my  jiroperty,  liolli  real  ami  personal,  into  money 
as  soon  iis  praeliealile,  and  place  the  same  in  per 
manent  fuiuls.  the  interest  of  which  to  he  .solely  up- 
plied  to  said  insliliilion.  .Should  the  same  he  sulli- 
cicnt  to  attach  a  farm  thereto,  .so  that  a  portion  of 
the  boys'  time  may  he  devoted  to  the  huuliihle  pur- 
suit of  af^ricullure,  and  a  [jart  of  the  ,!;irls'  time  to 
be  devoted  to  the  duties  of  hon.sewifeiy,  whereby 
they  may  support  Iheni.selves  and  heeome  useful 
memhers  of  society,  and  also  that  a  suflieieni  tim<' 
may  he  devoted  to  tlu'  aequirinjj  of  a  connnon 
English  education.  It  would  more  fully  comply  with 
my  desires,  should  the  amount  not  be  sultieient  fully 
to  accomplish  said  object,  and  no  other  fmid  e<iuld 
be  added  to  second  my  efforts,  it  is  my  will  that  the 
interest  of  said  ftnid  be  solely  applied  to  the  instruc- 
tion of  such  children  in  a  common  English  educa- 
tion. 

It  will  be  observed  that,  according  to  the 
terms  of  the  foregoing  bequest,  the  school  was 
made  a  residuary  legatee.     The    testatrix  had 


HISTORY  OF    .STARK   COUNTY. 


no  idea  what  the  amount  would  be,  but  greater 
or  smaller  it  was  to  be  carefully  husbanded  by 
her  executors,  who  were  Arvine  Wales  and 
Matthew  Mac\',  who  after  settling  the  estate 
and  paying  the  last  farthing  in  the  way  of  spe- 
cific legacies,  and  reducing  the  resl  and  residue 
to  monej',  or  its  equivalent,  found  tluit  :?L'(),()OU 
would  remain  for  the  purpose  of  estahlisliing  a 
school,  sucii  as  was  contemplated  by  the  Quak- 
er woman  wliose  net  was  for  the  rncc,  the  poor 
ami  iirnli/  irliiiin  site  lacei-foir/of.  The  fund  was 
carefully  managed  by  the  executors,  Arvine 
Wales,  especially,  and  within  twenty  years  after 
the  death  of  the  testatrix,  Mr.  Wales  had  pur- 
chased 185  acres  of  choice  farming  land  just 
outside  the  city  limits  on  the  north,  and  on 
whicli  tile  scliool  buildings  are  erected. 

The  following  very  complete  history  of  the 
school,  its  objects  and  the  success  that  has  at- 
tended it,  is  furnished  by  Ira  M.  Allen,  Esq., 
Superintendent : 

Tlie  main  luiildiiig'  ^va.s  commenced  in  1.S42,  and 
in  1844  a  school  was  opened  with  ten  .scholars. 
Philander  Dawley,  from  Newark.  N.  Y.,  Superin- 
tendent, the  Trustees  and  Superintendent  liaving 
adopted  tlie  following  plans; 

The  school,  when  full,  to  consist  of  twenty  boys 
and  twenty  girls  were  indentured  to  the  Board  of 
Trustees  for  four  years,  ten  to  he  admitted  and  ten 
to  graduate  at  the  end  of  four  years.  No  child  to 
be  admitted  under  twelve,  nor  over  fifteen  j'ears  of 
age.  As  the  children  were  to  be  tauglit,  the  boys 
farming,  and  the  girls  to  do  all  kinds  of  housework 
and  plain  sewing,  which  was  one  of  the  require- 
ments of  the  will,  and  the  school  has  been  managed 
substantially  upon  that  jilan  since  its  organization, 
except  that  when  the  prices  of  clothing  and  supplies 
for  the  school  advanced  during  the  war,  it  was 
foimd  that  the  income  was  not  sufficient  to  maintain 
so  many,  when  the  number  of  pupils  was  reduced 
to  thirty. 

The  school  has  been  conducted  on  the  plan  of  a 
family,  as  far  as  possible.  All  cat  at  the  same  table 
and  mingle  together  as  brothers  and  sisters,  and 
there  is  very  little  more  restraint  than  woidd  be 
found  necessary  in  a  well-regulated  family,  they 
are,  in  fact,  a  family  of  brothers  and  sisters.  The 
cultivating  of  the  idea  that  we  are  a  family,  works 
well.  All  that  is  required  for  an  applicant,  when 
there  is  a  vacancy  in  the  school,  is  that  he  or  she 
shall  be  of  sound  mind  and  body,  of  fair  moral 
character,  and  so  poor  as  to  be  unable  to  procure 
decent  educational  advantages.  Mr.  Dawley  re- 
signed bis  pii'iitioii  as  Superintendent.  April  1.  lS.'i4, 
and  was  v||,  r,r,l,  ,1  I.v  Ini  :\[.  Allrn.  who  rcsiLincd  in 
1864.  and  \v;i<  mi.  ,  r.Urd  bv  Adam  W.  Ileldenhrand, 
a  former  iiiqiii.  w  lio  \\  a^  ileciid  ( 'lerk  (jf  tbrConrt 
of  Common  Pleas  in  l>*<;:,.  .hhI  i-  ut.n  Probate  .lud-v 
of  Stark  Counly.  holdiii;:  the  tiller  |. lace  lor  lliii-c 
terms.    Judire  lleldenbrandV  successor  was  Abraham 


C.  Dulev.  who  managt'd  the  school  successfully  for 
seven  years,  when  hc'  rcsigncil  and  Mr.  .1.  W.  tiese- 
man  took  his  jilace.  who  was  ai;ain  succeeded  by  Ira 
M.  Allen,  Ajjril  1,  1879,  and  who  has  charge  of  the 
school  at  this  time. 

There  have  been  graduated  at  the  Kendal  Charity 
School,  which  is  the  corporate  name  of  the  institu- 
tion, aliout  one  hundred  and  fift_v  scholar.^  -.incc  its 
organization,  mo.st  of  whom  have  Ipccoulc  liouora- 
ble  members  of  society,  and  many  have  arisen  to 
eminence  in  tlu'  learned  |irn(cssions.  The  farm  is 
nearly  all  unilcr  culli\  ;ilion,  I  he  entire  labor  of  the 
farm  and  in  llic  bouse  is  piitoiiued  by  the  pupils, 
notwithstanding  which,  the  division  of  labor  and 
study  is  such  that  the  children  have  about  as  many 
hours  of  study  during  the  year,  as  is  devoted  to 
teaching  in  the  best  Union  schools  of  the  State. 
Many  complete  the  entin-  <ourse  of  study,  which 
consists  of  reading,  writing,  geography,  arithmetic, 
grammar,  natural  philosophy,  Histor_y  of  the 
United  States,  elements  of  phj'siology,  algebra  and 
geometry. 

Whatever  may  be  due  to  Charity  Rotch  for 
her  gift  for  the  education  of  the  poor  and 
needj',  all  of  which  will  ever  be  gratefull}-  ac- 
knowledged, the  name  and  memory  of  Arvine 
Wales  will  ever  be  kindly  and  affectionately  re- 
membered in  connection  with  the  cause  of  edu- 
cation, not  only  for  his  guarding  the  fund  upon 
which  the  Charity  School  is  based,  but  for  his 
devotion  to  the  cause  of  popular  education  dur- 
ing his  long  and  useful  life.  The  Charity 
School  of  Kendal,  and  the  Union  School  of 
Massillon,  are  monuments  which  bear  the  im- 
press of  his  care  and  watchfulness. 

While  great  credit  is  due  to  the  Superintend- 
ents of  the  (Uiaritj'  School,  their  wives,  who 
have  had  the  responsibility,  in  addition  to  their 
own  families,  of  looking  after  the  pupils,  must 
not  be  overlooked  nor  forgotten ;  thej',  too, 
have  liorne  burthens  that  entitle  them  to  men- 
tion ever3where  in  connection  with  the  school, 
and  nobly  and  well  ha\e  they  discharged  every 
dutj'  and  every  responsibility  connected  with 
their  position,  they  will  be  ever  gratefully-  re- 
membered bj-  the  poor  for  whom  they  so  faith- 
fully labored. 

On  the  Gth  of  the  eighth  month,  1824, 
Charity  Rotch  died  at  the  Spring  Hill  farm,  and 
was  buried  in  the  Friends'  burying  ground  in 
Kendal,  where  rest  the  remains  of  many  of  the 
"  rude  forefathers  of  the  hamlet." 

The  property  belonging  to  Kendal  Charity 
School,  at  a  low  estimate  is  valued  at  $60,000. 
The  interest  on  the  fund,  now  about  $30,000, 
with  the  labor  of  the  pupils,  pays  tlie  entire 
cost  of  the  school,  and  under  the  management 


PEKKY    TOWNSHIP. 


of  the  present  careful  Board  of  Trustees  and 
Superintendent,  tlie  school  is  fulfiHing  the 
an.xious  wishes  of  its  founder,  as  expressed  in 
her  hist  will  and  testament  near  sixty  j'ears 
since. 

The  present  Board  of  Trustees  eonsist  of 
Thomas  McCulloutrh,  President;  Charles  F. 
Hicks.  Frank  L.  Baldwin,  Horace  Richards  and 
Hon.  A.  C.  Wales.  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 
The  grave  of  Charity  Rotch  may  possibly  be 
found  in  the  old  Quaker  burying  ground.  If 
there  be  anything  to  enable  the  stranger  to  find 
it,  it  is  a  plain  sandstone  just  above  the  sur- 
face of  the  earth  with  the  initials  C.  R.  "  The 
foe  and  the  stranger  might  tread  o'er  her  head," 
unconscious  that  he  is  standing  on  the  grave  of 
the  noble  woman  who  divided  her  estate  with 
t  he  poor.  The  writer  of  these  sketches  attended 
her  funeral,  and  as  no  epitaph  graces  her  tomb- 
stone, he  desires  to  say  of  her,  "she  loved 
mankind." 

While  each  )-ear's  history  discloses  some 
event  that  was  regarded  worth  remembering, 
the  year  1 824  has  its  event,  and  that  was  the 
running  of  a  four-horse  post  coach  from  Pitts- 
burgh to  Mansfield  once  a  week,  and  earr3'ing 
the  mail ;  then  the  post  office  department  in- 
creased the  mail  service  to  twice  a  week  in 
coaches,  then  tri-weekly,  which  soon  became  a 
daily  :  before  the  running  of  coaches,  the  mails 
were  received  weekly  ;  their  coming  was  an- 
nounced by  the 

"  Twaiiu-jn;;  liorii  of  the  jmstman  that 
With  il~  \viari>i(iiTic.  l)Ut  needful  lengtli, 
Bc-sliDilc  till.'  wintry  flood." 

The  four-horse  post  coach  was  an  incident  in 
those  days,  but  few  yet  remain  who  remember 
its  coming. 

The  proprietor  of  the  stage  line,  as  it  was 
called,  was  Daniel  Burgert.  of  Paris,  the  driver 
a  man  by  the  name  of  Estcp,  afterward  a  mer-  ; 
chant    in    New    .Mexandria,    Columbiana    Co.   ' 
I'roprietor  and  driver  have  long  since  closed 
their  accoimts. 

The  year  182fi.  was  marked  by  many  impor- 
tant events  in  the  history  of  this  township  :  the 
laying-out  of  the  new  city  of  Massillon,  the  let- 
ting of  the  work  on  the  Ohio  Canal  to  contract- 
ors and  the  commencement  of  the  work,  were 
regarded  as  works  of  great  importance  in  the 
effect  they  were  destined  to  have  on  the  future 
history  of  the  county,  and  especially  on  the 


western  townships,  but  to  those  who  can  say  in 
reference  to  those  events — - 

"All  of  wliich  I  .saw — " 

no  circumstance  in  history  is  remembered  with 
more  interest  than  the  formation  of  the  Kendal 
Community,  its  rise  and  progress  and  decline 
and  fall. 

In  the  }-ear  1825,  it  will  be  remembered  that 
much  was  written  on  the  subject  of  socialism 
and  social  reform,  and  that  among  the  writers 
and  advocates  of  such  a  reformation  was  Rob- 
ert Owen,  father  of  the  late  Robert  Dale  Owen, 
and  who  will  ever  be  remembered  as  a  human- 
itarian of  the  most  noble  type,  unbounded  be- 
nevolence, and  stainless  purity  of  character 
and  reputation,  of  New  Lanack,  Scotland.  Paul 
Brown,  one  of  the  clearest  writers  and  think- 
ers on  that  subject ;  Josiali  Warren,  a  man 
somewhat  Utopian  in  his  ideas,  but.  neverthe- 
less, upright  and  honest  in  his  convictions,  and 
many  others,  were  prominent  in  their  efforts  to 
awaken  the  public  mind  to  a  consideration  of  the 
subject.  Paul  Brown  and  .Josiah  Warren  bi'ing 
in  the  West  and  visitors  at  the  Kendal  Com- 
munity, were  known  to  the  writer.  Men  and 
women  of  liberal  and  enlarged  views,  and  who 
might  well  be  classed  among  the  most  advanced 
thinkers,  gave  the  subject  attention,  and  the  re- 
sult was,  that,  in  the  summer  of  1821).  man}'  of 
the  residents  of  Perry  and  Tuscarawas  Town- 
ships and  also  from  Portage  County,  after  \'ari- 
ous  meetings  and  discussions  of  the  sul)ject. 
determined  to  organize  a  comniiniity  based 
generally  upon  the  views  of  Robert  Owen  ;  the 
name  adopted  by  the  association  was  the  Ken- 
dal Community.  The  name  given  it  by  the 
public  was  the  '•  Owenites. '  They  purchased 
of  the  estate  of  Thomas  Rotch,  2,113  acres  of 
land  in  the  neighborhood  of  Kendal  and  Mas- 
sillon. together  with  some  town  lots,  improved 
and  unimproved,  in  Kendal,  for  82it.000.  ()f 
the  officers,  or  mode  of  government  of  the  com- 
munity, little  can  now  be  ascertained.  In  No- 
vember, 1827,  the  community  was  re-enforced 
by  a  considerable  accession  from  the  State  of 
New  York.  Edward  Dtnin  and  James  Bayliss. 
of  the  city  of  New  York  ;  Dr.  Samuel  I'nder- 
hill.  wife  and  children,  a  total  of  five  ;  Nathan- 
iel Ilnderhill.  wife  and  children,  a  total  of  five  ; 
Jethro  Macy.  w'ife  and  five  children,  a  total  of 
seven  ;  Henry  C.  Fosdick,  wife  anti  children,  a 
total  of  seven  ;  William  (i.  Macy  and  Edward 


388 


HISTOEY  or    STARK   COT^NTY. 


Hussey,  making  a  total  of  twenty-eight.  They 
started  from  Coxsaekie,  Greene  Co.,  N.  Y.,  so  near 
the  close  of  navigation  as  to  be  subjected  to  al- 
most untold  trials  before  reaching  Kendal.  On 
reaching  Buffitlo,  all  the  steamboats  on  the  lake 
were  laid  up,  and  it  was  with  great  difficulty 
that  a  small  and  inferior  schooner  could  be  had 
to  bring  them  to  Cleveland,  where  the3-  arrived 
after  "  hair-breadth  'scapes."  The  Ohio  Canal 
was  only  navigable  to  Akron,  in  its  best  con- 
dition, and,  at  that  season  of  the  yeai-,  could 
hardlj'  be  called  navigable  at  all  ;  some  of  the 
men  walked  to  Akron  on  the  towing-path  of  the 
canal,  which,  much  of  the  way,  was  through  an 
almost  uninhabited  portion  of  the  country ; 
those  who  managed  to  get  to  Akron  were  met 
with  teams  from  the  community,  and,  after 
much  suffering,  all  got  through  safely,  and  all 
united  with  the  Kendal  Community  to  which 
they  had  been  invited,  and  which  they  intended 
to  do  before  leaving  home. 

For  the  rest,  in  regard  to  this  social  enter- 
prise, one  of  the  surviving  members  of  the 
community  furnishes  the  following,  and  from 
whose  manuscript  the  foregoing,  much  con- 
densed account  in  reference  to  the  New  York 
accession  to  the  communit}-  is  taken.  It  is 
much  to  be  regretted  that  the  full  account  of 
the  journey  from  Albany  to  Kendal  could  not 
be  inserted,  as  it  is  full  of  points  of  exceeding 
interest. 

"  On  our  arrival,"  says  the  gentleman  from 
whose  manuscript  the  following  is  copied,  "  we 
went  to  work  with  a  will,  and  were  very  anxious 
to  make  a  success  of  the  undertaking,  and  will- 
ing and  ready  to  make  any  sacrifice  to  that  end. 
We  had  listened  to  that  eloquent  philanthropist, 
Robert  Owen,  had  read  much  that  he  had  writ 
ten,  and  were  thoroughly  convinced — as  he 
taught — that  man  is  the  creature  of  circum- 
stances, over  which  he  has  no  control  whatever. 
That  he  cannot  say  who  his  parents  shall  be, 
what  shall  be  their  country,  polities  or  religious 
creed  ;  therefore  his  character  is  formed  for  him 
and  not  by  him.  That  propertj*  was  very  un- 
equally divided  ;  that  all  things  were  tending 
to  make  the  rich  richer  and  the  poor  poorer. 
That  those  who  produced  the  wealth  enjoyed 
only  a  small  portion  of  it,  and  that  those  who 
produced  nothing  had  too  much  wealth  for  their 
own  good.  That  the  producing  classes,  if  prop- 
erl\'  educated  and  surrounded  by  proper  cir- 
cumstances, could  easily  arrange  society  so  as 


to  secure  to  each  the  product  of  his  or  her  own 
labor,  and  all  the  best  advantages  of  securing 
to  all  the  children  equall}-  the  very  best  educa- 
tion attainable. 

"The  Kendall  Community,  at  tiie  time  of  the 
arrival  of  the  friends  from  New  York,  was  com- 
posed of  the  following  persons  : 

'•  Amasa  Bailey,  Asa  K.  Burroughs.  Matthew 
Macy,  Frederick  Oberlin,  Philip  Waggoner.  John 
Waggoner,  John  Newcomb,  William  Harding.  Ze- 
no  Culver,  Hezekiah  Culver,  John  H.  Blackman, 
John  Harmon.  John  Sprague, William  Widgeon, 
Jehiel  Fox,  Jonathan  Winter,  Joseph  Tinkler, 
Dr.  Luther  Hauchett,  William  Hauchett  and 
Elijah  Bigelow  ;  all  these  had  families.  Of 
those  who  had  not  families  were  Lutlier  Pond, 
David  Kennedy  and  Jolui  Kennedy,  and  doubt- 
less others  that  I  cannot  remember.  3Iost  of 
the  families  were  large,  and  seemed  to  keep  all 
busy  to  make  a  living,  and  no  remunerative  la- 
bor offering  to  enable  them  to  earn  money  to 
pay  the  annual  amount  coming  due  on  the  large 
tract  of  land  purchased  of  the  Rotch  estate, 
many  of  the  aoove-named  individuals  had  sold 
good  farms  or  homes  to  raise  money  for  the 
first  payment.  Some  began  to  feel  discouraged, 
and,  unable  to  accomplish  the  object  and  pur- 
pose for  wh.ich  thej'  came  together,  they  ga\'e 
it  up,  and  the  property  was  sold  to  Messrs. 
Duncan,  Wales  and  Skinner,  who  divided  it  into 
farms  and  town  lots,  and  sold  much  of  it  at  a 
good  profit,  and  divided  the  rest. 

■'  The  members  of  the  community  scattered 
in  various  directions,  each  pursuing  those  ob- 
jects in  life  most  likely  to  lead  him  and  his  to 
enjo}-  health,  wealth  and  happiness.  Some  of 
the  above-named  persons  still  remain  in  this 
neighborhood,  notwithstanding  the  wonderful 
changes  that  have  occurred  in  the  last  fifty-four 
years.' 

South  of  the  center  of  the  township  is  the 
village  of  Richville,  laid  out  by  John  Honk,  in 
183(5.  3Ir.  Houk  was  proud  of  the  title,  'the 
proprietor  of  Richville,"  and  did  what  he  could 
to  give  the  village  celebrity.  It  is  on  the  State 
road  running  from  Canton,  southwest  to  Navarre, 
in  Bethlehem  Township,  Wilmot.  in  Sugar  Creek 
and  Holmes  County. 

For  sixty-seven  j-ears.  Perry  Township  has 
been  an  organized  political  coramunit}-,  occupy- 
ing a  most  important  position  in  the  fertile  val- 
le\'  of  the  Tuscarawas.  East  and  west  of  the 
river,  it  produces  ever3'thing  that  any  township 


produces  in  an  agricultural  sense,  and  its  min- 
eral wealth  is  uncqualed  by  any  other  township 
in  the  Congressional  District. 

I'nder  the  great  and  onlightcncd  policy   that 


marks  Ohio's  history,  Perry  Township  must 
alwaj's  be  in  the  front  rank  of  the  townships  of 
the  county,  whose  boast  shall  soon  be,  that  she 
contains  within  her  borders  three  cities. 


CHAPTER    XIII.* 


THE  CITV   OK  .\I.\SSII.LON— ITS   lUKTU   AND  CliOWTFI  — ,\  DESTKUCTIVE  KIHE  — THE   lUlLDINCi  OF 

THE    CANAL  — THE    I'OST  OFEICE  — EUUC.VTIO.VAL  — THE  UNION  SCHOOLS  OF  MASSIL- 

LOX  — INrORl'ORATION    OF    THE    TOWN  — ITS    MUNICII'AL   GOVERNMENT. 


AS  noticed  elsewhere,  the  city  of  Massillon 
was  laid  out  as  a  village  in  the  winter  of 
1825-26.  One  of  the  first  lots  purchased  after 
the  village  had  "  a  local  haliitation  and  a 
name  "  was  purchased  by  C'apt.  Mayhew  Folger 
and  was  Lot  No.  4.5,  on  which  now  stands  the 
three-story  building  occupied  by  Clarence  L. 
Mcljain,  Ksq.,  as  a  store  ;  this  lot  was  purchased 
for  the  purpose  of  erecting  upon  it  a  hotel,  and 
which  was  built  and  opened  as  such  on  the  4th 
of  February.  1S28,  l)y  Capt.  Folger. 

.Mniost  cotemporaneous  with  that  purchase 
was  the  purchase  of  the  lot  on  the  southwest 
corner  of  Main  and  Mill,  by  Jacob  Miller,  Es(|., 
and  the  two  lots  west  of  it  extending  to  the 
alley.  On  the  corner  lot  purchased  by  Jacob 
Miller,  a  building  for  a  hotel  was  also  erected 
and  opened  in  the  autumn  of  1827,  and  occu- 
pied by  Mr.  Miller  for  many  years,  when  he  re- 
tired from  the  business  and  engaged  in  mer- 
chandising, and  was  elected  one  of  the  Asso- 
ciate Judges  of  the  county,  a  position  he  tilled 
until  his  death  in  February,  1843.  In  all  the 
relations  of  life.  Judge  Miller  commanded  the 
respect  of  his  neighbors  ;  his  father,  (Jeorgc 
Miller,  is  belic^ved  to  have  been  the  first  settler 
in  the  Township  of  Jackson,  having  erected  a 
cabin  on  the  west  side  of  the  Tuscarawas 
River  opposite  .Millport  as  early  as  1806. 
Judge  Miller  lost  no  time  in  filling  his  front, 
on  Main  street,  with  buildings  which  stood 
until  July.  18;");!,  when  a  fire  swept  out  the 
whole  square,  since  which,  the  lots  have  been 
divided  and  subdivided,  until  they  have  gotten 
into  their  present  shape,  forming  an  important 
business  block. 

On  the  27tli  of  August,  1851,  the  entire 
square,  from  the  northeast  corner  of  Main  and 

♦Conlributtd  l.j-  R..l.ert  H.  Folger. 


Erie  streets  to  the  northwest  corner  of  Main 
and  Mill  streets,  extending  north  to  Plum 
street,  was  swept  away  by  the  first  reallj' 
destructive  fire  that  occurred  in  the  city.  In 
this  lire  but  a  single  building  escaped  on  the 
entire  square,  and  that  was  the  building  adjoin- 
ing the  one  now  occupied  by  F.  Lehman  as  a 
book-bindery.  The  American  House,  then 
standing  on  the  corner  now  occupied  by  C.  L. 
McLain  as  an  extensive  drj'  goods  establish- 
ment, and  which  was  kept  by  Samuel  Hawk, 
late  of  the  St.  Nicholas  and  Windsor  Hotels  in 
New  York.  The  store  of  Messrs.  L.  &  S.  Ran- 
son,  the  dwelling  and  grocery  establishment  of 
N.  Sibila.  the  building  on  the  northwest  corner 
of  Main  and  Mill,  where  now  stands  the  Park 
Hotel,  as  well  as  all  others,  went  down  in  the 
general  conflagration,  thus  removing  many  of 
the  original  landmarks  of  the  village  of  5las- 
sillon.  The  first  dwelling  erected  within  the 
village  limits,  and  the  first  occupied  after  .Alas- 
sillon  was  known  as  a  village,  was  the  building 
on  the  southeast  corner  of  Erie  and  Oak  streets. 
It  was  erected  by  Julius  Heydon,  out  of  lum- 
ber gotten  for  a  building  in  Kendal  intcndetl  to 
be  a  home  for  the  family.  The  rapid  indica- 
tions of  growth  in  Massillon  induced  the  young 
man  to  consider  whether  the  new  village  did 
not  ofler  inducements  to  go  there  and  build  a 
home.  Accordingl)-,  after  considering  the  pos- 
sibilities and  probabilities,  he  determined  to 
purchase  the  above  described  lot,  and  did  so 
and  paid  Mr.  Duncan  $40  for  it,  and  erected  a 
portion  of  the  building  now  standing  thereon, 
and  known  as  the  Farmers'  Hotel. 

The  first  marriage  in  the  village  was  Julia 
A.,  a  sister  of  the  proprietor  of  the  building 
just  described,  and  William  M.  Folger,  now  re- 
siding   at    Mantua   Station,    Portage    Count}-. 


^- 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


This  marriage  took  place  on  the  18th  day  of 
May.  1826,  Hon.  (lilbertharp  Karle,  then  a  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace  of  Perry  Township,  otlieiating. 
Mrs.  Folger  died  in  the  city  of  Altron.  on  the 
5th  of  October,  1870.  Tije  first  marriage  iu 
Massillon,  according  to  the  ceremonj'  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  was  that  of  Her 
man  B.  Harris  and  Louisa  M.  MeClar}'.  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Morse,  Rector  of  an  Episcopal  Church 
in  iSteubenville,  lieing  the  olliciatinti-  minister. 
This  marriage  tooic  place  in  1832.  in  the  dwell- 
ing now  occupied  by  T.  Clarl<  Miller,  M.  D. 
Miss  McClary  was  a  niece  of  Mr.  Duncan,  the 
daughter  of  a  widowed  sister.  Mrs.  M.  H. 
McClary,  one  of  the  pioneer  women  of  Kendal, 
and  of  rare  accomplishments.  Slie  brought  a 
small  but  well-selected  library,  which  left  its 
impress  on  tlie  society  she  aided  in  building  up. 
Mr.  Harris  died  at  sea  on  his  way  to  Califor- 
nia, and  Mrs.  Harris  in  this  city  manj'  years 
since. 

The  next  building  erected  in  the  village  as  a 
dwelling-house  was  the  present  residence  of 
Hon.  S.  A.  Conrad,  now  a  member  of  the  House 
of  Representatives,  in  the  General  Assembly  of 
the  State  of  Ohio.  This  building  was  erected 
by  Dr.  Beriah  Broolis,  who  was  the  first  physi- 
cian in  the  county  west  of  Kendal,  and  the 
second  west  of  Canton.  Dr.  Brooks  was  from 
South  Hadley,  Mass.,  and  a  thorough  type  of 
the  New  England  Presbyterian.  He  first  set- 
tled in  Kendal,  and  as  a  physician  was  success- 
ful.    When  Massillon 

"From  dirt  and  seaweed  like  proud  Venice  rose." 

and  began  to  assume  the  proportions  of  a  vil- 
lage. Dr.  Brooks  was  one  of  the  first  to  rec- 
ognize its  importance,  and  at  once  pnrcliased  one 
of  the  most  eligible  lots  on  Main  street.  On 
getting  his  house  liabitable,  he  moved  into  it, 
buried  his  wife  from  there,  and  died  there  him- 
self in  1831. 

On  the  locating  of  the  canal  in  1825,  and  the 
letting  of  the  building  of  it  in  January-,  1826, 
an  entirely  new  and  dififerent  class  of  people 
came  into  the  village.  Before  these  events, 
Kendal  had  a  little  store  kept  by  Ambrose  Chap- 
man, and  a  still  smaller  one  by  his  brother 
Aaron,  who  was  a  sound,  orthodox  (Quaker,  and 
who  had  the  gift  of  making  money  out  of  his 
little  business.  He  moved  to  Morrow  County 
and  died.  Ambrose  died  before  Massillon 
sprang  into  existence.     In  January,   1826,  be- 


fore the  letting  of  the  contracts  for  the  building 
of  the  canal,  the  brotiiers  H.  and  H.  A.  How- 
ard, merchants,  who  had  settled  the  year  before 
in  Middlebury.  Portage  County,  furnished  a 
stock  of  goods  to  Isaiah  Brown,  a  most  enter- 
prising young  man  from  Berkshire  County, 
Mass.,  which  stock  he  opened  as  a  dry  goods 
store  in  Kendal,  and  was  successful.  He  de- 
termined at  once  to  go  into  business  in  the  new 
village,  and  made  arrangements  for  a  storeroom, 
which  was  erected  b}'  Isaac  Austin,  al)out  where 
now  stands  the  drug  store  of  Ph.  Morgen- 
thaler,  and  there  commenced  business  under  the 
firm  of  I.  Brown  &  Co.,  but  did  not  get  into 
their  new  building  until  near  the  close  of  the 
year. 

The  letting  of  the  contracts  on  the  canal  took 
place  at  Kendal,  at  the  residence  of  James  Dun- 
can. Es(|..  on  the  18th  of  January,  almost  co- 
tenipiiraneous  with  the  hiying-out  of  the  village 
of  .^lassiilon.  Work  progressed  on  the  canal 
rapidly,  tliat  portion  through  the  village  being 
done  by  Jesse  Rhodes  and  Horace  E.  Spencer  ; 
they  had  two  or  three  more  sections  of  half  a 
mile  each,  which  the}'  completed. 

Mr.  Duncan  and  (reorge  Wallace,  of  Brandy- 
wine,  Portage,  now  Summit  County,  built  the 
canal  through  the  stone  quarry,  on  the  east  side 
of  the  canal,  between  whose  work  and  the  village 
Aaron  Chapman  had  a  half  mile  to  build,  who, 
when  advised  that  he  had  succeeded  in  getting 
a  "job,"  advertised  for  laborers  and  added  at 
the  foot  of  his  advertisement,  •'  Those  who  can- 
not work  without  whisky  need  not  apply." 
The  result  was  tliat  Aaron  employed  no  whisky 
drinkers,  his  half-mile  of  canal  was  first  finished 
in  1828,  his  work  was  better  done,  and  while 
the  history  of  the  canal  lasts,  his  section  will 
be  remembered  as  one  built  without  whisky. 
Aaron  gave  his  men  liot  coffee  as  a  beverage, 
paid  them  promptly,  and  his  work  tells  its  own 
story.  Just  here  the  writer  desires  to  sa}'  that 
the  aqueduct  just  this  side,  north,  of  Bolivar, 
was  built  by  the  contractor,  John  Laughery, 
Esq.,  in  the  same  way  ;  no  intoxicating  licpior 
was  allowed  on  the  contract,  wet  or  dry.  and 
there  was  a  preponderance  of  wet  iu  the  con- 
struction of  an  aqueduct  to  take  the  canal 
across  the  river.  No  whisky  or  other  intoxicat- 
ing liquor  was  used  as  a  beverage  in  the  build- 
ing of  that  work.  Mr.  Laughrey,  the  contractor, 
was  a  most  worthy  man.  After  finishing  his  work 
on  the  canal  in  the  neighborhood  of  Massillon, 


b^ 


CITY    OF    MASSILLON. 


391 


he  was  largelj-  engaged  on  the  aqueduct  across 
the  Scioto  River,  at  Circleville,  Pickaway  Coun- 
ty; from  tliere  he  went  to  Adams  County,  and 
engaged  in  fruit  culture,  and  ended  a  long  and 
useful  life. 

As  the  work  of  building  the  canal  south  of 
the  Portage  summit  progressed,  business  cen- 
tered at  JIassillon.  the  only  important  point  in  i 
the  Tuscarawas  Valley,  north  of  New  Philadel- 
phia, and  south  of  Akron,  which  is  in  the  Cuya- 
hoga Valley,  and  as  fast  as  a  ro(jni  could  be  ' 
had  it  was  tilled.  The  first  stock  of  goods 
opened  in  the  village  as  a  store  was  that  of  A. 
McCulley  &  Co..  who  erected  a  small  building, 
where  now  stands  the  establishment  of  Messrs. 
P.  Dielhenn  &  Son.  This  establishment  was 
backed  up  by  Judge  William  Henry,  and  did  a 
wonderful  business.  The  Hon.  Bezaleel  Wells, 
almost  as  soon  as  lots  were  in  market,  pur- 
chased the  block  of  lots  on  which  now  stand 
the  stores  of  S.  Oberlin.  G.  L.  Albrecht.  Joseph 
Coleman,  watches  and  jewelry,  the  Union  Na-  I 
tional  Bank.  Joseph  Oppenheimer's  Star  Cloth- 
ing Store  and  the  First  National  Bank,  and 
erected  a  small  frame  and  put  in  a  stock  of 
goods,  previous  to  which  thej-  had  kept  as  a 
store  in  the  east  end  of  the  building  now  occu- 
pied by  T.  Clarke  Miller.  M.  I).,  the  style  of  the 
tiim  being  S.  0.  Wells  &  Co..  Samuel  0.  Wells 
being  a  son  of  the  senior  partner.  Thus 
it  will  be  seen  that  I.  Brown  &  Co.,  S.  O.  Wells 
&  Co.  and  A.  McCulley  &  Co.  were  first  to  en- 
gage in  the  business  of  merchandising  in  the 
n(  w  village,  all  of  whom  had  good  backing, 
Messrs.  Wells  &  Dickinson  being  in  the  film  of 
S.  0.  Wells  &  Co..  Judge  Henrv  in  that  of  A. 
McCulley  &  Co.  and  the  brothers  H.  &  H.  A. 
Howard  in  the  film  of  I.  Brown  &  Co.  Im- 
mediately following  them  came  Hiram  Johnson, 
from  Middlebury,  and  business  took  a  start — 
the  town  began  to  grow.  In  1828,  a  malignant 
fever  swept  over  the  Tuscarawas  and  Cuyahoga 
Valleys,  which  baffled  the  best  medical  skill 
that  could  be  had.  The  Howard  brothers  fell 
before  it,  as  did  almost  all  who  were  attacked. 
The  population  along  the  line  of  the  canal  es- 
pecially was  almost  decimated  ;  it  swept  over 
the  country,  scarcely  missing  a  house.  The  ne- 
crology of  that  year  records  the  death  of  many 
of  the  most  enterprising  citizens.  As  cold 
weather  came  on  and  the  ravages  of  the  disease 
were  staj'cd,  business  resumed  its  wonted  char- 
acter and  all  kinds  of  labor  found  employment. 


Still  progress  was  not  rapid  ;  there  was  a  full 
supply  for  every  demand.  Within  the  knowl- 
edge of  the  writer,  Capt.  Ma3'hew  Folgcr  sold. 
in  1826,  1(10  barrels  of  flour  at  $2  per  barrel. 
The  great  change  in  the  entire  business  rela- 
tions of  the  county  came,  but  too  late  in  the 
season  to  be  felt  to  any  great  extent.  On  the 
25th  of  August,  1828,  the  Ohio  Canal  was 
opened  from  Akron  to  Massillon.  The  first 
boats  that  arrived  here  were  the  Allen  Trimble 
of  the  Ohio,  Troy  &  Erie  Line,  Capt.  Z.  Matluu-, 
and  the  State  of  Ohio,  of  the  Farmers'  Line, 
Capt.  H.  Wheeler.  They  brought  the  Acting 
Commissioners  and  Engineers  and  the  event 
was  celebrated  with  bonfires  and  illuminations 
at  night  as  it  had  been  l)y  the  roaring  of  cannon 
during  the  day.  A  poem  was  written  for  the 
occasion,  a  single  stanza  only  of  which  is  re- 
membered, and  is  in  this  wise  ; 

•■  (■(  nil-  nivc  us  ;i  l)iiiiiii<r  ;iii(l  let  it  run  full 
Wliilc  we  drink  to  tlie  licaltfi  of  our  friend  .loliii- 

ny  Hull, 
And  long  nuiy  pio.^perity  follow  us  all, 
Wliilc  water  shall  run  iii  the  Ohio  Canawl." 

Navigation  was  thenceforth  open  between 
Massillon  and  the  outside  world.  Warehouses 
for  the  storing  of  produce  had  already  been 
erected  ;  a  system  of  warehousing,  in  the  nature 
of  a  foiwaicling  and  commission  business  was 
inaugurated,  and  a  new  impulse  was  given  to 
all  sorts  of  enterprises.  With  the  closing  of 
the  canal,  business  closed,  and  it  was  not  until 
1829,  that  a  regular  and  systematic  mode  of 
business  could  be  said  to  exercise  control  of  the 
commercial  relations  of  the  countr}-  just  opened 
to  the  rest  of  the  world.  Massillon  was  put  in 
communication,  bj-  means  of  canal  navigation, 
with  Cleveland,  and  the  world  was  open  to  her 
enterprise  ;  boats  continued  to  arrive  and  de- 
part during  the  season  of  the  open  canal.  In 
1820,  near  the  close  of  navigation,  a  mercantile 
film  ccmpos(d  of  liiiain  B.  Wellman  and  Mar- 
shall T).  Wellman,  by  the  firm  of  II.  B.  &  M.  D. 
Wellman,  brought  a  large  stock  of  goods  into 
Massillon.  H.  B.  Wellman  had  a  year  or  two 
before  opened  a  law  office  in  Wooster,  and  M. 
1).  Wellman,  who  had  been  a  cooper  and  set- 
tled in  Wooster,  left  there  and  went  into  the 
State  of  I'ennsylvania,  and  went  to  building 
canals  under  State  contracts,  and  succeeded  in 
money-making.  These  brothers  started  the 
firm  under  the  above  name.  On  opening  their 
store  in  Massillon,  thev  ofl'ered  ''cash  for  wheat, " 


HISTORY  OF    STAKK   COUNTY. 


and  advertised  tlie  public  that  the3-  would  take 
all  the  wheat  they  could  get,  and  would  pay 
cash  ;  and  that  was  the  commencement  of  the 
prosperity  of  Massillon.  To  the  firm  of  K.  B. 
&  M.  D.  Wellnian  may  be  accredited  the  begin- 
ning of  the  great  name  that  Massillon  acquired 
as  the  '•  AVheat  City,"  and  which  it  proudly-  held 
until  the  railroad  era  noticed  hereafter.  For 
twenty-five  years  Massillon  knew  no  competition 
nor  allowed  any  competition  to  cross  her  path. 
She  purchased  and  stored  wheat,  paid  the 
largest  prices,  and  grew  more  rapidly  than  any 
commercial  point  on  the  navigable  waters  of 
the  interior  of  the  State.  She  never  knew  what 
it  was  to  call  a  halt  until  the  building  of  the 
Ohio  &  Pennsylvania  Railway  and  the  numer- 
ous other  railways  which  ottered  transportation 
to  markets  with  which  she  cannot  nor  does 
compete  by  means  of  the  canal,  so  far  as  the 
grain  traffic  is  regarded  as  an  important  factor 
in  the  business  of  the  country. 

During  the  year  1827,  a  movement  was  made 
for  the  establishing  of  a  post  office  in  the  new 
village  ;  a  petition  was  forwarded  to  Hon.  John 
McLean,  then  Postmaster  General  under  Presi- 
dent Adams,  and  to  appoint  Capt.  Folger  Post- 
master, Kendal  then  being  the  post  office  at 
which  all  mail  matter  was  delivered  for  the 
county  west  of  Canton — Jackson.  Lawrence, 
Tuscarawas,  Sugar  Creek  and  Bethlehem  being 
without  any  mail  facilities.  Of  course  there 
were  rival  candidates  for  the  office,  but  Capt. 
Folger  received  the  appointment  and  opened 
the  office  in  January,  1828  ;  before  he  moved 
into  the  village,  his  first  Assistant  Postmaster 
was  Orlando  Keyes.  a  clerk  in  the  store  of 
Hiram  Johnson,  and  where  the  office  was  kept 
until  Capt.  Folger  removed  into  the  village, 
which — as  already  noticed —  was  on  the  4ch  of 
Februarj-,  1828  ;  he  then  opened  the  Commer- 
cial Inn,  and  kept  it  as  a  hotel  until  his  death 
on  the  1st  of  September* of  that  year.  The 
first  quarterly  report  from  Massillon  Post  Office, 
as  rendered  by  Capt.  Folger.  showed  a  balance 
due  the  (lovernment  of  80  cents.  Ou  the 
death  of  Capt.  Folger,  his  son,  William  M.  Fol- 
ger, was  appointed  and  held  the  office  until  the 
administration  of  Gen.  Jackson  got  fairly  at 
work,  when  Alexander  McCulley  was  ap- 
pointed, who  held  the  office  until  1839,  when 
the  late  Hon.  !Mathevv  Johnson,  Jr.,  was  ap- 
pointed. McCuUey's  accounts  had  got  into  a 
bad  shape,  the  drafts  upon  the  office  were  not 


paid,  and  McCulley  had  to  surrender  at  discre- 
tion. Mr.  Johnson  held  the  office  until  after 
the  election  of  "  Tippecanoe  and  Tyler  too,'' 
when,  under  tiie  Postmaster  Generalship  of 
Hon.  Francis  Granger,  of  New  York,  he  sur- 
rendered to  Dr.  Abel  Underbill.  The  Doctor 
held  the  office  until  a  few  months  after  the 
death  of  Gen.  Harrison,  President,  when  the 
Government  became  Tylerized,  and  he  was  re- 
moved to  make  room  for  G.  W.  Williams,  a 
Tyler  man.  A  change  of  administration  put 
him  out  and  Samuel  McCaughej'  was  appointed  ; 
he  held  until  another  change  of  the  appointing 
power,  when  Samuel  F.  Jones  took  charge  ;  he 
held  until  John  Shepley,  under  another  admin- 
istration, took  the  office,  who  was  removed  to 
make  room  for  John  J.  Hofnian,  who  held  the 
place  until  the  late  respected  Dr.  John  Schert- 
zer  took  the  office  and  held  it  two  terras,  when 
Isaac  H.  Brown,  Ksq.,  was  appointed  and  held 
it  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  who  got  their  mat- 
ter at  the  office,  when  he  gave  way  for  the 
present  incumbent,  Charles  F.  Ricks,  Esq., 
whose  second  term  expires  early  in  1882,  and 
who  has  rendered  entire  satisfaction  in  all  re- 
spects. The  writer  of  these  sketches  has  wit- 
nessed all  of  the  above  appointments  and 
changes  from  1828  to  the  present  time.  From 
the  appointment  of  Capt.  Folger  to  the  latest 
appointment,  he  has  had  an  opportunity  to  ex- 
press his  preference  between  the  applicants. 

Capt.  Folger  was  also  the  first  Collector  of 
Canal  Tolls  for  the  port  of  Massillon  ;  at  his 
death,  Hon.  James  Duncan  received  the  ap- 
pointment for  the  succession,  and  held  the 
office  manj-  years  ;  after  whom,  John  F]verhard, 
Mathew  Macy,  John  S.  Johnson,  Judge  Thomas 
Blackburn  and  others  successively  held  the 
office  ;  it  is  now  held  by  David  Atwater,  I'lsq. 

Prominent  among  the  early  business  men  of 
the  village  was  the  late  Hon.  John  Everhard. 
He  erected  the  first  brick  building  on  the  west 
side  of  the  canal,  and  opened  a  store,  his  firm 
being  J.  Everhard  &  Co.  Dr.  Thomas  Hart- 
ford, of  Canton,  being  his  partner.  Mr.  Ever- 
hard  erected  one  of  the  first  warehouses  for 
storing  wheat  that  was  erected  in  the  city,  and 
which  was  built  on  the  lot  where  now  stands 
Beattj''s  Block.  The  last  mentioned  building 
was  built  by  the  Johnson  Brothers  in  1837. 
who  from  1832  to  1845,  were  prominent  in 
business  circles.  Their  business  was  dry  goods 
and    commission    merchants,  produce  dealers. 


CITY    OF    MASSIIJ.ON. 


and  shippers  on  the  canal.  The  old  landmarks 
in  the  way  of  business  houses  that  have  stood 
more  tlian  fort3-  years,  are  the  building  erected 
by  Gen.  (Jardner  Field,  the  Farmers'  and  Me- 
chanics' Block,  erected  b\'  Ilogan  &  Harris, 
now  owned  by  Hon.  George  Harsh,  Coleman's 
Block,  northeast  corner  of  Main  and  Mill 
streets,  and  the  building  at  the  east  end  of  the 
canal  Ijridge,  south  side  of  Main  street.  Older, 
however,  than  any  other  building  in  the  city 
erected  after  the  city  was  laid  out,  except  the 
Farmers'  Hotel,  is  the  brick  l)uilding  on  the 
west  side  of  the  canal,  south  side  of  Main 
street,  erected  by  Judge  Everhard.  In  tiiis 
connection,  it  should  be  remarked  that  few 
men  among  the  earlj'  settlers  of  Massillon  have 
left  as  good  a  name,  or  one  that  will  be  re- 
membered in  greater  kindness.  Although  long 
years  have  passed  since  his  death,  his  name  is 
inseparably  connected  with  Massillon's  early 
history. 

The  first  saddler  and  harness-maker  wiio 
opened  a  shop  in  the  village  was  Thomas  S. 
Webb,  now  a  resident  of  the  city,  and  better 
known  as  Col.  T.  S.  Webb.  Since  Col.  Webb 
came  to  Massillon,  fift3-two  years  have  flown, 
during  whicli  period  Col.  Webb  will  be  remem- 
bered as  the  host  of  the  Franklin  House  in  this 
citj',  the  Eagle  and  Union  in  Philadelphia,  the 
National  in  New  York,  and  during  the  Centen- 
nial year,  two  in  Piiiladelphia.  after  having 
jears  before  retired.  As  a  hotel  keeper,  he  has 
achieved  a  world-wide  reputation. 

In  1831,  KS32  and  1833,  the  business  talent 
and  enterprise  of  the  village  was  largel3'  aug- 
mented by  the  new  firms  of  Hogan  &  Harris, 
Hull  &  S'hcpard,  A.  &  F.  Vinton,  and  J,  1).  & 
D.  R.  Atwater.  Messrs.  Hogan  &  Harris  were 
agents  for  the  Ohio,  Troy  &  Erie  line  of  canal 
boats,  and  diil  a  large  forwarding,  com- 
mission and  produce  business,  going  out  of 
business  with  the  changes  brought  aljout  by 
the  panic  of  1837,  Messrs.  ^'inton.  as  gen- 
eral dry  goods  merchants  and  produce  dealers, 
did  business  in  the  village  for  several  years, 
when  they  removed  to  Fort  Washington,  Tus- 
carawas Countj',  where  Mr.  F.  Vinton  died, 
after  many  years  of  suceessfid  business.  Messrs. 
Heill  &  Shepard  commenced  and  continued  in 
the  produce  business  also  for  many  years,  and 
erected  the  first  steam  flouring  mill  in  the  vil- 
lage. The  Atwater  Brothers  continued  in 
the  grocery  and  provision  business  until  1840, 


when  their  firm  was  dissolved  by  the  death  of 
Mr.  J.  J).  Atwater  ;  the  survivor,  1).  H.  .\t- 
water,  Esq.,  continued  business  until  his  death, 
on  the  31st  of  July,  1875,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
eight  years.  In  1833  also  came  Dr.  Joseph 
Watson  and  family,  from  Dalton,  Wajne  County. 
The  Doctor  at  once  opened  a  large  drug  store, 
and  continued  in  business  until  within  a  few 
}-ears  past,  when  he  disposed  of  his  stock  of 
goods  and  retired  from  business  and  is  now 
quietly  enjoying  the  luxur\'  of 

••HIcsl  rclirciiicMt.  I'l-ii'iiil  of  lifi-'v  (li'clinc." 

Tile  first  school  opened  in  Massillon  was  in 
1827,  in  a  l)uiiiling  standing  on  the  present  cor- 
ner of  Mill  and  Charles  streets,  which  had  been 
erected  by  James  Duncan,  the  proprietor,  for 
some  other  purpose. 

••  Tlicrc,  in  hi.';  noisy  mansion  skilled  to  rule. 
'I'lic  village  master  lauirlit  his  little  school." 

The  village  master  was  a  young  gentleman 
who,  in  the  autunni  of  that  jear,  had  left  his 
native  home,  Berkshire  County,  Mass.,  and  came 
west  to  find  employment  as  a  teacher.  That 
young  gentleman  is  now  known  in  Ohio  as  Hon. 
Harlow  Chapiu,  of  Ilarmar,  Washington  Co,. 
Ohio.  Ferry  Township  was  all  included  in  one 
district  under  the  law,  as  prepared  by  Hon. 
James  W.  Lathrop.  The  Directors  were  James 
Duncan,  Alexander  Johnson  and  Gilbertharp 
Earle.  Mr.  Duncan  was  a  resident  of  the  village, 
and  Mr.  Johnson  resided  on  his  farm  southwest 
of  the  village,  and  Mr.  Earle  on  his  farm  north- 
west. Tlie  amount  of  money  which  was  raised 
by  taxation  was  not  half  enough  to  pay  the 
teacher,  and  the  deficit  was  made  up  by  volun- 
tary- subscriptions  l)y  the  parents  or  guardians 
of  the  scholars.  The  School  Districts  of  Ferry 
Township  now  numlier  ten.  each  having  a  good 
schoolhouse.  independent  of  JIassillon  Union 
School,  which  enumerates  2,4C1  children  entitled 
to  the  benefits  of  the  common  school  fund. 

Mr.  Chapiu  had  tried  in  Medina  County  to 
obtain  a  school,  but  the  ground  was  occupied  ; 
he  came  into  Stark  County,  James  F.  Leonard 
being  then  a  School  Examiner  ;  under  the  pro- 
visions of  the  law,  although  Mr,  Chapin  was 
provided  with  a  certificate  from  Medina,  he  was 
not  authorized  to  teach  in  Stark  County  until 
he  could  produce  a  certificate  from  a  Stark 
County  Examiner.  On  making  the  acquaint- 
ance of  Mr.  Leonard,  whom  Mr.  Chapin  found  to 


304 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


he  a  "  very  kind-hearted  man,"  he  obtained  the 
necessary  authority  to  teach  in  Starli.  Armed 
with  the  proper  authority  and  encouraged,  with 
but  18f  cents,  as  money  was  then  counted,  in 
his  pocket,  he  arrived  at  Massillon  and  at  once 
took  lodgings  with  Jacob  Miller,  and  made 
known  his  business.  Mr.  Miller  said  a  school 
was  needed,  and  tendered  his  aid  at  once,  but 
there  was  no  building  suitable — in  fact,  no  build- 
ing at  all. 

It  would  be  interesting  to  narrate  the  trials 
and  tribulations  through  which  Mr.  Chapin 
passed  in  order  to  open  a  school.  Mr.  Duncan 
treated  him  with  habitual  kindness,  but  was 
'•  very  busj-,"  and  referred  him  to  the  other 
Directors,  Messrs.  Johnson  and  Earle,  who  gave 
little  encouragement.  The  truth  was  ever^-- 
body  was  poor  in  this  world's  goods  ;  they  were 
rich  in  hopes  of  the  developments  of  the 
"  sliadowy  future."  l)ut  they  had  not  learned  to 
wisely  improve  the  present  so  far  as  education 
was  concerned  ;  the}'  were  men  of  limited  edu- 
cation themselves,  consequently-  had  not  that 
appreciation  of  the  necessity  to 

"  Driuk  deep,  or  taste  not  the  Pierian  siu-iiig-." 

While  despair  seemed  almost  to  hold  Mr. 
Chapin  within  its  dreaded  grasp,  he  fell  in  with 
John  Everhard,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Massillon, 
a  School  Examiner,  a  gentleman  of  education 
and  refinement — a  son  of  Henry  Everhard,  a 
pioneer  settler  of  Plain  Township — and  who  at 
once  interested  himself  for  the  young,  friendless 
and  penniless  teacher.  Mr.  Everhard.  after- 
ward Associate  Judge  of  the  Common  Pleas 
Court,  went  to  the  Directors  and  obtained  their 
consent  to  the  opening  of  a  school  in  the  build- 
ing described,  and  which  is  well  remembered 
l)v  the  writei'  as  being  about  twenty  feet  square. 
A  contract  was  made,  and  Mr.  Chapin  opened 
the  first  school  in  what  is  now  the  city  of  Mas- 
sillon, the  teacher  to  receive  S12  per  month  and 
board,  which  was  to  be  with  Jlr.  Miller,  neces- 
saril}-  often  referred  to  in  these  sketches,  and 
who  gave  his  full  iuHuence  to  the  enterprise. 
All  arrangements  being  made,  no  time  was  lost 
in  obtaining  and  placing  ihe  meager  stock  of 
furniture  for  Mr.  Cbapiu's  school,  which  con- 
sisted of  four  long  slab  benches  or  seats,  with- 
out backs,  and  a  sort  of  sloping  shelf  on  one 
side  of  the  room  for  practicing  writing,  with  a 
large  open  fire-place  on  another  side  capable  of 
receivinff  cord-wood  from  which  to  warm  the 


room,  "  and  all  was  ready,"  as  Mr.  Chapin  says, 
for  the  first  school  in  Massillon. 

Mr.  Chapin's  first  term  was  such  a  success 
that  he  was  immediately  employed  for  a  second, 
at  the  end  of  which  his  school  closed  with  a 
theatrical  exhibition  in  the  ball-room  of  Judge 
Miller's  Hotel.  Mr.  Chapin  was  assisted  in  his 
histrionic  effort  to  close  his  school  with  eclat, 
by  outside  parties,  "  who  with  the  school 
acquitted  themselves  with  credit,  and  elicited 
praise  from  a  full  house.' 

Mr.  Chapin  furnishes  a  most  graphic  account 
of  his  labors  in  thus  starting  and  closing  the 
first  school,  and  which,  did  room  permit,  would 
cheerfully  be  given  at  length  ;  those  who  recol- 
lect the  early  means  of  education  may  make  a 
large  draft  on  their  imagination  for  what  he  has 
so  kindly  written,  in  aid  of  Massillon's  earlj- 
history.  Tn  naming  the  early  pupils  whom  he 
taught  in  the  little  building,  he  gives  tho.se  of 
Amelia  and  Fanny  Heydon,  the  former  of  whom 
is  now  Mrs.  Folger  of  this  city,  and  the  latter, 
Mrs.  Pinton,  wife  of  Alvin  Finton,  Esq.,  an  em- 
inent banker  and  capitalist  at  Xew  Philadel- 
phia and  Dover  in  Tuscarawas  Co.,  Ohio  ;  James 
Henr}',  son  of  Hon.  James  Duncan,  who  died  in 
1828,  an  unusually  bright  young  man,  whose 
death  was  long  mourned  by  his  parents  and 
friends  ;  Mary  G.,  daughter  of  .Mr.  Duncan,  af- 
terward wife  of  the  late  Hon.  J.  L,  Reynolds,  of 
Chicago,  now  residuig  at  (Irand  Rapids,  Mich.; 
Caroline,  also  a  daughter  of  .Mr.  Duncan,  after- 
ward Mrs.  Wheeler,  wife  of  Hon.  H.  Wheeler, 
Jr.,  Superiutendent  of  the  Massillon  Rolling 
Mill  Co.,  by  whom  she  was  left  a  widow  in  1841, 
she  subsequent!}-  married  David  J.  Ely,  Esq.,  a 
prominent  merchant  in  New  York,  and  is  now 
a  widow  enjojing  a  competence,  and  residing 
in  the  city  of  her  husband's  business  and  resi- 
dence. 5lr.  Chapin  also  mentions  (leorge,  a  son, 
whose  death  is  noticed  elsewhere  in  these 
sketches,  and  Mary  and  Clarissa  Miller,  daugh- 
ters of  his  patron  and  friend.  Judge  Miller; 
Mary  became  the  wife  of  Henry  Waggoner,  and 
died  in  Cuicinuati,  and  Clarissa,  by  her  second 
marriage,  is  the  widow  of  the  late  Dr.  J.  P.  Bar- 
rick,  her  first  husband  being  Pomro}'  Baldwin, 
Esq,  Mrs.  Folger  and  Mrs.  Barrick  are  the  last 
of  Mr.  Chapin's  scholars  now  residing  in  this 
city. 

After  Mr.  Chapin  concluded  his  teaching,  he 
went  into  the  service  of  the  State  as  engineer 
on  the  Ohio  Canal ;  thence  as  contractor  on  the 


-^ 


CITY    OF    MASSILLOX. 


395 


Muskingum  improvements.  He  married  Han- 
nali.  (laiigliter  of  Oilbortharp  Earle,  Esq.,  and 
lias  lived  in  Harmar  many  years.  He  repre- 
sented Washington  County  in  the  Constitutional 
Convention  of  1873,  and  life-long  has  sustained 
a  position  commanding  the  respect  and  esteem 
ol'  the  people  of  the  State. 

Mr.  Chapin's  school  was  followed  by  man}' 
teachers,  men  and  women,  and  among  those 
ever  ready  to  aid  in  the  cause  of  education  were 
Judge  Miller,  Hon.  .Vrvine  Wales  and  the  late 
Dr.  William  Bowen.  Dr.  Bowen  became  a  resi- 
dent of  this  city  before  the  organization  of  the 
Union  School,  and  remained  here  until  it  was 
in  successful  operation,  when  he  removed  to 
Akron,  where  his  useful  life  closed  a  few  years 
ago,  at  the  age  of  seventy  years.  Since  Mr. 
Chapin  closed  his  school  at  >Iassillon,  he  seems 
to  have  abandoned  the  profession  of  a  teacher, 
educated  as  a  civil  engineer,  and  succeeding  in 
getting  positions  more  to  his  taste  than  teach- 
ing ;  he  has  not.  since  leaving  Massillon,  accepted 
any  of  the  numerous  positions  as  an  educator 
that  have  been  within  his  reach.  His  failure 
to  follow  a  business  for  which  he  was  so  well 
qualified  by  nature  and  education  is  to  be  re- 
gretted, as  his  labors  as  a  teacher  in  this  city 
will  ever  be  kindly  remembered.  To  attempt  to 
enumerate  those  who  have  followed  him  in  this 
city,  between  the  time  of  his  teaching  until  the 
organization  of  the  Union  School,  now  the  pride 
of  the  city,  would  be  a  hopeless  task.  It  can- 
not, however,  be  said  of  him,  as  of  him  of  Sweet 
Auburn — 

"  But  past  is  all  his  fame  ;  the  very  spot. 
Where  man}-  a  time  he  triumphed  is  forgot." 

On  the  contrary,  he  will  be  ever  gratefully  re- 
membered by  his  surviving  pupils,  and  the  spot 
where  stood  the  old  schoolhouse  will  not  be 
permitted  to  be  lost  '■  in  memorj-'s  waste." 

The  influence  left  by  Mr.  Chapin's  .school 
continued  to  live  and  thrive.  The  people  of 
Massillon.  young  as  was  their  village,  fell  the 
importance  of  education.  They  realized  that 
England's  Lord  Chancellor,  who  defended  Queen 
Caroline,  uttered  a  great  truth  when  he  said, 
'•  The  schoolmaster  is  abroad,"  and  that  •■  the 
schoolmaster  is  greater  than  the  soldier. "  Mr. 
Chapin  was  succeeded  by  many  teachers  ;  the 
names  of  but  few  are  remembered.  John  Mark, 
Brice  S.  Hunter,  Wallace  and  Miss  Grosvenor 
are,  however,  among  those  whose  names  as 
teachers  deserve  mention. 


When  Messrs.  Duncan,  Wales  and  Skinner 
purchased  the  real  estate  of  the  '■  Kendal  Com- 
munity," they  laid  out  a  portion  of  it  into  lots 
as  an  addition  to  the  village,  and  named  it 
Duncan,  Wales  &  Skinner's  Addition.  This  was 
in  1832.  They  donated  a  square  containing 
near  two  acres  for  -  literary  purposes. "  The 
first  use  to  which  this  doiuition  was  put,  was  by 
a  Mr.  Wallace,  whose  Christian  name  is  not  re- 
membered ;  he  taught  for  some  time  success- 
fully, but  it  was  not  until  1848  that  .Massillon 
Union  Schools  were  organized  and  in  successful 
operation.  In  1847,  a  plan  of  a  union  school 
was  gotten  up  by  William  Bowen,  M.  D.,  who 
with  Arviue  Wales  and  Charles  London,  were 
elected  Directors.  The  plan  of  a  building  was 
fixed  upon,  and  on  the  21st  of  Februar}'.  1848, 
the  General  .\ssembly  of  the  State  of  (Jhio 
passed  "  An  iwi  entitled,  an  act  to  incorporate 
School  District  Number  One,  in  Perry  Township, 
Stark  County,  Ohio."  Under  that  act.  the 
Board  of  Directors  organized  bj-  electing 
Charles  London.  President  ;  Arvine  Wales, 
Treasurer;  and  William  Bowen,  Secretary.  Of 
that  first  Board  of  Directors  of  Massillon  Un- 
ion School,  Charles  London  is  the  sole  survivor, 
a  firm  friend  of  education,  honored  and  respect- 
ed wherever  he  is  known.  On  perfecting  their 
organization,  the  Board  appointed  Philander 
Dawley  (who  at  that  time  was  Superintendent 
of  the  Charily  Scltool  of  Kendal)  George  Miller 
and  Kent  Jarvis,  Esqs.,  examiners  for  the  dis- 
trict, to  serve  three  years,  two  years  and  one 
year  in  the  order  named.  The  teachers  em- 
ployed for  the  year  were  Lorin  Andrews,  Super- 
intendent and  I'rincipal,  salary  $8(10  ;  Miss  Bet- 
sej'  M.  Cowles,  $300  and  board  paid  ;  Miss  Jane 
M.  Becket,  $300  ;  Charles  It.  Shreve,  $200;  Mary 
Ann  llussell,  $225  ;  and  Sarah  J.  Ilox worth, 
$140.  In  184!l,  the  corps  of  teachers  was  in- 
creased by  the  addition  of  Miss  Sarah  C.  Pearce 
and  Mr.  Frederick  Jioefller,  teacher  of  German 
and  Music.  This  year  the  first  catalogue  was 
published  and  among  the  pupils  in  the  high 
school  is  found  the  name  of  W.  B.  Hiizen, 
Hiram,  Portage  County,  now  Gen.  W,  B.  Hazen. 
U.  S.  Array  and  Chief  of  tlie  Signal  Service. 
He  left  Massillon  in  1850.  and  was  appointed 
to  the  U.  S.  Military  Academy  that  year  or  the 
next,  graduated  after  the  usual  course  of  study, 
and  has  served  in  the  U,  S.  Army  with  distinc- 
tion ever  since. 

Mr,  Andrews  resigned  in  1 852  to  accept   the 


396 


HI8T0KY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


Presidency  of  Kenyon  College,  at  Gambler, 
Knox  Count}'.  Ohio,  where  he  remained  until  the 
breaking-out  of  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  when 
he  resigned  and  entered  the  army  ;  was  appoint- 
ed Colonel  of  the  Fourth  Ohio  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, and  died  in  the  service. 

The  Union  School  of  ^lassillon,  was  opened 
in  a  plain  substantial  brick  building,  erected  on 
the  lot  donated  by  Messrs.  Duncan,  Wales  & 
Skinner,  by  the  board  already  named,  and  it 
must  be  said  of  the  board,  the}-  builded  as  well 
as  they  knew.  They  had  no  experience  in 
building  or  fiirnisliing  such  houses  as  are  now 
required  by  the  Union  Schools  of  Ohio.  The 
building  stood  for  thirty  years,  when  it  yielded 
to  the  unchangeable  law  of  change  which  always 
enforces  obedience,  and  in  its  place  stands  the 
grandest  structure  in  Ohio,  finished  in  1879  at 
a  cost,  including  heating  apparatus,  seats,  an 
additional  square  of  land  purchased  on  the 
north  of  the  school  building,  outbuildings, 
well  and  cistern  and  grading  of  the  new  lot,  of 
$48,000,  imposing  a  tax  cheerfully  borne  by 
the  district.  The  board  who  erected  the  build- 
ing and  watched  its  progress  with  characteris- 
tic fidelity  were  Henry  Beatty.  John  R.  Dang- 
ler, J.  E.  Brown,  J.  (1. Warwick,  James  H.  Jus- 
tus, W.  B.  Humberger,  S.  A.  Conrad  and  Dr.  J. 
P.  Barrick.  ^Messrs.  Conrad  and  Humberger 
have  served  as  members  of  the  board  nine  and 
eight  years  respectively.  Dr.  Barrick  did  not 
live  to  witness  the  completion  of  a  work  to 
which  he  faithfully  devoted  his  careful  atten- 
tion. 

Of  the  many  Boards  of  Education  that  have 
been  elected  for  the  Union  Schools  of  Massillon, 
the  following  gentlemen  are  conspicuous.  The 
first  Board  entire,  Arvine  Wales  served  until 
his  death,  January  1,  1854.  Dr.  Bowen,  for 
his  devotion  to  the  cause  of  education,  as  does 
citizen  Charles  London,  deserves  especial  men- 
tion. Hon.  Arvine  C.  Wales  has  served  thirteen 
years.  Hon.  George  Harsh  was  elected  in 
1851  and  served  until  1869,  the  full  period  of 
eighteen  3'ears.  when  in  consequence  of  failing- 
health,  he  declined  a  seventh  election.  No  vil- 
lage or  city  in  Ohio  has  been  more  favored  in 
its  selection  of  wi.se  and  prudent  men  for  its 
school  boards,  than  has  the  city  of  Massillon. 
By  a  vote  of  the  citizens,  and  according  to  the 
provisions  of  the  amended  school  law,  the 
number  of  members  of  the  Board  was  increased 
from  thiee  to  six  and  the  following  gentlemen 


were  elected.  Hon.  Kent  Jarvis,  S.  A.  Conrad, 
James  H.  Justus,  Warren  C.  Richards,  Frank 
L.  Baldwin  and  William  B.  Humberger.  Messrs. 
Jarvis  and  Richards,  both  of  whom  were  for 
many  years  identified  with  the  public  service, 
holding  offices  of  trust,  the  duties  of  which 
they  always  faithfully  discharged,  are  dead. 

After  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Andrews,  Hon. 
Thomas  W.  Harvey,  late  State  Sciiool  Commis- 
sioner, was  appointed  Superintendent  and  held 
the  place  fourteen  years,  his  term  of  service 
closing  in  July,  1865.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Professor  Joseph  Kimball,  who  remained  until 
1869,  when  Prof  E.  A.  Jones  served  for  four 
j'ears,  until  1873.  Mr.  Jones  then  declining  a 
re-election,  D.  P.  Pratt  was  called  to  the  super- 
intendency  and  remained  from  1873  to  1875, 
when  Mr.  Jones  was  again  tendered  the  posi- 
tion and  accepted  and  remains  at  the  head  of 
the  schools. 

Among  the  teachers  who  have  served  long 
and  faithfully  should  be  named  Miss  Jane  M. 
Becket,  ten  years  in  the  high  school.  Miss  Nancy 
Stone,  in  the  different  departments,  including 
the  high  school,  fourteen  years,  both  of  whom 
are  well  known  in  Ohio  as  teachers  and  as  hav- 
ing occupied  important  positions  as  educators. 
Miss  Sarah  J.  Hoxworth  began  as  a  teacher 
in  the  primary  wlien  the  school  was  first  or- 
ganized, and  served  in  the  different  depart- 
ments until  1872,  when  she  resigned  her  posi- 
tion in  the  high  school,  having  taught  more  than 
twent3'-three  years  in  the  same  building.  Miss 
Sallie  Brannan  was  connected  with  the  schools 
as  teacher  thirteen  years,  and  is  now  teaching  in 
the  same  building.  Miss  Temperance  Dunn 
and  Miss  Sarah  R.  Folger,  ten  years  each. 
Miss  Dunn  is  not  now  living  and  Miss  Folger 
holds  a  prominent  position  in  the  "  Mann " 
High  School,  at  Toledo,  where  she  has  taught 
many  j'ears  since  leaving  the  high  school  here. 
For  nine  years  last  past  Mrs.  L.  D.  Pinaey  has 
been  Principal  in  the  high  school,  where  her  la- 
bors have  been  distinguished  bj'  marked  success. 
The  Union  Schools  of  Massillon.  whether  con- 
sidered in  the  past  or  present,  need  no  praise 
from  the  historian.  For  the  third  of  a  century, 
thej'  have  been  making  their  own  history,  and 
have  written  it  ineffiiceably  upon  the  character 
of  the  scholars.  Young  men  and  women  who 
have  graduated  there  and  become  teachers, 
entered  the  learned  professions,  graduated  at 
the  U.  S.  Military  and  Naval   Academies,  and 


^  a 


CITY    OF    MASSILLON. 


:!97 


have  arisen  to  honorable  distinction,  and  some  ' 
are  achieving  honorable  distinction  in  the  serv- 
ice of  the  State  and  I  nited   Stales. 

During  tliat  long  period  the  school  has  taken 
no  steps  backward.  I'nder  the  present  as  well 
as  the  past  management  of  the  Hoard  of  Edu- 
cation and  teachers  its  march  will  be  as  it  has  ^ 
been  onward  to  greater  improvement  and  greater 
excellence.  Its  present  Board  of  Hducation  is 
composed  of  the  following  gentlemen  ;  John  (J. 
Warwick.  Silas  A.  Conrad,  Ilenrv  Beatty.  Will- 
iam B.  Humberger.  William  H.  Justus  and 
John  K.  Dangler.' 

The  following  is  the  corps  of  teachers  :  Super- 
intendent. Prof.  K.  A.  Jones  ;  Principal  High 
School,  Mrs.  L.  D.  Pinney  ;  Assistant,  !Miss 
Cassie  Reamer;  (irammer  School,  Mr.  John 
Ellis.  Miss  Emily  Brainard,  .Miss  .Mary  Dieter, 
Mr.  Jacob  Graybill  and  Mrs.  Laura  Taylor; 
Secondary.  Miss  Susie  Graybill,  .Miss  .Alary 
Merwin,  Miss  Ella  Hershey,  Miss  Laura  Ware, 
Miss  A'iola  Pepper  ;  Primary.  Aliss  liachel 
Elsass,  Miss  Sallic  Braiman.  Miss  Bell  Willi- 
son,  Miss  Ijillian  I'lnian,  Miss  lleilly.  Miss  .\da 
Hollinger.  Miss  Louisa  Strobel  and  Mrs.  C. 
Moore  ;  (Jerman,  Mr.  Philip  Wilhelm  ;  Music, 
Prof  Whelpton. 

In  181^)8.  when  Hon.  Matthew  Johnson  was  a 
member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  in 
the  State  Legislature,  an  act  of  incorporation 
for  the  town  of  Massillon  was  obtained,  and  an 
organization  was  had  which  lasted  until  18-1.'), 
when  in  a  nswer  to  numerous  petitions  the  act 
was  repealed,  and  Massillon  was  not  known  as 
a  municipal  incorporation  until  1853.  when  un- 
der the  provisions  of  the  general  act  regulat- 
ing towns  and  cities,  it  was  again  incorporated, 
and  at  the  first  election,  held  on  the  28lh  day 
of  May,  1853,  being  the  first  election  under  the 
proceedings  to  incorporate  the  village,  Samuel 
Pease  was  elected  Mayor,  (i.  W.  Williams,  Re- 
corder and  Hiram  B.  Wellman,  Isaac  H.  Brown, 
Thomas  Mct'uUough.  \'aleutine  S.  Buckiusand 
Warren  C  Richards.  Trustees,  and  they  consti- 
tuted the  Council  of  the  incorporated  village  of 
Massillon.  On  the  31st  of  May  next  succeed- 
ing the  election,  the  persons  above  named  met 
at  the  ottice  of  II.  B.  Wellman.  and  were  duly 
sworn  according  to  law  by  Robert  H.  Folger, 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  the  Council  of  the  in- 
corporated village  was  organized  in  due  form 
of  law,  which  organization  continued  until  the 
17th   of  March,  1868,  when  by  act   of  R.    B. 


Ha3'es,  Governor,  J.  H.  Goodman.  Auditr^r  and 

John  Russell,  Secretary,  of  the  State  of  Ohio, 
it  was  advanced  to  a  city  of  the  second  class, 
the  preliminary  steps  to  eflect  the  change  from 
a  village  to  a  city  having  been  commenced  on 
the,  12th  of  February  of  that  year,  in  accord- 
ance with  a  numerous  petition  of  the  citizens, 
which  petition  was  referred  to  Robert  H.  Fol- 
ger, attorney  at  law.  with  instructions  to  take 
the  necessary  steps  to  procure  the  advancement. 
Upon  the  advancement  being  effected,  the  city 
was  divided  into  four  wards,  and  at  theelecti(m 
in  .Vpril.  1808,  the  following  persons  were  elect- 
ed to  the  .several  city  offices  : 

Mayor,  Bennet  B.  Warner  ;  Marshal,  Milo 
Alden  ;  Solicitor,  Louis  K.  Campbell.  Coun- 
cil—George  L.  Russell.  Charles  London,  First 
Ward  ;  Jacob  Herring,  Francis  Willenburg, 
Second  Ward  ;  Atlam  Mong.  Otis  (i.  Madison, 
Third  Ward  ;  Louis  (iies,  (ieorge  Bollinger, 
F(Knth  Ward.  David  W.  Huntsman  was  elect- 
ed Clerk  by  the  Council.  The  following  gentle- 
men are  charged  with  the  business  matters  of 
the  city  : 

Mayor,  L.  C.  Cole  ;  Marshal,  Frederick  Paul ; 
Street  Commissioner,  Louis  Limbach  ;  Treas- 
urer, Hermann  Shaidnagle  ;  Solicitor,  Otto  E. 
Young.  Council — lames  II.  .McLain.  George 
Snyder,  First  Ward  ;  Thomas  Lavier,  Jonas 
Sutz,  Second  Ward  ;  Conrad  N.  Oberliu,  Fran- 
cis Willenburg.  Third  Ward  ;  Anton  Bamberger, 
Joseph  Dressier,  I'ourlh  Ward. 

The  disasters  cdnnecled  with  the  old  corpor- 
ation of  Massillon— that  of  1838 — have  been 
carefully  avoided  by  the  late  ones.  The  city 
owes  no  debts,  and  while  it  is  constantly  pro- 
gressing, and  is  the  soundest  municipal  incor- 
poration in  the  Stale,  its  maxim  is  '  hasten 
gently.''  It  is  able  l<j  borrow  money  on  long 
loans  at  five  /we  ceutnm.  It  has  never  adopted 
the  plan  of  running  into  debt  for  the  purpose 
of  making  improvements,  preferring  to  see  its 
growth  forced  by  the  natural  course  of  events. 

For  beauty  of  natural  surroundings  it  is  un- 
surpassed. ■'  I  would  not  have  the  hills  sur- 
rounding Massillon  leveled  if  I  could,''  said  Mr. 
Duncan,  the  proprietor  of  the  village,  in  reply 
to  a  friend  who  objected  to  the  location  because 
of  its  hilly  surroundings.  '  The  day  will  come," 
said  he,  "  when  those  hills  will  be  covered  with 
residences  overlooking  the  city,  to  which  the 
hills  will  but  add  beauty,  and  .Massillon  will  be 
celebrated  for  its  beauty, " 


398 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


What  was  then  regarded  as  a  wild  creation 
of  Mr.  Duncan's  fancy  has  grown  into  a  beau- 
tiful reality,  and  vindicates  his  Judgment  as  to 
wiiat  the  future  would  develop. 

In  18in,  Judge  Henry  laid  out  an  addition 
to  the  original  plat,  and  called  it  West  Massil- 
lon.  That  portion  of  the  cit3'  is  now  included 
in  the  Second  and  Third  Wards,  and  is  a  most 
important  part  of  the  city.  On  that  tract,  tiie 
south  end  of  fractional  Section  G,  and  former- 
ly in  Tuscarawas  Township,  is  located  that  por- 
tion of  the  Cleveland,  Tuscarawas  Valley  & 
Wheeling  Railway,  the  bnildings  of  which  cor- 
poration stand  on  the  ground  where  stood  the 
cabin  of  Judge  Henry,  and  where  he  first  had 
his  home.  It  was  in  that  cabin  that  his  daugh- 
ter, afterward  Mrs.  Cummins,  was  born,  and 
who  was  the  first  white  female  child  born  on 
the  territory  known  as  the  New  Purchase,  the 
first  male  child  being  a  son  of  Peter  Slusser  ; 
he  was  born  on  the  territory  now  included 
within  the  limits  of  Tuscarawas. 

The  only  item  of  a  pre-historic  character 
that  has  been  developed  in  Massillon  oi'curred 
in  1832,  when  Christian  Witt,  from  Lower 
Alsace,  and  some  fellow-laborers  by  the  name 
of  Miller  and  Simmons,  while  ditching  what 
was  then  the  swamp  south  of  the  village,  and 
near  where  now  stands  the  paper  mill,  found 
two  tusks  of  a  mammoth,  each  eleven  feet  in 


length  and  twent3'-seven  inches  in  circumfer- 
ence at  the  larger  end.  They  were  justlj-  re- 
garded as  a  great  affair.  The  finders  conclud- 
ed that  there  was  money,  if  not  millions  in  it, 
and  arranged  for  traveling  and  exhibiting 
them.  Thej"  employed  an  agent  to  manage  the 
business,  and  Witt  went  to  Pittsburgh  with  the 
part}-,  wiien  he  became  satisfied  that  there  was 
not  so  much  in  it  as  he  had  supposed,  and 
came  home,  leaving  Miller,  Simmons  and  the 
agent  to  make  the  most  of  the  "  show  business.  " 
They  went  to  Philadelphia  where  they  left  the 
tusks  and  came  home.  Similar  discoveries  have 
been  made  in  the  Tuscarawas  Valley,  but  with 
the  finding  all  information  in  regard  to  them 
ceased.  Indian  relics  have  been  found  in 
various  parts  of  the  township,  but  notiiing  of 
an  uncommon  character. 

On  the  obtaining  by  the  (xovernment  of  the 
United  States  the  title  to  the  New  Purchase,  by 
the  treaty  of  Fort  Industry  the  tribes  named 
in  the  treaty  departed  toward  the  setting  sun, 
and  few  remained  on  the  coming  of  the  pale 
faces.  In  the  language  of  Ossian  '  The  chiefs 
of  other  times  are  departed.  They  have  gone 
without  their  fame.  Another  race  has  arisen. 
The  people  are  like  the  waves  of  the  ocean  ; 
like  the  leaves  of  woody  Morven,  they  pass 
away  in  the  whistling  blast,  and  other  leaves 
lift  their  green  heads  on  high.' 


CHAPTER    XIV. 


THE  CITy  OF  MASSILLON  — MANUFACTURING  INTERESTS  — KU.SSELL  &  COMI'ANVS   WORKS  —  THE 
MASSILLON  IRON  COMPANY— OTHER    INDUSTRIES— COAL  INTERESTS— RAIL- 
ROADS OF  MASSILLON— THE  liANKING  ISUSINES8,  ETC. 


■■  Huriies.s  me  ddwii  with  youi-  iron  bands." 
—  Cutter. 

IN  1 832,  in  the  presence  of  the  writer,  a  casual 
conversation  on  the  subject  of  manufact- 
uring pig  iron  sprang  up  between  Jesse  Rhodes 
and  James  Duncan,  the  result  of  whicii  was  the 
taking  of  immediate  measures  to  erect  a  blast 
furnace  at  or  near  the  village  of  Massillon.  Mr. 
Rhodes  had  been  in  the  employ  of  Laird,  Nor- 
ton &  Co.,  proprietors  of  Congress  furnace,  and 
had  acquired  a  considerable  knowledge  on  the 
subject  of  manufacturing  pig  and  iron  castings 

*  Contributed  l.y  Robert  H.  Kolgei-. 


The  Massillon  Iron  Company  was  formed,  con- 
sisting of  James  Duncan,  Joseph  G.  Hogau,  Her- 
man R.  Harris  and  Jesse  Rhodes.  The  business 
was  not,  however,  confined  to  the  making  of  pig 
iron.  Castings  of  all  kinds  were  made — the  old- 
fashioned  ten  plate  stove — specimens  of  which 
can  be  found  in  the  count}-,  and  all  other  kinds 
of  ironware,  now  only  made  at  foundries,  in- 
cluding tea  kettles,  sugar  kettles,  and,  in  short, 
everything  under  the  general  nomenclature  of 
"  castings.''  The  furnace  was  erected  and  put 
in  operation  in  1833,  on  the  west  bank  of  Sippo 
Creek,  south  of  Main  street,  near  the  present 


CITY   OF    MASSII.LON. 


.!> 


eastern  limits  of  the  city,  where  some  marks  of 
its  having  stood  can  yet  be  found.  The  Mas- 
silion  Iron  Company'  stopped  business  in  1838, 
when  Messrs.  Hart  &  Brown  boui;ht  out  the 
coinpanj-,  tlie  furnace  was  abandoned.  Messrs. 
Hart  &  Brown  purcliascd  the  patterns  an(i  otiier 
stock  re(|uisite  for  a  foundry  and  niachine-sliop, 
and  started  the  first  foundry  in  the  county,  in 
January.  183it.  in  a  tliree-story  stone  building, 
which  stood  where  now  stands  the  main  build- 
ing of  the  Excelsior  Works.  That  building  was 
burned  in  1840.  :ind  was  the  lirst  lire  of  any 
magnitude  in  the  village.  When  burned,  it  was 
occupied  liy  Hart  &  Brown  as  a  machine-shop  ; 
.■NIcMillau.  l'artri<lge&  Co.  ;  as  a  manufactory  of 
all  sorts  of  machinery  for  woolen  mills  ;  John 
H.  Wheeler,  carpets,  and  John  Harlness,  window 
sashes,  blinds  and  doors.  The  brick  building, 
lately  occupied  by  the  Kxcelsior  Works,  was 
built  in  1843.  Messrs.  Hart  &  Brown  went  out 
of  business  in  1858.  Of  all  the  persons  named 
in  the  foregoing  article,  Mr.  Brown  alone  remains 
in  this  city.  Mr.  Hartncss  resides  in  Cleveland, 
and  the  rest  are,  some  of  them  dead,  and  some 
scattered  over  the  Western  States. 

The  first  of  the  followers  of  St.  Crispin,  who 
was.  and  still  is,  at  the  head  of  his  profession 
as  in  Massillon's  early  days,  was  Col.  Benjamin 
Baser.  He  is  one  of  Massillon's  earliest  citizens, 
having  come  into  the  count}-  in  1825,  and  to  the 
little  village  as  soon  as  it  obtained  a  place  in 
history.  In  the  earlier  and  better  daj's  of  this 
city's  history,  when  sc^rne  attention  was  paid  to 
the  organizing  and  disciplining  of  the  militia, 
.Mr.  Kascr  was  elected  Colonel  of  a  regiment  in 
the  Third  Brigade  and  Sixth  I )i vision  of  Ohio 
Militia,  and  came  near  being  called  into  active 
service  in  the  long-time-ago  unpleasantness  be- 
tween Ohio  and  her  loving  sister  Michigan. 

Col  Kaser  and  his  excellent  wife,  a  daughter 
of  (Hitfitii  Cooper,  one  of  Perry  Township's 
pioneers,  celebrated  their  golden  wedding  a  few 
months  since. 

The  first  carpenter  in  the  village,  and  who 
became  a  property  holder  immediateh"  on  the 
lots  coming  into  market,  was  Hamilton  Sherer. 
The  property  he  purchased  is  now  held  by  his 
heins.  and  is  valuable. 

The  great  and  crowning  glory  of  Massillon 
industries  is  the  mammoth  establishment  of 
Russell  &  Co.,  manufacturers  of  the  celebrated 
Massillon  threshers,  horse-powers,  etc.  It  was 
started  on  the  Istof  January,  1842,  consequently 


antedates  all  other  manufacturing  establish- 
mentsof  asimilar  kind  now  in  Stark  County,  At 
the  date  above  given,  three  brothers — Charles  M ., 
Nahum  S.  and  Clement — carpenters  by  trade, 
formed  a  partnership  in  Massillon,  under  the 
style  of  ('.  31.  Kiisscll  <.t  Co.,  for  the  manufact- 
ure of  threshers  and  horse-powers,  in  connec- 
tion with  their  business  as  architects  and  build- 
ers. Their  capital  stock  was  $1,500,  with  which 
they  began  work  fortj-  j-ears  ago.  The  senior 
partner  had  seen  and  carefully  examined  the 
Pitts  Buffalo  Separator,  which  had  already  been 
constructed  and  in  use,  and  on  that  examina- 
tion Mr.  Russell  believed  that  he  saw  where  im- 
provements might  be  made,  ami  with  character- 
istic energy  set  about  trying  to  make  it  better, 
and  so  succeeded  that  the  improved  machine 
took  the  premium  at  the  Ohio  State  Fair  at 
Columbus  in  1845. 

Thus  encouraged,  the  new  firm  pushed  ahead, 
sparing  no  effort,  and  met  with  continued  en- 
couragement in  their  progress.  They  continued 
to  improve  all  their  machiuerv,  and  led  all 
competitors  in  the  race  for  popularity.  When 
the  far-reaching  influence  of  what  is  now  the 
great  railwaj'  system  of  the  Western  Continent 
reached  Massillon  in  1847,  the  firm  of  C.  M. 
Russell  &  Co.  at  once  gave  it  their  influence. 
As  the  history  of  the  Ohio  &  Pennsylvania 
Railroad  attests,  they  took  stock,  the  elder  Mr. 
Russell  was  a  contractor  who  built  large  por- 
tions of  the  road,  and  with  all  their  other  busi- 
ness, built  cars  for  freight  and  passengers. 
After  the  road  was  opened  to  Massillon.  Mr.  C. 
M.  Russell  was  elected  a  director,  which  place 
he  held  by  successive  re-elections  until  his 
death  in  February,  IStJO,  which  made  a  break 
in  the  business  of  the  firm,  which  had  gone  on 
uninterruptedly  for  eighteen  years.  The  death 
of  the  senior  partner  dissolved  the  lirm  of  C. 
M.  Russell  &  Co.,  and  the  survivors  immedi- 
ately re-organized  by  the  name  and  style  of  X. 
S.  &  C.  Russell,  which  continued  until  January 
1,  18()4,  when  the  brothers  Joseph  K.,  Thomas 
H.  and  (Jeorge  L.  Russell  purchased  an  interest 
and  were  admitted  as  partners,  and  the  lirm 
name  changed  to  Russell  &  Co..  which  it  still 
bears.  One  year  later,  W.  K.  Miller  and  Thomas 
H.  Wilhams,  Ks(js..  were  admitted  to  member- 
ship in  the  firm. 

In  1S57.  Mr.  .Miller  perfected  and  patented 
the  I'eerless,  originally-  called  the  Russell 
Mower  and   Reaper,  and    this   successful  ma- 


^ 


^^ 


400 


HISTORY   OF    .STARK    COUNTY. 


chine  was  maaufactured  by  Russell  &  Co.  up 
to  1871.  In  the  spring  of  that  year,  the  '■  Peer- 
less "  was  sold  to  C.  Russell  &  Co.,  of  Canton, 
and  its  production  transferred  to  that  city,  Mr. 
Miller  withdrawing  to  take  the  superintendencj' 
of  the  Canton  establishment.  Prior  to  1865, 
the  shops  were  located  on  Erie  street,  ijetween 
Tremont  and  South,  north  of  the  Pittsburgh, 
Fort  Wayne  &  Cliicago  Railway.  I)ul  the  busi- 
ness having  (lutgruwn  their  iirnduriiig  larilitics. 
at  this  time  the  lirm  drcidcii  U>  erect  more  t-om- 
modious  and  convenient  Ijuildings  just  south  of 
the  railway.  Accordingly,  in  18(54-05,  the  pres- 
ent extensive  and  substantial  buildings  were 
put  up  and  equipped  with  improved  machinery. 
tools,  and  every  convenience  requisite  to  the 
rapid  and  economical  manufacture  of  their  in- 
creasingly popular  products.  In  the  summer 
of  1868,  Mr.  T.  H.  AVilliams  retired  from  the 
firm.  In  December,  1871.  Mr.  Allen  A.  Russell, 
the  youngest  brother,  and  Alanson  A.  Rawson, 
since  deceased,  a  nephew  of  the  brothers  Russell, 
became  members.  On  the  1st  of  January,  1878, 
the  firm  was  dissohed  by  mutual  consent,  Mr. 
Clement  Russell,  one  of  the  original  meml)ers. 
retiring,  and  has  since  had  no  connection  with 
the  house. 

On  the  17tli  of  May,  1878,  just  as  tiiey  were 
fairly  under  way  for  the  season's  business,  fire 
destroyed  all  their  iron  working  machinery, 
wagon  stock  and  thirty-six  years'  accumulation 
of  patterns,  the  latter  having  cost  not  less  than 
$75,000,  and  throwing  250  men  out  of  employ- 
ment. The  entire  south  wing  and  one-half  of 
the  Erie  street  front  of  the  main  Iniilding, 
were  destroj'ed,  invohing  a  loss,  exclusive  of 
that  in  patterns,  of  .$75,000.  The  whole  amount 
of  insurance  realized  was  $53,100.  Many  of 
the  valuable  patterns  could  never  be  replaced, 
and  the  net  loss  by  the  disaster  was  estimated 
at  $50,000.  The  tire  liroke  out  soon  after  1 
o'clock,  A.  M.,  and  had  it  not  been  for  tlie 
almost  superhuman  exertions  of  the  flre  depart- 
ment, aided  bj-  citizens,  the  entire  works  would 
have  been  destroyed.  Fortunately  about  tvvo- 
thirds  of  the  main  building  was  saved.  At 
daylight  the  next  morning  seventy  men  v\'ere 
set  to  work  on  the  ruins,  and  two  of  the  part- 
ners started,  one  East  and  the  other  West,  to 
procuri'  inacliiiiery  to  replace  that  destroyed. 
Such  [iromptitude  and  pluck  are  characteristic 
of  the  enterprise  of  the  firm.  By  the  kindness 
of  C.  Aultman,  Esq.,  of  Canton,  and  Capt.  J. 


H.  Kauke,  of  Wooster,  machinery  which  they 
had  in  charge  as  assignees,  was  promptly  loaned 
to  the  firm  until  new  machinery  could  be  pro- 
cured. Gas  was  put  into  the  works  and  a  sup- 
plementary engine  attached  to  run  the  foundry; 
so  that  just  one  week  from  the  time  of  the  fire 
they  were  running  the  iron  department  double 
time  to  make  up  for  lost  time,  and  within  thirty 
days  were  turning  out  their  full  complement  of 
machines.  The  Erie  street  front  was  rebuilt 
during  that  summer,  and  in  order  to  make  more 
room  in  the  works,  the  office  was  removed,  and 
the  present  elegant  and  spacious  two-story  office 
building  was  erected  the  same  _year,  and,  in  the 
winter  ( if  1 S80-81,  erected  a  four-story  new  brick 
wareliiiusi'  250  feet  in  length. 

In  the  lall  of  1878,  Russell  &  Co.,  under  the 
general  law  of  Ohio,  without  a  change  of  stjle, 
became  an  incorporated  body.  The  corporators 
were  .J.  E.  McLain,  N.  S.  Russell,  J.  K.  Russell, 
T.  H.  Russell,  G.  L.  Russell,  A.  A.  Russell  and 
J.  W.  McClymonds.  Capital  stock,  $500,000. 
The  first  election  resulted  in  the  selection  of 
Nahum  S.  Russell,  President;  J.  W,  McCly- 
monds, Secretary  and  Treasurer  ;  T,  H.  Russell, 
Superintendent ;  since  which  they  have  created 
the  office  of  Assistant  Secretary  and  Treasurer, 
to  which  position  Mr.  C.  M.  Russell  has  been 
elected.  The  works  have .  been  repeatedly 
enlarged  and  improved  until  they  now  comprise 
one  of  the  largest  and  most  complete  manufact- 
uring establishments  on  the  VVestern  Conti- 
nent. The  premises  have  an  area  of  about 
seven  acres.  A  convenient  side-track  connect- 
ing with  all  the  railroads  runs  alongside  the 
shops  with  excellent  facilities  for  receiving 
materials  and  shipping  products.  The  works 
are  splendidly  equipped  with  every  mechanical 
appliance  calculated  to  expedite  manufacturing 
operations  and  processes,  thus  reducing  to  the 
minimum  the  cost  of  production,  and  enabling 
Messrs,  Russell  &  Co,  to  place  upon  the  market 
their  superior  machines  at  figures  which  defj^ 
competition.  The  entire  establishment  in  all 
its  parts  is  governed  by  a  perfect  system  and 
discipline.  The  several  departments  are  under 
the  watchful  and  vigilant  care  of  practical 
members  of  the  companj',  who  see  to  it  that 
nothing  in  the  way  of  labor  or  material  is  neg- 
lected or  executed  in  any  unworkmanlike  man- 
ner, Mr,  Thomas  H,  Russell  is  charged  with 
the  general  superiutendency  of  the  establish- 
ment,    Mr,  Joseph  K.  Russell  has  the  purchas- 


^- 


CITY    OF    MASSILLON. 


401 


ingof  the  lumber  and  the  general  management 
of  the  wood-working  department.  Mr.  George 
L.  Russell  has  charge  of  the  metal- working 
department.  Mr.  Allen  A.  liusscll  has  super- 
vision of  the  finished  machines  and  territorial 
agencies,  several  hundred  in  number.  His  resi- 
dence is  in  Indianapolis. 

Russell  &  Co.  have  branch  houses  at  Indian- 
apolis, Ind.,  Mr.  (1.  W.  Harbaugh,  manager; 
Council  Blufl's,  Iowa,  Mr.  V.  S.  Russell,  mana- 
ger ;  8t.  Joseph,  Mo.,  Mr.  (Jeorge  O.  Richard- 
son, manager;  Dallas,  Tex.,  Mr.  V.  R.  Rowley, 
manager  ;  Mc(Jregor,  Iowa,  Mr.  G.  W.  I'rim, 
manager.  The  number  of  workmen  employed 
in  all  ilupartraents  is  425.  whose  monthly  wages 
exceed  •■<18.(IOlt.  The  aggregate  product  of  their, 
extensive  establishment  approximates  .•?  1.500,- 
000.  A  description  of  the  ditt'erent  kinds  of  work 
manufactured  by  .Messrs.  Ru.ssell  &  Co.,  does 
not  come  within  the  scope  and  design  of  this 
work.  It  is  sufficient  t<3  say  that  they  invite 
competition.  They  are  the  only  establishment 
that  has  taken  hold  of  the  threshing  machine 
business  in  the  city  of  Massillon  and  reduced 
it  almost  to  an  exact  science,  their  labors  are 
rewarded  b3'  a  market  for  their  products  all 
over  the  United  States  and  Territories,  Ger- 
many. Russia.  South  America,  Australia  and 
New  Zealand. 

While  the  old  firm  of  C.  M.  Russell  &  Co. 
were  not  the  first  to  engage  in  the  building  of 
threshing  machines,  they  were  first  to  see  what 
the  business  could  be  brought  to  by  care  and 
attention.  The  first  machines  tiiat  were  built 
in  Massillon  were  called  the  '■  Pitts  Separator," 
and  were  introduced  liy  H.  I).  .Jameson,  from 
Rochester,  N,  Y.;  he  built  100  in  one  year,  in 
ls:i8  or  1839,  when  his  works  were  closed  by 
Ills  sudden  death.  Messrs.  Kuapp  &  McLain 
embarked  in  the  business  about  the  same  time, 
but  did  not  continue. 

The  making  of  pig  iron  received  little  or  no 
attention  until  IS.')!}'  when  the  late  M.  D.  Well- 
man  conceived  the  idea  that  that  branch  of  in- 
dustry could  be  succ(!ssfully  carried  on  here, 
and  by  subscriptions  of  money  added  to  his 
own  capital,  which  had  become  much  impaired 
by  unsuccessful  ventures,  he  erected  the  fur- 
nace latelj'  torn  down  to  make  room  for  the 
glass-works  now  aliout  to  lie  erected,  and  which 
was  a  success  as  a  manufactory  of  pig-iron, 
and  a  source  of  wealth  to  the  owners.  During 
much  of  the  time  that  it  had  an  existence,  the 


fluctuations  of  business  after  it  had  passed  out 
of  Mr.  Wellman's  hands,  ruined  the  iron  manu- 
facturers, and  the  "  Massillon  Furnace  "  passed 
out  of  existence,  and  as  incidentally  noticed 
above,  in  its  place  is  to  be  glass-works.  In 
185.5,  Messrs.  Hiram  B.  Wellman,  .James  S. 
Kelley  and  others  seeing  the  success  of  the 
Massillon  Furnace,  as  it  was  called,  determined 
to  build  another,  and  accordingly  the;  A'olcano 
Iron  Company  was  incorporated  under  the  gen- 
eral law  of  Ohio,  and  went  into  operation.  It 
was  a  failure,  and  made  bankrupt  many  of  the 
stockholders,  was  sold,  and  is  now  owned  by 
the  \'olcano  Furnace  Company,  the  principal 
stockhoklers  of  which  are  .James  Lee,  Esq.,  and 
Hon.  Anthony  Howells,  late  Treasurer  of  the 
State  of  Ohio,  under  whose  judicious  manage- 
ment it  promises  success.  As  this  work  goes 
to  press  a  new  enterprise  for  the  Tuscarawas 
Valley  and  the  city  of  Massillon.  in  the  shape 
of  glass  works  for  which  Massillon  afl'ords 
abundant  facilities,  is  fully  inaugurated  with 
ample  capital,  skill  and  experience  on  the  part 
of  the  proprietors. 

Inside  of  the  city  limits  are  the  Merchant 
Flouring  IMills  :  Messrs.  Warwick  &  Justus,  and 
Isaac  N.  Doxsee,  in  the  Sippo  A'^alley  ;  Messrs. 
Kitchen  &  Sons,  on  Tremont  street,  west  of  the 
Tusear.awas  River,  on  the  line  of  the  C,  T,  Y.  & 
Wheeling  Railway  ;  .McLain  Brothers,  on  Ex- 
change street,  in  the  heart  of  the  city  ;  A.  A, 
Taylor,  Esq.,  on  North  Erie  street,  and  George 
Heppert,  on  the  northwestern  boundary  of  the 
Third  Ward,  Messrs,  Kitchen.  McLain  Broth- 
ers and  Taylor  use  steam  exclusively,  while  the 
rest  use  steam  and  water.  Just  above  the  cilv 
limits  is  the  Crystal  Spring  Mill,  also  owned 
and  run  by  the  McLain  Brothers,  making  seven 
extensive  flouring  mills  in  and  near  the  city  ; 
and  which,  if  they  are  not  already,  can  be  put 
within  call  of  each  other  by  telephone,  and 
which  consume  more  wheat  annually  than  was 
ever  consumed  or  purchased  during  the  busiest 
days  of  the  wheat  city.  Independent  of  the  great 
coal  interests  of  the  city.  Massillon  supports 
more  than  fift\-  establishments  of  various  kinds, 
manufacturing,  commercial  and  industrial,  and  in 
addition  to  those  above  enumerat«l,  including 
an  extensive  paper  mill,  under  the  general  man- 
agement of  C,  T,  Bicknell,  Esq,,  also  foundries 
and  machine-shops,  each  carrying  on  a  healthy 
and  paying  business.  Its  stone  quarries  within 
and  just  outside  the  citj-  limits  are  a  great 


^1 


402 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COTTNTY. 


source  of  revenue,  antl  furnish  emplo}  ment  to 
all  who  want  work.  A  sale  of  the  stock  in  trade 
and  fixtures  of  a  single  one  of  these  establish- 
ments, in  the  early  part  of  June,  in  the  present 
j'ear,  for  $35,000,  exhiliits  the  importance  of 
that  branch  of  trade  in  this  cit3'. 

The  formation  of  the  Massillon  Iron  Company, 
which  was  a  voluntary  association  of  individuals, 
was  followed  by  the  obtaining  of  a  charter  for 
the  Massillon  Rolling  Mill  Company  from  the 
Ohio  Legislature  ;  and  but  for  the  panic  of 
1837,  would  have  given  the  place  a  start  in 
manufactures  that  would  have  made  it  one  of 
the  most  important  manufacturing  points  in  the 
State.  The  charter  was  extremel)'  liberal.  The 
capital  stock  named  in  the  charter  was  $600,- 
000,  the  compan}'  having  power  to  do  anything 
but  a  banking  business.  It  invested  a  large 
amount  in  real  estate,  city  lots  and  farms  ;  and, 
under  the  pressure  of  the  panic  referred  to  al- 
ready, sunk  all  the  capital  subscribed.  The 
stockholders,  most  of  whom  resided  in  Boston, 
became  discouraged,  and  the  Massillon  Rolling 
Mill  Company,  of  which  James  Duncan  was 
President,  and  H.  Wheeler.  Jr.,  Superintendent, 
is  now  only  remembered  in  the  description  of 
premises  where  the  "  Massillon  Rolling  Mill 
Company's  alteration  and  subdivision  of  cer- 
tain lots  in  the  city  of  Massillon  ''  forms  a  part. 

The  coal  interest  alone  in  jMassillon  is  repre- 
sented by  $840,000  of  capital  invested  by  the 
following-named  persons  and  companies  :  Camp 
Creek  Mine,  0.  Young  &  Co.,  $80,000  ;  Pigeon 
Run,  Pigeon  Run  Coal  Company,  composed  of 
Hon.  John  G.  Warwick,  Hon.  Anthony  Howells 
and  James  Lee,  Esq.,  Massillon,  and  Hon.  W. 
S.  Streator,  Cleveland  ;  capital,  $80,000.  War- 
mington  Coal  Company,  Messrs.  Robert  Rhodes 
&  James  Rhodes,  sons  and  successors  of  the  late 
Hon.  D.  P.  Rhodes,  Mark  A.  Hanna  and  George 
Warmington,  Esqs.,  Capt.  Henry  Foltz  and  Hon. 
J.  G.  Warwick  ;  capital,  $80,000.  The  Grove 
Coal  Company,  first  organized  under  that  name 
and  st3'le  by  Charles  H.  Clarke  and  Orlando 
Grove.  This  company  and  its  extensive  mines 
have  been  merged  in  a  sjmdicate  able  to  com- 
mand all  the  capital  required.  The  amount  of 
capital  at  present  invested  is  about  $60,000. 
The  Massillon  City  Coal  Company,  composed  of 
Capt.  Henr3'  Foltz,  the  Nestor  of  all  coal  oper- 
ators in  the  Tuscarawas  and  Newman's  Creek 
Vallej'S,  and  James  F.  Pocock,  Esq.  This  well- 
known  company  commands  all  the  capital   it 


needs,  and  its  operations  are  extensive,  extend- 
ing into  Tuscarawas  Count}-.  The  Sippo  Coal 
Company,  an  incorporated  company,  Hon. Clem- 
ent Russell  President,  and  Milton  Wilson,  Esq., 
Secretary  and  Treasurer.  These  gentlemen  are 
the  principal  stockholders :  capital  invested, 
$60,000.  The  Willow  Bank  Coal  Company  : 
This  compan}-  operates  through  a  slope  and  shaft, 
and  have  a  capital  invested  of  $60,000.  The 
Mountain  Mine  :  This  is  a  roost  extensive  organ- 
ization, and  has  invt'sted  $80,000.  The  Ground 
Hog,  $40,000.  The  Ridgeway  Coal  Company  : 
The  nominal  capital  of  this  company  is  $60,- 
000  ;  but  commands  all  the  capital  required  for 
its  extensive  operations.  It  is  under  the  man- 
agement of  J.  P.  Burton,  Esq.,  one  of  the  most 
energetic  operators  in  the  Tuscarawas  Valley. 
The  Oak  Hill  Coal  Mine  is  under  the  general 
management  of  James  Neall,  Esq.,  and  is  owned 
by  him.  John  Albright  and  others.  Its  capital 
invested  is  $40,000.' 

The  above  mines  give  steady  employment  to 
at  least  fifteen  hundred  persons,  operatives  of 
ail  kinds,  inside  and  outside  of  the  mines,  and 
make  Massillon  a  shipping  point,  in  connection 
with  the  other  industries  of  the  city,  from  which 
a  greater  tonnage  is  shipped  than  from  any 
other  railroad  center  in  the  interior  of  the  State. 

In  1831,  when  Capt.  James  Allen  was  a 
member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  in 
the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Ohio,  an 
act  was  passed  incorporating  the  Massillon  & 
Pittsburgh  Railroad  Company.  The  necessary 
reconnoissance  was  made  by  a  corps  of  engi- 
neers, at  the  head  of  which  was  Lieut.  0.  M. 
Mitchell,  just  then  graduated  from  the  United 
States  Military  Academy  at  West  Point,  and  a 
member  of  the  United  States  Topographical 
Corps.  In  those  piping  times  of  peace,  Lieut. 
SMitchell  resigned  his  position  in  the  Ihiited 
States  Arrnj',  and  cultivated  the  arts  of  peace, 
and  became  a  resident  of  Cincinnati.  At  the 
breaking-out  of  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  he 
tendered  his  services  to  the  Government,  which 
were  accepted,  and  while  in  command  of  the 
Tenth  Army  Corps,  with  the  rank  of  Major 
General,  he  died  on  the  30th  of  October.  1862, 
at  Beaufort,  South  Carolina. 

Lieut.  Mitchell  made  his  surveys,  and  re- 
ported it  impracticable  to  construct  a  railroad 
from  this  city  to  Pittsburgh,  and  the  project 
was  abandoned.  The  charter  of  the  road  and 
the  names  of  the  corporators  will  be  found  in 


CITY    OF    MASSILLON. 


•:0;5 


the  Local  Laws,  29  Sess.  Gen.  Ass.  The 
names  of  James  Duncan  and  Charles  K.  Skinner, 
always  connected  with  every  improvement, 
were  first,  and  could  the  road  have  been  a  suc- 
cess, would  have  reaped  the  bcnctit  of  their 
enterprise,  as  would  ^lassiUou. 

The  fact  that  the  lino  between  Massillon  and 
Pittsburgh  was  deemed  impracticaljle  for  the 
construction  of  a  railroad,  and  that  tweut}--two 
\'ears  later  a  railway  was  opened  between  these 
two  points,  known  as  the  ()hio  &  Pennsylvania 
Kaihoad,  is  suggestive  of  the  fact  that 

'  Xew  occa.sions  teach  new  duties,  and  that 
Time  makes  ancient  good  unccmlli." 

In  1841),  the  year  of  the  great  wheat  crop  in 
Ohio,  it  became  apparent  that  new  and  more 
rapid  outlets  and  greater  facilities  for  getting 
Western  produce  to  the  seaboard  must  be  had, 
and  Massillon.  always  first  to  move  in  those 
enterprises,  had  a  small  meeting  at  the  law 
otfice  of  Uen.  Dwight  Jarvis,  and  he  and 
Charles  K.  Skinner.  Es(i.,  were  ajipointed  a 
committee  to  visit  I'ittsburgh,  and  with  statis- 
tics of  the  business  of  Massillon,  to  go  before 
the  Board  of  Trade  and  show  the  extent  of  the 
resources  of  this  great  producing  region.  The 
committee  went,  made  known  their  business. 
The  Bo.ard  of  Trade  and  the  Councils  of  Pitts- 
burgh and  Allegheny  listened  to  them,  and 
were  surprised.  Thej",  the  City  Councils  and 
Board  of  Trade,  at  once  determined  to  give 
the  subject  attention,  but  having  the  Great 
Central  Pennsylvania  Railroad  under  considera- 
tion, western  connections  with  Pittsburgh  were 
permitted  to  rest.  Massillon  became  impatient, 
called  another  meeting,  and  added  to  the  old 
committee  Hon.  David  K.  Cartter.  then  a  dis- 
tinguished member  of  the  Stark  County  bar, 
and  these  gentlemen  went  again  to  Pittsburgh, 
and  through  the  late  Hon.  Andrew  W.  Loomis, 
another  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trade  and  of 
the  Councils  of  Pittsburgh  and  Allegheny  was 
called,  and  the  matter  of  Western  railway  con- 
nections with  Pittsburgh  was  prcsenttxl  b\-  Mr. 
Loomis,  in  a  most  able  speech,  which  he  con- 
cluded by  introducing  Hon.  D.  K.  Cartter,  the 
additional  nieml)er  of  the  committee.  The  com- 
mittee had  learned  before  the  meeting  that 
Pittsburgh  and  Allegheny  were  not  disposed  to 
favor  the  enterprise,  and  were,  if  not  dis- 
couraged, a  little  disheartened. 

Mr.  Cartter.  however,  on  being  introduced, 
said  he  •'  should  not  undertake  to  present  the 


advantages  that  would  accrue  not  only  to 
Pittsburgh  and  Allegheny,  but  to  the  whole 
State  of  Pennsylvania,  and  especially  Phila- 
delphia. That  matter,"  said  Mr.  Cartter.  -was 
presented  to  you  in  detail  a  few  weeks  since  by 
the  gentlemen  now  with  me,  and  tlie}'  may  re- 
produce it  at  this  meeting  if  the3'  choose.  For 
myself,  I  have  come  to  deal  in  practical  matters, 
and  to  Serve  a  notice  on  )'ou,  gentlemen  com- 
posing the  Board  ol' Trade  of  the  City  of  Pitts- 
burgh and  the  Councils  of  Pittsburgh  and 
Allegheny,  that  we  out  West,  comprising  the 
backbone,  not  only  of  Ohio  but  of  the  Western 
Continent,  mean  business.  .V  road  is  to  be 
built  from  this  city  through  Massillon  to  Chi- 
cago, and  in  its  construction  you  must  either 
fish  or  cut  bait;  now  take  30ur  choice.  We 
are  going  home,  and  are  going  into  this  busi- 
ness at  once.  If  3-ou  can  take  some  immediate 
measures  indicating  that  you  are  really-  awake, 
we  can  wait,  and  shall  be  glad  to  bear  to  our 
people  the  tidings  that  you  are  with  us  ;  but, 
gentlemen,  you  must  accept  the  alternative  I 
have  presented." 

The  speech  from  which  the  above  extract  is 
taken  was  made  thirty-four  years  since,  and  is  a 
specimen  of  the  impetuosity  of  Mr.  Cartter's 
character  at  middle  life,  and  its  effect  may  be 
well  imagined.  The  Councils  and  Board  of 
Trade  started  up.  rubbed  their  eyes,  and  asked. 
"Where  is  Massillon?'  -'Who  is  this  fellow 
that  talks  to  us  in  thiswise?"  The^-  finally 
concluded  that  it  would  be  well  to  give  the 
subject  attention,  but  they  delayed  until  Mas- 
sillon became  impatient,  and  called  a  meeting 
to  be  held  at  Massillon  in  November,  1847. 
The  meeting  was  largely  attended  from  Philadel- 
phia, extending  westward  to  the  west  line  of 
Ohio.  Hon.  William  D.  Merrick  was  chosen 
President,  and  active  measures  were  taken, 
which  resulted  in  the  obtaining  of  a  charter  for 
the  Ohio  &  Pennsylvania  Railroad,  and  which 
was  oi)cned  to  this  cit^'  in  185;!.  The  Ohio  & 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  extended  to  Crestline 
and  there  connected  with  the  Ohio  &  Indiana, 
which  made  the  link  to  Fort  Wayne,  and  the 
Fort  Wayne  &  Chicago  thence  to  Chicago  com- 
pleted tile  great  chain  of  railway  communica- 
tion from  Philadelphia  to  Chicago,  and  was 
the  first  railroad  through  this  city.  In  1801), 
the  Massillon  &  Cleveland  Railway  Companj- 
built  the  road  from  Massillon  to  Clinton,  thir- 
teen miles  in  length,  which  connects  this  city 


:[£ 


404 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


with  the  Cleveland  &  Mount  Vernon  Railway, 
and  wliich  aflbrds  a  direct  connection  between 
Massillon  and  Cleveland.  lu  1871,  the  Cleve- 
land, Tuscarawas  Valley  &  Wheeling  Railway 
Company  was  formed  and  built  the  railroad  of 
that  name,  passing  through  Massillon  to  Wheel- 
ing, and  as  this  work  goes  to  press,  the  Wheeling, 
&  Lake  Erie  Railway,  which  connects  the  cities 
of  Toledo  and  Wheeling,  making  Massdlon  a 
point  on  its  line,  is  rapidly  advancing  to  comple- 
tion, and  when  completed  places  this  city  in  a 
direct  connection  with  the  city  of  Baltimore,  via 
Wheeling  and  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railway, 
and  the  West  and  Northwest,  by  way  of  Toledo, 
also  on  a  direct  line.  The  railway  connections 
of  the  city  are  surpassed  b^-  none  in  any  sec- 
tion of  the  State  by  direct  lines  in  all  directions. 
A  more  detailed  history  however  is  found  in  a 
preceding  chapter  of  this  work. 

In  1833,  while  Hon.  David  A.  Starkweather 
and  Hon.  Jehu  Brown  represented  Stark  County 
in  the  House  of  Representatives,  and  Hon. 
Matthias  Sheplar  in  the  Senate,  the  Bank  of 
Massillon  was  chartered  with  a  capital  of  $200,- 
000,  and  which  was  the  second  bank  of  dis- 
count and  deposit  in  the  county.  The  Farmers' 
Bank  of  Canton  having  been  chartered  in  1816. 
The  new  bank  started  out  successfully,  its  stock 
was  taken,  much  of  it  at  home,  some  at  Troy, 
in  the  State  of  New  York.  On  the  1st  of  Oc- 
tober, 1834,  the  bank  went  into  operation,  its 
banking  room  being  on  the  second  floor  of 
Hogan  &  Harris'  Block  on  Main  street.  Its 
first  officers  were  James  Duncan,  President, 
and  J.  D.  W.  Calder,  Cashier.  Mr.  Calder  was 
from  Tro}',  and  represented  the  Troj-  stock.  It 
soon  became  apparent  that  there  was  a  want  of 
harmony  between  the  Cashier  and  President, 
which  flnallj'  culminated  in  a  third  party,  the 
Dwights  of  New  York  and  Massachusetts  pur- 
chasing a  controlling  interest  in  the  stock,  which 
was  done  on  the  9th  of  July,  1835,  one  of  the 
Directors  being  actively  engaged  in  the  pur- 
chase, 150  per  centum  premium  on  the  amount 
paid  in  being  freely  paid.  The  Calder  party  in 
the  board  resigned,  and  their  places  were  filled 
by  friends  of  the  new  rrginu-.  The  Cashier  re- 
signed, and  Parker  Handy,  Esq.,  of  Cleveland, 
was  elected  in  his  place.  Mr.  Duncan,  the 
President,  also  resigned,  and  Augustus  'Bald- 
win, Esq.,  of  Hudson,  was  chosen  to  till  that 
\'acancy,  he  remained  liut  a  short  time,  when 
the  late  Charles  K.  Skinner  took  his  place  and 


continued  President  as  long  as  the  bank  had 
an  existence.  In  1838,  Mr.  Hunt,  then  clerk 
m  a  mercantile  establishment  in  this  city  was 
chosen  by  Mr.  IIand3'  as  Assistant  Cashier, 
and  kept  the  place  until  the  resignation  of  Mr. 
Handy,  when  he  was  appointed  Cashier,  and 
held  ttiat  position  until  the  impending  destruc- 
tion of  tlie  bank,  the  controlling  interest  hav- 
ing passed  into  the  hands  of  Henry  Dwight, 
Jr.,  tendered  his  resignation,  and  was  succeeded 
by  F.  E.  Piatt,  of  Owego,  N.  Y.,  who  remained 
until  the  crash  came  in  1853.  It  may  be  re- 
marked in  passing  that  Mr.  Piatt  was  an  elder 
brother  of  IMr.  Piatt,  late  Senator  from  New 
York  in  the  United  States  Congress,  and  that 
the  es-Senator  was  &  clerk  in  the  bank  at  one 
period  during  his  brother's  cashiership,  and  also 
a  clerk  in  the  drug  store  of  Messrs.  Joseph 
Watson  &  Co.  When  the  bank  closed,  it  was 
found  that  all  its  assets  had  been  transferred  to 
the  city  of  New  York,  that  it  had  in  circulation 
$400,000,  which  was  its  full  limit  according 
to  its  charter,  it  capital  stock  being  all  paid 
up  and  it  being  allowed  to  issue  two  to  one  on 
its  paid-up  stock.  As  soon  as  it  was  ascer- 
tained that  a  crisis  in  the  affairs  of  the  bank 
had  come,  the  President  and  Directors  made 
an  assignment  to  Charles  D.  Smith,  Dwight 
Jarvis  and  M.  D.  Wellman  who  were  afterward 
removed  b^'  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  on  a 
motion  by  E.  P.  Grant,  Esq.,  counsel  for  par- 
ties in  interest,  and  Hon.  George  Harsh,  Dr. 
Isaac  Steese  and  Hon.  P.  C.  Hull,  now  of  Oneida, 
Carroll  Count3-,  substituted.  The  entire  assign- 
ment was  thenceforth  managed  by  Mr.  Harsh, 
the  other  assignees  of  course  being  consulted, 
and  being  advisory  members ;  and  it  should  be 
placed  on  an  enduring  record  that  no  assign- 
ment was  ever  conducted  with  more  unyielding 
fidelity  than  was  the  assignment  of  the  Bank  of 
Massillon,  after  it  had  passed  into  the  hands  of 
Messrs.  Harsh.  Steese  and  Hull.  Whatever  there 
was  of  its  assets  was  faithfully  accounted  for  to 
the  last  cent,  and  the  records  of  the  Common 
Pleas  of  Stark  County  show  an  honorable  dis- 
charge of  the  assignees  after  having  discharged 
their  trust.  The  assets  of  the  bank,  not  stolen  by 
the  Dwight  management,  paid  about  30  cents  on 
the  dollar,  70  per  centum  being  plundered  fi'om 
the  holders  of  the  liabilities  of  the  bank. 
Meanwhile,  Mr.  Hunt  whose  sagacity  had  en- 
abled him  to  escape  the  fraud  for  which  Henrj' 
Dwight,  Jr.,  with  his  confreres,  was  liable,  in 


^' 


^^^i:^^ 


connection  with  Dr.  Isaac  Steese  and  H.  B. 
Ilurlburt,  under  tlie  general  banking  law  of 
Oliio,  organized  tlie  Merchants'  Bank,  with  Dr. 
Steese  as  President,  and  Salmon  Hunt,  Cashier; 
their  lirst  office  of  discount  and  deposit  was  in 
the  room  on  the  east  side  of  Erie  street,  south 
of  Main,  now  occupied  bj-  George  Yost  &  Son, 
saddlerj-  and  hardware,  where  they  remained 
until  they  purchased  the  premises  on  the  south 
end  of  the  Welhuan  Block,  corner  of  Erie  street 
and  the  allej'.  There  the}'  closed  out  the  Mer- 
chants' Bank,  and  under  the  National  Banking 
law  of  the  United  States,  organized  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Massillon,  with  Dr.  Steese  as 
President,  and  S.  Hunt,  Cashier,  with  a  capital 
of  $200,000,  and  the  following-named  gentle- 
men as  Directors;  Isaac  Steese,  James  M.  Brown, 
Arvine  C.  Wales,  Charles  Steese,  Jacob  S.  Bach- 
tel  and  John  Jacobs,  with  unimportant  changes, 
tliat  organization  continued  until  August,  1874, 
when  the  death  of  Dr.  Isaac  Steese  occasioned  an 
entire  change.  .Mr.  Hunt  was  elected  President, 
and  Charles  Steese,wiio  had  been  a  Director  in  the 
bank  from  its  organization,  was  elected  Cashier, 
under  which  management  it  has  continued  except 
an  occasional  change  in  the  Board  of  Directors, 
and  is  one  of  the  institutions  of  the  West.  Its 
influence  in  money  circles  is  not  confined  to 
Massillon.  or  the  county  or  State.  It  bears 
upon  its  history  and  present  existence  the 
names  of  Hunt  anil  Steese  as  its  present  mana- 
gers, which  are  a  guarantee  as  to  its  manage- 
ment. The  name  of  Isaac  Steese  is  indissolubly 
connected  with  the  history  of  the  banking  insti- 
tutions of  Massillon. 

In  November,  1847,  the  Union  Branch  of  the 
State  Bank  of  Ohio,  at  Massillon,  was  organ- 
i/.ed.  with  Dr.  Steese  as  President,  and  S.  Brain- 
ai'il.  {■',s(|..  as  Cashier.  This  position  Dr.  Steese 
ir>ii:ii<il  ill  18")0  to  engage  in  private  banking 
with  .Messrs.  II.  B.  llurlbut  and  Alvin  ^'inlon, 
wiiich  firm  was  dissolved  a  year  later  for  the 
purpose  of  organizing  the  Merchants'  Bank, 
already  mentioned.  I)r.  Steese  was  in  all  re- 
spects a  representative  man. and  was  so  regard- 
ed, as  the  following  extract  from  a  notice  written 
at  his  decease  by  one  who  knew  iiim  well,  fully 
attests : 

Willi  Dr.  Stccsc's  removal  to  .Massillon.  he  en- 
tered >i|)on  Ills  widest  tielil  of  iiscfulncss.  For 
Iwinly-tive  years  he  was  one  of  the  largest  landed 
proprietors  and  farmers  of  the  county.  For  twen- 
ty-five years  lie  was  the  manaf^er  of  the  larfresi 
liankinjr   institution   in   the  countv.     No  man  was 


better  fitted  by  nature  and  ac(|uirenieiils  for  an  cmi- 
j  n<'nt  hanker.  Of  the  whole  theory  and  science  of 
I  lianking  he  was  a  thorough  master.  Ilis  j)evfe(t 
j  rectitude  and  inteiri'ity  were  widely  known,  and 
were  never  (Hiestioned  where  known.  His  pcrtV'Ot 
aecjuainlancc  with  business,  .-ind  his  sagacity  wcr<' 
such  that  the  institutions  under  his  <lin'eIion"iia.ssed 
through  all  tlie  monetary  eonviilsions  of  the  past 
quarter  of  a  century  almost  wholly  without  lo.ss. 
and  without  once  failing  to  make  their  eiistomarv 
dividends  to  their  shaieholdcrs.  Their  sliairs  wei-'e 
never  iijion  the  marki-1,  unless  brought  there  by  the 
death  of  their  owners.  Always  anxious  to  encoiir- 
ag<'  tlie  eommereial  and  industrial  enterprises  of  the 
lilaee  so  far  as  he  safely  could,  no  loiisideialioiis  of 
imbli<-  spirit  or  of  private  friendship  roiild  cause 
him  to  forget  for  a  moment  that  as  a  banker  he  was 
the  trusted  eiislodian  of  other  people's  moiii-y. 

The  iiiiivirsal  respect  and  eoiilidrnee  wiiicli'  be  in- 
spired, caused  him  largely  to  be  sought  out  as  the 
manager  of  tlie  funds'of  the  p<cipli>  in  <Ii'eli[iiiig 
years — of  widows,  of  minor  eliildren,  and  of  people 
of  small  savings,  carefully  hiisliaiideil  and  left  with 
liini  a.s  in  a  jdaee  of  the  last  security  against  a  time 
of  need.  In  times  of  tiiiancial  peri]  and  alarm,  the 
sense  of  responsibility  which  these  |)eeiiliai-ly  sacred 
trusts  entailed  upon  him  was  oppressive,  sometimes 
almost  crushing. 

Always  a  man  of  marked  individuality,  one  of 
the  most  prominent  traits  of  his  character  was  his 
strong  iiltachment  for  books,  and  for  sound  and  gen- 
erous literature.  It  began  with  his  earliest  Jioy- 
hood.  Before  he  was  fifteen  he  secured  the  use  of 
a  little  island  in  Pcnn's  Creek  and  planted  it  with 
the  castor  bean,  with  the  sole  purpose  of  founding 
a  library  with  the  proceeds.  Friends  who  knew 
him  forty  years  ago,  are  full  of  amiisiiig  recollect 
ions  of  his  insei)aialile  coiii|ianionsliip  with  books, 
A  few  men  w  lio  begin  life  with  these  ta-stes  pre- 
serve them  to  the  hist,  but  generally  at  the  e.\|)ense 
of  all  relish  for  business  avocations.  It  w'as  not  so 
with  liim.  His  active  and  comprehi'nsivc  mind 
maintained  to  the  last  its  keen  enjoyment  of  intel 
leelual  pursuits,  and  the  most  llioinii;;li  understand 
ing  of  all  the  details  of  allaiis.  For  twenty  live 
years  he  directed  his  c.xtensivc  fainiing  operation^, 
the  running  of  his  banks,  and  a  miilliplicity  of  [iri 
vale  undertakings,  and  during  all  this  lime  lie  was  a 
devoli'd  and  most  loving  student.  He  ,seemed  to 
have  the  power  of  most  perfectly  absorbing  the 
whole  contents  of  a  book.  What  was  once  read 
was  never  forgotten.  He  delighted  to  share  with 
others  the  resuh  of  his  studies,  and  could  condense 
into  an  hour's  conversation,  the  whole  pith  and  siib 
stance  of  a  bulky  volume. 

Few  practicing  iihysici.ins  kept  so  well  read  up  in 
the  advance  of  medical  sci<'iice.  The  discovery  of 
a  new  remedy,  a  new  method,  or  an  ingenious  ope- 
ration was  hailed  with  the  joy  of  an  entfcusiast. 
There  is  no  book  in  the  Knglisji  language  treating  of 
metaphysical  tojiies  that  he  wa-noi  familiar  with 
Not  twenty  men  in  the  nation  wer<'  better  informed 
in  politics  in  the  large  and  liest  sense  of  the  woril — 
in  political  economy,  and  especially  in  (|ueslions  of 
finance,  ta.xation.  the  intercliaiige  of  commodities, 
and  the  fluctuations  of  prices;  his  knowledge  of  the 


lU.STOKY   OF    STAKK    COUNTY. 


action  of  our  own  ant]  Euroiican  Govci-nincnts  on 
tlji.-sc  sulijccts  was  vorv  full,  and  his  reasonings  won- 
flcrfnlly  clear.  Il  was  a  subject  of  fr<'i|uenl  re^n-el 
among  his  friends  that  he  had  not  exercised  his  tal- 
ents of  this  ki]id  in  a  widi'r  way.  and  in  a  |inlilic 
capacity. 

In  several  de]iarlnii'nts  of  natural  |ihiloso|iliy — 
in  history,  in  the  hest  litrhter  literature,  in  social 
and  reformatory  topics,  he  was  well  read,  and  kept 
abreast  wilh  the  best  minds  of  the  age.  His  kind- 
ness of  heart  was  universally  known  and  .acknowl- 
edged. But  the  extent  of  it  never  was  and  never 
will  be  known.  Hundreds  of  the  kindest  acts  of 
his  life  were  so  (piietly  and  so  delicately  done  that 
they  never  ri'ached  the  knowledge  of  any  but  Ihi' 
recipients  of  tliem.  Of  the  most  genial  disjiosilion. 
few  men  -o  enjoyeil  llic  society  of  his  fellows. 

Wli;ii  he  w:is  I,,  hi-  funnily — what  to  a  circle  of 
friiniU  laiiivi- tli;iii  .ilicii  g:itliers  around  one  man 
who  walked  with  him  through  half  a.  life  time  so 
nearly  that  their  hearts  touched  his.  1  dare  not,  with 
the  grief  of  his  death  fresh  upon  me.  trust  myself 
to  write. 

The  home  which  he  builded  up  in  Ma.ssillon  was 
known  far  and  near  not  more  for  it.s  elegance,  its 
culture  and  reliueraent  (haii  for  its  open-handed 
ho.spitalit)-;  it  wa.s  always  the  home  of  teachers  of 
youth.  Its  welcoming  doors  were  always  open. 
There  were  few  days  in  the  year  when  its  generous 
tables  were  not  surrounded,  and  its  rooms  were  not 
filled  with  neighlioring  or  distant  friends.  At  this 
home,  on  the  lOih  day  of  August.  1874.  attended  by 
all  that  the  highest  medical  skill  or  the  most  pain- 
fully anxious  aifection  could  suggest,  ministered  to 
by  loving  hands,  and  surrounded  by  a  devoted  and 
heart-broken  family,  he  ()uietly  passed  away. 

From  the  orgauization  of  the  Merchants' 
Bank  until  the  death  ol"  Dr.  Steese,  Hon  S. 
Hunt,  now'  President  of  the  First  National 
Bank,  was  associated  with  him  ;  and  of  Mr. 
Hunt,  it  may  be  said,  his  name  is  a  synonym 
for  integrity  and  uprightness.  For  forty-tliree 
years,  with  a  slight  intermission,  he  lias  been  a 
banker  in  this  city.  From  Assistant  Cashier 
to  President,  he  has  by  unswerving  fidelity 
built  up  and  sustained  a  reputation  for  purity 
that  cannot  be  assailed,  and  with  that  of  Dr. 
Steese,  will  be  treasured  as  one  of  Massillon's 
brightest  jewels. 

Next  in  order  was  the  Union  Branch  of  the 
State  Bank  of  Ohio,  which  was  started  in  1 847 
by  Dr.  Isaac  Steese,  Sebastian  Brainard  and 
others.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Brainard  it 
passed  through  many  hands,  and  was  finally 
merged  in  the  Union  National  Bank  of  Massil- 


lon,  and  is  one  of  the  soundest  hanking  insti- 
tutions in  Ohio.  The  President  and  Cashier 
are  among  the  soundest  business  men  in  the 
Tuscarawas  Vallej',  and  its  stock  is  held  by 
men  of  wealth.  The  following  gentlemen  com- 
pose its  Board  of  Directors  :  John  K.  McLain, 
Thomas  McCuUough,  Joseph  Coleman,  Frede- 
rick Loeffler,  Edward  Kachler,  Frank  U.  Webb 
and  James  H.  Hunt.  President,  John  K.  Mc- 
Lain ;  Vice-President,  Thomas  McCullough  ; 
Cashier,  James  H.  Hunt.  The  capital  stock  of 
the  bank  is  $100,000. 

The  Massillon  Coal  and  Iron  Company  was 
formed  in  1873,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $50,000, 
all  paid.  Its  principal  stockholders  are  John 
E.  McLain,  James  Bayliss,  Clement  Russell, 
Nahum  S.  Russell,  Peter  Dielhenn.  Edward 
Kachler,  Hermann  Schrieber,  Joseph  Coleman, 
Gnstavus  P.  Reed,  William  F.  Ricks,  Henr^- 
Beatt}',  Silas  A.  Conrad,  James  H.  Justus, 
Peter  Sailer,  Salmon  Hunt  and  others. 

Its  present  officers  are  S.  Hunt.  President  ; 
Edward  Kachler,  Secretary,  and  Joseph  Cole- 
man, Treasurer. 

The  company,  immediately  on  its  organiza- 
tion, being  incorporated  under  the  general  law 
of  the  State,  built  a  rolling  mill  which,  for  its 
capacity,  is  regarded  one  of  the  best  in  the 
country.  It  is  now  leased  to  Joseph  Cams, 
Esq.,  for  three  j'ears,  who  has  taken  a  son  into 
partnership,  the  firm  being  Joseph  Cams  & 
Son,  and  who  are  running  the  mill  successfully. 

The  mill  has  eight  puddling  furnaces,  two 
heating  furnaces  ;  much  train,  eighteen-inch 
bar  mill  train,  nine-inch  small  train.  The  prod- 
uct of  the  mill  is  425  tons  per  month,  and 
has  more  orders  than  it  can  possibly  fill.  The 
force  employed  is  120  men,  and  the  cash  value 
of  the  product  of  the  mill  is  about  $20,000  per 
mouth,  or  from  $240.0(10  to  $250,000  per 
annum. 

Messrs.  Cams  &  Son  are  at  the  head  of  tiieir 
profession,  as  managers  of  a  rolling-mill,  and 
by  tlieir  energy  and  sound  judgment  are  mak- 
ing the  Massillon  Coal  and  Iron  Company's 
Rolling  Mill  a  most  important  item  in  the  busi- 
ness of  the  city,  and  in  the  northern  portion  of 
the  Tuscarawas  Valley. 


(  ITV    OF    MASSILLOX. 


CllAPTKH     \V.* 

TIIK  riTV  OK  MASSl,  LOS  — [IS    CHIKCII     IIISTOKV  —  TIIK    KARLV    MEIHOIMSTS  —  l'RE.SnV  IKKIAN 

CHIhCH— UTHKRCHIKCII  OIIGANIZATIONS— .SE'KKT  AND  liENEVOLKNT  IXSTITCTIONS 

■  —THE  IMIESS— FIKST  NEWSI'Al'EK  IX   MA.SSILI.OX— CM ANCES,   ETC.   KIT. 


AT  tlie  laying  out  of  Massillon  fitl^-five 
years  ago,  "the  word  of  the  Lord  was 
precious.'  Tiie  Methodists,  always  on  the 
frontiers  of  civilization,  had  preaching  at  stated 
periods.  .Massillon  belonged  to  ("anton  Circuit. 
Steubeiiville  District,  of  the  Pittsburgh  Con- 
ference. Their  preachers  occupied  the  school- 
room, when  there  was  one,  for  that  purpose. 
When  no  school-room  could  he  had,  a  private 
house  was  opened,  if  in  the  winter;  if  in  the 
summer,  the  threshing  floor  of  a  large  barn  : 
but  Methodist  preaching  was  sure  to  come.  In 
1882,  Messrs.  Hogan  &  Harris,  a  firm  of  forward- 
ing and  commission  merchants,  erected  the  brick 
building  on  Main  street,  now  owned  by  lion. 
George  Harsh,  in  the  third  stor3'  of  which  was 
a  hall,  known  as  Hogan  &  Harris's  Hall,  which 
was  used  for  all  public  gatherings,  religious  or 
political,  or  for  any  sj)ecial  meetings.  The 
Methodists  eontinui^l  in  this  houseless  manner 
until  1840.  At  that  time  Rev.  D.  R.  Hawkins 
was  on  the  circuit.  He  was  a  young  man  of 
great  force  of  character,  and  he  determined 
that  there  should  be  a  Methodist  Church  edi- 
fice in  the  village.  So  he  at  once  r)pened  a 
correspondence  with  the  Freemasons,  who  held 
their  meetings  in  Hogan  &  Harris's  block,  oc- 
cupying the  room  on  the  west  side,  the  public 
hall  being  on  the  east  side.  The  result  of  the 
correspondence  was  the  Methodists  and  Free- 
masons determined  to  erect  a  two-story  build- 
ing, the  lower  story  to  be  fitted  up  for  a  room 
for  the  church,  and  ihe  second  stor_v  for  a 
Lodge  and  Chapter  for  the  Masons.  The 
building  was  erected  in  1840.  On  the  24th  of 
June  the  corner-stone  of  Clinton  Lodge,  No. 
47.  and  Hiram  Chapter.  No.  18,  and  of  the  First 
Methodist  Kpiscopal  Church  of  Massillon  was 
laid.  ■■  with  pomp  and  circumstance.  '  For 
seventeen  years  there  had  not  been  a  public 
Masonic  exhibition  in  the  county,  thi^  last  one 
having  been  in  Canton  in  1828.    Clinton  L<idge 

'Cflnlribiiled  I  y  Iti.ltcrl  H   Folc-r. 


was  organized  b}'  charter  from  the  (irand 
Lodge  of  Ohio  in  188(i,  and  was  almost  the 
onlj-  working  Lodge  north  of  the  National 
road  in  the  State.  The  building  was  erected 
and  the  two  institutions  occupied  it  harmo- 
niously until  1860.  when  the  xMasons  bought 
out  the  Methodists,  and  the  Methodists  had 
bought  the  old  church  edifice  of  the  Baptists 
in  1858,  which,  as  is  noticed  elsewhere,  had 
been  abandoned  by  the  Baptists  many  3ears 
before.  Although  the  Methodists  purchased 
the  building  for  a  mere  nominal  sum,  the  ex- 
tensive repairs  they  have  put  on  it  have  made 
it  cost  as  much  as  a  new  building  would  have 
cost,  and  is  now  commodious  and  well  adapted 
to  the  wants  of  the  church  and  congregation, 
now  one  of  the  most  numerous  in  the  city,  of 
English  Protestant  t;hurches.  In  1845,  the  an- 
nual conference  made  Massillon  a  station,  and 
the  first  in  the  county.  Rev.  Dr.  Osborn  is 
now  the  preacher  in  charge. 

The  first  organization  of  a  Preshj-terian 
church  and  congregation  in  Perry  Township 
or  in  tlii.s  city  is  hidden  in  impenetrable  obscur- 
ity, there  being  no  one  living  who  aided  in  such 
organization  ;  nor  is  there  any  record  that  aids 
in  arriving  at  a  correct  conclusion.  As  early 
as  1820,  a  distinct  and  earnest  movement  lend- 
ing to  such  an  organization  was  had.  Rev. 
James  B.  Morrow  then  settled  at  Canton, 
and  after  him  Rev.  T.  M.  Hopkins  came  to 
Kendal  and  Massillon,  and  preached  in  Daniel 
Myers'  carpenter-shop  on  State  street  in  Ken- 
dal. At  that  time  the  Cruson  brothers.  John 
and  (iarrett,  Austin  Allen,  Joseph  Ileckraan 
and  a  few  other  families,  composed  the  entire 
church,  and  tlu^y  were  the  first  U)  get  a  house 
which  should  be  used  for  religious  worship, 
after  the  Quakers  of  Kendal.  They  gave  liber- 
ally, and  got  help  from  those  who  "had  a  kind 
word  for  all  "  evangelical  denominations,  and 
erected  the  building  now  used  by  the  veteran 
carpenter  of  the  city.  John  Zimmerman,  as  a 


408 


HISTORY  OF    .STARK    COUNTY. 


carpenter-sbop,  which  stood  near  where  it  now 
stands,  on  the  hill  between  Kendal  and  Massil- 
lon.  as  the  topou;raphy  of  the  place  was  then 
described  ;  and  it  was  used  as  a  meeting  house 
for  all  religious  sects,  the  Presbyterians  how- 
ever claiming  the  exclusive  right.  In  this 
building  Mr.  Hopkins  preached  first,  and  which 
was  iu  1830  or  1831.  In  1832,  the  mercantile 
firm  of  Baldwin  &  Noble  came  to  IMassillon 
and  opened  a  stock  of  goods  in  the  frame 
building  which  stood  where  now  stands  William 
Vost  s  saddlery  and  harness  shop  and  store. 
They  were  Presbyterians,  earnest  and  deter- 
mined to  see  a  church  organized  in  the  village. 
Through  their  influence  the  Rev.  Elijah  Buck, 
with  his  young  and  excellent  wife,  came  from 
Rochester,  N.  Y.,  or  from  that  section  of  the 
State,  and  becoming  discouraged  at  the  pros- 
pect for  organizing  a  church,  did  not  remain  a 
great  length  of  time.  He  is  remembered,  how- 
ever, as  an  earnest,  sincere  young  man,  of  schol- 
arly att;unments,  and,  if  living,  is  supposed  to  be 
in  Branch  County,  Mich.,  at  or  near  Coldwatcr. 
In  Mareii,  1833,  Rev.  G.  W.  Warner,  now  of  Ca- 
naan Corners.  Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y.,  then  Pastor 
of  the  Presliyteriau  Church  in  Wooster,  being  on 
ills  way  to  Sandy ville,  Tuscarawas  Co.,  to  aid  the     Church  in  this  city  was  first  organized  bj-  Rev. 


would  seem  that  a  church  was  organized  in 
Massillon  at  that  time.  It  is  certain  that  on 
the  30th  of  January  of  that  year,  there  was  no 
settled  Presbyterian  minister  in  Massillon,  as 
the  writer  has  a  tolerably  vivid  recollection  of 
a  marriage  that  took  place  at  that  date,  at  which 
Rev.  T.  M.  Hopkins,  then  settled  at  Canton,  was 
the  officiating  minister.  It  was  not,  •'  however, 
until  the  17th  of  April,  1836,"  says  Rev.  Mr. 
Warner,  "  that  a  minister  of  this  denomination 
went  among  this  people  with  a  view  to  steady 
and  exclusive  operations."  '■  At  that  date," 
adds  Mr.  Warner,  ■'  I  found  a  church  organized, 
and  Mr.  Heckman  its  only  Elder ;  and,  during 
the  first  of  my  ministry,  Mr.  P:irker  Handy, 
Cashier  of  the  bank  of  Massillon,  and  Darius 
Ford,  were  ordained  Ruling  Elders,  making  the 
session  to  consist  of  Rev.  George  W.  Warner, 
Moderator  ;  Joseph  Heckman,  Clerk,  and  Parker 
Handy  and  Darius  Ford. 

"  I  was  an  ordained  minister  when  I  went  to 
Massillon,  but  was  never  installed  as  Pastor  of 
the  church  there." 

The  Trustees  were  Parker  Handy,  Harper 
Partridge  and  James  0.  Bloss.  From  the  fore- 
going facts,  it  is  clear  that  the  Presbyterian 


minister  there  in  the  labor  of  a  four  da3's'  meet- 
ing, stopped  heie  in  response  to  repeated  invita- 
i(.)ns,  and  made  tlie  aciiuaintance  of  the  Presby- 
terians of  .Mtis^illoli,  and  such  otiicrs  :is  uttelidcd 
iiis  meeting.  The  senuc^n  on  that  occasion  '  was 
founded  on  the  first  clause  of  the  8th  verse,  33d 
chapter  of  Ezekiel."  and.  as  Mr.  Warner  says  in 
a  late  letter  to  the  writer,  ■was  as  plain  and  point- 
ed as  the  prcaclieiroiild  po.^^ibly  make  it.  Tliis 
meeting  was  followed  liy  a  pnmipl  and  decided 
reijuest  for  tinother  sermon,  and  an  appoint- 
ment was  made  for  May  25.  "On  this  even- 
ing," says  Mr.  Warner,  "almost  the  whole  city 
came  together  to  hear  the  word  of  the  Loi'd." 
Mr.  Warner  adds:  "  The  impression  was  favor- 
able. Written  as  well  as  oral  testimony,  of  the 
most  gratifying  character,  rendered  it  certain 
that  the  labor  was  not  in  vain  in  the  Lord." 


Elijah  Buck  or  Rev.  T.  M.  Hopkins.  Mr.  Hop- 
kins succeeded  Mr.  Morrow  at  Canton,  as  is  now 
recollected,  and  Mr.  Morrow  removed  to  New 
I'liiladclphia  where  he  died.  The  followiuj 
tribute  to  the  memory  of  the  late  Joseph  Heck- 
man, by  Rev.  Mr. Warner,  is  so  just  and  so  well 
deserved  that  it  is  given  a  place  in  the.se  rem- 
iniscences : 

•'  He  for  many  years,  even  unto  the  day  of 
his  death,  with  marked  consistency  exemplified 
the  principles  and  power  of  his  Christian  faith  ; 
and  it  should  be  added  that  as  a  citizen  and 
public  officer,  his  name  will  always,  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  good  and  useful  men  of  Massillon. 
be  especially  remembered." 

Dating  from  April  17.  183(i,  the  Presbyterian 
Church  of  this  city  has  had  an  existence.  From 
Rev.  Mr.  Warner  at  that  date  there  has  been  a 


"  Indeed,  from  that  very  point  in  the  history  of  j  succession  of  ministers,  stated  supplies  and  in- 
your  thriving  village,  was  dated  the  more  man-  |  stalled  Pastors,  who  have  maintained  its  po- 
ifestly  growing  change  from  the  old  regime  of  j  sition  as  one  of  the  institutions  of  the  citj'.     On 


infidelity  to  the  ultimate  and  completely  com- 
manding inlkience  of  Christianity." 

From  the  fact  that  there  is  a  record  in  ex- 
istence showing  that  the  late  Joseph  Heckman, 
Esq.,  was  installed  as  Elder  June  1,  1834,  it 


Mr.  Warner  assuming  the  duties  of  the  pasto- 
rate of  the  little  church  here,  he,  with  char- 
acteristic energy,  set  about  getting  a  house  in 
which  to  worship.  The  eligible  lot,  on  the  cor- 
ner of  Hill  and  Plum  streets,  was  purchased. 


i^ 


CITY   OF    MASSILLON. 


409 


and  a  building  erected,  which  served  the  church 
until  1852.  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  D.  C. 
Blood,  and  durins:  which  it  may  be  said  the 
church  grew  and  flourished,  equal  to  its  pros- 
perity in  any  former  period.  In  tlie  year  above 
named,  the  old  building  was  sold,  and  the  pres- 
ent commodious  one  erected.  The  old  liuilding 
was  purchased  by  J.  J.  Ilofnuui,  and  took  the 
name  of  Ilofman  s  Church,  while  he  continued 
to  own  it.  It  is  now  occupied  l)y  .Mr.  Hoke  as 
a  residence  on  North  strci^t.  On  the  resignation 
of  Mr.  Blooil.  after  many  years  of  faithful  serv- 
ice, lie  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  (leorge  A.  Little, 
now  of  Warsaw.  Kosciusko  Co.,  Ind.,  on  whose 
resignation,  Rev.  R.  L.  Williams,  now  of  Bar- 
aboo,  Wis.,  was  installed  as  Pastor  ;  and  who, 
in  1879,  after  twelve  years  of  service,  resigned, 
and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  N.  I'.  Bail}'.  D.  I)., 
who  is  now  the  Pastor,  having  been  installed  at 
the  date  above  named.  During  that  j-ear,  the 
church  was  made  the  recipient  of  a  most  mu- 
nificent gift  from  Hon.  H.  B.  Hurlbut,  of  Cleve- 
land, consisting  of  a  most  commodious  chapel, 
erected  immediately  adjoining  the  church, 
building,  furnished  and  ornamented  with  every 
thing  useful  and  beautiful,  including  a  piano. 
As  a  church,  the  Presbyterian  is  the  oldest  or- 
ganization in  the  city  ;  and,  in  view  of  the 
changes  of  the  past  fort3'-five  years,  while  it 
has  not  escaped  the  trials  and  vicissitudes  in- 
cident to  all  organizations,  its  permanence  and 
prosperity,  as  at  present  organized,  arc  assured. 
There  are  some  things  connected  with  the 
history  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Massil- 
lon  and  the  old  building  in  which  Hev.  George 
W.  Warner's  ministry  commenced  as  Pastor, 
that  should  not  be  forgotten,  first  and  foremost 
of  which  was  the  organization  of  the  Massillon 
Jjyceum  and  the  great  debate  in  the  winter  of 
1837  on  the  question.  'Docs  Justice  demand 
the  Immediate  Abolition  of  Slavery?"  Mr. 
Warner  and  the  trustees  freely  opened  the 
house,  which  was  filled  to  its  utmost  capacity 
every  evening  of  the  debate,  and  every  possi- 
ble phase  and  idea  involved  in  the  (juestion 
were  discussed  in  their  length  and  breadth. 
Seed  was  sown  that  took  root  downward  and 
sprang  upward  until  the  final  result  was.  Al- 
though it  took  long  yeai's  to  accomplish  it. 
Massillon  became  thoroughly  abolitionized  from 
being  intensely  pro-slavery,  and  on  th(!  close 
of  the  debate,  the  President.  Hon.  Hnnking 
Wheeler,  Jr..  OTie  of  the  best  debaters  and  par 


liamentarians  of  that  day.  decided  that  the  af- 
firmative had  the  advantage  in  the  argument, 
but  qualified  his  decision  by  saying,  "  Had  the 
word  -expediency  '  been  substituded  for  justice, 
he  should  have  decided  diflerently."  The  popu- 
lar vote  of  the  liyceum  was  hugely  in  the  nega- 
tive. 

In  1832, the  first  temperance  lectures  delivered 
in  the  county  were  delivered  in  Massillon  b}' 
Theodore  D.  Weld,  supposed  to  be  living  now  in 
the  State  of  New  Jersey.  These  lectures  revolu- 
tionized public  sentiment  for  the  time  being, 
and  when  Mr.  Warner  came  four  years  later,  he 
put  the  Presbyterian  Church  into  active  work 
on  that  subject,  and  which  lasted  until  he  re- 
signed in  1840.  In  November,  1841,  he  ac- 
cepted an  invitation  to  return,  and  did  so,  re- 
maining two  years,  when  he  tendered  his  resig- 
nation, and  is  now,  at  the  age  of  eighty,  Pastor 
of  a  Presbyterian  Church  at  Canaan  Four  Cor- 
ners, Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y. 

The  first  preaching  by  any  minister  of  the 
communion  known  in  Stark  County  as  the 
llnited  Brethren  in  Christ  was  at  the  tavern  of 
Philip  Slusser,  in  what  is  now  Brookfield,  in 
Tuscarawas  Township,  and  was  l)y  Bishop  New- 
comer, in  May,  181t!.  From  the  Bishop's  jour- 
nal, it  appears  that  on  the  24tli  of  May  he 
lodged  with  Jacol)  Rowland,  near  Canton,  and 
on  the  25th  reached  Philip  Slusser's.  '■  To-day 
and  Sunday,"  says  the  Bishop,  '•  we  held  a  sac- 
ramental meeting  here, "  which  is  the  first  ac- 
count that  can  be  had  of  any  religious  services 
by  the  United  Brethren  in  the  township.  Later 
in  the  year.  Rev.  Messrs.  David  Wimar,  Chris- 
tian Kauaga,  John  Wimar  and  I'etei  Wimar 
held  meetings  in  the  township  of  Sugar  Creek 
and  at  Pigeon  Run,  in  Tusc-arawas  Township, 
and  at  some  period  between  181(i  and  1820  a 
society  was  formed.  Among  its  members  were 
Adam  Shilling,  (ieorge  Krider,  Christian  Max- 
himer  and  many  others.  Preaching  was  had  at 
private  houses.  The  Pigeon  Run  Chapel  was 
built  at  some  time  during  the  four  years  from 
1816  to  1820,  and  regular  preaching  has  been 
had  in  the  township  ever  since.  In  1829  or 
1830,  there  was  an  accession  of  new  members 
from  Franklin  County.  Penn.,  .\braham  Bowman 
and  his  family,  and  Samuel  Zent  and  his  fam- 
ily. The  circuit  was  extcmded.  and  Brookfield 
was  taken  into  that  circuit,  and,  in  1849.  a 
church  building  was  erected  and  the  ditferent 
congreuations   were  merged   in   the  Brookfield 


i  \  ' 


t^ 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


congregation,   except   at    Pigeon    Run,    ttiose  [ 
within   tlie   bounds  of  tlie   cliarge    remaining  < 
there.     In  1873.  the   congregation  was  trans-  j 
ferred    to    Massillon,  the    church    building   in  1 
Massillon  was  erected,  and  since  which  Massil- 
lon has  been  a  station.     The  first  preacher  at 
the  station  was  Rev.  Elias  Lower,  now  in  Michi-  ! 
gan.     The  first  Trustees  were  xVbram  Bowman, 
John  Silk,  John  Reeves  and  B.  F.  Booth.    The  ! 
present  Pastor  is  Rev.  J.  M.  Poulton.    Present  < 
board  of  Trustees  is  Abraham  Bowman,  John  1 
Waggoner.  John  Silk,  Tho's  H.  Seaman  and  the  ' 
Pastor.     The  church  in  Tuscarawas  Township,  | 
as  well  as  at  Massillon,  is  growing,  and  is  exercis-  ' 
ing  a  wholesome  influence.  The  journal  of  Bishop 
Newcomer  is  intei-esting,  as  showing  the  ear- 
nest faithfulness  of  his  labors  in  his  Episcopal 
visit  to  the  West  sixty-five  years  ago.    The  Mr. 
Bowman  referred  to  as  a  member  of  the  church  ' 
in   1829,   was  the   father  of  Abram    Bauman,  ; 
Esq.,  now  a  resident  of  Tuscarawas  Township, 
and  of  Hon.  Samuel  C  Bauman,  of  Massillon. 

Thirty-eight  years  have  gone  into  the  great 
ocean  of  time  since  Elder  Jonas  Hartzell  or-  i 
ganized  the  Disciples'  Church  in  Massillon. 
The  first  Pastor  was  Elder  Eli  Regel.  The 
first  Board  of  Trustees  was  Charles  Lond<in, 
John  Bender  and  Isaac  N.  Doxsee.  Mr.  London 
and  Mr.  Doxsee  yet  survive,  representatives  of 
the  doctrines  of  their  church,  and  as  such  are 
representative  men,  and  as  higlily  esteemed  cit- 
izens. In  the  "  noiseless  tenor  of  their  way  '" 
the  church  and  congregation  meet  at  their 
meeting-house,  corner  of  Hill  and  North  Streets, 
and  of  them  it  should  he  said  they  are  com- 
posed of  many  of  the  best  citizens,  and  while 
they  do  not  increase  rapidly,  they  are  always 
in  the  front  rank  of  every  reformatory  move- 
ment. 

The  following  history  of  the  (Jerman  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  Church  is  furnished  by  Rev. 
P.  J.  Buelil.  the  Pastor  in  charge  : 

The  members  of  the  Evangelical  Ijutheran 
Church  was  gathered  together  and  organized 
b}'  Rev.  P.  J.  Buehl,  Pastor  of  the  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Zion's  Church  of  Akron,  the  sermon 
for  tliat  purpose  being  preached  on  the  5th 
day  of  September,  1863.  The  regular  organ- 
ization took  place  on  the  1st  day  of  January, 
1864,  at  which  time  a  constitution  was  adopted 
and  a  church  council  elected  by  the  members 
of  the  church  present,  and  installed  by  Rev. 
P.  J.  Buehl.  and  incorporated  under  the  General 


Laws  of  the  State  of  Ohio  Ijy  the  name  of  The 
p]vangelical  Lutheran  St.  Pauls  Cluirch,  in  the 
City  of  Massillon.  The  following  members 
were  elected  to  constitute  the  first  Church 
Council.  As  Deacons,  Hermann  Schreiber, 
Adam  (xemmiuger,  George  Schueir  and  Peter 
Bause  ;  as  Trustees,  George  Speigel,  Balthazer 
Ketterer  and  Peter  Diemer ;  Treasurer,  Gattfred 
Danner  ;  and  Clerk,  J.  Frederick  Lehmann.  On 
the  22d  of  February,  1864,  Rev.  P  J.  Buehl,  of 
the  city  of  Akron,  was  called  as  the  I'egular 
pastor,  which  call  was  accepted,  as  advised  by 
high  officials  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church,  on  the  4th  day  of  May.  1864,  and  on 
the  16th  day  of  the  same  month  moved  his 
family  to  the  city  of  Massillon,  and  since  said 
time  has  remained  the  regular  pastor  of  said 
church,  now  more  than  seventeen  years.  On 
the  12th  day  of  May  the  Church  resolved  to 
purchase  the  premises  upon  which  now  stand 
the  church  buildings,  then  owned  by  Arvine  C. 
Wales,  and  the  estate  of  William  S.  Wetmore, 
deceased,  and,  after  grading  and  much  prepara- 
tion, the  present  buildings  were  erected.  First, 
a  schoolhouse  for  a  German  and  English  Con- 
gi'egational  School,  which  was  dedicated  on  the 
1st  of  January,  1865.  After  preaching  from 
the  6th  of  September.  1863,  to  the  1st  day  of 
February,  1865,  iu  a  building  called  Hofraan's 
Church,  on  North  street,  now  changed  into  a 
dwelling-house,  and  from  the  last  above  date  to 
October,  1870,  in  the  lower  room  of  the  Masonic 
Building  on  Mill  street.  On  the  13th  day  of 
June,  1869,  the  corner-stone  of  the  new  church 
edifice  was  laid  with  beeomintj  ceremonies,  and 
on  the  18th  Sunday  after  Trinity,  A.  D.  1870, 
the  same  was  finished  and  dedicated  to  the 
service  of  the  Triune  God.  The  building  is  47 
feet  wide,  and,  with  the  projection  of  the  tower 
and  altar  place,  is  110  feet  long,  with  a  tower 
170  feet  high,  the  whole  of  first-class  finish  and 
materials.  Near  the  schoolhouse  and  church 
edifice  stand  two  dwelling  houses,  one  a  par- 
sonage and  one  a  dwelling  for  the  Congrega- 
tional teacher  and  organist,  built  since  the 
building  of  the  church  edifice.  The  congrega- 
tion increased  during  the  first  year  to  a  com- 
municant membership  of  ninety-seven  members 
of  both  sexes.  It  now  numbers  300,  exclusive 
of  130  children  of  school  age,  which  are  taught 
to  a  certain  age  in  the  Congregational  day 
school  in  German  and  English,  and  the  relig- 
ious principles  of  the  word   of  God  and  the 


^: 


j:di 


(ITV    OF    MASSILLON. 


doctrines  of  tlie  Kvangelical  Luthcian  Church. 

To  the  above  should  l)e  ad(U'd  that  the 
rliurch  ediflee  and  "jrounds  of  the  Hvangelical 
J^utheran  Church  are  surpassinijly  beautiful. 
Tlie  Iniildings  are  surrounded  by  an  Osage 
orange  hedge,  which  is  Itept  trimmed  and  in  the 
highest  state  of  cultivation,  inside  of  which 
are  shubbery.  Howers  an<l  evergreens,  among 
which  are  carriage-wa3's  and  graveled  walks, 
all  of  which  are  kept  so  neath'  that  the  place 
is  an  object  of  the  admiration  of  all  strangers 
visiting  the  city.  All  the  ornamentation  of 
the  grounds  is  the  work  of  Rev.  Mr.  Buehl, 
who,  in  addition  to  the  duties  of  the  pastorate, 
finds  time  to  embellish  the  churchyard  with 
flowers  and  shubbery,  and  keeps  them  in  order 
beyond  similar  work  in  point  of  taste  and  ele- 
gance in  the  city. 

On  the  7th  day  of  June,  1836,  the  Parish  of 
St.  Timothj-'s  Church  was  duly  organized,  ac- 
cording to  the  Canons  of  the  Protestant  Episco- 
pal Church,  a  charter  therefor  having  been 
previousl}-  obtained  through  the  influence  of 
Hon.  David  A.  Starkweather,  member  of  the 
Ohio  Senate.  The  Rev.  John  Swan  was  elected 
the  first  Rector,  October  10,  of  the  same  3"ear, 
the  corner-stone  of  tiie  church  edifice  having 
been  laid  by  Rev.  Charles  P.  Mcllvaine,  D.  1)., 
Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Ohio.  On  the  13th 
of  .May.  1843,  the  church  was  consecrated  by 
Bishop  Mcllvaine.  On  the  loth  of  Jul}-,  the 
Rev.  John  Swan  resigned  the  charge  of  the 
parish.  July  2(;.  1840.  Rev.  Anson  Clark  ac- 
cepted a  call  U}  the  parish,  and  remained  in 
charge  until  May  11,  1851.  From  October  1, 
1851,  until  April  3,  18511,  Rev.  Kdward  H. 
Cumming  was  Rector;  from  July  ].  18511,  to 
Juh.  l^tlo.  Rev.  Henrj'  H.  ^lorell  was  Rector: 
from  l-'eliruary  1.  1867.  to  May  1.  1871,  Rev! 
G.  W.  Timlow:  from  October  1,  1871.  to 
October  1.  1872,  Uv.v.  Wilifred  H.  Dean  ;  from 
May  15.  1873.  to  March.  1877,  Rev.  W.  M. 
Probasco.  who  died  that  month  of  small-pox. 

The  present  Rector,  Rev.  R.  I).  Brook,  took 
charge  of  the  parish  October  16.  1877.  having 
been  unanimously  elected  thereto  by  the 
\'estry. 

The  first  Vestry  were  James  Duncan.  Herman 
15  Harris.  James  S.  Reynolds.  Hunking  Whee- 
ler. Charles  K.  Skinner,  Dwight  Jarvis.  Matthew 
Johnson  and  (jeorge  Paine.  The  present  Vestry 
arc  Thomas  McCullough.  Senior  Warden  ;  Hi- 
ram    K.    Dickey,    Junior    Warden  ;     Thomas 


Hopper,  .Vugustus  J.  Ricks.  Moses  .\.  Brown, 
Jacob  (!.  Bucher.  James  W.  Dunn.  II.  11 
Everhard,  Edward  B.  Upham.  and  Jf>liii  <'> 
Warwick. 

Through  the  long  period  of  forty-five  years. 
St.  Timothy's  has  been  one  of  the  standard 
institutions  of  the  city.  The  beautiful  location 
of  the  church  and  parsonage,  in  (me  inclosure. 
at  the  southeast  corner  of  Tremont  and  l-^ast 
streets,  attracts  the  attention  of  strangers  visit- 
ing the  city,  and  is.  of  itself,  an  enduring 
monument  of  the  liberality  of  Hon.  James 
Duncan,  whose  generosity  was  restricted  only 
by  his  means. 

In  1849,  the  German  Protestant  element 
having  increased  rapidlj-,  a  meeting  was  called 
of  those  of  the  German  Evangelical  Church. 
In  a  legal  proceeding  of  a  later  date,  they  were 
sued  as  the  German  Evangelical  Church  of  St. 
John,  and  to  that  style  the  trustees  answered. 
At  the  date  above  named,  thei'e  were  fort}-- 
eight  families.  .Vt  the  meeting  ;im  organization 
was  effected,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  J.  <i.  Buettner. 
a  most  scholarly  and  elegant  gi'utleman,  was 
chosen  Pastor.  He  remained  four  years.  Of 
the  original  forty-eight  families,  but  seven  or 
eight  remain.  The  luimbcr  of  families  now 
composing  the  membership  is  two  hundred 
and  sixty-five.  This  church  has  grown  in  wealth 
and  influence.  The  first  meeting-house  is  the 
stone  building  on  East  street,  south  of  St. 
Timothy's  Protestant  Episcopal.  Tn  that  they 
met  for  long  years,  and  when  it  got  so  small  as 
no  longer  to  be  used  for  that  [jurpose.  they 
purchased  the  beautiful  lot  on  the  corner  of 
Tremont  and  Mill,  than  which  none  is  more 
eligible  in  the  city,  and  on  that  they  have 
erected  a  large  and  commodious  building — an 
honor  to  themselves  and  the  city.  Their  former 
meeting-house  has  been  sold  to  the  Union 
School  District,  and.  as  a  .schoolhouse,  is  useful. 
It  was  built  in  1840,  and  after  twenty  years  of 
use  as  a  chmx'h.  was  sold.  In  1863  and  1864 
there  was  a  secession  from  the  church  of  about 
fifteen  families,  making  about  sevent^'-five  mem- 
bers, on  account  of  a  dift'erence  of  opinion  oti 
the  subject  of  parochial  schools,  those  who 
withdrew  l)eing  in  favor  of  establishing  schools 
of  that  character.  \t  that  time  Rev.  .^Ir. 
Weisgerber  was  I'astor  of  the  old  (Jerman 
Evangelical  Church.  He  was  a  positive  man 
in  all  his  opinions,  and  especiall}-  positive  in 
his  opposition  to  distinct  schcxils,  under  the 


412 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


inanagemeut  of  the  church.  Upon  the  fact 
being  settled  that,  under  the  government  of  tlie 
(Jerman  Evangelical  Church,  parochial  schools 
would  not  be  established,  the  withdrawal  took 
place,  and  the  (iorinan  Evangelical  Lutheran 
(-hurch  was  at  once  organized,  and  is  now  one 
of  the  institutions  of  the  city.  Under  the 
fostering  care  of  Rev.  0.  W.  Shetlar,  the  old 
(ierman  Evangelical  Church  is  moving  onward, 
embracing  in  its  membership  a  most  useful  and 
intelligent  class  of  the  (rerman  population  of 
the  city  and  township,  and  largel}'  increasing 
in  numbers. by  the  unparalleled  immigration 
from  the  Fatherland,  and  the  influence  and 
well-directed  labors  of  its  worthy  Pastor. 

In  October,  18o5,  Rev.  0.  N.  Sage,  now  of 
Cincinnati,  a  Baptist  minister,  arrived  in  Mas- 
siilon,  then  a  young  gentleman  from  Eric,  Penn., 
unheralded  and  unknown,  and  as  he  says  'not 
knowing  the  name  of  any  one  of  the  people  of 
the  place.'  In  those  days,  the  village  being 
on  the  full  tide  of  successful  competition  with 
all  the  neighltoring  towns,  pa3ing  always  the 
highest  prices  for  produce  of  all  kinds,  its  iarae 
as  the  '•  wheat  city "  of  Ohio  attracted  the 
young  Baptist  Minister.  It  seemed  to  him  to 
be  the  field  wherein  ho  could  labor  and  leave 
at  least  '•  some  footprints  on  the  sands  of  time," 

■■  Fiicifjii  iiils  tli;it  (irrliaiLs  another 
Sailini;'  o'er  ]\fr\  Mjlcmii  main, 
A  finlorn  and  sliipwreckcMl  lirntlicr. 
Seeing,  miglit  take  heart  again." 

The  young  minister  was  right  in  his  conclusion, 
as  the  following  extract  from  a  pleasant  letter 
received  from  him  indicates.  He  '  found  a  quiet 
temperance  house  kept  by  William  M.  Folger, 
and  preached  the  next  day  in  Hogan  i.t  Harris' 
Hall  to  a  good,  attentive  audience.  Before 
leaving  the  hall,  it  was  resolved  by  the  people 
that  a  meeting  house  should  be  built,  and  the 
young  man  was  informally  invited  to  become  a 
citizen  of  what  was  then  known  as  the  most 
enterprising  business  place  in  the  interior  of 
Ohio." 

When  it  is  remembered  that  there  was  not  at 
that  time  a  half  a  dozen  Baptists  in  the  town- 
ship of  six  miles  square,  it  will  strike  the  reader 
singularly  that  on  the  second  day  after  the  ar- 
rival of  Mr.  Sage,  which  was  on  the  first  Sab- 
bath, and  on  hearing  his  first  sermon,  that  his 
congregation  should  resolve  that  a  house  should 
be  Ijuilt,  and  he  invited  to  become  a  citizen. 
The  people  of  Massillon  were  not  disappointed. 


The  name  of  Rev.  Orrin  N.  Sage  is  kindly  re- 
membered by  the  few  who  remain,  who  listened 
to  his  preaching,  and  who  will  never  forget  his 
earnest  labors  to  fashion  and  improve  the  social 
and  moral  condition  of  the  then  plastic  society 
of  Massillon. 

The  encouragement  given  to  Mr.  Sage  of 
course  set  him  at  work.  He  purchased  the  lot 
on  the  northwest  corner  of  North  and  Mill 
streets,  which  was  then  the  extreme  northern 
boundary  of  the  village,  and,  with  untiring  en- 
ergy, erected  the  church  edifice  now  there.  As 
soon  as  it  was  inclosed  and  convenient  rooms 
iu  the  basement  could  be  finished,  religious  wor- 
ship was  had  there,  and  the  first  Baptist  Church 
of  Massillon  was  organized,  with  Mr.  Sage  as 
its  Pastor.  The  church  edifice,  under  the  gen- 
eral management  of  Mr.  Sage,  the  funds  for 
which  were  furnished,  mostly,  says  Mr.  Sage, 
"  by  the  business  men  of  the  place,  who  had  no 
particular  devotion  to  any  religious  sect ;  but  a 
a  kind  word  for  all." 

Those  who  have  lived  since  183G  and  re- 
member the  inflation  of  the  cu.'rency  and  con- 
sequent panic  in  the  following  j  ear,  will  remem- 
ber how  eas}'  it  was  to  lay  out  cities,  and  in 
part  to  build  them  up.  Massillon  went  into  the 
wildest  speculations.  Corner  lots,  that  have 
since  been  sold  for  less  than  a  tenth  part  of  the 
then  prices,  brought  $5,000,  and  more  was  paid 
in  '•  hand  money "  than  thej-  were  worth  ;  the 
result  was  bankruptcy  and  ruin,  iu  which  the 
First  Baptist  Church  of  Massillon  was  a  suf- 
ferer. The  church  edifice  was  erected  on  the 
credit  of  the  subscriptions  of  those  persons 
"  who  had  a  kind  word  for  all,"  who  subscribed 
without  thinking  of  the  pay  day.  In  1837 
came  the  crisis.  Gen.  Jackson,  President  of 
the  United  States,  the  year  bef  re  had  issued 
his  famous  'specie  circular,"  and  in  May, 
1837,  a  general  suspension  of  specie  payments 
liy  the  banks  all  over  the  country  took  place, 
and  suspension  of  payments  /;(  anything,  by  in- 
viduals,  followed.  The  church  had  a  heavy 
debt,  and  which  was  an  incubus  from  which  it 
never  recovered,  Mr.  Sage  remained  five  years, 
struggling  to  save  the  property  and  keep  the 
congregation  and  church,  especially,  intact. 
It  was  the  darling  object  of  his  early  life  as  a 
minister.  His  health,  from  labor  and  anxiety, 
broke  down,  and  he  was  compelled  to  seek  an- 
other home.  His  successor  was  Rev.  S.  B.  Page, 
D.  D..  now  of  Cleveland,  who  found  about  one 


^.^ 


Ul 


fe- 


CITY    OF    MASfill.I.OX. 


413 


hundred  members  connected  with  the  church, 
who  were  increased  during  iiis  ministry  to  about 
one  hundred  and  twenty.  Mr.  Page  was  Pastor 
in  ISil.  As  services  were  had  in  .Vpril  that 
year  on  the  occasion  of  the  death  of  President 
Harrison,  the  opening  hymn,  as  is  well  remem- 
bered, commencing  with  the  lines. 

•■  God  Miovcs  ill  a  iiiy.-iti'iious  way 
His  wonticis  lo  perform." 
How  long  after  that  year  he  remained  is  not 
certain.  The  church  being  liurthencd  with  a 
iieavy  delit  and  accruing  interest,  struggled 
for  many  years.  The  business  of  the  town 
changed  and  went  into  new  hands,  who  were  in 
no  wise  responsible  for  subscriptions  to  the 
church  nor  were  members.  As  an  organiza- 
tion the  churcii  could  not  be  sustained.  Super- 
added to  all  other  calamities,  it  passed  into  the 
pastorate  of  a  most  unpcjpular  minister,  under 
whose  pastorate  the  house  was  closed  forever 
to  the  Baptists,  and  the  church  was  scattered. 
Few  yet  remain  who  were  members.  Among 
those  who  are  yet  living  should  be  named  An- 
drew B.  Cox  and  William  Bohanon.  respected 
citizens  of  the  Tiiird  Ward  in  this  city.  The 
building  was  sold  at  Slieriti's  sale,  under  a  de- 
cree or  judgment  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  of  Stark  County,  and  the  First  Baptist 
Church  of  !Massillon  exists  only  in  history. 

Although  the  Baptist  Church  oiganized  hy 
Mr.  Sage  was  the  organization  of  that  com- 
munion in  the  city,  he  was  not  the  first  Baptist 
minister  who  ha<l  preached  there.  As  early  as 
]8oU.  Klder  Jehu  Brown,  by  occupation  a  mill- 
wright, who  di<l  a  great  amount  of  work  for 
Mr.  Duncan,  preached  on  alternate  Sundays  at 
his  boarding-house,  corner  of  Oak  and  Krie 
streets.  He  was  a  man  of  strong  mind,  and  did 
his  duty  faithfully  as  he  understood  it.  He 
was  elected  in  lS8:!-34  to  the  House  of  Hepre- 
sentatives  in  the  General  .\ssembly  of  the  Slate, 
and  afterward  removed  to  Mt.  Carroll,  Carroll 
Co..  III.  Rev.  O.  N.  Sage  is  now,  and  for  thirty- 
seven  years  has  been,  a  resident  of  Cincinnati, 
beloved  and  respected  by  a  largecirele  of  friends. 

The  first  preaching  or  address  by  a  Priest  or 
Bishop  of  the  Hoinaii  Catholic  Church  in  this 
city  was  bj-  Bishop  Purcell,  and  was  in  what 
was  then  Johnson  s.  now  Beatty's.  Block,  on 
the  corner  of  the  canal  and  .Main  street,  in  the 
room  now  occupied  by  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 
The  Bishop  had  been  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  diocese,  Ohio  being  then  included  in  the 


Diocese  of  Cincinnati,  on  an  Kpiscopal  visit, 
and  took  Massillon  cii  nmti'  on  his  return. 
Timothy  Finnegan,  an  active  Irish  Catholic, 
procured  the  hall  for  the  Bisliop.  This  visit 
was  in  18.'!S.  and  before  many  of  the  since  nu- 
merous (ierman  Catholic  population  had  settled 
in  the  Tuscarawas  Valley,  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Miissillon.  The  old  church  at  Canton.  St. 
John's,  being  the  only  one  in  this  part  of  Ohio, 
except  a  little  elinreli  in  Lawrence  Townshij), 
naturally  drew  around  it  the  immigrants  of 
that  faith. 

The  few  Catholics  in  .^Iassillon  were  not 
without  religious  services.  The  first  celelira- 
tion  of  mass  was  by  llcv.  Father  Hotl'man.  from 
Canton,  in  a  private  house.  He  continued  to 
visit  the  members  of  the  church  during  the 
year  1836,  as  circumstances  permitted  him  to 
do  so.  The  next  year,  Father  Yunker  had  serv- 
ices in  a  little  one-story  dwelling  house,  since 
raised  to  a  two-stor}"  building,  near  the  corner 
of  Mill  and  Plum  streets,  and  also  had  service 
at  the  house  of  Patrick  Harney,  northwest  of 
where  now  stands  the  station  house  and  other 
buildings  of  the  Cleveland.  Tuscarawas  A'alley 
&  Wheeling  Railway,  which  house  is  yet 
standing,  and  is  one  of  the  oldest  frame  houses 
in  the  township,  having  l)een  built  and  occu- 
pied by  an  early  settler  by  the  name  of  David 
Anderson.  Esq..  and  father  of  Samuel  M. 
Anderson,  now  of  Dallon.  Squire  Anderson 
will  be  remembered  as  one  of  the  early  Presby- 
terians of  the  Tuscarawas  Valley.  In  1838. 
Father  Kuhr,  from  Canton,  had  services  in  the 
third  storv  of  (Jen.  (lardiier  I'ield  s  liuildingon 
the  west  side  of  the  canal.  This  was  a  com 
paratively  large  and  comfortable  room,  but  it 
could  not  be  had  at  all  times,  and  the  Catholics 
were  driven  into  private  houses.  They  next 
met  in  18li(.  in  a  small  frami>  house  on  Charles 
street,  near  the  corner  of  Muskingum  ;  then  at 
Widow  Krtle's,  on  North  Mill  street,  near  the 
present  residence  of  David  Kerstetter.  Ksq. 
That  year  services  wen^  also  liehi  at  the  house  of 
Tiinothv  Finnegan.  in  a  building  yet  known  as 
the  '•  Finnegan  House,  "  corner  of  .Mill  and 
North  streets.  Timothy  was  a  scholarly  Irish- 
man. Tradition  has  it  that  he  was  educated 
for  a  priest,  but  was  cajjlured  by  a  bright  Irish 
girl,  whom  he  married,  and  then  learned  the 
trade  of  a  cooper,  at  which  he  excelled,  as  he 
did  in  defense  of  his  religion.  He  finally  re- 
moved to  Cincinnati,  where  he  died. 


^^ 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


Near  the  close  of  the  Pontificate  of  I'ope 
Gregory  XVI,  there  came  into  the  village  a 
Presbyterian  minister  by  the  name  of  Delavan. 
and  the  Presbyterian  pulpit  being  vacant,  he, 
Mr.  Delavan,  was  temporarily  employed.  He 
at  once  commenced  preaching  sermons  and 
publishing  articles  in  the  newspapers  against 
the  Catholic  Church,  and  especially  against 
Pope  Gregory  XVI.  The  irreverent  boys  about 
town  gave  him  the  sobriquet  of  "  Pope  (ireg- 
ory,"  which  fastened  itself  upon  him  until  he 
was  better  known  by  that  name  than  any  other. 
His  articles  were  replied  to  vvitli  great  spirit 
and  ability  by  Finnegan,  over  his  initials.  His 
familiarity  with  the  history  of  the  Church,  and 
his  quotations  from  the  Fathers,  accompanied 
by  translations,  surprised  everybody,  and  the 
Presbyterian  minister  found  his  match.  His 
perfect  discomfiture  by  the  Irish  cooper  did 
much  to  prevent  his  being  permanently  em- 
ployed by  the  P)  esby terians. 

At  the  time  Mr.  Delavan  left,  a  most  amus- 
ing incident  occurred.  A  meeting  had  been 
called  by  the  Presbj'terians  to  determine  wheth- 
er they  would  employ  him,  F.  M.  Keitii,  Esq., 
then  of  the  law  firm  of  Pease  &  Keith,  being 
his  warm  friend  and  a  member  of  the  church. 
On  the  evening  of  the  meeting,  he  went  into  the 
office  and  had  a  conference  with  Mr.  Keith, 
after  which  Messrs.  Pease,  Keith  and  two 
students  went  to  the  church,  the  students  to 
see  what  would  l)ecome  of  "  Pope  Gregory,' 
under  the  championship  of  their  preceptor. 
When  the  vote  was  taken  upon  employing  Mr. 
Delavan  permanentlj-.  there  was  l)ut  one  in  his 
favor.  After  the  close  of  the  meeting,  he  again 
went  to  the  office  and  found  one  of  the  students 
in,  and  at  once  asked  him  if  ''  there  was  a  good 
degree  of  unanimity  in  tlie  proceedings  ?"  "  Oh 
yes,"  replied  the  joung  man.  "  It  lac^ked  but 
a  single  vote  of  entire  unanimity."  Mr.  Delavan 
seemed  delighted  and  left  for  his  lodgings,  and 
encountered  Mr.  Keith  on  the  wa}-.  who  gave 
him  the  facts.  Mr.  Delavan  left  the  next  morn- 
ing, and  Timothy  had  the  field. 

In  1840,  the  Catholic  residents  within  what 
might  be  denominated  the  Massillon  Mission, 
or  8t.  Marj-'s  Mission,  and  who  are  really  tiie 
pioneer  Catholics,  were  Frederick  Krtle,  Nicholas 
Smith,  Andrew  Paul.  Christian  Witt,  Nicholas 
Heiser,  John  Frease,  Anton  Vogt,  John  Boerner, 
John  Yungbluth — commonly  called  Young- 
blood — lohn  Ynngling,  Francis    Miller.    John 


Kutcher,  George  Seifert,  George  Ress.  Thomas 
Kegier,  George  Hoke,  Adam  Hamersmith,  Mar- 
tin Bauman,  Peter  Runser,  Magdalena  Bamber- 
ger, Margaret  Frease,  Nicholas  Bamberger  and 
some  others  whose  names  cannot  be  ascertained. 
Few  of  these  pioneers  yet  remain  ;  [trominent 
among  the  survivors  are  Christian  Witt.  John 
Boerner,  Anton  Vogt  and  Adam  Hamersmith. 
In  the  summer  of  1840,  for  a  short  time 
Father  Peter  McLaughlin,  was  at  Massillon, 
making  his  home  with  Timothy  Finnegan. 
Father  Peter,  as  he  was  called  by  those  whose 
acquaintance  justified  such  familiarity,  was  one 
of  the  most  genial  gentlemen  ever  at  Massillon 
in  the  service  of  the  church.  His  truly  Chris- 
tian character  will  ever  be  regarded  with  affec- 
tion by  all  who  knew  him.  The  last  known  of 
him  was  that  he  had  a  parish  in  Milwaukee. 

At  the  date  last  mentioned,  the  Catholics  of 
Massillon  and  vicinity,  extending  to  McDonald- 
ville,  in  Jackson  Township,  Richville,  in  Perry, 
Brookfleld.  in  Tuscarawas,  feeling  that  they 
should  have  a  church  edifice  and  grounds  sur- 
rounding it,  purchased  the  premises  where  now 
stands  the  magnificent  structure  known  as  St. 
Mary's,  or  Neue  Katholishe  Mutter  Gottes 
Kirche.  in  Massillon.  Ohio,  and  which  when 
completed  will  eclipse  anything  of  the  kind  in  j 
Northern  Ohio.  The  photograph,  by  Haring, 
shows  what  will  be  the  elegance  of  the  build- 
ing when  it  shall  have  received  its  flnisliing 
touches. 

On  purchasing  the  premises,  which  were  then 

far  north  of  the  city  limits,  the  few  Catholics 

of  the   mission    proceeded   to  build  a  church 

edifice,    which    thej-    accomplished    under   the 

guidance   and  supervision  of  various  priests, 

who   were  sent  here,  and  St.  Mary's  grew  and 

prospered  until  1852.  when    their  church  was 

destroyed   by    fire,  the    work   of  incendiaries. 

Stricken,  but   not   disheartened,    they    rebuilt 

and  enlarged  the   building,  and  continued  to 

use   the    repaired  structure  until  a  few  years 

since,  when  they   tore  down   the  old  building, 

I  that  with  its  repairs,  had  for  more  than  thirty 

I  years  ser\ed  them,  and  have  gotten  their  new 

j  building  in  a  condition  to  be  u.sed.     The  new 

I  liuilding   was   commenced    by  Father  Koehn, 

but   his    health  failing,  he  was  transferred   by 

Bishop  (iilmour  to  another  field  of  labor,  where 

I  he  soon  ended  a  useful  life.     On  his  leaving 

j  the  parish  of  St.   Mary's,   Rev.   Father  Kuhn 

took  charge,  and  has  since   remained.     There 


7[. 


CITV    OF    MA.SSIl.J.ON. 


415 


47,  Ancient,  Free 
I'liis  institution  coin- 
liisponsiition  granted 
William     .J,     Keese. 


are  nearly  three  biiiulred  families  connected 
will)  the  church,  with  which  they  have  :i 
large  ,9ehool.  hy  the  enlarjjenient  of  the  city 
limits  ;  the  Iniildintts  and  cliiirchyanl  are  on 
the  corner  of  Cherry  and  Mill  streets,  a  loca- 
tion well  adai)ted  to  the  wauls  of  the  large 
membership, 

Clinton  Jiodge.  No 
and  Accepted  Masons, 
meiiced  work  under  a 
by  Kight  Worshipful 
Grand  Master  of  the  State  of  Ohio,  in  188ti, 
and  continued  so  to  work  until  the  22d 
day  of  .January,  ,1837,  when  a  charter  was 
granted  to  (Jeorge  1),  Iline.  W,  M,;  Jo.seph 
(i.  llogan.  S,  W,;  S,  Hiickius.  J,  W.;  Asa 
l{ii:e.  Treas.;  (reorge  W,  Swarengen,  Secy  ; 
('only  Hunter.  S.  D,;  Britton  Kd wards,  J.  D.: 
Andrew  R<)l)ertson,  Tiler. 

There  were  many  others  in  tlie  neighbor- 
hood who  had  not  alliliuted  with  the  craft, 
their  being  no  working  lodge  within  their 
reach.  For  forty-five  years  Clinton  Lodge 
has  sustained  itself  and  is  now  about  to 
erect  a  new  and  commodious  hall,  having 
used  the  present  one  since  181(1.  Its  pre- 
sent officers  are  :  (i.  \V,  Hlanchard,  W,  M.; 
Frank  Strobel,  S.  W.;  I).  L.  St.  John,  J,  W,: 
J.  H.  Dangler.  Treas.;  F.  A,  Brown,  Sec  j'  ; 
.1.  ('.  Ilarwood,  S.  1).;  Howard  (iarrigues, 
J,  1).;  J,  .M,  McK»ven,  Tiler.  Of  the  orig- 
inal members  who  obtained  the  charter 
and  organized  the  lodge,  not  one  remains. 

Iliram  Chapter.  No,  18.  of  Royal  .\rch 
.Masons,  was  organized  by  charter  from  the 
(irand  Chapter  of  Ohio,  i8:!9.  The  first  of- 
ficers were;  Oeorge  D.  Hine,  M.  E.  H.  P.; 
T.  Dunham.  E.  K.:  Jesse  Rhodes,  K.  S.; 
John  K.  Dunbar  and  others,  .Vssocialcs. 
The  present  otlicers  of  the  Chapter  are  :  (ieorije 
W.  Hatiiawav.  M.  E.  H.  I'.:  Charles  II.  Tinkler, 
K.  K.;  G.  IJv.  Ryder,  E.  S.;  J.  C.  Harwood, 
Capt.  Host;  B.  F.  Cline.  P.  S.;  D.  J.  Kirk- 
land.  R.  A,  Capt,;  D.  L.  St.  John.  Third 
Vail  ;  A.  I*.  Wiseman,  Second  Vail  ;  I).  At- 
water.  First  Vail  ;  J.  R.  Dangler.  Treas.; 
C.  H.  flai-riirues.  Sec'j- ;  J.  M.  .McEwen. 
(iuard. 

A  Coramandcry  of  Knights  Templar  was  or- 
ganized under  a  charter  issued  Oct.  l(i.  1842. 
fts  original  otlicers  were  W.  J.  Reese.  G.  I). 
Hine,  K.  Porter,  John  Barney.  Joseph  B. 
Heuzey.  Sylvanus  Buckius.  Thonias  Hine  and 


George  A.  Kellenberger.  Tts  present  officers 
are;  H.  V.  Hampson.  E.  ('.:  Frank  Pi,  Webl). 
Generalissimo:  James  H.  McLain,  ('apt.  (ien,; 
James  1!.  Dunn,  Prelate  ;  C.  H,  Tinkler, 
S,  W.;  W.  H.  Kirkland.  J.  W.;  G.  Mv 
Ryder.  Warder;  J.  K.  Dangler,  Treas.;  (;.  W. 
Blanchard.  Rec;  liUther  Hicks,  Standard 
Bearer;  J.  Bobbins,  Sword  Bearer;  J.  .Mc- 
Ewen, Sentinel. 

Sipi)o  Lodge,  No.  IS.  1.  O.  ().  P.,  was  in- 
stituted August  :!(),  LSI.").  Charter  members  ; 
F.  T,  Hurxthal,  .James  S.  Kelley,  George 
.Miller,  Joseph  Culbertson,  John  Wisner,  First 
officers:  James  S,  Kelly,  N,  (L;  George  Mil- 
ler. \.  (',.;  .John  Wisner,  .Secy  ;  Joseph  Cul- 
bertson. Treas.  Present  officers  ;  C.  H.  Mono. 
N.  G.;  C.  E.  Taylor,  V.  G.;  Charles  T. 
Higginbolham.  R.  Secy  ;  H.  C.  Brown.  P. 
Secy. 

Eureka  EncampMient,  .No.  24,  1.  O.  ( ».  P.. 
was  instituted  August  Li.  1847.  Charter 
members  :  (Jeorge  .Vliller.  William  C.  Karl.  C. 
A.  ]{robst,  Porneroy  Baklwin,  Samu(4  Oberlin, 
William  H.  Bahney,  William  S.  Wann,  N.  S. 
Husscll,  F.  W.  Parmelee.  First  officers  ; 
W.  C.  Earl.  C.  P.;  (Jeorge  Miller.  H.  P.;  J.  J. 
Hofman.  S.  W.;  Pomeroy  Baldwin.  J.  W.; 
1.  H.  Brown,  Scribe  ;  Samuel  Oberlin.  Treas. 
Present  officers:  Henrv  Suhr.  C.  P.;  C.  W. 
Kline,  H.  P.:  C.  H.  NLmg,  S.  W.;  Thomas 
Laviers,  J.  W.;  11,  C.  Brown.  Scribe;  N.  S. 
Russell.  Treas. 

Massillon  Lodge,  No.  484,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  was 
organized  July  11.  1871.  Charter  members: 
Coin-ad  (iessncr,  Louis  Stilke,  Frederick  Jjoef- 
fler,  Hein-y  Nalter,  Joseph  Slel)augli,  Frede- 
rick Buckel,  Charles  Zupp.  Christian  Blaker. 
Frederick  Beck.  First  otlicers  :  Conrad  (ie.ss- 
ner,  N.  (L;  Louis  Stilke,  \'.  (!.;  G,  F.  Buckel. 
Sec'y  ;  F.  Loclller,  Treas.  Present  officers  : 
Johii  Kapp,  N.  (i.;  Phili|)  BaldauH'.  \'.G.:  Val- 
entine Kroenerich,  Secy  ;  .Julius  Koehnle.  P. 
Sec'y. 

There  is  a  large  and  flourishing  (Jerman 
lodge,  and  is  composed  ')f  representative  Ger- 
mans. 

Perry  Lodge,  Knights  of  P\thias,  was  insti- 
tuted June  3(1.  187.5,  the  following  persons 
being  charter  members  :  Henry  .\lterkruse, 
Alexander  .McLaughlin.  L  C.  Cole.  Isaac  I'l- 
man,  \'ictor  Burnet,  George  W.  Earle.  Herr- 
man  .Maver,  George  Goodheart,  Z.  T.  Baltzley, 
R.  A.  Walker,  S.  S.   Whisler.  Orlando  .Martiii, 


416 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


Henrj'  Waggoner,  E.  N.  Seelev,  Turenne  Goetz, 
W.  V  Harshe.y,  W.  G.  Curry,  Henry  Peters,  W. 
G.  Foe,  D.  Kitchen,  R.  Hay,  Robert  Lormer, 
John  Jjun.  On  tlie  organization  of  the  lodge, 
the  following  persons  were  elected  to  the  sev- 
eral otfiees:  Isaac  Ulinan,  O.  C;  Z.  T.  Baltzley, 
y.  C;  S.  S.  Whisler,  P.;  H.  Mayer,  M.  of  F.; 
li.  C.  Cole,  K.  of  R.  &.  S.;  H.  Altekmer,  M.  of 
h].;  A.  McLaughlin,  M.  at  A.;  Orlando  Martin, 
T.  (;.;  TurenntMJoetz,  0.  G.;  (i.  W.  Earle,  I). 
D.  G.  C.  The  institution  has  progressed  until 
it  numbers  seventy-five  members,  and  is  now 
governed  by  the  following  officers :  D.  A. 
Ilenney,  C.  C;  M.  V.  Young.  V.  C;  John 
Spuhler,  P.;  Alexander  Mcljaughlin,  M.  P.;  Z. 
T.  Baltzley,  M.  of  K.;  H.  H.  Minnick,  K.  of  R. 
&S.;  John  Martin.  M.  at  A.;  A.  Matthews.  1. 
G.;  T.  Goetz,  0.  G. 

The  j'ear  1836  opened  upon  Massillon  with 
one  of  the  saddest  events  of  its  early  history, 
in  the  death  of  Gen.  Gardner  Field,  which 
occurred  on  tlie  road  between  Massillon  and 
(j'anton.  (!en.  Field  was  driving  to  Canton  in 
his  sulky,  and  by  some  mishap  fell  from  his 
seat,  and  was  found  with  his  skull  fractured, 
and  beyond  the  reach  of  medical  aid.  lie 
was  taken  to  Hawk's  Hotel,  in  Canton,  where 
he  died. 

Gen.  Field  was  largely-  connected  with  the 
business  and  social  interests  of  Massillon,  and 
his  loss  was  severely  felt  for  a  long  time.  As 
an  indication  of  the  public  feeling  and  pub- 
lic sentiment  on  the  occasion  of  his  death, 
the  following  pioceidiugs  were  had,  as  shown 
by  the  obituary  notice  of  Gen.  G.  Field,  pub- 
lished in  the  Massilli:)n  Guzcitf,  January  9,  1836  : 

DK.XTU  OF  (iEN.  ().  FIELD.  j 

111  our  last  wu.s  iiinilioiu-d  the  :H'ci(lciit  wliicli 
liappencd  lo  Gcii.  (J.  Kirld.  of  this  village 

We  have  now  IJic  melancholy  duly  to  peil'urni 
of  reeordiiiu'  his  (le;ifh.  He  expired  in  (Canton,  (jn 
Fi'iday  eveiiiiii^',  on  the  1st  ilay  of  this  month,  in 
the  tliirly  liltii  year  of  his  age.  aliout  ten  hours 
alter  tile  aeeidelil.  The  manner  in  wliieli  lii'  was 
thrown  from  his  carriage  is  not  known  heyond  the 
border  of  a  conjceliire,  as  he  was  ridhig  alone  and 
none  sullicienlly  near  to  witness  the conimencenient 
of  tlie  scene.  The  vehicle  wa.s  proceeding  over  a 
snioolh  ])art  of  the  road,  there  was  no  running  off, 
yet  he  was  found  dragging  between  one  of  the  shafts 
ami  llie  wheel  liy  which  his  head  was  so  horribly 
mashed  I  hat  lie  iievci-  after  uttered  a  word.  In  the 
death  of  this  man  society  has  sustained  a  shock  from 
which  it  will  not  easily  recover.  The  conimunity 
at  large  will  feel  it.  and  will  regret  it  the  more  that 
he  has  been  snatched  away  in  the  flower  of  his  years, 


in  the  spring-time  of  his  career  of  usefulness.  The 
calamity,  however,  must  be  felt  with  greater  poign- 
ancy or  grief  and  sorrow  by  his  family  and  con- 
nectious,  by  having  by  so  lamentable  an  occurrence 
their  late  happy  homes  changed  into  grief  and 
mourning,  and  the  smile  of  peace  anil  comfort  giv- 
ing way  to  the  tear  of  family  affliction.  The  mem- 
ory of  the  deceased  will  long  continue  engraven  on 
the  i'eeolle<^tions  of  many;  but  uo  condolence  can 
materially  lessen  the  sorrow  of  domestic  woe. 

The  deceased  was  the  son  of  Waterman  Field, 
of  New  Berlin,  Chenango  CJounty,  New  York.  In 
the  spring  of  1837,  he  came  to  this  State,  and  en- 
gaged as  an  engineer  on  the  Ohio  Canal,  in  which 
service  he  remained  until  about  three  years  since, 
wlien  \\v  left  it  to  engage  in  business  in  this  town. 
He  had  held  tor  tlic  past  year  the  oihce  of  Collector 
of  Tolls  on  the  Ohio  Canal  at  this  port,  and  only  a 
few  weeks  previous  to  his  death  was  elected  Briga- 
dier General  of  tli<'  ,'Militia  in  this  county. 

Among  the  active,  industrious  and  enterprising 
citizens  by  whom  (Jen.  Field  was  surrounded.  ni>ne 
were  itore  so  than  himself.  He  ciijiiyed  in  an  emi- 
nent degi'ee  the  (■onfidence  of  hi-  nciL^libors  :ind 
fcllow-eitizens,  and  in  the  chararir  i  j-iii  -  nl  iirijinjit 
ness,  energy  and  activity  in  all  npnaiinn^  which  he 
undertook,  either  for  individual  cjr  public  lieiu'tit, 
no  one  excelled  him;  and  being  amiable  in  his  de- 
liortmenl.  conciliating  ami  just  with  all,  ami  friendly 
lieyond  the  usual  acceptation  of  tlii'  term,  his  death 
will  be  mourned  liy  all,  and  bis  wortli,  now  that  he 
has  gone,  will  lie  more  fulh  aiipreeiati-il  and  his  loss 
more  sensilily  felt.  Hi'  has  left  an  amialile  and  in 
tcresting  widow  and  an  infant  son  to  dejilore  his 
sudden  and  untimely  end  and  their  irreparalile  lo.ss. 
His  remains  were  lu'ought  to  this  place  ■in  S.iliuday 
Last,  and  were  buried  on  the  folluw  ini:  ila\  willi  mili- 
tary honors,  and,  notwithstandiiii;  I  lie  c\iic  nicly  un 
pleasant  weather,  a  large  concnurse  nl  |hu|>1c  ;iI 
tended  his  funeral.  A  "meeting  of  lii>  iiirml-,  .mil 
acquaintances  was  held  the  evening  pn  c nlin;;  hi^ 
burial  to  cxjircss  their  legrel  on  the  uccasiou,  and 
to  make  aiTangcmcnts  fur  the  funeral,  the  proceed- 
ings of  which  as  furnished  to  us,  read  as  follows: 

At  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Massillon  con- 
vened at  the  house  of  William  M.  Folger,  i,ii  Sai  in- 
day  evening,  the  id  iiist.,  for  thepurpose  ..I  inakiiig 
necessary  arrangements  to  pay  the  last  tribute  of 
rcsiieet  "to  llieii-  late  valuable'  fclhiu  cilizen,  Gen. 
(Jarilner  Field,  .\lc.\anilcr  .Met  ally,  Es,,..  was 
called  to  the  Chair,  and  A.  G.  Ilammiind  appointed 
Secretary.  'I'lieubjccl  iif  the  meeting  having  been 
brietly  siali  d  by  I  he  iliairman,  the  following  resolu- 
tions were  unanimiiusly  adopted. 

Benoloed,  That  in  the  melancholy  and  sudden 
death  of  our  highly  esteemed  fellow-citizen.  Gen. 
G.  Field,  society  has  sustained  an  irreparable  loss, 
and  his  numerous  acquaintances,  a  warm  and  gen- 
erous friend. 

Resolved,  That  this  meeting  tender  to  hjs  widow, 
relatives  and  family  connections,  their  deepest  and 
most  sincere  sympathies,  and  that  a  committee  of 
three  be  appointed  by  the  chair  to  communicate 
these  resolutions  to  them.  (Whereupon  D.  .Tarvis, 
P.  Handy  and  William  M.  Folgcr  were  appointed 
said  committee). 


riTV    OF    MASSll.l.ON. 


417 


Resoleecl,  That  tliu  followiiijt  ^ciilliMueii  be  re- 
(|U<'st(>d  to  !U-I  as  pall  bcarors,  vi/.. ;  I).  Jnrvis,  H.  B. 
Harris,  H.  Wliodcr,  Jr..  .1.  (J.  Ilo.iran.  Alc.xaiuU-r 
McCully.  .IdIiii  Kvcrlianl,  William  M.  Folucr  and  S. 
Biu'kiiis. 

lieiiiilrcil,  Tliat  llir  fclldw  liiiz.ns  ..f  the  (Iccoa.sed 
he  rcqucstcil  lo  wear  crape  on  lliiir  U-ft  arm,  wliilc 
attciuiing  his  funcial  ol)sc(|uics. 

nexolreil.  Thai  C.  K.  Skinner,  Osic  Welch.  M.  I). 
Wellman,  F.  Iliirxlhal.  P.  ('  lliill  and  Ceoriie 
Harsh  he  a  general  eornniittee  of  arranirements. 

ResoUcd.  That  the  proceeilinu;  (jf  this  nieelin.i;  lie 
published  in  the  papers  of  the  county. 

A.  a.  II.\M.MoND.  Ai.i;x.\ni)i;h.AIcCl'I,i.y. 

Secretary.  ('hairnian. 

The  year  184S.  while  it  was  the  year  for  or- 
ganizing the  Union  Schools  of  .Massillon,  wit- 
nessed an  event  of  a  different  character,  and 
one  that  will  never  be  forgotten  while  any  one 
lives  who  witnessed  it.  For  the  purpose  of  sup- 
plying the  village  with  pure  water  and  creating 
a  water  power  of  immense  value  lo  the  pro- 
prietors, the  ■•  Massillon  Rolling  .^lill  Company  " 
purchased  all  the  land  immediately  adjoining 
Sippo  Lake,  alxint  three  miles  northeast  of  the 
village,  and,  by  means  of  a  dam  across  the  out- 
let of  the  lake,  created  a  reservoir  of  water 
covering  about  1.10(1  acres,  fed  from  the  lake 
and  some  small  springs,  and  which  was  as  fine 
a  body  of  water  as  is  usually  found.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  purposes  sought  to  be  a(;complished 
by  the  rolling  mill  company,  the  State  became 
a  party  to  the  enterprise  lor  the  purpose  of 
using  the  water  for  the  Ohio  ("anal,  which  is 
near  ninety  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  lake. 
The  plan  proved  to  be  a  success  in  every  re- 
spect, and  could  the  reservoir  have  been  per- 
mitted to  remain,  the  benefit  the  city  would 
have  derived  can  hardly  be  estimated. 

Almost  as  soon  as  it  was  built  and  filled,  and 
Ijhfore  it  was  possible  for  any  evil  effects  to 
have  arisen  from  the  accumulation  of  so  large 
a  bod\"  of  water,  a  hue  and  crv  was  raised 
against  it  because  of  alleged  malaria  arising 
therefrom,  and  thereby  prejudicing  the  health 
of  the  neighborhood.  Threats  of  its  destruction 
were  made,  but  as  the}-  could  not  be  traced  to 
any  reliable  source,  and  considering  the  effect 
upon  the  city,  involving  property  and  life,  as 
the  whole  lower  part  of  the  city  would  be  swept 
away,  no  one  supposed  that  the  neighborhood 
either  of  the  city  or  the  reservoir  contained  any 
person  who  would  be  guiltvof  such  an  outrage. 

On  the  night  of  the  22d  of  I-'ebruary.  1848, 
which  had  been  selected  because  of  its  being 
the  anniversary  of  the  birthday  of  Washington. 


and  the  opening  of  the  Tremont  House,  then 
much  the  largest  hotel  in  this  section  of  the 
State  .south  of  Cleveland,  arrangements  were 
made  for  a  dancer  in  the  spacious  dining-hall  of 
the  hoU^l.  Parlies  were  present  from  till  the 
prominent  places  in  the  neighborhood,  including 
Akron,  Wooster,  Canton  and  Cleveland,  and 
the  occasion  was.  as  it  was  intended  to  be,  one 
of'  the  grandest  festivals  that  Massillon  had 
ever  witnessed.  The  rolling  mill  company,  who 
were  the  owners  of  the  hotel,  had  spaied  neilhei 
pains  nor  money  in  its  construction  or  appoint- 
ments for  the  purposes  for  which  it  was  erected, 
and  taking  its  name  from  the  'Tremont" 
House,  of  Boston,  .Mass.,  it  was  intended  by  the 
proprietors  that  the  Tremont  of  Massillon 
should  be  to  that  city  what  the  Tremont  of 
Boston  was  to  the  ■  Hub  of  the  universe."  hence 
its  opening  was  signalized  by  extraordinary 
efforts  on  the  part  of  all  concerned. 

While  the  dance  was  at  its  height  and  all 
present  wen^  in  the  full  tide  of  enjoyment,  "1110 
sound  of  revelry  '  was  hushed,  and  •  whisper- 
ing with  while  lips"  took  its  place;  the  roaring 
and  hissing  of  the  torrent  up  the  valley  told 
but  too  truly  that  the  reservoir  was  coming. 
The  dam  had  been  blown  up  with  powder,  and 
suddenly  the  whole  body  of  water  was  put  in 
motion,  having  a  fall  of  ninety  feet  before  it 
reached  the  level  of  Main  street,  in  .Massillon. 
The  effect  of  a  breast-work  of  si.\-  to  eight  feet 
of  water  moving  down  the  little  channel  of 
Sippo  Creek  (;an  hardly  l)e  imagined.  It  had 
been  known  for  a  long  time  that  the  22d  of 
February  had  been  seh^cted  for  the  grand  open- 
ing of  the  hotel,  and  that  occasioii  was  un- 
doubtedly selected  by  the  miscreants  who  blew 
up  the  dam  as  one  in  which  not  only  property 
in  the  city  could  be  destroyed,  but  a  destruc- 
tion of  human  life  could  and  woidd  be  effected, 
to  the  greatest  possible  extent,  and  why  no 
lives  were  lost  is  a  f|uestion  that  cannot  be 
answereil.  The  designs  of  the  conspirators 
were  comi)letely  foik'd  in  that  respect.  The 
loss  of  property  was  simply  immense.  The 
solid  gravel  street  between  the  south  end  of  the 
stone  block  and  the  north  front  of  the  hotel, 
which  stands  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Tre- 
mont and  Krie,  as  far  east  as  the  corner  of 
Tremont  and  Hast  .streets,  was  swept  away. 
Reaching  Krie  street,  it  swept  that  away  also, 
taking  with  it  the  large  and  well-built  three- 
story  brick  warehouse,  owned  by  the  Rolling 


^ 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


Mill  Company,  occupied  by  J.  L.  Reynolds  as  a 
wholesale  grocery  store.  Of  tliis  building  "not 
one  stone  was  left  upon  anotlicr, "  nor  was  one 
dollar  of  the  stock  saved.  The  flood  swept 
through  the  street  to  the  canal,  and  through 
both  banks  of  the  canal,  and  up  and  down  the 
canal,  with  a  resistless  force,  filling  the  base- 
ment of  all  the  warehouses,  crushing  in  ,the 
doors  on  the  canal  side,  and  floating  out  everj  - 
thing  that  would  float.  Such  packages  as  were 
too  heavy  to  float  were  swept  into  the  river, 
and  went  down  with  the  current.  The  south 
end  of  Tremont  Block,  better  known  as  the 
"  stone  block,"  a  three-story  building  of  cut 
stone,  built  in  the  very  best  manner,  by  the 
late  Francis  Worthorst,  was  swept  out  as  though 
it  had  been  a  cot  house,  and  to  this  fact  may 
be  attributed  the  safety  of  the  hotel.  Before 
reaching  the  hotel,  the  current  took  a  northerly 
course,  striking  the  end  of  the  stone  block,  and 
while  it  retained  sufficient  force  to  wash  awaj' 
the  earth  from  the  cellar  walls  of  the  hotel,  it 
had  not  force  enough  to  disturb  the  wall.  As 
the  water  fell,  the  cellar  wall  was  exposed  from 
the  lowest  foundation  stone  to  the  brick 
work.  A  critical  and  careful  examination  by 
experts  showed  the  walls  to  be  uninjured.  The 
entire  lower  part  of  the  city,  south  and  west, 
was  completely  submerged,  and  what  the  loss 
was  has  never  been  completely  ascertained. 
Among  the  greatest  losers  were  the  heavy 
wholesale  grocery  firm  of  J.  Watson  &  Co.; 
Fenner  &  McMillen,  wholesale  groceries  and 
dry  goods ;  the  Rolling  Mill  Company,  the 
damage  to  which  consisted  in  injury  to  real 
estate,  loose  property  carried  ofl'  by  the  flood 
and  damage  to  buildings. 

Since  that  memorable  night,  thirty-three 
years  have  passed  awa3',  and  whatever  is  written 
of  it  now  must  be  transcribed  from  memory. 
At  the  time,  dreadful  as  was  the  calamit3-,  and 
it  was  worse  than  all  the  fires  the  citj-  has  ever 
experienced,  no  record  can  be  had  that  gives  a 
detailed  account  of  the  losses.  Many  who 
were  great  losers  have  passed  away.  Death 
and  removals,  in  the  absence  of  records,  tend 
largely  to  increase  the  difficulties  attendant 
upon  the  obtaining  of  correct  local  history. 

Tn  April,  1830,  Capt.  James  Allen,  of  Canton, 
who  had  .served  his  apprenticeship  to  the  '-art 
preservative  of  all  arts"  in  the  otiice  of  the 
Ohio  Rcpum'tori/,  at  Canton,  came  to  Massillon 
with  the  material  for  a  newspaper,  and  rented 


the  upper  room  of  a  building  on  Main  street, 
immediately  east  of  the  store  of  I.  Brown  & 
Co.,  about  where  now  stands  the  drug  store  of 
Mr.  Ph.  Morgenthaler.  The  material  that  he 
bought  included  all  that  was  necessary  to  get 
out  a  paper  such  as  was  gotten  out  a  half  a 
century  ago.  The  press  on  which  the  papcT 
was  to  be  and  was  printed,  was  an  old  Ramage 
press,  so  old  and  dilapidated,  that  the  inventor, 
himself,  Adam  Raniage,  would  hardly  have 
recognized  it  as  a  copy  of  his  invention.  It, 
with  the  other  material,  was  brought  into  the 
county  in  1827,  by  that  veteran  printer,  now 
gone  to  his  long  rest,  Joseph  Wilkinson  White, 
a  printer  who  had  started  more  newspapers  in 
Ohio  and  elsewhere  in  the  United  States  west 
of  the  River  Ohio  than  any  man.  living  or 
dead,  except  Sam  Pike.  When  Mr.White  brougut 
his  printing  material  to  Stark  County,  he  was 
bound  to  start  a  paper  to  supjiort  the  Adminis- 
tration and  re-election  of  John  Quincy  Adams, 
then,  1828,  being  in  its  last  year  ;  but  falling  in 
with  several  influential  Democrats  at  Canton, 
he  concluded  to  start  a  paper  at  Paris,  in  this 
county,  then  a  little  hamlet,  in  the  support  of 
Gen.  Jackson.  He  did  so,  and  his  paper,  the 
Ohio  Democrat,  lived  and  flourished  until  after 
the  Presidential  election,  when  it  was  removed 
to  Canton,  but  did  not  flourish  there.  Capt. 
Allen  was  in  some  way  connected  with  it,  and 
finally  became  the  owner  of  the  establishment, 
and  brought  it  to  Ma.ssillon  at  the  time  named, 
and,  with  Dr.  John  Townsend,  started  the  Mas- 
sillon Ga.wttr.  It  was  printed  on  a  small  super- 
ro^al  sheet.  Massillon  at  that  time  had  possi- 
bly five  hundred  inhabitants,  when  the  Massil- 
lon Gazette,  by  Allen  &  Townsend,  appeared  in 
April,  1830.  The  political  tidal  wave  that  car- 
ried Gen.  Jackson  triumphantly  into  the  Presi- 
dency had  scarcely  subsided  ;  the  ground-swell 
after  the  storm  was  still  rolling,  everybody  was 
Democratic  save  a  few  who  inherited  the  faith 
of  the  Federal  fathers,  and,  under  these  circum- 
stances, the  Gazette,  without  any  particular 
principles,  started.  Townsend  soon  withdrew 
from  it.  Allen,  one  of  the  most  genial  men 
ever  connected  with  the  Stark  County  press, 
and  of  remarkable  abilitj"  as  a  writer,  and  whose 
colloquial  powers  were  rarely  equaled,  and  a 
practical  printer  withal,  was  unable  to  make 
the  Gazette  a  success.  The  Democrats  of  Mas- 
sillon, under  the  lead  of  Alexander  McCully. 
bought  out  the  paper,  and  it  went  into  the  hands 


!k^ 


CITY    OF    MASSILLON. 


410 


of  Bernard  &  McCully,  Bernard  being  a  prac- 
tical printer. 

In  tlie  autumn  of  ISHl.  Alien  was  elected  to 
the  Iji'iiislature.  and  did  not  return  to  Stark 
('i)unly  from  Columljus.  Wlit-n  the  Legislature 
adjourni'd,  lie  went  lo  Cincinnati,  obtained  a 
berth  on  a  steamboat  as  clerk,  for  a  time,  and 
finally  brought  up  as  editor  of  the  old  Cinein 
nati  Nipiil/liiiiii.  then  published  by  Looker  & 
Reynolds.  He  remained  there  until  the  estab- 
lishment clianged  hands  and  lie  became  pro- 
prietor, and  tlie  firm  was  Allen,  Looker  &  Dis- 
ney,  familiarly  called  Dick  Disney.  Allen  was 
a  man  of  fine  pn'sence  and  engaging  manners, 
and  with  a  thorough  knowledge  of  English 
literature  and  Knglisli  history,  he  was  able  to 
write  an  article  on  almost  any  subject  witli  little 
preparation.  His  fine  y)/»/«(/«e  gave  him,  while 
he  resided  in  Cincinnati,  the  sahnquct  of  "  The 
Six-foot  Two,"  which  was  really  his  height,  and 
admirably  proportioned,  by  means  of  wliich,  as  a 
military  officer,  he  was  enabled  to  present  an  ap- 
pearance which  was  envied  by  many  an  officer 
who  served  with  him.  His  paper,  the  Rrpuhli- 
<•(//(,  went  down.  Allen  remained  in  Cincinnati 
until  183t;,  when  the  Texas  fever  broke  out.  He 
then  raised  a  company  in  Cincinnati  that  was 
armed,  equipped,  and  provided  with  the  muni- 
tions of  war  in  almost  every  respect,  and,  tak- 
ing passage  on  a  steamboat  to  .New  Orleans, 
thence  to  some  Texan  port,  they  went  into  the 
contest  ■'  to  extend  the  area  of  freedom,"  but 
like  almost  all  of  Allen's  schemes,  his  Texas 
adventure  was  a  failure.  The  ('onipany  was 
disbanded  in  Texas.  Allen  and  Sam  Houston, 
afterward  Senator  from  Texas  in  the  United 
States  Senate,  could  not  agree,  and  Allen  came 
home  to  Stark  County,  like  Francis  the  First, 
of  Austria,  having  lost  everything  but  his  honor. 
The  citizens  of  Massillon,  of  whom  the  writer 
was  one,  recognizing  his  talents,  got  together 
the  material  for  a  newspaper,  and  again  set  him 
at  work  as  the  editor  of  the  Gazette..  re\'ived, 
after  many  changes,  as  noticed  elsewhere.  Still 
the  phantom,  success,  was  just  out  of  his  reach, 
and  his  second  attempt  to  conduct  a  new^spaper 
was  a  worse  failure  than  the  first,  seven  years 
before,  and  he  went  to  Columbus  to  edit  the 
ikilhj  .Journal,  which  was  simply  another  fail- 
ure. When  the  memorable  campaign  of  18-K) 
came  around,  Allen,  Sage  &  Beveridge  started 
a  paper  at  Columbus  called  the  '•  Strait/lit-nnl 
Harn'soiiian."  a  campaign    paper,  which,  with 


the  election  of  Gen.  Harrison,  ceased  to  exist. 
Capt.  Allen  and  Oen.  Harrison  were  warm  per- 
sonal friends,  and  could  the  President  have 
lived,  he  would  have  remembered  his  earnest 
friend  of  many  years,  whose  trenchant  pen  had 
vindicated  his  claims  to  the  [)residency  against 
Buckingham,  of  the  Boston  Courier,  in  the 
palmy  days  of  that  well-remembered  paper.  He 
did  get  a  clerkship  at  Washington,  but  had  to 
surrender  that  wdien  things  there  became  Tyler- 
ized,  and  he  came  back  to  Ohio. 

In  ]84(),  when  the  Mexican  war  broke  out 
and  troops  were  called  for,  Allen  enlisted  and 
was  elected  Captain  of  Co.  A,  of  the  First 
Ohio  Regiment,  Col.  Samuel  R.  Curtis,  after- 
ward Major  General  of  Volunteers  in  the  war 
of  the  rebellion,  and  Member  of  Congress  from 
Iowa.  As  tlie  then  Ohio  regiments  were  only 
intended  for  one  year's  service,  when  the  year 
was  u[)  the  troops  were  mustered  out,  and 
Capt.  Allen  came  home,  after  having  done 
camp  duty  a  year  at  Matamoras  ;  he  went  to 
his  old  home  at  Canton,  was  elected  a  Justice 
of  the  Peace,  and  was  appointed  a  Deputy 
Clerk  of  the  Common  I'leas  Court  of  the 
County.  In  1849,  on  the  discovery  of  gold  in 
California,  Capt.  Allen  detenninetl,  like  the 
Argonauts  who  sailed  in  search  of  tlie  Golden 
Fleece,  to  sail  for  California  as  soon  as  circum- 
stances would  permit  him  to  do  so,  having  a 
brother-in-law  at  Marysville,  Hon.  O.  P.  Stid- 
ger,  a  Judge  of  one  of  the  courts,  who  had 
gone  there  in  1849.  He  left  Canton  for  the 
Golden  State  in  185;!,  and  arrived  there  after  a 
two  or  tiiree  months'  journey.  He,  soon  after 
arri\ing  there,  was  ottered  and  accepted  the 
position  of  editor  of  the  Marysville  Herald, 
where  he  remained  for  some  time.  Leaving 
there,  lii^  visited  various  portions  of  the  State, 
and  finally  brought  up  again  at  Washoe.  Nevada, 
and.  in  18(53.  was  editor  of  Washoe  Citi/  Times, 
a  daily.  How  long  he  remained  there  is  not 
known.  In  1805,  as  nearly  as  can  be  a.sccr- 
tained,  he  died  suddenly,  somewhere  in  the 
Sierras  ;  and  a  truer  man,  in  all  that  constitutes 
genuine  manhood,  than  James  Allen  never 
lived.  Under  other  circumstances,  his  name 
would  have  been  peerless  in  the  list  of  Ameri- 
can writers. 

From  1843  to  1848,  it  is  exceedingly  ditlicult 
to  keep  track  of  the  changes  in  the  newspaper 
press  in  Massillon.  At  one  time,  during  those 
few  yearf,  the  late  E.  P.  Grant  had  charge  of  a 


^ 


HISTORY  OF    ST  AUK    COUNTY. 


paper.  Also,  the  late  Dr.  William  Boweu. 
There  was  the  MasslJIo,,  Xnrs,  in  1847.  by 
Messrs.  Keith  &  Miller. 

The  following,  furnished  by  Joseph  K. 
Merwin,  Esq.,  a  practical  printer  residing  in 
the  city,  may  be  regarded  as  giving  a  correct 
account  of  the  newspaper  press  of  Massillon 
since  1848  ■ 

"The  IRni/J  of  Freedom  ami  Wlhnut  Pfoeisii 
was  printed  in  the  summer  and  fall  of  1848  as 
a  Free-Soil  campaign  paper,  by  E.  Burke  Fish- 
er, tlian  whom  there  were  few  more  spirited 
writers.  That  year,  the  Massillon  Tclegnijih  was 
published  by  Painter  &  Wilson,  and  was  a 
Whig  paper.  It  ceased  to  e.vist  in  1849,  and 
the  materials  belonging  to  the  office  were  pur- 
chased by  a  Mr.  Hanna,  from  Circleville.  He 
had  a  fondness  for  the  name  he  gave  his  paper, 
the  Herald^  having  been  connected  with  the 
Circleville  Herald.  The  late  Hon.  William  C. 
Earle  and  James  S.  Underhill,  Esq.,  now  in 
Illinois,  purchased  the  material  and  revived  the 
Massillon  Xew^.  Mr.  Earle  soon  purchased  Mr. 
Underhill's  interest,  and  edited  the  paper  sev- 
eral years  with  marked  ability  and  success, 
when  he  sold  out  to  "Messrs.  Logan  &  Fletcher, 
who  held  the  paper  something  over  a  year,  when 
they  sold  out  to  Charles  A.  Hugns.  James  E. 
Wharton  bought  Hugus  out,  and  continued  the 
publication  of  the  paper  until  1857,  and  then 
stopped.  In  1858,  in  the  early  spring,  Joseph 
K.  3Ierwin  and  David  W.  Huntsman  purchased 
the  material  of  the  Neirs  office,  and  commenced 
the  publication  of  a  paper  called  the  Jounud 
of  the  Times.  After  publishing  a  paper  neutral 
in  politics  for  fifteen  months,  Mr.  Merwin  pur- 
chased Mr.  Huntsman's  interest,  and  continued 
the  paper  as  a  Republican  paper  until  the  spring 
of  1861,  when  he  sold  out  the  good-will  and 
subscription  list  to  Josiah  Hartzell,  of  the 
Stark  Ciimdij  liejiuh/ieaii.  Soon  after,  tlie  ma- 
terial composing  the  otHce  was  purchased  by 
Robert  &  Alexander  Harkins,  who  revived 
the  old  Massillon  Gazette,  and  continued  it  un- 
til May,  1802. 

After  the  Harkins  Brothers  ceased  to  publish 
a  paper,  John  Frost,  of  New  Lisbon,  the  veter- 
an printer  of  this  Congressional  District,  and 
Peter  Welker.  Esq..  of  the  city  of  Massillon, 
purclia.sed  and  commenced  the  publishing  of 
the  Massillon  Independent.  The}'  were  suc- 
ceeded by  Charles  E.  Taylor,  Esq.,  who  continues 
to  publish  it.     In  the  meantime,   J.  W.  Garri- 


son removed  to  Massillon  from  Alliance,  bring- 
ing with  him  a  general  assortment  of  printing 
material,  and  commenced  the  publication  of 
the  Massillon  Ameriean  November  10,  1809. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Messrs.  JlcCurdy  & 
Geesaman,  in  August,  1870,  and  they  in  turn 
were  succeeded  by  Messrs.  S.  &  J.  J.  Hoover, 
in  Decemljer,  1870,  who  have  continued  the 
publication  of  the  paper  to  this  time.''  During 
all  this  period  other  papers  have  started  and 
gone  "where  the  woodbine  twineth.'  In  1851, 
the  ubiquitous  Joseph  Wilkinson  White  started 
the  Wheat  t^iti/  Mercury,  which  lasted  about 
three  months.  Dr.  Bowen,  an  enthusiast  on  the 
subject  of  education,  at  one  time  published  The 
Free  Srhiml  Clarion,  and  in  1841,  The  Geniaus 
of  Temperance  lived  as  long  as  the  friends  of 
temperance  would  sustain  it.  When  they 
ceased  its  support,  it  sickened  and  died,  as  did 
more  than  one  hundred  temperance  papers  that 
sprang  into  existence  that  3ear  all  over  tlie 
land  under  the  dispensations  of  Washingtonian 
temperance. 

Tluit  part  of  Massillon  now  known  as  the 
Fourth  Ward,  originally  as  Kendal,  was  always 
famou.s  for  its  celebrities.  In  its  earl3-  daj's,  it 
had  its  Poet  Laureate  or  Laureates,  for  they  were 
many,  one  of  whom  seemed  especially  favored. 

In  1822,  while  Thomas  Botch  was  proprietor 
of  the  Kendal  Woolen  Factory,  he  liad  in  his 
employ  an  Irisli  weaver,  who  was  in  man3'  re- 
spects a  genius,  by  filename  of  Moses  McCam- 
mon,  who,  in  addition  to  his  being  a  weaver 
and  at  the  head  of  his  profession  in  the  hand- 
ling of  the  warps  and  woofs  of  a  piece  of  cloth, 
often  essayed  to  scale  the  rugged  heights  of 
Parnassus.  His  Pegasus  used  to  carry  him  to 
the  mountain  top. 

One  of  his  flights  brought  forth  the  following. 
His  employer,  Thomas  Rotch,  having  sent  to 
Sally  McCammon,  Moses'  wife,  a  small  package 
of  tea,  Jloses  tlius  acknowledges  it  in  a  note  to 
his  employer  ; 

Di.siipiiiiintmciits  of    view  and  the  cdurses  of    f;ite 
Press  ilowii  on  (lur  l)<)S(>ms  witli  wonilerfu!  wciglit, 
But  all   tlic    annoyance  that  tends  us  through  life 
Is  nothing  at  all  to  tlie  ffown.s  of  a  wife. 
1  have  one.  who  as  long  as  her  teapot's  supplieil. 
1  si'ldorn  have  known  her  to  scold  or  to  ciiide. 
But  when  it  is  empty,  no  mortal.  I'm  sure. 
Could  bear  the  abuse  I  am  fon-ed  to  endure. 
Since  evef  she  got  what  you  sent  her,  slit's  been 
As  great  in  her  mind  as  a  Dueliess  or  Queen  ; 
Like  a  kitten,  she  skips  thro'  her  house  full  of  glee, 
And  I  am  as  happy  as  liappy  can  be. 


^u/A^  (ii^^^^i^ 


LtXIXGTON    TOWNSHIP. 


She  vows  and  declares,  to  the  end  of  her  days 
While  her  tongue  it  ean  wajr  she  will  sound  forth 

your  praise, 
And  she'll  work  lil<e  a  Trojan  tliro'  cold  and  thro' 

heat. 
And  endeavor  to  make  all  her  endin,!?s  to  meet. 

Let  speckled  faced  topers,  so  jolly  and  frisky. 
Keep  roarins;  the  praises  of  hranily  and  whisky  ; 
They  may  roar  till  they  split,  il  is  nothing  to  me; 
I'll  sins  while  I'm  able  the  virtues  of  tea. 


Tea  makes  an  old  woman  that's  withered  and  gray 
As  blithe  and  as  blooming  as  daisies  in  May. 
And  I  know  very  well  that  it  quiets  the  strife 
Which  often  ari.ses  'twixt  husband  and  wife. 

Here,  now,  I  conclude,  and  as  long  as  tlie  si)ring 
Entices  the  bushes  ";ay  verd\n-c  to  bring. 
Or  as  long  as  great  Erie  produces  a  salmon. 
So  long,  t'nx  your 


Well  wisher, 
Kendal,  February  '22,  18'i'i. 


Moses  McC.vm.mon. 


CHAPTEU     XVI.' 


LEXINGTON  TOWNSIHl'— THE  E.AIILV  HISTORY  AND  PHVS1C.\L  FEATfUES  — .SEITLEMENT  BV 
WHITES— riONEEI!   INDrSTlUES— EUr('.\T10NAL  INFLUENCE.S— CIIUHCU   HIS'lOKV,  ETC. 


THE  chronological  increase  of  agricultural 
products,  wealth,  population  of  the  town- 
ship, etc.,  are  garnered  matters  of  record,  open 
to  research  and  examination,  now  as  in  the 
future.  But  tiie  arduous  labors,  interesting 
luinting  exploits,  depredations,  heroic  fortitude, 
reminiscences  of  the  Indians,  etc.,  of  the 
pioneers  of  the  township,  have  their  record  only 
in  the  fading  memories  which  gleam  dimly  on 
the  incidents  of  early  life.  It  is  the  design  to 
incorporate  as  mtich  of  this  class  of  material 
in  the  subsequent  chapters  as  has  been  or  as 
can  be  reliably  obtained. 

The  facts  herein  written  were  obtained  some 
twentj-  years  ago  from  the  first  settlers  of 
1800-08  ;  since  then,  the  last  of  these,  Shadrach 
Feltz.  has  passed  the  threshold  of  that  home, 
which  fast  bolls  its  treasniy  of  early  remem- 
brances from  the  prj-ing  scrutiny'  of  inquiring 
posterity.  There  are  many  who  sleep  in  the 
small,  neglected  and  almost  forgotten  grave- 
yards of  the  townships,  whose  heirloom  was 
heroism.  l)ut  whose  wager  of  life  was  hard. 
The}-  battled  with  interminable  forests,  wild, 
beasts  and  wilder  men.  and  to-day  the}'  sleep 
forgotten.  Tlieir  h-ird-earned  patrimony  is  in 
the  fertile  fields,  early  life,  happy  homes  clus- 
tering with  peace  and  comfort — a  realized 
legac}'  to-day.  For  these  bequeathments  we 
will  read  and  write  their  names  anew. 

Settlement  in  Lexington  Township  was  made 
in  lS05-0(),  by  families  attached  to  the  Quaker 
faith,  among  the  first  of  whom  were  Amos  Hollo- 
way,  Zaccheus  Stanton,  Nathan  (laskill,  John 
(Jrant,  David  Berry  and  Jesse  Feltz.    Amos  Hol- 

*C.inTibut«ll>y  Dr.  L.  T,.  Ijimlmrti. 


loway  emigrated  from  Loudoun  County,  Vir- 
ginia and  entered  the  land  that  was  chosen  for  the 
site  of  the  village  of  Lexington,  and,  in  conjunc- 
tion with  Nathan  (iaskill,  was  the  proprietor. 
The  first  roads  laid  out  in  this  township  were 
the  ones  leading  from  Deerlield  to  Canton,  diag- 
onally across  the  township,  and  the  other  was 
from  Salem,  intersecting  the  first  at  the  village 
of  Lexington.  The  first  post  office  was  on  the 
first  of  these  routes,  located  in  1811,  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile  west  of  the  town,  at  the 
house  of  the  pioneer,  Jesse  Feltz.  Th(!  farm 
is  still  occupied  by  his  son,  Shadrach  Feltz,  who 
had  the  control  of  the  ottice  near  twelve  years. 
A  weekly  mail  arrived  at  this  station,  it  was 
first  carried  on  horseback  bj'  Judeth  l"'arnam. 
It  was  considered  an  extraordinaiy  trip  to 
reach  Canton  from  Deerlield  in  one  day.  The 
same  post  office  was  kept  till  it  was  laid  down 
in  Lexington,  by  .Mr.  William  Kingsbury,  a 
volunteer  soldier  in  the  last  war  with  England, 
and  who  was  in  the  reception  of  a  pension  from 
the  Government  for  over  thirty  years.  In  an 
engagement  with  the  British  on  our  northern 
frontier,  he  was  struck  with  an  ounce  lead  ball 
in  the  occipital  region  of  the  head,  which  deep- 
Ij-  embedded  itself  and  was  not  dislodged  by 
surgical  skill  until  some  weeks  after  the  acci- 
dent. The  old  man  kept  the  ball  and  his 
bloody  shirt  till  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
1835,  as  tro[)hies  of  the  danger  he  encountered 
through  his  youthful  patriotism.  His  son,  (iu\- 
Kingsbury  (deceased)  represented  the  county 
from  this  township  in  the  lower  branch  of  the 
Legislature  in  the  3'ear  1888.  Mr.  Guj-  Kings- 
bury was  the  only    resident   of  the   township 


:1>- 


422 


HISTORY   OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


that  ever  represented  the  county  in  the  Legis- 
lature, except  the  Hon.  Hiuuphrey  Hoover  (de- 
ceased) who  was  elected  in  1  SOU.  and  re-elected 
in  18(12.  Since  then  R.  (}.  Williams  and 
E.  Hartshorn  have  served  in  that  capacity. 
John  Kingsbnry,  a  resident  of  tliis  city, 
was  a  brother  to  (ruy  Kinosbury.  The  Oliin 
Ri'piisifoTi/.  which  was  published  in  Canton 
for  more  than  fifty  consecutive  years,  by  tlie 
respected  pioneer  editor.  John  Saxton.  was 
the  first  paper  received  at  the  first  office  and 
road  liy  the  first  settlers  of  Lexington  Town- 
ship. The  first  child  born  in  the  township  was 
a  daughter  to  Timothy  and  Alice  Grcweil.  The 
first  marriage  was  a  daughter  of  Abraham  and 
Tabitha  Wileraan  to  William  Beedcr,  of  New 
Garden.  The  second  marriage  was  a  daughter 
of  William  and  Mary  Pennock,  to  Matthew 
Vauohn,  of  Virginia. 

It  seems  singular  to  the  third  generation 
that  the  prospecting  settlers  of  Stark  County 
should  prefer  to  pitcli  their  tents  on  tlie.thin, 
cold,  clay  soil,  common  to  the  immediate  \^icinity 
of  Lexington,  when  much  more  fertile  locali- 
ties lay  in  close  proximity.  The  barrens,  or 
that  section  surroundinsi  Canton,  now  grown, 
except  where  cultivated,  with  small  oaks,  was 
considered,  in  1806.  to  he  very  worthless  land. 
Time  has  proven  it  to  Ije  tlic  richest  land  in 
the  county,  and  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  cul- 
tivation of  wheat.  But  there  are  many  influ- 
ences at  work  controlling  the  judgment  of  lo- 
cating pioneers  ;  soil  and  timber  kinilred  to 
the  kind  fi'orn  whence  they  came  is  not  the 
least  potential.  The  Mahoning,  at  this  date. 
was  a  mighty  river,  often  sweeping  to  the  brovv 
of  its  secondary  embankments,  its  tributaries 
yielding  it  their  ever  constant  supplies,  drawn 
from  the  humid  soil,  evaporation  shut  out  by 
dense,  over-arching  forests.  It  is  now  shorn  of 
its  majesty,  and  dry  seasons  see  it  dwarfed  to 
a  rix'Ulet.  Then  the  white-barked  cottonwood 
trees,  a  few  of  which  remain  along  its  course. 


■•river,'  enters  th'e  township  on  the  southern' 
third  of  its  eastern  border,  runs  a  circuilous 
direction  and  passes  out  at  its  northeastern 
corner.  At  the  time  of  the  first  settlement,  it 
was  well  stocked  with  fine  fish  ;  from  its  waters- 
the  pioneers  and  Indians  drew  a  supply  of 
food  of  this  kind,  ecpial  to  all  their  wants.! 
Notwithstanding  its  present  diminished  volume' 
and  interrupted  waters,  many  good-sized  fislv 
(bass)  are. yet  annually  caught.  The  bank  of 
this  stream  in  this  township  for  sixty -eight 
consecutive  years  has  had  its  continuous  line 
of  Daniel  Waltons.  Cotemporary  with  the  set- 
tlement made  in  Lexington  Township,  one  was 
made  at  Kendal,  now  a  northern  ward  of  tlie 
city  of  .Massillon.  It  gives  the  mind  a  better 
conception  of  the  wild  and  chaotic  condition  of 
things  in  tluit  territory  six  miles  square,  known 
as  Lexington  Township,  at  the  time  of  its  first 
settlement,  viz..  1805,  to  know  that  tiie  county 
of  Stark  was  not  organized  for  four  years  after 
this  date  (1809).  The  first  house  in  the  town 
of  Lexington,  and  the  first  with  a  shingle  roof 
in  the  township,  was  built  in  1808  by  Amos 
Holloway.  In  this  building;  the  first  store  was 
opened,  by  Gideon  Hughes.  The  heaviest  of 
any  one  article,  as  well  as  the  one  in  which 
most  cai)ital  was  invested,  was  earthen-ware. 
This  mercantile  enterprise,  proving  anti-lucra-' 
tive,  was  soon  abandoned,  and  this  shingle- 
roofed  St.  Paul's  of  Lexington  was  used  as  the 
first  house  for  the  assemblage  of  public  wor- 
shi()  hy  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  in  the 
interim  of  its  religions  occupation,  was  lud- 
lowed  to  the  noble  use  of  •'  teaching  tlie  young 
idea  how  to  shoot."  The  first  pedagogue  in 
this  scliool  was  Daniel  Votuw.  This  was  a 
subscription  school,  and  conducted  in  harmony 
with  the  views  of  Friends. 

The  land  of  Lexington  Township  was  entered 
•at  S2  per  acre,  and  payable  in  three  install- 
ments at  the  land  office  in  Steubenville.  In  the 
reduction  of  the  price  of  Government  land  to 


though   prostrated,  had  no  power  to  dam    its  [  $1.25  per  acre,  there  was  a  clause  permitting  ai 


waters  or  stay  its  course  ;  they  were  swept  as 
feathers  from  its  channel.  The  early  settlers 
were  of  the  opinion  that  the  Mahoning  was 
navigable  and  would  be  the  liighway  of  com- 
merce from  the  Ohio  River  to  Lexington.  This 
opinion  had  much  to  do  with  the  first  settlers 
locating  upon  its  banks  and  calling  that  loca- 
tion Lexington  in  1805.  This  stream,  which 
once    was   deservedlv    dignified    bv    the   title 


who  had  fm-feited  their  land,  by  not  paying  the 
second  and  third  installments,  to  re-enter  Gov- 
ernment land  at  the  rate  of  :?1.25  per  acre,  to 
the  amount  of  the  money  they  had  paid  on  their 
forfeited  estates.  From  the  scarcity  of  |)ost- 
routes,  and  consequent  difficulty  of  disseminat- 
ing a  knowledge  of  enacted  laws,  as  well  as 
other  news,  in  these  times,  the  early  settlers 
were  generally  ignorant  of  this  providing  clause 


J^ 


J.EXIXGTOX    TOWNSHIP. 


in  the  new  land-law,  and  thought  thej-  had  lost 
all  under  the  pro\isions  of  the  old  law.  A  few 
men,  or  rascals,  aoquainled  with  the  facts  in  the 
case,  purchased  the  entr_v  papers  of  numerous 
defaulting  early  settlers,  for  a  few  dollars,  and 
paid  the  balance  due  or  entered  new  lands  to 
tliu  amount  that  had  been  paid  upon  what  had 
been  deemed  forfeited  patents.  The  beginning 
of  some  of  the  largest  fortunes  in  this  section 
were  laid  by  dealing  in  these  papers,  Tlie 
morality  of  the  procedure  may  be  a  question 
upon  wiiich  the  posterity  of  a  defraiidecl  ances- 
try may  speculate.  A  real  estate  operator,  well 
known  in  this  section  of  Ohio,  obtained  a  be- 
ginning in  this  wa}-,  and  died  ten  years  ago 
worth  §1,500,000. 

In  the  war  between  Eiigiand  and  America, 
in  1S12,  the  British  (ioveriiinent  sought  in  the 
savages,  numerous  in  the  West,  and  in  front  of 
the  advancing  tide  of  Caucasian  civilization, 
emissaries  to  assist  in  the  doniinaucy  of  their 
arms.  Prior  to  this  period,  the  Indians  of  Lex- 
ington Township  weie  numerous.  The  red  men 
throng  and  linger  where  game  abounds.  The 
forests  here  were  alive  with  game,  and  the 
waters  of  the  river  filled  with  fish.  From  the 
earliest  settlement  of  the  township  until  the  war, 
the  conduct  of  tlie  Indians  toward  tlie  white 
settler  was  pacific,  if  not  kind.  This,  to  an  ex- 
tent, was  referable  to  the  fact  that  the  first 
whites  were  disciples  of  William  Penn,  and  the 
kind,  peaceable  di.'ii)osition  of  the  members  of 
the  trilie  inhabiting  the  townsliip.  We  have  uo 
savage  brutality  upon  their  part,  occurring  in 
the  township,  to  record.  One  white  ir.an  w-as 
siv't,  tlie  ball  passing  through  both  eyes  and 
the  liritlge  of  the  uOsc.  yet  lived  deprived  of 
.'^ight.  His  name  was  Daniel  Diver.  lie  died 
in  Deerfield  in  ISiJO,  where  the  shooting  oc- 
curretl.  It  sprang  out  of  a  horse  trade.  The 
Indians  trapped  game  on  the  Mahoning.  Beech 
Crock  and  Deer  Creek,  all  larger  streams  than 
now.  but  they  had  no  permanent  settlement  in 
the  township.  Another  feature  which  attracted 
the  Indians  to  Lexington  Township,  besides  the 
abundance  of  game,  was  the  large,  compact 
groves  of  sugar  trees  peculiar  to  the  township, 
from  which  they  obtained  a  supply  of  the  sac- 
charine element.  Some  of  the  trees  yet  show  the 
scarifications  and  girdlings  adopted  by  them  to 
obtain  the  water.  It  was  also  the  current  be- 
lief among  the  people  of  the  township,  even  as 
late  as  1840,  that  the  Indians  obtained  their 


suppl}-  of  lead  from  this  immediate  vicinliy. 
At  the  time  of  the  lirst  white  settlers  the 
Indians  possessed  many  of  the  common  imj)le- 
ments  incident  to  frontier  civilization,  such  as 
guns,  hatchets,  axes,-  kettles,  etc.  The  chief 
encampment  of  the  tribe  found  in  this  town- 
shi])  was  four  miles  south  of  New  Philadelphia, 
in  what  was  then  Coshocton  Comity.  But  it 
was  then  common  for  Indians  to  stay  o\  er  the 
hunting  season,  committing  no  depredation,  and 
remaining  kind  and  deferential  to  the  whites. 
The  exact  spot  of  one  of  their  primitive  mills 
is  a  little  south  of  ]Mr.  Haines'  orchard.  The 
machinery  consisted  of  a  stump  hollowed  out 
and  a  sapling  bent  over;  to  the  pendant  ex- 
tremity of  which  was  attached  liy  thongs  of 
tough  bark  a  large  stone,  which,  by  Ijeariiig  on 
the  bent  sapling,  played  upon  the  maze  in  the 
concavity  of  the  stump,  which  would  reduce  it 
rapidly  and  effect nally.     Snsiucion  is  a  strong, 

i  latent  or  developed  trait  in  tiie  Indian  charac- 
ter.    Tliev  raisetl  the  war-whoop  against  the 

j  settlers  in  1S13.  Pome  few  settlers  of  the 
township  left  through  fear,  for  more  populous 

I  and  better  protected  localities,  but  Commodore 
Perry  put  an  effectual  quietus  upon  the  un- 
natural and  baibarous  coalition  foinicd  l)v  En- 
gland against  Amerioan.s  ;  and  the  Indians,  left 
uusuppoited  by  British  gold,  rum  and  inllueiue, 
grew  sullen  and  suspicion.*— stopped  all  inter- 
course with  the  whites  of  the  township,  and 
withdrew    to    unoccupied,    or    new    hunting- 

I  grounds.    After  18K!.  only  a  traveling  or  pass- 

I  ing  Indian  was  seen  in  the  township.  Occa- 
sionally an  Indian  grave  isliy  accident  o)icned, 
revealing  only  some  rude  device  for  hunting 
less  perishable  than  their  bones — Hint,  darts 
and  stone  axes  being  now  ami  then  turned  up 
by  the  plowman.  These,  with  the  traditions 
we  have  recorded  are  the  only  reminders  that 
they  ever  trod  the  soil  of  the  township.  Let 
them  go  from  other  pilaces  as  from  here,  their 
destruction  is  fixed  and  necessary  everywhere: 
we  have  no  sentiment  to  waste  on  a  savage. 

Wild  game,  at  the  settlement  of  l/cxinglon 
township,  was  very  jilenty,  with  the  exception 
of  beaver,  which,  being  very  scarce  at  first, 
soon  entirely  disappeared.  Otters  and  musk- 
rats  were  trapped  by  the  Indians  until  18!:?. 
on  the  Mahoning.  Bears  were  very  plenty  and 
destructive  on  hogs  as  late  as  1815.  They 
would  seize  a  hog  that  would  weigh  one  hun- 
dred pounds,  in  their  fore  paws,  and  run  direct 


^^ 


424 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


with  it  to  ttie  forest.  If  tlie  hog  was  too  large 
for  them  to  manage  In  this  manner,  they  would 
jump  on  it,  guiding  it  with  tlieir  fore  feet,  and 
stimulating  it  by  gnawing  its  neck,  thus  ride  it 
to  the  woods  and  destroy  it.  A  large  speci- 
men of  the  bruin  species,  engaged  in  this 
equestrian  exercise,  was  shot  by  Shadrach 
Feltz,  (a  pioneer  living  about  one  mile  west 
of  Lexington,  on  the  road  to  Limaville).  Its 
weight  was  two  hundred  pounds.  The  Bu- 
cephalus of  its  choice  was  a  large  hog  be- 
longiiiij:  (()  Mr.  Feltz.  Bears  attack  swine  by 
giunvinu  tlie  tops  of  their  heads  and  shoulders. 
A  liog  lielonging  to  Nathan  Gaskill  had  sta^-ed 
away  in  search  of  mast ;  it  returned  with  its 
eyes  out  and  its  skull  bone  exposed.  This 
hog,  though  scalped  and  blinded  by  bruin, 
lived  and  was  fattened  by  Gaskill.  The  last 
bear  seen  in  the  township  was  in  183(1.  A 
large  tract  of  land  that  is  low  and  level,  con- 
sisting of  ten  or  fifteen  feet  of  turfj-  vegetable 
deposit,  resting  on  a  body  of  water  about  three 
feet  deep,  upon  which  E;ist  .\lliance  is  now  built, 
was  known  to  the  earliest  settlement  of  the 
township  as  the  '■  Bear  Swamp."  This  wet  or 
swamp  land  was  covered  with  a  dense  growth 
of  alder  bushes,  ten  or  fifteen  feet  high,  which 
formed  an  excellent  rendezvous  for  bears. 
From  its  being  their  covert,  it  received  the 
name  of  "  Bear  Swamp."  But  there  are  no 
alder  bushes  or  swamp  or  bears  there  now,  and 
the  title  is  fast  losing  its  significance. 

Isaac  Teeters — who  don't  know  Isaac  '.'  He 
has  been  for  years  an  essential  feature  of  the 
P..  Ft.  W.  &  C.  R.  R.  at  this  point.  Isaac  and 
Peter  Chance  each  lost  an  arm  b3-  the  prema- 
ture discharge  of  an  old  cast  cannon,  with 
which  they  were  trying  to  give  character  to  a 
national  birthday-  in  Williamsport,  over  thirty 
years  ago.  Isaac  well  remembers  his  father, 
Jonathan,  going  to  this  swamp  to  hunt  deer, 
always  returning  to  his  home  laden  with 
bear,  deer  or  otter.  Deer,  in  1806-07,  in  Lex- 
ington Township,  were  as  abundant  as  sheep 
are  now,  and  continued  abundant  until  the 
great  snow  storm  of  1817,  which  thawed  a 
little,  then  froze,  thus  forming  a  crust  which 
incapacitated  them  from  traveling;  hundreds  of 
them  starved  to  death.  This  protracted  snow 
starved  many  other  varieties  of  game.  The 
great  snow  of  1817  is  yet  ominously  referred 
to  by  old  people  now,  but  young  and  vigorous 
at  that  date,  and    battling   bravelj'  with   the 


vicissitudes  and  obstacles  of  frontier  life.  The 
snow  averaged  a  depth  of  four  feet,  and  con- 
tinued on  the  groun(l  near  four  months.  Deer 
could  ill}'  travel  on  the  frozen  crust  of  the 
snow,  and  if  they  broke  through,  they  could 
not  extricate  themselves,  and  consequently 
perished  by  the  score.  Wolves  were  numerous 
and  the  wary  and  common  enemy  of  the  sheep 
the  settlers  were  tr}'ing  to  introduce,  which 
could  only  be  preserved  by  penning  them  up 
through  the  night  and  guarding  them  through 
the  day.  Turkeys,  between  the  years  of  1806 
and  1820,  wore  seen  in  great  flocks,  often 
numbering  hundreds.  Porcupines  were  very 
thick  ;  the}'  are  strictly  vegetarian  in  their 
habits,  living  on  bark,  roots,  buds  and  wild 
fruits.  There  are  none  now  in  this  section. 
A  price  is  paid  to  see  them  in  traveling  me- 
nageries. Rabbits  and  quails  were  very  scarce 
in  early  times.  These  and  some  other  animals 
are  a  link  between  domestic  and  absolutely 
wild  or  untamable  animals  ;  they  flourish  bet- 
ter under  the  shadow  of  a  sparse  population. 
There  are  more  of  them  to-day  in  the  townsliip 
than  there  were  fifty  years  ago.  From  1805  to 
1820,  deer  skins  were  worth  75  cents;  raccoon 
skins,  25  cents  ;  otter  skins,  $4,  and  bear  skins. 
$1.25.  Rattlesnakes,  in  earh'  times,  in  Lex- 
ington Township,  were  quite  common,  and 
very  numerous.  In  1812,  one  struck  an  ox 
above  the  eye,  which  speedil}'  caused  his 
death.  The  ox  was  owned  by  John  Grant, 
father-in-law  of  R.  J.  Haines.  (Iraut's  first 
cabin  was  about  twenty  feet  nortii  of  L.  L. 
Lamborn's  stable.  The  debris  of  the  cabin 
was  partially  exhumed  by  the  plow  last  fall. 
The  last  rattlesnake  seen  in  the  township  was 
caught  by  the  writer  in  !  850,  on  tlie  grounds 
now  owned  and  occupied  by  the  Mt.  Union 
College.  It  was  captured  by  inducing  it  to 
enter  a  barrel  laid  on  its  side,  and  when  in,  the 
barrel  was  straightened  up  ;  it  was  two  feet 
long  and  had  eight  rattles.  It  was  kept  and 
experimented  with  for  four  months.  It  took 
no  nourishment  during  this  long  time  but  a 
small,  green-colored  snake,  nine  inches  long. 
When  first  captured,  this  snake  was  very 
poisonous  ;  it  struck  a  quail  on  the  thigii,  which 
caused  its  death  in  five  minutes.  From  con- 
finement and  improper  nourishment  it  graduallj' 
lost  its  poisonous  qualities.  It  is  a  traditionary 
practice  with  hunters  traveling  grounds  in- 
fested with  this  reptile  to  stuff'  their  boots  or 


LEXINUTON    TOWNSHIP. 


425 


shoes  with  white  ash  leaves,  believing  them  to 
be  an  effectual  remedy  against  liie  attack  of 
the  rattlesnake.  So  far  as  this  snake  was  con- 
cerned, it  was  found  to  be  but  a  traditionary 
practice,  for  it  would  dart  its  head  into  a  bunch 
of  white  ash  leaves  as  quickl}-  as  it  would  into 
a  tuft,  bush  or  elder  h-aves. 

Bees  were  alnnnlaiit  in  the  township  in  early 
times;  wild  honey  was  an  article  of  export  sec- 
ond only  to  maple  sugar.  The  value  of  honey 
from  1806  to  1815  averaged  about  12  cents 
per  pound  or  ?1  per  gallon.  The  pioneers 
were  very  expert  in  ferreting  out  bee-trees. 
They  noticed  the  direction  a  bee  wouid  take 
when  heavil}'  laden  with  the  sweets  of  a 
wild  Bower,  and  that  direction  would  be  in  a 
straight  line  to  the  hollow  tree  in  which  the 
swarm  rendezvoused.  The  tree  were  also  found 
by  the  drones  of  the  hive  which  had  been  killed 
by  the  workers  and  thrown  out  and  lay  dead  at 
the  roots  of  the  tree.  And  in  the  early  warm  days 
of  the  spring  the  bees  would  be  drawn  out  of 
their  winter  quarters  and  make  a  peculiar  buz- 
zing noise  ;  these  and  many  other  devices  were 
oft  resorted  to  by  the  sharpened  senses  of  the 
bee  hunter  to  find  this  hidden  treasure.  It  is 
singular  how  quick  the  civilized  Caucasian 
becomes  an  expert  in  all  the  shrewd  tactics  of 
the  savage,  to  circumvent  and  capture  all  kinds 
of  game  ;  these  capabilities  have  been  supposed 
to  belong  exclusivel}'  to  the  Indian  race,  but 
frontier  life  on  the  continent  has  developed 
many  white  hunters  far  superior  to  any  red  men 
of  whom  we  have  an3'  account.  Squirrels  were 
not  so  plenty  at  the  period  of  the  first  settle- 
ment of  the  township  as  they  were  twenty 
years  after.  Black  squirrels  at  first  were  the 
only  ones  seen.  About  1820,  the  gray  variety 
made  its  appearance,  and  the  few  that  remain 
at  this  date  are  of  this  kind.  In  1840,  the  red 
s(|uirrel  made  its  advent  into  this  section  and  is 
now  altogether  the  most  numerous  species.  In 
1 S27.  there  was  a  hegira  of  squirrels  ;  tliey  were 
so  numerous  that  thej'  destrojed  the  farmers' 
crops.  There  was  a  scjuirrel  hunt  organized 
this  year;  a  sum,  or  purse  of  money,  was  raised, 
— the  hunters  were  to  receive  this  money  in 
proportion  to  the  number  of  squirrels  the}-  shot. 
They  were  all  to  hunt  on  the  same  day.  and 
meet  in  Mount  Union  in  the  evening,  count  the 
s(-alps  and  receive  their  /;to  rata  of  the  fund. 
Job  Johnson  was  purse  holder,  and  Nathan 
(laskill   judge.     E.   X.   Johnson,  Sr.,  shot  55, 


Charles  May,  170,  etc.,  and  in  all  they 
killed  in  one  day  seventeen  hundred  sijuirrels. 
Thomas  Grant  took  the  premium  for  killing  the 
greatest  number.  He  now  resides  in  Williams 
County,  Ohio.  In  the  year  1821,  wolves  were 
very  numerous,  and  .so  bold  they  would  attack 
stock  of  anj-  kind.  .V  little  west  of  I'lcedom. 
on  the  farm  now  occui)ied  l)y  .Mr.  Elisha  Ti^cters. 
a  pack  of  these  animals  attacked  and  killed  a 
six-years-old  cow  that  belonged  to  John  Grant. 
About  this  period,  the  last  otters  were  killed  in 
the  .Mahoning  and  its  tributaries.  Clayton 
Grant,  now  living  in  Hourlion,  Kosciusko  Co., 
Ind,,  shot  the  last  deer,  and  caught  the  last 
otter  seen  in  Lexington  Township,  In  the  year 
1818,  a  Mr,  Hubbard  lived  one  mile  east  of  the 
town  of  Lexington,  lie.  as  well  as  .Mrs.  Hub- 
bard, were  excellent  rille  shots,  and  often  amused 
themselves  by  shooting  at  a  mark.  But  death 
came  into  the  family  and  left  Mrs,  Hubbard  a 
widow,  with  four  children  dejjending  upon  her 
for  the  necessaries  of  life.  To  illustrate  the 
trials,  fortitude  and  heroism  of  a  pioneer 
mother,  the  following  incident  is  given:  About 
dusk  one  evening,  a  sow  that  had  a  l)rood  of 
pigs  by  the  side  of  a  larger  log,  in  tlu-  woods  a 
little  south  of  y\v.  Hul)bard  s  cabin,  was  heard 
demonstrating  in  a  wa^'  peculiar  to  hogs  when 
menaced  with  danger ;  Mrs,  Hubbard,  with  the 
quick  sense  of  a  hunter,  at  once  suspected  the 
cause  of  the  threatened  peril  to  the  pigs,  took 
her  trusty  rifle  from  its  resting  place,  and  with 
a  courage  that  would  blanch  half  the  men  in 
the  township  to-day,  went  to  the  scene  of  the 
trouble ;  when  within  a  hundred  paces,  slie 
barely  discovered  the  dim  outlines  of  a  great  she- 
wolf  battling  with  the  sow.  With  insutlicirnl 
light  to  see  the  sights  upon  the  gun,  she  lired. 
The  wolf  not  knowing  from  which  direction  the 
shot  came,  or  intending  to  attack  her,  sprang 
toward  her  and  fell  dead  at  her  feet,  .Mrs, 
Hubbard  drew  the  knife  from  her  hunting  gir- 
dle, and  skinned  the  wolf,  threw  the  skin  over 
her  shoulder  and  started  in  the  supposed  direc- 
tion of  her  cabin.  In  this  she  was  mistaken 
and  bewildered.  It  was  now  blank  darkness, 
and  she  wandered  in  the  woods  all  that  night 
and  all  next  day,  in  the  vain  search  of  her  hum- 
ble home  and  little  ones.  Again  night  donned 
its  sable  mantle,  and  to  mock  its  blackness,  lit 
it  up  with  stars,  beneath  which,  and  the  somlier. 
spectral  gloom  of  arching  primitive  forcsis. 
moved  the  wearied  steps  and   lieat  the  anxious 


HISTORY   OF    STAItK    COUNTY. 


heart  of  that  brave  mother.  After  thirty  hours 
of  travel  and  counter-travel,  and  circiiugs  in 
the  woods  of  almost  tropical  denseness,  she 
caught  a  ray  of  light,  which,  on  ncaring,  proved 
to  be  a  glimmer  escaping  from  between  the 
rude  logs  of  her  rustic  home,  though  to  her 
more  than  a  palace,  for  it  contained  lier  chil- 
dren, a  mother's  priceless  jew'cls.  Jlrs.  Hub 
b:ird's  second  husband  was  a  Hazen.  by  wliom 
she  had  three  children — Daniel,  Simeon  and  A''al- 
cntine — uncles  to  the  present  generation  of 
Hnzens  in  Lexington  Township.  This  circum- 
stance was  related  to  E.  X.  Johnson  by  3Irs. 
Ilubljard  herself,  and  he  thinks  he  is  not  mis- 
taken as  to  lier  being  grandmother  to  our  liv- 
ing citizens  of  that  name  ;  to  say  the  least, 
Ihey  are  worthy  enough  to  be  her  ofl'spriug, 
anil  she  was  brave  enougli  to  be  their  grand- 
mother. 

Up  to  1812,  salt  was  very  iiigh  and  scarce  ; 
it  had  to  be  packed  on  liorseback  from  Cleve- 
land or  Conneaut.  The  lirst  barrel  ever  teamed 
into  the  township  was  in  1814,  and  cost  :!!12. 
A  few  years  after  this,  manufactories  of  salt 
were  established  on  Yellow  Creek,  from  which 
source  the  early  settlers  obtained  their  supplies, 
at  a  cost  of  $(5  a  barrel.  The  first  improvement 
east  of  Alliance  was  on  the  then  called  •■  Jlorcer 
Clearing,''  afterward  known  as  the  ■■  Oyster 
Farm  ;  "  it  is  now  owned  and  occupied  by  James 
Iloiles.  The  farm  lies  at  the  junction  of  the 
county  line  road  and  the  JMt.  Union  road.  The 
only  house  or  cabin  in  1818  between  Salem 
and  this  point  was  one  half  a  mile  this  side  of 
Damascus,  built  and  used  by  a  Mr.  Morris,  who 
was  grandfather  to  the  Hon.  James  Bruff.  who 
now  owns  the  spot  of  these  primitive  improve- 
ments. How  strangely  are  the  conveniences 
enjoyed  to-daj-  contrasted  with  those  of  the 
settlers  of  this  township  at  the  beginning  of 
the  j)resent  century,  when  it  is  remembered 
that  {Jharlcs  Hamhn.  father-in-law  to  Shadrich 
Feltz,  Nathan  Gaskill.  father-in-law  to  Joshua 
Hamlin,  residing  now  just  west  of  Alliance, 
and  other  persons,  had  to  go  to  the  mouth  of 
tlie  Little  Beaver  to  get  their  grain  converted 
into  flour.  Corn  was  brought  down  the  Ohio 
in  barges,  from  the  Monongahela  region,  and 
landed  at  the  Little  Beaver.  From  this  source 
the  first  settlers  obtained  their  supplies,  until 
these  "  openings  "'  or  "  clearings  ''  would  yield 
them  a  sufficiency.  It  required  three  days  to 
go  to  mill  and  bring  home  two  busliels  of  corn 


meal  on  horseback.  The  next  approximation 
to  a  llouring-mill  to  these  localities  was  one 
erected  in  the  vicinit}'  of  New  Lisbon.  It  only 
requiring  two  days  to  go  and  return  from  mill  ; 
this  mill  was  considered  quite  convenient,  and 
supplied  all  furt!\er  demands  in  the  waj-  of  lux- 
ury for  a  number  of  years.  The  next  great 
move,  in  the  mill  line,  toward  degeneracy  upon 
the  part  of  the  vigorous  pioneers  of  Lexington 
Township,  was  to  have  flouring  machinery  so 
luxuriously  near  to  their  cabin  doors,  that  they 
could  visit  it  with  their  batch  of  corn  and 
return  in  a  single  day.  So  to  meet  this  volup- 
tuous demand,  a  mill  was  erected  on  the  waters 
of  the  Mahoning,  in  Deerfleld  Township,  Por- 
tage County,  and  long  known  as  the  "  Laughlin 
Mill."  It  was  owned  and  run  by  the  father  of 
Harvey  Laughlin,  Esq.,  a  citizen  of  this  city. 
A  satiety  of  epicurean  convenience  was  at  last 
reached,  but  the  cause  of  development  and 
decaj'  was  at  work,  as  it  alw'aj-s  has  been  and 
always  will  be.  It  ran  Kome  and  Greece  from 
noble,  vigorous  men  to  voluptuous  imbeciles, 
and  both  became  the  easj'  prej-  of  hard}-  ene- 
mies, who  were  destined  to  run  this,  the  same 
course,  and  leave  the  track  open  for  successors. 
It  was  true  at  the  advent  of  the  "  Laughlin 
jMills ;  "  the  scitlers  of  Lexington  Tow-nship 
had  not  reached  the  epicurean  sensuality  of 
Romans,  at  the  era  of  their  greatest  debauchery, 
but  their  yearnings  were  in  that  direction.  Pow- 
dered diamonds  could  not  be  drunk,  butlinsey- 
woolsej-  trousers  could  bo  substituted  for  buck- 
skin breeches.  The  aromatic  fruits  of  the 
tropics  were  not  of  easy  access,  but  a  flouring- 
mill  run  by  water,  with  wooden  gudgeons,  and 
costing  the  enormous  fortune  of  $-100  or  $800, 
conld  be  built  within  a  stone  throw  of  their 
clapboard  cabin  doors.  There  was  the  sweeping 
current  of  the  Mahoning,  made  into  a  highway 
of  commerce  by  legislative  enactments,  restless 
to  revolve  the  ponderous  machinery. 

The  first  grist-mill  in  Lexington  Township 
was  south  of  the  town  of  Lexington,  on  the 
river ;  it  was  built  by  Aaron  Stratton.  A  saw- 
mill was  built  in  conjunction  with  the  nrill.  It 
was  on  the  latter  mill  that  Job  Holloway,  son 
of  the  pioneer,  Amos  MoUoway.  lost  his  life  by 
the  falling  of  a  beam.  Job  Holloway  was  the 
father  of  Mrs.  William  Antrum,  now  living  with 
her  excellent  husband  on  a  finelj'-cultivated 
farm  immediately  west  of  Mt,  Union.  Treble 
the  quantity  of  rain  fell  in  early  times  that  falls 


.t. 


-^ 


J.EXlXdTOX    TOWX&IIIP. 


427 


now.  The  Mahoiiiug  was  subject  to  tliiee  or 
lour  frightful  freshets  every  ^-ear,  iuuuclatiug 
all  the  bottom  lauds.  The  river,  restive  of  all 
first  restraints  upon  its  swollen  waters,  washed 
away  the  lirsl  enterprise  of  the  kind  altempted 
in  the  township.  The  next  mill  buiil  in  the 
township  was  by  Bryan  Elliot,  on  the  less  angry 
aud  more  generous  waters  of  Deer  Creek,  about 
one  mile  west  of  the  village  of  Limaville.  This 
mill,  though  frequently  repaired,  has  run  con- 
tinuously siuce  its  first  erection.  In  1818,  a 
grist  ant!  saw  mill  of  some  greater  pretensions 
was  built  in  Williamsport  by  Johnson  &  Pen- 
nock,  on  the  Mahoning.  The  water  being  in- 
sutlicient  at  times,  steam  was  introduced.  It 
is  al  present  in  successful  operation  under  the 
management  of  Kirk  &  (jo.  This  mill  has 
been  successively  owned  by  Thomas  Grant, 
John  Grant,  John  Miller.  M.  Miller,  C.  Russell, 
Buckman  Oc  Co.,  aud  others  whose  names  are 
not  obtained.  Mr.  Burgett,  formerly  of  Paris 
Township,  erected,  about  18C3,  a  steam  grist- 
mill in  Alliance,  which  has  ruu  continuously 
uniler  his  management  since  it  was  first  started. 
The  Limaville  -Mill,  Kirk  &  Cos  ■  (  ity  Mills  " 
and  Burgett's  Mill  are  the  three  ttouring-mills 
now  in  operation  in  Lexington  Township.  The 
proprietors  of  these  mills  are  all  fine  citizens, 
au(.l  their  respective  brands  of  fiour  have  a  good 
reputation  in  the  market.  An  incident  is  reiateil 
to  illustrate  the  jollifications  of  the  settlers. 
In  1818,  at  the  opening  of  the  Williamsport 
Mill,  John  Meese,  a  hunter  of  considerable  note, 
had  a  large  and  ferocious  male  l/uci/ie,  which  he 
had  broken,  to  be  led  antl  carry  burdens.  He 
ladened  this  bull  with  a  bag  of  corn,  rustically 
ornamented  his  horns,  and  mounted  on  his  back 
one  of  his  boys  that  could  play  the  fife,  and  to 
its  sprightly  music  he  led  the  beast  to  the  new 
mill  with  the  first  grist  overground  in  Alliance. 
Saw-mills  are  more  transitory  in  their  lives 
than  grist-mills.  Uolla  Day  built  the  first  saw 
mill  in  Lexington  Township  on  the  Mahoning. 
A  saw-mill  was  connected  with  the  Williams- 
port grist-mill  ;  <;ne  was  built  on  lUpckliilllon 
Creek,  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  David  Hock- 
hill ;  one  in  Freedom,  east  of  the  present  steam 
mill;  one  in  Limaville;  one  about  one.  mile 
west  of  Limaville  ;  one  on  Beech  Creek,  in  the 
neighborhood  of  John  Taylor's  ;  one  on  Little 
Beech  Creek,  in  the  settlement  of  David  Minser  ; 
another  in  the  Hively  neighborhood,  on  or  ad- 
joining lands  owned  by  Jacob  Lower.  The  ruins 


of  one  are  seen  on  a  small  brook  west  of  the 
Seranton  farm,  north  of  Lexington.  There 
have  been  from  ten  to  twelve  water  saw-mills 
built  in  the  township,  but  none  have  been  erect- 
ed since  1840.  The  ruins  of  some  of  the  above 
located  mills  are  found  on  what  are  now  not 
even  rivulets,  water  scarcely  passing  by  the 
ruined  tail-races  of  these  former  mills,  in  the 
wettest  season. 

Steam  saw-mills  have  supplanted  water  mills  ; 
there  have  been  five  of  these  miils  in  the 
township  ;  one  was  built  in  Alliance  by  George 
Stroup,  in  1857,  sold  by  him  to  Watson  & 
Barnab}',  and  now  owned  b}-  the  latter  member 
of  that  firm.  Another  steam  saw-mill  was  lo- 
cated north  of  Strong  <!«;  Lower's  warehouse, 
one  at  or  near  Carr's  Corners,  and  one  on  lands 
owuei.1  by  Mr.  (jlreenshiekls,  three  and  one-half 
miles  northwest  of  Alliance,  and  one  west  of 
Limaville.  The  era  of  saw-mills  of  all  kinds 
has  about  passed.  In  this  township,  limber  is 
comparatively  scarce  and  inditl'ereut  for  sawing 
purposes.  Pine  aud  hemlock  are  brought  into 
the  city  from  the  Saginaw  region  and  sold  as 
low  as  the  native  timber  of  the  township.  But 
little  sawed  timber  was  used  or  needed  prior  to 
the  era  of  water  saw-mills.  The  first  sawed 
lumber  commanded  a  value  equal  to  25  cents 
per  hundred  feet  from  1815  to  1820.  It  was 
worth  50  cents  a  hundred  feet  from  this  date 
till  1845,  when  it  brought  in  trade  at  Canton 
from  75  cents  to  $1  per  hundred  feet.  After 
this  period,  the  rapid  development  of  the  coun- 
try and  the  increase  of  manufacturing,  the 
price  of  lumber  in  the  township  has  gradually 
advanced,  till  it  has  reached  its  present  price, 
viz..  $2  per  hundred  feet  for  hard  wood,  beech, 
sugar,  elm,  oak,  etc.  :  white  cucumber  .ind  pop- 
lar commanded  at  the  mills  from  S2  to  $2.50 
per  hundred  feet.  This  is  probably  the  maxi- 
mum price  which  sawed  lumber  of  the  town- 
ship will  ever  reach,  for  the  reason  that  the 
quality  is  fast  deterioratiug,  and  hemlock  and 
pine  are  now  imported  by  the  lumber  mer- 
chants, and  sold  at  the  quoted  rates. 

The  town  of  Lexington  was  surveyed  in  lots 
in  1807.  and  duly  christened  after  that  spot  on 
the  continent  which  witnessed  the  first  contest 
of  British  and  Colonial  arms,  and  inaugurated 
the  Revolution  of  1770.  The  name  was  his- 
torical, aud  the  anticipations  of  its  founders 
doubtless  great.  By  legislative  decree,  the 
Mahoning  was  made  a  public  highway  of  com- 


428 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


merce.  Provisions  were  made  in  the  survey 
for  all  necessary  flocks  and  wharves.  Imagina- 
tion possibly  saw  the  first  occupied  with  masts, 
whose  spars  floated  the  flags  of  other  nations, 
and  the  latter  piled  with  the  exports  of  the 
North  and  the  products  of  tiie  Gulf  It  can 
easily  be  imagined  how  metropolitan  this  town, 
laying  claim  to  such  grand  expectations,  was 
held  by  the  primitive  settlers.  Williamsport 
was  not  laid  out  for  twenty  years  thereafter, 
and  then  was  suburban  to  Lexington.  Free- 
dom followed  in  twenty-one  years.  Mount  Union 
in  twentj'-three  years.  At  or  soon  after  the 
founding  of  the  city  of  Lexington,  e.x-Presi- 
dent  Grant's  father  lived  in  the  adjoining  town- 
ship of  Deerfteld.  and  was  engaged  in  the 
tanning  business,  ('apt.  Oliver,  once  Mayor 
of  Alliance,  William  Vincent,  James  Garrison 
and  other  citizens  attending  tiie  National  Con- 
vention at  (Chicago  in  1868,  which  noniiuatcd 
for  the  Chief  Executive  of  the  United  States 
U,  S.  Grant.  The  Captain  and  his  comrades 
went  to  the  headquarters  of  the  Ohio  Delega- 
tion, and  found  the  Deerfleld  tanner  there. 
They  were  introduced  to  the  old  gentleman, 
who  inquired  where  they  were  from.  They  in- 
formed him  from  Alliance,  He  said  he  had  no 
remembrance  of  that  place  or  of  any  of  the 
surrounding  towns,  which  they  named.  The 
Captain  then  told  him  they  lived  about  mid- 
way between  Canton  and  Salem.  He  then  re- 
marked they  must  be  from  the  town  of  Lexing- 
ton. The  town  of  Lexington  had  a  tavern,  a 
store,  a  Friends'  meeting-house,  and  a  school ; 
it  had  tlie  thrift  and  economy  common  to  Qua- 
kers ;  it  had  an  expected  future,  and  besides 
these  grand  frontier  privileges,  it  had  a  weekly 
)30st  office,  and  was  the  headquarters  of  news 
for  a  large  adjacent  district.  Mount  Union  had 
n(.)  ))i>st  office  for  twenty  j'ears  after  one  was 
estalilisiied  in  Lexington.  Freedom  had  none 
for  nearly  forty  years  thereafter. 

The  post  office  in  Freedom  was  established 
in  1848,  David  G,  Hester  was  the  first  ap- 
pointed. He  held  the  position  eighteen  months. 
The  first  mail  to  Alliance  or  Freedom  brought 
one  paper,  the  Ohio  Rcj)osito7-i/,  and  one  letter. 
The  gross  receipts  for  the  first  quarter  were  $17, 
The  position  was  responsible,  and  the  distribu- 
tive laliors  of  the  office  arduous.  David  re- 
signed, and  Robert  N,  Buck  (deceased),  the 
father  of  Dr.  R.  M.  Buck,  formerly  a  physician 
of  this  place,  was  his  successor.     Mr.  Hester 


kept  the  post  office  at  his  then  residence,  facing 
the  Central  LTuion  School  grounds,  Mr,  Buck 
then  owned  and  occupied  the  grounds  now 
known  as  "Garrison's  f^iarden,"  at  which  point 
he  dealt  out  the  instalhncnts  of  news  for  three 
months.  Not  relishing  the  duties  of  the  position, 
he  sought  a  resignation  and  a  successor  for 
tiiree  months  more,  wiien  one  turned  up  in  the 
person  of  Thomas  Beer,  a  telegraph  oper:itor, 
occupying  a  room  in  the  frame  deput  Ixiildiiig, 
since  burned,  located  opposite  the  present  brick 
depot.  Mr,  Beer  was  an  ardent  Democrat,  He 
turned  his  attention  to  the  law  ;  moved  to  Bucy- 
rus,  Crawford  Co.,  Ohio,  and  has  gained  some 
eminence  in  his  profession.  He  has  been  twice 
honored  by  the  citizens  of  that  county  with  a 
seat  in  the  councils  of  the  State,  Mr,  Beer's 
successor  was  H,  Laughlin,  Esq,,  who  held  the 
office  during  the  last  two  3ears  of  Buchanan's 
administration.  The  post  office  during  his  term 
was  in  the  building  now  occupied  by  J.  M. 
Webb  as  a  restaurant.  On  the  accession  of 
Abraham  Lincoln  to  the  Presidency,  D,  G, 
Hester  was  again  appointed  to  the  position  of 
Postmaster,  and  held  the  same  for  six  years, 
A  part  of  the  time  the  office  was  in  the  building 
now  occupied  liy  Leek  &  McKlroy  as  a  provision 
store,  and  the  ijalance  of  the  time  in  the  room 
now  owned  and  used  by  iMr.  Hester  as  a  book 
and  stationery  store,  Mr,  Hester  yielded  the 
post  office  to  Wilson  Culbertson  through  the 
persuasion  of  one  Andrew  Johnson,  Mr.  Cul- 
bertson located  the  office  in  tlie  room  now  occu- 
pied by  Dr.  Pogle  as  a  drug  store.  His  lease 
of  office  continued  only  six  months,  when  it  was 
yielded  to  the  Hon,  Humphrey  Hoover,  and  re- 
turned to  Mr,  Hester's  store.  It  continued  un- 
der the  management  of  Mr,  Hoover  for  eighteen 
months,  Mr,  Henry  Shreve,  an  assistant  in  tlie 
office  under  .Mr,  Hoover,  was  his  successor,  and 
has  served  the  position  of  Postmaster  acceptabl}' 
to  the  departments  and  to  the  people  for  four 
years,  and  was  re-appointed  for  another  four- 
year  lease.  Mr,  Shreve  had  the  office  in  Mr. 
James  Vallillej''s  building,  on  the  west  side  of  the 
public  square.  It  requires  three  persons  in  the 
post  office  to  discharge  the  labor.  What  better 
commentary  on  the  development  and  growth  of 
Lexington  Township  could  be  found,  than  the 
statement,  that,  in  1848.  the  receipts  of  the  post 
office  at  this  point  were  $17  per  quarter;  in 
1873,  they  were  over  $1,500,  and  in  1881 
$1,800  per  quarter.     The  people  of  the  town- 


1^ 


LEXINGTON    TOWNSHIP. 


4-2!) 


sliijj  are  further  supplied  with  postal  con- 
veniences at  Limaville  and  Mount  Union. 
Tlie  offices  at  these  points  ma\-  be  referred 
to  in  a  sul)se(|Uent  ch:i|)ter.  A  colony  of 
colored  people  located  in  licxiuiiton  Township, 
one  mile  east  of  Willianisport.  that  beinu  the 
name  of  the  few  buildings  on  the  north  side  of 
the  Mahoning  River.  This  people  had  a  church 
at  the  above -mentioned  point,  and  Ihey  called 
themselves  ••  Christ's  |)isci[)lcs."  .\11  that  re- 
mains of  that  church  now  is  a  narrow  strip  of 
land  thrown  out  to  the  commons,  on  the  north 
side  of  the  high  was  running  east,  and  overgrown 
by  brambles.  This  was  their  burying  ground. 
This  settlement  of  colored  jjcople  compriseii 
about  200  souls,  and  was  made  up  chietly  of 
fugitives  and  freedmen  from  \'irginia.  They 
were  orderly,  industrious,  and  esteemed  good 
citizens.  Messrs.  T.  Price.  Roland  Bracy  and 
K.  Hamlin  olHci.'ited  in  the  church  in  the  ad- 
ministration of  the  Word.  An  anecdote  is  re- 
lated of  one  of  their  preachers,  as  occurring  in 
the  heated  summary  of  his  discourse,  establish- 
ing the  doctrine  that  they  were  God's  peculiar 
people.  He  touchingly  referred  to  the  laml)-like 
tufts  of  wool  upon  their  heads  as  conclusive  upon 
the  point  that  they  were  his  especial  lambs. 
This  church  and  settlement  is  now.  and  has  been 
for  years,  entirely  broken  up.  From  this  point. 
two  fugitives  were  recaptured  ami  consigned  to 
a  life  of  hopeless  toil.  Logan  County,  in  this 
State,  and  I^ower  Canada  were  the  two  chief 
points  to  which  the\"  emigrated.  In  1850.  there 
were  only  30  colored  residents  in  Lexington 
Township;  in  18(10,  there  were  l.")7;  38  in  the 
Limaville  Precinct,  and  11!)  in  the  Alliance 
Precinct ;  in  1870,  there  were  201  colored  citi- 
zens in  the  township  ;  Cfi  in  the  Limaville  Pre- 
cinct, and  134  in  the  Alliance  Precinct.  This 
people  possesses,  in  a  large  degree,  the  religious 
element.  They  have  a  church  in  Alliance,  or- 
ganized in  1870.  by  ''  Uncle  Josie  Armstrong," 
a  colored  man  of  large  brain,  and  jiossessing 
great  power  as  a  preacher  and  great  unction  in 
prayer.  This  organization  is  called  the  .\frican 
Methodist  Church.  It  has  no  regular  Pastor  at 
present,  and  is  languishing,  embracing  only  from 
fifteen  to  twenty  members. 

Prior  to  1812.  there  was  no  necessity  for 
sawed  lumber  in  the  township.  The  floors  of 
the  cabins  were  made  of  '•  |)uncheons. '  their 
roofs  were  covered  with  "clapboards,"  rived 
from  straisiht-srained  oak  timber,  their  sides  of 


round  logs,  their  doors  of  heavy  clapboards  ami 
swung  on  wooden  hinges  ;  their  window  con- 
sisted of  a  couple  of  feet  cut  from  one  of  the 
side  logs  and  the  hole  covered  with  greased 
paper.  The  chimney  and  fire-place  was  a  mag- 
nificent affair,  the  latter  often  occupying  the 
entire  end  of  the  cabin,  and  the  base  of  it  was 
built  of  "  nigger-head  "  stones  or  '■  bog-ore,'' 
and  the  balance  of  the  chimney  above  the  con- 
tact of  the  fire,  was  built  on  the  outside  of  the 
cabin,  of  cross-sticks  and  tempered  clay.  These 
cabins  made  one  room,  were  one  story  high  and 
a  '■  loft."  The  furniture  consisted  of  a  rude 
table  and  stools  of  primitive  style.  In  some 
instances,  there  were  two  doors  in  the  same 
cabin  directly  opposite,  and  Ijgs  ten  feet  long 
and  eighteen  inches  in  diameter  were  drawn 
with  a  horse  into  the  cabin,  and  then  rolled  into 
the  ("ipacious  fire-place.  A  few  green  logs  of 
this  size,  when  fairly  ablaze,  would  l)id  defiance 
to  the  coldest  weather.  This  form  of  architec- 
ture w:us  followed,  not  precisely  by  the  Corin- 
thian, but  bj-  an  improved  hewed  log  house.  The 
logs  were  tlattened  on  both  sides,  the  joists  were 
hewed,  the  flooring  sawed,  and  the  buiMings 
were  mostly  two  stories  high  ;  the  roofs  were 
made  of  rived,  and  often  shaved,  oak  shingles, 
fastened  to  the  sheeting  with  nails  which  would 
now  be  obtained  at  25  cents  per  pound.  The 
windows  were  few.  but  consisted  of  a  four-light 
sash  window,  made  to  hold  8x10  glass;  the 
crevices  between  the  logs  were  filled  by  juggles, 
and  then  neatly  plastered  on  the  in  and  out  side 
with  well  tempered  yellow  clay,  of  which  article 
there  has  never  been  any  scarcity  in  the  town- 
ship. The  outside  ponderous  chimney  of  the 
round-log  cabin  was  moved  to  the  inside  of  the 
hewed-log  house.  This  kind  of  a  house  was 
warm  and  neat,  and  also  aristocratic,  until  John 
Grant,  in  18 — ,  built  a  commodious  tW'O-story 
brick  house,  west  and  aci'oss  the  j-avine  from 
where  Amos  Coates  now  lives. 

There  have  been  three  woolen  mills  in  Lex- 
ington Township.  One  w'as  built  south  of  Lex- 
ington, on  the  Mahoning,  by  W.  S.  Miller  ;  it 
was  sold  by  him  to  one  Snyder,  under  whose 
management  the  enterprise  failed.  It  was  then 
purchased  by  Lawrence  Alexander,  under  whose 
practical  control  it  manufactured  a  variety  of 
fabrics  for  clothing,  as  well  as  carded  wool. 
This  mill  was  burnetl.  Mr.  Alexander  removed 
to  Canton,  and  now  owns  and  runs  fine  woolen 
mills  in  that  cit)^     Another  woolen  mill  was 


:V 


!kL 


4:m 


IIISTOJiY    OF    STARK    COl'X'lY. 


built  in  Limaville  by  William  Hicklen  and  sold 
to  JI.  Allison,  and  then  purchased  by  Elias 
Hoover.  During  the  administration  of  the 
above  parties,  the  mill  was  operated  for  the  pur- 
pose for  which  it  was  built ;  but  YiY.  Hoover 
sold  it  to  John  Ware  for  a  cliair  factory,  and 
wliile  thus  occupied  it  was  burned.  The  third 
and  last  mill  of  this  description  was  built  on  the 
Freedom  side  of  the  Mahoning.  The  race  is  yet 
to  be  seen,  about  which  a  law  suit  was  cora- 
nienced  at  the  time  the  mill  was  ready  to  go 
into  operation,  which  defeated  the  project,  and 
the  machinery  was  moved  to  the  northern  part 
of  Portage  County. 


■  Xofliiiii;-  .-o  (U';u- 


talc  of  tlir  old,' 


The  dili'erence.s  being  so  great  between  the 
surroundings  of  life  in  Lexington  Township 
sixty  years  ago  and  what  they  are  to-day,  many 
might  conclude  tliat  those  old  veterans  of  pio- 
neer life  had  deprivations  and  hardships  with- 
out any  interims  of  pleasure.  Sue;h  a  conclu- 
sion is  verj-  wide  of  the  mark  ;  they  had  their 
recreations  and  lestivals.  The  brain  power  and 
moral  tension  for  wealth  was  not  so  gi-eat  then, 
and  more  frequently  relaxed  than  it  is  to-day. 
Democracy  pervades  society  in  fnmtier  life, 
wealth  and  development  are  the  lever-arms 
upon  which  aristocracy  treads  to  power.  ])e- 
mocracy  is  equalitv  and  humanity  ;  border  and 
dependent  life  compels  it.  Aristocracy  is  en- 
throned selfishness ;  wealth  and  its  purchases 
permit  it.  The  pioneers,  outside  of  superior 
social  enjoyment  common  among  early  settlers, 
enjoyed  a  delirious  pleasure  when,  with  their 
sinewy  arms,  they  grappled  with  the  ferocious 
bear.  They  felt  a  wild  enjoyment  when  the 
fleeting  stag  fell  dead  in  his  lightning  course, 
through  the  agency  of  their  unerring  rifles. 
This  exhilarating  and  manly  sport  raaj-  be 
startling  to  the  pampered,  elfeminate  sons  of 
luxury.  Those  iron-armed,  resolute  settlers 
might  have  been  unlearned  in  books,  but  thej- 
were  wise  and  ennobled  from  an  admitted  con- 
verse and  intimac}'  with  nature,  when  her 
grandeur  was  undefaced  liy  man's  spoiling  art. 

The  population  of  Lexington  Township  in 
1820  was  165,  all  enumerated.  In  1830,  it  was 
809;  in  1840,  1,600.  The  value  of  personal 
property  in  1853  was  $122,808,  with  $31,968  of 
an  increase  over  the  previous  year.  The  value 
of  real  estate  in  1853  was  $183,783,  with  $15,- 
175  of  an  increase  over  the  value  of  the  same 


property  the  year  previous — there  being  three 
times  more  of  an  increase  of  real  estate  than  in 
any  township  in  the  county,  save  Canton  and 
Perrj^  In  1852,  Lexington  Township  had 
6,000  acres  of  wheat,  which  yielded  13,56-1- 
bushels.  The  same  year  was  cut  506  acres  of 
corn,  which  produced  15,627  bushels.  The 
soil  of  Lexington  Township  is  thin  and  clayey. 
White  oak  timber  was  the  chief  variety  in  the 
northeast  corner  ;  the  other  sections  grew  more 
poplar,  maple,  beech,  chestnut,  etc.  The  soil  in 
the  neighborhood  of  the  town  of  Lexington 
seemed  originally  quite  productive,  but  from 
bad  husbandry  or  a  deficiencj'  of  the  proper 
elements  of  a  good  soil,  it  must  be  regarded 
as  the  poorest  in  the  county.  Politics  never 
caused  much  excitement  in  this  township  until 
the  log-cabin  and  hard-cider  campaign  of  1840, 
since  which  time  there  has  been  a  sufBeiencj' 
of  zeal  manifested  on  all  election  occasions. 
The  stores  in  the  township  in  1823  were 
owned  b}'  Jacob  Shilling,  Limaville  ;  Stephen 
Hamlin,  Lexington  ;  Akey  &  Culbertson,  Li- 
maville ;  Mathias  Hester.  Freedom ;  Job  John- 
son, 31t.  Union. 

The  total  amount  of  tax  assessed  on  the  du- 
plicate of  iStark  County  was  as  foUovv's  : 


18-.'(! !s;4,i)94  19 

18-M 4,181  8") 

18J.' 4,125  77 


18--;!. 
18:i4-, 
18:.V>. 


..!i;.").82;i  0(! 
..  5,19S)  !)8 
.not  found 


In  1826,  separate  township  lists  were  matle, 
and  the  amount  assessed  upon  Lexington  Town- 
ship was  as  follows  : 


18-.Mi. 
IS-il. 
1828. 
1829. 
1830. 
1831. 
1832. 
1833. 
1834. 
183.5. 
183G. 
1837. 
1838. 
1839  . 
1841). 
1841. 


.4     132  (54  1 18.5(1, 
not  foiuid 

.   237  64 

.   264  26 

.   284  23 

.   343  02 

.   430  19 

444  87 

.   394  00 

.   375  35 

565  68  I  l.'^(il) 

.   898  87: 1851 


090  07 

1851 3,822  00 

18.52 3,501  31 


18.53 

1854, 

18.55. 

18.56. 

1857, 

1.8.58, 

18.-,9 10.(il5 

....  I0.0i)5 
9.940 


.5,133  88 
5,440  Oli 
7,230  90 
7,0(;;  51 
9,0.50  39 
9,800  .50 


850  43  '  1802 9,02:i  JS 

i;itcd       908y5|l8(i3 10,221    iO 

....    1 ,020  20  !  1864 24,219  57 

....  1,251  50 1 1865 19.7.58.50 

1842 1,27138  1800 21,0.54  94 

1843 1.351  40|l807 27,924  92 

1844 l.-.'.^!  '.«  ISi-.8 39,000  82 

1845 I ,:;ji;  11(1  ! s<\>J 3.5,.852  .S5 

1846 l,.ili  DO  ls;o 35,31i  30 

1847 1,843  90|18T1 40,518  89 

1848 1,908  .58  1 1872 49,2-58  67 

1849 1.8.52  15 


w 


LEXINGTON    TOW  XslII  P. 


>^, 


Making  a  grand  total  since  182G  until  1872 
of  §415,781.07.  These  amounts  of  course  in- 
ciiule  Alliance,  as  well  as  the  other  portions  of 
tlie  township.  No  ta.\  duplicate  has  been  made 
for  Alliance  separately,  except  tiiat  of  1872, 
wlien  it  was  made  in  a  separate  list,  and.  for  the 
sake  of  convenience,  has  since  been  made  so. 

The  municipal  gevernmont  of  Limavillc  was 
orgaiiizotl  on  April  3,-18  II,  bj-  tlie  election  of 
Isaac  Winans  as  .Mayor.  The  follmving  is  a 
list  of  .Mayors  elected  Ijy  the  citizens  of  the 
corporation  since  that  time  until  1870  : 

Isuiic  'Aiuiviis .Vpril  ;;il,  1811. 

Noiili  I'pson No  date. 

Norllinip April  i:),  1846. 

John  (i^.llo.'.s April  7,  l«4;i. 

Arbii  Kiiliity April  il,  1851. 

Avba  ICiihuy April  0,  1851. 

John  (i.  Muise April  10,  1805. 

John  (J.  .Morse April  16,  1856. 

John  G.  .Morse April  6,  1S57. 

Stephen  Loguc April  1,  ISM) 

Stephen  Lague April  1-,  180". 

Mason  U.  Uav \pril  1,  1861. 

E.  a.  .Morse..! April  6,  18(13. 

John  G.  .Moise April  ;!.  1865. 

John  G.  .Morse April  2,  1866. 

W.J.  Osborn April  6,  lb67. 

I    Ewar. April  6,  1868. 

W.  K.  Pa.xson April  6,  186'.). 

W.  E.  Paxson April  6,  1870. 

For  the  following  list  of  Justices  of  the 
Peace  the  readers  of  the  liistory  of  Lexington 
Township  arc  indebted  to  Ed  Page,  Esq.,  the 
efficient  and  courteous  (Merk  of  tlie  Common 
Fleas  of  Stark  Comity  : 

Ka»R.  Wm-.N  CoMMl'^SIONF.D. 

Nmliiin  GaskiU M,iy  19,  1817. 

William  Beeson April  27,  1820. 

Thourn  Wool April  27,  1820. 

Thon.as  Woo.l March  I,  1823. 

John    Wiimcr .March  1.  1823. 

John  Giver April  26,  1826. 

Levi  Bur.lin April  23,  1827. 

James  Akev May  21,  182'. 

Levi  Burden ^pril  24,  1830. 

Thomas  Wood April  17,  1832. 

Levi  Burden April  15,  1833. 

E.  N.  Jjhnson April  15,  1833. 

Thomis  VVooJ April  23,  1835. 

Thomas  Wright April  in,  18-;6. 

Joseph  Johnson .April  28,  lS"i7. 

Mahlon  Allison...  April  17,  1838. 

John  I).  Elliot Noviniher  11,  1830. 

Abraham  Oa.vkill April  2'.),  1840. 

John  G.  .Morse November  23,  1840 

John  G.  .Morse October  25,  1843. 

Koberl  l\.  Barr April  13,  1846 

Thomas  .1.   Wood October  30   1846. 


Namk.  Whhx  Commissioned. 

TalnmJge  \\.  Leek April  22,  1847. 

Koberl  11.  Barr April  18,  184'J. 

Abr.iham  GaskiU iuli"  28,  184'J. 

Thomas  J.  Wood October  2o,  1849. 

Robert  M.  Buck October  10,  1852. 

A.  L.  Jones October  15,  1856. 

Abraham  GaskiU (Jctober  15,  1856. 

John  Ellison April  I'..*,  1856. 

B.  B.  Green October  15,  18.J8. 

John  G.  Morse October  15,  18.i8. 

John  Ellison November  13,  1860. 

John  li.  .Morse October  12,  1861. 

Joicpli  Baruaby November'.',  1861. 

Joseph  Baruaby October  14,  1864. 

William  C.  Hichmoi.d Ociober  14,  1864. 

Joseph  Barnaby October  18,  lt)b7. 

L.  n.  lloaih October  18,  1867. 

.Simon  Johnson february   18,  1870. 

Jacob  1'.  Zaizer October  26,  1870. 

Joseph  Baruaby March  2'.l,  1873. 

•'  Tis  ediK-atiou  thai  lorm.^  tUc  comnion  mind. 
Just  a.s  the  twig  is  bent  the  tree's  inclined." 
The  drst  school  ever  opened  iu  Lexington 
Township  was  in  the  town  of  Lexington,  in  the 
year  1809.  The  iirst  school  teacher  in  that 
school  was  Dtmiel  \otaw.  It  was  a  subscrip- 
tion school,  and  under  the  managemeut  of  the 
Society  of  Friends.  A  lew  years  thereafter,  a 
subscription  school  was  opened  iu  the  vicinity 
of  Limaville.  The  tirst  school  held  in  the  Al- 
liance section  of  the  township  was  held  iu  a 
vacatetl  cabin  on  the  land  now  owned  by  Clem- 
ent KockhiU,  just  west  of  the  fair  groumls. 
it  was  taught  by  Andy  Murran  in  the  year  1820. 
It  will  be  reineiubered  thai  the  present  common- 
school  system  of  the  8iate  was  not  instituted  or 
organized  until  alter  1824,  cou.se(iuenlly,  all 
schools,  prior  to  this  date,  were  temporary, 
springing  up  in  tliis  or  that  locality,  and  liviug 
two  or  three  months,  as  the  school  neces.->ities 
of  a  neighborhood  seemeil  to  give  them  birth. 
They  were  held  in  vacateil  cabins,  and  the 
teachers  paid  by  subscription,  i'o  8tark  County 
belongs  the  credit  ot  Imviiig  sent  a  represeula- 
tive  to  the  State  Legislature  in  1822,  wtio  intro- 
duceil  the  Iirst  bill  which  was  ever  introduced 
into  the  Legislature  for  the  establishing  and 
regulating  of  cominon-schools  iu  Ohio.  The 
experience  of  ahnost  half  a  ceutury  has  reu- 
dereil  changes  in  the  law  necessaiy  ;  but  to  the 
Stark  County  representative  be  the  credit  of 
having  introtluced  a  system  of  common  schools 
that  has,  with  it-s  amendments,  been  found  suf- 
ficiently comprehensive  to  educate  all  the  chil- 
ilren  iu  the  State.     Everv  niau  who  has  lived 


432 


Hl!?T<)IiY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


in  Stark  County  long  enough  to  remember,  and 
has  noticed  the  current  of  events,  can  call  to  i 
mind  the  opposition  that  burst  upon  Mr.  La-  ! 
throp  on  his  return  to  his  constituency.  A  howl 
wont  up  against  taxation  and  against  Mr.  La- 
throp  :  but  he  was  not  to  be  driven  from  his  pur- 
poses. 

The  School   Board  has  wisely  adopted   the 
distributive  system  of  schools  ;    locating  one 
Primary  Department  in  Webb's  Addition  to  the 
northeast  section  of  the  town  ;  one  on  Market  ; 
street,  in  the  southwest  section  ;  one  in  Lam- 
born's  Addition,  in  the  southern  section.     The 
School  Board  asked  the  voters  to  grant  funds 
in  the  way  of  self-imposed  tax  to  erect  a  fourth 
building  to  meet  a  growing  want  in  the  south-  I 
east  section  of  the  town.     The  three  Primary  | 
Departments  are  clever,  substantial,  two-story  | 
brick  structures,  which  have  been  built  at  a  cost 
of  about  $2,000  each  to  the  people. 

The  following  official  census  report  of  the  city  ; 
of  the  number  of  youths  between  the  age  of  five 
and  twenty-one  3'ears,  for  the  years  ]8fi7-72,  ; 
inclusive  ;  also  the  number  of  children  under 
five  years  of  age  for  the  year  1 872  : 

18G7 — Number  of  children  between  five  and 
twenty-one  years  of  age.  610;  1868,  1,002; 
1869,  1,128;  1870,  1,255;  1871,  1,393;  1872. 
number  of  children  under  five  years  of  age,  698. 

The  history  of  Lexington  Township  would  be  1 
incomplete,  should  it  fail  to  speak  of  an  insti- 
tution, which  more  than  any  other  in  the  county, 
was  humble  and  unpromising  in  its  origin  ;  yet, 
with  objects  based  on  the  wants  of  the  people, 
has  overcome  almost  insurmountable  obstacles, 
and  .stands  to-day  a  source  of  usefulness  high 
in  the  confidence  of  the  people.     A  six-room 
schoolhouse  was  erected  in  1856.     A  system  of  [ 
graded  schools,  under  the  State  laws  of  1849,  } 
was  organized,  in  March,  1857.     Under  this  or- 
ganization, schools  were  opened  in  four  rooms, 
in  charge  of  a  Superintendent,  with  the  total  ! 
number  of  youth  of  school  age  in  the  district 
amounting  to  860.     The  number  of  youth  of  , 
school  age  in  September,  1880,  was  1,452.     The 
number  of  rooms  occupied  in  1880,  and  each  in  | 
charge  of  a  separate  teachei",  was  19,  and  the 
number  of  schoolhouses  at  that  date,  each  con- 
taining from  two  to  six  rooms,  was   5.     The 
l)uildings  are  located  to  suit  the  convenience  of 
younger  pupils.     Tlie  following  gentlemen  have 
served  as  Superintendents  during  the  term  speci- 
fied :     J.  K.  Pickett,  George  Hester,  Jesse  Mark- 


ham,  D.  M.  Miller,  W.  H.  Dressier,  C  Y.  Kay, 
J.  F.  Richards,  and  at  present  Mr.  Dressier  is 
again  in  charge,  and  discharging  the  responsi- 
ble duties  acceptably  to  the  people.  The  pub- 
lic schc5ols  of  Alliance  have  attained  a  high 
degree  of  efficiency  in  organization,  course  of 
study,  discipline,  method  of  instruction  and  pro- 
ficiency in  the  substantial  studies,  justly  plac- 
ing them  in  the  front  rank  of  liie  better  class  of 
.schools  in  the  State. 

As  nearlv  as  can  now  be  ascertained,  the  first 
Methodist  societ}-  of  Lexington  Township  was 
formed  in  the  village  of  Lexington  in  1819.  It 
consisted  of  a  class  of  six  members,  of  whom 
Thomas  Wood  was  appointed  leader.  It  was 
perhaps  in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  that 
Lexington  became  a  regular  preaching-place  in 
connection  with  what  was  called  Mahoning  Cir- 
cuit, with  Calvin  Ruttor  and  John  Stewart 
preachers.  The  society  first  worshiped  in  private 
dwellings,  then  in  an  old  schoolhouse.  In  1827, 
thej-  erected  the  first  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  built  in  the  township.  It  was  a  rude 
afl'air.  constructed  of  white  oak  logs,  ])uncheon 
seats,  minus  backs.  In  this  homely  structure, 
they  worshiped  with  slow  but  steady  growth, 
until  their  present  neat  and  comfortable  building 
was  erected.  Some  members  of  the  first  society 
still  survive.  In  1840,  a  class  was  formed,  and 
preaching  established  in  what  was  then  called 
Williamsport,  in  connection  with  Salem  Circuit, 
Brother  M.  L.  Weekly  preacher  in  charge.  The 
society  worshiped  in  private  dwellings  for  a  year 
or  two,  when  thej-  fitted  up  an  old  wheelwright- 
shop  for  the  purpose.  In  this  extemporized 
church,  a  series  of  meetings  were  held,  under 
the  superintendence  of  the  Rev.  S.  D.  Kinear, 
which  resulted  in  the  conversion  and  addition  to 
the  church  of  about  ninety  persons.  Among 
them  was  Henry  Chancre,  the  popular  temperance 
lecturer,  known  as  the  ''  Buckeye  Broadaxe." 
Mr.  Chance  is  still  living,  and  doing  effective 
work  in  the  cause  of  temperance.  This  large 
addition  to  the  society  encouraged  the  hitherto 
little  band  to  inaugurate  a  movement  to  secure, 
if  possible,  a  house  of  their  own  in  which  to  wor- 
ship. The  result  was  the  erection  of  the  frame 
building  in  which  the  Friends  now  hold  service, 
located  in  what  was  called  Freedom.  Here  the 
society  worshiped  with  constant  growth  until 
1865.  when  the  house,  becoming  too  small  for 
the  congregation,  it  was  sold  about  the  1  st  of 
May  to  the  Society  of  Friends,  who  repaired  it. 


LEXINUTOX    TOWXSHIl- 


and  still  occupy  it  as  a  place  of  worship.  The 
congregation,  then  under  the  superintendence  of 
Brother. \.  B.  lA'onard.  engajicd  inanewciuirch 
enterprise,  whicii  ciiliuinaled  in  the  erection  of 
tlie  brick  building  in  which  they  worship.  This 
society  has  a  membership  of  about  400,  which 
is  constantly  increasing. 

The  Sal)bath  School  connected  with  the 
charge  is  f)ne  of  the  largest  in  Eastern  Ohio. 
It  is  under  the  supervision  of  an  able  body  of 
officers  and  teachers,  and  is  in  a  flourishing 
condition.  The  Society  is  contemplating  a 
radical  iraproveuient  of  their  church  building, 
which  is  greatly  needed.  The  truth  is.  Alliance 
ought  to  have  better  church  accomodations  and 
we  have  no  doubt  if  the  congi'cgation  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  will  undertake  the 
erection  of  a  tinst-class  church,  the}'  will  have 
the  earnest  co-operation  of  tlie  citizens  gener- 
ally, and  will  deserve  the  everlasting  gratitude 
of  every  one  ambitious  for  the  improvement  of 
the  growing  young  city  of  Alliance.  In  1841, 
a  society  was  formed  and  preaching  estalilished 
in  Mt.  Union,  by  Rev.  M.  L.  Weekly.  This 
congregation  has  steadily  prospered  and  is  now 
in  a  flourishing  condition.  Mount  Union,  it  is 
well  known,  is  the  seat  of  Mount  Union  Col- 
lege. 

A  Methodist  society  has  existed  for  3ears  at 
Limaville.  From  a  feeble  start  it  has  grown 
into  a  vigorous  band  of  Christian  workers, 
numbering  some  fifty  communicants,  have  a 
fine  sabbath  school  and  a  neat  church.  There 
are  now.  in  Lexington  Township,  about  ten 
hundred  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  !  Over  twelve  hundred  Sabbath  school 
scholars,  and  over  ijaOO.OOO  worth  of  church 
and  college  property.  Besides  all  this,  a  large 
number  of  the  members  of  the  church  here, 
from  time  to  time  moved  to  other  sections  of 
the  country,  while  many  have  gone  to  that 
better  land.  This  is  but  a  brief  and  imperfect 
sketch  of  the  history  of  th(!  Methodist  Episcfi- 
pal  Church  in  Lexington  Township.  It  is  the 
best  we  can  do  with  our  present  limited  data. 
The  following  is  a  list  of  Methodist  ministers 
who  have  served  charges  in  Lexington  Town- 
ship and  Alliance  station  since  the  church  was 


organized,  in  the  fall  of  1839,  with  the  dates  of 
their  respective  appointments  : 

July  17,  1839— Simon  Elliot  (deceased).  M. 
L.  Weekly. 

July  15,  1840 — Joseph  Montgomery  (trans- 
fered),  Thomas  Thompson  (deceased). 

July  13,  1842— G.  D.  Kinnear,  J.  Tribby. 

July  12,  1843- J.  Murry. 

July  10.  1844— J.  Murrv  (located),  Ilosea 
McCall. 

July  2,  1845 — Robert  Wilkins  (superannu- 
ated), Hosea  McCall,  Henry  Ambler  (expelled). 

July  1,  1846— David  Iless.  N.  Gilmore  (lo- 
cated). 

June  30,  1847 — Hh'am  Gilmore  (transferred). 
James  II.  White  (transferred). 

July  5,  1847 — John  Huston,  H.  Rogers. 

June,   1849 — Z.   11.   (iastin  (superannuated). 

June,  1850 — Joshua  ^Monroe  (supcraiuiu- 
ated),  Richard  Jordan. 

June  28, 1852 — Aaron  II.  Thomas  (deceased). 
John  Aiiisle^'. 

June  23 — Hugh  D.  Fisher  (transferred). 

June  20,  1854 — Samuel  Wakefield  (superan- 
nuated). 

June  13,  1855 — John  Wright,  Samuel  Crow. 

June,  1856— J.  C.  High,  S.  Burt. 

April  29,  1857— Lewis  J.  Dales,  F.    D.   Fast. 

April  28.  1858— David  B.  Campl)cll. 

April  27,  1859— M.  S.  Kendig.    K.  .Morrow. 

March  20,  18(51— A.  E.  Ward. 

March  19.  1862— T.  Storer. 

March  18,  1863— Wesley  Smith,  T.  S.  Hodg- 
son. 

March  10,  1864— A.  B.  Leonard. 

March  15,  1865 — John  Williams. 

March  7.  1866— William  Cox. 

March  18,  1868— W.  K.  Brown. 

March  17,  1869 — (Jeorge  W.  Johnson. 

March  15,  1871— S.  P.  Woolf. 

March  15,  1872— W.  H.  Locke. 

March,  1876— S.  L.  Binkley. 

March.  1881— L.  W.  Day.  ' 

Of  the  above  list,  five  have  died,  five  are 
superannuated,  three  have  located,  six  have 
been  transferred  to  another  conference,  one  ex- 
pelled. Thus,  out  of  forty-seven  ministers, 
twentj--six  onlj-  are  in  the  work. 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


CHAPTER    XYIL* 

THE  TOWN  OF  ALLIANCE— GROWTH   AND  ADVANCEMENT— HU^^l NESS  INDUSTKlIvS  — Si'HOOl.S  AND 
C0LLE(;ES_'I'HE  press— church  is.  SCNDAY  SCHOOLS.  !:T<\— BENEVOLENT  ORGANIZATIONS. 


A  LLIANCE  is  buill.  at  tbc  crossing  (»f  the 
X~A_  Pittsburgli,  Fort  Wayne  &  Cliicago  and 
tlie  Cleveland  &  Pittsburg  Eailroads  ;  the  for- 
mer is  a  continuation  of  the  great  Pennsylva- 
nia Central,  through  Ohio,  lutlianaand  Illinois, 
to  the  city  of  Chicago  ;  the  latter  connecting 
the  "Forest"  with  the  ''Iron"  city,  and  with 
its  branches  associating  in  business  relations 
with  those  two  great  inland  marts  a  wide  farm- 
ing and  grazing  district  in  the  Buckeye  State. 
The  etiraology  of  the  term  denotes  its  origin, 
and  though  it  has  resulted  that  these  two 
routes  were  not  really  allied  at  the  time  the 
town  was  named,  yet  it  was  supposed  they 
would  be.  Alliance  was  named  by  Gen.  Piob- 
inson,  deceased,  of  Pittsburgh.  The  lots  around 
the  crossing  were  surveyed  c^hiefl}-  by  the 
County  Surve\'or,  Mr.  Whitacre,  in  1851,  and 
the  propi-ietcn's  of  the  adjoining  land  were  Sim- 
on Jennings,  Joseph  J.  .Brooks,  I.  1\".  Webb 
and  Klisha  Teeters. 

And  now  that  the  town  was  located,  it  be- 
came necessary  to  improve  it.  Accordingl}',  a 
house  was  built  by  Mr.  Hester,  the  first  house 
ever  erected  in  Alliance,  and  which  is  now 
standing,  and  occupied  by  Mr.  Olliger.  The 
same  year,  Mr.  Hester  started  a  store,  thereb)- 
being  the  first  to  establish  mercantile  pursuits 
in  the  town.  Mr.  Hester  gave  the  town  the 
name  of  Freedom,  by  which  it  w-as  known  until 
ten  or  twelve  years  after  its  oriain.  or  until  the 
completion  of"  the  C.  &  P.  and  P.,  Ft.  W.  &  C. 
Railroad,  when  the  railroad  companies  gave  it 
the  name  of  Alliance.  Mr.  Hester  made  a 
public  sale  of  lots,  the  same  year  in  which  the 
town  was  laid  out,  and  disposed  of  several, 
upon  which  buildings  were  soon  erected.  In 
18-41,  or  about  three  years  later,  Mr.  S.  Shaffer 
came  here  from  Pennsylvania  and  opened 
another  store.  Here  was  the  first  competition 
in  trade  in  Alliance.  And  from  these  two  in- 
significant establishments  have  sprung  over  100 
odd  business  houses  of  to-day.  Verilj'.  their 
progeny  has  been  prolific.     For  the  first  ten  or 

^(.'ontiibutnl  b;  Dr.  L.  L.  Liuiiln.iji. 


twelve  .years,  the  growth  of  the  town  was  ver}' 
slow  ;  the  accessories  were  few  and  infrequent'. 
Another  store  was  added,  a  small  brick  school- 
house,  a  church  and  a  few  dwellings  comprised 
the  principal  improvements.  There  was  nothing 
here  at  this  early  day  to  attract  immigration'. 
The  country  was  almost  a  -wilderness  ;  there  wa^ 
no  milling  privilege,  there  were  few  comforts 
of  any  kind  to  Ije  obtained,  and  many  annoy- 
ances and  inconveniences  were  submitted  to: 
The  post  ofI1<;e  was  two  or  three  miles  distant. 
There  were  no  markets  for  surplus  products 
nearer  than  Massillon,  26  miles  awaj',  and  to 
that  point  faimcrs  would  haul  their  grain,  re- 
ceiving for  it  40  or  50  cents  per  bushel.  Our 
merchants'  supplies  were  purchased  at  Pitts- 
burgh and  Philadelphia,  and  transported  by 
canal  and  river  to  Weilsville,  aud  from  there 
by  v.agons  to  this  pkne.  In  those  days  it  re- 
quired from  four  to  six  weeks  for  our  merchants 
to  make  the  trip  to  Philadelphia,  purchase 
goods  and  return.  Now,  with  our  present  rail- 
road facilities,  the  same  trip  may  be  easily  ac- 
complished in  the  space  of  one  week.  The 
ground  upon  which  (he  city  now  stands  was. 
at  the  time  of  the  location  of  the  town,  owned 
by  the  following  gentlemen  :  Matthias  Hester. 
William  Aultman,  Michael  and  John  Miller. 
Mr.  Scott  and  Mr.  Cassidy.  These  gentlemen 
made  numerous  additions  to  the  town,  and 
public  enterprises,  in  the  way  of  land  for  the 
purpose  of  stimulating  and  encouraging  the 
improvement  of  the  town,  but  its  progress  was 
verj'  tardy,  and  twehe  years  after  its  origin,  or 
in  the  year  1850,  the  place  contained  only 
about  200  inhabitants. 

Much  the  same  as  Altoona  is  on  the  east, 
Alliance  is  on  the  west  of  Pittsburgh,  an  off- 
spring of  the  locomotive,  a  legitimate  child  of 
steam.  In  the  history  of  the  last  few  years, 
a  great  chapter  of  which  is  occupied  by  rail- 
way events,  an  episode  injected  into  the  stale 
memoranda  of  former  centuries  which  are  con- 
tinued in  this — ^.stereotypes  of  diplomatic  strate- 
gy,   wars,    marches,    battles   and    sieges — this 


.u 


CITY    OF    AFJ.IAXl'K 


4:!5 


word  Alliance  has  repeatedly  appeared  in  the 
daily  and  weekly  bulletins  of  news.  Some- 
times it  lias  fiiiurcd  as  the  seene  of  unfortii- 
nsite  fatality,  at  others  as  the  theater  of  social 
or  politii-al  demonstration,  and  the  telegraph 
announcing  to  distant  cities  the  arrival  here,  or 
the  passage  of  this  or  tliat  distinguished  per.son- 
au'o  tlirough  the  place,  has  helped  to  lend 
celebrity  to  the  town.  Tiie  following  is  the 
additions  to  and  composing  the  city  of  .Al- 
liance : 

Mathias  Hester  and  John  .Miller  laid  out 
the  town  of  Ficedoin  July  21.  ISIiS.  composed 
of  sixty  lots.  William  Altnian  hiid  out  an 
addition  to  Frei;dom  September  17,  1841. 
composed  of  eleven  lots.  IMathias  Hester  laid 
out  an  addition  to  Freedom  Seplemlier  17, 
1841.  composed  of  twelve  lots.  Alliance  was 
laid  out  by  Mathias  Hester  September  10.  ISoO, 
composed  of  fifty-eight  lots.  E.  Teeters  laid 
ont  an  addition  to  Alliance  Septembers.  1851, 
composed  of  fifty-one  lots.  M.  Hester  laid  out 
an  addition  to  Alliance  September  10.  18.")1. 
composed  of  forty-four  lots.  Jennings  & 
Brooks  laid  out  an  addition  to  Alliance  May 
21,  1852,  composed  of  sixty-five  lots.  I.  X. 
Webli  laid  out  an  addition  to  Alliance  May  l(i. 

1852.  composed  of  sixteen  lots.  William  Tee- 
ters laid  out  on  addition  to  Alliance  August 
28.  1852,  composed  of  eight  lots.  E.  Teeters 
laid  ont  an  addition  to  Alliance  .May  20.  1852, 
composed  of  sixty-live  lots.  Samuel  Shaffer 
laid  out  an  addition  to  Alliance  April  15. 1853. 
compo.^ed  of  seventeen  lots.  Mathias  Hester 
laid  ont  an  addition  to  Alliance  December  18, 

1853.  composed  of  thirty-one  lots.  E.  Teeters 
laid  out  an  addition  to  Alliance  April  4.  1855, 
composed  of  thirty-seven  lots,  -lohn  Miller 
laid  out  an  addition  to  Freedom  July  3,  185(J, 
composed  of  seven  lots.  E.  Teeters  laid  out 
an  addition  to  Alliance  June  14.  1856,  com- 
posed of  one  hundred  and  fourteen  lots.  T.  X. 
Webb  laid  ont  an  addition  to  Alliance  May  27, 
1856.  composed  of  thirty  lots.  F.  N.  Webb  laid 
out  an  addition  to  Alliance  June  0.  1856,  com- 
posed of  nine  lots.  JM.  Hester  laid  ont  an  ad- 
dition to  Alliance  February  27,  1856,  com- 
posed of  five  lots,  E.  A.  &  C.  W.  laid  out  an 
addition  to  Alliance  July  7,  1860.  composed  of 

lots.      Outlots  sixteen.     I.  X.  Webb  laid 

out  an  addition  to  Alliance  April  26.  1861, 
composed  of  nine  lots.  Lee's  outlots.  laid  out 
August  5.  1863,  composed  of  twenty-four  lots. 


Mathias  Hester  laid  out  an  addition  t«  Alliance 
October  14.  1856.  compo.sed  of  fourteen  lots. 
L.  L.  Lamborn,  May  18,  1866,  an.l  May  18, 
1868,  composed  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-two 
lots.  Josiah  Kosenbeny  laid  out  an  addition 
to  Alliance  June  5,  1867,  compo.sed  of  fifteen 
lots.  J.  Pi.  Haines  laid  out  an  addition  to 
Alliance  April  27.  1864.  composed  of  twi'Uty- 
eight  lots.  E.  Teeters  laid  out  an  addition  to 
Alliance  l)eccml)er  10,  1865,  composed  of  one 
hundred  and  fif(v-two  lots.  Ijinus  Ely  laid  out 
an  a<ldition  to  .Mliance  May  11.  1870,  com- 
posed of  six  lots.  ti.  W.  Sears  laid  out  an  ad- 
dition to  Alliance  January  25.  1870.  composed 
of  seventeen  lots.  J.  B.  Milner  laid  out  an  ad- 
dition to  Alliance  April  10.  ISOO.  composed  of 
twenty  i(>ts.  I.  X.  \Velib  laid  out  an  addition 
to  Alliance  !May  1,  1866.  compo.sed  of  twenty- 
five  lots.  I.  X.  Webb  laid  out  an  addition  to 
Alliance  August  27.  1 866.  composed  of  thirty- 
two  lots.  Philip  Ktiene  laid  out  an  addition 
to  Alliance  July  2f>,  1867.  composed  of  five 
lots.  Elizabeth  Grant  1,'iid  out  an  addition  to 
Alliance  Xovember  14.  1867,  compo.sed  of  nine 
lots.  M.  .\.  Uarasey  laid  out  an  addition  to 
Alliance  June  14.  1861  (outlots).  composed  of 
twelve  lots.  J.  H.  Haines  laid  ont  an  addition 
to  Alliance  June  20,  1867.  composed  of  ten 
lots.  Orant  &  Kice  laid  out  an  addition  to  Al- 
liance July  1.3,  1867,  compo.sed  of  eighteen 
lots.  31.  Hester  laid  out  an  addition  to  Alliance 
December  IS,  1867,  composed  of  twelve  lots. 
Moushey  &  Davis  laid  out  an  addition  to  Alli- 
ance Novemlier  21,  1861.  composed  of  six  lots. 
J.  B,  Milner  laid  out  an  addition  to  Alliance 
April  24.  1868.  composed  of  two  hundred  and 
five  lots.  Simon  Johnson  laiil  out  an  atldition 
to  Alliance  Septemlier  18.  18(18.  composed  of 
thirteen  lots.  J.  B.  Milner  laid  out  an  addi- 
tion to  Alliance  February  16.  1867.  composed 
of  seventy-two  lots.  Teeters,  Lamborn  &  Co. 
laid  out  an  addition  to  Alliance,  various  dates, 
composed  of  nine  hundred  and  ninety  lots.  1. 
N.  Webb  laid  out  an  addition  to  Alliance  May 
6.  1870,  composed  of  twenty-four  lots.  D.  F. 
Eosenberry  laid  out  an  addition  to  Alliance 
X'ovember  20. .187((.  composed  of  thirteen  lots. 
Buck's  heirs  laid  out  an  addition  to  .Mliance 
March  13,  1872,  composed  of  ten  lots.  I.  X. 
Webb  laid  out  an  addition  to  Alliance  February 
22.  1870,  composed  of  eleven  lots.  .Vnua  Webb 
laid  out  an  addition  to  Alliance  May  14.  1870. 
composed  of  thirty-nine  lots. 


—       tS) 

1 — ^ 

-^ 5.[V 


436 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


It  will  be  seen  that  the  city  has  2,(>38  re 
corded  lots.  In  addition  to  these  are  very 
many  pieces  of  land  but  little  larger  than  a  lot, 
not  numbered,  upon  which  residences  are  built. 
There  are  390  pieces  of  land  upon  the  tax  du- 
plicate of  the  township  outside  of  tlie  incorpo- 
rate limits  of  Alliance,  Mount  Union  and  Lima- 
ville.  The  average  amount  of  land  to  each 
land  owner  in  the  township  is  thirty-seven 
acres. 

The  following  are  the  additions  and  lots  com- 
posing the  town  of  Limaville  :  David  HoUoway 
first  laid  out  Limaville  June  18,  1830,  the  same 
being  composed  of  twenty  two  lots.  David 
HoUoway  laid  out  an  addition  to  Limaville  De- 
cemlier  8,  1830,  composed  of  ten  lots.  Peter 
Akey,  Isaac  Winans  and  Alva  Proutz  laid  out 
an  addition  to  Limaville  October  3,  composed 
of  fifty-nine  lots.  Peter  Akey  and  A.  Proutz 
laid  out  an  addition  to  Limaville  July  24, 1836, 
composed  of  forty-one  lots.  Thus  Limaville 
has  132  recorded  lots. 

The  following  are  the  additions  and  lots  com- 
posing the  town  of  Mount  Union,  to  wit :  Rich- 
ard Fawcett  laid  out  Mount  Union  August  22, 
1833,  the  same  at  that  date  being  composed  of 
forty  lots.  John  Hinds,  E.  N.  John-son.  N. 
Holies,  J.  Watson,  Rachel  Holies  and  Daniel 
Reeves  laid  out  additions  to  Mount  Union  com- 
posed of  thirty  lots.  Ellis  N.  Johnson  laid  out 
an  addition  to  Mount  Union  May  22,  1851, 
composed  of  four  lots.  J.  B.  York  laid  out  an 
addition  to  Mount  Union  September  30,  1863, 
composed  of  forty-five  lots.  Ellis  N.  John.son  laid 
out  an  addition  to  Mount  Union  November  29, 
1858,  composed  of  four  lots.  Pettit  &  Park  laid 
out  an  addition  to  Mount  Union  March  29,  1859, 
composed  of  twenty-four  lots.  J.  B.  Milner  laid 
out  an  addition  to  Mount  Union  July  20,  1867, 
composed  of  142  lots.  E.  N.  Johnson  and  J. 
V.  Gould  laid  out  an  addition  to  Mount  Union 
November  10, 1871,  composed  of  ten  lots.  This 
number  added  to  the  390  pieces  of  land,  makes 
3,437  distinct  and  separate  pieces  of  real  estate 
in  Lexington  Township.  A  number  of  the  lots 
are  yet  in  the  hands  of  the  first  owners,  but 
probaljly  not  more  than  would  be  equaled  b}- 
the  pieces  of  land  in  the  three  incorporations 
which  are  not  estimated  in  the  above  aggregate. 
At  a  public  sale  of  lots  on  Main  street  in  1851, 
made  by  Mr.  E,  Teeters,  the  lots  barely  aver- 
aged $40  apiece.  The  lots  known  as  the  Rey- 
nolds corner  were  purchased  by  Mr,  Jacob  Os- 


walt, of  Washington  Township,  at  $37.  He 
thought  he  had  paid  dear  for  his  whistle,  and 
got  Mr.  William  Teeters  to  take  it  otf  his  hands. 
During  the  3-ear  1873,  the  same  lot,  with  but 
little  improvements  on  it,  sold  for  $13,500. 

It  is  to  W.  C.  Wilcox,  Esq.,  the  Recorder  of 
Stark  County,  we  are  indebted  for  a  transcript, 
owners  and  dates  of  the  various  additions  to  the 
township  mentioned  in  this  chapter. 

The  reputation  of  ''  Coates  Lock-Lever  Hay 
&  (jrain  Rake,"  is  so  thoroughly  established 
that  it  finds  a  sale  in  all  parts  of  the  United 
States,  and  large  numljers  of  it  have  been 
shipped  to  Europe.  The  factory  has  a  perma- 
nent investment  in  grounds,  buildings  and 
machinery-,  of  about  $75,000.  Employs  about 
sevent^'-five  men,  and  turns  out  from  $100,000 
to  $200,000  worth  of  work  annually,  while 
the  gross  sales  of  this  rake  alone  have  exceed- 
ed $1,000,000.  At  the  Paris  Exposition,  in 
1878,  the  '•  Coates  "  Lock-Lever  Rake  received 
the  only  silver  medal  awarded  to  any  horse- 
rake  separate  from  other  farm  implements. 
The  business  is  now  conducted  under  the  firm 
name  of  A.  W.  Coates  &  Co,,  and  is  one  of  the 
most  substantial  manufacturing  enterpri-ses  of 
the  State,  having  withstood  the  terrible  press- 
ure of  hard  times  and  financial  ruin  of  the  past 
five  3'ears,  and  stands  forth  to-da^-  with  strong 
reputation  and  largely  increasing  patronage. 

On  Thursday,  June  8,  1854,  the  first  news- 
paper was  published  in  Lexington  Township, 
at  Alliance.  It  was  printed  at  Salem,  Colum- 
urabiana  County,  at  the  office  of  J.  K.  Ruk- 
enbrod,  the  present  able  and  popular  editor  of 
the  Salem  RcpuJilirdv.  L,  L.  Lamborn,  a  prac- 
ticing physician  of  Mt,  Union,  was  the  editor, 
A  few  weeks  after  this  period,  a  Washington 
press  and  a  tolerable  printing  office  outfit  was 
purchased  of  Lyman  W,  Hall,  the  present  effi- 
cient editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Portage 
('ounty  Democrat,  and  brought  to  Alliance  and 
an  office  opened  in  Merchant's  Block,  After 
this  the  paper  was  printed  and  published  in 
Alliance,  The  paper  was  christened  the  Alii 
ance  Ledger.  By  reference  to  the  editorials  of 
the  Ledger  recently  reviewed,  the  fact  was 
clearly  elicited  that  the  paper  was  strongly  op- 
posed to  the  Democratic  partj-.  The  readers 
of  this  article  might  infer  this  would  be  an 
astonishing  disclosure  to  the  author  of  the  his- 
tory of  Lexington  Township.  Tlie  Ledger  was 
also    viruleutly    anti-slavery    and    wonderfully 


^^90^Bc^rz^^ 


CITY    OF    ALLIANCE. 


437 


Maine-lawish.  After  about  one  years  time  A. 
H.  Lewis  bought  tlie  entire  interest  in  the  Lnhjfr, 
and  ran  the  paper  for  two  years.  James  Estell, 
Esq.,  then  bought  the  ofliee  and  ran  a  paper  in 
the  interest  of  the  Demoeracy,  under  the  name 
of  the  Timia.  Mr.  Estell  removed  from  Alli- 
ance to  Holmes  County,  Ohio,  and  published 
liie  lldhni.i  ('ouiiti/  Fanntr,  and  was  elected 
Probate  Judge  of  Holmes  County,  and  received 
other  evidences  of  the  people's  confidence  and 
ability.  In  ISoC.  S.  G.  McKce  removed  to  Alli- 
ance from  CarrolUoii,  Carroll  County,  and  pur- 
chased of  Mr.  Estell  the  Tinus  ofhce,  and  owned 
and  uublished  the  paper  under  the  name  of  the 
Tiiiirs  up  to  1801.  Barlow  &  Morgan,  Webb  & 
Co.,  Elmslie  &  Co.  successively  <»wiied  tiieoMice 
after  this.  Gotchell  Bros,  bought  the  oHice  and 
moved  it  to  Canton,  and  published  a  paper 
there  for  a  few  months.  The  Local  was  a  part^- 
organ,  giving  its  inHnence  exclusiveh'  to  the 
tenets  and  policy  of  tlie  Republican  organiza- 
tion. The  Mfinitiu-  was  a  hybrid  ;  it  tried  the 
circus  feat  of  riding  two  horses  named  I'ro- 
hibition  and  Republicanism.  The  True.  Press 
belonged  to  the  neuter  gender  hermaphrodite  ; 
some  think  it  faced  toward  Demoeracj'.  The 
Miiiiilnr  was  ehielly  edited  by  Mrs.  Brown,  a 
clever  lady,  fine  writer  and  excellent  itemizer. 
The  Loeul  was  done  up  by  Joe  Gillespie,  Few 
local  items  passed  unchronicled  in  his  paper : 
he  was  brief  and  decisive  in  his  retorts  and 
criticisms.  The  I.ncal  cut,  the  Mu/iitoriare  and 
the  True  Press  poulticed  ;  the  Local  pilled,  the 
Monitor  gnped  and  the  7'ruc  /Vf,«,s- soothed.  All 
of  those  papers  were  ambitious  ;  the  Local  for 
party  dominancy,  the  Monitor  for  money,  and 
the  True  Press  for  that  (pi  let  which  came  to  the 
waves  of  Gallilee.  Out  of  the  Sanctum,  the 
Local  was  aflTectionate,  the  Monitor  courteous 
and  the  True  Press  placid.  The  Local  was 
pointed,  the  Monitor  general,  and  the  True  Press 
neither.  The  ]joc<il  shot  at  the  heart,  the  Moni- 
tor at  the  whole  body,  and  the  True  Press  shud- 
dered. The  editor  of  the  Local  was  obese  and 
childless,  the  editor  of  the  True  Press  was  gaunt 
and  wifeless,  and  the  editress  of  the  Monitor  was 
lithe  and  guileless. 

The^'  were  an  inimitable  trio.  Concretelj' 
they  were  prismatic,  resolving  a  ray  of  life's 
great  duties  into  primordial  elements  even  to 
the  negation  principles  of  light,  with  all  the  in- 
termingling rainbow  tints.  Abstractly  they 
were  less  ostentatious  and  gaudy.     It  is  true 


the  Local,  Monitor  and  True  Press  were  not  the 
Tribune,  I/mild  and  Times,  or  the  editors 
Greeley,  Bennett  and  Raymond,  but  they  were 
respectable  in  their  spheres,  and  the  city  of 
Alliance  w^as  proud  of  them  as  editors  and 
citizens.  In  the  way  of  journalism.  Alliance 
was  the  peer  of  any  interior  town  in  Ohio. 
These  presses  were  the  heralds  of  the  cit\-'s 
future ;  for  them  to  languish  was  for  the  city 
to  die  at  heart ;  for  merchants  and  manufact- 
urers to  give  orders  for  printing  to  traveling 
rats  to  advertise  competing  towns  is  felo-de-se 
— it  was  suicide — it  was  a  stone  at  the  goose 
or  geese  that  lay  the  golden  eggs  ;  it  might  not 
have  killed,  but  it  wounded  tliem.  Mr.  Lewis 
managed  the  Fnss  for  a  few  months,  and  then 
disposed  of  his  otlice  to  W.  F.  Hart.  .Mr. 
Mossgrove  assisted  him  as  Ibreraan  and  asso- 
ciate editor.  The  Monitor  was  started  by  J. 
W.  Garrison  and  J.  Hudson  July  KJ,  18G4, 
In  October,  18(J6,  Mr,  Hudson  sold  his  interest 
in  the  ollice  to  iMr.  Garrison.  This  establish- 
ment in  1804,  was  a  new  and  splendid  outfit, 
with  steam  presses  and  all  fitting  adjuncts.  Mr. 
Garrison  sold  the  ofliee  to  A.  W.  Taylor,  and 
moved  to  Massillon  where  he  inaugurated  the 
Massillon  American.  Mr.  Taylor  .soon  found  a 
purchaser  for  the  Monitor,  in  the  person  of  W. 
K.  Brown.  While  Mr,  Garrison  owned  the 
Monitor  ofHee,  he  printed  for  one  year  the 
Christian  Standard,  a  religiou.s  paper  in  the 
interest  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  edited  l)y 
Rev.  Isaac  Errett.  The  Led(jir,  under  the 
management  of  A.  H.  Lewis,  published  for  one 
year,  the  Family  and  School  fns/ructor,  a 
monthly  of  respectable  size  and  appearance, 
projected  by  the  Faculty  and  students  of  3Iount 
Union  College.  Mr.  Gillespie,  of  the  Local. 
has  published  for  one  year  the  Literari/  Ad- 
vance, a  monthly  emanating  from  the  same 
source.  Mr.  Patterson,  the  excellent  fore- 
man of  the  Local  ofliee.  and  .McKee's  partner 
in  the  publication  of  that  paper  before  Mr. 
Gillespie  purchased  his  interest,  ran  for  several 
years  a  job  otlice  in  the  building  owned  and 
occupied  by  J.  Murray  Wel)b.  The  Weaver 
Brothers  also  ran  a  joli  ollice  in  this  city  be- 
fore the}'  purchaseel  the  .Minerva  Comniercial. 
Mr  Stewart  McKce,  who  has  been  almost  con- 
stantly connected  with  the  press  of  this  city 
since  1S.')4,  in  connection  with  his  son-inlaw, 
now  runs  a  tidy  and  excellent  job  office  in 
Harrold's  Block.     This  includes,  so  far  as  mem- 


^« 


:^ 


438 


IILSTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


ory  now  serves,  the  v:ii-ioiis  printing  and  news- 
paper enterprises  in  tliis  city. 

The  Democracy  of  Alliance  anil  surrounding 
country  purchased  an  ortice  and  reshipped  it 
to  this  city  to  print  a  paper  under  the  manage- 
ment of  one  Robinson,  who  formerly  had  some 
reputation  as  a  writer,  having  been  connected 
with  the  Cincinnati  Emjuirri-.  At  one  time, 
Mr.  Robinson,  though  a  virulent  Democrat, 
patriotically  held  that  the  national  debt  created 
by  the  war,  should  be  promptly  paid,  and  that 
the  most  expeditious  plan  to  liquidate  the 
nation's  liabilities,  was  the  payment  of  an  in- 
ternal revenue  by  an  extravagant  consumption 
of  whisky.  He  largely  and  liberally  practiced 
on  his  theorj'  and  his  paper  died  Patterson 
&  McKee  purchased  the  ofiBce  and  issued  the 
Local.  After  a  time  Joseph  W.  Gillespie  pur- 
chased the  Patterson  interest  in  the  office,  con- 
tinuing the  paper  under  the  same  name.  Mr. 
Gillespie  soon  became  the  exclusive  owner  of 
the  office,  but  feeling  that  a  Washington 
hand  press  and  accompanying  material,  much 
of  it  quite  old,  could  not  be  made  to  meet  the 
necessities  of  the  increasing  patronage  of  an 
enterprising  town  fast  merging  into  a  city,  sold 
the  press  and  office,  the  historj'  of  which  lias 
been  brietiy  traced  since  1854,  to  Lacoek&Co., 
of  Salineville,  to  which  place  it  was  shipped  a 
few  years  back,  and  where  it  is  probably  entei'- 
ing  on  the  vicissitudes  of  a  twenty  years'  ex- 
perience, such  as  it  passed  in  Ravenna  and  in 
Alliance.  After  S.  G.  McKee  sold  his  interest 
in  the  Load  to  Gillespie  he  purchased  a  splen- 
did C3'linder  press  and  jobber,  with  correspond- 
ing and  accompanying  outfit,  and  issued  a 
weekly  called  the  Tdeyntph.  The  Tchgrdjih 
apparently  was  well  supported  and  entering 
a  career  of  unusual  prosperitj-,  when  one  morn- 
ing the  citizens  of  Alliance  were  astonished 
with  the  report  that  (xillespie  of  the  Local  had 
bought  out  the  Tclc</irijJi.  The  latter  paper 
supported  the  interests  of  the  Democratic 
party,  and  the  Local  was  the  organ  of  the  Re- 
publican party.  The  purchase  gave  the  Local 
every  facility  for  successfully  competing  with 
the  Monitor.  There  was  Tnore  material  than 
could  be  advantageously  used  obtained  by  the 
purchase  of  the  fc/cr/raji/i  office,  and  Dr.  Lewis 
bought  a  hand  press  and  some  of  the  material 
of  Mr.  Gillespie,  and  in  the  fall  of  1872  started 
a  paper.  Since  the  above  occurrences,  other 
papers  have  been  published  in  Alliance. 


The  Alliance  Tri- County  Review,  edited  and 
published  by  Capt.  J.  W.  Gillespie,  is  one  of  the 
newsiest  papers  in  Eastern  Ohio,  and  has  ob- 
tained considerable  celebrity  for  its  independ- 
ence of  thought,  its  bold  and  fearless  defense 
of  its  opinions,  and  its  carefully  edited  local 
and  news  columns.  It  is  Republican  in  politics, 
but  evidently  does  not  take  kindly  to  the  ex- 
treme hard-money  doctrines  of  that  party,  and 
having  opinions  of  its  own  on  all  the  issues  of 
the  day,  to  which  it  gives  fearless  expression 
and  a  bold  defense,  it  occasionally-  of  neces- 
sity, incurs  the  adverse  criticisms  of  the  more 
hide-bound  leaders  of  the  party  with  which  it 
is  identified  ;  and  yet,  on  all  the  doctrines  which 
properly  and  originall}'  entered  into  the  creed 
and  confession  of  political  faith  of  the  Repub- 
lican partj',  as  well  as  in  spirit,  the  paper  is 
"radical"  and  "stalwart."  The  history  of  the 
Review  is  one  of  success.  In  May,  1871,  Capt. 
Gillespie  bought  a  half-interest  in  the  Alliance 
Local,  a  small  ■'  patent  outside  "  sheet,  strug- 
gling for  existence  with  a  nominal  subscription 
list  of  barely  three  hundred,  and,  in  company 
with  Capt.  S.  G.  McKee,  undertook  to  conduct 
it  as  a  neutral  pajier.  This,  of  course,  was  un- 
satisfactory. A  man  with  positive  opinions  and 
convictions,  must  necessarily  chafe  and  fret  un- 
der the  restraints  of  neutral  journalism,  and  in 
November  of  the  same  year,  Capt.  Gillespie 
bought  out  his  partner,  and,  abandoning  the 
"  patent  outside,"  changed  its  character  to  one 
of  the  most  pronounced  and  wide-awake  Repub- 
lican papers  in  the  Seventeenth  Congressional 
District.  Prom  that  day  may  be  dated  the 
present  popularity  of  the  paper,  and  its  pub- 
lisher could  not  help  but  see,  in  a  short  time, 
that  it  had  outgrown  its  name  and  had  become 
something  more  than  a  mere  "  local ''  paper. 
He,  therefore,  dropped  the  nnxna  Local  and  sub- 
stituted the  more  pretentious  and  significant 
title  of  Review,  changing  its  form,  too,  to  a 
quarto  and  enlarging  it.  The  next  advance  step 
was  taken  in  1876,  when  the  Review  was  made 
a  cash-in-advance  paper,  and  immediately  fol- 
lowing this  and  entirely  contrar}-  to  the  expec- 
tations of  man}'  of  its  friends,  it  obtained  a  cir- 
culation four  times  larger  than  any  paper  ever 
published  in  the  town  of  Alliance.  But  another 
change  seemed  to  be  demanded,  and  in  the  same 
line,  indicating  growth  and  progress  ;  the  Review 
rapidly  extended  its  circulation  in  the  adjoining 
counties  till,  on  the  1st  of  January,  1881,  its 


y: 


— -^t^. 


CITY    OF    ALLIANCE. 


proprietor,  as  a  fitting  recognition  of  this  gen- 
erous patronage,  adopted  its  present  title  ;  and 
now,  as  the  IVi- Count  1/  Rfri'ew,  its  subscription 
is  hirger  than  ever  before,  and  daily  increasing. 
Aggressive,  outspoken,  saucy  and  combative  as 
the  Rciieir  lias  always  been,  it,  of  course,  has 
made  some  enemies,  and  in  its  treatment  of 
these,  it  seemed  never  to  be  able  to  appreciate 
the  nursery  axiom  of  •'  a  kiss  for  a  blow."  Tit- 
for-tat  was  ratiier  its  motto,  and  it  seems  to 
really  enjoy  a  s<iuare  stand-up  tigiit,  and  is  not 
likely  to  grow  rusty  in  literary  pugilism  for 
want  of  practice,  or  sulk,  or  whine,  or  snitlle  at 
the  result  of  any  of  its  set-tos. 

One  of  the  leading  Repul)lican  newspapers 
of  Stark  County  is  the  Alliance  sStandai-d, 
which  was  established  January  1. 1880.  by  John 
G.  Garrison.  At  its  inception,  the  Slfnu/unl 
was  a  six-column  folio,  but  under  Mr.  (iar- 
rison's  careful  editorial  and  practical  mechanical 
management,  it  soon  became  an  enterprising 
local  journal,  and  an  enlargement  became  neces- 
sary'. It  is  now  an  eight-column  folio.  The 
Stciiidanl  has  steadily  grown  in  favor  and  influ- 
ence until  it  has  become  one  of  the  most  widely 
read  local  newspapers  ever  published  in  Alli- 
ance. Its  careful  make-up,  tine  paper,  good  press 
work  and  neat  typographical  appearance,  give 
it  the  reputation  of  being  a  handsome  county 
paper.  Much  of  the  success  of  the  Standard 
is  due  to  the  refined  and  elevating  manner  in 
which  it  has  been  conducted,  as  well  as  its  fair 
and  gentlemanly  treatment  of  the  people,  wheth- 
er they  were  patrons  of  the  paper  or  not.  and 
its  impartial,  unselfish  and  journalistic  manner 
of  handling  all  questions.  The  otHcc  is  one  of 
the  finest  equipped  of  the  kind  in  the  county, 
and  the  only  one  in  the  city  which  combines  all 
features  of  the  printing  business  under  one 
nian<agement.  A  new  six-horse  power  engine, 
paper  cutter  and  other  conveniences  have  re- 
cently- been  added,  making  the  job  department 
most  complete.  Much  of  the  work  turned  out 
by  Garrison's  Standard  Steam  Printing  House 
has  never  been  equaled  in  the  city,  and  would 
favorablj'  compare  with  that  executed  by  first- 
class  city  offices. 

The  Monitor  was  established  in  180-4,  by  Hud- 
son &  Garrison.  In  1865,  Hudson  sold  his  in- 
terest to  his  partner.  J.  W.  Garrison  (father 
of  the  editor  of  the  Standard,  of  .VUiance), 
who  conducted  the  paper  until  he  established 
the  Massillon  American  in  18611,  when  he  sold  the 


Monitor  to  A.  W.  Taylor,  who,  a  year  later,  dis- 
posed of  it  to  Rev.  W.  K.  Brown  and  wife. 
They  ran  it  until  1877,  when  it  suspended.  In 
18ti!),  the  Monitor  had  a  circulation  of  about 
1,200  copies.  The  Christian  Standard,  with  a 
circulation  of  18,000,  was  published  by  Mr. 
Garrison  from  the  Monitor  office,  at  this  time. 
The  latter  paper  is  now  published  in  Cincinnati. 
Among  the  industries  that  have  appeared  in 
Alliance  is  the  large  bagging  factory  now  in 
operation.  It  was  erected  in  1870  at  a  cost  of 
$82,000.  Its  annual  capacity  is  450,00(»  yards 
of  bagging,  which  is  used  in  covering  cotton  so 
that  the  latter  can  be  readily  transported  to 
market.  The  material  used  in  the  manufacture 
is  flax,  tow  and  jute  butts.  The  first  two  are 
obtained  in  this  country  and  Canada,  and  the 
latter  is  imported  from  the  West  Indies.  Dur- 
ing the  year  there  are  consumed  600  tons  of 
nearly  e(iual  (pianlities  of  flax  and  jute.  The 
number  of  hands  employed  is  from  forty-five 
to  fifty,  and  tlic  average  wages  per  day  is 
65  cents. 

After  1824,  and  up  to  the  time  the  Union 
school  system  was  adopted  in  Alliance,  there 

'  was  a  small  brick  schoolhouse,  18x24,  located 
in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  Disciple  Church, 
which  house  was  of  sutlleient  capacity  to  meet 
all  the  educational  wants  of  this  locality. 
School  was  held  in  this  small  structure  three 
months  every  year.  Since  the  establishment 
of  the  present  school  system,  the  township  has 
been  divided  into  ten  separate  school  districts, 

;  and  each  district  has  a  neat  and  commodious 
s(;hoolhouse,  with  ample  accommodations  for 
the  children  of  the  district.  In  most  of  these 
districts  a  winter  and  summer  school  is  taught. 
The  I'nion  School  of  Alliance  was  organized 
under  the  act  of  February  21,  1849,  in  the 
month  of  February,  1857.  Mr.  J.  K.  Pickett 
was  elected  the  first  Superintendent,  in  March, 
1858,  and  continued  to  act  in  that  capacity 
until  January.  18(i0.  George  D.  Hester  was 
elected  in  August,  IStU),  and  continued  until 
June,  1861.  J.  K.  Pickett  was  re-elected  April, 
1861,  and  continued  until  March,  1865.  Je.sse 
Markham  was  elected  in  March,  1865,  and  con- 
tinued until  April.  1865.  D.  M.  Miller  was 
elected  in  April,  1865,  and  continued  until  June. 
1866.  E.  N.  Johnson.  Jr.,  was  elected  July, 
1800,  and  continued  until  June,  1807.  W.  H. 
Dressier  was  elected  August,  1867.  The  single 
buildinsnow  known  as  the  Central  School  was  all 


■rr 


440 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


the  school  room  afforded,  or  needed,  as  late  as 
1857.  Ill  that  year  there  were  but  300  ciiildren 
in  the  Union  School  District.  The  first  Superin- 
tendent had  four  assistants.  One  of  tlie  finest 
edifices  to  be  found  within  the  scope  of  a  hun- 
dred miles  is  the  Alliance  College,  a  magnifi- 
cent brick,  erected  on  tlie  liill  site  of  our  city, 
within  live  minutes  wall?  of  the  railroad  depot. 
It  is  just  cause  of  pride  in  our  citizens,  being 
an  ornament  to  the  place,  and  those  who  con- 
ceived the  design  and  carried  out  the  execution 
can  well  be  proud  ol'  their  conception  and 
labors.  It  owes  its  paternity  to  Prof.  A.  B. 
Way,  and  was  built  under  the  patronage  of 
the  "Christian  Church.  It  cost  $50,000.  >rof. 
Way  was  continued  as  Financial  Agent,  aud  to 
his  herculean  efl'orts  we  are  indebted  for  the 
completion  of  the  College. 

Mount  Union  College  was  founded  for  a  pur- 
pose, with  a  definite  plan.  Its  humble  origin, 
dating  from  its  provisional  organization,  Octo- 
ber 20,  1846,  has"ever  since  continuous!}'  out- 
lined its  progressive  character;  while  its  exist- 
ing membership,  appointments,  provisions,  in- 
structed students,  permanent  improvements  and 
regular  workings  under  its  charter,  show  its  at- 
tained growth  and  usefulness.  The  true  history 
of  the  College,  showing  the  facts,  growth  and 
results  of  its  plan,  would  be  misunderstood, 
without  constantly  keeping  in  mind  not  onlj' 
the  results  of  its  providential  facts,  but  also  as 
its  progressive  or  final  end,  the  following  pro- 
posed or  fundamental  objects  : 

1.  To  found  a  progressive  institution  for 
truthfully  developing  right  character,  culture 
and  knowledge,  and  for  making  a  thorougli. 
liberal,  Christian  education  accessible  to  all. 

2.  Besides  ancient  classical,  to  provide  fresh 
courses  and  departments  fundamentally  essen- 
tial for  educating  symmetrically  all  the  fixcul- 
ties,  for  promoting  character  above  culture,  and 
culture  above  knowledge,  and  for  earnestly 
uniting  the  utilitarian,  disciplinary  and  aes- 
thetic ;  aud  thus  practically  and  truthfully 
making  not  only  laborers  and  scholars,  but 
citizens  and  the  highest  grade  of  men  and  wo- 
men. 

3  Rightly  to  enable  any  students  to  choose 
and  master  a  thorough  general  course,  as  the 
ancient  and  modern  classical,  philosophical, 
scientific,  or  literary  ;  or  take  electives  or  a 
post  graduate  course,  or  a  special  or  technical 
course,  as  preparatory,  business,  mining,  engi- 


neering, normal,  musical,  fine  arts ;  or  such 
studies  ill  any  course  or  department,  and  for 
sucii  time  as  students  desire  and  need  for  har- 
moniously educating  the  head,  hand  and  heart, 
and  for  giving  them  true  personal  ability,  avail- 
ability and  reliability. 

4.  To  secure  a  moral,  healthy  and  enter- 
prising location,  improved  and  ample  grounds 
and  buildings ;  a  voluntary  and  effective  asso- 
ciation of  competent  and  reliable  patrons,  trust- 
ees, faculty  and  students,  with  wise  manage- 
ment ;  logical  systems  of  thorough,  illustrative 
instruction,  with  moral,  social,  lesthetic  and 
phj-sical  culture  aud  self-government ;  also,  pro- 
gressively to  secure  improved  libraries,  and  an 
abundance  of  superior,  scientific  and  artistic 
apparatus,  implements,  cabinets,  museum,  pict- 
ure galleries,  observatory,  gymnasiums,  botan- 
ical and  zoological  gardens,  aquaria,  parks, 
models,  relics  and  charts,  with  natural,  classi- 
cal, archaeological,  industrial,  paleontological 
and  iBsthetic  specimens,  as  cosmic  endowments, 
with  which  truthfullv  to  illustrate  and  apply  all 
studies. 

5.  To  make  the  c<jllege  a  free,  patriotic, 
Christian  and  aggressive  institution  ;  to  hold  and 
use  its  property  perpetually,  in  trust,  for  the 
benefit  of  its  students  ;  to  bring  a  thorough, 
liberal.  Christian  education  in  easy  reach  of  all, 
enabling  enterprising  students  of  either  sex, 
however  humble  or  self-dependent,  to  complete 
a  general  or  elective  course,  and  support  them- 
selves ;  to  adapt  the  terms,  curricula  and  man- 
agement to  the  actual  needs  of  the  people,  and 
to  our  country's  public  school  system  ;  to  regu- 
late the  price  of  student's  rooms  and  board, 
(their  chief  expense),  and  keep  their  expenses  of 
living  within  certain  low  rates,  by  erecting 
buildings  and  providing  good  rooms  and  ample 
boarding  fiicilities. 

(5.  To  promote  the  union  of  earnest  and 
generous  patrons,  trustees,  professors  and  stu- 
dents, and  thus  to  perpetuate  the  plan  and 
growing  membership  and  usefulness  of  the  in- 
stitution, with  God's  continued  favor,  by  largely 
keeping  the  College,  internally,  self-supporting, 
and  externally,  through  permanent  improve- 
ments as  representative  free-will  offerings,  and 
by  progressively  adapting  the  college  to  the 
actual  needs  of  our  American  masses. 

The  main  reason  for  chartering  the  institu- 
tion as  a  college,  was  the  better  to  carry  out 
the  foregoing  fundamental  objects,  the  time  be- 


f  ^ 


^'"'^' 


1'''%?=^.- 


442 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


ing  arranged  to  suit  the  large  attendance  of 
students,  who  had  in  this  institution  been  pur- 
suing a  full  college  course,  and  who  desired  to 
graduate  and  obtain  the  degrees  legally  and 
honorably  from  the  institution  where  they  had 
received  their  chief  instruction. 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing  objects,  the 
charter  provides  that  the  property  of  the 
college  shall  be  held  perpetually  in  trust,  by  a 
board  of  trustees,  for  the  educational  benefit 
of  students.  It  is  al.so  provided  that  the 
trustees  and  faculty  shall  carry  out  progress- 
ivel}'  the  foregoing  fundamental  objects  of  the 
institution  ;  that  they  shall  acquire  and  supply 
the  means  of  a  thorough,  liberal.  Christian 
education,  equally  to  persons  of  both  sexes, 
irrespective  of  their  religious  or  political  opin- 
ions ;  that  the  facultj'  shall  possess  and  exert 
the  requisite  authority  to  establish  and  admin- 
ister all  necessary  and  proper  regulations  for  ' 
the  instruction  and  internal  management  of  the  ' 
college  as  related  to  students,  and  for  any 
general,  elective,  special  and  practical  courses  of 
study  ;  that  the  institution  shall  be  conducted  in 
harmony  with  the  principles  of  Christianity  ; 
that  any  department  or  school  that  may  be  estab- 
lished, or  any  literary  society  or  other  organ-  , 
ization  composed  of  students,  shall  be  under 
the  supervision  of  the  college  authorities  ;  that 
all  moneys  and  property  of  the  college  shall  be 
faithfully  and  safely  appropriated  by  the  trust- 
ees to  the  purposes  for  which  they  were  respect- 
ively donated  ;  that  the  trustees  hold  their 
otflce  chiefly  during  three  years,  about  one- 
third  of  the  number  being  elected  each  year  ; 
tliat  in  electing  the  trustees,  any  candid  per- 
son, religious  denomination  or  philanthropic 
association,  accredited  or  donating  to  the  college 
money  or  property,  shall  be  respectively  en- 
tilled  to  one  vote  for  a  trustee,  for  every  $25 
donated  to  the  college  ;  that  the  institution 
shall  be  patriotic  and  Christian,  but  not  sec- 
tarian or  partisan,  and  shall  be  generously 
conducted  on  the  voluntarj'  philanthropic  prin- 
ciple of  doing  the  greatest  educational  good  to 
the  greatest  praetic'able  number  of  worthy,  self- 
dependent  students. 

Thus,  through  trustees  whom  they  elect  as 
their  representatives,  the  college  is  equitably' 
and  generously  controlled  or  governed  by  the 
people  who,  with  a  united  interest  and  just 
representation  for  the  impartial  and  equal  good 
of  all,   voluntarily  bear   the   responsibility  of 


contributing  the  means  for  sustaining  the 
college  in  its  benevolent  mission. 

The  degrees  or  other  hor.ors  that  raa^-  be 
conferred,  are  similar  to  those  that  may  be 
granted  by  colleges  or  universities  of  this  or 
other  countries.  The  charter  has  undergone 
no  modifications  ;  contains  no  limitations  or 
reservations  as  a  condition  in  grants  or  other- 
wise, or  as  to  any  scholarships  or  requirements 
as  to  instruction  in  particular  studies,  and  pro- 
vides for  any  changes  necessary  to  adapt  the 
college  to  the  needs  of  the  people. 

Immediatelj"  after  perfecting  the  charter, 
January  10,  1858,  this  institution,  whose  dis- 
tinctive features  had  been  nominally  developing 
since  its  provisional  organization  in  1846,  was 
now  regularly  and  efficiently  organized  as  a 
college.  A  suitable  board  of  trustees  was 
elected,  with  an  eflective  executive  committee, 
also  a  competent  faculty  of  experienced  pro- 
fessors. Rev.  0.  N.  Hartshorn,  LL,  D.,  was 
elected  President  of  the  Trustees  and  Faculty  ; 
Ira  0.  Chapman,  A.  M.,  was  elected  Professor 
of  Mathematics  and  Astronomy,  and  Secretarv 
ofthe  Faculty  ;  G.  W.  Clark,  A.  M.,  was  elected 
Professor  of  the  Latin  and  Greek  languages, 
and  Treasurer  of  the  Trustees,  and  E.  N. 
Hartshorn,  A.  M.,  was  elected  Professor  of 
Natural  Science,  and  Auditor  of  the  Trustees. 
The  first  class  was  regularly  graduated  in  the 
summer  of  1858,  and,  ever  since,  classes  have 
duly  graduated  each  year  in  the  several  author- 
ized degrees. 

The  attendance  and  needs  of  students  so  in- 
creased, as  to  make  it  necessary  to  enlarge  the 
college  grounds  and  erect  a  new  and  capacious 
main  building,  which  was  in  1804  completed, 
the  dedicatory  address  being  delivered  by  Hon. 
S.  P.  Chase,  who  was  one  of  the  trustees. 
Among  other  things.  Chief  Justice  Chase  pub- 
licly said  :  '•  Jlouut  Union  College,  as  to  both 
means  and  usefulness,  is  among  the  foremost  in 
our  country  ;  it  certainly  is  greatly  needed  ; 
has  a  superior  system  of  instruction,  govern- 
ment, support,  membership,  and  of  equal  and 
equitable  patron  relations  ;  is  nationall}-  and 
wisel}'  located  and  conducted  ;  its  simple  and 
impartial,  yet  complete  and  distinctive,  plan, 
merits  the  generous  and  united  patronage  of 
all  American  people,  for  it  generously  makes  a 
thorough,  integral.  Christian  education  easily 
obtainable  to  every  enterprisijiij  youno-  man  or 
lady." 


CITY    OF    ALLIANCE. 


Tn  Feliniary.  1865,  Bishop  M.  Simpson,  D.  D., 
liL.  I).,  delivered  in  tile  large  hall  of  this  new 
Iniilding,  to  an  intelligent  audience  of  2,500 
persons,  his  address  on  the  '■  Future  of  our 
Country,"  and  at  tlie  close  of  wliicii  he  puljjicly 
stated  that  ••  Mount  Union  College,  manifestly 
a  girt  of  Providence,  is  an  ouiinently  needed, 
live  and  progressive  institution,  where  excellent 
government,  high  intellectual  and  moral  (uiltu re, 
cheapness  and  thoroughness,  with  a  sound  plan 
wisely'  adapted  to  the  enlarging  wants  of  the 
American  people,  are  happily  combined.'' 

Bisliop  Vj.  Thomson.  I).  1).,  LL.  D.,  another 
trustee  of  this  college,  spent  a  week  attending 
the  annual  examinations  of  the  classes  and 
other  commencement  exercises,  in  the  summer 
of  1805,  and,  upon  delivering,  on  commence- 
ment day,  the  annual  address,  he  publicly  stated 
that  "Mount  Union  is  an  established  collegiate 
center,  eligiblj'  and  beautifullj'  situated,  ad- 
mirably managed,  possesses  highly  valuable 
apparatus  and  specimens,  with  extensive  col- 
legiate facilities  ;  its  mission  is  philanthropic, 
equitable  and  providential,  its  objects  impartial, 
practicable  and  widelj-  demanded.  This  col- 
lege has  a  superior  and  distinctive  plan,  em- 
bracing wise  government,  economy,  right  pat- 
ronizing relations,  thoroughness,  elective  courses 
of  study,  integral  illustrative  teaching,  and 
adapted  to  develop  sterling  character,  personal 
liberty  and  culture,  and  to  meet  the  progress- 
ive wants  of  society,  recognizing  erticientl3', 
besides  the  mathematics,  literature  and  ancient 
languages,  the  growing  importance  of  the 
natural  sciences  and  modern  classics." 

At  their  annual  meeting  of  the  board,  in  18(55, 
on  motion  of  Lewis  Miller,  the  trustees  resolved 
to  erect  an  additional  commodious  ))oarding 
hall,  to  accommodate  a  large  number  of  stu- 
dents, and  thus  to  enable  the  college  to  keep 
the  price  of  students'  rooms  and  boarding  at 
the  lowest  practicable  rates.  A  Building  Com- 
mittee of  Trustees  was  elected,  consisting  of 
Hon.  Lewis  Miller,  of  Akron,  Col.  K.  Ball,  of 
Canton,  J.  B.  Milner,  of  Alliance,  O.  N.  Harts- 
horn and  William  Autrara,  of  Blount  T'nion. 
In  18(5().  this  committee  erected  an  excellent 
four-story  Itrick  V)uilding.  132  feet  long  by  4(! 
feet  wide,  on  an  addition  often  acres  of  college 
grounds. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  trustees,  held 
Jul}-  6, 1867,  in  the  oflice  of  C.  Aultman  &  Co., 
Canton,  Ohio,  "  Dr.  O.  X.  Hartshorn  was  au- 


thorized to  visit  Europe  in  the  interest  of  the 
college,  especially  b}'  investigating  educational 
improvements,  courses  of  study,  the  importance 
and  methods  of  procuring  apparatus  and  speci- 
mens, for  fully  illustrating  and  applying  the 
various  branches  of  study; '  and  subse(|uently, 
after  reporting  to  the  trustees,  -  the  results  of 
his  investigations  in  Kurope.  respecting  appar- 
atus, specimens,  courses  of  study,  methods  of 
teaching  and  other  educational  improvements. ' 
•■  Dr.  Hartshorn  was  instructed  to  lit  up  rooms 
and  cases,  and  to  purchase  proper  specimens 
and  apparatus  for  fully  illustrating  and  apply- 
ing the  courses  of  studies.  " 

Through  written  introductions  and  the  rec- 
ommendations of  such  men  as  Chief  Justice 
Chase,  and  (len.  Cox,  then  (iovernor  of  Ohio, 
Dr.  Hartshorn  found  ready  access  to  all  the 
educational  institutions  and  national  nniseums 
of  Europe.  He  not  only  made  full  investiga- 
tions, but  arranged  for  the  jn'ocuring,  from 
every  part  of  the  habitable  globe,  rare  antl  val 
uablc  specimens  of  science  and  art,  on  the  plan 
and  through  the  agents  of  the  British  museum, 
of  London.  Thus  this  Museum  chiefly  took  its 
origin,  and  has  since  been  rapidly  and  grandly 
acciunnlating,  both  systematically  and  econom- 
ically. 

In  18G8,  0.  N.  Hartshorn,  in  order  to  give 
his  whole  time  to  the  increasingly  responsible 
internal  duties  of  the  college,  resigned  the 
Presidency  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  Hon. 
Lewis  Miller,  of  Aknju.  was  elected,  and  still 
holds  that  otiice.  About  the  same  time,  C. 
Aultman,  Esq.,  of  Canton,  Ohio,  was  elected 
Treasurer ;  and  Hon,  Joseph  Walton,  of  Pitts- 
burg, I'enn.,  was  elected  .Vuditor.  Hon.  John 
A.  Bingham.  LJj.  D.,  a  Trustee  of  the  (College, 
delivered  here,  just  before  starting  as  United 
States  Minister  to  Japan,  a  public  address,  dur- 
ing which  he  observed  :  ■  I  find  at  Moimt 
Union  College  both  the  facilities  and  instruc- 
tion (juite  as  ample  and  thorough,  as  I  lately 
saw  at  Yale  and  other  Eastern  colleges." 

.\s  the  purling  rivulet,  issuing  from  some 
perennial  spring,  gradually  carves  its  channel 
through  flinty  rocks,  and  eidargcs  its  current 
by  each  additional  streamlet,  forming  at  length 
a  majestic  river,  whose  lucid  waters,  in  their 
onward  course,  widen  and  deepen  by  accessions 
from  a  thousand  noble  tributaries;  so  has 
Mount  Union  College  providentially  taken  its 
humble  origin,  and  thus  has  regularly  progressed 


4U 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


ill  essential  appointments,  permanent  improve- 
ments and  eminent  usefnlness,  by  con- 
stantly developing,  through  voluntary  agencies, 
its  chartered  objects,  until  it  has  already,  not 
only  gained  a  distinguisiied  position  in  tlie 
confidence  and  affections  of  the  American  peo- 
ple, but  alsj  has  nobly  developed  and  largely 
achieved  the  following  distinctive  features  : 

1.  The  making  of  a  thorough,  liberal  edu- 
cation, e(iually  and  economicall}'  attainable  to 
all  enterprising  youth,  without  restriction  of 
tlieir  true  individuality. 

2.  Thorough,  illustrative  instruction,  to  de- 
velop symmetrically  all  a  student's  faculties. 

3.  Electives,  or  liberty-  in  the  choice  of 
courses,  or  studies.  The  student  may  select 
any  one  of  the  four  general  courses ;  or,  from 
the  general  course,  may  choose,  in  proper  order 
and  amount,  any  studies  that  he  may  lie  quali- 
fied to  take. 

4.  Prominence  to  practical  studies.  This 
practical.  Christian  age,  demands  practical 
studies  to  develop  all  the  powers  thoroughly 
and  symmetrically,  and  to  give  wise  and  full 
preparation  for  responsible,  active  life. 

5.  General  and  special  courses,  with  free 
literary  societies.  In  addition  to  the  eijual  four 
years'  general  courses  of  study — classical,  sci- 
entific, literary  and  philosophical — extensive 
provisions  are  made  for  systematic  and  illus- 
trative instruction  in  thorough  special  courses, 
as  the  three  years'  preparator}-,  normal,  com- 
mercial, music,  designing,  laboratory  practice, 
engineering  and  fine  arts,  in  thoroughlj-  system- 
atized departments ;  also,  free  efficient  liter- 
ary societies — the  Republican,  Liumean  and 
Cosmian. 

fl.  Christian  and  patriotic ;  not  sectarian, 
sectional  or  partisan.  The  college  seeks  radi- 
cally, benevolently  and  eflfectively  to  advance 
Christian  civilization. 

7.  Equal  privileges  to  ladies.  They,  from 
the  first,  have  been  admitted  as  students  on  the 
same  terms  as  gentlemen,  to  all  the  departments, 
to  all  honors  and  privileges,  and  are  equally' 
eligible  to  the  position  of  trustee,  professor  or 
patron. 

8.  Apparatus  and  specimens  to  illustrate 
and  apply  each  study.  Next  to  good  teaching, 
the  apparatus  and  specimens  for  illustrating 
and  ai)plyiug  the  principles  of  science,  are  in- 
dispensaljle  to  a  student's  success  in  any  studj'. 
enabling  him  much  more  easily  and  quickly  to 


acquire  and  permanently  to  retain  any  stud}- 
or  branch  of  knowledge. 

9.  Economy  in  expense ;  there  are  no  ma- 
triculation or  incidental  fees,  which,  at  many 
colleges,  amount  to  several  times  the  trifle  of 
tuition  charged  here.  Simple  dress,  and  plain, 
economical  habits  are  encouraged.  The  cheap- 
ening and  regulating  of  student's  board — their 
chief  expense — b}-  having  erected  buildings  and 
providing  rooms  and  boarding  facilities,  save 
to  students  each  term  a  large  amount. 

10.  Three  regular  college  terms,  and  one 
special  winter  term,  each  j-ear ;  thus  enabling 
students  to  earn  their  entire  college  expenses 
by  teaching  public  schools  during  the  winter  sea- 
son, while  a  special  winter  term  accommodates 
others  not  teaching,  and  thus  to  complete  a 
four  years'  college  course  in  three  calendar 
years.  The  college  year  is  divided  into  three 
terms — fall,  spring  and  summer.  Students  who 
teach  in  winter  desire  three  terms — not  two 
only — between  the  closing  of  their  schools, 
about  the  last  of  Februaiy,  and  the  beginning  of 
their  next  .schools  in  November ;  so  that  they 
can  support  themselves  by  teaching  without 
losing  a  college  term,  and  its  consqueut  de- 
rangement of  a  college  year. 

11.  The  polity  of  applying  all  general  do- 
nations or  interests  to  extending  permanent 
improvements.  This  has  been  the  practice  of 
this  institution  from  its  origin,  and  it  has  proved 
both  successful  and  satisfactory. 

12.  Students  taught  and  aided  to  govern, 
think,  and  to  act  properly  for  themselves.  Free, 
conscientious  thought  and  action  are  essential 
to  the  full  aud  symmetrical  development  of  true 
chaiacter  and  culture. 

13.  Care  for  the  health,  morals  and  comfort 
of  students.  Both  tiie  trustees  and  faculty 
take  pleasure  in  providing  every  facility,  and 
using  every  proper  effort  for  promoting,  as  in 
home  life,  the  health,  morals,  self-discipline  and 
comfort  of  students,  as  well  as  their  intellectual 
advancement,  social  refinement  and  general  cult- 
ure and  ele\ation. 

14.  A  college  for  the  masses.  Ignorance, 
or  neglect  of  culture,  is  a  crime — the  radical 
bane  of  humanity.  Every  person  should  have 
educational  opportunities  as  extensive  and  va- 
ried as  his  capacities.  Those  endowed  with 
the  greatest  capacities  rise  usually  from  the 
mass  of  humanity,  and  belong  to  the  lowly  and 
industrious  ranks.     From  the  farmer's  dwell- 


CITY    OF    ALLIANCK. 


.!> 


ing.  the  mechanic's  shop,  the  merchant's  cot- 
tage and  the  hiborer's  home,  come  the  pioni-ers 
and  advocates  of  true  reform,  national  weal  and 
human  elevation.  This  college  is  designed  for 
the  masses — even  the  most  lowly  and  self-de- 
pendent. 

15.  Self-government.  Sclf-governnieut,  hon- 
est, voluntary  and  prompt,  in  strict  conformity 
to  publisiied  provisions,  foundctl  on  Truth  and 
Right,  has  always  been  the  rule  of  this  institu- 
tion. 

As  evidence  of  the  fidelity  an;l  success  with 
which  these  characteristic  features  have  lieen 
honorably  achieved,  and  are  now  daily  causing 
their  distinctive  results,  the  following  facts  and 
statements  from  competent  judges  will  rightly 
attest : 

Rev.  C.  H.  Fowler,  D.  D.,  LL.  1)..  former 
President  of  the  Northwestern  University,  at 
Evanston.  Til.,  stated,  May  27,  18S0,  at  an  edu- 
cational re-union  (at  Cincinnati)  of  the  Alumni 
and  the  (General  Conference  Delegates  of  the  , 
Annual  ConferrMicos  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  patronizing  this  college,  and  as  re- 
ported in  the  Cincinnati  papers,  stated  ;  "  Mount 
Union  College  is  pre-eminently  an  institution 
of  the  people,  by  the  people,  and  for  the  people, 
and  is  one  of  the  most  useful  in  the  land.  It 
has  been  in  existence  as  an  institution  of  learn- 
ing, thirty-three  years ;  and,  as  a  chartered 
college,  twenty-three  j-ears.  It  has  had  over 
15,000  different  persons  as  students,  and  has 
graduated  with  college  honors  over  80(1  students, 
uearl}"  TOO  students  being  in  attendance  the  last 
year."  After  referring  to  and  concurring  in 
the  estimates  and  statements  as  made  by  Bay- 
ard Taylor.  Rishop  Gilbert  Haven.  Chief  Jus- 
tice Chase  and  Bishop  E.  Thomson.  Dr.  Fowler 
further  said  :  •  I  have  been  there  myself  and 
have  carefully  looked  into  its  plan,  appoint- 
ments and  methods,  and  know  whereof  I 
speak.  It  is  no  imitation,  but  a  true  aggressive 
college,  with  live  and  competent  men  compos- 
ing its  Faculty-  and  executive  committee  of 
Truste(!S.  Its  students  are  as  smart,  energetic 
and  persevering  as  are  found  anywhere.  While 
there  is  due  care  for  the  health,  morrds  and 
comfort  of  students,  the}'  are  rightly  taught  to 
think,  act  and  govern  themselves.  Science  and 
Christianity  are  here  practically  united.  Its 
Faculty,  Trustees  and  I'atronizing  Conferences 
are  doing  a  grand  work,  and  the  college  should, 
in   addition   to  promptly  completing  its  local 


improvements,  increase  the  value  of  its  general 
improvements  to  a  round  million  dollars,  during 
this  centennial  quadrenium,  and  this  will  be 
done,  for  its  Trustees  and  patronizing  bodies, 
like  its  President,  are  able  and  enterprising. 
The  college  is  healthily  and  beautifully  located 
on  the  highest  ground  in  Ohio,  at  the  junction 
of  the  Cleveland  &  Wheeling  and  the  Pitts- 
burgh, Fort  Wayne  &  Chicago  Railroads.  The 
property  of  this  college  is  worth  over  half  a 
million  dollars,  above  any  indebtedness.  All 
the  Bishops  have  commended  this  college  to 
the  confidence  and  benefactions  of  the  people, 
and  Bishops  Simpson,  Harris,  Bowman,  Merrill, 
Hurst  and  Foster  have  delivered  lectures  or 
sermons  in  the  college.  As  God  is  obviously 
in  its  plan  and  work,  it  will  certainly  triumph 
in  the  interest  of  the  masses. ' 

Bishop  E.  ().  Haven,  LL.  D.,  former  Presi- 
dent of  Michigan  University,  at  the  same  meet- 
ing with  Dr.  Fowler,  said,  -I  have  never  seen 
Mount  Union  College  on  its  landed  estate  ;  but 
1  have  seen  it  often  in  its  reports,  in  its  work, 
and  in  its  students.  If  it  is  to  be  judged  by  its 
results.  Mount  Union  College  is  outstripping  us 
all,  and  stands  sui  giwn-is.  In  our  educational 
councils  and  conventions,  where  the  plans  and 
practical  workings  of  all  (jur  Colleges  have  been 
freely  and  fully  discussed,  that  of  .Mount  Union 
has  received  favorable  consideration  and  com- 
menilation.  This  college  for  the  people,  also 
its  generous  capitalists  and  patronizing  con- 
ferences, are  well  known  all  over  the  country. 
Its  distinctive  object  of  making  a  liberal  edu- 
cation properly  attainable  to  any  poor  and 
worthy  young  man  or  woman,  certainly  merits 
corrcsjioiidiiKjIij  Inri/i-  iwniiif  hik/  sik-ciss. 

Bisho|)  C.  1).  Foss,  D.  D..  LL.  D.,  formerly 
President  of  the  Wesleyan  University  of  Mid- 
dletown.  Conn.,  says :  •  1  heartily  in^lorse 
what  others  have  said  of  this  deserving  college, 
and  hope  its  trustees,  patronizing  conferences, 
and  all  generou.-;  men  and  women  of  means, 
friendly  to  this  uni(iue  idea  of  liberally  edu- 
cating the  masses,  will,  during  this  immedi- 
ate centennial,  permanently  place  this  worthy 
enterprise,  in  the  interests  of  the  common  peo- 
ple, in  the  front  rank  of  American  colleges." 
Says  Bishop  I.  W.  Wiley.  D.  D.,  former  editor 
of  the  Ladies'  lieposltori).  aX  Cincinnati;  'To 
the  remarkable  objects  and  success  of  .Mount 
Union  College,  not  only  our  attention,  but  that 
of  the  people  of  our  country  are  turned.     This 


'^ 


446 


HISTORY    OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


has  beuome  a  well  established  college.  Its 
distinctive  plan  and  characteristic  features 
should  he  brought  to  the  notice  of  all,  and  be 
studied  by  all.  It  ranks  among  the  fore- 
most under  the  patronage  of  our  church. 
It  is  doing  a  noble  work  for  humanity, 
and  its  students  are  among  our  most  en- 
ergetic and  useful  workers.  Its  President 
and  other  members  of  the  Faculty  are  C(jm- 
petent  and  experienced,  and  arc  puttini;  tlieir 
minds  and  hearts  in  the  great  work  of  reach- 
ing the  masses  with  liberal  culture.  The 
church  and  country'  owe  a  lasting  del^t  of  grati- 
tude to  Lewis  Miller,  the  enterprising  President 
of  its  Trustees  ;  to  C.  Aultman,  its  generous 
and  far-seeing  Treasurer,  and  to  Jacob  3Iiller, 
and  other  liberal  men  of  means,  whose  noble 
benefactions  to  this  college  will  be  appreciated 
during  the  ages  by  the  self-dependent  youth  of 
the  land." 

Grants  and  Endowments. — 1.  The  original 
grant,  under  which  the  college  was  chartered, 
was  donated  by  0.  N.  Hartshorn,  December  12, 
1857,  embracing,  as  appraised  in  the  recorded 
schedule,  all  the  property  previously  used  b_v 
the  institution,  including  the  grounds,  buildings, 
furniture,  cabinets,  apparatus,  implements,  speci- 
mens, etc.,  and  by  him,  under  the  State  and 
National  Laws,  conveyed  in  fee  simple  to  the 
college  as  a  body  corporate  and  politic. 

2.  A  series  of  grants  bj'  Professors  ().  N. 
Hartshorn,  Ira  0.  Chapman  and  George  W. 
Clark,  donated  by  them  from  1859  to  1864, 
chietly  in  nione^y  for  purchasing  philosophical 
apparatus  and  the  telescope ;  estimated  at 
$8,200. 

3.  A  grant  of  about  eight  acres  of  additional 
college  grounds,  deeded  to  the  college.  Dec.  25, 
ISGL 

4.  A  grant  of  630  acres  of  land,  donated  by 
Rev.  T.  C.  Hartshorn,  D.  D.,  and  deeded  to  the 
college,  November  15,  1864. 

5.  A  series  of  donations,  by  divers  persons, 
including  many  generous  contributions  by  citi- 
zens in  the  vicinity  of  Mount  Tnion  and  Alli- 
ance, of  the  means  for  erecting  on  the  college 
grounds  in  1862  and  1864  the  symmetrical  and 
capacious  main  building,  its  value  having  been 
estimated  by  the  architect.  Col.  Porter,  of 
Cleveland,  at  $100,000. 

6.  A  series  of  donations,  chiefly  b}-  students, 
made  prior  to  1866,  for  procuring  books  for  the 
libraries  of  the  Republican  and  Linmean  Liter- 


ary Societies,  and  furniture  for  their  halls,  esti- 
mated at  $6,300. 

7.  Various  subscriptions,  amounting  to 
$34,000,  bj-  various  persons,  as  reported  March, 
1866. 

8.  A  few  small  grants  in  1876,  to  apply  on 
erecting  the  boarding  hall,  and  to  purchasing 
ten  new  pianos,  and  an  addition  of  ten  acres  to 
the  college  grounds. 

9.  Subscriptions,  aggregating  $20,250,  by 
sundry  persons,  made  on  Commencement  Daj', 
June  21,  1866. 

1 0.  The  donation  of  $25,000,  made  October 
4,  1866,  by  Lewis  Miller,  of  Akron,  Ohio, 
endowing  the  Professorship  of  Philosophy  and 
Astronomy. 

1  ] .  The  donation  of  $25,000,  made  October 
4, 1866,  by  C.  Aultman,  of  Canton,  Ohio,  endow- 
ing the  Professorship  of  Mathematics  and  Civil 
Engineering. 

12.  The  donation  of  $25,000,  made  October 
4, 1866,  by  Jacob  Miller,  of  Canton,  Ohio,  endow- 
ing the  Professorship  of  Moral  and  Mental 
Philosophy. 

13.  Tlie  donation  of  $1,000,  made  October 
4,  1866,  by  Miss  Libbie  Aultman,  daughter  of 
C.  Aultman,  of  Canton,  Ohio. 

14.  Donations  amounting  to  $2,375,  made 
October  4,  1866,  by  citizens  of  Canton,  Ohio. 

15.  An  extended  and  specific  series  of  val- 
uable donations  for  purchasing  mathematical 
implements,  chemical  and  ph3'sical  apparatus, 
for  the  laboratories  and  lecture  rooms,  physio- 
logical apparatus  and  specimens,  geographical 
and  astronomical  apparatus  (not  in(lu<ling  the 
telescope),  with  various  important  apparatus 
for  teaching  engineering,  mining  and  other 
applied  science. 

16.  Grants  of  money  and  materials  prior 
to  1874,  by  divers  persons,  for  specific  im- 
provements, chiefly  libraries,  furniture,  and 
improvement  of  grounds  —  $500  being  sub- 
.scribed  in  books  by  W.  A.  Ingham,  of  Cleve- 
land, Ohio. 

17.  Munificent  grants  for  the  museum,  re- 
peat(!dly  made  by  various  liberal  patrons  of  this 
college— the  value  of  this  museum  being  esti- 
mated at  $251,000.  This  estimated  value — 
$251.000 — of  this  college's  Museum  of  Science 
and  Art,  is  considered  too  low  by  many  expe- 
rienced travelers  and  judges  of  the  value  of 
the  museums  in  different  countries,  among 
whom  are  the  late  Bayard  Taylor  and   Bishop 


CITY    OF    AJ.LIANCK 


447 


(jilbert  Haven  ;  the  former,  after  carefully,  in 
1876,  iuspectintr  and  estimating  the  value  of 
the  specimens,  stated,  in  the  New  York  Trllnine, 
that  'The  museum  of  Jlount  Iniou  College  is 
among  the  hist  1  ever  visited  anywhere,  and  the 
natural  specimens  are  the  most  select  and  valu- 
ahlc  I  have  seen  in  any  country."  The  latter 
(Bishop  Haven),  one  of  its  Trustees,  after  also 
carefully  estimating  the  value  of  this  museum, 
wlien  attending  the  annual  examinations  of 
classes,  and  the  commencement,  in  1874,  and 
subsequently,  when  lecturing  in  the  college,  five 
ditlerent  times,  stated.  June,  1879,  in  his  pub- 
lished correspondence  to  the  Atlanta  ((!a.)  Ail- 
cocate :  "It  is  but  just  to  Mount  I'nion  Col- 
lege, to  say  that  its  curriculum  is  as  stiff  as  its 
neighbor's  ;  and  its  graduates  show  that  thej' 
have  to  do  something  to  get  out  and  get  on  ; 
among  its  appointments  is  a  museum  superior 
to  any  other  college  in  the  country  :  1  do  not 
think  the  Smithsonian  is  richer." 

!)r.  Daniel  Curry,  of  New  York,  stated.  May 
1~ .  188(t.  in  an  address  then  published:  'One 
of  the  things  to  make  a  successful  college,  is 
money  well  invested,  and  enough  of  it.  Moi.nt 
Union  College  has  an  estate  of  over  $,")0(l,t)00. 
The  first  time  I  ever  saw  its  President,  Dr. 
Hartshorn,  he  had  just  landed  from  Kurope 
with  a  vast  amount  of — 1  will  not  say  curiosi- 
ties, but  peculiarities.  From  what  1  know  of 
the  Custom  House  entries  in  New  Y'ork.  I  can 
appreciate  what  Bayard  Taj'lorsaid,  that  Moinit 
Union  College  had  the  best  museum  he  had 
seen  in  any  country.  Bishop  Gilbert  Haven 
had  truly  said  that  he  did  not  consider  the 
Smithsonian  Institute's  better." 

18.  A  valuable  grant  of  a  silver  mine  in 
Arizona,  donated  to  the  College,  Jlarcli  23, 
1876,  by  Col.  William  C..  Boyle,  of  London, 
England. 

19.  A  valuable  grant  of  a  silver  mine  in 
Montana  Territory,  near  Bannoc  City,  donated 
to  the  College  April  l.'i,  1876,  bj-  James  Ham- 
mond, a  resident  of  Bannoc  City. 

20.  A  series  of  donations,  cliietly  by  students, 
since  1866.  for  additions  to  the  libraries  and 
furniture  of  the  Republican  and  Linnsean  Lit- 
erary Societies,  estimated  at  §3,300  ;  also  a  se 
ries  of  donations,  chiefiy  by  students,  since  Maj- 
1876.  for  procuring  the  library,  piano  and  fur- 
niture for  the  Cosmian  Literary  Society,  esti- 
mated at  i?2,150. 

.Ml  moneys  or  property  donated  to  the  Col- 


lege, with  all  interests  or  proceeds  therefrom, 
instead  of  any  of  the  above  being  used  to  pay 
the  p.'ofessors  or  other  current  expenses,  have, 
in  all  instances,  l)een  applied  to  increase  the 
permanent  improvements  and  facilities  of  the 
College,  thus  perpetually  bc'uefitting  the  stu- 
dents. 

The  Alumni  Association  has  taken  st<'ps  to 
endow  an  .Vlumni  chair.  The  above  amounts 
do  not  ini'lude  the  subscriptions  of  ?'3r),000, 
lately  made  by  citizens  of  Mount  Union  for 
permanent  improvements,  including  a  new  mu- 
seum building. 

The  educational  work  which  this  institution 
has,  in  accordance  with  the  aliove  princi- 
ples, already  accomplished,  and  the  stu- 
dents instructed  in  the  several  departments, 
may  be  inferred,  when  brietiv  indicated,  as  fol- 
low-s  : 

In  the  department  of  literature,  science 
and  the  arts,  of  last  year  (1880-81):  Seniors. 
32  ;  juniors,  23  ;  sophomores,  48  ;  freshman, 
118,  preparatory,  15.");  normal  department. 
110  ;  business  department,  224  ;  department  of 
music,  183  :  department  of  fine  arts,  21  ;  mak- 
ing, as  a  total  for  the  past  year,  after  deducting 
those  counted  more  than  once,  679.  The  total 
number  of  students  since  the  origin  of  the  in- 
stitution, is  15,911,  of  whom  8,917  have  l)een 
employed  as  teachers  of  public  schools.  The 
whole  number  of  graduations  in  the  general 
courses,  in  citrsii,  with  degrees  and  diplomas  : 
Bachelor  of  arts,  173;  bachelor  of  philosophy, 
114;  bachelor  of  literature.  7;  bachelor  of 
science.  100  ;  master  of  arts.  121  ;  master  of 
philosophy,  43  ;  master  of  literature.  1 ;  master 
of  science,  97  ;  total.  /»  nirfni.  Col.  (iraduates, 
pro  mfi-ito,  with  degrees  and  diplomas:  bachelor 
of  arts,  5  ;  bachelor  of  philosoph}',  1  ;  master 
of  arts,  6  ;  master  of  philo.sophy,  2  ;  doctor  of 
philosophy,  5;  total,  /<to  iinrito.  19.  Graduates 
in  the  full  commercial  course,  in  ciirsu.  with 
degrees  and  diplomas  :  Bachelor  of  commercial 
science,  405.  Graduates  in  special  cour-r.-i, 
with  diplomas  and  no  degrees,  normal  orlr:i'  h 
ers'  course:  gentlemen,  2,716;  ladies,  l.l.')^  ; 
total,  4,174  ;  instrumental  music  :  full  classical 
course,  12  ;  Cramer  course.  4  ;  fine  art  course, 
3.  Graduates,  /«/•  lnuturr.  with  the  following 
honorary  degrees  and  diplomas :  Master  of 
arts.  10;  doctor  of  divinity.  30:  doctor  of  laws, 
3.  Total  graduations,  with  degrees  and  diplo- 
mas. 1,123; 


448 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COITNTY. 


The  city  government  of  Alliance  in  1873  was 
represented  b}'  the  following  ofHccis  : 

Mayor — Simon  Johnson. 

Clerk— A.  W.  Grei'u. 

Solicitor^— WilliMin  Pippitt. 

Marshal— John  C.  (Jrifflth. 

Treasurer- WiUiani  H.  Teel. 

Street  Conimissionei- — Z.  B.  Johnson. 

Council — B.  F.  Mereer.  Henry  Aultman,  John 
McConnel.  Joseph  L.  Brosius.  J.  H.  Sharer.  Caleb 
Steele. 

Board  of  Health— L.  R.  Davis,  William  Stallcup. 

C.  C.  Douglas.  Isaac  Teeters.  James  C.  Craven,  S.  S. 
Shimp. 

Healtli  Officer— Dr.  J.  B.  Wilson. 

Policemen — Micliael  Condon,  Solomon  Berlin. 

The  city  government  of  Alliance  is  represent- 
ed now  (1881)  by  the  following  persons  : 

Mayor — Simon  Johnson. 

Clerk— W.  E.  Fonts. 

Le.gal  Ailviser — J.  Amnerninn. 

Marshal— T.  J.  Johnston. 

Treasurer — William  Teelc. 

Teamster— W.  L.  Bardsley. 

Council— Frank  Mercer.  Frank  Transill,  G.  B.  N". 
Coats,  W.  L.  Bardsley.  Jolni  Slilwell.  John  Town- 
.send. 

Board  of  Health— Sylvester  W.  Sechrist,  Dr.  L. 
Dales,  James  Craven,  A.  B.  Love.  John  McConnel. 
Levi  Hill. 

Policemen — James  G.  Hogne,  Solomon  Berlin. 

Merchants'  Police — Midiael  Conden. 

There  have  been  twenty-one  Ma3'ors  elected 
in  Alliance  since  the  city  government  was  ef- 
fected in  October,  1854,  up  to  1873,  that  being 
the  date  of  the  first  Mayor's  commission.  The 
following  are  the  names  of  the  various  Mayors 
of  Alliance  :  n,,,  „,  c..n,mi.s,io,.. 

Harvey  Laughlin October  1.  1804. 

Harvey  Laughlin April  1,  18oo. 

Henry  Chapman April  8,  1856. 

Harvey  Laughlin Apiil  11,  1857. 

Harvey  Laughlin April  12,  1858. 

Linus  Ely April  13,  1859. 

Simon  Johnson April  4,  1860. 

Joseph  April  5,  1863. 

Joseph  April  3,  1864. 

A.  L.  Jones April  4,  1865. 

Heury  Buck April  2,  1866. 

Henrv  Buck April  1,  1867. 

J.  J.  "Parker April  5,  1869. 

Harvey  Laughlin April  4,  1870. 

Harvey  Laughlin April  6,  1871. 

J.  F.  Oliver. April  3,  1872. 

Simon  John.son April  7,  1873. 

D.  W.  Fording April,  1875. 

Joseph  Barnabv April,  1877. 

John  L.  Day  .  ." April,  1879. 

Simon  Johnson April,  1881. 

The  following  are  the  receipts  and  expendi- 
tures of  the  corporation  of  Alliance  for  each 


year  since  the  organization  of  the  municipal 
governmeutof  which  minutes  could  be  obtained, 
up  to  ISI'2  : 

Total  rrc,.i|,l>  of  1855 $      245  18 

Toliil  rx]»  n.lilures 60  16 

Tohil  ii,,  ipis  ,,11856 233  77 

Tolal  ixpcncliiures 166  54 

Total  ivcipts  of  1859 308  58 

Ti>tal  e.xocnditures 302  34 

Totiil  n-cripis  of  I860 667  35 

Tot;il  ('\|i.iHlilm-ef; 300  95 

Ton.l  iv,ri|,i.  nf  1861 791  25 

T(jtal  (xptiulilures 357  99 

Total  ri'ceiptsof  1862 630  27 

Total  expenditures 372  38 

Tolal  iv(cj|.ls  of  1863 1,291  55 

Totiil  I  xpcndilures 716  77 

Tohil  n.  ,  i],u  of  1867 7,714  24 

Total  .•xpcnilitures 4,984  55 

Total  receipts  of  1868 9,924  63 

Total  expenditures 6,126  88 

Total  receipts  of  1869 9,885  70 

Total  expenditures 5,707  41 

Total  receipts  of  1870 12, 199  63 

Total  expenditures 11,628  92 

Tolal  receipts  of  1871 11,928  32 

Total  expenditures 7,792  51 

Total  receipts  of  1872 16,584  80 

Total  exiiendituiv^ 12,367  51 

Total  n'i(i|il>  ..1    ls7:!-74 12,217  36 

Totiil  exiiriHlituro  of  1873-74 11,209  92 

T(.t:il  n,,  ipi,  of   lw;4-75 34.916  66 

Tolal  <x|MiHlilures  of  1874-75 13,439  40 

T.iliil  n,-,  i|,i.  nf  1875-76 30,997  21 

Tolal  ex|M.,!,iiturcs  of  1875-76 11,497  60 

Totnl  iv,vi|,u  ,.r  Isrc-TT 27,283  64 

Toliil  ixi.rii.lilur.s  of  1876-77 10,055  32 

Tohil  ivccipuof  ls;7-78 25,622  21 

Total  cxiiciiditures  of  1877-78 9,929  07 

Tolal  icvipis  of  1878-79 44,500  24 

Total  .xiMiKlitures  of  1878-79 34,597  73 

Tot:il  ivr,  i|,N  ..r  ls;!i-80 53,546  85 

T(>i:il  i\p.  ii.liiiirr.  ,,i  1879-80 52,436  97 

Total  ri'i  cjpis  nf  1S,S0-81 26,832  03 

Total  expenditures  of  1880-81 26.461  97 

The  town  house  is  a  substantial  and  creditable 
structure.  It  will  endure  and  subserve  its  pro- 
posed purpose  for  half  a  century  of  time.  A 
coming  generation  ma}-  be  interested  in  know- 
ing the  name  of  its  builder  and  its  cost.  The 
following  is  appeiided.  Some  additions  make 
the  cost  exceed  $5,000.  The  following  pro- 
posals for  building  town  house  were  received  : 

J.  T.  Weyhrecht *4,740  110 

Baird,  Aikin  &  Young 4,950  00 

Ross  &  Robert  Rue 5.400  00 

J.  T.  Weybrecht  being  the  lowest  bidder,  the 
contract  was  awarded  to  him,  and  the  building 
was  completed  in  six  months  from  date  of  con- 
tract.    The  following;  is  the  list  of  Recorders 


CITY    OV    AI.LIANCK. 


elected  since  the  corporation  of  Alliance  ex- 
isted : 

Diivid  Hoover i-lectcd  Oclolnr  4,  1804. 

I).  (}.    Ilcslcr cltMlrd  April  'i.  IHo.-,. 

D.  G.  Hester eleeled   April  7.  IHr.ti. 

Jesse  Reeves appointed  .lime  "iii,  IH"))). 

(Jcorsre  Mediiir appointed  Octolier  17.  ISTiti. 

(;.orj;c  Mctiuir ele<te<l  April  7.  ia">7. 

Saiiiiicl   Sliimp appointed  Aiiiriist  3.  18o7. 

.lolin  C.  B<'er elected  April  2.  18")8. 

I).  G.  Hester appointed  May  17.  18.58. 

1).  G.  Hester eleeled  April  1,  1859. 

H.  Camp appointed  December  12,  18.59. 

Oavid  Hoover elected  April  2,  18fi0. 

.1.  N.  Hamsv elected  April  2.  1801. 

J.  X.    HmhisV elected  .\pril  3.  1802. 

.1.  M.  Ciilliertson elected  April.  1803. 

.).  M.  Culljertson elected  April,  1804. 

P.  D.   Keplinser ele<led  .\pril.  180,-). 

.T.  W.   Harnaby elcclc.l  April,  ISfifi. 

.losejili  Harnahy appointed  June  20.  1800. 

Joseph  Barnabv elected  April.  1807. 

Josepli  Harnabv elected  Ajiril.  1808. 

Jo.seph  Harnaby elcctc<l  April.  1809. 

.Joseph  BarnabV eleclcil  April,  1870. 

A.  AV.  Green elected  April.  1872. 

Frederick  Berkheimer Vpril.  1870— two  terms. 

William  Fonts Aitril,  1880— two  terms. 

In  the  j-ear  1847  Levi  Bortoii  and  family 
moved  into  the  village  of  Mt.  Union.  A  few 
days  afterward  M.  I).  Stallcnp  and  family 
moved  to  the  villa>ie.  Mr.  Borton.  his  wife  and 
line  daiiiihtcr  :  M.  T).  Rtallctip  and  wife  were 
incnilKTs  (if  the  hisciplcs'  {'Inircli.  Those  live 
constituted  the  mcmljcrship  of  tiiis  religious 
persuasion  in  the  township  in  1847.  During 
the  four  years  following  this  date  by  concert  of 
action  between  between  Borton  and  Stallcnp, 
occasionally  the  services  of  this  dcnominalion 
were  obtained  at  this  point.  Among  the  min- 
isters who  preached  in  the  interests  of  the 
Disciples  at  this  point  during  the  period  of  four 
years,  might  be  mentioned  Israel  Belton,  Jolm 
Whitacre  (deceased).  Benjamin  Patterson  (de- 
ceased), J.  Warren,  Joseph  Moss  and  J.  H. 
Jones.  There  was  a  small  band  of  Baptists  in 
.Mount  Union,  whose  house  of  worship  was  ob- 
tained to  hold  the  meetings  called  by  those 
transient   ministers.     In   .March,   lS,-)2.   Mr.   A. 

B.  (ircen,  accompanied  by  Austin  Peter,  of 
Warren,  came  to  .^lonnt  Union.  Mr.  Green 
preached  sixteen  discourses  during  this  meet- 
ing. Mrs.  B.  W.  Johnsf>n  and  others  connected 
themselves  with  this  persuasion  during  this 
meeting.  There  were  at  this  time  eight  indi- 
viduals banded  together  to  investigate  the 
Scriptures  and  meet  on  the  first  day  of  every 


week.  Whc^n  stei)s  toward  an  orgaiuzation  ' 
was  taken,  the  Baptists  refused  this  iittle  band  ' 
the  use  of  their  house  of  worship.  They  met  ' 
thereafter  for  two  years  in  the  old  Seminary,  or 
the  Peoples'  meeting  housi-.  The  mt'iiibers  al 
this  time  consisted  of  Levi  Borton,  wife  and 
daughter  ;  Asa  Silvers,  .M.  D.  Stallcnp  and  wife, 
Mrs.  B.  W.  Johnson  and  W.  S.  I'ettit.  at  pre-  I 
sent  an  esteemed  citizen  of  this  citv.  Mr. 
Benjamin  Pigeon,  of  Smith  Township,  recently 
deceased,  associated  himself  with  this  organi-  j 
zation.  After  the  coinpletion  of  the  railroads  j 
through  Alliance  this  band  changed  their  loca- 
tion to  the  Christian  Church,  westof  .\llian»;e.  at 
present  used  by  Mr.  Haines  as  a  carriage  house, 
and  regularl\'  organized,  b}'  appoinlhig  two  Dea- 
cons and  two  Elders.  Asa  Silvers  and  Bryan 
Patterson,  Klders  :  Kdwin  Vaughn  and  Kdward 
Pettil,  Deacons.  Additions  ran  the  membership 
up  at  this  time  to  twenty  members.  AI)out  Ihis 
time  Mr.  Ilarmaii  Hcvcs  held  a  protiacled 
meeting,  continuing  for  two  weeks,  during  which 
time  there  were  some  sixteen  additions  to  the 
church.  During  the  year  of  ISfjC).  a  series  of 
protracted  meetings  were  held  in  the  Baptist 
Church,  in  old  Freedom,  since  pulled  tlown. 
One  of  these  meetings  was  under  the  manage- 
ment of  Mr.  Dibble,  cantinuing  some  three 
weeks.  The  results  of  his  ettbrls  was  the 
emersion  of  over  forty  persons.  .\t  this  time 
father  lliister,  wife  and  two  daughters  con- 
nected themselves  with  this  church.  They 
were  formerly  Baptists.  From  1847  to  1857, 
the  church  had  no  regular  or  continuous 
preaching.  Levi  Borton.  Asa  Silvers  and  Ben 
jamin  Patterson  olliciated  as  ministers  and  in- 
structors of  the  society  in  the  absence  of 
foreign  preachers.  Those  three  persons  were 
the  bone  an<l  sinew  of  this  infant  organization. 
Father  Silvers  and  Father  Patterson  arc  both 
gone  to  their  rewards.  They  have  left  with 
hundreds  who.se  t\\es  may  fall  upon  these  lines 
the  full  memory  of  a  right  legacy  of  being 
honest,  pious  and  true  men.  Mr.  Borton  is  still 
with  us.  lirm  in  his  primitive  faith,  and,  during 
the  religious  trials  of  thirty  years,  has  never 
faltered  in  the  final  triumphs  of  his  faith,  and 
in  tlie  successful  esljiblishment  of  a  prosperous 
church  in  this  neighborhood. 

The  first  elfort  inaile  to  build  up  a  Lutheran 
congregation  in  .Mliance  was  in  18G5,  under 
the  pastoral  care  of  Rev.  J.  II.  Brown.  lie  or- 
ganized with  Dr  P.  H.  Barr,   Peter  Keplinger, 


A! 


450 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COl'NTY. 


Martin  Tidd,  William  L.  Kunlile,  Joiin  Miller, 
Augustus  Buckius,  George  H.  Buckius,  Emery 
Miller,  and  others.  Judging  from  the  records, 
the  enterprise  began  in  a  hopeful  manner.  The 
Ohurch  Council  (which  is  the  official  board  of 
the  congregation)  were :  Re\'.  J.  11.  Brown, 
Pastor  ;  Martin  Tidd,  Wm.  L.  Knnkle.  Elders  ; 
Geo.  H.  Buckius.  Emery  Miller,  Deacons  ;  but, 
for  some  unexplained  reason,  failed.  The  con- 
gregation owned  no  "  house  of  worship,"  which, 
no  doubt,  was  to  their  disadvantage,  as  well  as 
a  mistake.  After  the  Rev.  Mr.  Brown  resigned 
andlett  the  field,  the  congregation  had  no  regular 
pastor  for  over  a  year,  when  the  Rev.  A.  Essie 
visited  the  congregation  and  endeavored  to  re- 
vive and  continue  the  work,  but  it  was  too  far 
gone  for  recovery.  The  members  scattered  : 
some  by  removal,  some  uniting  with  other 
churches,  some  losing  interest  in  the  work, 
whilst  a  few  still  entertained  hope  for  a  Lu- 
theran church. 

The  second  undertaking  :  On  the  4th  of  July, 
1872,  Rev.  J.  L.  Smith  arrived  in  Alliance  un- 
der the  auspices  of  the  "  Board  of  Home  Mis- 
sions of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,''  to 
begin  the  work  anew.  There  was  no  Lutheran 
organization  in  the  city  at  this  time,  as  the  pre- 
vious one  had  disbanded.  The  missionary  be- 
gan his  work  at  once  by  preaching,  visiting 
Lutheran  families  and  earnestly  soliciting  sub- 
scriptions for  the  erection  of  a  church.  He  met 
with  many  difficulties  in  the  way,  and  the  dis- 
couragements, arising  from  a  previous  failure, 
were  hard  to  overcome  ;  but  with  earnest  resolve 
and  indomitable  perseverance,  he  went  forward 
in  the  work.  On  the  1st  of  September.  1872,  he 
effected  the  organization  of  a  new  Ijuthcran 
congregation,  styled  "The  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church  of  the  Holy  Trinity,"  of  Alliance,  Ohio. 
A  constitution  and  articles  of  discipline  were 
adopted,  and  officers  regularly  elected.  On  the 
8tli  of  September,  one  week  after  the  organiza- 
tion was  efi'ected,  the  corner-stone  for  a  church 
edifice  was  laid  according  to  the  liturg}-  sei'vices 
of  the  Lutheran  Church,  in  the  presence  of  a 
very  large  audience.  The  Pastor  pushed  the 
work  forward  as  rapidly  as  possible,  and  the 
edifice  was  completed  during  the  winter.  The 
church  is  a  fine  Gothic  structure,  with  tower, 
and  beautifully  furnished  within,  and  cost 
$C,000,  not  including  the  lot.  It  was  dedicated 
on  the  28d  of  March,  1873.  and  has  no  superior 
in  the  city  for  its  beauty  of  situation  and  ele- 


gance of  finish.  The  enterprise  met  with  much 
favor  with  many  of  the  citizens.  Too  much 
credit  cannot  well  be  given  to  the  little  band  of 
earnest  men  and  women  for  the  energy  and  self- 
denial  by  which  they  have  made  their  work 
such  a  complete  success.  The  whole  work  was 
done  during  the  severest  financial  crisis  the 
country  has  hereto  felt,  and  yet  the  Pastor  and 
his  church  council  have  with  united  activity 
provided  for  $5,(100,  leaving  a  debt  of  $1,000  to 
be  met  and  collected.  A  Lutheran  Church  is 
now  established  in  the  city  of  Alliance,  and  as 
such  commences  its  history.  The  Church 
Council  are  :  Rev.  J.  L.  Smith,  Pastor  ;  W.  U. 
Beeler,  David  Weikert,  Elders  ;  Henry  Miller, 
Peter  D.  Wonders,  Deacons.  The  seats  are  free 
in  the  Trinity  Lutheran  Church,  and  the  con- 
gregation is  rejoicing  with  encouraging  success. 
The  congregation  has  a  new  church  finished, 
and  a  membership  of  over  fifty.  The  Sunday 
.school,  lately  organized,  is  hopefully  growing. 
The  foregoing  facts  were  obtained  from  the  Rev. 
J.  L.  Smith,  who  was  Pastor  of  the  E.  L.  Church 
in  Alliance. 

In  the  year  1857,  the  Disciples  were  yet  with- 
out a  house  of  worship  in  Alliance.  They  met 
in  the  old  Baptist  Church,  owned  by  Matthias 
Hester,  who  was  then  <»unected  with  the  organ- 
ization. Mr.  Hester  was  born  in  Greene  Countj', 
Penn.,  in  1793  ;  he  came  to  Lexington  Town- 
ship in  June,  1838,  and  purchased  60  acres  of 
land,  part  of  which  he  still  retains  in  the  shape 
of  town  lots.  After  the  town  of  Freedom  was 
laid  out,  he  erected  his  dwelling,  and,  in  August 
of  the  same  year,  removed  his  family  there. 
He  has  resided  there  since  that  time,  and  added 
several  additions  to  the  place,  also  erected  a 
number  of  buildings.  At  this  time,  there  was 
an  octagon  hall  in  the  vicinity  of  Mr.  Hester's 
present  residence.  This  building  was  used  for 
public  purposes,  and  on  one  occasion  of  a 
school  exhibition  it  was  densely  crowded  and 
broke  down,  killing  one  person  and  injuring 
several  others.  This  hall  was  also  used  by  the 
Disciples  after  the  aolvent  of  A.  B.  Way  to  Al- 
liance. In  1858,  steps  were  taken  for  the  erec- 
tion of  a  new  meeting  house.  Mr.  Hester  fur- 
nished a  lot,  and  the  building  was  erected  now 
occupied  by  this  branch  of  the  Christian  Church. 
Mr.  J.  K.  Picket,  a  number  of  years  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Alliance  Union  Schools,  and  Dr. 
Clover,  a  physician,  succeeded  Benjamin  Pat- 
terson and  Asa  Silvers  (deceased),  in  the  elder- 


CJTY    OF    ALLIAXCE. 


451 


ship  in  the  church.  Jlr.  Elislia  Teeters,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  ciiurcii,  was  aljout  tliis  time  called  to 
the  eldership.  Mr.  Teeters  was  born  in  Greene 
Township,  Columbiana  Co.,  Ohio,  on  the  1 1th  of 
Januarj'.  1814.  and  removed  lo  this  township  in 
1835.  Mr.  Teeters  laid  out  three  additions  to 
Alliance,  respectively,  in  1851,  1852  and  1853. 
The  first  addition  was  survej-ed  by  Ellis  John- 
.son.and  the  second  and  third  by  Mr.  Whitaker. 
In  these  surveys,  Mr.  Teeters  carried  the  chain 
himself,  and  frequently  joined  in  the  chant  of 
the  professional  carrier — •  stick,  stuck  " — over 
the  fields  and  Hats  where  now  stands  the  city  of 
Alliance.  In  1S52,  lots  were  offered  at  public 
outcry  b}-  Mr.  Teeters,  in  his  first  atldition  : 
the  lots  upon  which  now  stand  the  business 
blocks  of  Bleakly,  Ilaincs,  Young,  and  the  pri- 
vate residences  for  some  distance  west  along 
the  north  side  of  Main  street,  were  bid  in  tor 
the  proprietor  at  $40  a  lot,  that  amount  being 
considered  too  fabulous,  in  the  minds  of  the  ad- 
venturous spirits  present,  ever  to  be  realized 
again  out  of  their  sale.  Some  of  these  lots  have 
since  changed  hands  at  $13,500  with  Init  little 
improvements  thereon.  Mr.  J.  B.  Mihier,  a 
prominent  citizen  of  Alliance,  moved  here  from 
Salineville,  Columbiana  Co.,  Ohio,  was  chosen 
an  Elder  in  the  Church  about  this  date.  Mr. 
Milner  was  born  in  Columbiana  County,  Ohio, 
in  1823.  lie  is  just  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  wo 
hope  he  may  live  long  and  enjoy  his  home. 
The  operations  of  Mr.  Milner  in  our  midst  are 
somewhat  extensive.  He  came  to  Alliance  on 
the  15th  of  October.  18(j3.  The  east  wing  of 
the  Commercial  Block  was  erected  by  him 
among  his  first  cflbrts  here.  He  laid  out  three 
additions  to  our  city.  The  first  addition  con- 
tained 20  town  lots  ;  the  second,  which  com- 
poses the  old  Nixon  farm,  wlic^re  he  now  resides, 
contained  ilO  ;  the  third,  that  of  the  Garwood 
farm,  contained  190  ;  making  300  lots  in  all 
which  he  has  added  to  Alliance.  He  is  a  large 
contributor  to  the  support  of  the  Christian 
Church.  .Mr.  Pinkerton,a  graduate  of  Bethany 
College,  was  called  to  the  pastoral  charge  of  the 
church  in  18(J(!,  and  continued  in  charge  for 
about  two  and  a  half  years,  and  under  his  man- 
agement the  church  was  characterized  by  growth 
and  prosperity,  the  nKunbership  amounting  at 
this  time  to  about  one  hundred  and  eighty. 
Dr.  R.  P.  Johnson,  Samuel  .Milner,  Isaac  Jolly, 
I'liny  Allen  and  Iloratius  Hubbard  were  elected 
Deacons  of  the  church  in  addition  to  .Matthias 


Hester  and  others  formerly  mentioned.  Isaac 
Everett,  President  of  the  Alliance  College, 
Profs.  Benton,  Hin.sdale  and  other  members  of 
the  faculty'  of  the  college  .served  the  church  as 
ministers  during  the  years  following  .Mr.  Pinker- 
ton's  administration.  Mr.  J.  H.  Jones  followed, 
and  during  one  or  more  years  was  Pastor  of  the 
church.  W.  S.  Pettit,  who  connected  himself 
with  the  church  during  boyhood,  in  Mount 
Union,  was  elected  to  the  eldership  about  this 
time,  also  A,  W.  Coates.  Mr.  F.  >1.  (Jreen  fol- 
lowed Mr.  Jones  in  a  year  of  pastoral  labors  for 
the  Alliance  church.  Mr.  E.  L.  Fraizer,  from 
Dayton,  Ohio,  is  at  present  the  efficient  Pastor 
of  the  church,  and  is  in  the  second  3ear  of  his 
labors, 

[lev.  James  O'Leary,  of  Alliance,  writes  as 
follows  :  "  I  find,  for  the  first  time,  mention 
made  of  a  Catholic  priest's  holding  service  at 
.Mliance  in  1848.  A  Rev.  Father  Pendergast 
attended  Leetonia,  East  Liverpool,  and  as  far 
west  as  Louisville,  until  1853,  when  he  went 
West.  He  held  divine  services  occasionally  in 
some  of  the  '  shanties '  at  Alliance,  then  occu- 
pied by  some  poor  Catholic  families.  In  1850, 
Father  Lindsmith,  then  stationed  at  Canton, 
where  there  was  only  one  small  church,  rented 
Lamborn  Hall,  and  changed  its  name  to  Catho- 
lic Hall.  This  old  hall  constitutes  the  upper 
story  of  Mr.  McElro^-'s  present  business  store. 
In  ISljl,  Rev,  Edward  llannen,  now  stationed 
at  Toledo,  bought  the  first  church  properl:}' 
owned  by  the  Catholics  (two  lots)  from  L. 
Teeters,  for  $125.  According  to  the  tradition, 
this  amount  was  paid  for  one  lot,  and  iMr. 
Teeters  donated  the  other.  Rev.  Hannen  col- 
lected from  both  Protestants  and  Catholics, 
and  built  the  old  frame  church  in  1862.  Kev. 
'  P.  H.  Brown,  of  Hudson,  attended  from  1862 
to  1864,  when  Rev.  L.  Hoft'er.  of  Louisville, 
supplied  his  place  until  1865.  Rev.  Mantrier 
was  the  first  resident  Pastor.  He  came  in 
1865,  and  left  in  1867.  After  Mantrier  came 
Father  Lindsmith,  who  attended  Alliance  and 
Leetonia  togidher  until  1872,  when  he  resigned 
Alliance,  but  retained  the  other  charge.  Dur- 
ing his  pastorate,  a  brick  house,  on  Market 
street,  was  purchased  for  a  parsonage.  Between 
four  and  five  acres  were  bought,  south  of  town, 
for  a  cemetery.  Other  improvements  in  church 
property,  amounting  in  all  to  about  $8,000. 
Nearly  all  had  been  paid  for  when  Kev.  Mona- 
ghan   came,  and    remained   until   1875.     This 


452 


HISTOKV   OF    STARK    COT'XTY. 


Pastor  contemplated  biiilcliug  a  new  church, 
and  for  that  purpose  bought  three  more  lots 
for  $1,800.  On  one  of  these  the  foundations  of 
a  new  church  were  laid,  and  the  walls  built 
almost  to  grade.  About  this  time  the  mill  shut 
down,  many  of  the  congregation,  which  then 
numbered  about  150  families,  left,  and  the  pro- 
ject was  abandoned.  When  Father  Ahone 
came,  in  1875,  there  was  a  debt  of  $700.  Dur- 
ing his  stay  nothing  was  done  in  the  way  of 
improvements,  and  when  he  left,  in  1877,  the 
debt  had  been  reduced  to  $400.  In  1877,  Rev. 
James  O'Leary  was  appointed,  and  still  con- 
tinues in  charge.  During  the  first  two  years 
the  old  debts  were  paid,  and  between  $2,000 
and  $3,000  saved.  About  April,  1880,  the 
foundation  laid  by  Rev.  Monas;han  was  raised. 


and  a  new  church  commenced,  which  was  nearly 
completed  in  about  October  of  the  same  year. 
This  church,  97xG0,  will  cost,  when  fully  finished, 
about  $10,000.  It  is  expected  that  when  the 
work  is  complete  a  debt  of  only  about  $600 
will  rest  upon  the  church.  In  1S80,  the  old 
church  lots  were  sold,  and  three,  situated  south 
of  the  new  church  and  joining  the  lots  upon 
which  it  is  built,  were  bought  of  Dr.  L.  L. 
Lamborn.  The  lots  where  the  old  church  was 
located  are  to  be  used  in  future  for  a  Catholic 
school.  The  parsonage  was  also  sold,  and  the 
money  used  toward  building  the  new  church. 
The  congregation  at  present  (1881)  numbers 
about  one  hundred  families.  In  1859  there  were 
about  12,  and  in  1877  there  were  00. 


C  II  A  P  T  E  R     XVIII. 


L.WVRENf'K    TOWNSHl!' 


-(IRG.\NIZATION    OF   THE   TOWNSHIP —  E.\KLY   SETTLERS  —  CHURCHES - 
V1LL.\CtES  of  FULTON  AND  LAWRENCE,  ETC. 


"  He  Cometh  unto  you  with  a  tale  which  holdeth  children  from 
play,  and  old  men  from  the  chimney  corner." — Sir  Philip  Sidiieif. 

"Don't  give  up  the  ship." — Capt.  Jumes  LmrrettC€y  V.  S.  -V. 

THIS  township,  one  of  the  best  in  the  county 
in  point  of  material  wealth,  agricultural 
resources,  and  social  advantages  generally,  is 
known  as  Township  Xo.  1,  Range  10.  That 
portion  of  the  township  lying  on  the  east  side 
of  the  Tu.scarawas  Branch  of  the  Muskingum 
River  was  surveyed  in  the  \ear  1800  by  Messrs. 
Buckingham  and  Carpenter,  and  being  included 
in  the  treaty  of  Fort  Mcintosh,  the  Indian  title 
was  extinguished  in  1785.  That  on  the  west 
side  was  surveyed  by  the  late  Hon.  Joseph  H. 
Larwill,  Judge  William  Henry,  and  Judge 
John  Harris.  The  surveys  made  by  Messrs. 
Larwill.  Henry  and  Harris  were  the  result  of 
the  treaty  of  Fort  Industry,  made  in  1805. 
Twenty  years  elapsed  between  the  two  treaties, 
but  at  a  period  when  little  was  done  on  either 
side  of  the  river  in  the  way  of  settlements. 
Adventurers,  even  at  that  early  day,  penetrated 
the  country  by  means  of  the  Cuyahoga,  from 
Cleveland,  south,  reaching  the  portage,  after- 
ward known  as  the  New  Portage,  between  the 
the  Cuyahoga  and  Tuscarawas,  and,  going  down 

•Contributed  hy  Robt.  H.  Folgf  r. 


the  Tuscarawas,  reached  the  Muskingum,  Ohio, 
Mississippi,  and  the  (iulf  of  Mexico.  On  the 
organization  of  Stark  Count}',  in  1809.  the 
territorj"  above  named  formed  a  part  of  the 
county,  and,  as  has  been  seen,  surveys  had  been 
made  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  lines  had  been 
run,  entries  had  been  made  of  lands,  and  the 
rude  cabin  of  the  settler  was  found  here  and 
there  in  the  wilderness,  indicating  that  the 
■'Chaos  of  a  mighty  world 
Was  rounding  into  form." 

and  nowhere  did  that  chaos  assume  the  form 
and  comeliness  of  social  order  with  more  rapidity 
than  in  this  portion  of  the  count}'. 

On  the  4th  day  of  December,  1815,  the  Com- 
missioners of  Stark  County  made  the  following 
entry  on  their  journal  : 

Ordered.  That  the  First  Township  in  the  Tenth 
Kangi-  be  and  the  same  is  herebj'  erected  into  a 
new  townshi])  by  tin-  name  of  Lawrence. 

Ordered.  Tliiit  ;m1\i  rti^rmcnts  l)e  put  up  at  tlie 
houses  of  Gooriic  \';iii'-iii:iii,  .bilin  Morehead.  and  at 
Leonard  Kcrstctt.rs  ;Mill,  notifying  the  electors  of 
said  township  to  nuit  at  llie  hou,se  of  Robert  Lytic, 
on  the  first  Monilay  of  .VpriL  ne.xt,  and  then  and 
there  elect  township  ofticcrs. 

The  township  was  named  after  Capt.  James 
Lawrence,  of  the  United  States  Navj-,  in  the 


"^^ 


^^/y^-^^      (^^t^7^ 


LAWRENCE  TOAVNSIIIP. 


453 


war  of  1811'.  and  who.  witli  the  ill-fated  Chesa- 
peake, foujiht  the  Uritish  fiij,Mte  Shannon,  on 
the  lirst  of  June,  1813.  alniossl  in  Boston  har- 
bor, and  of  whom  it  is  said,  that  when  carried 
below,  mortally  wounded,  his  last  order  was  : 
•'  Don't  give  up  the  ship. '  Those  words  are 
the  motto  of  the  township,  and  in  political  pro- 
cessions, her  banner,  with  tiiat  inscription, 
alwajs  soars  aloft. 

The  township  records  sliow  that  on  tlie  1st 
day  of  April.  1815,  the  qualilied  electors  of  the 
township  did  meet  at  the  house  of  Robert  Lytic, 
and  elected  the  following  otticers  for  the  town- 
ship ;  James  F.  Leonard,  Township  Clerk ; 
William  Alban,  John  Campbell,  Jacob  Kirk, 
Trustees;  William  Whitcraft.  Joseph  ITobson, 
Overseers  of  the  I'oor  ;  Stephen  Wilkin,  Joseph 
Tritt,  Fence  Viewers  ;  Hugh  S.  Vaneman,  Hol)t. 
Ijytle,  Appraisers  of  Property'  ;  George  A'ane- 
man,  John  Meese,  George  Waggoner,  Super- 
visors of  Highways  ;  Richard  Hardgrove,  Jacob 
Klick.  Constat)les  ;.  Treasurer,  John  Morehead  ; 
Kichard  Hardgrove,  Lister  of  Taxables.  The 
Township  Clerk  certified  that  "  On  the  !)th  of 
April,  1S16.  personally  appeared  the  different 
officers  elected,  and  took  the  oath  of  office,  as 
the  law  directs,  except  Joseph  Hobson.  Signed, 
J.  F.  Jjeonard,  Township  Clerk."  On  the  same 
page  it  appears,  as  follows,  in  tlie  handwriting 
of  James  F.  Leonard  :  "  I  hereby  certify  that 
Joseph  Hobson  personally  appeareil  before  me, 
Jacob  Kirk,  a  Justice  of  tlie  IVaee,  and  was 
qualified  as  Overseer  of  the  Poor  for  Lawrence 
Township,  according  to  law.  Given  under  m\- 
hand,  April  9,  1818. " 

It  appears,  therefore,  that  all  the  officers  of 
the  township  above  named  were  '  qualilied  " 
on  the  same  daj',  namely,  the  9th  of  April, 
1816,  but  it  nowhere  shows  on  the  record  that 
Justices  of  the  Peace  had  been  elected  for 
Lawrence  Township  at  the  election  on  the  1st 
of  April.  Was  Jacob  Kirk  a  Justice  of  the 
I'eacc  for  Lawrence  Township,  at  the  time  he 
certified  for  the  "qualifying"  of  .Joseph  Hob- 
son ?  James  F.  Leonard,  the  Township  (Uerk. 
certifies  to  having  administered  ««  oal/i  to  all 
except  Joseph  Hobson.  who  was  well  known  to 
the  writer  as  a  member  of  the  Society  of 
Friends,  a  most  conscientious  and  upright  man  ; 
he  died  in  1827,  and  was  buried  at  the  Friends' 
burying  ground  at  Kendal,  in  Perry  Township., 
now  ill  the  Fourth  Ward  of  the  city  of  .Njas- 
sillon  ;  his  widow  married  Charles  Colliu.  re- 


ferred to  in  the  history  of  Perry  Township,  and 
with  him  is  sleeping  -'the  sleep  that  knows  not 
breaking,"  in  Friends'  burying  ground  at  Rich- 
mond, Jett'erson  Co.  Joseph  Hobson  and  his 
wife,  Rebecca,  were  rare  specimens  of  those 
who  felt  that  they  were  led  by  'that  inward 
voice,  uncreated  by  schools,  independent  of  re- 
finement, and  is  that  which  opens  to  the  unlet- 
tered kind,  not  less  than  to  the  polished  scholar, 
a  sure  pathway  into  the  enfranchisements  of 
eternal  truth."  They  believed  and  regulated 
their  lives  by  the  conviction  that  ■'  a  spiritual 
unity  binds  together  every  member  of  the 
human  family,  and  every  heart  contains  an  in- 
corruptible seed,  capable  of  springing  up  and 
producing  all  that  man  can  know  of  God  and 
duty  and  the  soul."  They  were  faithful  in 
their  belief  of  the  truth  of  the  teachings  of 
William  Penn,  (ieorgc  Fox  and  Robert  Barclay, 
and  the  few  who  yet  remember  them  as  mem- 
bers of  the  Society  of  Friends  will  reverence 
their  memories.  "  Swear  not  at  all,"  is  a  cardinal 
principle  of  human  conduct  with  Quakers; 
hence,  Joseph  Hobson  was  not  sworn  ;  he 
affirmed  that,  as  Overseer  of  the  Poor  for  Law- 
rence Township,  he  would  discharge  his  duties 
according  to  the  best  of  his  skill  and  under- 
standing, and  f(M'  any  failure,  he  would  be  lia- 
ble, under  the  pains  and  penalties  of  the  law 
punishing  perjury. 

On  the  same  diiy,  the  9th  of  April,  the  Trust- 
ees ordered  that,  until  otherwise  ordered,  the 
township  elections  should  be  held  at  the  house 
of  William  Whitcraft.  William  Whitcraft  was 
a  sturdy  Irish  Presbyterian,  and  made  his  faith 
manifest  by  his  works  ;  his  two  sons,  John  and 
Thomas,  were  worthy  representatives  of  their 
ancestor. 

On  the  same  day,  the  township  was  laid  out 
into  three  Road  Districts;  No.  1  was  assigned 
to  George  Vaneman  ;  No.  2  to  John  Meek,  and 
No.  3  to  George  Waggoner,  the  Supervisors  elect, 
and  it  was  ordered  that  John  iMorchcail.  Town- 
ship Treasurer,  draw  from  Jackson  Township, 
the  sum  of  $5.7(1.  which  is  the  sum  due  to  Law- 
rence from  Jackson. 

The  founders  and  framers  of  the  political  or- 
ganization known  as  Lawrence  Township  went 
at  once  into  the  business  of  organizing  upon  a 
sound  basis  ;  they  made  a  map  of  their  town- 
ship, showing  its  thirty-six  sections,  with  the 
Tuscarawas  Hiver  running  through  it  from  the 
northwest   at  Section   (!,  to   the  southeast,  near 


±L^ 


4o4 


HISTORY    OF    .STAKK    COUNTY. 


Section  36,  with  tiiu  .Missilla  Creeii  entering  the 
river  on  Section  9  ;  Fox  Run.  riinninu;  almost 
across  the  township,  and  entering  the  river  on 
Section  26,  near  tlie  northeast  corner  of  the 
northeast  iiuarter  of  the  section,  anrl  New- 
mans Creek  running  entirely  across  the  town- 
ship, leaving  it  on  tiie  southwest  corner  of  the  ' 
southeast  quarter,  and  running  through  the 
northwest  corner  of  Perry  into  the  Tuscarawas 
River.  Newmans  Creek  Swamp,  in  Wayne 
County,  is  al.so  well  drawn  on  the  same  map, 
the  drawing  of  which  was  done  liy  James  F.  , 
Leonard,  a  most  accomplished  surveyor  and 
draftsman,  without  the  name  of  whom  no 
history  of  scarcely  any  part  of  Stark  County 
could  be  correctly  written.  Mr.  Leonard  was 
a  representative  man  in  everything  he  under- 
took to  do  ;  modest  and  unassuming,  he  com- 
manded the  respect  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of 
what  is  now  one  of  the  grandest  townships,  in 
the  grandest  county  of  the  grandest  State, 
carved  out  of  the  Northwestern  Territory,  un- 
der the  provisions  of  the  Ordinance  of  Con- 
gress of  July  13, 1787.  The  fact  has  found  its 
way  on  to  the  record,  that  James  F.  Leonard 
and  Sarah  Barber  were  the  first  couple  married 
in  Stark  County,  and  tiie  date  of  their  mar- 
riage is  fixed  as  being  on  the  6th  of  June,  1806. 
At  that  time,  there  was  no  Stark  County. 
Columbiana  included  Stark  and  wh;it  is  now 
Wavne,  and  when  it  is  assumed  that  tlie  mar- 
riage "was  very  likely  without  a  license.'  it  is 
an  assumption  that  is  hardly  justifiable. 

Mr.  Leonard  was  one  of  those  handy  men. 
who  was  always  in  the  front  rank  of  advanc- 
ing civilization  ;  he  is  shown  in  these 
sketches  to  have  been  a  Surveyor.  Tovvnship 
Clerk,  School  Examiner  and  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  all  of  which  ottices  he  tilled  to  the  ac- 
ceptance of  his  neighbors. 

The  record  kept  by  Mr.  Leonard  does  not 
show  when  the  Trustees  adjourned,  nor  to  what 
time  they  adjourned,  but  it  appears  that,  on  the 
10th  of  August,  181(),  they  met,  and  a  petition, 
signed  by  James  Campbell,  William  Whitcraft. 
James  Patton,  James  F.  Leonard,  John  More- 
head,  John  Morehead,  Jr.,  Daniel  Boiles,  Rich- 
ard Hardgrove,  John  Meese,William  Hills,  John 
Roach,  Ebenezer  A.  Roach,  Francis  Pumroy, 
James  Barber,  Abram  Stevens,  John  .McCad- 
den,  Isaac  Edgington  and  Joseph  Futton.  was 
filed  with  the  Clerk,  praying  for  a  road  from 
Kerstetter's  Mill,  thence  to  the  county  line,  at 


or  near  where  x\.bram  Stevens  lives,  on  Section 
No.  7,  in  Township  No.  7,  in  Range  10.  On 
that  petition  "  Louis  Rogers,  William  Elliott 
and  Henry  Clapper  were  appointed  to  view  said 
road,  and  Alexander  Porter  was  appointed  to 
survey  ihe  same. "  The  Viewers  and  Surveyor 
were  "ordered  to  meet  at  Kerstetter's  .Mill  on 
the  first  Monday  in  September  next.  "  Under 
the  above  proceedings  a  meeting  was  had.  the 
Viewers  were  duly  qualified,  and  the  roaci  was 
laid  out,  iu  length  seven  miles  and  sixty -seven 
perches.  Every  report  being  signed,  and  an 
order  made  for  opening  the  road,  and  which 
was  the  first  i-oad  opened  in  the  township,  by 
order  of  the  Trustees.  On  the  1 9tli  d;iy  of  July, 
181(i,  Mattlicw  Rowland  and  John  Morehead, 
Esqs.,  were  commissioned  Justices  of  the 
Peace  for  Lawrence  Township. 

The  alcove  named  citizens  were  tiie  first  Jus- 
tices of  the  Peace  for  the  township,  so  far  as 
any  record  can  be  found.  They  held  for  three 
years,  when  it  appears  that  Matthew  Rowland 
and  John  Taylor  were  commissioned  Justices 
of  the  Peace.  They  are  both  remembered  as 
upright,  worthy  men,  of  whom,  living  or  dead, 
nothing  but  good  can  truthfuUj-  be  said.  Since 
their  day.  Abram  Stevens.  .Uexauder  Porter, 
Alexander  M.  Russell.  Dugald  Campbell  and 
William  Alban.  and  many  otliers  who  have 
passed  awa_y,  lield  the  office  of  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  and  their  acts  and  example  were  the 
foundation  of  the  great  moral  edifices  of  which 
the  township  is  proud.  They  aided  in  estab- 
lishing schools  and  the  means  of  instruction, 
and  they  are  the  edifices  that  are  enduring 
monuments  of  the  greatness  of  the  township. 
James  P.  Leonard,  after  a  life  of  great  useful- 
ness in  Stark  County,  removed  to  Independence, 
in  Cu3'ahoga  County,  where  he  died,  and  left  the 
memory  of  a  good  name. 

The  entire  population  of  the  township  at  its 
organization  was  made  up  of  men  and  women 
of  singularly  developed  character.  They  were 
far  in  ad  vance,  in  view  of  education,  and  that  sort 
of  social  culture,  of  any  township  in  the  north- 
ern part  of  the  county,  and,  as  a  rural  dis- 
trict, their  successors  maj'  be  said  to  have  kept 
their  position.  The  earliest  settlers  in  wnat 
became  Lawrence  Township,  in  the  defining  of 
the  boundaries  of  Perry,  Jackson,  Tuscarawas 
and  Lawrence,  were  William  Crites,  Henry 
Clapper,  Jacob  Clapper,  the  brothers  Harris, 
John   and    Stephen,    Massum    Metcalf — incor- 


-^. 


LAWRENCE  TOWNSHIP. 


reotlj-  written  Matthew  Metcalf,  in  Evart's 
Atlas  of  Stark  Count}'.  He  is  well  remembered 
by  the  writer,  and  was  ordinarily  known  as 
"  Madcap."  He  is  referred  to  in  the  history 
of  Tuscaniwas  Township,  his  name  appealing 
in  the  third  United  States  census,  as  a  resident 
of  that  township,  the  census  being  taken  in 
]8]0,  six  years  before  the  organization  of  the 
township  of  Lawrence,  and  at  the  taking  of  which 
all  residents  on  the  west  side  of  the  Tuscara- 
was Hiver  south  of  the  41st  parallel  of  lati- 
tude, which  is  the  base  line  of  the  Connecticut 
Western  Reserve,  and  north  of  the  south 
line  of  Stark  County,  as  established  by  Act  of 
the  General  Assembly  of  Ohio,  February  13, 
1!-(I8  (Chase's  Statutes,  Chapter  307).  were 
included.  As  all  the  territorj'  west  of  the 
Tuscarawas  Eiver  was,  at  the  organization  of 
Tuscarawas  Township,  included  in  that  town- 
ship, in  several  instances  the  s:;me  persons 
appear  as  the  first  settlcis  of  the  tcjwnships  of 
Tuscarawas  and  Lawrence. 

The  first  permanent  settler  of  what  is  now 
Lawrence  Township,  and  who  remained  on  the 
soil  after  the  township  was  organized,  was 
William  Crites.  He  rtniaincd  many  years  in 
the  township.  His  name,  with  that  of  Stephen 
Harris,  Henry  Clapper.  Daniel  Clapper.  John 
Clapi'cr.  Adam  Lower.  Adiim  Guuids.  George 
15ayst(  ne,  Massum  Metcalf.  Jacob  Metcalf  and 
Jeremiah  Atkinson,  appear  in  the  census. 
neither  of  whom,  except  Hon.  Stephen  Harri.s, 
ever  resided  in  Tuscarawas  Township  after  it 
was  reduced  to  its  constitutional  limits.  Some 
of  the  persons  named  resided  in  l.awrcnce  until 
it  was  organized,  and  seme  went  farther  west, 
before  any  divisiin  of  the  territory  west  of  the 
river  was  made. 

During  the  war  of  1812,  when  it  became 
necessary  for  the  Government  to  remove  troops 
to  the  west,  Col.  Gibson,  in  ccrrmand  of  a  reg- 
iment, cut  a  road  through  the  south  end  of  the 
township,  running  northwesterly  from  where  is 
now  the  city  of  Massillo!),  and  is  known  as  the 
'■army  road,"  or  the  "territorial  road."  The 
late  Gen.  William  I'lobinson,  Jr.,  the  first  Presi- 
dent of  the  Ohio  &  I'ennsylvania  Railroad, 
being  then  a  Lieutenant  in  the  United  States 
Aimy.  was  with  the  regiment  and  with  it  en- 
camped where  now  is  the  Second  Ward  of  the 
cit3'  of  Massillon.  between  the  river  and  canal, 
the  objective  point  of  the  regiment  being  Fort 
Miegs.  or  Defiance.     Subsequently  a  State  road 


was  laid  out  on  the  road  opened  by  Col.  Gil)- 
son,  and  has  ever  since  been  used  as  such. 

The  first  efforts  by  any  religious  society  to 
organize  a  subordinate  society  or  obtain  a 
place  for  religious  worship  in  what  is  now 
Lawrence,  then  Tuscarawas.  Township,  were 
made  by  Rev.  James  Dixon,  who  was  appointed 
by  the  Western  Annual  Conference  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  held  at  a  chapel 
in  Shelby  Count}-,  Ky.,  in  November.  1810. 
The  circuit  was  known  as  '  Tuscarawas  Cir- 
cuit," and  extended  from  Coshocton  to  New 
Portage,  about  ninety  miles.  The  district  was 
known  as  Muskingum  District,  and  Rev  James 
Quinn  was  Presiding  KIclcr.  and  from  the  best 
infoimation  that  can  be  had.  Mr.  Dixon  pre:,ched 
at  the  house  of  W'illiam  Crites,  but  whether 
Mr.  Dixon  Ibimed  a  societj'  north  of  wliat  is 
now  the  so\ith  line  of  liawrence  Township, 
cannot  be  ascertained.  In  1812,  John  Sonic-r- 
ville  was  appointed  to  the  circuit  and  relumed 
491  members,  and  from  that  day  to  the  present 
it  is  safe  to  saj*  that  the  township  has  not  been 
without  Methodist  preaching,  and  from  the  best 
inloimation  that  can  be  had.  Mr.  Son;eivillc 
organized  the  fir.st  Methodist  society  in  the 
township.  Pie  was  a  man  of  wonderful  energy 
and  perseverance,  doing  his  Master's  work 
with  all  his  might.  In  1881.  a  church  wjx, 
organized  in  Fulton,  and  the  village  was  put 
into  what  was  called  the  Dover  Circuit,  I  ut 
what  district  it  helc  nged  to  cannot  be  ascer- 
tained. The  Presiding  Elder  was  Rev.  W^.  B. 
Christ}-.  He  was  a  man  of  great  power,  but 
was  cut  off  in  middle  life  and  before  he  had  at- 
taineel  the  height  of  his  pepularity.  The  cii'- 
euit  was  composed  of  Dalton,  Greenville.  Brook- 
field  and  Fulton.  Among  the  preachers  of  tho.sc 
days  were  Charles  Elliott.  Harry  O.  Sheldon 
and  William  Swazey.  all  of  whom  were  men  of 
strong  character  and  untiring  energy.  Fulton 
is  yet  in  a  circuit  of  these  charges,  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Bell  being  the  preacher.  The  absence  of 
records  has  rendered  it  diflicult  to  obtain  any- 
thing like  an  authentic  history.  The  conference 
to  which  Fulton  belongs  is  ihe  North  Ohio. 

The  first  Roman  Catholics  to  settle  in  the 
townshij)  came  in  1812,  and  were  Jolin  Mc  Cad- 
den,  Matthew  Patton  and  Daniel  O'Bovle.  In 
1813.  Charles  :\IcCadclen  and  John  Gallagher 
settled  in  Baughman  Tc  wnship.  in  Wayne 
County,  but  so  near  the  western  line  of  Law- 
rence as  to  be  scarcely   separated,  and  these 


4->(i 


Hl.STOUY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


the  families  fomposed  the  nucleus  of  the  now 
tiouiishing  parish  of  St.  Philip  and  St.  James, 
in  Fulton. 

In  the  year  1817.  Rev.  Edward  Fenvvick, 
from  the  diocese  of  Bardstown,  Ky.,  left  his 
home  and  traveled  through  the  southern  and 
eastern  parts  of  Ohio  in  search  of  persons  pro- 
fessing the  Catholic  faith,  and  came  to  Canton, 
and  there  found  the  several  Shorb  families, 
George  Roofuer  and  his  family,  and  a  few 
others.  By  way  of  parenthesis,  it  may  be  re- 
marked thai  (Jeorge  Roofner  was  a  well-digger 
by  profession,  and  dug  and  walled  the  well  on  the 
premises  in  Kendal  (now  better  known  as  a 
part  of  the  city  of  Massillon)  on  which  Adam 
Braehm  resides.  Roofner  was  killed  by  falling 
from  the  mouth  to  the  bottom  of  a  deep  well, 
the  fall  being  occasioned  by  the  breaking  of  the 
rope  used  for  hoisting  the  earth  from  the  bot 
torn.  Ho  was  a  devoted  Catholic.  The  few 
families  of  Catholics  at  Canton  informed  Rev. 
F'ather  Fenwick  of  the  Catholic  families  in  Law- 
rence Township  and  west  of  the  Tuscarawas 
River.  He  immediately  came  into  the  town- 
ship, celebrated  mass,  and  preached  and  in- 
structed the  youth  and  ministered  to  the  spirit- 
ual wants  of  the  six  families,  and  promised  to 
return  nextj-ear.  True  to  his  promise,  the  good 
Father  returned  the  next  year  and  celebrated 
mass  in  the  log-cabin  residence  of  Daniel 
O'Bo^'le,  and  which  was  the  first  mass  cele- 
brated in  Lawrence  Township.  The  celebration 
of  mass  the  previous  year  was  at  the  log-cabin 
residence  of  Matthew  Patton,  who  had  removed 
just  over  into  Baughman  Township.  Wayne 
County. 

In  the  following  year,  1818,  the  Rev.  Father 
Fenwick  and  several  .young  priests  of  the  same 
order  located  or  settled  on  a  farm  two  miles  from 
Somerset,  in  Peny  County,  Ohio,  after  which 
the  Catholics  of  the  township  were  attended 
yearly  by  some  one  of  the  priests  of  that  mis- 
siiin.  which  was  known  as  St.  Joseph's,  Rev.  N. 
Young  and  Rev.  Thomas  Martin  being  most 
frequent  in  their  attendance  until  1825.  After 
that  thej'  were  visited  oecsionally  by  Rev. 
Fathers  Hill  and  Ilenni,  from  Canton.  Father 
Hill  died  in  Canton,  iu  1828,  and  Father  Henni 
is  now  Archbishop  of  Milwaukee.  Wis.  Father 
Hill  was  a  most  brilliant  and  eloquent  priest ; 
is  well  remembered  by  the  writer,  as  is  Arch- 
bishop Henni.  Up  to  1831,  it  would  seem  that 
the  Catholics  of  Lawrence  and  Baughman  had 


no  church  edifice,  as  religious  services  were  held 
at  the  houses  of  Matthew  Patton  and  others. 
A  few  Irish  and  German  families  were  added  to 
the  congregation,  and  they  resolved  to  build  a 
church,  and  the  farm  of  Phillip  McCue  being 
considered  near  the  center  of  the  congregation, 
a  chapel  was  built  on  the  west  side  of  his  farm; 
which  farm  is  now  the  residence  of  his  widow 
and  her  son,  Thomas  McCue,  Esq.,  and  his  fam- 
ily, Mrs.  McCue  being  in  the  eighty-second  year 
of  her  age,  and  to  whc>m,  with  Phillip  Patton, 
Esq.,  of  Baughman  Township,  the  writer  desires 
to  acknowledge  his  obligations  for  many  of  the 
most  important  facts  herein  narrated.  -The 
chapel  was  built,"  says  Mr.  Patton,  '  30x40  feet 
on  the  west  line  of  the  farm,  and  was  the  first 
Catholic  chapel  in  the  township.  "  The  families 
worshiping  in  that  little  church  were  fnjui  the 
townships  of  Baughman,  Chippevvay  and  Sugar 
Creek,  iu  Wayne  County,  as  well  as  from  Law- 
rence, in  Stark  County.  B}"  this  time  the  vil- 
lage of  Fulton  began  to  improve,  and  German 
Catholics  began  to  settle  in  the  village  and  in 
the  eastern  part  of  the  township,  among  whom 
should  be  named  the  late  Gottfried  Bernower, 
the  Hammers,  Warners,  Gills  and  others.  The 
diflerent  religious  denominations  throughout  the 
township,  that  had  erected  temporar}-  houses  for 
worship,  in  the  country,  began  to  erect  perma- 
nent church  edifices  in  the  village.  The  Hon. 
Hiram  Griswold,  now  of  Leavenworth,  Kan., 
representing  large  interests  in  real  estate  in  the 
village,  the  Catholics  purchased  of  him  a  block 
of  lots,  in  1844,  on  which  to  erect  a  new  church 
edifice,  and  work  in  that  direction  was  immedi- 
ately begun.  The  corner-stone  was  laid  by  Bish- 
op, now  Archbishop,  Purcell,  in  1845.  A  build- 
iug  was  eriM-tcd,  :;,'ix.')0  feet,  at  a  cost  of  $1,500, 
In  1868,  the  chapel  being  found  to  be  too  small  to 
accommodate  the  large  congregation,  they  '■'  re- 
solved,"' says  Mr.  Patton,  "  to  erect  a  chapel  to 
honor  the  Supreme  Being.  Thev  drew  a  plan 
of  a  building,  to  be  50x100  feet,  tower  lOU  feet 
in  height,  brick,  Gothic  architecture,  and  which 
was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $30,000. " 

As  reference  has  been  had  to  that  excellent 
man.  Rev.  Edward  Fenwick,  it  is  deemed 
proper  to  state  that  in  1821  he  was  consecrated 
Bishop,  his  diocese  being  in  the  States  of  Ohio. 
Indiana,  Illinois  and  the  Western  Territories, 
the  diocese  being  known  as  the  "  Diocese  of 
Cincinnati."  In  1823,  he  administered  the  rite 
of  confirmation  to  eight  or  ten  persons  in  Law- 


,l^ 


LAWRENCE   TOWXSHll' 


rence  Township,  among  whom  was  the  respected 
Mr.  Patton.  so  frequently-  and  necessarily 
named  in  this  sketch.  The  3-car  1832  will  i)e 
remembered  by  some;  yet  livin<j  as  the  first  year 
of  that  frightful  scourge,  the  Asiatic  cholera. 
In  that  year,  Bishop  Fenwick  went  on  an  ex- 
tensive Episcopal  visitation  through  Michigan 
and  Wisconsin,  returning  through  Northern 
Ohio,  taking  Canton  en  route  to  Cincinnati, 
and  traveling  liy  stage  coach.  On  his  arrival 
at  Massillon  accompanied  b}'  one  of  the  Sisters 
of  Charity,  it  was  made  known  to  the  person 
having  the  hotel  in  charge  at  which  the  coach 
stopped  that  the  Bishop  was  very  ill.  lie  was 
urged  to  stop,  and  was  assured  of  every  atten- 
tion the  house  could  furnish,  the  proprietor  being 
absent  from  town.  The  Bishop,  however, 
thought  he  could  go  on  with  safety,  and  did  go 
on.  That  night  he  died  in  Wooster.  of  cholera. 
He  was  attended  by  Drs.  Bisscll  and  Coulter 
and  a  black  boy.  The  hotel  at  which  he  died 
was  kept  by  Samuel  Coulter,  one  of  the  early 
residents  of  Canton.  The  rite  of  confirmation 
referred  to,  administered  by  Bishop  Fenwick, 
was  at  the  house  of  Mattliew  Patton,  about 
twenty  rods  west  of  the  Stark  County  liue. 
At  this  time  there  are  about  one  hundred  fam- 
ilies who  compose  the  congregation  of  St.  Philip 
and  St.  James,  Rev.  Father  Zattman  being  the 
priest  in  charge. 

The  first  Presbyterian  preaching  in  the  town- 
ship was  by  Rev.  James  Adams,  ivhose  name 
appears  elsewhere  in  these  sketches.  lie 
preached  first  at  the  house  of  John  Morehead, 
and  was  a  thorough  believer  in  the  doctrine 
that  "  by  faith  shall  all  men  lie  justified."  At 
that  time  the  Presbyterian  Church  was  strong 
and  inttuential  on  the  west  side  of  the  river. 
The  members  were  of  the  hardy  Scotch  Irish 
peojjle  of  Western  Pcnn.sylvania,  who,  as  has 
been  said  elsewhere  in  these  sketches  of  the 
Quakers.  "  Bore  with  liberty  and  law  the  Bible 
in  their  train."  With  such  antecedents,  Law- 
rence coidd  not  nor  has  ever  been  a  second-rate 
township.  Us  present  population  is  G,000.  It 
has  the  growing  and  enterprising  village  of 
Fulton,  the  post  office  of  which  is  known  as 
Canal  Fulton,  situate  in  the  northern  end  of 
the  township,  and  nearly  in  the  northwestern 
corner. 

Originall}'.  that  part  of  the  village  l^'ing 
west  of  the  Tuscarawas  River  was  known  as 
Milan,  and  was  laid  out  in  1814,  by  Matthew 


Rowland,  l']s(i.,  afterward  prominent  as  a  Jus- 
tice of  tlie  I'eace,  on  the  organization  of  the 
township  and  in  the  history  of  the  county,  and 
died  in  1821.  The  township  had  a  decided 
military  taste,  as  it  furnished  no  less  than  four 
Colonels  of  regiments,  on  what  the  late  (Jov. 
Corwin,  in  his  celebrated  speech  in  reply  to 
(Jen.  Crary,  called  the  "  peace  establishment." 
Their  names  were  Isaiah  Bowen.  William  Alban. 
William  Ivlliott,  and,  at  a  later  date,  Jacob 
Harsh.  Col.  Bowen  was  a  millwright  by  trade, 
and  did  much  of  the  millwright  work  west  of 
the  Tuscarawas  Hiver,  in  the  now  County  of 
Stark,  and  also  did  the  millwright  work  on  the 
first  mill  built  in  Perry  Township,  known  as 
Folger's  mill.  John  Sturgeon,  also  a  military 
man  and  millwright,  worked  with  Isaiah  Bowen, 
was  a  son-in-law  of  Matthew  Rowland,  Esq., 
and  is  believed  to  have  erected  the  first  dwell- 
ing house  in  the  village  of  Milan.  James 
O'Boyle,  incorrectly  written  -Boiles,"  was 
Captain  of  a  rifle  company,  made  up  of  many 
of  the  young  men  of  the  township,  and  known 
as  the  ''  Kendal  llifle  Blues. '  Their  place  for 
muster,  exercisi!  and  drill  was  on  the  North 
square,  in  Kendal.  The  company  retained  its 
organization  but  a  few  years,  but  during  its  ex- 
istence was  regarded  as  a  '  crack  "  company. 
To  those  who  remember  the  military  spirit 
called  into  existence  by  the  war  of  1812,  with 
Creat  Britain,  it  is  a  little  remarkable  to  wit- 
ness the  degeneracy  of  that  spirit  in  later  days. 
In  those  early  times,  the  citizen-soldier  felt 
that  he  was  the  right  arm  of  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment. Xo  West  Point  graduate  excelled 
him  in  patriotism  or  bravery,  and  as  Indian 
fighters,  the  hardy  pioneers  of  what  was  then 
the  frontier  settlements  yielded  to  nobody, 
whether  he  regulated  his  ideas  of  fighting  liy 
subtle  criticisms  on  strategy  and  careful  re- 
views of  marches,  sieges,  battles,  regular  and 
casual,  and  irregular  onslaughts,  or  whether  he 
fought  by  the  practical  notion  of  ■'  the  devil 
take  the  hindmost,"  the  pioneer  settler  was 
always  ready,  and  made  his  faith  manifest  by 
his  works ;  and  of  such  were  the  men  who 
peopled  the  Tuscarawas  Valley,  as  soon  as  the 
right  to  take  peaceable  possession  under  the 
treaties  already  relerrod  to  was  guaranteed  to 
them. 

The  first  grist-mill  erected  in  the  township 
was  built  l)y  Col.  William  (loudy,  and  was 
built  in  1812,  and  was  the  one  sold  to  Leonard 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


^. 


Kerstetter,  in  1814,  alreaily  referred  to,  and  was 
finally  destroyed  by  fire,  while  owned  by  tbe 
late  Cyrus  Young.  At  an  early  day,  another 
mill  was  built,  on  Fox  Run,  by  Col.  Isaiah 
Bowen,  which  proved  of  little  value. 

Home  three  ye.irs  before  the  organization  of 
the  township,  (ieorge  H  irsh  removed  into  the 
territory  then  known  as  Tuscarawas  Township. 
In  1812,  he  had  sent  his  son  John  from  Wash- 
ington County.  I'ennsylvania,  who  purchased 
100  acres  of  land  from  Col.  William  Goudy, 
who  liad  purchased  the  quarter-section,  the 
same  rroudy  who  had  erected  the  mill.  The 
hu;i  Iri'd  acres  purchased  b^'  John  is  the  same 
land  now  owned  by  John  Jacobs,  of  Massillon, 
anil  which  has  been  most  fruitful  in  its  yield  of 
mineral  coal  of  the  best  quality.  On  the  arri- 
val of  Mr.  Harsh,  the  father,  he  entered  the 
quarter  adjoining  the  100  acres  already'  pur- 
chased, on  the  north,  at  the  Government  land 
office.  That  quarter  is  now  owned  b}'  the  only 
surviving  son,  Hon.  George  H.xrsh,  of  Massil- 
lon, and  on  which  is  situate  the  celebrated 
'■  Mountain  Coal  Mine."  The  father,  George 
Harsh,  died  August  IG,  1833,  aged  seventy-three 
years.  His  wife  survived  him  ten  years,  and  died 
at  tlie  age  of  seventy-six.  He  was  married  twicj, 
having  by  his  first  marriage  two  sons,  Henry  and 
John.  Henry  lived  in  Virgina,  now  West  Vir- 
ginia, and  John  in  Wa3'ne  County,  Ohio.  B,)th 
have  been  dead  many  years.  By  the  second 
marriage  he  had  Benjamin,  Joseph.  Jacob, 
Barbara  and  George,  now  sole  survivor  of  the 
family,  in  his  seventy-second  year.  Of  the  des- 
cendants of  Leonard  Kerstetter,  but  two  grand- 
sons ramain.  David  and  D.uiiel,  and  one  grand- 
daughter, Mrs.  Daniel  Kleckner.  Tlie  descend- 
ants were  numerous,  and  contributed  largely  to 
the  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  township. 
Leonard  Kerstetter  served  in  the  war  of  the 
Revolution,  and  had  two  sons  in  the  war  of  1812. 

The  first  Presbyterian  Church  edifice  in  the 
township  was  built  in  the  northwest  corner,  and 
was  known  as  Newman's  Creek  Presbyterian 
Church.  The  congregation  was  composed  of 
members  from  the  townships  of  Chippewa, 
Baughmau  and  Sugar  Creek,  in  Wayne  County, 
and  of  those  living  north  of  Newman's  Creek 
in  Stark  County.  The  first  Presbyterian  min- 
ister was  Rev.  James  Adams,  who  resided  in 
Sugar  Creek  Township,  Wayne  Count}'.  He 
was  succeeded  by  Rev,  James  Galbraith  and 
Rev.  James  Snodsfrass.  on  the  west  side  of  the 


river,  who  preached  occasionally  at  Newman's 
Creek.  Of  the  early  Presbyterians  tiie  names 
of  Porter,  Lytle,  McCaughey,  McDowell,  Fulton, 
Mo'reEead,  'VVilkins,  Alban,  Whitcraft.  Tate  and 
many  others,  Scotch,  Irish  and  the  descend- 
ants of  Scotch-Irish  Presljj'terians,  from  West- 
ern Pennsylvania,  will  alwa3's  be  found  promi- 
nent. In  June,  1812,  the  cliurch  was  reiUDVed  to 
Fulton,  Rev.  Jonas  Denton  being  Pastor,  and 
James  Lee,  Richard  Porter,  William  Alban,  and 
Thomas  Ritchie,  Elders.  During  the  long  period 
that  has  elapsed  since  the  organization  of  New- 
man's Creek  Presbyterian  Church,  being  more 
than  sixty  years,  the  Presbyterians  have  had 
the  stated  preaching  of  the  Gospel  in  the  town- 
ship, and  are  now  growing  and  increasing 
under  the  ministry  of  Rev.  Mr.  Carson  ;  D.  C. 
McDowell.  Andrew  Lytle  and  John  Porter, 
Elders.  — 

In  1826,  under  the  impetus  given  to  the  im- 
provement of  the  country  generally,  by  the  lo- 
cating of  the  Ohio  Canal,  the  village  of  Fulton 
was  laid  out  b}'  William  Christmas  and  Jamjs 
W.  Lathrop,  both  of  whom  resided  at  Canton, 
and  was,  on  the  opening  of  canal  navigation,  a 
most  important  point  for  the  purchasing  of 
produce  of  all  kinds.  Among  its  merchants, 
the  first  was  Henry  A.  Stidger,  a  nephew  of 
Gen.  George  Stidger,  one  of  the  first  rasrchants 
of  Canton,  and  also  an  Associate  Judge  ;  he, 
however,  did  not  remain.  He  went  to  Carroll- 
ton,  in  Carroll  County,  where  he  has  remained, 
having  been  a  prominent  citizen  of  that  county 
seat  ever  since  its  organization.  During  his 
long  residence  in  that  county  he  has  been  Brig- 
adier General,  and  held  other  oiiiees  of  distinc- 
tion, and  it  is  said  of  him  that  he  has  on  hand 
some  of  the  identical  goods  which  stocked  his 
store  in  Fulton,  fifty  six  3-ears  ago. 

The  Ohio  Canal,  when  opened  from  Cleveland 
to  Massillon,  in  1828,  was  the  great  highway 
and  medium  of  transportation  through  the  State 
of  Ohio,  as  far  as  finished.  It  brought  a  new 
people  into  the  State,  especially  along  its  line, 
some  of  whom  were  of  the  hardy  adventurers 
who,  years  before,  had  been  traders  up  the 
Cuyahoga,  from  Cleveland  to  the  Cuyahoga 
Portage,  across  the  Portage  to  the  head-waters 
of  the  Tuscarawas,  and  down  that  river  through 
the  navigable  streams  already  described,  as  far 
as  interest  or  enterprise  might  offer  induce- 
ments to  go.  Once  on  the  Tuscarawas,  as  far 
south  as  Clinton,  in  Franklin  Township,  in  the 


-^ 


LAVVRKXCE   TOWN-SIIIP. 


now  county  of  Smninit,  the  via.y  was  open  to 
New  Orleans  and  the  (iiilf.  One  trader,  who 
used  to  boast  of  liis  enterprise  and  success,  was 
Capt.  Henry  Chirke.  well  recollected  by  the 
writer,  in  ISliti,  as  an  explorer  along  the  line  of 
the  canal,  and  afterwanl  as  a  hotel-keeper  at 
New  I'ortage  and  the  now  city  of  Akron.  Capt. 
Clarke,  in  telling  his  experience,  on  one  occasion 
while  the  building  of  the  canal  was  progressing, 
said  he  had  transported  salt  from  Cleveland  up 
the  Cuyahoga  in  canoes,  and  packed  it  in  sacks 
on  horseback  over  the  I'ortage,  an<l  taken  it 
down  the  Tuscarawas  Valley  and  sold  it  out 
by  the  half-pint  to  the  retailers.  Those  who 
remember  Capt.  Henry  Clarke  will  recognize 
the  likeness  of  the  man  in  the  story  just  re- 
lated. 

Prominent  among  the  (^arly  business  and 
successful  operators  in  Fulton  was  the  late 
John  Uobinson,  Ksq.  Mr.  Robinson  was  trained 
to  the  profession  and  business  of  a  merchant, 
under  tlie  care  of  Judge  William  Henry,  com- 
mencing his  apprenticeship  in  the  brick  build- 
ing on  the  extension  of  Cherry  street,  in  the 
now  city  of  Massillon,  as  early  as  1823.  On 
the  locating  of  the  canal  and  the  laj'ing  out  of 
Fulton.  Judge  Henry,  with  that  shrewdness 
that  marked  his  character,  established  Mr. 
Robinson  in  business,  the  lirm  being  J.  Robin- 
sou  <fc  Co.  Mr.  Robinson,  being  a  man  of  strict 
business  habits,  and  e(iually  strict  in  all  other 
respects,  commailded  the  business  of  the  entire 
surrounding  country,  including  the  northern 
part  of  Wayne  0>unty.  The  post  ofiice. 
which  had  been  originally  kept  by  iVmzi  D. 
Mecse,  and  while,  in  his  hands,  discon- 
tinued, was  re-established,  and  Mr.  Robinson 
appointed  I'ostmaster,  and  Fulton  took  a  start 
and  attained  a  prominence  as  a  business  point, 
that  it  has  kept.  Many  of  the  best  buildings 
for  business  purposes  in  the  village,  and  which 
gave  the  plac^e  a  start,  were  erected  by  Mr. 
Robinson,  or  through  liis  influence.  In  18:56, 
he  purchased  the  interest  of  Judge  Henry,  who 
had  never  advanced  any  capital,  or  if  any,  it 
was  merely  nominal,  and  continued  business 
in  his  own  name  up  to  to  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurn^d  in  the  city  of  I'hiladelphia, 
April  14,  18t;o. 

The  merchant  longest  in  l)usincss  in  Fulton 
at  this  time  is  John  Mobley.  vvho  has  resided 
there  forty-six  years,  and  has  succeeded  amid 
all  the   chansies  of  almost   half  a  century,  and 


may  be  said  to  bo  one  of  the  ancient  land- 
marks by  which  the  existence  of  i''ulton  may 
be  established. 

In  1858,  a  general  law  was  passed  liy  the 
General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Ohio,  author- 
izing the  forming  of  municipal  incori)orations, 
and  the  citizens  of  Fulton  availed  themselves 
of  its  provisions  and  became  an  incorporated 
village,  including  tin-  old  town  of  Milan,  under 
the  name  of  the  Incorporati^d  Village  of  Ful- 
ton, since  which  its  growth  has  [h-ou  steady 
and  permanent. 

The  first  lawyer  in  Fulton  was  the  late  William 
51.  Cunningham,  Ksq.,  who  opened  an  office  in 
1842  ;  was  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  acvpiired 
prf)perty  ;  removed  to  Akron,   where   he  died. 

The  first  teacher  of  a  school  in  the  township 
was  Alexandei'  Porter,  who  opened  a  school  in 
a  log  house,  built  on  the  farm  of  William 
Alban  in  1816.  It  seems  he  taught  but  one 
year,  when  George  Waggoner  took  charge  of  the 
school,  and  wielded  the  birch  and  ferule,  as  the 
backs  of  the  boys  bore  witness.  Next  to  him 
was  Stephen  Casscl,  who  was  First  Lieutenant  of 
the  Kendal  Rifle  Blues,  and  was  a  man  of  taste 
and  culture  ;  he  removed  to  Holmes  County, 
and  remained  until  his  life's  work  ended. 

An  important  item  in  the  history  of  Fulton 
is  the  Stark  County  Orphans'  Institute,  a  cor- 
rect history  of  which  has  ne\ei-  been  written, 
and  probably  never  will  be.  The  following, 
however,  is  believed  to  be  as  nearl}-  correct  as 
will  ever  appear  :  In  1837  or  1838.  there  came 
to  the  then  village  of -Massillon  :i  merchant  by 
the  name  of  Osec  Welch,  and  a  certain  Dr. 
John  (!ook  Bennett;  there  came  also  a  produce 
dealer  from  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  bj"  the  name  of 
Henry  Roop.  who  had  a  brother  residing  in 
Paris,  Stark  County,  Ohio,  and  who  had  resided 
there  many  ^-ears.  There  was  also  in  existence, 
at  that  time,  an  institution  known  as  the  Gran- 
ville Alexandrian  Society,  having  a  charter  as 
a  literary  society,  which  was  granted  early  in 
1807,  and  during  the  mania  for  banking,  at  the 
close  of  the  war  of  1812,  it  was  claimed  that 
the  Library  Company  of  Granville  had  banking 
powers,  and  it  at  once  commenced  to  exercise 
those  powers  by  opening  an  office  of  discount 
and  deposit.  In  the  (trash  which  followed  the 
chartering  of  the  Hank  ol'thc  I'nited  States,  in 
1810.  the  Granville  Alexandrian  Society,  and 
the  bank  established  under  the  provisions  of  its 
charter,   went   down   with   a   crash.      Bv   some 


^^ 


^V 


means,  Henry  Roop  got  possession  of  the  char- 
ter, and  under  it  re-organized  the  Bank  of  Gran- 
ville, and  it  appeared  to  be  a  success.  Dr. 
Bennett  and  Osee  Welch,  seeing  the  probable 
success  of  Roop's  eflbrt,  got  a  charter  through 
the  Ohio  Legislature  for  "  The  Universal  School 
of  Massillon."  Bennett  got  into  extremely  bad 
odor  and  left  for  parts  unknown,  and  was  not 
iieard  of  for  many  years,  when  he  turned  up  as 
Maj.  Gen.  John  Cook  Bennett,  Commander-in- 
Chief  of  the  Nauvoo  Legion.  He  had  joined 
the  Mormons  at  Nauvoo  ;  he  made  an  unsavory 
record  there,  renounced  JMormonism  and  wrote 
a  book  disclosing  the  iniquities  of  the  Latter- 
Day  Saints.  The  appearance  of  the  book  was 
the  last  that  is  known  of  Maj.  Gen.  John  Cook 
Bennett,  M.  D.,  and  Commander-in-Chief  of  the 
Nauvoo  Legion. 

The  charter  of  the  "  Universal  School  of  Mas- 
sillon," not  being  sufficiently  liberal  to  allow 
all  that  Osee  Welch  desired  as  a  banking  insti- 
tution, a  new  charter  was  obtained  for  the 
Stark  County  Orphans'  Institute.  The  object 
as  expressed  in  the  charter  was  to  found  an  in- 
stitution for  the  benefit  of  orphans,  somewhat 
upon  the  plan  of  the  Charity  School  of  Kendal. 
The  first,  almost,  that  the  public  knew  of  its 
existence  was  the  issuing  of  paper  of  the  like- 
ness and  similitude  of  bank  notes  dated  at 
Fulton,  liy  wiiich  the  "Stark  County  Orphans'  In- 
stitute" promised  to  pay  the  amount  therein 
named  to  the  bearer.  It  being  an  unauthorized 
banking  institution,  the  paper  would  not  circu- 
late ;  Welch  was  unable  to  give  it  credit,  having 
none  of  that  article  on  hand  for  himself  Another 
difficulty  was  a  defect  in  the  engraving  ;  the 
notes  were  dated  at  Fulton,  but  the  name  of 
the  State  was  left  off,  and  the  affair  seemed  to 
be  still-born.  It  was  not  long,  however,  until 
new  notes  were  engraved,  dated  at  Fulton,  Ohio, 
in  which  the  "  Orphan  Institute's  Bank  ''  prom- 
ised to  pay,  etc.  Welch,  who  was  the  first 
President,  seemed  to  have  stepped  down  and 
out.  Marvin  Oviatt,  of  Medina  County,  was 
President  and  John  Black,  Cashier.  Almost 
every  farmer  in  the  neighborhood  and  many  in 
the  neighboring  townships  of  Baughman,  Greene 
and  Chippewa,  in  Wayne  County,  were  induced 
to  take  stock  in  the  bank,  and  in  order  that  all 
should  go  right,  new  men  were  to  have  the 
management.  A  man  by  the  name  of  Richard 
Huliljell,  represented  to  be  a  capitalist  of  almost 
fabulous  wealth,  was  to  be  the   manager,   but 


the  plan  would  not  nor  did  not  succeed.  Many 
of  the  honest  and  unsuspecting  farmers  who 
went  into  it  were  ruined.  In  1842,  suits  were 
commenced  against  them  under  the  provisions 
of  an  old  law  then  in  force,  prohibiting  unau- 
thorized banking,  and  finally  the  Stark  County 
Orphans'  Institute,  and  the  Orphan  Institute's 
Bank,  with  all  its  assets,  real  and  personal, 
were  sold  Dut  by  the  Sheriff.  More  than  forty 
years  have  elapsed  since  the  events  connected 
with  the  institution  transpired.  Most  of  those 
who  were  connected  with  the  unfortunate  affair 
are  dead.  Their  last  days  were  embittered  l)y 
relentless  claimants,  who  brought  suit  in  all 
the  counties  of  the  State  wherein  service  of  proc- 
ess could  be  had  upon  them.  Many  were  re- 
duced from  a  competence  to  poverty.  Welch 
took  the  benefit  of  the  Bankrupt  Act  of  1841, 
and  finally  removed  to  Galena,  111.,  and  has 
been  dead  many  jears.  It  took  a  long  time 
for  Fulton  and  the  surrounding  neighborhood 
to  recover  from  the  paralysis  occasioned  bj'  the 
effort  to  establish  a  bank  without  authority  of 
law  and  without  pecuniary  responsibilit\-.  It 
has,  however,  long  since  recovered,  and  is  the 
peer  of  an^'  village  of  its  population — now 
about  twelve  hundred — in  Ohio.  Its  railway 
connections  and  mineral  and  agricultural  sur- 
roundings assure  its  continued  prosperity.  The 
township  contains  several  hamlets  erected  by 
miners,  principal  among  which  are  Youngstown 
Hill,  Maple  Grove,  and  Williamsburg,  which 
includes  Aberdeen  Coal  Mines. 

The  village  of  Lawrence,  laid  out  in  1852, 
by  the  late  Hon.  Arnold  Lynch  and  Philip 
McCue,  Esq.,  on  the  southwest  and  southeast 
(juarters  of  Section  20,  is  a  village  of  grow- 
ing importance.  It  is  situate  on  both  sides  of 
the  Pittsburgh,  Fort  Wayne  &  Chicago  Rail- 
way, and  is  known  in  the  list  of  post  offices  as 
North  Lawrence. 

Among  the  men  of  decided  prominence  in 
this  township,  of  a  later  period,  Cyrus  Young 
will  occupy  an  important  position  on  the  his- 
toric stage.  He  was,  perhaps,  as  well  known  to 
the  writer  as  to  any  person  in  the  county,  out  of 
his  own  family  or  immediate  connections.  Mr. 
Young  was  descended  from  one  of  the  oldest  fam- 
ilies in  Jackson  Township.  His  grandfather, 
Frederick  Young,  was  born  in  Bedford  County, 
Penn.,  in  1777,  and  moved  from  there  to  Jackson  \ 
Township,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  and  settled  near  Mud 
Brook,  where  he  lived  until  his  death.     Adam 


V 


,t^ 


I, A  WltK.XCE   TOWNSHIP. 


Yoiini;,-  fallun-  of  Cyrus  Yonii^:.  was  born  in 
Bedford  County.  Penn.,  Decenihor  28,  17!)9, 
and  eamo  to  Ohio,  wiiere  he  resided  with  his 
father  until  twenty -six  years  of  ago,  when  he 
was  married  to  Christina  Sprankel.  wiiose 
m:\iden  name  was  Kirk,  a  sister  of  Jacob  Kirk, 
one  of  the  first  two  Justices  of  the  Peaee  elect- 
ed in  Jackson  Township.  Mrs.  Young's  first 
husband  is  supposed  to  have  been  Christian 
Sprankel.  who  was  killed  by  the  falling  of  a  tree. 
Bv  iier  marriage  with  Adam  Young  she  had 
two  children — Cyrus  Young  and  Julia  A.  Young, 
now  Julia  A.  Myers.  On  removing  into  Law- 
rence Township.  Adam  Young  lived  for  a  short 
time  near  the  mill  erected  by  Col.  William  (^oudy, 
on  Newman's  Creek,  since  owned  by  Leonard 
Kerstettei.  Alexander  Culbertson.  John  Spran- 
kel and  others.  After  leaving  that  place,  he 
removed  to  the  farm  known  as  the  Stauflfer 
farm,  in  1827;  resided  there  two  years,  when 
he  purchased  the  "Old  Young  Farm."  now 
owned  by  John  Myers,  Esq..  where  he  resided 
until  his  death.  Cvrus  Y^oung  was  born  in 
Jackson  Township  October  23,  1824.  and  lived 
with  his  parents  in  a  log  cabin  until  eighteen 
years  of  age.  taught  school  from  seventeen 
until  nineteen  years  of  age,  went  to  Indiana 
and  taught  one  winter,  then  returned  and 
followed  farming  until  twenty-four  years  of 
age.  In  1848.  he  was  married  to  Margaret 
Sheafl'er.  and  followed  farming  and  threshing 
with  a  machine  until  18,53.  when  he  moved  to 
the  farm  on  which  he  died,  and  whicli  was 
known  as  the  old  Kerstetter  farm,  and  one  of 
the  first  cleared  up  after  the  organization  of  the 
townshi)).  The  following  notice  of  Mr.  Young's 
death  appeared  in  the  Massillon  Awrn'cini  of 
April  27.  1881.  and  is  deemed  worthy  of  a  place 
in  the  history  of  the  townslii[). 


YoiTNo.— Wednesday,  April  20,  1881.  in  Lawrence 
Township,  Stark  County.  Ohio,  Cyrus  Young,  Esq.. 
in  the  57th  ^-ear  of  his  age. 

The  death  of  ilr.  Young  occurred  under  circum- 
.stances  so  peculiarly  distressing  a.s  to  almost  ren 
der  description  impossible.  In  the  morning  of  the 
day  of  his  death  he  was  seen  on  the  streets  of  this 
city,  attending  to  his  ordinaiy  l)usiness  and  in  usual 
heidth,  and  went  from  here  to  Lawrence  to  attend 
to  so.nie  l)usincss  in  connection  with  the  ruiniiiig  of 
a  portable  sawmill  near  that  place,  and  wliile.  as  is 
siip|iosed.  endeavoring  to  adjust  some  of  the  niaeliin- 
cry  eiiiHiected  with  tlie  steam  engine,  his  clothing 
was  e:iuglit.  and  he  was  drawn  in  and  crushed  to 
deatli  ill  less  time  than  can  he  imagine<l.     Leaving 


his  house  and  lioniein  the  niorniug,  in  perfect  liealth, 
he  was  taken  back  before  noon— a  corpse!  Althougli 
there  were  tlu-ee  persons,  at  least,  about  the  mill, 
not  one  saw  the  terrible  accident,  and  how  it  oc- 
curred is  left  to  tlieories  lliat  may,  or  may  not,  be 
correct. 

Such  was  the  niiiidity  with  which  the  machinery 
was  running  that  he  was  stripped  of  all  his  cloth- 
ing, except  his  iieik-hiuidkerc.hicf  and  a  small  por- 
tion of  his  uiidenlolluini.  Mr.  Y'oung  was  a  native 
of  .Jackson  Township:  born  October  23,  1824.  By 
means  of  large  eoal  interests,  he  had  acquired  an 
ample  fortune,  consisting  of  farms  in  Stark,  Wayne 
and  Medina  Counties,  and  heavy  coal  interests  in 
Stark  County  and  in  Hocking  Valley,  the  entire 
value  of  which  is  variously  estimated.  He  was  a 
man  of  positive  character  lind  more  than  ordinaiy 
native  ability.  Starting  out  in  life  without  any 
means,  or  but  little,  and  inariying  early,  he  met  his 
responsibilities  by  liard  labor. "in  which  he  was  aided 
bv  a  most  faithful  and  excellent  wife.  who.  with 
nine  cliildieii,  survives  him,  and  who.  in  their  sorrow- 
stricken  condition,  have  tlu'  sympathy  of  hosts  of 
friends.  Few  gentlemen,  iiiiy  wliere,  have  any  more 
of  life's  comforts  aroiiii<l  theiii  than  had  Mr.  Votnig, 
and  no  one  provided  for  his  large  family  with  more 
princely  generosity,  'fakeii  away  in  the  prime  of 
his  life,  he  leaves,  in  his  circle  of  relatives  and 
friends,  a  void  that  can  never  be  filled.  On  Sabbath 
day  his  remains  were  laid  away  in  the  cemetery  in 
this  city,  in  the  picseiice  of  aii  immense  concourse 
of  people  from  city  and  coimtry,  and  where 

'■  Till'  tioly  calm  tliiU  breuttios  around 

i^UU  every  tlerco,  teiiipehtllous  pnHBion  ceasf*; 

In  stin,  sTniill  iiccenta.  wlii-pering  from  the  ground, 
A  gnileful  fiirnest  of  eternal  peace, 

"  No  fnrth'-r  seek  Ilia  merits  to  disclose. , 
Or  draw  liis  frailti.  s  from  tlie:r  dread  abr.de; 

There  thev  alike  in  tr.  mblinf  h'P"  repose. 
The  l.isom  ..f  I. is  Father  and  his  G..d  " 

On  moving  on  to  the  Kerstetter  farm,  which 
which  was  the  southeast  quarter  of  Section  36, 
Mr.  Young  soon  ascertained  that  he  had  a  fortune 
iu  the  far-famed  Massillon  coal.  Mines  were 
opened  on  the  tract  which  yielded  sufficiently  to 
lay  the  foundation  of  the  fortiiiu'  wliici  Mr. 
Young  had  at  the  time  of  his  dc^ath  which  was 
very  large,  there  being  few  in  the  county  equal 
to  it. 

Another  family  prominent  in  the  settlement 
anil  organization  of  the  township  was  that  of 
Hichard  Hardgrove,  who  settled  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Tuscarawas  River  in  1812.  He  was 
one  of  the  first  two  Constables  elected  iu  the 
township,  and  held  other  important  positions, 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1843.  He 
left  a  large  family  of  sons  and  daughters, 
many  of  whom  still  reside  in  the  township. 

The  brothers  William  and  John  Shcaffer 
were  among  the  earliest  settlers  in  the  town- 
ship, after  its  organization.     John  was  one  of 


^- 


402 


HISTORY   or    STARK    COUNTY. 


I  the  earliest  Abolitionists  in  the  township.  On 
the  subject  of  human  slavery  he  was  outspoken, 
I  and  aided  in  organizing  the  old  Free  Soil  and 
j  Liberty  Party  in  tlie  county,  of  whom  so  few 
are  left.  These  brothers  were  farmers,  and  did 
I  as  much  to  give  character  to  the  township  as 
I   any  whose  names  are  found  on  its  I'ecords. 

Fulton,  like  every  other  place  where  the 
I  ubiquitious  newspaper  has  a  "local  habitation 
I  and  a  name, "  lias  been  called  on  to  witness  the 
I  changes  that  follow  in  the  wake  of  that  great 
factor  in  advancing  civilization.  In  these  lat- 
j  ter  days,  no  one  thinks  of  being  without  his 
I  newspaper,  daily  nr  weekly,  as  circumstances 
I  maj'  justify. 

I  In  1S72,  a  Mr.  Roberts,  from  somewhere  in 
Richland  County,  commenced  the  publication 
of  a  weekly  newspaper  at  Fulton,  called  the 
Times,  but  being  without  means,  did  not  get 
I  beyond  tiie  third  number,  and  it  is  said  that 
the  thiee  numbers  he  did  issue  were  printed  at 
I  other  offices,  and  tiiat  ended  the  initial  enter- 


prise. In  July.  1873,  a  stock  company  was 
formed,  known  as  "The  Herald  I'ulilisliing 
Company;''  A.  J.  Baughman,of  Manstield,  Ohio, 
was  secured  as  editor  and  general  business 
manager.  He  published  the  Fulton  Herald  for 
two  3ears,  l)Ut  giving  little  attention  to  the 
business,  the  Hinthl  went  the  way  of  the 
Times,  and  ceased  to  exist.  Its  circulation 
was  always  light.  In  August,  1875,  J.  P. 
Yockey,  Escj.,  took  the  material  of  the  old  office, 
added  to  it  a  complete  outfit  for  a  job  office, 
and  other  new  material,  and  commenced  the 
publication  of  the  Fulton  SiynaJ,  and  has 
continued  it  and  made  it  a  success.  By  close 
attention  to  his  paper,  he  has  got  a  steadily  in- 
creased subscription  list,  does  good  job  work, 
and  is  doing  a  paying  business.  The  SignaJ 
has  become  an  important  factor  in  the  business 
relations  of  Fulton,  and  will  retain  its  position 
while  under  the  management  of  its  present 
energetic  editor  and  proprietor. 


CIIAl'TEU    XIX. 


NIMISHILLEN  TOWN.SHIP  —  ITS    EARLY    SETTLEMENT  —  NAM KS  OF  THE  I'lO.NEKKS  —  LNCIDENT.S — 
RELFGIOX  AND  EDUC.VnO.V— E  VRLY   FRENCH    SET I'LKyiS -TOWNS,   Er(.;..   ETC. 


"  I  love  everything  that's  old— old  friends. 
Old  times,  old  manners,  old  books,  old  wine." 

—  OohUmith. 

"I^IMISHILLEX  was  named  after  the  creek 
1  \i  which  takes  its  rise  mainly  in  the  town- 
ship. There  is  a  tradition  that  the  stream  was 
named  from  the  black  alder  which  grew  verj- 
abundantly  along  the  bank,  the  Indian  name  of 
which  is  said  to  be  Missilla.  Prefix  to  this 
word  ni,  which  probably  meant  stream,  or 
water,  and  you  have  Nimissilla,  since  changed 
into  Nimishillen.  Col.  Bouquet,  a  British 
officer  stationed  at  Fort  Pu  Quesne  (now  Pitts- 
burgh), in  his  published  narrative  of  an  expe- 
dition through  this  section  in  17()4.  gives  the 
orthography  of  the  stream  as  Keiiienchelus. 
Whatever  ma3-  have  been  the  original  meaning 
of  this  word,  it  was  evidently  the  one  from 
which  the  present  name  has  been  derived. 

The  first  settler  in  the  township   was  John 
Bowers,  from  Maryland.    He  entered  the  south  i 


half  of  Section  32  in  1805.  and  in  the  following 
spring,  moved  out  with  his  family,  and  com- 
menced an  improvement  on  the  east  quarter. 
In  the  winter  of  180(5-7,  his  son  John,  then  a 
stout  boy,  was  taken  sick  with  a  fever.  There 
was  no  physician  within  reach,  and,  as  the  boy 
grew  worse,  and  the  family  had  exhausted 
their  efforts  to  relieve  him  without  success, 
the}-  sent  for  the  few  distant  neighbors,  who 
were  prompt  to  respond  to  the  call.  Their 
added  experience  and  domestic  remedies  proved 
alike  unavailing,  aud  the  poor  boy  died.  It 
was  a  terrible  shock  to  the  familj'.  The  mother 
blamed  it  all  upon  the  new  country,  and  re- 
gretted having  left  their  Eastern  home.  In 
this  their  hour  of  affiiction.  the  neighbors  were 
doubly  kind,  and  did  what  they  could  to  con- 
sole them.  A  rough  coffin  was  made  out  of 
an  old  wagon  box,  and  the  boj'  buried  in  the 
woods,  some  distance  from  the  cabin.  It  was 
a  solemn  occasion,  long  remembered  by  the  few 
in  attendance.     A    tiee   was  cut  so  as  to  fall 


^^ 


M': 


'\iL 


NIMI8HILLEN   TOWNSHIP. 


463 


across  tho  grave,  in  order  to  protect  the  body 
from  tile  \voh"es.  Bowers  sold  this  quarter  to 
BoUiuger,  and  made  a  settlemcut  upou  the  ad- 
joining quarter  west.  While  here,  he  was 
elected  County  Coramissiouer,  and  afterward 
Ta.\  Collector,  when  the  ottice  was  distinct  from 
that  of  Treasurer.  He  is  yet  remembereil  pass- 
ing over  the  counliy  from  house  to  house  with 
a  cylindrical  tin  bo.'v  strapped  on  his  back,  col- 
lecting the  taxes.  Some  j-ears  later,  he  sold 
the  balance  of  his  laud,  and  purchased  a  small 
improved  tract  in  Canton  Township,  where  he 
died.     He  was  buried  in  Osnaburg. 

John  (rans,  of  Fayette  County,  Peun.,  en- 
tered the  southeast  quarter  of  Section  3,  in 
180U,  and  settled  thereon  same  year  with  his 
family,  consisting  of  a  wife  and  four  children. 
His  son  Benjamin,  now  a  resident  of  hake,  was 
born  in  Nimishillen  in  1807.  Mr.  (ians  belonged 
to  the  religious  sect  known  as  Tunkers 
(from  the  (Jerman  tuulccu,  to  dip),  more  prop- 
ei'ly,  (Jenuan  Bai)tists.  He  was  a  preacher 
among  them,  and  a  man  of  consideraable 
influence,  (^uite  a  number  of  the  same  de- 
nomination followed  him  from  Pennsylvania, 
and  settled  in  central  and  eastern  portions  of 
the  county.  The  Tunkers  are  a  peculiar  peo- 
ple ;  don't  vote  or  have  au3-thing  to  do  with 
politics ;  avoid  lawsuits,  and  in  giving  testi- 
monj-.  do  not  swear,  but  always  atHrm.  They 
are  opposed  to  war,  and  evade  a  draft.  Usually 
wear  the  hair  and  beard  long  from  a  sense  of 
religious  duty,  and  the  dress  of  both  sexes  is 
always  plain,  and  never  changed  to  conform  to 
a  popular  fashion.  As  a  class,  they  have  not 
had  a  very  high  appreciation  of  education, 
especially  an  educated  ministry,  believing  the 
Lord  would  inspire.  It  was  their  custom  to 
hold  preaching  in  barns.  Latterly,  they  have 
taken  to  church  buikhngs  of  plain  construc- 
tion, and  favor  a  more  liberal  etlucation. 

The  .Mathias  brothers.  Daniel  and  Jacob, 
and  their  father,  then  a  widower,  came  the 
same  year  and  from  the  same  county  in  Penn- 
sylvania as  did  Gans  :  they  settled  on  Section 
14.  Inloading  their  cooking  and  farming 
utensils,  the  families  h!c(>ttncki<t  under  a  tree, 
until  the  men  erected  a  cabin.  In  October. 
180G.  a  child  was  born  to  Mrs.  Daniel  Mathias. 
the  first  white  child  born  in  the  township. 
Henry  Sanor  made  an  opening  on  the  same 
section.  Fie  and  Jacob  Mathias  often  told  the 
story   of  hearing  the  sound  of  a   horn   in    the 


north,  when  the  wind  was  from  that  direction, 
and  how  they  were  puzzled  to  know  whence  it 
came,  or  what  it  meant.  At  length  they  deter- 
mined to  find  out.  So  one  Suuda}-  morning, 
they  started  in  the  direction  they  had  heard 
the  sound,  and  with  an  ax  blazed  their  course 
on  both  sides  of  trees  they  passed,  that  XX\ny 
might  be  able  to  tinil  their  way  back.  In  this 
way,  they  proceeded  between  three  and  four 
miles  as  they  supposed,  when  they  heard  a  dog 
bark.  Following  this  sound,  they  came  to  the 
clearing  and  habitation  of  Jesse  VVileman,  and 
his  son  Mahlon,  which  place  is  now  in  Marl- 
borough Township.  They  had  been  there  some 
weeks,  and  thinking  there  must  be  other  emi- 
grants settling  in  the  vicinity,  they  bethought 
themselves  of  occasionally"  blowing  the  horn, 
in  order  to  communicate  to  others  tlieir  wherea- 
bouts. 

At  this  period,  Indians  were  njamiug  over 
the  country,  and  during  the  season  of  hunting 
and  fishing,  it  was  their  custom  to  camp  along 
the  creek.  They  were  inoffensive,  but  persist- 
ent beggars.  They  were  particularly  fond  of 
whisky,  and  when  once  indulged  with  a  taste, 
there  was  no  cessation  to  their  importunities 
for  more  "  whisk,"  as  they  called  it.  Daniel 
Mathias  brought  a  keg  of  several  gallons  trom 
Pennsylvania.  On  the  occasion  of  a  call  from 
several  of  the  tribe,  he  treated  them  each  to  a 
drink.  This  soon  spread  among  the  rest,  and 
it  was  not  long  until  he  was  besiegeil  by  such 
numbers  that  liis  supply  of  the  stimulant  was 
soon  exhausted  ;  nor  would  they  accept  his 
statement  that  he  had  no  more,  until  he  ex- 
hibited the  empty  keg,  when  they  made  fruit- 
less etlbrts  to  eke  out  a  few  more  drops. 

There  was  an  Indian  trail  running  east  and 
west,  that  passed  through  the  township.  John 
Thomiis,  a  resident  of  Columbiana  County,  with 
the  help  granted  by  the  Commissioners,  had  this 
trail  widened  so  as  to  make  it  passable  for 
teams.  It  was  afterward  known  as  the 
'■  Thomas  Itoad,"  and  was  the  first  highway 
through  the  county.  Much  of  the  road  still 
remains  in  use,  from  Lexington,  tin  Freeburg 
and  Louisville,  to  Canton.  I'enticost  &  Scott, 
reputed  lawyers,  but  more  properly  land  specu- 
lators, laid  out  a  town  on  this  road,  on  the 
southeast  quarter  of  Section  28,  and  called  it 
■  Ximishillentown."  Daniel  L.  McClure.  the  sur- 
veyor, made  a  beautiful  plat  of  the  town, 
which    was  exhibited    to   everylwdv    from   the 


4(i4 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


east  as  the  count}-  seat  of  the  new  county  of 
Stark.  It  was  laid  off  in  rectangular  form,  with 
wide  streets,  a  large  square  in  the  center  in- 
tended for  the  court  house  and  jail,  and  other 
lots  appropriated  for  church  and  school  pur- 
poses. They  erected  a  large  story  and  a  half 
log  house,  which  did  not  have  a  single  piece  of 
sawed  timber;  all  was  split  and  hewn.^  The 
enterprise  proved  a  failure,  mainly  because  it 
was  considered  too  far  away  from  the  center  of 
the  county.  The  ground  was  level,  had  been 
cleaned  of  all  underbrush,  and  for  years,  during 
the  summer  months,  was  a  place  of  resort  on 
Sundays  for  the  young  men  and  boys  living 
miles  around,  to  play  ball  and  pitch  quoits. 

Henry  Loutzenheiser  and  John  Rupert,  broth- 
ers-in-law, from  Westmoreland  County,  Penn., 
came  out  in  the  summer  of  1807.  and.  with  the 
help  of  a  hireling,  made  a  clearing  on  the  south- 
west quarter  of  Section  11,  and  erected  a  cabin 
about  twelve  feet  square.  Rupert  made  a  clear- 
ing on  the  adjoining  quarter,  and  built  a  cabin 
the  same  year.  Loutzenheiser  sold  his  land  a 
few  3'ears  after  to  Martin  Houser,  who  had  been 
a  soldier  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and 
bought  the  quarter  section  with  all  of  Ximi 
shillentown.  Michael  Rupert,  uncle  of  Henry 
Loutzenheiser.  married  or  lived  with  an  In- 
dian squaw  ;  she  had  by  him  several  children. 
His  brother,  .Alartin  Rupert,  and  cousin,  Martin 
Houser,  were  both  taken  prisoners  during  the 
Revolutionary  war  by  the  Indians,  while  driv- 
ing cattle  to  the  ai'my. 

In  1825,  Henry  Loutzenheiser  built  the  two- 
story  brick  house  yet  standing  in  Louisville, 
the  first  building  of  brick  in  the  township.  For 
many  years  he  kept  tavern  here,  sign  of  the 
spread  eagle  ;  the  house  was  well  known,  and 
was  a  popular  stopping-place  for  travelers.  At 
that  day,  most  of  the  traveling  was  on  horse- 
back, and  the  usual  charges  for  man  and  lieast 
over  night — supper,  breakfast  and  lodging.  :md 
two  horse  feeds — was  50  cents.  The  hicalitj- 
was  known  as  "  Loistzenheiser's,'  and  was  one 
of  the  places  where  "  general  muster  "  was  held 
at  stated  periods.  John  Augustine  was  the 
General ;  David  Bair.  of  Paris  Tow-nship,  the 
Colonel,  and  Henry  Loutzenheiser,  Major. 
Those  were  gala  days,  both  for  old  and  young. 
The  parade  usuallj-  closed  with  a  few  figlits, 
and  in  the  evening  there  would  be  a  dance. 

Henry  Loutzenheiser  was  the  father  of  twen- 
ty-tive    children,   all   living   at  one    time  ;    the 


product  of  three  wives.  Notwithstanding  latter- 
day  achievements,  this  feat  stands  unrivaled 
in  the  history  of  Stark  County.  His  first  wife 
was  Elizabeth  Rupert ;  second.  Polly  Hoover  ; 
third,  Polly  Spangler.  Daniel  Brown,  living 
on  Section  25,  same  township,  was  the  father 
of  eighteen  cLiildren.  During  the  summer  of 
1814,  two  of  them,  a  boy  and  girl,  the  former 
eight,  and  the  latter  ten,  were  lost  in  the  woods. 
Thej'  were  sent  to  bring  up  the  cows.  Taking 
a  path  which  led  in  tiie  direction  where  the 
cattle  were  in  the  habit  of  grazing,  they  came 
to  where  it  forked.  Here  they  disputed  which 
was  the  right  path,  and  as  thej"  would  not 
agree,  separated.  It  appears  both  were  mis- 
taken, as  neither  led  in  the  direction  of  the 
cattle.  As  a  consequence,  both  of  the  children 
wandered  on  until  lost,  neither  being  able  to 
find  the  way  home.  The  cattle  returned  with- 
out them.  The  parents,  becoming  alarnied  at 
their  long  absence,  started  to  find  them.  Night 
overtaking  them,  they  aroused  the  neighbors, 
and  everybodj'  that  was  able  and  could  be 
spared  turned  out.  Through  the  long  and 
dreary  night  they  kept  up  a  din  of  noises,  by 
shouting  and  blowing  horns,  in  the  hope  of  at- 
tracting the  children,  but  no  response  came. 
It  was  feared  they  had  fallen  a  prej-  to  some 
wild  beast,  as  at  that  time  there  were  bears, 
panthers  and  wolves  roaming  the  forest.  Day- 
light came,  and  yet  no  tidings.  More  persons 
were  procured,  and  the  search  continued.  About 
noon,  the  boy  was  found  at  a  cabin,  in  the  east- 
ern part  of  Washington  Township,  which  place 
he  had  reached  but  a  short  time  before.  The 
girl  was  not  found  until  the  .second  day,  and 
when  first  seen  was  in  a  thicket  gathering  lier- 
ries,  apparently  as  unconcerned  as  though  she 
had  just  left  home.  When  questioned  about 
how  she  had  spent  the  nights,  her  reply  was, 
that  she  had  slept  on  a  bed  of  leaves.  It  ap- 
peared that  she  anticipated  being  looked  for, 
and  was  apparentlj'  very  little  disconcerted. 

Nimishillen  Township  was  organized  in  180!*. 
The  early  records  are  lost,  so  that  it  is  impos- 
sible to  give  a  list  of  the  first  officers  elected. 
There  are  those  still  living  who  remember  Daniel 
Mathias  as  one  of  the  first  Trustees,  and  Jacob 
Tombaugh  as  first  Constable.  John  Hoo\er 
was  an  early  Justice  of  the  Peace.  The  north- 
eastern |)art  of  the  township  attracted  the  most 
settlers,  mainly  because  of  the  beautiful  timber. 
No  larger  chestnut  and  poplar  trees  coukl  lie 


NIMISHILI.KN    TOWNSIIir. 


405 


Ibiiiul  ill  thu  county.  The  locality  also  abounded 
in  ginseng,  large  quantities  of  wUicli  were  col- 
lected and  sold  to  the  stores,  from  whence  it  was 
shipped  East.  It  was  quite  a  source  of  revenue, 
and.  at  that  lime,  there  was  a  popular  belief  that 
in  China  it  was  worth  its  weight  in  gold. 

The  lirst  grist  and  saw  mill  in  the  township 
was  built  by  John  Kb)-  iu  1811.  on  Nimishillen 
Creek,  in  Section  81.  As  the  country  cleared 
up.  and  the  supply  of  water  began  to  fall  oft', 
the  power  became  insufficient,  and  both  the  mills 
were  linalh'  abandoned. 

Among  the  early  settlers  not  already  men- 
tioned were  .Mathias  Bowers,  brother  of  John  ; 
George  Werteuberger,  Ulrich  Shivel3'.  John 
Thomas  (the  lirst  blacksmith),  Henry  Breyfogle, 
Henry  Warner,  John  Eby,  Michael  Trump  (the 
tirsl  cabinet-maker  and  undertaker),  John  Wel- 
ler,  llarman  and  Jacob  Koontz,  Dewalt  Buclier 
(the  first  tailor),  Daniel,  David  and  John  Brown 
(brothers),  John  Haney,  John  Hildebraud,  Jacob 
Baughman,  William  Hoover,  Jacob  Tombaugh. 
Michael  Ringer,  Christian  Sollenberger,  the 
Obenours,  Hiveleys  and  Warners.  About  the 
first  marriage  was  Abraham  Metz  to  Sally 
Shively.  They  were  the  parents  of  Dr.  Metz,  of 
Massillon,  who  was  born  in  this  township. 

The  great  eclipse  of  1811,  created  (juite  a 
consternation  among  the  settlers.  As  they  had 
no  previous  knowledge  of  its  approach,  the_\ 
were  at  a  loss  to  account  for  the  sudden  dark- 
ness. Some  thought  it  indicative  of  an  earth- 
quake ;  others,  that  it  was  the  end  of  the  world. 
Mrs.  Mathews  was  awaj-  from  home  on  that  day. 
and,  on  her  reluru,  it  began  suddenly  to  change 
Irom  sunshine  to  darkness.  It  soon  became  so 
dark,  that  she  was  unable  to  see  the  path,  and 
had  to  stop  until  the  darkness  passed  away. 
She  was  terriblj'  frightened.  The  falling  stars 
of  1 832,  was  another  phenomenon  that  seriously 
disturbed  those  who  had  the  opportunity  of 
witnessing  it.  It  occurred  between  midnight 
and  daylight,  and  some,  who  were  out  engaged 
in  business  not  legitimate,  regarded  it  as  a 
manifestation  of  divine  displeasure. 

Edward  Carl,  direct  from  ■  Ould  Ireland," 
settled  in  the  township  in  1811.  He  was  a 
shoemaker  and  tanner,  and  started  the  (irst  tan- 
yard.  The  Motlit  brothers,  James,  Patrick,  Rich- 
ard and  Thomas,  early  settlers,  were  clever 
men.  and  influential.  They  were  the  first 
Catholics,  and  fre<iuently  hohl  worship  in  jjrivate 
houses. 


In  the  spring  of  1 826,  five  French  families  of 
Alsace,  by  occupation  agriculturists,  gathered 
together  their  household  utensils  and  farming 
implements,  took  ship  at  Havre  de  Grace,  and, 
alter  a  six  weeks'  voyage,  landed  in  New  York. 
Before  the  colony  were  ready  to  leave  New 
York,  one  family  had  only  a  single  five-franc 
left,  nor  were  any  of  the  rest  in  a  condition 
financially  to  help  them,  so  the  destitute  family 
was  compelled  to  remain  in  the  city,  and  engage 
in  work  until  they  could  earn  sufficient  to  pay 
their  way  farther  West.  The  balance  left  via 
Hudson  River,  New  York  &  Erie  Canal  to  Buf 
falo,  and  thence  by  schooner  to  Cleveland,  •■  a 
small  town  on  a  hill,"  as  described  by  one  of 
the  couqjany.  Here  the  families  remained  a 
month,  (juarlered  in  a  Ijarn,  while  the  men  were 
traversing  the  country,  looking  up  a  place  to 
settle.  It  was  in  the  heat  of  summer,  that 
Theobald  Frantz,  the  leader  of  the  colony,  and 
one  other  approached  Canton  from  the  north, 
when,  at  the  first  view  of  the  town,  he  saw  the 
cross  on  St.  Johns  Catholic  Church,  and  ex- 
claimed, '  ,/e  n'irai  jjos  jjIus  loin  ;  c'est  ici  que 
j'ai  trouve  la  premiere  croix  depuis  que  nous 
avoni  quitte  A^ew  York,  et  c'est  ici,  pres  de  cette 
croix,  que Jc  metal)/ irai.' 

They  straightway  returned  to  Cleveland,  and 
began  making  preparations  to  move  their  fami- 
lies and  goods  into  Stark  County.  This  was 
before  the  construction  of  the  Ohio  Canal,  and, 
as  their  route  was  overland,  and  as  they  had 
brought  along  wagons  and  harness  from  France, 
the  lirst  business  in  order  was  the  purchase  of 
horses.  In  these,  they  were  shamefull\  swindled, 
as,  of  the  five  purchasetl,  not  a  single  one  could 
be  relied  upon  as  a  true  puller.  They  would  all 
balk,  and  several  were  vicious  kickers.  In 
the  first  elforts  to  break  them  to  work,  Joseph 
Badeau  was  kicked  in  the  bowels,  from  the 
effects  of  which  he  died  in  a  few  hours.  Not- 
withstanding these  misfortunes  and  all  their 
mishaps,  they  kept  up  courage  and  persevered. 
In  their  trip  to  Canton,  the  horses  in  going  up 
a  hill,  would  frequently  balk  and  refuse  to  pull, 
exhausting  every  effort  to  persuade  them  to 
pull,  and  failing,  there  was  no  alternative  but 
to  unload,  and  then  all  hands  would  assist,  and 
by  dint  of  pushing  and  pulling  succeed  in  at- 
taining the  top  of  the  hill,  after  which  the  wagon 
had  to  be  reloaded.  'J'hey  finally  reached  Can- 
ton, and  obtained  possession  of  a  vacant  house 
on  East  Tuscarawas  street  for  the  families  to 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


occupy  until  the  men  could  purchase  permanent 
homes.  After  recoiinoiterins;  the  countr}-  on  foot 
and  on  horseback,  Theobald  Frantz,  Louis  Gar- 
rot,  Jean  P.  Moinet  and  the  widow  of  Joseph 
Badeau  all  settled  in  Nimishillen  Township, 
purchasing  in  Sections  10  and  15.  One  of  the 
five,  named  Jonare,  purchased  and  settled  in 
Jackson  Township.  These  were  the  first  Catho- 
lic French  who  settled  in  the  county.  There 
were  a  few  Ornish  (Mennonite)  French  in  the 
county  a  year  or  two  before.  The  reports  they 
wrote  back  to  their  friends  in  France  of  their 
impressions  of  this  country  induced  others  to 
follow,  and  among  the  early  French  settlers  of 
Nimishillen  may  be  mentioned  Franc.ois  Bellot, 
Zeidor,  Faufaunt,  Pierre  Cunira.  Perrot,  Chenot, 
Gerandeau,  Favier,  Barlet,  Abadie,  Garandot, 
Duprea,  Favier,  Cuniea,  Adie  and  Mongary. 

It  should  be  mentioned  that  bj'  the  time  the 
families  who  came  over  first  were  settled,  their 
money  was  exhausted,  and  some  were  compelled 
to  engage  in  labor  from  home,  in  order  to  ob- 
tain means  for  support.  Frantz  had  eight  chil- 
dren ;  two  of  the  girls  worked  out.  and  two  of 
the  boys  helped  to  dig  the  Ohio  Canal,  at  $14  a 
month.  The  father  tramped  out  wheat  for  the 
neighbors,  for  the  tenth.  Mrs.  Badeau  was 
endente  at  the  time  her  husband  was  killed. 
She  invested  her  means  in  the  purchase  of 
forty  acres  of  land,  and  was  working  in  the 
clearing  when  taken  in  labor.  In  the  woods, 
without  shelter  and  alone,  slie  had  her  child, 
now  Frank  Badeau,  over  fifty  years  of  age. 
He  is  probably  the  first  Frenchman  born  in 
the  county. 

There  must  be,  at  this  time,  several  hundred 
French  families  residing  in  Nimishillen  Town- 
ship, forming  an  observable  feature  of  the 
population.  As  a  class,  they  are  industrious, 
social,  inclined  to  hilarity,  law-abiding,  honest, 
pay  their  debts,  and  make  good  neighbors. 
Tiiey  readily  assimilate  with  our  native-born, 
and  about  the  third  generation  their  distinctive 
peculiarities  are  obliterated. 

Harrisburg  was  the  first  town  in  the  town- 
ship. It  was  laid  out  in  1827.  by  Jacob  Harsh. 
A  lame  man  by  the  name  of  Patterson  brought 
the  first  store.  Following  him,  Jacob  Wolfe  and 
Jonas  Hoover  started  a  store  and  tavern  to- 
gether. Wolfe  took  special  charge  of  the  tav- 
ern, and  it  is  said  to  have  been  kept  not  unlike 
the  one  run  at  a  later  day,  by  his  namesake  in 
the  West,  of  which  it  is  presumed  our  readers 


have  heard.  David  W.  Kowan  had  a  store  in 
Harrisburg,  in  1832,  and  after  him,  H.  H.  My- 
ers, both  from  Canton.  The  early  physicians 
of  the  town  were  Dr.  Aberham  Stanley  and 
Dr.  Soloman  Shrive.  Henry  and  Jacob  Stam- 
baugij,  both  farmers,  supplied  the  preaching  in 
the  neighborhood.  They  belonged  to  the  Unit- 
ed Brethren  Church,  and  held  worship  in 
schoolhouses  and  barns.  Harrislmrg  was  a 
more  important  place  and  was  more  widely 
known  fifty  years  ago  than  it  is  now.  The  i 
railroad  towns  have  drawn  away  the  trade.  A 
post  oflflce  was  established  under  the  name  of 
Barry ville.  May  18,  1830,  and  Jacob  Wolfe  ap- 
pointed Postmaster.  It  was  called  Barryville 
because  there  was  already  a  po.st  office  in  the 
State  named  Harrisburg,  and  there  cannot, 
under  the  rules  of  the  Post  Office  Depai-tment,  be 
two  offices  of  the  same  name  in  the  same  State. 

Louisville  was  located  in  1834,  by  Henry 
Loutzenheiser  and  Frederick  Faint,  joint  pro- 
prietors, as  land  belonging  to  each  constituted 
a  part  of  the  plat.  It  was  originally  named 
Lewisville,  after  a  son  of  Loutzenheiser,  but 
on  application  for  a  post  office,  it  was  ascertain- 
ed there  was  already  an  office  of  that  name  in 
the  State,  and  at  the  suggestion  of  the  Post 
Office  Department,  the  orthography  of  the 
names  was  changed  to  Louisville.  The  post 
office  was  established  March  11,  1837,  and 
Solomon  A.  (rorgas  made  Postmaster. 

The  first  organized  church  in  the  township 
was  Catholic.  It  should  be  mentioned  that  be- 
fore this,  a  building  designed  for  a  church  and 
schoolhouse  was  erected  near  Harrisburg, 
through  the  united  efforts  of  members  belong- 
ing to  the  Lutheran  and  Reformed  Churches. 
Services  were  held  in  this  building  at  irregular 
intervals,  by  both  these  denominations,  but 
there  never  was  a  legal  organization  of  either. 
There  was  a  Methodist  Church  erected  in  Har- 
risburg at  an  early  period. 

About  183G,  a  building  was  erected  in  Louis- 
ville, upon  land  donated  by  James  Moflit.  under 
the  supervision  of  the  Dominican  Father  at  that 
time  in  Canton.  The  first  priest  stationed  in 
Louisville  was  Rev.  Mathias  Wurtz,  from  Lor- 
raine ;  next  came  Rev.  L.  de  Goesbriand.  Dur- 
ing his  pastorate,  the  congregation  consisted  of 
about  forty  French  families,  twenty  German 
and  twelve  Irish — in  all  about  400  communi- 
cants. During  his  stay  the  church  building 
was  enlarged,   a  tower  built  and  a  bell  pur- 


MMl.SlllLl.KN    TOWX.SIIU'. 


4(57 


chased.  In  1846,  Rev.  I*.  Peiuleprat  otliciated. 
lie  remained  lour  years,  and  was  succeeded  b^- 
Rev.  Mareclial.  who  remained  but  one  year. 
Then  came  Rev.  L.  F.  D'Arcy.  wlio  was  an 
enterprising,  liberal  and  zealous  man,  as  he 
built  a  scliooliiouse,  repaired  the  church  and 
improved  the  j^rounds  around,  spending  liis 
private  funds  for  the  benelit  of  the  congrega- 
tion. Rev.  li.  Iloffor.  the  present  incumbent, 
succeeiled  |)'.\rcv  in  ISOI.  Since  his  ailvciut. 
an  academy  and  college  has  been  erected,  and 
the  congregation  materiallj-  increased. 

There  were  living  in  the  township  as  early 
as  183(!.  professors  of  religion  who  take  the 
name  of  '■  Brethren  in  Christ."  Jacob  SoUen- 
berger,  and  a  neighbor  by  the  name  of  Roth- 
rock,  were  among  the  first.  They  did  not  have 
a  building  of  their  own  until  a  late  period. 

What  is  known  as  a  Reformed  (Muirch  was 
organized  in  Louisville  in  Ifid.'i.  The  lirst 
members  were  Jonathan  Slusserand  wife.  .Vdam 
Fogle,  wife  and  daughters,  Elenora  and  Krama, 
John  and  Andrew  Sell.  The  first  pastor  was 
Abrani  Miller,  who  served  five  year.s.  He  was 
succeeded  by  Joshua  H.  Derr.  who  remained 
two  and  a  half  years.  Following  him  came  J. 
J.  Lebernian,  who  has  continued  since,  now  over 
eight  years.     Number  of  communicants,  100. 

The  United  Brethren  have  a  church  in  Louis- 
ville, but  the  statistics  of  their  organization 
failed  to  reach  us  in  time  for  publication 

Ximisliillen  Township  has.  up  to  the  present 
time,  enjoyed  but  little  of  the  county  oflicial 
patronage,  and  that  little  was  more  in  the  way 
of  honor  than  profit.  John  Bowers  was  County 
Commissioner  from  181!)  to  1821!,  when  the 
pay  was  from  ;>;20  to  §25  a  year,  and  no  per- 
(juisites.  John  Hoover  served  as  Associate 
Judge  one  term,  and  two  terms  as  a  member  of 
the  Legislature,  in  1S22  and  1828.  At  that 
time,  the  Legislature  met  on  the  first  Monday 
in  December.  With  a  few  changes  of  under- 
clothing, packed  in  a  pair  of  sacldle-bags,  the 
member-elect  would  sUirt  from  home  on  horse- 
back a  week  before  the  opening  of  the  ses- 
sion. It  would  take  him  four  or  five  days 
to  make  the  journey.  Then  he  wanted  several 
days  to  look  around  for  a  boarding  house,  and 
find  a  place  to  winter  his  hor.se.  Once  settled, 
he  never  thought  of  leaving  his  post  of  duty 
until  the  close  of  the  session.  Such  was  the 
custom  of  our  legislators  in  those  primitive 
days.     Contrast  them  with  the  present. 


Among  the  leading  attractions  of  Loui.sville 
is  the  woolen  factory  of  Taylor  it  Stewart.  It 
was  during  the  spring  of  1872  that  a  Joint 
stock  company  was  organized  for  the  purpose 
of  establishing  a  woolen  mill  at  that  place. 
The  stockholders  were  C.  L.  Juilliard,  II.  T. 
Finney,  John  Werner,  Ellas  Kssig,  J.  W.  Wer- 
tenberger.  Dr.  J.  P.  Schilling,  L.  T.  Myers  and 
Etlward  Schilling.  The  mill  was  erected  at  a 
cost  of  about  $17,0(M).  including  a  H.'i-lKn-se 
power  steam  engine.  The  mill  was  sold  to 
William  Taylor  in  1877,  and  he  has  remained 
the  owner  to  the  present.  Mr.  Taylor  took  as 
a  partner  in  the  business,  William  Flinn,  and 
two  years  afterward  their  connection  was  dis- 
solved. Owing  to  a  desire  on  the  part  of  Mr. 
Taylor  to  retire  from  business,  the  factory  was 
leased  to  his  son,  John  H.,  and  John  Stewart, 
who  have  actively  carried  on  the  business  ever 
since.  1 'nder  the  management  of  Messrs.  Tay- 
lor &  Stewart,  the  partnership  has  been  (|uite 
successful,  producing  a  superior  quality  of  flan- 
nels and  yarns.  They  are  making  the  manu- 
facture of  fiainiels  a  specialty,  adhering  to  the 
plan  of  producing  pure  woolen  goods,  and  this, 
no  doubt,  is  one  of  the  caiuscs  of  their  success. 
Their  fabrics  are  found  in  all  the  leading  dry 
goods  houses  of  Stark  and  adjoining  counties. 
Although  young  men.  the  proprietors  of  this 
establislnnent  have,  by  their  luiilivided  atten- 
tion, made  it  one  of  the  best  mills  in  the  county, 
and  one  of  the  chief  attractions  of  tln^  place  in 
which  it  is  situated. 

In  1808,  I).  .M.  Shisser  and  J.  W.  Werlenber- 
ger  commenced  the  mannfactureof  Ellis'  patent 
laaskets  in  what  is  now  the  plaining-mill  of  Es- 
sig  &  Shengle.  After  a  partnership  of  about 
eighteen  months.  Elias  Essig  was  admitted  into 
the  (irm.  Shortly  after  this,  Mr.  Shisser  with- 
drew, and  Wertenberger  it  Essig  carried  on  the 
business  until  they  were  succeeded  by  Essig  & 
Sluss.  It  is  now  in  operation  under  Essig  & 
Hang  in  the  same  building  in  which  it  first 
originated. 

Elias  l';.ssigand  Jacob  Shengle  formed  a  part- 
nership, in  1875,  for  the  purpose  of  establish- 
ing a  planing-mill  where  Essig  &  Hang  have 
their  basket  factory.  They  occupy  a  two-story 
franu'  building,  :iOx.")((,  with  an  engine  house 
and  boiK'r-ioom  18x:5ll,  also  a  warehouse  about 
20x40  feet.  They  have  all  the  re(iuisite  ma- 
chinery for  carrying  on  their  business  in  its 
various  branches,  which  is  operated  by  a  20- 


Ajf 


468 


IIISTOUY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


horse  power  steam  engine.  They  tlo  a  general 
lumber  business,  supply  building  material,  latb, 
shingles,  sash,  doors,  blinds,  etc.  The  firm  han- 
dle annually  an  average  stock  of  (100,000  feet 
of  rouij;ii  and  dressed  lumber,  1,200,000  shingles, 
], 300, 000  lath,  and  they  transact  an  annual 
business  of  not  less  than  $15,000.  The  wagon 
and  carriage  shop  of  C.  Bonnot  &  Son  was  first 
started  as  a  Champion  Plow  manufacturing  es- 
tablishment bj- J.  H.  Penney,  M.  Gibbs  and  Mon- 
roe Siberling,  in  1871  ;  but  after  a  short  period, 
the  business  was  discontinued.  In  1874,  this 
building  was  leased  to  Keira,  Finne3'  &  New- 
house,  who  placed  in  the  proper  machinery  and 
commenced  the  manufacture  of  liuseeil  oil.  In 
1876,  Juilliard  &  Co.,  purchased  the  business, 
and  this  firm  in  turn  was  succeeded  by  Keim  & 
Sons  in  1877.  Owing  tda  disadvantage  in  ship- 
ping, together  with  considerable  breakage  of 
machinery,  this  firm  discontinued  the  business 
in  1878,  and  oil  manufacturing  in  Louisville  has 
not  since  been  revived. 

The  flouring  mill  of  S.  Flickinger  was  estab- 
lished in  1851  by  Daniel  Chapuis,  who  con- 
ducted the  business  a  number  of  years,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Louis  Faber,  wlio  in  turn  was 
succeeded  by  Xavier  Paumier.  After  him,  the 
mill  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  present 
owners,  S.  Flickenger  and  C.  A.  Newhouse. 
Tills  partnership  continued  about  ten  years, 
when  Mr.  Newhouse  withdrew  from  the  firm, 
and  Mr.  Flickinger  has  since  been  sole  owner 
and  proprietor.  He  is  a  first-class  miller,  and 
with  the  help  of  his  son,  carries  on  a  large  trade 
of  custom  grinding. 

Geib  &  Pontius  have  a  large  merchant  mill 
now  under  construction.  This  building  will  be 
a  two-story  frame  with  stone  basement,  40x60, 
and  a  one-story  engine  room  attached,  20x40 
feet.  Tliere  will  be  a  run  of  five  stone  in  this 
mill  ;  three  for  wheat,  one  for  chop-feed,  and 
one  for  middlings,  all  to  be  operated  by  a  70- 
horse  power  steam  engine.  The  resources  of 
the  surrounding  country'  will  prove  this  to  be 
one  of  the  leading  mills  of  its  kind  in  the  county-. 

P.  B.  Moinet  erected  a  brewery  in  1865.  He 
was  succeeded  by  George  Dilger.  in  1876,  who 
admitted  Simon  Menegay  in  1878.  This  firm 
turns  out  about  about  2.000  barrels  of  beer  per 
annum. 

Brick  manufacturing  is  carried  on  quite  ex- 
tensively by  A.  Y.  Pontius,  and  Murley,  Dupont 
&  Co.     These  two  yards  keep  emplo^'ed  a  force 


of  about  twentj'-five  men,  and  turn  out  a  supe- 
rior quality  of  brick.  The  supply  is  unequal  to 
the  demand. 

Rogers  &  Warstler,  druggists  of  the  place, 
manufacture  the  Peerless  Condition  l^owders,  a 
drug  that  is  considered,  among  leading  stock- 
men, the  best  of  its  kind  in  the  market.  It  has 
a  wide  sale,  and  is  steadily  growing  in  public 
favor. 

Besides  the  above,  cigar  making  is  carried 
on  to  a  considerable  extent  b}'  Peter  C.  New- 
house,  J.  C.  Hartman,  William  Weber  and 
Jacob  S.  Oberdorfl['.  Rinehart  &  Sons  and  C. 
Bonnot  &  Sons  manufacture  and  repair  wagons, 
buggies,  etc.  G.  F.  Baumann  &  Sons,  tin  and 
copper  smiths,  dealers  in  stoves,  etc.,  have  a 
large  run  in  roofing  houses  with  slate  and  tin. 
S.  Paquelet  deals  in  and  manufiictures  furni- 
ture, and  J.  G.  Prenot  is  the  Louisville  harness 
maker.  There  are  two  hotels  in  the  town — 
the  Commercial  and  the  Washington  House. 
The  former  is  kept  bj-  J.  D.  Baker,  and  the  lat- 
ter by  Geo.  Nuuainaker.     Both  are  doing  well. 

The  place  supports  two  first-class  livery  sta- 
bles ;  one  owned  by  Lycurgus  Wilson,  the 
otUer  by  Mathias  Walker.  They  both  keep 
first-class  turnouts,  and  are  reasonable  in  their 
charges.  The  merchants  of  the  place  are 
Keim  &  Sons  and  Pierson  &  Metzger,  hardware  ; 
Julius  Thurin,  Julius  Schwob,  D.  M.  Sluss  and 
L.  F.  Davis,  dry  goods  and  groceries  ;  D.  M. 
Slusscr  and  J.  M.  D'Ostroph,  groceries  and 
provisions ;  Schilling  &  Son  and  Rogers  & 
Warstler,  druggists  ;  Hannah  Conrod  and  0. 
Clark,  restaurants.  Mrs.  A.  Fritla_y  and  Sluss- 
er  &  McCoy  supply  the  neighbohoord  with 
millinery.  Louisville  Deposit  Bank  was  es- 
tablished the  spring  of  1881,  liy  Keim  & 
Sons.  They  do  a  general  banking  business 
For  the  past  ten  years  tlie  Keims  iiave  done 
more  to  build  up  the  town  than  any  other  firm. 
They  are  enterprising  and  intelligent  citizens, 
and  a  credit  to  the  town  in  which  they  reside. 
Taking  in  consideration  the  wealth  of  the  sur- 
rounding country,  and  the  enterprise  of  the 
citizens  of  the  town,  Louisville  can  truly  be 
said  to  be  one  of  the  leading  towns  of  its  size 
in  the  State.  Its  present  officers  are — Mayor, 
J.  H.  Penney  ;  Clerk,  R.  T.  Rotlirock  ;  Treas- 
urer, Joseph  Jloinet;  Marshal,  C.  Gaurae  ;  Street 
C<>mmissioner,  M.  S.  Stambaugli ;  Councilmen, 
C.  L.  Juilliard,  Ellas  Essig,  Lewis  Newbauer, 
A.  Poupney,  L.  P.  Menegay  and  N.  Bonvolot. 


J/^..^  ^^^ 


±hL. 


SANDY    TOWNSHIP. 


CHAPTER    XX.* 

SANDV    TOWNSHIP— GENERAL   DESCRIPTION  —  SETTLEMENT   AND  ORGANIZATION— INDIAN  INCI- 
DENTS—PIONEER  INDUSTRIES— OFFICERS— WAYNESBURGH    LAID  OITT— 
INrORPOKATED  — CHURCH    IIISTORV.    ETC. 


(^ANDY  TOWNSHIP,  the  most  easterly  of 
lO  the  southern  tier  of  the  townships  of  Stark 
County,  is  situated  in  loni;itute  4(P  15'  west 
from  Washington,  and  hitiltide  40-  12'  north. 
It  is  watered  by  a  system  of  small  stieanis  (liid- 
ing  their  source  in  Osnaliurg  and  Canton  Town- 
ships and  flowing  south  into  Uig  Sandy  Creek, 
a  tributar}-  of  the  Tuscarawas  River.  The 
names  of  these  minor  streams  are  as  follows, 
viz.;  Little  Sandy  Creek,  which  is  the  most 
considerable  in  size,  takes  its  name  from  the 
general  character  of  the  land  through  which  it 
flows.  It  occupies  the  eastern  portion  of  the 
township,  and  its  waters  were  made  to  do  good 
service  in  early  times,  to  drive  several  saw  and 
grist  mills,  and  at  Waynesburgh  a  woolen  fact- 
oiy  was  operated  by  it  until  within  the  last  dec- 
ade. Indian  Kun.  which  derives  its  name  from 
the  fact  that  its  banks  were  a  favorite  camping- 
place  for  the  untamed  sons  of  the  forest,  who 
made  this  neighborhood  either  home  or  hunt- 
ing-ground, flows  through  the  center  of  the  town- 
ship. Its  waters  were  utilized  as  power  for  a 
small  saw-mill,  on  the  land  now  ov>'ncd  by  Jef- 
ferson J.  Welker.  A  few  decaying  timbers  is 
all  that  remains  of  this  pioneer  enterprise. 

Hypocrite  Hun  is  saitl  to  have  taken  is  name 
by  genend  consent  from  the  personal  character- 
istics of  a  man  whose  name  it  formerly  bore. 
There  was  once  a  saw-mill  on  its  banks,  but  all 
these  smaller  mills  have  given  place  to  more 
improved  establishments  at  Magnolia  and 
Waynesburgh,  where  the  Big  Sandy,  having 
gathered  to  herself  the  waters  of  the  two 
former  .streams,  forces  them,  with  her  own  cur- 
rent, through  the  wheels  of  a  more  modern 
structure,  accomplishing  with  improved  saws, 
buhrs  and  processes,  a  much  greater  and  better 
work  than  before  the  uuiver.sal  Yankee,  with  his 
'■  tarnel  imi)roveraents,"  came  this  way.  The 
land  of  Sandy  Township  is  remarkably  fertile, 
the  hills  being  generally  a  rich  clay  loam,  and 

*  C  nitrn.utedb)'  i;imrK'9  H.  Joi.ei. 


the  plains  and  valleys  alluvial  loam,  producing 
abundantly  all  the  crops  common  to  this  lati- 
tude, of  quality  generally  much  above  the 
average  of  perfection. 

The  earl3-  settlers  in  -Sandy"  found  noble 
forests  of  oaks,  ash,  elm.  walnut,  chestnut,  hick- 
ory, sycamore,  linn  and  other  valuable  woods 
occupying  the  higher  lands  of  the  towhship, 
while  '•  tlie  plains "  were  covered  with  .young 
oaks,  growing  up  amongst  rank  prairie  grass. 
These  hitter  lauds,  now  our  best  and  most  val- 
uable farms,  were  not  sought  after  bj'  many  of 
the  earliest  settlers,  being  deemed  the  reposi- 
tories of  agues  and  fevers  unlimited,  besides  the 
hills  were  found  abounding  in  springs  of  pure 
water,  near  and  toward  which  all  things 
seemed  to  attract. 

The  official  organization  of  Sandy  Township 
took  place  at  Canton  on  the  ICth  of  March, 
18oy,  and,  as  then  constructed,  it  contained  five 
sections  north  and  south,  and  six  sections  east 
and  west — in  all  thirty  sections — and  it  re- 
mained of  this  size  until  January  1,  1833,  when 
the  Legislature  having  passed  an  act  erecting 
the  county  of  Carroll,  two  rows  of  sections 
were  taken  from  the  east  side  of  the  township, 
with  Rose.  Brown  and  Harrison  Townships 
(then  a  part  of  Stark),  to  help  form  the  new 
county.  This  circumstance  does  not  seem  to 
have  been  a  matter  of  such  importance  as  to 
gain  a  record  in  the  books  of  the  Township 
Trustees  of  that  date,  to  which  the  writer  has 
access.  An  interesting  item  in  this  old  book  is 
a  record  of  the  financial  situation  on  March  5, 
1832,  the  last  settlement  l)efore  Sandy  gave 
her  ten  sections  to  Carroll  County.  It  is  as  fol- 
lows : 

Balance  in  trea-sury,  March.  1831 2!).()0 

Kcoeived  of  William  Fojrie,  township  ta.\.  .$17  7.1.07 

Total  receipts ^(18  04.07 

Total  paid  on  orders 17  63.07 

Balance  in  Treasury 39.0<) 


^T^ 


47(J 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


From  the  books  of  the  Township  Clerk  for 
1880,  we  take  the  followinji;  synopsis,  for  the 
purpose  of  comparison  : 

TOWNSHIP   FUKD. 

Balance  in  treasury  on  settlement^  39  44 
Rceeived  from  all  sources 736  84 

Tol  al  received .f  766  28 

Total  expended 717  54 

SCIIOOI.    Ft'Nl>. 

Balance  in  treasury 1 1,321  46 

Received  from  all  sources 1,034  41 

Total  received  !|!3.3o5  87 

Total  expended 889  69 

Balance !j!1.46()  18 

T<ital  l)al.iiicc If;!,.-)  14  93 

Of  the  early  officers  of  Sanrly  Township,  the 
writer  has  not  ijeen  alile  to  find  complete  records. 
The  first  election  was  lield  at  the  house  of  Isaac 
Van  Meter,  near  where  Joseph  Fiickinger's 
residence  now  stands,  but  what  officers  were 
elected  does  not  appear  in  the  old  records  of 
the  township  now  extant.  The  oldest  book  in 
existence,  so  far  as  known,  being  a  Township 
Clerk's  book,  bearina;  date  June  16,  1818, 
James  Hewitt  was  the  first  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  antl  elections  were  often  held  at  his 
house,  which  strjod  in  what  is  now  Brown 
Township,  Carroll  Co,,  on  land  owned  by  William 
Denny  Robertson,  south  of  the  Cleveland  & 
Pittsburgh  Railway,  For  the  following  story 
of  the  first  coming  of  permanent  settlers,  we 
are  indebted  to  the  graphic  pen  of  Hon,  John 
(t,  Croxton.  of  Canal  Dover,  Ohio,  who  was  for 
many  years  a  resident  of  this  township,  and 
was  well  acquainted  with  many  of  its  sturdy 
pioneers,  Mr,  Croxton's  wonderful  memory  of 
names  and  dates  is  so  well  known  in  tills  com- 
munity as  to  make  him  an  acknowledged  au- 
thority. Like  all  good  story-tellers,  he  begins 
at  the  beginning,  and  his  story  shall  not  be 
spoiled  by  abridgement.     He  says  : 

Jefferson  County  was  the  tiftli  county  in  the 
then  "Northwest  Territory,"  It  was  created  liy  (4(iv. 
St,  Clair,  July  29,  1779,  its  ori.dnal  limits  including 
the  country  west  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  Ohio 
River,  and  east  and  north  of  a  line  from  thi'  nnmth 
of  the  Cuyahoga  River,  siuitliwiinlly  to  tlie  MuskiiiL'- 
um  River,  The  town  of  Steul)en\  ille  was  laiil  out 
in  1798,  as  the  county  seat,  l)y  Bezaleel  Wells  and 
the  Hon.  James  Ross,  of  Pittsburgh,  and  here  the 
first  land  office,  for  the  sale  of  Government  lands 


in  the  Northwest  Territory,  was  established.  Can- 
ton was  laid  out  in  18t)6,  by  this  same  Bezaleel 
Wells,  who  had  previously  entered  the  land  on 
whicli  the  town  was  located  and  the  fractions  of 
land  aroimd  the  lake,  west  of  the  town,  now  known 
as  Myer's  Lake,  Wells  opened  the  first  road  or 
trail  from  the  Ohio  River  to  Canton,  which  trail  or 
roa.l,  as  it  soon  became,  passed  through  the  whole 
lengtli  of  S.Hiily  Township,  and  this  was  the  first 
"wliil.  liiaii'^  trail"  from  the  Ohio  River  that 
crossed  I  h(.- nil  1  Indian  or  Tuscarawas  trail,  which, 
at  this  point,  ran  in  a  westerly  com-se  along  the  val- 
ley of  the  Sandy,  As  the  means  were  not  at  hand 
for  making  roads  along  the  sides  of  hills,  they  went 
straight  over  them,  and  as  the  hill  at  the"  place 
where  Wayncsburgh  uow  stands  was  too  steep  for 
safe  descent,  the  party  returned  to  what  is  known 
as  the  old  Fox  farm,  now  the  property  of  Mr,  Gus- 
tavus  Deringer,  and  turned  west,  through  the  old 
Beatty,  Boory  and  Elsass  farms,  and  pas.sed  through 
the  plains,  on  the  east  line  of  Capt.  James  Down- 
ing's  farm,  and  then  pa.ssed  on  to  the  old  Jlottice 
farm,  now  owned  by  Creighton  Rodgers,  Esq,,  on 
the  present  road  from  Waynesburgli  to  Canton, 
Capt,  Downing  then  lived  across  the  Ohio  River,  in 
Virginia,  opposite  the  mouth  of  Yellow  Creek, 
Having  had  some  difficulty  as  to  the  title  of  his 
property,  he  concluded  to  l<-;ive  it  and  settle  in  the 
lieautifiil  valley  of  Big  Sandy,  whose  fertile  plains 
and  grand  forests  liad  pleased  him  mightily  when 
he  was  serving  tlic  Government  as  a  'ranger,'  in 
1793.  He  acc(iriliu;;l\  i  aine  and  entered  a  quarter 
section  of  land  on  llie  lieton'-iiamed  road,  and  built 
him  a  fine  log  eabiii  house,  and  moved  into  it.  He 
set  about  the  improvement  of  his  land,  enter- 
tained travelers  and  traded  with  the  Indians,  who 
were,  at  that  time,  quite  numerous.  This  was  in 
1805,  The  following  year,  Mr.  James  Laughlin,  a 
brother-in-law  to  Downing,  and  his  two  sons-in-law, 
Isaac  Miller  and  Benja.inin  ('ni>|)y  eaiiie  also  from 
Vir.ginia.  Laughlin  enlend  land  on  lie'  same  road, 
the  farm  lieing  now  known  as  I  In-  Bihuv  farm.  Miller 
chose  the  west  side  of  the  creek,  close  to  where  the 
village  of  Magnolia  now  stands,  and  opened  a  house 
of  entertainment,  and  kept  a  ferry  boat  to  take 
emigrants  across  Sandy  Creek.  He  built  a  toll- 
bridge,  also,  which  was  the  first  bridge  ever  built 
across  the  Sandy,  This  bridge  was  built  in  1814. 
A  man  named  Jo.seph  Handlon,  who  entered  the 
land  now  owned  by  James  Boyd,  laid  out  a  town 
in  the  plains,  near  where  Mr.  James  Boyd's  house 
now  stands.  He  called  the  town  Hamburg,  but 
he  seems  to  have  been  mistaken  as  to  the  needs 
of  the  times,  for  the  town  is  no  more.  In  1814, 
Handlon  had  the  "Bethlehem  road,"  as  this  first 
road  was  called,  straightened,  from  the  old  Fox  farm 
through  to  Peter  Mottice's  land. 

The  jurisdiction  of  the  Justice  of  the  Peace  of 
th(^  township  of  Sandy  then  extended  over  what  is 
now  Rose  and  Harrison  Townships,  of  Carroll 
Counlv.  Earlv  after  ('apt.  Downinirand  his  friends 
eame  Peter  Mottiee.  Beattv.  Ilililiiis,  Reeves.  Will- 
iam Knotts.  Van  Meters.  Handlon.  Brown,  f'reigh- 
tons,  etc.  In  August.  1812.  when  Gen.  Hull  had 
surrendered  all  our  armies  in  the  West  and  North  to 
the  British,   jmd  there  was  no  organized  force  to 


SANDY    TOWNSHIP. 


■171 


keep  the  Indians  in  check,  there  came  to  the  "Sandy" 
settler.*  a  report  that  the  (Jarver  settlement,  south- 
west of  Canton,  was  all  killed,  anil  that  400 
Indians  were  in  the  North  Bend  of  Sandy  Creek.  The 
consternation  amonj;  the  pioneers  was  terrible:  war 
in  its  most  civilized  form  was  terrible  to  think  of, 
but  war  and  possible  capture,  by  so  relentless  and 
barbarous  an  enemy,  stnu  k  terror  to  the  souls  of 
even  the  sturdy  woodsmen  of  the  valley.  All  looked 
to  Capt.  Dowtiing  as  a  leader,  and  he  was  not  found 
wanting.  He  gave  orders  for  a  gatlieriug  of  the 
elans,  with  all  the  arms  and  munitions  of  war 
available,  and  directed  the  women  to  hide  with 
the  children  in  the  corn-fields.  Downing,  with  his 
three  sons  and  two  sons-in-law  and  si.\ty  stalwart 
pioneers,  armed  in  all  .sorts  of  ways,  marched  in 
single  tile  to  meet  the  enemy,  passing  <ui  their  way 
through  win  re  Sparta  is  uhk  situated,  to  the  summit 
between  that  place  and  the  Betlileliein  .settleniciil. 
now  called  Nevarre.  Here  they  heard  shooting,  and 
Capt.  Downing  called  his  men  together  and  ordered, 
••  Now  boys,  double  (|uick,  and  strike  them  with  a 
dash!"  and  they  charged  v.aliantly  across  the  ridge, 
oidy  to  tiiid  another  ]iaity  of  whites  who,  like  them- 
selves, were  hunting  for  I  lie  4110  warlike  red-skins,  and 
not  finding  them,  were  shooting  at  a  mark.  One  of 
Downin'j's  party,  William  Kiiotts.  used  to  tell  that  he 
ha<l  had  ma-ny  a  fight,  •'tisty-cuff,"  as  he  called  it. 
aiul  thought  it  nothing  but  fun,  but  this  Indian 
fighting  with  guns  was  a  different  matter;  that  when 
the  old  Captain  ^avethe  orders  to  "'strike  'em  with 
a  dash,"  and  all  felt  sure  the  Indians  were  just  ov<t 
the  hilltop,  he  thought  of  Hannah  and  the  children, 
and  moved  forward  with  the  rest,  but  "had  never 
felt  such  a  '  wolloping'  of  his  heart  in  all  his  life." 
During  that  same  fall.  James  Downing,  Jr.,  organ- 
ized a  conii>any  of  troops,  and  was  elected  its  Cap- 
tain, and  marched  to  the  front.  The  regiment  to 
which  the  company  was  assigned  encamped  at 
Wooster  on  Christmas  Day.  and  named  the  bivouac 
"Camp  Christmas,"  thence  they  marched  to  Fort 
Meigs,  at  which  place  and  Fort  Stevens,  they  win- 
tered. Returning  home  with  his  men  at  the  end  of 
the  war.  he  entered  the  land  adjoining  his  father, 
now  owned  by  Jacob  Painter,  Ksq.  He  man"ie(l 
Miss  Nancy  Hewitt,  of  Virginia,  aiui  cleared  up  a 
fine  farm,  on  which  he  inclosed  the  family  burying 
ground  in  a  fine  stone  wall,  where  the  remains  of 
himself  and  wife,  his  father  and  mother  and  other 
relatives  are  interred. 

The  first  white  ainiy  that  ever  passed  through 
Sandy  Township  traveled  by  the  way  of  the  Tus- 
carawas trail  and  whs  the  command  of  Gen.  Bou- 
quet, who  marched  frcm  old  Fort  Dn(|uesne,  now 
Pittsburgh.  Penn.,  and  came  bj-  way  of  the  Little 
Beaver  Biver,  and  carried  his  boats  across  the  simi- 
mit  at  Ilanoverton,  brought  them  down  the  Sandy 
Creek  into  the  Tuscarawas,  up  which  they  tiaveled 
to  the  Akron  summit,  and  thence  across  into  the 
Cuyahoga  and  thence  by  the  lake  to  Sandusky. 
This  was  as  early  as  176"-\  In  1778.  Gen.  Mclnto.sh 
came  bv  the  same  route,  without  boats,  to  Port  Lau- 
rens, wliere  Bolivar  now  stands,  left  a  small  force 
and  returned  to  Fort  Mcintosh,  at  Beaver.  The 
force  at  Fort  Laurens  was  left  under  command  of 
Maj.  Gibson. 


So  ends  Mr.  Croxtou's  story  of  tlie  early  set- 
tlement. 

William  Hewitt  aiul  .John  Hewitt,  now  liviiii; 
in  Waynesburgli,  ai"e  sons  olMaines  Hewitt,  who 
came  into  the  terriloi"y,  afterward  Sandy  Town- 
ship, but  now  part  of  Bi"owii  Township,  ('an"oll 
County,  and  cntei"ed  land  in  1807.  Hewitt's 
first  cabin  w"as  built  near  the  line  of  the  ('.  & 
P.  R.  K.,  as  befoi"e  stated,  and  in  this  rough, 
but  as  we  shall  see,  iiospitable  liome,  on  the 
olst  of  January,  18()i),  William  Hewitt  was 
born,  and  still  lives  to  claim  the  iionoi"  of  being 
the  first  white  child  born  in  the  township.  Here 
also  Joiin  Hewitt  was  born.  An  incident  of 
pioneer  life,  which  occiii"red  at  Hewitt's,  is  so 
fully  illtisti"ative  of  the  social  life  of  the  advance 
guard  of  our  pi"esent  civilization,  that  wc  recoi"d 
it  as  we  gathered  it  fi"oni  Jlr.  William  Hewitt, 
whose  well-told  tales  of  those  elder  daj"s  ai"e  the 
delight  of  all  who  are  so  fortunate  as  to  hear 
him. 

In  March.  1821,  the  neighliors  w"ere  invited 
to  attend  what  w"as  then  called  a  '•  grubbing 
frolic,"  and.  of  course,  lliey  attended  en  )»«.ssc. 
The  mode  of  invitation  to  all  frolics,  and  thej" 
were  many,  was  .simply  to  give  out  the  fad  that 
such  a  gathering  was  to  take  place,  and  it  was 
uudci"stood  that  all  who  were  not  on  absolutely 
unfriendly  terms  with  the  family  were  invited, 
and  all  were  expected  to  attend,  and  failure  to 
do  so  required  explanation  and  a  good  excuse. 
Among  those  who  weie  present  were  Capt.  James 
Downing,  Robert  Thompson.  John  Reed,  J, 
Harvey  Ross,  John  Ross.  James  Bi"Othei"S,  TiOvy 
Brothers,  Isaac  Brothers.  Simon  Shook,  Solomon 
Shook,  Jonas  Baum,  Conrad  Stull,  .\dain  Kcefer, 
John  MeCall.  The  work  in  the  grub  patch 
being  completed  and  supper  about  ready,  and 
everybody  merry  and  mellow  with  good  humor 
and  good  whisky,  an  event  took  place  wliich 
was  destined  to  have  a  strong  infiuence  on  the 
future  of  the  neighborhood.  It  was  no  less  an 
afl'air  than  the  arrival  of  Denny  Robertson, 
James  Robertson.  John  Robertson  and  families, 
whose  numerous  descendants  are  to-day  among 
our  most  respected  citizens.  Denny  Robertson 
and  family,  and  perhaps  James  also,  accepted 
an  invitation  to  stay  all  night  at  Hewitt's,  while 
John  Robertson  passed  on  to  his  cabin  in  Rose 
Township. 

The  wagons  which  were  to  stay  were  soon 
surrounded,  and  the  weary  travelers  made  wel- 
come.    The  amusements  of  jumping  and  shoot- 


47:^ 


HISTORY  OF    STAKK    COUNTY. 


ing  at  a  mark  was  abandoued.  Levy  Brothers, 
ruounted  on  Hewitt's  old  mare  "  Tibb,"  was 
dispatched  up  the  creek  after  Tom  Tidball,  the 
fiddler.  The  boys  struck  out  in  every  direction 
after  the  fair  daughters  of  Sandy,  and  the  frolic 
and  the  new  arrival  were  jointly  celebrated  by 
a  rousing  dance,  until  the  l)reaking  day  gave 
warning  that  the  more  serious  concerns  of  life 
demanded  attention.  Then  breakfast  dispatched, 
the  new-comers  were  escorted  to  their  new  iiome 
on  the  farm  now  owned  by  David  Robertson  ; 
nor  did  these  stalwart  volunteers  quit  the  place 
until  by  aid  of  ax  and  arm  a  cabin  grew  up  in 
the  wilderness,  and  the  emigrant  of  yesterday 
was  as  much  a  settler  as  any  of  his  sturdy  new- 
found friends.  Among  the  girls  found  to  lionor 
this  occasion  v/ere  the  Misses  Sallie  and  Ollie 
Kellogg,  Rachel  Keefer,  Susan,  Kate  and  Bar 
bary  Shook,  Katie,  Eva,  Betsey  and  Julie 
Schultzo.  Tlie  dance,  among  these  lusty  revel- 
ers, could  hardly  be  described  as  the  "  poetry 
of  motion,"  althougii  it  was  by  far  too  energetic 
and  boisterous  to  be  called  prosey.  Dressed  in 
suits  of  home-spun  tow  linen,  shod  in  cow-hide 
boots,  the  honest  but  unpolished  swain  led  Ibrth 
a  partner  blooming  in  stout  brogans  and  frock 
of  linsey-woolsej\  all  innocent  of  frills  and  plaits, 
but  whose  radiant,  ruddy  smile,  born  of  good 
humor  and  good  health,  made  ample  amends  for 
the  lack  of  what,  too  often  in  these  later  days, 
is  little  less  than  sickening  affectation,  both  as  to 
dress  and  manners.  The  music  (?)  of  •'  Monnaie 
Musk,"  "  Chase  the  Squirrel,"  "  Peel  the  Wil- 
low '  and  other  lively  tunes,  inspired  an  energy 
of  action  and  a  business-like  execution  tliat 
would  command  attention,  if  not  admiration,  in 
a  fashionable  ball-room  of  1881. 

Along  with  James  Hewitt  came  John  Reed, 
Sr.,  and  his  son,  James  Reed,  and  John  Creigli- 
ton,  a  nephew  of  Hewitt.  John  Reed's  pos- 
t(^rity  are  yet  residents  of  Malvern.  The  near- 
est neighbor  was  Isaac  Van  Meter  whose  cabin 
stood  just  at  the  top  of  the  hill  where  Market 
street,  of  Waj'nesburg,  descends  toward  the  C. 
&  P.  Railroad.  Moses  Porter  lived  at  what  is 
now  Malvern  Hewitt  and  his  company  cleared 
out  a  field,  planted  and  harvested  corn,  seeded 
the  ground  in  wheat,  and  returned  to  MeKe3'S- 
port,  Penn.,  to  winter,  and  while  there  Hewitt 
married  fjlizabetli  Thompson,  and.  in  March, 
1808,  with  his  brother,  John  Hewitt,  and  Will- 
iam Tliompson,  returned  to  staj'. 

The  Wyandot  Indians,  who  were  encamped 


beside  a  small  stream  just  west  of  where  James 
A.  Hewitt's  brick  house  now  stands  in  Brown 
Township,  left  in  the  fall  of  1811,  warnmg  the 
people  to  leave  before  tliey  returned,  for  they 
would  then  l)e  on  tlie  war-path.  Mr.  William 
Hewitt  remembers  the  coming  of  two  squaws 
to  his  father's  house  just  before ,they  left,  to  sell 
baskets  made  of  split  ash-wood,  and  that  each 
alternate  strip  of  wood  was  colored  red.  The 
price  asked  for  the  baskets  was  that  the  basket 
chosen  be  filled  with  corn  meal.  Upon  another 
occasion,  two  Indians  came  into  the  front  yard 
at  Hewitt's  house  and  gave  tlie  people  a  l)ad 
scare ;  they  were  named  Capt.  Beaver  Hat  and 
Capt.  Pipe,  the  former  drew  his  tomahawk  and 
flourished  it  over  young  William's  head,  then 
laughing  at  his  fright,  took  the  boy  up  in  his 
arms  and  said,  "  Beaver  Hat.  good  Injun  ;  me 
no  hurt  white  man's  jjapoose.  '  Beaver  Hat 
claimed  to  have  been  at  Braddock's  defeat,  and 
that  he  had  fired  six  times  at  Washington,  who 
rode  a  white  horse,  and,  though  he  was  a  good 
shot,  could  not  hit  him  ;  then  said,  •'  Man  on 
white  horse,  mighty  big  medicine-man." 

In  1812,  Fredrick  Baum  and  his  son,  Jonas 
Baum,  the  father  of  William  Baum.  a  well- 
known  citizen  of  Sandy  Township,  came  and 
entered  land  ;  Solomon  and  Simon  Shook  and 
Adam  Keifer,  also  Phillip  Schultze,  Conrad 
Boyer,  Conrad  Stull,  Samuel  Kimraell  and  Henr\' 
Bon.brak.  The  father  of  tlie  present  numerous 
Sicafoose  family  was  also  a  very  early  settler 
on  the  land  now  owned  by  Benjamin  Sicafoose. 
Henry  Elson,  Sr..  f\Uher  of  the  good-natured 
shoemaki:r  of  the  same  name,  whom  two  gene- 
rations of  children  of  the  village  of  Waynes- 
burg  have  known  as  a  universal  friend,  came 
to  Stark  County  in  1812,  and  settled  first  at 
Bethlehem,  and  a  little  later  moved  to  what  is 
now  known  as  the  Kintig  farm.  Henry  Elscm 
tells  the  writer  tliat  he  remembers  coming  to 
Pool's  store,  in  the  then  village  of  Hamburg, 
after  tobacco  for  his  father  as  early  as  1815. 
His  father  paid  $1.25  per  bushel  for  corn  in 
1812  ;  the  corn  had  been  brought  in  a  keel-boat 
from  Marrietta  1)3'  Edward  Nelson,  of  Kendal, 
near  what  is  now  Massillon.  Mr.  Robert  Nel- 
son, so  well  known  as  a  contractor  and  generally 
successful  business  man,  was  a  son  of  Edward 
Nelson,  and  son-in-law  of  Henr3'  Elson. 

Sand3'  Township  was,  in  the  earl3'  days  of  its 
histoiy,  infested  with  snakes  to  an  extent  that 
made  it  very  dangerous  to  go  about  at  certain 


£k 


SAXDY    TOWNSHIP. 


473 


seasons  of  the  year  ;  there  were  numerous  dens 
of  rattlesnakes,  and  instances  are  related  of 
hundreds  of  these  reptiles  having  been  killed 
from  a  single  den  in  a  season  ;  one  of  the  most 
notable  of  these  was  situated  near  Capt.  Down- 
ing's  Spring. 

One  of  the  most  thrilling  incidents  in  the 
earl}-  historj-  of  Stark  ("o,.  which  occurred  near 
tlie  present  village  of  Minerva,  deserves  a  rec- 
ord here ;  because  at  least  three  of  the  partici- 
pants, several  }'cars  later,  became  residents  of 
Sand}'  Township,  and  two  lie  buried  beneath 
its  green  sward.  We  have  the  story  from  Hon. 
John  0.  Croxton,  who  gleaned  its  particulars 
from  Lsaac  .Miller,  one  of  the  chief  actors  in 
the  afl'air. 

It  was  in  the  latter  part  of  March  or  early  in 
April,  1793.  that  Gen.  Anthony  Wayne's  army 
broke  camp  at  Legion  Fields  (now  Economy), 
I'cnn..  and  proceeded  down  the  Ohio  River. 

As  a  precautionar}'  measure,  spies  or  scouts 
were  employed  to  range  at  will  tlirough  the  ter- 
ritory north  and  west  of  the  river,  whose  duly 
it  was  to  traverse  the  conntrj-  and  report 
promptl}-  anj-  unfavorable  condition  of  affairs 
at  certain  stated  rendezvous. 

One  of  these  parties  was  compo.sed  of  five 
trusty  men.  named  Capt.  James  Downing.  Isaac 
Miller.  John  Cuppy.  (Jeorge  Foulke  and  John 


The  smoke  of  their  camp-fire  had  betrayed 
their  whereabouts  to  a  party  f)f  about  twenty 
Wyandot  Indians,  who  proceeded,  after  careful 
recognizance,  to  attack  their  unsuspecting  foes. 
To  make  sure  work,  the  Indians  divided  their 
force  into  two  parties— one  scjuad  going  south 
of  Clear  Fork  to  a  conceale<l  position  on  what  is 
now  the  farm  of  Dr.  J.  C.  flostetter,  while  the 
other  party  went  further  south  into  the  timber 
toward  Still   I'ork. 

Downing  liad  just  made  a  remark  expressing 
surprise  that  during  the  last  day  thej-  had  dis- 
covered no  -signs"  of  Indians,  when  Cuppy 
sprang  to  his  feet,  declaring,  with  an  oath,  that 
there  were  Indians.  He  had  discovered  them 
dodging  about  in  the  Hostetter  plains.  Miller 
and  Foulke  picked  up  their  guns  and  made  for 
the  enemy,  Miller  in  tiie  advance,  when  the  In- 
dians fell  back  toward  the  timber.  Foulke  un- 
derstood their  tactics,  and  called  to  MiHer  to 
retreat  at  once,  for  as  soon  as  the  Indians  would 
reach  timber  they  would  eacii  take  to  a  tree 
and  shoot  down  their  foes  at  leisure. 

Returning  to  the  camp  they  found  it  desert- 
ed, the  second  parly  of  redskins  having  at- 
tacked the  other  tin-ee  scouts  in  their  absence. 
When  attacked.  Downing  favored  sticking  to- 
gether, but  Diliow  sang  out  every  man  for  him- 
self,   and  ran   off  down    the  blufl'  toward  the 


Diliow.     Their  station  was  opposite  the  mouth  i  forks  of  the  creek.     Downing   and  Cu|)py  fol 


of  Yellow  Creek,  on  Tumblesou's  Run,  at  the 
farm  of  Jacob  Neesly.  They  were  men  pe- 
culiarly adapted  to  the  task  in  hand,  by  rea- 
son of  known  skill  in  woodcraft,  and  the  fact 
that  the  two  last  named  had  been  captured  in 
boyhood  by  the  Wyandot  Indians,  and  grew  to 
manhood  among  tliem.  They  escaped  to  their 
white  friends  but  a  short  while  before  the  time 
we  write  of,  and  had  taken  service  under  old 
"  Mad   .Vnlhony.  " 

I'pon  a  certain  morning,  these  scouts  were 
preparing  a  breakfast  of  wild  turkey  which  had 
been  shot  the  day  b(!fore,  as  had  been  also  a 
deer,  the  skin  of  which  Capt.  Downing  pro- 
ceeded to  dress  while  the  fowl  was  cooking, 
improvising  a  '•graining  knife"  by  driving  the 
point  of  his  hunting-knife  into  a  stick,  and 
thus  securing  a  double-handled  affair  which,  in 
tlu^  aliseucc  of  a  iK^tter  tool,  did  good  serv- 
ice. Miller  and  Foulke  were  acting  as  cooks, 
Diliow  was  gathering  dry  wood,  and  Cuppy 
was.  as  he  afterward  told  it,  "sittin 
root  of  a  tree  standing  guard." 


)ading 


lowed,  keeping  the  Indians  at  bay  by 
and  tiring  as  they  ran. 

Downing  soon  discovered  that  whenever 
they  stopped  the  leader  of  the  Indians  would 
jump  and  howl  and  throw  his  arms  about 
and  make  a  great  display  of  himself  to  attiaet 
attention,  while  the  others  would  drop  into  the 
tall  grass  and  run  forward  on  their  hands  and 
knees  to  gain  on  them.  Finally  Downing,  by 
a  lucky  shot,  scut  (his  leader  or  chief  to  howl 
and  dance  in  Merrin  parts."  as  the  old  Cap- 
tain was  wont  to  express  it  years  afterward. 
Cuppy  kept  near  Downing  until  they  came  up 
with  Diliow,  who  had  gotten  into  an  awkward 
scrape  by  pulling  the  knot  of  a  handkercliicl', 
which  he  had  about  his  neck,  in  the  wrong 
direction,  and,  being  unable  to  loose  it,  was 
almost  suffocated.  Downing  tore  away  the 
handkerchief,  and  the  three  ran  on  to  a  large 
thorn-tree,  where  Downing,  who,  being  a  very 
large  man  and  almost  exhausted  by  the  race, 
at  the  i  stopped,  and  declared  that  he  would  go  no  fur- 
ther,  but  staj-  there  and   kill  as  many  as  he 


474 


HISTORY  OF    STAKK    COUNTY. 


could  before  they  got  his  scalp.  At  this  June- 
tiive,  Miller  and  Foiilke  got  back  to  the  deserted 
camp  as  related  above,  and  heard  the  firing  of 
their  friends  down  the  bliitf.  Miller  had  the 
most  unbounded  confidence  in  his  own  ability 
to  outrun  the  whole  party  of  red  men,  and  de- 
termined to  save  the  party  by  his  fleetness  if 
he  could  ;  .so  he  gave  a  series  of  bantering  yells 
which  met  quick  answer,  and  his  powers  were 
at  once  put  to  the  test,  for  the  whole  gang,  as 
if  by  preconcerted  signal,  turned  and  followed 
him.  Coming  to  the  creek,  he  gave  a  desperate 
leap,  clearing  the  stream,  he  said  he  believed, 
at  one  liound.  .  He  gave  a  glance  back,  and, 
seeing  an  Indian  coming  down  the  one  bank  as 
lie  went  up  the  other,  he  exclaimed ;  '■  Now 
legsferit.  '  and  bounded  off.  He  ran  perhaps 
two  miles  without  venturing  to  look  back, 
when  he  discovered  that  he  was  alone,  and  no 
pursuer  in  sight.  He  at  once  struck  out  for 
the  river  rendezvous. 

Tlie  Indians,  in  relating  the  story  of  tliis 
chase  afterward,  said :  ''White  man  run  like 
hell.  "  On  his  way  to  the  river,  Miller  slept  all 
night  in  the  woods  under  a  fallen  chestnut 
tree,  the  site  of  which  was  known  for  many 
years,  but  is  now  too  much  in  dispute  to  \h' 
located. 

Foulke  hid  himself  in  the  woods  near  whore 
IV'kiu  now  stands,  and  saw  the  Indians  bury 
tlieir  dead  the  next  day.  He  said  there  were  at 
least  two  killed,  one  being  buried  near  the 
present  site  of  Mr.  Thomas  Jackson's  residence 
in  Minerva. 

Tiie  scouts  all  met  the  second  day  alter  the 
fight  at  headquarters,  and  lived  for  years  to  tell 
the  tale  of  their  narrow  escape. 

In  October,  1793,  this  same  five  scouts,  Dillon, 
Miller,  Downing,  Ouppy  and  Faulk,  made  an 
excursion,  passing  through  this  township  to  a 
point  within  about  six  miles  of  the  villages  of 
the  Huron  Indians,  on  the  Huron  River,  in  the 
present  county  of  Huron,  this  State ;  they 
here  attacked  an  Indian  camp  ;  the  time  chosen 
was  at  daj'break  as  soon  as  they  couhl  see  the 
sights  on  their  rifies.  One  of  the  Indians,  be- 
coming uneasy  from  some  cause,  took  up  his 
gun  and  came  out  and  stood  between  the  Ran- 
gers and  the  camp  fire.  F'aulk  said  he  would 
shoot  him.  and  did  so,  when  they  rushed  upon 
the  camp  and  killed  two  more  Indians.  The 
Indian  whom  Faulk  had  first  shot  was  not  yet 
dead,  but    that  gentleman  declared   that   "  he 


had  begun  and  he'd  finish  him."  so  he  drew  his 
tomahawk,  buried  it  the  Indian's  brain,  scalped 
him,  and  the  scouts  returned  to  their  rendez- 
vous on  the  Ohio  River. 

Thus  it  was,  that  savage  Indians  were  pur- 
sued to  the  death  by  scarcely  less  savage  white 
men,  in  order  to  plant  the  present  civilization, 
which  is  shaken  to  ils  center  b}'  a  deed  of 
blood  that,  in  those  daj-s  of  yore,  would  have 
hardly  been  deemed  worthy  of  a  passing  no- 
tice. 

Among  our  most  respected  and  best  known 
pioneer  citizens  now  living  is  Mr.  Jacob  Gless- 
ner.  Mr.  Glessner  was  born  about  170-t  or 
1795,  and  his  twin  brother,  Jonathan  Gless- 
ner,  is  yet  living  in  Indiana.  Mr.  Glessner's 
mind  is  (juite  clear,  and  he  relates  manj-  inter- 
esting incidents  of  early  times.  He  came  to 
Oliio  in  1818,  and  worked  at  his  trade,  that  of 
a  cabinet-maker,  near  New  Lisbon  ;  here  he 
took  a  job  of  laying  a  large  floor,  and  was  to 
receive  in  payment  a  lot  of  produce,  which, 
when  counted  up  at  the  prices  prevailing  at  the 
time,  came  to  $9.  This,  considering  that  by 
dint  of  lively  work  he  did  the  job  all  in  one 
day,  was  deemed  a  remarkable  day's  wages. 
He,  however,  had  to  hire  a  man  to  take  it  to 
town,  and  when  he  got  there  and  paid  his  team- 
ster, he  hail  not  money  enough  left  to  buy  a 
hat,  which  he  much  needed,  and  had  to  go 
into  debt  for  the  balance.  All  this  was  bad 
enough,  but  when  the  hatter  became  alarmed 
about  his  pay  and  sued  for  the  amount  due 
him,  Mr.  (rlessner  began  to  conclude  that  he 
had  better  work  ff>r  less  wages  and  take  better 

About  the  year  1838,  there  lived  near  what 
was  known  as  the  Baker  or  BIcIntosh  Mill,  on 
Little  Sandy,  a  cooper  by  the  name  of  Jesse 
Evans.  He  was,  in  the  main,  a  peaceful  man, 
and  remarkable  for  qualities  of  intelligence 
above  his  neighbors.  He  had  a  son  William, 
who,  at  a  law-suit  between  his  father  and  one 
of  the  Creighton  family,  was  compelled  to  give 
evidence  unfavorable  to  his  father.  This  led 
to  a  fierce  quarrel,  and  the  next  morning  Will- 
iam was  missing.  Suspicion  was  aroused,  and 
search  was  at  once  instituted,  but  the  young 
man  had  disappeared  utterly.  Parties  were  or- 
ganized and  the  mill-dam  dragged,  the  woods 
scoured  in  every  direction.  A  place  was  said 
to  have  been  found  where  a  struggle  had  evi- 
dently taken  place  ;  hair  and  blood  were  found 


•ik£. 


SANDY    TOWXftlllP. 


on  the  bushes  and  lea\es,  :ind  ever3'thing 
pointed  to  a  "murder,  foul  and  most  unnatural." 
Jesse  Evans  was  therefore  arrested,  charged 
with  the  murder  of  his  son.  and  at  the  prelimi- 
nary examination  before  Ksquire  John  lloss,  a 
most  convincing  chain  of  circumstantial  evi- 
dence was  adduced,  and,  protesting  his  inno- 
cence, the  old  man  was  securely  locked  up  in 
jail  to  await  a  trial  at  the  next  term  of  court. 
By  the  time  all  thi.s  had  been  done,  the  story, 
no  smaller  grown  by  travel,  had  reached  Cleve- 
hmd  and  found  a  recoril  in  the  weeklj-  papers. 
Young  Evans  saw  the  tale  of  woe,  and  hast- 
enecj  back  to  relieve  his  father  from  a  tlilemma 
which  was  likely  to  find  a  terrible  solution. 
This  incident  we  have  heard  related  b^'  some  of 
our  most  reliable  citizens,  and  is  recorded  as 
one  of  the  remarkable  circumstances  in  our 
earl^-  history.  It  seems  to  us  a  keen  com- 
mentary upon  all  cases  of  conviction  on  cir- 
cumstantial evidence  only. 

In  these  times,  Sandy  and  adjoining  town- 
sliips  supported  what  is  now  an  unknown  occu- 
pation. William  Mays,  father  of  the  venerable 
Andrew  Mays,  for  many  ^ears  a  citizen  of 
Waynesburg,  and  grandfather  of  Madison  M. 
Mays,  Esq.,  was  a  traveling  shoemaker.  He 
went  from  house  to  house  as  he  was  wanted, 
making  up  shoes  for  the  family.  Mr.  John 
Uewit  has  still  in  his  possession  a  shoemaker's 
hammer,  which  once  belonged  to  this  •■  knight 
of  the  last." 

Travel  from  one  part  of  the  township  to  anoth- 
er, now  a  matter  of  so  much  ease,  was,  in  the 
young  days  of  the  settlement,  a  (juestion  of  seri- 
ous moment,  as  will  be  realized  upon  reading  the 
following  incident :  Mrs.  Miles,  a  resident  of 
the  northeastern  portion  of  the  township,  had 
occasion  to  visit  a  neighbor  who  lived  in  the 
south  part  of  I'ike  Township.  .\t  some  point 
on  the  journey,  which,  carrying  a  young  babe, 
she  began  after  dinner,  expecting  to  accomplish 
it  easily  and  return  before  dark,  the  woman 
lost  her  wa^',  and  wamlered  about  in  hopeless 
bewilderment  until  the  darkness  came  on  and 
night  closed  in  to  comph^te  her  misery.  With 
the  gloaming  came  the  dismal  bowlings  of  the 
wolves,  which  were  numerous,  and  ever  and 
anon  the  flashing  of  fiery  eyes  amongst  the 
underlirush  increased  her  alarm,  until,  terror- 
stricken, she  hurriedly  climbed  into  the  branches 
of  a  friendly  chestnut  tree.  This  was  the  signal 
for  an  outbreak  of  howling  rage  amongst  the 


cowardly  wolves,  and  as  if  by  magic  the  woods 
swarmed  with  them,  snarling  and  fighting  with- 
in a  few  feet  of  her  beneath  the  tree.  She  feareil 
she  might  in  some  way  drop  her  babe,  and  so  she 
tied  it  up  securely  in  her  apron,  and  swung  it 
to  a  limb  of  the  tree  near  her.  Then  she  made 
herself  as  comfortable  as  possible  and  awaited 
patiently  for  da^Might.  It  was  a  weary  wait, 
but  the  dawn  finally  came,  and  with  it  the  tor- 
mentors left,  and  she  climbed  down  to  find  that 
she  had  lodged  in  a  tree  within  a  hundred  yards 
of  the  very  cabin  she  was  seeking,  and  whose 
occupants  came  out  in  the  morning  to  see  what 
the  wolves  were  making  such  a  dreadful  noise 
about  the  night  before.  Mrs.  Miles  was  escorted 
safely  home,  and  lived  to  tell  to  her  grand- 
children in  Iowa  how  their  mother  had  slept 
snugly-  hammocked  in  a  chestnut  tree. 

It  may  truthfully  be  said  of  the  residents  of 
Sandy  Township,  that 

"Far  friim  tlic  madding  i  ruwd's  iu:uol)lc  slrift-. 
Their  soIht  wi^lu-s  iicvt-r  learned  to  stray. 
Along  tfie  eodl.  seiiuesli  red  vale  of  life, 

They  kept  the  nuiseless  tenor  of  their  way." 

and  the  result  is,  that  its  historian  has  no  great 
or  startling  event  to  record  beyond  such  as  had 
an  ecjual  effect  upon  the  country  at  large.  Her 
people  have  been  ever  prompt  in  their  response 
to  calls  of  patriotism  or  luimanity.  In  the 
hour  of  his  need,  there  were  always  those  to  be 
found  ready  to  minister  to  the  needs  of  the 
fugitive  from  bondage,  and  when  the  hour  came 
and  America's  great  apostle  of  Liberty  com- 
manded ■'  liOose  him  and  let  him  go  I  "  there 
was  but  a  corporal's  guard  to  be  found  in  "  Lit- 
tle Sandy'  who  failed  to  respond  with  a  hearty 
approval.  Incident  to  the  war  of  the  rebellion, 
much  might  be  written  of  the  experiences  of 
its  citizens  who  participated  in  that  struggle. 
A  complete  roll  of  her  volunteers  has  not  been 
kept,  and  hence,  after  sixteen  years,  it  would  be 
impossible  to  give  the  names  of  all  who  went 
from  the  township.  As  an  entire  chapter  in 
this  work  is  devoted  to  the  military  historj'  of 
the  county,  we  will  make  no  further  allusion 
to  it  here. 

Peter  Mottice  kept  the  earliest  regular  tavern 
in  tht;  township  on  his  farm,  now  the  propertj- 
of  J.  Creighton  Rogers,  Escj.,  two  miles  north 
of  Waynesljurgh.  .Mr.  Mottice  kept  this  tav- 
ern as  early  as  181S,  and  perhapsayear  before, 
but  Capt.  John  Beatty,  now  of  Carrollton,  was 
sent  to  Mottiee's  tavern  in  1818,  with  a  sack  of 


;^ 


476 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


oats  to  sell,  and  he  says  the  house  was  crowded 
with  travelers.  Mr.  Mottiee  kept  this  place 
until  1829,  when  he  sold  it  and  a  quarter  sec- 
tion of  land  to  Robert  Hamilton,  who  moved 
from  New  York  City  in  1830,  and  kept  the 
tavern  for  several  years,  and  then  moved  to 
Wavnesburgh,  where  he  continued  in  the  busi- 
ness, and  was  one  of  the  most  popular  land- 
lords in  Ohio,  as  well  as  one  of  the  most  wide- 
ly known.  He  died  in  187(5,  highly  respected 
and  deeply  regretted.  The  Hamilton  House  is 
still  the  property  of  Mr.   Hamilton's  children, 

Moses  Porter  kept  a  regular  tavern  on  the 
present  site  of  Malvern,  and  an  old  pear  tree 
planted  by  him  is  still  in  flourishing  health. 
He  was  there  as  early  as  1807. 

Daniel  Shaeffer  started  a  hotel  in  Waynes- 
burgh  in  1816,  in  the  house  now  owned  by  the 
heirs  of  Daniel  Glessner.  His  house  was  a 
noted  one,  and  was  the  headquartfrs  of  the 
Democratic  party  of  that  day.  It  was  in  this 
house  that  the  first  political  meeting  of  the 
township  was  held  during  the  Adams-Jackson 
campaign.  Robert  Creighton  was  the  Whig 
advocate  and  William  Hammers  was  the 
champion  of  Democracy.  In  1831,  Mr.  Shaetfer 
built  the  brick  building  which  stood  for  fifty 
years  on  the  southwest  corner  of  Main  an.d 
Lisbon  streets,  and  which  at  the  time  of  this 
writing  is  being  razed  to  the  ground  to  give 
place  to  a  more  modern  structure  being  built 
by  Messrs.  G.  W.  Elsass  &  Bro. 

The  first  saw-mill  in  the  township  was  built 
by  Robert  McCall,  father  of  Thomas  McCall, 
Esq.,  late  of  Sandy  Township,  but  now  of  Can- 
ton, about  the  year  1815,  near  the  present  resi- 
dence of  JlcClure  Boyd.  Esq.  The  first  grist- 
mill was  built  by  William  Hardesty,  where 
Malvern  now  stands,  in  181G.  Mr.  Hardesty 
took  his  surplus  stock  of  mill  products  to 
Cleveland  by  wagon.  It  required  a  week  to 
make  the  trip  and  sometimes  a  part  or  all  of 
Sunday.  The  first  grist-mill  in  what  is  now 
Sandy  Township  was  built  by  Jehu  Brown,  an 
early  settler  and  a  remarkable  man  in  many 
respects.  He  was  a  fine  mechanic,  a  preacher 
and  a  politician,  but  of  these  latter  trades  more 
anon.  He  built  a  grist-mill,  saw-mill  and  wool- 
en-mill a  short  distance  down  the  creek  from 
where  Messrs.  Sherrod,  Wilson  &  Co.'s  fine 
steam  luill  now  stands.  The  first  distillery  was 
built  and  operated  by  Daniel  Shaeflfer,  near  the 
spring  just  south   of  the  present   residence  of 


Alexander  Robertson.  A  large  thorn  tree  on 
the  west  side  of  the  road  from  Waynesburgh  to 
Canton  marks  the  site  of  the  first  tannery'.  It 
was  built  and  operated  by  James  McClure. 
The  next  was  kept  by  George  Beatty,  on  the 
site  of  the  Boory  Tannery  of  the  present  time. 
The  first  coal  mine  in  Sandy  Town.ship  was 
opened  by  Samuel  Allerton,  the  blacksmitii. 
near  where  Jlr.  J.  H.  Ross  is  now  operating  a 
successful  mine.  There  are  at  this  writing, 
'  1881,'  eight  mines  in  successful  operation. 

The  Tuscarawas  Indian  trail  passed  througii 
the  township  from  east  to  west,  keeping  gener- 
ally near  the  banks  of  Big  Sand3'  Creek.  It 
crossed  the  Little  Sandy,  a  short  way  north  of 
where  McCall's  saw-mill  stood,  and  crossed  Big 
Sandy  at  an  easy  fording  on  the  lands  ncjw 
owned  by  Jacob  Painter,  and  thence  continued 
on  the  south  side  of  the  Sandy,  (Jnadenhutten, 
in  Tuscarawas  County,  being  its  objective  point. 
This  trail  seems  to  have  been  a  popular  route, 
a  regular  ■' trunk  line  "  amongst  the  untamed 
traveling  public  of  those  pre-Caucasian  days. 
It  was  of  quite  narrow  gauge,  being  not  over 
eighteen  inches  wide,  but  its  bed  was  beaten 
down  bj'  moccasined  feet  until  it  was  two  or 
three  inches  lower  than  the  surrounding  ground. 
There  never  was  a  toll  road  in  the  township. 
The  bridge  across  the  Sandy  just  north  of 
Waynesburgh,  was  for  a  short  timea  toll  bridge. 
The  roads  of  this  township,  passing  as  they  do, 
over  sand  and  gravel  have  not  required  piking. 

We  have  not  been  able  to  fix  the  date  of  the 
establishing  the  first  stage  or  hack  line,  but  it 
was  at  least  as  early  as  1830  that  a  through 
line  of  good  stages  was  put  upon  the  road  from 
Canton  to  Steubenville.  The  steep  hill  south 
of  Waynesburg  was  the  scene  of  several  acci- 
dents, which,  though  very  startling,  w-ere  none 
fatal  to  human  life.  On  one  occasion,  the  brake 
upon  the  wheels  of  the  stage  gave  way,  just  as 
it  was  applied  at  the  top  of  the  hill.  The 
weight  of  a  full  load  of  passengers  drove  the 
stage  upon  the  horses,  and  away  the}'  went, 
pell-mell,  down  the  hill.  Thedriver,  Abe  Hall, 
a  famous  '•  whip  "  of  the  route,  was  on  the 
seat.  He  gathered  the  lines  carefully,  braced 
himself  as  best  he  coidd,  and  applied  the  whip 
sharply,  keeping  the  horses  ahead  of  the  coach. 
By  the  time  the  level  was  reached,  the  team 
was  in  a  frenzy  of  excitement,  and  they  dashed 
down  the  street  at  a  terrible  pace.  The  horses 
were  in  the  habit  of  turning  in  at  Hamilton's 


U^,  ch.^eY^ 


Oxc^t^i^^^ 


:±i 


SANDY    TOWN.SIIIl' 


477 


hotel,  and  the  driver  realized  that  it  would  be 
imiJObsil)lo  to  stop  them  otherwise  than  to 
iriiide  tlieni  into  the  inclosed  barnyard.  The 
iiotel  people  saw  the  stage  coming,  opened  wide 
the  gate,  and  by  taking  all  the  circuit  the 
street  afforded,  the  driver  managed  to  guide 
the  terror-stricken  beasts  safely  throusjh  the 
gate,  and  landed  safely  about  as  badly  scared 
a  lot  of  passengers  as  ever  alighted  from  a 
stage-coach. 

The  completion  of  the  Tuscarawas  Branch  of 
the  Cleveland  &  Pittsburgh  Raih'oad  was  a 
death  blow  to  this  primitive  mode  of  travel,  as 
well  as  to  the  Sandy  &  Beaver  Canal,  which 
was  commenced  through  the  tonnsiiip  in  1833. 
Work  progressed  until  tiic  financial  panic  of 
1837  locked  the  wheels  of  that,  as  well  as  of 
most  other  enterprises,  and  its  building  was 
suspended  until  1845.  when  new  capital  was 
invested  and  the  canal  completed,  in  1849, 
from  the  Beaver  River  to  Bolivar,  where  it  con- 
nected with  the  Ohio  Canal.  Its  years  were 
few,  however,  for,  as  before  remarked,  the  rail- 
roads ca-iii'  along  by  its  coui-se.  in  1854,  and  it 
yielded  to  destiny. 

.\boul  the  spring  of  1852,  a  hack  and  mail 
route  was  established  to  connect  New  Philadel- 
phia with  Bayard  Station.  These  places  were  the 
termini  of  the  then  proposed  railroad,  which  on 
the  1st  day  of  January.  1854,  ran  it-s  first  train 
into  Waynesburg.  This  hack  line  was  owned 
and  operated  by  Thomas  Cannon.  John  Karn. 
of  Waynesl)urgh,  and  John  Stevenson,  now 
one  of  the  oldest  and  most  popular  ('onduc- 
tors  on  the  Cleveland  &  I'ittsbnrgh  Railroad, 
were  drivers.  It  was  on  the  first  regular  trip 
of  this  hack  line  that  the  first  daily  newspaper 
came  to  Waynesburg.  The  paper  was  The 
Fui-nsf  i^iti/.  pnblislied  at  Cleveland.  As  the 
railroad  grew  longer  the  hai'k  line  grew  shorter, 
and  its  history  closed  with  the  completion  of 
the  railroad.  Several  of  our  citizens  took  a 
lively  interest  in  the  building  of  the  railroad. 
Robert  Nelson  and  John  W.  Mays  built  the 
mile  whi(;li  passes  the  village  of  Waynesburg. 
and  1.  .V.  Ross  had  the  contract  for  the  mile 
next  east ;  both  parties  made  money  by  their 
contracts.  The  work  at  this  point  was  heavy, 
and  was  conducted  to  the  end  with  but  a  single 
serious  accident,  which  residted  in  the  crippling 
for  life  of  Mr.  William  (ilessner,  who  still  lives 
to  tell  the  story  of  his  sufferings.  Sandy  Town- 
ship lays  claim  to  a  very  early  railroad  enter- 


prise, which  was  the  result  of  the  mechanical 
skill  of  Jehu  Brown,  whose  name  has  already 
been  mentioned.  It  was  in  1833  or  1834,  that 
it  became  necessary  to  transport  a  large  num- 
l)er  of  heavy  stone  from  David  Reed's  stone- 
quarry  to  what  has  been  for  years  known  as 
Seaburg's  or  Elson's  dam.  To  do  this  conven- 
iently, Mr.  Brown,  who  had  charge  of  the  worlt, 
contri\ed  what  w<}uld  to-day  be  voted  a  good, 
substantial  railroad,  of  three-foot  gauge.  It  had 
its  embankments,  bridges,  trestle  works  and  all 
in  order,  save  the  iron  rail.  The  rails  were  of 
maple  wood,  fastened  with  wooden  pins.  The 
motive  power  was  a  mule.  The  time  made  was 
not  remarkafile.  but  the  work  was  well  done, 
and  the  road  answered  fidly  the  purpose  for 
which  it  was  built,  it  was  about  half  a  mile 
in  length,  and  was  considered  a  wonderful  piece 
of  work  by  the  rural  inhabitants  of  that  day, 
one  of  whom  gave  us  the  above  account.  Not 
a  trace  remains  of  this  early  and  successful 
railroad  enterprise. 

Sandy  Township  has  not  t)een  lacking  in 
political  preferment,  and  as  the  years  have 
rolled  awa}-.  several  of  her  citizens  have  licen 
chosen  to  fill  positions  of  honor  and  trust.  Of 
the  first  grand  jury  ever  called  in  the  county, 
Peter  Mottice  w:is  an  honored  member.  The 
first  man  of  Sandy  to  bear  legislative  honors 
was  Roljcrt  Mef'all.  father  of  the  venerable  and 
respected  Thomas  McCall,  of  Canton  ;  the  next 
was  Jehu  Brown,  and  next.  Dr.  James  Welsh, 
of  Waynesbnrgh.  The  dates  when  these  gen- 
tlemen served  the  county  at  our  State  Capitol, 
the  writer  is  not  able  to  fix  from  any  data  at 
hand.  Thomas  C.  Snyder,  of  Waynesbnrgh,  was 
elected  in  1 879.  At  the  county  seat,  the  follow- 
ing men  have  held  office  during  the  time  indi- 
cated :  Gen.  John  Augustine  was  Sheriff,  1819 
to  1825  ;  he  also  served  in  the  Senate  and 
House  of  Representatives  at  Columbus.  Timo- 
thy Reed,  Sheriff,  182()  to  1827;  Peter  Mot- 
tice, Commissioner.  1825  to  1829  ;  James  Down- 
ing. Commissioner.  1833  to  1835;  Robert  II. 
McCall.  Treasurer.  1841  to  1844;  Thomas  Mc- 
Call. Auditor,  1858  to  1859.  Amongst  those 
who  served  as  Justices  of  the  Peace  in  Sandy 
Township,  are  the  following  :  (When  known, 
the  number  of  years  of  service  is  given.)  James 
Hewitt,  first  in  office  ;  Peter  .Mottice.  at  least 
24  years  ;  Gist.  Clinefelter  ;  John  Ross  ;  An- 
drew Hamilton  ;  Michael  Welker,  3  years  ;  J. 
S.  Brownewell,  6  years  ;   A.  B.  Silver,  3  years  ; 


HISTORY    OF    STAKK    COUNTY 


John  C.  Moug,  20  years;  William  Raedel,  15 
years  (iti  office)  ;  Richard  Netz,  3  3ears  ;  John 
K.  Bowers,  3  years  ;  Thomas  C.  Snyder  :  Charles 
H.  Slutz,  in  office. 

The  village  of  Waynesburgh  was  laid  out  in 
1815  by  Joseph  Handlou,  who  had  previously 
laid  out  Hamburg,  north  of  the  creek.  It  is 
believed  that  Daniel  Shaeffer,  the  father  of  the 
once  numerous  Shaefi'er  family  in  the  village, 
assisted  Handion.  It  is  certain  that  these  two 
men  had  very  intimate  business  relations,  for 
a  short  time  afterward,  Shaetfer  be(uxme  Hand- 
Ion's  assignee,  and  in  1818,  purchased  the  land 
which  Handion  had  entered,  receiving  the  war- 
rant therefor  from  James  Muuroe.  President, 
on  the  21st  of  January.  1810.  The  first  house 
vras  the  cabin  of  Isaac  Van  Meter,  which  stood, 
as  has  been  before  mentioned,  on  the  bluff, 
where  Market  street  descends  toward  the  rail- 
road. This  cabin  was  afterward  occupied  bj' 
Daniel  Shaefler,  until  he  could  build  for  himself 

In  1816,  Samuel  Allerton  came  to  town  and 
started  a  blacksmith's  shop,  on  the  lot  now  oc- 
cupied bj-  Frederick  Mackaman's  buildings,  on 
the  southeast  corner  of  Main  and  Lisbon  streets. 
John  T.  Rice  was  the  first  shoemaker,  and 
Henry  Wagoner  the  first  tailoi'.  Simon 
Shook  was  the  first  cooper  ;  he  had  his  shop 
on  the  lot  where  L.  B.  King  now  resides.  The 
first  well  ever  dug  in  this  town  was  on  the 
Boegle  property,  now  owned  bj-  Mrs.  Sarah 
Guinney,  and  it  was  located  about  eightj'  feet 
north  of  Lisbon  street,  and  fiftj-  feet  west  of 
Main  street.  The  first  regular  mail  brought  to 
Waynesburgh  was  carried  by  Andrew  Luckey, 
of  Jefferson  County.  He  traveled  on  foot  from 
Steubenville  to  Canton,  sixty  miles,  making  the 
round  trip  easily  in  two  days,  one  day  each  way, 
once  a  week.  This  was  about  1825.  George 
Beatty  was  tlie  first  Postmaster,  and  kept  the 
post  office  on  South  Main  street,  in  a  log  house 
yet  standing,  just  across  the  alley  from  where 
John  C.  Mong,  Esq.,  now  resides.  The  post 
office  has  not  changed  hands  very  often.  The 
following  persons  have  held  the  office :  George 
Beatty,  Dr.  James  Welsh,  Dr.  Robert  H.  Mc- 
Call,  Henry  Rhoads.  George  P.  Augustine,  Rob- 
ert Hamilton,  Robert  B.  Hamilton,  Edward 
Scott.  Mr.  William  A.  Robertson  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  place  under  Andrew  Johnson, 
but  he  never  removed  the  office  from  the  care 
of  Mr.  Scott. 

On  the  (Jth  day  of  February,  1833,  the  Legis- 


lature of  Oliio  passed  an  act,  entitled  "  An  act 
to  incorporate  the  town  of  Waynesburgh.  in 
Stark  County,"  and  on  the  (5th  day  of  May  fol- 
lowing, an  election  was  held  at  the  house  of 
Jacob  Steiner  (now  the  residence  of  Jacob 
Glessner),  at  which  John  Koontz  and  Jacob 
Steiner  were  Judges,  and  Rice  Blackford,  Clerk, 
for  the  purpose  of  electing  officers  for  the  newly 
made  incorporate  town.  At  this  election,  R.  K. 
Gray,  a  prominent  storekeeper,  was  chosen 
Mayor ;  Rice  Blackford,  a  hatter,  was  elected 
Recorder  ;  Dr.  James  Welsh,  Daniel  Shaeffer, 
Charles  C.  Camp,  Solomon  Koontz  and  Andrew 
Hamilton  were  elected  Trustees,  as  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Village  Council  were  then  called. 

The  first  meeting  of  this  board  of  officers, 
was  held  on  the  20th  day  of  June,  1833.  Its 
first  official  act  was  to  elect  Andrew  Mays, 
Marshal  ;  Alexander  Mcintosh,  Treasurer,  and 
John  Koontz,  Street  Commissioner.  Amongst 
those  who  have  held  the  office  of  Mayor,  are 
the  following:  R.  K.  Gray.  James  Welsh,  Jo- 
seph Doll,  John  Ross,  Gist  Clinefelter,  J.  H. 
Estep,  Robert  Jones,  nineteen  years  in  succes- 
sion, and  John  W,  Glessner,  present  incumbent, 
who  was  first  elected  in  1874.  Illustrative  of 
the  straits  to  which  the  early  builders  were 
at  times  put,  we  mention  the  building  of  a  large 
two-story  barn  by  Joseph  Handion.  It  was 
the  largest  structure  of  the  kind  in  town,  and 
was  as  well  finished  as  any  other  hereabouts, 
but  in  his  whole  construction  there  was  not 
used  a  single  piece  of  sawed  lumber.  Doors, 
door-frames,  floors,  shingles,  everything  in  the 
shape  of  lumber  was  made  by  splitting  it  from 
trees  cut  near  by.  and  every  nail  used,  and 
they  were  not  many,  was  niade  liy  the  village 
blacksmith. 

The  first  'sign-board''  which  was  hung  out 
in  Waj-uesburgh  was  that  of  Daniel  Shaffer's 
Hotel,  in  1816,  and  its  making  and  painting 
was  a  matter  of  serious  consideration.  When 
the  board  was  finished,  it  was  necessary  to  send 
to  Canton  for  a  painter,  who  painted  on  a  black 
ground  in  yellow  letters  the  words,  "Tavern  bj- 
D.  Shaffer.  '  It  did  service  for  many  3'ears  in 
guiding  the  weary  traveler  to  comfortable  rest. 
The  first  pegged  shoes  and  boots  made  in 
Wa3'nesburgh  were  made  by  a  man  named 
Henry  Pickard.  He  made  his  own  pegs,  and 
had  considerable  trouble  introducing  pegged 
work,  as  people  thought  the  pegs  would  rot  off. 
The  first  frame  house  built  in  town  was  the  one 


!:k^ 


SANDY    TOWNSHIP. 


479 


now  owned  by  Mr.  Jacob  Glessner.  It  was 
built  by  Andrew  Mays.  The  first  and  only 
iron  foundr\-  Waynesburgli  has  ever  had  was 
established  in  184;')  by  Patrick  Call.  He 
removed  it  from  Magnolia  to  Waynesburgh  at 
the  instance  of  R.  K.  (iray.  who  assisted  him 
to  some  extent.  Call  sold  out  in  1847  to  Rob- 
ert Jones.  Ksq..  wlio.  at  this  writing,  has  con- 
ducted tile  l)usiness  for  nearly  thirty-four 
years. 

The  first  fire  which  resulted  in  serious  dam- 
age to  property  was  in  about  IB.'U.  A  log 
house,  occupied  by  John  T.  Rice,  which  was 
i  situated  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  •■  Ham- 
ilton House."  It  took  fire  early  in  the  evening, 
while  a  congregation  was  listening  to  preaching 
at  the  residence  of  John  Koontz.  The  people 
left  the  preacher  without  lienediction,  and  has- 
I  tened  to  the  assistance  of  their  unfortunate 
neighbor. 

The  only  brewery  the  village  has  had  ui)  to 
this  time  was  built  by  Roger  Morledge. 
.  The  first  serious  accident  was  the  scalding 
to  death  of  Phillip,  a  son  of  Daniel  Shaffer. 
The  child  was  watching  its  father  boiling  some- 
thing in  a  large  kettle,  out  of  doors,  and  in  an 
unguarded  moment,  fell  into  the  kettle.  It  died 
in  a  few  hours,  and  was  the  first  body  buried 
in  the  cemetery  here. 

The  first  church  built  in  the  village,  was 
on  or  near  the  site  of  the  present  St.  I'aui's 
German  Reformed  Church,  it  was  a  large  log 
structure,  and  remained  unfinished  for  a  long 
time.  It  belonged  to  the  Lutheran  and  (Jerman 
Reformed  societies,  and  these  organizations, 
having  flourished  finely,  in  1844  built  the  pres- 
ent brick  structure,  and  continued  to  worship 
together  in  it  until  187!l.  when  they  .separated, 
the  Lutheran  Society  building  their  present 
elegant  edifice.  The  next  church  edifice  was 
built  In  the  Presbyterians.  It  was  situated  on 
the  lot  next  east  of  West  street,  and  on  the 
south  side  of  Lisljon  street.  The  present  First 
Presbyterian  Church  was  built  in  lS{i7.  when 
Rev.  T.  V.  Milligan  was  Pastor.  The  .Metho- 
dists built  a  brick  church  about  the  year  1838, 
on  the  east  side  of  the  south  end  of  Market 
street.  This  gave  place,  in  1804.  to  the  present 
church  on  South  Main  street.  The  Disciple 
or  ■•  Cliristian  "  Cliurch  was  built  in  1855  to 
1800. 

On  the  5th  day  of  December,  1854.  the  town 
Council    entered    intf)  a  contract   with    Robert 


Nelson,  granting  him  the  right  of  way  through 
the  streets,  to  lay  pipes,  and  establish  water 
works.  He  was  prompt  in  the  discharge  of  his 
part  of  the  work,  and  expended  nearly  $2,000 
in  building  a  reservoir  and  putting  down  cast- 
iron  pipes.  It  was  soon  discovered,  however, 
that  the  supply  of  water  from  the  spring  used, 
was  not  adequate  to  the  growing  demands 
of  the  town,  during  the  summer  season,  and, 
although  the  water  works  are  iu  running  order 
at  this  writing,  not  more  than  half  the  inhabi- 
tants draw  their  water  supply  from  this  source. 
On  the  8th  day  of  September,  1856,  the  Coun- 
cil granted  Robert  Nelson  permissieu  to  sell  his 
water  works  und  franchise  to  the  -'Waynesburgh 
Joint  Stock  Water  Company,"  in  whose  posses- 
sion they  now  stan<l.  At  this  writing  an  ettbrt 
is  being  made  to  have  the  village  build  new 
water  works.  The  inhabitants  are  much  divi- 
ded in  opinion  in  regard  to  the  matter,  aud  an 
injunction,  sued  out  by  the  opposing  party,  has 
brought  matters  to  a  standstill,  after  the  expend- 
iture of  SI, 000, 

On  the  15th  day  of  May,  1841,  the  first  ordi- 
nance was  passed,  compelling  the  la3'ing  of 
proper  sidewalks.  It  created  quite  an  excite- 
ment, and  it  was  considered  by  many  that  the 
members  of  the  Council  were  assuming  by  odds 
too  much  authority. 

Of  the  numerous  secret  orders  popular 
throughout  the  county,  several  have  been  es- 
tablished in  Waynesburg.  including  Sons  of 
Temperance,  ( tood  Templars,  -  Know-Nothings," 
Union  League.  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 
Freemasons  and  Odd  Fellows.  Of  these  onlj- 
the  two  latter  have  an  existence. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  business  houses 
of  Waynesburgh  ;  Beans  &  Elsass,  J.  Shaefter 
&  Son,  Raedel  &  lilythe,  dry  goods  and  gro- 
ceries ;  W.  A,  Strayer,  Charles  11.  Slutz.  hard- 
ware ;  Robert  Jones,  stoves,  tinware,  foundry 
and  plow  works  ;  L.  S.  Bonbrak.  stoves  and  tin- 
ware :  George  W.  Elsass  &  Co.,  groceries  and 
notions  ;  Lewis  Scott,  exchange  broker  ;  George 
W.  Burson,  Kdward  Scott,  drugs  and  stationery; 
William  (Jlessner,  furniture  store  ;  L.  Scott  & 
Co..  manufacturers  of  iron-roofing;  John  W. 
Glcssner.  jeweler  :  W.  H.  Kvans,  merchant 
tailor ;  William  A,  Rhoads,  tailor  ;  Christian 
Grul)er.  brewery  ;  Charles  Gruber,  drinking 
saloon  ;  Christian  Elsass,  shoemaker  and  drink- 
ing saloon  ;  John  Bangs,  barber  ;  Barnhart 
Wingerter,  nndertakei-  aud  notions  ;  Morledge 


HISTORY   OF    .STARK    COUNTY. 


&  Mackaman,  grain  and  produce  ;  Netz  &  Myers, 
clothing  and  carpets  ;  Sherrod,  Wilson  &  Co., 
millers  ;  G.  15.  Belding,  cooper  ;  K.  0.  Bekliug, 
cooper  ;  James  Gibson,  stock  dealer  ;  R.  B. 
Hamilton,  agricultural  implements  ;  Ed  Ham- 
ilton, Harry  W.  Shine,  livery  stables  ;  Doty  & 
Troll,  carriage  makers  ;  Constantine  Derringer, 
William  Wirebaugh,  blacksmiths  ;  H.  Sweet, 
eggs  and  produce  ;  Yarger  &  Gruber,  butchers  ; 
L.  Klotz.  .J.  W.  McOollum,  Henry  Elson, 
shoemakers  ;  William  F.  Boory,  tannery  ;  Geo. 
Bieter,  marble-yard  ;  Marshall  &  Randal,  con 
fectioners;  Mrs.  Alice  Morledge, bakery  ;  Josiah 
Flemming.  Elwood  Shine,  painters  ;  Chai'les 
H.  Jones  &  Co.,  Are  insurance  ;  R.  C.  Fawcett, 
attorney  and  Notary  Puiilic  ;  John  C.  Mong, 
attorney  and  Deputy  Probate  Judge  ;  William 
Raedel,  Charles  H.  Slutz,  Justices  of  the  Peace; 
Mrs.  R.  Guinney.  !Mrs.  M.  Maeser  &  Sister,  mil- 
liners; Miss  Louvina  Reed.  Miss  .\da  Koontz, 
dressmakers  ;  Eincrson  Koontz,  Henry  Casper, 
harness-makers :  Andrew  Waggoner,  Andrew 
Derringer  &  Bro..  stone-masons  ;  Jacob  Piiil- 
lippi,  B,  Monroe,  plasterers  ;  Snyder  Bros., 
builders  and  brick-makers  ;  L.  B.  King,  job 
printer  ;  Joseph  Flickinger.  wagon-maker  ; 
W.  T.  Jackman.  dentist ;  A.  V.  Atwell,  John 
W.  McCort,  G.  C.  Welch,  J.  M.  Bye,  physicians  ; 
Harmon  Creighton,  butcher  ;  Corwin  Firestone, 
A.  Xewkirk,  sawing  machines  ;  A.  F.  Rhoads, 
telegraph  operator  ;  Henry  W.  Rhoads,  agent 
C.  &  P.  R.  R.;  William  A.  Robertson,  A^lex- 
ander  Robertson,  John  Hewitt,  farmers  ;  Ham- 
ilton Hotel,  by  Hamilton  heirs  ;  ■'  ^lorledge 
House,"  John  Shaofl'er. 

Magnolia,  the  second  village  in  the  township, 
was  laid  out  by  Ricluird  Elson  and  John  W. 
Smith  in  the  year  1 83^.  The  line  lietween  Stark 
and  Carroll  Counties  divides  the  village,  the 
portion  lying  in  Carroll  County  being  ofHcially 
known  as  Downingville.  This  part  oftlie  town 
was  laid  out  by  Isaac  Miller,  and  named  in  lienor 
of  his  son-in-law,  James  Downing,  of  wliom  the 
reader  has  read  Ijeforo.  During  the  days  of  the 
brief  existence  of  the  Sandy  &  Beaver  Canal, 
Magnolia  enjoyed  a  season  of  prosperity,  which, 
for  a  time,  justified  flattering  hopes  of  future 
greatness  ;  but  tiie  departing  canal-boats  took 
away  her  trade,  and  for  3'ears  she  was  almost  a 
deserted  village,  but  prosperity  is  contageons. 
and,  within  the  last  ten  years,  there  lias  been  a 
steady  growth,  which,  if  not  rapid,  has  been  at 
least  substantial,  and  the  traveler  of  to-day  finds 


a  pleasant  village  of  about  300  people,  who  are 
both  industrious  and  hospitable. 

John  G.  Croxton  kept  the  first  store.  !<].  J. 
Barkdoll  &  (Jo.  were  the  largest  general  dealers 
ever  in  Magnolia.  They  sold  and  bought  every 
thing  sellable  and  buyal)le.  Mr.  Ed  Scott,  now 
Postmaster  of  Waynesburgh,  was  tlieir  chief 
clerk.  Wm.  Harkness  wasaLsoaprominentstore- 
keeper.  It  was  with  him  that  William  H.  Greer, 
Esq..  one  of  Magnolia's  most  successful  business 
men,  laid  the  foundation  of  his  present  worth. 
Isaac  Teller  was  a  storekeeper  on  a  smaller 
scale,  and  with  him  John  Walser,  of  Canton, 
learned  the  rudiments  of  business,  which  he  has 
since  so  successfully  pursued.  Messrs.  Adams 
&  Chapman  were  also  heavy  dealers  in  general 
merchandise.  Magnolia  once  had  an  iron  foun- 
dry. It  was  built  by  Patrick  Call,  in  1834  or 
1835,  near  the  present  residence  of  A.  R.  Elson. 
He  conducted  the  business  four  or  five  years, 
and  then  removed  to  Waynesburgh  as  already 
stated.  There  are  two  churches  of  comfortable 
style  and  capacity,  belonging  respectively  to  the 
society  of  "  United  Brethern  in  Christ  "  and  to 
the  "  Evangelical  Lutheran,  N.  S." 

In  the  Stark  County  part  of  Magnolia  are  the 
following  business  men  :  W.  H.  Knotts,  agent 
agricultural  implements  ;  .lacob  Wadsworth, 
harness  maker ;  A.  R.  Elson,  miller  ;  Richard 
Elson,  farmer  ;  Felix  blotter,  stonemason  ;  ?>Ia- 
thias  Koehler,  saloon  ;  Dan'l  Klopman,  hotel ; 
John  (xregory,  hotel.  .\.  R.  El.son's  mill,  estab- 
lished by  Elson  tt  Smith  in  1834,  is  one  of  the 
finest  water-power  establishments  in  this  part 
of  Ohio.  He  has  saw  mill  and  other  wood- 
workirig  machinery,  and  transacts  a  very  large 
business. 

Of  the  progress  of  religion  in  Sandy  Town- 
ship a  whole  chapter  might  be  written,  and  the 
difficulty  with  the  writer  has  been,  what  not  to 
write  down  ratiier  than  what  to  record.  The 
honor  of  the  first  preaching  is  claimed  by 
l)oth  the  Lutheran  and  Pi-esbyterian  people,  but 
it  is  likely  that  Lyman  Potter,  a  missionary  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  preached  the  first  ser- 
mon to  a  white  congregation,  although  Elisha 
McCurdy  was  a  missionary  among  the  Wyandot 
and  Shawnee  Indians  some  years  before  white 
settlement.  Lyman  Potter  baptized  .fames 
Hewitt,  of  Waynesburgh,  at  the  house  of  Peter 
Mottice.  while  he  was  yet  an  infant,  about  1810. 
Joshua  Beers  was  the  next  preacher  for  the 
Presbyterians,  and  about  this  time  a  Ijutheran 


SANDY    TOWNSHIP. 


481 


preacher  named  Wagonholtz  came  to  llie  lown- 
sliip  and  preaclieil  at  Uowiiing's  house,  which 
was  open  to  all  comers  although  J)owning  was 
himself  a  Presbytei'i'in-  The  lirst  preacher  lor 
the  German  Reformed  Church  iicre  was  named 
Roilocker.  This  consircgatioii  unileil  with  the 
Lutherans,  as  before  stated,  in  tiie  building  of 
the  tirst  church  in  Wa^iiesburgh.  The  Baptist 
Cliurch  had  an  earl^"  and  able  minister  in  early 
times,  whose  name  is  already  familiar  to  the 
reader — Jehu  Brown,  He  was  a  man  of  much 
force  of  character,  and  made  an  impression, 
however  eng;iged  in  life.  In  those  days,  as  has 
been  intimated,  the  practice  of  dram-drinliing 
was  almost  universal,  and  preachers  were  not 
all  strangers  to  the  spiritual  strength  to  be  de- 
rived from  the  omnipresent  bottle.  Brown  was 
for  many  years  not  an  exception  to  the  rule, 
and  it  is  related  that  he  would  go,  just  before 
preaching-time  to  ,Shaefler's  tavern,  take  a  full 
gill  of  good  brandy,  and  then  repair  to  the 
grove  north  of  town,  now  owned  by  >I.  M,  Mays, 
and  preach  fervently,  laying  asitle  his  coat  to 
gain  greater  freedom  of  action.  He  was  often 
eloquent,  and  always  an  interesting  speaker. 
He  would  often  dwell  at  length  upon  the  frail- 
ties of  humanity,  and  was  wont  on  such  occa- 
sions to  tell  his  congregalion  to  '-doasltell 
you,  and  not  as  I  do."  He  was  afterward  a 
convert  to  the  ideas  of  Alexander  Campbell, 
who  held  several  meetings  here,  and  it  is  said 
that  after  this  time  he  entirely  eschewed  stimu- 
lants and  died  an  earnest  advocate  of  temper- 
ance. 

The  first  Methodist  meeting  was  held  at  the 
house  of  either  Jlorgan  Van  .^Ieter  or  Fred 
Vanoster,  the  latter  being  the  lirst  class-leader. 
The  first  quarterly  meeting  was  hehl  in  James 
Allerton's  new  barn,  an<l  Joshua  Monroe  was 
the  Presiding  Elder.  Tiic  quarterly  collection 
amounted  to  $1.00],  The  first  Methodist 
preacher  who  came  regularlj-  to  preach  was 
Ilev.  Wcckh',  and  his  sermons  are  spoken  of  to- 
day by  those  who  were  converted  through  their 
influence,  as  savoring  strongh-  of  the  fiery  ter- 
rors of  the  law.  The  house  of  Fred  Yaney  was 
also  an  early  preaching  place,  and  herein  1837, 
the  tirst  regular  society  was  organized.  The 
first  Methodist  Church  w:is  built  on  land  now 
known  as  the  McCall  farm,  within  the  inclosure 
of  the  present  cemetery,  near  the  residence  of 
J,  J,  Welker,  Esq,  This  church  was  known  as 
Wesle}'  Chapel,     It  was  replaced  in  1807  by  a 


new  brick  structure,  in  the  vallej'  south  of  the 
old  church,  and  the  name  changed  to  Centenary 
Church,  The  lirst  society  in  Waynesburgh  had 
for  its  first  class-leader  James  H.  Rogers,  who 
is  now  anil  has  for  man}'  years  been  a  much 
respected  preacher,  being  now  a  member  of  the 
the  East  Ohio  Conference. 

The  German  .Methodists,  or  Albrights,  once 
had  a  society  in  the  township,  and  held  their 
meetings  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Camp,  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  John  Rogers,  Esq. 

In  1865  there  came  to  Waynesburgh  a  mis- 
sionary of  the  Latter  Day  Saints,  or  Mormon 
Church.  He  made  a  few  converts,  and  service 
was  held  at  the  house  of  Daniel  Gauger,  whose 
wife  was  one  of  the  proselytes  to  the  new  faith; 
but  they  have  passed  out  of  existence. 

The  followers  of  Alexander  Campbell  have 
had  a  society  here  ever  since  that  eloquent 
divine  preached  his  ideas  through  this  part  o:' 
Ohio.  They  have  a  comfortable  church  at 
\\'aynesbnrg. 

The  early  preachers  had  a  serious  time  with 
their  temporal  matters.  A  single  instance  will 
illustrate  the  whole,  Joshua  Beers'  '•  subscrip- 
tion list  for  support "  bears  record  of  his  pay  hav- 
ing been  given  almost  entirely  in  the  products 
of  the  farms.  An  ordinary  liberal  subscription 
for  the  head  of  a  famil}'  was  $4  to  $5  per 
year,  and  this,  if  paid  in  produce,  was  to  be 
delivered  at  Hardesty"s  mill  at  Troy,  now  Mal- 
vern— but  all  these  trials  seemed  only  to  fire 
i  the  old  man's  soul  to  greater  etlbrts  in  the 
I  cause  of  his  chosen  Master,  and  he  died  in 
j  great  peace  and  full  of  years,  near  Hanover, 
I  Columbiana  County,  Ohio, 

The  first  schoolhouse  built  in  Sandy  Town- 
ship was  on  the  farm  of  W,  H,  Knotts,  west  of 
Magnolia,  in  1809  or  1810,  The  first  teacher 
here  was  William  Lee  ;  the  next  John  LuUgh- 
lin.  The  site  of  the  early  temple  of  learning 
is  still  discoverable  by  a  mound  where  the  old 
chimney  stood. 

The  next  schooliiouse  was  built  on  the  farm 
now  owned  by  J,  J,  Welker,  It  was  20x24 
feet  in  size,  of  rough,  round  logs,  the 
spac(!S  between  them  filled  with  "chunks"  of 
wood  and  "daubed"  with  mortar  of  yellow 
clay.  One  log  was  left  out  all  around  as  a 
window,  and  the  space  filled  with  greased  paper 
to  keep  out  the  cold  and  let  in  a  little  light. 
The  school  was  a  subscription  school,  and  Al- 
pheus    Brown    was    the     first    teacher.       He 


liL 


482 


HISTORY   OF    .STARK    COUNTY. 


charged  $1.50  per  quarter  for  each  pupil, 
and  had  from  forty  to  forty-five  pupils  most  of 
the  time.  The  first  schoolhouse  in  what  is 
now  known  as  Elson's  District  was  built  in 
1834,  of  hewed  logs,  at  a  total  cost  of  $40. 
The  stove  to  warm  it  cost  $16  in  Canton. 
The  school  at  Magnolia  has  always  been  ac- 
counted a  good  one,  and  from  the  small  begin- 
ning on  the  Knott's  farm  has  grown  to  a  re- 
spectable and  useful  Union  School,  with  two 
teachers  and  modern  apparatus  and  appliances 
for  teacliing. 

The  Waynesburgh  Union  School  is  the  out- 
growth of  a  small  beginning  made  in  1816  by 
Alpheus  Brown  as  teachei-.  The  first  school- 
house,  a  log  one,  stood  on  Lot  No.  50  of  the 
original  plat  of  the  town,  not  far  from  the  site 
of  Odd  Fellows  Hall.  The  next  house,  a  frame 
one,  was  built  near  Gibson's  Spring,  in  the 
southwest  corner  of  lands  owned  by  William 
F.  Boory.  The  people  took  only  an  ordinarj' 
interest  in  educational  matters  until  Mr.  S.  L. 
Adams,  a  genuine  Yankee  schoolmaster,  came 
and  took  charge  of  the  school.  At  his  hands 
tbe  cause  of  education  received  an  impetus 
that  has  been  felt  ever  since,  and  step  by  step 
advances  have  been  made  until  the  school  is 
surpassed  by  but  few  of  its  size  an}-  place, 
and  is  conducted  in  a  fine  two-story  brick 
house  with  four  large  rooms.  Among  those 
who  have  served  as  Principal  of  this  school,  in- 
cluding the  teachers  who  served  when  only  one 
was  required,  are  the  following,  given  as  nearly 
as  possible  in  the  order  in  which  they   served : 


Alpheus  Brown,  John  Alexander,  Eliza  McEl- 

mee,  John  Divine, Pierce,  Abram  Bair, 

Mary    A.    McCall,    Charlotte    Boegle,    Henry 

Myers,  William  Freese,  Mr. Ready,  S.  L. 

Adams,  William  Ungei-,   James  H.   Creighton, 

A.  W.  Heldenbrand,  Miss  Bontrager,  Mr.  

Carpenter,  Mr.  Hill,  William  H.  Ray,  George 
W.  Yohe,  A.  ('.  Naragou  and  Prof  R.  C.  Faw- 
cett. 

There  was  an  earlj-  schoolhouse  Ijuilt  on 
Boyd's  farm  in  the  then  town  of  Hamburg  in 
1818.  John  Hancock,  a  Yankee,  was  the 
teacher  and  James  and  John  Hewitt,  of 
Waynesburgh,  were  pupils.  The  price  was 
$1.50  per  quarter,  cash,  or  ten  bushels  of  wheat, 
which  was  worth  then  only  25  cents  per  bushel 
in  Canton. 

In  closing  this  t'hapter,  the  writer  has  no 
apology  to  ofl'er  for  an^'thing  therein  which 
may,  in  the  light  of  better  evidence  than 
he  has  been  able  to  command,  be  found  inac- 
curate. The  shadows  of  almost  eighty  years 
rest  upon  the  early  history  of  the  township  with 
hardly  a  written  line  to  aid  in  lifting  their 
gloom.  What  has  been  previously  printed,  else- 
where, is  found  by  careful  investigation,  to  be 
grossly-  inaccurate  ;  this  has  been  corrected  so 
for  as  possible  in  this  chapter.  It  is  desired  to 
thus  publicly  acknowledge  the  valuable  assist- 
ance of  Hon.  John  G.  Croxton,  of  Canal  Dover  ; 
Hon.  John  Beatty,  of  CarroUton  ;  Mr.  John 
ShaeflTer,  William  Hewitt  and  others,  of  Wajmes- 
burg.  Scn'pta  rrrlm  itiniinit  has  been  the  ac- 
cepted motto  throughout  the  task. 


^ 


OSNABrnO    TOWXSIIIP 


CHAPTER    XXI.* 

rOWNSHII'— TOrOGKAlMIICAI.  FKATURKS— AN  INlMDENT  — EARLY  SETTLEMENT— lIAli  D 
TIMES    AND    ROUGH    SCENES —  ORGANIZATION    OF    THE    TOWNSIIU'  — 
SCHOOLS  AND  CHURCHES— VILLA(iES,  ETC. 


f'r^IIIS  township  is  one  of  the  hilliest  sections 
L  of  Stark  County,  there  bcinir  but  very 
little  land  within  its  limits  that  may  be  termed 
perfectly  level.  Notwithstanding  its  rolling 
surtace.  however,  tiie  careful  hands  an<l  method- 
ical work  of  the  Pennsylvania  Dutch  have  re- 
duced it  to  a  fine  state  of  cultivation.  Indeed, 
through  their  wise  husljandry.  it  may  be  .said, 
figuratively,  th.at 

■Its  rocks  and  hills,  ami  brocks  ami  vales, 
With  milk  and  liom-y  tlow." 
The  character  of  the  land  renders  it  a  line 
grazing  township,  though  considerable  corn 
and  wheat  are  cultivated,  and  also  some  sinall 
grain,  but  stock  and  grazing  is  the  main  busi- 
ness of  the  farmer.  The  land  is  thorouglily 
drained  by  the  Little  Sandy  and  Indian  Run. 
and  their  numerous  tributaries,  which,  though 
mostly  small,  traverse  the  township  in  all  di- 
rections, and  afl'ord  ample  drainage.  Coal  is 
found  in  many  places,  and  that  of  a  very  good 
article.  It  is  rapidly  becoming  an  important 
branch  of  liusiuess,  and  one  that  is  being 
largely  developed,  through  the  means  of  the 
Conotton  Valley  Railway,  recently  opened  for 
traffic.  The  township  also  affords  some  very 
fine  stone  quarries,  which  supply  i|uantities  of 
•rood  building  stone.  The  timber  consists 
mostly  of  oak,  hickory,  maple,  beech,  with 
some  black  walnut  and  poplar.  Osnaburg  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Nimishillen  Township, 
on  the  east  by  I'aris.  on  the  south  by  Sandy 
Township  and  Carroll  County,  and  on  i\w.  west 
by  Canton  Township. 

Long  ere  the  Pale-face  dreamed  of  f  lie  fertile 
lands  lying  away  to  the  west,  these  slopes  and 
bluffs,  and  ravines,  and  groves  of  timber,  were 
the  hunting  grounds  of  the  lordly  savage,  and 
the  natural  birthright  of  his  kindred.  Here 
he  roamed  as  undisputed  master,  and  for  years 
and  decades,  aye.  for  centuries,  indeed,  his 
war-whoop  was  the  only  music  that  broke  upon 

•ronlrll.mp'l  by  W    II,  P.-rrin. 


the  quietude  of  the  forest,  save  the  song  of  the 
wild  birds,  and  the  sighing  of  the  winds  among 
the  trees.  But  the  rays  of  civilization  flashed 
over  the  land,  and  in  their  etl'ulgence,  the 
council-fires  of  the  Indians  went  out  forever  in 
this  section  of  the  country.  Slowly  the  red 
man  was  pressed  on  toward  the  Far  West,  there 
to  read  his  own  doom  in  the  setting  sun.  A 
sad  story  is  told  in  Osnaburg  Township  of  an 
old  warrior,  who,  after  the  remnant  of  his  tribe 
had  departed  for  their  new  home  beyond  the 
great  ■'  Father  of  Waters,"  loth  to  leave  the 
home  of  his  fathers,  remained  behind.  For 
hours  he  would  sit  in  some  lonely  place,  like 
"  Patience  on  a  monument  smiling  at  grief," 
perchance,  dreaming  of  brighter  hopes  of 
former  days,  when  over  those  hills  and  valleys 
ho  pursued  the  bounding  deer,  or  howled  be- 
hind his  flying  i)rey.  One  day,  when  sitting 
on  a  log  in  the  forest,  ([uietly  smoking  his  pipe, 
wholly  unconscious  of  danger,  a  pale-face  foe — 
ever  the  red  man's  oppressor — stole  near  unto 
him,  and.  without  a  note  of  warning,  shot  him 
dead,  and  that,  too,  for  no  other  cause  than 
that  he  was  an  Indian.  The  poor  savage  was 
Imried  in  the  midst  of  the  present  village  of 
Osnaburg,  and  the  spot  where  he  sleeps  is  still 
pointed  out  to  the  stranger,  by  old  residents  of 
the  place.  Thus  the  red  man's  title  to  Osna- 
burg Township  became  extinct. 

The  first  settlement  in  Osnaburg  Township 
was  made  in  the  spring  of  ISDO— just  three- 
quarters  of  a  century  ago.  The  pioneers  were 
Jacob  Kitt  and  John  Sluss,  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania. Their  first  visit  to  this  section  is 
thus  told  liy  a  local  correspondent  of  the  ("an- 
ton  Df'tiiiirrfit :  -'On  a  beautiful  morning  in 
the  fall  of  180.5,  five  horsemen  might  have 
been  seen  emerging  from  New  Lisbon,  then  a 
frontier  settlement  of  less  than  a  dozen  log 
cabins,  and  wending  their  way  westward — (the 
horsemen,  not  the  log  cabins).  They  were  a 
party  made  up  to  select  land  for  future  homes. 


484 


HISTOUY   OF    STARK    COUiS'TY, 


Of  the  number  were  Jacob  Kitt,  John  Sluss, 
John  Thomas,  another  whose  name  has  been 
forgotten,  and  a  surveyor  engaged  to  accompan}- 
them  as  guide,  and  who  had  field-notes  and 
knew  what  quarter-sections  were  yet  open  to 
entry.  The  hind  office  was  then  in  Steuben- 
ville,  called  at  tliat  time  Stcwhai  !"or  short,  with 
an  accent  on  the  last  syllable.  As  there  was 
no  settlement  between  New  Lisbon  and  the 
Tuscarawas  River,  the  extent  of  the  land  otflce 
district,  it  was  necessary  for  the  explorers  to 
provide  themselves  with  rations — bread  and 
cold  meat — in  sufficient  quantity  to  last  several 
days,  which  could  easilj-  be  packed  in  their 
saddle-bags,  and  a  blanket  strapped  to  the  sad- 
dles constituted  the  outfit.  The  horses  could 
obtain  subsistence  by  leeding  upon  grass  and 
the  wild  pea  vine,  a  succulent"  growth  with 
which  the  woods  then  abounded.  The  party 
moved  along  in  single  file,  following  the  section 
line  as  indicated  by  blaze-marks  on  the  trees, 
until  they  reached  Range  7,  when  they  turned 
south.  Pursuing  a  southwesterlj'  course  thej- 
came  to  a  spring.  Here  they  all  dismounted 
to  take  a  drink  (of  water)  and  allow  their 
horses  to  graze.  While  resting  and  viewing 
the  surroundings,  Kitt  was  the  first  to  s.aj-, 
'  I'll  take  f/iis  quarter.'  This  was  the  south- 
east quarter  of  Section  18,  the  same  now  owned 
by  David  Bowman.  At  that  daj^,  for  obvious 
reasons,  land  that  had  on  it  a  good  spring  of 
water  was  preferred.  xVt  the  time  Mr.  Kitt 
announced  his  decision  to  take  the  piece,  the 
rest  of  the  company,  with  the  exception  of  one, 
agreed  by  an  audible  assent  that  he  should 
have  it,  and  a  memorandum  was  made  accord- 
ingl}'.  The  member  of  the  company  who  in- 
terposed no  objection,  but  was  silent,  was  the 
same  whose  name  could  not  be  procured.  Con- 
•  tinuing  their  explorations,  the  next  piece  they 
found  that  had  a  spring,  was  the  southwest 
quarter  of  Section  17,  the  same  now  owned  by 
J.  Cellars,  and  this  was  first  claimed  by  John 
Sluss.  Again  the  balance  of  the  company  said 
'  agreed,'  except  the  one  who  was  before  silent. 
This  strange  conduct  on  his  part  excited  the 
suspicion  of  Kitt.  Ruminating  over  the  mat- 
ter during  the  night,  he  was  satisfied  the 
stranger  intended  to  enter  the  same  quarter, 
and  to  frustrate  him,  Mr.  Kitt  concluded  to 
make  an  excuse  in  the  morning  and  return 
home,  which  he  did  with  all  haste.  Providing 
himself  with  the  necessary  funds  to  make  the 


first  payment,  he  proceeded  to  the  land  office 
in  Steubenville,  secured  the  land,  and  as  he  was 
about  leaving  town,  whom  should  he  meet  l)ut 
the  ver3'  man  whose  ominous  silence  had  so 
disturbed  him.  His  suspicions  were  true,  as 
the  man  acknowlenged  that  he  was  after  the 
same  tract  Mr.  Kitt  had  just  entered. 

'■  Mr.  Sluss,  on  his  return,  secured  the  place  he 
had  selected.  Both  he  and  Kitt  were  married, 
and  were  living  upon  land  in  the  neighborhood 
of  New  Lisljon.  They  remained  there  during 
the  winter  of  1806,  and  came  out  together  early 
in  the  following  spring.  Each  had  two  horses, 
Mr.  Kitt  a  wagon  ;  so  they  joined  teams,  and 
in  the  wagon  both  couple  packed  all  their 
worldly  goods.  Their  route  was  by  the  ■  Thom- 
as road,'  then  being  laid  out — the  same  that 
passes  through  Freebuj'g  aud  Louisville,  the 
first  legal  highway  in  the  county.  They  came 
to  the  improvement  of  Philip  Slusser,  who  was 
then  building  a  grist  and  saw  mill  on  the  Nim- 
ishillen,  the  same  site  now  known  as  Roland's. 
Witli  the  help  obtained  here,  aud  the  as■^is^ance 
of  James  F.  Leonard,  a  surveyor,  who  had  a 
camp  on  the  west  side  of  the  creek,  the  two 
emigrants  cut  a  way  to  their  new  homes  in 
Osnaburg  Township."  This  was  the  actual  be- 
ginning of  the  settlement  in  this  township. 
Nearly  three  generations  have  pas.sed  away 
since  Mr.  Kitt  erected  his  pole  cabin  on  the 
southeast  quarter  of  Section  18.  He  brought 
with  him  to  his  new  possessions  a  hired  man, 
and  with  his  help  logs  were  soon  cut,  or  poles, 
rather,  for  help  enough  to  handle  large  logs 
was  not  to  be  had,  and  a  cabin  was  erected  of 
sufficient  magnitude  to  shelter  the  family  from 
the  inclemencies  of  the  weather,  and  protect 
them  against  wild  beasts.  Tiiis  primitive  cabin 
was  built  without  any  iron,  not  even  a  nail  was 
used.  It  was  covered  with  clapboards  or 
"  shakes,"  which  were  held  to  their  places  by 
"  weight-poles."  and  the  door  was  hung  with 
wooden  hinges  and  the  boards  fastened  to  the 
rough  battens  with  wooden  pins.  A  chimney, 
built  of  '■  cat  and  clay,"  in  connection  with  a 
fire-place,  occupied  one  end  of  the  cabin,  and  an 
opening  filled  with  greased  paper  served  as  a 
window.  Mother  Earth  formed  the  floor,  and 
a  rude  frame  in  one  corner  constructed  with  a 
side  and  foot  board,  and  a  bed-tick  filled  with 
leaves  and  grass,  was,  bj'  honest  toil,  rendered 

•'  Soft  as  tlciwny  ]iilli>\v.s  arc." 

This  was  the  rude  st^de  in  which  tlie  pioneers 


r 


m^^^^^^^-^ 


-^ 


OSNAm-lia    TOWNSHIP. 


of  Osnaburg  began  life,  and  is  not  in  the  least 
exaggerated.  Tiiere  are  those  still  living,  who, 
though  ehildren  then,  renieinlier  much  of  the 
hardships  of  the  pioneer  days.  Cooking  utensils 
were  scarce  ;  the  modern  cook-stove  was  un- 
known, and  tableware  was  of  the  commonest 
kind.  Mrs.  Kitt,  for  a  time,  it  is  said,  kneaded 
her  dough  in  a  bucket,  and  afterward  in  a 
sugar-trough.  The  following,  related  of  Kitt, 
is  an  apt  illustration  of  life  in  the  carl}'  days 
of  the  country  :  "A  few  weeks  after  he  had 
settled  in  Osnaburg,  he  was  in  the  woods  one 
morning,  when  he  heard  some  one  chopping 
with  an  ax — a  quite  unusual  sound  at  thatda}-. 
Suspecting  there  were  Indians  in  the  vicinity, 
as  he  had  no  knowledge  of  a  white  settler  so 
near  him,  he  determined  to  investigate  the 
phenomenon.  So  he  returned  to  his  cabin,  pro- 
cured his  ritle  and  started  in  the  direction  of 
the  sound.  He  advanced  cautiously,  always 
keeping  a  large  tree  in  range  between  himself 
and  the  locality  where  the  chopping  was  going 
on.  Approaching  nearer,  he  detected  that  it 
was  not  the  work  of  Indians,  and  emboldened 
by  the  discovery,  he  advanced  upon  the  chop- 
pers, when  he  found  them  to  be  the  Latimers, 
— three  brothers,  who,  with  their  hired  men,  had 
moved  in,  and  were  clearing,  in  Section  13, 
Canton  Township,  about  one  mile  from  his 
(Kitt's)  own  cabin.  This  was  a  welcome  dis- 
covery, and  .Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kitt  were  delighted 
to  find  that  they  had  white  neighbors  so  near 
to  them."  Some  five  years  after  Kitt's  settle- 
ment in  Osnaburg,  his  house  was  destroyed  by 
fire,  but  his  neighbors,  who  had  increased  in 
number,  came  to  his  assistance,  and  soon  rebuilt 
his  cabin,  and  thus  repaired  his  loss. 

When  Kitt  and  Sluss  moved  into  Osnaburg 
Township  they  brought  some  stock  with  them, 
besides  the  horses  that  drew  their  wagon, 
among  which  were  a  cow,  and  a  hog  of  the  fe- 
male species.  Soon  after  their  arrival,  the 
cow  brought  forth  a  calf,  and  the  sow  a  litter 
of  eight  pigs.  This  welcome  addition  to  their 
•'  families,"  notwithstanding  it  was  a  matter  of 
considerable  rejoicing,  but  increased  the  troub- 
les and  perplexities  of  the  owners.  The  wolves, 
which  were  exceeiiiiigly  plenty  and  very  troub- 
lesome, were  attracted  to  the  vicinity  of  the 
cabins  by  the  smell  of  cooking  meats,  and  in 
order  to  save  their  young  calf  and  pigs,  they 
found  it  necessary  to  take  them  into  the  cabins 
during  the  night.     Mr.  Kitt  lived  many  j'ears  a 


respected  citizen  of  Osnaburg,  and  finally  re- 
moved to  Huntington  County,  Indiana,  where 
he  was  still  living  a  year  ago,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  101  years,  in  good  health.  A  daughter 
— Mrs.  Joseph  Doll,  of  the  village  of  Osnaburg, 
now  nearing  her  fourscore  years,  is  still  living, 
and  in  good  health  for  one  of  her  years.  Her 
mother,  Mrs.  Jacob  Kitt,  was  the  first  pale- 
face woman  to  tread  the  soil  of  Osnaburg,  and 
Mrs.  John  Sluss  the  next.  They  accompanied 
their  husbands  to  the  township  in  1806,  and 
bore  their  part  in  all  the  privations  of  making 
a  home  in  the  wilderness.  Referring  to  old  age 
in  Osnaburg  Township,  a  correspondent  gives 
the  following  to  the  Canton  Repository  \n  March, 
1880:  -^  There  are  three  families  very  near 
each  other  in  the  village  of  Osnaburg,  and  in 
the  three  families  can  be  found  three  of  the 
oldest  couples  living  in  the  county  to-day. 
First,  there  is  Jacob  Marcker,  aged  86,  and  his 
wife,  aged  87  ;  this  couple  has  lived  together 
as  man  and  wife  for  63  years.  Next  comes  Jo- 
seph Doll,  aged  78,  and  his  wife,  aged  75  ;  they 
have  been  married  for  55  years.  The  third 
couple  is  Anthony  Kabenstein,  aged  75,  and 
his  wife,  aged  71  years;  they  have  lived  to- 
gether for  53  years.  And  these  remarkably 
old  people  are  enjoying  good  health,  and  to  all 
appearances  will  enjoy  life  for  many  years  to 
come. " 

Mr.  Sluss,  who  came  to  Osnaburg  with  Kitt. 
was  a  man  who  was  held  in  high  esteem  among 
his  neighbors,  and  somewhat  above  the  average 
in  education  and  intelligence.  He  was  elected 
Justice  of  the  Peace  at  an  early  day,  an  office 
which  he  held  for  many  successive  terms,  as 
well  as  that  of  County  Commissioner.  He  raised 
a  family  of  children,  all  of  whom  became  highly 
respected  men  and  women.  His  sons  are  all 
dead  ;  his  daughters  married  and  moved  West. 
Mr.  Sluss  and  his  wife  both  lived  to  a  good  old 
age.  When  she  died,  he  ordered  a  coffin  for 
himself  at  the  same  time  he  did  hers,  remarking 
to  the  undertaker,  that  he  should  soon  need  it. 
He  ordered  the  two,  and  paid  the  price — -$6 
apiece — the  price,  at  that  day,  for  the  best  wal- 
nut coffin  made.  He  died  in  a  few  years  after- 
ward, lamented  by  a  large  circle  of  frien<ls. 

Other  pioneers  of  Osnaburg  Township,  in  ad- 
dition to  Kitt  and  Sluss,  and  who  came  in  prior 
to  the  war  of  1812,  were  Frank  Ake,  Douglas 
Wilson,  Peter  Moretz,  Michael  Kngle,  James 
Leeper,  William  Nailor,  John  Studebecker,  Ja- 


48(i 


HISTORY  or    STAEK   COUNTY. 


cob  Troxell,  David  Edwards,  James  Price.  Jacob 
Bowers,  Peter  McCabe,  the  Bairs,  Alex  Cam- 
eron, Henry  and  Adam  Shnll,  (Jeorge  Poe,  B. 
Augustine,  John  and  George  McEnterfer,  the 
Latimers,  Daniel  Gra^bill,  Henry  Bowman, 
John  Crisswell,  the  Shearers — four  brothers — 
Jacob.  John,  Adam  and  Henry.  Daniel  and 
John  Lichtenwalter,  the  Floreys  and  the  Camps, 
Samuel  White,  Casper  Gephart,  and  others, 
whose  names  have  passed  from  the  recollection 
of  the  few  older  inhabitants  now  living.  Most, 
if  not  all  of  these,  came  from  PennsNlvania,  and 
were  thrifty,  hard-working  tillers  of  the  soil. 
The  neat  and  well-kept  farms  of  the  township, 
the  comfortable,  and  even  elegant  residences, 
and  the  spacious  barns,  plainly  denote  their 
energy  and  industry.  Alex.  Cameron,  who  was 
of  Scotch  origin,  settled  near  the  present  village 
of  Mapleton  in  1807.  and  Augustine  and  Poe 
settled  on  farms  adjoining.  ]>ouglas  Wilson 
and  Frank  Ake  settled  on  Section  32  in  1811, 
and  opened  up  farms.  Studeliecker  was  a 
Dunkard  preacher,  and  brought  to  his  new  home 
his  earthly  all  packed  on  a  horse  and  a  cow. 
The  Floieys  and  the  Camps  enjoyed  quite  a 
reputation  as  fighters,  and  tiie  state  of  society 
and  of  morals,  at  that  early  period,  afforded 
them  ample  opportunities  of  gratifying  tiieir 
tastes  in  that  direction.  Casper  Gephart  is  said 
to  have  been  a  Hessian  soldier  who  was  cap- 
tured at  the  battle  of  Trenton,  and  decided  to 
throw  off  the  yoke  of  his  former  master  and  be- 
come an  American  citizen. 

The  Bairs  figured  prominently  among  the 
early  settlers  of  the  township.  Tiiey  were  men 
of  considerable  intelligence,  and  became,  by 
natural  right  as  it  were,  local  leaders  in  the  af- 
fairs of  the  time.  There  were  Abraham,  Sto- 
phel  and  Rudolph  Bair ;  the  latter,  who  was 
commonly  called  "Rudy,"  was  a  member  of  the 
convention  that  formed  the  first  State  Constitu- 
tion, and  afterward  represented  Columbiana 
County — then  including  Stark — in  the  Legisla- 
ture. Rudy  and  Stophel  were  brothers,  and 
botii  entered  land  in  Osnaburg  Township,  but 
Rudy  settled  in  what  is  now  Paris  Township, 
though  at  that  time  it  was  embraced  in  Osna- 
burg. He  was  an  early  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
and  it  is  said  that  the  first  law  suit  in  what  is 
now  Stark  County  was  tried  before  him.  The 
particulars  of  this  pioneer  trial,  as  handed 
down  through  a  long  sweep  of  years,  are  thus 
detailed    by   a   local   writer :      "  Thomas   and 


Bosserman,  two  early  settlers  of  the  neighbor- 
hood, had  traded  horses,  and  as  Thomas  con- 
sidered hiiiisfif  rhcated  in  the  swap,  he  brought 
suit  against  Bosserman  for  damages.  A  man 
named  Hockingsmith,  -of  Pike  Township,  was 
Constable,  and  subpoenaed  three  witnesses.  The 
parties  and  the  witnesses  were  present  on  the 
day  set  for  trial.  When  the  parties  met,  Rudy 
brought  out  a  jug  of  whisky  and  proposed  a 
drink  all  around.  At  the  close  of  this  prelimi- 
nary indulgence,  he  suggested  that  they  settle 
the  case  without  going  to  trial  ;  that  each  one 
make  his  statement,  and  he  would  give  judg- 
ment. To  this  Thomas  objected,  but  after  con- 
siderable talk,  and  another  horn,  he  agreed. 
Each  told  his  story,  and  the  Court,  after  due 
deliberation,  decided  that  Bosserman  should 
pay  Thomas  S3  and  the  Constable's  fees,  where- 
upon all  drank  again  and  expressed  themselves 
satisfied.  The  Squire  was  rejoiced  at  his  sue 
cess  in  settling  the  case,  as  his  docket,  which 
he  kept  between  the  rafters  of  his  cabin,  had 
been  carried  awa}'  by  the  s(juirrels,  and  he  had 
nothing  in  which  to  make  the  entry. "  This 
was  an  easy  way  of  dispensing  justice,  and  alto- 
gether different  from  that  of  the  present  day, 
when  representatives  of  the  law  too  often  assist 
in  stirring  up  bad  blood,  merely  for  the  sake  of 
litigation,  instead  of  trying  to  nip  little  disputes 
in  the  bud,  as  Rudy  did  with  his  jug  of  whisky. 
A  son  of  Stophel  Bair,  named  Adam,  had  the 
reputation  of  being  the  stoutest  man  in  the 
township.  This  championship  was  contested 
bj'  one  Jacob  Shirley,  a  native  of  Bedford 
County,  Pennsylvania,  and  an  early  settler  in 
Osnaburg.  The  following  incident  is  related 
of  Shirley :  '  He  was  a  large  man,  and  of  great 
muscular  power.  He  was  a  Dunkard,  and  was 
once  beset  by  a  crowd  of  seven  men,  who 
slapped  his  face,  when  he  turned  the  other 
cheek  and  was  again  struck.  This,  he  said,  was 
according  to  Scripture,  and  he  would  now  de- 
fend himself  He  accordingly  turned  upon  the 
crowd  and  vanquished  the  seven,  literally  pil- 
ing them  up  on  top  of  each  other."  These  little 
exhibitions  of  manly  strength  were  quite  fre- 
quent in  the  early  days  of  the  country,  and 
although  considered  highly  degrading,  in  this 
enlightened  age,  as  they  truly  are.  yet  it  was 
deemed  quite  an  honor,  fifty  or  seventy-five 
years  ago,  to  be  known  as  the  stoutest  man  and 
best  fighter  in  the  neighborhood.  A  story  is 
told  of  a  fight  that  occurred  once  at  Osnaburg, 


OSNABURG   TOWNSHIP. 


at  "  rauster,"  between  Jacob  Sherrick  and  Rich- 
ard Elson,  in  which  they  fought,  and  scratched, 
and  gouged,  and  pounded  each  otiiev  almost 
beyond  recognition,  and  in  a  mnniier  tliat  wouhl 
scarcely  be  creditable  at  tlic  present  day.  even 
among  prize-fighters.  But  tiiis  mode  of  settling 
old  grudges  has  given  place  to  the  more  refined 
way  of  unceremoniously  pulling  out  a  little  gun, 
and  shooting  ofif  the  top  of  an  enemy's  head. 

Osnaburg  is  an  old  township,  and  was  organ- 
ized before  Stark  County  was  created.  It  was 
part  of  Columbiana  County,  and  its  jurisdiction 
extended  over  all  that  part  of  Stark  Count}- 
now  lying  east  of  Canton  Township,  and  to 
tiie  present  western  boundary  of  Columbiana 
County.  Indeed,  it  is  said  of  Kudolph  Bair, 
who  was  the  first  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and 
was  commissioned  in  1808,  that  his  jurisdiction 
as  such  extended  from  the  Ohio  Kiver  to  Lake 
Erie.  The  township  was  first  surveyed  in  1801. 
by  John  Bever,  in  sections  of  four  miles  square, 
and  in  1806  it  was  subdivided,  by  James  C. 
McFarland,  Says  a  local  writer  upon  the  sub- 
ject :  "As  near  as  can  be  ascertained  from  co- 
temporaneous  events,  the  township  was  organ- 
ized in  1806.  The  records  of  Columbiana 
County,  however,  of  that  date  are  lost  or  de- 
stroyed, and  nothing  has  been  discovered  that 
would  enlighten  us.  from  any  researches  made 
among  the  archives  of  that  county."  At  a 
meeting  of  the  Commissioners,  held  in  March. 
1809,  the  township  was  named  Osnaburg,  but 
why  it  was  so  called,  or  from  what  source  the 
name  was  obtained,  we  are  not  informed.  The 
next  Justice  of  the  Peace,  after  Bair,  was 
William  Nailor,  who  was  commissioned  Ma}-  1, 
1809.  The  next  was  Jacob  Fulton,  whose 
commission  was  dated  a  few  days  later.  John 
Augustine  and  John  Sluss  succeeded  them 
some  years  afterward.  James  Price  was  Col- 
lector of  the  township  in  180!*,  and  the  amount 
of  tax  collected  amounted  to  the  enormous  sum 
of  $19.50. 

In  the  natural  course  of  human  events,  all 
things  must  have  a  beginning,  and  the  con- 
tinuation of  the  human  race  in  Osnaburg 
Township  began  in  the  family  of  Jacob  Kitt. 
Not  only  the  first  white  cliild  born  in  the  town- 
ship, hut  the  first  in  the  present  County  of 
Stark,  was  a  daughter,  '-born."  as  it  is  reported, 
"to  Jacob  and  Barbara  Kitt."  She  is  still 
living,  and  is  the  wife  of  Squire  Poll,  of  Osna- 
burg village,  and  is  still,  as  her  friends  say. 


as  "  pert  as  a  cricket."  She  was  born  September 
7,  1806,  and  is  now,  1881,  seventy-five  years 
old.  The  next  birth  in  the  township,  and  which 
proved  to  be  the  first  male  child  born,  was 
George  Latimer,  son  of  Robert  Latimer,  and 
was  born  a  few  months  after  Mary  Kitt.  He 
died  in  1873,  in  Ashland  County,  from  injuries 
sustained  in  falling  from  a  load  of  straw. 
The  first  death  was  that  of  a  Mrs.  Milligan, 
and  occurred  in  181 1.  Her  cotfln  was  a  rough 
box,  and  as  there  was  no  minister  present  at 
the  funeral,  a  Mr.  Hutchinson,  a  school  teacher, 
sang  a  few  verses  of  a  hymn,  and  offered  prayer, 
which  comprised  the  funeral  ceremonies.  Since 
that  first  funeral,  the  "pale  horse  and  his  rider" 
have  made  numerous  visits  to  the  township,  as 
the  several  graveyards  will  attest.  The  first 
marriage  is  thus  described  by  a  local  historian 
of  the  township,  in  the  columns  of  the  Canton 
Dtmocrat:  "The  first  marriage  of  which  we 
have  any  account  was  mixed  with  a  bit  of 
romance.  There  were  a  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ander.son 
living  in  Osnaburg,  who  had  two  children. 
Anderson  was  a  drunken  loafer,  who  would  do 
nothing  for  the  support  of  his  famil}-,  and,  as  a 
consequence,  Mrs.  Anderson  had  to  work  out. 
She  was  a  good  spinner,  and  went  from  house 
to  house,  taking  her  children  with  her,  earning 
about  a  $1  a  week,  beside  their  board.  A 
man  bj-  the  name  of  Ihry,  a  (lerman,  proposed 
to  man-}-  her,  and  was  accepted,  although  she 
was  not  divorced  from  Anderson.  Mr.  Kitt 
brought  the  couple  to  Canton,  and  they  were 
married  bySciuire  Coulter.  They  lived  together 
for  three  years,  when  Hiry  died,  leaving  his 
wife  a  comfortable  homestead.  This  pioneer 
wedding  was  followed  by  many  others,  as  the 
present  population  of  the  township  clearlj-  in- 
dicates." 

In  the  early  days  of  Osnaburg,  the  people 
went  to  Steubenvilie  to  mill.  This  was  a  great 
inconvenience,  and  took  up  considerable  of  their 
time.  This  dilliculty  was,  to  some  extent,  obvi- 
ated by  Mr.  Kitt,  who  built  a  little  mill,  a  few 
years  after  his  settlement.  It  was  what  was 
known  as  a  "tread  wheel  mill,"  and  oxen  were 
used  to  furnish  power.  This  was  a  great  im- 
provement on  grinding  corn  in  a  coffee-mill,  or 
of  spending  a  week  going  away  to  Steubenvilie. 
Peter  Boyer  built  a  grist-mill  in  l.SU,  and 
shortly  after  Daniel  Laird  built  one  on  the 
Little  Sandy.  Abraham  Bair  built  a  saw-mill 
about   this   time,  which  was  the   first   in  the 


HISTORY  OF    STAKK    COUNTY. 


neighborhood  ;  and  previous  to  its  erection,  the 
people  used  punoheon  floors  in  their  cabins,  if 
the3'  had  any  floors  at  all.  Christian  Harsh- 
barger  built  a  grist-mill  on  Little  Sandy,  .south 
of  where  Mapleton  now  stands.  John  New- 
man also  built  a  mill  on  Little  Sandy,  two 
miles  northeast  of  Mapleton.  There  are  no 
grist-mills  now  outside  of  the  village.  The 
first  goods  were  sold  in  the  village  of  Osnaburg, 
which  is  one  of  the  oldest  towns  in  the  count}'. 
The  first  tavern  was  also  kept  there,  and  the 
first  blacksmith  shop,  etc.  In  fact  all  of  the 
interests  of  the  township,  in  early  times,  cen- 
tered in  the  little  village. 

The  early  settlers  of  Osnaburg  were  a  God- 
fearing people,  and  at  an  early  day  religious 
societies  were  organized  in  the  township,  and 
religious  services  held  at  the  people's  cabins. 
Among  the  earl}'  messengers  of  glad  tidings 
was  Rev.  William  Mitchell,  a  Methodist  circuit 
rider,  who  preached  in  the  neighborhood  as 
early  as  1812.  Rev.  Edward  Otis  was  a  Bap- 
tist minister,  and  preached  once  a  month  at 
Michael  Engle's  cabin.  A  church  society  was 
organized  in  1820  by  Rev.  Mr.  Weir,  a  Luth- 
eran minister,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Faust,  a  German 
Reformed  minister,  with  about  twenty-five 
members.  The  first  sermon  by  either  of 
these  denominations  was  preached  in  1814,  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Lambrick,  a  Lutheran,  at  the  house 
of  Mr.  Minnich.  As  early  as  1827  a  Sunday 
school  was  organized  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Mapleton.  Alexander  Cameron  was  the  first 
Methodist  class-leader,  and  his  class  comprised 
four  fiirailies.  There  are  three  church  edifices 
in  this  township  outside  the  villages.  On  Sec- 
tion 36  a  German  Lutheran  and  German  Re- 
formed Church  are  located,  not  half  a  dozen 
rods  apart.  The  two  denominations  originally 
occupied  the  same  church,  but  could  not  agree 
very  well,  and  finally  the  German  Reformed 
congregation  sold  tlieir  interest  to  the  Luther- 
ans and  built  a  new  church  in  the  immediate 
vicinity.  It  is  a  frame  building  and  quite  a 
tasty  edifice,  while  the  old  building  is  a  sub- 
stantial brick.  The  Disciples  have  a  church  on 
Section  28,  which  was  built  some  twenty  or 
twenty-five  years  ago,  and  is  a  handsome  frame, 
beautifullj'  located  on  the  brow  of  a  hill,  even 
as  Solomon's  Temple  adorned  the  brow  of  Mount 
Moriah. 

So  far  as  reliable  information  could  be  ob- 
tained, John  Augustine  was  the  pioneer  school 


teacher  of  Osnaburg,  and  '-taught  the  young 
idea  how  to  shoot "  as  early  as  the  winter  of 
1818.  Previous  to  that  year,  the  few  children 
in  the  township  went  to  school  on  the  Aultman 
place,  in  Canton  Township.  During  the  winter 
of  Augustine's  school,  snow  fell  to  the  depth  of 
three  feet  and  lay  on  the  ground  for  several 
weeks.  A  few  days  later,  it  rained  and  froze, 
forming  a  hard  crust  on  the  snow  that  would 
bear  up  a  man.  Jlany  deer  were  caught  by 
the  school  boys  which  were  unable  to  make 
their  wa}'  through  the  deep  snow  witli  much 
speed.  Among  their  captives  was  a  large 
buck,  which  they  kept  in  a  pen  at  the  school 
house,  but  as  he  refused  to  eat  they  turned  him 
loose  again.  William  Hutchinson  was  an  earlj' 
school  teacher.  Abraham  Bair  also  taught  as 
early  as  1822.  These  were  followed  by  teach- 
ers in  different  parts  of  the  township,  and  as 
the  country  settled  up  schoolhouses  were  built 
in  each  neighborhood  until  the  final  develop- 
ment of  the  present  school  sjstem.  From  the 
last  report  of  the  Board  of  Education  we  extract 
the  following  statistics  for  Osnaburg.  which  are 
of  interest ; 

Balance  on  hand  Septemljcr  1,  18T9 p,366  85 

State  tax 955  .50 

Irreducible  fund 144  09 

Total ■. $4,466  44 

Amount  paid  teachers $1,794  16 

Fuel   and  other   contingent   e.x- 

penses 201  21 

Total *1,995  37 

Balance  on  hand  September  1.  1880 $2,471  07 

Number  of  schoolhouses  in  the  township  10 

Value  of  school  property $13,000  00 

Teachers  cniploycd — males 14 

Teachers  emplnyed — females 8 

Total 22 

Number  of  pupils  enrolled — mules 291 

Number  of  pupils  enrolled — females 216 

Total .507 

Average  daily  attendance — males 160 

Average  daily  attendance — females 130 

Total 290 

Almost  the  entire  township  of  Osnaburg 
seems  to  be  underlaid  with  coal,  and  a  large 
number  of  mines  opened,  but  hitherto,  for  the 
lack  of  facilities  for  transportation,  they  have 
not  been  developed  to  any  great  extent.  Now, 
however,  with   a  railroad  passing  through  the 


^i 


OSNABURG   TOWNSHIP. 


■I.H'.I 


township,  a  full  development  of  this  interest 
maj-  be  looked  fiir.  Sannu-l  .Montijomery  has 
recently  sold  his  land  at  $200  an  acre,  and 
measures  are  being  taken  for  mining  coal  on  it. 
Several  mines  are  already  opened  on  this  land, 
and  every  means  will  be  used  to  facilitate  the 
work  of  mining  and  sliipijing. 

For  the  war  of  1812,  a  little  unpleasantness 
that  took  place  some  thirty  years  after  the  close 
of  the  Revolution,  between  the  I'nited  States 
and  England,  this  township  furnished  a  number 
of  men.  some  of  them  volunteers,  and  some 
drafted  men.  The  names  of  many  of  these  old 
heroes  have  passed  away  with  the  heroes  them- 
selves. Among  the  few  still  remembered,  how- 
ever, are  the  names  of  Peter  MeOane,  Peter 
Moretz,  Edward  Strickland.  Adam  and  Jacob 
Anderson,  and  Richard  Byles,  who  went  as  a 
substitute  of  Jacob  Kitt,  the  latter  having  been 
drafted.  In  the  Indian  wars  of  the  earh'  period 
many  of  them  also  parlici[>ated.  Joseph  Ander- 
son, a  brother  to  Adam  and  Jacob,  mentioned 
above,  fell  at  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe,  in  1811. 
Indeed.  Osnaburg  has  ever  been  patriotic  and 
true  to  the  Government.  In  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion,  she  did  her  duty,  and  turned  out 
volunteers  by  the  score,  as  will  be  seen  in 
another  chapter  on  the  war  historj-  of  the 
county,  .\fter  the  close  of  the  war  of  1812, 
under  the  old  militia  law  of  the  State,  which 
continued  in  force  for  a  number  of  years,  all 
the  able-bodied  men  between  eigliteen  and  for- 
ty-live years  of  age  were  compelled  to  attend 
the  regular  military  trainings,  or  general  mus- 
ter, as  more  commonly  called,  where  they  had 
to  undergo  military  drill  and  inspection.  The 
usual  places  of  meeting  of  these  troops  of  the 
"  peace  establishment,"  were  at  Canton,  Ken- 
dal (now  a  part  of  Massillon),  Loutzenheiser's 
(where  Louisville  now  stands),  and  Osnaburg, 
These  occasions  drew  out  large  crowds  of  the 
j'oung  and  old,  male  and  female,  for  many  miles 
around,  and  the  sceni^s  and  incidents  of  the  day 
— the  parade,  the  sham  battle,  the  personal 
encounters — were  long  afterward  the  subject  of 
fireside  gossip.  As  if  by  common  consent,  all 
sectional  disputes  and  neighborhood  quarrels 
were  -readjusted"  on  these  training  days. 
Each  party  to  a  feud  had  their  friends  and 
backers,  who  were  particularly  careful  to  so 
engineer  matters  as  to  end  the  business  with  a 
tight.  If  the  question  was  one  of  great  impor- 
tance (!).  others  became   involved,   and  more 


fights  followed,  U>  the  great  del('<tation  of  the 
crowd.  It  was  on  an  occasion  of  this  kind, 
that  the  tight  occurred  already  alluded  to  in 
this  chapter.  But  we  will  not  dwell  further 
upon  this  subject. 

The  first  roads  in  Osnaburg  'i'ownship  were 
the  Indian  trails.  These  were  cut  out  l)v  the 
settlers  to  suit  their  convenience,  until  public 
highways  began  to  be  ordered  by  the  County 
Commissioners,  The  first  of  these  was  a  road 
from  Pekin  to  Congress  Furnace,  and  was 
granted  by  the  Commissioners  in  response  to  a 
petition  of  Samuel  Mobley,  in  1815.  Other 
roads  were  made  soon  after,  from  different 
points,  as  necessity  demanded  theni  for  the  ben- 
efit of  the  people.  The  roads  of  the  township 
at  the  present  day.  while  as  good,  in  a  general 
way,  as  those  of  any  part  of  the  county,  yet, 
owing  to  the  hilly  nature  of  the  country,  are 
extremely  crooked  and  zigzag  in  their  course. 
After  the  settlement  of  the  township  by  white 
people.  Indians  frciiuently  made  excursions  into 
the  neighborhood,  hunting,  but  were  friendly, 
and  never  known  to  do  anj-  harm  to  their  white 
friends.  They  would  often  beg  for  something 
to  eat,  and  what  was  given  them  they  woukl 
either  eat  or  carr\-  awav.  Tlieir  village,  or 
camping  grounds,  were  west  of  the  Tuscarawas 
River. 

Osnaburg  Township  has  two  villages,  viz.. 
the  village  of  Osnaburg  and  the  village  of 
Mapletou.  Osnaburg  is  an  old  place,  and  started 
out  in  its  career  with  the  laudable  intention  of 
becoming  a  great  city,  and  with  hopes  shining 
brightly  through  the  expectation  of  finally  win 
ning  the  seat  of  justice  of  the  new  county  all 
knew  must  soon  be  formed.  It  was  supposed 
that  the  county  would  be  formed  around  it  as  a 
natural  consequence,  and  from  the  incipient  city 
raj-s  of  W'isdom  w'ould  diverg(!  and  penetrate  to 
the  uttermost  parts  of  the  new  district,  I'n- 
burdened  with  the  weight  of  its  lofty  aspira- 
tions, for  a  time  after  its  birth,  it  stood  proud 
as  Rome  upon  her  seven  hills,  and  serenely 
awaited  its  coming  greatness.  But  at  length 
the  new  county  was  created,  and  Osnaburg 
failed  to  be  made  its  seat  of  justice.  This  was 
a  severe  blow  to  her  anticipated  greatness.  Her 
aspirations  withered  prematurel}',  and  her 

■  no|ic.>^  (lepaited  foicver." 

Like  the  Eternal  City,  even  down  to  the  present 
day.  '•  The  spider  weaves  his  web  in  her  palaces. 


490 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


the  owl  sings  his  watch-song  in  her  towers." 
After  three-quarters  of  a  century,  she  is  au  in- 
significant village  of  a  few  hundred  inhabitants, 
while  Canton,  "the  beautiful  city  of  the  plain," 
wears  the  glory  Osnahurg  once  fondly  dreamed 
would  l)e  her  own. 

The  village  of  Osnaburg  was  laid  out  in  the 
latter  part  of  1806,  bj'  James  Leeper,  a  native 
of  Washington  County,  Pennsylvania,  and 
one  of  the  early  settlers  of  tiie  township.  It 
is  located  on  Section  8,  and  is  about  six 
miles  east  of  Canton.  Leeper  erected  a  one- 
story  log  cabin,  and  in  this  limited  edifice 
opened  a  hotel.  His  mode  of  keeping  a  tavern 
may  he  gathered  from  the  persomd  experience 
of  one  John  Larwell,  as  he  told  it  to  a  corre- 
spondent of  the  Canton  Democrat:  '•  Larwell's 
house  was  at  Fawcettstown  (now  East  Liver- 
pool), on  the  Ohio  River.  In  March,  1807, 
he  was  sent  with  provisions  to  his  brother, 
Joseph  Larwell,  then  in  (iovernment  employ, 
surveying  lands  west  of  the  Tuscarawas 
River.  He  went  by  an  Indian  trail  lead- 
ing from  the  Ohio  River,  crossing  Sandy 
Creek  near  the  mouth.  Having  heard  of 
Osnaburg,  he  concluded  to  return  that  way, 
as  the  distance  was  about  the  same.  Leav- 
ing the  camp  of  his  brother  in  the  morn- 
ing, he  reached  Osnaburg  in  the  evening  of 
the  same  day.  Riding  up  to  the  most  preten- 
tious house  of  tiie  village,  Mr.  Larwell  halloed, 
and  out  came  Leeper,  the  landlord.  He  in- 
quired if  he  could  stop  with  him  overnight, 
and  receiving  an  affirmative  answer,  he  wished 
to  know  what  accommodations  he  had  for  his 
horse.  Leeper  pointed  to  a  beech  tree  that  had 
just  been  cut  down,  saying  that  the  horse  could 
be  tied  to  a  top  limb  and  feed  upon  the  twigs. 
As  there  was  not  a  stable  in  town,  Mr.  Larwell 
had  no  alternative  but  to  submit  to  sucii  ac- 
commodations for  his  jaded  hor.se.  The 
tavern  was  a  log  structure,  the  whole  con- 
stituting a  single  room,  wiiich  was  made 
to  answer  the  purpose  of  kitchen,  dining- 
room  bed-room  and  sitting-room.  The  floor 
was  of  puncheons,  and  the  chimney  of  sticks 
and  mud.  It  had  evidently  been  on  fire 
at  some  time,  as  there  was  a  considerable  hole 
burnt  through,  near  the  ground.  The  supper 
consisted  of  a  '  pone  '  and  fresh  pork.  While 
the  pone  was  baking  on  the  hearth,  a  pig  came 
through  the  hole  in  the  chimney,  snatched  up 
the  pone  and  carried  it  out  the  same  way  he 


came  in.  Mrs.  Leeper  gave  chase,  recovered 
the  pone,  replaced  it  upon  the  griddle  and 
watched  it  until  the  baking  was  completed. 
Mr.  Larwell  remarked  that  he  enjoyed  the 
supper,  as  it  was  seasoned  with  hunger,  For  a 
bed,  he  had  his  choice  of  the  floor  below,  or 
on  the  loft.  As  the  night  was  growing  cold,  he 
preferred  the  former,  and  with  his  feet  toward 
the  tire,  his  <;lothes  on,  and  a  bhinket,  he  had 
a  tolerably  co  i  fortable  night.  His  breakfast 
was  the  same  as  his  supper.  Over  a  foot  of 
snow  fell  during  the  night,  to  which  his  horse 
was  exposed.  For  these  limited  accommoda- 
tions, his  bill  was  75  cents." 

Leeper  is  represented  by  those  who  knew  him 
as  a  man  of  considerable  energy  and  enterprise, 
and  who  worked  industriously  to  build  up  his 
town.  He  was  a  good  talker,  and  as  ho  kept 
the  only  tavern  for  many  miles  around,  his 
house  was  the  general  stopping-place  of  those 
who  came  west  in  search  of  land,  and  he  in- 
duced many  to  select  homes  in  the  vicinity  of 
Osnaburg.  He  also  induced  many  mechanics 
to  settle  in  the  village,  and  used  ever}'  exertion 
to  promote  the  prosperity  of  the  place.  But 
the  great  evil  that  has  wrecked  so  many  lives 
was  stealing  upon  him,  as  a  thief  in  the  night. 
He  was  of  a  social  disposition,  and  in  his  zeal 
to  build  up  a  town,  contracted  the  habit  of 
drinking.  His  dissipation  grew  upon  him,  un- 
til in  a  case  of  delirium  tremens  he  escaped 
from  his  house  in  the  night,  and  was  found  the 
next  morning  in  a  pond,  where  he  had  drowned 
himself  But  for  his  dissipated  habits,  which 
made  an  unfavorable  impression  upon  strangers, 
it  is  still  believed  by  many  that  Osnaburg 
would  have  acquired  such  a  start  over  Canton, 
which  was  not  laid  out  until  sometime  after, 
as  to  have  eventually  made  Osnaburg,  and  not 
Canton,  the  county  seat  of  Stark  County  upon 
its  organization.  But  the  character  of  Mr. 
Wells,  the  origi-nal  proprietor  of  Canton,  and 
the  influence  he  exerted  in  behalf  of  his  town, 
more  than  overbalanced  the  start  Osnaburg 
had  in  the  race  for  the  seat  of  justice. 

The  first  store  in  Osnaburg  was  kept  by  one 
John  McC'onnell,  who  opened  a  small  stock  of 
goods  in  1807.  He  kept  but  a  few  articles,  and 
these  were  such  as  were  mostly  in  demand  in 
a  new  countrj-.  McConnell,  according  to  the 
gossips  of  the  town,  was  a  man  not  of  the  high- 
est moral  rectitude.  Some  little  indiscretions 
on  his  part  excited  such    strong   feelings  of 


OSXABUllU   TOWNSHIP. 


491 


indignation  against  him  as  to  necessitate  his 
abrupt  departure  from  the  town,  between  the 
setting  of  tlie  sun  and  tiie  rising  of  tliat  lumi- 
nary. The  next  tavern  in  Osnal)urg  after  Leep- 
er's  was  kept  by  William  Nailor.  Jacob  Kep- 
linger  is  note<l  in  both  town  and  townsliip  as 
a  model  landlord.  The  village  at  present  con- 
tains two  hotels,  presenting  to  the  traveling 
public  good  accomodations  for  a  town  of  its 
size.  An  early  institution  in  Osnaburg  was  a 
hatter  shop,  kept  by  Cpdegralf  &  .Mc(Juggin, 
who  manufactured  headpieces  for  the  neighbor- 
ing gentry.  The  present  business  of  the 
village  is  as  follows  ;  Two  general  stores  ;  two 
grocery  stores  ;  two  blacksmith  and  wagon 
shops:  one  harness-shop;  one  mill ;  two  hotels  ; 
three  churches,  and  an  excellent  school  build- 
ing. The  mill  was  built  about  four  years  ago  by 
Sheatsley  &  Stump,  and  is  now  owned  by  Sheats- 
iiy  A;  .\lillL'r.  They  have  an  excellent  building, 
(■(intaining  four  run  of  bulirs,  and  do  a  large  busi- 
ness. The  mill  originall}'  cost  about  $15,000, 
and  is  still  in  a  good  state  of  preservation.  The 
Connotton  Valley  IJailroad  passes  through  the 
village,  and  has  a  comfortable  depot  and  freight 
buildings.  The  churches  are  German  Luther- 
an and  Reformed,  Albrights,  or  Evangelical, 
and  Methodist.  All  have  good  church  edifices 
and  are  well  snpported.  The  schoolhouse  is  a 
spacious  building,  well  furnished  and  adapted 
to  school  purposes.  Osnaburg  forms  a  special 
district,  and  the  school  is  divided  into  three 
departments,  but  is  ungradetl.  Prof  G.  A. 
Wise  is  Principal  ;  Mr.  DeHoflf",  teacher  of  the 
intermediate  department,  and  Miss  Joetta 
Wliiteleather,  teacher  of  the  primary-  depart- 
ment. The  average  attendance  is  about  150 
pupils. 

One  of  the  most  prominent  business  men 
ever  connected  with  the  historv  of  Osnaburg 
village  was  Christian  Kountz.  lie  was  for 
many  years  a  successful  merchant  of  the  place, 
and  an  enterprising  gentleman,  who  fostered 
every  good  work,  and  supported   every  enter- 


prise for  the  benefit  of  the  town.  The  follow- 
ing extract  from  a  publication  concerning  him  is 
appropriate  in  this  connection  ;  •  Mr.  Kountz 
was  born  in  Saxony,  where  he  learned  the  trade 
of  a  lace  weaver.  He  came  to  this  country 
when  a  young  man,  and  on  hmding  in  New 
York,  all  the  money  he  had  was  three  kreutzers, 
about  two  cents  of  our  money.  He  immedi- 
ately sought  work,  but,  unable  to  obtain  employ- 
ment at  his  trade,  he  engaged  in  anything  that 
otlered.  Having  accumulated  a  few  dollars,  he 
was  induced,  by  a  fellow-countryman,  to  engage 
in  peddling.  With  his  limited  means  he  com- 
menced with  a  small  bundle  of  notions  ;  then, 
with  a  pack  which  he  carried  upon  his  back, 
and  finally  he  made  a  raise  of  a  horse  and 
wagon.  He  prospered,  and  in  the  course  of 
time  was  advised,  by  a  Pittsburgh  merchant,  to 
settle  in  some  town  and  open  a  store.  He  lo- 
cated in  Osnaburg  about  the  year  1825.  He 
was  a  man  of  strict  integrity,  would  never  him- 
self, nor  permit  an  employe  to,  take  advantage 
of  or  deceive  a  customer.  His  wcjrd  was  as 
good  as  his  bond,  and  he  raised  his  family  to 
the  same  principles  of  integrity,  and  to  industry 
and  economy.  He  accumulated  a  handsome 
fortune,  and  died  in  186G,  at  the  age  of  about 
seventy  years.  His  sons  have  added  to  their 
inheritance,  and  are  successful  business  men." 
Mapleton  is  a  small  place,  and  is  located  on 
Section  27,  about  a  mile  from  the  Connotton 
Valley  Railroad.  Its  business  consists  of  one 
store,  one  hotel,  one  grocery  store,  two  shoe- 
shops,  two  carpenter-shops,  one  blacksmith  and 
one  wagon  shop,  one  post-oftice  with  dady 
mails  by  Connotton  Valley  Railroad  at  "  Maple- 
ton  Crossing,"  one  physician,  a  schoolhouse 
built  in  the  summer  of  1880,  and  two  churches, 
viz.:  Lutheran  and  Immannel's  Church  of  the 
Evangelical  Association.  The  latter  was  built 
in  18()7,  and  the  former  in  1855.  Both  are  in 
a  flourishing  condition,  with  Sunday  schools 
and  good  membership. 


<>  \ 


HISTORY  OF    STAKK    COUNTY. 


CHAPTER    XXII.* 

PLAIN    TOWNSnil'  — OUTLINE     OF     PHYSICAL     FEATURES  —  VALUABLE     STATISTICS     FROM    OLU 
RECORDS— LIST  OF  LANDHOLDERS  OF  1828  — PIONEER   IMPROVEMENTS  AND  IN- 
DUSTRIES—(iROWTH    OF   VILLA(iES.   SCHOOLS   AND   CHURCHES. 

"They  shunned  not  lalinr  when  'twas  due. 
Thcv  \vniu;:lil  witli  liulil  -ood  will  ; 
And  for  llic  homes  the\  won  lor  them, 
Their  eliildren  l.Uss  tlieni  slilL" 

PLAIN  TOWNSHIP  was  among  the  five 
that  were  created  at  the  time  the  county 
was  organized  in  1809.  It  was  a  common  thing, 
in  earlj'  years,  for  the  townships  to  have  within 
their  jurisdiction  a  large  scope  of  country,  which, 
as  time  passed  on,  and  the  land  became  settled 
by  scattering  pioneers,  was  created,  piece-meal, 
into  separate  townships.  This  was  the  case 
with  Plain  Township.  On  the  l(ith  of  March, 
1809,  at  the  first  meeting  of  the  Countj'  Com- 
missioners, Plain  was  created,  with  the  follow- 
ing boundaries  :  "  Beginning  at  the  northeast 
corner  of  the  12th  Township,  in  the  8th  Range  ; 
thence  south  to  the  southeast  corner  of  the  11th 
Township,  in  the  8th  Range  ;  thence  west  with 
the  township  lines  to  the  west  boundary  of  the 
county  ;  thence  north  and  east  with  the  county 
line  to  the  place  of  beginning."  Whj'  the 
township  received  the  name  it  now  bears  in  an 
unsolved  question.  It  is  said  by  .some  that  in 
one  part  was  an  open  tract  of  land,  or  a  plain, 
and  the  township  derived  its  title  from  this 
circumstance.  Other  reports  are  that  some 
of  the  first  settlers  were  from  a  township  in 
the  East  called  Plain,  and  in  remembrance  of 
their  old  home  bestowed  that  name  upon  the 
new  township.  The  next  historian  may  solve 
this  mooted  question.  When  the  township  was 
created  by  the  Commissioners,  they  ordered  an 
election  of  officers  to  be  held  at  the  residence 
of  George  Harter,  on  the  first  Monday  in  April, 
1809.  Pursuant  to  the  order,  the  election  was 
held,  with  the  following  result,  as  nearly  as  can 
be  remembered,  in  the  absence  of  the  early  re- 
cords :  James  Gaff  and  George  Wyke,  Justices 
of  the  Peace ;  Abraham  Van  Meter,  Clerk ; 
Jacob  Warshler,  Treasurer,  and  Henry  Friday, 
Constable.     It   must   be  understood  that  the 

*  Contributed  by  W.  A.  Goodepet-il. 


territory  within  what  was  Plain  Township  then 
included  the  present  Lake.  Lawrence  and  Jack- 
son Townships,  in  Stark  County,  and  Green 
and  Franklin  Townships,  in  Summit  County, 
in  all,  six  townships.  But,  at  that  time,  only  a 
few  settlers  had  yet  located  in  any  part  of  this 
territory,  except  the  present  Plain  Township. 
The  balance  was  an  uninhabited  wilderness, 
filled  with  fierce  animals  that  attbrded  rare 
and  dangerous  sport  to  those  who  were  daring 
enough  to  hunt  them.  This  class  of  men  was 
not  wanting  among  the  first  settlers.  They  had 
come  into  the  forest  prepared  to  bravely  meet 
its  dangers  and  hardships,  and  the  mobile 
characteristic  of  human  nature  to  derive  pleas- 
ure from  any  and  every  surrounding  asserted 
itself,  and  gave  to  the  pioneer  a  comparatively 
happy  lot.  After  they  became  accustomed  to 
the  trails  of  their  surroundings,  and  inured  to 
the  loneliness  and  danger,  backwoods  life  was 
not  so  bad  after  all.  Question  an  old  settler  on 
this  point  and  he  will  tell  you  that,  although 
he  had  to  work  hard  and  deny  himself  many 
comforts,  yet,  after  all,  he  enjoyed  life  first- 
rate.  He  had  descovered  the  philosopher's 
stone — contentment. 

The  following  is  quoted  from  the  historical 
sketches  of  Stark  County  by  Dr.  Slusser,  of 
Canton  :  "  The  first  white  man  who  settled  in 
Plain  Township  was  Henry  Friday.  He  was  a 
Hessian,  taken  prisoner  at  the  battle  of  Trenton 
and  paroled.  He  had  a  wife  and  three  children, 
and,  in  1805,  came  in  a  rickety  cart  drawn  by 
an  old  horse,  to  Section  30,  where  he  "  squatted." 
It  being  early  in  the  summer,  he  cleared  a  small 
patch,  which  he  planted  in  corn  and  potatoes, 
and  until  the  crop  matured,  the  family  lived  on 
wild  meat  and  berries.  His  special  occupation 
was  that  of  well  digging,  but  until  he  found  em- 
ployment  in  this  line  he  cut  and  cured  grass  on 
the  "  wild  meadows  "  in  the  southwestern  sec- 
tion of  the  township,  for  which  he  found  a 
ready  sale  to  emigrants.     He  must  have  lived 


•^  S" 


//^>  /yv>/-^/^^ 


^. 


PL.MX    TOWNSHIP. 


like  a  Digger  Indian,  for  it  is  said  that  in  tiio 
year  in  wliioli  the  locusts  appeared,  he  had  a 
pie  made  of  them,  which  he  ate  ;  and  in  speak- 
ing of  it,  he  would  remark,  ■'  Es  ist  der  besht 
poy  es  mer  raaehe  kan."  After  five  or  six  years 
he  moved  to  Jackson  Township,  where  he  died. 
Hugh  Cunningham,  an  Irisiiinaii,  came  during 
the  summer  of  1805.  and  located  in  Section  H4. 
His  daughter,  whose  birth  occurred  the  follow- 
ing year,  was  tiie  first  white  child  born  in  the 
township.  It  is  said  that  when  the  draft  for  the 
war  of  1812  oecnrred.  he  became  so  much 
alarmed  that,  to  escape  the  service,  he  shot 
himself  through  the  foot.  During  the  autumn 
of  1805,  (leorge  and  John  Harter  built  their 
houses  in  the  township,  but  the  families  re- 
mained at  Be:iver  until  later,  (ieorge  Harter, 
the  next  year,  brought  with  him  two  cows  and 
a  sow  with  eight  pigs.  The  sow  was  kept  in  a 
pen  for  a  short  time,  after  which  a  bell  was  put 
on  her.  and  sIk!  was  permitted  to  run  in  search 
of  food.  She  had  not  gone  far  from  the  cabin 
when  the  family  heard  her  ,squeal ;  suspecting 
the  trouble.  3Ir,  Harter  snatched  up  his  rifle, 
which  was  always  kept  loaded,  and  made  haste 
toward  the  locality  from  where  the  sound 
came,  on  his  way  ramming  down  a  second  bul- 
let. He  had  not  proceeded  far  when  he  dis- 
covered a  huge  bear  dragging  the  sow  by  the 
back  of  the  neck,  through  the  bushes.  The 
sound  of  his  approach  attracted  the  attention  of 
the  bear,  which  dropped  the  sow,  stood  up  on 
its  hind  legs  and  looked  fiercely  at  the  ajjproach- 
ing  settler.  Harter  took  deliberate  aim  at  the 
chest  of  the  bear  and  fired  ;  the  bear  fell 
over,  but  as  Hartiu-  was  suspicious  that  it 
might  not  be  dead,  and  knowing  that  it  would 
be  dangerous  to  go  within  reach  of  the  animal 
if  it  was  only  wounded,  he  re-loaded  his  rifle, 
and,  approaching  within  a  few  rods,  took  care- 
ful aim  and  shot  it  through  the  head,  when  it 
turned  over,  gave  a  feelile  kick,  and  was  dead. 
The  bears  and  wolves  carried  off  all  his  pigs 
but  two.  He  constructed  a  trap,  in  which  sev- 
eral were  caught,  as  was  also,  on  one  occasion, 
a  large  turkey  buzzard." 

Jacob  Loutzenheiser,  who  afterward  became 
inlluential  and  prominent  in  the  township, 
arrived  in  180(j,  with  several  i)ack  horses,  and 
left  his  family  for  a  short  time  with  the  Cun- 
ninghams. During  the  same  year,  there  came 
in  Valentine  Weaver.  Peter  Dickerhoof  Oeorge 
Bossier.  George  Hanev.  'leorge  Miller.  Simon 


Essig.  Ileni'v  Warner,  John  and  David  Eby, 
(•onrad  Buffncr.  and,  [jcrhaps,  f)thers.  About 
the  same  time,  or  soon  afterward,  came  George, 
Jacob  and  Christian  Werstler,  and  their  father, 
Henry  Werstler,  Christopher  Palmer,  Jacob 
Shoniehergcr,  Aliraham  Van  Meter,  the  Bairs, 
Spielmans,  (iatts.  Willemans,  Everhards,  David 
Cunningham,  Jacob  Hosier,  and  many  others, 
Mr.  Weaver's  three  eldest  children  were  daugh- 
ters, who  went  to  work  felling  timber,  cutting 
logs,  splitting  rails,  plowing,  sowing,  reaping 
and  threshing.  It  is  said  that  Betsey  Dicker 
hoof  when  the  road  between  New  Berlin  and 
Green  town  was  opened,  took  a  contract  to  clear 
ten  acres  of  timber  for  John  W'ise,  and  complet- 
ed the  contract  satisfactorily.  What  do  the 
damsels  of  the  present  day  think  of  that  ? 

Peter  Willeman  owned  the  land  where  the 
village  of  New  Berlin  now  stands.  After  these 
dates  the  settlers  came  in  rapidly,  the  most  of 
them  coming  directly  from  the  Keystone  State. 
with  but  little  or  no  money,  but  with  an  alnind- 
ance  of  self-reliance  and  unswerving  determi- 
nation to  create  a  comfortable  home  in  the  wil- 
derness. The  land  was  pretty  much  all  taken 
b\-  1815,  at  least  all  the  better  portions.  In 
June.  1809,  a  tax  was  levied  to  meet  the  cur- 
rent expenses  of  the  county.  There  were  no 
roads,  the  best  being  but  cut  and  corduroyed 
paths  through  the  woods,  the  routes  being 
established  without  any  regard  to  section  or 
township  lines,  but  wholly  through  dry  locali- 
ties, winding  around  on  the  upper  lands.  So 
much  annoyance  was  occasioned  by  poor  roads, 
that  the  tax  levied  was  designed  to  be  used  in 
improving  and  constructing  liighways;  and  the 
record  of  the  Commissioners,  from  beginning 
to  end.  especially  in  early  years,  is  one  contin- 
uous chain  of  roads  viewed,  created  and  altered, 
or  improved.  The  tax  on  horses  was  25  cents, 
but  soon  afterward  other  domestic  animals  were 
also  rated  as  taxalile  property.  Jacob  Sh(ene- 
berger  was  the  first  Collector  in  Plain,  and  on 
the  15th  of  January.  1810.  his  tax  duplicate 
showed  that  he  had  collected  5i:i2.20.  George 
Miller,  Collector  for  the  following  year,  reported 
$1)2.05,  which  sum  included  his  compensation. 
On  the  5th  of  March,  1810,  all  the  land  then  in 
Plain  Township,  west  of  the  Tuscarawas  River, 
was  created,  with  other  land,  into  a  separate 
township.  On  the  8th  of  April,  1811,  it  was 
ordered  by  the  Commissioners,  that  Township 
12,  Hange  8,  Townships  11   and   12.  Range  fl, 


'^W^ 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


an(]  all  the  remaining  part  of  Townships  1  and 
2.  Range  10,  be  severed  from  Plain,  and  ereated 
a  separate  township  called  Green.  Since  that 
date.  Plain  has  retained  its  present  geograph- 
ical boundaries.  It  has  always  been  one  of  the 
most  valuable  townships  in  the  county.  On 
the  3d  of  December,  1810,  the  Commissioners 
ordered  viewed  a  road  that  had  been  properly 
petitioned  for,  extending  north  from  Canton  as 
tar  as  the  county  line,  and  in  a  direction  toward 
Ravenna.  The  Viewers  were  .John  Shorb,  Abra- 
ham (ralloway  and  William  Williams.  These 
men,  assisted  by  (Jeorge  Clark,  Surveyor,  com- 
pleted the  work,  and  reported  favorably  the  fol- 
lowing March,  whereupon  the  Commissioners 
ordered  the  road  to  be  laid  out  "  forty  feet  wide, 
causewayed  and  finished  so  that  travelers  and 
carriages  could  pass. '  Several  other  roads,  ex- 
tending across  the  township,  were  soon  afterward 
surveyed  and  put  in  [lassable  condition.  Henr^' 
Everliard  was  one  of  the  early  County  ('oinmis- 
sioners,  was  County  Collector  in  1817,  and  occu- 
pied other  positions  of  honor  and  trust.  The 
citizens  were  generally  industrious  and  saving, 
and  several  of  them  accumulated  large  fortunes, 
and  their  descendants  are  now  reaping  the  ben- 
efits. The  following  list  of  land-hdlders,  who 
were  in  the  township  in  182.S,  is  given  to  pre- 
serve the  names  of  the  early  settlers,  several  of 
whom,  however,  left  the  township  before  that 
period  :  Frederick  Albright,  John  Arnst.  Joiin 
Andrews,  Abraham  Bair.  Henry  Hiitterliaugli. 
Daniel  Bender,  Abraham  Barnhart,  Jacob  Ri'ch- 
er.  David  Brady,  John  Bair,  Jacob  Bair,  Sam- 
uel Bair,  Baltzer  Bentzel,  Jacob  Beard,  Jacob 
Bachtel,  Samuel  Coulter,  Andrew  Crist,  William 
Coleman,  Isaac  Cairns,  Phillip  Duck,  Jacob 
Dissler,  Abraham  Dissler,  John  Essig,  Simon 
Essig,  Adam  Essig,  Jacob  Essig,  George  Essig. 
George  Everhard,  Henry  Everhard,  David  Eby, 
Thomas  Eby,  Joseph  Eby,  John  Past.  Nicholas 
Firestone,  John  Feather,  Jacob  Funk,  Jacob 
Gaskin  (colored),  James  Gatt',  Jeliu  (Jrulil), 
Peter  Grupe,  Solomon  Grogg,  Jacob  Hower, 
George  Hower,  John  Hower,  Ferninand  Fluck- 
stall,  Jacob  Hentzel,  Michael  Holtz,  Peter  Hou- 
sel,  Abraham  Holm,  Christopher  Haney,  George 
Hanej',  William  Hanej-,  Jacob  Hoy,  Jacob 
Harter,  Christian  Hain,  John  Hall,  Phillip  Hol- 
lebaugh,  James  Harry,  George  A.  Ilontz,  George 
Hontz,  Phillip  Homan.  Jacob  Homan,  William 
Hill,  John  Hains,  John  Harris,  John  D.  Hacken, 
Thomas  Hill,  Jacob  Kouser,  John  Kryden,  John 


Kendall,  Isaac  Kootzner,  Jacob  Loutzenheimer, 
Abraham  Lantzer,  David  Landis,  Abraham 
Landis,  Jacob  Livingston,  John  Long,  Nicholas 
Murray,  Abraham  Miller,  John  Miller,  James 
Miller,  Henry  Miller,  Henry  Markee,  Henry 
Myers,  Joseph  Mishler,  Andrew  Myers,  Daniel 
Mooser,  Robert  McClelland, Moses  Nelson,  Adam 
Oberlin,  Christian  Palmer,  Frederick  Pontius, 
Mr.  Paulus,  James  Packer,  Paul  Rider, 
John  Reese,  Henry  Rabert,  Samuel  Roofner,  G. 
A.  Ilex,  Conrad  Roofner,  John  Rice,  David 
Risher,  William  Reynolds,  Anthony  Roof,  John 
Reichart,  Jacob  Spangler,  Michael  Spangler, 
Benjamin  Spangler,  Joseph  Spangler,  John  Sni- 
ner,  (Jeorge  Snider,  (Jeorge  Smith,  Samuel 
Smith,  John  Smith,  Jacob  Shceneherger,  Valen- 
tine Spielman,  John  Swigart,  Jacob  Stotfer, 
Frederick  Shaefl'er,  Daniel  Smith,  Christopher 
Sidnor,  Jacob  Sell,  (jeorge  Swihart.  John  Ster- 
ling, David  Shook,  David  Shriver,  John  Trump, 
Peter  Trump.  Peter  Troxal,  John  Thomas, 
Christian  Warshler,  Jacob  Warshler,  Henry 
Waltman,  Tobias  Wise,  Al)rahain  Wise,  Peter 
Wise,  Conrad  Willeman,  Peter  Willeman,  Jacob 
Willeman,  (5eorge  Willeman,  Thomas  Ward, 
Barnabas  Weller,  (ieorge  Warshler,  Adam  War- 
ner, John  Winger,  Adam  Wise,  Michael  Weaver, 
Samuel  Weaver,  Valentine  Weaver.  Joseph 
Weaver,  Henry  Weaver,  George  linger,  Henry 
Zeigler  and  Phillip  Zeigler.  These  were  the 
resident  landholders  in  1828.  (Ither  early 
settlers  were  Ezra  Pepple.  Frederick  Slusser, 
Joseph  Bishop,  Samuel  Schrantz,  Michael 
Schrantz,  Jacob  Mohler,  George  Bossier,  and 
many  otiiers  whose  names  are  forgotten. 

The  first  thing  to  be  done  after  arriving  in 
the  wilderness,  was  to  provide  food  and  shelter 
for  the  families.  Trees  were  immediately  felled, 
cut  the  desired  length,  and  everything  got  in 
readiness  for  the  raising,  at  which  time  the 
neighbors  would  come  forward,  and  the  build- 
ing begun  in  the  morning  was  often  ready  for 
the  family  the  following  night.  Sometimes  it 
was  impossible  to  get  the  desired  assistance,  in 
which  case  the  owner  was  obliged  to  resort  to 
the  tedious  process  of  building  his  log  cabin 
alone.  To  do  this  he  must  have  a  team,  with 
which  to  draw  the  heavy  logs,  not  only  to  the 
building,  but  upon  it.  The  logs  for  the  foun- 
dation were  properly  notched,  and  rolled  to 
their  places,  after  which  strong  skids  were 
placed  upon  this  frame-work  and  the  ground, 
and  then  by   means   of  long   ropes   or   chains 


4-, 


itj.  @_ 


k^ 


IM.AIX    TOWNSHIP. 


495 


passing  over  the  slowly  rising  structure,  the 
logs,  one  1)3'  one,  wore  drawn  up  to  their  <les- 
tiaed  positions.  This  process  often  consumed 
more  than  a  week,  and  often,  in  the  meantime, 
the  family  were  obliged  to  live  either  in  the 
wagon,  in  tlie  cabin  of  a  neighbor,  or  in  tem- 
porary buildings  or  wigwams  constructed  of 
poles,  bark  and  blankets.  As  soon  as  tlie 
building  was  completed,  the  family  were  moved 
therein,  and  then  the  clearing  mu.st  go  rapidly 
on,  to  prepare  suitable  lields  for  the  coming 
crop.  Then  it  was  that  a  life  of  hard  work  aiul 
continuous  privation  was  begun.  A  section  of 
wooiiland,  probably  ten  acres,  sometimes  fortj', 
was  leveled  with  the  ground,  and  the  trees  were 
felled  in  windrows  with  their  tops  together. 
After  the  desired  butt  cuts  had  been  rolled  out 
of  the  way,  and  the  brani'hes  had  become  suf 
ficiently  dry  to  burn,  the  lire  was  lighted  from 
heap  to  heap  much  the  same  waj-  that  a  prairie 
fire  is  started.  Nights  were  ollen  selected  for 
this  work,  and  then  the  scene  was  spirited  and 
grand  indeetl.  While  watching  the  fire,  the 
settler  would  split  the  preserved  butt  cuts  into 
rails,  to  be  used  to  inclose  the  field.  Some- 
times the  settler  went  to  work  and  leveled 
twenty  or  thirty  acres  with  the  ground,  after 
which  the  neighbors  were  called  in  to  roll  the  logs 
into  heaps  to  be  burned.  These  rollings  were 
the  principal  means  of  bringing  the  settlers 
together,  and  the  merriment  always  ran  high, 
like  the  waves  of  the  sea.  The  man  who  could 
do  the  most  work  was  the  hero  of  the  occasion. 
If  some  circumstance  occurred  to  interrupt 
their  work,  games  were  projected,  wrestling 
matches  were  formed,  or  target  practice  was 
indulged  in.  A  rolling  without  whiskj-  was  a 
sorry  occasion,  and,  in  fact,  the  settlers  refused 
to  assist  unless  they  were  supplied  with  this 
essential  factor  for  a  hard  days  work.  Often 
some  poor  fellow  would  get  too  full  (or  fool) 
for  utterance,  when  he  would  retire  to  some 
secluded  spot  to  dream  of  bacchanalian  bliss  or 
blizzards,  and  to  sleep  ofi'  the  cHects  of  King 
Alcohol.  It  was  usual  for  the  women  to  assem- 
ble to  do  the  cooking  for  this  •■  raft"  of  men, 
and  their  sport  was  scarcely  inferior  to  that  of 
the  men. 

The  food  was  an  important  item  to  be  taken 
into  consideration  among  the  earl}'  settlers. 
There  were  no  F)r.  Tanners  in  those  days; 
neither  were  there  an}-  dyspeptics  ;  l]Ut  every 
person  was  possessed  of  a  voracious  appetite. 


The  digestive  apparatus  were  equal  to  those  of 
falcons  ;  but  the  possessors  were  often  obliged 
to  go  hungry,  and  to  fill  themselves  like  ana- 
condas when  they  were  supplied  with  an  abun- 
dance. Hundreds  of  hogs  soon  ran  wild  in  the 
wo(xls,  the  great  majority  being  without  car- 
marks  or  any  known  owner.  These  were  shot 
down  whenever  meat  was  desired,  and  the 
cabins  were  usually'  supplied  with  pork,  such 
as  it  was,  which  is  saying  a  great  deal.  Large 
numbers  of  deer  were  iu  the  forest,  and  juicy 
venison  steak  was  a  common  dish  placed  before 
the  hungry  settler.  Venison,  however,  is  dry 
and  tasteless  without  plenty  of  grease,  without 
which  the  meat  is  partially  unpalatable.  The 
flesh  itself  does  not  contain  the  necessar}'  fat. 
Wild  turkeys  were  numberless,  and  sometimes 
were  so  fat,  it  is  said,  that  when  they  struck  the 
ground,  after  being  shot  from  the  top  of  high 
trees,  the  skin  upon  their  backs  burst  open  like 
a  ripe  bean  pod.  Many  wolves  were  in  the 
forest,  and  were  a  great  pest  t(i  those  who  tried 
to  keep  sheep.  These  tender  animals  had  to  be 
housed  bv  night  and  guarded  by  day,  and  even 
then  the  climate  and  other  circumstances  com- 
bined to  kill  them.  When  the  county  was  first 
organized,  the  Commissioners  offered  a  bounty 
of  5(1  cents  for  wolf  and  panther  scalps  of  ani- 
mals under  six  months  old,  and  SI  for  those 
animals  above  that  age.  So  Irouljlesoine  were 
the  animals  that  a  year  later  the  Commissioners 
doubled  the  Itouuty,  and  then  it  became  profit- 
able to  hunt  them.  A  skillful  hunter  would 
make  better  wages  than  a  farmer.  The  streams 
and  lakes  abounded  in  musk-rats,  minks,  bea- 
vers and  a  few  otter,  and  during  the  winter  sea- 
sons large  numbers  of  these  were  trapped,  and 
the  furs  sent  I'^ast,  where  there  was  a  growing 
demand  for  them.  Bears  were  numerous,  and 
were  very  troublesome,  as  they  boldly  ap- 
proached the  cabins  in  the  night,  and  some- 
limes  in  the  day,  and  carried  oti'  hogs,  calves, 
sheep,  or  other  small  domestic  animals.  A 
large  one  would  seize  an  unfortunate  Sits  scrafa, 
and,  despite  its  sipieals  and  struggles,  carry  it 
off  into  the  forest,  and  the  next  day  its  indig- 
nant owner  would  find  its  partially  consumed 
carcass,  JIany  interesting  stories  are  told  con- 
cerning adventures  with  bears  and  other  fierce 
animals,  a  few  of  which  will  be  narrated.  It  is 
related  that  one  of  the  settlers  in  the  northern 
part,  on  one  occasion,  went  to  CanUm  for  a  few 
groceries,  and.  becoming  belated,   night  over- 


^V 


J^ 


496 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


took  him  shortly  after  he  started  for  home.  He 
was  afoot  and  alone,  with  a  bag  containing  his 
purchases  on  his  bacli.  It  was  a  bitterly  cold 
night  in  winter,  and  the  snow  covered  the 
ground  to  the  depth  of  some  six  inches.  Tlie 
moon  was  shining  brightly,  and  the  icy  wind 
sighed  through  the  branches  of  the  trees,  and 
daslied  the  drifting  snow  into  eddies  through 
the  forest  glades.  The  traveler  hurried  on, 
anxious  to  reach  the  shelter  of  home.  As  lie 
was  moving  swiftl)'  along  the  obscure  path,  he 
suddenlj^  heard  a  peculiar  sniffing  .sound  at  a 
short  distance  to  one  side,  and  a  few  moments 
later  a  large  animal  ran  out  of  a  clump  of 
bushes,  and  bounded  off  at  full  speed  through 
the  woods,  uttering  a  peculiar  cry  at  ever  jump. 
Mr.  Willeman  had  no  gun.  but  he  knew  that 
the  animal  was  a  pantlier,  and  althougli  he  was 
considerabh'  scared,  he  hallooed  at  the  top  of 
his  voice,  and  was  still  more  scared  when  he 
discovered  that  the  cries  had  ceased,  and  the 
panther  was  coming  back  toward  him.  The 
fierce  animal  took  a  circle  out  to  leeward,  and 
after  sniffing  and  following  the  traveler  for 
aliout  half  a  mile,  it  finalh'  veered  off  and  was 
soon  lost  to  sight  and  sound  in  the  depths  of 
the  snow-clad  forest.  At  another  time,  a  part\' 
of  settlers  living  in  Osnaburg  Township,  started 
a  large  bear  with  their  dogs,  and,  having  chased 
it  to  near  the  Wise  Mill  in  Plain,  succeeded  in 
disabling  it.  They  came  up  with  their  dogs, 
and,  knowing  that  the  bear  could  not  escape 
them,  they  rfcsolvetl  to  have  some  fun.  They 
got  long  clubs,  and  circling  around  the  wounded 
animal,  would  dash  in  and  deal  a  severe  blow, 
and  tlien  retire  as  suddenly  as  their  safety  de- 
manded. The  dogs  were  urged  on,  but  the 
bear,  frantic  with  pain  and  rage,  soon  settled 
them.  One  blow  from  a  powerful  paw  was  suf- 
ficient to  either  half-kill  a  venturesome  dog,  or 
prevent  its  second  appearance  on  the  scene. 
Finally,  after  the  men  became  tired,  tlic  bear 
was  dispatched  by  a  bullet  through  the  head. 
Prior  to  the  war  of  1812.  bands  of  Indians 
wandered  throuiih  the  woods,  camping  tempo- 
rarily on  the  streams  for  the  purpose  of  hunt- 
ing and  trapping.  Many  of  the  arts  of  the  chase 
were  learned  from  them  by  the  wliite  hunters. 
Within  a  few  years  after  the  township  was 
first  settled,  industries  began  to  spring  up  to 
furnish  much  needed  articles  nearer  home.  The 
township  was  supplied  with  excellent  water- 
power,  for  all  the  streams  were  about  double 


the  present  size,  although  the  flow  of  water  is 
probably  swifter  at  present.  Two  large  streams 
flow  across  the  township,  the  West  Branch  of 
the  Nimishillen  and  the  Middle  Branch.  The 
former  enters  the  township  from  the  north,  and 
flows  across  Sections  5,  4,  9,  l(i,  17,  20,  29  and 
32,  while  the  latter  crosses  Sections  1.  2,  11, 
12,  14,  13,  23,  26.  27  and  34.  The  former  has 
quite  a  large  branch  entering  it  from  the  west, 
and  all  these  creeks  and  their  branches  furnish 
excellent  drainage.  The  townsliip  is  not  only 
a  first  class  agricultural  section  of  the  county, 
but  it  has  scarcely  a  rival  for  manufacturing 
facilities.  It  is  underlain  with  exhaustless  beds 
of  fine  coal,  three  or  four  mines  being  worked 
at  present,  though,  from  the  fact  that  the  rail- 
roads have  been  built  within  the  last  few  j'ears, 
this  valuable  feature  of  the  township  is  not  yet 
fully  developed.  Time  will  bring  a  vast  reve- 
nue to  the  owners  of  the  soil.  The  soil  in  dif 
ferent  places  discloses  fine  sandstone  and  lime- 
stone, which  have  been  quarried  to  a  limited 
extent  in  past  years.  A  fine  article  of  lime  has 
been  burned,  and  is  burned  at  present.  Taking 
all  these  things  into  consideration — the  strength 
of  the  soil  for  agricultural  purposes,  the  abun- 
dant suppl3-of  limestone  and  sandstone,  the  in- 
exhaustible beds  of  bituminous  coal,  the  fair 
water-power,  and  the  healthfulness  of  the  cli- 
matic features — the  township  is  a  pleasant  and 
profitable  place  in  which  to  live. 

As  earlj'  as  1810,  A.  Van  Meter  built  a  saw 
and  chopping  mill  in  the  township.  The  build- 
ing was  built  of  logs,  and  was  divided  into  two 
apai'tments,  one  in  which  the  sawing  apparatus 
was  placed  being  little  better  than  a  shed. 
A  set  of  rough  and  coarse  "  nigger-head  "  stones 
was  placed  in  the  other,  but  the  miller  did  not 
pretend  to  be  able  to  furnish  first-class  flour 
and  meal.  He  could  grind  the  grains,  after  a 
fashion,  and  did  for  a  short  time  ;  but,  owing 
to  the  weakness  of  the  dam  he  had  constructed, 
at  the  end  of  a  year,  a  sudden  freshet  swept 
away  his  mill,  and  it  was  not  afterward  rebuilt. 
In  the  summer  of  1811,  G.  A.  Rex  built  a  grist- 
mill on  Nimishillen  Creek,  water-power  being 
secured  in  the  usual  manner,  by  means  of  a  race. 
IMr.  Rex  was  an  enterprising  man,  and  had 
some  property  at  his  command.  He  brought 
from  Georgetown  a  set  of  fine  French  Ijuhrs, 
that  cost  the  then  very  large  amount  of  1800. 
This  set  was  placed  in  the  mill,  and  so  excellent 
was  the  flour  and   meal  turned  out,  that  the 


il4. 


I'l-AIN    TOWNSHIP. 


497 


miller  soon  had  all  he  could  do.  His  mill  be- 
came known  for  twenty  or  thirty  miles  around  ; 
and  as  the  owner  saw  his  business  steadily  in- 
crease, he  improved  the  water-power  as  much 
as  possible,  and  almost  doubled  the  capacity  of 
his  mill.  Still  he  found  plenty  to  do.  A  saw- 
mill was  built  in  connection  with  the  grist- 
mill, and  was  operated  with  water  from  tiie 
same  dam.  A  few  jears  after  this  mill  was 
built,  Jacob  Holm  placed,  in  a  small  a[)arlment 
set  ofl'  for  the  purpose,  a  small  stock  of  goods, 
the  first  ever  olfered  for  sale  in  the  township. 
They  were  probably  not  worth  more  than  $2(10. 
He  kept  calicoes,  a  few  groceries  and  notions, 
and  some  hardware,  including  axes.  How  long 
he  continued  is  forgotten  or  unknown.  In 
1812,  Henry  Kverhard  built  a  grist-mill  on 
West  Branch.  This  was  located  at  a  spot 
where  the  dam  flooded  considerable  of  the 
bottom,  and  where  a  small  quantitj-  of  cran- 
berries grew  in  early  years.  This  mill  became 
well  patronized,  and  furnished  a  fair  article  of 
flour.  A  saw-mill  was  built  and  operated  on 
the  .same  dam.  Other  mills  were  built  prior  to 
1814,  by  David  Wise,  Conrad  Iluflher  and  John 
Trump.  Adam  Wise,  as  some  say,  built  a  grist- 
mill at  Middle  Branch,  as  early  as  1S15.  He 
also  built  a  saw-mill  at  the  same  place.  In 
about  the  year  1810,  he  opened  a  small  store 
in  his  mill,  and  for  a  number  of  years  conduct- 
ed the  combined  pursuits.  His  mills  and  store 
became  the  central  point,  around  which  quite  a 
section  of  country  revolved,  as  it  were.  He 
succeeded  in  getting  a  post  office  (juite  earl}', 
but  for  some  reason  unknown,  did  not  lay  out 
and  plat  a  village,  as  he  might  have  done  to 
his  pecuniary  advantage.  Nothing  of  the  kind 
was  done  through  the  long  lapse  of  years  until 
the  present.  On  the  2!tth  of  January,  1881, 
John  I'onlius,  the  owner  and  proprietor  of  the 
land,  had  surveyed  and  platted  the  village  of 
Middle  Branch.  Sixty  lots  were  properh"  laid 
out,  by  W.  H.  ^Martin,  Count}-  Surveyor,  on 
parts  of  the  northeast  and  southeast  quarters 
of  Section  2,  Township  11,  Range  8.  This  was 
done  by  reason  of  the  presence  of  the  Counotton 
Valley  Railroad.  A  station  was  located  at  that 
point,  whereujwn  Mr.  Pontius  laid  out  the 
village,  as  stated,  and  ottered  the  lots  for  sale. 
In  time,  quite  a  little  village  will  grow  up  at 
that  point. 

The  first  death  was  that  of  a  cabinet-maker, 
who  was  killed  by  a  falling  tree.    John  Andrews 


was  an  early  tanner.  In  1820,  Abram  Holm 
opened  a  tannery  that  he  conducted  quite  ex- 
tensively for  many  3ears.  It  was  located  in 
the  northeast  corner  of  the  township.  John 
Bowers  collected  the  tax  in  1807,  and  reported 
with  it  to  the  Commissioners  of  Columbiana 
County,  of  which  Stark  then  formed  a  part. 
The  tax  on  (luartersections  was  then  $1.75  ; 
it  is  now  more  than  §80.  It  was  customary  in 
early  years,  when  a  pauper  turned  up  in  the 
township,  to  sell  the  keeping  of  the  same  to  the 
lowest  bidder ;  one  was  thus  sold.  It  is  said 
that  when  Beclitcl,  an  earl}-  Constable,  was 
sworn  in,  he  made  the  following  exception  to 
the  form  of  the  oath  :  •'  To  swear  when  he 
pleased,  and  to  hunt  on  Sunday."  Joseph 
Somcrs  built  and  operated  an  early  saw-mill. 
The  land  upon  which  the  village  of  New  Ber- 
lin now  stands,  was  originally  owned  b}'  Peter 
Williman.  Who  built  the  first  house  is  as 
difficult  to  discover  as  a  needle  in  a  hay-stack  ; 
both  remain  lost ;  somebody,  however,  was 
guilty,  as  there  was  a  first  house  built.  That 
is  a  safe  conclusion,  at  least,  but  that  is  about 
as  far  as  conclusions  can  go  and  be  logical  and 
consistent.  Probabilities  are  much  more  satis- 
factory on  this  point  than  conclusions,  and  will 
be  iniUilged  in.  It  is  likel}-  that  a  cabin  was 
built  there  by  some  one  as  early  as  1815,  as  the 
location  was  pleasant  and  desirable.  At  all 
events,  in  1830,  several  families  resided  there, 
and  it,  about  that  time,  dawned  upon  the  minds 
of  those  in  that  vicinit}',  that  a  village  was 
about  to  spring  up.  The  question  was  dis- 
cussed, and  the  owners  of  the  land  flnall}-  came 
to  the  conclusion  to  follow  the  example  set  by 
Romulus  and  Remus,  sons  of  the  war-god, 
Mars,  some  two  thousand  years  before.  John 
Hower  was  the  owner  and  proprietor,  and  on 
the  ISth  of  February,  1831,  he  employed  Sam- 
uel Bechtel,  surveyor,  and  laid  out  twenty- 
three  lots,  the  most  of  them  being  in  the  acute 
angle  formed  by  the  junction  of  .^larket  and 
Portage  streets.  The  lots  were  ottered  for  sale, 
and  erelong  the  population  had  run  up  to  fortj- 
or  fill}'.  Long  before  that,  however,  the  vil- 
lagers had  become  clamorous  for  a  store  and 
post  office,  and  a  few  years  later,  Josiah  Sher- 
rick  (or  perhaps  Peter  Schick)  was  induced  to 
embark  on  the  mercantile  sea.  He  did  not 
venture  far  from  shore,  however,  as  his  stock  of 
goods  was  worth  only  about  $200.  A  few 
}-ears  later  he  was  succeeded  bj'  Peter  Schick, 


;r^ 


498 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COl'NTY. 


who  continued  for  quite  a  number  of  3-ears,  and 
kept  a  good  country  store,  receiving  a  fair  trade 
from  the  surrounding  eountiy.  It  was  prob- 
ably through  the  instrumentality  of  Mr.  Schick 
that  the  post  otHce  was  secured,  although  this 
is  not  absolutely  certain.  Quite  a  number 
have,  at  various  times,  sold  goods  at  New  Ber- 
lin, among  whom  are  Peter  Brilhart,  Emanuel 
p]nsminger,  Samuel  Witwer.  Bechtol  &  Pierson, 
Mr.  Young.  John  Hill,  Daniel  Holl,  Bechtel  & 
Brother,  William  Schick  and  George  Spon- 
seller,  the  present  merchant,  who  has  on  hand 
nearly  $10,000  worth  of  a  general  assortment 
of  goods.  He  has  a  large  and  valuable  trade, 
and  is  the  present  Postmaster.  John  Hower 
was  the  first  blacksmith.  Not  long  after  the 
village  was  laid  out,  Peter  Schick  made  con- 
siderable of  an  addition  to  it,  and  still  later 
Samuel  Schlott  made  another.  These  combined, 
furnished  over  a  hundred  excellent  building 
lots.  After  this  the  village  grew  quite  rapidly  ; 
various  other  industries,  besides  those  men 
tioned,  sprang  up  through  the  medium  of  genius 
and  necessity.  The  latter  is  the  mother  of  inven- 
tion, and  no  sooner  is  a  want  felt  by  the  American 
people,  than  some  means  to  meet  it  are  devised. 
The  world  is  filled  with  men  who  would  be 
properly  classed  among  the  great,  were  it  not 
for  some  flaw  or  blemish  in  their  otherwise  fair 
capabilities.  One  man  will  possess  transcend- 
ent genius  in  some  branch  of  human  endeavor, 
but,  lacking  the  power  to  apply  it  properly,  he 
passes  through  life  comparatively  unknown, 
and  his  death  is  unsung  by  the  wise  and  great 
of  earth,  fi.  G.  Nodle,  of  New  Berlin,  is  a  me- 
chanic of  rare  powers,  gifted  with  that  pecul- 
iar cast  of  mind  that  can  see,  through  neces- 
sity and  want,  the  means  of  supplying  them. 
He  has  invented  several  interesting  and  valu- 
able mechanical  contrivances.  A  numlier  of 
years  ago,  he  invented  a  valuable  improvement 
on  Lamb's  knitting  raachme,  prepared  his  model 
and  sent  it  to  the  Patent  Otflce,  but  a  short 
time  afterward  discovered  that  his  patent  had 
been  entered  by  some  other  person.  Whether 
another  man  had  invented  the  same  improve- 
ment a  little  earlier,  is  not  yet  determined,  but 
Mr.  Nodle  thinks  otherwise.  He  works  in  any 
metal,  ivory,  bone,  stone  or  wood.  He  has 
lately  invented  a  combination  door-lock,  that, 
for  simplicity  and  value,  is  without  a  rival.  In 
proper  hands,  a  fortune  could  be  made  with  it. 
Several   other  valuable    inventions   have  been 


developed,  one  of  them  being  a  machine  for 
cutting  cogs,  and  another  for  filing  saws. 

In  about  the  year  1807,  Joel  Stephens  erected 
suitable  buildings,  and  began  the  manufacture 
of  various  sorts  of  pottery,  among  which  were 
crocks,  jars,  jugs,  etc.  The  material  was  obtained 
near  by,  and,^fora  number  of  years  Mr.  Ste- 
phens did  extensive  work,  and  under  his  manage- 
ment the  industry  was  jirofitable  to  him,  and  a 
credit  to  the  tillage.  Some  two  years  after 
starting,  he  sold  out  to  Isaac  Stripe,  who  dropped 
the  potterj'  business,  and  ventured  in  that  of 
manufacturing  tiles  and  sewer  pipes.  He  em- 
ployed one  or  two  steady  hands,  and,  at  busy 
seasons  of  the  year,  several  others.  He  discon- 
tinued the  occupation  in  a  short  time.  In  1865, 
William  II.  Hoover,  who  owned  and  conducted 
a  tanner}',  began  manufactaring  horse  collars  on 
an  extensi\e  scale.  He  had  the  means  at  his 
command  for  supplying  all  necessar}-  materials 
at  a  small  cost,  and  his  sales  at  home  and 
abroad  soon  placed  him  in  the  catalogue  of 
wholesale  manufacturers.  His  sales  from  tan- 
nery and  factory  reach  the  satisfactory  amount 
of  about  $40,000  per  annum.  He  employs  from 
seven  to  ten  laborers.  This  is,  perhaps,  the 
most  extensive  and  important  industry  ever  in 
the  township.  It  is  ecrtainlv  a  credit  to  New 
Berlin.  In  1880,  Peter  Pierson  &  Son,  with  a 
capital  of  nearly  $10,000.  opened  a  lumberyard 
in  the  village.  The  piles  of  lumber  give  the 
place  the  aspect  of  a  city.  This  firm  keeps  on 
hand  an  abundance  of  ready-made  doors,  win- 
dows and  other  materials  necessarj'  in  the  erec- 
tion of  buildings.  They  have  both  hard  and 
soft  woods,  and  are  operating  a  saw  mill  in 
connection  with  their  lumber  yard. 

Henry  Hoover,  as  earlj-  as  1820,  erected  a 
distillery  in  the  township.  He  had  the  neces- 
sary apparatus  for  manufacturing  considerable 
liquor.  He  owned  a  copper  still,  which  held 
some  twenty-five  gallons,  and  succeeded  in  dis- 
tilling about  a  barrel  of  whisky  per  day.  He 
conducted  the  pursuit  for  many  years,  realizing 
fair  pecuniary  advantage  therefrom ;  but,  at 
last,  when  the  demand  for  strong  drink  at  home 
had  partially  subsided,  and  larger  distilleries  in 
the  county  had  captured  his  distant  trade,  find- 
ing that  his  time  could  be  more  profitably  spent 
in  other  occupations,  he  closed  his  distillery, 
and  retired  from  the  now  detested  business. 
Samuel  Cossler  engaged  in  the  same  occupation 
about  the  time  that  Hoover  began,  erecting  his 


PLAIN    TOWNSHIP. 


499 


buildings,  and  placing  therein  apparatus  neces- 
sary for  ttn'ninu;  out  wliisky  at  about  the  same 
rale  as  tlie  Hoover  distillery.  He  continued 
for  a  nuinher  of  years.  Solomon  Miller  is  dis- 
tilling at  present,  and  has  been  for  many  years, 
although  not  continuously.  He  distills  about 
a  barrel  of*  whisky  every  day  the  distillery  is 
eondueti'd.  and  those  in  the  township,  who  seem 
to  know  whereof  tiioy  speak,  say  it  is  a  first- 
class  article.  In  the  fall,  when  cider  is  al)und- 
ant,  Mr.  Miller  distills  a  fine  article  of  eider 
brandy.  He  finds  a  ready  sale  for  his  liq- 
uor, not  only  at  home,  but  abroad.  No  otlier 
distilleries,  so  far  as  known,  have  ever  been 
conducted  in  the  township. 

In  the  summer  of  1880,  Friah  (iray  erected 
a  small  building  in  New  Berlin,  and  began 
the  manufacture  of  cigars.  Although  not  yet 
on  a  veiy  extensive  scale,  his  business  is  gradu- 
ally assuming  shape,  and  erelong  will  be  a 
vakiable  feature  among  the  industries  of  the 
township.  He  furnishes  labor  for  one  employe, 
and  his  cigars  are  said  to  be  superior  in  fdlings 
and  wrappers.  His  cigars  are  greedily  con- 
sumed by  the  delighted  Berlinites. 

Many  other  interesting  items  might  be  men- 
tioned of  tills  village.  The  first  tavern-keeper 
was  John  Howcr.  who  opened  his  building  to 
tlie  public  before  the  village  could  be  called 
such.  He  has  been  succeeded  by  Mrs.  Shriner, 
Jacob  Wolf.  Jacol)  Mohler.  Cyrus  Jlanderback, 
(ieorgc  Wagner.  John  Cloud,  Amos  Johnson, 
Jacoii  Hisncr.  .Martin  Aist.  Harry  Triesch, 
Daniel  WingiM'.  Jacob  Bowers,  (lerhart  Leed, 
Cyrus  Brady,  the  present  landlord,  Jacob 
^I^lnderbaugh,  William  Pepple.  Samuel  Sloat 
and   Michael   Bitzer. 

The  first  resident  physician  w.is  |ir.  Allen  M. 
Weidler.  After  him  were  Drs.  Peter  Crum, 
Benbarger,  Shancfelt  and  Young.  The  latter 
was  succeeded  by  Dr.  George  Hollz,  who  be- 
gan practicing  in  1845,  and  has  continued  in 
the  village  ever  since.  It  is  scarcely  necessary 
to  add  that  he  has  an  extended  practice  and 
the  confidence  of  the  citizens.  If  the  writer  is 
correcllj-  informed,  he  is  a  graduate  of  the 
Cleveland  .Medical  College.  Other  physicians 
have  tried  to  supplant  him,  but  have  signally 
failed.  One  day  a  young  doctor  went  to  .^lr. 
Picrson.  and  asked  him  if  there  was  any  chance 
for  another  doctor  to  work  into  a  practice  at 
the  village.  Mr.  Pierson  eyed  the  young  man 
a  few  moments  in  silence,  and  then  remarked : 


"  I'll  say  to  you  frankly,  I  don't  believe  tlierc 
is  any  ciiauce  for  yon  whatever,  because  Dr. 
Holtz  has  the  unlimited  confidence  of  tlie  peo- 
ple, charges  veiy  low  for  his  work,  and  never 
collects  what  he  charges."  That  commenda- 
tion is  enough  to  satisfy  the  most  exacting. 
The  Doctor  lias  served  over  twenty  consecutive 
years  a.s  Justice  of  the  Peace,  often  ngainst  his 
expressed  desire,  although  he  never  refused  to 
serve  when  elected.  It  is  said  that  his  judg- 
ments are  rarely  reversed,  and  but  low  ap- 
peals are  taken  from  his  decisions. 

The  first  tanner  in  the  village  was  Peter 
Brilhardt.  He  was  followed  in  the  same  occu- 
pation by  Jacob  Mohler,  John  Lind.  and  tlie 
present  one,  W.  H.  Hoover. 

William  i'almer  ami  Nicholas  Kolp  are  the 
present  shoeniakers. 

Frank  Shields  is  the  villagi^  butcher.  lie 
adopts  the  now  common  method  of  conveying 
his  meat  to  the  residences  of  his  patrons.  He 
buys  and  ships  considerable  live  stock. 

Israel  Carpenter  is  the  village  cabinet-maker. 

H.  Bailey  is  conducting  a  livery  stable. 

This  concludes  the  brief  history  of  the  vil- 
lage of  New  Berlin,  with  the  exception  of  not- 
ing that  a  station  on  the  Valley  Railroad  is  lo- 
cated about  a  mile  west,  and  that  the  village 
has  a  population  of  about  400. 

.\brain  Stevens,  who  had  enliisted  with 
Aaron  Burr  in  bis  expedition  to  the  South- 
west, and  had  embarked  down  the  Ohio  in  a 
flat-boat,  became  dissatisfied  with  the  prospect 
ahead,  and.  abandoning  the  enterprise  at 
Steubenville.  he  started  westward,  and,  in  ]8f)7, 
arrived  in  Stark  County.  During  the  summer 
or  fall  of  th(^  same  year,  a  log  .schoolhouse  had 
been  built  by  the  settlers  in  the  southern  part 
of  the  township,  and  located  on  the  farm  of 
James  Caft'.  Stevens  was  employed  to  teach 
school  in  this  house  either  during  tlie  fall  or 
winter  of  the  year  18(17.  This  is  said  to  have 
been  the  first  term  of  school  taught  in  Stark 
County.  But  little  is  rcinembeied  of  it.  except 
that  quite  a  number  of  young  men  attended, 
and  wen!  in  the  habit  of  carrying  their  guns  to 
school  with  them  in  ho|)es  of  being  able  to 
bring  down  a  deer  or  other  animal,  either  going 
or  returning.  The  hours  of  intermission  were 
often  spent  in  seeing  who  were  the  liest  marks- 
men. Children  in  the  backwoods  were  ex- 
tremely backward  in  their  studies.  Young 
men  over  twenty-one  years  did  not  know  as 


500 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


much  about  their  books  then  as  children  of  the 
present  do  at  the  age  of  ten.  What  little  book- 
learning  the  pioneer  children  received  was  ob- 
tained in  the  face  of  extreme  discouragement. 
Dwellings  were  the  first  schoolhouses,  and 
fathers  were  the  first  teachers.  Often  one  book 
served  the  whole  family,  or  perhaps  several 
families.  The  letters  which  the  small  children 
learned  had  been  pricked  through  paper  with  a 
pin,  and  to  decipher  them  the  child  was  obliged  to 
hold  the  paper  between  himself  and  the  window  (if 
the  schoolhouse  had  such  an  aperture).  It  is 
stated  that  some  of  the  children  in  Plain 
Township  went  to  school  all  winter  during  a 
number  of  the  earlj'  j'ears  with  no  covering  to 
their  feet,  their  phalanges  became  covered  with 
a  thick,  tough  skin,  that  enabled  the  children  to 
withstand,  in  a  measure,  the  snow  and  cold. 
When  the  cold  was  too  severe,  the  children 
would  take  a  small  piece  of  hard  board,  heat 
it  extremely  hot  at  the  fire-place,  and  then,  with 
this  in  their  hand,  would  start  on  the  run  to- 
ward the  schoolhouse.  When  their  feet  could 
bear  the  cold  no  longer,  the  hot  board  was 
placed  upon  the  ground,  and  upon  this  the 
children  stood  until  their  feet  had,  in  a  meas- 
ure, been  warmed,  after  which  they  took  up 
their  "  portable  stove,"  and  again  started  on 
the  run  toward  the  schoolhouse.  This  per- 
formance was  repeated  as  often  as  necessar}' 
until  the  schoolhouse  was  reached.  It  is  said 
that  nineteen  scholars  wei-e  in  attendance  at 
Mr.  Stevens'  school.  Some  state  that  this 
building  was  not  a  schoolhouse  but  was  a  log 
dwelling  that  had  been  abandoned  bj'  the 
owner,  and  converted  to  the  uses  of  education. 
Stevens  is  said  to  have  been  a  large  man, 
with  red  face  and  reddish  whiskers,  and  nose 
of  sutflcient  size  to  answer  all  requirements. 
He  was  in  the  habit  of  participating  in  the 
games  on  the  playground,  and,  in  wrestling, 
could  throw  down  any  young  man  who  came 
to  school  to  iiim.  His  commands  in  the  school- 
room were  obeyed  without  question.  He  was  a 
kind  teacher  and  competent  instructor. 

"He  taudil  h\s  sehnbirs  thf  nili-  of  Uirec. 

Reaijiii;;'.  :niil  'ritiiii;.  and  'ritliiiii'lic  loo; 
He  took  the  little  (iiirs  upmi  Ills  knee. 
Foru  kind  old  heart  in  his  i.nast  liad  he. 

And  the  wants  of  the  lillle^l  .  Iiild  Ijeknew; 
'  Learn  while  you're  youiiii,    he  ntleii  said. 

'There'.s  iniieh  to  enjoy  down  here  lielow; 
Life  for  the  living,  and  rest  for  the  dead!' 

Said  the  jolly  old  pedagogue  long  ago." 


Much  of  the  early  school  history  is  forgotten. 
It  is  certain  that  in  about  the  year  1815,  there 
were  four  on  more  schools  in  session  in  the 
township,  and  before  this  time,  several  school 
districts  had  been  created.  The  entire  township 
was  at  first  divided  into  two  unequal  districts. 
This  was  due  to  the  fact  that  two  distinct  neigh- 
borhoods, separated  by  a  distance  too  great  to 
be  traversed  by  the  scholars,  had  separate 
schools.  As  the  settlements  widened,  and  the 
township  became  more  densely  populated,  these 
districts  were  divided  and  subdivided,  until 
tlie  present  number  was  reached.  It  is  doubt- 
ed whether  any  other  township  in  the  county, 
except,  perhaps.  Canton,  can  show  as  early  and 
extensive  a -division  into  school  districts.  A 
log  schoolhouse  was  built  south  of  New  Berlin 
before  the  year  1820.  In  about  the  year  1835, 
the  first  one  was  built  in  the  village.  It  was  a 
log  building  that  was  afterward  weather- board- 
ed, and  is  now  used  as  the  residence  of  John 
Kolp.  This  building  was  used  for  school  pur- 
poses some  eight  or  ten  years,  when  a  fratne 
was  erected  to  take  its  place.  The  frame  is  now 
used  as  a  blacksmith-shop,  by  Henry  Kloss. 
lu  18t)7,  the  present  schoolhouse — a  brick — 
was  built.  The  school  is  graded,  two  teachers 
being  emylo>ed  during  the  winters,  and  one 
during  the  summers.  The  country  schools  are 
well  conducted,  and  well  attended.  Log  school- 
houses  were  the  first  on  the  programme ;  but 
these,  after  being  used  from  five  to  fifteen  years, 
were  replaced  with  small  frame  structures  that 
have  been  succeeded  by  several  others  since, 
each  an  improvement  on  the  one  preceding  it. 
The  following  is  a  statement  of  the  receipts  and 
disbursements  of  the  school  funds  of  Plain 
Township  for  the  year  ending  August  31,  1880: 

Board  of  Education |1,9:25  23 

State  Fund 1,349  '>0 

Section  16 283  83 

Building 1,157  91 

Incidental 966  34 

Balance  from  1879 1,449  07 

Total  receipts  for  the  year |6,980  88 

Vouchers  tiled 4,053  44 

Balance  on  hand !|i3,937,44 

Number  of  school  districts 11 

Total  number  of  scholars 833 

Whole  number  of  acres 23,135.99 

Total  value  of  land $1,144,580 

Value  of  houses 143,060 

Value  of  mills 9,()00 

Value  of  other  buildings .■ 86, 150 

Average  value  per  acre 49.4 


J^ 


n^to^  .Jt>fo^(y^>l^^~ 


liL 


PLAIN   TOWNSHIP. 


501 


The  following  table  shows  the  number  of 
school  districts  in  the  township,  the  sections 
upon  which  the  houses  sbinil,  the  size  of  the 
lots  in  acres  tinil  hundredths  of  an  acre,  and 
the  total  value  of  the  school  property,  census 
1880  : 


NUMBER  OF 

DISTBIOT. 

Section. 

Acres. 

V»lu«  of 
Property. 

N..   1 

1 

1.00 

8900 

No    > 

9 

.18 

S90 

hu    t 

1! 

.05 

170 

^|>   4 

20 

.60 

250 

No  5 

Jl 

50 

850 

No  r, 

14 

.60 

5.50 

No   7 

^6 

.60 

300 

N>  k 

14 

.50 

600 

N  >  U 

12 

.25 

s»» 

No   1(1 

3) 

1. 00 

8(111 

No    \i 

Lota  n  &  18 

IKW 

Nt 

w   B-ilin. 

The  Lutherans  and  German  Reformers  were 
the  first  religious  sects  to  organize  in  the  town- 
ship. In  the  fall  of  1800,  Eider  Stough  held 
a  meeting  in  the  house  of  Jat;(jb  Loutzeuheiser, 
and  here  the  seed  was  first  sown  that  has  pro- 
duced so  abundantly  and  well.  The  first  church 
was  built  in  about  the  year  1800,  by  the  com- 
bined societies,  on  the  land  of  Henry  Warstler, 
and  was  named  in  honor  of  this  man  "  Henry's 
Church,"  a  name  that  yet  clings  to  it  like  a  vine 
of  ivy.  Religious  services  were  held  here  al- 
ternately bj-  Rev.  Benjamin  Foust,  of  the  Ger- 
man Reformed  society,  and  Rev.  Anthony 
Weycr,  of  the  Lutheran.  A  constitution  was 
framed  and  was  signed  by  the  following  per- 
sons :  Christopher  Warstler,  Michael  Holtz, 
Jacob  WarstU^r,  Peter  Troxel,  Abraham  Miller, 
Christopher  Hetmig.  Nicholas  Schneider,  Chris- 
topher Beard,  John  Holtz,  I'etcr  Schneider, 
Mathias  Bauer,  John  Ringer,  John  Holm,  John 
Everhard,  John  Stickler,  George  Wertenberger, 
George  Smith,  Conrad  Ruffner,  Antonius  Weyer, 
Christian  Krum,  Adam  Werner,  Adam  Essig, 
Jacob  Schneider,  Jacob  Essig,  Michael  Holtz, 
Jr.,  George  Beard,  Henry  Warstler,  Jacob  Lam, 


George  Greasemor,  Philip  Hollenback  and 
Adam  Schmit.  After  a  number  of  years,  the 
two  sects  separating,  the  Reformers  built  a 
church  in  the  norllicrn  part,  and  the  Lutherans 
retained  the  old  church.  These  societies  are 
yet  in  existence,  and  eacli  has  had  one  or  more 
churches.  Rev.  Stough  was  a  missionary,  who 
lived  at  New  Jjisbon,  and  traveled  over  large 
sections  of  country  on  his  parochial  visits. 
Many  of  the  societies  now  numerically  great 
and  in  excellent  condition  were  organized  b^' 
this  good  man.  The  "  Zion  Church  "  was  first 
built  about  the  3ear  1812.  The  building  was 
a  rough  affair,  and  never  completed.  Tlie 
Catholics  of  New  Berlin  built  their  •'  St.  Paul's 
Church  ''  about  forty  years  ago,  at  a  cost  of 
some  $1,200.  It  is  yet  in  use,  and  has  a  mem- 
bership of  some  thirty-live  families.  A  Union 
Church  was  built  in  the  village  not  far  from  the 
same  time.  Some  twelve  years  ago,  the  present 
brick  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  about  $1,000. 
In  1880,  the  German  Reformers  built  a  fine 
new  brick  church  in  the  village.  It  is  the 
largest  and  costliest  church  in  the  township. 
Its  estimated  cost  is  $H,000,  over  half  of  which 
was  paid  b}-  John  Sheets,  who  may  be  consid- 
ered its  patron  and  founder.  It  will  thus  be 
seen  that  the  village  and  township  are  well 
supplied  with  religious  institutions.  From  tlie 
following  table  maj-  be  learned  the  names  of 
the  churches,  their  location,  the  number  of  acres 
in  the  church  lots  or  cemeteries  and  the  value 
of  the  church  property  : 


.VAMK  OK  CIIUIKJH. 

Section. 

1  V.il.icof 

Acres,  j    (  hurch 

Proii(ir(y. 

•    St.  Puur»  (!«lholic  nmrch 

I    Union  Clmrcli 

IIcur)-'8  (  hiircli 

ail.  IMea-tiiiit  church 

Midillc  Br»iich  Church 

St.  Petpr'9  (([((rch 

17 
8 
...14423 
24 
2 
33 

2.00             J«.50 
.15               250 

3.00           acO 

l.((0               7oO 

.25               540 

11.00            1,200 

HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


CHAPTER     XXIII.* 

PARI8  TOWNSHIP  — DESCRIPTIVE  AND  TOPOGRAPHICAL— SETTLEMENT   I!V  THE  WHITES- 
ANIi  INriDEXTS— EARLY  IMl'ROVEMENTS- ORGANIZATION  OF  TOWN- 
SniP  —  EDrr\TIONAL— VILLAGES, 


"Here  frowned  the  forest  with  terrific-  shade; 
No  fulturcd  tield  exposed  the  openinir  glade." 

— Meiys. 

PARIS  TOWNSHIP  was  originally  a  part 
of  Osiiabiirsf,  and  so  remained  until  1818, 
when  it  was  set  off  bj'  order  of  the  County  Com- 
missioners, and  became  a  separate  and  inde- 
pendent township.  Although  of  more  recent 
organization  than  Osnaburg.  yet  its  history 
dates  back  to  a  period  quite  as  remote  as  the 
latter,  and  embraces  much  that  is  equally  as 
interesting.  The  first  decade  of  its  occupation 
by  the  whites,  its  history  and  that  of  Osnaburg 
were  very  similar,  in  fact  the  same,  as  both 
were  tnider  the  same  civil  organization.  The 
surface  features  are  also  much  the  same.  Paris, 
perhaps,  comprising  a  little  more  level  land  than 
Osnaburg.  Tiie  larger  portion  of  it.  however, 
is  rolling,  and  in  places  even  hilly.  It  is  a  fine 
agricultural  region,  notwithstanding  the  rough 
surface,  the  hills,  where  cultivated,  producing 
excellent  crops.  Corn  and  wheat  are  exten- 
sively cultivated,  and  considerable  attention 
paid  to  grazing  and  stock  raising.  The  land 
is  well  drained  by  Black  Streain — so-called  from 
the  dark  color  of  its  waters — Hngle's  Run,  San- 
dy Creek  and  their  branches,  with  a  few  other 
little  streams  that  are  nameless  on  the  maps. 
The  timber  consists  of  oak,  hickory,  maple, 
beech,  elm,  etc.,  with  a  little  walnut  and  poplar. 
The  township  is  bounded  north  by  Washington 
Township,  east  by  Columbiana  County,  .south 
by  Carroll  County,  west  by  Osnaburg  Town- 
ship, and  by  the  census  of  1880  had  2,720  pop- 
ulation. The  Connotton  Valley  narrow-gauge 
and  the  Tuscarawas  Branch  of  the  Cleveland, 
Pittsburgh  &  Wheeling  Railroads  pass  through 
its  territory,  also  the  projected  line  of  the  Steu- 
benville,  Canton  &  Cleveland  Railroad.  Plenty 
of  coal  may  be  found,  and  that  near  the  sur- 
face, costing  but  little  trouble  or  labor  to  mine 
it. 

*Ci.ntrilHit.-d  l)V  W.  H.  Pcrriii. 


So  far  as  our  researches  have  gone,  the  first 
settlement  made  in  what  is  now  Paris  Township 
by  a  white  man  was  by  Rudolph  Bair,  in  the 
fall  of  180().  He  is  prominently  mentioned  in 
the  history  of  Osnaburg  Township,  as  his  resi- 
dence was  in  that  division  of  the  county,  until 
the  formation  of  Paris  Township.  He  was  a 
man  of  considerable  native  intelligence,  and 
verv  prominent  in  the  early  history  of  the 
country.  He  was  a  native  of  York  County, 
Penn.,  and  when  grown  to  manhood  came  to 
Ohio,  and  located  in  Columbiana  County,  which 
was  then  a  part  of  Jefferson,  and  comprised  a 
large  district  of  country.  Ohio  was  still  a  Ter- 
ritory, and  had  but  few  settlers  within  its  limits. 
A  biographer  of  Mr.  Bair  thus  speaks  of  him  : 
"Rudolph  Bair,  Sr.,  generally  called  Rudy' 
Bair,  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  ability. 
Though  his  education  was  limited,  his  natural 
endowments  were  above  the  average.  He  had 
a  liberal  share  of  good  common  sense,  a  qualifi- 
cation not  acquired  at  college.  Such  confidence 
had  the  community  in  his  judgment,  and  dis- 
position to  do  right  between  man  and  man,  that 
he  was  a  very  general  referee  to  settle  questions 
of  diflference  that  will  occur  between  individuals, 
and  from  his  decision  no  appeal  was  taken.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  (rerraan  Reformed  Church, 
and  his  daily  life  was  consistent  with  his  relig- 
ious profession.  Though  known  as  a  farmer, 
his  business  was  more  particularly  that  of  a 
land  speculator.  To  accommodate  emigrants 
of  limited  means,  he  often  sold  land  on  long 
time  payments,  and  though  these  were  not 
always  met  when  due.  he  was  never  known  to 
oppress  delinquents." 

Mr.  Bair  was  a  member  of  the  Constitutional 
Convention  of  1802.  that  framed  the  first  State 
Constitution.  Says  a  writer,  commenting  upon 
the  subject :  '■  That  Convention  completed  the 
work  for  which  they  had  assembled  in  fucn/i/- 
iiiur  diii/s,  an  example  of  industry  and  faithful- 
ness contrasted  with  the  disposition  of  many  of 


PARIS   TOWNSHIP. 


■1^ 


our  officials  of  the  present  day."  It  has  been  a  j 
subject  of  Irequent  remark  in  tliese  hitter  days 
tiiat  the  race  of  men  who  can  dispatch  public 
business  as  expeditiouslj'  as  thd  the  members 
of  the  first  State  Constitutional  Convention  of 
Ohio  are  rapidl}'  becoming  extinct.  The  more 
is  the  pity!  Mr.  Bair  was  an  early  Justice  of 
the  Peace  in  Stark  County,  when  his  jurisdic- 
tion extended  over  half  the  State  of  Ohio,  and 
his  decisions  are  said  to  have  been  models  of 
justice  and  equity.  He  was  also  a  member  of 
the  State  Legislature  when  the  State  Capitol 
was  at  Chillicotiie.  There  arc  traditions  of 
great  speeches  made  b}-  him  before  this  august 
bod_v.  rivaling,  in  eloquence  and  wisdom,  Cice- 
ro's appeals  in  the  Roman  Senate  ;  but  those 
who  knew  him  best  are  disposed  to  be  some- 
what skcjitical  on  the  subject,  and  to  consider 
his  speeches  in  the  legislative  halls  of  the  State 
about  as  apocryphal  as  the  story  of  George 
Washington  and  his  little  hatchet. 

A  communication  published  in  the  Canton 
Dtinociat  has  the  following  of  Paidolph  Hair, 
which  is  of  interest,  as  being  a  part  of  the 
early  history  of  the  township:  '•  Tn  the  sum- 
mer of  1800,  Rudolph  Bair  and  his  brother 
Christopher  made  a  trip  on  horseback  through 
the  castciii  porti(jn  of  Stark  County  (what  is 
now  Stark;,  with  the  view  of  selecting  land  to 
enter.  They  confined  their  explorations  along 
each  side  of  what  is  now  known  as  State  Road, 
at  that  time  a  mere  bridle  path;  They  selected 
a  number  of  quarter-sections  in  Paris  and  Osna- 
burg  Townships,  which  the}-  entered  in  the 
land  office  at  Steubenville.  Among  the  num- 
ber was  the  south  half  of  Section  5,  now  owned 
by  the  Mayer  heirs.  On  this  place  Rudolph 
Bair  settled  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year.  He 
built  a  cabin  into  which  he  moved,  with  all  his 
household  goods,  before  the  floor  was  laid  or  a 
door  hung.  As  a  substitute  for  the  latter,  a 
quilt  was  suspended  at  the  opening  from 
wooden  pins.  In  this  rude  shanty  the  wife 
was  left  alone,  with  her  voung  babe,  several 
days  and  nights,  while  her  husliand  returned 
to  Columbiana  County  for  supplies.  There 
were  Indians  encamped  on  the  creek  a  short 
distance  below,  just  where  the  State  Road 
crosses  the  creek  ;  but  there  were  no  white  per- 
sons nearer  than  Osnaburg,  five  miles  distant. 
At  night  the  wolves  came  howling  around  the 
cabin,  and,  in  order  to  frighten  them  ofl',  she 
would  throw  out  chunks  of  fire,  which  had  the 


eflFect  to  keep  the  wolves  at  a  respectful  dis- 
tance. Thus  she  spent  the  time  until  her  hus- 
band's return.  "  Mr.  Bair  died  in  1820,  and  lii-s 
buried  in  the  graveyard  he  laid  out,  and  which 
he  donated  to  the  town  of  Paris.  There  was  a 
walnut  slab  placed  at  the  spot  to  mark  his 
grave,  but  it  has  long  since  raoldered  into 
dust,  and  there  is  nothing  now  by  which  the 
place  may  be  identified.  No  marble  column, 
with  its  mock  dignity-,  points  to  the  spot  where 
the  old  pioneer  calmly  sleeps.  Biquicscat  injxia'. 
The  next  family  to  settle  in  Paris  Township 
was  that  of  George  Tliumau,  in  180S.  He  came 
from  Bucks  County,  I'ennsylvania,  and  settled 
upon  the  northwest  quarter  of  Section  PJ, 
where  he  opened  a  farm  and  lived  for  mans" 
years.  Mr.  Deweese  located  on  Section  ](!  the 
same  year,  and  proceeded  to  clear  up  a  farm. 
Samuel  Deweese,  a  son  of  his,  used  to  tell  of 
going  to  Slusser's  to  mill,  on  the  Nimishillen. 
and  carrying  a  bushel  of  corn  on  the  back  of  a 
bull,  which  served  him  in  the  place  of  a  horse. 
Such  a  performance  would  present  a  rather 
no\el  appearance  at  the  present  day.  and  atlbrd 
unbounded  amusement  to  the  small  boys  of  the 
community.  He  used,  also,  to  go  to  Yellow 
Creek  for  a  bushel  of  salt,  for  which  he  paid 
the  moderate  sum  of  <  ii/hf  i/ollon^.  It  wasn't 
the  day  of  war  prices,  either,  but  the  times 
which  "  stirred  men's  souls,"  or  their  industry 
and  energy,  to  enable  them  to  make  a  living. 
Jasper  Daniels,  John  Byers,  Jacob  Thoman 
and  John  Augustine  came  into  the  township 
in  1809,  and  made  settlements.  Augustine  is 
represented  as  a  prominent  citizen,  who  was 
well  known  throughout  the  county,  and  one 
who  possessed  energy  and  enterprise,  which  was 
zealously  used  for  the  improvement  and  de- 
velopment of  the  community  in  which  he  live<l. 
He  served  as  SherilT  of  the  county  for  two 
terms— from  18:^0  to  182-1— and  State  Senator 
eight  years  in  succession — from  1824  to  1832 
Conrad  Ilenning  came  to  Paris  Township  in 
1811.  He  was  from  Pennsylvania,  and  upon 
his  removal  to  this  place,  he  bought  of  Mr. 
Bair  100  acres  of  laud  in  the  southwest  quarter 
of  Section  4,  for  which  he  paid  $200.  He  and 
his  good  wife  proved  very  inqKjrtant  personages 
in  tlie  little  community — he  as  the  first  black- 
smith, and  she  as  a  midwife.  In  this  branch  of 
medical  practice  she  was  eminently  successful, 
it  is  said,  as  during  a  period  of  thirty  years  or 
more,   in  which  she  attended  more  than  five 


li£ 


504 


lilSTOliY   OF    STARK    COUiXTY. 


hundred  cases,  she  never  lost  a  single  patient 
nor  called  in  medical  assistance. 

In  addition  to  the  pioneers  of  Paris  Townsliip 
already  named,  the  following  parties  rank 
among  the  early  settlers  :  John  and  Zadock 
Welker;  Peter  Musser,  who  was  a  great  fighter 
and  neighliorhood  bully;  John  and  William 
Mclnderfer.  Adam  Shiill.  John  Thomas,  George 
Crowl.  two  men  of  tlie  name  of  Fulton  and 
Scovey,  Michael  Stonehill,  Daniel  Shively,  Sam- 
uel Neidigh,  John  Cameron,  Vance,  and  Pipher, 
and  Jacob  Ha3man.  The  following  incident  is 
related  of  Hayman :  He  was  returning  home 
one  evening  from  a  house-raising,  when  he  met 
with  a  bear  that  had  been  wounded  liy  a  rille 
shot.  His  courage,  stimulated  by  the  whisky 
he  liad  drank  at  the  raising,  and  armed  with  an 
ax,  he  gave  Bruin  battle,  under  the  determina- 
tiorf  of  taking  his  scalp  home,  as  a  trophy  to 
his  frau.  Advancing  upon  the  bear,  with  his 
ax  uplifted,  intending  to  cleave  his  skull,  his 
arm  was  rather  unsteady,  and  the  blow  proved 
ineffectual.  Bruin  concluded  to  take  a  hand  in 
the  melee,  and  grappled  with  Ha\man,  who, 
before  he  could  extricate  himself  from  the 
clutches  of  the  bear,  had  nearly  all  his  clothes 
torn  ofl',  and  was  severely  wounded.  When  he 
did  succeed  iu  getting  away,  he  discovered  that 
his  desire  to  carry  him  home  as  a  trophy  had 
vanished,  and  that  he  felt  like  giving  him  a 
wide  berth.  Of  the  other  settlers  mentioned, 
little  niaj-  be  said,  beyond  the  fact  that  they 
moved  into  the  township,  entered  land,  and 
opened  up  farms.  Most,  if  not  all,  the  settlers 
mentioned  came  in  previous  to  the  war  of  1812. 
After  the  close  of  the  war,  and  the  establish- 
ment of  peace,  an  influx  of  immigration  set  in- 
to this  section  of  the  State,  and  people  poured 
into  Paris  Township  so  rapidly  that  it  is  impos- 
sible to  keep  trace  of  them,  or  to  notice,  indi- 
vidually, the  settlement  of  each  family. 

The  day  of  the  pioneer  is  gone — the  period 
in  which  he  lived  has  passed  away.  A  local 
writer,  moralizing  on  his  day  and  generation, 
thus  speaks  of  him  :  "  We  may  now  regard 
him  as  a  soldier  in  the  cause  of  human  advance- 
ment, whose  battles  have  been  fought  and  won, 
and  he  may  well  look  back  in  surprise  at  the 
wonderful  social  and  material  results  that  have 
followed  in  his  wake.  The  shifting  sands  of 
time  have  covered  his  footsteps,  but  the  solid 
and  substantial  foundation  laid  by  the  pioneer 
for  the  social  structure  of  the  West  will  endure." 


Modern  inventions  have  followed  the  old-time 
implements  and  tools  used  by  the  pioneer  fifty 
or  seventy-five  years  ago — ux  wagons,  wooden 
plows,  the  '•  reap-hook,"  the  scathe  and  cradle, 
wooden-tooth  harrows,  and  all  such  antique 
utensils,  have,  in  the  slang  of  the  period, 
"played  out,"  and  in  their  stead  the  farmer  has 
plows  that  will  almost  turn  the  soil  without  any 
motive  power  ;  reapers  that  cut  and  bind  the 
grain  as  they  go,  and  in  place  of  the  patient  ox 
and  lumbering  wagon,  they  have  the  locomotive 
engine  and  the  rushing  railroad  train.  As  we 
contemplate  these  gigantic  strides  in  the  march 
of  impi'ovement  and  progress,  what  may  we 
not  expect  in  the  next  fifty  years  to  come?  Is 
it  not  possible  that  we  shall  then  fly  through 
the  air  in  our  pleasure  cars,  as  we  now  fly  over 
the  country-  at  the  heels  of  the  iron  horse  ? 

During  the  earh"  years  of  the  settlement  in 
Paris  Township  the  inhabitants  were  compelled 
to  make  extensive  journeys  to  get  their  grain 
ground.  To  go  twenty  or  thirty  miles  through 
unbroken  forests  was  no  small  undertaking, 
and  as  each  grist  was  ground  in  the  order  of 
its  reception  at  the  mill,  the  trip  often  con- 
sumed days  of  valuable  time.  These  disad- 
vantages and  inconveniences  originated  many 
"  wajs  and  means "  of  providing  meal  for 
family  use.  It  is  said  that  •'  neeessitj-  is  the 
mother  of  invention,"  and  the  straits  in  which 
the  pioneer  often  found  himself  led  to  many- 
rude  modes  and  expedients  to  enable  him  to  get 
along  at  all.  One  of  his  inventions  was  the 
'•  stump  mortar, '  which  was  made  b3'  burning 
a  cavity  in  the  top  of  a  stump.  A  spring  pole 
was  then  arranged,  to  the  end  of  which  the 
pestle  was  attached,  when  the  mechanism  of 
the  primitive  •  flouring  establishment "  was 
complete.  The  unfortunate  individual  who 
furnished  the  motive  power  for  this  rude  ap- 
pliance realized  the  Scriptural  injunction,  '•  In 
the  sweat  of  thy  face  shalt  thou  eat  bread." 
Other  modes  resorted  to  were  the  cofl'ee-mill 
and  the  grater.  At  last,  when  a  little  mill  was 
built  in  Osnaburg  by  Jacob  Kitt,  which  was 
operated  by  oxen  on  a  '■  tread  wheel,"  it  was 
considered  a  great  benefit  to  the  community, 
and  Kitt  as  a  benefactor  of  his  kind.  The  first 
grist-mill  built  in  what  is  now  the  township  of 
Paris  was  built  by  Rudolph  Bair,  on  Black 
Stream,  about  the  year  1814-15.  It  was  a 
two-story  frame  building,  with  two  run  of 
buhrs.     The  history  of  this  mill  is  somewhat 


■^ 


t^qji'-v— 


PAH  IS    TOWNSHIP. 


tht^ 


eventful.  It  passed  int<^)  possession  of  Daniel 
IJair.  upon  tlie  death  of  his  father,  and  at  his 
death  to  Benjamin  Koop,  who  sold  it  to  John 
P.  Myers.  The  water  supply,  never  verj-  strong, 
finally  failed,  and  the  mill  was  ai)andoned  and 
a  steam  mill  erected  near  by.  which  a  few  years 
later  was  sold  by  Myers  to  a  man  named 
Oreiner,  who  eventually  removed  it  to  Stras- 
burg.  Bair  also  built  a  saw-mill  on  Black 
Stream,  a  few  j-ears  before  erecting  the  mill 
just  described.  A  grist-mill  and  saw-mill  were 
built  in  1.S20,  by  John  Whiteacre,  which  were 
for  years  known  as  the  "  Whiteacre  Mills."  He 
also  kept  a  distillery  in  connection,  which  fur- 
nished fighting  whisky  to  the  surrounding 
population.  Other  mills  were  built  in  adjoin- 
ing neighborhoods,  and  the  troulde  of  the  early 
settler  in  this  direction  was  forever  removed. 
Peter  Oyster  opened  a  tanyard,  the  first  in  the 
township.  It  was  a  small  affair,  but  found  of 
considerable  convenience  to  the  community  at 
that  early  day. 

Paris  Township  has  excellent  railroad  com- 
munication, as  it  is  tapped  b}'  two  already  com- 
pleted lines,  with  a  flattering  prospect  of 
another.  The  roads,  which  are  mentioned  in 
the  opening  of  this  chapter,  have  l)een  of  great 
benefit  to  the  township,  and  brings  the  best 
markets  of  the  country  to  the  vcrj*  doors  of 
the  people.  The  old  Sandy  and  Beaver  Canal 
also  passed  through  Paris.  It  was  built  during 
the  great  "internal  improvement  '  fever,  and 
extended  from  (ilasgow.  on  the  Ohio  River,  to 
Bolivar,  in  Tuscarawas  County,  and  on  the 
Ohio  Canal.  It  was  abandoned  some  thirty 
years  ago,  but  still  remains  as  a  part  of  the 
drainage  system  of  the  country  through  which 
it  passes. 

Much  of  the  early  history  of  Paris  Township 
is  very  closelv  connected  with  the  little  village 
of  Paris,  laid  out  in  an  early  da\',  and  will  be 
given  under  that  head.  The  first  religious 
meetings  were  held  then;  and  the  first  church 
organized  there,  also  the  first  store  and  first 
post  ottice  were  kept  within  its  limits,  together 
with  many  other  items  of  interest  that  occurred 
in  that  immediate  vicinity,  which  will  be  men- 
tioned in  their  places. 

As  stated  in  the  begiiming  of  this  chapter, 
Paris  Township  was  originally  a  part  of  Osna- 
burg.  It  was  organized  into  an  independent 
township,  on  the  1st  of  April,  1818,  At  a 
meeting   of  the   Countv    Commissioners,    who 


were  then  composed  of  John  Sluss,  William 
Alban  and  John  Saxton.  held  on  that  day,  the 
records  show  that  '•  Rudolph  Bair  presented  a 
petition  for  the  incorporation  of  a  new  town- 
ship, by  the  name  of  •  Paris.'  now  a  part  of  Os- 
nabnrg.  signed  by  himself  and  otiiers,  and  that 
the  election  of  township  otlicers  be  held  on  the 
list  inst..  at  the  town  of  Paris,  in  said  town- 
ship." At  the  election  referred  to.  Thomas 
Dewcese  and  Samuel  Bosserman  were  elected 
Justices  of  the  Peace.  The  following  incident 
is  related  of  Bosserman.  one  of  those  early 
representatives  of  the  law.  He  accepted  his 
commission  with  considerable  misgiving  as  to 
his  ability  to  discharge  the  duties,  and  his  first 
case,  it  is  said,  so  •  befuddled  '  his  mind  that 
he  resigned  the  otlice  in  disgust.  As  no  one 
else  could  be  found  in  the  township  willing  to 
accept  it,  Daniel  Burgert.  a  resident  of  Osna- 
burg  Township,  agreed  to  remove  into  Paris  on 
condition  that  thev  would  elect  him,  which 
agreoniPMt  was  faitlifnlly  carried  out,  and  Mr. 
Burgert  clothed  formally  with  the  dignity  of 
office.  As  the  early  records  of  the  township 
are  destroyed,  any  further  roster  of  the  early 
officers  is  not  to  be  obtained.  I'revious  to  the 
formation  of  Paris  Township,  its  (Mtizens  voted 
at  Osnaburg,  but  this  movement  brought  the 
war  into  Africa,  or,  in  other  words,  gave  them 
a  voting  place  of  their  own.  The  township  has 
furnished  its  quota  of  talent  for  engineering 
the  aflairs  of  the  county.  Its  first  public  ser- 
vant was  (ren.  John  Augustine,  who  was  elected 
Sherifl'in  1820  and  served  until  1824,  when  he 
was  elected,  to  the  State  Senate,  in  which  body 
he  served  eight  years.  Rudolplius  Martin 
served  as  a  IJepresentative  one  term  ;  Arnold 
Lynch,  RccoriUa-  three  terms,  from  18H7  to 
18-13  ;  Isaiah  Kstep,  (Jommissioner  one  term, 
and  John  W,  Oreenwood  was  appointed  Asso- 
ciate Judge  of  Common  Pleas  Court,  in  1812, 
serving  seven  years.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that 
Paris  has  furnished  some  of  the  brains  of  the 
county,  as  well  as  a  good  deal  of  the  l)one  and 
sinew. 

Of  the  first  births,  deaths  and  marriages,  wc 
have  hut  little  record  or  data  from  which  to 
glean  information,  Thomas  Deweese,  Jr.,  a  son 
of  one  of  the  early  settlers,  was  born  in  Feb 
ruary,  1808,  and  is  supposed  to  have  been 
the  first-born  of  what  is  now  Paris  Townshi)). 
The  cabin  in  which  his  father's  family  then 
lived     was   neither    'chinked"   nor  "daulicd," 


5  6 


HISTORY  OF    STAKK    COUNTY. 


noi-  had  it  any  floor,  except  mother  Earth.  Such 
were  some  of  the  hardships  of  pioneer  lite. 
The  flrst  couple  to  embark  in  a  matrimonial 
venture  was  John  Bair  and  Catharine  Henning. 
Since  the  soleranizatioii  of  their  nuptials,  man}' 
have  gone  and  done  likewise.  Of  the  flrst 
death  we  were  unable  to  obtain  any  informa- 
tion. 

The  flrst  physician  was  Dr.  Robert  Estep, 
who  came  from  Pennsylvania,  and  settled  in 
Paris  in  181S.  The  following  is  related  of 
him  :  -  He  had  served  an  apprenticeship  as  a 
silversmith,  but  soon  abandoned  the  business, 
for  the  study  of  medicine,  for  which  he  exhib- 
ited more  than  ordinary  aptitude.  Thrown 
upon  liis  own  resources  for  pecuniary  aid.  he 
was  uual)le  to  attend  medical  lecturer,  but,  lilce 
the  majority  of  practitioners  of  that  day,  in 
the  West,  set  up  in  the  business  without  having 
obtained  the  decree  of  M.  D.  He  very  soon 
aequii-ed  quite  a  reputation,  not  only  as  a  suc- 
cessful practitioner,  but  as  a  bold  and  skillful 
operator  in  surgery.  Twice  he  perfi^rmctl  the 
Cesarean  section,  the  only  physician  in  the 
county  who  ever  attempted  tlie  operation.  He 
left  in  1834,  removing  to  Canton,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Dr.  Preston. 

Conrad  Henning  was  the  first  blacksmith  in 
tlie  township,  and  was  here  as  early  as  1811. 
For  several  years  be  did  all  the  work  in  this 
line  for  the  entire  communitj-. 

During  the  war  of  1812,  many  of  the  al)lc- 
Iwdied  male  citizens  of  Paris  volunteered,  or 
were  drafted  into  the  service.  Among  them  were 
Samuel  and  Jacob  Thoraan,  and  Jacob  Augus- 
tine. While  Augustine  was  at  Detroit,  there 
was  a  call  for  volunteers  to  go  on  a  perilous 
expedition  to  Mackinaw,  and  he  was  the  first  to 
offer  his  services.  He  assisted  in  building  the 
fort  at  that  place,  and  was  in  an  engagement 
with  the  English  forces,  August  14, 1814,  under 
Col.  (Jolgrove.  His  immediate  commander  was 
Maj.  Holler,  of  Columbiana  County.*  These 
citizen  soldiers  participated  in  many  of  the 
battles  of  the  war.  and,  in  all,  acquitted 
themselves  with  credit.  The  township  has 
always  lieen  patriotic  to  the  core.  Tn  the  great 
rebellion  its  record  is  glorious,  and  worthy 
the  great  State,  of  which  it  is  a  part.  During 
the  existence  of  the  old  Militia  Law  of  the 
State  all  able-bodied  men  between  the  ages  of 
eighteen  and  forty-five,  were  compelled  to  turn 

*  Canton  Dem"crnl. 


out  on  certain  days  to  "  muster."  Paris  sup- 
ported a  fine  company  of  this  '•  cornstalk " 
militia,  who  always  participated  in  the  gen- 
eral musters,  and  received  many  merited  com- 
pliments for  their  fine  appearance  and  ex- 
cellent discipline.  Their  officers  were  John 
Unkefer,  Captain  ;  David  Unkefer,  Lieutenant, 
and  John  Henning,  Ensign. 

The  cause  of  education  received  the  atten- 
tion of  the  people  of  Paris  in  an  earl}-  period 
of  its  history.  The  first  school  in  the  town- 
ship of  which  we  have  any  account,  was  taught 
in  the  winter  of  1810-11,  by  Thomas  Deweese, 
in  a  log  house  of  Jasper  Daniel's,  his  father- 
in-law.  The  next  school  was  taught  by  Con- 
rad Henning.  in  a  building  put  up  especially 
for  school  purposes,  and  was  the  flrst  temple 
of  learning  erected  in  the  township.  It  stood 
on  Section  4,  on  land  owned  by  Jacob  Motts, 
and  was  of  the  regular  pioneer  pattern,  viz., 
log  structure,  clap-board  roof,  stick  chimney, 
puncheon  or  slab  floor,  greased-paper  windows, 
etc.,  etc.  Rapid  strides  have  been  made  in  ad- 
vancing the  cause  of  learning  in  the  last  flfty 
or  sixty  years,  as  the  following  statistics  from 
the  Board  of  Education  will  show  : 

Balance  on  hand  Septemljor  1. 

187'J 1943  54 

State  Tax 687  00 

Irreducible  fund 135  76 

Local  ta.v  for  school  and  school- 

house  |)ur|io.scs 2,111  53 

Total    .|3,877  31 

Amount  paifl  teachers $1,810.00 

Fuel  and  other  contingent  ex- 
penses           485. 7'i 

Total  expenditures |2,295  72 

Balance  on  hand  September  1,1880  $1,581  59 

Number  of  schoolhouses  in  the  township  8 

Value  of  school  property .f  6,700  00 

Number  of  teachers  employed — Males.  10; 

Females  7 17 

Avera'ac  wairi-s  paid  teachers— Males |38  00 

Avrr.iur  wiiLTrs  ]iaid  teachers — Females.  .  18  00 
Nunilin    ..I    iHipils  enrolled — Males,   100; 

F.-iii;ilrs,  IS7 377 

Averaiiv  iiioiitlily  enrollment— Males,  128; 

Females.  142 270 

Average    daily    attendance — Males,    97; 

Females. '104 201 

The  following  incident,  which  occurred  in 
this  township,  may  be  read  with  some  inter- 
est, and  is  from  a  communication  recently  pub- 
lished in  the  Canton  Repoaitorij:     "A  very  sin- 


PARIS    TOWNSHIP. 


507 


gular  circumstance  occurred  in  Paris  Township 
not  man}'  years  ago.  tliat  should  be  mentioned. 
.Mr.  Carr  and  wife,  of  Wa3ne  County,  were 
traveling  in  a  one-horse  buggy,  east  on  the 
State  Koad.  It  was  in  summer,  and  on  a  still 
day  ;  not  a  breath  of  air  stirring.  A  short  dis- 
tance beyond  the  town  of  Paris,  as  they  were 
passing  a  dead  tree  standing  by  the  roadside, 
it  fell,  without  warning,  directly  across  the 
buggy,  crushing  the  vehicle  and  both  occupants 
lo  the  earth,  killing  them  instantlj'.  The  horse 
l)r<)ke  away,  was  caught  by  a  neighbor  who 
happened  to  be  on  the  road,  taken  back,  and 
the  couple  found  as  described  ;  though  yet 
warm,  there  were  no  signs  of  life.  A  sad  end- 
ing of  an  anticipated  pleasure  trip.  The  mel- 
ancholy event  created  quite  a  sensation  in  the 
neighborhood,  and  was  the  subject  of  comment 
and  speculation  for  a  long  time  after."  In  the 
■  midst  of  life  we  are  in  death,''  and  the  ways 
of  Provuience  are  inscrutable. 

The  township  of  I'aris  is  well  supplied  with 
villages,  but  all  of  them  put  together  would 
scarcely  make  a  respectable  town  in  point  of 
population.  The  village  of  Paris  was  the  first 
projected  city,  and  dates  its  origin  back  only 
xi.tty-nglit  years.  It  is  located  on  the  north- 
cast  corner  of  Section  8,  and  is  supposed  to 
have  been  laid  out  by  Rudolph  Bair,  December 
22.  1813.  It  was  surveyed  and  duly  platted  b\- 
Daniel  L.  McClure,  July  1,  18113,  and  recorded 
in  the  Recorder's  ollice  the  September  follow- 
ing. The  State  road  passed  through  it,  or  by 
it,  which  gave  it  considerable  prominence,  as  that 
road  was  then  the  great  thoroughfare  of  travel 
through  the  country.  The  stages  that  ran  over 
the  State  road  changed  horses  here,  which  further 
contributed  to  its  notoriety.  The  first  tavern  in 
the  place  was  kept  bj'one  JohnUnkefer,  who  is 
1  described  as  a  jolly,  good  fellow,  and  as  belong- 
I  ing  to  that  class  of  landlords  who  could  spin  a 
I  good  yarn  and  furnish  a  square  meal,  which 
gave  his  house,  as  well  as  the  town,  a  wide- 
spread reputation.  He  kept  the  stage  stand, 
and  while  the  horses  were  being  changed,  the 
passengers  were  fed  by  the  hospitable  landlord. 
.\bout  stage  time,  everybody-  gathered  around 
the  door  of  the  old  log  tavern  to  see  the  stage 
come  in,  just  as  the  boys  of  the  present  day 
gather  at  the  railroad  depot  at  train  time  to 
disgust  decent  people,  in  trying  to  see  who  can 
swear  the  biggest  oaths,  chew  the  most  tobacco, 
squirt   the  greatest  quantity  of  tobacco  juice 


anil  use  the  most  ol)sceue  language.  As  the 
stage  rattled  up  with  the  "  blowing  of  the  horn 
and  the  prancing  of  the  steeds, '  the  people 
stood  round,  open-mouthed,  read3'  to  pick  up 
any  stray  scrap  of  news  from  the  outside  world. 
The  first  store  in  the  town  was  kept  by  Samuel 
Putnam.  His  stock  would,  at  the  present 
time,  be  considered  rather  limited,  but  the 
wants  of  the  people  were  confined  to  a  few 
actual  necessaries.  Had  their  desires  extended 
beyond  this,  they  had  not  the  means  to  indulge 
them,  as  money  was  scarce  and  not  easily  at- 
tainable. I'utnam  finally  sold  his  stock  and 
good-will  to  Robert  Alexander.  A  man  named 
Daniel  Burgert,  mentioned  elsewhere  as  one 
of  the  early  Justices  of  the  Peace,  engaged 
next  in  the  mercantile  business.  lie  carried  on 
an  extensive  traile  and  did  a  considerable  busi- 
ness, dealing  largely  in  horses  and  cattle.  He 
was  the  first  Postmaster  of  the  town,  and  as 
such  was  commissioned  August  12,  1822.  The 
fate  of  Mr.  Burgert  was  involved  in  some  mys- 
tery, and  is  thus  related  by  those  who  are 
familiar  with  the  circumstances:  "It  was  in 
1833,  that,  having  some  business  in  Steuben- 
ville,  he  started  to  go  there  on  horseback. 
The  next  morning,  after  leaving  home,  he  was 
found  dead  in  a  saw-mill  race  in  Jefl'erson 
County.  The  supposition  of  many  was,  that 
during  the  night,  which  was  very  dark,  he  had 
mistaken  the  mill  for  the  bridge,  and  was  killed 
in  falling  off.  By  others,  he  was  believed  to 
have  been  robbed  and  murderetl,  as  it  was  well- 
known  that  he  frequently  carried  large  sums  of 
money  on  his  person.  The  mystery  remains 
unsolved  to  the  present  day." 

After  the  laying-out  of  Paris  by  Mr.  Bair,  his 
next  move  was  to  lind  a  name  worthy  of  the 
town  whose  foundation  he  had  just  laid.  He 
chose  the  name  of  I'aris,  but  wherefore,  we  are 
unable  to  saj-  ;  whether  it  was  for  Paris,  the 
son  of  Priam,  who.se  judgment  on  Mount  Ida, 
in  favor  of  the  beauty  of  \'enus,  obtained  for 
him  the  promise  of  Helen,  whom  he  afterward 
carried  oft'  from  the  house  of  her  husband, 
thereby  involving  Troy  in  tlames,  or  whether 
for  Paris,  the  beautiful  city  of  the  plain,  the 
great  metropolis  of  the  fashionable  world,  or 
whether  in  the  •■  eternal  fitness  of  things''  all 
objects  must  have  a  name,  is  now  unknown  and 
of  little  moment  to  the  reader.  It  was  chris- 
tened Paris,  and  by  that  name  it  is  still  called. 
Shortly  after  the  town  was  jilatted,  Bair  donated 


JiJ^ 


508 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


two  acres  of  land  within  its  limits  to  the  Ger- 
man Reformed  and  Lutheran  Congregations  for 
a  church  and  cemetery.  Upon  this  lot  a  log  build- 
ing was  erected  at  a  very  early  day,  and  used 
both  as  a  schoolhouse  and  a  church,  and  in  it 
John  Augustine  taught  the  first  school.  Among 
the  first  ministers  who  preached  in  it  were  the 
Revs.  Mahuesmith  and  ITewett,  who  were  itin- 
erants. Revs.  Weir  and  Faust,  from  Canton, 
were  the  first  regular  preachers.  A  cemetery 
was  laid  out  adjoining  the  church,  in  which  a 
child  of  Robert  Stewart  was  the  first  burial. 
The  old  log  church  lias  been  replaced  by  one 
in  keeping  with  the  time,  and  the  cemeter}'  has 
become  rather  densely  populated.  The  Presby- 
terian denomination  occupy  the  Lutheran 
Church,  and  the  Methodists  have  a  church  of 
their  own,  which  was  built  in  1873.  The  pres- 
ent business  outlook  of  Paris  is  two  dry  goods 
stores,  one  drug  store,  one  provision  store,  two 
hotels,  one  wagon  and  carriage  factory,  one 
wagon  ta<  tory,  two  paint  shops,  two  harness 
shops,  three  boot  and  shoe  shops,  two  black- 
smith sliops,  one  meat  market,  one  planing  mill 
(built  in  1880),  one  saw  mill,  one  grist  mill,  one 
vinegar  factory,  etc.,  etc. 

Minerva  is  the  largest  village  in  the  town- 
ship. It  is  in  the  southeast  corner,  on  Section 
36,  and  lies  about  one-third  in  Carroll  County. 
It  has  communication  with  the  outside  world 
by  means  of  the  Tuscarawas  Branch  of  the 
Cleveland  ct  Pittsburgh  Railroad,  and  the  Con- 
notten  Valley  Narrow-(}auge  Railroad  ;  it  also 
has  the  benefit  (?)  of  a  projected  road,  known  as 
the  "  Steubenville,  Canton  &  Cleveland  Rail- 
road." The  piaee  has  a  fine  water-power  in  the 
Sandy  River  or  Creek,  and  the  old  Sandy  & 
Beaver  Canal,  which  is,  to  some  extent,  utilized 
by  mills  and  other  industries  of  the  village. 
Minerva  was  laid  out  about  the  year  1835,  by 
John  Pool  and  John  Whiteacre,  who,  to  give  it 
prominence,  perhaps,  and  to  make  it  a  success- 
ful competitor  of  Paris,  which  had  already  been 
booming  for  several  years,  called  it  by  the  clas- 
sical name  of  Minerva,  the  daughter  of  Jupiter, 
who,  it  is  said,  sprung  from  his  brain  "  fully 
armed  and  equipped."  just  after  he  (Jupiter)  had 
swallowed  his  frau,  Metis.  Minerva  was  the 
goddess  of  wisdom  and  the  patron  saint  of  lit- 
erature ;  and  in  this  respect,  her  namesake  on 
the  banks  of  the  raging  Sand}'  very  closelj'  re- 
semliles  her.  as  evidenced  by  their  support  of 
the  history  of  Stark  County. 


The  first  house  erected  in  the  village  was 
built  by  John  Whiteacre,  about  the  time  the 
town  was  laid  out.  He  erected  a  grist  mill  in 
1830,  which  received  its  motive  power  from  the 
Sandy  Creek,  and  was  the  first  mill  in  the  vil- 
lage. The  first  store  was  kept  b3'  a  man  named 
Tabor,  who  opened  a  small  stock  of  goods 
about  1836.  He  was  followed  by  John  Christ- 
mas and  John  Pool,  who  managed  the  mercan- 
tile business  for  some  time.  Bennett  Perdue 
built  a  house  in  1835,  in  which  he  began  keep- 
ing tavern,  and  for  several  years  it  was  the  only 
public  house  in  the  place.  A  post  office  was 
established  February  8,  1828,  and  John  Pool 
was  commissioned  as  Postmaster. 

The  Disciples,  or  Christians,  organized  the 
first  church  in  the  village  of  Minerva,  and 
erected  the  first  churcii  building,  but  at  wiiat 
precise  date  we  were  unable  to  learn.  It  still 
retains  the  strongest  membership  of  either  of 
the  four  churches  in  the  village.  Besides  this 
church,  the  Presbyterians,  Methodists  and  Luth- 
erans have  organized  societies,  and  each  have 
a  good,  comfortable  temple  of  worship.  They 
are  all  supplied  by  able  pastors,  are  well  sup- 
ported, and  have  large  membership  and  flour- 
ishing Sunday  schools.  The  Masons  organized 
a  lodge  years  ago,  as  Brown  Lodge,  No.  235, 
but,  from  some  cause,  interest  in  it  waned  to 
such  an  extent,  that  in  the  summer  of  1880,  it 
suspended  work,  and  its  charter  was  returned 
to  the  Crand  Lodge.  The  Odd  Fellows,  too, 
had  a  lodge  here  at  one  time,  but  it  has  also 
become  extinct.  The  school  building  of  Mi- 
nerva, which  is  a  large  and  commodious  edifice, 
is  located  in  that  part  of  the  town  lying  in  Car- 
roll Count}'.  It  forms  a  special  district,  and 
the  school  is  graded,  a  movement  which  was 
accomplished  in  1879,  through  the  exertions  of 
the  present  able  Principal  and  Superintendent, 
Prof.  S.  D.  Cameron.  The  teachers,  besides 
Prof.  Cameron,  ^e  S.  D.  Sanor,  Eva  H.  F'erdue 
an«(  Lizzie  M.  Bforrison. 

The  Minerv^Tnion  Agricultural  Fair  Asso- 
ciation has  its  founds  here.  An  annual  fair  is 
held,  and  occasionally  a  horse  fair  in  the  early 
summer.  This  interest,  however,  is  fully  given 
in  the  chapter  on  geology  and  agriculture. 
Since  the  town  sprang  into  existence,  it  has 
enjoyed  the  luxur}-  of  several  newspapers  at 
different  periods,  which  were  established  and 
flourished,  some  of  them,  but  for  a  brief  while, 
and  then  passed  awaj'  "among  the  things  that 


iMj^tayyi.    ^Qik/ycy^T 


PARIS   TOWNSHIP. 


509 


were."  The  last  venture  in  the  '-art  preserva- 
tive" is  the  Minerva  Mmiitor.  which  issued  its 
initial  number  May  20.  1881.  and  is  edited  and 
published  by  l>.  B.  Sherwood.  It  is  a  four-page 
paper,  with  eight  coluuius  to  a  page,  and  is  well 
tilled  with  reading  matter,  and  a  good  display 
of  advertisements.  It  should  receive  the  hearty 
supjiort  of  the  citizens  of  .Minerva  and  the  sur- 
roiuKling  country.  The  first  paper  in  Minerva, 
was  established  by  William  Morris,  but  did  not 
last  long.  This  was  followed  by  the  Minerva 
r,mm<',xM.  established  in  18(i!),'by  R.  K.  Wat- 
son. In  March,  1872.  the  Weaver  Brothers 
liecame  the  proprietors,  and  in  1^77  the  paper 
was  discontinued.  From  this  time  the  village 
was  without  a  paper  until  the  recent  establish- 
ing of  the  Monitor. 

The  commercial  and  social  interests  of  Mi- 
nerva, as  mirrored  at  present,  show  the  follow- 
ing cast:  A  large  flouring  mill,  owned  and 
operated  by  Davis  Brothers;  a  planing  mill, 
by  T.  D.  Yost;  car-shops  (a  private  enterprise), 
carried  on  by  Pennock  Brothers,  doing  a  large 
and  profitable  business ;  general  repair  shops, 
by  A.  B.  CUaffey  &  Co.;  four  general  stores; 
two  millinery  stores  ;  two  drug  stores ;  two 
hardware  stores  ;  one  jewelry  store  ;  one  furni- 
ture store;  one  bank ;  a  schoolhouse ;  four 
churches  ;  a  post  office  ;  one  newspaper  and 
four  hotels.  Mr.  (1.  F.  Yengling,  a  prominent 
business  man.  is  putting  up  quite  an  elegant 
little  opera  house,  and  several  other  business 


blocks  are  in  the  course  of  construction,  which 
will  add  materially  to  the  attractiveness  of  the 
town. 

Kobertsville,  or  Robaidsville,  was  laid  out  in 
1842.  It  is  situated  on  Section  19,  and  has  the 
ath'antage  of  Black  Stream  as  a  "  water  high- 
way," and  the  Connotton  Valley  Railway,  which 
passes  through.  It  was  laid  out  by  Joseph 
Kobard,  a  Freiiehman,  who  bought  the  land 
upon  which  it  stands,  from  Samuel  Rhodes,  an 
early  settler  in  the  vicinity.  Samuel  Young 
kept  the  first  tavern  in  the  place.  A  post  otfice 
was  established  in  December.  1862,  and  Peter 
.\dolph  commissioned  as  Postmaster,  There 
are  two  churches  in  the  village,  Catholic  and 
Reformed,  The  former  was  built  some  twenty 
years  ago,  and  the  latter  about  1875-76,  The 
business  consists  of  two  dr\'  goods  stores,  one 
gro(^erj'  store,  and  a  number  of  shops,  a  steam 
saw  mill  and  a  planing  mill,  a  churn  manufac- 
tory and  a  schoolhouse,  A  new  schoolhouse 
will  be  built  during  the  present  summer,  1881, 

New  Franklin  is  situated  in  the  northeast 
corner  of  Section  12,  and  has  never  been  regu- 
larly laid  out  as  a  t(jwn.  It  consists  of  a  small 
collection  of  houses,  and  has  a  Methodist 
Church,  and  a  Lutheran  Church  and  cemetery, 
a  schoolhouse  and  a  store,  with  the  usual  com- 
plement of  shops  of  different  kinds,  generally 
found  in  a  hamlet  of  its  proportions,  A  post 
office  was  established  in  February,  1882,  with 
Jesse  Shoard  as  Postmaster. 


^ 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUXTY. 


CHAPTER     XXIV.* 

TUSCAKAWAS  TOWNSHIl'-- DESCRIPTION  AND  BOUNDARIES —  TH  K    ROLL    OF    EARLV  SETTLHRS  — 

FIRST  CENSUS— SCHOOLS  AND  EARLY  TEACHERS— CIIUK(IIES— THE 

FOE    FAMILY  — POST    OFFICES.    ETC. 


ON  the  tifth  day  of  March,  1810,  the  Com- 
missioners of  Stark  made  the  following 
entry  on  their  jonrnal  :  "  On  the  petition  of 
sundrj-  inhabitants  of  that  part  of  Canton  and 
Plain  Townships  lying  west  of  the  Tnscarawas 
River,  was  organized  into  a  township  called 
Tuscarawas,  and  it  was  ordered,  that  the  first 
election  be  held  on  the  first  Monday  of  April, 
1810."  The  limits  of  the  township,  as  do  those 
of  all  the  other  townships  south  of  the  Western 

1  Reserve,  include  thirty-six  sections  of  G40  acres 
each,  or  23,040  acres  each,  and  it  maj-  be  well 

j   said  of  the  township  that  for  mineral  and  agri- 

1   cultural  re-sourees.   it  has   no  superior  in  the 

I   county. 

Following  in  the  wake  of  the  ■■  New  Pur- 
chase," as  the  territory  west  of  the  Tuscarawas 
Branch  of  the  Muskingum  was  called,   immi- 

j  gration  commenced  into  that  territory  in  1807. 
The  surveys  were  commenced  in  that  year,  and 

I  concluded  l)y  William  Henry.  Joseph  H. 
Larwill,  John  Larwill  and  John  Harris.  Among 
the  first  lands  entered  in  the  township,  was 
Section  10  ;  this  was  entered  by  John  Barr, 
and  by  him  sold  to  Jacol)  Bowman,  Esq..  after- 
ward President  of  the  Monongahela  Bank  of 
Brownsville,  Penn.,  and  by  his  heirs,  or  the  im- 
mediate grantees  of  his  heirs,  to  James  Bajliss, 
Esq.,  and  is  as  fine  a  body  of  land  as  is  in  the 
county.  Having  been  kept  in  an  unbroken 
body  for  years,  it  is  known  all  over  the  town- 
ship as  the  "  Section.'' 

During  the  time  of  the  making  of  the  sur- 
veys on  the  west  side  of  the  Tuscarawas  River, 
settlements  were  made  there  more  rapidly  than 
in  the  west.     That  portion  of  the  county   was 
known  as  a  part  of  Canton  and  Plain,  as   late  j 
as  the  organization  of  the  township,  and  such 
was  the  weight  of  population  that  the  count}'  j 
had  been  entered  but  one  year,  when  the   peo-  ' 
pie  petitioned  for  a  separate  township,  and  ob- 
tained their  organization,  so  as  to  be  included 


'  C.intriluted  l.y  Rubert  H.  Folgei 


in  the  third  census  of  the  United  States,  under 
the  name  of  Tuscarawas  Township,  the  true 
name  being  Tusearora,  as  will  be  seen  by  con- 
sulting the  treaties  by  which  the  territory  was 
obtained,  and  the  works  of  Francis  Parkman, 
Jr.  The  first  permanent  settlement  in  the 
township,  then,  however,  oul}'  known  as  a  part 
of  the  '•  New  Purchase,"  was  made  by  two 
brothers,  Scotch-Irish  Presbyterians,  John  and 
Robert  Warden.  'I'hey  left  their  home  in  Wash- 
ington County,  Penn.,  with  a  cart  and  horse, 
and  rifles,  a  change  of  clothing,  a  filled  straw 
tick  and  blankets  and  rations,  to  be  replenished 
as  time  and  chance  might  enable  them  to  do 
so,  they  had  forded  the  river  where  is  now  tlie 
northern  terminus  of  Clay  street,  Massillon, 
and  reached,  in  their  western  journey  the  .sur- 
veyor's camp,  at  the  spring  on  the  "  Section." 
There  the}'  made  a  permanent  halt,  and  when 
the  land  came  into  market,  entered  the  quarter- 
section  now  owned  and  occupied  by  David  Gib. 
Subsequently',  John  purchased  the  interest  of 
his  brother,  and  lived  many  years  on  that  farm, 
holding  offices  of  trust  and  responsibility  in 
the  township,  and  aiding  in  laying  the  founda- 
tions of  good  order,  for  which  the  township 
has  since  l)een  celebrated. 

The  third  census  of  the  United  States  showed, 
of  old  and  j'oung  in  the  township,  145  inhabi- 
tants, nearly  ever}'  man  in  the  township  being 
the  head  of  a  family.  Their  names  are  here 
given  ;  William  Henry,  Seth  Hunt,  Daniel  Hoy, 
Charles  Hoy,  Stephen  Harris,  John  Patton, 
Isaac  Poe,  William  Byal,  Caspar  Noll,  James 
Eldredge,  Stephen  Eldredge,  Thomas  Eldredge, 
Edward  ( )tis,  Thomas  Chapman,  Henry  Clapper, 
Daniel  Clapper,  John  Clapper,  Adam  Lower, 
Peter  Johnson,  William  Crites,  Adam  tlrounds, 
George  Baystone,  Massum  Metcalf,  Jacob  ]Met- 
calf,  Jeremiah  Atkinson,  Robert  Warden,  John 
Geringer,  Peter  Slusser,  Andrew  Augustine  and 
Robert  Barr.  At  this  date,  1811),  the  entire 
population  of  Stark  and   what  is  now  Wayne 


TUSCARAAVAS    TOWNSHIP. 


Conntj',  was  2.734  ;  Wayne  had  of  th.at  num- 
ber 332.  and  Stark  2,402.  These  facts  arc 
taken  from  the  original  manuscript  census, 
furnished  to  the  writer  bv  the  hue  Hon.  Joscpli 
II.  Larwill.  It  is  proper,  just  here,  to  correct  an 
error  into  whicii  tlie  author  of  Howe's  Histor- 
ical collections  was  inadvertentlj'  led  in  i)repar- 
ing  that  valuable  work. 

On  page  .517.  Mr.  Howe  says  :  •  Wayne  was 
established  by  do  v.  St.  Clair.  August  13, 
1790,'' and  adds:  '■  Its  original  limits  were  very 
extensive."  and  proceeds  to  give  them,  'Tis 
true  that  Uov,  St,  Clair,  by  proclamation,  did 
enact  a  county  called  Wayne,  of  widel}'  ex- 
tended limits,  but  those  limits  were  reduced  b}- 
the  erecting  of  other  counties  by  Gov.  St. 
Clair,  and  the  General  .Vssembly  of  the  State  of 
Ohio,  after  1802,  until  Gov.  St.  Clair's  county 
of  Wayne  was  in  the  Territory  of  Michigan, 
where  it  j-et  remains,  Detroit  being  the  county 
seat.  On  the  organization  of  Stark  County, 
Ohio,  in  1809,  the  act  of  the  General  Assembly 
creating  the  county,  described  certain  territor}^ 
lying  west  of  Stark  County,  but  subject  to  its 
jurisdiction  until  otherwise  ordered,  to  be  called 
the  county  of  Wayne,  In  1812,  the  (Jeneral 
Assembly  of  Ohio  provided  that  that  territory 
should  thenceforth  be  known  as  a  separate  and 
distinct  county,  and  should  be  called  Wajne 
County,  The  correctness  of  this  statement  will 
at  once  be  acknowledged  when  it  is  remem- 
bered that  it  was  not  until  the  year  1805,  by  the 
treaty  of  Fort  Industry  that  the  Indian  title  to 
the  territory  west  of  the  Tuscarawas  Branch  of 
the  Muskingum  was  extinguished,  and  the 
United  States  authorized  to  assert  their  author- 
ity over  any  territorv  west  of  the  Tuscarawas, 
Under  the  order  of  the  Commissioners,  the 
township  was  organized  as  a  political  commu- 
nity, and  it  is  much  to  he  regretted  that  the  rec- 
onls  of  the  earl}-  organization  cannot  be  found. 
The  township  was  settled  rapidly  with  industri- 
ous and  useful  inhabitants.  They  realized  that 
'■  schools  and  the  means  of  instruction  were 
essential  to  good  ^vernment. "  and  accordingly 
churches  and  schoolhouses  were  erected  in  every 
neighborhood,  or  religious  exercises  were  held 
in  private  houses. 

From  the  best  information  that  can  be  had, 
the  first  election  in  the  township  was  held  on 
Monday,  April  1,  1810.  at  the  house  of  William 
Henry,  at  which  William  Henry  and  Daniel 
Hov  were  elected  Justices  of  the  I'cacc  :    Ste- 


phen Harris,  Daniel  Hoy  and  Peter  Slusser, 
Trustees ;  Thomas  (Jhapman  and  Henry  Clap- 
per, Supervisors  of  Highways;  Adam  Lower 
and  William  Crites,  Fence  \'iewers  ;  Andrew 
Augustine,  House  Appraiser  ;  William  Henr\-, 
Treasurer  ;  Stephen  Harris,  Constable  ;  Peter 
Johnson,  Township  Clerk, 

At  this  time  the  township  embraced  a  large 
amount  of  territory  in  fractional  sections  adjoin- 
ing the  ri\er  which  became  parts  of  Perry, 
Lawrence,  Jackson  and  F'ranklin,  the  latter 
township  being  now  the  southwestern  township 
of  Summit  County,  as  it  was  the  northwestern 
township  of  Stark  previous  to  1840,  when,  bj- 
act  of  the  General  .\ssembly  of  Ohio,  it  was 
taken  from  Stark  to  help  Summit  to  the  consti- 
tutional amount  of  territorj-  to  make  a  count}'. 
Hence  it  will  appear  in  man}'  instances  that  the 
same  persons  were  original  settlers  in  two  or 
more  townships.  For  example,  Stephen  Harris, 
William  Crites,  Henry  Clapper,  Daniel  Clapper 
and  John  Clapper,  lirsl  settled  in  what  is  now 
Lawrence  Township,  and,  except  Mr.  Harris, 
never  moved  away  from  their  first  entry  of  land 
west  of  the  river,  until  after  Lawrence  was 
organized,  in  1816.  When  Tuscarawas  Town- 
ship was  reduced  to  its  legal  number  of  sections 
b\'  the  organization  of  other  townships,  Mr. 
Harris,  as  appears  hereafter,  sold  his  land  in 
Lawrence,  purchased  property  in  Tuscarawas,  on 
the  hill  south  of  Lawrence  Station,  on  the 
Pittsburgh,  Fort  Wayne  &  Chicago  Kailway, 
removed  into  that  township,  and  remained 
there  until  his  death.  He  lived  to  an  old  age. 
and  was  prominently  iilentitied  with  the  growth 
and  prosperity  of  the  county,  as  will  be  seen 
by  a  personal  sketch  of  that  gentleman,  of 
peculiar  interest,  derived  from  a  source  that 
entitles  it  to  the  highest  credit. 

Among  the  very  early  settlers  west  of  the 
Tuscarawas  Kiver  and  before  the  organization 
of  the  township  was  Michael  Oswalt ;  the  Ind- 
ians disturbed  him  and  he  went  back  to 
Columbiana  County,  but  soon  returned  and  rep- 
resented .'^tark  Count}'  in  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives many  years.  He  was  an  upright  man, 
and  discharged  his  duty  according  to  the  best  of 
his  ability.  During  his  term  of  .service  in  the 
House  of  llepresentatives,  the  great  question 
of  State  internal  improvement,  by  canal  naviga- 
ble, came  up,  and  during  its  preliminary  stages, 
Mr,  Oswalt  voted  for  it.  On  its  final  passage. 
the   hue   and    cry    that   had    become   general 


;t^ 


513 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COl^NXY. 


throughout  the  county  against  it  so  alarmed 
him  that  he  voted  against  it.  He  lived,  how- 
ever, to  see  the  Ohio  Canal  opened,  and  naviga- 
ble to  the  now  city  of  Massillon,  when  he 
joined  in  the  popular  feeling  in  its  favor,  and 
insisted  that  the  Ohio  Canal  was  his  haby.  In 
1836,  he  sold  his  land  in  what  had  then  lie- 
come  Perry  Township,  and  moved  to  Fairfield 
County,  where  he  ended  his  days,  a  respected 
citizen  of  that  excellent  count}'. 

Among  the  survivors  of  the  early  days  of  the 
township  is  Alvah  Wood,  born  at  Brookfield, 
(.'linton  (.'ount}',  New  Yoi'k,  May  5,  1795.  This 
venerable  gentleman  is  now  a  member  of  the 
farail}' of  William  Walter,  in  the  southern  portion 
of  the  township.  Henevcr  was  married.  By  his 
labor  and  economy,  he  acquired  a  farm  which  now 
supports  him  comfortably.  With  his  father, 
Jonathan  Wood,  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  he 
came  into  the  township  in  1819,  and,  with  the 
interegnum  presently  noticed,  has  been  a  resi- 
dent ever  since,  for  the  full  period  of  sixty- 
eight  years,  and  is  believed  to  be  the  oldest 
person  in  the  township.  The  writer  of  these 
sketches  is  indebted  to  him  for  many  facts 
touching  the  earh-  settlement  of  this  town- 
ship. 

In  18(19,  James  Eldredge  entered  the  south- 
west quarter  of  Section  25.  at  the  land  oflice  at 
Canton,  and  paid  all  in  silver.  Between  that 
period  and  1813.  Robert  Barr  entered  the 
fractional  Section,  now  in  Perrj*  Township, 
in  which  is  located  the  celebrated  Warming- 
ton  Coal  Mines,  and,  in  order  to  facilitate 
the  transit  across  the  Tuscarawas  River,  es- 
tablished the  fording  known  as  "  Barr's  Ford- 
ing." near  where  is  now  the  iron  bridge. 
Robert  Barr  is  yet  remembered  as  a  genial 
Irishman,  whose  house  was  never  clo.sed  to  the 
new-comer  seeking  a  home  in  the  then  wil- 
derness. He  was  one  of  those  who  had  left  the 
land  of  the  harp  and  shamrock  during  the  re- 
bellion of  1798.  and  found  a  home  at  last  in 
the  then  dense  forest  on  the  west  side  of  the 
great  county  of  Stark,  now  numbering  its  GO. 000 
inhabitants.  He  removed  west,  after  selling  his 
possessions  in  this  township,  and  aided  in  build- 
ing up  another  portion  of  the  great  empire, 
the  success  of  which  is  renowned  alike  in  song 
and  in  story. 

Another  pioneer  settler  whose  name  ajjpears 
in  the  census  of  1810.  was  Massum  Metcalf. 
generally  called  Madcap.     He  had  started  with 


the  march  of  civilization.  He  located  in  what 
is  now  Lawrence  Township,  but  did  not  remain, 
for  the  reason  that  the  '  count}'  was  too  thickly 
settled  ;  he  could  hear  his  neighbor's  dog  bark, 
and  it  was  so  cleared  up  that  he  could  not  fell 
a  tree  at  his  door  for  firewood."  "  AVild  game 
was  plenty,"  say.-i  Mr.  Wood,  •'  wolves,  deer, 
bears,  wild  cats  and  turkeys  were  plenty,  and 
among  the  Nimrods  were  Charles  Dougal  and 
Solomon  Wilson,  who  never  traveled  anywhere 
without  a  rifle,  powder  horn,  shot  pouch, 
and  a  sheath-knife  suspended  to  a  belt.  When 
game  was  killed  too  large  to  be  can'ied  home, 
it  was  thoroughly  bled,  the  entrails  removed, 
and  the  carcass  hung  to  a  limb,  and,  under  the 
common  law  of  hunters,  it  was  safe  for  the 
owner  to  call  for  it.  with  tlie  means  of  tansport- 
ing  it  home.  He  who  would  disturl)  it,  did  so 
at  the  peril  of  his  life,  if  ever  found  out.  As 
the  county  was  settled,  Dougal  and  Wilson 
went  where  civilization  had  made  fewer  in- 
roads. Mr.  Wood  has  resided  in  Tuscarawas 
Township,  since  1813.  excepting  three  or  four 
years,  when  he  returned  east,  and  remained  in 
Vermont.  He  is  now  at  the  age  of  eighty-six, 
enjoying  excellent  health  and  a  clear  memory 
of  many  events  of  the  early  settlement  of  the 
township.  In  those  days  there  were  few  mills 
in  what  now  constitutes  the  township  of  Frank- 
lin, Summit  County,  Lawrence,  Jackson,  I'erry 
and  Tuscarawas,  Stark  County.  On  Newman's 
Creek,  in  Lawrence  were  two,  Roger's  and 
Grundy's  being  the  first,  and  the}'  of  limited 
capacity.  (Joudy's  mill  was  erected  in  181 2,  of 
wouden  gearing,  which  was  constructed  by  two 
young  millwrights,  one  of  whom.  John  Crail, 
died  within  ten  years  last  past,  and  was  the 
father  of  Mrs.  Fletcher,  of  Massillon.  When 
the  young  men  reached  the  Tuscarawas  River, 
on  their  waj-  to  their  job,  the  ferryman  pro- 
posed to  charge  them  50  cents  each  for  carrying 
them  across.  Unwilling  to  pay  such  a  price,  they 
waded  the  river  and  carried  their  tools  and 
saved  their  money.  After  finishing  their  job 
for  Col.  Goudy,  they  went  m  Kendal,  and,  in 
1814.  built  the  dam  across  Sippo  Creek,  which 
supplied  the  water  ff>r  the  mill  of  Capt.  Mayhur 
I'^olgcr.  referred  to  in  the  History  of  Perry 
Township.  Mr.  (!rail  was  well  known  to  the 
writer,  as  an  upright  and  useful  citizen,  who 
life-long  contributed  his  share  to  the  common 
weal.  The  mill  he  built  for  Col.  Goudy  passed 
through  many  owners,   was  repaired  and  iron 


t^ 


T  use  A  K  A  W  AS    TOW  NSH 1 1', 


613 


machinerj-  put  in,  and  finally  destroj'ed  by  fire 
a  few  years  since. 

The  first  licensed  minister  of  the  Gospel  in 
the  township  was  the  Rev.  Edward  Ii.  Otis,  a 
Baptist,  who  settled  in  the  sonthern  portion  of 
the  township  prior  to  181(1,  as  his  name  ap- 
pears in  the  census  for  that  deceimial  period, 
and  who  had  the  stated  preaching  of  the  Gos- 
pel at  the  houses  of  the  five  neighbors  in  that 
portion  of  the  township.  The  second  minister 
who  came  into  the  township  was  the  Rev. 
James  Dixon,  who  was  appointed  to  Tuscarawas 
circuit,  Nov  1,  1810,  the  district  being  known 
as  Muskingum  District  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  the  conference  being  known  as 
the  Western  Conference  ;  and  since  the  coming 
of  the  Rev.  James  Dixon,  the  township  has 
never  been  without  preaching  by  some  minister 
of  that  church. 

p]lder  Otis  was  born  in  Massachusetts  in 
176(5,  was  a  son  of  Stephen  Otis,  who  was  a 
Major  on  the  staflTof  (Jen.  Joseph  Warren,  when 
Gen.  Warren  fell  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill, 
Maj.  Otis  being  also  severely  wounded  (Jn 
recovering  from  his  wounds  he  was  attacked 
by  small  pox,  which  carried  him  off',  (ien.  Elder 
Otis'  wife,  Mary,  was  born  April  IS,  1770. 
Their  famih-  was  Lois  Otis,  married  to  Thomas 
Eldridge  ;  Ezekiel  Otis,  married  to  Widow 
Stansbury  ;  Jesse  Otis,  married  to  Charlotte 
Davy  ;  Phebe  Otis,  married  tf)  George  All- 
man  ;  .Mary  Otis,  ma:ried  to  William  I  larding, 
well  remembered  as  a  wagon-maker  in  Kendal, 
in  Perry  Township,  in  182G;  Merrill  Otis,  mar- 
ried to  Hannah  Piersoll  ;  Edward  Otis,  mar- 
ried to  Sarah  8hul.b  ;  MarillaOtis,  who  was  mar- 
ried to  James  Kilgore,  a  son  of  William  Kilgore. 
On  the  death  of  Marilla,  Mr.  Kilgore  married 
Miss  Olive  Dean,  of  the  Pigeon  Run  settle- 
ment. Elder  Otis  organized  the  first  Baptist 
Church  in  Stark  Count}-,  and  which,  as  nearly- 
as  can  be  ascertained,  was  known  as  Pigeon 
Run  Baptist  Church.  Among  the  members 
were  Curtis  Downs,  Jacob  Cox,  his  family  and 
sister,  Jonathan  Wood  and  his  familj-  of  six  or 
seven,  Thomas,  Charles  and  John  Rigdon,  and 
their  families,  cousins  of  Elder  Sidney  Rig<lon, 
wiio  afterward  became  prominent  as  a  Mormon 
Elder.  They  also  had  a  cousin  George,  a 
plain,  blunt  man,  whose  integrity  of  character 
compelled  him  to  speak  out  just  what  he 
thought,  no  matter  who  might  be  hit  and  hin't. 
Oil  one  occasion,  at  a  meeting  of  Elder  Otis' 


church  and  congregation,  for  praj-er  and  con- 
ference, the  Elder  called  on  the  brethren  and 
sisters  present  to  tell  their  religious  experience. 
George  had  taken  a  seat  in  a  remote  corner  of 
the  room  and  listened  attentively  to  the  tribu- 
lations, trials  and  wrestlings  with  the  adversary, 
of  those  who  spoke,  and  finally  the  Elder  said 
to  him,  ■•  Brother  Rigdon,  haven't  you  some- 
thing to  tell  us  concerning  what  the  Lord  has 
done  for  you  since  our  last  meeting  '?"  George 
sprang  to  his  feet  and  in  his  peculiar  manner 
said,  "  Brother  Otis,  I'll  be  dang'd  if  1  came 
here  to  lie, "  and  immediately  sat  down.  The 
Elder  made  a  closing  prayer  and  dismissed  the 
congregation. 

Death  and  removals  have  long  since  scat- 
tered the  Pigeon  Itun  Baptist  Church.  The 
history  of  thi?  township  immediatelj-  following 
its  organization  is  strongly  marked  by  the  in- 
coming of  the  Presbyterian  element,  among 
whom  were  Ebenezer  Shaw,  John  Warden,  his 
brother  Robert  Warden  (who  now  became  per- 
manent settlers),  William  Johnson,  Nathaniel 
McDowell,  John  Forsythe,  Archibald  Steele, 
James  Irvin,  Robert  Noble,  Daniel  Hoy,  Charles 
Hoy,  Robert  McDowell,  James  McDowell,  Will- 
iam Donahey,  the  Tiltons,  McFaddens,  Evanses, 
Fultonsand  Lytles.  Col.  John  McDowell,  who 
afterward  moved  into  Sugar  Creek  Township, 
Wayne  Count}',  as  did  William  Erwin.  There 
were  a  number  of  families  by  name  of  Porter, 
from  Western  Pennsylvania,  who  settled  west 
of  the  river,  who,  when  Lawrence  Township 
was  organized  in  1816,  found  themselves  in 
that  township,  where  they  remained. 

Ebenezer  Shaw  will  be  remembered  with  all 
the  other  Presbyterians  named,  as  one  of  the 
true  men  of  Tuscarawas  Township.  He  came 
into  the  new  territory  of  Stark  County  with 
Robert  Latimer  and  Daniel  Carter,  in  1806,  and 
entered  land  about  four  miles  east  of  the  now 
city  of  Canton.  On  that  farm  Mr.  Shaw  had 
two  .sons  born — James  and  Abraham  F.  James 
studied  for  the  ministry,  and  was  called  to  the 
church  at  Windham,  Portage  County.  Shorth- 
after,  he  was  ordained,  and  if  the  memory  of 
the  writer  be  not  at  fault,  he  remained  the  Pas- 
tor over  that  church  until  his  death,  a  few  years 
since.  He  was  an  early  graduate  of  Western 
Reserve  College,  and  spent  a  long  and  faithful 
life  in  his  Master's  .service.  He  was  born  in 
1807.  and  at  his  death  had  nearlj-  or  quite 
filled  out  the  tlnxH^score  and  ten  years  allotted 


•>  \ 


514 


HISTORY  OF    STAllK    COUNTY. 


to  man.  His  brother,  Abraham  F.  Shaw,  re- 
sides at  Savannah,  Ashland  County-,  at  the  age 
of  seventy,  and  is  one  of  the  worthy  citizens 
of  that  eoiintj',  deservedly  enjoying  tlie  esteem 
and  confidence  of  a  large  circle  of  friends. 
Many  of  the  early  Scotch-Irish  Presbyterians 
settled  in  the  northern  part  of  the  township,  by 
means  of  which  the  neighborhood  took  the  name 
of  Dublin,  a  name  the  school-district  bears  to- 
day, and  Dublin  Schoolliouse  is  a  historic  land- 
mark. The  elder  stock  of  the  McDowells  has  of 
course  passed  awa}-,  but  with  all  the  rest  of  that 
class,  including  the  Erwins,  they  left  a  name 
the  excellence  of  which  is  transmitted  to  their 
posterity.  Most  of  them  moved  into  the  town- 
ship about  the  same  time,  1815  and  181(j.  On 
getting  into  the  township  and  providing  a 
hou5e  of  the  rudest  kind  for  their  families,  their 
nest  care  was  to  see  to  it  that  a  house  for  re- 
ligious worship  should  be  erected,  previous  to 
which  the  preaching  was  at  Mr.  Shaw's  in  the 
winter,  and  in  the  summer  at  Mr.  Daniel  Hoy's 
barn.  The  first  Presbyterian  preacher  was  Kev. 
James  Ad;ims,  from  Dalton.  Wayne  County. 
The  rrcsbytcrian  Church  of  Pigeon  Run  was 
organized  in  1S20,  although  it  is  somewhat  cer- 
tain that  a  church  edifice  was  built  much  earlier 
on  Mr.  Shaw's  land,  as  Robert  Noble  assisted 
in  hewing  the  logs,  of  which  it  was  built,  in 
1816.  On  the  organization  of  the  church  in 
1820,  which  was  done  in  the  barn  of  El)enezer 
Shaw,  William  Johnson,  Nathaniel  i^IcDowell 
and  Ebenezer  Shaw  were  chosen  Elders.  At 
this  time.  Rev.  Archibald  Hanna  was  Pastor  of 
Mount  Eaton.  Fredericksburg  and  Pigeon  Run 
Churches,  one-third  of  the  time  being  devoted 
to  each,  at  a  salary  of  $400,  one-half  to  be  paid 
in  wheat,  at  50  cents  per  bushel.  That  portion 
allotted  to  the  Pigeon  Run  congregation,  to  be 
paid  in  wheat,  was  to  be  delivered  at  Mr. 
Shaw's  ;  from  there  Mr.  Hanna  had  it  hauled  to 
market,  and  sold  it  at  40  cents,  taking  pay  in 
such  articles  as  merchants  would  give  in  ex- 
change, for  in  those  days  wheat  would  not  com- 
mand money  at  any  price,  nor  did  it  command 
money  until  1820.  after  the  opening  of  naviga- 
tion on  the  canal,  the  market  lieing  at  the  new 
city  of  Massillon. 

Mr.  Shaw  donated  three  acres  of  his  land 
for  a  church  and  burial  place,  or,  in  the  lan- 
guage of  those  days,  a  "burying  ground,"  on 
which  the  hewed  log  edifice  was  erected,  and 
u.sed   summer   and    winter,    without    a   stove. 


"There  we  sat,'  sa^-s  Abraham  F.  Shaw,  Esq.,  in 
a  late  letter  to  the  writer  of  these  reminiscences, 
'in  the  winter  time,  during  a  long  service  of 
about  two  hours,  trembling  with  cold,  and  the 
preacher  trembled  too.  The  word  of  the  Lord 
was  precious  in  those  days."  After  Rev.  Mr. 
Hanna,  came  Rev.  James  Snodgrass,  who  is 
supposed  to  be  the  last  settled  minister  over 
that  congregation.  He  came  from  Jefferson 
Count}',  and  died  while  discharging  the  duties 
of  the  pastorate  at  that  church.  Death  and 
removals  have  sent  that  church  out  of  existence. 
In  a  further  account  of  the  manner  in  which 
the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  was  delivered  to 
the  Presbj'terians  then,  Mr.  Shaw  says  :  "After 
some  time,  the  people  were  able  to  buy  a  stove 
and  as  much  pipe  as  would  reach  through  the 
gallery  floor.  The  smoke  all  remained  in  the 
house.  It  was  hard  to  tell  which  was  the  more 
endurable,  the  smoke  or  the  cold." 

The  first  school  taught  in  that  neighborhood 
was  taught  by  Adam  Johnson.  He  taught  in 
a  small  house  with  a  large  fire-place  and 
greased  paper  windows,  on  Section  10.  The 
teacher's  knowledge  was  limited,  and  the 
branches  he  taught  were  few.  The  shorter  cat- 
echism was  learned,  and  had  to  be  recited  every 
Saturilay  afternoon,  by  the  whole  school. 

First,  and  prominent  among  the  settlers  of 
this  township,  was  Andrew  Poe,  and  was  elected 
a  Justice  of  the  Peace  at  the  second  Justice's 
election.  Mr.  Foe's  remote  paternal  ancestor 
immigrated  to  this  country  in  1745,  from  the 
Palatinate,  and  settled  on  Antietam  Creek,  Md., 
whore  his  wife  died.  He  was  afterward  murdered 
by  one  of  his  teamsters  on  the  road  between  his 
home  and  Baltimore.     He  left  four  children  ; 

I.  (Jeorge  Poe,  who  inherited  his  father's 
estate,  and  when  the  warof  the  Revolution  broke 
out,  he  remained  loyal  to  the  British  cause. 

II.  Andrew  Poe,  born  in  the  Palatinate,  in 
1739;  came  to  this  country  with  his  parents,  and, 
.some  time  after  his  father's  death,  went  further 
west,  to  what  is  now  Washington  County,  Penn. 
He  was  in  the  Arin3'of  the  Revolution,  married 
and  had  a  family.  Some  of  his  descendants 
aie  now  living  in  Ravenna.  Portage  Co.  He 
was  engaged  in  the  fight  with  Big  Foot  and  his 
band  of  Wyandots,  in  1782,  at  the  mouth  of 
Tomlinson's  Run,  on  the  Ohio  River,  in  Han- 
cock County.  W.  \a.  He  was  the  person  who 
had  the  individual  fight  with  Big  Foot  and  one 
other  Indian,  and  not  Adam,  as  usually  stated. 


TL'.SCAUAWAS    TOW^'SIIII'. 


r,ir, 


III.  Catharine  Poe  was  born  in  tlie  Palat- 
inate, and  came  to  this  conntrv  with  iier  parents. 
She  subseqnently  Joinetl  her  brother  in  Wasii- 
intctoii  County,  Penn.  Rut  little  is  known  of 
her  history. 

IV.  Adam  I'oe,  burn  171.'),  at  sea,  while  the 
family  was  on  its  way  to  this  country.  Some 
time  after  his  Father's  death,  he  also  joined  his 
brother  Andrew,  in  Washington  County,  Penn. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Cochran,  who  was  tiorn 
in  February,  175U.  on  the  northwest  coast  of 
Ireland,  whose  first  husband — Cochran — was 
killed  by  Indians,  on  the  Ohio  River,  opposite 
East  Liverpool.  Ohio.  Adam  was  also  in  the 
fight  with  Big  Foot,  and  was  the  penson  who 
actually  shot  that  Indian.  He  died  September 
23,  1838,  at  the  age  of  93.  at  the  house  of  his 
SOD  Andrew  Poe,  In  this  township,  and  is  buried 
at  Sixteen  Church.  His  widow  died  in  tin; 
same  house.  December  27.  1844.  aged  eighty- 
eight  years  and  ten  months,  and  is  buried  by  his 
side.  They  had  several  children,  among  whom 
was  Andrew  Poe,  born  November  12,  1780.  in 
\Va.shington  County.  Penn.,  who  married,  Sep- 
tember 8,  1808.  Nancy  Hoy,  born  June  fi.  1779, 
in  Vork  County,  Penn.,  the  daughter  of  ("harles 
Hoy.  They  settled  in  Columbiana  County, 
Ohio,  and,  in  1812,  the  familj-  moved  to  Tusca- 
rawas Township,  Stark  Co.,  where  he  died, 
August  12,  1851.  aged  seventy  years  and  nine 
months,  in  the  same  house  where  his  father  and 
mother  died,  and  was  buried  at  "Sixteen 
Church,"  His  wife  died  in  the  same  house, 
March  29,  1865.  aged  eighty-five  years,  nine 
months  and  twenty-three  davs.  They  had 
children  : 

I.-II.  Sarah  and  Adam  Poe.  twins,  born 
July  12,  1804,  in  Columliiana  County,  Ohio. 
Sarah  married  John  .Montgomery,  of  the  same 
county  ;  had  several  children,  and  is  dead. 
Adam  married  and  had  three  children.  He 
was  a  well-known  Methodist  preacher  and  D.  D., 
and  died  some  years  since,  at  Cincinnati.'beingat 
the  head  of  the  '■  Jlethodist  Book  Concern"  in 
that  city,  at  that  time,* 

III.  "  Elizabeth,  born  March  20.  180U,  in 
Columbiana  County,  married  John  Gaver,  of 
the  same  county,  and  had  children.  They  went 
to  the  Southwest,  and  she  is  now  dead. 


*  Since  Ih**  sketch  "l 

ibe  Pfo  rumily  w.ia  pn-p^rt'd.  it  tins  l><-cn 

atrprttiiifd  tliat  I'-aac  V 

.f,  nimii-a  ill  th-  :i  1  V.  S.  c  nbii*.  in  wliirh 

Tn^cHntwrn  is  incIii-U"', 

wa-i  H  hrother  <■{  Andrew    Poe,  :ind   uh-i 

i.riow)..<l  him    lAiidrew 

in    trettins    into  TnocHmwas   Township, 

I'Ul  did  Dot  n-mtilii.     ina. 

He  wtut  to  Ml-si.uri  ji  ,d  di^d  Ihvn. 

IV.  Charles,  born  September  20,  1807,  in 
Columbiana  County,  Ohio ;  married  in  Stark 
(!ounty,  Ohio,  May  31,  1831,  to  Susanna  War- 
ner, liorn  November  5,  1817,  at  Loudon.  Frank- 
lin Co.,  Penn.  H(!  died  in  Coshocton  County, 
December  14,  1852,  and  his  widow  died  March 
21,  1881,  in  Stark  County.  Ohio,  They  had 
five  children  : 

I,  Orlando  Metcalf  born  March  7,  1832,  on 
the  farm  now  owned  l)y  Hon.  Thomas  W . 
Chapman,  in  Bethlehem  Township,  in  this 
county ;  entered  the  United  States  Military 
Academy,  at  West  Point,  September,  1852,  from 
the  distiict  then  composed  of  Knox,  Coshocton 
and  Holmes  Counties;  graduated  June.  1856.  and 
was  aijpoiuted  a  Lieutenant  in  the  corps  of 
topographical  engineers,  where  he  remained 
until  March,  1863,  when,  by  the  consolidation 
of  that  corps  with  the  corps  of  engineers,  he 
became  a  Captain  in  the  resulting  organization, 
and  a  Major  March  7,  1867.  He  was  brevetted 
Major  July  C,  1864,  for  gallant  services  at  the 
siege  of  Knoxville,  Tenn.;  Lieutenant-Colonel, 
September  1,  1864,  for  gallant  services  in  the 
capture  of  .\t,lan(a,  (i a.;  Colonel,  Dec,  21,  1864, 
for  gallant  services  in  the  capture  of  Savannah  ; 
Brigadier  General,  March  13,  18G5,  for  gallant 
and  meritorious  services,  terminating  with  the 
surrender  of  the  insurgent  army,  under  Gen. 
Joseph  I'l  Johnston.  He  also  hold  the  following 
appointments  in  the  volnuleer  service  during  the 
war:  Colonel  Second  51  ichigau  Infantry,  from 
September  16, 1861,  to  November  29.  1862,  and 
Brigadier  (ieneral  of  volunteers  from  November 
29. "l  862.  to  .March  4,  1863.  Also,  the  following 
staff  appointments;  Chief  Topographical  Engi- 
neer Department  of  the;  Ohio  during  the  cam- 
paign of  Gen.  McClelland,  its  Commander,  inW. 
\irginia.  May  13.  to  July  25. 1861.  Rich  Mount- 
ain cami)aign,  (.'hieC  Engineer  Department  of  the 
Ohio,  commanded  by  G(>n.  Bnrnside  September 
27,  to  December  15,  1863,  during  which  he  con- 
ducted the  defensive  oi)erations  at  the  siege  of 
Knoxville,  Tenn.;  Chief  Engineer  on  the  staff  of 
(ien.  Sherman.  Comnuiuding  .Military  Division  of 
the  .Mississippi,  from  April  3, 1864,  to  June  29, 
1865.  covering  the  Atlanta  campaign,  the 
march  to  the  sea.  and  the  campaign  of  the 
Carolinas.  and  was  in  the  following  actions; 
battle  of  Hich  Mounlain.  W.  Va..  July  11,  1861; 
fight  at  Lewinsville,  ^'a,.  September,  1861 ;  siege 
at  Yorktown.  Va.,  April  5  to  May  4, 1 862  ;  battle 
of  Williamsburg,  ^'a..  Mav   5,   1862;  battle  of 


HISTORY   OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


Fair  Oaks,  Va.,  May  31, 1862  ;  second  battle  of 
Bull  Run,  A^a.,  August  29-30,  1862  ;  battle  of 
Fredericksburg.  Md.,  December  13,1862;  battle 
of  Blue  Springs,  E.  Teun.,  October  10,  1862  ; 
siege  of  Knoxville.  E.  Tenu.,  November  18,  to 
December  4,  1862;  siege  of  Dalton,  Ga.,  May  7, 
to  May  14.  1864  ;  battle  of  Resaca.  Ga.,  May 
15,  1864;  Adairsville,  Ga..  May  17,  1864; 
Kingston,  Ga.,  Mav  19,  1864;  battle  of  New 
Hope  Church,  Ga",  May  20,  1864  ;  battles  of 
Dallas,  Ga.,  May  25-28,  1864  ;  battles  of  Ken- 
esaw  Mountain,  Ga.,  June  20,  to  July  2,  1864; 
battle  of  Ruff"s  Station,  Ga.,  July  4,  1864; 
battle  of  Atlanta,  Ga.,  July  22,  1864  ;  siege  of 
Atlanta  Ga.,  July  22,  to  August  25.  1864  ; 
battle  of  Jonesboro,  Ga.,  August  31.  1864  ; 
Sandersville,  6a.,  November  26,  1864  ;  siege  of 
Savannah,  Ga.,  December  9-21,  1864  ;  battle 
of  Averysboro,  N.  C,  March  16.  1865  ; 
battle  of  Bentonsville,  N,  C,  March  20-21, 
1865  ;  capture  of  Raleigh,  N.  C,  April  13, 
1865;  and  was  present  at  the  surrender  of 
Gen.  J.  E.  Johnston,  commanding  the  rebels,  to 
Gen.  Sherman,  at  Durham,  N.  C,  April  26, 1865. 
For  the  five  years  preceding  the  war,  he  was 
engaged  upon  the  survey  of  the  Northern  and 
Northwestern  lakes.  After  the  war,  he  was 
Engineer  Secretary  of  the  Lighthouse  Board  ; 
from  July  3,  1865,  to  May  1,  1870  ;  then 
Engineer  Eleventh  Lighthouse  District,  Lakes 
Huron,  Michigan  and  Superior,  aud  in  ciiarge 
of  River  and  Harbor  Improvements  from  De- 
troit to  Lake  Superior,  from  Maj*  1,  1870,  to 
May  1,  1873,  during  which  time  he  designed 
and  began  the  enlargement  of  the  Sault  Ste. 
Marie  Ship  Canal,  and  built  Spectacle  Reef, 
L.  H.,  two  of  the  principal  engineering  works 
of  the  day.  From  January  1,  1873,  he  has 
been  aid  de  camp  to  the  General  of  the  army  of 
the  United  States,  with  the  rank  of  Colonel  of 
Cavalry,  and  since  January  19,  1874,  has  been, 
in  addition,  a  member  of  the  Lighthouse  Board 
of  the  United  States. 

Gen.  Poe  was  married  at  Detroit,  Mich., 
June  17,  1861,  to  Eleanor  Carroll  Brent, 
born  August  26,  1843,  second  daughter  oC/, 
the  late  Thomas  Lee  Brent,  of  toiHei*H*a, 
Captain  United  States  Army,  and  they  have 
children. 

a.     Charles  Carroll,  born  December  14,  1863, 
in  Perry  Township,  Stark  County. 

h.     Winifred  Lee,  born  December  9,  1866,  at 
Washington,  D.  C. 


c.  Elizabeth  Comstock,  born  July  22,  at 
Washington,  D.  C. 

d.  Orlando  Warner,  born  December  10, 
1876,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 

2.  Andrew  Warner,  son  of  Charles  Poe, 
born  November  25,  1834,  at  Navarre,  Stark 
County;  died  June,  1853. 

3.  William  Charles,  born  August  8,  1841,  at 
Na\'arre,  Stark  Count3',  Ohio ;  married  and  re- 
sides at  Massillon. 

4.  Rebecca  Anne,  born  Decemjjer  14,  1843, 
at  Rochester,  Stark  County,  Ohio;  married  to 
Reuben  Z.  Wise,  and  now  living  at  Middle 
Branch,  Stark  County. 

5.  Margaret  JIaria,  born  in  Coshocton 
County,  aud  died  in  infancy. 

V-VI.  Daniel  and  George  J.  Poe,  twins, 
born  in  Columbiana  County  October  12,  1809. 
Daniel  married,  became  a  Methodist  preacher, 
and,  previous  to  the  Mexican  war,  whilst  a 
missionarj-  in  Texas,  died  with  his  wife  on  the 
same  day,  leaving  three  children,  one  boy  and 
two  girls  ;  they  all  grew  to  adult  age.  Andrew 
was  killed  during  the  war,  nearKenesaw  Jlount- 
ain,  in  Georgia.  George  married  Miss  Bow- 
man, of  this  township,  aud  has  several  chil- 
dren, and  now  resides  at  Bowling  Green,  Wood 
County,  Ohio;  all  the  boys  served  during  the 
war. 

VIL  Andrew,  born  in  Columbiana  County, 
Ohio  ;  married  Mary  Sweeny,  of  Canton.  They 
had  children  who  died  in  infancy.  He  died  many- 
years  since. 

VIII.  Eleanor,  born  September  10,  1813,  in 
this  township  ;  married  Nathan  Lash,  of  Sugar 
Creek  Township,  and  is  now  a  widow,  living 
at  Bowling  Green. 

IX.  John,  born  in  this  township  June  14, 
1815 ;  twice  married,  and  killed  on  the  railroad 
track  at  Massillon,  being  run  over  by  a  passing 
train.  His  family  resided  in  this  township  until 
within  two  years  past,  when  thej'  removed  to 
Kansas.     He  left  a  widow  and  three  sons. 

X.  James  McLean,  born  in  this  township  in 
1818  ;  has  been  dead  man}'  years. 

XL  Catherine,  born  July  10,  1820,  in  this 
township  ;  married  John  Emerson,  and  is  now 
dead. 

XII.  Joseph  Robb,  born  April  11,  1824, 
also  in  this  township  ;  married,  but  had  no 
children,  and  is  now  dead.  And  this  closes  the 
record  of  one  of  the  most  remarkable  families 
that  has  ever  lived  in  the  township,     Andrew 


^^ 


S)  \ 


'^^'T^-^^^^^X'  ^y^^^o-7>^ 


i^ 


TUSCAKAWAS   TOWNSHIP. 


•517 


Poe  was  a  man  of  strongly  niarkotl  character, 
a  good  neighbor  and  kind  friend,  with  many 
eccentricities  that  will  not  be  forgotten.  His 
excellent  wife,  Nancy,  will  be  remembered  as  a 
woman  of  nolile  physique  and  a  face  of  re- 
markable beauty,  that  is  recognized  in  her 
grandchildren. 

Tlie  3-ear  1814  was  marked  by  immigration 
into  the  township  from  Northern  New  York, 
away  on  the  borders  of  A'ermont,  among  wliom 
were  Stephen  Thacker  and  family,  William  El- 
dredge  and  family  ;  his  sons'  names  were  Will- 
iam and  Nathan,  the  latter  cf  whom  is  well 
remembered  as  a  man  of  character.  His  widow, 
Catharine,  a  daughter  of  Stephen  Thaeker,  yet 
lives  in  the  township,  a  member  of  the  family 
of  her  nephew.  William  MotHt.  Esq.  Henry 
Doxsee  and  family,  Jehiel  Fox,  a  brother  in- 
law of  Henry  Doxsee,  and  family,  Aliel  Stafford, 
Thomas  Eldridge,  Jr.,  Thomas  Eldridge,  Sr., 
appeared  to  have  been  in  the  township  at  its 
organization,  as  were  James  and  Stephen  El- 
dre<lge.  All  of  these  families  were  a  noble  class 
of  people  ;  a  son  and  daughter,  two  sons-in-law, 
and  a  daughter-in-law,  wife  of  Isaac  Doxsee, 
now  reside  in  Massillou.  Eleanor,  wife  of 
Henry  Doxsee,  shortly  after  the  family  had  got 
settled  in  their  cabin,  in  the  Pigeon  Run  neigh- 
borhood, went  to  see  some  neighbors  at  the 
little  hamlet  called  sometimes  Wintersville,  but 
which  has  settled  down  into  Brookfield,  and,  as 
usual,  rode  through  the  woods  on  a  '•  bridle 
path,"  as  the  avenues  were  called,  on  horseback  ; 
wide  roads,  except  the  main  road  from  Pitts- 
burgh to  the  Great  West,  being  unknown,  and, 
staying  later  than  she  intended,  started  about 
dark  for  home.  She  had  just  gotten  into  the 
densest  portion  of  the  forest  when  the  howl  of 
wolves  fell  upon  her  ear.  Her  horse  under- 
standing that  "  The  De'il  had  business  on  his 
hand,"  started  at  once ;  the  howl  increased. 
The  horse  knowing  the  path,  was  left  to  his 
own  guidance  ;  Mrs.  Doxsee's  only  care  was  to 
keep  her  seat  in  the  saddle.  The  wolves  came 
almost  alongside,  as  the  '•  clearing"  about  Mr. 
Doxsee's  residence  was  reached.  When  the 
wolves  seemed  to  know  that  they  were  toiled, 
they  stopped,  gave  one  long  doleful  howl  of 
disappointment,  and  abandoned  the  chase.  The 
horse,  however,  never  stopped  until  he  reached 
the  cabin  door,  and  landed  his  rider  in  safety. 
Jehiel  Fox  settled  in  Brookfield  ;  was  a  carpen- 
ter 1)3'  trade,  and  one  of  the  first  in  the  town- 


ship ;  was  also  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
and  it  is  supposed,  taught  the  first  school  in 
that  neighborhood.  His  daughter,  Eliza,  wife 
of  James  Bayliss,  Esq.,  resides  on  '•  the  section  " 
in  the  township.  This  couple  celebrated  their 
golden  wedding  Jan.  1,  1881.- 

The  fust  tavern  in  the  township  was  kept  by 
William  Byal,  who  was  also  a  shoemaker  by 
trade,  an  expert  with  the  rifle,  never  failing  to 
bring  down  a  deer  or  other  game  that  came  in  his 
wa\-.  Next  to  hiin,  closely  in  point  of  time,  was 
Peter  Voris,  as  a  tavern  keeper,  father  of  the 
late  Hon.  I'eter  Voris,  an  Associate  Judge, 
many  years  ago,  in  Summit  County,  who  was 
father  of  Gen.  A.  C.  Voris.  of  Akron.  Judge 
\'oris  died  within  a  few  years  past,  at  Maltoon, 
Illinois.  William  and  Thomas  Dean,  two 
brothers,  were  also  of  the  pioneer  settlers  and 
pioneer  Methodists  on  the  banks  of  Pigeon 
Hun,  east  of  Section  16,  which  was  near  the 
(«nter  of  the  township.  Each  neighborhood 
had  its  distinctive  features.  The  people  from 
the  '■  settlement, "  where  Doxsee,  Eldriilge  and 
the  Essex  County,  New  York,  people  lived,  could 
be  identified  in  a  moment,  as  could  those  from 
the  northern  portion  of  the  township,  who  were 
from  Washington  County,  Pennsylvania.  The 
Baptists,  south  of  I'igeon  Run,  were  another 
class,  but  all  had  the  .same  object  in  view,  'the 
encouragement  of  schools  and  the  means  of  in- 
struction." In  Doxsee's  neighborhood.  William 
Lawson  taught  the  first  school.  The  first  black- 
smith in  the  township  was  Francis  Smith  ;  his 
brother,  Ethan  Smith,  was  the  first  tanner;  he 
died  in  1825,  and  was  a  worthy  member  of  the 
Society  of  Friends  (Quakers.)  The  first  tavern 
in  Brookfiekl  was  kept  by  Philip  Slusser, 
which  gave  the  place  the  name  of  Slusst'r's  Tav- 
ern, as  Brookfield  never  was  laid  out,  and  never 
did  as  a  village.  The  Pennsylvania  Dutch  ele- 
ment was  not  behind  in  aiding  to  develop  the 
township.  In  1812,  Frederick,  Peter  and  John 
Oiierlin  came  in  from  the  Cumberland  Valley, 
Cumberland  County,  Pennsylvania.  They  were 
good  and  true  men,  and  left  a  posterity  numer- 
ous and  worthy,  who  have  not  failed  to  vindi- 
cate the  good  name  of  their  ancestry.  Their 
immediate  lelatives,  by  marriage,  were  Fred- 
erick Rodocker,  Jacob  Fry  and  George  Gilbei't, 
who,  with  the  Oberlins,  were  heads  of  families, 
Jacob  Fry  was  the  proprietor  of  Greenville, 
Of  this  class  were  the  Hitters,  Daniel,  Jonas 
and  David,  and  were  among  the  early  settlers. 


i>  \ 


HISTORY    OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


When  the  township  was  reduced  to  its  consti- 
tutional limits,  Daniel  Ritter  was  found  to  be 
in  Periy  Township,  where  he  resided  until  his 
death. 

One  of  the  remarkable  families  of  this  town- 
ship was  that  of  Conrad  Neustetter,  who  was 
one  of  the  17,000  Hessians  that  came  over  in 
the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  was  surrendered 
to  (Jen.  Washington  and  the  French  forces  at 
Yorktown,  Ya.,  in  1781.  After  the  surrender 
he  remained,  under  his  parole,  in  Virginia,  but 
not  relishing  human  chattelship,  he  concluded 
to  go  wliere  there  was  •■  neither  slavery  nor 
involuntary  .servitude,  except  for  crime."  and 
find  a  new  home.  Where  could  he  have  gone 
to  carrj-  out  his  ideas  of  human  rights  so  well 
as  to  Ohio,  the  first-born  of  the  Ordinance  of 
July  13,  1787?  He  had  three  sons — Henry, 
C^onrad  and  Joseph — and  four  daughters,  all  of 
whom  had  families,  and  have  left  a  numerous 
posterity.  While  there  were  few  of  what  were 
known  as  the  Pennsylvania  Dutch  in  the  town- 
ship at  its  organization,  within  two  years  the  tide 
of  immigration  to  Tuscarawas  Township,  from 
Franklin,  Lancaster,  Lebanon,  York,  Cumber- 
land, Dauphin,  Lehigh,  and  the  central  counties 
of  Penns3'lvania,  rolled  onward  until  that  ele- 
ment equalled  in  numbers  an}  other  in  the  town- 
ship; and  as  agriculturists  thej-  had  no  superior, 
as  the  broad  acres  under  cultivation  show.  That 
tide  of  immigration  continued  for  many  years. 
The  first  quarter  of  a  century  after  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  town  was  especiall}'  and  favorably 
marked  by  that  class,  from  the  counties  of 
Franklin,  Lancaster,  Lebanon  and  Cumberland. 
The  prophecy  of  Berkley,  Bishop  of  Cloyne. 
was  fulfilled  so  far  as  this  township  was  con- 
cerned : 

"  Westward  the  .star  of  empire  takes  its  way. 
The  tirst  four  acts  already  past. 
The  fifth  shall  close  the  drama  and  the  day, 
Time's  noblest  offspring,  is  the  last." 

After  navigation  was  open  on  the  Ohio  Canal 
to  Massillon,  and  business,  generally  on  the 
west  side  of  the  county  and  including  Wayne 
County,  as  well  as  on  the  north  and  south  of 
Massillon,  began  to  center  at  that  point.  Judge 
Henry,  who  had  for  maiiy  years  prior  to  1826, 
been  the  merchant  of  Perry  Township,  finding 
his  occupation  gone,  concluded  he  could  put 
Brookfield  into  competition  with  Massillon.  and 
about  1830  moved  to  Brookfield.  opened  a  store 
determined  to  intercept  western  trade.     Find- 


ing that  that  plan  would  not  succeed,  he  deter- 
mined to  erect  a  steam  flouring-mill,  saw-mill 
and  woolen  manufactory,  and  which  was  the 
first  and  only  establishment  of  the  kind  in  the 
township.  Meanwhile,  Massillon  had  got  a 
start  as  the  great  shipping  point  for  all  kinds 
of  produce  and  woolen  manufactures,  which 
rendered  the  Brookfield  Steam  Flouring-mill 
and  Woolen  Manufactory,  dead  capital.  In 
order  to  place  the  business  in  the  hands  of  a 
younger  and  an  energetic  person,  Judge  Henry 
put  what  capital  he  had  invested  in  the  Brook- 
field enterprise  into  the  hands  of  his  .son-in-law, 
C.  B.  Cummins,  but  he  could  not  command 
success  so  near  to  Massillon.  and  the  result  was 
the  enterprise  was  abandoned,  and  Mr.  Cum- 
mins took  his  stock  in  trade  to  that  city,  where 
he  continued  until  1854,  when  he  went  out  of 
business.  Judge  Henry,  being  out  of  business 
at  the  abandonment  of  the  Brookfield  invest- 
ment, moved  to  Wooster,  Wayne  Co.,  and  ended 
his  days  at  the  age  of  eighty  years,  and  thus 
ended  the  competition  between  Brookfield  and 
Massillon,  There  is  not  one  stone  left  upon 
another  to  indicate  that  business  of  the  charac- 
ter above  described  was  ever  carried  on  there. 
The  machinery  was  taken  out  and  sold,  the 
buildings  torn  down,  and  at  this  writing  there 
are  few  living  who  worked  on  the  premises. 

The  first  post-office  in  the  township  was  at 
the  village  of  Greenville,  and  William  Byal 
was  the  first  Postmaster.  As  it  paid  but  a 
small  salary,  although  the  Postmaster  was  en- 
titled to  thirty  per  centum  of  the  receipts  for 
letter  postage  and  fifty  per  centum  on  news- 
papers and  periodicals,  Mr.  Byal  resigned  in 
1828,  and  there  being  no  one  to  take  the  office, 
it  was  discontinued,  and  the  etieets  belonging 
to  it  were  taken  to  Massillon.  It  has,  however, 
been  re-established  by  the  name  of  East  Green- 
ville. 

Prominent  among  the  early  settlers  who  laid 
the  foundations  of  the  gi'eat  moral  structure  of 
the  township  were  William  and  Thomas  Dean, 
brothers  ;  Peter  Johnson,  Wesley  Hatton.  Will- 
iam Henry,  Seth  Hunt,  Thomas  Eldredge, 
Stephen  Thacker,  and  family.  Rev.  Josiah  Fos- 
ter, Peter  Johnson,  and  all  the  other  Methodists 
in  the  township.  In  1810,  a  society  was  formed 
at  once  on  the  arrival  of  the  preacher.  Rev, 
James  Dixon,  and  amid  all  the  changes  it  has 
remained.  The  few  Methodists  on  the  East 
side   of  the   river  at   Kendal,  came  into  this 


■*^ 


TT'SCARAWAS   TOWNSHIP. 


-.19 


township  for  worship,  until  in  1824.  when  the 
Pittsburgh  Conference  was  erected,  and  Canton 
circuit  was  organized  in  1824.  In  1816,  the 
Huckett  brothers,  their  mother  and  sister,  came 
into  the  township,  but  one  of  whom,  Andrew, 
remains.  He  now,  at  the  age  of  seventj"-six, 
lives  in  tiie  city  of  Massillon,  having  lived  in 
this  and  Perrj-  Township  sixty-six  years.  The 
brothers  were  John,  William.  Reese?.  Andrew, 
Christian,  David  and  Simon.  Their  father.  An- 
drew, came  into  the  township  in  1811,  from 
Fayette  County.  Penn..  and  brought  a  wagon- 
load  of  the  household  goods  of  his  father-in- 
law.  Christian  Bates,  who  moved  into  the  town- 
ship. He  then  returned  to  I'ennsylvania  and 
came  to  Ohio  again  in  1812,  and  died  in  1814. 
Christian  Bates  died  in  the  township,  leaving 
two  sons,  Adam  and  Andrew,  who  maj-  be 
classed  among  the  first  of  the  township's  set- 
tlers. 

The  sturdy  Dutch  settlers  from  Pennsylvania 
were  generally,  in  their  religious  connections, 
German  Reformed  and  Lutheran  ;  and  in  neigh- 
borhoods where  neither  were  able  to  erect  a 
church  edifice,  the  two  would  join  hands  and 
erect  a  building,  and  worship  in  it  on  alternate 
Sabbaths,  until  each  congregation  was  able  to 
build  for  itself  In  1819,  George  Krider  came 
into  the  township,  bringing  with  him  a  family. 
He,  too,  was  from  Pennsvlvania,  and  with  his 
family  contributed  largely  to  the  development 
of  the  township  as  tillers  of  the  soil  and 
mechanics.  Samuel  Krider.  a  son,  has  been 
twice  a  member  of  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives, in  the  General  Assemblj-  of  Ohio,  and  is 
now  a  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

Tuscarawas  was  not  behind  in  the  elements 
of  advancing  civilization.  It  had  the  first  dis- 
tillery west  of  Canton  in  which  whisky  was 
made.  Col.  Isaac  Taylor  being  the  proprietor. 
He  was  Colonel  of  one  of  the  regiments  in  the 
Third  Brigade  and  Sixth  Division  of  Ohio 
Militia,  and  as  such  was  distinguished,  for  in 
those  days  a  Colonel  "  on  the  peace  establish- 
ment '  was  regarded  as  a  man  of  parts.  The 
militia  S3Stem  sank  into  discredit,  and  the 
Colonel  ran  the  distillery  until  it  ran  him  so 
nearly  into  the  ground  that  he  disjioscd  of  it.- 
It  ran  through  successive  ownerships  until  it 
fell  into  the  hands  of  Elder  Frederick  Freeman, 
who  distilled  whiskv-  during  the  week  and 
preached  Baptism  by  immersion,  for  the  re- 
mission of  sin's,  on  Sunday.     There  are  a  few 


yet  living  in  the  township  who  have  drank  of 
his  whisky  and  listened  to  his  preat^hing.  The 
distillery  finally  ran  down  before  the  enlightened 
progress  of  better  ideas. 

Among  the  earnest  men.  and  who  were  among 
the  first  to  open  up  the  forest  on  the  west  side 
of  the  county,  was  Stephen  Harris.  While  it 
is  a  matter  of  doubt  whether  it  was  Steplien 
Harris  or  the  brothers  John  and  Rolierl  Worden 
who  were  the  first  to  make  a  permanent  settle- 
ment on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  it  is  certain 
that  on  the  reducing  of  the  townships  of  Tus- 
carawas and  Lawrence  to  their  proper  limits, 
Mr.  Harris  was  in  Lawrence  and  the  Wordens 
were  in  Tuscarawas.  It  is  equally  certain  that 
they  were  all  within  the  territorv  known  as 
the  New  Purcha.sc,  in  1807.  which  was  belV.re 
the  organization  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Harris  was  born  in  FJizabethtown,  N.J., 
August  21,  1780.  His  paternal  ancestry  was 
English,  and  his  mother  a  Scotch  woman,  a 
relation  of  Gavin  Hamilton,  of  Mauchline.  the 
friend  and  patron  of  Robert  Burns,  the  Ayr- 
shire plowman,  and  the  same  familj-  as  Alex- 
ander Hamilton,  who  fell  in  the  duel  at  Wce- 
hawken,  N.  J.,  in  1804.  with  Aaron  Burr,  and 
whose  father  emigrated  to  the  island  of  Nevis, 
in  the  West  Indies. 

She  (his  mother)  was  a  woman  of  line  physique 
and  appearance,  and  rare  mental  gifts,  though  in 
humble  life,  and  engro.ssed  in  the  care  of  rearing 
twelve  children.  Soon  after  the  close  of  the 
Rovolutionary  war.  his  father,  who  served  as 
a  soldier  in  that  struggle  for  the  vindication  of 
the  rights  of  man,  moved  with  his  young  fam- 
ily, Stephen  being  but  six  years  of  age,  to 
Washington  County,  I'enn.,  where  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  worked  on  a  farm  until  he  was 
twentv'-one.  He  then  worked  for  himself  in 
various  pursuits,  sometimes  as  a  farm  hand, 
sometimes  as  a  boatman  on  the  Ohio  River,  and 
for  some  time  was  engaged  in  the  ginseng 
trade,  at  Maysville,  Ky..  in  which  he  saved 
money  enough  to  enter  a  considerable  bodj'  of 
land  in  the  vicinity  of  Lawrence  station,  on  the 
Pittsburgh,  Fort  Wayne  and  Chicago  Railwaj-, 
in  the  now  township  of  Lawrence,  being  the 
northwestern  township  in  Stark  County,  which 
entrv  was  made  at  the  land  ottice.  at  Steuben- 
ville.  When  Mr.  Harris  arrived  at  the  spot, 
where  is  now  the  city  of  Canton,  and  coiintj' 
seat  of  this  county,  on  his  way  to  his  new  home, 
there  were  but  three   or   four  cabins   to  mark 


030 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUA'TY. 


tlie  spot.  Where  now  stands  the  flourishing 
city  of  Massillon.  was  an  impassable  swamp. 

About  1 00  rods  northeast  of  the  present  vil- 
hige  of  Lawrence,  he  commenced  a  '  clearing.' 
The  first  winter  he  had  no  feed  for  his  cows 
and  .young  cattle,  but  subsisted  them  upon 
browse;  he  would  cut  the  j'ouug  linden,  some- 
times called  basswood,  tree,  and  soft  maples, 
and  the  cattle  would  follow  him  as  he  went 
with  his  as  on  his  shoulder  on  a  cold  morning, 
on  his  way  to  the  woods,  waiting  and  watching 
for  their  provender,  rushing  for  the  tree-top  as 
soon  as  it  fell.  He  was  civil  to  the  Indians,  of 
whom  there  were  many,  and, of  course,  received 
civility  in  return.  In  the  winter  of  1812,  this 
region  was  visited  by  an  earthquake.  New- 
man's Creek,  so  named  for  Jacob  Newman,  a 
pioneer  government  survej'or,  was  covered  with 
thick  ice.  Mr.  Harris  was  awakened  from  his 
sleep  late  one  night  by  a  crashing  noise  rapidly 
approaching  from  the  east ;  it  was  the  break- 
ing of  the  ice,  occasioned  by  a  swift,  passing 
wave,  which  flew  by  Mr.  Harris'  cabin,  which 
stood  on  the  bank  of  the  creek,  and  was  lost  in 
tlie  distance  on  its  western  course  in  a  moment, 
the  rocking  of  the  cabin  and  crashing  of  the 
ice,  producing  fear,  which  vanished  with  the 
cause  of  it,  and  all  was  quiet.  After  clearing 
and  improving  the  farm  first  entered,  Mr. 
Harris  sold  it  at  an  advanced  price,  and  pur- 
chased a  half  section  of  land  in  the  northwest- 
ern corner  of  this  township,  which  he  improved 
and  owned  until  near  the  close  of  his  life.  It 
is  believed  that  he  built  the  first  brick  house  in 
the  county  west  of  the  Tuscarawas  River.  This 
farm  was,  and  is,  famous  for  the  fertility  of  its 
soil,  good  crops  aild  excellent  fruit,  and  in  this 
connection  it  should  be  said  that  it  was  owned 
and  worked  by  one  of  the  most  scientific  and 
practical  farmers  of  his  day. 

The  unwritten  law  of  those  days  was  to  keep 
open  house,  or,  to  use  a  modern  expression,  the 
"  latch-string  hung  outside."  With  Mr.  Harris, 
the  "  latch-string  not  only  hung  outside,"  but 
the  front  door  was  open,  and,  as  Massillon  and 
Canton  grew  into  notoriety,  the  residents 
of  those  villages  always  found  a  warm  welcome 
at  Mr.  Harris'  delightful  home.  The  visitors 
Were  the  pioneers  of  Canton  and  Perry  Town- 
ships, as  Mr.  Harris  was  of  Lawrence  and  Tus- 
carawas, and  when  they  met,  they  delighted  to 
discuss  the  history  of  the  perils  and  privations 
through  which  each  had  passed  in  the  acquisi- 


tion of  a  new  home.  Those  meetings  estab- 
lished a  friendsliip  that  was  only  severed  by 
death.  Those  hardy  pioneers  are  all  gone,  but 
not  forgotten. 

Mr.  Harris  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-two, 
while  temporarily  residing  with  his  daughter, 
Mrs.  William  Finley,  in  Chippewa  Township, 
Wayne  Co.,  Ohio.  Mrs.  Finley  was  the  mother 
of  Hon.  Ebenezer  B.  Finley,  member  of  Con- 
gress from  the  Bucyriis  District,  Ohio. 

Intellectually,  Mr.  Harris  was  far  above  the 
average  of  men  who  aspire  to  distinction  in 
the  learned  professions.  He  was  a  man  of  fine 
physique  and  wonderful  strength.  He  wore  a 
number  eight  hat,  and  had  a  head  that  phrenol- 
ogists pronounced  a  model. 

As  were  most  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  this 
township,  Mr.  Harris  was  of  limited  education, 
but  by  patient  study  he  has  stored  his  mind 
with  choice  history,  English  literature,  espe- 
cially the  English  poets,  and  science,  and  under 
such  mental  discipline,  notwithstanding  his  life 
of  toil,  achieved  the  distinction  of  being  con- 
sidered a  most  agreeal)le  gentleman  in  the 
social  circle,  and  one  whose  colloquial  talents 
were  of  a  high  order. 

He  and  his  wife,  Sibyl  Clark,  were  the  par- 
ents of  twelve  children,  ten  of  whom  lived  to 
be  maiTied.  Two  of  his  sons  have  been  mem- 
bers of  the  Legislature,  a  third  is  a  successful 
practicing  lawyer  at  Bucyrus,  Ohio,  where  he 
was  for  some  years  a  partner  of  the  late  Hon. 
Josiah  Scott,  formerly  a  Judge  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  Ohio.  Of  his  grandsons,  two  are  prac- 
ticing law  in  ths  city  of  Philadelphia  ;  one  in 
Bucyrus,  Ohio  ;  one  in  Chicago,  and  at  present 
a  member  of  the  Legislature  of  Illinois ;  and 
one  great-grandson,  a  member  of  the  bar  at 
Cleveland,  Ohio.  Mr.  Harris  was  uncle  and 
guardian  of  llev.  William  L.  Harris,  D.  D., 
Bishop  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
who  made  his  home  for  some  time  in  his  uncle's 
family,  and  taught  school  in  the  McFarland 
District  in  1845,  near  Lawrence.  He  (Stephen 
Harris)  was  a  brother  of  Hon.  John  Harris,  of 
whom  mention  is  made  in  the  '■  Sketches  of 
the  Bench  and  Bar  of  Stark  County,"  and  who, 
from  his  long  and  active  life,  is  necessarily 
mentioned  in  Canton,  Perry,  Tuscarawas  and 
Lawrence  history. 

On  one  occasion  the  writer  remembers  hear- 
ing Mr.  Harris  say,  "  I  propose  to  settle  my 
estate  myself,"  and  it  is  believed  that  at  his 


SIGAU    CREEK    TOWNSHIP. 


521 


death  he  owed  no  man  anything,  and  had  dis- 
posed oChis  estate  among  his  heirs,  so  tliat  the 
intervention  of  an  executor  or  administrator 
was  not  necessar}'.  Of  course  such  a  man  com- 
manded the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  neigh- 
bors and  wliile  good  and  useful  men  are  remem- 
bered, iiis  name  will  fill  a  place  on  the  historic 
page  witii  that  of  tlie  I'ioneers,  who,  amid  toil 
and  hardship,  made 

"  The  wilderness  blossom  as  the  rose.*' 

Tlie  pioneer  settlers  of  this  township  were 
men  of  the  class  of  Mr.  Harris ;  they  aimed  to 
do  right  in  all  the  relations  of  life,  and  the 
truth  of  historj-  would  not  he  vindicated  with- 
out according  to  them  due  prominence.  They 
were  downriglit.  manl3-.  earnest  and  sincere. 
The  result  of  their  labors  is  eulogy  enougli ; 
their  story  is  told  in  tbese  sketches  exactly  as 
it  was. 

Of  the  thirt3--six  sections  of  land  of  which 
the  township  is  composed,  almost  every  quarter 
section  is  of  a  most  excellent  quality ;  tiie  sur- 


face produces  cereals  of  (!very  description, 
wliile  building  stone,  limestone  and  mineral  coal 
are  found  in  exhaustless  quantities,  as  the 
Warmingl<>n,(Trove  Coal  Com])any,  Pigeon  Run 
and  .Massillon  City  Coal  Companies  attest,  by 
the  trains  of  cars  daily  loaded  at  and  from  their 
mines  with  tiie  far-famed  .Massillon  coal,  tl'c 
ecpial  of  which,  nor  the  exhaustless  quantities 
of  which,  are  found  elsewhere  in  the  Tuscarawas 
Valle\'.  Seventy-one  years  have  gone  by  since 
the  people  of  tiie  township  were  organized  into 
a  political  community,  and  it  is  safe  to  say,  that 
for  steadj-  progress  since  that  organization, 
Tuscarawas  Township  is  the  peer  of  any  town- 
ship in  this  great  count}-.  To  attempt  to  enum- 
erate its  representative  men  now  would  be  an 
effort  that  could  not  readily  be  accomplished. 
PuUlce  it  then  to  say  that  Tuscarawas  Town- 
ship has  kept  pace  in  the  march  of  improve- 
ment with  an}-  township  in  the  great  county  of 
which  she  is  a  menil)er.  Her  motto  is  :  -No 
steps  backward.' 


CHAPTER    XXV.* 


Slfi.VH  ClIKKK  TOW.NSIlll'  — I'UV.SltWL  Ki:.\Ti:i'.ES— L.VNUHOI.DICUS  OF  1X2S— tlK.ST   .SKTTi.E.MIl.NT 

AND  .U>;nMl'ANVlN(J   INCIDENTS— IXDU.STlllAL  GRO'.VTII— rLATTINC  OF  VIM,.UiC.S 

—  KllfCATlOXAL    AND    KKLIGIOLS    GKOWTH    AXU    IXFLIEXCK.-^. 


''J  "■  HE  people  of  to-day  cannot  realize  the  ex- 
1  treme  hardships  encountered  by  the  early 
settli-r.  It  is  no  trouble,  while  enjoying  a 
sumptuous  repast,  or  while  occupying  at  full 
length  the  sofa  in  a  pal;\c(!  [larlor,  to  bring  the 
picture  of  early  trials  before  the  gaze;  but  the 
mental  and  physical  sutlVrings  of  the  pioneers 
are  lieyond  conjecture,  and  can  only  be  realized 
by  participation.  To  be  wMth  but  little  food, 
and  that  of  the  coarsest  and  meanest  quality  ; 
to  suffer  continually  from  exposure  to  the  in- 
clement weather  ;  to  be  half-clothed  ;  to  be  de- 
nied all  the  ennobling  influences  of  refined 
society  ;  to  be  compelled  by  tiie  relentless  force 
of  necessity  to  work  beyond  your  strength  — 
all  these  were  the  common  lot  of  tlie  pioneer. 
It  is  a  peculiar  paradox  in  human  conduct,  to 
note  that  the  old  settler  loves  to  recall  the  trials 
of  early  years.  Should  he  not  rather  love  to 
lianish  from  his  mind  the  recollection  of  events 
which  occasioned  him  so  much  suffering  ?     No, 

«  Conlril.ut.d  bj-  W.  .\,  C.o.I.-i.to.I. 


he  loves  to  dream  of  the  past;  loves  to  li\e 
over  again  his  early  experiences.  Ask  an  old 
settler,  and,  strange  as  it  may  seem,  he  will  tell 
you  he  enjoyed  life  amid  the  dangers  and  pri- 
vations of  the  backwoods.  This  can  only  bo 
accounted  for  hy  saying  that  the  mobile  char- 
acteristic of  human  nature  to  adapt  itself  to  any 
and  all  surroundings,  rendered  the  life  of  tiie 
pioneer  contented  and  happy. 

Sugar  Creek  Township,  whicli  takes  its  name 
from  the  stream  which  drains  the  greater  por- 
tion, is  one  of  tlie  best  in  the  county.  This  is 
true  not  onl}-  of  the  natural  features,  but  of  the 
character  of  the  people  within  its  limits.  From 
its  earliest  years,  the  township  has  been  full  of 
push  and  pluck  and  precocit}'.  During  the 
(!arly  stages  of  the  last  war.  it  furnished  more 
volunteers  than  any  other  country  portion  of 
the  county  of  the  same  limit.  The  character 
of  the  citizens  for  intelligence,  morality,  indus- 
try and  enterprise,  is  second  to  no  other  part  of 
Stark    Countv.     When    the   couiitv    was    first 


HISTORY   OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


organized,  in  180t»,  Sugar  Creek  was  attached 
to  Canton  Township,  and  remained  thus  until 
March  -1.  181(5.  when  the  following  action  was 
taken  by  the  County  Commissioners  :  "  Otderal, 
That  that  part  of  Range  10  in  Stark  County 
wiiich  lies  south  of  Township  12  in  said  range, 
be  and  the  same  is  hereby  erected  into  a  sep- 
arate township  Ijy  the  name  of  Sugar  Creek." 
The  election  of  the  first  otticcrs  was  announced 
to  be  held  at  the  residence  of  Adam  Grounds, 
o  1  the  first  Monday  in  April,  and  notices  of 
this  election  were  posted  up  at  Adam  Grounds  , 
Joseph  Poj'feer's  and  Fisher's  Mill.  The  follow- 
ing is  a  list  of  the  land-holders  in  1827,  the 
greater  number  of  whom  resided  in  the  town- 
ship : 

Christian  Ackerman,  William  Agler,  William 
Baker.  George  Baker,  Jedediah  Brewster. 
James  Benford.  John  Balterley.  Michael 
Rose.  Peter  Beck,  John  Byali,  Abraham  Beals, 
John  Bash,  Benjamin  Carr,  Joshua  Carr,  Eman- 
uel Crosslaud.  George  Crossland.  Jacob  Cron- 
inger,  Benjamin  Croninger,  Henry  Croninger, 
J.  W.  Condy.  James  Clark.  George  Canfield, 
Isaac  Charlton,  Thomas  Collins,  John  Charl- 
ton. Abraham  Davis.  John  Doll,  Israel  Doty. 
Gotleib  Dogaley.  John  Everly,  Susanna  Everett. 
John  Everett.  Andrew  Fetro,  Preserved  Fish,' 
Henry  Fisher.  Jacob  Fisher,  Adam  Fislier,  John 
Freese,  Abraham  Friebley.  Jacob  Grounds. 
James  Gaff.  George  Gilbert,  Michael  Hoftaere, 
William  Hall,  William  Hunter,  John  Hammond, 
John  HoUiuger,  John  Hager,  Henry  Hess.  Wil- 
liam Jones.  Jacob  Kyle,  (Jeorge  Klingle.  James 
Kilgore.  James  Kerr.  Benjamin  Kerr.  Jacob 
Kline.  Jacob  Klinefelter.  Johu  Mason.  Jacob 
Miller.  Samuel  Miller.  William  Nichols.  Patrick 
Nelson.  John  Oberlin.  George  Pfouter,  Gabriel 
Putnam,  John  Putnam.  John  Poyster,  Richard 
Pinkerton.  John  Parker.  Jehiel  Rose.  Jacob 
Reed.  Henry  Rilter.  Daniel  Rilter.  Thomas 
Rotch,  Charity  Rotch,  Jacob  Rider.  Peter  Reed. 
George  Robinson.  Robert  Reed,  Henry  Ragnet, 
Charles  Slutz,  George  Sleigh ter, Christian  Smith. 
Christian  Shrock.  Jacob  Shetler.  John  Shetler, 
Frederick  Stump.  Adam  Spohr.  Christopher 
Sees,  Jacob  Swaley.  John  Shaefler,  William 
Smoyer.  Peter  Stroyer,  Jacob  Stover,  George 
Shott.  Isaac  Teeple.  Christopher  Teeple,  Abra- 
ham Troxal.  Peter  Weimer,  Gabriel  Weimer, 
John  Walter.  Arvine  Wales,  Jonathan  Winter, 
David  Weimer,  Jacob  Warshler,  (George  Welty, 
John   Weimer.    Peter   Weimer.   Phillip   Welty 


Valentine  Wagoner,  Jacob  Wyant,  Henry  Wy- 
ant,  Lewis  Willard,  Henr3'  Willard  and  Abra- 
ham Walter. 

In  addition  to  these,  there  were  a  number  of 
prominent  early  settlers  whose  names  do  not 
appear  in  the  above  list.  A  few  of  the  earliest 
settlers  who  first  came  in,  became  dissatisfied 
with  their  surroundings,  and  like  a  certain  class 
of  politicians,  wanted  a  '•  change."  These  men 
added  their  mite  to  the  early  improvement  of 
Sugar  Creek,  and  were  undoubtedl}'  the  means 
of  attracting  settlers  to  their  vicinity,  accord- 
ing to  the  rule  that  "  birds  of  a  feather  flock 
together."  It  is  said  upon  authority  uot  to  be 
doubted,  that  Jacob  Grounds,  who  arrived  in 
the  township  in  1808,  was  the  first  permanent 
settler.  This  well  known  settler  had  an  un- 
usual education  for  a  back-woodsman,  and  dur- 
ing his  long  and  eventful  life  was  prominently 
connected  with  all  public  improvements.  He 
came  to  the  township  immediately  after  it  was 
surveyed,  and,  selecting  a  fine  tract  of  land 
covered  with  a  magnificent  growth  of  sugar- 
maple  trees  (the  Trubj'  farm)  cut  and  prepared 
logs  for  a  rude  dwellinir.  The  next  thing  was 
to  secure  assistance  to  raise  the  building. 
Families  at  Kendal,  Canton  and  New  Philadel- 
phia were  notified,  two  men  responding  from 
the  former  place,  five  from  the  next  and  three 
from  the  latter,  the  man  from  Canton  being  the 
Count}-  Treasurer  and  the  one  from  New  Phila- 
delphia being  a  lawyer.  Here  in  this  rude  log 
dwelling,  surrounded  by  the  untouched  forest 
and  a  great  variety  of  wild  and  savage  animals, 
the  Grounds  family  lived  in  solitude  for  eighteen 
long  months.  They  were  dreary  ones  to  the 
family,  who  were  accustomed  to  better  things 
in  the  Eastern  States  ;  but  they  bore  the  trials 
and  dangers  without  complaint,  though  many 
times  they  pressed  upon  them  like  the  sphere 
of  Atlas.  At  that  time  bears  were  quite  nu- 
merous, occasionally  dangerous,  and  often 
troublesome.  They  were  not  troubled  with 
conscientious  scruples,  like  a  certain  ecclesias- 
tical sect,  as  regards  the  eating  of  swine's  flesh. 
On  the  contrary  they  lost  no  opportunity  of 
filling  themselves  to  the  muzzle  with  flesh  of 
the  genus  Sus.  Even  as  early  as  1808,  quite  a 
number  of  swine  ran  wild  in  the  woods,  and 
ten  years  later  they  had  become  verj'  numerous. 
They  required  no  care  from  the  settlers,  as  they 
could  sustain  themselves  the  year  round  on  the 
enormous  quantities  of  "  mast ''  that  strewed 


l^ 


SUftAK    CREEK    TOWNSHIP. 


523 


tbe  grouud  at  all  seasons.  The}'  became  very 
fat  (.iuriiig  tbe  fall  of  the  year,  often  attaining 
a  weight  of  500  pounds.  They  were  ver^'  wild 
and  were  about  as  difficult  to  kill  as  deer. 
Dispute.*  about  the  ownership  of  swine  were  of 
frequent  occurrence.  Litters  of  pigs  were 
raised  in  the  depths  of  the  woods,  and  were 
very  likely  not  seen  by  the  owners  until  they 
were  half-grown.  Extensive  systems  of  ear- 
marking were  devised  and  adopted,  though  this 
did  not  wholly  avoid  angrj-  contentions  and 
occasional  primitive  law-suits.  Stories  told 
about  the  swine  and  vouched  for  by  the  early- 
settlers  are  hard  to  believe.  It  is  related  by- 
Mr.  Agler,  of  Beach  City,  whose  father  was  one 
of  the  earliest  settlers,  tiiat  William  Smoyer.  an 
eccentric  old  bachelor,  who  owned  a  large  num- 
ber of  swine,  assisted  one  day  by  Henry  Wyant, 
another  early  settler,  went  into  the  woods  to 
shoot  several  of  his  (attest  swine.  Perhaps 
Mr.  Agler's  father  accompanied  them.  As  they 
approached,  quite  a  large  herd  of  swine,  with 
bristles  erect  and  mouths  open,  made  for  the 
settlers,  who  immediately  took  to  their  heels. 
After  running  around  until  they  were  tired  out, 
and  findiug  that  the  swine  were  more  deter- 
mined than  ever  to  tear  them  in  pieces,  they 
finally  treed  to  escape  the  savage  animals. 
This  had  to  be  done  quickly  and  the  guns  were 
neeessarilj-  dropped.  Here  the  men  were  com- 
pelled to  remain,  perched  in  the  trees  like  owls, 
and  no  doubt  looking  owlish  and  feeling  the 

1  same,  until  the  morning,  not  daring  to  venture 
down  amid  the  surging  animals,  that  seemed 
possessed  of  the  same  spirit   that  once  took 

:   refuge    in    ancestral   swine   in   ancient   times. 

;  '-The  hog  is  an  animal  that  is  all  appetite," 
says   Josh    Billings  ;   and  this  fact  no   doubt 

:   prompted  them  to  leave  the  settlers  for  their 

!   feeding   grounds  about   breakfast    time.     The 

I  guns  were  found  tramped  and  bitten  and  con- 
siderably injured.     The  sequel  does  not  show 

I  whether  the  settlers  obtained  the  desired  swine 
on  that  occasion.  Probably  not,  as  soon  after- 
ward a  large  pen  was  built  and  a  bait  of  corn 

I  placed  therein,  so  that,  by  means  of  a  trap,  the 
pen  could  be  closed  at  will.     In  this  manner, 

I   after  a  little  patient  waiting,  swine  were  caged 

]  and  then  shot.  It  is  said  that  the  tusks  of 
many  swine  of  the  masculine  gender  were  six 

I  inches  long,  and  the  snouts,  when  thus  armed, 
were  frightful  looking  implements  of  destruc- 
tion (if  the  figure  mav  be  allowed). 


So  far  as  known,  the  second  settler  in  the 
township  was  Joshua  ("arr.  w-ho  located  in 
the  northern  part  in  1810.  He  built  a  rough 
cabin,  which  was  erected  by  settlers  in  neigh- 
boring townships,  and  into  which  his  familj- 
immcdiately  moved.  Until  about  the  year 
1815,  the  settlers  came  in  very  slowly  ;  but  by 
about  1823  almost  or  quite  all  the  land  in  the 
township  had  been  entered,  largely  l)y  the 
men  whose  names  appear  above.  Samuel  Hale 
arrived  in  the  township  soon  after  (,'arr.  the 
same  j-ear,  and  within  the  next  four  or  five 
3'ears,  there  appeared  Andrew  Petro.  David. 
Peter  and  John  Weimer,  John  and  (Jabriel 
Putnam,  Joseph  Payser.  Jedediah  and  Calvin 
Brewster,  John  Mason.  Jacob  Heed,  Michael 
Hoffacre,  Abraham  Beals,  John  B3-all.  Ben- 
jamin and  Aquila  Carr,  Michael  Douds.  Patrick 
Pelson,  and  several  others,  whose  names  are 
unfortunately  forgotten.  Calvin  Brewster  was 
elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  at  the  first  town- 
ship election,  and  Joseph  Paj-ser,  Sr.,  Constable. 
Soon  the  township  was  dotted  with  log  cabins, 
set  in  small  clearings  in  the  woods.  Roads 
were  mere  i)aths  through  the  thickets  and 
forests,  and  during  the  wet  seasons  of  the  year 
were  bottomless,  or  nearly  so  ;  they  wound 
around  from  cabin  to  cabin  on  the  higher  ridges, 
and  rude  log  bridges  were  built  across  the 
smaller  streams.  At  last,  county  roads  were 
surveyed  and  fitted  up  for  public  travel,  and 
after  manj-  years  the  township  was  crossed 
with  a  network  of  highways  that  served  the 
purpose  of  veins  and  arteries  in  commercial 
life.  Barbara  Poyser,  daughter  of  Jo.seph,  died 
during  the  summer  of  1812,  and  was  buried  on 
the  Poj-ser  farm.  This  was  the  first  death  in 
the  township.  The  first  marriage  was  that  of 
John  Reed,  son  of  Jacob,  to  Mary  Poyser.  on 
the  18th  of  April,  18i:5,  William' Henry,  Ksq., 
performing  the  ceremony.  The  newly  wedded 
couple  a  short  time  allerward  moved  to  Can- 
tt>n,  where  their  lives  were  passed.  The  husband 
died  in  1871,  aged  eighty-three  years.  The 
first  birth  was  that  of  Jacob  Poyser.  in  1813. 
The  first  military  training  was  that  of  a  com- 
pany of  militia,  of  which  John  Byall  was  Cap- 
tain. The  parade  or  muster  was  at  the  residence 
of  Jacob  Reed,  and  being  the  first  was  greatl3- 
cnjoyed  bv  the  settlers. 

.Man\-  tales  are  told  of  the  schemes  and  con- 
trivances to  get  along  in  early  j-ears.  Henrj' 
Wyant  and  William  Agler  each  owned    an  ox. 


^^ 


ii^ 


524 


HISTOKY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


A  joke  was  made  bj'  the  two  men,  and  the 
oxen  were  hitched  together,  and  for  a  number 
of  years  this  team  answered  all  purposes  for 
both  families.  A  large  tree  was  cut  down,  and 
oat  of  this  were  sawed  four  large  solid  wheels. 
These  were  furnished  with  openings  in  the 
center,  through  which  the  heavy  axles  passed, 
and  tires  of  strong  bark  were  fastened  on  the 
outer  edge.  The  front  axle  was  provided  with 
a  strong  tongue  :  the  hind  wheels  and  fore 
wheels  were  coupled  together  ;  and  upon  this 
rude  structure  was  placed  a  rough  wagon  bed. 
This  was  the  wagon  owned  in  partnership  by 
the  two  men.  This  is  only  one  of  manj-  in- 
stances of  a  similar  kind.  Often  the  families 
suffered  extremely  on  account  of  insufficient 
food  or  clothing.  Sometimes  they  were  com- 
pelled to  live  on  a  solitary  article  of  food  for 
weeks  together.  This  seems  a  dreadful  hard- 
ship, in  view  of  the  fiict  that  the  system  re- 
quires a  change  of  diet  comparatively  often. 
Physiologists  teach  that  three  kinds  of  food  are 
necessary  to  sustain  life ;  i.  <-.,  albuminoids, 
fats  and  sugars.  If  either  of  these  three  be 
withheld  from  the  diet,  suffering,  or  even  death, 
may  follow.  There  is  .seen  a  gradual  wasting 
awaj'  of  the  system,  although  the  appetite  con- 
tinues good.  This  truth  can  be  realized  by 
attempting  to  make  one  or  more  meals  on  one 
article  of  food.  It  is  why  we  don't  relish  bread 
without  buttei'.  or  something  answering  the 
same  purpose  in  the  sj-stem.  Potatoes  are 
almost  impalatable  without  grease.  The  latter 
alone  would  be  worse.  The  sj-stem.  through 
the  medium  of  the  appetite,  demands  these 
primarj-  food  elements  in  some  form  or  other. 
The  settlers  would  often  have  no  bread  of  any 
kind  for  weeks  at  a  time,  and.  when  it  did 
come,  so  great  was  the  hunger  of  the  family  for 
it,  that  the  whole  grist  was  devoured  within  a 
few  days,  and  the  semi-starving  process  was  re- 
peated. If  jour  boy  cries  and  sajs  :  "  Ma,  I 
want  some  butter  on  my  bread,"  do  not  repel 
him.  and  at  the  same  time  tell  him  that  the 
bread  is  all  right  without  the  butter.  His  appe- 
tite and  system  contradict  you  in  language 
easilj'  read,  and  not  easily  mistaken.  It  maj- 
be  seen  from  this  that  the  settlers  were  con- 
stantly violating  phj'siologieal  laws,  that  in 
time  would  result  disastrously  to  their  systems. 
Mr.  Agler  saj's  he  has  seen  his  mother  time 
and  again  pound  the  corn  that  furnished  the 
cake  that  was  baked  in  the  ashes  of  the  fire- 


place, and  that  was  their  onlj-  article  of  food 
for  the  meal.  This  was  often  rendered  neces- 
sary, especially  at  certain  seasons  of  the  year, 
on  account  of  the  inabilitj  of  reaching  some 
mill,  where  flour  or  meal  could  be  obtained. 
The  streams  were  different  in  early  j'ears  from 
what  they  are  at  present.  The  water  was  twice 
as  slow  in  running  off  then,  having  the  effect  of 
doublnig  the  size  of  all  streams.  There  were 
no  bridges,  as  the  floods  swept  away  these  frail 
structures  of  the  pioneers.  On  these  occasions 
the  roads  through  the  woods  apparently  drained 
all  the  land  within  several  rods  of  them  on 
either  side.  A  new  track  ct)uld  not  be  made 
without  cutting  down  many  trees  and  clearing 
awaj-  large  quantities  of  underbrush.  Thus  it 
was  that  settlers  were  obliged  to  do  without 
flour,  meal  and  other  supplies  until  the  roads 
became  passable,  which  was  often  after  months 
had  elapsed,  during  which  time  the  families 
subsisted  as  best  thej-  could.  But  little  difli- 
cultj'  was  experienced  in  getting  an  abundance 
of  meat.  Venison  could  be  obtained  in  abund- 
ance as  late  as  1820.  and.  to  some  extent,  ten 
or  fifteen  years  later.  But  the  flesh  of  the 
deer  was  too  drj'  without  additional  gi-ease. 
This  was  obtained  from  the  swine.  Every 
familj'  usuallj-  had  on  hand  an  ample  supplj-  of 
bacon  and  smoked  hams.  Indeed,  it  is  s.aid 
that  the  settlers'  diet  consisted  chiefly  of  pork, 
potatoes  and  corn-liread.  No  danger  of  starv- 
ing on  that  diet.  Judging  from  the  physical 
appearance  of  the  settlers,  the  conclusion  is  in- 
evitable that  enormous  quantities  of  the  above 
articles  were  consumed  by  the  pioneers  of 
Sugar  Creek  Township.  The  earliest  settlers 
frequently  enjojed  the  privilege  of  eating  a 
delicious  piece  of  bear  steak.  Although  this 
meat  is  said  to  have  a  peculiar  flavor,  it  is  also 
said  to  be  excellent.  Adventures  with  bears 
and  other  wild  animals  are  narrated.  Among 
the  noted  hunters  were  Henrj-  Willard  and 
Daniel  Truby.  These  men  are  said  to  have 
killed  large  numbers  of  bears.  It  is  stated 
that  Truby,  on  one  occasion,  killed  four  bears 
in  almost  as  many  minutes.  He  was  a  ••  dead 
shot, "  and  was  able  to  cock  his  rifle,  raise  it  to 
his  ej'e.  take  aim,  and  fire,  in  one  motion.  He 
apparently  used  his  mouth  for  a  bullet-pouch, 
as  whenever  he  wanted  a  bullet  it  was  obtained 
from  that  locality.  It  is  stated  that  he  was 
hunting  one  day  on  Sugar  Creek,  and,  while 
walkiuii  along  with  ear  and  eve  on  the  alert  to 


¥^ 


>LGA1{    CKEEK    TOWNSHIP. 


detect  the  presence  of  any  desircfl  jrame.  his 
attention  was  arrested  bv  an  unusual  noise  in 
a  ravine  near  him.  r^omethinsr  seemed  to  be 
rnstlino:  the  dead  leaves,  and.  as  cautiously  as 
an  Indian,  the  hunter  approached  the  spot  to 
ascertain  the  cause.  He  reached  the  brink  of 
the  ravine,  and  peered  over,  and  saw  a  large 
mother  bear  and  two  half-<rrown  cubs.  The 
mother  was  pawin«r  up  the  leaves,  and  appar- 
ently covering  some  object  with  them,  while 
the  cubs  rolled  idly  on  the  autumn-  leaves. 
The  hunter  coolly  took  deliberate  aim.  and.  as 
the  sharp  report  rang  out  on  the  air.  the  mother 
fell  to  the  ground,  with  a  bullet  through  her 
head,  in  tlie  agonies  of  death.  The  cubs  ran 
to  their  de.id  mother  for  that  protection  never 
before  denic<l  them,  but  the  hunter  (piickly 
dispatched  them  in  turn  by  rapid  shots  from 
his  unerring  rifle.  Mr.  Truby  was  no  novice  at 
bear-hunting,  and  he  well  knew  that  Mr.  Bear 
could  not  be  far  distant.  He.  therefore,  con- 
cealed himself  and  patiently  awaited  the  ap 
pearance  of  the  bear  whose  family  had  been 
ruthlessly  murdered.  After  two  or  more  hours, 
and  just  before  dark,  he  heard  a  shuffling  in 
the  leaves  below  him  in  the  ravine,  and  a  few 
moments  later  saw  a  large  bear  approaching. 
It  came  slowly  on.  and.  when  within  aliout 
fifteen  rods  of  the  spot  where  its  family  had 
been  left,  it  placed  its  fore-feet  on  a  fallen  tree, 
and.  after  sniffing  the  air  a  few  times,  uttered  a 
peculiar  whine.  Not  receiving  the  exppcte<l 
answer  from  its  mate,  it  movetl  on  rapidly 
toward  the  scene  of  the  tragedy.  It  reached 
the  spot,  and  moved  around  among  its  kindred 
dead.  and.  aa  Mr.  Truby  thought  it  might  start 
off  suddenly  and  elude  him.  he  fired,  giving  it 
a  mortal  wound,  and.  walking  up.  gave  it  a  sec- 
ond shot  that  stretched  it  dead  on  the  leaves 
beside  its  family. 

It  is  related  of  Henry  Willard  that,  on  one 
occasion,  he  kille<l  a  mother  bear  and  two  cubs 
under  the  following  circumstances  ;  He  owned 
a  fine  heifer,  which  ran  in  the  woods  with  other 
cattle,  and  was  the  pride  of  its  owner.  While 
at  his  mill,  on  Sugar  Creek,  one  day.  he  heard 
his  heifer  liawling  as  if  in  the  greatest  distress. 
He  snatche<l  up  his  rifle  and  ammunition  in  a 
hurry,  and  ran  out  through  the  wcxhIs  toward 
the  spot,  rightly  surmising  the  cause  of  the  dis- 
turbance. As  he  approached  the  spf>t  on  the 
run.  he  saw  that  a  large  liear  had  thrown  his 
heifer  to  the  ground,  and   was  busv  tearing  it 


with  teeth  and  claws,  despite  the  continued 
bawlings  of  the  unfortunate  animal.  Mr. 
Willard  did  not  hesitate  long  what  to  do.  He 
took  quick  aim.  and  sent  a  bullet  through  the 
bear's  head.  The  cubs  were  also  immediately 
shot.  The  poor  heifer,  to  the  great  sorrow  of 
its  owner,  was  so  terribh'  torn  and  lacerated 
that  it  was  found  necessary  to  shoot  it.  It 
was  a  long  time  before  Mr.  Willard  recovered 
■from  his  wrath. 

With  the  multiplication  of  settlers,  industries 
began  to  spring  up  in  various  parts  of  the  town- 
ship, to  supply  much-needed  articles  nearer 
home.  As  early  as  1810.  Henry  Willard  built 
a  grist-mill  on  Sugar  Creek.  It  was  a  frame 
building,  about  thirty  feet  square,  and  two  sto- 
ries in  height.  A  Ijig  dam  wa.s  built  across  the 
creek,  and  the  mill  was  supplied  with  water  by 
means  of  a  race,  in  the  usual  manner.  A  large 
breast-wheel  coramunicate<l  motion  to  the  ma- 
chiuerv.  by  means  of  rude  wooden  shafting. 
Two  sets  of  '•  nigger-head  "  stones  wei-e  placed 
in  the  mill,  one  for  wheat  and  the  other  for  corn. 
A  pas'ing  patronage  was  early  obtained,  which 
steadily  increased  as  time  advancetl.  This  mill 
was  of  great  value  to  the  settlers  in  the  township; 
it  saved  troublesome  journeys  to  distant  places, 
and  added  to  the  attractiveness  of  the  township 
as  a  place  in  which  to  reside.  After  it  had 
continued  in  operation  some  fifteen  or  twenty 
years,  a  .^Ir.  Bell  assumed  ownership  and  con- 
trol of  the  mill,  which  was  enlarged  and  im- 
proved, and  a  saw-m  II.  to  be  run  by  water  from 
the  same  dam.  was  erected.  Mr.  Bell  also 
built  an  extension  to  the  grist-mill,  in  which 
was  placed  machinery  necessary  for  carding, 
spinning,  weaving  and  dressing  cloth.  This 
occupation  was  followed  quite  extensively,  in 
connection  with  the  running  of  the  grist-mill 
and  saw-mill,  for  some  half  dozen  years,  when 
Mr.  Bells  mysterious  death  caused  it  to  slop. 
It  is  said  that  .Mr.  Bell  was  in  the  habit  of 
di inking  to  excess  :  and  one  day  he  was  found 
dead  on  the  road  leading  to  a  neighboring  dis- 
tillery. His  head  was  found  immersed  in  a 
small  creek,  and  it  was  surmise<l  that  he  had 
become  drunk,  and.  having  fallen  into  the  creek, 
was  drowned.  Some  whisper  of  foul  play,  but 
this  view  is  probably  erroneous.  The  carding 
mill  was  not  abandoned,  but  Mr.  Bell's  two 
sons.  Phillip  and  (Je<jrge.  continued  the  three 
mills  many  years.  At  last  the  factory  was 
abandoned,   and  some  ten  vears  ago  the  saw- 


flse 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


mill  was  also  permitted  to  run  down.  Some 
twenty-five  or  tbirty  years  ago,  the  entire  prop- 
erty' passed  to  Jonathan  Barr,  wlio  has  owned 
it  ever  sinee.  The  grist-mill  has  been  greatly 
improved  in  every  way  during  the  long  years 
of  its  continuance.  It  lias  the  reputation  of 
having  no  superior  in  the  county.  Custom 
work  was  abandoned  some  years  since,  and  the 
mill  at  present  has  an  enormous  merchant  trade. 
The  quality  of  Hour  produced  has  uo  superior 
in  the  market.  Henr^-  Oroniuger  built  a  distil- 
ler}-  at  an  early  da^',  about  half  a  mile  north  of 
the  mill.  He  owned  two  copper  stills,  each 
having  a  capacit}'  of  about  twent3--five  gallons. 
Whisky  was  distilled  on  shares,  at  the  rate  of 
from  one  to  three  barrels  per  day,  and,  after 
probably  ten  or  twelve  years,  the  enterprise 
was  permitted  to  die.  This  was,  probably,  the 
most  extensive  distillery  ever  in  the  township. 
It  was  not  the  on  13-  one  by  several  odds. 

A  Mr.  King  built  a  saw-mill  near  the  center 
of  the  township,  at  an  early  day.  It  was  located 
on  a  small  stream  called  King's  Run.  and,  for 
a  number  of  j'ears,  did  good  work.  John  Edgar 
also  built  and  operated  one  a  few  years  later. 
Tills  was  located  on  Sugar  Creek,  above  the 
King's  Mill.  It  was  an  excellent  mill  in  its 
time,  and  ran  until  a  few  years  ago.  There 
were  a  few  other  saw-mills  in  the  township  in 
earlj' 3'ears.  A  man  named  Kilgore  owned  and 
operated  a  grist-mill  in  the  township  many 
years  ago.  It  is  said  that  at  one  time  in  early 
years,  there  were  no  less  than  seven  distilleries 
in  the  township,  the  owners  being  Henry  Croniii- 
ger,  Jacob  Grounds,  Joseph  Bechtel,  and  four 
others  whose  names  are  forgotten.  Several  of 
them  did  quite  a  lively  business  in  honor  of 
Bacchus. 

Four  villages  have  sprung  up  in  the  town- 
ship. Justus  Station  dates  its  beginning  from  the 
time  the  Tuscarawas  Valley  &  Wheeling  Rail- 
road was  completed,  some  nine  or  ten  years 
ago.  There  are  four  or  five  dwellings,  a  large 
frame  United  Brethren  Church,  and  one  or  two 
stores  in  the  village.  George  Wilhelm  has 
quite  a  respectable  store  there.  In  time,  the 
village  will  secure  a  population  of  several 
hundred.  Plainsburg  was  first  known  as  Stam- 
baughtown,  named  for  Henrj'  Stambaugh,  a 
Justice  of  the  Peace  and  pettifogger,  who  re 
sided  there  with  several  of  his  grown  sons. 
He  owned  a  farm,  and  in  time  a  tailor  named 
Conrad  opened  a  shop  there  and  began  work  in 


his  line,  as  did  also  a  cabinet-maker  named 
Sprankle.  The  little  village,  if  such  it  can  be 
properly'  termed,  has  been  known  b^'  a  variety 
of  names,  some  of  which  it  has  refused  point- 
edlj'  to  recognize.  In  tlie  estimation  of  the 
residents  there,  some  villian  of  the  darkest  d^-e 
bestowed  upon  the  unpretentious  village  the 
peculiarly  suggestive  cognomen  ■  Slabtovvn," 
This  met  with  stern  and  uncompromising  op- 
position on  the  part  of  the  villagers,  who  looked 
upon  the  man  as  an  impostor,  and  his  conduct 
as  a  delusion  and  a  snare.  Latterly,  to  the  joy 
of  the  villagers,  the  name  Plainsburg  has  pre- 
vailed. Within  the  last  few  ^-ears,  Plainsburg 
has  attained  considerable  prominence  as  a  berry 
producing  locality.  Large  quantities  of  rasp- 
berries, strawberries,  blackberries  and  grapes 
are  produceil  annually,  and  shipped  from  the 
railroad  station  at  Beach  City  to  distant  points. 
Beach  City  had  its  origin  with  the  erection  of 
the  Willard  grist-mill  in  1816.  This,  together 
with  Mr.  Willard's  residence,  and  the  residence 
and  distillery  of  Henry  Croninger,  constituted 
what  was  then  known  as  Willard's  Mills,  until 
1830,  approximately,  when  Mr.  Bell,  who  then 
assumed  ownership  of  the  mill,  opened  a  small 
store,  in  which  was  placed  a  stock  of  goods 
valued  at  perhaps  $300.  After  this,  largely 
through  the  influence  of  the  Bell  family,  several 
families  locatetl  at  what  then  became  known  as  a 
little  village  by  the  name  of  Bells  Mills.  P.  V. 
Bell  became  a  prominent  man  largely  on  account 
of  his  pecuniar^'  influence.  As  has  been  said,  he 
greall}-  improved  the  old  Willard  grist-mill, 
and  began  doing  merchant  work,  hauling  the 
flour  in  a  six-horse  wagon  to  the  canal,  whence 
it  was  con\'eyed  to  market.  He  was  respected 
and  trusted  by  the  people,  who  loaned  their 
money  to  him  without  a  dout)t  that  it  would  be 
forthcomingaecording  to  agreement.  The  store 
was  conducted  on  an  extensive  scale  from  a 
fine  general  assortment  of  goods  valued  at 
about  $8,000.  But,  notwithstanding  Mr.  Bell's 
honest  intention,  he  finally  failed  in  business, 
and  his  creditors  received  little  or  nothing  for 
their  pains  to  accommodate.  But  the  farmers 
in  the  neighborhood  did  not  relish  the  idea  of 
having  no  store  at  the  mills  ;  so  they  formed  a 
sort  of  stock  coinpiiny.  with  a  paid-up  capital 
of  some  .><7,<M))I.  ;iik1  invested  this  amount  in 
goods,  placing  in  the  store  two  men,  who  came 
well  recommended,  to  dispose  of  the  goods. 
Things  progressed  smoothly  for  a  few   years. 


■,v 


Vv 


SIGAR    CHEEK    TOWNSHIP. 


537 


when  suddenly,  like  a  clap  of  tlmnder  in  a 
clear  skj-,  the  sad  news  flashed  abroad  that  tlu; 
enterprise  had  collapsed.  Eastern  creditors 
caiue  forward,  and  the  two  clerks,  with  vvell- 
Hlled  purses  and  eyes  no  doubt  undergoing  a 
series  of  chronic  winks,  pushed  with  greater 
haste  and  secres\'  for  the  West  than  accorded 
with  their  usual  demure  movements.  Assign- 
ees were  appointed  by  the  court,  the  stock- 
holders were  called  on  for  an  additional  sum  of 
money,  and  in  a  short  space  of  time  the  ••  stock- 
store  "  was  a  sorrowful  remembrance  of  the 
past.  Getty  &  Converse,  with  a  portion  of  the 
same  goods,  about  ?;],r)(J((  worth,  carried  on  a 
store  for  a  short  lime,  and  then  sold  to 
Col.  lliraui  Heed,  who  continued  a  few  years, 
securing,  in  the  meantime,  a  post  office  at  the 
village,  lie  flnallj'  closed  his  goods  out  at 
auction.  Welty  &  Weitmer  opened  a  store 
eight  or  ten  years  ago,  but  soon  afterward 
failed  and  made  an  assignment.  About  this 
time  Eli  Ax  built  a  brick  building  at  a  cost  of 
some  $2,500.  placing  in  one  apartment  about 
$4,(100  worth  of  goods,  consisting  of  groceries 
and  provisions.  Drs.  A3-ers,  Kobiuett  and 
David  Crise  opened  a  drug-store  some  six  years 
ago.  William  Hatt'  has  a  $2,000  clothing  store. 
Hiram  Brown  has  a  $5,000  drug-store.  John 
Hoss  opened  a  hardware  store  tv\o  years  ago. 
Hay  &  Felro  ha\e  a  line  dry  goods  store. 
Henry  Rose  l)uilt  a  large  tavern  about  nine 
years  ago.  It  has  changed  owners  many  times 
since.  William  Agler  is  at  present  keeping 
hotel  in  another  building.  Thus  the  village 
has  two  hotels,  (ieorge  Crise  owns  a  plaining 
mill,  which  was  built  and  started  seven  years 
ago  bv  four  men.  Mr.  Linn  is  a  saddler.  Fel- 
lows Brothers  have  a  wagon-shop.  Kyle 
Brothers  built  a  large  gristmill  last  summer, 
placing  therein  three  sets  of  stone.  They  have 
alreaily  ({uite  a  custom  trade.  The  motor  is 
steam.  J.  .M.  Shetler  built  a  warehouse  about 
eight  years  ago.  He  buys  and  ships  consider- 
able grain.  Mr.  Bell,  also,  in  his  time,  carried 
on  the  warehouse  business.  Beaeh  City  was 
not  properly  laid  out  and  recorded  until  the 
presence  of  the  railroad  rendered  this  necessarj'. 
At  this  time,  J.  M.  Shetler,  who  owned  the  land 
where  the  business  portion  of  the  village  now 
sUuids,  secured  the  services  of  Amos  Woodling, 
8tark  County  Surveyor,  and  in  March,  1872, 
laid  out  thirty-eight  lots  of  the  usual  size. 
Two  additions  have   since  been   made  bv   Mr. 


Shetler.  one  of  forty -one  lots  and  the  other  of 
i  seventy-three,  making  a  total  of  152  lots.  The 
]  lots  were  sold  for  prices  ranging  from  $100  to 
$200.  The  town  was  named  in  honor  of  an 
I  engineer  on  the  Valley  Railroad.  The  name 
j  Streatorville,  for  a  railroad  otlicial,  came  very 
j  nearly  being  liestowed  upon  the  village.  It  is 
I  a  livel3-  little  place,  and  has  a  population, 
I  according  to  the  census  of  1880,  of  282. 

Wilmot  is  a  much  older  town  than  Beach 
City.  It  was  laid  out  by  Jacob  and  Henry 
Wyant,  owners  and  proprietors,  in  April,  1830. 
Fifty-seven  lots  were  laid  out  by  John  Whit- 
acre,  County  Surveyor,  to  which  additions 
were  afterward  made.  George  Pfouts  opened 
the  first  store  there,  near  the  time  the  village 
was  laid  out.  He  started  with  a  few  hundred 
dollars'  worth  of  goods,  but  at  the  expiration 
of  a  few  years  sold  out,  or  at  least  removed  his 
goods,  anil  was  succeeded  by  George  Frease. 
John  Frease  owned  the  store  soon  after  this, 
and  finally  it  passed  into  the  control  of  J.  &  J, 
Frease,  who  conducted  it  until  near  1850,  when 
the  old  stock  was  purchased  by  Weimer  & 
Hurrah,  who  increased  it,  and  three  years  later 
sold  to  VN'elly  &  Jarvis.  Samuel  Jarvis  owned 
the  store  about  1850,  and  then  sold  to  Sager  & 
Gilmore.  A  year  later,  .Mr.  Wyant  took  Mr. 
Gilmore's  place,  and  the  partnership  continued 
thus  until  some  time  during  the  last  war,  when 
Sager  abandoned  the  enterprise  and  Wyant 
continues  it  yet.  Shunk  &  Bash  owned  a  store 
in  Wilmot,  beginning  about  1805.  Last  year 
their  stock  was  closed  out  at  auction.  Putnam 
&  Wyant  own  a  store  in  the  village  at  pri!sent. 
A  post  office  was  located  at  the  village  about 
the  time  it  was  first  laid  out.  (ieorge  Pfouts 
being  the  first  Postmaster.  Wyant  &  Putnam 
began  conducting  a  foundry  and  repair-shop 
not  far  from  1830,  manufacturing  plows,  stoves, 
hollow-ware,  and  various  other  useful  articles 
and  implements.  Motion  for  the  machinery 
was  secured  by  means  of  a  large  tread-wheel, 
upon  which  cattle  or  horses  were  obliged  to 
walk — a  sorry  life  for  the  dumb  brutes.  These 
partners  continued  the  business  until  the  death 
of  Mr.  Wyant,  when  the  ownership  passed  to 
Putnam,  Johnson  &  Co.  These  men  extended 
the  scope  of  the  enterprise,  and  altered  it  in 
man^-  essential  respects.  This  was  about  184(5, 
and  at  this  time  the^'  began  manufacturing 
threshing  machines.  The  machine  was  not  a 
separator,  as  it  sim|)ly  beat  the  grain  from   the 


^Tv^ 


HISTORY  OF    .STARK    COUNTY. 


straw.  Five  or  six  years  later  they  began  man- 
ufacturing the  well-known  "  Pitt  Separator," 
then  looked  upon  as  a  model  of  ingenious  in- 
vention and  execution.  The  companj'  did  a 
lively  manufacturing  business,  and  about  the 
beginning  of  the  last  war,  added  the  '•  Excelsior 
Reaper  and  Mower  "  to  their  catalogue  of  man- 
ufactures. It  is  said  that  more  than  a  hundred 
were  constructed  annually,  and  sent  for  sale  to 
various  parts  of  the  country.  Departments  of 
the  undertaking  have  been  abandoned  during 
the  years  since  1830.  About  five  years  ago, 
the  construction  of  reapers,  mowers  and  thresh- 
ers was  discontinued,  and  the  enterprise  is  at 
present  limited  to  the  mnnufac^ture  of  hay  rakes, 
hay  loaders,  a  few  thresliers,  ;i  few  plows,  and 
perhaps  a  small  quantity  of  hollow  ware.  Be- 
tween twenty  and  thirty  workman  have  been 
employed  by  this  conipauy  at  one  time.  In 
about  the  year  1850,  James  Alleu  established 
a  cabinet-shop  at  Wilmot,  and  began  manufact- 
uring considerable  furniture,  and  also  a  clover- 
huller  of  his  owu  patent,  which  sold  in  large 
numbers  readily  at  $05  each.  Tims  the  occu- 
pation was  continued  until  about  1852,  when 
under  a  patented  improvement,  Mr.  Allen  be- 
gan preparing  his  "huller  and  separator."  He 
ceased  the  construction  of  this  machine  about 
the  beginning  of  the  last  war,  and  after  con- 
tinuing an  exclusive  cabinet  br.siness  a  few- 
years,  sold  his  machinery  to  the  planing-mill 
company.  Lentz  &  Co.  established  a  woolen 
factory  in  the  village  about  the  year  1850. 
The3-  erected  a  large,  two-storied  frame  build- 
ing, and  began  carding,  fulling,  siiinning,  weav- 
ing, dressing  and  dyeing  cloth.  Charges  were 
made  for  so  much  per  yard.  A  small  stock  of 
yarns,  flannels,  satinets.  l)lankets,  eassimeres, 
etc..  was  kept  in  store  for  sale.  In  about  1853. 
.Samuel  Toomey  began  a  general  blacksmithing 
and  carriage-making  business  in  Wilmot.  He 
constructed  large  numbers  of  light  carriages 
and  buggies  for  ten  or  twelve  years,  and  then 
removed  to  Dover,  since  which  his  business  j 
has  assumed  gigantic  i)roportions.  When  he 
first  began  the  industry,  he  charged  parties  to 
whom  he  sold  his  buggies,  not  to  permit  more 
than  two  persons  to  ride  in  one  at  a  time.  It 
is  said  that  these  identical  buggies,  yet  in  run- 
ning order,  are  capable  of  carrying  1,500  pounds, 
Heminger,  Bash  &  Co.  owned  and  conducted 
a  large  plaining-mill  a  number  of  years  ago. 
This  was  disposed  of  a  few  years  later,  and 


finally,  some  years  ago,  D.  Rust  &  Co.  erected 
a  mill  of  the  same  kind.  This  was  afterward 
destroyed  bj'  fire,  but  immediately  rebuilt. 
Hurrah  &  Co.  built  a  grist-mill  in  1873,  begin- 
ning a  fair  custom  trade  with  three  sets  of  stone. 
Since  1870,  merchant  work  has  been  done. 
Putnam  Brothers  bought  the  mill  a  few  j'ears 
ago.  and  greatly  improved  it.  The  motor  is 
steam  ;  and  the  flour  is  shipped  by  wagon  to 
Beach  City,  whence  it  is  conveyed  to  market 
by  rail.  Wilmot  was  laid  out  and  recorded  as 
Milton.  A  change  in  name  was  finally  effected, 
but  the  exact  date  when  this  was  accomplished 
is  not  given.  Much  more  might  be  said  to  the 
credit  of  the  little  village  of  Wilmot. 

The  schools  of  Sugar  Creek  did  not  spring 
into  life  and  activity  as  early  as  those  in  otiier 
portions  of  the  county,  obviously  from  the  fact 
of  the  township's  later  settlement.  There  is 
much  doubt  and  speculation  concerning  the 
first  school  taught,  and  it  is  not  pretended  that 
its  location  or  date  of  commencement  will  be 
given  with  mathematical  accuracj'.  A  log 
schoolhouse,  with  huge  fire-place  and  chimney, 
rough  clapboard  seats  and  desks,  and  heavy 
puncheon  floor,  stood  in  Wilmot  in  1825.  It 
was  probably  erected  as  early  as  1820.  as  sev- 
eral large  families  were  living  in  that  immedi- 
ate vicinity  at  that  date.  Some  eight  or  ten 
years  later,  the  old  house  was  replaced  by  a 
neat  frame  building.  This  was  used,  if  recol- 
lection is  correct,  until  about  the  year  1838  or 
1840.  when  a  small  brick  schoolhouse  usurped 
the  rights  of  the  old  one.  This  brick  house 
cost  about  *2,000,  and  was  used  continuously 
until  some  ten  or  twelve  years  ago,  at  which 
time  the  present  house  was  constructed  at  a 
cost  of  about  .$7,000.  The  house  is  a  fine  brick 
structure,  and  three  ter.chers  are  employed  to 
teach  the  youth  who  assemble  there  to  learn 
the  way  of  the  wise. 

The  schoolhouse  at  Beach  City  is  a  large, 
.square  frame  building  two  stories  in  height, 
and  was  constructed  at  a  cost  of  $2,500.  It 
was  erected  a  few  years  ago.  A  maximum 
price  of  $2.50  per  day  is  paid  teachers,  and 
about  1 10  scholars  are  enrolled.  It  is  thought 
by  several,  and  this  view  is  probably  cor- 
rect, that  the  first  school  in  the  township 
was  taught  in  the  Grounds'  neighborhood  by 
.Jacob  (irounds,  Mr,  Grounds  is  known  to  have 
taught  school,  and  it  is  not  probable  that  he 
would  allow  his  children  to  grow  up  about  him 


SUCJAH    CRKKK    TOWNSIIIR 


529 


unlettered.  He  very  likely  taught  eitiier  in  his 
own  cabin,  or  in  one  that  had  been  abandoned 
by  some  pioneer  family.  The  schoolhouse  at 
Paddy  Nelson's  Corners  was  built  as  early  as 
1830.  or.  perhaps,  it  was  only  partially  built. 
In  the  process  of  construction,  when  the  house 
was  about  two-thirds  completed,  the  settlers  in 
that  neighborhood  who  were  interested,  dis- 
obeyed the  behest  of  Dr.  Watts.  They  (|uar- 
reled.  and  the  house  was  neglected.  What 
troubled  them  was  its  location.  All  could  not 
be  suited,  and  disappointed  ones  were  mad  as 
March  hares  inconsequence.  It  is  said  the  god 
Moraus  was  so  addicted  to  fault-finding  that, 
when  the  first  man,  Prometheus,  was  created, 
the  gotl  objected  to  him  because  there  was  not 
a  window  in  his  breast,  through  which  his 
thoughts  might  be  seen.  At  last,  when  Aphro- 
dite was  created,  .so  perfect  was  she  that  the 
god  Momus  vexed  himself  to  death  because 
there  was  nothing  with  which  to  lind  fault.  It 
is  said  that  some  of  the  quarrelsome  settlers 
above  mentioned  were  almost  equally  as 
troubled.  The  house  was  completed,  but  when 
a  new  one  was  to  be  built  some  six  or  eight 
years  later,  the  same  opinions  and  desires 
clashed  as  they  had  before.  At  last,  Mr. 
Fisher  arose  in  the  school-meeting,  and,  by  a 
happy  thought,  proposed  in  extended  and  ap- 
propriate remarks,  that  a  portalile  house  be 
built,  and  made  a  motion,  amidst  great  laugh- 
ter to  that  effect.  This  had  the  eflect  of  clear- 
ing the  clouded  minds  of  the  settlers,  removing 
their  selfish  prejudices,  and  quickening  int<j  life 
their  fund  of  reason  and  common  sense.  The 
result  was  that  a  house  was  speedily  built,  but 
it  was  not  portable.  Another  house  was  built 
a  number  of  years  later,  but  was  shortly  after- 
ward destroyed  by  fire.  Another  was  built, 
and  it  was  also  burned  to  the  ground.  Then 
the  present  house  was  erected.  Take  it  all  in 
all,  the  district  has  had  (piile  a  time  with  its 
school,  has  it  not  ?  From  1815  to  1830,  the 
various  school  districts  were  created  and  pro- 
1  vided  with  schoolhouses.  It  may  be  truly  said, 
in  conclusion,  that  the  township  is  well  supplied 
with  good  schools. 

The  church  historj-  of  the  township  is  fully 
as  indefinite  as  the  school  history.  The  United 
Brethren  and  the  Methodist  Episcopal  denomi- 
nations each  have  a  fine  brick  church  at  Beach 
City.  They  were  both  built  in  1875  at  a  cost, 
each,   of  about   $4,500.      The   two   buildings 


look  very  much  alike.  Each  has  a  fair  congre- 
gation, and  l)otli  are  doing  well.  The  Weimer 
Church  (United  Brethren)  is  said  to  have  been 
built  as  early  as  1S25.  It  was  a  log  building 
at  first,  and  was  used  as  a  combined  church, 
schoolhouse.  town-hall,  etc.;  but  at  last,  in 
about  1835.  it  was  burned.  The  present  house 
has  been  used  since.  The  Bose  Church 
(Lutheran)  was  constructed  at  an  early  day  of 
logs.  It  had  a  strong  congregation  at  first, 
but  after  a  time  the  raemljership  became  so 
small  that  the  meetings  were  irregular,  or  per- 
haps were  totally  discontinued  for  a  lime.  The 
present  frame  liouse  was  built  about  thirtj- 
three  years  ago.  The  Welty  Church  (IJnited 
Brethren)  was  built  nearly  thirty  years  ago. 
It  began  with  a  membership  that  was  in  earn- 
est, and  soon  the  society  was  in  fine  financial 
condition.  It  has  been  one  of  the  best  churches 
in  the  townshij).  The  Baptist  Church,  toward 
the  northein  part,  was  built  at  least  forty  years 
ago,  but  did  not  continue  longer  than  .about 
twenty  years.  On  still  farther  north  is  the  Bun- 
ker Hill  Church  (Methodist  Episcopal),  which  is 
said  to  have  been  built  first  some  fifty  years  ago. 
It  has  not  been  used  for  the  last  thirty  years. 
The  Lutheran  (^liurch,  at  the  cross-roads,  was 
first  built  of  logs  about  fifty-five  years  ago. 
This  was  afterward  replaced  by  a  frame  church. 
The  Evangelical  Church  was  built  some  forty 
years  ago,  and  has  lieen  used  until  the  present. 
It  is  yet  a  good  church.  The  Methodists  used 
to  hold  services  in  this  house,  but  now  they 
have  one  of  their  own.  The  United  Brethren 
built  a  churcii  in  1870  whic-h  cost  about  $3.0iHI. 
The  Albrights  also  built  a  church  some  twenty 
years  ago.  No  country  township  in  the  county 
has  a  greater  opportunity  for  religions  privileges 
than  Sugar  Creek,  ('hurciies  are  found  numer- 
ous as  people  are  found  moral.  They  are 
never  built  until  the  need  of  them  is  felt. 
Before  a  church  was  built  in  the  township, 
various  religious  societies  were  instituted,  and 
meetings  were  conducted  in  the  settlers'  cabins. 
It  is  said  that  in  early  years,  a  revival  was  held 
at  the  cabin  of  John  Weimer  for  six  cousecu- 
tive  weeks,  the  most  intense  religious  enthusi- 
asm prevailing  throughout  the  neighborhood  at 
the  time.  Similar  revivals  were  held  in  other 
residences.  Surrounded  with  such  inlluences, 
and  directed  by  such  teachers,  it  is  no  wonder 
that  the  children  grew  up  with  love  in  their 
:  hearts  for   God   and   mankind. 


.fr 


jdf 


HISTOKY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


CHAPTER     XXVI.* 

PIKE  TOWNSHIP— TOPOGRAPHICAL  FEATURES— liOINDARlES   AM)  OKGAM/ATION— SKTTI.EMKNT 
BY  THE  WHITES— HARD  TIMES  — PIONEER  INCIDENTS  — SCHOOLS 
AND  CHURCHES  — VILLAGE,  ETC,  ETC. 


"  So  centuries  passed  by,  and  still  tlic  woods 

lilossoincd  in  S|iiinj;',  and  rrddcncd  wlien  the  veal' 
Ori'W  rinll,  and  ;;'listciird  in  the  frozen  rains 
Of  Winler,  till  tlie  wliite  man  swung  the  a.\ 
Within  them — siirnal  of  a  mighty  eliange." 

— Brt/ant. 
A  SECOND  and  a  third  generation  are  now 
xV.  enjoying  the  fruits  that  resulted  from  the 
toils  and  perils  of  their  industrious  and  frugal 
ancestors.  And  what  a  contrast  between  cir- 
cumstances and  appearances  then  and  now  ! 
The  tangled  forest  is  gone  ;  the  beasts  of  prey 
that  were  wont  to  prowl  through  its  gloomy 
depths,  have  disappeared :  the  war-whoop  of 
the  savage  is  no  longer  heard — his  wigwams 
ha\('  wasted  away  by  the  rot  of  time,  and  his 
council-fires  were  long  since  extinguished  by 
the  light  of  civilization.  The  white  man  came 
and  waved  his  wand  over  the  landscape,  and  all 
was  changed,  as  if  by  a  touch  of  Aladdin's 
wonderful  lamp.  Fertile  fields  bloomed  in  the 
glory  of  bountiful  harvests,  smiling  gardens 
sprang  up,  commodious  dwellings  arose,  school- 
houses  were  built,  edifices  were  erected  and 
dedicated  to  the  worship  of  Almighty  God. 
Indeed,  science  and  culture  have  wrought  a 
grand  transformation.  Had  these  multitudi- 
nous changes  been  foreshadowed  to  the  simple 
pioneer  seventy-five  years  ago,  he  would  have 
been  dumbfounded,  and  would  not  have  believed, 
"though  one  had  risen  from  the  grave"  to 
proclaim  them  to  him.  And  in  no  part  of  Stark 
County  has  the  march  of  civilization  left  plainer 
or  broader  traces  than  in  the  section  to  which 
this  chapter  is  devoted.  The  pioneer,  with  his 
rude  haliits  and  surroundings,  have  given  place 
to  all  the  modern  inventions  and  improvements 
that  go  to  make  life  pleasant  and  labor  a  pas- 
time ;  and  where,  three-quarters  of  a  centur3' 
ago,  our  ancestors  found  an  unbroken  forest, 
we  find  to-day  the  most  productive  and  fertile 
hills. 

Pike  Township  lies  in   the  extreme  southern 

*  Contribulfd  bv  W.  H,  Terrin. 


part  of  the  county,  and  is  bounded  on  the  north 
by  Canton  Township,  on  the  east  by  Sandy 
Township,  on  the  south  by  Tuscarawas  County, 
on  the  west  by  Bethlehem  Township,  and,  by 
the  census  of  1880,  had  1 ,500  inhabitants.  The 
surface  of  the  township  is  very  uneven,  and  much 
of  it  may  even  be  termed  hill}'.  Says  a  writer 
in  the  Canton  Rcposit<iry:  "  Pike  Township  is 
sometimes  called  the  Switzerland  of  Stark 
County,  from  a  fancied  resemblance  in  minia- 
ture to  that  rough  and  mountainous  country  of 
which  we  read  in  geography.  People  who  live 
in  the  more  level  portions  of  the  country  won- 
der, as  the}-  climb  the  steep  hills  of  Pike,  and 
descend  into  tlie  low  valleys,  whatever  possessed 
the  early  settlers  to  select  such  land,  when 
there  was  so  much  that  was  level  to  be  had  at 
(Jovernment  price.  And  what  is  stranger  still, 
that  the  present  inhabitants  should  continue  to 
slave  themselves  and  horses  plowing  up  and 
down  and  around  the  hills,  among  the  stumps 
and  stones,  when  the  rich  prairies  of  the  West 
offer  such  an  inducement  to  migrate  ;  but 

"There  is  a  divinity  tliat  shapes  oui  ends,"  etc., 

and  that  is  the  reason  that  Hannah  continues 
to  smoke,  and  follow  in  the  footsteps  of  her 
mother  and  grandmother,  and  Jacob  to  plow 
among  the  hills.  The  hills  of  Pike  are  under- 
laid with  wealth,  however,  such, as  their  outer 
surface  have  never  yielded.  In  the  language 
of  Col.  Mulberry  Sellers,  "there's  millions  in 
them."  Coal  mining  is  already  carried  to  a 
considerable  extent,  and  though  there  is  no 
means  of  transportation  but  wagons,  yet  all 
that  is  rained  finds  a  ready  market  in  Canton. 
With  convenient  railroad  facilities,  the  wealth 
of  Pike's  black  diamonds  would  prove  immense. 
The  agricultural  resources  of  the  township  lie 
principall}'  in  raising  corn,  wheat  and  grass, 
although  some  attention  is  paid  to  stock-raising. 
The  land  is  drained  by  the  Nimishillen,  Sandy 
and    Limestone    Creeks,   and    their  numerous 


^ 


riKE    TOWNSHIP. 


531 


branches.  The  Nimishitlen  passes  through  the 
eastern  part  from  north  to  south:  the  Limestone 
rises  near  the  center,  and  tlows  soutli  into  the 
Sandy,  which  merely  touches  tlie  southwest 
corner  of  the  township.  The  timber  consists 
principally  of  oali.  hickory,  sugar  maple,  beech, 
walnut,  elm,  etc.  The  township  has  no  railroad, 
and  lint  one  small  village. 

The  first  permanent  settlements  made  in 
what  is  known  as  Pike  Township  are  credited 
to  (ieorge  Young.  .James  Eakins.  John  Sluitt 
and  Jacob  Kemer\ .  Of  Eakins.  Shult  and 
Kemery,  but  little  is  remembered.  Kakins 
settled  on  the  farm  occupied  by  James  Evans, 
about  1808.  Sluitt  lived  to  tlie  age  of  ninety- 
two,  and  Kemery  eighty-four  years.  Young 
was  a  native  of  Maryland,  and  when  very  young 
went  to  Somerset  Co.,  Penn.,  where  he  married  at 
the  early  age  of  nineteen  years,  on  the  author- 
ity of  tlie  Bible,  perhaps,  that  '■  it  is  not  well 
for  man  to  be  alone."  Residing  for  a  few  years 
in  Pennsylvania,  he  emigrated  to  Ohio  and 
stopped  in  Jett'ersou  County.  He  remained 
here  several  years,  and,  having  accumulated  a 
sufHcienc3'  of  worldly  wealth  to  purchase  a 
couple  of  horses  and  a  few  agricultural  imple- 
ments and  other  actual  necessities,  he,  in  180G, 
decided  to  come  to  Stark  County,  He  leased  a 
piece  of  land  lying  in  Section  9  of  Pike  Town- 
siiip.  of  tlie  owner,  who  lived  in  Jeffer.son 
County.  With  provisions  to  last  them  on  the 
journey,  and  their  clothing  packed  on  one  of 
the  horses,  while  his  wife,  who  had  a  young 
baby,  rode  the  other,  he  set  out  for  his  new 
home.  With  his  trusty  rifle  as  a  means  of  de- 
fense antl  of  pnxuiring  food,  he  trudged  on  foot, 
leading  the  pack  horse  through  the  wilderness, 
and  along  Indian  trails.  Reaching  his  land,  he 
at  once  proceeded  to  construct  a  shelter  of 
poles  and  lirusli.  to  serve  as  a  protection  from 
storms  and  wild  beasts,  and  as  a  lodging-place 
at  nights.  His  nearest  neighbors  were  John 
Nichols,  then  building  a  mill  on  the  Xiraishillen, 
four  miles  to  the  northwest,  and  John  Farbcr, 
whose  land  was  in  Tuscarawas  County,  adjoin- 
ing the  boundary  line  of  Pike,  distant  five 
miles. 

The  incidents  in  the  life  of  this  pioneer 
family-  would  form  a  volume  of  interesting 
reading  matter.  They  worked  together  for 
weeks,  clearing  ground  and  preparing  it  for  a 
crop.  At  night,  until  the  horses  became  suf- 
ficiently used  to  the  place  not  to  stray  awaj-. 


the^'  were  tethered,  and  lived  and  grew  fat  on 
the  wild  pea  vines  which  grew  abundantly,  and 
wild  grxss.  After  completing  his  sowing  and 
planting,  .Mr.  Young  returned,  with  his  wife,  to 
Jetterson  County,  to  harvest  a  wheat  crop  in 
whii;h  he  had  an  interest.  After  the  wheat  was 
taken  care  of,  he  sold  his  share,  thus  securing 
means  with  which  he  purchased  a  cart,  and  a 
load  of  produce,  such  as  corn,  salt,  whiskey, 
tobai'co.  etc,  I'pon  becoming  the  owner  of  all 
this  property,  a  feeling  of  pride  came  over  him. 
ecpial,  perhaps,  to  a  king  who  acquires  a  new 
province.  While  in  Jefferson  County,  looking 
after  his  wheat  crop,  his  wife  found  a  home  for 
herself  and  child  with  the  settlers,  and,  liy 
hiring  to  them  to  weave,  not  only  supported 
herself  and  child,  but  made  some  money  be- 
sides. When  read^'  to  return  to  Pike,  Mr. 
Y^oung  put  his  horses  to  his  cart,  loaded  in  his 
stock  of  goods,  made  his  way  back  to  his  new 
home,  cutting  his  way  through  the  forest  after 
crossing  the  Sandy,  He  now  built  a  log  cabin 
of  the  usual  pioneer  style,  constructed  some 
rude  furniture,  which  served  for  their  wants. 
Persons  were  ncA  choice  then  about  their  hou.se- 
hold  furnishings,  and  black  walnut  furniture 
and  Brussels  carpets  were  luxuries  not  yet  in- 
vented. A  puncheon  served  for  a  table,  blocks 
for  chairs,  and  a  'sugar  trough"  for  a  cradle 
or  a  "  bread  tray,"  as  circumstances  required. 
The  first  winter  spent  by  the  Youngs  in 
Pike  was  a  long,  dreary  one,  and  little 
could  be  done  out-doors,  except  to  cut  down 
trees  and  prepare  firewood.  They  seldom 
saw  the  face  of  a  white  man  -indeed.  Crusoe 
on  his  de.scrt  island  was  not  more  lonely, 
or  more  exileil  from  human  ;iid  or  human  inter- 
course. Indians  were  roaming  over  the  country, 
and  often  called  for  something  to  eat.  They 
were  harmless.  Imt  would  frequently  frighten 
the  women  whc^n  alone.  .\n  incident  is  told  of 
Mrs.  Farber,  who,  going  out  one  evening  about 
dusk,  with  a  crock  of  milk,  to  put  in  some  cool 
place  to  keep  for  their  breakfast  next  morning, 
found  herself  upon  opi'uing  the  do(jr  and  step- 
ping out,  face  to  face  with  a  burly  Indian.  This 
so  frightened  the  good  woman  that  she  dropped 
the  crock  of  milk  and  fled  into  the  cabin, 
screaming  at  the  top  of  her  voice.  The  savage 
enjoyeil  the  joke  intensely  -  much  more  than 
she  did — walked  into  the  cabin  and  made  him- 
self quite  at  home,  but  harmed  no  one, 

Mr.  Young  lived   on  this  leased  land  until 


533 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


1811,  when,  bj'  the  closest  economy,  he  had 
accumulated  enough  to  enter  the  northwest 
quarter  of  Section  21,  and  upon  which  he 
erected  a  cabin.  He  improved  the  place,  and 
opened  up  a  farm  ujjon  which  he  lived  until  his 
death,  but  a  few  years  ago,  at  the  age  of  nine- 
t3-seven  years.  During  the  war  of  1812,  he 
was  drafted  three  times,  eacii  time  furnishing  a 
substitute.  While  soldiers  were  encamped  at 
Canton  and  Wooster,  he  furnished  them  beef 
cattle.  He  kept  a  store  at  iiis  residence  for 
many  years,  from  which  he  furnished  the  set- 
tlers such  articles  as  were  most  needed — such 
as  salt,  iron,  nails,  glass,  leather,  etc.  Mr. 
Young  was  of  German  extraction,  and,  like 
many  of  the  uneducated  of  that  race,  was  a 
little  disposed  to  believe  in  supernatural  agen- 
cies. He  believed  firmly  in  witches  and  witch- 
craft, and,  to  the  fact  of  his  being  '■  left-handed,  " 
he  attributed  his  power  over  them,  and  held 
firmly  to  the  opinion  that  they  were  unable  to 
gain  an  ascendency  over  him.  He  bought  a 
book  from  somebody  in  Canton  which  he  de- 
clared told  how  to  control  witches  and  other 
evil  spirits.  He  grew  out  of  these  views,  how- 
ever, as  civilization  broadened  and  deepened, 
and  he  became  more  enlightened,  and  lived  and 
died  respected  and  regretted  by  a  large  circle 
of  friends  and  acquaintances. 

Another  of  the  prominent  pioneer  families 
of  Pike  Township  was  that  of  Jonathan  Cable, 
who  settled  here  in  1811.  He  was  from  Somer- 
set Co.,  Penn.,  and  entered  the  southeast  quar- 
ter of  Section  27,  which  he  commenced  to  im- 
prove. With  the  help  of  a  hired  man,  he  put 
up  a  cabin  and  cleared  and  plowed  five  acres 
of  ground,  which  he  sowed  in  wheat.  He  had 
lived  in  Jefferson  Co.  the  year  previous,  and 
had  brought  provisions  enough  with  him  to  last 
while  building  his  caliin.  and  during  in- 
clement weather  he  spent  the  nights  in 
Young's  cabin.  In  the  spring  of  1812,  he 
moved  his  family  to  his  new  possessions, 
but  had  scarcely  become  settled  when  a 
notice  was  served  upon  him  that  he  had  been 
drafted  into  the  United  States  service,  and  that 
he  must  appear  at  a  certain  place  on  a  certain 
day,  properly  "armed  and  equipped  according 
to  law,"  or  furnish  a  substitute.  Here  was-  a 
"go,"  and  what  to  do  in  such  a  trying  scene 
was  a  rather  puzzling  question.  They  were 
comparatively  alone  in  the  wilderness  ;  Mrs. 
Cable  had   three  small  children,  the  eldest  less 


than  five  years  of  age  ;  neighbors  were  "  few 
and  far  between  ; "  rumors  of  Indian  depreda- 
tions were  thick  and  exciting,  and  the  thoughts 
of  being  left  alone  under  these  trying  circum- 
stances were  too  terrible  to  contemplate.  Mrs. 
Cable,  who  seems  to  have  been  in  this  family 
not  only  •'  the  power  behind  the  throne,  "  but 
the  "  power  that  was  greater  than  the  throne 
itself,"  determined  to  try  what  could  be  done. 
She  went  to  work,  and  finailj'  succeeded  in 
hiring  a  substitute,  for  which  she  paid  $60 — a 
sum  of  money  she  had  sa^■ed  up  while  keeping 
tavern  in  Jefferson  Co.  The  substitute  had  no 
gun,  and  she  was  thus  forced  to  part  with  their 
trusty  rifle,  which  caused  more  regret  than 
parting  with  the  $00,  for  she  had  become  an 
adept  in  the  use  of  it,  and  could  bring  down  a 
turkey  or  deer  at  as  long  range  as  most  of  the 
men.  But  she  kept  her  husl)and  at  home,  and 
there  was  consolation  in  that.  She  is  repre- 
sented as  a  woman  of  whom  there  are  few,  if 
any,  representatives  left.  A  local  writer  upon 
the  early  history  of  Pike,  terms  her  the  -  last 
of  the  old  guard,"  a  compliment  deserved  of 
her.  It  is  said  that  she  would,  after  she  had 
put  her  children  to  bed  at  night,  go  out  with 
her  husband,  assist  him  in  rolling  logs,  piling 
and  burning  brush  ;  that  she  could  split  rails, 
build  fence,  cut  cord-wood,  etc.,  and  that  in  the 
harvest  field  she  made  a  regular  hand.  We 
are  not  an  advocate  of  women  perlbrming  (or 
attempting  to  perform)  men's  woi'k,  nor  in 
favf)r  of  making  field  hands  of  the  fair  sex  ; 
but  we  do  glory  in  a  woman  who,  when 
emergencies  arise  requiring  it,  can  become,  in 
deed  and  in  truth,  a  helpmeet  to  her  husband. 
Mr.  Yant,  of  Pike  Township,  has  the  following 
of  Mrs,  Cable  in  a  communication  to  the  coun- 
ty- papers  a  few  years  ago  :  "  31rs.  Cable's 
maiden  name  was  Crise.  Her  mother  died 
when  she  was  five  da3S  old.  She  was  such  a 
diminutive  little  mortal  that  her  father  said  it 
was  useless  to  expect  to  raise  her.  She  was, 
however,  taken  by  Mrs.  Henlinc,  and  developed 
into  the  hardy  woman  we  have  described.  She 
is  in  the  enjoyment  of  good  health,  possesses  a 
retentive  memory,  and  is  in  her  eighty-fifth 
year.  I  am  indebted  to  her  for  a  number  of 
facts  and  incidents  in  those  sketches.  " 

Mr.  (able  died  in  1848.  Mr.  Yant  gives  the 
following  incident  of  him  :  "  Jonathan  Cable 
built  a  dozen  or  more  cabins  for  the  settlers, 
and  generally  camped  out  while  at  work.     Up- 


^^^ytr^XjMcTT^  -^,2) 


PIKE    TOWXSIIIP 


533 


on  one  of  these  occasions,  when  Mr.  Hippie  and 
one  his  boys  were  lielping  at  this  work,  the 
wolves  surrounded  them  in  great  numbers  after 
night,  wliile  laying  by  the  fire.  The  bo\-  became 
much  alarmed,  but  .Mr.  Cable  tooii  a  fire-brand 
in  each  hand,  ran  in  among  tliem,and  dispersed 
the  whole  pack."  One  more  incident  of  this 
pioneer  couple,  is  related  by  the  same  authority: 
■  Mr.  Cable  worked  a  sugar  camp  on  the  east 
side  of  the  Nimishillen,  and  Mrs.  Cable  would 
cross  in  a  canoe,  gather  in  the  sugar  water,  and 
l>ring  it  over.  Upon  one  of  these  occasions, 
the  stream  being  high  and  the  current 
rapid,  she  used  a  pole  to  push  the  canoe  through 
the  water,  and  while  making  the  utmost  exer- 
lion.s  to  head  the  craft  against  the  stream,  the 
end  of  the  pole  caught  in  her  dress,  and  threw 
her  out.  The  water  took  her  up  to  her  neck, 
l>ut  she  kept  hold  of  the  canoe  and  pushed  it 
ashore."  Mrs.  Cable  is  described  by  those  who 
know  her,  as  "  tall,  of  tine  form.  walk.s  erect,  a 
pleasant,  intelligent  countenance,  hearing  unim- 
paired and  eyesight  good."  She  is  still  living, 
and  nearly  ninety  j-ears  of  age,  hale  and  heart}', 
and  bids  fair  to  live  many  years  longer. 

In  1812,  the  settlement  was  augmented  bj- 
the  arrival  of  Pitnej-  Guest  and  Benjamin  Mil- 
ler. Guest  was  Miller's  son-in-law.  and  both 
families  hailed  from  New  Jersey.  Miller  was 
a  Revolutionary  soklier,  and  served  mostl}' 
under  (Jen.  Greene.  He  was  wounded  in  an 
engagement  with  Cornwallis  in  North  Carolina, 
Idit  remained  in  the  service  until  the  war  was 
over.  They  came  to  this  township  as  above, 
and  •'squatted  '  on  land  in  Section  lit,  sleeping 
in  their  wagons  until  they  could  get  up  a  cabin. 
Miller  died  in  1828,  and  the  old  Revolutionary 
hero  lies  buried  in  the  little  graveyard  at  Sandy- 
ville.  Guest  was  a  shoemaker,  and  by  working 
at  his  trade,  and  making  and  mending  shoes  for 
his  neighbors,  he  was  enabled  to  thus  procure 
many  of  tlie  necessaries  of  life.  He  had  a 
monopol}-  of  the  business,  .as  we  learn  there 
was  no  other  'cobbler"  in  the  settlement  for 
several  years.  He  was  drafted  in  the  war  of 
1812.  in. the  last  call  for  troops,  but  peace  was 
declared  before  he  was  ordered  to  the  front. 
The  first  three  years  he  spent  in  Pike  Township, 
ho  lived  on  Section  19.  then  sold  his  improve- 
ments for  $100,  and  entered  the  northeast  quar- 
ter of  Section  7,  the  place  now  owned  by  his 
son.  Washington  Guest.  The  elder  Mr.  Guest 
was  both  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  a  regularl}- 


ordained  minister  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and 
in  the  two  official  capacities  he,  perhaps,  united 
more  people  in  the  holy  bonds  of  wedlock  than 
anj- other  man  in  the  county.  He  could  do  up 
the  job  according  to  the  views  of  either  the  re- 
ligious believer  or  the  Ingersollian  skeptic — the 
one  he  would  unite  in  his  capacity  as  a  minis- 
ter, and  the  other  in  that  of  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace.  He  held  the  latter  office  for  more  than 
twenty  years,  and  was  a  just  and  upright  Judge. 
When  parties  came  to  him  for  "justice  under 
the  law,"  he  invarial)lj'  tried  to  compromise 
matters  between  them  without  a  lawsuit,  and  in 
this  manner  prevented  a  great  deal  of  bickering 
and  hard  feelmgs  among  his  neighbors.  He  is 
descril)ed  as  a  man  of  line  appearance,  sound 
judgment  and  more  than  ordinary  intelligence. 
He  was  killed  in  185(1,  by  l)eing  thrown  from  a 
wagon  during  the  running  away  of  the  team 
attached  to  it.  His  widow  died  in  1874,  at  the 
age  of  ninety-two  years.  During  the  year  of 
Mr.  Guest's  settlement,  Henry  Bordner  and 
Phillip  Seffert  came  into  the  neighborhood. 
The\'  were  men  of  some  enterprise  and  standing, 
and  were  both  elected  officers  upon  the  organi- 
zation of  the  township.  A  daughter  of  Bord- 
uer's  married  her  cousin,  John  P.  Bordner,  who 
was  a  great  sport  and  hunter,  and  also  a  suc- 
cessful farmer  for  that  earlj-  period. 

From  the  year  1812  to  1815  the  following  set- 
tlers came  in,  the  most  of  whom  entered  land 
and  engaged  in  opening  up  farms  :  Amos  Jan- 
ne}',  John  Russell,  Michael  Holm  and  his  son 
John.  George  Fetters,  Christian  Hippie,  John 
Bcchtel,  Daniel  Failer,  Jo.scph  Keel,  tlie  Hen- 
lines,  Keysers,  Schroyers,  Weavers,  Peter  Hock- 
ersmith  and  the  Howenstines.  Of  these  we 
have  not  been  able  to  learn  much,  beyond  the 
fact  of  their  early  settlement.  Janney  laid  out 
the  town  of  Sparta,  which  will  be  again  alluded 
to.  He  built  a  saw  and  grist-mill,  the  first  in 
the  township.  The  grist-mill  was  a  rather 
primitive  structure,  but  of  great  benefit  and 
advantage  to  the  settlers.  Mr.  Janney  was  an 
honest  man — asurvc\'or — and  is  represented  as 
a  man  who  had  an  eye  to  business,  but  was  ex- 
ceedingly careless  in  business  details,  and  con- 
sequently' less  prosperous  than  otherwise  he 
might  iiave  been.  Hi'  finally  removed  to  Indi- 
ana, where  he  died  some  years  later.  John 
Holm  and  his  father.  Michael  Holm,  came  from 
Maryland,  and  purchased  the  northwest  quarter 
of  Section  8  from  a  man  named  Andrews.     On 


;V" 


534 


IILSTOHY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


the  place  is  a  fine  spring,  wliieh.  in  early  times, 
was  a  great  resort  of  Indians.     Many  arrow-  t 
heads  and  other  Indian  trinkets  are  found  in  ; 
its  vicinity. 

Prier  Foster  was  a  •■  wandering  son  of 
Ethiopia's  fated  race,"  and  a  well-known  and 
well-remembered  early  settler  in  Pike  Township,  \ 
and  the  first  of  his  race  in  Stark  County.  His 
face  was  blacker  than  a  stoi-m-eloud,  and  his 
mouth  reminded  one  of  a  coal-pit,  set  around 
the  opening  with  marble  slabs.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  the  "  Oberley  Corner."  bj-  Squire  Coulter,  | 
in  the  year  1811,  to  a  comely  white  girl,  who  is 
represented  as  "  a  girl  of  good  sense  and  judg- 
ment, but  of  grossly  perverted  taste."  Foster 
was  a  hard-working,  industrious  man,  and 
possessed  great  physical  strength.  His  trade 
was  that  of  a  miller,  and  he  was  often  heard  to 
say  that  he  never  saw  the  horse  that  could 
carry  as  much  at  one  load  as  he  could.  The 
following  incident  is  related  of  the  Fosters  :  ! 
A  stranger  was  passing  Foster's  house  one  day  | 
and  stopijed  to  inquire  the  way  to  a  certain 
place.  IMrs.  Foster  was  alone,  and  in  reply  to 
the  inquiry  said.  "  My  dear  will  soon  be  in.  and 
he  can  tell  you."  Presently  Foster  made  his 
appearance.  The  stranger  in  utter  astonish- 
ment, looked  at  the  husband  and  then  at  the 
wife,  at  a  loss  how  to  reconcile  the  incongruity. 
"  Madam  "  said  he,  "  did  I  understand  yon  to 
call  that  man  your  (Jem-  ?"  "  Yes,  sir, "  she  re- 
plied.    "  Well,''  said  the  stranger.  "  I'll  be 

if  he  don't  look  to  me  more  like  a  hear." 
Foster  had  a  son  named  George,  who  was  quite 
as  black  and  quite  as  brawny  as  his  father,  who 
also  married  a  white  girl.  Squire  Guest  was 
called  upon  to  perform  the  marriage  ceremony 
between  them,  but  declined  until  he  had  con- 
sulted an  attorney  at  Canton,  after  which  he 
united  them  "  for  better  or  for  worse.''  It  is 
said  that  it  takes  all  sorts  of  people  to  make  a 
world,  and  we  admit  that  it  is  a  matter  of  some 
convenience  that  all  people  do  not  see  alike. 

Other  pioneer  settlers  of  the  township  were 
Michael  Worley,  Jacob  Miller.  John  Richaids. 
Jacob  Flora,  Michael  Apley,  John  Carnes.  Bart- 
ley  Williams.  John  Newhouse,  John  Bernheim- 
er,  Martin  McKinney,  Jacob  Bowman.  Daniel 
Pryan,  the  Princes,  Hemmingers.  John  Stametz. 
the  Painters,  and  others  whose  names  are  not 
remembered.  After  the  close  of  the  war  of 
1812,  emigrants  came  in  so  rapidly  that  it  is 
impossible  to  keep  trace  of  them,  or  to  note 


the  date  of  settlement  of  each  family.  It  is 
enough  to  say  in  this  place,  that  the  flow  of 
emigration  continued  to  this  township,  this 
Switzerland  of  Stark  County,  until  the  last 
vacant  quarter-section  of  land  was  gobbled  up. 
The  majority  of  its  pioneers  came  from  the  old 
Keystone  State,  and  were  either  Pennsylvania 
Dutch  or  Quakers.  Their  descendants  form  a 
portion  of  the  best  class  of  citizens  of  the 
county. 

A  part  of  the  history  of  Pike  Township  that 
should  not  be  omitted,  is  the  fact  that  it  was 
long  the  home  of  a  man  who.  as  an  editor  and 
a  writer  of  ability,  has  few  equals  and  fewer 
superiors  in  the  country.  We  allude  to  Hon. 
Joseph  Medill.  editor  of  the  Chicago  Trihimr. 
one  of  the  ablest  newspapers  published  in  the 
Northwest.  His  father  moved  to  Stark  County 
in  1831.  when  he.  the  embryonic  editor,  was 
but  seven  years  old.  and  thus  the  great  journal- 
ist is  not  an  "  Ohio  man. "  as  is  claimed  by 
many  of  his  admirers  in  this  section.  Six  of 
his  brothers  and  sisters,  however,  were  born  in 
Stark  County,  and  one  sister  and  his  mother,  a 
lady  now  in  her  seventy-seventh  year,  still  live 
here.  His  father  died  about  ten  years  ago 
and  lies  buried-  in  the  cemetery  of  Canton. 
Joseph  worked  on  a  farm  in  Pike  Township 
some  nine  or  ten  years,  when,  in  1844-45.  he 
began  reading  law  with  Hiram  ftriswold,  as  he 
could  spare  time  from  his  farm  labors.  Later 
he  spent  some  months  in  the  law  office  of  E.  H. 
Folger,  of  Massillon.  finally  finishing  his  studies 
with  Judge  and  Seymour  Belden,  of  New  Phil- 
adelphia. In  1850,  he  laid  down  Blackstone. 
and  took  up  the  pen.  and  since  that  time  his 
service  in  the  party  of  his  choice  has  been  no 
child's  work.  From  an  awkward  plowboy.  he 
has  gone  on  up  the  ladder  of  Fame,  until  he 
has  become  the  editor-in-chief  of  one  of  the 
greatest  newspapers  in  one  of  the  greatest  cities 
of  the  greatest  country  upon  which  the  sun 
shines. 

It  is  not  an  easy  matter  in  this  day  of  plenty 
and  of  modern  improvements  and  inventions 
to  realize  the  great  disadvantages  under  which 
the  early  settlers  labored.  In  Pike  Town.<hip, 
several  neighbors  would  join  together  and  load 
a  canoe  or  "  dugout  "  with  their  surplus  produce, 
and  float  down  the  Nimishillen.  Sandy  and 
Tuscarawas  to  a  place  called  the  "  station  "  and 
exchange  their  cargo  for  whisky,  tobacco,  iron, 
nails,  salt,  pepper,  coflfee.  etc.     The  return  was 


PIKE    TOWNSHIP. 


535 


a  more  serious  affair,  as  rowing  against  the 
current  was  laborious  work;  and  when  corn 
was  scarce  they  would  take  boat  loads  of  iron 
from  the  "  bloomery "  at  Sparla.  down  to 
Trichsville  (Egypt  as  it  was  then  called),  and 
trade  the  iron  for  corn,  which  they  would  bring 
back  to  their  settlement.  Mr.  Yant.  in  his 
sketches  of  Pike  Township  gives  the  following, 
pertaining  to  its  early  history'  :  "  In  those  carl>- 
days  bears,  wolves,  deer  and  a  variety  of  other 
game  was  abundant,  from  which  source  the 
pioneer  settlors  supplied  themselves :  the 
streams  also  abounded  with  fish.  James  Eaken 
shot  three  bears,  which  were  foraging  on  chest- 
nut trees,  of  the  fruit  of  which  they  were  very 
fond.  He  secured  all  three  before  he  left  the 
ground.  Eli  Miles  lived  iu  ?andy  Township. 
His  wife.  Mrs.  Jlilcs.  took  her  babe  and  started 
to  make  a  visit  to  Edward  Jackson's,  in  the 
south  part  of  this  township  'When  she  got  a 
short  distance  south  of  Fpaita,  night  overtook 
her,  and  the  wolves  were  upon  her  track.  ?he 
sought  a  place  of  safely.  Climbing  a  large 
tree,  upon  which  u  large  limb  had  grown  out, 
forming  a  seat,  another  just  in  the  right  posi- 
tion to  rest  her  feet  upon,  and  still  another  to 
sujiport  her  back  ;  just  as  comfortable  a  posi- 
tion as  it  would  have  been  possible  to  find  un- 
der such  circumstances,  and  seeming  almost  to 
have  been  made  for  the  special  purpose  to 
which  it  was  now  devoted.  The  wolves  soon 
appeared,  and  one  of  the  hungry  pack  stayed  all 
niglit  under  the  tree,  and  did  not  leave  until 
daylight  sent  him  to  his  lair.  3Irs.  Allies  had 
taken  her  apron  and  tied  herself  and  child  fast 
to  the  tree.  After  the  wolf  left,  she  came  down 
from  her  retreat,  and  found  herself  near  the 
neighbor's  she  was  going  to  visit.'  The  fore- 
going but  faintly  portrays  the  life  which  the 
people  lived  in  this  section  sixty  to  seventy 
years  ago.  They  settled  iu  the  wilderness, 
were  poor  and  without  means  to  provide  the 
comforts  of  life  even  had  they  been  accessible. 
Says  Mr.  Yant  :  ■  The  early  settlers  generall}' 
had  barely  means  sufficient  to  pay  for  a  heme 
and  necessary  moving  expenses,  and  destitute 
of  means  sufllcient  to  pay  for  supplies  until 
crops  could  be  raised  ;  many  were  put  lo  straits 
for  breadstufls.  Abundant  supplies  of  wild 
meat  could  be  procured  at  the  proper  season, 
by  the  use  of  the  rifle  :  but  flour  and  some  ad- 
ditional necessaries  cculd  only  be  h;:d  by  going  to 
the  Ohio  Piiver,  and  corn  at  the  -Moravian  set- 


tlements on  the  Muskingum.  Mrs.  Oeorge 
Young  took  a  horse  and  went  to  Steubenville 
for  supplies.  During  her  absence  the  provisions 
were  exhausted.  Mr.  Young  went  to  James 
Eakins'  for  a  pailful  of  meal,  and  gave  the 
j)ail  for  the  meal.  AVhen  the  harvest  came,  his 
first  crop  of  wheat  was  cut  without  bread.  The 
wheat  was  beaten  off  and  boiled  in  milk,  as  a 
substitute  for  the  staff  of  life.  8uch  shifts 
were  then  not  uncommon."  But  it  is  unneces- 
sary to  pursue  further  the  life  of  the  early  set- 
tlers, and  their  mode  of  living.  It  was  uni- 
versal in  all  sections  of  the  country  in  the 
pioneer  days. 

Originally,  Pike  and  Bethlehem  formed  one 
townshij),  and  so  remained  for  about  two  ye:ns. 
Previous  to  their  organization  into  a  township, 
they  formed  a  part  of  Canton  Township,  They 
were  separated  from  Canton  on  the  Gth  of 
I^Iarch,  18] 5,  and  an  election  ordered  to  be 
held  at  the  house  of  Henry  Bordner,  on  the 
1st  da\'  of  April,  At  this  election,  Pitney 
Guest  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace,  aud 
Abraham  Sheplar  Township  Clerk.  The  next 
election,  which  was  held  in  April,  18] 6.  at 
the  house  of  'William  Byder,  resulted  in  the 
election  of  Abraham  Yant  and  Amos  Janprev, 
Trustees;  Basil  ThompEon,  Treasurer;  James 
Chapman  and  John  Shutt.SujK'rvisors;  Raman 
"N'anderston  and  'U'illiam  Eckler,  Listers  ; 
Henry  ^lills  and  George  Allman,  Constables ; 
Jacob  Anspach  and  Matthew  Brothers,  Fence 
Viewers;  John  8hermaii  and  Henry  Bordner, 
Overseers  of  the  Poor,  In  December,  181G, 
Pike  and  Bethlehem  were  separated,  and  each 
became  an  independent  township.  Pike  remain- 
ing from  that  time  to  the  present  day  without 
further  geographical  changes. 

The  first  grist-mill  in  Pike  Township  was 
built  by  Amos  Janny  in  ISld.  or  thereabouts. 
It  was  on  the  Nimishillen,  a  little  below  Sparta, 
and  is  described  as  a  very  primitive  affair. 
The  frame  was  four  posts  set  in  the  ground, 
forked  at  the  top,  in  which  polos  were  laid  to 
support  the  roof,  which  was  of  clap-boards. 
The  sides  were  never  weather-boarded.  A 
water-wheel  resting  on  two  posts,  similar  to 
those  in  the  frame  of  the  building,  a  driving- 
wheel  attached  to  the  shaft,  and  a  •■turner- 
head,"  composed  the  gearing  of  the  concern, 
A  pair  of  buhrs  three  feet  in  diameter,  made 
out  of  quartz  bowlders  found  on  Sugar  Creek 
plains,    did    the   work  of  grinding.     The  bolt 


5m 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


was  a  piece  of  cloth,  which  was  operated  b3' 
the  customers  themselves.  Primitive  as  was 
this  mill,  however,  it  was  a  great  improvement 
to  the  horse  mills  of  the  time,  the  "  horaiuy- 
block  "  and  the  cotfee-raill.  Other  mills  fol- 
lowed this  pioneer  structure,  and  the  settler 
was  no  longer  annoyed  in  procuring  breadstutfs. 
Janny  also  built  the  first  saw-mill  in  the  town- 
ship, which  was  quite  as  rude  as  his  grist-mill, 
but  of  considerable  service  to  the  community. 
Pitney  Guest  was  the  first  shoemaker,  George 
Young  the  first  merchant,  and  Luther  Drur}-, 
probalily,  the  first  blacksmith  in  Pike.  Other 
tradesmen  came  in,  and  the  wants  of  the  peo- 
ple were  supplied  at  home,  which  proved  of 
great  advantage,  and  was  appreciated  accord- 

ingl.y- 

The  following  incident  in  Pike's  early  history 
is  related  through  the  columns  of  the  Democrat: 
"  A  bo.y,  about  fourteen  years  old,  in  the  family 
of  David  Evans,  an  early  settler  of  the  town- 
ship, was  eating  peaches  one  day,  wlien  he  con- 
cluded to  swallow  them  stones  and  all,  and  a 
stone  lodged  in  his  throat  and  would  not  go  up 
or  down  stream.  Dr.  Simmons,  of  Canton,  was 
in  the  neighborhood,  and  was  called  in,  and, 
after  vain  attempts  to  move  it,  said  he  would 
go  home  and  read  up  the  case,  and  return  the 
next  morning.  At  the  appointed  time  he  came 
back,  and  said  the  stone  must,  according  to 
medical  authority  on  the  subject,  come  up  and 
not  go  down.  So  he  went  to  a  blacksmith's 
shop  and  had  a  pair  of'  pinchers  made,  and 
with  the  rough  instrument  returned  and  tried 
to  take  it  out  by  putting  the  pinchers  down 
the  boy's  throat  and  taking  liold,  but  failed. 
He  then  declared  that  the  only  way  was  to  cut 
it  out.  To  this  the  family  objected  until  the3' 
could  consult  the  family  physician,  Dr.  Bon- 
field.  Accordingly  he  was  sent  for,  and,  in  the 
meantime.  Dr.  Simmons  went  to  see  another 
patient.  Dr.  Bonfield  came,  and  calling  for  an 
umbrella,  took  from  it  a  piece  of  whalebone, 
greased  it,  and  easilj-  pushed  the  stone  down 
the  boy's  throat.  Dr.  Simmons  returned,  and 
was  much  chagrined  at  his  own  failure  when  he 
found  how  easily  the  stone  liad  been  removed." 

The  religious  history  of  Pike  dates  back  al- 
most to  its  first  setdement.  The  first  preacher 
in  the  township  of  whom  there  is  any  reliable 
account,  was  Rev.  J.  B.  Finley,  a  Methodist 
circuit  rider,  and  who  traveled  the  ■•  Zanesville 
Circuit,"  as  it   was  called,   in    1809-10.     This 


circuit  was  said  to  have  covered  the  following 
territory  :  •'  From  Zanesville  toward  the  Ohio 
among  the  different  settlements  to  New  Phila- 
delphia, One-leg  Creek,  then  to  Nimishillen. 
This  appointment  was  at  the  cabin  of  Abram 
Cozier,  thence  to  Canton,  at  Wolf  Creek,  and 
south  to  Care3''s,  on  Sugar  Creek,  thence  to 
William  Butts,  Whiteyes.  Tommica  and  Zanes- 
ville, making  a  distance  of  475  miles,  and  em- 
bracing thirty-two  appointments."  Our  stall- 
fed  pastors  of  the  present  daj-  would  think  this 
a  rather  hard  pastorate,  at  a  salaiy  of  S80  a 
year,  and  we  will  not  quarrel  with  them  if  they 
do.  We  are  glad  times  have  improved,  and  we 
do  not  claim  to  be  of  tliose  who  believe  the 
pioneer  daj's  were  better  than  these.  The 
preachers  of  those  days,  as  well  as  tliose  who 
felled  the  forest,  were  equal  to  their  labors, 
and  the  Methodist  ministry  afforded  few  •'  soft 
places."  The  following  incident  is  related  of 
Mr.  Finley's  niinistrj-  in  those  pioneer  days,  bj" 
Mr.  Yant :  "In  those  early  times  there  were 
fashionable  ladies,  as  well  as  now,  but  the  gen- 
eral rule  was  not  to  push  the  folly  to  extremes 
that  more  abundant  means  allow  in  the  present; 
and  these  plain  men  who  preached  the  Gospel 
purely  for  the  love  of  it,  did  not  fail  to  rebuke 
the  follies  of  the  times.  One  of  the  fancies  of 
Madame  Fashion  in  those  days,  was  to  make 
the  sleeves  of  dresses,  from  the  elbow  to  the 
shoulder  of  an  enormous  size,  and  a  hoop  of 
ratan  or  grapevine  was  inserted  in  the  middle 
of  this  inflated  bubble,  reducing  the  sleeve  at 
that  point   and  leaving    two   puffs.       A    Miss 

sat  directly  in  front  of  the  preacher, 

and,  by  one  of  those  pranks  that  misfortune 
sometimes  plays,  the  ends  of  the  hoop  in  one 
of  her  sleeves  had  become  disconnected.  This 
so  distended  the  arrangement,  as  to  swell  the 
puff  even  with  the  top  of  her  head.  Mr.  Finlej' 
could  not  endure  the  sight  without  a  merited 
reproof  He  liroke  the  connection  of  his  dis- 
course, and  remarked  parenthically  that  '  in 
these  days  the  ladies  were  wearing  sleeves  of 
such  enormous  size,  that  a  man  might  put  his 
head  in  one  of  them  ;'  at  the  same  time  making 
a  pass  with  his  head  toward  tiie  offending  sleeve, 

upon  which  Miss left  one  seat  vacant, 

and  hastily  found  her  way  to  the  door." 

In  most  parts  of  the  Western  country,  the 
Methodist  itinerants  were  the  pioneer  ministers, 
and  gathered  tiie  scattered  settlers  in  their 
rude  cabins,  even  as  the  shepherd  gathers  sheep 


PIKE    TOWNSHIP. 


into  tlie  fold.  Other  Methodist  circuit-riders, 
as  the  preachers  of  this  denomination  were 
called,  followed  Mr.  Finle\-,  and  Mr.  Cozier's 
cabin  was  a  regular  preaching-place. 

The  '•  Bible  Christians  "  were  the  next  after 
the  Methodist,  and  also  had  meetings  at 
Cozier's.  Most  of  the  earl}-  settlers,  however, 
were  of  the  Lutheran  and  German  Reformed  de- 
nominations. A  class  was  formed  about  the  year 
1830.  at  the  house  of  Abraham  Cheslnulwood, 
and  the  Revs.  Aurora  Calendar  and  Hawkins 
were  the  ministers.  Jacob  Miller  moved  on 
to  Section  IC,  in  1831,  and  his  house  then  be- 
came a  place  of  worship,  and  a  society  was 
formed.  Jacob  Miller,  Samuel  Miller,  Samuel 
Bard  and  Jacob  Smith,  and  their  wives  were 
among  the  first  members.  Thomas  Worley, 
John  Miller,  Joseph  Keel  and  others  were 
added  subsequenth".  The  preachers  of  those 
(lays  were  Revs.  Plimpton,  Green,  Drummond, 
Weirish  and  others.  They  are  described  as 
■  mighty  men  in  the  Scriptures."  A  church 
known  as  •  Asbury  Chapel  "  was  built  in  1844, 
and  is  a  brick  structure.  A  flourishing  society 
and  Sunday  school  has  continued  here  ever 
since  the  erection  of  the  church.  The  United 
Brethren  have  a  commodious  house  of  worship 
in  the  township  called  "  Otterbein  Chapel." 
The}-  maintain  a  flourishing  church  and  Sun- 
day school.  Zion  Church  is  a  substantial  struc- 
ture, and  belongs  to  the  German  Baptists. 

Mr.  Yant  closes  an  article  on  the  church 
history  of  Pike  in  the  following  words,  which 
speak  well  for  the  township.  He  says:  ''Per- 
haps no  part  of  the  county  of  equal  population 
is  more  abundantly  supplied  with  religious 
instruction  and  moral  training  than  the  rural 
population  of  Pike.  And  without  having  access 
to  actual  records,  it  may  safely  be  said,tliat  the 
population  of  the  township  furnishes  fev^er 
criniinals  and  less  litigation  than  any  other 
township  in  the  county.  The  amount  of  ardent 
siiirits  used  bj-  the  population  also  presents  a 
largely  diminishedratio  to  the  general  average." 
This  is  a  good  showing  for  the  township,  and 
worthy  of  imitation.  We  have  been  informed, 
since  our  work  commenced  of  compiling  its 
history,  that  no  intoxicating  liquors  arc  sold 
within  its  limits — another  item  well  worthy  of 
imitation. 

The  educational  facilities  of  Pike  were  some- 
what behind  many  of  her  sister  townships,  and 
few  schools  were   taught  previous  to  the  in- 


auguration of  the  Vl■v^^  School  system.  One 
of  these  early  schools  was  taught  by  a  (ierman, 
who  boasted  the  ponderous  name  of  Louis 
Augustus  Ferdinand  Constantine,  a  combina- 
tion of  powerful  names,  that  in  their  day  have 
been  highly  renowned  in  Kuropean  history.  lie 
taught  both  in  the  (ierman  and  lOnglish  hui 
guages,  and  after  one  term,  was  succeeded  liy 
Thomas  McKean,  an  Irishman,  and  a  fair 
sample  of  the  Irish  Schoolmaster  described 
by  the  poet  in  the  following  lines  : 

"  Old  Teddy  O'Kourke  kepi  a  bit  of  a  school, 
At  a  place  called  Clanna,  and  made  it  a  rule 
If  learning   wouldn't  mark  the  mind,  'faiih  he'd  soon 

mark  the  back, 
.•V"  comin«;  down  nn  ihoni  with  a  devilish   whack." 

Mr.  McKcan  is  said  to  huve  used  the 
birch  very  freely.  At  this  school  many  of  the 
children  of  Pike  received  their  start  in  educa- 
tion. From  fifty  to  sixty-five  scholars,  we  are 
told,  was  the  usual  attendance,  and  "the  want 
of  shoes  and  suitable  clothing  alone  prevented 
the  attendance  of  one  or  two  additional  scores." 
The  following  incident  is  related  by  Mr.  Yant : 
"About  forty-four  years  ago  a  spelling-match 
took  place  at  the  (iiiest  Schoolhoiise  ;  the  con- 
test between  Bethlehem  and  I 'ike.  The  house 
was  crowded  b}-  spectators,  and  a  large  number 
of  the  best  spellers  of  both  townships  were 
present,  eager  for  the  contest.  John  Billings, 
one  of  the  best  teachers  of  Bethlehem,  pro- 
nounced for  his  township,  and  George  Bitter, 
the  teacher  of  the  (iuest  School  pronounced  for 
Pike.  The  spellers  divided  off — those  from 
Bethlehem  on  one  side  of  the  house,  and  Pike 
on  the  other.  The  contest  was  spirited  and 
exciting  as  the  Ijoys  and  girls  from  both  sides 
dropped  out  of  ranks  at  each  round,  and  after 
spending  an  hour  or  more  in  the  well-contested 
match,  George  Holm  represented  Pike,  and 
David  Yant  was  all  that  was  left  of  Bethlehem. 
The  contest  thus  narrowed  down  to  a  speller  of 
each  party  the  excitement  was  greatly  intensi- 
fied ;  for  a  considerable  time  there  was  no  miss 
by  either.  Mr.  Bitter  was  of  German  descent, 
and.  not  so  correct  in  his  pronunciation  of  the 
English,  failed  to  be  intelligible  in  a  common 
word,  and  Yant  stepped  out  leaving  George 
Holm  the  victor."  This  is  one  of  the  first  spell- 
ing schools  of  which  we  have  an  account,  but 
which  in  later  years  have  been  carried  to  con- 
siderable excess  in  many  neighborhoods.  The 
subjoined  statistics  from  the  last  report  of  the 


.t, 


538 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


Board  of  Education  show  the  present  school 
facilities  of  the  townsliip.    They  are  as  follows  : 

Balance  on  hand  SfptiMubcr  1,  1879 $3,455  95 

State  tax 753  00 

Irreducible  fund 169  70 

Local  tax  for  school  and  srhoolhouse  pur- 
poses     1,783  43 

Total $5, 163  08 

Amount  paid  tcacliers $1,887  7a 

Sites  and  buildings 933  56 

Fuel   and  otlier  contingent  ex- 


339  30 


penses 

Total  expcndituri's $3,040  57   1 

Balance  on  liand  September  1,  1880. .  .$3,131  51 

Number  of  school  districts  in  townsliip 9 

Number  of  schoolhouses  in  township 9 

Total  value  of  school  property ...$6,000 

Average  wages  paid   teachers   per  month- 
males 34 

Average  wages  paid   teachers   per   month — 

females 15 

Number  of  pupils  enrolled— mah's 359 

Number  of  pupils  enrolled— females 309 


Total 469 

Daily  average  attendance — males 165 

Daily  average  attendance— females 136 


The  war  record  of  Pike  Township  deserves 
special  mention.  Although  a  full  chapter  in 
this  work  is  devoted  to  the  war  history  of  the 
county  at  large,  it  is  but  justice  that  some  ref- 
erence should  be  made  in  this  chapter  to  tiie 
patriotism  of  Pike.  It  is  one  of  tlie  few  town- 
sliips,  not  only  in  the  county,  but  in  the  State, 
that  filled  every  quota  without  a  draft,  and  kept 
aiiead  of  every  call  for  troops.  Among  those 
of  Pike's  loyal  sons  who  laid  down  their  lives 
in  defense  of  their  country,  are  B.  F.  Steiner, 
Captain  Company  D,  One  Hundred  and  Seventh 
Infantry ;  Jeremiah  Holm,  Orderly  Sergeant 
Company  G,  same  regiment ;  William  Hickman, 
Sergeant  Company  D,  same  regiment ;  George 
Rudy  and  William  Holm,  at  Chancellorsville ; 
David  Metzker,  Seventy-sixth  Infantry,  at 
Pilot  Knob,  Mo. ;  J.  AV.  Smith,  same  regiment, 
died  at  home  ;  Leonard  Schroyer,  of  the  Fourth, 
and  Jacob  Crawford,  of  the  Twenty-Sixth  Bat- 
tery ;  Jacob  Au,  Moses  Darr,  David  Yant, 
Henry  Clarke,  Michael  Keeper  and  Aurora 
Keel — fifteen  men  in  all. 

"  The  muffled  drum's  sad  roll  has  lieat, 

The  soliliiTs  last  tattoo  ; 
No  more  on  lilr\  ]i:irade  shall  meet, 

The  brave  ;in(l  fallen  few. 


On  fame's  eternal  camping  ground 

Tlicii-  >ilrnl  tents  are  spread  ; 
And  irlni  \  'guards  with  solemn  round 

Tie'  l.iv..uac  (if  the  dead." 

The  village  of  Sparta  was  laid  out  liy  Amos 
Janney,  and  the  plat  recorded  in  the  Recorder's 
offlee,  '-third  month,  twenty-second,  1815,"  as 
he  put  it,  in  the  quaint  phraseology  of  the 
Friends,  to  which  sect  he  belonged.  He  called 
it  Sparta,  after  the  rival  of  Athens,  in  the  his- 
tory of  ancient  Greece,  Ijelieving  that  a  great 
name  would  cause  it  to  flourish,  and  become  as 
great,  perhaps,  as  its  ancient  namesake.  In  the 
original  plat  there  were  but  four  streets — two 
each  way — crossing  at  right  angles,  and  desig- 
nated by  the  names  Butt'alo,  Elk,  Wolf  Bear. 
A  post  office  was  established  in  1854.  and  called 
Pierce,  in  honor  of  Gen.  Franklin  Pierce,  then 
President  of  the  United  States  ;  John  Croft  was 
appointed  the  first  Postmaster.  Abraham  Cozier 
opened  the  first  store  in  Sparta,  about  the  year 
18"20,  but  did  not  continue  in  the  business  very 
long.  His  establishment  was  a  rather  small  one, 
and  a  larger  one  was  opened  through  the  instru- 
mentality of  James  Hazlett,  of  Canton,  who 
owned  some  property  in  the  place,  when  Cozier 
closed  out  his  store. 

About  the  j'ear  1810,  a  man  named  Luther 
Drury  came  from  Canada,  accompanied  by  his 
wife,  two  children  and  a  niece.  He  erected  a 
"  bloomery  "  and  forge  for  the  purpose  of 
making  wrought  iron  from  the  native  ore  ob- 
tained in  the  vicinity.  The  experiment  did  not 
prove  satisfactory,  and,  in  1823,  Mr.  Drury 
sold  the  establishment  to  James  Hazlett,  of 
Canton.  The  bloomery  was  discontinued,  and, 
under  charge  of  John  Laird,  the  forge  made  a 
better  quality  of  iron.  Mr.  Hazlett  sold  the 
forge  to  Mr.  Janney  in  1S2G,  and  in  1840 
bought  it  back  again,  together  with  Mr.  Jan- 
ney's  mill  and  farm.  The  forge  was  .soon  after 
discontinued,  and  the  first  mill  built  by  Janney 
had  been  burnt  and  a  better  one  built,  which 
is  still  standing  and  in  operation.  The  follow- 
ing extract  is  from  the  county  papers:  "  Mrs. 
Drury  was  an  accomplished  lady,  of  great  per- 
sonal attractions,  and  did  not  associate  with 
the  plain  rustic  society  of  the  place.  Her  su- 
perior attractions  were  no  safeguard  to  virtue, 
'  but,  as  is  often  the  case,  rather  an  incentive  to 
vice.  A  tailor  by  the  name  of  Robert  Lytle 
I  made  the  Drury  family  a  place  of  frequent  re- 
1  sort  in  carrying  on  his  business,  and,  after  a 


^^ 


t^ 


JACKSON   TOWNSHIP. 


530 


more  mature  acquaintance,  the  tailor  married 
the  niece  of  Mr.  Drury.  But.  not  content  with 
his  success,  he  proceeded  to  invade  the  sanctity 
uf  .Mr.  iJrury's  domicile,  succeeding  in  stealing 
the  artectious  of  the  accomplished  wife.  After 
u  full  proof  of  her  inhdelity,  Mr.  Drury  ad- 
ministered a  severe  castigation  lo  tlie  enemy  of 
liis  peace,  and  would  have  inflicted  summary 
punishment  had  he  not  left  instantly,  and  thus 
escaped  his  vengeance.  3Irs.  Lytle,  who  was 
much  esteemed  by  Mr.  Drury,  followed  her  hus- 
Ijaud.  This  was  in  the  mouth  of  March,  in  a 
verj-  inclement  state  of  the  weather,  with  snow 
and  slush  on  the  ground,  for  whicli  the  lady 
was  poorly  provided,  having  nothing  Ijut  a  thin 
pair  of  slippers  to  protect  her  feet,  .^lr.  Drury  s 
?<yrapathies  for  his  niece  were  deeply-  moved. 
He  tried  to  follow  the  fugitive  pair  through  the 
forests,  but  his  search  was  fruitless.  He  could 
lind  no  trace  of  the  course  taken  Ijy  them. 
Vears  passed,  and  nothing  was  heard  of  the 
guiltv  man.  until  the  outbreaiv  of  the  oil  excite- 


ment in  Pennsylvania,  when  a  citizen  of  Stark 
County  came  across  an  old  man,  in  llie  oil  regions, 
up  the  Allegheny  Hiver,  who  incjuired  of  some 
of  the  old  citizens  on  the  Nimishilleu,  and  gave 
his  name  as  Rol)crt  Lytle.  ilis  wife  was  dead. 
Mr.  Drury  took  his  wife  and  two  children  to 
Canada,  then  returned,  sold  his  property  at 
Sparta,  and  left  the  neighborhood  forever. " 

There  are  two  churches  at  Sparta.  The 
Disciples'  Church  was  organized  about  1840, 
and  is  a  strong  and  healthy  society.  They 
have  quite  a  comfortable  building,  and  main- 
tain a  flourishing  church  and  Sunday  school. 
The  Methodists  have  a  good  church  building  in 
the  village,  and,  as  a  society,  are  in  a  prosper- 
ous condition,  with  a  fair  membership  anil  a 
good  Sunday  school.  Sparta  has  never  attained 
very  large  proportions,  either  in  business  or  in 
population.  A  store  or  two,  a  few  shops,  a 
post  office,  the  churches  mentioned,  and  a  small 
collection  of  houses,  form  at  present  the  sum 
total  of  its  earthlv  trlorv. 


CHAPTER     XXVII.* 


.l.iCKSON  TOWNSHIP  — L»E.SCRIPT1VE— SETTLEMENT   BY  THE   WHITES  — INCIDENTS  OF  PERSONAL 

NATURE— DEVELOPMENT  OF  LOCAL  INDUSTRIES  — GROWTH  OF  VILLAGES 

—  PROGRESS    OF    EDUCATION    AND    RELIGION. 


•  U.  the  pleasant  clays  of  old,  which  sooften  people 

praise! 
True,  tluy  waiiteil  all  the  luxuries  that  grace  our 

modern  days; 
Bare  tloor.s  were  strewed  with  rushes,  the  walls  let 

in  the  cold; 
O,  how  they  must  have  shivered  in  those  pleasant 

days  of  old.  "  — Frances  Brown. 

a'^HERE  is  something  moiu'nfully  sad  in 
.  contemplating  the  destruction  of  old 
buildings  or  other  objects,  which  are  green  in 
the  memory  with  fond  associations.  The 
heart  goes  out  in  sorrow  when  they  are  gone, 
as  if  some  beloved  friend  had  been  laid  at 
rest  in  the  gi-assy  gi-ave.  That  old  house  was 
our  home  in  childliood,  and  memoiy  paints 
the  scene  again  as  it  was  of  yore.  We  see 
our  mother's  kind  face,  and  run  to  her  again 
to  be  comforted.  We  listen  to  her  wor<ls,  and 
our  childish  clouds  are  dispersed  by  the  sun- 

•  CuiilribiitPil  by  W.  A  Goj<l-|H>e<l. 


light  of  her  loving  smile.  We  hear  oiu' 
father's  voice  in  patient  and  repeated  admo- 
nition, iind  can  now  realize  a  parent's  earnest 
solicitation  for  the  welfare  of  his  chikL 
Here  are  our  dear  brother  anel  ilarling  sister 
again,  and  the  childish  plays  are  renewed  in 
the  old  house  that  is  now  in  ruin.  It  is  sweet 
though  sad  to  recall  the  scene — sweet,  because 
we  see  the  precious  faces  of  dear  ones;  sad, 
because  the  pictm'e  is  unreal,  and  will  pass 
away  like  the  mists  of  moniing.  Let  us 
dream  on,  for  oiu'  happiness  is  the  fairy  offer- 
ing of  imagination — a  gossamer  veil  that  lifts 
anon  to  let  in  the  sullen  tide  of  soitow  and 
adversity.  Let  us  build  oiu'  castles  on  the 
highest  pinnacle  of  di'eamland,  and  build 
them  often. 

The  old  landmarks  are  passing  iiway  with 
those  who  placed  them,  and  miLst  be  noted  be- 
fore they  are  gone.     A  few  objects,  here  and 


IK^ 


IIISTOKY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


there  along  the  pathway  of  life,  ai'e  preserved 
and  cherished;  but  the  greater  niuiilier  are 
allowed  to  perish,  to  the  sorrow  of  loving 
descendants.  Few  people  there  are  who  see 
beyond  the  niirrow  circle  of  their  own  age,  or 
who,  seeing,  cai'e  for  the  joy  of  those  who  fol- 
low them.  Items  of  private  interest  and 
often  of  great  pnblic  utility,  ai-e  neglected 
and  permitted  to  disappear.  It  thus  occurs 
that  to  the  misfortune  of  the  reader,  the  his- 
torian has  an  easy  task  in  gathering  the  few 
items  which  fate  has  assigned  him  to  record. 
There  are  many  important  facts  connected 
with  Jackson  Township  in  early  years,  which 
have  passed  beyond  the  hope  of  recovery.  A 
few  i\xe  remembered,  and  these  will  be  men- 
tioned. A\lien  the  county  was  organized  in 
1S09.  Plain  Township  was  one  of  the  lirst  live 
created.  Jackson  was  a  part  of  Plain,  and 
remained  thus  until  April,  1811,  when  it 
became  a  i>art  of  Green  Township.  In  March, 
IS  IT),  Jackson  and  LawTence  Townshijis  were 
separated  from  all  others  under  the  former 
name,  and  remained  thus  luitil  Lawrence 
received  a  separate  creation  and  organization. 
Jackson  is  a  good  township,  having  an  excel- 
lent soil.  It  is  drained  by  streams  which 
flow  west  into  the  Tuscarawas,  and  by  those 
which  flow  east  into  the  West  Branch  of 
Nimishillen  Creek.  The  flrst  officers  of  the 
township  were  elected  at  the  house  of  Jacob 
Click,  on  the  first  Monday  in  April,  1815; 
but  who  they  were  is  a  mystery  not  yet  solved. 
The  following  is  a  list  of  the  land-holders 
of  Jackson  Township  in  1827 :  John  Ai'nold, 
Daniel  Brougher,  Isaac  Boughman,  James 
Black,  J.  H.  Brinton,  John  Beatty,  Jacob 
Brougher.  Riehai'd  Breed.  Elias  Benner.  Sam- 
uel Bachtel.  Andrew  Bachtel,  Jacob  Bachtel, 
Christian  Balmer,  Jacob  Balmer,  Jacob  Bower, 
Jacob  Click,  Jacob  Chubb,  Samuel  Click,  Ma- 
thias  Clapper,  Aai'on  Chapman,  Isaac  Clay, 
John  Cable.  Hem-y  Dissler,  William  Dickin- 
son, Charles  Dinger,  David  England.  George 
Everhart,  Jacoli  Ettleman,  John  Fawney, 
James  Gregg,  Jacol)  German,  Heury  Hufl'man, 
William  Humbert,  James  Huston,  Aln-aham 
Hubler,  Jacob  Hough,  Isaac  Hammel,  James 
Jackson,  Philip  Keller,  Henry  Keller,  Isaac 
Krytrer,  Nicholas  Kandel,  Jacob  Lichtenwal- 
ter,  Solomon    Liehtenwalter,   Samuel    Luter, 


John  Luter,  Mr.  Loomis,  Freeman  Leering, 
Jacob  Livingston,  Jacob  Mishler,  Jacob  Mil- 
ler, Matthew  Macy,  George  Miller,  Thomas 
Marshal,  Peter  Miller,  Peter  Moriter,  Thomas 
Nowlin,  Jacob  Piiulus,  George  Row,  Daniel 
Richmond,  Thomas  Botch,  Thomas  Reed, 
John  Shutt,  Samuel  Sjyangler,  James  Speak- 
man,  Daniel  Slanker,  Nathaniel  Skinner, 
Henry  Shoemaker,  John  Sprankle,  Michael 
Sprankle,  Adam  Sliriver,  George  Shutt,  Sam- 
uel Spitler,  Joseph  Saul,  Simon  Spitler, 
David  Seerist,  Jacob  Swigart,  Simon  Stall, 
Charles  K.  Skinner,  Christian  Tresch,  Will- 
iam Tresch,  Samuel  Trip]),  Peter  Tresch, 
David  Tresch,  Hemy  Tresch,  Hem-y  Troup, 
Martin  Winger,  Arviue  Wales,  Richard  Will- 
iams, Bezaleel  Wells,  John  Wintrode,  John 
Writeham  and  Frederick  Young.  This  list 
does  not  embrace  many  of  thcfse  who  first 
settled  in  the  tovmship.  Many  of  those  who 
were  most  prominent  in  the  organization  of 
the  township,  and  who  did  a  great  deal  to 
allure  immigration  within  its  limits,  left  the 
township  before  18'2().  Indeed,  in  Jackson, 
as  in  all  other  townships  in  early  days,  the 
first  settlers,  or  rather  "  squatters,"  were  rov- 
ing or  wandering  himters,  who  often  had  large 
families  dependent  upon  them  for  support. 
These  men  were  often  old  "Indian  slayers," 
who,  nothing  daunted  by  the  presence  of  the 
red  man,  came  into  the  wilderness  with  their 
fawiilies  without  misgivings.  It  is  impossi- 
ble to  describe  how  the  families  of  some  of 
these  hunters  subsisted.  The  husband  and 
father  was  often  absent  on  long  hunting  or 
trapping  excursions  for  weeks  at  a  time,  leav- 
ing his  family  to  shift  for  themselves.  Often 
the  wife  and  mother  became  an  expert  hunt- 
ress, by  obedience  to  necessity.  It  is  not 
known  that  Jackson  harbored  any  of  these 
families;  but  it  is  to  be  presumed  that  it  did, 
as  hundreds  of  them  swept  over  Ohio  in 
advance  of  the  pioneer  settlements,  removing 
farther  westward  as  the  tide  of  colonization 
advanced.  Although  Jackson  did  not  have  a 
sepai'ate  organization  until  many  years  after 
the  county  was  organized,  yet  a  few  settlers 
located  within  its  borders  quite  early. 

The  name  of  the  flrst  settler  is  not  remem- 
bered. This  is  imfortunate,  as  it  is  always  a 
pleasure  to  know  who  first  visited  the  land 


«^  (j 


JACKSON    TOWNSHIP. 


541 


where  we  reside.  Plain  TowTiship,  lying 
east  of  Jackson,  contained  some  of  the  earliest 
settlers  in  the  county,  and  very  likely,  from 
its  pri)ximity  to  Jackson,  controlled  immip-ra- 
tion  into  the  latter  to  some  extent.  Settlers 
were  in  Plain  as  early  as  ISIT).  and  beyond  a 
doubt,  within  a  year  or  two,  some  pioneer's 
cabin  had  intruded  its  way  into  the  sanctuiiry 
of  Jackson's  forests.  The  following  list  com- 
]irises  almost  all  the  iirst  settlers  in  the  town- 
ship, and  the  reader  will  be  politely  accorded 
the  privileu;e  of  selectiuf{  the  Iirst  settler 
from  the  following  names:  Jacoli  Ettleman, 
Nathaniel  Skinner.  J.  C.  Balnie)-.  Henry  Shoe- 
maker. Isaac  Clay.  Isaac  Bowman,  Richard 
Williams.  Daniel  Kichmoud.  (reorge  Miller. 
.John  Lntz.  Samuel  Lutz.  Henry  Friday. 
Simon  Stall.  Isaac  Hammel.  James  F.  Leon-  ; 
ard.  Michael  Sprankle.  Jacob  Click,  John  I 
Ganser.  Daniel  Slanker,  Nicholas  Kandel,  Mr.  ] 
Capes,  a  Kevolntionarv  soldier  who  died  at  i 
the  age  of  108  years.  Samuel  Kandel.  Jacob 
Swigert.  Elias  Benner.  John  Fanney,  Mr. 
StansbeiTV,  Daniel  Paulus.  Mr.  (Jleason.  Mr. 
Scott.  John  Sprankle.  William  Hill.  James 
Huston.  James  Black.  Samuel  Click.  William 
Backster.  John  Ai-nold.  John  Beatty  and  oth- 
ers. Many  of  these  settlers  when  they  ju-rived 
in  the  townshiji  ha<l  no  money,  no  ]>roperty. 
and  but  few  implements  of  lalior.  Bnt  this 
did  not  stagger  their  resolution,  apparently,  in 
the  least,  as  they  cheerfully  went  to  work  to 
level  the  forests,  to  let  in  the  sunshine  and 
beat,  and  to  introduce  to  the  virgin  soil  the 
|irodncts  of  civilized  man.  The  process  of 
cl(>aring  land  of  its  timber  is  not  a  child's 
undertaking.  After  the  trees  have  been  cut 
down  and  removed,  the  long  process  has  but 
barely  been  initiated.  Ther(>  are  the  stiunps 
and  stones  to  be  removed,  and  time  alone  can 
accomplish  this  task.  It  is  extremely  tire- 
some and  vexing  to  be  obliged  to  skip  around 
a  field  full  of  stumps  in  plowing  and  cultivat- 
ing. It  is  not  soothing  to  the  temjier.  if  a 
person  is  in  ill  humor.  It  is  an  amjile  source 
for  outbursts  of  volcanic  wTath.  which  savor 
of  brimstone.  Add  a  little  whisky  to  this  and 
you  have  broken  the  poor  camel's  back.  Why, 
it  was  about  all  a  man  was  able  to  do  to  cul- 
tivate eight  or  ten  acres,  and  when  he  bad  a 
familvofsome   fifteen    children,    each  one  of 


whose  consuming  powers  represented  about 
three  acres  of  jiroductions.  you  have  the 
dilemma  under  which  many  an  early  settler 
labored.  The  only  way  to  ])rovide  for  this 
swarm  of  rol)Ust  children,  was  (to  use  a  tigiu'- 
ative  illustration),  to  tm'u  them  out  in  the 
woods  like  cattle.  Those  who  could  obtain  a 
living  (>n  their  own  accoimt  did  so  and  lived, 
the  others  died.  But  few  deaths  oceuired, 
and  these  were  nu^stly  caused  by  accident. 
Pioneer  children  seemed  to  thi-ivo  best  on  a 
scarcity  of  food  and  clothes,  and  on  their 
capability  of  resisting  privations  and  disease. 
They  asked  foi-  only  suflficient  clothing  to  ren- 
der them  decent  that  was  the  object,  to  be 
decent,  not  to  l)e  comfortable.  Their  comfort 
consisted  in  sim])icity.  in  Dr.  Tanner  fasts, 
and  in  hardihood  They  were  taught  to  look 
upon  anything  else  as  effeminate  and  foolish. 
This  is  why  so  many  of  the  old  settlers  cling 
to  the  nior<>  difficiilt  means  of  accom]jlishing 
the  duties  of  life.  They  w(>re  taught  thus, 
and  having  been  guided  daring  their  walk  in 
life  by  the  precepts  of  privation  learned  in 
infancy,  they  refuse,  when  on  the  verge  of 
the  grave,  to  alter  their  mode  of  life  by  acquir- 
ing new  knowledge  to  be  ai>|ilied  in  place  of 
the  time-tried  and  time-honored  old. 

Settlers.  ujHm  their  arrival  in  the  townshi]), 
usually  had  a  small  amount  of  money,  which 
had  lieen  carefully  hoarded  by  the  family 
when  it  was  decided  to  seek  a  home  in  the 
wilderness.  After  the  log  cabin  had  been 
erected  by  the  assistance  of  neighbors,  and 
the  family  had  entered  u]ion  their  new  life, 
the  money  began  to  flow  like  water  from  their 
pockets  fortius  thing  and  that— actual  neces- 
sities— until  within  a  year  or  two  nothing 
remained.  Then  began  the  more  seriotis 
trials:  for.  dear  reader,  when  you  part  with 
your  money  you  i>art  with  your  most  steadfast 
friend,  one  that  alone  stands  by  you  in  adver- 
sity, and  one  whoso  companionship  is  a  solace 
and  a  supreme  satisfaction.  If  an  entire 
neighborhood  was  settled  within  four  or  five 
vears.  during  that  ])eriod  what  money  had 
been  taken  there  had  flowed  away,  no  one 
knew  whither.  It  was  gone,  and  in  its  place 
had  arisen  a  system  of  barter  and  exchange, 
that,  in  a  measiu-e.  su])|>lied  a  representative 
of  value.     Money  is  not  a  value;  it  represents 


^ 


543 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


value,  and  facilitates  exchange  by  adjusting 
balances,  where  values  cannot  be  divided. 
Money  serves  to  measure  value,  just  as  bush- 
els serve  to  measure  gi-ain  or  provisions.  But 
the  settlers  had  no  money,  and  they  were 
forced  to  adopt  some  measiu-e  to  expedite 
and  effect  commercial  transactions.  Some 
article  in  the  neighlxirhood  with  an  almost 
permanent  value  was  taken  as  a  standard,  by 
which  values  were  quoted.  For  instance,  a 
deer  skin  was  worth  $1.50.  That  is,  it  passed 
for  that  value  during  a  series  of  years  at  the 
early  settlement  of  the  neighborhood.  It 
thus  came  to  pass  that  gi-ain  or  provisions 
were  quoted  as  worth  so  many  deer  skins. 
Other  standards  of  values  were  adopted.  So 
many  pounds  of  sugai"  were  worth  so  many 
dozen  eggs.  So  many  yards  of  calico  or  lin- 
sey-woolsey were  worth  so  many  pounds  of 
butter  or  bushels  of  [lotatoes.  This  condition 
of  things  was  the  outgrowth  of  a  lack  of 
money  in  the  ti-ansactions  of  commerce.  It 
thus  was  brought  about  that  there  were  two 
measures  of  vahies — a  "  cash  price "  and 
"  trade  price,"  the  latter  being  higher  than 
the  former.  Calico  was  worth,  say  thirty 
cents  per  yard  in  cash,  or  thirty-tive  cents  per 
yard  in  trade.  Some  few  settlers,  who  hap- 
pened to  have  considerable  money  at  their 
command,  took  advantage  of  this  condition  of 
the  market  to  make  large  pm'chases  at  a  low 
cash  price,  and  to  sell  at  a  high  trade  price. 
Perhaps,  reader,  the  fortune  you  are  now  en- 
joying, the  line  fanu  you  now  own,  was  ac- 
quired thus  by  your  father,  when  the  country 
was  yet  a  wilderness.  Settlers  soon  saw  that 
the  lands  were  rapidly  rising  in  value,  and 
those  who  made  the  money,  or  who  had  it,  in- 
vested it  immediately  in  large  tracts  of  valu- 
able land,  which,  within  lifteen  or  twenty 
years,  quadrupled  in  value.  Slowly  and 
gradually   these    hardships    for  the  mass   of 

I  pioneers  were  overcome,  and  money  found  its 
way  into  the  frontier  settlements.  People 
prosper  as  commerce  prosjjers.  Anything 
that  cheeks  the  movements  of  commercial 
transactions,  seriously  infringes  upon  social 
prosperity.     Oiu'  wants  are  siipplied  by  pur- 

!   chase,    or   by   trade,    if    money    be    lacking. 

!  Anything  that  obstiiicts  the  satisfaction  of 
oiu-  wants,  violates  the  laws  which  render  us 


happy.  Money  is  the  oil  which  prevents  the 
wheels  of  commerce  from  stopping.  Trade  is 
a  f)oor  substitute,  which  largely  lacks  that 
lubricating  quality,  which  renders  smooth  and 
easy  the  movements  of  commerce.  And  yet, 
even  this  poor  substitute  is  better  than  no  oil 
at  all.  It  efiects  the  desired  piu'pose  in  a 
bungling  manner.  If  values  be  permanent, 
and  the  system  of  striking  balances  be  thor- 
oughly luiderstood,  trade  is  often  more  expe- 
ditious than  purchase  and  sale.  This  is 
illustrated  in  the  clearing  houses  in  all  the 
large  cities.  But,  even  in  these  cases,  money 
is  required  and  used  in  adjusting  final  bal- 
ances. It  is  better  to  have  a  union  of  the 
two,  and  this  was  finally  secm-ed  after  money 
began  to  flow  into  the  settlements.  Long 
practice  had  rendered  almost  perfect  the  pio- 
neer system  of  exchanges;  and,  when  money 
was  brought  forward,  commercial  transactions 
became  so  prosperous,  that  the  West  made 
gigantic  strides  in  financial  prosperity  be- 
tween 1815  and  1835.  This  was  precisely 
the  condition  of  things  in  Jackson  Township. 
Improvements  went  on  slowly  at  first;  but,  as 
soon  as  values  could  be  controlled,  the  pros- 
perity and  consequent  happiness  of  the  set- 
tlers were  assured.  Then  .were  laid  the  foun- 
dations of  many  of  the  present  handsome  pri- 
vate fortunes;  and  then  were  the  rude  wil- 
derness homes  transformed  into  those  of  opu- 
lence and  civilizing  refinement. 

Old  settlers  do  not  like  to  lose  altogether 
the  recollection  of  early  years.  Then,  hun- 
dreds of  deer  could  be  seon  in  the  forests  at 
almost  any  hoiu\  Sometimes  the  settler,  upon 
rising  in  the  morning,  would  see  a  small  herd 
grazing  upon  his  wheat  field.  A  shot  fi-om 
the  door  or  window  would  bring  down  the 
fattest,  and  send  the  others,  pell-mell,  into 
the  forest.  It  is  stated  by  old  settlers  that 
deer  were  less  afraid  of  women  than  of  men, 
and  would  often  approach  C]uite  near  the  for- 
mer, especiaily  if  gaudily  colored  dresses  were 
worn.  This  fact  was  sometimes  used  as  an 
artifice  to  secure  deer  after  they  had  become 
somewhat  scarce.  Many  of  the  early  settlers 
were  skillful  hiinters  and  trappers,  devoting 
much  of  their  time,  especially  during  the 
winter  months,  in  securing  flesh  and  fiu's  for 
market.      During  the  hunting    season,    they 


JACKSON   TOWXSIIIP. 


sometimes  made  as  high  as  $500.  It  is 
iflated  that,  on  one  occasion,  one  of  tlie 
Lutzes,  who  had  been  huutiri>^  in  the  woods, 
liad  shot  a  deer,  (vhich  had  fallen  upon  the 
i^roiind.  Mr.  Lutz  wont  forward  to  cut  its 
throat;  but,  just  as  ho  leaned  over  the  pros- 
trate animal,  it  leaped  to  its  foet  like  a  flash, 
Icuockin^  the  settler  to  the  ground  like  a  bat- 
tering ram,  and  bounding  oft"  at  full  speed 
through  the  foi-est.  It  had  only  been  stunned 
by  the  shot.  -Vs  soon  as  the  hunter  could  col- 
lect his  scattered  senses,  he  lookinl  around  to 
tind  his  deer;  but  it  had  disappeai'ed,  nor 
was  it  afteiTvard  to  be  found.  It  is  stated 
that  one  of  the  Harters.  of  Plain  Townshi]), 
went  hunting  deer  in  Jackson  at  a  very  eiu'ly 
date.  When  night  came,  he  had  killed  eight 
(if  these  animals,  besides  a  variety  of  small 
game.  He  caught  sight  of  a  bear,  and  fol- 
lowed it  several  hom's,  but  was  liiially  obliged 
to  give  up  the  chase.  Many  other  incidents 
of  a  similar  natm'e  ai'e  related.  When  the 
fii'st  settlers  came  into  the  township,  bears 
were  quite  numerous,  and  a  few  anecdotes 
regarding  them  are  related.  Mr.  Friday,  who 
had  settled  very  eai-ly  in  Plain  Township,  but 
who,  about  the  year  1810,  had  moved  to  a 
rude  log  cabin  he  had  erected  in  Jackson 
Township,  was  one  day,  just  at  dark,  hunting 
in  the  woods  in  the  southern  part  of  the  town- 
ship, when,  as  he  was  walking  along  a  high 
ridge  toward  home,  he  saw  two  beare  in  the 
ravine  below  him.  The  animals  were  sham- 
bling along  together,  and  had  not  perceived 
the  hunter.  Mr.  Friday  was  but  an  indifl'er- 
ent  hunter  at  best,  and  hesitated  a  moment 
liefore  he  decided  to  risk  a  shot  at  the  bears, 
which  were  within  about  twenty  rods  of  him. 
But  he  had  [denty  of  resolution  and  courage, 
and.  taking  a  rest  in  the  fork  of  a  small  tree, 
he  shot  one  of  the  bears  through  the  head. 
Fearing  that  he  might  be  attacked  by  its  mate, 
he  ran  in  the  opposite  direction  with  all  his 
might  for  a  short  distance,  without  looking  to 
ascertain  the  result  of  his  shot.  At  length  he 
stopped  to  load  his  gun  and  listen.  No  unus- 
ual sound  was  borne  to  his  ears,  and  gather- 
ing coiu'age  from  that  fact,  he  started  back 
to  see  what  had  become  of  the  bears.  He 
approached  the  spot  whence  he  had  fired,  and, 
looking  cautiously  down,  saw  one  of  the  bears 


lying  upon  the  ground  apparently  dead,  but 
its  mate  was  not  to  be  seen.  111-.  Friday 
walked  down,  and  saw  that  the  boar  was 
indeed  dead.  This  was  much  more  than  he 
had  expected,  as  his  rifle  was  none  of  the 
best,  and  he  was  a  poor  shot  to  boot.  The 
other  bear  had  secured  its  safety  by  flight, 
and  Mr.  Friday  was  satisfied  to  let  it  go.  It 
is  stated  that  at  one  time  a  party  of  hunters 
with  their  dogs,  from  Plain  Township,  pur- 
sued a  bear  into  Jackson,  and  having  wounded 
it,  fought  it  with  dog;i  and  clubs  for  a  long 
while,  and  at  last  finished  the  sport  by  shoot- 
ing it  through  the  head.  The  dogs  at  fii-st 
were  very  bold,  under  the  encoiu'aging  words 
of  their  masters;  l)ut,  after  they  had  been 
knocked  a  rod  a  few  times,  no  coaxing  or 
commanding  could  induce  them  to  approach 
within  reach  of  th(>  l)etu-.  One  of  the  dogs 
was  so  badly  injured  that  it  wiis  afterward 
shot,  to  the  great  regret  of  the  owner.  It  is 
with  dogs  as  it  is  with  men,  the  bravest  are 
the  ones  that  suffer.  The  wolves  were  very 
troublesome  in  early  years,  killing  sheep, 
calves,  swine,  etc.,  without  leave  or  license. 
Owing  to  these  midnight  marauders,  it  was 
almost  impossible  to  keep  sheej).  If  sheep 
were  neglected  for  one  night,  and  this  occiUTed 
with  every  settler  who  tried  to  keep  them,  a 
flock  of  wolves  was  siu'e  to  kill  half  of  them 
before  morning.  When  the  settler  w<>nt  out 
to  feed  them  the  ue.\t  moi'ning,  and  saw  the 
animals,  over  which  he  had  spent  so  much 
time,  lying  dead  upon  the  ground  with  their 
throats  cut,  maledictions  of  the  bitterest  sort 
came  by  the  dozen  from  his  lips.  Aside  from 
the  liability  of  being  killed  by  wild  animals, 
still  it  was  difficult  to  keep  sheej),  owing  to 
no.xious  and  poisonous  herlxs  gi'owing  in  the 
woods,  upon  which  the  sheej)  fed.  Some- 
times half  the  flock  were  carried  off  at  once 
in  this  manner.  Swine  ran  wild  in  large 
numbers  in  the  woods,  feeding  upon  the 
"ma.st"  which  at  all  seasons  of  tho  year 
could  be  foimd  in  abimdance.  They  were 
often  killed  by  bears. 

Mills  of  various  kinds  were  erected  in  Jack- 
son at  an  early  day.  James  F.  Leonard,  who 
at  first  had  located  at  C'auton,  where  it  is  said 
he  kept  a  tavern,  built  the  first  saw-mill  in 
the  township.     Mr.  Leonard  was  an   iutelli- 


544 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


gent  man,  and  had  followed  surveying  to  some 
extent.  The  mill  was  erected  not  far  from 
1815,  and  was  located  in  the  southwestern 
part,  on  Mill  Brook.  A  strong  dam  was  built 
across  the  stream,  and  the  mill  was  supplied 
with  water  by  means  of  a  race.  Motion  was 
communicated  to  the  saw  and  machinery  by  a 
lai'ge  breast-wheel.  Mr.  Sprankle  soon  pur- 
chased the  mill,  and,  after  operating  it  suc- 
cessfully until  about  the  ye;u'  1S22.  it  was  per- 
mitted to  run  down.  Elias  Benner  biiilt  a 
eaw-mill  on  a  small  stream  in  the  northern 
part,  about  the  time  the  Leonard  mill  was 
abandoned.  It  was  a  fi-ame  mill,  and  was 
operated  by  Mr.  Benner  until   aliout  the  year 

1832,  when  it  was  bought  by  Mr.  Singley,  and 
after  a  short  period  was  again  sold  to  Isaac 
and  Hemy  Bechtel.  These  men  improved  the 
mill  and  enlarged  its  capacity,  and  after  ope- 
rating it  until  1S38,  sold  out  to  Hemy  Beard. 
This  man,  and  his  sou  after  him,  greatly  im- 
proved the  mill,  and  continued  operating  it 
until  a  few  years  ago.  Dm'iug  its  career  no 
steam  has  been  used  to  operate  the  mill.  It 
was  piu'chased  a  few  years  ago  by  INIi'.  Smith, 
upon  whose  hands  it  ran  down.  It  was  one 
of  the  best  mills  of  its  kind  ever  in  the  town- 
ship. In  about  the  year  1 820,  Daniel  Slanker 
erected  a  log  grist-mill  on  Mill  Brook;  it  was 
a  rude  concern,  with  one  run  of  stone  made 
out  of  "  nigger- heads,"  and  was  known 
throughout  the  surrounding  country  as  "the 
])e]i]ier-mill."  It  richly  deserved  this  name, 
as  the  flour  it  ftu'nished  was  aliout  as  c<iarse 
as  pepjjer  usuallj'  is.  Mr.  Slanker  cimducted 
this  mill  with  success,  until  about  the  year 
1828.  when  it  was  abandoned  and  was  soon  in 
ruins.  The  following  year  (1829),  he  built 
what  is  known  as  the  "  High  Mill."  called 
thus  from  the  fact  that  it  was  fom-  stories  in 
height.  This  mill  has  been  in  operation  ever 
since,  under  a  change  of  owners,  and.  diu'ing 
the  time  of  its  continuance,  has  done  a  great 
deal  for  the  township.  Settlers  liked  to 
locate  near  good  grist  mills,  as  it  saved  them 
long,  fatiguing  journeys,  often  through 
almost  bottomless  roads.     In  about  the  year 

1833,  the  mill  was  sold  to  Mr.  Lenox;  but 
not  long  afterward,  Michael  Sprankle  became 
owner,  with  whose  family  it  has  remained 
since.      Daniel    Slanker,    immediatelv    after 


selling  the  "  High  Mill,"  built  another  at  Mill- 
port called  the  "Stone  Mill."  It  is  yet  lim- 
ning, and  has  been  the  best  mill  in  the  town- 
ship, and  one  of  the  best  in  the  county;  it 
was,  at  first,  operated  by  water-power,  and,  at 
that  time,  had  a  thriving  custom  trade;  but 
now  the  motor  is  steam,  and  an  extensive 
merchant  trade  is  enjoyed.  It  has  been 
owned  by  different  parties,  one  of  them  being 
a  man  named  AA^ellman.  The  jjresent  owners 
are  McLain  Bros.,  of  Massillon.  It  is  related 
that  before  Mr.  Slanker  l)uilt  these  mills  and 
while  he  was  yet  at  Canton,  he  one  day  went 
to  the  place  where  they  are  located,  to  exam- 
ine the  creek,  as  to  its  fall.  He  became  sat- 
isfied that  it  was  an  excellent  site  for  a  mil!, 
but  he  had  no  money  with  which  to  build 
one  or  to  buy  the  land.  He  was  afi-aid 
that  somebody  would  get  the  start  of  him 
and  Imv  the  site.  Jacob  Braucher  owed 
him  ?lil(),  and  Mr.  Slanker,  after  a  little 
thought,  resolved  to  offer  to  take  $50  cash 
for  the  debt.  This  was  done,  and  the 
offer  was  accepted,  and  Mr.  Slanker  imme- 
diately dispatched  a  man  with  the  money 
to  Steulieuville  to  enter  the  land.  H&  had 
seen  othei-  parties  looking  around  there,  and 
surmised  what  thej'  were'  endeavoring  to  do. 
The  messenger  reached  Steubenville  in  the 
night,  and  jsroceeding  to  the  office  of  the  land 
agent,  sat  do^vn  on  the  steps,  and  there  re- 
mained until  the  office  was  opened  the  next 
morning,  when  the  land  was  immediately  en- 
tered. About  two  hours  later.  One  of  the  men 
who  had  lieen  seen  looking  at  the  mill  sile, 
put  in  an  appearance,  and  made  application 
for  the  land,  but  he  was  informed  that  he  was 
too  late.  Incidents  of  this  character  fi-e- 
(juently  occm-red  in  early  years. 

James  Black  owned  a  distilleiy  which  was 
located  near  the  "pepper-mill"  in  early  times. 
It  is  thought  that  the  Imilding  was  owned  by 
Slanker,  and  that  IVIr.  Black  was  employed  as 
distiller,  though  this  is  not  certain.  AMiisky 
of  fair  quality  was  manufactm'ed  at  the  rate 
of  about  a  barrel  a  day.  Mi\  Lenox  also 
owned  one,  which  was  located  at  "High  Mill:" 
he  also  made  about  a  baiTel  of  whislfj'  jier 
day.  Neither  of  the  distilleries  was  conducted 
longer  than  about  six  years.  Henry  Bechtel 
relates  that  it  was  customary,  before  going 


^w 


JACKSOX    TOAVNSHIP. 


into  the  field  in  the  morning,  to  drink  a  de- 
coction of  whiskj-  and  tansy,  with  bread  and 
butter,  and  after  woi'king  until  about  S  o'clock, 
a  hearty  breakfast  was  eaten  by  all.  Another 
heiU'ty  (h'ink  was  taken  jiist  before  dinner,  and 
one  also  just  before  supper.  It  was  too  often 
tlie  case  that  men  would  di-ink  so  much  whisky 
in  the  hay-tield,  or  hiu-vest-iield,  as  to  inca- 
pacitate them  from  labor.  'Ms.  Bechtel  was 
one  of  tlie  fii-st  to  put  a  stop  to  this;  he  in- 
structed the  whisky-  carrier  to  give  so  much 
and  no  more  to  each  man,  and  despite  the 
fault  that  was  foimd,  persisted  in  this  conduct. 
Some  of  the  men  demiu-red  on  the  first  day, 
and  were  on  the  point  of  quitting  the  field, 
but  harmony  was  restored  at  night,  when  Mr. 
Bechtel  placed  a  j^ail  of  whisky  and  a  tin  cup 
on  a  block  in  the  yard,  and  told  the  men  to 
help  themselves.  A  second  invitation  was  not 
necessary.  ]\Ir.  Bechtel  told  them  his  object 
in  doing  as  he  had  done,  and  finisher  informed 
them  that  ho  intended  to  continue  thus  dm-iug 
t)ie  harvest.  The  men  saw  that  their  em- 
])loyer  had  adopted  the  wisest  coiu-se,  and 
wisely  followed  his  advice.  An  old-fashioned 
harvest-field  presented  an  interesting  appear- 
iince.  Here  were  the  cradlers  one  after  an- 
other, swinging  their  heavy  implements 
through  the  tall  grain  and  laying  it  in  long 
even  rows  for  the  binders,  who  followed  with 
rakes,  to  form  and  bind  the  sheaves,  and  to 
rake  up  the  gi-ain  that  had  been  scattered  by 
themselves  and  by  the  cradlers.  It  took  a 
smart  man  to  rake  and  bind  after  a  good 
cradler;  frequently,  it  was  all  that  two 
wanted  to  do.  It  was  a  common  thing  to  see 
women  in  the  field,  raking  and  binding  after 
the  cradlers.  They  often  could  bind  as  miieh 
as  a  man. 

(xoing  back  still  fmiher,  though  not  beyond 
the  mi'uiory  of  many  an  old  settler  yet  living, 
and  we  see  the  giain  cut  by  the  sickle.  It 
seems  unaccountable,  and  yet  with  this  rude, 
primitive  implement,  several  acres  of  gi-ain 
could  be  cut  dovm  in  a  single  day.  "\Miat  a 
wonderful  change  has  taken  plac-e  in  hai-vest 
machinery  dm'ing  the  last  half  century.  Now- 
it  is  so  that  the  fanner  can  drive  his  team 
ai-ound  the  field  all  day.  and  at  night  his 
grain  is  ready  for  the  shock.  Truly,  this  is 
the  age  of  invention. 


Jackson  Township,  unlike  some  others  in 
the  county,  has  had  but  one  village  proper 
within  its  limits.  Certain  localities,  where 
several  residences  were  erected,  have  made 
])retensions  to  the  name  and  fann>  of  villages; 
but,  aside  from  these  localities,  the  citizens 
have  generally  rejected  as  ridiculoiis  all  such 
assumptions,  and  have  stigmatized  the  so- 
called  villages  by  high-sounding  and  oppro- 
brious ej)ithets.  Of  com-se,  such  unfriendly 
condu(^t  met  with  bitter  hostilitj-  from  the 
residents,  who  claimed  to  be  villagers.  Those 
who  were  disjjosed  to  be  critical,  and  who  ex- 
tended the  finger  of  scorn,  were  frankly  told 
to  mind  their  own  business;  this  did  not  mend 
matters,  though  time  did.  It  is  stated  that 
jVlillport  has  had  as  high  as  twelve  families 
living  in  it  at  one  time.  This  fact  did  not 
deter  the  outsiders  from  criticism;  they  be- 
came more  Argus-eyed,  or  lynx-eyed,  than  ever, 
and  circulated  strange  reports  regarding  the 
growth  of — yes,  the  villages.  Could  any  con- 
duct be  blacker,  or  savor  more  of  brimstone? 
And  yet  the  villagers  refrained  from  taking 
immediate  and  siuumary  vengesmce  upon  the 
ofi"endei-s.  They  believed  with  Portia  that 
"  The  quality  of  mercy  is  not  .strained. 
It  (Iroppelli  as  tlie  sentle  rain  frniii  heaven 
Ujion  the  plaee  lienealli;  it  is  Iwice  ble.s.s'd. 
It  blesseth  liini  thai  nives,  and  him  that  takes. 
'Tis  mightiest  in  the  mightiest;  it  becomes 
The  throned  monaieh  better  than  his  crown." 
Two  coopers  have  plied  their  trade  in  the 
village,  tmTiing  out  quite  a  niuiiber  of  usefiil 
articles.  Now,  say  if  you  dare,  it  is  not  a 
village.  Lots  in  size  to  suit  [)m-chasers  have 
been  sold,  and  now  something  else  is  sold  be- 
sides lots.  And  still  the  tale  is  but  half  tm- 
folded.  James  Reed  (all  honor  to  him)  has 
braved  the  frowning  face  of  criticism,  and 
established  a  store  at  the  village.  Theotitsid- 
ershave  been  so  ill-mannered  as  to  "dul)"  the 
store  "  one-horse."  Shottld  such  condtict  be 
tolerated  in  this  enlightened  age?  In  the 
language  of  Gen.  Garfield,  "  Hunt  the  rascals 
down."  'Mr.  Keed  keeps  a  general  assort- 
ment of  goods.  ;iud  his  advent  was  hailed  with 
delight  by  the  ambitious  villagers.  Bridgeport 
has  shai-ed  the  same  ignominious  treatment; 
even  worse,  for,  as  it  could  boast  of  only  some 
seven  resident  families,  it  has  been  made  the 
constant  butt  of  jokes,  until  forbearance  has 


IILSTOKY   OF    STAKK    COUNTY. 


ceased  to  be  a  virtue.  This  village  was  lii'st 
started  by  Abraham  Miller,  who  built  a  tavern 
ou  its  present  site,  at  a  veiy  early  day.  This 
was  probably  about  the  year  1827,  when  boats 
first  l)egan  to  ran  on  the  caual.  Mr.  Miller 
soon  seciu-ed  a  payini,'  patronage,  and  followed 
the  occupation  for  a  nuinher  of  years.  Neither 
Bridgeport  nor  ilillpurt  has  ever  been  properly 
platted  and  recorded. 

McDonaldsville  was  laid  out,  platted  iind 
recorded,  in  March,  1829.  The  owners  and 
proprietors  were  John  Clapper  and  Aln-aham 
Eoutan,  and  the  svTrveyor  was  Heniy  Beard. 
The  village  is  located  on  Sections  U  and  10. 
Twenty-foiu-  lots  were  laid  out,  to  which  no 
recorded  additions  have  since  been  made. 
The  assignment  of  the  land  for  village  pvu-- 
poses  was  acknowledged  by  the  owners  before 
Henry  Bechtel.  Justice  of  the  Peace.  At  the 
time  the  lots  were  laid  out,  there  were  some 
three  or  four  dwellings  in  the  village.  Others 
were  immediately  erected,  and  soon  the  vil- 
lagers called  for  a  store.  There  is  a  tradition 
concerning  the  naming  of  the  village,  which 
is  not  generally  known.  Hemy  Beaixl,  the 
surveyor,  about  this  time,  had  been  reading 
Revolutionary  war  history.  He  had  read  of 
Marion  in  the  Carolinas,  and  the  military 
achievements  in  those  colonies  had  made  a 
deep  impression  on  his  mind.  One  of  Gen. 
Clarion's  subordinate  officers  was  a  man  named 
McDoriald.  This  ofificer.  one  day,  when  on  a 
scout,  stopped  at  the  residence  of  a  rich  old 
Tory,  and  asked  the  latter  if  he  had  any  good 
horses.  The  Toiy  said  he  had  not,  but  the 
officer,  not  believing  him,  went  to  the  barn, 
and  there  found  a  magnificent  race -horse. 
The  Toiy  begged  the  young  officer  not  to  take 
the  horse,  hut  all  to  no  avail,  as  the  animal 
was  saddled,  and  Ijridled.  and  ridden  away. 
The  horse  had  attained  a  wide  reputation  for 
speed,  and  was  called  "Salem."  The  young 
officer  rode  the  animal  to  the  quarters  of  his 
General,  to  whom  it  was  presented.  The 
description  given  of  McDonald  so  jileased  ]Mr. 
Beard,  that,  when  the  owner  of  the  village 
asked  him  what  it  should  be  called,  he  at  once 
suggested  McDonaldsville,  and  the  name  was 
adopted.  "William  McCormick  opened  the 
first  store  in  about  the  year  1830.  A  small 
building  was  erected,  and,  in  one  ajiartment. 


about  $300  worth  of  goods  and  8-50  worth  of 
whisky  were  placed.  This  store  remained 
open  for  about  twelve  years,  and  dtvring  that 
time  the  stock  had  been  increased  until  it  is 
said  to  have  been  worth  nearly  $1,000.  The 
other  portions  of  the  building  were  fitted  up 
in  a  suitable  manner,  and  tlu'own  open  for 
piiblic  use  as  a  tavern.  Mr.  McConnick's  tav- 
ern patronage  was  considerably  injmed  Ijy 
another  tavern,  situated  on  the  Friday  rowd 
toward  Canton,  and  owned  by  Michael  Aley. 
This  man  kept  a  saloon  in  connection  with 
his  tavern,  and  the  place  soon  became  a  great 
resort  for  those  who  loved  the  ''flowing bowl.'' 
The  revelries  were  carried  on  far  into  thi-' 
night,  and  those  who  left  early  the  next  morn 
ing.  said.  "We  had  a  fine  time."  The  patron- 
age was  largely  taken  from  McCormick.  and 
yet  he  made  considerable  money.  He  at  last 
sold  his  store,  saloon  and  tavern  to  William 
Heldebrand.  Since  then,  many  persons  have 
kept  store,  tavern  and  saloon  in  the  village. 
These  three  occupations  have  usually  been 
combined.  There  has  been  no  time  when 
whisky  could  not  be  had  for-  the  money.  The 
village  had  a  hard  name  for  a  niimber  of 
years,  not  only  on  accf)unt  of  the  quantity  of 
liquor  sold  there,  but  also  on  account  of  the 
hard  cases  who  v.ere  residents.  Of  late  years 
the  inhabitants  have  greatly  improved  in  this 
respect. 

Many  other  parties  have  embarked  on  the 
mercantile  sea  at  the  village.  "William  Cal- 
beck  was  in  for  a  short  time  soon  after  Helde- 
brand. Other  merchants  have  been  C.  B. 
Blodgett.  Jnhn  Palmer.  Mi-.  Weidler.  Ham- 
mer &  Braueher.  Mi'.  Roush,  William  Schick, 
and  the  present  merchant,  William  Moose. 
There  have  been  times  when  there  was  no  store 
in  the  village,  but  usually  there  has  been, 
some  of  them  being  fiist-class.  A  general 
assortment  of  goods  has  been  usually  kept, 
and,  in  some  instances,  the  stock  has  been 
worth  several  thousand  dollars.  There  has 
been  a  tavern  in  the  village  since  the  lots  were 
laid  out.  Shoemakers,  carpenters  and  black- 
smiths, have  come  and  gone,  leaving  the  effects 
of  their  presence  in  substantial  work.  A  post 
office  was  secured  at  an  early  day.  It  has 
been  customary  for  the  merchants  to  deal  in 
general  country  produce,  giving  goods  fi'om 


JACKSON    TOWNSHIP. 


their  store  for  butter,  eggs,  hams,  cheese,  etc, 
these  provisions  being  shipped  by  wagon  to 
]Massillon  or  the  county  seat.  A  willingness 
tm  the  part  of  the  projiriotois  to  give  goods 
ill  exchange  for  couotiy  ] produce,  has  brought 
patronage  to  the  stores,  that  would  otherwise 
have  been  transfeiTed  to  stores  in  the  larger 
]ilaces.  At  no  time  has  the  population  of  the 
village  exceeded  one  hundred.  It  was  the 
design  of  the  owners  to  make  the  village  an 
important  point,  where  large  amounts  of  cap- 
ital should  be  invested,  and  where  the  wealthy 
and  educated  should  assemble  for  mutual 
profit.  They  saw  no  reason  why  this  could 
not  be  accomjilished.  as  villages  not  so  favor- 
ably located  had  passed  successfully  tlii'ough 
the  inci])ient  stages  of  obsctu'ity.  disfavor  and 
a|>])aivnt  standstill  in  giox^ih.  to  great  ])ros- 
pcrity  and  unprecedented  imju'ovement;  the 
lots  were  advertised  for  sale,  but  unfortu- 
nately, as  was  too  often  the  case  in  early 
>  ears,  they  were  rated  so  high  that  mechanics 
and  artificers  coixld  not  afford  to  bay,  and  the 
result  was  that  the  very  class  of  men  needed 
to  build  up  the  village  in  valuable  industries, 
journeyed  on  to  places  where  they  could  locate 
permanently  at  less  expense.  After  a  few 
years  the  owners  saw  the  mistake  into  which 
they  had  fallen,  and  endeavored  to  extricate 
th(>mselves  by  lowering  the  price  of  the  lots; 
but  their  time  for  possible  success  had  been 
permitted  to  slip  liy,  and  they  sorrowfully 
clothed  themselves  in  sackcloth  and  ashes, 
and  moiu'ned  over  their  shortsightedness. 
Nothing  save  the  presence  of  a  railroad  or  a 
gold  mine  would  raise  the  village  fi'om  its 
jiresent  obscurity  and  inaction. 

Schools  were  taught  in  the  township  at  an 
early  day.  The  citizens  did  not  wait  for  liu'ge, 
fine  schoolhouses,  and  highly  educated  teach- 
ers who  required  hu'ge  salaries.  They  must 
have  schools  for  the  children,  who  were  grow- 
ing up  neglected  around  them.  It  is  too  true 
that  jieople  who  have  a  good  thing,  do  not 
(irize  it  as  highly  as  those  who  have  it  not. 
The  latter,  not  having  it,  can  ap]ireciat<>  the 
trials  to  be  met  without  it:  while  those  who 
liavo  it,  do  not  ti'ouble  themselves  about  the 
prospect  of  losing  it.  Thus  it  is  with  schools; 
people  who  had  passed  through  life  without 
any  book  education,  had  been  met  liv  situations 


where,  had  they  possessed  proper  education, 
they  could  have  triumi)lied  over  difficulties, 
which  resulted  in  defeat  from  a  lack  of  educa- 
tion. These  resolved  that  their  children  should 
be  spared  the  same  fate.  Accordingly,  the  lirst 
schools  in  the  towiishii)  were  taught  in  dwell- 
ings, by  teachers  who  possessed  scai'cely  more 
than  the  rudiments  of  education.  Sometimes 
the  dwellings  ]  possessed  two  comfortable  rooms, 
one  of  which  would  bo  titted  uj)  with  rough 
desks  and  benches  for  the  ehikh-en,  and  a 
stand  or  table,  from  which  the  dec^rees  of  the 
teacher  were  to  be  issued.  A  broad  fire-})lace, 
whose  genial  blaze  cast  a  raddy  glow  over  the 
healthy  fonns  of  the  ]>ioneer  children,  was, 
perhaps,  the  most  cheerful  object  in  the  room. 
Old  settlers  insist  that  the  early  schoolhouses 
were  mitch  healthier  than  those  at  present,  as 
the  tire-places  served  to  fiu'nish  almost  per- 
fect ventilation.  It  is  stated  that  the  first 
schoolhouse  was  a  rude,  round  log  affair, 
built  at  the  geographical  center  of  the  to\\-u- 
ship,  as  early  as  ISlCi.  It  was  through  the 
instrimientality  of  Mr.  Slanker  that  it  was 
erected.  A  Mr.  Ujison.  an  eccentric  Yankee, 
was  one  of  the  first  teachers;  it  is  said  that 
he  often  pimished  bad  scholars  by  treading  on 
their  toes;  this  coiTection  produced  the  desired 
effect,  and  was  considered  as  a  "Yankee  trick." 
'Mr.  Upson  taught  a  good  school,  and,  at  its 
conclusion,  went  to  the  western  part  of  the 
State.  This  house  was  used  vuitil  about  the 
yeai-  1S'2(1  when  it  was  abandoned,  and  Mr, 
Slankers  children  were  sent  to  Kendal, 
where  they  boarded  with  a  relative  and  went 
to  school.  In 'about  the  year  1824,  a  hewed- 
log  house  was  built  at  the  center,  and  since 
that  date,  school  there  has  been  continuous, 
A  schoolhouse  was  built  on  Section  6  as  early 
as  1825;  it  was  a  log  structm-e,  and  two  of 
the  early  teach(>rs  were  Samuel  Bechtel  and 
Mr.  Sorrick.  Some  eight  years  later,  a  better 
house  was  built  aliout  half  a  mile  farther 
east,  and  a  few  years  ago  the  present  lirick 
was  construct«>d.  A  log  schoolhouse  ajjpeared 
on  Section  IC,  not  far  from  the  year  1S"20. 
Samuel  Bechtel  taught  in  this  house  diu-iug 
the  winter  of  1821-22.  AM.en  Clu'istmas 
came,  the  boys  detennined  to  lifU'  the  teacher 
out,  and  thus  force  him  to  treat  them.  The 
teacher  rather  liked  the  idea  of  being  barred 


out,  as  they  thus  seciu'ed  a  holiday.  Mr. 
Bechtel  was  one  of  this  sort.  He  resolved, 
however,  to  get  ahead  of  the  boys ;  he,  accord- 
ingly, sent  his  brother  Heuiy,  then  a  tall 
strippling  of  sixteen  years,  to  the  schoolhouse 
to  teach  in  his  place.  Henry  reached  the 
schoolhouse  before  the  boys,  and  endeavored 
to  kindle  a  fii'e,  but  failed.  Two  young  men, 
scholars  at  the  school,  appeared  upon  the 
scene,  and  not  ch-eaming  that  it  was  Hemy's 
intention  to  teach  diu'iug  the  day,  assisted  him 
to  start  the  fire.  Soon  all  the  large  scholars ' 
had  an'ived,  and  were  anxiously  awaiting  the 
appearance  of  the  teacher,  chuckling  with 
satisfaction  at  the  prospect  of  baixiug  that 
functionaiy  out.  The  horn'  for  opening  the 
school  came,  whereupon  Hemy  arose  and  in- 
fonned  the  scholai's  that  he  had  been  sent  to 
teach  the  school  that  day,  and  directed  them 
to  take  their  seats  and  get  their  books.  All 
did  as  requested  and  the  day  passed  without 
noteworthy  incident.  Just  as  the  school  was 
about  to  close  at  night,  Samixel  appeared  with 
a  "treat"  of  candy  and  doughnuts;  this 
healed  all  disappointment.  A  schoolhouse 
was  built  in  the  northeastern  part  as  early  as 
1(^25.  The  first  schoolhouse  was  built  at 
McDonaldsville  about  the  time  the  village 
was  laid  out;  it  was  a  large  building,  and  was 
used  for  a  variety  of  purposes  until  1^87, 
when  another  house  was  built  to  take  its 
place,  about  one  hundred  rods  farther  west. 
Owing  to  a  lack  of  interest  on  the  part  of 
those  in  the  district,  the  house  was  built  by 
Hemy  Bechtel  at  his  own  expense;  and  even 
then  Mr.  Bechtel  was  required  to  board  the 
teacher.  He  secured  the  services  of  a  compe- 
tent teacher,  Thomas  Clemmous,  who  taught  i 
several  terms  there  The  school  at  the  vil- 
lage has  occasioned  the  citizens  a  great  deal  { 
of  trouble.  The  present  house,  a  fine  brick 
building,  which  cost  some  $2,400,  was  erected 
five  years  ago.  The  southwestern  part  had  a 
schoolhouse  at  a  very  early  day,  but  almost 
everything  regarding  it  has  been  "forgotten 
The  first  church  edifice  in  the  township  was  ' 
erected  in  1824  by  the  Lutherans  and  G-erman  I 
Reformers.  It  was  a  imiou  structure,  built 
of  hewed  logs,  and  became  known  as  "Mud 
Brook  Church."  Among  the  early  members  ; 
were  the   families  of  Messrs.  Slanker,  Click,  I 


Braucher,  Tresch,  Hiunbert,  Everhart  jmd 
Heldenbrand.  Mi:  Ettleman  united  with  the 
church  some  time  afterward,  and,  as  the  build- 
ing about  this  time  needed  re-chinking,  he 
was  emfiloyed  for  that  piu'pose;  he  had  never 
done  jmything  oi  the  kind  before,  and  it  is 
safe  to  say  he  never  did  anything  of  the  kind 
again  after  he  got  through  with  that  job;  he 
plastered  the  entire  outer  siu-face  of  the  build- 
ing with  mortar,  until  it  looked  as  if  mud  had 
been  rained  from  the  clouds.  The  Superin- 
tendent pointed  out  the  inappropiiateness  of 
the  work,  but  Mr.  Ettleman  refused  to  see 
anything  out  of  place.  In  about  the  year 
l.sy4,  the  old  log  building  was  replaced  by  a 
handsome  brick  structiu'e,  which  is  yet  stand- 
ing; it  is  not  so  handsome  as  it  was  in  eai'lier 
year's.  The  two  religious  societies  that  own 
the  chiu'ch  worshij)  on  alternate  Sundays,  and 
have  since  their  church  was  tii'st  built.  Revs. 
Anthony  ^Veier  and  Benjamin  Foust  were  two 
of  the  early  ministers  connected  with  these 
societies;  they  were  both  good  men,  and  were 
knovm  throughout  the  greater  portion  of  the 
coimty  by  settlers  who  yet  love  to  remember 
their  kind  faces.  Rev.  J.  J.  Fast,  a  Lutheran, 
succeeded  Weier,  and  J.  AV.  Hamm,  a  German 
Reformer,  succeeded  Foust.  Rev.  Hamm 
preached  for  the  society  for  almost  half  a 
centmy,  and  left  behind  the  record  of  a  life 
full  of  exami)le  well  worthy  of  imitation;  his 
moral  influence  upon  the  neighborhood  will 
be  felt  for  scores  of  yeai's  to  come.  The  same 
two  denominations  built  the  "Zion's  Chm-ch,"' 
in  the  northeastern  pai't,  in  an  early  day.  It 
is  located  on  the  line  between  Plain  and  Jack- 
son Townships,  from  each  of  which  it  has  taken 
members.  Fm'ther  mention  of  this  church 
will  be  formd  in  the  sketch  of  Plain  Town- 
ship. 

In  about  the  year  1835,  an  Evangelical 
Church  was  built  at  McDonaldsville;  it  was  a 
frame  building,  poorly  constructed,  and,  after 
being  used  some  ten  years,  was  replaced  with 
another,  and  is  now  itsed  as  a  barn.  The 
present  church  was  built  a  short  time  after 
the  last  war.  The  society  is  in  a  prosperous 
condition,  and  holds  regular  services.  A  few 
years  ago,  the  Dunkards  erected  a  $2,000 
church,  near  the  Zion  Church;  the  building 
is  a  large  fi-ame  stiiicture,  built  without  orna- 


^s ^ 


lk£l^ 


BETHLEHEM    TOWNSHIP. 


549 


mentation,  and  the  membership  is,  at  present,  the  county.  This  is  due  to  the  fact  that  many 
on  the  increase.  The  township  is  not  so  well  of  the  citizens  belong  to  churches  located 
supplied  with  churches  as  otlior  portions  of  |  without  the  limits  of  the  township. 


CHAPTER    XXVIll.^ 


i;i;riii.F.iiEM  TowxsHii'— soil  and  ur.\inage— pioneer  Families— iNUUdTRiES  and  iMrRovK- 

MENTS— EARLY  INCIDENTS  AND  CUSTOMS— CALCUTTA— NAVARRE  AS  A   WHEAT 
DEPOT  — ITS   INCORI'ORATKJN— EDUCATION   AND    RELIGIO.V. 

"  There  was  a  time  when  meadow,  grove  and  stream, 
The  earth,  and  every  common  sight, 

To  me  did  soiun 
Appareled  in  celestial  light— 
The  glory  and  tin-  freshness  of  a  dream. 
It  is  not  now  as  it  hath  In  in  of  yore  : 
Turn  wlieresoe'er  I  may. 
By  night  or  day. 
The  things  which  I  have  seen  I  now  can  see  no 
"lore.  "  _  Wordmorth. 


THERE  is  much  in  a  name,  notwilhstanding 
the  poet's  confident  assertion  that  u  rose 
by  ajiy  other  name  would  be  as  sweet.  It  is  inter- 
estin<i  to  know  that  little  things,  which  have  no 
seeming  importance  or  value,  olten  control  the 
destiny  of  individuals  or  nations.  It  was  but 
a  little  piece  of  red-white-and-blue  cloth  that 
the  rebels  tired  upon  at  Fort  Sumter,  yet  it 
kindled  a  flame  of  fiery  wrath  throughout  the 
nation  that  swept  through  the  '  iSuuny  South  '' 
to  the  (Julf,  and  that  is  yet  smoldering  in  all 
the  Northern  States,  ready  to  burst  forth  at  any 
moment  into  angry  activity  at  the  prospect  of 
impending  calamity  to  the  country.  It  was 
but  a  little  cliiki,  born  at  the  obscure  village  of 
Hethlehein,  in  Judea,  among  thousands  that 
claimed  that  beautiful  country  as  their  native 
land,  that  has  filled  the  whole  earth  with 
triumphant  joy  and  bewildering  hope.  How 
sweet  is  the  name  Bethlehem  in  ever}'  Chris- 
tian's heart !  It  is  like  the  memory  of  joys 
that  are  past.  It  is  a  symbol  of  God's  presence 
on  earth,  and  is  a  comforting  lullaby  in  moments 
of  despondency.  The  name  is  immortalized  on 
earth,  and  is  lovingly  bestowed  upon  dear  or 
honored  objects  by  those  who  profess  an  adher- 
ence to  the  faith  proclaimed  to  the  world  by  the 
"Babe  of  Bethlehem."  A  large  colony  of 
Moravians  that  came  to  Pennsylvania  a  centuiy 
and  a  half  ago  settled  in  a  beautiful  valley  and 

*  Coiitriljiiled  by  W.   A.  Goo  Upeed. 


founded  a  village,  which  was  named  Bethle- 
hem. Followers  of  this  sect  from  this  locality' 
came  to  the  Tuscarawas  \'alley  long  before  the 
State  was  settled  by  the  whites,  and  established 
missions  among  the  Indians.  One  of  these  was 
located  in  what  is  now  Bethlehem  Township, 
and  is  fully  described  in  another  chapter  of 
this  volume.  The  early  settlers  were  well  aware 
of  this  circumstance,  and  when  the  township  was 
created,  appropriately  named  it  Bethlehem. 

The  township  is  not  of  the  usual  size — six 
miles  square — but  lacks  about  four  sections  of 
being  up  with  the  standard.  This  is  owing  to 
the  fact  that  the  southern  boundary  of  the 
township  is  partly  of  the  Greenville  treaty 
line,  which  takes  a  dip  to  the  southwest  from 
Section  34.  Entering  the  township  about  a 
mile  east  of  the  northwest  corner,  thence  flow- 
ing with  many  windings  in  a  southeasterly  di- 
rection and  leaving  from  Section  34,  is  the 
famous  Tuscarawas  River.  It  is  now  only 
about  two-thirds  its  size  in  early  years.  Boats 
drawing  several  feet  of  water  were  accustomed 
in  earl}-  j'ears  to  ascend  this  river  to  the  north- 
ern part  of  Stark  Co.  or  farther,  to  take  loads 
of  grain  down  the  river  to  the  Ohio,  thence  to 
New  Orleans  to  market.  This  would  be  impos- 
sible at  the  present  depth  of  the  river.  The 
township  is  well  and  thoroughly  drained  by 
various  small  tributaries  of  the  Tuscarawas. 
As  a  whole,  the  townslfip  is  too  rolling  for  ag- 
ricultural purposes.  The  valle^-s  and  level 
tracts  of  lands  are  exceedingl}'  rich,  as  is  shown 
by  the  heavy  crops  raised  upon  them  aimually. 
The  forest  is  left  standing  on  the  more  rolling 
land.  In  some  cases  such  land  has  been  con- 
verted into  meatlows  or  pastures.  Coal  and 
stone  are  found  at  several  places.  Out  from 
the  river  the  laud  is  leveler.  though  even  here 
it  is  far  from  flat. 


r 


550 


HI^STORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


The  question  of  first  settlement  is  always  one 
of  great  interest,  though  it  cannot  alwa3's  be 
solved,  owing  to  the  non-recording  of  early 
transactions.  It  is  a  curious  fact,  yet  people 
are  constantly'  doing  things  of  which  thej'  will  be 
sorry.  A  little  thought  is  sufficient  to  convince 
thera.  though  at  the  time  they  are  as  blind  as 
Cupid  to  all  results.  People  deceive  themselves, 
because  they  color  their  judgments  with  their 
prejudices.  They  seem  incapable  of  taking  an 
unbiased  view  of  any  object  or  question  wliere 
their  interest  is  involved.  Jletaphysicians 
prescribe  as  a  fixed  rule  for  the  mental  mastery 
of  any  subject,  a  complete  rejection  of  all  prej- 
udice, that  tile  mind  may  be  as  free  as  air  in 
all  its  movements.  But  few  persons  are  capa- 
ble of  this.  With  some,  the  greater  the  effort, 
the  greater  the  difficulty.  Some  have  formed 
wrong  conceptions  of  their  own  interest.  Tliey 
have  studied  long  and  have  acquired  extensive 
knowledge,  but  wisdom  still  lingers.  These  are 
the  persons  who  are  unable  to  tell  what  is  best 
for  tliem.  These  are  the  persons  who  neglect 
to  record  passing  events,  and  thus  refuse  to  pro- 
vide for  ascertaining  the  probable  future,  for 
from  the  past  do  we  judge  of  the  future.  Al- 
though people  are  not  in  the  habit  of  recording 
passing  events,  j-et  many  tilings  are  stored  in 
the  memory  that  are  recalled  when  needed. 
Tradition  is  a  library  of  fact  (sometimes  some- 
what doubtful)  that  the  historian  is  at  liberty  to 
peruse.  It  is  the  deepest  spring  from  which 
the  waters  of  the  past  are  drawn,  Old  records 
are  often  valuable,  as  will  be  seen  below.  The 
following  is  a  catalogue  of  all  the  land-holders 
of  the  township  for  the  year  1827  ;  Ebeiiezer 
AUman  (320  acres),  Jacob  Anspaugh,  Harman 
Buehtel,  Jacob  Bixler,  Samuel  Bixler.  (Jeorge 
Brantingham  (625  acres),  Christian  Blough, 
John  Burkholder,  John  Baclitel.  Joiin  Brinton. 
Jacob  Burkholder,  Jacob  Burns,  Henry  Burk- 
holder. John  Cook,  James  Chapman,  Aaron  Cul- 
ver, John  Kreighbaum,  Jonathan  W.  Condy(  wlio 
owned  nearly  all  the  lots' in  the  village  of  Beth- 
leiiem),  William  Christmas,  John  Dinnius,  Pe- 
ter Dinnius,  Hugh  Davidson,  Henry  Fry,  George 
Foulk,  Michael  Finley,  Henry  Grendle,  Joseph 
Gibbon,  Christian  Garber,  Abraham  Gallodaj', 
Horton  Howard,  John  Hutchinson,  Samuel 
Hughes,  Edmund  Hogg.  John  llousel,  James 
Hughes,  Henry  Hipsh,  William  Jolly,  John 
Kerstetter,  George  Keen,  Baltzer  Koontz,  Adam 
Kemmel,   William    Lewis,    Charles    Linerode, 


Daniel  Longenacre.  Isaac  Lash,  Thomas  Mc- 
Kean,  Alexander  Mock,  flotlieb  Myers,  Samuel 
Mufflin,  Solin  N!il'isiiim'F;>  DanierOUer.  Peter 
Rider,  Abraliain  Rowland,  John  Roan,  Abra- 
liam  Slirock,  Adam  Shell.  Christian  Schwenk, 
John  Slialter.  John  Sherman  (not  the  ex-Sena- 
tor), John  Shorl),  Jacob  Sborb,  Henry  Shoe- 
maker, Nicholas  Stump.  Mathias  Shipler,  Simon 
Snyder,  Frederick  Stump,  Joseph  Snively, 
Michael  Sterner,  Thomas  Troul.  John  Troul, 
Thomas  Taylor.  Zaccheus  Test — (ninety-nine 
lots  in  the  village  of  Calcutta  were  owned  by 
unknown  parties) — Herman  Van  Dorstan,  Hen- 
ry Van  Dorstan,  Benjamin  Whetmore,  Henr^- 
Wade,  John  Wright,  George  Warner  (686  acres), 
Jacob  Youngman,  Abraham  Yant  (322  acres), 
John  Yoder,  Jr.,  and  William  Young. 

Among  the  above  are  some  of  the  earliest 
settlers  in  the  township.  Many  came  in  prior 
to  1827  and  left  before  that  date,  and  their 
names,  of  course,  would  not  appear  on  the  list. 
The  following  regarding  the  early  settlement  of 
the  township,  is  taken  from  sketches  written  a 
few  years  ago  by  Rev.  David  Yant  : 

■'  The  Indian  capital  of  Tuscarawas  at  •the 
old  Indian  crossing  place  above  Fort  Laurens, 
the  Post  Mission  and  Calhoun's  trading-house 
were  located  at  and  near  the  mouth  of  Sandy, 
and  were  included  in  the  original  boundaries  of 
Bethlehem  Township.  Richard  Carter,  a  Quaker, 
and  Joshua  Coiuly,  a  brotlier-in-law  of  Carter's, 
settled  at  the  mouth  of  Sandy  at  an  early  day. 
Elizabeth  Himes,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Musser.  says  that  the  Musser  family  came  to 
Laurensville,  opposite  Fort  Laurens,  in  1807, 
and  that  Richard  Carter  was  then  living  at  the 
mouth  of  Sandy.  Carter  was  a  bachelor,  his 
two  sisters,  Sally  and  Maria  Carter,  two  pleas- 
ant young  ladies,  keeping  house  for  him.  The}' 
are  well  remembered  by  the  writer.  A  trading- 
house  had  been  built  upon  the  ground  pre- 
viously occupied  liy  Mr.  I'ost's  mission,  b}' 
John  Fleming,  a  mulatto  from  Canada,  and  a 
man  by  the  name  of  Armstrong,  who  had  been 
captured  wlien  he  was  but  fourteen  years  of 
age  by  the  Indians,  and  grew  up  to  manhood 
among  them,  acquiring  their  tastes,  habits  and 
modes  of  life.  His  father  found  him  and  tried 
to  persuade  him  to  return  to  his  home  in  West- 
ern Pennsylvania ;  but  it  was  in  vain.  His 
nature  bad  been  entirely'  recast  in  the  Indian 
mold.  He  said  he  would  not  work,  and  re- 
turned to  the  Indians,      It  is  much  easier  to 


~a)  \' 


BETHLEHEM   TOWNSHIP. 


551 


make  an  Indian  out  of  a  white  man  in  life  and 
habit,  than  to  make  a  white  man  out  of  an  In- 
dian. Kichard  Carter  got  posses-sion  of  the 
trading  house  after  Fleming  left,  and  kept  up  a 
brisk  trade  with  the  Indians.  The  friendly 
treatment  of  William  Penn  and  bis  Quakers 
had  so  far  won  the  confidenoe  of  the  Indian 
tril)es  generally,  tliat  the  former  were  classed  as 
a  distinct  race.  Beaver  Ilat  said  :  •  When  an 
Irishman  fills  my  powder  horn,  he  fills  it  about 
half  full  ;  an  American  fills  it  a  little  higher  ; 
but  a  Quaker  fills  it  up  full.'  The  same  gener- 
ous and  Christian  treatment  would  have  se- 
cured the  same  confidence  to  the  Irishman  and 
the  American.  But  the  country  has  reaped  the 
harvest  of  a  bad  seeding  with  the  Indian, 
Richard  Carter  went  to  Wheeling  for  supplies, 
and  left  Elizalieth  Iliraes  (then  Musser)  nged 
fifteen,  and  her  brother,  in  charge  of  the  trad- 
ing house.  The  young  fellow  was  fond  of  the 
hunt,  and  left  his  sister  two  days  alone  with 
the  Indians,  She  said  she  was  not  afraid  unless 
they  got  fire-water,  but  an  Indian  came  along 
who  was  on  a  '  bust,'  lie  took  a  butcher 
knife,  cut  the  string  of  the  window  shutter  and 
proceeded  to  throw  out  the  furs  and  skins,  and 
completely  emptied  the  post,  Mrs,  Himes 
knew  there  was  no  use  to  oppose  him,  but  a 
squaw  came  along  and  persuaded  the  Indian 
awa\\  and  returned  and  put  things  to  rights, 
Mrs,  Comh',  the  wife  of  Joshua  Comly,  took 
the  fever  at  the  mouth  of  Sandy,  and  died.  She 
left  her  heart-stricken  husband  with  the  care 
of  four  small  children.  This  was,  perhaps,  the 
first  death  among  the  settlers,  Mrs,  Comly 
was  buried  on  the  Slump  farm.  Mrs,  Eliza- 
beth Ilimes  kept  house  for  Mr,  Coml}-  until  he 
was  able  to  make  further  provisions, 

'•The  great  flood  of  1815  is  still  remembered. 
It  took  place  in  the  month  of  June,  Carter's 
house  stood  by  the  house  of  John  P,  Bordner, 
A  canoe  had  been  tied  at  the  bank  of  the  river, 
and  tlie  water  had  risen  during  the  night  so  as 
to  leave  only  the  untieil  end  of  the  canoe  upon 
the  surface.  My  father,  Abraham  Yant,  and 
Philip  Yant,  my  grandfather,  managed,  by 
swimming  and  diving,  to  untie  the  canoe,  and 
run  it  on  the  porch  of  tlie  house.  The  inmates 
iiad  retreated  to  the  second  story,  and  were 
carried  out,  and  brought  to  our  house,  until  the 
liood  abated,  Hichard  Carter  owned  over  500 
acres  of  land,  of  what  has  since  been  known  as 
the  Brantingham   tract.     He  traded   the  land 


to  George  Brantingham,  another  Quaker  from 
England,  for  citj-  propcrt\-  in  Philadelphia. 
Penn,,  and  removed  there  about  1818, 

•  Many  chapters  might  be  filled  with  inter- 
esting incidents  and  anecdotes,  but  a  few  only 
can  be  given.  Game  was  abundant ;  deer  were 
so  numerous  that  they  were  hardly  ever  out  of 
sight  for  a  tla}".  Bears  were  not  so  plenty,  but 
they  were  frequently  met  with.  On  one  occa- 
sion, John  Swank,  who  lived  iu  sight  of  our 
farm,  went  through  the  woods  to  George  Kuhn's, 
somewhere  near  where  Davidson  Brown  now 
lives.  He  treed  four  cub  bears  on  a  dogwood 
sapling,  made  strings  of  some  tow  he  had  in 
his  pocket,  climbed  the  sapling  and  secured  the 
cubs  by  tying  two  together.  When  he  came  to 
the  ground  the  noise  of  the  cubs  attracted  the 
mother,  who  rushed  at  him  with  her  jaws  wiile 
open.  He  dropped  the  cubs  on  the  side  of  a 
large  fallen  tree  and  jumped  upon  it,  and  the 
bear  came  up  on  the  opposite  side,  but  did  not 
attack  him.  He  broke  off  a  dead  limb  and 
frightened  her  off,  and  after  following  her  a 
short  distance,  returned,  caught  the  cubs,  made 
his  escape  and  brought  them  home.  Swank 
parted  with  two  of  the  cubs  and  kept  two, 
which  grew  finely.  The  bears  and  a  pet  pig 
slept  in  the  shelter  of  a  hollow  sycamore  that 
had  been  sawed  off  and  placed  for  the  purpose. 
One  rainy  night  after  washing  day,  when  a 
grapevine  full  of  clotiies  had  been  left  out,  the 
bears  put  their  natural  instincts  to  work,  and 
taking  the  clothes  proceeded  to  ihe  woods  and 
climbed  a  large  red-oak  tree,  the  top  of  which 
parted  into  three  branches,  where  the}'  made  a 
nest  of  the  clothes  and  lay  snugly  down,  hi 
the  morning  the  clothes  were  gone,  and  the 
bears  were  gone.  After  many  conjectures  and 
a  protracted  search,  the  white  clothes  were 
seen  and  soon  the  whole  mystery  was  solved. 
Then  the  (juestion  was,  how  to  get  the  clothes. 
This  could  onl}-  be  done  by  chopping  the  tree. 
When  the  bears  became  sensible  of  the  situa- 
tion, they  coolly  ran  out  on  a  limb,  rolled  up 
into  a  ball,  dropped  to  the  ground,  and  scam- 
pered off  home.  Thev  afl'orded  abundance  of 
amusement,  and  in  our  evening  visits,  would 
waylay  us  in  the  dark.  In  the  chase  the  hind- 
most •'  codger  '  was  sure  to  be  caught  bj*  the 
foot  in  the  paws  of  the  bear,  frights  and  screams 
availing  nothing,  but  we  were  never  hurt.  My 
father  had  a  large,  strong,  active  greyhound, 
named  Beaver.     Swank's  children  came  on  an 


D    "V 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


evening's  visit  and  one  of  the  bears  accom- 
panied them.  Beaver  was  frantic  with  rage  at 
the  bear,  but  never  would  taiie  hold  of  it.  The 
bear  ran  up  a  tall  sugar  tree,  sat  among  its 
branches  and  growled.  When  the  children  left 
it  came  down  and  took  to  the  fence,  and 
the  dog  followed,  making  a  fearful  noise  and 
threatenings  of  mortal  combat.  Init  would  not 
come  in  reach  of  the  bear's  paw.  I  never  saw 
an  animal  for  which  T  had  formed  so  strong  an 
attachment,  as  Beaver.  He  lived  until  old  age 
rendered  him  nearly-  helpless.  He  had  been 
mj'  constant  companion  in  m3'  hunts  and  ram- 
bles, killing  and  treeing  the  wild  game  ;  but  at 
last  it  was  determined  that  he  should  be  killed 
to  put  him  out  of  his  misery.  I  pleaded  for  his 
life,  caught  him  round  the  neck  and  wept  as 
though  he  were  my  brother,  but  without  avail. 
"  Richard  Carter  left  the  mouth  of  Sand}-  in 
1816.  George  Brantingham,  a  Quaker,  his 
wife  Phoebe,  and  Sarah  Bolton,  an  unmarried 
sister  of  Mrs.  Brantingham,  with  four  children, 
came  to  the  mouth  of  Sandy  in  the  spring  of 
1816.  Mr.  Brantingham  traded  city  property  in 
Philadelphia  to  Richard  Carter  for  a  tract  of 
500  acres  of  land,  and  settled  upon  it.  The 
Brantingham  children  were  Joseph,  Hannah, 
George  and  Sarah.  The  children,  like  their 
father,  were  full  of  life,  and  soon  exchanged 
their  city  ways  for  the  more  free  and  active 
enjoyments  of  the  backwoods.  My  father's 
familj-  and  the  Brantingham  farailj-  became 
much  attached  to  each  other,  and  were  lifelong 
friends,  notwithstanding  their  different  religious 
views.  When  my  father  would  kneel  in  family 
praj'er,  George  Brantingham  would  sit  in  sol- 
emn reverence,  with  his  hat  on,  and  worship 
God  in  the  spirit.  The  want  of  religious  soci- 
ety of  their  own  faith,  rendering  the  further 
stay  of  the  Brantingham  family  at  the  mouth 
of  Sandy  undesirable,  and  the  tract  of  land 
owned  by  Mr.  Brantingham  was  subdivided  and 
sold.  The  neighbors  tried  to  reconcile  him  to 
stay,  stating  as  a  reason  the  fertility  of  the  land, 
to  which  he  replied  :  "If  we  live  for  hog  and 
hominy,  we  need  not  leave  ;  but  if  we  live  for 
something  better  we  had  better  go.'  This 
striking  declaration  of  the  choice  of  a  good 
man  contains  an  important  adm(mition.  There 
are  many,  vast  numbers  indeed,  who  live  onlj- 
for  '  hog  and  hominy.'  Esau  lived  for  hog  and 
hominj-,  or  he  would  not  have  sold  his  birth- 
right ;    Lot  was  governed  b^'  hog  and  hominy 


or  he  would  not  have  pitched  his  tent  toward 
Sodora.  In  1821,  the  Brantingham  family- 
removed  to  the  vicinity  of  Salem,  Ohio, 
where  George  Brantingham,  Sr.,  died,  in  1845, 
aged  seventy-five  years.  Phiebe  Brantingham, 
his  wife,  died  in  the  spring  of  1853,  in  her 
eightieth  year.  Among  the  early  settlers,  none 
were  more  conspicuous  than  Mathias  Sheplar, 
Nicholas  Stump  and  Ebenezer  Allman.  Mr. 
Sheplar  was  born  in  Westmoreland  County, 
Penn.,  November  11,  1790.  His  first  wife  was 
Elizabeth  Retan.  He  came  to  Bethlehem 
Township  in  an  early  day  ;  was  for  many  years 
a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  several  times  a 
member  of  the  Legislature,  both  of  the  House 
and  Senate;  served  one  term  in  Congress  and 
filled  various  minor  otHces,  in  all  of  which  sta- 
tions he  retained  the  confidence  of  the  people, 
as  a  moral,  upright  man,  and  faithfully  dis- 
charged the  various  duties  assigned  him.  Mr. 
Shepler  was  nianled  three  times.  His  first  wife 
died  while  yet  young.  He  was  married  to  Eliz- 
abeth Bechtel,  who  died  in  1837.  His  last 
marriage  was  with  Sarah  Linerode,  the  widow 
of  Otho  Linerode,  and  daughter  of  John  Sher- 
man. She  still  lives  at  the  age  of  seventy-six, 
though  much  enfeebled.  Mr.  Shepler  died  in 
April,  1863,  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church.  His  remains  are  interred  in  the  Sheplar 
burjing  ground,  on  the  farm  where  ho  formerly 
resided. 

"  Nicholas  and  Frederick  Stump  came  from 
Chambersburg,  Franklin  Co.,  Penn.,  in  1808. 
Most  of  the  goods  belonging  to  Nicholas  were 
lost  in  crossing  the  Nimishillen,  Frederick 
Stump  settled  in  Perry  Township,  on  the  farm 
now  "occupied  by  his  son,  Levi  Stump.  Nicho- 
las Stump  settled  on  the  northwest  quarter  of 
Section  10,  now  owned  by  Henry  Myers.  Nich- 
olas Stump  was  elected  several  times  to  the 
office  of  County  Commissioner,  when  public 
honesty  and  economy  were  the  rule.  Kings, 
jobs  and  reckless  extravagance  are  the  results 
of  a  superior  refinement  and  the  advancement  of 
the  age. 

"  Ebenezer  Allman  came  from  Bentleysville, 
Washington  Co.,  Penn., in  1807.  HissonsGeorge 
and  William  were  out  a  year  or  so  previous. 
They  settled  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  Sec- 
tion 4,  now  occupied  bj-  Mrs.  Eve  Allman,  a 
daughter  of  Frederick  Stump,  and  the  widow 
of  Barney  Allman.  CarroU  Allman  was  killed 
by  the  falling  of  a  tree,  in  his  seventeenth  year, 


BETHLEHEM    TOWNSHIP. 


553 


and  was  the  first  death  in  the  family.  Jane 
was  married  to  George  Klingle,  referred  to  as 
the  first  dry  goods  merchant  in  Betiilehem, 
Parali,  another  (hiughter,  was  married  to  Jerr}- 
Sluts.  The  family  consisted  of  seven  sons  and 
two  daughters.  Kbenezer  Allman  died  in  182S, 
aged  sixty-four  ;  Agnes,  his  wife,  died  in  1839, 
aged  sixty-six. 

"  Abraham  Yant  came  from  Allegheny  Co., 
Penn..  to  Bethlehem  Township,  in  the  fall  of 
1812.  He  stopped  at  the  house  of  Nicholas 
Stump,  who  went  with  him  and  showed  him  the 
northeast  and  southeast  quarters  of  Section  2  t, 
then  vacant.  He  went  to  Steubenville,  located 
one  quarter,  returned  to  his  home,  seven  miles 
from  Pittsburgh,  near  the  .Monongahela  River, 
worked  at  the  shoe  bench  until  the  spring  of 
1814,  when  he  came  out  and  located  the  other 
quarter,  built  a  shanty  or  camp  of  butternut 
poles,  stayed  three  months,  cleared  a  field, 
planted  it  in  garden  vegetables,  corn  and  pota- 
toes. While  at  work  in  the  wild  woods  his 
supplies  of  bread  were  procured  from  the  set- 
tlers, the  wild  turkeys  and  pheasants  suppliiKl 
him  with  eggs,  and  his  rifle  abundantly  sup- 
plied him  with  venison  and  turke^'.  He  returned 
in  Jul}',  and  started  for  his  new  home  about  the 
1st  of  September,  and  arrived  at  the  cabin  on 
the  10th  of  September,  1814.  The  family  con- 
sisted of  my  grandfather,  Philip  Yant,  Sr..  my 
inicle.  Philip  \''ant,  Jr.,  my  father  and  mother, 
.Miraham  and  Catharine  Y'ant,  my  brother 
.\nthony,  and  my  sister  Magdalene,  I  being 
then  sixteen  months  old,  and  the  youngest. 
The  moving  party  were  on  the  road  two  weeks, 
with  wagon  and  two  horses.  The  season  was 
remarkably  wet.  My  mother  says  she  carried 
me  all  the  way  ;  that  it  rained  every  day,  and  I 
cried  the  whole  journey.  The  little  hut  had  a 
fire-place  on  the  projecting  corner,  and  it  con- 
tained room  for  kitchen  purposes,  a  bed,  and 
the  dear  old  "  trundle-bed  "  The  rest  of  the 
family  slept  in  the  covered  wagon,  A  cabin 
h<juse  was  soon  put  up,  with  a  log  fire  chimne}', 
puncheon  floor  and  clap-board  roof  The  farm 
in  its  natural  state  was  heavily  timbered  with 
oak  trees  of  immense  size  on  the  hill  slopes, 
and  the  bottoms  were  covered  with  sugar 
maple,  beech  and  hickory.  It  was  hard  labor 
and  a  slow  process  to  clear  up  a  farm ;  but  by 
perseverance,  late  and  early,  every  year  added 
an  eight  or  ten  acre  field  to  the  opening.  I^abor 
was  cheap.     The  best  choppers  could  be  hired 


for  $8  or  $10  per  month.  The  sugar  season 
aflbrded  the  greatest  enjoyment  and  the  hardest 
labor  of  any  other  part  of  the  year.  Camping 
out  and  running  the  sugar  camp  day  and  night 
was  full  of  fun  and  excitement,  through  slush, 
snow  and  rain.  The  exposure  was  not  con- 
sidered dangerous.  Half  a  dozen  different 
camps,  within  neighboring  distance  of  each 
other,  afforded  a  vast  amount  of  social  enjo}'- 
ment  for  the  young  folks.  The  log-cabin 
pioneers,  with  all  their  hardships  and  simple, 
rough  fare,  were  healthier  and  enjoyed  social 
life  to  a  greater  degree  than  falls  to  the  lot  of 
their  more  refined  and  weakly  descendants. 
Abraham  Y'ant  became  a  minister  of  the  Ger- 
man Baptist  denomination.  Tlie  last  few  yeai-s 
of  his  life  were  spent  in  the  tJospel  ministrj'. 
He  died  in  January,  1842,  aged  sixty-one 3-ears, 
His  widow,  Catharine  Yant,  survived  him,  and 
reached  the  unusual  age  of  ninety-three  years 
before  her  death  occurred. 

•'  Prior  to  181").  Bi'thlehem  and  Pike  were  in- 
cluded in  Canton  Township;  V)ut,  in  1815  and 
181(i,  Pike  and  Betiilehem  held  elections  jointly. 
Bethlehem  Townshi[)  was  created  on  the  12th 
of  December,  ISlti,  and  an  election  held  in 
.\pril,  1817.  Baltzer  Koonts  was  the  first 
Justice  of  tiie  Peace.  The  first  couple  mar- 
ried in  the  township  were  .Vcjuilla  ('arr  and 
his  wife,  Nelly  ;  her  maiden  name  is  forgotten. 
The  ceremony  was  performed  b^-  Squire  Koonts. 
.Vdam  grounds,  the  father  of  Jacob  Grounds, 
came  to  Bethlehem  in  ISOO  or  1807,  The  first 
three  Ijarrelsof  salt  were  brought  into  the  town- 
ship by  Mr.  t'arr.  He  conveyed  them  up  tlie 
Cuyahoga  River  in  a  canoe,  hauled  the  canoe 
across  the  Portage,  south  of  Akron,  to  the  Tus- 
carawas, and  floated  down  to  Bethlehem.  He 
sold  one  barrel  to  (iodfrey  Huft'  at  the  mouth 
of  One-leg  Creek  ;  Mr.  (hounds  g(5t  one  barrel, 
and  the  other  was  secreted  in  the  woods,  to 
keep  the  Indians  from  finding  it.  The  salt  was 
sohl  at  $25  per  barrel,  l)ut  Mr.  (Jarr  said  he  wouhl 
haul  no  more  at  that  price.  Jacob  Grounds 
taught  the  first  school  at  Bethlehem,  and  was 
clerk  of  the  first  election  held  at  Canton. 
James  Gatt' made  the  ballot  box,  for  which  he 
received  50  cents.  The  first  entries  of  land 
were  made  by  Brinton  &  Condy.  Richard  Carter. 
Nicholas  Stump,  Kbenezer  .Vlhnan,  Harman 
VanDorston,  .^Iathias  Sheplcr.  Charles  Linemde 
and  others. 

•■  In  1810,  Mr.  Brantinuham  laid  out  the  towu 


A 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


of  Cnlcuttii,  liad  :i  sale  of  lots,  and  built  a 
warehouse  on  the  bank  of  the  rixer.  Several 
flat-bottom  boats  were  loaded  here  for  the  south- 
ern trade,  the  caigoes  consisting  of  flour,  whiskj', 
bacon  and  potter_v  ware,  the  latter  being  man- 
ufactured at  Canton.  A  store  was  also  estab- 
lished and  continued  for  several  years  bj- Fred- 
erich  C.  I'hcrsieh,  a  German.  His  goods  were 
valued  at  about  $500.  and  comprised  axes,  hoes, 
salt,  tobacco,  groceries  and  a  small  quantity  of 
prints  and  muslins.  Of  course  he  kept  wiiisky. 
There  was  where  his  greatest  profit  was  real- 
ized. His  store  became  quite  a  resort  on  this 
account.  Some  six  or  eight  dwellings  were 
erected  in  Calcutta,  in  which  as  many  families 
resided  for  a  few  years.  A  blacksmith  ap- 
peared, and,  it  is  said,  a  printer  named  White 
came  there  with  the  intention  either  of 
starting  the  somewhat  doubtful  venture  of 
a  newspaper,  or  of  doing  a  general  ad\'ertising 
business,  or  both.  He  was  probably  looking 
up  a  location,  as  he  stayed  there  but  a  few 
mouths.  The  outlook  was  decidedly  unfavor- 
able for  such  an  enterprise.  The  warehouse 
did  quite  a  thriving  business  for  a  few  years, 
until  the  river  v,'as  no  longer  safely  navigable 
b^'  the  flat-boats.  Calcutta  was  considered  the 
head  of  navigation  on  the  Tuscarawas.  The 
river,  except  at  a  high  stage  of  water,  proved 
unsafe,  and  a  number  of  shipwrecks,  with  loss 
of  cargo,  put  an  end  to  the  New  Orleans  trade 
upon  the  Tuscarawas.  The  last  flat-boat  that 
passed  down  the  river  was  about  1822,  or  a  year 
later.  As  the  leading  idea  of  building  up  a 
town  of  some  commercial  importance,  was  di- 
rectly connected  with  this  trade,  the  prospects 
of  the  future  city  of  Calcutta  were  abandoned 
with  it.  The  town  plat  was  vacated,  and  is 
now  embraced  in  the  farm  of  John  Kaler. 

•'  Tiiomas  and  Charity  Roach,  from  Kendall, 
Stark  County,  frequently  stopped  at  Brauting- 
ham's,  on  their  way  to  visit  the  Zoarites,  in  whose 
welfare  they  interested  themselves  greatly. 
George  Brantingham  went  with  Thomas  Roach 
to  a  Yearly  Meeting  at  Mount  Pleasant,  Jeffer- 
son Co.,  Ohio,  during  which  Mr.  Roach  took 
sick  and  died,  and  was  buried  at  the  Short 
Creek  Quaker  burj'ing  ground.  Charity  Roach 
and  her  husband,  Thomas  Roach,  were  without 
children.  Charity,  with  the  true  spirit  of 
Christian  benevolence  and  charity,  founded 
the  '  Roach  Charity  School.'  She  requested 
Sylvanus  Buckius,  a  tinner,  to  make  a  '  roach  ' 


(a  fish)  to  be  placed  upon  the  building  as  a 
vane,  so  that  the  name  should  not  be  forgotten  ; 
it  is  there  to  this  day.  There  was  but  little 
need  of  this,  as  the  '  name  of  the  righteous 
shall  be  an  everlasting  remembrance.'  Al- 
though not  upon  an  extensive  scale,  it  is  one  of 
the  noblest  charities  in  the  State.  Men  of 
wealth  who  do  not  know  what  to  do  with  their 
abundance,  should  pay  it  a  visit,  then  '  go  and 
do  likewise.'  The  remains  of  Charity  Roach 
rest  in  the  old  burying  ground  at  Kendal. 
Many  a  poor  orphan  has  stood  by  her  humble 
grave  and  called  her  ■  blessed.' 

"  The  village  of  Bethlehem  was  laid  out  by 
Jonathan  W.  Condy.  in  1800.  Mr.  Condy  and 
Martin  Brinton,  a  brother-in-law,  were  lawyers 
from  the  citj'  of  Philadelphia.  They  located 
large  tracts  of  land  in  Bethlehem  'Township. 
Jfr.  Condy  was  accompanied  by  the  Rev.  Rich- 
ard S.  Goe.  Religiously,  the3-  had  embraced 
the  tenets  of  Emanuel  Swedenborg.  Their  pro- 
ject was  to  establish  a  religious  societ}-.  mold- 
ed after  the  Moravian  Society  at  Bethlehem, 
Peun.,  after  which  the  town  was  named.  Mr. 
Condy  was  a  man  of  enterprise  and  integrity. 
He  built  a  saw-mill  on  the  stream  east  of  the 
village,  and  contracted  the  building  of  a  grist- 
mill ;  but  the  latter  was  abandoned.  He  erected 
a  storehouse  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Mar- 
ket and  Second  streets,  which  was  occupied  b3' 
James  Klingle.  This  was  the  first  dry  goods 
store  in  the  village.  It  was  afterward  occupied 
by  Mr.  (ioe  as  a  store,  and  was  torn  down  but 
a  few  years  since.  For  various  reasons,  Mr. 
Condy  s  expectations  were  not  realized.  He 
returned  to  Philadelpliia  until  after  the  location 
of  the  Ohio  Canal,  when  he  came  to  see  his 
landed  interests.  On  riding  across  a  corduroy 
bridge  his  horse  was  attacked  by  yellow  jackets, 
became  frantic,  tiirew  Mr.  Condy,  broke  his 
shoulder,  and  otherwise  very  seriouslj*  injured 
him.  From  these  injuries  he  died  a  short  time 
afterward,  and  was  buried  in  the  old  grave- 
yard.    This  was  in  August,  1827. 

"After  the  location  of  the  Ohio  Canal,  Na- 
varre was  laid  out  by  James  Duncan.  The 
year  before,  Nathan  McGrew  had  laid  out  on  the 
western  side  a  village,  which  he  named  Roches- 
ter. Rafl'ensperger  and  Chapman  afterward 
laid  out  an  addition  to  Rochester.  The  three 
villages,  Navarre,  Bethlehem  and  Rochester, 
became  places  of  immense  trade  in  wheat  and 
drj'  goods.     The  principal  merchants  were  D.  & 


BETHLEHEM    TOWNSHIP. 


H.  Allman,  Flill  &  Co.,  Chapman  &  Rafl'ensperger, 
I'oe  &  Co..  Wirt&  Biirgent.  Tlie  leading  export 
was  wheat.  Bet'oiv  the  opening  of  the  Ohio 
Canal  it  did  not  bring  thirty  cents  in  cash,  but 
now  coiniuanded  remunerative  prices.  For 
some  years  this  sudden  im|)ul.se  in  trade  went 
on  in  a  torrent,  results  quit(^  satisl'actory  wei-e 
realized,  and  handsome  fortunes  made.  Its 
influence  upon  the  country  was  seen  and  felt  in 
tlie  enhanced  value  of  real  estate,  the  taste  of 
buildings  and  all  kinds  of  improvements.  This 
season  of  prosperity  was  followed  b\-  the  strin- 
gency and  reverses  of  1837  to  1840.  Fortunes 
that  had  been  gathered  in  the  years  of  prosper- 
ity, were  more  quickly  swept  away.  The  fail- 
ures in  mercantile  circles  were  as  common  then 
as  at  the  present.  Trade,  like  the  ocean,  seems 
to  be  subject  U>  ebbs  and  flows.  .Much  of  the 
money  made  in  wheat  raising  remained  in  tlie 
hands  of  the  purchaser.  All  the  original  firms 
largel\'  engaged  in  the  produce  trade  failed,  but 
the  farmers  did  not.  They  jogged  on,  slowly 
and  surely,  some  wiser  than  before.  Ever}- 
generation  learns  this  truth — that  dealing  in 
large  sums  begets  recklessness  and  extrava- 
gance. Quickly  made  is  quickly  spent.  A  post 
otiicc  was  established  at  Bethlehem,  Februar}- 
8,  1828,  Thomas  Hurford  being  the  first  Post- 
master. On  the  14th  of  August,  1843,  the 
name  of  the  office  was  changed  to  Navarre, 
and  George  \V.  Sweringen  became  Postmaster. 
Soon  after  Navarre  was  laid  out,  James  Duncan 
built  a  mill,  and  connected  with  it  a  store. 
Tile  Ohio  Canal  supplied  the  water-power  pro- 
cured from  the  State.  The  mill  did  a  prosper- 
ous business,  and  was  a  great  advantage  to  the 
pla(;e  and  the  surrounding  country.  It  is  now 
owned  by  James  Corl.  and  is  doing  a  good  cus- 
tom business.  Soon  after  Rochester  was  laid 
out,  James  Sproul  built  the  steam-mill.  After 
changing  hands  several  limes,  it  is  now  owned 
and  successfully  operated  by  the  Coup  brothers. 
The  prospective  importance  of  Navarre,  as  a 
business  point,  soon  began  to  decline.  The 
superior  advantages  and  enterprise  of  -Massillon 
drew  capitalists  to  that  point.  The  Fort  \Va3'ne 
&  Pittsburgh  Railroad,  the  iron  works,  machme 
shops  and  car  works  located  at  that  point  and 
successfully  carried  on,  have  largely  directed 
trade  from  Navarre.  The  latter  is  still  a  place 
of  considerable  business.  Projected  railroad 
facilities,  should  they  be  realized,  may  add  to 
its  present  value." 


The  village  of  Bethlehem  was  laid  out  while 
Stark  was  j'et  a  part  of  Columliiana  (!ounty. 
The  original  village  plat  maj*  be  seen  at  the 
county  seat  of  that  county.  Calcutta  was  laid 
out  as  stated  above,  in  1819.  though  the  plat 
thereof  does  not  appear  on  the  i-ecords  at  Can- 
ton. One  of  two  things  must  be  true  :  either 
the  record  of  the  plat  has  been  lost  or  destroyed, 
or  the  plat  was  not  properly  recorded.  When 
the  Ohio  Canal  was  built  through  the  township 
and  opened, Bethlehem  was  re-enforced  by  popu- 
lation and  prosperity.  By  1830,  there  were  some 
twenty  dwellings.  H.  &  I).  Allman  opened  a 
store  there  in  about  the  year  1828,  and  had  a 
stock  of  goods  worth  probably  $4,000.  In 
October,  1833,  Nathan  JMc(irew  laid  out  thirty- 
six  lots  on  fractional  Section  5,  about  three 
hundred  yards  west  of  Bethlehem,  along  the 
bank  of  the  river,  and  named  the  village  thus 
begun  Rochester.  He  immediately  ottered  the 
lots  for  sale,  but  Bethlehem  proved  a  formid- 
able rival,  and  he  did  not  succeed  very  well. 
In  March,  1834,  James  Duncan  laid  out  nine- 
teen lots  on  the  bank  of  the  canal  between 
Rochester  and  Bethlehem,  and  named  this  vil- 
lage Navarre.  The  reason  for  the  projection  of 
new  villages  so  near  together  and  so  near  Beth- 
lehem is  not  very  clear.  The  latter  village  was 
so  situated  that  quite  a  steep  bluff' was  between 
it  and  the  canal.  This  rendered  the  shipment 
of  all  kinds  of  productions  a  troublesome  mat- 
ter, as  buildings  could  not  be  located  on  the 
bank,  and,  even  if  they  could,  teams  could  not 
approach  to  unload  grain.  And  besides  this, 
there  was  considerable  fun  thrown  at  the  vil- 
lage on  account  of  its  inactivity  in  the  manage- 
ment of  the  grain  trade.  People  seemed  afraid 
to  locate  there,  and  men  with  capital  moved  on 
to  localities  which  pleased  them  better.  This 
state  of  things  continued  until  a  few  years  after 
the  opening  of  the  canal,  or  until  the  other 
villages  were  laid  out.  Mr.  McGrew  laid  out 
Rochester  on  the  bank  of  the  canal.  I)ut  there 
the  approaches  were  unfavorable  to  the  rapid 
handling  of  grain.  These  facts  led  Mr.  Duncan 
to  lay  out  Navarre.  The  Massillon  Rolling 
Mill  Company  was  in  existence  at  that  time, 
and  had  considerable  capital  at  its  command. 
This  was  partly  invested  in  land.  Mr.  Duncan 
was  a  member  of  the  company,  and  was  author- 
ized to  [)urchase  the  land  upon  which  the  vil- 
lage of  Navan-e  now  stands.  This  he  did.  He  also 
laid  out  the  village  with  the  intention  of  building 


556 


HISTOBY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


his  up  at  the  expense  of  the  other  two.  His 
plan,  owing  to  the  imperfect  location  of  the 
other  villages  as  regards  the  canal,  and  the 
jealousy  that  had  sprung  up  between  them,  was 
in  a  measure  successful.  The  Allraan  Brothers, 
who  were  then  keeping  store  in  Bethlehem  and 
doing  a  general  warehouse  business,  wei'e  in- 
duced to  transfer  their  interests  to  the  new 
village  of  Rochester.  This  movement  met  with 
opposition  from  the  Bethlehemites  who  at  first 
endeavored  to  persuade  them  to  remain,  but 
finding  this  course  unavailing  they  made  efforts 
to  kill  out  Rochester.  Duncan  built  a  store 
building  in  Navarre,  and  J.  &  W.  Chapman,  who 
were  selling  goods  in  Bethlehem,  moved  to  the 
former  place.  The  withdrawal  of  the  Ciiap- 
mans  and  the  Allmans  from  Bethlehem  was  a 
serious  blow  to  the  expectations  of  that  village. 
McGrew  who  had  been  in  business  there  had 
left  and  laid  out  Rochester.  Tiiese  men  saw 
that,  in  view  of  the  growing  trade  at  that  point, 
a  better  location  was  not  onlj-  desiralile  but,  if 
extensive  business  on  the  canal  was  to  be  done, 
it  was  neeessarj-.  This,  among  other  things,  led 
them  to  break  away  from  Bethlehem.  After 
they  left,  G-eorge  Pfoiitz  o|)ened  a  store  where 
they  had  been,  and  bought  grain  at  the  old  ware- 
house they  had  occupied  and  deserted.  This 
was  about  the  year  1835.  Duncan  built  at 
Navarre  a  grist-mill  and  a  saw-mill,  besides 
other  buildings,  including  several  dwellings.  In 
short,  he  did  his  best  to  build  up  the  village  he 
had  founded.  The  saw-mill  was  soon  afterward 
burned  down,  but  was  immediately  rebuilt. 
After  a  few  years,  it  was  again  burned  down, 
and  was  then  permitted  to  remain  down.  Stump 
&  Fisher  opened  a  store  at  Bethlehem  in  about 
the  year  1838.  The  Allman  Brothers,  when  they 
went  to  Rochester,  built  a  storehouse  and  also 
a  large  warehouse.  From  this  time  forward 
there  was  constant  rivalry  between  the  three 
villages.  In  each  there  were  merchants  who 
were  bujnng  large"  quantities  of  grain  and  pro- 
duce, and  as  a  necessary  consequence  each  was 
envious  of  the  prosperity  of  tlie  others,  ('lose 
margins  were  made  in  consequence,  the  mer- 
chants endeavoring  to  undersell  each  otiier  in 
store  goods  and  over  pay  each  other  in  the 
trade  in  grain.  The  results  are  easily  guessed. 
Their  business  soon  languished  under  this 
pressure,  and  when  the  financial  troubles  of 
1837  came  on,  the  merchants  failed  and  made 
an  assignment  of  their  property.     From    this 


time  onward  almost  every  man  who  en- 
gaged in  buying  grain  at  the  villages 
failed  in  business.  As  soon  as  a  man  opened 
a  store  in  either  of  the  villages  he  must  dabble 
in  the  speculation  in  wheat.  These  men  did 
not  profit  by  the  experience  of  those  who  had 
failed  before  them.  They,  forsooth,  were 
shrewd  enough  to  foresee  the  future  condition 
of  the  markets.  And  another  thing  :  they 
would  not  permit  the  other  buyers  to  do  a 
more  extensive  business  than  themselves  ;  tliat 
would  not  do.  The  facts  are  curious,  yet  this 
was  about  the  condition  of  affairs  for  a  number 
of  years.  Failure  after  failure  succeetled  each 
other,  and  still  a  fresh  supply  of  daring  capital- 
ists crowded  their  way  to  the  front.  Among 
the  men  who  have  been  in  business  in  the  vil- 
lages are  the  following  :  Isaac  Hawk,  Charles 
Poe  (a  descendant  of  the  renowned  borderer  of 
that  name),  p]nos  Raffensperger.  who  with 
Chapman,  in  1845,  laid  out  a  large  addition  to 
Rochester,  Hill  &  Waldron,  Martin  &  Harris, 
Brobts  &  Rudey,  R.  &  J.  Sprankle,  Davidson 
&  Company,  Mr.  Wertenbergert,  D.  Mentzer, 
Bash,  Minor  &  Company,  Goodman,  Chapman 
&  Company,  J.  &  M.  Bash,  Goshorn  &  Rose, 
Goshorn  &  Eckrode,  Dennius  &  Draoenstrod, 
Zerby  &  Gorgas,  H.  V.  Beeson  &  Company, 
Hall  &  Companj',  Loutzenheiser  &  Company, 
Hetzler  &  Company,  Thompson  &  Baxter,  J. 
&  J.  \V.  Raffensberger,  G.  H.  Cross,  and  others. 
Among  the  present  business  enterprises  are, 
G.  H.  Cross,  John  Weidman,  Daniel  Metzer, 
Alexander  Garver,  G.  W.  Henline,  (xrossklaus 
&  Ricksecker,  Gnau  &  Moog,  A.  Schmidt,  J. 
Loud,  Mrs.  Donnovan,  milliner,  and  others. 

In  about  the  year  1850,  there  was  formed 
what  was  called  the  ''  Farmers'  and  Mechanics' 
Association."  This  company  of  perhaps  fifty 
men  was  not  incorporated,  but  it  had  a  paid- 
up  capital  of  nearly  >;2(l.00(l,  which  was  divided 
into  shares  of  $25  each.  The  business  was  con- 
trolled by  a  board  of  directors.  A  large  ware- 
house and  a  large  dry  goods  store  were  built, 
and  the  Company  began  buying  grain  and  deal- 
ing in  goods.  It  owned  one  or  more  canal- 
boats  and  a  large  hardware  store.  As  high  as 
3,000  bushels  of  grain  were  bought  in  one  day, 
and,  during  the  years  of  the  company's  greatest 
activity,  nearly  100,000  busiiels  of  wheat  and 
other  grains  were  purchased  and  shipped  to 
Cleveland  on  the  canal.  The  company  had  un- 
bounded credit,  and  soon  went  beyond  its  means. 


^ 


i^ 


HETIILEIIEM    TOWNSHIP. 


557 


Within  about  six  years  after  its  promising  start, 
the  company  found  that  almost  its  entire  capital 
was  swallowed  up  in  liook  accounts  and  stock 
in  store.  From  the  fact  that  the  company  was 
conducting  a  similar  business  in  other  villages, 
and  had  come  to  about  the  same  strait  in  those 
places,  it  was  found  impossible  to  continue. 
An  assignment  of  the  proi)erty  was  made,  and 
the  individual  members  were  required  to  make 
up  what  the  assets  lacked  of  meeting  the  lia- 
bilities. 

In  about  the  j'ear  1 84-1.  W.  Wann  erected  a  suit- 
able building,  and  l)egan  manufacturing  plows, 
stoves,  steam  engines,  hollow-ware.  etc.  He  em- 
ployed a  few  assistants,  and,  after  continuing  a 
few  years,  admitted  a  partner  named  Widgeon. 
These  men  then  extended  the  scope  of  the  en- 
terprise somewhat,  and  after  the  lapse  of  a  few 
years,  sold  to  C.  &  J.  Snyder.  Finally, 
Yant,  App  &  Company  purchased  the  foundry, 
and,  in  addition  to  what  had  been  manufactured 
before,  began  making  wheat  drills.  After  this, 
under  other  owners,  the  business  was  changed 
to  that  of  wagon  and  carriage  making.  At 
present,  under  R,  Hug,  the  building  is  a  plan- 
ing-mill,  where  doors,  windows,  blinds,  etc  are 
manufactured. 

The  first  public  house  of  entertainment 
was  kept  l)y  John  ."^halter,  on  the  southwest 
corner  of  Third  and  Market  streets.  The  first 
one  in  Navarre  was  opened  by  J,  Yant,  oppo- 
site Mr,  Sisterhen's  shoestore,  and  was  known  as 
"  Yant's  Hotel.'  The  building  is  yet  standing. 
He  was  succeeded  by  a  Mr.  Horton.  The 
"  Reed  House,"  known  first  as  the  "  Navarre 
House."  was  built  by  Richard  Goe.  The  pres- 
ent landlord  is  B.  F.  Reed,  whose  good  looks 
are  proverbial,  and  whose  knowledge  of 
horse-flesh  is  almost  infinite,  >ren  named 
Wingert  and  Sprankle  kept  tavern  in  Bethle- 
hem at  an  early  day.  Since  the  earliest  times, 
as  might  have  been  expected,  ri\'alry  and 
jealousy  have  marked  all  commercial  relations 
between  the  villages.  Nothing  serious  has 
transpired,  the  rivalry  usually  confining  itself 
to  bitter  thoughts. 

On  the  2!tth  of  .Vugust,  1871,  a  petition, 
signed  by  over  fifty  <iualilied  voters,  residing  in 
the  combined  villages,  was  presented  to  the 
Commissioners  of  Stark  County,  praying  for  the 
incorporation  of  Bethlehem.  Navarre  andRoch- 
ester,  under  the  name  of  Navarre.  The  subject 
was  laid  upon  the  table   until   the  September 


session,  when  all  things,  pro  and  con,  having 
been  duly  considered,  it  was  ordered  that  the 
prayer  of  the  petitioners  be  granted.  The 
boundaries  were  fixed,  but  were  afterward 
amended.  In  April,  1872,  the  first  municipal 
election  of  the  incorporated  village  of  Navarre 
was  held.  As  soon  as  the  officers  were  quali- 
fied, the  necessary  ordinances  were  drafted  and 
adopted,  and  a  small  tax  levied  for  municipal 
purposes.  A  small,  strong,  wooden  jail  was 
built  at  a  cost  of  about  §150,  The  following 
is  a  list  of  the  city  officers  ui>  to  the  present 
time,  with  the  dates  of  the  commencement  of 
their  terms  of  office  : 

Miivor— 1872,  .Iai(>l>  E.  Mcntzcr:  I87«,  Mathia.-i 
.Sislcrlu'U. 

Clerk— 187-i,  Alfred  .1.  Rider:  \H7>\.  Charles  Oied- 
l.-r. 

Treasurer— 1872,  Henry  l{.  Heiiiicl;  1870,  Ale.v- 
aniler  Garver. 

Marshal— 1872,  James  Linn;  1876,  Seraphim 
Shively;  1878,  Edward  R.  Stcrl, 

Slrei't  Commissioner— 1872,  Jolin   .\.   Keplinger; 

1874.  Michael  Unsesliiek;  1875,  .Jacoli  Wolf;  1875. 
Seraphim  Shively:  1876.  .John  .].  BidUle:  1878.  .lohn 
Linn. 

Councilmeii— 1872.  Samuel  MilliM-.  two  years; 
Mathias  Sisterhen.  two  years;  Peter  Tlicohald.  two 
years;  .Tolin  Baltzer.  one  year;  Gotlieh  Winter,  one 
year;  William  O.  Siffert".  one  year,  1878.  Peter  B. 
Welsh.  (Jeor^re  W.  Swarensren.  Enos  Raftensl)erger, 
Edw;u(i    .1.    Hu?:  1874.   A.    S.    i:)uley.    .John   Leow; 

1875.  David  Riekseeker;  1876,  J.  M.  "Corl,  .1,  C,  Krit- 
zinuer,  .1.  E.  Loud;  1X77,  A.  W.  Go.shorn;  1878,  T, 
F.  Lereh,  A,  Henderson;  1879,  .1.  W.  Ream:  1880, 
William  Donnovaii;  1881,  Ivern  Aekermau. 

The  first  school  in  the  township  was  taught 
at  Bethlehem  by  Jacob  Grounds.  When  this  oc- 
curred is  not  known.  The  village  was  laid  out  as 
early  as  ISOG  ;  but  the  school  was  not  probably 
taught  until  eight  or  ten  years  later,  when  a  log 
schoolhouse  was  crec'ted.  This  house,  or  log 
building  which  succeeded  it,  was  yet  standing 
in  1835.  Soon  after  this  date  the  old  school- 
house  was  abandoned,  and  a  large,  two-story 
structure  erected  in  its  place.  Navarre  and 
Bethlemen  could  not  agree  on  school  privileges, 
and  the  former  and  Rochester  united  means 
and  erected  a  small  brick  schoolhouse,  to 
which  a  large  addition  was  made  some  time 
afterward.  This  building  is  yet  standing,  and 
is  used  as  a  dwelling.  In  1871,  the  three  vil- 
lages, or  rather  the  one  village  of  Navarre,  con- 
tracted with  M.  V.  Leeper  and  A.  W.  (Joshorn 
for  the  erection  of  a  large,  brick  union  school' 
building.  It  was  completed  during  the  summer 
of  1872,  and  cost,  including  the  furniture,  etc., 


558 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUXTY. 


about  $11,000.  It  is  two  stories  in  height,  and 
contains  four  rooms.  R.  8.  Page  was  the  first 
principal  in  this  building,  and  received  $70  per 
month  for  his  services.  His  assistants  were 
Misses  M.  E.  Adams  and  R.  E.  Poe,  the  one 
receiving  $35,  and  the  other  $25  per  month. 
Tlie  present  enumeration  of  scholars  in  this 
union  district  is  about  325,  with  an  average  at- 
tendance of  some  70  per  cent.  The  school  year 
begins  in  September  and  ends  the  following  May. 
The  early  country  schools  were  slow  in  start- 
ing. In  1820,.  tliere  were  but  two  or  three 
sciioolhouses  in  the  township  outside  of  Beth- 
lehem. B3'  183(1,  there  were  five  or  six  and  in 
1840.  nearly  as  many  as  there  are  at  present. 
Log  schoolhouses  were  usually  first  built, 
and  afterward,  as  time  passed  and  settlers  be- 
came numerous,  better  ones  took  their  place. 
The  following  is  the  condition  of  the  township's 
school  funds  : 

Balance  on  hand  Scptcnil)cr  1.  lS7i) $l,8-'y  55 

Stat('  tax 6:51)  0(1 

Irredeemable  fund 149  42 

Local  ta.\.  for  .school  and  scboolhousc  pur- 
poses    5.078  9a 

Fines,  etc 83  44 

Total $7.7-20  84 

EXl'ENDITUHES. 

Amount  paid  teachers $1,787  00 

Sites  iUKl  Imililings 525  00 

Amount  of  inti'rest  on  redemption  bonds  1,545  65 
Fuel  and  other  contingent  expense 434  58 

Total $4,242  23 

Balance  on  lumil  September  1,  1880 $8,478  11 

Value  of  seliool  property $9,000  00 

Average  paid  m;ile  lenebers,  per  month, .  $33  00 

Average  paid  female  teachers,  per  month  20  00 

Number  of  male  pupils  enrolled 248 

Number  of  female  pupils  enrolled 224 

Total 472 

Average  daily  attendance,  males 171 

Average  dail_y  attendance,  females 156 

Total 827 

Number  of  school  districts 8 

Number  of  schoolhouses 8 

Population  of  Township,  1880 2,303 

The  following  is  taken  from  the  sketches  of 
Mr.  Yant : 

"  The  first  house  of  worship  in  the  township 
was  the  German  Lutheran  log  church  in  the 
northeast  part  of  the  village.  This  was  built 
about  1810.  Jacob  Grounds  was  employed  to 
erect  the  building,  which  he  did  in  a  creditable 


manner.  The  next  was  the  Salem  Church, 
known  as  the  Sherman  Church,  built  and  occu- 
pied jointly  by  the  Lutheran  and  German  Re- 
formed denoiuinations.  Rev.  Anthony  Weyer, 
of  Canton,  was  the  Lutheran  Pastor  of  both 
these  churches.  Rev.  Benjamin  Foust  was 
the  Pastor  of  the  German  Reformed  society. 
Salem  Church  was  built  in  1818.  Rev.  Weyer 
served  the  congregation  for  many  years.  Late- 
Ij'  the  house,  a  large  two-story  log  building, 
was  sold  and  torn  down.  The  Lutherans  built 
a  neat  frame  church  in  1871.  Previous  to  the 
building  of  Salem  Church,  Mr.  Weyer  held  re- 
ligious services  at  the  house  of  John  Sherman, 
who  donated  the  ground  for  the  church  and 
burying  ground. 

"The  Catholics  have  a  good  church  building 
and  school.  Their  first  church  was  a  log  build- 
ing that  had  been  intended  for  a  wag  n  shop. 
It  was  taken  and  altered,  provided  with  neces- 
sary furniture,  and  occupied  I)}'  the  congrega- 
tion. After  a  time  they  built  a  brick  church, 
which,  not  many  years  ago,  was  enlarged  and 
is  their  present  church.  The  Catholics  have 
the  strongest  church  society-  in  the  township. 
They  have  also  a  separate  school  building. 
This  is  a  frame  building,  and  was  constructed 
in  1872,  at  a  cost  of  81,800.  Between  70  and 
80  scholars  are  in  attendance,  though  but  one 
teacher  is  employed,  who  usually  is  a  female, 
and  receives  about  $30  per  mouth  for  her  serv- 
ices. The  (ierman  Lutheran,  the  English  Re- 
formed and  Lutheran,  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
and  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ,  have  each 
good  houses  of  worship,  fiourishiug  Sabbath 
schools  and  fair  congregations. 

"  The  first  Jlethodist  society  was  organized 
bj-  Revs.  Walter  Athey  and  Curtiss  Goddard, 
at  the  house  of  Ebenezer  Allman  in  1815. 
Mr.  Allman  was  leader  of  the  class.  The 
members  of  the  society  were  Ebenezer  Allman, 
Agues  Allman,  Abraham  and  Marj'  Phillips, 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Sheplar.  wife  of  Mathias  Shep- 
lar,  Elizabeth  Sheplar,  Abraham  Sheplar,  Sam- 
uel and  Sophia  Miller,  Capt,  John  and  Ellen 
Brown,  John  Alexander  and  Henry  Coiler, 
Regular  preaching  was  continued  at  the  house 
of  Mr.  Allman  until  1835,  when  the  church  was 
built  in  Bethlehem.  John  Brown  was  not 
satisfied  as  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
and  in  after  years  he  connected  himself  with  the 
Catholics,  and  died  in  that  faith.  He  is  buried 
in  the  Catholic  burying  ground  at  Navarre. 


4. 


l.AKE    T0WX8HIP 


CHAPTER    X.XrX.* 


LAKR  TOWNSIIIl'— SURFACE  FEATIRES  AND  CLIMATIC  CONDITION'— KIKST  SETTLEKS  AND  EARI,V 

OUfiANlZATION— INDUSTRIAL  AND  SOCIAL  GROWTH —VARIOUS  MANUFACTURINU 

ESTABLISIIMEN'TS- VILLAOES.    CHURCHES    AND    SCHOOLS. 


•  Yf  say  llii-y  all  have  passi'd  away. 

Tlial  iiobli-  race  and  linivc: 
That  their  li^)it  caiiocs  have  vanished 

From  olT  the  crested  wave; 
That  'mid  the  forest  where  they  roamed 

There  rinjrs  no  lnint<M's  shout; 
But  their  name  is  on  your  waters. 

Ye  may  not  wash  it  out. 


.\frs 


yigiiunieii. 


\/\  ANY  of  tho  more  valuable  portions  of 
XVJ_  the  history  of  Lake  Township  have 
been  carelessly  permitted  to  ])ass  into  forget- 
fiilni'ss,  and  the  truth  of  the  old  saving, 
"  Wliat  is  everybody's  business  is  nobody's 
liiisiness"  has  thus  been  verified.  This  is  to 
be  de])lored,  as  not  only  are  the  early  inci- 
dents interesting  and  even  fascinating,  but 
they  often  fiu'iiish  important  information, 
without  which  endless  disputes  would  arise 
and  extreme  bitterness  be  engendered  among 
quondam  friends.  The  j)reservatiou  of  old 
records  is  often  of  great  })ublic  moment:  yet, 
notwithstanding  this  fact,  it  is  unfortimately 
too  often  the  case  that  men,  in  whose  keeping- 
such  records  are  confided,  become  negligent, 
whereby  valuable  material  is  lost  or  destroyed, 
thus  entailing  upon  their  successors  and  suc- 
ceeding generations  an  infinite  amount  of 
trotible  and  annoyance.  It  is  as  if  some  person 
should  eonti"ict  some  troul)lesonie  and  disgust- 
ing disease,  and  afterward  transmit  it  in  its  most 
malignant  type  to  his  descendants  through 
several  successive  generations.  Such  ])roced- 
iire  has  a  lasting  effect,  and  guileless  jiarties 
are  made  to  suffer  the  consequences,  that 
should  have  fallen  like  the  ciu-se  of  Jove 
upon  the  offender.  AVhile  township  records 
are  not  usually  of  general  jmblic  value,  they 
oc('a.sionally  are  so,  and  should  be  preserved 
with  that  prospect  in  view. 

As  will  be  learned  more  fully  elsewhere  in 
this  volume,  Stiirk  County,  before  its  organ- 

*CoiitrilMili.(l  hy  W.  A.  Gno<i«|.i'eii. 


ization  as  such,  was  for  a  time  attached  to 
Columbiana  County,  and  in  alwiit  the  year 
ISOf)  was  divided  into  two  townships,  Canton 
and  Lake,  which  included  all  th(i  present 
comity  and  more.  The  boundary  between  the 
two  townships  was  the  line  running  east  and 
west  between  Canton  <md  Plain  Townships. 
How  they  came  to  be  called  Lake  and  Canton 
is  a  mystery  more  profoiuid  than  that  of 
Eleusis.  Dr.  Slusser  thinks  that  Lake, 
which  included  all  th<'  northern  half  of  the 
county,  was  thus  named  because  it  was  nearer 
Lake  Erie,  or  because  a  portion  of  it  was 
drained  by  stresmis  which  flowed  to  that  hike. 
It  is  the  opinion  of  the  wTiter,  however,  after 
much  inipiiry,  that  th(>  towushi])  derived  its 
natue  from  Congress  Lake.  The  presence  of 
that  lake  was  undoubtedly  known,  as  it  must 
have  been  discov(>red  by  hunters,  and  by  those 
who  were  looking  at  lands  with  a  view  of  set- 
tling. The  hunters  in  Cohuubiana  County 
can  be  imagined  as  saying,  "  I'm  going  up  in 
the  lake  country  to  hunt  bears,'"  so  that  the 
region  became  designated  as  "  the  lake  coun- 
try." At  all  events,  that  jiortion  of  the  coimty 
was  known  as  Liike  Township  while  it  re- 
mained attached  to  Columbiana.  When  Stark 
was  organized,  the  ]irescnt  Lake  Township  was 
a  part  of  Plain,  and  remained  thus  tuitil  the 
8th  of  April,  1^1  1,  when  all  the  noi-tli western 
portion  of  Plain,  including  the  present  Lake, 
was  organized  as  Green  Township.  No  other 
changes  were  made  with  Lake  Townshi]i,  as 
it  now  stands,  until  the  following  ju-oceedings 
relative  thereto  were  enacted  in  June,  l<Slt), 
by  the  County  Commissioners:  "Ordered, 
That  the  1  l^th'Township,  in  the  Nth  Range, 
be,  and  it  is  herby,  erected  into  a  separate 
townshij)  by  the  name  of  Lake.  Ordered 
also.  That  the  qualified  electors  of  said  town- 
shij) meet  at  the  house  of  Joseph  Moore  in 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COFXTY. 


said  towusliip,  on  the  4tli  of  June,  1816,  for 
the  election  of  to^sTiship  officers.  Ordered 
further,  That  advertisements  for  said  election 
in  Lake  Township  be  put  up  at  the  house  of 
Peter  Dickerhoof  in  the  town  of  Union,  and 
at  the  hoiise  of  Joseph  Jloore.  (Signed) 
James  Latimer,  John  Krvder,  and  James 
Drennen,  County  Commissioners." 

The  name  of  the  fu-st  settler  in  this  town- 
ship is  not  known  with  certidntv.  Among 
the  earliest,  however.  wiTe  Joseph  Moore. 
Henry  Schwaiiz.  the  Markleys,  Jacob  Brown. 
jVIr.  Camp,  John  Fryberger.  George  Machaner, 
John  Morehart.  Martin  Bachtel.  Peter  Beam. 
Ml".  Wise.  'Mi.  Meyer.  Mr.  Pontius  and  sev- 
eral others.  It  seems,  upon  examining  the 
count\'  records,  that  while  the  fii-st  election 
of  officers  was  ordered  to  lie  held  at  the  house 
of  Joseph  Moore,  on  the  4th  of  June.  ISKi, 
the  meeting  was  not  thus  held,  which  fact 
called  out  this  fmther  act  fi'om  the  commis- 
sionei-s:  Ordered,  that  an  election  be  held 
June  "29,  1816."  at  the  house  of  Joseph  Moore 
to  fill  the  necessary  township  offices.  The 
names  of  the  fij-st  officers  cannot  be  recovered. 
The  township  soon  became  quite  well  popu- 
lated, and  the  material  condition  of  the  set- 
tlers became  more  satisfactory.  Land  was 
rapidly  taken  up.  and  soon  Government  land 
became  a  thing  of  the  past.  The  following 
were  land-holders  in  the  township  in  18'2(t: 
Chi'istopher  Auble,  Jacob  Bachtel,  John  Bnsh- 
ong,  Jacob  Bauer,  John  A.  Bauer,  Jacob 
Brown,  Conrad  Broombaugh.  John  Creigh- 
baum,  George  Creighbaum.  John  Clay.  Chris- 
tian Cbrist,  Jacob  Critshal.  Peter  Dickerhoof. 
George  Everhard,  Peter  Eby,  George  Frank. 
Jacob  Fouse.  Jolui  Fouse,  George  Nodle, 
Simon  Harsh.  William  Holsinger,  Anthony 
Housel.  William  Irwin,  Jesse  Johns(m.  John 
Euder,  George  Myers.  Joseph  Moore,  Jacob 
Mayer,  Christian  Balmer,  Peter  Pontius,  Dan- 
iel Mai'kley,  George  Mai-kley,  John  Markley. 
John  Morehart.  John  Muny,  George  Null. 
Benjamin  Pontius.  Solomon  Pontius.  Nicholas 
Pontius,  John  Raber.  Thomas  Piaber.  Abraham 
Reem,  Peter  Reem,  Conrad  Raber.  Philip 
Roser,  Jacob  Ruff.  John  Shorh,  William  Stripe, 
Jacob  Sell,  Jacol)  Sholt.  John  Wise.  John 
Weller,  George  Westerberger,  Michael  Sny- 
der, Henr\-  Swartz.  Jonas  Smith,  George  Stnt, 


George  Snyder,  Jacob  Schaffer.  William  Stad- 
don,  George  Stidger,  Daniel  Smith,  John 
Thompson,  Jacob  Warstler,  William  Wise, 
Henry  Wise,  and  John  Wise.  This  list 
is  taken  from  the  tax  duplicate  of  that  year, 
at  the  county  seat. 

The  township  was  an  inviting  locality  for 
the  settlers.  The  soil  had  every  appearance 
of  being  very  rich,  and  gave  in  its  silent  way 
ample  promises  to  the  prospective  husband- 
man. An  unusttal  munber  of  small  swamps 
abounded,  but  it  was  seen  that  the  most  of 
these  could  be  drained  in  after  years  without 
any  very  great  cost.  An  abundance  of  lime- 
stone was  to  be  found  by  removing  a  few  feet  of 
earth,  and  coal.  also,  was  soon  found  to  be 
abundant  in  the  western  pai-t.  The  to\vuship 
is  situated  on  the  "  Ohio  Water  Shed,"  as  the 
waters  of  the  southern  part  reach  Nimishil- 
len  Creek,  a  member  of  the  Ohio  River  basin, 
while  the  waters  of  the  northern  part  flow 
into  the  Little  Cuyahoga,  a  member  of  the 
Lake  Erie  basin.  In  the  northeastern  part  is  a 
fine  sheet  of  water  called  Congress  Lake. 
How  it  came  to  receive  this  name  is  not 
stated.  It  is  likely  that  for  many  years  the 
lake  remained  the  [)roperty  of  Congi-ess,  and 
finally  became  so  designated.  It  is  about  a 
mile  imd  a  half  long  by  halt  a  mile  wide,  and 
is  perhaps  fifty  or  sixty  feet  deep.  It  is  well 
supplied  with  fish.  Since  the  Connotton  Val- 
ley Railroad  has  been  projected  through  the 
township,  it  is  the  design  to  make  a  pleasure 
resort  of  the  lake.  Suitable  buildings  are  to 
be  erected  on  the  lake  shore,  for  the  comfort 
and  accommodation  of  pleasiu-e-seekers.  This 
will  add  to  the  attractions  of  the  township  as 
a  locality  in  which  to  live. 

Lake  To^^^lship,  on  account  of  its  swamps 
and  bodies  of  water,  was  the  resort,  in  early 
years,  of  large  numbers  ^  of  wild  animals, 
which  found  a  safe  retreat  there  when  piu-- 
sued.  It  thus  became  a  favorite  hunting 
ground,  for,  in  the  winter,  when  the  marshes 
and  sti'eams  were  fi'ozen,  hunters  could  ti'ace 
the  quaiTy  to  its  lair,  ilany  of  the  settlers 
were  skillful  hunters  and  trappers,  and  on 
account  of  the  bounty  ofl'ered  for  scalps  and 
the  market  vahie  of  the  fiu's,  made  consider- 
able money.  The  country  was  destitute  of 
everv  kind  of  monev.     When  the  settlers  first 


\ 


LAKE    TOWNSHIP. 


5  ^ 


appeared,  they  often  had  considerable  means, 
but  this  was  soon  drained  from  them  like 
blood.  After  that  they  were  obliged  to  do 
without  money  as  a  medium  of  exchange,  and 
substitute  Uieir  own  wants  instead.  All  com- 
mercial relations  were  caiTied  on  by  a  system 
of  exchanges,  the  base  of  which  wore  the 
individual  wants  of  the  parties  participating. 
This  gave  rise  to  what  were  known  as  the 
"  trade  price  "  and  the  "  ca.sh  price."  Those 
who  were  fortunate  enough  to  have  consider- 
able means  at  their  command,  and  who  were 
wise  enough  to  invest  it  judiciously,  soon 
amassed  large  fortunes,  and  their  descendants 
are  now  reai)ing  tie  advantages.  Men  with- 
out money  or  property,  and  with  large  families 
dependant  upon  them  for  support,  sufl'ered 
incredible  hai'dships  and  privations,  and  were 
often  compelled  by  the  force  of  circiunstances 
to  relinquish  their  title  to  their  half-improved 
farms,  and  retiun  to  the  Eastern  States.  The 
most  of  those  who  came  to  the  West,  however, 
made  up  their  minds  before  stai^tingto  undergo 
the  coming  adversities,  and  to  be  cheerful 
under  the  burden  of  difficulties  and  dangers. 
The  taxes  on  their  farms  had  to  he  paid  in 
money.  This  money  was  often  raised  by  the 
sale  of  fiu-s.  There  were  the  fiu-s  of  the  mink, 
the  beaver,  the  muski'at  the  otter;  and  the 
skins  of  the  bear,  the  wolf,  the  panther,  the 
deer,  and  various  other  animals.  The  pursuit 
of  these  animals,  both  for  sport  and  profit, 
led  to  many  an  exciting  adventure,  as  thrill- 
ing as  any  of  those  nairated  on  the  page  of 
fiction.  Several  of  these  incidents  which 
transpired  in  Lake  Township  have  never  been 
made  public.  George  Xodle,  one  of  the  ear- 
liest settlers,  owned  two  cows  that  were  per- 
mitted to  roam  at  will  thi'ough  the  woods  in 
quest  of  iooA.  On  one  occasion  about  sunset, 
the  c<jws  not  having  retiu'ned,  ilr.  Xodle 
started  with  his  little  dog  in  quest  of  them. 
He  was  an  experienced  and  skillful  hunter, 
and  as  usual  when  leaving  home,  took  his  rifle 
with  him,  although  he  had  but  four  and  a 
half  bullets  left.  Reaching  one  of  the  streams 
which  had  overflowed  its  banks,  Mr.  Xodle 
was  unable  to  proceed  any  farther,  but  sent 
his  little  dog  across  to  start  the  cows,  should 
they  prove  to  be  on  the  oi)posite  side.  Away 
went  the  dog,  and  was  soon  barking  vigorously 


oflf  in  the  woods,  although  after  several  min- 
utes it  did  not  appear  with  the  cows.  Mr. 
Xodle  at  last  succeeded  in  crossing  the  creek, 
and  hurried  forward  to  ascertain  what  the 
dog  had  encoivntered.  It  was  now  almost 
dark,  but  as  the  settler  approached  the  sjxjt 
where  the  dog  stood  at  bay,  he  knew  that 
something  unusual  was  about  to  transpire. 
He  cautiously  peered  through  the  twilight, 
and  saw  with  astonishment  a  mother  beai-  and 
her  thi-ee  cubs.  He  instanth'  di-ew  up  and 
shot  the  lai'ge  beai-,  and  then,  loading  rapidly, 
shot  in  turn  each  of  the  cubs.  He  now  had 
but  half  a  bullet  remaining,  and  it  became  a 
question  of  doubtful  propriety  in  his  mind 
whether  he  had  better  await  the  return  of 
the  sire  of  the  bear  family  that  had  been 
slaughtered,  or  leave  the  spot  immediately. 
He  finally  adopted  the  latter  course.  It  is 
probable  that  the  cows  remained  undisturbed 
in  the  woods  that  night  On  another  occa- 
sion, a  bear  caught  and  partly  consumed  a 
member  of  the  genus  Sua  belonging  to  Mr. 
Xodle,  who,  the  following  night,  guarded  it 
with  his  rifle  in  hopes  of  killing  the  marauder. 
During  the  night  the  beai'  appeared,  but  was 
shot  by  the  imeiTing  himter.  Many  circum- 
stances simihu-  to  the  last  occiuTed.  The 
beai's  were  extremely  fond  of  jwrk,  and  would 
often  come  boldly  into  a  door-yard,  in  broad 
daylight,  and  in  sight  of  the  family,  who  were 
peering  in  fa-ight  from  the  windows,  seize  and 
carry  off  a  hog  or  calf.  A  very  unusual  and 
siuiirising  incident  occmred  on  one  occasion 
— one  that  in  many  respects  has  no  parallel  in 
the  history  of  the  {>ast  The  incident  is 
related  on  the  authority  of  several  prominent 
citizens  of  Greentown,  and  is  as  follows:  An 
early  settler,  wht>se  name  could  not  be  remem- 
bered, was  one  day  in  the  woods  without  his 
gun,  when  lie  was  attacked  in  some  manner 
by  a  bear,  and  compelled  to  ascend  a  small 
free  for  safetj*.  Tlae  bear  was  terribly  en- 
raged, and  began  making  desperate  efforts  to 
dislodge  the  terrified  settler,  perched  like  a 
hawk  ill  the  branches  above.  It  began  to  te<ir 
at  the  tree  with  teeth  and  claws  so  savagely 
as  to  threaten,  if  continued,  the  speedy  fall  of 
the  free.  The  settler  hallooed  repeatedly 
and  loudly  for  assistance.  The  calls  finally 
attracted  the  attention  of  a  bov  of  about  four- 


"5>  ^ 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


teen  years  of  age  (probably  the  son  of  the 
distressed  settler),  who  started  with  gnn  in 
hand  to  discover  what  was  meant  Ijy  the  con- 
tinued calls.  As  he  approached  the  sjiot,  he 
was  probably  cautioned  by  the  settler  in  the 
tree,  and  directed  how  to  jiroceed.  At  any 
rate  the  boy  caiitioixsly  approached  the  place 
until  the  bear  was  seen,  when  he  drew  up, 
took  deliberate  aim,  and  sent  a  bullet  crash- 
ing thi'ough  Ihe  bear,  at  which  the  animal  fell 
over  and  gave  u])  the  ghost  (if  it  had  one). 
The  settler,  considerably  relieved,  descended 
from  the  tree,  which  was  found  to  be  com- 
pletely girdled,  from  the  effects  of  which  it 
died.  The  settler  would  not  permit  the  tree 
to  be  felled,  but  kept  it  standing,  in  remem 
brance  of  the  occurrence,  until  it  was  blown 
down.  Did  not  the  boy  display  remarkable 
intrepidity  in  approaching  and  shooting  the 
bear?  Many  other  incidents  of  a  similar 
natui-e  could  lie  mentioned,  but  these  will  suf- 
fice to  show  that  extreme  danger  often  accom- 
panied the  sojourn  in  the  backwoods. 

Industries  began  to  spring  into  life  imme- 
diately after  the  township  was  first  settled. 
Saw-mills  and  grist-mills  of  primitive  fash- 
ions began  to  appear  on  the  various  streams, 
to  supply  for  the  increasing  demand  articles 
nearer  home.  Roads  were  a])pareutly  bottom- 
less, and  the  sticking  qualities  of  the  mud 
were  demonstrated  to  the  settlers — often  to 
their  infinite  annoyance  and  sorrow.  The 
continued  impassable  condition  of  the  roads 
(if  they  can  be  properly  called  such),  led  to  a 
demand  for  mills,  stores,  etc.,  near  home,  and 
led  to  their  speedy  erection.  Whisky  was  an 
article  found  on  the  mantel  in  every  house- 
hold, for  to  be  without  liquor  was  thought  to 
be  without  one  of  the  necessities  of  life.  Men 
at  work  in  the  field  must  have  it:  and,  when 
visitors  appeared,  it  was  deemed  a  gruss 
breach  of  hospitality  to  restrain  from  setting 
up  the  drinks.  No  house  or  other  building 
could  be  raised  without  it.  It  is  asserted 
that  there  were  fewer  drunkards  then  than 
now;  but  this  is  undoubtedly  a  mistake.  The 
custom  of  imbibing  was  so  ctmmou  and 
drunken  men  were  so  numerous  that  people 
did  not  notice  the  evil  effects  as  they  do  now. 
Time  has  wi'ought  a  wonderful  change  in 
this,  as    in    manv  other  things.       Saw- mills 


started  up  as  early  as  any  industry,  but  these, 
like  those  of  the  gods,  were  compelled  to  move 
slowly.  The  streams  were  sluggish,  though 
there  was  double  the  volume  of  water  th^n 
than  now.  George  Creighbaum  erected  his 
saw-mill  on  a  branch  of  the  Nimishillen  some 
time  before  1830,  and  for  many  years  did 
extensive  work,  as  there  was  a  steady  and 
increasing  demand  for  lumber  to  be  used  in 
the  const niction  of  dwellings  and  bams.  His 
son  William  operated  it  after  him  imtil  but  a 
comparatively  short  time  ago.  when  Elias,  son 
of  William,  and  grandson  of  George,  assiimed 
ownership  and  control.  This  mill  in  its  time 
has  been  a  good  one.  Simon  Harsh  also  built 
an  early  one,  not  far  from  the  year  1825. 
This  was  also  a  good  mill  in  its  time.  Other 
mills  will  be  mentioned  farther  along.  The 
following  men  have,  at  various  times,  con- 
ducted distilleries  in  the  township,  some  of 
them  beginning  in  veiy  early  years:  Jacol) 
Harbrook.  George  Everhart,  Lewis  Hanshal- 
ter,  Mr.  Shriver,  John  Bushong,  Andrew  Pon- 
tius, George  CreighViaum  and  Henry  Swartz. 
More  than  one  of  these  men  owned  the  same 
distillery.  There  were  certainly  enough  to 
supply  the  township  with  all  the  licjuor  needed, 
which  is  saying  a  good  deal,  as  the  Gennan 
element  of  humanity  can  carry  as  much  liq- 
uor without  staggering  as  any  other.  They 
are  cold  and  phlegmatic,  and  not  easily  per- 
suaded to  fall,  when  King  Alcohol  beckons. 
There  are  fom-  villages  in  the  township — 
three  of  th(m  wholly,  and  one  partly  in  Lake 
and  partly  in  Plain.  These  four  are  Cairo, 
Hartville.  Greensburg  and  LTniontown.  The 
origin  of  these  names  is  obscxwe  or  perhaps 
altogether  unknown.  Cairo  is  numerically 
the  weakest,  although  it  began  its  career 
many  years  ago.  D.  T.  Machamer  has  been 
condiacting  a  store  there  for  a  number  of 
years.  The  village  has  a  post  office,  and  a 
church,  built  by  the  Lutherans  and  Reformers 
perhaps  forty  years  ago.  When  these  few 
things  have  been  said,  the  past  history  of 
Cairo  has  been  almost  wholly  unfolded.  The 
records  of  Hartville  are  not  much  more 
voluminous.  So  far  as  could  be  learned, 
neither  Hartville  nor  Cairo  was  ever  properly 
laid  oiit  and  recorded.  Hartville  has  had  a 
population  of  some  twelve  or  fifteen  families, 


ihL, 


LAKE    TOWXSIIIP. 


563 


while  Cairo  can  scarcely  boast  of  having  had 
that  number.  As  nearly  as  can  be  remem- 
bered. John  Houghton  opened  the  first  store 
in  Hartville  soon  after  ISHd.  His  stock  of 
goods  was  small,  but  included  many  useful 
articles.  Joseph  Brown  omb;u'ked  on  the 
mercantile  sea  some  time  afterward.  Peter 
Shellenberger  was  another  early  merchant. 
It  is  likely  that  t)thers  have  sold  goods  in  the 
village,  Init  their  names  arc  locked  forever  in 
the  casket  of  forgetfulness,  and  the  key  is 
concealed.  Some  futm'e  historian  may  dis- 
cover it.  John  Morehart  opened  a  tavern 
about  the  ye;ir  1888.  Daniel  Baum  is  the 
present  landlord.  George  Machamer  and 
Hem-y  (Trossenbaugher  are  the  present  mer- 
chants. They  have  a  fair  country  ti-ade.  and 
iire  presumed  to  be  making  some  money.  Dr. 
Hoflfman  was  located  in  the  village  quite 
early.  Some  other  things  might  be  said  of 
the  village,  to  its  credit.  Some  thirty  years 
ago,  Elias  Shriver  erected,  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  township,  a  large  grist-mill,  in 
which  were  placed  five  sets  of  stone.  The 
cajiacit}'  of  the  mill,  which  is  operated  by 
steam,  is  said  to  be  3(30  bushels  daily.  The 
present  owners  are  Bitter  Brothers.  The  mill 
is  in  operation  both  day  and  night,  and  not 
only  does,  it  have  an  extended  custom  tr;.de, 
but  it  ships  considerable  flom-  to  distant 
{wints  from  the  station  at  Uniontown.  It  is 
probably  the  best  mil]  of  the  kind  ever  in  the 
township. 

The  town  of  Union  was  laid  out  by  Elias 
Brenner  and  Thomas  Albert,  owners  and  pro- 
prietors, in  April,  1816,  from  portions  of  the 
northeast  and  the  northwest  cjuarters  of  Sec- 
tion 7,  Township  12,  Range  8.  Sixty  lots 
were  laid  out,  and  immediately  offered  for 
sale.  Albert  was  an  old  baclielor,  and  like 
all  members  of  that  class  was  pussessed  of 
ciu-ious  or  eccentric  ti'aits  of  character.  A 
few  houses  were  immediately  built,  and  as 
many  families  resided  therein.  As  early  as 
1825,  George  Myers  and  W.  H,  Whitney 
opened  a  store,  and  not  long  afterward  secured 
the  location  of  a  post  office  at  the  village.  It 
is  said  that  George  Guisweit  was  in  with  a 
small  stock  of  goods  before  these  men,  which, 
if  true,  would  make  him  the  first  merchant  in 
the   village.      \Mieu    he   first    began    selling 


goods  is  not  so  well  knovra.  He  peddled 
his  goods  all  over  the  suiTounding  country, 
which  fact  secured  for  him  the  universal  and 
homely  appellation,  "  Cheaj)  George  the  ped- 
dler." He  did  not  have  altogether  more  than 
$200  worth  of  goods,  and  although  a  ])ortion 
of  these  was  sold  at  his  house  in  the  village, 
the  greater  portion  was  peddled  as  stated. 
He  became  known  to  everybody,  who  seemed 
to  think  that  he  was  a  proper  subject  for  their 
jokes.  All  was  taken  in  good  humor  by  him, 
aud  he  was  well  liked  and  well  ])atronized; 
so  that,  although  he  sold  his  goods  very  low, 
he  contrived  to  make  considerable  money. 
After  him  came  Myers  &  Whitney,  who  kept 
a  good  countr}'  store,  and  had  an  extensive 
trade.  Other  merchants  in  the  village  have 
been  Aultman  &  Holwick.  Samuel  Woods,  J. 
B.  Woods,  D.  T.  Frank,  William  Steese, 
Feather  &  Glasser,  M.  &  M.  Josejih,  Woolf 
&  Foust,  Stutzman  &  Price,  W.  H.  Nees,  Nees 
&  Price.  Ml'.  Nees  is  yet  in  business  in  the 
village.  It  is  probable  that  others  than  those 
named  have  followed  the  mercantile  i)ursuit 
in  Uniontown.  Charles  Brown  is  one  of  the 
present  merchants,  as  is  also  the  firm,  Huns- 
man  &  Schick,  Some  of  the  earlier  stores 
were  inferior  and  short-lived,  while  others 
were  well  filled  and  had  an  extensiv(>  trade. 
There  have  been  times  when  Uniont«iwn  was 
a  lively  business  village.  In  early  years, 
when  there  were  no  railroads  on  which  to 
transport  goods  and  thus  vwy  the  cost  of  con- 
veyance, one  store  was  aliout  as  good  as 
another.  Stores  in  small  villages  could  sell 
as  cheaply  as  those  in  large  villages,  and  in 
■  consequence,  if  they  were  well  filled,  it  was 
better  to  patronize  them,  for  they  were  nearer. 
Some  of  the  early  stores  had  on  hand  as  high 
as  §1(XOOO  worth  of  goods,  and  probably 
Hunsman  &  Schick  have  more  than  that 
quantity  at  present.  John  Bolender  built  a 
cabinet-.shoj)  in  1868,  which  he  has  since  con- 
ducted. He  fm-nishes  work  for  some  three 
emjiloyes,  and  manufactures  burea\is,  tables, 
chairs,  1>ed-steads.  secretaries,  etc..  and  has  a 
fair  trade.  Jose])h  T.  Halloway  ])receded 
^Ir.  Bolender  at  the  occujiation,  for  .he  began 
not  far  from  the  year  18;?(t,  and  continued  a 
number  of  years.  John  A\'oolf  was  another, 
who    made    spinning-wheels,    etc.       Samuel 


^ 


564 


lilSTOHY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


Woods  opened  a  tannery  many  years  ago, 
beginning  with  some  ten  vats,  which  were 
afterward  increased  to  more  than  twenty. 
Large  quantities  of  leather  were  prepared, 
and  whal  could  not  be  used  at  home  was 
shipped  to  distant  places.  There  were  no 
such  persons  in  early  times  as  commercial 
travelers.  Merchants  in  the  West  were  in 
the  habit  of  going  East  twice  or  more  times 
a  year  to  pnrchase  their  goods,  which  were 
then  hauled  by  wagon  to  their  destination. 
Then  it  was  that  settlers  crowded  in  to  have 
their  choice  of  the  stock  on  hand.  Weai'ing 
apparel  of  all  kinds  was  not  ready  made,  but 
made  to  order.  Farmers  were  obliged  to  buy 
the  cloth  with  which  to  clothe  their  families, 
after  which  either  a  tailor  was  employed  to 
do  the  cutting,  or  the  task  was  tm-ned  over  to 
the  wife  and  mother.  Some  of  the  latter 
became  proficient  from  long  practice,  and 
could  furnish  a  neat  fit  every  time.  Joui-ney- 
mon  tailors  ti'aveled  tlu'oughout  the  country 
to  secure  engagements  at  cutting,  fitting,  or 
making.  Shoemaker's  did  the  same.  Leather 
enough  to  make  shoes  for  the  whole  family 
was  piu'chased  at  the  tanneries,  after  which 
the  services  of  a  shoemaker  were  called  into 
requisition,  and  the  family  provided  with 
shoes  for  the  coming  year.  In  this  manner, 
Samuel  Woods'  tannery  secm'ed  a  lai'ge  trade. 
His  son,  J.  B.,  succeeded  him.  Chai-les  Glas- 
ser  also  conducted  an  early  tannery,  as  did 
William  Motz.  There  were  two  of  these  in 
the  village  at  the  same  time,  but  it  is  thought 
that  Mr.  Woods'  disposed  of  the  most  leather. 
George  Winters  began  hatting  in  the  vil- 
lage in  about  the  year  1883;  he  was  an  adept 
at  the  occupation,  having  followed  it  in  the 
East  before  coming  to  Ohio.  Except,  perhaps, 
by  means  of  a  few  rude  mechanical  contriv- 
ances, all  his  work  was  done  by  hand.  During 
the  month  of  June,  he  visited  the  surrounding 
farms  where  sheep  were  kept,  and  selected  the 
finest  article  of  lamb's  wool  to  be  found  to  be 
used  in  hatting;  he  owned  a  small  shop  in 
which  his  goods  were  kept  for  sale;  he  con- 
tinned  some  ten  or  twelve  years,  manufactur- 
ing, in  the  meantime,  large  ntmibers  of  excel- 
lent hats;  his  hats  became  celebrated  for 
their  capability  of  resisting  rough  usage  and 
continued  wear;  he  finally  left  for  other  fields. 


In  about  the  year  1855,  C.  W.  Lane  erected 
suitable  buildings  and  began  manufacturing 
plows,  kettles,  pots,  skillets,  etc.,  an  occupa- 
tion that  he  followed  a  number  of  years,  when 
he  sold  the  foundry  to  H.  B.  Richards  and 
John  Fritch.  These  men  built  a  large  shop 
and  greatly  increased  the  scope  and  capacity 
of  the  undertaking.  They  attempted  the 
mauufactm-e  of  cultivators,  but  failed  to  pi-o- 
duce  satisfactory  imj)lements,  and  finally  the 
whole  project  was  either  abandoned  or  traus- 
feiTed  to  some  other  locality.  The  following 
doctors  have  practiced  in  the  neighborhood, 
while  residing  in  the  village:  Devaux,  Reed, 
Zollers,  Parlimau,  Weimei',  Buchtel,  Ashman, 
Steese,  the  present  physician,  Allen,  Hatcher, 
McConnell,  Waldron  and  Richards;  this  may 
not  be  a  complete  list.  George  Bolinder 
opened  a  tavern  in  about  the  year  1825;  he 
had  for  a  sign  a  large  blue  ball;  in  1827,  this 
sign  was  removed,  and  an  ordinary  sign- 
boai'd  erected  in  its  jilace,  bearing  the  date 
1827.  Other  tavern-keepers  have  been  Will- 
iam Waguer,  Isaac  Statden,  Samuel  Swine- 
hart,  Joseph  Dreese,  J.  W.  Creighbaum,  John 
Bender,  Leonard  Ral)er,  Amos  Johnson,  James 
Woolf,  Urias  Weitman,  Euos  Fasnocht  and 
John  Leed,  the  present  landlord.  Joseph  T. 
Halloway  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  Post- 
master, receiving  his  appointment  about  the 
year  1825.  The  office  is  now  under  the  con- 
trol of  Mrs.  Dr.  Steese.  This  concludes  the 
brief  history  of  the  village  of  Uniontown. 
Greentown  has  had  a  similar  histoiy,  vary- 
ing only  in  names  and  dates.  No  one  can 
realize  the  truth  of  the  maxim,  "History  re- 
peats itself,"  until  he  has  made  history  a 
study.  Hiunan  natm-e  is  the  same  the  world 
over,  and  as  history  is  but  a  record  of  human 
exj)eriences  and  achievements,  it  necessarily 
rejieats  itself.  Greentown  was  laid  out  in 
February,  181(5,  by  Henry  Wise  jmd  Peter 
Dickerhoof,  owners  and  proja'ietors.  A  total 
of  sixty-f(jiu'  lots  was  laid  out,  thirty-two  of 
which  were  on  the  land  of  each  proprietor. 
The  lots  were  laid  olf  from  the  northeast  and 
the  southeast  quarters  of  Secticm  30,  Town- 
ship 12,  Range  8.  In  accordance  with  a 
peculiar  freak  of  the  owners,  the  village  was 
unusually  and  peculiarly  laid  out.  Each 
square  was  divided  by  two  diagonal   alleys. 


T^ 


^. 


LAKE    TOWNSHIP. 


and  at  the  four  corners  of  the  central  square 
were  four  small  open  parks,  or  squares,  the  one 
at  the  northwest  beinc;  called  Jones'  Square, 
the  one  at  the  northeast.  Burrow's  Square, 
the  one  at  the  southeast.  Blakely's  Square, 
and  the  one  at  the  soutliwest.  Allen's  Sijuare. 
Mr.  AVise  owned  the  northern  half  of  the  vil- 
lage, and  Mr.  Dickerhoof  the  southern  half. 
Both  men.  in  after  years,  did  a  p^eat  d(»al  to 
build  up  the  village.  It  is  said  that  the 
daughters  of  Mr.  Dickerhoof  worked  regulai-ly 
in  the  fields.  One  day,  Betsey,  his  daughter, 
while  busy  in  the  field,  suddenly  felt  some- 
thing touch  her  shoulder,  and.  turning  quickly 
wound,  saw  a  tall  Inchan  standing  laughing 
at  her  side.  It  is  also  related  that  there  was 
a  man  at  th(>  village,  in  early  years,  who  had 
lost  an  arm  and  a  leg.  both  from  the  same  side 
of  the  body.  One  day  Betsey  asked  him  how 
he  came  to  lose  his  limbs,  but  he  avoided  her 
repeated  cpiestiouing  for  some  time,  and  at 
last  said;  ""1  will  tell  you,  if  you  promise  not 
to  ask  another  question."  This  she  agreed  to 
do,  whereupon  the  man  said:  "'They  were  bit- 
ten off."  As  may  be  imagined  that  answer 
made  the  wli(jle  subject  more  mysterious  than 
it  was  before;  but  her  promise  prevented  Bet- 
sey from  asking  any  fiu-ther  qtiestions.  But 
to  retiu-n  to  Greentown.  It  is  said  that  James 
McNabb  built  the  first  house  in  the  village. 
When  this  building  was  torn  down,  a  few 
,  years  ago.  the  air-dried  body  of  a  rat  was 
found  between  the  walls,  in  such  a  position  as 
to  show  that  it  must  have  been  inclosed  there 
when  the  building  was  constructed.  It  is 
thought  that  this  building  was  erected  imme- 
diately after  the  village  was  laid  out.  Other 
btiildings  were  soon  erected,  and  erelong, 
several  families  were  found  residing  in  what 
may  be  called  ancient  Greento\vn.  It  is 
probable  that  a  man  named  Goodwill  o])(>ned 
the  fu-st  store  in  the  village.  The  date  is  not 
given,  although  it  was  not  far  from  1820;  he 
did  not  own  over  S'iOO  worth  of  goods.  Hiram 
Myers,  who  succeeded  him.  had  a  very  good 
store,  and  made  some  money,  devoting  the 
most  of  his  time  to  this  pm'suit.  Other  mer- 
chants have  been:  Ej)hraim  Ball,  who  failed, 
and  "became  $1,000  worse  off  than  nothing," 
G.  &  M.  Wise,  W.  J.  Lininger,  Henry  Nuna- 
maker,  Wylie,  Smith  &  Co.,  Henry  Clemmer, 


Isaac  Hiinsberger,  Thomas  Gorgas,  Pollock 
&  Hayes,  J.  H.  Wise  &  Co.,  Henry  Shanafelt, 
Young  &  Stine,  Feather  &  Glassor,  Willis  & 
Baugh,  H.  Shanafelt  &  Co.,  Peters  &  Shafer, 
Prance  &  Bair,  S.  S.  Bumberger,  who  failed, 
( ).  P.  Shanafelt,  Shanafelt  &  Shafer  and  Isaac 
Hall.  Some  of  these  kept  large  fine  stocks  of 
got)ds  on  their  shelves,  and  received  excellent 
j)atronage.  Others  had  small  stocks  and  small 
patronage.  It  has  in  all  cases  been  true  that 
a  good  store  at  the  village  has  done  well;  it  is 
the  case  in  all  small  villages,  and  in  large  ones, 
also,  that  poor  stores,  miserably  conducted, 
apparently  poison  tlit*  public  confidence  and 
respect.  They  vitiate  the  public  taste  for 
good  ones.  This  is  true  everywhere.  Too 
many  men  undertake  the  mercantile  pursuit, 
as  a  result  of  uncontented  dispositions,  who 
were  never  cut  out  for  John  B.  Astors  or  A. 
T.  Stewarts;  knowing  nothing  of  this  inter- 
esting occupation,  they  blindly  peg  along  for 
a  few  years,  perhaps,  after  which  the  signifi- 
cant words,  "failed"  or  "busted"  could  bo 
appropriately  inscribed  on  their  banners. 
This  is  true  in  every  occui)ation  in  life.  Men 
should  search  for  the  ]mrsuit  best  adapted  to 
them;  when  foimd,  it  should  be  followed  to 
the  exclusion  of  all  others.  The  system  of 
skilled  labor  has  become  both  a  science  and  an 
art.  E.\j)erience  teaches  that  it  is  better  to 
seek  excellence  in  few  things  than  mediocrity 
in  many.  Various  industries  have  flourished 
from  time  to  time  in  Greentown.  In  about 
the  year  1S57,  Hovick,  Morgan  &  Co.  pur- 
chased the  old  Methodist  Church,  intending 
to  use  it  as  a  shop  in  which  to  begin  the  man- 
ufacture of  engines,  etc.  One  was  really  con- 
stmcted,  several  othera  repaired,  and  then  the 
undertaking  w;us  abandoned,  much  to  the  dis- 
appointment of  those  men  at  the  village  who 
may  be  looked  upon  as  capitalists,  and  who 
had  expected  to  be  financially  benefitted  by 
the  presence  of  the  industry.  After  the  enter- 
prise was  abandoned,  the  owners  built  the 
grist-mill,  which  is  yet  in  oi)eration  in  the 
village.  The  mill  is  operated  by  steam,  and 
has  two  run  of  stone.  A  small  custom  trade 
has  been  the  extent  of  the  mill's  operations. 
It  has  changed  owners  several  times;  one  of 
the  owners,  finding  that  ho  could  do  better 
with  the  mill  elsewhere,  threatened  to  remove 


;sr 


HISTORY  OF    STAKK    COUNTY. 


it  to  Alliance,  in  case  he  could  not  sell  it. 
The  citizens  did  not  wish  the  mill  removed, 
and  to  prevent  this  disposal  of  it,  finally 
formed  themselves  into  a  company  with  the 
title.  Wise,  Housley  &  Co..  and  pm'chased  the 
mill  projierty  for  $('),()(*(),  paying  much  more 
than  it  was  really  worth.  These  men  were 
Leidigh  Housley,  John  H.  Wise,  Michael 
Wise  and  Abraham  Miller.  Several  changes 
in  the  ownership  were  afterward  made,  until 
the  mill  is  at  present  owned  by  Housley  & 
Ball.  It  is  doing  a  limited  custom  work.  A 
number  of  years  ago.  Christian  Kryder  and 
Henry  Shanafelt,  Sr.,  started  a  furnace  on 
Section  36,  and  began  manufacturing  stoves. 
plows  kettles,  pots,  skillets,  ete.  They  at  fii'st 
bought  their  pig  iron  at  Hanging  Rock,  and 
had  it  shipped  by  canal  to  Massillou,  wheuce 
it  was  hauled  by  wagon  to  the  furnace.  The 
enter])rise  was  begun  soon  after  1840,  and 
was  continued  by  these  men  some  twelve 
years,  when  the  j)ro]>erty  went  to  Levi  Kryder, 
son  of  Christian,  who  conducted  the  business 
until  ten  or  twelve  years  ago,  when  it  was 
purchased  by  Wise  &  Acker.  The  present 
owners  are  Wise,  Acker  &  Hissner.  who  manu- 
facture scrapers,  cultivators,  some  hollow- ware, 
plows,  making  a  specialty  of  plow  points,  of 
which  they  manufacture  great  numbers.  Col. 
Ephraim  Ball,  who  resided  at  the  village 
about  forty-five  years  ago.  had  his  attention 
called  to  a  new  threshing  machine,  and,  after 
he  had  examined  it,  he  concluded  to  engage 
in  the  manufacture.  Himself  and  brother 
finally  formed  a  jiartnership,  and  purchased 
the  right  for  Wayne  County  for  |'2()(),  giving 
their  written  obligations  for  that  amount. 
After  some  maneuvering,  they  finally  built 
ap])ro])riate  buildings  at  Greentown,  and  Mr. 
Ball  made  the  first  machine  with  his  own 
hands,  having  scai'cely  any  tools,  or  other  suit- 
able im])lements:  he  had  no  money  nor  credit 
in  the  undertaking,  for  all  the  neighbors 
looked  upon  the  prjject  as  erratic  and  vision- 
ary, and  liesides  Mr.  Ball  was  in  debt  over 
$1,000.  This  first  machine  was  sold  to  John 
Miller,  of  Greentown,  for  $102.  It  was  not 
portable,  which  was  considered  a  serious 
drawback  to  the  value  of  the  thresher;  so  Mr. 
Ball  set  his  wits  to  work  to  devise  one  that  was 
portable.     The  necessary  jtatterns  for  the  cast- 


ings were  made  and  taken  to  Messrs.  Hart  & 
Brown,  of  Massillon,  where  they  were  criticised 
imd  j)ronoimced  satisfactory,  if  about  §2r>  worth 
of  jiaint  and  varnish  was  added.  Here  it  was 
that,  from  the  criticisms  on  his  labors,  Mr. 
Ball  became  a  skilled  pattern-maker.  About 
this  time  he  began  wooding  cast-iron  plows. 
A  horse-power  for  the  thresher  was  made,  but 
the  machine  had  to  be  sent  out  of  the  coimty 
to  be  tested,  to  escajie  an  execution  in  the 
hands  of  the  Sherift".  After  being  te'^ted,  the 
machinery  was  pronoimced  imjierfect  and  un- 
satisfactory, and  was  finally  sold,  and  the  pro- 
ceeds used  in  paying  off"  the  execution.  In 
February.  1840.  IVIi-.  Ball  and  his  three 
brothers,  having  obtained  a  ])romise  from  their 
father  for  §400,  concluded  to  build  and  con- 
duct a  fovindry.  Their  intentions  were  ridi- 
culed by  the  citizens,  who  looked  upon  the 
undertaking  as  wild  and  visionary.  Every- 
thing was  got  in  readiness,  and,  finally,  in 
June,  1840,  the  citizens,  to  the  number  of 
several  hundi'ed,  assembled  to  see  the  "big 
fizzle"  at  the  first  casting.  When  the  castings 
for  three  plows,  a  dog- iron  or  two,  and  a  few 
skillets,  were  taken  in  good  shajie  from  the 
moulds,  it  is  said  the  citizens  would  scarcely 
believe  their  eyes,  but  handled  the  various 
articles  to  see  if  indeed  they  were  genuine 
pot-metal,  and  sound.  It  is  said  that  Mr. 
Ball.  Sr.,  was  so  pleased  with  the  result  that 
he  bought  a  bottle  of  whisky  and  treat.ed  all 
hands.  It  was  extremely  difficult  to  get  ])at- 
terns  for  the  different  articles  of  machinery, 
as  the  ])rices  were  very  high,'  and  the  Ball 
brothers  were  without  money.  Necessity  com- 
pelled Mi\  Ball  to  devise  some  for  himself. 
He  finally  made  one  for  a  plow  from  a  piece 
of  tough,  knotty  majile  plank:  and.  so  excel- 
lent were  the  plows  made  from  this  pattern, 
that  hundi'eds  were  sold  all  over  the  county, 
and  even  in  distant  places.  All  this  business 
was  done  in  the  face  of  executions  and  judg- 
ments that  poured  in  as  soon  as  it  was  dis- 
covered that  Mr.  Ball  was  handling  a  little 
money.  There  were  eleven  executions  held 
against  him  at  one  time.  The  brothers  man- 
ufactured cooking  stoves,  plows,  hollow- ware, 
and  a  few  threshing  machines.  One  day  sev- 
eral men  came  to  Mr.  Ball  and  offered  him 
$000  for  his  foimdry;  but  the  latter,  knowing 


^: 


LAKE    TOWNSHIP. 


5G7 


that  it  was  worth  much  more  than  that,  refused 
to  take  less  than  $1,000.  Thev  threatened 
that  if  IVIr.  Ball  did  not  sell  for  !?(500  they 
would  build  a  rival  estaMif^limcut.  This  was 
linall}- done,  and  the  first  thin^'  >Jr.  Ball  knew, 
his  rivals  had  purchased  the  rif^ht  to  manu- 
facture the  plow  upon  which  h(^  had  been  en- 
gaged. This  left  him  almost  helpless,  but  he 
went  to  work,  and  finally  devised  a  jiattern  of 
his  own,  which,  in  the  end,  jiroved  as  valuable 
as  the  one  he  had  lost.  After  a  time  Mr.  Ball 
began  manufacturing  the  Hussey  reajier,  six 
being  made  at  one  time.  Three  of  these  were 
sold  in  the  county,  and  three  were  taken  to 
Illinois.  This  was  in  about  the  year  1S4S. 
Twelve  were  constructed  in  1S4U,  and  the 
haiTest  was  almost  over  before  one  was  sold. 
One  was  taken  to  Louisville,  where  a  public 
exhibition  of  its  workings  was  given  before  a 
motley  crowd  of  men.  wcmen  and  children. 
The  farmers  saw  with  astonishment  how 
uicely  the  standing  grain  went  down  before 
it.  The  owner  of  the  held  immediately  pur- 
chased the  reaper,  but  his  cradlers  were  so 
bitterly  opposed  to  it,  declaring  that  it  would 
leave  them,  like  Othello,  without  an  occupation, 
that  it  was  finally  returned  to  keep  peace  in 
the  family,  as  it  were.  Other  public  exhibi- 
tions were  given  amidst  much  o])positiou  and 
numerous  discouragements  Vnit,  in  the  end, 
ten  out  of  the  twelve  reapers  were  sold,  at  low 
prices,  and  on  time.  Mr.  Ball  constructed  a 
few  separators  about  this  time.  The  motor  for 
his  foundiy  was  an  old  horse,  nannd  '"Brince." 
This  now  venerated  animal  ^\as  apparently 
subject  to  fits  and  starts,  sometimes  running 
the  motion  of  the  machinery  up  to  a  frightful 
rapidity,  and  then  suddenly  lowering  it  so 
that  no  motion,  or  but  little,  could  be  per- 
ceived. At  last  a  ten-horse-j)ower  engine  was 
]>urchased,  at  Cuyahoga  Falls,  for  S-IOO;  this 
proved  to  be  a  great  improvement  on  the  old 
horse.  In  January,  1851,  Mr.  Ball's  partners 
sold  their  interest  in  the  foundry  to  C.  Ault- 
man  and  David  Fouser,  and,  in  Aj^ril  of  the 
same  year.  George  Cook  and  Lewis  Miller 
were  added  to  the  ])artnership,  which  then 
became  known  as  E.  Ball  &  Co.  Soon  after 
this,  the  whole  business  was  transferred  to 
Canton,  but  just  before  this  occurred.  Jacob 
Miller  became  a  partner,  and  the  firm  name  was 


changed  to  Ball,  Aultman  &  Co.  The  subse- 
quent wonderful  career  of  this  jtartnership 
will  be  found  in  another  portion  of  this  vol- 
ume. The  eiiterjtrise  l)eguu  by  Mr.  Ball 
tmder  so  many  discoiu'aging  circumstances, 
and  against  such  o])position,  has  8j>road  its 
branches  over  all  the  earth.  More  than  11,- 
000  reapers  have  been  mamifactured  in  a  sin- 
gle year,  and  shipped  to  ail  parts  of  the  woi-ld. 
A  valuable  lesson,  well  worthy  of  perusal,  may 
be  read  in  the  history  of  this  enterprise. 

But  little  more  remains  to  be  told  of  Green- 
town.  Among  the  j)hysicians  at  the  village 
have  been  Stough,  Ogden,  Parliman,  Dolwick, 
Chittenden,  Ashman.  Jones,  Stephens,  Bom- 
berger,  Belding,  and  J.  E.  Dougherty,  who 
has  been  at  the  village  for  some  thirty  years. 
His  son,  L.  E.,  a  graduate  of  the  Cohmilms 
Medical  College,  is  at  i)resent  associated  with 
him.  Almost  every  physician  in  the  township 
has  been  of  the  allopathic  jiersuasion.  Anioug 
the  tavern-keepers  have  been  "William  Ruj^p, 
Mr.  Eoberts,  G.  H.  ^Vise,  Henrv  Shanafelt, 
Sr.,  Peter  Shanafelt,  Israel  Schlott.  C.  F. 
Dunseizen,  Samuel  Getz,  H.  B.  Herr,  Gerhart 
Leed,  Benjamin  Eby,  I'rias  Wei(hiian,  Samuel 
Miller.  Samuel  Botz.  Samuel  Shriuer,  Haak 
&  Shanafelt,  Buck  &  Haak  and  Mr.  Gre(n- 
walt.  H.  P.  Houek  Iniilt  a  saw-mill  in  the 
village  twenty-five  or  thirty  years  ago.  It 
has  changed  owners  several  timi  s,  but  is  yet  in 
operation.  The  Greentown  Coal  Company 
and  the  Mogadore  Coal  Ccmpany  rre  mining 
black  dionionds  near  the  village.  The  former 
employs  seme  fifty  hands,  and  mines  not 
far  from  one  hundred  tons  daily,  while  the 
latter  is  yet  in  its  infancy.  Ferdinand  Schu- 
macher, of  Akron,  has  lately  completrd  a  large 
warehouse  at  the  station,  where  a  little  \illage 
is  in  the  act  ui  siiriiiging  into  life.  About 
six  years  ago,  Isaac  Strife  began  burning  drain 
tiles,  red  and  fire  bricks,  near  the  station. 
Hiram  and  James  Stripe  have  just  began  to 
manufacture  sewer-])i])es,  tire  bricks  and  roof 
tiles.  Daniel  Myers  buys  and  shi]  s  quite  a 
number  of  cattle  during  the  winter  ni(  nths. 

Schools  were  early  instituted  in  Lake  Town- 
ship. It  is  probable  that  several  terms  were 
taught  before  schoolhouses  were  erected,  the 
sessions  being  held  in  dwellings  or  in  de- 
serted buildings.     Much  of  the  early  school 


i>  V 


HISTOKY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


'-£. 


history  has  been  forgotten.  Too  bad.  If  ac- 
counts are  correct,  the  first  schoolhouse  in  the 
township  was  a  hewed  log  building,  erected 
in  Unioutown  about  the  year  1820.  This 
house  was  used  miiny  years  and  for  all  pur- 
poses; it  had  a  broad  fire-place,  and  iiide 
seats  that  soon  became  smooth  and  polished 
by  continued  Use.  When  the  weather  was 
cold,  and  a  blazing  fire  was  roaring  on  the 
hearth,  the  room  was  pleasant  to  contemplate. 
More  than  one  old  settler  will  remember  this 
old  house,  as  the  first  place  where  he  heard 
the  word  of  Grod  preached,  or  where  he  re- 
ceived his  first  instruction  of  a  literaiT  char- 
acter. It  was  a  homely  room,  but  within  its 
venerated,  if  not  classic,  walls,  minds  that 
have  since  shaped  the  records  of  the  township, 
first  caught  glimpses  of  the  multiplex  afl'airs 
of  the  busy  world.  In  about  the  year  1S26. 
another  schoolhouse  was  erected,  but  it  was 
not  intended  to  take  the  place  of  the  former. 
The  citizens  were  not  willing  that  their  chil- 
dren should  forget,  or  be  deprived  of  learning 
their  native  language.  One  of  the  schools 
was  to  be  English,  and  the  other  German. 
Teachers  were  employed,  and  for  a  niunber  of 
yeai's  the  villagers  boasted  of  having  two 
schools  in  session  at  the  same  time.  Some 
fifteen  or  twenty  years  later,  both  houses  were 
abandoned,  and  an  old  church  that  had  been 
built  bj-  the  Methodists  was  secured  and 
devoted  to  school  purposes.  However,  it  miist 
not  be  understood  that  before  this  both  the 
English  and  German  schools  were  kept  in 
session  continuously.  The  German  school  was 
somewhat  irregular,  and  did  not  continue 
many  years  after  about  1826,  when  it  first 
started.  The  present  school  building  was 
erected  some  twelve  or  fifteen  years  ago.  It 
is  not  remembered  with  certainty  when  the 
first  school  building  was  built  in  Greentown. 
It  is  likely,  however,  that  it  was  erected  soon 
after  1820;  at  least,  in  1835,  a  respectable 
log  schoolhouse.  in  which  was  a  ten-plate 
stove,  was  used  by  the  villagers.  Inasmuch 
as  another  house  was  built  between  1840  and 
1845,  it  is  tij  be  jiresumed  that  the  building 
referred  to  was  the  first  erected,  and  had  been 
used  since  soon  after  1820.  A  man  named 
Guss  was  one  of  the  eai'ly  teachers  in  the  old 
house;  he  was  accustomed  to  adopt  un visual 


modes  of  pimishment,  compelling  troublesome 
scholars  to  stand  or  sit  in  extremely  unpleas- 
ant and  excniciating  positions.  It  is  said 
that  he  sometimes  put  red  pepper  in  the 
mouths  of  bad  childi-en.  On  one  occasion  of 
this  kind,  while  he  was  administering  the 
pe])per  punishment,  the  scholar,  in  a  rage, 
bit  his  fingers  severely.  The  teacher  did  not 
die  of  hydi'ophobia,  neither  did  the  scholar 
sufier  fi-om  the  bite  he  had  taken,  other  than 
by  means  of  the  ■'licking"  that  probalily  fol- 
lowed for  the  unscholarly  act.  N.  W.  Good- 
hue, an  attorney  of  Aki-on,  taught  the  first 
school  in  the  second  building.  This  house 
was  a  comfortable  frame  structure;  it  was 
used  until  a  few  years  before  the  last  war, 
when  the  present  building  was  constructed,  at 
a  cost  of  about  $1,800;  it  is  a  one-storied 
building,  and  has  two  rooms.  Two  teachers 
are  employed  a  portion  of  the  time.  The 
country  schools  sprang  into  existence  between 
1820  and  1830.  Some  of  these  were  German 
schools,  and  it  was  only  after  the  lapse  of 
time  that  their  character  was  altered.  The 
to%vnship  is  well  supplied  with  good  schools. 
The  Methodist  Church,  in  Gi'eentowu,  was 
erected  a  short  time  before  the  last  war,  and 
cost  in  the  neighborhood  of  $2,500;  it  took 
the  place  of  one  that  had  been  built  in  an 
early  day.  A  short  time  before  the  second 
house  was  built,  the  old  house  was  purchased 
by  Houck,  Morgan  &  Co.,  who  converted  it 
into  a  machine  shop,  mention  of  which  was 
made  a  few  pages  above.  The  present  mem- 
bership of  this  society  is  large.  The  Reform- 
ers and  Lutherans  built  a  church  in  the  west- 
ern part  of  Uniontowu  some  fifty  years  ago; 
this  cluu-ch  is  yet  in  use,  although  a  short  time 
ago  the  members  remodeled  it  so  that  it  now 
has  the  appearance  of  a  new  chiu'ch.  It  is  a 
large,  fine- looking  frame  building,  with  a 
steeple  that  rises,  perhajis,  seventy-five  feet  in 
the  air.  The  membership  is  quite  large. 
The  Methodists  early  built  a  chiu-ch  in  Union- 
town.  The  building  was  a  small  concern, 
and,  as  stated  above,  was  finally  converted 
into  a  schoolhouse.  After  that  the  Methodists 
had  no  organization  worthy  of  notice  until 
about  twenty  years  ago,  when  two  societies 
— the  English  Methodists  and  German  Meth- 
odists (or  Albrights) — united  means,  and  built 


~a: 


M AUJ.BOHOrcJH    TOWNSHIP. 


5U9 


a  comfortable  chvtrcli;  this  is  yet  used,  and 
the  two  societies  are  in  a  thriving  condition. 
The  English  Iteformers  built  a  chm-ch  in 
Uniouto^vn  nearly  forty  years  ago,  which  was 
used  until  during  the  last  war,  when  their 
present  building  was  consti'u<'ttxl.  Some 
thirty  years  ago,  the  Methodists  built  at  Hart- 
ville,  but  after  about  twenty  years,  sold  to  the 
Reformers,  who  are  now  in  ])08sessiou  of  the 
chiu^ch,  and  are  (juite  strong.  About  six  years 
ago,  the  Lutherans  also  built  at  Hartville; 
this  society  is  in  a  prosperous  condition.     The 


Dunkards  built  a  church  north  of  Hartville  a 
few  years  ago.  Another  society  of  this 
denomination,  about  twenty-five  years  ago, 
built  a  fine  little  chiu-ch  south  of  Hartville. 
These  societies  are  said  to  be  |>rosiierous,  with 
a  good  average  membership.  The  Lutherans 
and  Keforniors  have  a  church  at  Cairo,  which 
is  said  to  have  been  built  at  an  eiu'ly  day. 
The  townshi))  has  some  ten  cluu-ch  sociiities, 
and  twelve  school  districts.  This  speaks  well 
for  Lake.  Can  any  <jther  township  equal  it  in 
this  respect?  If  so.  we  will  pause  for  an  answer. 


CHAPTER    XXX.* 

M.\RLliOKOUGII  TOWNSHIP— COMING  OF  THE  PlO.NEKIi— ROLLINGS  .\NL)   K.VISINGS^LIST  OK  OLD 

SETTLEKS— MILLS  .AND  FOlNDUlES  _  DL'^TILLERIES  ASl)  DRINKING  CUSTOM.S— THE 

QUAKERS    AND   THE    UNDERGROUND    RAILROAD— VILLAGKS— EARLY 

SCHOOLS  AND  CHURCHES— AORICULIURAL  SOCIETIES 

—SOLDIERS'    MEMORIAL   SOOIETV. 


"Alas  for  them  I  their  day  is  o'er. 
Their  fires  are  out  on  hill  and  shore  ; 
No  more  for  them  the  wild  dccrlioiinds. 
Tile  jilow  is  on  their  huntinir-u'ioiinds  : 
Tlie  pale  man's  ax  rinjrs  tliroutrli  the  woods. 
Tile  pale  man's  sail  skims  o'er  tlieir  floods  ; 

Their  pleasant  sprinjrs  are  dry  ; 
Their  ehildren — look,  liy  power  opprest. 
Beyond  the  mountains  of  the  West. 

'their  children  go  to  die.  " 

—Sprnyut. 

^"^HE  common  experience  of  old  age  is  an  ear- 
-1  nest  wish  to  live  over  again  the  life  that  is 
swiftly  drawing  to  a  close.  How  many  mis- 
takes have  been  made!  how  many  hours  have 
been  unprofitably  spenti  how  blind  to  go(Ml 
advice  and  influence!     The  stealthy  and  inev- 


••Sw(!et  are  the  uses  of  adversity. 
Which,  like  a  toad,  u^ly  and  venomous. 
Wears  yet  a  precious  jewel  in  its  liead." 

Let  us  learn  from  the  wretched  experience 
of  others  learnfrom  the  lives  that  have  gone 
down  amid  the  gales  of  stjrrow  that  encompass 
the  earth,  to  shun  the  shoals  and  (piicksands 
that  beset  oiu-  coiu-se,  that  the  sunset  of  life 
may  be  gilded  with  the  gold  of  eternal  joy. 

Then^  is  a  strange  attraction  in  reviewing 
the  occun'ences  of  ])ast  years,  and  in  noting  the 
wonderful  im])rovement  that  has  resulted  from 
the  expanding  intelligence  of  man.  Within 
the  short  s))ac(^  of  the  last  half-century,  the 
United  States  has  ex])erieuced  almost  un])ar- 


itable  api)roach  of  death  baffles  the  desire  for  !  alleled  growth  in  all  tliatmakt^s  a  people  gi-eat. 

Inventions  in  all  departments  of  progress  have 
succeeded  one  anoth(>r  with  great  rapidity,  until 
the  means  of  sustaining  life  are  vastly  num- 
erous, and  within  tin-  reach  of  all.  No  State 
in  the  Union  has  seen  gi-eater  change  during 
this  period  than  Ohio.  The  forests  have  dis- 
apj)eared;  the  swamjis  have  been  drained: 
c<xstly  residi'uces  have  gone  up  where  once 
stood  the  log  cabin;  riding  and  gang  plows 
have  succeeded  the  old  wooden  mold-board: 
harvesters  have  sacceeded  the  sickle;  knowl 
edge  has  driven  ignoranci-  from  the  land;  a 


a  renewal  of  youth  and  fills  the  heart  with 
bitter  remorse  at  the  thought  of  wliat  might 
have  been.  Youth  is  always  bright  with  hope 
and  expectancy;  but.  as  the  years  glide  by, 
the  scales  fall  fromth(>  eyes,  and  the  sorrowful 
experiences  of  earth  trace  wrinkles  of  car(> 
upon  the  lirow  and  bend  the  once  stalwart 
form  toward  the  grave.  No  rocking  vessel  on 
life's  great  sea  can  escape  th(>  angry  rain  that 
dances  upon  it,  or  avoid  the  bitter  winds 
that  cheek  its  course. 

•CoulriLulHl  by  W.  A.  Good«|iCi(l. 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


broader  charity  has  sprung  up  in  the  religious 
world ;  intemperance  has  been  greatly  reduced ; 
railroads  and  canals  have  usurped  the  duties 
of  the  old  stage;  telegraph  lines  have  bound 
distant  lands  together ;  and  thousands  of  other 
changes  have  taken  place.  Philosophers  con- 
tend that  happiness  is  the  real  object  after 
which  all  mankind  are  striving.  Some  find 
tem])orary  happiness  in  one  thing,  some  in 
another;  but,  as  yet,  abstract  happiness  has 
not  bean  found.  Man,  as  yet,  is  not  truly 
happy.  He  imagines  himself  to  be,  and,  for  a 
time,  relishes  a  mock  enjoyment;  but,  after  a 
time,  his  happiness  is  gone,  and  he  must  seek 
farther  for  the  alleged  object  of  life.  Philos- 
ophers say  we  worship  God  with  the  selfish 
object  of  our  own  happiness  in  view,  and  not 
because  we  delight  to  glorify  God.  At  least,  the 
latter  is  a  secondary  consideration.  This  view 
accords  with  their  theory  regarding  happiness. 
They  say  that  real  happiness  consists  in  doing 
good — that  all  our  enjoyment  is  imaginary 
until  we  can  appreciate  the  sublime  gratifica- 
tion of  a  noble  act.  All  have  experienced,  in 
a  slight  degree,  that  tine  feeling  which  results 
from  having  done  an  unusually  good  deed. 
When  all  mankind  shall  "  cease  to  do  evil  and 
learn  to  do  well,"  unalloyed  happiness  is  at 
hand,  and  the  millennial  days  have  come  with 
perfect  joys. 

Marlborough  was  not  universally  settled  as 
early  as  most  of  the  other  townships  in  the 
county.  While  some  few  settlers  arrived  very 
early,  no  great  rush  was  experienced  until 
after  the  war  of  1812.  This  was  largely  due 
to  the  fact  that  the  township,  covered  with 
water  as  it  was,  and  containing  many  marshes 
and  swamps,  was  not  regarded  with  especial 
favor  by  those  who  were  seeking  homes  in  the 
West.  It  could  not  be  expected  that,  when 
dry  and  elevated  laud  could  be  secured  at  a 
low  figure,  settlers  would  choose  that  which 
was  swampy  and  covered  with  water.  And  it 
must  be  remembered  that  lands  which  at  pres- 
ent are  low  and  marshy,  were  in  early  years 
covered  with  water.  The  removal  of  the  for- 
ests has  let  in  the  heat  of  the  sun,  and  exten- 
sive systems  of  drainage  have  let  out  the  sur- 
plus water.  Perhaps  one-fourth  of  the  town- 
ship could  not  be  cultivated  in  early  years, 
owing  to  the  large  amount  of  land  that  was 


covered  with  water.  And  this  obstacle  to  cul- 
tivation has  been  only  partially  removed  up  to 
the  present  time.  Large  portions  of  land  in 
the  northwestern  and  southwestern  parts  are 
yet  to  be  reclaimed.  Some  portions  probably 
never  will  be,  as  they  are  covered  to  the  depth 
of  two  feet  and  over  with  a  heavy  peat  bed 
that  will  resist  the  efforts  of  the  husbandman. 
The  township  is  situated  on  the  Ohio  water- 
shed, as  a  portion  of  its  water  reaches  Lake 
Erie  and  another  portion  the  Ohio  River. 
Deer  Creek,  in  the  northern  part,  is  the  only 
stream  of  any  note,  although  in  early  years 
several  others  contained  considerable  water. 
This  creek  reaches  the  Mahoning  River.  A 
portion  of  the  swamps  in  the  northern  part 
is  drained  by  irregular  inlets  of  Congress 
Lake,  while  the  greater  portion  of  the  south- 
ern part  is  drained  by  the  branches  of  Nimi- 
shillen  Creek.  Sufficient  drainage,  either  for 
cultivation  or  for  sanitary  measures,  was  not 
secured  in  the  western  part  until  large  sluices 
were  dug;  but  now  the  farms  are  encroaching 
on  the  low,  mai'shy  lands,  and  in  some  in- 
stances small  swamps  have  been  reclaimed  and 
turned  up  by  the  plow.  The  soil  is  rich,  the 
controlling  or  prevailing  element  being  a  tine 
sand,  which  is  found  so  necessary  for  the 
proper  growth  of  the  smaller  grains.  Marl- 
borough has  considerable  land  which  cannot 
be  cultivated.  That  which  can  be  cultivated 
is  very  rich  and  productive. 

Many  things  concerning  the  early  settlement 
have  been  forgotten.  Lexington  Township, 
which  at  first  included  Marlborough,  was  cre- 
ated in  1816,  at  the  March  term  of  the  County 
Commissioners.  Prior  to  this,  and  before  the 
county  of  Stark  was  organized,  this  portion  of 
the  State  was  within  the  jurisdiction  of  Co- 
lumbiana County.  In  June,  1821,  the  follow- 
ing action  was  taken  by  the  Commissioners: 

Ordered.  That  asrecahle  to  a  numbur  of  ])etitioner.s 
of  Li'xington  Township,  the  same  be  divided,  and  the 
twentieth  townsliip  in  the  seventh  range,  be  named 
Maiiliorougli,  and  tlie  nineteentli  town.ship  in  the 
sixth  range  be  named  lA'xington.  Also  Ordered, 
That  an  election  be  held  in  the  townsliip  of  Marlbor- 
ough, on  the  2.5th  day  of  August.  18'2I,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  electing  offieers  of  the  same. 

This  action  was  followed  by  the  election  of 
township  officers,  but  their  names  have  been 
unfortunately    forgotten.       In    March,   1823, 


'-k^ 


MAHLBOKOIGH    TOWNSHIP. 


571 


the  following   curious  proceedings  were  en- 
actt>d : 

WiiKKEAs,  Tlif  Board  of  Coinniissioni-rs  of  Stark 
County,  in  the  year  1821.  at  thi'ir.Iunc  and  Decem- 
ber sessions,  struck  off,  and  bj'  their  order  organized 
two  new  townsliips  in  said  county,  called  Alarl- 
borough  and  Washington  ;  and,  as  there  have  been 
some  doubts  about  the  legality  of  said  order,  it  is 
now 

Ordered,  That  the  SOth  original  surveyed  town- 
ship in  the  Tth  Range  be  stricken  off  and  divided 
from  the  I9th  Township  in  the  Hth  Range,  named 
Lexington,  and  that  said  20th  Township  be  organized 
and  called  by  the  name  of  Marlborough,  and  the 
election  in  said  township  continue  to  be  held  at  the 
same  place  it  ha.s  during  the  past  year. 

Since  this  date,  so  far  as  known,  no  further 
change  has  taken  place  in  the  geogi-aj)hical 
limits  of  the  to^^■nship.  Those  who  purchased 
the  first  land  in  the  township  paid  $'2.  per  acre, 
but.  after  a  few  years,  the  price  was  reduced 
to  $1.2o  per  acre.  The  following  is  a  com- 
plete list  of  patentees  of  Government  land  in 
the  township  in  the  year  IbKJ:  S.  D.  Cope, 
Peter  Bauni,  i).  Markley,  Mahlon  Wileman, 
R.  Beeson,  John  Brown,  David  Brown,  Will- 
iam Copt-land,  P.  Baum.  J.  Enlow,  J.  Snider, 
B.  Harna,  David  Johnson,  Martin  Houser,  J. 
Heiser,  William  Hoover,  Nathan  Haycock, 
Phillip  Hollingbaugh,  Christian  Hoover,  Abra- 
ham Harmony,  Jacob  Mclntifer,  Christopher 
Miu-kley,  John  Miller,  James  McGirr,  John 
McGirr,  Christian  Palmer,  Elijah  Price, 
Thomas  Price.  C.  Foutz,  Abraham  Wileman, 
Jacob  Wileman  and  Samuel  Winger.  In  the 
year  I820,  the  following  land-holders  were 
residents  of  the  township;  Jerub  Baldwin, 
William  Beeson.  Com-ad  Brombaiigh,  William 
Cozens,  James  Enslow,  Elisha  Everett,  Chris- 
tian Houser,  Nancy  Harj)ley,  Amos  Holloway, 
Phillip  Hollobaiigh,  Exnm  Johnson,  Joseph 
Brown,  Peter  Batim,  John  Bro\vn,  David 
Brown,  Isaac  Elliott,  Timothy  Gruwell,  Dan- 
iel Houser,  William  Hoover,  John  Hamlin, 
Nathan  Haycock,  Martin  Houser,  and  others. 
Among  the  early  residents  of  the  townshij).  in 
addition  to  those  named  above,  were  the  fol- 
lowing: William  Pennock,  Israel  Scott.  Mar- 
tin Brai.tingham.  Matthew  Vaughan,  John 
Hardy.  K.  B.  Wells.  Samuel  Welch,  Jeremiah 
Shaw.  Robert  Hamilton.  Nathan  Price.  Amos 
Coates,  Abraham  Troxel,  John  Lyman,  Thomas 
Crockett,  Joseph  Taylor,   Abram    Niswonger, 


Henry  Niswonger,  Samuel  Weary,  John 
Shellenberger,  Peter  Shelleaberger,  John 
Whitstone.  Nimrod  Smith,  Jacob  Replogle, 
Jonathan  Nees,  Jacob  Nees,  Mr.  Clingamau, 
Michael  Young,  David  Reiser,  Jacob  Immel, 
Eli  Shriver,  Mr.  Logue,  Abraham  Shriver,  Mr. 
Paulus.  Mr.  Roudabush,  Mr.  Seagley,  Joel 
Bair,  William  Allmaii.  Christian  Beard,  Henry 
Shaffer,-  David  Thomas,  Peter  Lilly,  William 
Hatcher,  Jacob  Harper,  Edward  Brooke,  and 
several  others. 

Mahlon  Wileman  was  the  first  permanent 
settler  in  the  township.  He  came  with  his 
father  dm-ing  the  autumn  of  1S05,  and  erected 
a  rough  log  cabin  on  Section  1,  after  which 
the  father  rettirned  to  Columbiana  County  and 
did  not  retirm  until  the  following  spring. 
Mahlon  remained  alone  at  the  cabin  during 
the  winter  of  1805-06,  clearing,  in  the  mean- 
time, some  six  or  eight  acres  of  land  around 
the  cabin.  He  did  his  own  cooking  largely, 
although,  every  two  or  three  weeks,  he  went  to 
Cohmibiana  Coimty  for  supplies  of  bread  and 
like  articles.  The  greater  portion  of  the  meat 
eaten  by  him  was  obtained  from  the  woods  by 
means  of  his  rifle.  It  is  said  that  Alahlon 
Wileman  was  one  of  the  most  powerful  men 
ever  in  the  township.  This,  combined  with 
good  sense  and  undaunted  courage,  rendered 
him  one  of  the  most  prominent  of  the  early 
settlers.  He  was  a  Quaker,  iis  were  also  some 
two-fifths  of  the  early  settlers.  In  the  spring 
of  1 806,  Abraham,  the  father  of  Mahlon,  came 
to  the  township  with  his  family,  and  soon 
afterward  Mahlon  went  south  to  Section  28, 
where  he  cleared  and  improved  a  fiirm,  and 
where  he  subsetjuently  died.  Abraham  Wile- 
man died  in  his  ninety -ninth  yesir.  Many  in- 
teresting incidents  are  related  concerning 
Mahlon  Wileman,  which  have  not,  as  yet, 
been  made  public.  Of  course,  the  woods  at 
this  time  (1805  to  1810)  were  filled  with  a 
great  variety  of  wild  animals,  such  as  wolves, 
bears,  wild-cats,  |)anthers,  deer,  turkeys,  hogs 
and  Indians.  It  is  related  by  Mr.  Brooke, 
who  hits  made  the  history  of  the  township  a 
study,  that  Mahlon  Wileman.  when  he  went 
to  Columbiana  County  for  supplies  of  provis- 
ions, fearing  that  thieves  would  carry  off  his 
utensils,  etc.,  gave  them  in  charge  of  an  In- 
dian chief,  whose  band  was  encaraiied  on  Deer 


;i- 


^§)     v> 


IILSTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


Creek,  until  he  should  return,  at  which  time 
every  article  was  given  up  in  good  order,  ac- 
cording to  agreement.  Mahlon  went  out  hunt- 
ing one  day,  and,  seeing  a  lai'go  buck,  cau- 
tiously aj>|)roached,  aud  shot  it  The  animal 
fell  to  the  ground,  and  Mahlon  Hpiiroached  to 
cut  its  thi-oat.  But  the  animal  had  been  only 
stunned  by  the  shot,  and,  leaping  to  its  feet, 
maile  foi'  the  hunter  with  head  down  and  hair 
erect  along  its  spine.  To  avoid  it,  the  hunter 
leaped  behind  a  ti'ee.  but  the  angry  buck  piu-- 
sued  him  round  and  round,  until  at  last  he 
was  compelled  to  face  the  situation,  which 
he  did  by  seizing  its  antlers  and  endeavoring, 
with  all  his  enonu^us  strength,  to  thi-ow  the 
animal  on  the  ground,  that  he  might  dispatch 
it  with  his  knife.  For  a  time  the  contest  was 
doubtful,  as  the  liuck  was  large  and  strong, 
but  at  last  the  hunter,  by  a  change  of  position, 
was  enabled  io  use  his  knife,  and  a  few  mo- 
ments later  the  buck  was  dead.  At  another 
time,  when  Mr.  Wilcman  was  on  his  way  north 
to  Atwater  Township,  as  he  was  passing  along 
the  rude  bridle-path  in  the  northern  part  of 
Marlborough  Township,  he  suddenly  saw 
a  full-grown  bear  in  the  branches  of  a 
large  chestnut  tree.  When  sufficiently  close, 
Mr.  Wileman  took  deliberate  aim  and 
shot  the  bear  dead.  It  came  to  the  gi'ound 
with  a  crash,  and  immediately  afterward 
the  settler  saw  two  others,  either  in  the  same 
tree  or  in  others  near  by.  This  was  the 
sort  of  sport  Mr.  Wileman  admired;  so.  as 
quickly  as  he  could  load  his  rifle  and  fire,  he 
brought  both  of  the  bears,  in  turn,  to  the 
gi-ound.  Mr.  Wileman's  brother-in-law,  Jos- 
eph Miu'shall,  who  resided  just  across  the 
northern  line  in  the  other  county,  one  day 
captured  three  deer  that  had  ventured  upon  a 
body  of  very  smooth  ice,  aud,  unable  to  stand, 
had  fallen  down.  The  son  of  William  Hatcher 
relates  that  one  day  his  father,  in  the  short 
space  ui  about  three  hours,  killed  three  deer. 
What  renders  the  fact  noteworthy  is  that  this 
took  place  not  far  from  1830,  at  which  time 
almost  the  whole  county  was  quite  well  settled, 
or  at  least,  deer  had  become  quite  scarce.  An 
occasional  herd  of  six  or  eight  was  seen,  but 
the  animals  were  shy,  and  seemed  to  be  chang- 
ing their  locality.  It  is  related  that  Mr.  Warst- 
ler  was  one  day  returning  from  Canton   on 


horseback,  when,  as  he  was  passing  through 
the  deej)  woods,  he  saw  a  large  bear  reared 
upon  its  hind  legs  by  the  foot  of  a  large  tree, 
as  if  it  anticipated  an  encounter  with  the  trav- 
eler. Mr.  Warstler,  being  without  a  gim,  con- 
cluded that  a  retreat  was  the  best  policy. 
This  was  done  with  greater  expedition  than 
skill.  All  the  settlers  had  their  experiences 
with  wild  animals.  It  is  stated  that,  on  one 
occasion,  Mr.  Gruwell,  the  second  settler  in 
the  township,  while  hunting  in  the  woods,  came 
very  nearly  being  devoiu-ed  by  a  bem'.  The 
circumstances  ai'e  traditional,  and  may  not  be 
altogether  true.  He  was  walking  along,  so 
runneth  tradition,  with  his  rifle  in  his  hand 
and  his  eyes  bent  on  the  ground,  when,  ujion 
suddenly  turning  around  a  few  large  trees 
which  stood  close  together,  he  came  within 
four  feet  of  an  enormous  bear  that  had  just 
killed  some  small  game  aud  was  eating  it. 
The  bear  instantly  gave  a  ferocious  growl,  that 
chilled  the  blood  of  the  settler  and  caused  his 
hair  to  stand  straight  up  on  his  head,  and, 
rearing  up  on  its  hind  legs,  it  extended  its 
powerful  paws  to  clasp  the  settler  in  deadly 
embrace.  But  the  settler  was  not  anxious  for 
an  embrace,  for,  at  the  first  glimpse  of  the 
bear,  he  leajied  back  several  viu'ds  and  cocked 
his  rifle.  The  bear,  with  angry  growls  from 
its  bloody  mouth,  began  to  make  movements 
as  if  about  to  approach  the  settler,  and  tlie 
latter,  taking  quick  aim,  sent  a  bullet  crashing 
through  its  head.  Without  waiting  to  ascer 
tain  the  effect  of  the  shot,  the  settler  ran  from 
the  spot  with  all  his  speed,  and,  when  at  a 
considerable  distance,  paused  to  load  his  rifle, 
look  back,  and  listen.  He  could  hear  nothing, 
so,  after  his  rifle  had  been  carefully  loaded, 
he  retm-ned  to  the  sjiot,  and,  when  there,  found 
the  bear  thrashing  around  ujion  the  ground 
with  a  mortal  wound.  A  second  shot  finished 
the  huge  creature. 

Timothy  Grruwell  was  the  sei'ond  settler  in 
Marlborough.  He  reached  the  township  with 
his  family  during  the  spring  of  1807,  and  lo- 
cated on  Section  24.  He  erected  a  small  log 
cabin,  with  the  assistance  of  the  Wilemans, 
into  which  his  family  was  immediately  moved. 
Mahlon  Wileman  was  his  nearest  neighbor. 
In  the  month  of  August,  1807,  the  Gruwell 
family  were  visited    by   a   little  stranger,   a 


~  ^  i 


:^i 


L^ 


MAHI.UOHOrCJH    TOWNSHIP. 


573 


daughter,  which  was  named  Elizabeth.  This 
was  the  first  l)irth  in  the  township.  Mahlon 
Wilwuan  was  sent  U)  Cohmibiana  Cwunty  for 
a  doctor,  wlio  alone  eoiild  perform  the  cere- 
mony of  introducing  the  little  stranger,  who 
came,  without  bag  or  baggage,  to  the  family- 
Mahlon  afterward  related  that,  as  he  was  pass- 
ing through  the  dark  forests  on  his  horse,  the 
wolves  came  all  around  him.  <md  liegan  howl 
iug  dismally.  He  could  see  their  shar|)  noses 
and  fiery  eyes  from  the  clumps  of  bushes, but 
none  were  bold  enough  to  attack  hiiu. 

Prior  to  the  a])pearance  of  Mr.  Gruwell. 
and  immediately  afterward,  a  considerable 
portion  of  th(>  i)est  land  in  the  township  was 
j>urchased  by  various  jiarties.  who  did  not  come 
to  the  tow^lship  until  several  years  later. 
During  the  war  of  IN  12,  and  immediately 
afterward,  the  settlers  came  in  rapidly,  and 
soon  all  the  best  land  in  the  t<5wnsb.i])  had  been 
enti>red.  It  was  the  custom  in  all  the  neigh 
borhoods.  in  early  years,  when  a  ni-w  settler 
came  in  to  turn  out  and  assist  him  in  erecting 
his  cabin.  It  is  stated  by  old  settlers  that 
this  was  done  owing  to  the  kindly  feelings 
which  each  settler  entei'tained  for  his  fellows: 
yet.  while  this  is  partly  true,  it  is  not  wholly 
true.  The  truth  was.  the  s«>ttler  was  unable, 
without  an  immense  amount  of  hard  work,  to 
raise  the  heavy  logs  to  their  jiositions  on  the 
slowly  rising  building.  This  led  to  a  demand 
for  assistance  cm  all  occasions  of  the  kind, 
luitil  at  last  it  became  unfashionable  to  remain 
away  when  your  services  were  needed.  Of 
course,  the  settlers  were  social,  and  all  were 
at  par  as  far  as  soeialiility  was  concerned. 
Persons  with  similar  inclinations,  desires,  joys 
or  dangers,  are  drawn  together  by  the  laws  of 
sym])atliy:  or,  in  other  words,  "  liirds  of  a 
feath(>r  tlock  together."  On  the  occasion  of  a 
house-raising,  it  was  custx>mju'y  not  only  for 
the  men  to  ttu-n  out.  but  the  women  also,  to  do 
the  crxiking.  This  was  more  noticeably  the 
case  on  the  occasion  of  large  log-rollings.  It 
is  stated  that,  at  certain  seasons  of  the  year, 
several  conset-utive  weeks  were  often  spent  in 
going  from  rolling  to  rolling.  Of  course,  the 
occasion  was  as  dry  as  Sahara  without  whisky, 
X  rebellion  wa.s  sure  t<j  ensue  if  this  "  neces- 
sity" was  withheld  from  the  workmen.  That 
was  something  not  to  be  tolerated  for  a  mo- 


ment. The  man  who  was  so  stingy  that  he 
would  not  furnish  whisky  at  his  rolling  did 
not  deseiTe  the  assistance  of  his  neighlnirs. 
Thus  the  men  thought  in  that  day,  but  that 
day,  thank  goodness,  is  gone.  It  was  no  im- 
UBUal  thing  to  see  the  men,  some  of  them,  so 
drank  that  they  were  imable  to  work,  in  which 
case  their  bodies  were  deposited  in  some  se- 
cure j)lace,  that  the  spirit  might  return  when 
the  alcohol  had  gone.  The  logs  were  rolled 
together  in  several  heajjs,  some  of  which  were 
very  hu'ge,  and  these  were  afterwai'd  burned 
by  the  settler.  Fifty  or  sixty  men  were  often 
present  at  these  rollings.  Loud  shouts  rang 
across  the  field,  and  the  merry  joke  or  heaity 
oath  were  jiassed  about.  The  women  in  the 
cabin,  as  busy  as  bees  preparing  an  abund- 
ance of  food  for  the  hungiy  men,  were  not  less 
jovial.  One  thing  in  this  connection  should 
be  noticed:  From  the  fact  that  about  one- 
third  of  the  earliest  settlers  were  Quakers, 
licjuor-drinking  and  swearing  were,  to  a  gi'eat 
extent,  avoided.  The  eastern  part  was  the 
Quaker  ueighborhotjd,  and  here  it  was  that 
this  remarkalile  and  quiet  peojile  labored  for 
their  subsistence  and  W(jrshiped  Grod  in  their 
j)eculiar  way. 

At  an  early  day,  it  was  thought  that  there 
was  lead  in  the  township.  How  this  report 
came  to  be  in  circulation  is  not  known  to  the 
writer.  SquiiTels  became  so  thick  in  about 
1825  that  numerous  hunts  were  instituted  to 
destroy  the  {)ests.  In  one  of  these  hunts,  1,700 
were  killed,  and  a  man  named  Thomas  Grant, 
of  Lexington  Townshi]),  showe<l  the  scalps  of 
nearly  two  hundred.  He  received  the  prize. 
The  firet  roail  in  the  township  was  the  Diag- 
onal road.  Tliis  was  sm-veyed  and  improved 
at  a  very  eai-ly  day.  Many  incidents  are  re- 
lated concerning  the  hard  times  the  early  set- 
tlers ex]3erienc(Hl.  Mills  and  stores  were  dis- 
tant, and  the  paths  (not  roads)  through  the 
woods  wore  in  such  a  j)light,  during  a  portion 
of  the  year,  at  least,  that  driving  a  team 
through  them  was  out  of  the  <juestion.  The 
settlers  did  not  care  to  visit  China  by  the  un 
derground  route,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that 
it  was  the  shortest.  They  wanted  flom-  and 
meal,  not  pigtails  or  trinkets.  "  Washee, 
washee,"  was  then  unknown,  and  even  tea  was 
not   much  thouirht  of  in  connection  with  the 


IIIS'l'OKY    (tF    S'I'AlfK    COUNTY. 


i'iii|ilr('  (if  Cliiliu,  So,  wlinii  (Idiii'  vviis  waiil.oil, 
II  \m^  of  wln>u(.  WMH  l.iilu'li  nil  lini'scliacli  tii  llio 
iK'urost,  ruill,  \vliicliHi)iii(>liiiu>s  ^rDuiul  tlio^raiii 
lis  <v)iii-H('  MM  |)i'|i|)(ir,  iind  li(>r(>,  al'lci'  |ii>rliii|)M 
two  or  iliroi"  (liivs,  iiiiil  Hoiiiotiiiuw  ii  w«(>k,  Uu< 
^riiuliiiif  wiiH  (lon(>.  In  lh(^  iiuMintitiu",  ixn'luipn 
tlio  rmuily  wan  vvilhoiit  l)n>iul.  IiuIihhI,  it 
wiiH  no  iincoiniuoii  (liiiijj;  I'oi'  riuiiilioH  to  liv(^ 
(111  iii(>al^  iilono  for  H(<v(>ral  wotiks.  SoiuotiinoH 
lli«y  liiul  lirtdid  iiiul  no  nioiilr.  It,  wan  riiro  to 
liav(>  nil  iihmulaiico  of  luilJi.  Often,  tlut  wifn 
took  i\n\  villi'  iiiul  killoil  ii  duor,  or  iliil  otlu>r 
tliinj,'H  n>i|iiirinj,'  luimly  Hkill,  Htroiij^jtli  and 
counif^i>. 

At  lust,  mills  woro  onwtod  in  tho  township. 
Tho  first  was  liiiilt  in  about  tho  your  KSKS,  by 
Abrahaiii  W'ili'iuaii,  and  was  loi'utod  on  tho 
old  Wiloiiiaii  laiiii.  A  stroiij;  dam  was  built 
lun'iiss  tho  (trook,  which  was  Ihoii  (|iiito  liirf;;n, 
and  an  old  fiu.hioiiod  iiiidorshol  wliool  com- 
mimicatod  motion  to  tho  miu'hiiu>ry  which 
|)ro|)(>lh>d  tho  saw.  The  mill  was  o|)orut(>d 
for  u  niimbor  of  yours,  uud,  althoiii^h  it  ran 
slowly,  still  a  ^jroiil  inuny  loijs  woro  suwod. 
Tlu*  ruto  lit  whi(^h  suwinii;  was  douo  is  not  ro- 
monib(>rod.  It  is  roliilod,  howm'in',  (hat  Mr. 
lloacockolVoivd  aliiisliolof  wheat  for  100  foot 
of  oiik  liimbor,  and  a  biishol  of  corn  for  100 
foot  of  poplar  liimbor,  but  Mr.  Wilomun  ro- 
joctod  tho  otVor.  Tho  nt^xt  suw-mill  was  builti 
soon  aftorward,  by  William  l\>nni)ck.  This 
also  was  a  j^ood  mill  in  its  day.  iiulood,  tlios(> 
two  oiu'ly  mills  woro  (.Kulsonds  to  tho  sottlors. 
Bonjamin  KUiott  oroctod  a  saw-mill  about  tho 
your  KS'2r>.  It  wus  on  ii  small  strouin  thut  is 
now  dry,  wost  of  tho  town  of  Mnillioronii;h. 
About  tho  samo  tiino,  Kxiini  .loiinson  built 
unothor,  which  was  locatod  about  a  luilo  and  u 
half  northwest  of  town.  Klisha  Kutlor  built 
on(>  oil  (ho  old  Whittakor  fariii  soon  aftorward, 
and  alH>ut  tho  sumo  timo  (INIU)),  Jucob  Wirti; 
oroctod  iinotlii>r,  ono  and  a  hiilf  niilos  north  of 
Miirlboroiifj;h.  Of  coursi*,  all  tlu>so  mills  woro 
oporatod  by  wator  powor,  as  stoaiu  had  not 
yot  boon  "  harnossod."  yta'onj:;  ilams  wori> 
built  across  tho  stroiuns,  and  wator  obtained  in 
tho  ordiuiu'y  way  by  mounsof  u  ruco.  Sovorul 
of  tlu>so  mills  ran  for  many  your.s,  and  did 
loiif^  and  faithful  sorvi<H>.  Tlu<  oth(>rs  won* 
abaiidonod  after  a  few  years.  .liKvib  Wood 
owned  11  mill    iioitli  of    (own  ut  iin  earlv  dav. 


as  did  also  .losepli  Tuyh)!'  (lud  Churlos  Shinn. 
Mr.  Keiser  owned  and  opcirnted  ono  in  tho 
western  part  in  ii  Inter  day.  John  I'lby  iilso 
owned  and  o|>erut('d  ono  in  tho  westi>i'ii  part. 
I'orhiips  tli(>  best  saw-mill  iwor  in  tho  town- 
ship, aside  from  tho  |)rosoiit  oui<s,  was  built  iu 
tho  town  of  Mnrlboi'oUfj;h  in  about  tho  your 
IN  bi,  by  Allman  &  I'lllison.  It  was  ojiorutod 
by  st-eiim,  mid  did  a  {,'iout  deal  of  work.  Sonio 
of  tho  present  mills  are  owned  by  Lewis  Wiirst- 
lor,  at  Now  Baltimore;  reiinock  &  Musou,  i). 
Harmony,  und  others.  Tho  towushij)  lius, 
from  tho  ourliost  settlomout,  boon  supplied 
with  niuuoroiis  and  ejood  saw-mills. 

There  has  been  liut  one  fijrist-niill  of  iiuy 
c.ouseijuence  in  the  township.  This  wus 
oroi'tod  some  thirty-livo  years  iiyo,  iu  Murl- 
boroufijh,  by  Pete,  IJiU'low  &  Co.  The  build- 
iiifj;  was  two  and  a  half  stories  in  hoij^ht,  was 
about  forty  by  si.\(y  feet,  and  for  a  numbor 
of  years  tho  mill  was  o[)orated  both  day  uud 
nifi-ht,  two  sots  of  hands  boinj^  omi)loyod.  Tiie 
mill  was  an  o\ci>llont  ono,  aiul,  during  the 
period  of  its  contiiuianco,  which  was  somo 
twenty  yours,  furnished  an  oxcellout  (|uulity 
of  tlour.  It  did  both  merchant  and  custom 
work.  Another  small  ^rist  null  was  started 
n[i  in  Mailborouijh,  but  it  did  not  amount  to 
much. 

Jii  about  the  year  KS'JO,  -Ijicol.  Nees  built  H 
siiiull  distillery  in  the  .south W(>stern  part  of 
tlii<  (ownslii[i.  It  was  a  rude  alVair,  ami  was 
built  ill  u  hurry,  to  supply  a  siuldon  and 
stroiii^  diMiiand  for  the  drink  which  inebriates. 
Mj'.  Noes  had  one  small  (Hippor  still,  but  it  is 
uncertain  whore  his  grain  was  ground.  Tho 
lii|iior,  a  rather  jioor  article,  disiippewod  about 
as  fast  as  it  was  made.  l'ei>})le  iu  those  days 
wi<re  jiulgi's  of  w  hisky.  it  did  not  take  them 
long  to  decide  upon  the  merits  of  ii  drink,  us 
constant  ns(>  in  (lu>ir  faniilii>s  mudo  thorn 
fumiliar  willi  the  taste,  smell,  and  gonorul 
characteristics.  Mr.  Noes  manufacturiHl 
whisky  at  the  ruto  of  some  twiMity  gallons  pi-r 
duy  while  tho  ilistillery  wus  running.  At  cor 
tiiin  sousons  of  tlio  your,  it  wus  discontinued. 
After  being  conducted  for  u  period  of  about 
twelve  yours,  tho  onterpriso  w'us  ubiiudoned. 
Uotwoon  thirty  and  forty  yours  ago,  Jucob 
Hung  built  a  dislillery,  which  was  consU'uctod 
on  11    litde    iiioi-(>    e\(eiisivt>   scale,  as    ulxnit   a 


[^ 


MAIU-HOIfOICir    'I'OVVNSIIII' 


Ikuii'I  of  wliinlty  wiih  iiiiulo  per  (lay.  'I'liin  Ih 
Hiiid  1,1)  Imvt'  l)(inii  nil  itifi'rior  iirt,icli«,  iiiiil  _>""'• 
it  WHH  ns(«l  c|niti>  (vxtotiHivi'ly  lit,  nilliti^H  itiiil 
niiHiii)^H.  It  was  iliHCdiitiimnil  ut  tint  mul  of 
Homo  t<>ii  ynarrt.  Sk  far  an  ri'iiii'irilH'riid,  tliiwo 
w.To  tlin  iiiily  (liHtillcriiw  ever  in  tlio  towrmliip. 
Alxmt  tint  time  tlioy  ran  iluwn,  tMMiiMiraiKti) 
rnvivalH  liiul  Ikij^idi  t,<i  Hwoiip  ovor  the  towii- 
Hliip,  and,  indi'dil,  oviT  all  tiii>  coiintry.  I'f" 
|iln,  Mpun  ()|)i'jiin^^  Minir  ("yoH  and  l()(,!;iiiK 
aliDiit,  discovered  thai,  liipior  was  not  one  of 
till)  "  IieceHsitieH  of  life."  'I'liey  saw  tlmt  it 
drained  the  ponket,  maddened  the  hrain,  and 
sent  desolation  intoinaiiy  a  iiappy  household.  A 
few  farmers  who  we?-e  nol  I  imoruiis  at  last  reso 
liitely  expelled  all  licpior  from  their  raisings  and 
rollinj^s.  'J'his,  of  eoiirse,  met  with  hitter  op 
position,  as  all  reforms  must  at,  first,  hiit  jfrad- 
milly  the  act  hecame  universal,  and  .soon  it 
lieeame  iuifashioiial)lo  toofl'er  liipior  at  pnhlic 
(^alherini^s. 

It  is  well  known  that  the  (Quakers  throii^jh- 
out  Ohio  were  prominently  connected  with  the 
I  iider^jround  Railroad  in  early  years.  l''or 
many  years  hefore  the  last  war,  and  especially 
after  the  (enactment  of  the  Uitrii'wtt  slave  law, 
Ohif)  was  continually  traversed  hy  runaway 
slaves,  who  hail  found  their  former  life  t,oo 
irksome  to  hear.  With  hut  little  l,o  eat,  and 
the  same  to  wear,  with  u  c/)nHtaiit  fear  of  be 
int;  I'aptured  hy  their  owners,  and  of  the 
dreadful  punishment  sure  to  follow,  hunted 
like  wild  lieast.s  throuj^h  the  forests  and 
swamps,  the  jioor  slaves  bravely  faced  the  sit 
nation  and  turned  their  eyes  t/iward  the  polar 
Htur.  They  soon  Iwiniiid  that  the  (junkers 
wore  not  only  willinj^  I.0  assist  them  in  i-scap 
inj{,  hut  often  went  to  considerable  trouble  and 
expense  t'l  accomplish  tliis  result.  One  day, 
a  powerful  ne^ro  named  Tom  (perhaps  he  was 
the  veritalilii  (Jncle  'J'om  of  Mrs.  H(,owe),  who 
was  closely  [)nrHned,cHme  to  Mahlon  VV'ileman 
and  bef^f^ed  for  food  and  help.  These  were 
immediately  furnished,  and  the  ne^o  sent  on 
his  way.  A  few  hours  later,  as  .Mr.  Wileman 
was  biirnint^  brick  near  his  house,  a  man  came 
riding  rapidly  U|i,  on  a  tired  horse,  and  asked 
liiirriedly  if  himself  and  animal  could  l>e  fed, 
at  the  same  time  iiKjiiiring  if  Mr.  Wileman 
had  seen  a  lar^je  nej^o  named  'I'oin.  Mr. 
Wileman  (jiiietly  nnHwernd  "  Yes  "  to  all  tli«Ho 


(jileHtioiiH,  tellint,'  lhc^  stran^fer,  at,  the  same 
time,  among  other  things,  thai,  he  could  have 
the  reiiiaindi'i-of  the  pie  Tom  had  been  eating 
a  few  hours  bc^fon^  This  made  the  stranger 
wild  with  rage,  and  he  sternly  demanded 
where  Tom  was,  at  the  same  time  making  a 
hostile  movement  t^iward  Mr.  Wileman.  This 
act  roused  the  ijuiet  (Quaker,  and,  taking  u|> 
his  heavy  piker,  he  threatened  that  if  the  man 
did  not  iuuiiediately  leavo  the  plai'e,  he  woulil 
III)  taken  ast.ride  the  poker  an<l  thrown  iMt,o 
the  (ire.  The  Virginian  saw  that  there  was 
no  fooling  about  the  matter  with  the  jKiwerful 
(Quaker,  so  he  mounted  his  tired  h')ise  and  rode 
slowly  away,  lieiiianiin  .Marshall  and  .liuiies 
Austin  were  both  prominently  coiinecle.l  with 
this  branch  of  the  I ,' nderground  Railroad. 
'J'hey  helped  feed  and  secrete  many  a  dusky 
slave  en  route  for  the  dominion  of  the  IJritish 
t^ueen.  .lose|>h  Ivukens,  lOdward  IJrooki',  Ab 
raham  Hrooki',  and  many  others,  throughout 
the  township,  were  engageil  hh  c/jiidiict^jrs,  en 
gineers  or  train  dispatrrhers  on  this  road.  Jt 
is  safe  to  say  that  scoi-es  of  slaves  were  heljied 
on  their  way  North  by  the  Quakers  of  Marl- 
borough . 

The  village  of  New  IJaltiinore  was  laid  out 
on  the  2(;tli  day  of  August,  IHiil,  by  John 
Whitacre,  .Stark  County  Surveyor,  and  Levi 
Haines,  owner  and  projirietor.  Kigliteen  lots 
were  laid  outoii  the  west  half  of  the  northi'ast 
(piarter  of  Si'ction  I,  (,0  wliiirh  one  or  more 
ailditions  have  since  been  made.  Samuel 
Hatcher  ojieniMl  the  (irst  store  during  the  year 
\H'.i2.  The  goods  were  riH^eived  from  I'liila- 
dol|)hia,  were  placed  in  the  half-finished  build 
ing,  a!id  Isaac  I'ennock,  then  a  young  man  of 
about  twenty  years,  assisted  in  uiipiicking  the 
goods,  which  comjirised  a  few  liuti(h<<|  dnllurM' 
wortli. 

William  Hatfiher  one  day  trei«i  a  bear.  A 
man  named  Stevens,  froTii  Uandolpli,  owneil  a 
large,  savage  dog,  and,  as  a  matter  of  course, 
Mr.  Stevens  declared  that  his  dog  could  whip 
the  biggest  bear  that  ran  in  the  forest.  As  soon 
as  the  bear  wax  treed,  Mr.  Hat,(;hersaid,  "  Now's 
the  time  U)  try  yrjiir  dog."  Aciiordingly,  the 
dog  was  got  in  readiness,  and  the  men  began 
cutting  tiie  tree  down.  When  this  wiih  about 
half  ac»!oinplishe<l,  his  liearshi|i  concluded  to 
cxynui  down,  which  he  diil  backward.     As  he 


HISTORY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


reached  the  ground,  the  dog,  which  had  been 
Bet  on  by  its  master,  seized  the  bear  by  the 
hind  leg.  Mr.  Bear  turned  (jiiickly.  and,  with 
one  blow,  knocked  the  dog  about  a  rod,  at  the 
same  time  making  off  through  the  woods  at 
its  best  gait.  Mr.  Stevens'  do(r)ghad  received 
its  quietus,  and  refused  any  further  introduc- 
tion to  the  bear.  Some  half  a  dozen  other  dogs 
nipped  ai'ound  the  animal  as  it  ran  off,  and 
the  settlers  were  so  afraid  of  hitting,  them  that 
they  witliheld  their  tire  until  the  bear  had  made 
good  its  escape.  Mr.  Stevens'  opinion  regard- 
ing the  ability  of  his  dog  to  thrash  bears  was 
hopelessly  shaken.  But  to  go  back  to  the  vil- 
lage. Ill  connection  with  his  store,  Mr. 
Hatcher  conducted  a  tavern,  the  first  in  the 
village.  Other  merchants  at  Baltimore  have 
been  Taylor  &  Warner.  Asa  Rawson,  a  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace,  kept  store  there  for  a  number 
of  years  also.  Among  others  have  been 
Hatcher  &  Ellison,  John  Criss,  Ellison  &  Shaw, 
Baird  &  Capple,  Jacob  Bair,  and  the  present 
merchants,  Abner  Taylor  &  Son.  A  firm 
known  as  Prouty  &  Co.  built  an  ashery  at  the 
village  in  about  the  year  1846.  It  was  located 
where  A.  R.  Damon  now  resides,  and,  for  a 
jieriod  of  some  fom-  years,  considerable  potash 
was  manufactm'ed  and  shipped  away  to  mar- 
ket. Not  far  from  1!S4(I,  Thomas  Burns 
erected  a  suitable  building  and  began  hatting. 
He  obtained  lamb's  wool  fioni  the  smTound- 
ing  farms,  and  this  was  manufactured  into  a 
good,  serviceable  hat.  Benjamin  Curstetter 
conducted  a  hai'uess  and  saddle  shop  in  early 
years.  A  foundry  was  built  at  an  eai'ly  day, 
but  by  whom  has  been  forgotten.  After  a 
number  of  years,  W.  T.  Cole  purchased  the 
property,  with  whose  family  it  has  remained 
since.  Charles  Cole,  son  of  W.  T.,  is  conduct- 
ing it  at  jarcsent.  There  have  been  manufact- 
ured at  this  foundry  plow-shares,  gi'ates,  and 
a  variety  of  other  articles.  Two  tanneries 
were  built  at  Baltimore  in  early  years.  The 
one  that  started  first  is  yet  in  operation,  and 
is  owned  l)y  Mr.  Snyder.  Several  other  in- 
dustries have  flourished  at  different  times  in 
the  village.  Notices  of  some  of  these  will  be 
found  in  other  portions  of  this  chapter.  New 
Baltimore's  population  is  160. 

Fom"  men  owned  the  land  upon  which  the 
villajxe  of  Marlborijujrh  was  at  first  laid  out. 


Moses  Pennock  owned  the  land  on  the  north- 
west corner:  William  Pennock  that  on  the 
southwest;  Samuel  Ellison  on  the  southeast, 
and  Denny  Johnson  on  the  northeast.  In 
November,  1827,  these  proprietors  secured  the 
services  of  a  suiweyor,  and  had  laid  out  at  the 
corners  twenty-foiu'  lots,  six  of  which  wei-e  on 
the  land  of  each.  An  open  space  at  the  cor- 
ners Wcis  left  for  a  public  square.  Since  the 
above  date,  several  additions  have  been  made 
to  the  village,  until  the  lots  now  muuber 
neai'ly  two  hundi'ed  and  fifty.  William  Pen- 
nock's  residence  was  the  first  in  Marlborough. 
It  was  built  before  the  place  was  thought  of 
as  a  village.  William  Paxon  built  the  second 
house  in  town:  John  Gruwell  built  the  third; 
Israel  White  probably  the  fourth;  James 
Shinn  prt)bably  the  fifth.  Mi'.  Paxon  opened 
the  first  store.  It  is  said  he  began  with  some 
$1. ")()()  worth,  and  continued,  with  a  paying 
patronage  eight  or  ten  years.  Dm'ing  this 
period,  a  post  olKce  was  secm'ed,  and  James 
Shinn  received  the  appointment  as  Postmaster. 
The  terminal  points  of  the  route  were  Warren 
and  Canton,  and  at  this  time  the  mail  was 
carried  on  horseback.  Caleb  Atwater,  with 
$2,000  worth  of  a  general  assortment  of  goods, 
opened  the  second  store.  This  was  not  far 
from  1884.  A  few  years  later,  he  sold  to 
James  Shinn,  who,  in  about  1844,  failed  in 
business,  and  the  goods,  which  had  been  in- 
creased until  worth  some  $5,000,  were  auc- 
tioned ofl'  at  Canton.  Since  this  time,  the 
following  men,  among  others,  have  spent  a 
portion  of  their  time  over  the  counter  in  ]\Iarl- 
borough:  Cook  &  Hamilton,  Jacob  Stroud, 
Hamilton  it  Irish.  Jonathan  Shaw,  Brooke, 
Scott  &  Leek,  Hutton  &  Coates,  Stevens  & 
Chappie.  Ai:)ram  Wileman,  William  Hatcher, 
Daniel  Gaskill  and  Israel  Gaskill,  very  early; 
T.  C.  McElroy,  Jesse  Johnson,  Hemy  W. 
Pennock,  McClun  &  Son.  Werner  &  Gaskill, 
at  present,  Henry  Pennock,  France  &  Ban- 
croft, Dellenberger  &  Warstler,  at  jiresent;  J. 
A.  Quay.  Edward  Mendelhall,  F.  L.  Camp- 
l)ell.  F.  B.  Spellman,  Andrew  Holibaugh,  Isaac 
Lyude.  and  E.  J.  Morris.  In  aljout  the  year 
1850.  Amos  Walton  &  Co.  built  a  foundry  in 
the  village.  This  kind  of  an  enterjirise  seems 
to  have  been  epidemic  about  that  time.  There 
was  scarcely  a  township  in  the  coiuity  that 


MARLBOUOLGH    TOWNSIIII' 


577 


did  not  have  something  to  do  with  this  husi 
npss.  The  main  portion  of  tho  buikliug  re- 
ferred to  alx)ve,  was  a  two-story  frame,  thirty 
by  fifty  feet,  and,  beside  this,  there  were  ad- 
ditional molding  rooms,  etc.  An  average  of 
alxHit  twelve  men  were  employed.  The  com- 
pany began  manufacturing  steam  engines,  and 
for  eight  or  ten  years  furnished,  perhaps, 
twelve  or  fifteen  a  year.  These  engines  were 
designed  to  be  used  in  saw-mills,  grist-mills, 
etc. 

About  five  years  after  this  company  started 
up,  another  company,  known  as  Mitchner  & 
Button,  erected  the  necessaiy  buildings,  and 
engaged  in  precisely  the  same  occupation. 
"Why  this  was  done  is  not  known  to  the  WTiter. 
It  is  possible  that  the  demand  for  engines  was 
sutKciently  strong  to  support  both  companies: 
on  the  other  hand,  it  may  be  that  intentions 
of  a  personal  nature  may  have  caused  the  new 
company  to  start  up.  At  least,  the  latter  be- 
gim  manufacturing  engines,  but  at  the  expira- 
tion of  a  year  the  property  was  destroyed  by 
fire,  and  was  not  afterward  rebuilt.  The 
former  comj)any  abandoned  the  pursuit  eight 
or  ten  years  after  starting.  A  short  time  be- 
fore the  last  war,  Doering  Bros,  erected  a 
woodeiiware  factory.  A  portion  of  the  old 
foimdry  building  was  used.  The  company 
manufactured  large  quantities  of  shovel-han- 
dles, fork-handles,  hoe-handles,  etc..  etc., 
which  were  shipped  away  to  market.  The 
(>nterprise  was  discontinued  at  the  expiration 
of  some  three  or  foiu'  years. 

A.  C.  Shriver  started  a  carriage  factory 
about  ten  yeare  ago.  He  employed  about 
eight  men,  and,  it  is  said,  manufactured  as 
high  as  100  caiTiages  a  year.  A  few  y(>ars 
after  the  village  was  laid  out,  Moses  Penuock 
began  a  gi>neral  wool-carding  and  cloth-ch'ess- 
ing  business  in  the  village.  This  was  contin- 
ued by  him,  to  a  greater  or  less  extent,  for 
twenty  or  twenty-five  years.  He  finally  sold 
to  Peter  and  George  Wise,  and  they  sold  to 
Eli  Hoover,  upon  whose  hands  it  ran  down. 
A  few  yeai's  ago,  George  Begs  built  a  distil- 
lery a  short  distance  from  town.  He  manu 
factured  grape  wine  and  apple-jack.  G.  "W. 
Carr  made  nearly  3,000  baiTels  of  cider  last 
year.  The  village  has  no  saloon,  and  no 
liquor  is  sold  excejit  for  medicinal  ]mr[)Oses. 


The  town  is  one  of  the  most  enviable  in  this 
respect  of  any  in  tho  entire  county,  and  the 
villagers  rejoice  that  it  is  so.  In  1874,  Bai- 
ley, Taylor  &  Crocker  began  a  general  fniit 
packing  business  in  Marlborough.  They 
manufacture  their  own  cans,  and  during  the 
busy  season  of  the  year,  employ  as  high  as 
'200  assistants,  a  gi'eat  portion  of  whom  are 
women.  At  other  seasons,  their  help  is  re- 
duced to  al)out  ten  persons.  Two  thousand 
four  hunth'ed  cans  of  fruit  were  packed  the 
first  year,  since  which  the  business  has  been 
steadily  increased,  until  '2r)(\000  cans  were 
packed  the  last  yeai-.  AVhen  this  vast  number 
is  considered,  and  also  the  fact  that  the  tin 
cans  are  made  by  the  company,  the  impor- 
tance and  extent  of  the  industry  can  be  real- 
ized. The  company  begin  to  can  maple  syrup 
early  in  the  spring,  and  then,  as  the  season 
advances,  string  beans,  peaches,  ti^matoes, 
pumpkins  and  apples  are  handled.  This  is 
one  of  the  most  extensive  and  important  in- 
dustries ever  in  the  township.  Tho  company 
have  a  branch  factory  at  New  Baltimore. 
This  was  begim  last  year,  and  00,000  cans 
were  packed.  Tho  j)acked  fruit  is  conveyed 
to  Limaville,  where  the  company  have  a 
branch  factory  iind  a  wareliouse,  and  whence 
the  goods  are  finally  shipjx'd  to  market. 
Many  other  interesting  things  might  be  said 
regarding  Marlborough.  The  population  of 
the  village  is  about  300.  Of  course,  some 
claim  it  is  greater. 

Much  regarding  the  early  schools  is  lost  in 
the  resei-voir  of  the  j)ast.  From  the  fact  that 
the  township  was  comparatively  late  in  being 
settled,  and  from  the  fac^t  that,  in  the  older 
settlements  in  neighboring  townships,  schools 
wei-e  started  e.u'lier,  and  afforded  the  childi-en 
of  Marlborough  a  seat  of  learning,  terms  were 
not  ta\ight  until  after  the  tt)wnship  had  be- 
come quite  thickly  populated.  The  Quakers 
were  not  backward  in  ap])rociating  the  value 
and  advantage  of  education,  and,  while  they 
did  not  send  their  childi'en  to  in^ijerfect  and 
hastily  organized  schools  in  tho  township, 
still,  schooling  must  be  had,  and  the  children, 
when  they  were  large  enough  to  traverse  the 
distance,  were  sent  to  adjacent  townships. 
The  fir.st  sch(K)lhouse  in  the  township  was  un- 
doubtedly built  in  the  Quaker  neightorhood, 


V 


-4^ 


HISTOHY   OF    STARK    COl'NTY. 


east  of  Marlborough ;  but  when  this  occiuTed 
is  a  mystery.  It  could  not  have  been  later 
than  1820,  and  was  very  probably  as  eai'ly  as 
1815.  This  is  remembered  as  an  old  log 
affair,  which  was  yet  standing  in  1826.  If 
the  recollection  of  old  settlers  is  correct,  there 
were  but  two,  or  perhaps  tkree,  other  school- 
houses  standing  at  that  time  (1826).  One  of 
these  was  known  as  the  Lilly  Schoolhouse. 
Another  was  standing  about  oue-fomih  of  a 
mile  south  of  Baltimore;  another  possible  one 
was  standing  in  the  southeast  comer.  The 
early  log  houses  were  erected  by  everj'  one 
tiu-ning  oiit  and  assisting,  and  these  buildings 
were  also  "  God's  first  temples."  Or  perhaps 
private  dwellings  preceded  them  in  this  par- 
ticular. The  first  schoolhouses  were  used 
from  five  to  fifteen  yeai's,  and  then  were  suc- 
ceeded by  better  ones,  and  these  have  been 
succeeded  by  one  or  two  others  in  each  dis- 
trict. At  first  one  school  district  started  up, 
and  then,  as  the  settlement  became  larger,  it 
was  divided,  and  at  last  each  of  these  was 
divided,  and  so  the  division,  or  creation,  has 
gone  on  until  the  limit  of  the  present  number 
was  reached  but  a  few  years  ago.  The  first 
schoolhouse  in  the  village  of  Marlboroigh 
was  erected  in  about  the  year  1832.  The 
Methodist  society  assisted,  as  a  body,  in  the 
construction,  with  the  understanding  that 
they  were  to  have  the  use  of  the  house  for 
religious  purposes.  After  some  eight  or  ten 
years,  this  building  was  replaced  by  a  fi-ame 
stnicture.  which,  after  many  years  of  use, 
was  abandoned,  and  the  present  house,  a 
large,  low,  fi'ame  affair,  was  built.  This  oc- 
curred a  few  years  before  1850.  The  second 
house  is  now  used  as  a  cooper-shop.  Machin- 
ery for  grinding  grain  was  j)laced  in  it  for 
a  short  time.  There  is  some  talk  of  building 
a  new  house,  although  the  old  is  yet  servicea- 
ble. It  has  three  rooms,  three  teachers  being 
employed  during  the  winter,  and  two  during 
the  siunmer. 

About  thirty-five  years  ago,  William  Mc- 
Clain  built  the  present  hotel  building,  which 
was  then  located  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
village.  He  employed  two  or  three  assistants, 
opened  a  select  school,  or  seminaiy,  and,  for 
a  number  of  years,  his  institution  of  learning 
was  a  credit  to  the  place.     A  large  number  of 


scholars  was  enrolled  (perhaps  over  a  hun- 
dred), and  the  institution  was  highly  success- 
ful in  a  pecxmiary  point  of  view.  But  Mr. 
McClain  had  some  other  object  before  him, 
whereupon  the  seminaiy  was  pemiitted  to 
stop,  and  the  building,  after  standing  vacant 
for  a  time,  was  purchased  by  John  Ellison, 
moved  to  where  it  now  stands,  and  ojiened  for 
the  reception  of  the  public.  A  schoolhouse 
was  built  in  New  Baltimore  in  abcjut  the  year 
1834.  It  took  the  place  of  the  old  log,  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  south.  Levi  Haines,  the 
proprietor  of  the  village,  was  employed  to 
teach  the  fii'st  school,  but  was  taken  sick  aboiit 
the  middle  of  the  term,  whereupon  Miss  Emily 
Eoseter  was  hired  to  teach  the  remainder,  the 
compensation  being  $1.85  ]ier  week,  she  board- 
ing herself.  How  is  that  for  wages,  ye  peda- 
gogues of  the  present  day!  Give  us  no  more 
grumbling  alsout  low  wages.  After  a  number 
of  years,  this  house  became  too  small  to  accom- 
modate the  scholars,  whereupon  another  house, 
just  like  it,  was  erected  within  a  few  feet, 
and  two  schools,  for  several  years,  were  in  ses- 
sion at  the  same  time.  Finally,  the  present 
large  frame  structure  was  built.  It  is  related 
that,  in  early  years,  the  Baltimore  School,  and 
one  north,  in  Portage  County,  organized  and 
conducted  an  interesting  literary  society. 
And  it  came  to  pass  that  a  numlier  of  young 
men  belonging  to  the  former,  invaded  a 
neighboring  sugar  camp  one  dark  night,  and 
swore  eternal  secresy  as  to  what  then  and 
there  transpired.  But  the  whole  affair  leaked 
oitt,  unknown  to  the  boys,  and  came  upon 
them  like  a  clap  of  thunder  fi'om  a  clear  sky. 
A  satirical  poem,  wTitten  li}'  Dr.  J.  C.  Woods, 
was  read  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  literary 
society,  and  the  poem,  in  graphic  language, 
recited  the  movements  of  the  boys,  while  on 
their  invasion  for  "stolen  sweets."  The  con- 
fusion, dismay  and  chagrin  which  followed 
were  complete,  and  brought  uudying  fame  to 
the  fearless  writer. 

The  Quaker  C'hm'ch,  east  of  Marlborough, 
was  undoubtedly  liuilt  before  1820.  It  was  a 
hewed-log  building,  about  twenty-five  liy  forty 
feet,  with  rude  seats  and  other  fm-niture,  and 
a  large  chimney  which  communicated  with  the 
broad  fu-e-place,  wherein  were  kindled  the 
ruddy  lu'es  that  imjaarted    cheerfulness    and 


MARLBOUOUGII    TOWNSHIP. 


579 


comfort  to  the  otherwise  gloomy  room.  Here 
the  Quakers  continued  to  assemble  to  worship 
m  their  peculiar  way  until  not  far  from 
1840.  when  they  concluded  to  build  a  new 
church.  About  this  time,  owiiig  to  dissent 
lug  views  ret^arding  church  discij)line.  and 
some  of  the  fundamental  doctrines  of  the  sect 
of  which  George  Fox  was  the  founder,  the 
Hicksites  and  the  orthodox  decided  to  separate. 
This  was  delayed,  as  was  also  the  erection  of 
the  new  church,  for  a  number  of  years. 
Finally,  the  present  house  was  built.  Soon 
after  the  Quaker's  first  chiu'ch  was  erected, 
the  German  Lutherans  and  GeiTuan  Reform- 
ers Viuilt  what  is  known  as  St.  Peter's  Chiu'ch. 
The  house,  which  was  of  logs,  was  used  a 
number  of  years,  and  finally,  about  fifteen 
years  ago,  the  ])resent  church  was  constructed. 
Not  far  fi'om  1S45.  the  Methodists  erected 
their  ehiu'ch  in  Marlborough:  prior  to  this 
they  had  used  the  schoolhouse  and  jirivate 
dwellings.  The  Disciples'  Church  in  Marlbor- 
ough was  erected  at  a  later  day.  The  United 
Brethren  have  a  small  frame  cluu'ch  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  township;  it  is  known  as 
the ''Chapel.'"  There  ai'e  two  chmxhes,  one 
Methodist,  and  the  other  Disciple,  in  the  vil- 
lage of  New  Baltimore.  There  is  also  a  Lu- 
theran Church  some  two  miles  north  of  Marl- 
borough. The  townshij)  is  well  supplied  with 
good  chm-ches,  and  has  been  from  the  earliest 
day.  It  must  not  be  understood  that  the 
various  religious  societies  were  not  organized 
until  the  cliurches  were  erected:  some  of 
these  societies  had  been  doing  good  work  for 
years,  but,  owing  to  their  poverty  or  lack  of 
membership,  were  compelled  to  worship  in 
Bchoolhouses  or  dwellings.  Among  those  fam- 
ilies that  early  l)elonged  to  the  Quaker  soci- 
ety, were  the  following:  Wileman's.  Gruwell's. 
Pennock's.  Logiies.  Ellison's.  Brantingham's, 
Heacock's.  and  others.  It  was  common  to 
hold  meetings  in  dwellings,  and  even  long 
revivals,  of  several  weeks,  were  sometimes 
held  here.  Of  ct)urse.  many  of  these  things 
do  not  refer  to  the  Quakers,  who  would  (piiedy 
scat  themselves  in  their  place  of  worshij) 
imd  wait  for  the  spirit  to  move  them. 

Marlljorough  Township  is  noted  for  having 
several  agricultural  organizations  to  fm-ther 
the  interests  of  the  producer.     Alfred  Brooke 


is  dealing  quite  extensively  in  thoroughbred 
cattle  and  sheep:  so,  also,  are  Alpheus  Bloom- 
field  and  otliers.  The  Marlborough  Agi-icult- 
m-al  Society  owns  a  fine  fair  gi'ound  within 
half  a  mile  of  the  viihige,  iijjon  which  are  an 
excellent  third-of-a-miletxack  and  a  gi'ove  that 
has  no  superior  in  the  county.  The  stock  is 
divided  into  twenty  shares,  all  being  at  present 
owned  by  twenty  men.  A  township  fair  is 
held  ever}-  autumn,  and  last  year  a  small 
amount  in  premiums  was  paid.  Buildings 
worth  about  !?  1,200  iu-e  standing  on  the 
grounds.  This  enterprise,  and  all  others  tend- 
ing to  bring  into  j)rominence  and  repute  the 
labors  of  the  fanner  or  stock-raiser,  cannot  be 
too  highly  commended.  The  movements  in 
the  township  in  this  direction  could  be  profit- 
ably imitated  l)y  other  townships  of  the 
county. 

One  of  the  most  important  organizations 
ever  in  the  township  is  the  Soldiers'  Relief 
and  Memorial  Society.  It  is  hard  to  die,  es- 
pecially in  robust  health,  and  relinquish  all 
the  joys  of  living  in  this  bright  world.  It  is 
sad  in  the  extreme,  and  requires  a  great  sac- 
rifice. We  owe  a  debt  to  the  brave  boys  who 
laid  down  their  lives  for  their  country,  which 
we  can  never  repay.  This  gi-and  country, 
instead  of  being  separated  into  jealous  and 
hostile  factions  to-day,  and  thereby  entailing 
repeated  and  bloody  wars,  is,  in  effect,  united, 
and  the  people  are  enjoying  the  fi'uits  of  lil> 
erty  and  peace.  This  is  the  debt  we  owe  oiu- 
fallen  brothers,  and  the  sentiment  of  gi'atitude 
within  us  reijuires  that  we  cherish  in  over- 
lasting  remembrance,  the  names  of  those  who 
established  the  peace  \vhi(-h  is  now  enjoyed. 
The  following  is  the  design  of  the  above  soci- 
ety; "For  the  benefit  of  the  L'nion  soldiers 
of  tliis  township  and  their  posterity,  this 
society  has  decided  to  make  a  record  of  the 
milit;u-y  sei-vices  of  all  soldiers  who  enlisted 
fi'om  this  township:  also,  those  who  are  now 
or  may  become  residents  of  the  township." 
The  society  has  rules  and  regulations  govern- 
ing its  actions,  and  tlie  regular  meetings  are 
held  on  the  second  Monday  preceding  the 
third  of  May  of  each  year.  The  society  re- 
ports the  nmnber  of  enlistments  from  Marl- 
l)orough  during  the  last  war  as  111.  Of 
these,  twenty-thi'ee  died  while  in  the  army, 


:^i 


HISTOIIY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


and  nine  have  died  since  the  close  of  the  war. 
The  society  is  officered  as  follows:  I.  S. 
France,  President;  William  H.  Werner,  Vice 
President;  Albert  Hatcher,  Treasurer;  Joseph 
W.  Gaskill,  Secretary  and  Recorder.  Com- 
mittee, Marlborough  Precinct:  Milton  Whet- 
stone,   Jonas    Warstler    and     John    Zcllers. 


Committee,  New  Baltimore  Precinct:  Hamil- 
ton Day,  Madison  Walker  and  Alpheus  Ham- 
ilton. Committee,  West  Precinct:  Hemy  Bix- 
ler,  George  Werner  and  C.  B.  Gibson.  Every 
township  in  the  county  should  have  a  similar 
organization. 


CHAPTER     XXXI.* 

WASHrNGTON  TOWNSHIP  — NATURAL  FFATUKES  — CA  lALOGUE  OF  EAKLV  SETTI.ERW— LOST  CHIL- 
DREN—DISTILLERIES,   MILLS    AND   OTHER    INDUSTRIES    AND    IMl'ROVEMUNTS — 
EARLV  .SCHOOL  AND  RELIGIOUS  ADVANTAGES  — FAIhMOCNT  (HIL- 
D^IEN'S    HOME  — UNDEliOroUNl)    UA  ll.l'.OAl). 

"  I  sat  an  hour  to-day,  John, 
Beside  the  old,  old  stream. 
Where  we  were  school-boys  in  the  past, 

AVheii  manhood  was  a  dream  ; 
The  lirook  is  ehoked  with  fallen  leaves. 

Tile  pond  is  dried  awaj", 
I  .scarce  believe  that  you  would  know 
The  dear  old  place  to-day." 

— Anonymous. 

I^'HIS  township,  one  of  the  best  in  the 
county  for  agricultural  purposes,  was  not 
fully  settled  until  comparatively  late  years. 
The  land-buyers,  who  came  fi-om  the  East, 
either  to  jim-chaso  with  the  view  of  futui-e 
speculation,  or  to  secm-e  farms  which  would 
not  become  exhausted  at  the  first  few  crojjs, 
were  not  such  inferior  judges  as  to  jjass  blindly 
by  the  rich  woodland  of  Township  18,  Range 
6.  Accordingly,  men  of  considerable  wealth 
and  i)romineuce  in  Pennsylvania  selected  and 
entered  their  choice  of  the  land  in  Washington 
Township,  and  returned  to  the  Keystone  State, 
to  see  their  property  in  the  West  multiply  in 
value.  Then,  if  they  desired,  they  came  out 
West  (caught  the  malignant  Ohio  fever,  a  very 
troublesome  disorder,  vrhich  was  verj'  exacting 
in  its  requirements),  and  established  them- 
selves on  their  new  farms.  It  occuired  then, 
that,  from  the  fact  of  the  township  being  pur- 
chased largely  by  men  who  did  not  move  West 
until  after  the  county  received  its  first  rush  of 
settlers,  extensive  early  improvement  did  not 
take  place  imtil  after  other  portions  of  the 
county    were  quite  thickly   poj)ulated.     The 

"loMt.ibuti-a  l.y  W  A.  GuoJsjoeil. 


most  of  the  land  was  entered  as  early  as  any 
in  the  county,  and  more  than  one  early  settler, 
who  came  in  late,  and,  having  occasion  to  pass 
through  this  township,  made  inquiries  regard- 
ing the  land,  but,  finding  it  already  taken, 
pushed  on  farther  West.  The  forest,  dark 
and  heavy,  covered  the  entire  township,  save 
where  occasional  glades  along  the  streams  had 
intruded.  Here  and  there  in  the  bosom  of  the 
forest  was  a  pathway  of  tangled,  fallen  trees, 
telling  of  the  mad  visitation  of  some  tcjrnado 
in  past  years.  Large  trees  had  been  twisted 
off  by  the  angry  cloud,  and  tossed  like  straws 
from  their  former  standing-j)laces.  Some  had 
been  torn  asunder  by  the  fm-y  of  the  wind, 
and  the  mangled  debris  scattered  far  and  near. 
Save  these  occasional  spots  and  the  gludes, 
nothing  distm'bed  the  heavy  monotony  of  the 
deep  woods.  The  land,  though  lying  in  the 
main  level,  was  traversed  by  gullies  and  crossed 
by  irregular  ridges  that  were  probably  relics 
of  the  Glacial  period.  Small  streams  sprang 
from  tiny  fountains,  and  wandered  away  in 
search  of  sweeping  rivers,  or  became  lost  in 
the  bosom  of  some  inland  pond.  From  east 
to  west  across  the  center  of  the  township,  a 
ridge  arose,  which  sejiarated  the  head-waters 
of  Sandy  Creek  from  those  of  the  Mahoning. 
The  ridge,  though  irregular,  and  severed  here 
and  there,  is  distinctly  defined.  The  northern 
portion  of  the  township  slopes  away  toward 
the  north,  its  waters  quietly  mingling  with 
Beach  Creek,  a  principal  affluent  of  the  Ma- 


WASHINGTON    TOWNSHIP. 


honing,  while  the  southern  portion  sends  its 
waters  into  Hughes'  Creek  and  Black  Creek, 
head  branches  of  Sandy  Creek,  which  is  itself 
a  leading  branch  of  the  Tuscarawas.  The 
entire  township  is  di-ained  by  streams  which 
ultimately  reach  the  Ohio  River.  It  is  there- 
fore within  the  Valley  of  the  Ohio. 

The  names  of  the  first  settlers  are  unfortu- 
nately unknown.  While  they  can  probably  be 
given  among  others,  yet  they  cannot  be  dis- 
tinguished, with  few  exceptions,  from  those 
who  came  in  comparatively  late.  The  follow- 
ing is  a  complete  list  of  the  land-holders  of 
the  township  in  18"27.  though  this  does  not, 
of  course,  embrace  the  names  of  those  who 
first  located  in  the  township  and  afterwai-d 
removed.  It  is  also  quite  likely  that  some  of 
the  men  whose  names  are  given  never  resided 
in  the  township.     The  following  is  the  list: 

Samuel  Bosserman.  John  Boyer,  Isaac  Bon- 
sell.  Jacob  Com-ad,  Henrj-  Davis,  Michael 
Dickey,  Isaac  Tinsman,  Joseph  Grim,  John 
Galbraith,  Holland  Green,  Frederick  Harbster, 
Jacob  Hai'bster,  Charles  Hambleton,  Jesse 
Hughes,  Caleb  Johnson,  Ellis  N.  Johnson, 
Simon  Johnson,  Jacob  Kittsmiller,  Jacob 
Klingaman.  David  Klingaman,  Timothy 
Kirk,  Russell  Kees,  Ezekiel  Marsh,  David 
Miller,  John  Millison,  Roswell  ]\L  Ma- 
son, John  McHeury,  Jonathan  Pierpont, 
Elias  Risely,  John  Ruse,  Jr.,  Samuel  Stuckey, 
John  Shively,  Jacob  Shively,  John  Shel- 
lenberger.  Jacob  Shidler,  Daniel  Shidler, 
AVilli.'im  Hhaefer.  John  Spoon,  Jacob  Secrist, 
Jonathan  Sharpless,  John  Towns,  Samuel 
Talbot.  John  Talbot,  John  Unkefer,  David 
I'nkefer,  Thomas  Wickersham  and  William 
Wood. 

The  reader  is  left  to  distinguish  between 
those  who  Ciime  early  and  those  who  came  late. 
Beyond  a  doubt,  there  was  one  family  or  more 
living  in  the  township  as  early  as  1806.  A 
few  years  ago.  at  the  usual  townshij)  election, 
when  a  luimberof  the  first  settlers  had  assem- 
bled to  poll  their  votes,  Ellis  N.  Johnson,  who 
was  present,  asked  the  question.  "  Who  was 
the  first  settler  in  Washington  Township?" 
No  one  could  give  a  satisfactory  answer. 

The  first  known  settler  wa.s  Ezekiel  Marsh. 
Ellis  N.  Johnson,  a  splendid  specimen  of  the 
Quaker  fraternity,  who  is  yet  living  in  the 


township,  hearty  and  hale,  at  the  unusual  age 
of  ninety-three  years,  says  that,  in  the  year 
ISIO,  being  thea  of  age,  he  left  Washington 
County,  Penn.,  for  Ohio.  He  passed  through 
Salem,  following  the  section  lines,  which  were 
easily  distinguished  by  the  blazed  trees  made 
by  the  surveyors,  and  at  last  entered  the  north- 
ern part  of  Washington  Township,  which  was 
then  known  as  Township  1 8,  Range  (i.  When 
Section  14  was  reached,  Mr.  Johnson  heard 
the  ring  of  an  ax,  and,  movi  g  in  that  direc- 
tion, saw  a  powerful  man  chopping.  The 
stranger  at  the  same  time  saw  him,  and  each 
advanced  toward  the  other.  This  man  was 
Ezekiel  Mai'sh.  It  did  not  tiike  the  two  men 
long  to  become  acquainted,  as  all  fonnalities 
and  evasions  or  concealments  were  cast  aside. 
Marsh  had  made  a  small  clearing  of  an  acre 
or  more,  and  had  built  a  small  log  cabin  about 
fourteen  feet  square.  He  had  probably  ei'ected 
the  building  without  assistance,  as  the  logs 
were  small  and  the  cabin  was  low.  The 
stnictiu'e  was  fm'uished  with  a  large,  rough, 
mud-and-stone  chimney,  of  unique  design,  and 
a  window  of  one  pane  of  glass  graced  one 
end.  One  door  served  the  pui'poses  of  the 
master. 

After  remaining  with  Marsh  a  short  time, 
Mr.  Johnson  went  back  to  Pennsylvania,  and 
did  not  return  uutil  ]8'23,  at  which  time  he 
brought  out  his  family  and  located  perma- 
nently in  the  northern  paii  of  the  township. 
During  his  absence  in  Pennsylvania,  the 
greater  portion  of  the  townshij)  was  ent-i'ed, 
and  many  improvements  had  gone  on.  Each 
of  the  settlers  had  clewed  from  ten  to  forty 
acres,  and  fields  of  tossing  grain  wore  grow- 
ing where  once,  and  but  a  short  time  before, 
the  monarch  of  the  forest  reared  his  head. 

After  Marsh  had  lived  a  few  yo!U-s upon  the 
farm  where  he  fu-st  located,  he  sold  out,  or 
traded  out,  to  Isaac  Tinsman,  and  purchased 
another  fann  near  there,  upon  which  he  lived 
until  his  death.  He  was  a  large  man,  with 
the  strength  of  Thescuis.  One  day,  as  he  was 
])assing  a  neighbor's  cabin,  ho  heard  screams 
and  oaths  issuing  therefrom,  and,  surmising 
that  the  wife  was  receiving  a  beating  from  her 
ckimken  husband,  concluded  to  enter  and  try 
I  to  adjust  matters.  As  he  entered,  he  saw  the 
I  wife  prostrate  on  the  floor,  while  over  her  was 


^- 


HISTOKY   OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


her  half-drunken  husband.  With  his  left 
hand  he  y)inned  her  to  the  floor,  and  with  his 
right  wielded  a  heavy  cudgel,  which  fell  un- 
sparingly on  the  unfortunate  woman.  Marsh 
stepped  quickly  forward,  and.  seizing  the  hus- 
band liy  the  shoulders,  Svvung  him  away  from 
the  woman ;  but,  in  the  movement,  the  enraged 
husband  caught  up  a  butcher-knife  from  a 
table,  and,  with  a  quick  stroke,  ]>lunged  it 
into  Marsh's  abdomen.  The  stroke  was  effect- 
ive, and  Marsh  stagger»(d  and  sank  upon  the 
floor.  He  was  conveyed  home,  but,  after  suf- 
fering great  torments  for  a  few  days,  died. 
The  murderer  was  arrested,  tried,  convicted, 
and  sentenced  to  pass  the  remainder  of  his 
days  in  the  penitentiaiy.  The  sentence  was 
carried  into  efi"eet.  The  murder  occurred  in 
comparatively  late  years. 

Isaac  Tinsman,  one  of  the  first  few  settlers, 
improved  the  old  Marsh  farm,  ujion  which  he 
lived  many  years. 

William  Shaefer  was  one  of  the  earliest  in 
the  township,  as  were  also  Harbster,  Dickey 
and  Stuckey.  The  early  settlement  was  grad- 
ual, but  the  township  slowly  filled  u]i  with 
Germans  and  others,  many  of  whom  came  from 
some  other  settlement  in  Ohio  farther  east.  A 
few  Quakers  settled  in  the  township  enough 
to  spice  it  with  industry  and  good  morals. 
This  country,  in  early  days,  was  vastly  differ- 
ent from  what  it  is  now.  There  were  but  few 
small  clearings,  and  these  were  dotted  with 
charred  stumps.  The  soil  was  much  damper 
than  at  present,  and  the  streams  contained 
twice  as  much  water.  Bogs,  ponds,  marshes 
and  swamps,  large  and  small,  were  numerous, 
and  served  as  a  retreat  and  a  resort  for  large 
numbers  of  wild  fowls  and  wild  animals. 
Springs  were  numerous  that  have  since  gone 
dry.  and  some  of  tliem  were 

"  Of  a  watiT  thiit  flow.s, 

With  a  lullaby  soimd, 
From  a  .spring  but  a  vcrj-  ff  w 

Feet  under  ground — 
From  a  cavern  not  very  far 

Down  under  ground." 

Some,  also,  were  brackish,  and  were  visited  by 
deer,  that  seemed  to  like  such  water  better  than 
that  containing  lime.  These  springs  were 
guarded  during  the  night  by  the  old  settlers, 
and  the  sweet  venison  eaten  by  the  family  the 


next  morning  attested  the  success  of  the 
watcher.  It  is  said  that  Mr.  Tinsman,  on  one 
of  these  occasions,  shot  a  large  buck  that 
dressed  about  225  pounds.  It  came  down  to 
one  of  the  ponds  to  drink,  and,  although  it  was 
quite  dark.  Mr.  Tinsman,  who  was  sitting  in 
a  small  copse  near  by,  could  see  it  clearly  out- 
lined against  the  glassy  siu-face  of  the  water, 
and  with  one  shot  brought  it  to  the  ground. 
Mr.  Dickey  and  Mr.  Marsh  brought  sheep 
into  the  township  very  early,  but  these  poor 
creatures  had  a  sorry  time  of  it.  Some  of 
them  ate  of  a  poisonous  weed  growing  in  the 
woods,  and,  after  swelling  up  to  an  enormous 
size,  finally  died.  No  remedy  could  be  found. 
Whisky  was  tried,  and  for  a  short  time  seemed 
to  check  the  j)rogreBs  of  the  poisi  n  through 
the  system.  All  the  larger  carnivorous  ani- 
mals in  the  forest  had  a  special  "  tooth  "  for 
mutton,  and  lost  no  ojiportunity  of  satisfying 
their  greed.  As  sooi  as  the  shades  of  night 
fell,  the  sharp  howls  began,  and  did  not  wholly 
cease  imtil  a  short  time  before  the  break  of 
day.  Woe  tinto  the  sheep  that  were  carelessly 
left  in  the  A-oods  or  were  lost!  It  was  no  un- 
common thing  for  the  owner  to  find  half  his 
flock  torn  and  mangled.  Then  was  when  oiu- 
grandfather  violated  a  certain  commandment 
Of  coiu'se,  we  cannot  prove  that  charge  on 
the  old  gentlemen,  but  there  is  a  strong  in- 
ference that  our  surmises  are  eoirect.  There 
was  a  stroug  demand  for  wool,  from  the  fact 
that  all  kinds  of  wearing  apparel  called  for 
exorbitant  jirices,  and,  as  the  settlers  had  but 
little  money  with  which  to  meet  this  demand, 
they  were  compelled,  in  many  cases,  to  im- 
provise clothing  from  buckskin,  etc.  This 
condition  of  things  led  many  to  bring  in  a  few 
sheej),  which  were  carefully  housed  and  fed, 
and  the  wool  therefrom  was  clipped,  carded, 
spun,  woven,  and  finally  made  into  warm, 
heavy  suits  of  clothing.  The  carding  was 
done  by  hand;  the  spinning,  on  the  old  wheel; 
the  wiaving,  on  a  small  loom;  and  the  s'.iits 
were  made  by  tailors  who  traveled  from  house 
to  house  to  ply  their  craft.  It  was  customary 
for  families  to  get  a  considerable  quantity  of 
cloth  on  hand,  and  then  to  have  all  the  mem- 
bers supplied  at  once  with  new  suits  or  gowns. 
Linen  suits  were  commonly  worn  in  the  warmer 
months.     Almost  every  family  had  its  small 


fc. 


WASHINGTON    TOWNSHIP. 


583 


patch  of  flax,  which  was  carefully  tended,  and 
afterward  prepared  by  the  flax-beater  for  the 
spinning-wheel.  Almost  every  family  had  its 
own  weaver;  th(jse  who  did  not,  found  no  trouble 
in  havinfj  their  woolen  or  linen  cloth  woven 
at  some  neighbor's.  Wool  and  linen  were 
quite  often  combined,  and  then  the  suit  was 
called  "  linsey-woolsey."  The  cloth  was  often, 
and  usually,  highly  colored  with  leaves  or  bark 
from  the  woods.  The  gaudy  appearance  of 
the  suits  and  dresses  at  assemblages  of  the 
settlers  l)rings  to  mind  the  Dolly  Varden  col- 
orings of  later  years. 

Ague  and  fever  were  seemingly  much  more 
common  in  early  days  thaa  at  present  Doc- 
tors were  few.  and  were  abused  then  even  more 
than  now.  Poor  fellows!  they  have  to  bear 
the  slings  and  arrows  of  uncharitable  criticism, 
and  are  met  everj'where  with  the  sarcastic  re- 
mark. "  He  kills  more  than  he  cures."  The 
early  doctors  traveled  over  large  sections  of 
country.  They  rejoiced  in  various  cognomens 
and  schools  not  recognized  in  the  systems  to- 
day. There  were  Indian  doctors,  the  tire  doc- 
tors, tlie  water  doctors,  the  steam  doctors,  the  i 
charm  doctors,  the  "  regulars,"  and  various 
others,  who  dealt  out  their  nostnims  with  a 
prodigality  incompatible  with  the  medical 
maxim  of  to-day,  which  directs  that  the  desired 
results  be  attained  with  the  use  of  the  lepst 
possible  quantity  of  medicine.  Notwithstand- 
ing the  quantity  poured  down  the  sick,  the 
ague  still  shook  whole  families.  In  the  words 
of  a  rural  bard, 

"And  it  shiKik  liini,  shook  him  .sorely. 
Shook  liis  lioots  off  and  his  lirccches, 
Shook  his  toiMh  oul  and  liis  hair  off, 
Shook  his  coal  all  into  tatlcrs, 
Shook  his  sliiil  all  into  rihiions. 
Shirtless,  hatlrss.  coatlcss.  toothless. 
Minus  hoots  and  minus  lin'fchcs. 
Still  it  shook  him,  shook  him  till  it 
Made  him  yellow.  },'aiint   and  li<inv, 
Shook  him  till  it  shuffled  for  hiin 
Off  his  mortal  eoil.  and  then  it. 
Ilaviiif;  laid  him  cold  and  quiet 
In  the  cold  and  silent  churchyard. 
Shook  the  earth  all  down  upon  him. 
And  he  lies  heneath  his  gravestone. 
Ever  shaking;,  shakinj;.  shaking." 

The  reader  will  observe  that  the"  poet  "  treats 
of  the  sick  as  of  the  masculine  gender,  leaving 
conjecture  tossed  with  doubt  as  to  how  the  op- 
posite sex  withstood  the  sickness. 


The  old  doctor  was  an  important  personage. 
His  bottles  and  bags  were  regarded  as  won- 
ders, his  judgment  was  unanswerable  and  his 
jirescriptions  implicitly  obeyed.  Ho  was  wel- 
comed and  fed  at  even'  household.  Time 
p.issed  on,  and  the  ]iractioo  of  medicine  im 
proved. 

Stock,  when  turned  into  the  woods,  wer<» 
usually  carefully  marked,  and  bells  hung  about 
their  necks,  that,  when  wanted,  they  could  be 
found.  Hogs  re(]uired  no  care,  as  they  were 
enabled  to  sustain  themselves  the  entire  year 
on  the  "  mast "  that  at  all  times  covered  the 
ground.  Diu-ing  the  autumn,  they  became 
very  fat,  but  gradually  got  thin  during  the 
winter.  They  became  s(j  wild  that  no  one 
could  approach  near  them,  and  it  was  neces- 
sary to  shoot  them  when  the  family  were  out 
of  pork.  They  were  often  very  savage,  and 
would  sometimes  attack  the  settlers,  whose 
only  safety  then  Liy  in  flight,  or  in  ascending 
a  tree.  The  tusks  on  some  of  them  attained 
a  length  of  six  inches  or  more.  Trouble  often 
arose  regarding  the  o'wnership,  and  the  prac- 
tice of  ear-marking  was  reduced  to  a  sj'stem. 
Bears  were  very  fond  of  fresh  jiork,  and  were 
not  particular  whether  the  swine  had  been 
properly  dressed  or  not.  They  would  attack 
some  unfortunate  siis  scra/a  in  the  woods,  tind, 
despite  its  struggles  and  squetils.  tear  it  in 
pieces  and  devour  the  tender  flesh.  It  is  re- 
lated that,  on  one  occasion,  a  large  bear,  evi- 
dently made  desjierate  by  hunger,  attacked  a 
liog  in  Williiim  Shaefer's  stable  yard.  The 
attention  of  the  faiuily  was  flrst  attracted  by 
the  srjuealing  and  commotion  outside.  Upon 
going  out,  they  discovered  that  a  full-grown 
bear  had  thrown  a  liog  ujion  the  ground,  and 
was  busily  engaged  tearing  it  with  teeth  and 
claws.  The  meml)ers  of  the  family  ran  out 
and  shouted,  whereupon  the  bear  made  ofT, 
stoj>[)ing  every  few  ro«ls  to  rear  upon  its  hind 
feet  and  show  its  white  teeth,  to  resist  any 
attack  that  might  bo  made  uj)on  it  The  hog 
Wiis  so  badly  torn  that  it  was  shot  Incidents 
of  this  kind  were  (piite  fretjuent  More  than 
one  settler  was  chased  by  wolves,  or  had  his 
adventure  with  some  other  d.ingerous  animal. 
The  Commissioners  of  the  County  ofi'ero<i  a 
bountj'  for  wolf  and  jianther  scalps,  and  this 
led  those  who  were  fond  of  hunting,  and  were 


HISTORY  OF    STARK    COUNTY. 


skillful,  to  venture  out  on  loug  excursions  in 
pursuit  of  these  animals.  The  earliest  set- 
tlers often  found  great  difficulty  in  paying 
their  taxes.  Every  penny  was  carefully  laid 
away  for  this  j)urpose.  Animals  were  trapped 
and  caught,  and  their  skins  sold,  and  the 
mon'~y  was  used  to  satisfj'  the  Tax  Col- 
lector. 

On  account  of  the  miles  upon  miles  of 
trackless  forest  that  covered  the  country,  it 
was  a  common  thing  for  the  settlers,  or  their 
children,  to  become  lost.  It  seems  strange, 
yet  those  who  have  been  in  that  unfortunate 
situation,  describe  the  bewilderment  as  mad- 
dening. The  senses  refuse  to  act  in  their 
ordinary  manner,  but  take  note  of  things  in  a 
new  and  singular  way.  Familiar  objects  are 
seen  in  a  new  light,  and  are  no  longer  recog- 
nized. Ellis  N.  Johnson  relates  that,  on  one 
occasion,  when  out  in  the  woods,  he  came  up- 
on a  large  fallen  tree,  that  had  probably  been 
cut  down  for  a  beai-,  in  which  he  oliserved  a 
large  quantity  of  line  wild  honey.  He  placed 
as  much  as  he  could  cany  in  an  improvised 
bag,  iind  started  for  home;  but  he  foiuid  that 
the  cardinal  points  of  direction  had  deserted 
him,  or,  in  other  words,  he  was  lost.  He  en- 
deavored his  utmost  to  ascertain  which  way  he 
was  going,  but  the  effort  resulted  as  it  always 
does,  in  increasing  the  bewildemient.  After 
wandering  arovuid  a  long  time,  he  finally  came 
to  a  stable,  in  the  yard  of  which  was  an  old 
horse.  The  animal  was  poorer  than  Job's 
turkey,  and  Mr.  Johnson  wondered  why  in  the 
name  of  luunanity  the  owner  did  not  feed  the 
poor  creature,  and  take  better  care  of  the  yard. 
He  moved  on  a  little  farther,  and  saw  a  log 
house  and  near  it  a  woman,  who,  when  she 
saw  him,  asked,  "What  have  you  there?"  It 
then  dawned  upon  the  bewildered  Mr.  John- 
son, for  the  first  time,  that  his  own  wife  was 
talking  to  him,  and  that  the  horse  and  stable- 
yard  he  had  seen  were  his  own. 

About  the  year  1821,  two  small  chikh-en,  a 
brother  and  sister,  the  former  six,  and  the  lat- 
ter eight  years  of  age,  belonging  to  a  family 
in  the  southern  part  of  Portage  County,  be- 
came lost  while  out  after  the  cows.  The  chil- 
dren tried  to  drive  the  cattle  toward  what 
they  thought  was  home,  but  which,  in  reality, 
was  a  different  direction,  and  as  the  animals 


refused  to  go  as  desired,  they  were  abandoned 
by  the  children.  Had  they  been  wise  enough 
to  have  followed  the  cows,  they  would  have 
had  no  trouble  in  reaching  home.  The  cows 
went  home,  and  the  children  wandered  farther 
off  in  the  tangled  wilderness.  As  night  and 
the  cows  came  without  the  childi'en,  the  par- 
ents became  alarmed,  and  immediately  sur- 
mised that  thsy  had  become  lost.  The  coim- 
try  was  new  and  thinly  settled,  but  the  parents 
hiu'ried  about  and  roused  what  few  neighbors 
they  could.  Guns  were  fired,  horns  were 
blown,  but  no  tidings  came  of  the  wanderers. 
The  morning  dawned,  and  by  this  time  quite 
a  collection  of  neighbors,  near  and  far,  had 
assembled  to  begin  the  search  in  a  systematic 
manner.  A  few  ti-aces  of  where  the  children 
had  been  were  discovered,  and  a  long  line 
was  formed  to  begin  the  march  southward. 
If  slight  but  sure  signs  of  the  children  were 
discovered,  the  horn  was  to  be  blown  once;  if 
good  signs,  twice;  and  if  the  childi-en  them- 
selves, three  times,  when  all  the  searchers 
were  to  gather  together.  The  search  was 
given  in  charge  of  an  old  himter,  who  had 
attained  a  wide  reputation  for  his  ablility  to 
track  game  from  very  slight  signs.  All  day 
long  the  search  continued.  D\iring  the  after- 
noon, the  old  hunter  saw  a  footprint  made  by 
one  of  the  children.  The  horn  sounded  the 
news  along  the  line.  The  track  was  near  a 
large  tree  that  had  been  cut  for  a  bear,  and 
after  a  few  minutes,  the  old  hunter  held  up  a 
bit  of  calico  that  had  been  torn  from  the  dress 
of  the  little  girl.  The  horn  again  earned  the 
tidings  along  the  line.  The  excitement  be- 
came intense,  but  none  were  permitted  to 
leave  the  line.  The  parents  were  excluded 
from  the  line  and  left  at  home,  for  fear  that 
when  a  few  signs  were  discovered,  they  would 
rush  forward  in  their  eagerness,  and  obliter- 
ate them.  The  line  was  ordered  not  to  break 
until  the  horn  sounded  thrice  in  succession  for 
the  same  reason.  The  old  hunter,  and  a  few 
competent  assistants,  took  the  advance,  and 
anuoimced  their  success  to  the  others,  who 
were  beating  the  bushes  for  a  mile  or  more 
on  each  side.  Darkness  again  came,  and  the 
search  had  to  be  abandoned,  save  continued 
soundings  of  the  horns  and  reports  of  the 
guns.     The  line  of  march  was  taken  up  at 


;\ 


tk^ 


WASHINGTON    TOWNSHIP. 


585 


daylight  in  the  morning,  and  continued,  with 
an  occasional  sign,  until  nearly  night.  The 
searchers  jiassed  southward,  thnnigh  Lexing- 
ton Township,  and  thence  into  Washington, 
advancing  as  far  as  Socticm  .14,  very  nesu- 
where  Mr.  Tinsman  lived.  Hero  the  old 
hunter  picked  up  a  piece  of  spice  wood  that 
bore  the  marks  of  teeth  upon  it.  One  siig- 
gestod  that  the  branch  had  been  l)itten  by  a 
deer:  but  the  old  hunter  ])roved  that  to  be 
impossible,  as  on  the  limb  were  the  marks  of 
upper  teeth.  The  horn  again  rang  oat  its 
welcome  note.  The  line  moved  on,  and 
shortly  came  upon  a  "  slashing,"  of  some  live 
acres.  Here  the  old  hiuiter  saw  ])laiuly  where 
the  children  had  walked  in.  They  had  fol- 
lowed an  old  deer  ])ath  that  led  to  the  center 
of  the  slashing.  This  was  a  splendid  retreat 
for  the  animals  when  they  were  attacked  by 
Hwarms  of  flies,  as  the  place  was  thickly  cov- 
ered with  weeds  and  undergrowth.  "  \Miat 
shall  be  done,"  was  the  questiim.  The  old 
himter  was  told  to  enter,  which  he  did:  as  be 
passed  along  the  path,  he  saw  an  object  bound 
off  a  log  and  rush  toward  him.  It  was  the 
little  girl:  she  was  utterly  wild,  paying  no 
heed  to  his  questions  and  seeming  to  fear  him, 
although  she  had  run  into  his  arras.  He 
asked  her  where  her  br.ither  was.  but  she  did 
not  understand  him,  and  made  an  eflbrt  to 
leave  and  run  off  ia  the  undergi'owth.  The 
search  was  continued  in  the  slashing,  by  the 
hunter  and  his  assistants,  and  in  a  few  min- 
utes the  little  boy  was  found,  fast  asleej), 
under  the  protecting  side  of  a  large  log.  He 
wius  roused  up,  but  was  as  wild  as  his  sister. 
The  horns  rang  out  three  times  in  succession, 
and  the  overjoyed  settlers  gathered  together 
in  a  few  minutes.  The  children  were  taken 
U)  Mr.  Tinsman's  hoiise.  but  they  refused  to 
eat.  and  made  coutimial  efforts  to  rush  out  in 
the  woods.  A  little  nom-ishing  food  was 
forced  down  their  throats,  and  then  they  were 
conveyed  rapidly  toward  home.  The  parents 
heard  the  horns  and  shouts,  and  were  over- 
whelmed with  joy  when  their  children  were 
placed  in  their  anus.  The  little  lK)y  and  girl 
did  not  recognize  them,  nor  their  liora(>,  but 
stared  wildly  around.  They  were  put  to  bed 
and  were  soon  asleep.  Early  the  next  morn- 
ing, the  little  boy  called  out,  "  Where's  my 


little  ax?"  The  little  girl  awoke,  and  called 
for  her  calico  di-ess  (the  one  that  had  been 
torn  in  pieces  in  her  rambles).  The  children 
were  all  right,  but,  strange  to  say,  could  not 
remember  anything  of  li(>ing  lost  Other  in- 
cidents of  a  similar  nature  are  related. 

Ezekiel  Marsh  built  the  first  gi-ist-mill  in 
the  township.  It  was  located  on  one  of  the 
small  streams,  at  a  point  where  the  natiu-al 
siu^-oundings  favored  a  limited  though  strong 
and  constant  water-power  ;  a  dam  of  stone, 
brush,  earth  and  logs,  was  built  across  the 
stream,  and  fi-om  this  a  race  conducted  water 
to  the  strong  breast- wheel  that  communicated 
motion  to  the  machinery  of  the  mill.  Two 
sets  of  stone  were  i)laced  in  the  mill,  one  for 
gi-inding  wheat,  and  the  other  for  corn.  The 
exact  date  of  its  erection  is  not  known,  but  it 
was  probably  befoi-e  IS'iO.  He  also  built  a 
saw-mill  on  the  same  dam,  and  operated  it  in 
connection  with  his  gi-ist-mill.  Both  mills 
were  well  jjatronized,  and  were  a  great  accom- 
modation to  the  settlers.  Sawing  was  ordi- 
narily done  on  shares,  the  sawyer  taking  half 
the  lumber  for  his  work.  Settlers  fi-om  a 
great  distance  around  came  to  the  mills  for 
their  lumber  and  floiu-.  Marsh,  with  the 
assistance  of  his  sous,  conducted  both  mills 
until  his  tragic  death,  after  which  they  went 
to  his  son,  Ed,  who,  after  a  few  years,  jier- 
mitted  them  to  run  down.  Soon  after  the 
village  of  Mt  Union  was  laid  out.  Hale 
Brothers,  of  Steubenville,  erected  a  large 
woolen  factoiy.  They  had  talked  the  matter 
over  with  the  citizens,  and  had  at  first  a)n- 
cluded  not  to  build,  thinking,  doubtless,  that 
they  might  have  an  elephant  on  their  hands; 
but  when  the  citizens  had  come  forward,  and 
had  promised  to  erect  the  building  for  them, 
they  furnishing  the  luml)er,  etc.,  the  brothers 
concluded  to  utidertHke  the  enterprise.  No 
sooner  was  the  building  erected  and  ready  for 
occupancy,  than  it  took  fire  and  burned  to  the 
ground,  consuming  all  the  apparatus,  machin- 
ery, etc.  The  brothers  went  to  work  and 
erected  another  in  its  place.  This  was  ojte- 
rated  for  a  time,  and  then  sold  to  Solomon 
Teegarden,  who  did  (juite  an  extensive  work 
at  carding,  fulling,  etc.,  for  a  few  years,  when 
the  establishment  was  again  destroyed  by  lire 
and  was  not  afterward  rebuilt.     The  enter- 


586 


HISTORY  OF    STAKK    COUNTY. 


prise  was  scarcely  a  success  at  the  village. 
No  cloth  was  manufactured. 

Henry  Schooley,  of  Salem,  at  ijuite  au  etu'ly 
day,  came  to  the  village,  looking  for  a  site  for 
the  establishment  of  a  flouriug  mill.  The 
citizens  desired  such  an  industry  at  the  village, 
and  agreed  to  build  the  mill  for  Mr.  Schooley, 
and  have  it  ready  for  operation  within  thirty 
days.  This  was  agreed  to,  and  accordingly 
doie.  Two  sets  of  stone  were  placed  in  the 
).^ill.  and  a  small  steam  engine  furnished  the 
motion.  Good  flour  was  furnished,  and  the 
mill  grew  in  favor  and  soon  obtained  a  flat- 
tering patronage.  Finally,  four  good  sets  of 
stone  took  the  place  of  the  two  old  ones,  and 
the  owners  began  doing  a  combined  merchant 
and  custom  work,  which  has  continued  until 
the  present  time.  TSli:  Schooley,  at  last,  sold 
out  to  Mr.  Bard,  who  yet  owns  and  operates 
the  mill.  A  grist-mill  was  also  built  at 
Ht'-asbiu-g  suon  after  the  location  of  the  rail- 
road station  at  that  point.  It  is  a  large  frame 
building,  and,  under  a  change  of  owners,  has 
done  good  work  from  the  start.  It  is  yet  in 
operation. 

Distilleries  and  temperance  movements,  to 
check  their  eflect,  have  played  a  prominent 
part  in  the  history  of  the  township.  George 
(ioodman  conducted  a  distillery,  about  two 
miles  southwest  of  ML  Union,  at  f(uite  an 
early  day.  While  in  operation,  his  distillery 
turned  out  some  twenty  gallons  of  good 
whisky  per  day.  He  owned  but  one  still. 
The  most  of  his  liquor  was  sold  at  the  still, 
and  the  balance  probably  found  its  way  into 
some  of  the  neighboring  tavern  bar-rooms. 
Michael  Miller  also  built  one,  about  five  miles 
south  of  Mt.  Union.  His  still  was  a  little 
larger,  and  he  is  said  to  have  manufactured 
about  a  Itarrel  of  excellent  whisky  jier  day. 
Ezekiel  Marsh  probably  conducted  the  most 
extensive  distillery  ever  in  the  township.  It 
was  built  at  a  spring,  near  his  house,  and  the 
surroundings  and  apparatus  were  such  that 
Marsh  found  no  difficulty  in  distilling  over  a 
barrel  of  whisky  per  day.  In  order  to  insure 
the  excellence  of  his  liquor,  he  was  in  the 
habit  of  re-distilling  it,  and  for  this  reason  it 
gained  repute  for  excellence  and  concentration. 
These  thi'ee  distilleries  were  erected  prior  to 
1838.     Everybody  drank  liquor  in  early  years; 


it  was  a  rare  thing  to  find  a  house  where  it 
was  not  used,  and  that,  too,  by  every  member 
of  the  family.  It  was  kept  on  the  side-board 
or  mantel-piece  of  almost  every  house,  and 
when  visitors  called  it  was  customary  to  take 
a  horn  to  kindle  friendship  and  hospitality 
into  a  flame.  Many  an  old  settler  has  said  to 
the  writer.  "Why,  I  was  raised  on  the  whisky 
bottle."  It  was  given  to  children  to  quiet 
them,  or  to  make  them  noisy,  as  the  case  de- 
manded. W^omeu  took  it  to  steady  their 
nerves,  and  to  give  them  coiu'age.  Everybody 
used  it  in  warm  weather  to  secure  cooling 
effects,  and  in  cold  weather  to  secure  warm- 
ing efi'eets.  It  was  used  by  all  in  sickness 
and  in  health,  and  was  looked  ujjon  like  the 
Montebank's  "  Grand,  Elliptical,  Asiatical, 
Panticiirical,  Nervous  Cordial,"  as  a  jjauacea 
for  all  diseases  incident  to  humanity.  In 
about  the  year  1828,  a  movement  was  inaugu- 
rated in  the  Eastern  States,  which  asserted 
that  whisky  was  not  a  "  necessity,"  that  its 
use  as  a  beverage  was  degrading  and  shame- 
ful, and  that  it  became  all  lovers  of  morality 
and  sobriety  to  discourage  its  use  in  every 
proper  way.  Such  theories  were,  at  tirst, 
boldly  and  confidently  contradicted;  but  soon 
thoughtful  people  saw  truth  and  good  advice 
in  the  theory,  and  all  over  the  country  tem- 
perance societies  sprang  into  life.  The  wave 
of  revolution  swept  over  Ohio,  meeting,  every- 
where, strong  opposition,  but  slowly  and 
surely  outriding  it  all.  Ellis  N.  Johnson  was 
a  gifted  speaker.  He  had  that  hap[)y  faculty 
of  being  able  to  tm-n  everything  which  tran- 
spired while  he  was  on  the  stage  to  his  own 
advantage.  He  never  hesitated  for  a  word, 
but  "talked  right  on,"  with  the  eloquence  of 
conviction  and  the  force  of  reason.  He  in- 
stantly took  the  lead  in  the  temperance  re- 
form. His  first  temperance  sj>eech  in  the  old 
sclioolhouse,  near  his  farm,  attracted  wide 
attention,  and  roused  thoughtful,  moral  peo- 
ple into  action.  People  discussed  the  subject 
at  their  firesides  and  at  public  places.  All 
the  better  class  of  citizens  spoke  boldly  in 
favor  of  the  refoi'm;  but  di'am-drinkers  and 
ownei-s  of  distilleries  discom'aged  the  move- 
ment, and  continued  their  practices.  Mr. 
Johnson  received  abundant  encouragement, 
and  was  invited  to  speak  in  all  the  adjoining 


^i^ 


WASHINGTON   TOWNSHIP. 


schoolhouses  and  townships.  People  were,  at 
first,  Burprised  at  his  views  rej^arding  liquor 
drinking,  and  flocked  forward  by  the  hun- 
dreds to  listen  to  him.  A  strong  temperance 
society  was  inmiediately  organized  at  Mt. 
Union.  The  following  is  the  preamble  and 
constitution  prepared  and  adopteil: 

Whekk.\s.  The  use  of  anli'iit  spirits  is  not  onl_v  iin 
Mfcessarv  aM<l  injuriou.s  to  the  social,  civil  and  moral 
interests  of  men  ;  Imt  tenils  to  promote  pauperism, 
crime  and  urelcliedne.ss.  and  to  hinder  all  ellorts  for 
the  intellectual  and  moral  lienelit  of  .society;  and.  as 
one  of  the  liest  means  to  counteract  its  deleterious 
effects  is  the  inllueiice  of  united  e.xainple; 

Therefiin\  We.  the  suliscrihers.  inhabitants  of 
Mount  Union  and  vicinily,  rccofjni/ins;  the  i)rin- 
ciplesof  alistineiice  from  the  Use  of  ardent  spirits  and 
from  il.s  traffic,  do  hereby',  a.s  the  basis  of  our  union, 
■d'ftve  to  form  ourselves  into  a  society,  and  for  this 
purpose  adopt  tlie  following  constitution: 

Section  1.  This  society  shall  be  called  the 
"  Mount  Union  Temperance  Society,"  auxiliary  to 
the  Stark  Countv  Temperance  Society. 

Sec.  0.  The  ol)ject  of  the  society  shall  be  by  ex- 
ample and  kind  moral  intluence  to  discountenance 
the  use  of  ardi^nl  spirits  and  the  traffic  in  the  same, 
except  as  a  medicine  or  for  mechanical  purposes. 

Sec.  8.  Any  person  who  practically  adojjts  the 
important  principles  of  this  society  may  become  a 
member  by  signinir  the  constitution,  or  by  request- 
ing the  Secretarv  to  do  so  for  him. 

Sec.  4.  The  Officers  of  the  society  shall  be  a  Pres- 
ident, two  Vice  Presidents,  a  Recording  Secretary, 
and  a  Coi  ns|iondin,:r  Secretary,  each  of  whimi  shall 
1m  rli(i-rn  annually,  shall  continue  in  office  until  his 
Mirci-v, II  i>  elected,  and  shall  perform  the  duties 
customarily  assigned  to  such  offii-e. 

Sec.  •").  The  society  shall  annuallj'  appoint  five 
members,  who.  toLTcther  with  the  officers,  shall  con- 
stitute an  executive  committee,  three  of  whom  shall 
form  a  ijuorum,  for  the  adoption  of  such  measures 
as  shall  be  best  calculated  to  render  the  society 
the  most  useful. 

Sec.  6.  There  shall  be  an  annual  meeting  of  the 
society,  at  which  time  the  officers  shall  be  elected. 

Sec.  7.  The  society  at  any  time  may  strike  the 
name  of  any  member  from  its  lists,  on  being  satis- 
fied that  such  member  has  violated  the  principh^s  of 
the  society. 

Sec.  8.  This  constitution  may  be  amended  by  a 
majority  of  the  members  present  at  any  annual 
meeting  of  the  society,  providing  that  such  simend- 
ment  does  not  materially  alter  the  principles  (U^clared 
al)ove. 

Sec.  9.  The  President  (or  either  of  the  Vice  Pres- 
idents in  ciuses  of  the  sickness  or  ab.sence  of  the 
President)  is  authorized  to  call  a  meeting  of  the  so- 
ciety at  any  time  he  may  deem  proper. 

This  constitution  was  read  at  every  place 
where  Mr.  Johnson  spoke,  and  at  every  meet- 
ing scores  appended  their  names  to  the  rap 
idly  increasing  lists.     The  Quakers  were  the 


first  to  enter  the  refonn.  heart  and  soul,  and 
finally  the  church  societies  in  the  vicinity  did 
likewise.  The  list  of  names  is  yet  in  exist 
euce,  but  is  too  long  to  be  ins(>rted  here. 
Soon  the  work  of  the  society  began  to  be  felt 
by  the  liqtior  sellers  and  manufacturers.  Job 
Johnson  was  engag(>d.  at  the  time,  in  keeping 
otore  and  tavern  in  the  village  of  Mt.  Union, 
and  like  till  other  tavern-keepers  kept  and 
sold  liqtior  in  his  biir-room.  His  brother, 
Ellis  N..  continued  to  lecture,  and  he  to  sell, 
until  at  last  he  was  converted  to  the  temperance 
faith  by  a  lady  living  in  the  neighborhood. 
In  conversation  with  hei.  he  had  s.iid,  by  way 
of  excuse,  that  he  no  longer  sold  to  drunkards, 
whereupon  she  j)roceeded.  with  cutting  lan- 
guage, to  tell  him  that  course  was  the  worst 
he  could  pursue,  for  he  sold  to  young  men 
and  boys  all  the  time,  and  was  continually 
creating  a  new  stock  of  drunkards.  The 
thought  went  to  his  heart  like  an  arrow,  and 
he  soon  aftei^vard  stopped  selling,  and  became 
a  standard  bearer  of  temperance.  In  conse- 
fjuence  of  his  conversion,  as  above  stated,  he 
published  his  change  of  opinion  under  the 
caption.  "My  Last  Excuse  Gone."'  If  the 
writer  is  correctly  informed.  Robert  Hilton 
was.  at  this  time,  selling  licjuor  at  Mt  Union. 
He  attended  one  of  Ellis  N.  Johnson's  strong- 
est meetings,  and  the  vivid  colorings  of  the 
subject  by  the  speaker  went  home  to  his 
heart;  for  the  next  day.  meeting  Johnson,  he 
said:  ''  I  can't  stand  everything:  what  shall  I 
do?"  He  was  told  to  stop  selling,  and,  with 
that  sudden  resolution  which  takes  possession 
of  all  true  converts,  he  went  to  his  desk 
drawer,  and  taking  therefrom  $400  worth  of 
notes  that  had  been  given  him  for  liquor, 
advanced  to  the  fire  with  the  intention  of 
btirning  them.  Johnson  told  him  to  wait 
Hilton  replied:  "If  it's  wrong  to  sell,  it's 
^vrong  to  collect"  Johnson  then  told  him  to 
postpone  the  destruction  of  th(>  notes  until  the 
morrow,  when  it  could  be  done  publicly  to  a 
large  iv^seniblage.  The  day  was  an  important 
one,  and  (jver  four  hundred  people  were  pres- 
ent Hilton  had  on  hand  .'J14  worth  of 
whisky:  the  hat  was  pa-ssed.  and  Slli  were 
raised  and  given  him.  The  liijuor  was  then 
taken  and  placed  on  a  heaj)  of  fagots,  and  the 
whole  was  set  on  fire.      While  it  was  burning. 


^ 


588 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


Hilton  went  forward,  and,  in  the  presence  of 
the  audience,  cast  his  $400  worth  of  notes  in 
the  fire.  It  was  a  day  of  great  rejoicing, 
success  and  enthusiasm.  Ellis  N.  was,  at  that 
early  day,  called  the  "Old  Pioneer."  Michael 
Miller,  who  owned  the  distillery  in  the  south- 
ern part,  invited  the  "Old  Pioneer"  down  to 
his  neighlxirhood  to  hold  a  temperance  meet- 
ing, saying  that  he  "  wanted  to  see  the  ele- 
phant." The  result  was  that  Miller  was  com- 
pletely convei'ted.  A  few  days  before  he  had 
made  a  contract  with  a  man  from  Deerfield, 
named  Hartzell,  to  fui'nish  400  gallons  of 
whisky,  and  part  of  the  consideration  had 
jiassed.  He  made  up  his  mind  to  annul  the 
contract,  and  not  furnish  the  liquor.  The 
malt  vvas  fed  to  the  hogs,  and  wheu  Hartzell 
apjieared  for  his  liquor,  he  received  no  satis- 
faction, nor  whisky.  He  immediately  insti- 
tuted suit  before  Ellis  N.  Johuson,  Justice  of 
the  Peace,  for  damages  sustained,  and  ob- 
tained judgment  for  $27.50,  much  to  the  cha- 
grin of  the  Justice,  who,  though  bound  by 
duty  to  apply  the  law  as  he  understood  it,  did 
so  reluctantly,  saying  in  conclusion,  as  he 
decided  the  case:  "  The  money  is  yoiu's,  legal- 
ly, but  morally  you  have  no  right  to  touch  it." 
The  moral  as})ect  of  the  case  did  not  trouble  i 
Mr.  Hartzell,  for  he  coolly  pocketed  his  dam- 
ages and  walked  oft".  The  temperance  organ- 
ization saw  the  sale  of  liquor  in  the  towuship 
almost  or  wholly  cease;  saw  everj'  distillery 
close  its  doors,  and  saw  confirmed  drunkards 
reform  and  lead  sober  lives. 

Mt.  Union  was  the  first  village  properly 
laid  out  and  platted  in  the  township.  Four 
men  owned  the  land  at  the  corner  where  the 
lots  were  laid  out.  Richard  Fawcett  owned 
on  the  northeast;  John  Hare  on  the  southeast; 
E.  N.  Johnson  on  the  southwest,  and  Job 
Johnson  on  the  northwest.  Forty  lots  were 
laid  out,  twenty  in  "Washington  Township  and 
twenty  in  Lexington,  ten  being  on  the  land  of 
each  of  the  above  men.  The  lots  were  located 
on  Sections  1  and  '2,  in  Washington,  and  on 
Sections  35  and  86,  in  Lexington,  and  all 
were  laid  out  under  the  directions  of  the  own- 
ers, in  August,  1833.  At  this  time,  there  was 
but  one  house  standing  on  the  site  of  the  vil- 
lage. This  was  the  residence  of  Job  Johnson, 
and  was  located  on  the  corner  of  Main  and 


Mt.  Union  sti-eets.  Job  Johnson,  immediately 
after  the  village  was  laid  out,  erected  some 
three  or  foiu"  other  residences,  on  some  of  the 
lots,  which,  wiih  the  buildings,  were  ofiered 
for  sale.  In  a  short  time  several  buyers  ap- 
peared, and  Boon  the  town  had  all  the  appear- 
ance as  such.  Job  Johnson  opened  his  store 
and  tavern;  carpenters,  blacksmiths  and  ai'ti- 
ticers  of  various  sorts  appeared;  industries 
sprang  up  and  business  miiltiplied  rapidly. 
The  old  settlers  say  that  Mt.  Union  was  an 
unusTially  promising  place  in  early  years.  A 
more  detailed  accoimt  of  the  improvement 
will  be  found  in  the  chapter  on  Lexington 
Township. 

Freebm-g  was  laid  out  on  the  southeast 
quarter  of  Section  28,  in  February,  1842. 
The  land  was  owned  by  Isidon  Can-illon.  and 
thirty-two  lots  were  siu'veyed  and  ofiered  for 
sale  by  the  owner.  The  growth  of  the  village 
was  quite  slow,  and  nothing  but  the  presence 
of  a  railroad  or  an  important  industry  could 
alter  its  fate  of  comparative  obsciu-ity.  Stores 
have  come  and  gone  like  spring  blossoms,  and 
have  been  about  as  numerous,  though  not  as 
sweet.  There  have  been  times  in  the  history 
of  the  village,  when  Goldsmith's  lines  were 
peculiarly  appropriate: 

"Sweet  smilinf;  villagp,  loveliest  of  the  lawu, 
Thy  sports  are  tied  and  all  thy  charms  withdrawn ; 
Amidst  thy  bowers  the  tyrant's  hand  is  .seen. 
And  desolation  saddens  all  the  green." 

At  other  times  the  prospect  has  seemed  as 
bright  as  a  May  morning,  and  the  hearts  of  the 
citizens  have  throbbed  in  anticipation  of  the 
futm-e.  WTiy  cannot  Freeburg  have  a  railroad 
as  well  as  any  other  town?  If  it  "shells  out" 
enough  the  road  will  be  built.  Money  will 
buy  in  this  case  as  it  has  in  others.  That  fact 
may  be  relied  on. 

Strasburg  was  laid  out  in  August,  1842, 
by  Gregory  Gross  and  Jacob  Sardier.  owners 
and  ]iro]irietors,  on  the  south  half  of  Section 
8,  Township  18,  Range  6.  Thirty  lots  were 
laid  off"  by  the  siuTeyor,  and  these  were  imme- 
diately thrown  into  market  by  the  owners. 
They  were  sold  slowly,  as  there  was  no  great 
inducement  for  capitalists  to  invest  money. 
Stores  were  opened  one  by  one,  industi'ies 
flourished  in  succession,  and  hopes  were  kin- 
dled into  flame  in  the  breast  of  the  owners 


-7; 


l^ 


WASHINGTON    TOWNSHIP. 


589 


that  their  names  might  be  sung  by  unborn 
millions,  like  those  of  Romulus  and  Remus. 
But  they,  like  others  of  earth's  chikh-en,  wore 
doomed  to  disa])pointment. 

"  Their  hopes,  like  lilies  of  the  morn. 

First  blossomed  into  life,  and  tlien 

By  bitter  winds 

And  icy  rains 

Were  scattered  to  the  eartli  ajiain." 

They  saw  other  villages  around  them  repeat 
the  multiplication  table;  but  they,  with  all 
their  striving,  could  never  reach  addition. 
They  became  familial'  with  the  rules  of  sub- 
ti'action.  mtich  to  the  division  of  their  inter- 
est. The  village  is  subject  to  fluctuations  in 
pojjulatiou  and  prosperity.  It  has  lost  all 
probability  of  fame  and  renown,  though  its 
ambition  is  mountainous  and  measureless. 
It  received  its  greatest  im]ietus  when  the  rail- 
road station  was  located  there.  At  that  time 
improvements  advanced  quite  rapidly.  Some 
grain  and  stock  are  shipped  on  the  railroad 
from  this  point. 

It  is  a  Imown  fact  that  the  tirst  schools  in 
the  township  were  taught  in  the  settlers'  cab- 
in, though  dates  and  distinctions  cannot  be 
given  with  certainty.  It  is  said  that  Marsh 
permitted  his  cabin  to  be  used  as  a  school- 
house,  and  that  a  yoimg  man  just  f  om  the 
East.  ]iassing  through  the  townshij),  was  em- 
ployed to  teach  a  term  or  more  there,  which 
he  did,  receiving  his  pay  by  subscription,  and 
boarding  aroimd.  It  is  also  stated  that  be 
yond  a  doubt  several  terms  were  taught  in 
the  townshi]!  prior  to  1820.  If  jwssible, 
when  the  settlers  living  in  a  neigliborhood 
wished  a  school,  a  double  log  cabin  was 
selected,  the  school  being  tatight  in  one  room, 
while  the  owner's  family  resided  in  the  other. 
Or.  it  was  quite  common  t(j  find  a  cabin  that 
had  beet)  deserted  by  th(>  owTier.  and  this 
was  taken  and  supj)li<>d  with  rude  desks  and 
seats,  and  devoted  to  the  cause  of  education. 
One  of  the  first  schoolhouses  liuilt,  if  not  the 
first,  was  the  old  log  l)nilding  at  Mc^unt  Union, 
which  was  erected  in  about  th(>  year  182'). 
It  was  constructed  of  hewn  logs,  and  wiis 
quite  a  large  building,  having  been  built  with 
the  design,  as  all  early  schoolhouses  were, 
of  b<>ing  used  for  a  variety  of  piirjHJses. 
Job  Johnson  was  one  of  the  first  teachers  in 


this  house.  The  management  of  schools  sixty 
years  ago  differed  essentially  from  that  at 
present.  The  discii)line  was  different,  and  so 
were  the  modes  of  imjiarting  instruction. 
There  was  what  were  known  as  '•  loud  schools  " 
which  may  be  understood  as  those  where  the 
scholars  studied  at  any  pitch  of  voice  they 
chose.  They  ustially  chose  to  be  heard,  and 
the  din  iind  confusion  in  the  room  in  stich  a 
case  can  be  imagined.  It  was  probably  some 
teacher  of  these  schools  who  wrote  the  fol- 
lowing lines: 

"Since  when  the  devil  templed  .Job 
With  all  the  troubles  on  Die  globe, 
And  strove  to  put  him  in  a  passion, 
School-keeping  was  not  then  in  fasliion; 
For,  had  he  tied  him  to  a  seliool, 
.Job  had  not  kept  his  temper  eool." 

Before  1830,  several  schoolhouses  were 
erected  in  the  township.  It  is  thought  that 
the  township  was  tirst  divided  into  school  dis- 
tricts in  about  the  year  1824,  and  that  imme- 
diately afterward,  two  or  more  schoolhouses 
were  erected.  As  time  passed  on  and  the 
township  became  more  thickly  jwpulated,  the 
districts  were  divided  and  subdivided  until 
the  present  number — ten — were  created.  It 
was  the  case  in  almost  everj'  district,  that  log 
buildings  were  at  first  erected,  and,  when 
these  had  served  their  day,  fi'ames  or  bricks 
took  tlieir  places.  In  some  districts  three  or 
more  schoolhouses  have  been  built. 

*The  Fairmount  Children's  Homo  for  the 
district  of  Stark  and  Columbiana  Counties  of 
Ohio,  is  located  in  the  eastern  portion  of 
Washington  Township,  on  Section  13,  four 
miles  south  of  Alliance  and  one  mile  west  of 
the  Columbiana  County  line.  The  farm  con- 
tains 154  acres  and  is  very  favorably  locat(:>d, 
in  a  good  neighborhood  and  e.isy  of  access. 
The  object  of  the  institution  is  to  fiu'nish  a 
home  and  ''home-training"  for  indigent  chil- 
dren under  sixteen  years  of  age,  of  the  two 
counties,  where  they  can  be  supported  and 
provided  with  jihysical,  mental  and  moral 
training  until  suitable  homes  can  be  provided 
for  them,  or  until  they  liecome  capable  of 
earning  and  providing  for  themselves,  or  their 
parents  or  guardians  for  them. 

The    General    Assemlilv    of    Ohio    bavins 


E,q 


untofthe   ChilJr. 


^ 


WASHINGTON    TOWNSHIP. 


passed  a  law  authorizing  counties  to  establish 
Children's  Homes,  prominent  citizens  of  Co- 
lumbiana and  Stark  Counties  commenced  agi- 
tiitirg  the  matter  with  the  view  of  seciirin<^ 
action  fi"om  the  Ct>mmissionei>>  in  regard  to 
an  institution  of  this  character.  It  was  orig- 
inally intended  tliat  the  counties  of  Columbi- 
ana, Mahoning,  Portage  and  Stark  should 
form  the  "  Home  disti'ict,"  and,  with  this  end 
in  vii>w,  the  Commissioners  of  these  counties 
held  their  first  joint  meeting  at  Alliance,  on 
September  IS,  1874,  at  which  time  a  Board 
of  Trustees  was  appointed  composed  of  the 
following  memboi"s:  Hon.  J.  K.  Riikenbrod 
and  Joshua  Lee,  uf  Columbiana:  Dr.  G.  W. 
Broke,  of  Mahoning:  William  Barber,  of 
Statk,  and  William  G-rinnel,  of  Portage.  Mr. 
Rukenbrod  being  a  meml^er  of  the  Ohio  Sen- 
ate was  ineligible  to  the  office  and  shortly 
afterwai'd  resigned,  and  James  Davis,  of  Co- 
lumbiana, was  chosen  to  till  the  vacancy.  The 
trustees  visited  several  institutions  of  like 
character  and  during  the  next  four  months 
arrangements  were  perfected  for  a  Home,  but 
in  the  meantime  the  counties  of  Portage  and 
Mahoning  withdrew  from  the  district  and 
Messrs.  Levi  Stum)»  and  C.  K.  Greiner,  of 
St;irk,were  aj)]  >ointed  to  the  vac.mt  trusteeships. 
The  Commissionei-s  of  the  two  counties  on 
May  4,  ISTo,  signed  the  deed  for  the  land 
which  they  |)urch;used  from  Thomas  Rack- 
straw,  paying  him  $18,770  for  the  farm.  H. 
E  Myers,  an  architect  of  Cleveland,  prepared 
the  plans  and  specifications  for  the  building, 
and  the  contract  for  erecting  it  was  awarded 
to  Messrs.  Parkinson  &  Morrison,  of  New  Lis- 
bon. The  entire  cost  of  the  IniildingK  and 
fm-iiishings  was  about  §()r),(l()0:  the  real 
estate  is  now  valued  at  ^1 .").()()( I.  making  a 
total  of  $SO,(KII)  which  have  been  devoted  by 
these  two  counties  for  charitable  purposes  in 
this  form. 

Fainnount  Home  consists  of  the  main  build- 
ing, two  cottages,  the  farm  house,  the  bake 
house  and  a  large  l)oiler  house  in  which  is 
generated  steam  for  heatiug  the  several  apart- 
ments. There  is  also  a  bam,  wagon  house, 
ice  house,  a  slaughter  house  and  the  ntHSes 
sarj-  outbuildings.  The  main  building  is 
three  stories  high  above  the  basement;  the 
greatest  width   is  82   feet   and  the  greatest 


length  is  115  feet.  In  the  basement  are  large 
fruit,  vegetable  and  dairy  rooms,  the  kitchen, 
laundry  and  industrial  roouLs.  On  the  first 
fiwir  are  the  office,  reception  rooms,  pai'lor, 
dining  rooms,  pantries  and  store  rooms.  The 
Superintendent's  family  rooms,  guest  rooms, 
store  rooms  and  thi"ee  large  school  rooms  are 
situated  on  the  second  floor.  On  the  third 
flot>r  are  rooms  for  em])loyes  and  large  tanks 
for  hard  and  soft  wat(>r.  Centrally  located 
on  the  first  three  floors  are  fire  plugs  con- 
nected with  the  tanks.  Situated  in  the  rear  of 
the  main  building  are  two  cottages  each  thirty- 
two  feet  in  width  and  thirty-nine  feet  long. 
In  each  cottage  on  the  fii-st  floor  is  a  nursery, 
a  sitti  og  room  for  chikhvn,  a  bedroom  for  the 
nurse  and  cottage  matron,  a  wash  room  and  a 
bath  room.  On  the  second  floor  of  each  cot- 
tage are  two  dormitories  and  a  wiu'drobe. 
The  cottages  are  connected  to  the  main  build- 
ing by  a  covered  passage.  In  the  "  farm- 
house" is  a  large  family  of  boys,  a  sitting 
room,  a  large  airy  dormitory,  a  bedroom  for 
the  matron  and  family,  the  necessary  rooms 
for  the  kindergarten  —  accommodating  the 
chikh'en  from  four  to  six  years  of  age. 

Fainnount  Home  ^vas  completed  and 
erected  in  187(5  and  dedicated  with  appro])ri- 
ate  exercises  in  October  of  that  year.  The 
Board  of  Trustees  employed  Dr.  J.  F.  Buck 
to  take  charge  of  the  institution.  This  gen- 
tleman had  been  for  the  j)revious  seven  years 
connected  with  the  Ohio  Reform  Farm  at 
Lancaster:  he  brought  with  him  to  the  Home 
much  valuable  expiirience  and  has  lieen  the 
means  of  making  the  Home  a  great  .success. 
The  building  was  opi'ned  for  the  reception  of 
inmates  October  81,  i87t),  on  which  day  six- 
teen children  were  received  from  the  Stark 
County  Infirmary.  From  that  date  until 
October  81,  1880,  a  ])eriod  of  four  years,  8y2 
children  were  received  into  the  Home;  108 
the  first  year,  7 1  the  second,  110  the  third  and 
fill  the  fourth.  Of  these  chiUlren  140  were 
in  the  Home  October  81,  1880;  1*J4  have  been 
])laced  in  families  where  they  have  found 
desirable  homes;  17  have  died  and  41  have 
been  retm-iied  to  fi'iends,  discharged  or  sent 
to  other  charitable  institutions  of  the  State. 
These  chi  Idren  have  l)een  gathered  from  the  two 
coimties  of  Stark  and  Columbiana   Thev  have 


HISTORY  OF    STARK   COUNTY. 


been  supported  and  educated  at  an  expense 
to  these  counties  of  less  than  $10,000  each 
year.  But  a  money  vahie  cannot  be  placed 
on  that  which  will  be  gained  by  these  chil- 
dren wlien  placed  under  good  influences  in 
jirivate  families,  where  their  chances  for  be- 
coming good  and  useful  men  and  women  will 
be  enhanced,  and  the  probabilities  of  their  be- 
coming burdens  upon  society  will  be  greatly 
diminished.  Fairmount  Home,  however,  is 
to  a  great  extent  self-sustaining.  The  farm 
embraces  154  acres,  a  considerable  portion  of 
which  is  cultivated  and  yields  a  bountiful 
harvest:  the  work  of  the  farm  is  largely  per- 
formed by  the  older  boys,  wlio  are  re<juired  to 
assist  one-half  of  each  day  fi-om  May  to 
October  in  the  general  farm  work.  The 
smaller  children  are  a  gi'eat  help  in  market- 
gardening  and  cultivating  small  fruit.  These 
duties  are  part  of  the  practical  education 
fiu'nished  by  the  Home,  for  as  the  gi-eater 
nnmlier  of  those  who  leave  the  institution  are 
indentiu-ed  to  faiTQers  the  principal  thought 
kept  in  their  minds  while  at  work  is  not  "  how 
much"  but  "how  well."  The  farm  also  con- 
tains rich  ])asture  lands  for  cows  which  fur- 
nish an  abundant  supply  of  milk  and  liutter. 
The  jiractical  household  education  of  the  girls 
is  not  neglected,  for  they  are  taught  to  be 
handy  with  the  needle  ]>y  a  lady  who  has 
charge  of  the  industrial  department,  and 
many  articles  of  use  are  manufactured  in  this 
room  by  the  older  girls  who  work  one-half  of 
each  day  and  during  the  year  make  all  the 
clothing  needed  liy  the  inmates  of  the  Home. 
The  assistance  of  these  older  girls  is  also  of 
great  value  in  the  kitchen,  laundry  and  dining 
rooms  of  the  Home,  and  the  instruction  which 
they  have  received  in  these  several  departs 
meuts  will  be  of  great  importance  to  them  in 
any  sphere  in  which  they  luay  be  placed  in 
future  years.  The  money  saved  in  conse- 
quence of  the  amount  of  labor  performed  by 
the  older  girls  in  these  departments  as  well 
as  in  others  for  so  large  a  household  is  an 
item  of  no  small  importance:  but,  when  com- 
pared with  the  importance  of  this  training  to 
habits  of  industry  and  order,  the  money  value 
sinks  into  insignificance. 

The   children  while   at  the  Home  are  not 
only  taught  to  work  in  order  that  they  may 


be  able  to  support  themselves,  but  their  edu- 
cation receives  due  attention  both  physical, 
intellectual,  moral  and  religious.  Believing 
that  sound  minds  can  be  best  developed  in 
sound  bodies,  everything  which  has  a  tendency 
to  develop  the  physical  organization  receives 
close  attention  by  the  Superintendent. 
Wholesome  food,  pure  air,  cleanliness  of  per- 
son, healthful  exercise  on  the  play-gi'ounds, 
and  moderate  labor  about  the  buildings,  gar- 
den and  fields,  are  the  means  relied  upon  for 
bxiilding  a  symmetrical  temple  for  the  mind. 
Many  of  the  children  receive  their  tu'st  les- 
sons from  books  while  at  the  Home.  Those 
of  school  age  are  divided  into  two  separate 
grades  according  to  their  proficiency.  Both 
grades  are  in  session  diu-ing  the  entire  school 
day.  The  older  scholars  who  work  half  the 
day  attend  school  during  the  other  half,  but 
those  from  six  to  ten  years  of  age  have 
attended  school  regularly  duri  og  school  hoiu-s 
without  vacation.  All  who  are  of  sufficient 
age  are  required  to  attend  the  Sabbath  school 
exercises,  which  consist  mainly  in  reciting  por- 
tions of  the  Scriptures  and  singing.  Minis- 
ters of  diflerent  denominations  and  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association  of  Mount  Union 
have,  dm-ing  past  years,  favored  the  Home 
with  sermons  and  addresses  on  Sabbath  after- 
noons without  any  compensation.  Fairmount 
is  emphatically  a  home  for  those  who  other- 
wise would  be  homeless,  and  it  is  a  wise  econ- 
omy for  the  citizens  of  Stark  and  Columbiana 
Counties  to  take  these  poor,  friendless  children 
and  provide  them  witli  a  good  home  training 
so  that  at  majority  they  will  be  able  to  take 
care  of  themselves,  rather  than  have  them 
homeless  and  hardened  criminals  or  confirmed 
paupers.  Fairmount  is  doing  a  work,  the 
value  of  which  cannot  now  be  estimated,  but 
must  be  acknowledged  in  time  to  come.  Were 
it  nor  for  the  fostering  care  of  the  Home,  the 
majority  of  its  inmates  would  be  smTounded 
by  baneful  influences  growing  up  in  igno- 
rance and  vice. 

Owing  to  the  fact  that  several  families  of 
Quakers  resided  in  the  township,  a  station  on 
the  Underground  Railroad  was  established 
there.  The  Johnsons  were  prominently  con- 
nected with  this  road,  and  assisted  more  than 
one    fugitive    to    the    Dominion  of    Canada. 


•f  ®         »^ 


WASIIINGTUX    TOWNSHIP. 


Unknown  to  those  who  made  it  their  business 
to  apprehend  slaves  on  their  way  north,  there 
were  several   secret    places   on   the   shore   of 
Lake   Erie,  where  vessels   from   the   Canada 
side  landed  on  certain  days  for  the  fufjitives 
wh<;   were  concealed   in  the   adjacent  heavy 
forests.     These    places    were    known   to   the 
Quakers,  who  very  likely  j>a)d  the  owners  of 
the  vessels    for  their  trouble.     It    is    stated 
that,  on  one  occasion,  a  fugitive  family,  that 
had  stopped  in  the  woods  in  the  northeastern  | 
part  of  the  county,  were  surprised  by  their  [ 
owner  and  conveyed  to  Virginia  before   the 
Quakers  had  become  fully  aware  of  the  state 
of  aSairs.     This  was  the  result  of  not  seeking  ' 
the    assistance    of   the  Quakers.     When  the  ! 
latter    were    trusted,    the    slaves    invariably 
reached  their  destination  in  safety. 

The  quantity  of  timber  land,  of  land  imder 
cultivation,  of  meadow  land,  and  of  swamp 
land,  has  been  constantly  changing  since  the 
earliest  day.  The  following  table  explains 
itself: 
Number  of  acres  of  arable  and  plow  land 

in  Washington  Townsliip,  1880 14,534 

Meadow  and  pasture  land 38 

Uncultivated  or  woodland 6.351 

Total   niiml)er  of    acres   of  flat,  wet    and 

marshy  land 1.698 

Total  value  of  land  excluding  buildings..  .  ^734,113 

Total  value  of  houses 82,041 

Total  value  of  mills 2.650 

Total  value  of  other  buildings 26,990 

General  average  price  per  iktc,  including 

buildings    37 

The  Baptists  and  Methodists  began  holding 
meetings  in  the  township  alx)ut  the  same 
time.  This  was  not  far  from  the  year  1817. 
Meetings  were  at  lii-st  held  in  the  old   log 


dwellings,  and  at  such  places  where  ample 
room  could  be  had  by  traveling  the  least  dis- 
tance. Our  grandparents  required  a  gi-eat 
deal  of  sjjace  when  they  got  down  to  business 
at  these  early  religious  meetings.  This  can 
be  said  of  the  Mettiodists  at  any  rate.  The 
few  Quakers  were  (juiet,  and  waited  for  the 
spirit  to  move  them.  The  spirit  was  pretty 
lively  sometimes,  judging  from  the  activity  at 
the  Quaker  meetings.  The  Baptists  built  a 
small  brick  church  cjiiitt*  eai-ly  at  Moimt 
Union,  neai'  the  graveyai'd,  but  jjrior  to  this 
their  meetings  were  held  in  the  old  school- 
house.  The  church  was  built  not  fai-  fi-om 
1830.  It  is  thought  the  Methodists  held 
meetings  before  the  Baptists,  and  that  their 
small  frame  church,  located  just  across  the 
line  in  Lexington  Township,  was  built  after 
the  Baptists  built  theirs.  Job  Johnson  gave 
the  lot  upon  which  the  Methodist  Cliufch  was 
built.  Other  chinches  have  succeeded  these. 
School  was  taught  in  the  old  brick  Baptist 
Chm-ch.  The  Catholics  have  a  neat  chtu-ch 
and  cemetery  at  Sti'asburg.  The  building 
was  erected  many  years  ago.  The  United 
Brethren  have  a  chiu-ch  on  Section  11.  It 
was  erected  in  comparatively  late  years.  The 
Albrights  have  a  chiu-ch  on  Section  22.  The 
Methodists  have  one  at  Freebm-g.  Some  of 
the  church  societies  have  died  out:  others 
have  suffered  much  from  lack  of  funds  and 
membership.  Some  have  l)eeu  strong  since 
their  organization.  Many  of  the  citizens 
belong  to  churches  located  just  without  the 
limits  of  the  townshi]).  The  people  are 
generally  moral,  and  many  belong  to  the 
chm'ches. 


r 


^ 


'A 


PART    III 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


CITY    OF    CANTON. 


LAWRENCE  ALEXANDER,  city  woolen 
mills,  Canton  :  is  a  native  of  Dublin,  Ireland, 
and  was  born  in  the  j-ear  1815.  When  11 
years  old,  he  engaged  in  the  woolen  trade  ;  and, 
having  completed  liis  apprenticcsliip,  he,  in 
1833,  came  to  the  United  States,  locating  in  the 
city  of  Boston.  He  worked  for  about  four 
years  in  the  vicinity  of  that  city,  and  then 
went  to  Philadelphia,  remaining  there  one  year, 
when  he  came  to  Massillon.  Ohio,  and  from 
there  went  to  Way  nesburgh,  where  he  lived  some 
ten  years.  He  then  lived  in  Lexington  Tp. 
some  eight  years,  after  which  he  came  to  Can- 
ton about  the  year  1855.  He  rented  a  mill  in 
Waynesburgh,  and  bought  one  while  living  in 
Lexington  Tp.  After  coming  to  Canton,  he 
and  John  Robbin  rented  Jacob  Spraukles  fac- 
tory, near  the  city,  and  soon  after  Mr.  Alexander 
bought  his  present  place,  which  was  originally 
built  for  a  tanner}-.  He  put  in  the  requisite 
machinery,  and  has  conducted  the  woolen  busi- 
ness ever  since.  During  his  residence  in  Stark 
Co.  he  has  served  as  Commissioner  two  terms. 
He  was  married  in  183G  to  Miss  Haimah  Fitz- 
gerald, a  native  of  Lowell,  Mass.  They  have 
four  children,  viz.:  Elizabeth  M.,  Francis  A., 
.\ugustine  and  Frank.  All  live  at  home  except 
Augustine,  who  is  the  Rev.  A.  Alexander,  of 
Baltimore,  of  the  Catholic  Church.  Mr.  Alex- 
ander is  a  Democrat  in  politics. 

JOHN  H.  ALTEKRT'SE,  merchant  and  Sher- 
iff', Canton  ;  was  born  in  Massillon  M;iy  (I, 
1844.  His  parents,  Rudolph  and  Mary  (Uphutf) 
Altekruse.  were  natives  of  Germany,  who  emi- 
grated to  America  in  the  fall  of  1837,  and 
settled  in  Massillon,  Ohio,  where  they  have 
since  resided.     His  father  was  a  shoemaker  by 


trade,  and  conducted  the  business  in  Massillon 
until  18G8,  when  he  embarked  in  the  grocery 
trade,  and  followed  the  same  until  the  fall  of 
1879,  when  he  retired  to  private  life.  He  is 
now  nearly  70  years  of  age,  enjoys  excellent 
health  and  is  greatl}'  esteemed  in  the  commu- 
nity. Our  subject  is  the  oldest  and  only  sur- 
viving son  in  a  family  of  eight  children,  one 
sister  ouly  living,  Mrs.  Andrew  Dangeleisen,  of 
Massillon.  Young  Altekruse,  after  having  re- 
ceived a  good  education  in  his  native  town, 
passed  a  j-ear  with  his  father  in  the  shop,  and 
one  year  as  clerk  in  the  store  of  Samuel  Goudy, 
of  Massillon.  He  then  became  clerk  in  the 
hardware  store  of  Kelly  &  Allen,  of  Massillon, 
in  which  capacity  he  remained  five  years. 
During  the  war  he  served  in  the  Ohio  National 
Guard,  in  Co.  A,  lt)2d  0.  \.  I.,  being  stationed 
at  Tod  Barracks,  Columbus,  Ohio,  In  Febru- 
ary, 18ti7,  he  purchased  the  grocery  store  and 
stock  of  Charles  Hose,  of  Massillon,  and  con- 
ducted that  business  over  twelve  years.  Aside 
from  bis  business  associations,  he  has  filled  a 
number  of  local  positions  ol"  responsibility  and 
trust  in  the  city  and  county.  In  the  fall  of 
1875,  he  was  elected  Coroner  of  Stark  Co.,  and 
served  two  years.  For  three  years  he  filled  the 
office  of  Township  Clerk  ;  he  also  served  on  the 
Massillon  City  Council,  and  for  three  years  was 
Chief  Engineer  of  the  Massillon  City  Fire  De- 
partment. Five  years  likewise  he  was  on  the 
City  Board  of  Equalization,  and  for  two  years 
he  served  on  the  Massillon  Board  of  Health. 
In  the  spring  of  1879,  he  wa.s  elected  a  member 
of  the  Massillon  Board  of  Education,  and  in 
October  of  the  same  year  was  elected  Sheriff  of 
Stark  Co.,  which  position  he  now  occupies.     In 


ir^ 


\  « 


596 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  as  is  also  his  father. 
His  religious  connection  is  with  the  German 
Reformed  Church  of  Massillon.  On  July  12, 
18G6,  he  married  Flora,  daughter  of  Peter 
Morgeuthaler,  of  Massillon  ;  the  results  of  this 
union  have  been  four  children,  two  living.  He 
is  a  man  of  fine  busine.ss  ability,  quiet,  cautious, 
strictlj-  honorable  and  greatly  esteemed  in  the 
community  for  his  genial,  social  nature  and 
agreeable  manner. 

ALBERT  BALL,  Red  Jacket  Plow  Works, 
Canton  ;  is  the  second  of  a  family  of  nine 
children,  born  to  John  and  Martha  J.  (Grimes) 
Ball,  on  the  7th  of  July,  1830.  He  was 
raised  on  the  farm  near  Greentown,  in  this 
county,  and  at  the  age  of  15  began  learn- 
ing the  trade  of  a  molder  in  his  uncle's  foun- 
(\vy  ;  at  17,  he  went  to  Wadsworth,  in  Medina 
Co.,  and  then  to  Wooster  ;  at  19,  he  went  to 
Fort  Defiance,  where  he  took  charge  of  a  shop, 
remaining  one  year,  when  he  went  to  North 
Manchester,  Ind.,  where  he  commenced  the 
plow  business  on  his  own  account.  After 
doing  a  successful  business  for  fourteen  years, 
he  sold  out,  and  engaged  in  the  lumber  trade 
in  Kosciusko  Co.,  where  he  operated  two  mills, 
with  headquarters  at  Warsaw.  He  continued 
this  business  for  four  years,  the  last  two  of 
which  he  had  a  partner  (a  Mr.  Penticost)  who, 
during  ill-health  of  Mr.  Ball,  failed  to  account 
for  large  collections  made  in  closing  up  the 
business.  Upon  his  recovery,  Mr.  Ball  came  to 
Canton,  and  traveled  one  year  for  John  Ball  & 
Co.,  during  which  period  he  invented  (Aug.  3, 
1871)  his  Red  Jacket  plow  ;  he  also  patented 
an  iron  wagon.  He  then  went  to  Elkhart,  Ind., 
where  he  engaged  in  manufacturing  for  a  year 
and  a  half,  and,  in  the  meantime,  bought  a 
farm  near  Elkhart,  upon  which  he  lived  two 
j'ears.  In  the  spring  of  1874,  he  returned  to 
Canton,  and  licensed  John  Ball  &  Co.  to  man- 
ufacture the  Red  Jacket  plow,  receiving  .$1,200 
per  year,  and  25  cents  royalty  to  oversee  the 
work  and  inspect  the  plows,  and  the  next  year 
was  made  Superintendent,  serving  one  year  at 
$1,800,  when  the  company  began  closing  out 
the  business.  In  1877,  he  bought  out  the  busi- 
ness and  works,  and  began  the  manufacture, 
which  he  has  since  continued  successfuU}',  in- 
creasing it  each  3'ear.  A  large  additional  brick 
building,  130x35  feet,  two  stories  high,  is  now 
(1881),  in  course  of  construction.  In  Octo- 
ber, 1849,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  A. 


Wyandt,  a  native  of  Stark  Co,  Thej-  have  had 
six  children,  four  of  whom  are  living,  viz.  : 
Lorenzo  D.,  Silas  W.,  Amanda  C.  (now  Mrs. 
Hubisou),  and  Annette  J.  (now  Mrs.  Mj'ersl 
All  are  living  in  Canton. 

J.  C  BOCKIUS,  deceased.  Canton  ;  was  a 
native  of  Prussia;  his  father,  n  ho  was  a  native  of 
Frederick,  Md.,  went  to  Europe,  and  while  there 
was  "  pressed''  into  the  British  service,  which 
he  deserted  in  Denmark,  and  went  to  German}-; 
he  emigrated  to  America  in  1834,  and  died 
in  Canton.  Our  subject,  when  12  years  of  age, 
became  attached  to  the  armj*  of  Bonaparte,  as 
drummer,  remaining  with  the  ai'mj-  until  17 
3'ears  of  age.  In  1812,  he  crossed  the  Alps 
with  the  arm}'  on  foot,  and  went  to  Italy.  At 
the  age  of  17  he  learned  the  slioemaker's  trade 
in  Prussia,  and  in  1819emigrated  to  America.  In 
1820  he  established  in  Canton  the  business 
house  which  is  still  transacting  business  there, 
He  remained  in  Canton,  engaged  in  active  bus- 
iness life,  and  taking  an  interest  in  all  public 
measures  until  liis  death,  in  1878.  His  wife's 
maiden  name  was  Rosanna  Keller  ;  she  was  a 
native  of  Baden,  and  came  to  Canton  with  her 
parents  wlien  12  j-ears  of  age  ;  they  were  mar- 
ried in  Canton  May  25,  1825.  She  died  in 
1805.  Tliere  were  sis  girls  and  seven  boys 
born  to  them,  only  six  of  whom  are  now  living: 
Lewis  v.,  of  Canton  ;  Henry  J.  and  Charles  J., 
residents  of  Port  Huron,  Mi<h.,  engaged  in  the 
shoe  business  ;  Charles  J.,  of  Canton  ;  Hen- 
rietta, now  Mrs.  R.  Rohrer,  of  Freeport,  III., 
and  Amelia  D.,  now  Mrs.  Huntington,  of  George- 
town, Colo. 

L.  V.  BOCKIUS,  boots  and  shoes.  Can- 
ton ;  was  laorn  in  Canton,  in  1826,  and  was 
connected  with  his  father  as  an  assistant  in  his 
store  until  May,  1848,  when  he  entered  into 
partnersliip  with  him,  under  the  firm  name  of 
J.  C.  Bockius  &  Son,  and  has  been  managing 
partner  up  to  the  present  time,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  few  months,  when  he  toolc  a  trip  to 
California.  In  1870,  he  took  his  brother,  Ed- 
ward A.,  in  business  with  him,  which  partner- 
ship terminated  at  tlie  death  of  that  brother  in 
1881,  and  in  May,  1881,  Charles  J.  Bockius 
entered  as  partner,  the  firm  name  now  being  J. 
C.  Bockius'  Sons.  Mr.  Bockius  is  one  of  the 
leading  representative  citizens  of  Canton  ;  he 
is,  with  Mr.  D.  Tyler,  one  of  the  largest  stock 
owners  of  the  Diebold  Safe  &  Lock  Co.,  and 
is  one  of   the  directors  of  the   Vallej-  R.  R., 


']±^ 


CITY    OF    CANTON. 


507 


with  whicli  he  has  been  assooiated  from  its  in- 
fanc}-.  He  has  served  the  city  as  Treasurer  ; 
has  been  a  director  of  the  Canton  Cemetery, 
and  is  now  President  of  that  association,  and 
was  President  of  Biiihling  Association  No.  2, 
wliich  wound  up  its  affairs  satisfactoril}-.  He 
has  been  identified  with  the  most  prominent 
movements  of  the  citj-,  and  is  one  of  its  most 
lionored  citizens.  He  was  married,  in  Septem- 
ber. 1855,  to  Miss  Caroline  P.  Graham,  a  native 
of  Stark  Co..  whose  father,  John  Graham,  was 
one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Jackson  Tp.,  and 
was  State  Senator  for  several  j-ears,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Bockius  have  six  children — Charles  J., 
Edward  (J..  Frederick  William.  Harry  (J., 
Catharine  A.  and  Mary  H. 

CHARLES  J.  BOCKIUS.  boots  and  shoes. 
Canton  ;  is  a  native  of  Stark  Co.,  and  was 
an  assistant  of  his  father  in  the  store  until  17 
years  of  age.  He  then  commenced  learning  the 
watch -maker's  trade,  and  after  eighteen  months 
went  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  remained  for 
two  years.  In  1855,  he  went  to  New  York, 
and  remained  there  until  1861,  engaged  in  the 
jewehy  business.  He  then  removed  to  .^liehi- 
gan,  and  was  in  the  shoe  business  with  his 
brothers  until  August,  1862,  when  he  enlisted 
in  the  22d  Mich.  V.  I.,  and  was  in  the  service 
nearly  three  years,  in  the  Army  of  the  Cumber- 
land under  Gen.  Thomas,  passing  through  active 
and  severe  service,  and  participating  in  the  en- 
gagements of  Danville,  Lebanon.  Bowling 
Green  (K3'.),  Nashville  (Tenn.),  Chickamauga, 
Mission  llidge,  Lookout  Mountain,  Atlanta, 
etc.  After  the  close  of  the  war.  he  went  to 
Chicago,  and  was  in  the  jewelry  business  there 
one  year;  thence  to  New  York,  in  the  same  bus- 
iness, remaining  over  four  j-ears,  and  again  re- 
turning to  Chicago,  where  he  remained  in  the 
jewelry  business  three  years,  and  for  six  j-ears  as 
Secretary  and  Treasurer  of  the  Marietta  Barge 
Line  Co.  In  1881,  he  returned  to  Canton,  and 
entered  into  business  with  his  brother,  where  he 
intends  to  remain.  He  was  married  in  1864. 
to  Miss  Helen  M.  Garlick,  of  :\liehigan.  They 
have  five  children — Mary  L.,  .James  II.,  Helen 
H.,  Etta  L.  and  Carrie.  Mr.  Bockius  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  of  the  K.  of  H. 
and  G.  A.  II. 

JOSEI'H  A.  BOUR,ofElsass  &Bour,  furni- 
ture. Canton  ;  is  a  native  of  Canton,  and  son 
of  Nicholas  and  Catharine  (Deville)  Bour.  His 
father  was  a  native  of  France  ;  his  mother  of 


Belgium  ;  the  former  came  to  Stark  Co.  in  1835; 
the  latter,  with  her  parents,  about  1837  ;  the3- 
were  married  in  Canton,  where  thej-  have  since 
resided.  The  father  has  been  a  business  man 
of  Canton  for  many  years,  but  is  now  living 
retired.  He  served  as  Postmaster  of  Canton 
from  1852  until  1860.  Our  subject  is  the  fourth 
child  of  a  famil}'  of  ten  children  ;  he  was  an 
attendant  of  the  Canton  schools  until  22  years 
of  age,  when  he  went  into  the  office  of  Judge 
Meyer,  in  1870,  remaining  with  him  until  1874, 
in  practice.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1874,  but,  on  account  of  ill-health,  could  not 
continue  practice.  He  then  engaged  at  farm- 
ing for  one  year,  and  tiien  removed  to  New 
Castle,  Penn.,  where  ho  engaged  in  the  furniture 
and  undertaking  business,  remaining  there 
until  Februar3',  1879,  when  he  returned  to  Can- 
ton, and  has  since  then  been  associated 
with  .1.  C.  Elsass.  He  has  served  one  term  as 
Deputy  County  Clerk,  and  one  3'ear  as  Deput3' 
County  Treasurer;  is  a  member  of  the  Legion 
of  Honor  and  the  C.  M.  B.  A.  He  was  married 
in  1874  to  Miss  Mar3'  Kegler,  of  Massillon  ; 
they  have  one  child,  Eleanor. 

DAVID  S.  BEGGES,  merchant.  Canton  ; 
is  a  son  of  James  and  Mar3-  (Slusser) 
Begges;  the  former,  an  earl3'  and  prosperous 
merchant  of  Canton,  died  while  in  the  prime  of 
life,  and  the  latter,  the  daughter  of  Philip 
Slusser,  one  of  Stark  Co.'s  earliest  pioneers, 
David  S.  is  now  about  50  years  of  age,  and 
owns  and  conducts  one  of  the  largest  queens- 
ware  establishments  of  the  county,  which  is 
located  at  Canton.  He  was  educated  princi- 
pally in  the  Canton  schools,  finishing,  however, 
at  Scott's  Academ3',  of  Steubenville,  Ohio.  He 
began  his  business  career  as  a  salesman,  and  was 
connected  with  different  mercantile  houses  of 
Canton,  until  In;  sul)se(|uently  engaged  in  bus- 
iness on  his  own  account,  which  he  has  since 
conducted  successfull3'. 

J.  W.  BARNABY,  County  Recorder,  is  the 
son  of  Joseph  and  Maria  (Holies)  Barnab3-. 
Joseph  Barnaby  became  a  resident  of  Stark  Co, 
about  1836,  and  subsequently  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business  at  Mount  Ihiion  for  a 
number  of  years,  and  in  18(!]  removed  to  Alli- 
ance, where  he  held  the  oflice  of  Justice  of  the 
Peace  for  a  number  of  terms,  and  was  .Mayor 
of  the  city  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  April,  1877.  J,  W,  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  the  count3'  during  his  life,  and  most  of 


;^ 


598 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCIIE- 


the  time  has  been  identified  witli  tlie  mercantile 
and  banking  business  in  Mount  Union  and  Alli- 
ance in  the  capacity  of  salesman  and  book- 
keeper, and  in  1862  enlisted  us  a  private  in  Co. 
F,  of  the  115th  0.  V.  I.,  serving  with  his  com- 
pany and  regiment  one  year,  when  he  was  de- 
tailed as  Clerk  at  Headquarters.  Department  of 
the  Ohio,  where  he  spent  the  remaining  two 
years  of  his  term  of  service.  Upon  being 
mustered  out  of  the  service  in  1865,  he  re- 
turned to  Alliance.  In  1871,  he  accepted  the 
position  of  Deputy  Auditor  of  Stark  Co., 
under  Edwin  A.  Lee.  Mr.  Lee  resigning  about 
two  months  before  the  expiration  of  his  term 
of  office,  Mr.  Barnaby  was  ajjpointed  to  till  the 
unexpired  term.  In  1879.  his  name  being  pro- 
posed and  brought  before  the  Republican  Con- 
vention, he  received  the  nomination  as  their 
candidate  for  the  ensuing  term  of  Recorder  of 
Stark  Co.,  raid  at  the  October  election  of 
1879,  he  was  elected  by  a  majority  of  165 
votes.  In  January  of  1880,  he  took  formal 
possession  of  the  office,  and  has  since  been  en- 
gaged in  the  discharge  of  the  duties  devolving 
upon  iiim. 

0.  T.  BROWNING,  retired;  Canton;  was 
born  in  Stoniugton,  Conn.,  March  31,  1806; 
his  childhood  was  spent  on  the  farm,  where  he 
lived  until  he  was  13  years  of  age,  he  then  en- 
gaged with  a  (rroton  merchant  as  clerk,  and 
was  engaged  in  clerking  for  eleven  years  in 
Groton  and  Middletown.  In  1830,  he  purchased 
a  stock  of  goods  in  New  York  and  shipped  the 
same  to  Cleveland,  not  knowing  whereto  locate, 
although  Cleveland  was  where  he  intended  to  lo- 
cate. He  was  unable  to  procure  a  salesroom 
and  he  shipped  his  goods  to  Canton  and  opened 
a  store,  and  continued  in  the  business  until 
1848.  During  these  few  years  he  had  accumu- 
lated considerable  money.  He  started  branch 
stores  in  Mansfield,  Ohio ;  Lancaster,  Ohio ; 
Jackson,  III.,  and  Benton,  Mo.  He  purchased  the 
mill  property  known  as  the  Fogle  Mill,  built  by 
Dr.  Fogle  in  1834.  He  has  been  engaged  in 
the  milling  business  up  to  the  present  time.  In 
1834,  he  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Klnora, 
daughter  of  Dr.  Wm.  Fogle,  who  was  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania.  She  died  in  1840,  aged  24  years. 
She  left  one  child — Oren  F.,  who  has  the  super- 
vision of  his  father's  mill.  In  1849,  he  married 
for  his  second  wife,  Miss  Frances  McTaggert, 
of  Philadelphia,  Penn.  She  died  in  1866,  aged 
39  years.    She  was  the  mother  of  two  daughters. 


one  now  living,  AimaC;  she  is  now  the  wife  of 
Dr.  George  Foster,  of  Westerly,  R.  I.  Mr. 
Browning  is  a  consistent  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church. 

L.  BTKCHELE.  of  the  firm  of  L.  Biechele 
&  Bro.,  stoves,  tin-ware,  cooper  work,  etc., 
Canton ;  is  a  native  of  Baden,  Germany. 
He  was  born  in  the  year  1826.  At  the 
age  of  17.  he  was  apprenticed  to  the  tin- 
ner's trade.  Upon  finishing  his  trade,  he 
was  drafted  for  the  army,  but,  owing  to  his 
parents  residing  in  America  (thej-  having 
moved  previously),  he  was  released,  and,  in 
company  with  his  brother  Gustavus,  came  to 
this  country  and  settled  in  Canton,  where  his 
brother  and  some  relatives  lived.  His  fatherdied 
in  Germany.  His  mother,  step-father,  brother 
and  sister  were  on  a  steamer  on  the  Mississippi, 
and  all  met  their  deaths  from  the  blowing  up 
of  the  steamer.  Our  subject  worked  for  Mr. 
D.  H.  Harmon,  in  Canton,  about  six  years.  He 
then,  in  company  with  his  brother  Gustavus, 
engaged  in  the  present  business,  which  at  first 
was  small,  and  has  gradually  grown  to  its 
present  proportions.  Mr.  Biechele  has  served 
one  term  in  the  City  Council.  In  July,  1853, 
he  married  Jliss  Louisa  Held,  a  native  of  Ger- 
many. Of  their  six  children,  four  are  living — 
George,  Laura  (now  Mrs.  Lewis  Wernett).  Rosie 
and  Nettie. 

PHILO  PARSONS  BUSH,  engineer  and 
manufacturer.  Canton  ;  was  born  in  East 
Hampton,  Conn.,  March  15,  1836.  He  belongs 
to  a  family  of  mechanics,  who  trace  their  line- 
age back  to  the  early  settlers  of  America. 
Through  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Lydia  Strong,  he  comes  from  Puritau  stock  and 
is  connected  with  one  of  the  most  numerous 
families  of  New  England.  He  was  the  ninth 
in  a  family  of  ten  children,  five  of  whom  are 
living.  At  the  age  of  8,  on  account  of  the 
death  of  his  mother  and  consequent  breaking- 
up  of  tiie  family,  he  went  into  a  brass  mold- 
ing shop,  in  Westerly,  Rhode  Island,  where  he 
remained  one  year.  His  early  education  in  the 
schools  was  very  limited,  but  his  industrial 
training  in  the  shop  was  verj-  thorough  and 
practical.  From  Westerly  he  went  to  New 
London,  Conn.,  where  he  engaged  to  work  in  a 
machine  shop,  where  he  continued  until  he 
was  22  years  of  age.  His  next  employment 
was  in  a  steel  die  manufactory  at  New  Haven, 
where    he  remained  until  the  breaking-out  of 


CITY    OF    CANTON. 


>!I9 


the  rebellion.  In  1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  three- 
months  service  under  Col.  (afterward  Gen.) 
Terry,  and  was  in  the  first  battle  of  Bull  llun. 
In  June,  18(12,  he  re-enlisted  for  three  years  as 
principal  musician  of  the  14th  Conn.  V.  F.  He 
participated  in  the  battles  of  South  Mountain, 
Antietani  and  Fredericksburg  ;  during  the  en- 
gagement at  Anlietam  he  was  permanent!}' 
injured  in  the  back  by  being  struck  with  a  rail 
knocked  ofl'  a  fence  by  a  shell.  Bj-  an  order 
of  the  War  Department,  issued  in  1863,  he  was 
released  from  the  service  and  returned  home, 
and  began  the  manufacturing  of  macliinery 
with  his  brother.  Later,  while  on  a  visit  to 
( )hio,  he  decided  to  locaU;  in  Canton  and  estab- 
lish a  machine  shop,  and  in  1871  removed  his 
machinery  and  some  of  his  best  workmen,  and 
the  new  enterprise  called  the  "Canton  Sceam- 
Kngine  Works  "  was  started.  The  business  be- 
came involved,  but  Mr.  Bush  sustained  his 
credit,  and  began  linsiness  again  with  I'educed 
capital.  He  is  now  the  sole  proprietor  of  the 
Novelty  Iron  Works.  Jan.  ."50,  1857,  he  mar- 
ried >liss  Melissa  Godfrey,  of  New  London, 
Conn.  The}'  had  five  children,  of  whom  three 
are  living  ;  of  these  Alfred  ]j.  and  Frederick 
W.  are  employed  as  workmen  in  their  father's 
manufactory,  and  the  youngest,  Philo  P.,  is 
attending  Public  School.  In  18C0,  Jlrs.  Bush 
died,  and  before  his  removal  to  Ohio  in  1871, 
Mr.  Bush  married,  on  Feb.  (i,  of  that3ear,  Mrs. 
Sarah  Adams,  daughter  of  Samuel  Jeffer}',  an 
old  sea  captain  of  New  London,  Conn.,  who 
has  borne  him  one  child. 

ERNKST  BACHERT,  firm  of  Baehert, 
Silk  &  Co.,  paper  manufacturers,  Canton  ;  is  a 
native  of  Hesse-Darmstadt,  (Jermany,  and  was 
born  Dec  21,  18:^4.  He  lived  in  his  native 
city  until  about  13  years  of  age,  receiving  in 
the  meantime  his  education.  His  parents  dy- 
ing, he  was  taken  to  a  large  paper  mill  at 
Freiburg,  where  he  learned  the  trade,  serving 
there  until  he  vvas  20  years  of  age,  bujing  his 
release  from  the  array.  He  then  came  to  the 
United  SUites,  landing  in  New  York,  in  October, 
1855,  and  came  direct  to  Cleveland,  Ohio.  Ho 
at  once  found  employment  in  a  paper-mill,  when^ 
he  worked  about  six  years  and  was  then  put 
in  charge  of  one  of  the  mills  and  conducted 
the  same  for  about  three  years.  He  then  formed 
the  present  company,  came  to  Canton  and 
bought  the  mill  they  now  occupy,  and  which 
they  improved  and  opened.     Mr.  Baehert  took 


charge  of  the  mill,  and  in  1871.  in  company 
with  others,  bought  the  paper-mill  at  Massilloii, 
forming  a  stock  company,  known  as  the  ''  Mas- 
sillon  Paper  Co."  lender  his  management  the 
business  has  been  successful  and  has  increased 
largely.  He  was  married  in  December,  1856, 
to  Miss  Barbara  Silk,  a  native  of  (Jemiany, 
who  eame  to  Cleveland  when  young.  They 
have  had  ten  children,  eight  of  wiiom  are  living, 
viz.  :  John,  Kate,  Earnest  A.,  William,  Fannie, 
Edward,  Frank  and  Allen.  He  is  Kepublic.in 
in  politics,  and  a  member  of  the  (ierman  Ito- 
formeil  Church. 

DR.  P.  H.  BARR.  druggist.  Canton;  was 
born  Sept.  ."!,  1836,  and  is  the  youngest  of 
five  children  born  to  Joseph  and  Elizabeth 
(Dottawar)  Barr,  natives  of  Pennsylvania, 
where  tliey  were  married.  .Vbout  the  year  1830, 
the}'  came  to  Ohio  and  .settled  near  Paris,  in 
Stark  (!o.  He  was  an  undertaker  in  the  East, 
but  after  removing  to  Ohio,  followed  fiirming. 
He  died  in  the  year  1840;  Mrs.  Barr  is  still 
living  on  the  old  hom(^stea<l,  and  is  now  past 
87  years  of  age.  Our  subject  was  born  after 
the  family  moved  to  this  county,  and  hence  is 
an  "Ohio  man  ;"  he  lived  at  home  until  he  was 
15,  then  went  to  La  Payette.  Tnd..  where  he 
remained  two  years,  working  at  carriage  trim- 
ming ;  he  then  returned  home,  and  attended  a 
select  school  at  Paris  for  three  \ears.  He  had 
been  reading  medicine  for  some  time,  and  after 
leaving  school,  came  to  Canton,  and  formed  a 
partnership  with  Dr.  ('.  J.  (Jeiger,  with  whom 
he  had  been  reading.  I'nder  the  firm  nanie  of 
Geigcr  &  Barr,  they  carried  on  the  drug  busi- 
ness where  Mr.  Barr  now  has  his  store.  In 
1850,  Dr.  Barr  attended  a  course  of  lectures  at 
Jefferson  College,  Philadelphia,  and  in  18()0, 
having  abandoned  the  idea  of  practice,  gradu- 
ated at  the  College  of  Pharmacy,  in  Philadel- 
phia, He  returned  to  Canton,  and  remained 
until  1863,  when  he  sold  his  interest  to  Dr. 
Geiger,  and  opened  a  store  in  Alliance,  with  his 
brother-in-law,  T.  G.  Hare,  as  a  partner.  P. 
H.  Barr  &  Co.  conducted  this  business  until  the 
death  of  Dr.  Geiger,  in  1876,  when  he  (Barr) 
bought  the  Canton  store,  and  again  removed  to 
this  city,  retaining  his  interest  in  the  Alliance 
store.  In  1869,  he  was  a  prime  mover  in  the 
organization  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Al- 
liance, and  upon  the  completion  of  its  organi- 
zation, he  was  made  Vice  President,  and  con- 
tinued as  such  until  after  his  removal  to  Can- 


iw^ 


^1 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


ton.  In  1 879,  be  became  one  of  the  organizers 
of  tlie  Canton  Bank,  of  which  he  was  made 
President,  and  in  1880  the  charter  was  changed 
to  a  National  banlc,  he  retaining  the  oftice  of 
President.  He  was  married,  July  14,  1859,  to 
Miss  Ada  P.,  daughter  of  Dr.  Geiger,  his  old 
partner  ;  she  is  a  native  of  Starli  Co.  By  this 
marriage  there  have  been  seven  children,  of 
whom  six  are  living — Minnie  L.,  Winnie  G.,  Fan- 
nie E.,  Daisy  D.,  Bessie  B.  and  Fred.  0. 

DR.  AUSTIN  C.  BRANT,  physician.  Can- 
ton ;  was  born  in  Ashland  Co.,  Ohio,  July 
12.  1*852,  and  in  addition  to  the  public  school 
course  of  his  neighborhood,  he  received  a  col- 
legiate course  at  the  Vermillion  Institute  and 
the  Lebanon  Normal  School.  He  began  read- 
ing medicine  in  1872,  with  Dr.  T.  S.  Hunter,  of 
Asliiund.  <  )Uu),  and  in  1877  he  graduated  at  the 
Belk'vue  Hospital.  New  York  City,  after  which 
he  took  a  course  of  private  study,  including 
surgical  and  physical  diagnosis.  He  began 
practice  in  February,  1878,  at  Canton,  where  he 
has  since  remained.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
State  Medical  Association,  of  the  Union  Medical 
Association  of  Northeastern  Ohio,  and  the  Stark 
County  Medical  Society,  of  which  he  has  been 
Secretary  for  the  past  three  years.  For  two 
years  he  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  Canton 
City  Board  of  Health,  and  phj'sician  to  the  jail 
for  one  year.  In  January,  1881,  he  was  elected 
by  the  City  Council  to  the  office  of  City  Phy- 
sician. 

GUSTAVUS  BIECHELE,  of  the  firm  of  L. 
Biechele  &  Bro.,  stoves,  tinware,  etc..  Can- 
ton ;  was  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  in  the 
year  1828  ;  he  earlj-  learned  the  stone  cutter's 
and  mason's  trades,  and  in  1847  he  came  to  the 
United  States,  and  served  two  years  at  black- 
smithing.  In  1850,  he  went  to  California,  via 
New  Orleans  and  the  Nicaragua  route,  and 
worked  some  six  or  eight  months  at  mining  in 
Nevada  Co.,  his  wages  averaging  $36  per  day  ; 
the  surface  digging  played  out,  and  he  and 
eleven  others,  all  from  Canton,  Ohio,  each  took 
a  claim  on  the  quartz  lead,  and  began  making 
a  tunnel ;  they  worked  for  six  months,  day  and 
night,  and  put  the  tunnel  300  yards  into  the 
mountain,  striking  a  lead,  but  other  miners  had 
passed  a  law  which  enabled  them  to  close  the 
tunnel  and  occupy  the  lead  ;  the  twelve  beat  the 
first  suit,  but,  for  want  of  funds,  preferred  to  sell 
out  at  $800  each.  He  then  went  to  Alameda 
Co.,  when  another  compan}' of  twelve  men  (part 


of  the  first  twelve)  made  a  canal  along  the  hills 
and  brought  water  into  the  mines,  to  complete 
which  they  ran  in  debt  $45,000,  they  giving 
water  privilege  for  the  amount,  paying  $40,000 
of  the  debt  in  six  months ;  the  water  then  be- 
came scarce,  and  they  cut  another  canal,  four- 
teen miles  long,  as  a  feeder  to  the  first  one. 
The  following  summer  our  subject  came  to  Can- 
ton, and  he  and  his  brother  L.  engaged  in  their 
present  business.  In  185C,  he  married  Mary 
Anna  Lothamer,  a  native  of  France,  who  came 
to  Canton,  Ohio,  when  young  ;  they  had  nine 
children,  of  whom  seven  are  living. 

J.  F.  BAUHOF,  Canton  Marble  Works,  Can- 
ton ;  is  a  native  of  Switzerland  ;  he  was  born 
March  1,  1834  ;  his  father,  a  German  by  birth, 
was  a  baker  in  the  citj'  of  Berne.  At  the  age  of 
17,  J.  F.  came  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  he  had  a 
brother  and  sister  living  ;  his  brother  was 
working  in  the  marble  business,  and  J.  F. 
worked  for  the  same  party  for  two  years  ;  he 
then  went  to  Toledo,  where  he  remained  three 
years,  working  in  the  same  business  ;  and  then, 
after  working  two  years  longer  in  Cleveland,  he 
came  to  Canton,  and  he  and  his  brother  R. 
opened  the  Canton  Marble  Works.  In  1875, 
J.  F.  became  the  sole  proprietor  of  the  business, 
he  buying  his  brother's  interest.  They  started 
with  nothing  but  their  own  labor,  where  the 
Opera  House  now  stands,  and  two  years  later 
came  to  the  present  location,  36  E.  Tuscarawas, 
which  property  they  bought.  The  business  is 
successful,  and  now  employs  six  to  I'ight  men, 
and  do  all  classes  of  granite  and  marble  work. 
In  1858,  he  married  Miss  Catharine  Rist,  a 
native  of  German}'.  They  have  three  children, 
viz.:  Albert,  Edward  and  Louisa. 

WILLIAM  BERtr,  manufacturer  of  car- 
riages, wagons,  and  repairer.  Canton  ;  is  a 
native  of  Gettysburg,  Penn.  ;  he  was  born  in 
the  3'ear  1832.  His  early  life  was  spent  in  the 
neighboring  counties  ;  in  1846  they  moved  to 
Pittsburgh.  William  worked  at  cutting  nails, 
and  assisted  his  father,  who  was  a  wagon 
manufacturer.  He  finally  apprenticed  himself 
to  wagon  making  in  Allegheny  City,  and  com- 
pleted his  trade  at  the  age  of  23,  and  opened  a 
shop  in  tliat  city,  where  he  married  Miss  Mar- 
garet Stephens,  of  Washington  Co,,  Penn.  In 
his  24th  year  he  came  to  Ohio,  and  bought  and 
built  a  place  in  Dunganon,  Columbiana  Co., 
where  he  conducted  business  for  nine  years. 
He  then  sold  out  and  came  to  Canton,  Ohio 


i,  ^ 


^ 


CITY   0¥    CANTON. 


601 


(J  866).  and  has  followed  his  business  here 
since.  He]does  a  flrst-class  job  of  home-made 
work,  and  makes  a  specialty  of  repairing.  Of  a 
family  of  eleven  children,  nine  are  living. 

JO'f^El'H  BIECIIKLK.  manufacturer  of 
soaps,  etc.,  Canton.  Thi.s  gentleman  is  a 
native  of  Germany,  but  has  been  for  many 
years  a  resident  of  Canton,  of  which  place  he 
has  grown  to  be  one  of  the  leading  citizens, 
lie  succeeded  his  brotiicr.  Mr.  C.  Hicchcle,  in 
liusiness,  who  founded  the  Inisiness  over  tiiirty 
years  ago.  The  manufacture  was  begun  in  a 
small  way,  and  gradually  grew  to  its  present  pro- 
portions ;  the  main  building  now  occupied  is  a 
two-storj"  brick,  covering  an  area  of  T.'txii'Mi  feet, 
and  an  extensive  trade  is  eslal)lishi'd  in  all 
their  brands  of  manufacture,  to  which  Mr. 
Biechele  gives  his  personal  attention.  He  is 
also  identified  with  the  insurance  interests  of 
the  city,  he  being  President  of  the  Canton 
Mutual. 

LAWRENCE  BECHEL,  blacksmith.  Can- 
ton ;  is  a  native  of  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  He 
was  born  in  Canton  Hec.  17,  1830,  and  is 
seventh  in  a  family  of  thirteen  born  to  Phillip 
and  Kosanna  (Chandel)  Bechel.  They  were 
natives  of  Alsace,  France.  They  married 
in  their  native  land,  and  came  to  Canton 
Nov.  28,  1830.  He  was  a  blacksmith,  and  fol- 
lowed his  trade  in  Canton  for  many  years. 
Latterly,  he  followed  loi'k-smithing.  He  died 
Oct.  10,  1855.  Mrs.  Bechel  died  .March  14, 
186(1.  Of  their  familv,  our  subject  and  iiis  four 
sisters — Mrs.  Melvin,  Mrs.  Baxter,  .Mrs.  Heigler 
and  Mrs.  Becher,  all  of  Canton — are  the  only 
survivors.  Our  subject  has  always  lived  in  his 
native  city,  residing  on  his  present  place  since 
he  was  less  than  2  years  of  age.  He  early  as- 
sisted his  father  in  the  shop,  and  engaged  regu- 
larly therein  when  about  16  years  of  age,  and, 
excepting  about  two  years,  has  followed  the 
business  since.  He  has  served  in  the  City 
Council  of  Canton  for  two  terras,  also  as  Town- 
ship Trustee  for  three  years.  Nov.  22,  1855, 
he  married  Miss  Maria  I'hillips.  a  native  of 
.\lsace,  France.  She  came  to  Canton  with  her 
parents.  Of  eight  children  born  to  this  mar- 
riage, seven  are  living,  viz. :  (Miarles  B.,  Henry 
J.,  Mary,  Emma,  Clara,  Francis  and  Mcna. 

ROBERT  A.  CASSIKY.  editor  and  pro- 
prietor of  the  Canton  Urjnih/itun  :  was  born  at 
Blairsville,  Penn.,  Dec,  2(1,  1839.  In  July, 
1856,  he  entered  the  office  of  the  True  American 


to  learn  the  printing  trade,  in  his  native  town  ; 
in  February  following  he  removed  to  Belle- 
fonte,  Penn.,  where  he  linished  his  trade  in  the 
office  of  the  (^eutcr  Ihiiiticnit,  and  pursued  his 
calling  until  August,  1862,  when  he  enlisted  in 
Co.  H,  of  the  148th  Penn.  \ .  I.,  and  at  the  organi- 
zation of  the  regiment  he  was  appointed  Prin- 
cipal Musician,  in  which  position  he  served 
until  the  clos(!  of  the  war.  In  1860,  he  was 
married  to  .Miss  Carrie  M.  Johnson,  of  Belle- 
foute,  Penn.  They  removed  from  Penns3lvania 
to  Canton,  Oliio.  in  August,  1865,  and  for  a  few 
months  Mr.  Cassidy  was  emplo3ed  on  the 
Siiirk  ('riiiiitii  III iiiililiran.  After  a  brief  en- 
gagement in  other  kinds  of  business,  he  entered 
the  employ  of  E.  Rail  &  Co.,  manufacturers  of 
mowers,  reai)ers  and  threshers,  and  in  October, 
1870,  was  elected  actuary  of  the  concern,  and 
continued  in  that  position  until  October.  1880, 
when  he  established  the  ('itntmi  Jlcptihliccin. 
Jlr.  and  Mrs.  Cassidy  have  a  family  of  six 
children.  Since  his  residence  in  Canton  he  has 
been  continuously  identified  with  the  manage 
ment  of  municipal  afl^'airs,  as  a  member  of  the 
City  Council,  Boards  of  Education  and  Board 
of  Health. 

HENRY  A.  CAVNAH,  book-keeper,  Can- 
ton ;  son  of  Mr.  S.  Cavnah,  who  was  one 
of  Canton's  early  manufacturers.  He  became 
a  resident  of  Canton  in  1832.  where  he 
worked  at  his  trade  (that  of  a  wheelwright) 
until  about  185(1,  when  he  began  the  manufact- 
ure of  furniture,  doing  his  first  work  with  the 
old-style  fool  lathe.  He  made  rapid  progress 
in  the  business,  and  in  1861  he  had  a  stock  of 
about  $10,(I0(»,  and  employed  twenty-five  men. 
In  1861,  he  began  the  wholesale  trade,  which 
he  continued  until  18(!5,  when  he  sold  out  and 
went  to  Indiana,  and  is  now  a  resident  of  Bour- 
bon, of  that  State.  The  son,  Henr}-  A.,  was 
born  in  Canton,  in  1844,  and  remained  with  his 
father  most  of  the  time  until  the  breaking-out 
of  the  rebellion  of  1861,  when  he  enlisted  in 
Co,  1,  ()4th  O.  V.  I.,  for  three  years  service, 
after  serving  which  he  veteranized.  He  enlisted 
as  a  private,  and  was  in  the  ranks  for  abont 
three  years.  At  the  battle  of  Stone  River  he 
was  promoted  to  Sergeant.  In  1864,  he  was 
detailed  Chief  Clerk  in  Cumberland  Hospital, 
and  had  charge  of  the  death  records,  furloughs, 
etc.  He  participated  in  many  of  the  hard- 
fought  battles,  among  which  was  the  battle  of 
Shiloh.  April  6.  1862;  siege  of  Corinth,  May. 


r 


G02 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 


18G2.  They  then  went  on  Buell's  famous 
'  march,  after  this  the  battle  of  Perry  ville.  They 
then  followed  Kirby  Smith  to  Hall's  Gap,  K3'.  ; 
then  up  to  Nashville,  Tcnn.,  for  winter  quar- 
ters. Dec,  31,  1862,  they  fought  at  Stone  River 
until  Jan.  3,  1863;  then  went  in  camp  at 
Mnrfreesboro  for  six  months.  Their  next  bat- 
tle was  Tullahonia,  then  followed  Chattanooga, 
Chickamauga,  Lookout  Mountain,  and  the  fa- 
mouseharge  of  Mission  Uidge;  thence  to  the  siege 
of  Knoxville.  and  from  there  to  a  )5lace  called 
main's  Cross  Roads,  Tenn.,  where  the  regiment 
veteranized  on  Jan.  1,  1804.  He  came  home 
on  a  furlough,  and  returned  in  the  following 
March.  Shortly  after  returning  to  duty,  they 
went  on  the  memorable  Atlanta  campaign. 
After  the  battle  of  Nashville,  the  regiment  was 
on  its  waj'  to  Richmond,  when  Lee  surrendered. 
They  were  mustered  out  in  January,  18GC. 
After  leaving  the  army,  Mr.  Cavnah  went  to 
Texas  for  a  short  time,  and  then  to  Bourbon, 
Ind.,  where  he  remained  about  four  years.  He 
then  returned  to  Canton,  and  was  with  H.  H. 
Myers  for  about  five  and  a  half  years,  and  ihen 
changed  to  his  present  position — chief  book- 
keeper for  Bucher,  Gibbs  &Co.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  (i.  A.  R.,  and  agent  of  Canton  Post, 
No.  25.  He  is  also  a  member  of  K.  of  H.  In 
1867,  he  married  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  John 
Neesz.  She  died  in  1873,  leaving  him  one  son 
and  one  daughter.  In  1876,  he  married  Miss 
Sail}-,  daughter  of  Robert  Van  Horn.  One  son 
and  a  daughter  are  the  fruits  of  his  second 
marriage.  Mr.  Cavnah  has  been  a  member 
of  the  United  Brethren  Church  for  the  past 
eleven  j'ears,  and  is  their  local  minister. 

C.  B.  CAMPBELL,  carpenter,  Canton;  Sup- 
erintendent of  the  large  manufacturing  estab- 
lishment of  John  Banner ;  has  been  a  resident 
of  Canton  for  about  thirteen  j'ears,  his  native 
place  being  Dane  Co.,  Wis.,  where  his  father  (see 
sketch  of  James  Campbell)  resided  for  some 
years.  In  186;>,  he  began  learning  his  trade 
with  his  father,  with  whom  he  remained  until 
1874.  In  1875,  he  built  the  first  case  for  Mr. 
Banner.  He  was  married  in  18G5,  to  Miss  C. 
L.,  daughter  of  Thomas  C.  Cuningham.  Two 
children  ha\e  been  born  to  them.  Mr.  Camp- 
bell is  a  member  of  the  I.  0.  U.  W.,  and  is, 
though  a  young  man,  one  who  has  for  a  number 
of  years  filled  a  responsible  position.  ' 

DANIEL  COBAUGH,   manufacturer,   Can-  , 
ton ;  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Cobaugh  &  ' 


Kuhns,  proprietors  of  the  Steel  Spring  manu- 
factor\',  known  as  the  Canton  Spring  Company ; 
is  a  native  of  Stark  County,  of  which  his  par- 
ents became  settlers  as  early  as  1834.  In  1853, 
he  began  work  for  Ball,  Aultman  &  Co.,  and 
subsequently  worked  for  E.  Ball.  He  changed 
again  and  became  identified  with  the  firm  of 
Ballard,  Fast  &  Co.,  and  in  1878,  began  busi- 
ness on  his  own  account  in  a  part  of  the  old 
Ballard,  Fast  &  Co.'s  shop.  The  space  occupied 
by  the  firm  at  present  is  about  40x450  feet. 
They  give  employment  to  about  seventy-five 
men,  and  have  a  monthly  paj'-roll  of  $3,000. 
Annually  they  use  about  four  hundred  tons  of 
steel,  and  have  a  sale  of  maimfactured  goods 
of  about  $150,000.  They  are  live,  energetic 
business  men,  and  have,  by  their  own  energy 
and  good  financiering,  placed  themselves  among 
the  leading  manufacturers  of  Canton. 

JAMES  CAMPBELL,  lumber.  Canton, 
whose  name  is  familiar  to  the  citizens  of  Can- 
ton, is  a  native  of  Poitage  Co.,  Ohio,  and  was 
born  in  1818.  His  earlier  life  was  .spent  in  a 
new  country,  with  but  little  opportunity  of  ob- 
taining an  education.  At  about  18  years  of 
age,  he  began  serving  an  apprenticeship  of  three 
and  one  half  years,  at  learning  the  trade  of  a 
carpenter.  During  this  time  he  received  $36 
per  year,  but  was  obliged  to  buy  his  own  cloth- 
ing. Having  friends  in  the  state  of  Mississippi, 
after  finishing  his  trade,  he  went  to  Vicksburg, 
and  engaged  in  work.  He  was  at  "jour " 
work  in  the  South  about  four  years,  when  he 
returned  North,  and  engaged  in  work  in  Canton. 
He  has  §ince  remained  a  resident  of  this  city, 
except  a  short  time  spent  in  Iowa.  It  was  dur- 
ing his  stay  in  that  State  that  the  war  of  the 
rebellion  broke  out.  He  entered  the  Federal 
army  in  September,  1861,  and  continued  in 
the  service  of  his  country  until  September, 
1865.  He  entered  the  service  as  a  private,  in 
Co.  L.,  3d  W.  V.  C,  and  was  mustered  out  as 
Captain  of  Co.  D.  During  the  four  years  of  his 
service  his  command  was  on  duty  west  of  the 
Mississippi  River.  He  is  now  Quartermaster  of 
this  post  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 
In  their  business,  the  firm  of  Campbell  & 
Son,  stand  second  to  none  in  Stark  Countj'. 
The  firm  was  formerly  Campbell,  Eck  &  Co., 
but  on  April  1,  1881,  changed  to  the  present 
proprietors.  Their  business  is  now  confined  to 
the  lumber  trade  and  to  the  manufacture  of 
builders'   supplies,  though  formerlj'   they   did 


^ 


CITY    OF    CANTON. 


603 


contracting  and  building,  and  as  an  evi- 
dence of  their  enterprise,  the  Starl<  County 
Court  House,  and  the  First  Baptist  Church 
of  Canton,  as  well  as  many  other  private 
and  public  buildings,  are  still  standing  as 
monuments  of  their  workmanship.  A  little 
of  the  genealogy  and  history  of  the  family 
may  be  of  much  interest  in  connection  with 
the  above.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject 
— by  tile  same  name — was  a  native  of  Scot- 
land ;  his  father,  John  Campbell,  was  a  native 
of  Soutli  Carolina,  and  his  mother,  Rebecca 
Marshall,  was  a  native  of  Chester  Co.,  Penn. 
James  was  the  eighth  child,  and  fifth  son  born 
to  them  of  a  family  of  seven  .sons  and  three 
daughters.  John  Campbell  became  a  resi- 
dent of  Marlborough  Tp.  in  1808,  though 
he  remained  but  a  few  j'ears  and  then  re- 
moved just  across  the  line  to  Portage  County. 
Our  subject,  married  Miss  Susan  Eck.  whose 
people  were  among  the  early  comers  to  Stark 
County.  Four  children  have  been  born  to  them, 
viz.:  Joseph  M.,  now  of  the  firm  of  J.  Campbell 
&  Son.;  Charles  B.,  for  the  past  four  years  Su- 
perintendent for  J.  Danuer.  of  Canton;  Amanda, 
(deceased),  and  James  F.,  for  the  past  three 
years  a  resident  of  Canon  City,  Colorado,  and 
at  present,  a  stockholder  and  cashier  of  the  Fre- 
mont County  Bank,  where  he  began  on  a  salary 
of  S40  per  month. 

HKXRY  CORL,  of  (Jorl  &  Rauk,  Canton  City 
Mills,  Canton  ;  is  a  native  of  Lancaster  Co., 
Penn.,  born  Feb.  10,  1887.  His  mother  died 
when  he  was  about  7  years  of  age,  and  he  went 
to  live  with  an  uncle  who  was  a  miller.  Henry 
worked  about  the  mill  until  he  was  Iti  years  of 
age  ;  he  then  engaged  at  another  mill,  and 
worked  until  1855,  when  he  came  to  Stark 
County  and  worked  in  a  mill  at  Navarre,  where 
his  father  had  moved  some  years  previous. 
From  Navarre  he  went  to  a  mill  north  of  Mas- 
sillon.  after  which  he  worked  at  various  mills, 
and  in  February,  1880,  in  company  with  his 
brother-in-law.  Mr.  Rauk,  bouglit  the  present 
mill,  which  they  have  continued  since.  In 
]8(J4,  he  enlisted' in  the  IC.fith  ().  N.  (i,,  and 
served  about  four  months,  Feb,  15,  1860,  he 
married  Miss  .Margaret  Taylor,  a  native  of  Stark 
County,  She  died  in  1872  ;  of  their  four  chil- 
dren, two  an!  living,  viz.  :  Harrison  and  William. 
.March  4,  1S75,  he  married  .^liss  Sarah  Rank,  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  They  have  three  chil- 
dren, viz.  :  Howard,  Kent  and  Isaac. 


GEORGE  COOK  (deceased).  Mr,  Cook  was 
born  near  Clinton,  Summit  Co,,  Ohio,  Feb,  2, 
1827,  and  died  at  his  home  in  Canton,  Stark 
Co,,  Ohio,  May  3,  1879,  In  his  youth  he  en- 
joyed the  limited  facilities  offered  by  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  place,  and  gained 
thereby  a  good  practical  education.  At  an 
early  age  he  was  thrown  upon  his  own  resources 
and  made  his  start  in  life  b^'  learning  the  wagon- 
maker's  trade,  which  he  worked  at  in  tireen- 
town,  Ohio,  until  1849,  and  earl^-  gave  token  of 
his  future  advancement.  About  the  year  1849, 
in  company  with  C.  Aultman,  Jacob  and  Lewis 
Miller,  Col,  Ephraim  Ball  and  others,  he  came 
to  (^'anton  and  established  on  a  small  scale  a 
mower  and  reaper  manufactory.  In  18()5,  the 
company-  became  a  stock  concern,  of  which  Mr. 
Cook  was  a  heavy  sUjckholder  and  director. 
For  man}-  years  he  served  as  Assistant  Super- 
intendent and  was  universally  esteemed  and 
respected  by  the  employes.  Beginning  with 
nothing  but  the  sterling  qualities  of  honesty 
and  industry,  he  gradually  amassed  a  hand- 
some competency'.  He  also  served  faithfull}' 
and  efficiently  in  his  position  as  director  of 
the  Aultman,  Miller  it  Co,  manufacturing  es- 
tablishment, of  Akron  Ohio,  The  Akron  Iron 
Co,,  the  First  National  Bank  of  Canton  and  the 
Valley  Railroad,  all  commendable  public  enter- 
prises, received  his  sanction  and  the  impetus  of 
his  benevolence.  He  was  a  pronounced  tem- 
perance man  and  in  politics  a  Republican  ;  for 
over  a  scoi-e  of  years  he  was  interested  in  the 
welfare  of  the  society  connected  with  the  First 
Baptist  Church  of  Canton,  and  for  many  years 
served  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees 
of  same.  About  two  3ears  before  his  death, 
he  was  baptized  into  this  church,  and  from  that 
time  became  deeply  interested  in  its  spiritual 
welfare  ;  he  officiated  as  Deacon,  and  honored 
that  relation  to  the  church  as  he  had  done  all 
others  in  life.  For  his  high  spirit  of  benevo- 
lence he  was  well  known,  for  besides  his  smaller 
benefactions,  he  contributed  $30,000  to  the 
erection  of  the  beautiful  church  edifice,  thus 
leaving  a  memorial,  the  benefits  of  which  can 
be  enjoyed  by  the  whole  community.  His  de- 
.sire  to  benefit  humanity  and  his  great  .sympa- 
th}-  with  the  unfortunate,  were  marked  traits 
in  his  character,  Mr,  Cook  married  Dec,  5, 
1857,  Mary,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Wear}',  of 
Marlborough,  a  noble,  devoted,  generous,  Chris- 
tian woman,  who  still  resides  in  Canton,    Three 


l^ 


604 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


sons  and  three  daughters  were  born,  five  of 
whom  are  living. 

DR.  S.  A.  CONKLIN,  ph\sician,  Canton  ;  is 
a  native  of  Washington  Co.,  Penn.,  and  was 
born  Feb.  10,  1841.  He  was  brought  up  on  the 
farm,  receiving  his  education  in  the  district 
schools  and  earl}'  began  teaching  during  the 
winter  months.  At  the  age  of  20,  he  attended 
Millsboro  xVormal  School,  receiving  a  certificate 
from  it  in  1862,  after  which  he  taught  school, 
and  in  1863,  graduated  from  Dutl's  Commercial 
College,  at  Pittsliurgh.  He  commenced  read- 
ing medicine  in  1864,  with  Dr.  John  Kelley,  of 
Claysville,  Washington  Co.,  Penn.,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1867,  graduated  from  the  Medical 
Department  of  the  Western  Reserve  College, 
located  at  Cleveland,  Ohio.  Previous  to  his 
graduation,  he  practiced  two  years  at  Belle 
Vernon,  Fayette  Co.,  Penn.,  bis  circumstances 
not  permitting  his  continuous  attendance  at 
college.  After  graduating,  he  continued  prac- 
tice at  Belle  Vernon  some  five  or  six  years,  and 
then,  in  1873,  came  to  Canton,  where  he  has 
since  practiced.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ameri- 
can Medical  Association  ;  of  the  Union  Medi- 
cal Association,  of  Northeastern  Ohio,  and  of 
the  Stark  County  Medical  Society,  of  which  he 
has  served  as  Secretary.  He  is  also  a  member 
of  the  Board  of  Education — elected  in  1880, 
and  in  1881  was  appointed  Clerk  of  Board.  In 
1881.  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Health  by  the  City  Council.  He  was  married 
June  2,  1868,  to  Miss  Laura  Bugher,  of  Faj'- 
ette  Co.,  Penn.  They  have  three  children,  viz.  : 
Harry,  Lulu  and  Robert. 

DR.  INI.  M.  CATLIN,  physician.  Can- 
ton ;  is  a  native  of  Herkimer  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and 
was  liorn  Aug.  15,  1846.  He  was  brought  up 
on  his  father's  farm.  Soon  after  his  father's 
death,  which  occurred  when  he  was  but  9  years 
old,  he  hired  out,  for  his  board  and  clothes,  going 
to  school  during  the  winter  months  ;  and  also 
received  a  course  at  the  West  Winfield  Acad- 
emy, taking  the  first  prize  for  declamation. 
He  continued  on  the  farm  until  the  age  of  17, 
when  he  enlisted  in  Co.  D,  46th  N.  Y."V.  V.  I., 
and  served  two  years,  participating  in  all  the 
principal  engagements  during  his  term,  among 
them,  the  Wilderness,  Cold  Harbor,  Petersburg, 
the  capture  of  Richmond,  and  was  at  the  sur- 
render of  Lee  at  Appomattox.  After  his  return 
from  the  arm}',  his  health  not  being  good, 
he  took  up  the  study  of  medicine  in  the  fall  of 


1865,  with  Dr.  Nathan  Spencer,  of  East  Win- 
field,  N.  Y.,  and  in  1868  he  graduated  from  the 
Cleveland  Homa'opathic  Hospital  College.  A 
few  months  later  he  commenced  practice  at 
Brookfleld,  N.  Y.,  where  he  remained  about 
three  years,  and  then  moved  to  Massillon,  Ohio, 
in  1871  ;  he  came  on  a  tour  of  inspection,  and 
was  so  well  pleased  that  he  concluded  to  remain. 
He  practiced  four  yeai-s  at  Massillon.  and  then 
moved  to  Canton,  where  he  has  since  remained. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  American  Institute  of 
Homceopathy,  and  of  the  Ilomceopathic  Medi- 
cal Society  of  Northeastern  Ohio  ;  of  the  latter 
he  has  been  Secretary  for  two  years.  He  was 
married  Jan.  27, 1869,  to  Miss  Rozella  D.  Clark, 
a  native  of  Brookfield,  N.  Y. ;  they  have  three 
children,  viz. :     Grace,  Homer  and  Mary. 

PETER  CHANCE,  lawyer.  Canton;  is  a 
native  of  Harrison  Co.,  Ohio,  and  was  born  in 
1 835.  He  is  a  son  of  Perry  and  Lavina  (Reuble) 
Chance ;  his  father  was  a  native  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, and  his  mother  of  Virginia;  his  grandfather, 
Benjamin  Chance,  settled  on  the  Ohio  River, 
and  ran  the  first  white  man's  ferry  between 
Wheeling  and  Wellsville,  at  a  very  early  day  ; 
subseiiuently  removing  to  Harrison  Co.,  where  he 
died  ;  his  maternal  grandfather,  Reuble,  was 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  Harrison  Co.,  Ohio  ;  his 
parents  were  married  there,  and  engaged  in 
farming  their  some  j'ears  ;  they  came  to  Stark 
Co.  in  1827,  settling  in  Lexington  Tp.,  where 
his  father  cleared  the  land  upon  which  Alliance 
now  stands;  he  sold  to  parties  who  subsequently 
laid  out  the  city,  and  removed  to  Washington 
Tp.,  farming  there  for  some  fifteen  years,  and 
then  moving  back  to  Lexington,  where  the 
remainder  of  his  days  were  passed.  Of  a  fam- 
ily of  ten  children  our  subject  is  the  sixth  child. 
He  passed  his  earlier  years  upon  the  farm,  and 
at  the  age  of  19  went  to  learn  the  blacksmith's 
trade,  working  at  it  for  four  months,  when,  by 
the  premature  discharge  of  a  cannon,  he  lost 
his  left  hand,  which  prevented  his  further  work 
at  that  calling.  He  soon  after  came  to  Canton 
and  began  attending  a  select  school,  and  soon 
after  began  teaching,  together  with  the  duties 
of  Deputy  Sheriff  under  George  M.  Webb, 
Sherifl',  continuing  for  four  years.  In  1852,  he 
was  elected  Recorder  of  Stark  Co..  and  in  1855 
was  re-elected,  serving  in  all  six  years  ;  while 
Recorder  he  was  appointed  Mayor  of  Canton  by 
the  Council,  and  the  following  spring  elected  by 
the  people,  serving  three  terms.    After  his  term  of 


!L^ 


CITY    OF    CANTON. 


605 


office  as  Recorder  had  expired,  he  was  connect- 
ed with  the  Ball  .^ranufacturinu;  Company,  as 
Clerk  for  two  years,  and  for  four  sessions  was 
Sergeant-at- Arms  of  the  Assembly-,  at  Columbus. 
Prior  to  his  election  as  Recorder,  he  had  made 
the  stud}- oflaw  a  specialty,  readingwith  Dunbar. 
In  18(j2.  he  was  eleeled  SlicrinTof  llie  county,  and 
subsequently  served  a  second  term,  durint;  which 
time  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  After  his 
term  of  office  as  Sherift"  had  expired,  he  was 
engaged  at  farming  in  the  township  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  subsequently  beconjing  connected 
with  the  Canton  Bridge  Couqiany,  as  Treasurer, 
which  association  lasted  two  years.  He  then 
opened  a  law  office  in  Canton,  to  the  practice  of 
which  he  has  since  given  his  attention.  Mr. 
Chance,  in  all  of  the  numerous  offices  to  which 
lie  has  been  selected,  has  administered  the 
duties  with  honor  and  fidelity  ;  he  has  also  been 
Treasurer  of  the  city,  and  was  one  of  the  organ- 
izers of  the  Gas  Company,  and  has  been  Presi- 
dent and  Secretary  of  that  organization.  He 
was  united  in  marriage  in  1858  to  Miss  Ellen 
Scott,  of  Philadelphia,  Penn. ;  they  have  seven 
children — Walter  S.,  a  lawyer,  formerly  in  prac- 
tice in  Canton,  is  now  in  the  Custom  House  in 
Philadelphia:  George  W,,  with  the  Russell  Co., 
Canton;  Norman  H.,  a  jeweler  in  Canton ; 
Jennie  May,  P.  Wade.  Perry  Robert  and  Lo- 
renzo Whiting.  Mr.  Chance  had  three  broth- 
ers, two  now  living — Henry  Chance,  known  as 
the  "Buckeye  Broadaxe.'  a  prominent  lecturer 
on  temperance,  and  a  resident  of  Wood  Co., 
Ohio  ;  Jesse  Chance,  a  carpenter  and  farmer  of 
Eaton  Co.,  Mich.  ;  and  Perry  Chance,  a  school 
teacher,  who  was  a  graduate  of  the  Medical 
Cellege  of  Cleveland,  and  a  practicing  physi- 
cian ;  he  was  in  the  service,  and  while  there 
contracted  a  disease  which  was  the  cause  of  his 
death,  several  years  after,  while  a  resident  of 
Minnesota. 

JOHN  F.  CLARK,  Secretarv  Canton  Mutual 
Fire  Insurance  Company,  Canton  ;  is  a 
native  of  Washington  Co.,  Penn.  He  was  raised 
on  the  farm  where  he  lived  for  twenty-seven 
years;  he  conducted  his  father's  stock  business, 
and  on  becoming  27  he  removed  to  Iowa,  where 
he  farmed  on  his  own  account,  in  Lee  Co.,  for 
about  six  years.  In  August,  18()4.  he  came  to 
Canton,  Ohio,  and  engaged  as  local  agent  in  the 
fire  and  life  insurance  business.  In  1870,  he, 
with  others,  organized  the  present  Canton  Mu- 
tual  Fire   Insurance    Company,   of   which   he 


became  the  Secretary,  and  after  about  seven 
months  he  was  elected  President ;  in  June, 
1870,  he  resigned  his  position,  and  became 
Secretar}-,  holding  that  office  at  the  present 
time.  In  1856,  he  married  Miss  Pamela  M. 
Alexander,  a  native  of  Washington  Co. ;  by 
the  marriage  there  have  been  born  four  chil- 
dren. Mr.  Clark  is  a  Republican,  and  was  a 
member  of  the  first  convention  that  party  held 
in  his  native  county.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
and  closely  associated  with  the  Presbyterian 
Church. 

W.  A.  CREECH.  Treasurer  Peerless  Reaper 
Company.  Canton.  This  gentleman  came 
to  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1871,  locating  at  Alliance, 
where  he  became  book-keeper  for  the  Alliance 
Rolling  Jlill  Company,  and  in  1875  he  came  to 
Canton,  and  served  as  Deputy  Auditor,  and 
was  appointed  Auditor  in  1879.  .\bout  the 
same  time  he  was  elected  Treasurer  of  the 
Peerless  Reaper  Company,  and  accepted  the  lat- 
ter position,  appointing  a  deputy  to  act  in  his 
place  as  Auditor;  he  has  continued  his  position 
as  Treasurer  since. 

W.  B.  DEWEES,  hats,  caps  and  gents"  fur- 
nishing goods,  Canton  ;  is  a  son  of  George 
M.  Dewces,  who  was  well  known  all  over  the 
county  as  a  man  of  fine  education  and  a 
superior  artist  and  mechanic.  He  came  to  Stark 
Co.  from  Penns^dvania,  about  1859,  locating  in 
Osnaburg  Tp.,  where  he  continued  to  reside 
until  his  death.  He  took  a  great  interest  in 
politics,  and  was  a  superior  banner  painter,  in 
which  line  he  was  not  excelled  ;  he  was  also  a 
fine  engraver,  and  possessed  wonderful  mechan- 
ical genius.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  since  the  age  of  14 
has  been  engaged  in  active  mercantile  life. 
He  came  to  Stark  Co.  in  1800  and  in  1862 
came  to  Canton  and  engaged  as  clerk  for  R.  C. 
Kimball,  in  the  dry  goods  line,  remaining  with 
him  for  about  four  years ;  he  next  engaged  in 
the  grocery  business,  with  a  partner  ;  subse- 
quentl}-  returning  to  the  dry  goods  business,  at 
which  he  continued  with  dittcrent  parties  until 
1867,  when  he  purchased  the  stock  of  Miller, 
in  the  hat  and  cap  business  in  Opera  Block  ; 
subseciuently  removing  to  the  Eagle  Block, 
where  he  remained  until  1868,  when  he  removed 
to  his  present  location.  His  stock  has  been 
increasing  each  year,  until,  at  the  present  time, 
it  comprises  a  magnificent  line  in  all  of  its  de- 
partments, and  is  as  full  and  complete  as  can 


^ 


606 


mOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 


be  found  in  any  house  in  any  of  the  larger 
cities.  Mr.  Dewees  is  a  popular  business  mau. 
an  enterprisinj;  and  valuable  citizeu.  He  was 
united  in  marriage  in  1859  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Lape,  of  Pennsylvania.  Thej'  have  three  chil- 
dren living — William  W.,  Sadie  and  Lizzie. 

GEORGE  DEUBLE.  jewelry.  Canton.  The 
pioneer  jeweler  of  Canton  is  a  native  of 
Schuylkill  Co..  Fenn.  His  father,  George  W. 
I>euble,  was  a  native  of  Baden.  German}-,  as 
was  also  his  mother.  Their  first  locating  in 
the  United  States  was  in  Phihidelphia.  from 
whence  they  removed  to  Schuylkill  Co.  Penu., 
where  their  two  sons  were  born,  our  subject  and 
an  older  brother.  Martin.  In  1832.  the  family 
became  residents  of  Stark  Co.  The  father  en- 
gaged in  the  jewelry  trade  in  Canton,  which  he 
conducted  until  1851.  when  he  retireil.  and  the 
business  was  conducted  by  the  sons  until  the 
death  of  Martin,  which  occurred  in  1875.  since 
which  time  it  has  been  in  the  hands  of  the  pres- 
ent proprietor.  So  much  of  his  life  has  been 
spent  in  Canton  in  connection  with  different 
social  societies  as  to  have  made  him  well  known. 
He  and  family  are  members  of  the  German  Re- 
form ed Church,  his  wife  being  the  daughter  of 
the  Rev.  P.  Herbruck.  Pastor  of  the  German 
Reformed  Church  of  Canton,  and  one  of  the  old- 
est and  best  known  ministers  of  the  cit}'.  Mr. 
Deiible  has  been  organist  in  this  church  since 
he  was  tifteen  years  old.  He  is  also  a  meml)er 
of  the  order  of  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.;  is  a  Democrat, 
and.  in  the  spring  of  1881.  he  was  made  a  mem- 
ber of  the  School  Board  of  Canton.  He  is  in 
every  way  worthy  to  be  identified  with  the  mer- 
cantile or  social  interests  of  a  city,  and  his 
present  good  reputation  is  proof  of  the  esteem 
and  confidence  of  the  community. 

JOHN  BANNER,  manufacturer  of  revolving 
book  and  goods  cases.  Canton  :  was  born  in 
Canton  March  10.  1823,  and  is  a  son  of  Jacob 
and  Anne  (Slusser)  Danner,  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania, the  former  of  whom  came  to  Ohio 
about  the  year  1812  with  his  parents,  who  were 
also  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  He  was  raised  on 
the  farm  in  Pennsylvania,  and  learned  the  gun- 
smith's trade,  and.  upon  coming  to  Ohio,  engaged 
in  that  trade  in  Canton.  He  was  a  great  hunter, 
and,  it  is  said,  killed  the  last  wolf  in  Stark  (jO. 
He  died  in  1844  ;  his  widow,  at  the  age  of  79 
j-ears,  is  still  living  with  her  daughters  in  Can- 
t<3n.  John  (subject)  was  raised  in  Canton,  and 
at  the  age  of  13,  became  a  clerk  for  Martin 


Wikidal,  and  remained  with  him  four  j^ears  ; 
then  went  to  Massillon,  where  he  was  similarly 
emploj'ed,  until  at  the  end  of  five  3-ears.  he  en- 
gaged in  clothing  business  on  his  own  account 
for  four  3-ears.  and  then  removed  to  Canton, 
continuing  in  the  same  business  most  of  the 
time,  until  1876.  when  he  sold  out.  He  is  of 
an  inventive  turn,  and  has  taken  out  letters 
patent  on  some  twenty  or  more  inventions  of  his 
owu  in  the  past  fifteen  years,  among  which  are 
patents  on  sleeping-cars,  now  embodied  in  the 
Woodrutr  and  Pullman  Cars.  He  patented  the 
Revolving  Book  and  Goods  Cases  in  1874,  and 
has  since  made  several  improvements.  Since 
187t).  he  has  ilevotcd  his  entire  attention  to  its 
manufacture,  largely  increasing  it.  until  at  the 
present  time,  he  sells  goods  in  every  State  and 
Territor}-  in  the  Union  and  in  foreign  countries, 
employing  some  twenty-five  skilled  workmen. 
Mr.  D.  has  served  a  number  of  terms  on  the 
School  Board  and  in  the  City  Council,  and  has 
been  Whig  and  then  Republican  in  politics  ; 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  since 
1842.  and  taken  an  active  interest  in  its  affairs. 
He  and  his  wife  are  the  only  two  original  mem- 
bers of  the  Baptist  Church  now  left,  which  was 
organized  in  1849.  He  was  married  Oct.'  4, 
1847,  to  Miss  Theresa  A.  Millard,  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania.  Her  father  was  first  cousin  to 
Millard  Fillmore,  A'ice  President  of  the  United 
States,  under  Zacharv  Tayloi'.  By  this  mar- 
riage there  were  seven  children,  six  of  whom 
are  liviug — Mary,  Alice,  Hattie  'now  Mrs. 
Campbell,  of  Caiion  City.  Col,).  Esther.  John 
Millard  and  Almina. 

Z.  M.  DAVIS,  of  B.  M.  Davis  &  Co.,  millers. 
Canton  ;  is  a  native  of  Chester  Co.,  Peun.,  and 
was  born  Aug.  2,  1817.  His  father.  Zaccheus 
Davis,  was  a  miller,  and  Z.  M.  was  brought  up 
to  the  same  business,  living  in  his  native  coun- 
ty until  1852.  From  1843  to  1852.  he  was  on 
the  Philadelphia  &  Columbia  Railroad  (now 
Pennsylvania  Central)  as  fireman  and  engineer. 
In  1852,  he  came  to  Canton,  Ohio,  and  run  on 
the  Ohio  and  Pennsylvania  Railroad  (now  P., 
Ft.  W.  &  C.  Railroad)  for  five  years.  In  1857, 
he  rented  a  mill  seven  miles  north  of  Canton, 
and  operated  it  for  four  3ears,  after  which  he 
removed  to  Canton,  and  run  a  mill  just  south 
of  the  city  for  James  A.  Saxton  two  3'ears, 
when,  in  company  with  David  Lind,  he  built 
the  BJuckeye  Mills  of  Canton.  Thej-  continued 
in  the  business  about  three  years,  when  Mr.  D. 


k. 


CITY    OF    CANTOX. 


607 


sold  out  and  built  his  present  mill,  known  as 
the  '•  Snow-flake  Mills.  "  having  five  run  of 
buhrs.  and  has  continued  in  the  business  ever 
since,  his  son  Zeb.  being  his  partner.  .Mr. 
Davis  has  served  on  tiie  Canton  School  Board 
for  six  years.  He  was  married  in  January. 
1841.  to  Miss  Sara!)  Essick,  a  native  of  Chester 
Co..  Penu.  They  liave  five  children,  viz.  :  Ann 
E.  (now  Mrs.  B.  F.  Raff,  of  Canton),  Zebula  (a 
miller).  Annetta.  Lillie  G.  (a  teacher),  and  Cora, 
also  a  teacher.  Mr.  Davis  is  a  Democrat  in 
politics. 

A.  J.  DOUDS,  dentist.  Canton :  was  born 
Nov.  17.  1837.  in  Stark  Co..  Ohio,  and  is 
a  son  of  David  B.  and  .^Iary  Ann  (f^ssig) 
I>ouds,  natives  of  Franklin  Co.,  Penn..  where 
thev  married,  and  came  to  Ohio  in  1835.  set- 
tling in  Lake  Tp..  where  they  followed  farming. 
He  was  also  a  plasterer.  He  died  in  1873,  and 
she  in  1875.  A.  J.  was  brought  up  on  the  farm 
until  17.  when  he  went  into  the  shops  of  C. 
Aultman  &  Co.  at  Canton,  remaining  two  years. 
He  took  an  early  interest  in  dentistry,  and  at 
19  he  became  a  student  of  Dr.  G.  S.  Beatty, 
now  of  Akron,  continuing  with  him  about  one 
and  a  half  years,  when  Beatty  sold  out  and 
moved  away.  He  then  began  practice  on  his 
own  account,  and  three  years  later  took  a  course 
of  lectures  in  the  Pennsylvania  Dental  College. 
Philadelphia,  graduating  in  1861.  after  which 
he  resumed  his  practice  in  Canton,  continuing 
it  ever  since.  He  is  the  oldest  practitioner  in 
the  city.  and.  with  one  exception,  the  oldest 
in  the  county.  After  graduating  he  enlisted  in 
Co.  A.  19th  O.  y.  I.  and.  after  serving  some  eight 
mouths,  was  transferred  to  Hospital  Steward, 
but  being  in  bad  health,  was  discharged  in 
1862.  May  5.  1863,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Almira  Fringer.  a  native  of  Fayetteville,  Penn. 
Thov  have  had  six  children,  five  of  whom  are 
living,  viz. :  Frank.  Jessie,  Herman,  (reorgiana, 
Rebecca,  Homer  (dead).  .Mr.  Douds  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  State  Dental  .Society,  and  the  North- 
ern Ohio  Society,  of  which  he  has  served  as 
Secretarv- 

DIEBOLD  BROTHERS,  grocers,  located 
at  No.  47  East  Tuscarawas  St..  Canton  ;  com- 
menced business  Jan.  1.  1881.  and  are  now 
doing  an  extensive  trade.  Their  stock  is  large, 
and  embi-aces  everything  in  the  grocery  and 
provision  trade,  and  is  well  and  conveniently 
displayed  in  one  of  the  largest  salesrooms  in 
the  citv.     C.  M.  Diebold   is  a  native  of  Ohio, 


and.  previous  to  his  mercantile  venture,  was  as- 
sociated with  his  father  in  the  Diebold  Safe 
Works  of  Canton.  William  H.  Diebold  is  als<j 
a  native  of  Ohio;  was  connected  in  business 
with  his  father,  and  subse<iuently  a  commercial 
traveler  for  a  Cincinnati  house,  until  he  became 
connecte<l  with  his  brother  in  the  grocery 
trade.  Messrs.  Diebold  Bros,  have  been  edu- 
cated for  business  life,  and  possessing,  as  they 
do,  enterprising  and  progressive  views,  are 
bound  to  make  their  business  life  a  success. 

H.  C.  ELLISON,  banker.  Canton  ;  is  a  de- 
scendant of  one  of  Stark  County's  early 
pioneers.  He  is  the  son  of  John  and  Mary 
(Vaughn)  Ellison,  and  the  grandson  of  Samuel 
Ellison.  The  latter  settletl  in  JIarlboroughTp. 
about  the  year  1810.  the  former  at  that  date 
being  about  10  years  old.  and.  after  arriving  at 
man's  estate,  he  continued  to  reside  in  Marlbo- 
rough Tp..  and  was  one  of  the  three  gentlemen 
who  founded  the  town  of  Marlborough  of  that 
township.  H.  C.  is  a  native  of  Marllx)rough. 
where  he  remained  until  he  was  14  years  old. when 
he  went  to  Alliance,  where  he  was  afterward  for 
a  time  engaged  in  business.  In  1862.  he  enlisted  • 
as  a  private  in  Co.  F.  115th  O.  V.  I.,  for  a  three- 
years'  terms  of  service — Capt.  A.  J.*  Ware  and 
Col.  T.  C.  Boone.  He  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  Adjutiint.  and  served  as  such  about 
thirty  months  of  the  term  of  his  service.  June 
30  1865.  he  was  musteretl  out  and  returned  to 
Alliance,  where  for  a  time  he  was  engaged  in 
the  dry  goods  trade  in  the  capacity  of  sales- 
man, and  was  engaged  in  this  business  until 
elected  by  the  Republican  party  to  the  office  : 
of  Auditor  of  Stark  County  for  a  two  ; 
vears  term.  At  the  close  of  his  first  term 
of  service  as  Auditor,  he  was  re-elected  to  the 
same  office  for  a  term  of  three  years.  Return- 
ing to  Alliance,  he  accepted  the  position  of 
Cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  that  city,  I 
and  remained  there  until  in  May  of  1879.  when 
he  came  to  Canton  to  organize  the  Canton  City 
Bank,  which  was  then  a  private  banking  house 
of  a  $50,000  paid-up  capitiU.  In  August.  1880, 
received  a  charter,  and  changed  to  National 
banking,  under  the  name  of  the  City  National 
Bank,  and  increase<l  their  capital  to  $100.0110. 
Mr.  Ellison  still  continuing  as  Cashier.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Massillon  Commandery,  No.  4, 
A.,  F.  &  A.  M.:  also  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R. 
HENRY  EVERHARD.  retired  farmer  :  P.  O. 
Canton  :  was  Iwm  in  Washington  Co.,  Penn., 


608 


BKJGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Aug.  6,  1803,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Mary 
M.  (Hewett)  Everhard,  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 
Henry,  Sr.,  learned  the  potter's  trade,  and  when 
he  came  liome  from  his  apprenticeship  he  en- 
listed under  Gen.  St.  Clair  to  fight  the  Indians, 
and  was  one  of  the  few  who  escaped  from  St. 
Clair's  memorable  defeat.  He  worked  at  the  pot- 
ter's trade  at  different  places  until  1809,  when  he 
removed  to  Ohio,  and  settled  in  Plain  Tp., 
Stark  Co..  where  he  built  a  saw  and  grist-mill. 
He  died  there  in  1840.  his  wife  having  died 
twenty  years  before,  when  he  married  Mrs. 
Dager  ;  she  also  died  a  few  }'ears  previous  to 
his  death.  Henry,  Jr.,  lived  at  home  until  he 
was  25  years  of  age,  and  was  brought  up  on  the 
farm,  enjoying  the  usual  log  cabin  school  facili- 
ties. He  was  married  in  June.  1828,  to  Miss 
Rebecca  Slanker,  a  native  of  Maryland  ;  she 
died  about  186B.  By  this  marriage  there  were 
seven  children,  five  of  whom  are  living — Lewis, 
lives  in  Manchester ;  Maria,  now  Mrs.  Wir- 
rich,  of  Massillon  ;  Henry,  also  in  Massillon  ; 
Martha  A.,  lives  in  California  ;  Sarah  C,  now 
Mrs.  Williams,  in  California.  After  the  death 
of  his  wife  he  retired  to  Massillon.  where  he 
lived  about  three  years  ;  he  there  married  Mrs. 
Housley,  find  then  moved  to  her  home  in 
Illinois  ;  after  remaining  one  and  a  half  3'ears, 
they  returned  to  Canton,  where  they  have  since 
resided.  Mr.  E.  was  a  Whig,  and  afterward  a 
Repul)lican,  and  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  ever  since  he  arrived  at  maturity. 

(JEORGE  EBERSOL,  retired  farmer  ;  P.  O. 
Canton  ;  was  l)orn  in  Franklin  Co.,  Penn.,  May 
31,  1812,  and  is  a  .son  of  Henry  and  Mary  E. 
(Waltraan)  Ebersol,  natives  of  Pennsylvania, 
where  they  were  maiTied,  and  where  she  died, 
in  1813,  leaving  two  children.  He  married 
again  to  Caroline  Lineroad,  in  1814,  and  re- 
moved to  Ohio  in  1818  by  wagon,  and  settled 
in  Columbiana  Co.,  where  he  lived  until  1828, 
when  he  moved  into  Stark  Co.,  and  settled  in 
Bethlehem  Tp.  He  was  a  cabinet-maker  by 
trade,  and  worked  at  the  business,  and  also 
followed  farming.  In  1852,  he  removed  to 
Huntington  Co.,  Ind.,  where  he  followed  the 
same  business  some  years,  and  then  retired  to 
Roanoke.  He  died  in  1876,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  92  years ;  his  wife  died  one  j-ear  later. 
They  had  eight  children,  of  whom  six  are  living. 
George  (subject)  lived  at  home  until  1831,  re- 
ceiving a  common  education,  when  he  left 
Bethlehem  Tp.,  and  went  to  Carroll  Co.,  and 


engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising,  and  also 
was  largely  interested  in  sheep  raising.  He 
was  married  in  Noveml)er,  1834,  to  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Abrahams,  a  native  of  Cumberland  Co., 
Penn.,  who  came  to  Ohio  with  her  parents  in 
1819.  After  their  marriage  they  remained  in 
Carroll  Co.  until  1865,  when  he  moved  into 
Stark,  buying  an  interest  in  a  farm  two  and  a 
half  miles  south  of  Canton.  After  several 
changes  in  farms  and  residences,  he  retired  to 
Canton  in  1876,  whore  he  has  since  lived.  By 
their  marriage  they  had  eight  children,  five  of 
whom  are  living,  viz.:  John  M.,  Canton  ;  George 
L.,  Stark  Co.;  A.  M.,  at  home;  Louisa,  now  Mrs. 
Lineroad  ;  Mary  Elizabeth,  now  Mrs.  Ilenrigh, 
Mahoning  Co.  Mr.  Ebersol  was  a  Whig,  but 
is  now  Republican  in  politics,  and  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  Church  for  more  than 
forty  years,  and  taken  an  active  interest  in  its 
[prosperity. 

J.  C.  ELSASS,  of  firm  of  Elsass  &  Bour, 
furniture,  No.  11  Tuscarawas  street.  Canton  ; 
is  a  native  of  Stark  Co.,  and  a  son  of  Peter  and 
Dorothy  (Schaffer)  Elsass,  who  were  natives  of 
Alsace,  France.  They  emigrated  to  America 
about  1830,  locating  in  Stark  Co.  His  father 
died  in  1H76,  and  his  mother  is  still  living  in 
Canton.  Our  subject  was  born  in  Waynesburgh, 
and  was  in  the  employ  of  his  father  in  the  shoe 
trade  there  until  21  years  of  age.  He  then 
went  upon  his  father's  farm,  upon  which  he 
remained  for  several  years.  In  1868,  he  re- 
moved to  Canton  and  engaged  in  the  meat 
business,  continuing  at  that  about  five  years. 
He  then  embarked  in  his  present  business,  and 
has  since  continued  at  it.  In  1870,  he  associated 
with  him  as  partner  Mr.  J.  A.  Bour,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Elsass  &  Bour,  which  partnership 
has  continued  until  the  present  time.  Mr. 
Elsass  was  married  in  1873  to  Miss  Cora  Strain, 
of  Millersburg.  They  have  two  children — 
Charlie  and  Harry.  This  business  house  was 
established  by  J.  C.  Elsass  in  1873,  and  in 
1879  Mr.  J.  A.  Bour  became  a  member  of  the 
firm.  Messrs.  Elsass  &  Bour  carr^'  an  exten- 
sive stock  of  furniture,  complete  in  every  par- 
ticular, and  are  known  as  honorable  and  trust- 
worthy business  men. 

LOUIS  ENGEL,  nurseryman  and  florist, 
Canton  ;  is  a  native  of  Hanover,  Germany,  he 
was  born  January  1,  1821.  He  was  raised  in 
his  present  business,  and  went  to  Montreal, 
Canada,  in  1847,  and    followed    his    business 


tii^ 


CITY    OF    CANTON. 


609 


there  until  1853,  when  he  came  to  the 
United  States,  first  locating  in  Cincinnati, 
tlicnce  to  Middletown,  Ohio,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1856,  he  came  to  Canton,  and  conduct- 
ed a  greenhouse  and  nur,sery  for  Mr.  H. 
Meyers  for  five  years.  He  then  began  in  the 
business  for  himself,  and  after  some  four  or 
five  years  lie  bought  the  business  of  Mr. 
Meyers  and  has  kept  a  full  assortment  of  choice 
fruit  and  ornamental  trees,  plants,  roses,  etc., 
all  of  which  are  true  to  name,  and  in  varieties 
proven  the  best  for  this  soil  and  climate. 
Tiiough  having  but  $75  when  he  first  came  to 
Canton,  Mr.  Eugel  has  by  his  energy  and  per- 
severance, coupled  with  honorable  dealing  in 
business,  been  successful  in  establishing  him- 
self as  a  reliable  business  man.  and  also  in  se- 
curing an  ample  competency.  He  married  in 
Montreal,  Mary  Ann  Krebs,  and  they  have  had 
eight  children,  all  of  whom  were  daughters, 
seven  of  whom  are  living. 

JAMKS  FKAUNFELTER,  M.  D..  Canton; 
is  a  native  of  Ashland  Co.,  Ohio,  and  a  son  of 
John  Fraunfeltor,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  who 
settled  in  Ashland  Co.,  Ohio,  in  ]84(),  remain- 
ing a  resident  there  until  his  death.  Our  sub- 
ject educated  himself  after  the  age  of  eighteen 
years,  attending  Vermillion  Institute,  at  Ilayes- 
ville,  Ohio,  and  subsequently  the  academy  at 
Savannah,  Ohio.  Deciding  upon  the  profession 
of  medicine  for  his  life  work,  he  entered  the 
oflSce  of  T.  S.  Hunt,  M.  D..  of  Ashland,  receiv- 
ing his  advice  and  assistance  in  tlie  prosecution 
of  his  studies  for  three  years.  He  was  a  grad- 
uate of  the  Cincinnati  Medical  College  in  1870, 
of  the  L.  I.  College  Hospital,  of  New  York,  and 
of  Joflerson  College,  Piiiladelphia.  He  imme- 
diately began  to  practice  after  the  finish  of  his 
medical  education,  in  Canal  Fulton,  in  1872, 
where  he  remained  until  1881.  His  practice 
then  was  very  successful  and  extensive,  and  be- 
came so  arduous,  that  in  1881  he  removed  to 
Canton,  believing  that  a  city  practice  would 
be  more  pleasant.  Although  in  Canton  but  a 
few  months  at  the  present  writing,  his  suc- 
cess there  is  Battering  and  promising.  His 
ollice  is  in  the  Bockius  Block,  south  of  the  pub- 
lic scjuare.  Dr.  Fraunfelter  formed  a  matri- 
monial alliance  with  Miss  Kate  Rosel>ur3',  of 
.\shland  County,  in  June,  1872.  They  have 
one  child,  Clarence  E.  Dr.  Fraunfelter  is  one 
of  the  promising  physicians  of  Ohio,  commenc- 
ing in  earlv  life  with  the  determination  to  make 


the  world  the  better  for  his  being  in  it.  His 
education  was  obtained  by  teaching  school  in 
winter  sessions,  and  attending  the  academy  in 
the  summer.  His  teaching  continued  for  six 
seasons,  and  in  this,  as  in  all  other  things,  he 
made  a  success.  He  taught  the  last  two  years, 
at  Orange,  Ohio,  where  he  established  a  fine 
reputation  as  a  model  teacher.  During  his 
practice  in  Canal  Fulton,  he  was  associated 
with  Dr.  Campbell  from  1870  until  1881,  and 
while  together  were  interested  in  the  drug  trade 
there.  While  a  resident  there,  he  was  the 
surgeon  of  the  Tuscarawas  Valley-  11.  R.,  and 
>vas  interested  and  foremost  in  all  works  of  edu- 
cation and  improvement.  He  also  erected  a 
brick  block  there,  which  he  still  owns.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  of  the  K. 
of  H. 

G.  B.  FOLSOM,  livery.  Canton  ;  is  a  native 
of  the  Empire  State.  He  began  business  life  in 
Cleveland,  where  for  several  years  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  grocery  trade,  subsequently  chang- 
ing into  the  liveiy  business,  at  which  he  con- 
tinued for  some  ten  years.  lie  next  engaged 
in  business  in  Youngstown,  Ohio,  where  for  ten 
years  he  was  in  the  groceiy  and  livery  busi- 
ness, after  whicli  he  came  to  Canton,  where  he 
has  since  resided  and  engaged  in  the  liverj- 
business.  Mr.  Folsom  conducts  his  business  in 
first-class  style  ;  has  a  large  and  commodious 
place  of  business,  and  does  a  thriving  and 
profitable  trade.  He  ranks  as  one  of  the  promi- 
nent citizens  of  Canton,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
K.  of  F.  order. 

C.  N.  FRANK,  hotel ;  Canton  ;  was  born 
in  Wurtemlierg,  Germany,  March  12,  1822. 
He  received  a  good  business  education  in  his 
native  land,  and  served  an  apprenticeship  at 
learning  the  trade  of  a  miller,  which  business 
he  followed  until  1847,  when  he,  with  his  father's 
family,  emigrated  to  the  United  States.  They 
landed  in  New  York  City  on  November  8,  of 
1S47,  and  made  their  way  almost  directly  to 
Cleveland,  where  he  and  his  father  bought  a 
farm  near  the  city  limits,  in  Kuelid  Tp.  They 
were  the  fortunate  possessors  of  considerable 
money  upon  their  arrival  in  thiscountiy,  though 
by  misfortune,  fires  and  bad  management  they 
lost  nearly  the  whole  of  it ;  so  the  nice  proper- 
ty owned  by  the  subject  of  this  sketch  has 
been  accumulated  by  his  own  industry  and 
economy.  His  father  bj'  trade  was  a  baker, 
and  tiring  of  the  farm,  they  engaged   in  this 


610 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES : 


business  in  Cleveland  until  C.  N.  built  a  hotel, 
which  he  opened  on  July  3,  1854.  He  was 
married  in  1852,  to  Miss  Fredricka  Olp,  with 
whom  he  was  well  acquainted  while  they  both 
were  residents  of  Wurteinberg.  During  the 
rage  of  the  cholera  of  1854,  his  wife  died  on 
the  29th  of  August,  and  the  same  disease  car- 
ried away  their  only  child.  Not  long  after  this 
affliction,  Mr.  Frank  quit  the  hotel  business 
and  engaged  in  milling,  he  and  his  father  build- 
ing two  different  mills  in  Cleveland,  l)Oth  of 
which  were  destroyed  by  fire.  In  1864,  lie  came 
to  Canton  and  rented  the  Myers  Mill,  on  South 
Cherry  street,  and  operated  the  same  for  four 
3'ears  and  two  mcjnths.  He  then,  in  company 
with  two  other  gentlemen,  rented  the  steam 
mills  at  Navarre,  and  ran  the  business  there 
about  two  years  and  seven  months,  since  which 
time  he  has  done  nothing  in  the  milling  busi- 
ness. Shortly  after  quitting  Navarre,  he  began 
business  at  his  present  stand  in  Canton,  which 
is  a  neat  little  property  built  and  improved  by 
himself,  on  the  corner  of  Ninth  and  Cherry 
streets.  July  12,  1850,  Mr.  Frank  was  married 
again,  his  second  wife  being  a  native  of  Hesse- 
Darmstadt,  and  by  whom  he  has  three  children 
living — Bertie,  Emma  and  Charlotte.  Mr. 
Frank  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Con- 
cordia Society,  of  which  he  is  at  present  one 
of  the  directors.  He  is  also  a  member  and  has 
been  one  of  the  directors  of  the  (rcrman 
Pioneer  Society  of  Stark  County. 

PETER  FAHRNI,  grocer,  Canton;  is  a  native 
of  Canton  Berne,  Switzerland,  where  he  re- 
mained a  i-esident  until  his  20th  year,  and  then 
emigrated  in  company  with  his  brother  Fred- 
erick to  the  United  States.  They  stopped  first 
in  Cleveland  for  a  short  time,  where  Peter  was 
employed  by  a  milkman  ;  he  then  went  to  Col- 
umbiana Co.,  Ohio,  where  for  about  two  years  he 
worked  for  different  farmers.  His  next  change 
was  to  Wyandot  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  lived  un- 
til ISGl.  When  the  first  call  was  made  for 
three-months  men,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  I,  loth  0. 
V.  T.  While  serving  this  term  of  enlistment 
he  was  in  the  battle  of  Laurel  Hill.  In  the  call 
for  three  years'  men,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  F,  B7th 
O.  V.  I.,  under  Col.  Seber.  He  was  in  the  bat- 
tle of  Princeton,  in  Ma}-,  of  1802,  and  in  that 
fight,  his  company  with  two  others,  lost  100 
men  in  twenty  minutes  ;  he,  however,  escaped 
unhurt.  In  December  of  1862,  his  command 
joined  the  army  of  the  Mississippi,  and  he  sub- 


sequently passed  through  the  battle  of  Vicks- 
burg.  In  these  he  received  two  wounds,  the 
latter  being  most  severe,  though  he  has  never 
fully  recovered  from  their  effects.  He  was  also 
taken  prisoner  and  held  thirty  days  at  Vicks- 
burg.  Being  paroled,  he  returned  to  Canton 
by  furlough,  and  not  recovering,  he  received  an 
honorable  discharge.  Lpon  recovering,  he 
began  work  in  the  Aultmau  Shops,  and  re- 
mained there  until  1870,  when  he  engaged  in 
business.  His  brother  Frederick  was  a  meml)er 
of  the  same  company  and  regiment,  in  l^oth  tlie 
three  months  and  three  years' service,  and  while 
on  picket  duty  near  Atlanta,  (ia,.  he  was  shot, 
and  shortly  after  died.  His  wife,  who  was  a 
Miss  Mary  Wagner,  a  native  of  Switzerland, 
became  the  wife  of  Peter  in  1865. 

H.  C.  FOGLE,  Secretary  and  Treasurer  for 
C.  Aultmau  &  Co.,  Canton,  Ohio ;  is  a  native 
of  Massillou,  Ohio;  he  was  born  Dec.  20,  1844, 
and  ninth  child  of  Lewis  and  Francis  ( Hem- 
phill )  Fogle.  They  were  natives  of  Somer- 
set and  Huntingdon  Counties,  Penn.  H.  C. 
was  raised  in  the  \'icinit}'  of  his  birth,  his  par- 
ents living  also  at  Mansfield  and  Canton;  he 
received  tlie  union  school  course  of  study  in 
Canton,  and  at  the  age  of  1 4,  engaged  as  clerk  in 
the  dry  goods  trade  with  M.  Wikidal,  and  later 
engaged  with  G.  B.  Dietrich;  also  worked  in  the 
trade  at  Upper  Sandusky.  In  October,  1801, 
he  enlisted  in  the  4th  0.  X.  I.,  Co.  F,  and 
served  with  the  command  until  1862,  when, 
owing  to  disabilities,  he  was  discharged;  upon 
his  return  home  to  Canton,  he  secured  a  posi- 
tion with  C.  Aultmau  &  Co.,  as  shipping  clerk, 
and  the  following  year  became  book-keeper.  In 
1869,  he  became  cashier  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Canton,  and  continued  until  1872, 
when  he  was  elected  Treasurer  for  C.  Aultmau 
&  Co.,  and  in  April,  1874,  upon  the  death  of  the 
Secretary,  he  was  installed  in  that  office,  and 
has  since  continued  to  hold  l)oth  offices.  Oct. 
14,  1869,  he  married  Miss  Clara  L.  Underbill, 
daughter  of  Judge  J.  W,  Underbill;  she  is  a 
native  of  Massillou.  By  the  marriage  there  has 
been  born  four  children,  viz.:  Ruth,  Faith, 
James  U.  and  Lewis  H. 

JUDGE  JOSEPH  FREASE,  attorney,  Can- 
ton ;  was  born  in  Somerset  Co.,  Penn,,  May  19, 
182'7,  and  is  a  son  of  John  an<l  Elizabeth  (Field) 
Frease,  natives  of  Berkeley  Co.,  Va.,  and  York 
Co.,  Penn.,  respectiveh'.  He  was  born  in  1786, 
came  to  Ohio  May  9,  1830,  and  settled  in  Stark 


CITY    OF    CANTON. 


Countj-.  He  was  a  blacksmith.  In  1822,  he 
entereil  2S0  acres  of  hind  in  Sugar  Creek  Tp., 
upon  which  he  settled  in  18S0,  h.iving  had  it 
untler  lease  seven  3ears.  He  improved  the 
farm,  building  a  large  barn  and  brick  residence. 
He  also  put  up  a  blacksmith  shop  and  worked 
at  his  trade  in  connection  with  farming.  He 
died  in  April,  1869,  aged  82,  his  wife  died  the 
year  before,  aged  7(5.  Joseph  (subject)  lived  at 
home  until  after  his  majority,  attending  the 
common  schools,  and  at  2:5  he  began  teaching 
during  the  winter  months.  He  then  came  to 
Canton,  and  read  law  with  Hon.  (Jeo.  W.  Bel- 
den,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1851.  In 
185:5,  he  began  practice  in  Canton,  where  he 
has  ever  since  remained.  He  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  Mr.  Belden  in  185(5.  and  the  year 
previous  was  elected  Prosecuting  Attorney  for 
the  county,  serving  two  years.  He  remained  with 
Judge  Belden  until  18()(>,  when  he  was  elected 
Judge  of  the  9th  Judicial  District  of  Common 
Pleas  Court,  and  was  re-elected  in  1 871 ;  in  both 
instances  he  was  nominated  by  the  Republican 
party.  At  the  expiration  of  liis  second  term 
he  began  practice  again,  and  formed  his  pres- 
ent partnership.  He  was  married  Sept.  1,  1857, 
to  Miss  Sarah  H.,  a  daughter  of  Hon.  Geo.  W. 
Belden.  By  this  marriage  there  are  six  chil- 
dren— three  sons  and  three  daughters. 

JtJSHUA  GIBBS,  deceased  ;  was  the  pioneer 
plow-maker  of  Stark  (j'ounty,  auil  for  many 
years  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  ingenious 
manufacturers  in  his  line  in  the  West.  He  was 
a  native  of  New  Jersey,  near  Trenton.  He 
learned  the  trade  of  a  plow-maker  in  that  State. 
and  subsequently  worked  at  it  in  Philadelphia, 
Pcnn.  He  afterward  came  to  Canton,  and  for 
a  time  stocked  plows  for  Judge  Henry.  In  188(5, 
he  obtained  a  patent  for  what  was  known  as  a 
bar  share  plow.  This  was  the  lieginning  of  his 
work  in  the  patenting  and  manufacturing  plows 
and  plow  fixtures,  that  made  his  name  familiar 
through  Ohio  and  many  other  of  the  Western 
States.  October,  1853,  a  patent  was  granted 
him  for  the  process  now  in  use,  for  grinding 
and  polishing  plows.  This  invention  was  in- 
troduced extensively  over  the  Western  prairie 
lands  by  his  son.  John  Gibbs.  He  quit  active 
work  as  a  manufacturer  about  1801.  though  be- 
fore doing  so  he  patented  the  dynamometer,  an 
instrument  now  in  common  use  for  testing  the 
draught  of  plows,  other  farm  implements  and 
machinery.  His  widow,  who  was  formerlv  .Miss 


Barbara  Shafer,  is  still  living,  and  a  resident  of 
Canton,  Her  peoph^  were  also  among  the  early 
pioneers  of  Stark  ('ountv, 

MARTIN  L.  (JIBBS'.  Gibbs  Canton  Plow 
Co.,  Canton;  is  a  native  of  Canton,  Ohio;  he 
was  born  May  1(5,  1837,  and  is  the  fifth  in  a 
famil3-  often  children  born  to  Joshua  and  Bar- 
bara (Shafer)  Gibbs.  Our  subject  was  raised 
in  Canton;  he  assisted  on  the  farm  up  to  his 
IStli  year;  he  then  entered  his  father's  plow 
shop  and  worked  for  him  initil  he  was  22  years 
of  age.  In  1859,  he,  in  company  with  his  broth- 
ers, Lewis  and  William,  built  the  present  brick 
building,  the  tirm  being  L.  (iibbs  &  Bros.,  which 
continued  al)out  six  years,  making  the  cylin- 
der plow  of  Joshua  (libbs.  .\fter  this  partner- 
ship, our  subject  engaged  in  farming,  which  he 
continued  about  three  years,  during  which  time 
he  studied  to  improve  the  plow,  which  resulted 
in  his  patenting  a  combination  plow,  which  he 
began  to  manufacture  in  (Canton,  and  about 
one  year  later,  having  added  three  additional 
patents,  including  the  steel  joint,  he  then  formed 
the  partnership  of  .M.  L.  (iibbs  &  Co.,  and  after 
two  years  I'onncd  a  stock  company,  known  as 
the  (_!il)lis  Canton  Plow  Co.,  of  which  he  is  the 
Superintendent.  In  1879,  he  patented  a  valu- 
able addition  to  a  plow,  known  as  a  jointer.  The 
company  now  make  the  chilled  plow.  May  2<>, 
18(51),  he  married  .Miss  Sarah  .\.  Trump,  a 
daughter  of  (ieorge  J.  Trump,  an  old  resident 
of  Stark  County,  Of  their  six  children,  four 
are  living,  viz.:  Jennie.  Krvin  G.,  Gracie, 
Homer  (}.  During  the  war  Mr,  (Jibbs  enlisted 
in  the  1151li  O.  \'.  !.,  but  owing  to  disability  he 
was  discharm-d  a  few  months  later. 

ISAAC  HAKTKK,  Canton  City.  It  is 
doubtful  whether  there  has  ever  been  a  resi- 
dent of  Stark  more  generally  known  through- 
out the  county,  i)er.sonally  and  by  reputation, 
than  Isaac  Ilarter,  No  one  has  been  longer 
engaged  in  a  business  which  brought  him  in 
contact  with  all  c'lasses  of  people,  nor  has  any 
one  been  moi-c  frc(iucnlly  ((noted,  in  the  char- 
acter of  boy  and  man.  as  an  example  for  others. 
His  father,  .Micliael  Ilarter,  came  to  this  coun- 
try from  Wurtemberg,  (iermany,  when  23  years 
of  age.  He  married  in  Lancaster  Co,,  Penn,, 
and  soon  after  emigrated  to  Knox  Co..  Ohio, 
and  purchased  a  (|uartersection  of  (Govern- 
ment land,  ujion  which  he  settled,  -Vs  the 
country  developed  and  travel  increased,  he  was 
induced  to  enlarge  the  dimensicms  of  his  log 


jV 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


cabin  and  open  a  tavern,  which  in  time  became 
a  popular  stopping-place.  He  had  four  chil- 
dren— one  daughter  and  three  sons,  of  whom 
Isaac,  the  3'oungest,  was  born  June  14,  1811. 
The  father  died  at  the  age  of  53,  leaving  the 
family  in  straitened  circumstances.  The 
sister,  Christina  had  previously  married  George 
Dewalt,  and  became  a  resident  of  Canton,  and 
it  was  mainly  through  her  instrumentality  that 
Isaac  was  brought  to  Canton.  At  11,  he  was 
indentured  to  Willian]  Christmas,  a  merchant, 
to  .serve  him  until  21.  The  compensation  of  an 
apprentice  at  that  day  was  his  board  and 
clothes,  including  a  freedom  suit,  and  a  certain 
undefined  amount  of  education  which  was 
rarely  complied  with.  Certain  it  was,  Mr. 
Barter's  opportunities  in  that  direction  were 
extremely  limited.  The  major  part  of  the  edu- 
cation he  obtained  from  professional  teachers 
was  at  night  school.  Isaac  served  his  master 
and  mistress  faithfully.  There  was  no  menial 
service  about  the  house  or  store  that  he  was 
not  required  to  do,  and  he  was  never  known  to 
grumble  or  be  insubordinate.  So  useful  did  he 
make  himself,  that  it  was  not  long  before  he 
became  an  important  adjunct  of  the  store.  He 
had  the  qualities  that  make  a  young  man  a 
successful  and  popular  salesman — patience, 
industry  and  integritj'.  At  that  period  a  store 
comprised  a  general  assortment  of  dr}'  goods, 
hardware,  queensware,  groceries,  liquors,  etc. 
All  kinds  of  country  produce  was  taken  in 
exchange  for  goods,  and  the  salesman  was  re- 
quired not  only  to  handle  lard  and  beef,  hides, 
pile  up  boards  and  shingles,  but  measure  tar 
and  fish  oil,  and  do  other  work  that  many  young 
men  nowadays  are  too  proud  to  do.  During  Mr. 
Harter's  apprenticeship,  he  never  received  a  cent 
in  monc}-  as  compensation  for  services,  and  in 
his  later  years  often  remarked,  when  alluding 
to  the  comparatively  easy  times  enjoyed  by  the 
young  men  of  to-day  :  "  I  was  so  situated  that 
I  never  had  the  opportunity  to  earn  a  dollar  for 
myself  until  I  was  21."  After  attaining  his 
majority,  Mr.  Christmas  made  him  a  partner  in 
the  store,  allowing  him  for  his  services  an 
interest  in  the  profits.  The  firm  was  then, 
Christmas,  Harter  &  Co.  The  "  Co."  was  Mr. 
Hogg,  of  Brownsville,  Penn.,  a  silent  pai'tner. 
Mr.  Christmas  died  in  1836,  when  it  became 
necessary  to  settle  up  his  estate,  and  the  part- 
nership was  dissolved.  Mr.  Harter  then  com- 
menced alone,  and  continued  in  the  mercantile 


business  until  1860,  when  he  sold  out  and 
engaged  in  banking,  in  which  occupation  he 
continued  until  his  death,  Feb.  27,  1876.  Mr. 
Harter  was  married  Aug.  7,  1838,  to  Miss 
Amanda  Z.  Moore,  of  Beaver  Co.,  Penn.  At  the 
age  of  36,  he  was  confirmed  and  united  with 
the  Lutheran  Church.  There  is  in  the  life  of 
Mr.  Harter  much  to  encourage  the  young  man 
dependent  upon  his  own  resources — much  that 
is  worthy  of  imitation.  He  was  emphatically 
a  self-made  man.  To  his  sterling  integrity,  his 
indomitable  business  energy,  his  courteous  and 
obliging  disposition,  his  kind  and  unostenta- 
tious generosity,  did  he  owe  his  success.  In  his 
business  relations,  in  liis  daily  intercourse  with 
his  fellow-men,  his  real  worth  was  best  known 
and  most  highly  appreciated.  He  was  the 
zealous  friend  of  the  laboring  and  industrious 
classes,  and  always  ready  to  help  those  who 
manifested  a  disposition  to  help  themselves. 
He  was  of  a  social  disposition  and  enjoyed 
society,  but,  above  others,  that  of  his  family. 
No  more  kind,  affectionate  and  devoted  hus- 
band and  father  ever  occupied  that  sacred 
relation.  As  a  professed  Christian,  while  not 
demonstrative,  he  was  confiding  and  hopeful. 
Though  strongly  attached  to  his  own  church 
and  always  ready  to  lend  her  a  helping  hand 
in  time  of  need,  he  was  tolerant  and  liberal  to 
other  denominations.  He  was  always  interested 
in  movements  designed  to  promote  the  pros- 
perity of  the  town,  and  liberal  in  his  contribu- 
tions to  that  end.  His  largest  los.ses  in  busi- 
ness were  the  result  of  an  effort  to  assist  some 
local  enterprise.  He  had  great  energj',  and  to 
the  last  day  was  as  active  as  a  man  twenty 
years  his  junior.  Although  frequently  urged 
by  his  family  to  retire  from  business  and  take 
the  world  easier,  as  he  had  accumulated  an 
abundance,  his  invariable  answer  was :  "  I 
would  not  be  contented  doing  nothing."  He 
was  not  envious  of  others,  but  rejoiced  in  their 
prosperit}'.  In  his  manners  he  was  affable, 
courteous,  social  and  dignified.  It  has  been 
frequently  remarked  that  he  was  never  known 
to  tell  a  filthy  story,  or  indulge  in  obscene  talk. 
He  was  quick  in  temper,  but  ready  to  forgive, 
and  never  harbored  ill-will.  He  believed  in 
training  boj-s  early  to  business,  and  was  in  the 
habit  of  imposing  responsible  duties,  involving 
heavy  pecuniary  trusts  upon  his  own  sons, 
when  they  were  yet  joung,  believing  the  way 
to   train  up   successful  business   men    was  to 


tiL 


CITY    OF    CANTON. 


trust  them  when  young,  that  they  be  inspired 
with  confidence  in  themselves.  Nine  children 
were  horn  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harter,  six  of  whom 
are  still  living.  The  oldest,  Joseph  S.,  gradu- 
ated at  Kenyon  College,  was  a  student  of  law 
when  the  rebellion  broke  out,  enlisted  as  a 
private  in  the  19th  Ohio,  during  the  three 
months'  service,  and  came  out  a  Lieutenant.  He 
re-entered  the  service  as  Captain  in  the  115th 
Ohio,  was  accidentally  shot  while  in  barracks, 
in  Cincinnati,  from  which  he  died  in  a  few 
hours.  George  D.  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the 
IKjtli,  was  commissioned  Lieutenant  and  made 
an  Aid  on  Gen.  Beatty's  staff.  He  is  now 
engaged  in  banking  in  Canton.  Michael  D.  is 
a  resident  of  Mansfield,  connected  with  the 
agricultural  works  of  Aultman  &  Taylor. 
Isaac  R.  is  successor  to  his  father  in  the  control 
of  the  Savings  Deposit  Bank.  Henry  W.  grad- 
uated at  an  Eastern  college,  was  admitted  to 
the  bar,  and  is  now  Prosecuting  Attorne}'  for 
the  county.  A  daughter  and  a  son  died  in 
infancy,  and  two  daughters.  Christiana  A.  and 
Eliza  L.  are  vet  at  home. 

PETER  HOUSEL,  farmer;  P.  0.  Canton. 
The  Housel  family  is  one  among  early  pioneer 
families  of  Stark  Co.  Peter  H.  Housel,  the 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  migrated  from 
Northumberland  Co.,  Penn.,  in  the  year  1812, 
and  settled  in  Plain  Tp.;  a  part  of  the  town  of 
Middle  Branch  is  on  his  original  purchase.  His 
father,  Anthony  Housel,  was  born  in  that  part 
of  Northumberland  Co.  which  subsequently 
formed  Montour  Co.  He  came  to  Stark  Co. 
with  his  father,  and  afterward  returned  to  his 
native  place,  where  he  remained  three  years. 
During  this  time  he  was  married,  and  before 
his  return  to  Stark  Co.,  our  subject  was  born  to 
them,  the  date  of  his  birth  being  Sept.  30, 1815. 
His  early  life  was  spent  after  the  manner,  and 
with  such  advantages,  as  the  customs  of  a  new 
country  dictated.  He  remained  on  the  old 
farm  until  he  was  about  31  years  old,  and  then 
bought  a  farm  two  miles  south  of  Canton, 
where  he  resided  about  ten  ^ears,  and  bought 
70  acres  in  South  Canton.  This  was  about 
1857,  and  his  pleasant  home  on  South  Market 
street  was  then  the  farm  residence.  This  prop- 
erty- subsequently  became  valuable,  and  was 
sold  out  in  lots — the  city  now  reaching  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile  south  of  his  home.  In  1840, 
Mr.  Housel  was  married  to  the  daughter  of 
Daniel  Smith,  who  was  one  of  the  earl3-  settlers 


of  Plain  Tp.  Their  oldest  son,  Anthony  Hou- 
sel, is  now  a  member  of  the  Stark  Co.  bar.  He 
was  educated  at  the  Western  Reserve  College, 
graduating  June  26.  1872.  He  then  attended 
law  school  for  one  j^ear,  and  was  admitted  to 
practice  in  April  of  1875. 

GEORGK  B.  HAAS  (deceased),  was  a  native 
of  Virginia,  and  came  to  Canton  about  1838.  he 
being  at  that  time  about  IC  years  old.  His 
father  was  a  Lutheran  minister,  though  he 
evinced  a  natural  talent  for  mechanical  work, 
and  learned  the  trade  of  a  cabinet-maker  and 
painter.  In  1841,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Ely.  lie  was  a  man  well  known  in 
Stark  Co.,  as  he  had  held  the  office  of  Deputy 
Sherif!',  and  that  of  Township  Trustee.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Order  of  I.  0.  O.  F.,  and  at 
his  death  was  buried  with  the  honors  of  the 
order.  Their  son,  Marshall  E.,  entered  the 
arm^'  at  the  breaking-out  of  the  war  of  the 
rebellion,  enlisting  in  Co.  F,  4th  O.  V.  1.  He 
entered  the  service  as  a  private,  and  on  Oct.  13, 
1862,  he  was  promoted  to  Sergeant,  and  on 
Sept.  1,  1863,  to  Sergeant  Major.  He  was  in 
the  battle  of  Rich  Mountain,  July  11,  1861  ; 
Romney,  W.  Va.,  Oct.  27,  1861  ;  Fredericks- 
burg, V^a.,  Dec.  13,  1862  ;  Chancellorsville. 
Va.,  May  3,  1863;  Gettysburg,  Penu.,  July 
2,  3,  1863  ;  Bristow  Station,  Oct.  14,  1863.  At 
Morton's  Ford,  Va.,  he  was  wounded,  the  ball 
striking  his  arm,  and  then  passing  through  his 
bod3-.  This  wound  eventually  caused  his  death, 
in  July  of  1876.  He  was  a  resident  of  Cen- 
tralia.  111.,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  where  he 
had  for  some  years  been  agent  for  the  American 
Express  Company. 

JACOB  HANE,  retired.  Canton ;  whose 
portrait  appears  in  this  histor}'  as  a  represen- 
tative of  the  early  manufacturing  industries  of 
Stark  Count}',  was  born  in  Canton  Jan.  16, 
1814,  and  was  the  fifth  child  of  a  lamily  of 
eleven  children  born  to  Christian  and  Mary  M. 
(Shook)  Hane,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 
His  parents  came  to  Stark  Countj-  as  early  as 
1811,  and  settled  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of 
Canton.  In  1832,  Jacob  came  to  Canton  and 
began  serving  an  apprenticeship  at  learning  the 
trade  of  a  tanner.  Completing  his  trade,  he 
rose  rapidly  from  "jour  "  workman,  to  propri- 
etor, and  after  one  or  two  partnerships,  he,  in 
1840,  owned  a  tannery.  He  continued  the 
manufacture  of  leather  until  1859,  when  he  en- 
gaged in  the  leather  trade  exclusively,  and  fol- 


614 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


lowed  it  for  ten  years,  and  then  retired  from 
active  business,  having  by  his  industry  and 
good  financiering  accumulated  a  fine  property. 
His  political  views  have  been  Repul)lican,  though 
he  has  chosen  to  take  a  deeper  interest  in  the 
building  up  of  churches  and  schools  than  in 
aspiring  to  political  preferment.  In  1840.  he 
was  married  to  iMiss  Hannah  Beyrer,  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania.  Four  children  were  boi'n  to 
them,  viz.  :  Frederick,  who  enlisted  in  Co.  F, 
4th  O.  V.  I.,  and  was  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Fredericksburg  Dec.  12,  1862.  F.  B.,  the 
second  son,  was  a  member  of  the  same  company 
and  regiment,  and  was  wounded  in  the  same 
battle  in  which  his  brother  was  killed.  He 
came  home  on  a  sixty  days"  furlough,  and  on 
the  second  of  the  following  May,  while  partici- 
pating in  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville.  he  was 
again  wounded.  He  was  then  placed  in  the 
Invalid  Corps,  and  was  made  Government  P. 
M.,  of  the  post  at  Alexandria.  Subsequently 
Secretary  Stanton  ordered  him  to  report  at 
Washington  City,  when  he  gave  him  a  position 
in  the  private  otKce  of  Gen.  Halleck.  He  is  at 
present  connected  with  the  Canton  Saw  Works 
Company.  Charles  F.,  who  is  now  deceased, 
was  out  in  the  1 00-day s  service.  Emma  F., 
his  only  daughter,  though  married,  is  making 
her  home  for  a  short  time  witii  her  father,  her 
husband  being  connected  with  the  Connotton 
Valley  R.  R.  " 

REV.  PETER  HERBRUCK,  Pastor  (jf  Jeru- 
salem Reformed  Churcii,  Canton  ;  was  l)orn  in 
Bavaria,  Germany,  Feb.  8,  1813,  and  is  the  sec- 
ond in  a  famil3'  of  nine  children  born  to  Phillip 
and  Barbara  (Schlimmer)  Herbruck,  who  were 
also  natives  of  Buvaria.  Our  subject  was 
raised  on  the  farm,  his  father  being  both  a  far- 
mer and  a  shoemaker,  until  14  years  of  age, 
when  he  attended  school  at  Nuenschweiier, 
with  the  intention  of  becoming  a  teaciier,  that 
being  a  preparatory  institution  for  that  pui-pose. 
He  remained  there  at  school  four  years,  when, 
not  desiring  to  become  a  soldier,  he  came  to 
America,  and  located  in  Berks  Co.,  Penn., 
where  he  taught  school  one  winter.  In  the 
spring  of  1832,  he  came  to  Ohio,  and  located  in 
the  vicinity  of  Canton,  wliere  lie  taught  school. 
He  here  became  acquainted  with  Rev.  Benjamin 
Faust,  who  persuaded  him  to  study  for  the  min- 
istry ;  he  commenced  reading  under  his  direc- 
tion, and  in  about  a  month  wrote  a  sermon, 
after  which  he  began  regularly  to  preach,  and 


lor  almost  fifty  3'ears  has  been  faithfully  pro- 
claiming salvation  to  sinners.  Some  statistics 
of  the  work  of  this  old  soldier  of  the  Cross  will 
not  he  inappropriate  in  his  biography  :  Since 
he  entered  the  ministry  he  has  baptized  4,976 
persons ;  preached  2,066  funeral  sermons ; 
confirmed  2,446,  and  married  1.961  couples,  up 
to  April  28,  1881.  For  the  first  two  years  he 
had  no  horse,  and  liad  to  walk  to  Carrollton  to 
preach,  a  distance  of  twenty-four  miles  ;  in  all 
he  preached  to  twenty-one  congregations  out- 
side of  Canton,  and  at  one  time  had  in  charge 
thirteen  congregations  in  Stark,  Carroll,  Colum- 
biana and  Portage  Counties.  He  was  married, 
Nov.  21 ,  1833,  to  Miss  Sarah  Holwich,  a  native  of 
Stark  Co.,  and  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  Holwich, 
who  came  to  Stark  Co.  at  an  early  daj'.  from  Penn- 
sylvania, and  was  a  prosperous  farmer ;  by  this 
marriage  there  were  thirteen  children,  seven 
boys  and  six  girls,  ten  of  whom  are  living,  viz.: 
Caroline,  now  Mrs.  Deuble,  of  Canton  ;  August, 
a  merchant  in  Canton;  Alfred,  a  jeweler  in  Can- 
ton ;  Ferdinand,  a  dry  goods  merchant  in  Can- 
ton ;  Amelia,  now  Mrs.  Glaser,  of  Cleveland  ; 
Edward,  formerly  Pastor  of  the  English  Re- 
formed Church,  Canton,  now  editor  of  the 
Christian  Work/.  Dayton,  Ohio  ;  Charles  W., 
Canton  ;  Calvin,  a  clerk  in  Canton  ;  Emil  P., 
Pastor  of  the  Reformed  Church  of  Akron  ;  and 
Josephine  B.,  at  home.  About  the  year  1876, 
the  Heidelberg  College,  at  Tiffin,  Ohio,  con- 
ferred the  title  of  D.  D,  on  Rev.  Mr.  Her- 
bruck. 

GEORGE  C.  HARVEY,  Keystone  Mills, 
Canton  ;  is  a  native  of  McKeau  Co.,  Penn  ;  was 
born  Sept.  3,  1832.  During  his  infancy  the 
family  moved  to  Center  Co.,  Penn.  His  parents 
were  Isaac  and  Clarissa  (Claflin)  Harvey,  tlie 
former  born  in  Berks  Co.,  Penn..  and  the  latter 
in  Connecticut ;  he  (father  of  subject)  was  a 
miller,  as  was  his  father,  Isaac,  Sr.,  before  him. 
Our  subject  lived  with  his  parents  until  he  was 
25  years  of  age.  and  learned  the  milling  busi- 
ness with  his  father.  In  the  fiiU  of  ISoti,  he 
married  Martha  J.  Logan,  a  native  of  Hunting- 
don Co..  Penn.,  and  by  this  marriage  there  are 
seven  children,  viz.:  Isaac  L.,  Edgar  A.,  Kate 
K.,  Clara  N.,  Alne};  C,  Mary  L.  and  Fannie  C. 
After  his  marriage  he  took  charge  of  a  mill 
near  by,  and  continued  in  the  business  in  Penn- 
sylvania until  the  spring  of  1877.  and  in  the 
fall  of  that  year  came  to  Canton,  Ohio,  and 
bought  his  present  mill,  and  about  one  year 


CITY   OF    CANTON. 


later  he  opened  a  flour  anrl  feed  store  in  Canton, 
in  connection  with  the  mill  ;  the  mill  has  four 
run  of  stone,  and  a  capacity  of  fifty  barrels 
daily. 

ALEXANDER  HURFORD,  retired,  Canton; 
is  a  native  of  Canton,  Ohio  ;  he  was  born  Nov. 
25,  1817,  and  is  the  fifth  child  of  eight  children 
born  to  Thomas  and  Mary  (Wilcoxen)  Ilurford. 
He  was  born  on  the  eastern  shore  of  Maryland, 
and  she  in  Brooke  Co..  Va.  Thomas  Hurlbrd 
moved  to  Fayette  Co..  I'enn.,  after  the  death  of 
his  father,  which  occurred  when  he  was  about 
7  years  of  age.  In  Fayette  Co.  he  lived  with 
a  brother,  and  was  early  apprenticed  to  the 
milling  business.  About  the  year  1804  or 
1805,  he  came  to  Ohio,  and  entered  some  land 
located  about  two  miles  south  of  Canton,  where 
he  built  a  grist-mill  and  still-house,  in  the  year 
1810.  He  conducted  the  mill  a  number  of 
years,  and  in  1822  came  to  Canton,  and  entered 
the  mercantile  business.  In  1825.  he  moved  to 
Bethlehem,  where  he  kept  a  store  until  1828, 
when  he  took  his  mill  again,  and  remained 
tiiere  until  his  death,  in  1832.  He  served  as 
Judge  of  the  Common  Pleas,  and  was  well 
known  and  esteemed  by  all,  having  been  one  of 
the  pioneers  in  this  section,  Mrs.  Hurford 
died  on  the  old  homestead  in  1822.  In  1825, 
the  Judge  married  Miss  Mary  Crueson,  liy 
whom  he  had  four  children  ;  she  continued  her 
residence  on  the  old  homestead  until  about  the 
year  1852;  she  then  came  to  Canton,  and  a 
few  years  later  the  family  moved  to  Omaha, 
Neb.,  where  she  died  about  the  year  1870. 
Our  subject  lived  at  home  until  the  death  of 
his  father;  then,  after  working  on  a  farm  a  few 
montlis,  he  went  to  Massillon.  and  worked  in  a 
storage  and  commission  house  for  three  years. 
He  then,  with  his  brother,  farmed  the  home- 
stead farm  two  years,  when  he  went  to  Wells- 
ville.  Ohio,  and  conducted  a  steam  flour-mill  ; 
liis  health  failing,  he  made  a  trip  down  the 
river,  he  and  three  others  buying  a  flat-boat, 
which  they  loaded  with  flour,  stoneware,  etc.  ; 
tiiey  went  to  Vicksburg,  thence  up  the  Yazoo 
anil  Yellow  Bushey  to  Williams'  landing.  Sell- 
ing out,  they  returned  to  Wellsville.  He  and 
liis  brother  bought  a  farm  in  connection  with 
the  mill,  and  Mr.  II.  got  out  52  acres  of  wheat 
and  10  acres  of  rye,  with  one  team,  and  in 
llie  winter  took  charge  of  the  mill,  they  having 
sold  the  farm  and  l)ouglit  tiie  mill,  and  con- 
ducted the  same  until  1S12,     January  of  that 


year,  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Swearingen, 
and  bought  part  of  the  old  home  form,  includ- 
ing the  mill,  which  he  conducted  until  1849. 
He  then  came  to  Canton,  and  assisted  in  solicit- 
ing stock,  settling  right  of  way  and  grading  on 
the  0.  &  P,  R.  R.,  after  which  he  farmed  and 
dealt  in  stock,  and,  later,  became  General 
Agent  for  the  above  R.  R.  Co.  in  contracting 
wood,  ties,  etc.,  and  continued  for  twelve  or 
fourteen  years.  About  18G4,  he  and  Mr.  P.  P. 
Trump  bought  and  improved  the  St.  Cloud 
Hotel,  which  they  now  own.  lie  has  a  large 
farming  and  coal  interest,  and  is  identified  with 
some  of  the  leading  manufacturing  interests  of 
the  cit^-.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  since  1830,  and  has  taken  an  active 
interest  in  its  affairs.  By  the  marriage  there 
have  been  nine  children,  six  of  wiiom  are  living. 
An  Old-Line  Whig,  now  a  Republican;  he  was 
a  strong  anti-slavery  man,  and  liberally  sup- 
ported all  war  measures.  His  grandfather,  on 
his  mother's  side,  left  seventeen  slaves ;  these 
]\Ir,  H.  tried  to  free,  liut  they  were  sold,  -and 
the  money  belonging  to  Jlr.  llurford's  mother 
yet  laj's  at  Wellsville.  he  not  being  willing  to 
use  money  obtained  from  such  a  source  ;  his 
mother,  while  living,  freed  her  slaves,  and  he 
thought  she  would  also  have  freed  those  of  the 
estate,  and  when  he  represented  her  in  Brooke 
Co.,  Va.,  out  of  nine  heirs.  sevi'U  were  opposed 
to  freedom  ;  the  slaves  were  sold  ;  but  the  next 
day  all  but  a  woman  and  child  had  escaped, 
and  were  never  found.  Mr.  H.'s  brother.  .Mfred, 
also  declines  to  receive  the  inonev. 

GEORGE  HOLM,  Canton.  Oli'io  :  is  a  native 
of  J'ike  Tp.,  Stark  Co..  Ohio.  He  was  born  Oct. 
25,  1820.  and  is  the  second  of  a  family  of  three 
children  born  to  John  and  Elizabeth  (Shutt) 
Holm.  They  were  natives  of  Washington  Co., 
M(l.  He  came  here  a  young  man  in  1812,  and 
located  a  piece  of  land  in  Pike  Tp.,  after  which 
he  brought  his  parents,  occupied  the  place  and 
cleared  a  farm,  and  (armed  in  that  township, 
where  our  subject's  grandfather,  Michael,  and 
his  second  wife,  and  John  and  Elizabeth  (Shutt) 
Holm,  died,  Elizabeth  Shutt  and  her  parents 
came  to  Pike  Tp.  about  the  year  1812.  Her 
mother  died  in  Maryland,  and  he  in  18G2.  in 
Pike  Tp..  aged  97.  John  and  Elizabeth  were 
among  the  first  marriages  in  Pike  Tp.  George 
lived  at  home  twenty-live  years,  received  a  dis- 
trict school  course  of  study,  and  also  taught  a 
number  of  terms;  in    1845,   he  married   Miss 


616 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Catharine  Buchtel,  a  native  of  Stark  Co.  Her 
father,  John  Buehtel,  came  hero  a  young  man 
with  liis  parents  prior  to  1812.  Her  grand- 
father on  her  mother's  side,  John  Sherman,  is 
also  a  pioneer,  after  whom  is  named  Sherman's 
Church.  After  marriage,  George  occupied  his 
grandftither's  farm,  which  he  hired,  his  grand- 
father giving  up  the  farm  and  living  with  him 
until  his  death.  George  farmed  until  1866, 
when  he  came  to  Canton,  renting  his  farm.  He 
has  since  1868,  acted  as  the  County  Agent  for 
C.  Aultman  &  Co.  He  is  Republican  in  politics, 
and  Methodist  in  his  religious  faith.  Of  eight 
children  born  to  the  marriage,  there  are  six 
living. 

JOSIAH  HARTZELL,  Manager  of  Adver- 
tising and  Printing  Department  of  C.  Aultman 
&  Co,  Canton,  Ohio  ;  is  a  native  of  Portage  Co., 
Ohio.  He  was  born  in  the  year  1833,  aud 
lived  on  the  farm  sixteen  years.  He  received 
a  common-school  course  of  study,  and  then  at- 
tended Amherst  College,  Massachusetts,  where 
he  graduated  in  1854.  He  then  read  law  in 
Toledo,  Ohio,  and  about  one  year  later  he  went 
to  Davenport,  Iowa,  where  he  continued  his 
reading,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1S56, 
and  practiced  until  1858,  when  he  came  to 
Canton  and  bought  the  Strn-k  Voantij  Rcjmh- 
lican,  which  he  conducted  until  1868,  when  he 
consolidated  with  the  Repository,  he  editing  the 
new  paper,  known  as  the  Canton  Repository 
and  RcpuMk-nn.  In  1874,  he  sold  his  interest, 
owing  to  his  health,  and  engaged  in  farming. 
In  1878,  he  represented  C.  Aultman  &  Co.  at 
the  Paris  Exposition,  his  fluency  in  French  and 
German  proving  most  valuable  to  him  on  this 
occasion,  which  continued  seven  months. 
Upon  his  return  to  Canton,  he  became  perma- 
nently connected  with  the  firm,  taking  his  pres- 
ent charge.  From  1865  to  1869,  he  served  as 
Postmaster  ol'  Canton.  One  of  his  first  acts 
was  to  drape  the  otHce  for  the  deatii  of  our 
martyred  President,  under  wliose  administra- 
tion he  received  the  appointment.  He  married 
Miss  Marv  K.,  daughter  of  Simon  Johnson,  of 
WasUingt'on  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1856.  Of 
eiuht  chililrcn,  seven  are  living — Wilbur  J., 
Frederick,  Charles,  Josiah,  Jr.,  Ralph,  Dora 
and  Grace.  Wilbur,  though  early  studying 
medicine,  attending  the  Universitj'  of  Austria, 
is  now  Cashier  of  the  Bank  of  South  Arkansas, 
located  in  Colorado.  Frederick  is  Cashier  of 
the  Custer  County  Bank,  at  Silver  Ciitt",  Colo., 


Charles  is  attending  Ann  Arbor,  and  the  others 
of  the  family  are  at  home. 

DR.  R.  P."  JOHNSON,  physician.  Canton  ;  is 
a  native  of  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  and  was  born  in 
Washington  Township,  Aug.  12,  1839.  He  was 
brought  up  on  his  father's  farm,  and  in  addition 
to  the  common  schools,  received  a  course  at 
Mt.  Union  Academy,  now  Mt.  Union  College; 
He  began  reading  medicine  in  the  spring  of 
1858,  with  Dr.  L.  L.  Lamborn,  of  Alliance ; 
graduated  in  1861  from  the  Cincinnati  College 
of  Medicine  and  Surgery,  and  began  practice  at 
Mt.  Union,  where  he  continued  until  Septem- 
ber, 1862,  then  entered  the  array  as  Assistant 
Surgeon  of  the  l()4th  0.  V.  I.,  and  the  following 
spring  was  taken  ill  and  resigned.  Most  of  his 
service  was  in  Hospital  No.  2,  at  Lexington, 
Ky.  He  practiced  at  Deerfield,  Ohio,  some 
eighteen  months,  and  in  the  fall  of  1864,  again 
entered  the  army,  and  was  sent  by  the  Medical 
Director  to  Springfield,  111.,  where  he  had 
charge  of  Camp  Yates,  and  one  j'ear  later  he 
went  to  Camp  Douglas,  at  Chicago,  where  he 
remained  until  the  camp  was  abandoned  b}-  the 
Government.  He  then  returned  to  Alliance, 
Ohio,  where  he  practiced  for  ten  years,  when 
he  came  to  Canton,  and  has  been  here  since. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  American  Medical  As- 
sociation, the  Union  Medical  Association  of 
Northeastern  Ohio,  and  the  Stark  County  Medi- 
cal Society;  of  the  latter  he  has  served  as  Secre- 
tary and  Vice  President.  While  at  Alliance 
he  was  surgeon  for  the  Cleveland  &  Pittsburgh 
R.  R.  for  seven  years  ;  for  the  past  twelve 
years  for  the  Pittsburgh,  Ft.  Wayne  &  Chicago 
R.  R.,  and  I'or  the  past  year  for  the  Connotton 
Valley  R.  R.  He  was  married  Dec.  3,  1857,  to 
Miss  Mariana  Hunt,  a  native  of  Chester  Co., 
Penn.,  who  came  when  a  child  with  her  j)arents 
to  Mahoning  Co.,  Ohio.  Of  four  children  born 
to  them,  two  are  living,  viz.:  Reason  P.  and 
Florence  E. 

L.  M.  KUHNS,  D.  D.,  minister,  Canton; 
Pastor  of  the  Trinity  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church,  Canton,  Ohio,  was  born  March  30, 
1826,  in  Armstrong  Co.,  Penn.  His  parent  were 
both  born  in  Greensburg,  Penn.,  his  mother, 
Esther  Steck,  being  the  daughter  of  Rev.  John 
M.  Steck,  a  celebrated  pioneer  clergyman  of  the 
Lutheran  Church  of  Western  Pennsj-lvania. 
After  receiving  the  rudiments  of  a  common 
school  education  at  the  old-fashioned  log  school- 
house   of  his  native  place,   Mr.  Kuhns,  at   19 


^: 


i)  \ 


CITY   or    CANTON. 


617 


years  of  age,  began  an  academic  course  at 
Zelienople,  Penn.,  he  having  already  formed 
the  intention  of  preparing  liimself  for  the  min- 
istry. After  two  years  of  study  at  tlie  academy 
of  Zelienople,  he  entered  Wittenburg  College, 
SpriTigfiekl.  Ohio,  where  lor  live  years  he  prose- 
cuted his  classical  and  theological  studies.  In 
March,  1852,  he  received  an  ad  iiilcrim  license, 
and  in  the  following  June  he  was  regularl}- 
licensed  to  preach  the  (lospel  by  the  I'itt.st)urgh 
Synod.  Having  received  and  accepted  a  call 
from  the  congregation  at  Freeport,  Penn.,  in 
conjunction  with  two  other  small  congregations. 
He  was  ordained  at  that  place  in  1854,  and  re- 
mained there  performing  pastoral  duties  four 
years.  His  next  charge  was  at  Leechburg, 
Penn.,  where  he  laliored  ten  years,  enjoying 
manj'  gratifying  evidence  ofsuccess.  Thus  four- 
teen years  of  successful  pastoral  work  were 
passed  within  four  miles  of  his  native  place, 
the  two  villages  of  Freeport  and  Leechburg  !)c- 
ing  only  seven  miles  apart,  and  his  birtiiplacc 
being  about  midway  between  them.  He  was 
next  called  to  Bellefontainc,  Ohio,  where  he 
served  o\cr  thri'c  years  with  satisfaction  to  the 
eommunity  and  to  his  people.  In  July,  1809, 
he  came  to  Canton  where  he  now  resides.  Al- 
though an  occasional  contributor  to  the  church 
journals, Dr.Kuhns  has  given  his  attention  rather 
to  personal  ministrations  among  his  people,  both 
|)iihliely  and  privately.  Six  years  he  served  as 
Secretary  antl  three  years  as  Presitlent  of  the 
Pittsburgh  Synod  ;  as  President  of  the  East 
Ohio  Synod  two  years,  and  as  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Directors  of  Wittenburg  College  for 
ten  years.  The  latter  institution  having,  with- 
out any  solicitation  on  his  part,  directly  or  in- 
directly, conferred  on  him  the  degrees  of  A.  M. 
and  D.  D.  In  private  conversation  and  by  pub- 
lic addresses  he  has  become  prominentl}' identi- 
fied with  Sabbath  schools,  temperance  work 
and  other  reforms.  On  the  8th  of  June,  1852, 
he  married  Jliss  JIaria  Luyties,  of  Greensburg. 
Penn.  Herman  L.,  their  eldest  son,  is  one  of 
the  proprietors  of  the  Canton  Spring  Works. 
The  senior  member  of  the  firm  being  Mr.  Daniel 
Cobaugh.  Two  daughters.  Mary  and  Nettie, 
are  graduates  of  1/utherville  Seminary,  near 
Baltimore.  Md.  Willie,  a  younger  son,  is  still 
at  home,  though  his  parents  and  older  brother 
are  looking  forward  to  givinj^himan  education 
befitting  a  member  of  tlieii'  family. 
LEWIS  KOONS,  retired,  Canton  ;  is  a  native 


of  Alsace,  France,  and  was  one  of  a  family  of 
nine  children  :  he  was  born  in  1817,  and  attend- 
ed school  from  6  years  of  age  until  he  was  14. 
In  1832,  he  came  to  the  United  States,  and 
spent  the  first  j-ear  following  in  Pittsburgh,  try- 
ing to  learn  the  trade  of  a  shoemaker.  Having 
no  fancy  l<)r  the  business  he  went  to  Bulfaio, 
and  from  there  engaged  in  the  selling  of  clocks, 
in  company  with  an  older  brother;  from  Buf- 
falo he  went  to  Crawford  Co.,  Ohio,  and  resided 
there  about  five  years,  most  of  which  time  he 
was  engaged  in  the  clock  trade  ;  lu;  then  re- 
moved to  Stark  Co.,  and  became  a  resident  of 
Paris,  and  there  engaged  in  the  grocer}'  busi- 
ness, though  he  still  kept  up  a  clock  trade  dur- 
ing the  earlier  years  of  his  residence  in  that 
place.  Being  naturally'  economical  and  indus- 
trious, he  soon  owned  a  good  property  in  Paris, 
and  continued  to  do  business  there  until  18CG, 
when  he  sold  out,  and  became  a  resident  of 
Canton,  where  he  now  lives  a  n'tired  life,  and 
enjoys  the  fruits  of  his  early  industrj-  and  fru- 
gality. About  one  year  after  he  began  business 
in  Paris,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Rhonas, 
a  uative  of  Lancaster,  Penn.;  fiAC  children  have 
been  born  to  them,  four  of  whom  are  living — 
three  boys  and  one  girl. 

F.  D.  KEPLINGEK,  merchant.  Canton  ;  was 
l)orn  in  Stark  Co.,  where  his  time  was  spent, 
principally,  until  he  became  of  an  age  to  engage 
in  business  on  his  own  account.  He  began  first 
as  clerk  for  the  firm  of  Deitrich  &  Kimball,  in 
1859,  and  remained  with  them  until  the  spring 
of  1861,  and  then  began  clerking  for  Schilling 
&  Herbruck,  with  whom  he  remained  until  tiie 
July  following.  In  Auyust  of  18(;2.  he  enlisted 
in  Co.  B,  115111  O.  X.  I..  Init  served  on  detail 
duty  in  the  Adjutant  Gcmeral's  otlice.  in  Cincin- 
nati, until  1S()3  :  in  1 8(54,  he  was  commissioned 
Captain  of  Co.  B,  lOlUh  l'.  S.  C.  T.,  and  held 
this  connnission  until  18fi(i  ;  his  command  was 
under  Gen.  Grant  at  the  surrender  of  Gen.  Lee 
at  Appomattox  ;  on  the  25th  of  January-,  18(!5, 
he  received  a  gun-shot  wound,  while  in  the  Itat- 
tle  of  Fort  Hatcher,  init  fortunately  not  so 
severe  as  to  disable  him  from  service  for  l)Ut  a 
short  time;  after  the  surrender  of  Gen.  Lee. 
the  command  of  Capt.  Keplinger  was  sent  to 
Texas;  while  there  he  served  as  Brigade  Quar- 
termaster at  ludianola  for  a  time  ;  l)eing 
relieved  of  this  duty,  he  was  sent  to  I'ort  Lav- 
aca, Tex.,  and  then  detailed  as  Provost  Marshal, 
in  which  capacity  he  served  until  the  regiment 


HIS 


UIOGRAPJIICAL    SKETCHES: 


received  orders  to  go  to  Louisville,  K>'.,  to  be 
mustered  out  of  service.  After  leaving  the 
armj^  he  went  to  Bucj-rus,  Ohio,  where  he  spent 
a  short  time  in  the  capacity-  of  clerk.  In  1868, 
he  came  to  Canton,  and  engaged  in  business 
with  a  Mr.  Shane,  under  the  firm  name  of  Kep- 
ingcr  &  Shane;  in  tiie  summer  of  1873  he 
bouglit  Mr.  Shane's  intere.st.  and  has  since  been 
conducting  tiie  business  alone.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Eagle  Lodge,  No.  431,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M. ; 
ho  is  a  member  of  the  orders  of  K.  of  H.  and 
H.  A.,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church.  Li  I860,  he  was  married  to  Mrs. 
Frankic  Miller,  daughter  of  William  and  Sarah 
Kelly,  who  were  among  the  old  settlers  of  Stark 
Co.,  as  were  also  the  parents  of  Mr.  Keplinger. 
The  present  finds  him  one  among  the  success 
ful,  enterprising  business  men  of  Canton,  and 
to  whatever  height  he  may  have  climbed  in 
financial  circles,  is  due  only  to  his  own  energy, 
economy  and  good  financiering. 

J.  G.  KEITH,  retired,  Canton  ;  was  born  in 
Loudoun  Co.,  Va..  May  28,  1812,  and  is  the  son 
of  Price  and  i\Iary  (Carruthers)  Keith,  both  na- 
tives of  Virginia.  As  early  as  1810,  his  father 
came  to  Ohio,  and  located  three-quarter  section 
of  land  in  Columbiana  Co.,  but  did  not  become  a 
resident  of  that  county  with  his  family  until 
1814.  He  settled  near  Hanover  and  engaged  in 
farming,  a  business  that  he  continued  engaged 
in  during  his  active  business  life.  His  death 
occurred  when  he  was  aged  91  years  and  3  days. 
The  early  life  of  J.  G.  was  spent  on  his  father's 
farm,  and  though  he  has  later  in  life  proved 
himself  a  good  business  man,  and  a  shrewd 
financier,  he  certainly  in  those  early  days  of  his 
history  had  but  meager  opportimities  of  get- 
ting even  the  rudiments  of  an  education. 
Their  common  schools  were  of  the  old  sub- 
scription system  and  sometimes  a  walk  of  three 
miles  was  necessary  for  him,  to  attend  even 
these.  Under  such  disadvantages  in  earl}'  life, 
he  is  certainly  entitled  to  much  credit  for  his 
success  in  later  life.  Becoming  of  a  proper 
age  to  learn  a  trade  he  was  apprenticed  to  a 
tailor,  which  trade  he  completed  and  followed 
for  some  time.  He  subsequent!}*  purchased  a 
farm  in  Columbiana  Co.,  and  spent  twenty-six 
years  of  his  life  in  that  business.  In  1866,  he 
removed  to  Alliance,  Ohio,  but  only  remained 
there  about  one  and  a  half  years,  and  then  be- 
came a  resident  of  Canton.  His  good  judg- 
ment soon   led   him  to  purchase  25  acres  of 


land  adjoining  the  city,  and  to-day  there  are 
two  additions  to  the  city  divisions  to  perpet- 
uate his  name.  The  purchase,  subdivision 
and  sale  of  this  property  proved  a  successful 
speculation,  and  now  for  some  years  he  has 
been  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his  early  industry 
and  economy.  His  home  is  now  on  West  Tuscar- 
awas street.  He  was  married  on  March  24, 
1836,  to  Miss  Nancy  Frost,  daughter  of  Amos 
and  Mary  (Lawrence)  Frost,  who  were  early 
settlers  of  Columbiana  Co.  Nine  children  have 
been  born  to  them,  two  only  of  whom  are  living 
— Mary  Ann,  born  Feb.  15,  1837.  died  March  4, 
1837  ;"Marv  E.,  born  August  15.  1839  ;  Amos 
P.,  born  July,  19,  1841."  died  Nov.  5,  1878; 
Mahala  M.,  boru  August  17, 1843,  died  Oct.  28; 
1854;  Thomas  0.,  born  July  15,  1845,  died 
Oct.  9,  1836;  George  F..  born  March  25,  1847, 
died  October  8,1854;  William  A.,  born  Nov. 
6,  1849.  dird  July  31,1850;  Emma  L.,  born 
June  22,  1851  ;  Nancy  J.,  boru  Dec.  26,  1853, 
died  Oct.  1,  1857.  Mr.  Keith  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  M.  E.  Church  since  1836.  His  wife 
has  also  been  a  member  for  many  years.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  1.  0.  0.  F.,  though  his 
greatest  interest  has  been  in  the  support  and 
prosperity  of  the  church,  to  which  he  has  con- 
tributed liberally. 

J.  C.  LANTZ,  manufacturer.  Canton.  Among 
the  list  of  those  men  who  have  been  established 
and  added  to  the  manufacturing  industries  of 
Canton,  Mr.  Lantz  is  justly  entitled  to  a  fair 
recognition.  He  was  born  June  10,  1839,  in 
Hagerstown,  Md.,  where  he  was  educated,  and 
where  he  learned  the  trade  of  a  machinist,  at 
which  he  served  an  apprenticeship  of  thee  years 
for  $100.  He  became  a  resident  of  Canton 
about  1863,  and  began  work  at  his  trade  in  the 
shops  of  E.  Ball,  with  whom  he  remained  about 
two  years,  and  then  engaged  in  the  work  of 
carpentering.  In  1870,  he  began  the  manu- 
facture of  packing  boxes  for  Joseph  Biechele, 
in  which  line  he  has  subsequently  supplied  the 
entire  home  demand.  In  time,  he  added  the 
manufacture  of  cigar  boxes  to  his  business,  but 
this  branch  of  his  business  was  finallj-  given 
up,  and  the  manufacture  of  the  well-known 
Quinby  beehive  begun.  To  this  hive  he  has 
added  manj'  practical  points  of  improvement, 
and  is  now  turning  out  of  them  from  800  to 
1,000  per  season.  These  two  liues  of  manu- 
facture occupied  the  time  to  advantage  during 
the   spring   and   fall  and  for  a  couple  of  the 


~s  \ 


CITY   OF    CANTON. 


619 


summer  months.  It  fiuallj'  became  a  question  I 
of  importance  to  raanufiicture  some  marketal)le  ' 
article  during  the  winter.  In  view  of  this, 
after  much  study.  Mr.  Lantz  began  the  manu- 
facture of  an  improved  faucet,  known  a.s  the 
Standard  Faucet,  the  principle  features  of 
which  is  the  coating  or  cauterizing  those  por- 
tions of  the  faucet  exposed  to  friction  and  wear 
or  to  destruction  by  the  action  of  strong  acids, 
with  a  solution  ol  glass,  applied  l)y  a  peculiar 
process  of  friction.  He  is,  in  addition  to  the  ' 
Standard,  introducing  to  the  trade  an  improved 
ale  faucet,  that  i.s  rapidly-  beeomino  an  article 
of  good  demand.  Now.  he  is  entitled  to  having 
added  to  the  industries  of  Canton  the  nianu- 
facLure  of  three  separate  and  distinct  articles,  , 
in  the  manufacture  of  which  he  employs,  on  an  ' 
average,  about  twelve  men,  to  whom  he  pays 
yearly  an  aggregate  of  over  ^-l.OdO.  Mr.  Lantz  ' 
has  also  become  identified  with  many  of  the 
local  interests  and  social  affairs  of  Canton. 
From  the  First  Ward  he  has  been  a  memlier  of 
the  City  ('ouncil  one  term,  and  he  is  now  serv- 
ing lii>  si-rond  term  as  a  member  of  the  Board 
111'  lvliu:ili(in  of  the  city.  He  is  a  member  of 
Uu.'  Lutheran  Church,  and  also  of  the  Eagle  ' 
Lodge,  No.  34L  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.  In  1861, ^he 
married  Miss  Oemima  Price,  a  native  of  I 
Waynesboro.  Fnanklin  Co.,  Penn.  Six  children 
have  been  born  to  them,  two  sons  and  four 
daughters  ;  Ijoth  the  former  are  now  deceased. 
PROF.  JOHN  H.LEH.MAN,  Superintendent 
of  Canton  Schools.  Canton  ;  was  born  in  Lan- 
caster, Penn..  May  17.  1846.  and  is  a  son  of 
Abraham  K.  and  Mary  (Hackman)  Lehman, 
natives  of  J'ennsjivania.  Our  subject's  father 
was  a  miller,  to  which  trade  he  was  apprenticed 
wlien  quite  young,  and  followed  for  man}' 
years.  His  first  wife  was  a  Miss  Sheets,  who 
died  in  Pennsylvania,  and  .some  }X'ars  later  he 
niarried  Miss  Mary  Hackman  ;  in  1859.  they 
came  West,  stopping  in  W.a^-ne  Co..  Ohio,  where 
they  remained  six  months,  then  moved  into  the 
vicinity  of  Canton.  He  conducted  the  milling 
business  till  1861t.  and  then  moved  into  (Ian- 
ton,  and  has  lived  retired  ever  since.  John  H. 
lived  at  home  until  20  years  of  age,  working  in 
the  mill  at  odd  times,  and  becoming  proficient 
in  the  trade.  He  received  a  common  school 
education,  and  also  attended  the  high  school  in 
Canton.  Being  naturally  fond  of  mathematics 
he  made  considerable  progress  in  studies  beyond 
the  regular  school  courses.     At   the  age  of  16 


he  began  teaching,  and  taught  two  years,  then 
followed  milling  for  two  years.  He  then  re- 
turned to  the  profession  of  teaching,  which  he 
has  sin(;o  followed.  He  taught  in  the  district 
schools  of  Canton  and  Plain  Tps.  until  1869, 
when  he  came  to  (!anton  and  took  charge,  as 
Principal  of  the  North  School,  which  had  a 
regular  attendance  of  about  300  pupils.  He 
continued  as  Principal  until  1876,  when  he  be- 
came Superintendent  of  the  City  Schools, 
which  position  he  still  holds.  He  has  been  a 
member  of  the  State  Teachers'  Association 
some  ten  years  ;  has  served  as  A'ice  President, 
and  is  at  present  a  member  of  its  executive 
committee  .  he  is  alsf)  a  member  of  the  North- 
eastern Ohio  Teachers  Association,  of  which 
body  he  has  been  Pri^sident.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  County  Association ;  has  served  as 
Chairman  and  Secretary  of  the  Kxeeutive  Com- 
mittee, and  as  President  three  years.  For  five 
years  he  has  been  a  meralier  of  the  Exam- 
ining Board  for  City  Teachers,  of  which  he  has 
also  been  Clerk.  In  1865,  he  married  .Miss 
Emma  J.  Oberlin,  a  native  of  Stark  Co.  They 
hiive  three  children,  viz,:  Ella  O.,  Fjva  E.  and 
Fred  H. 

G.  W.  LAWRENCE,  firm  of  Lawrence  & 
Myer,  hardware,  etc..  Canton  ;  a  native  of  this 
County  ;  w.as  born  Fel).  11,  1826,  and  is  the 
only  child  of  (ieorge  P.  and  Catharine  (Rich- 
ard) Lawrence,  the  former  a  native  of  Wash- 
ington Co.,  Penn.  ;  came  to  Stark  Co.,  Ohio, 
with  his  parents  at  an  early  day.  George  W. 
(subject)  was  raised  in  the  family  of  Jacob 
Snyder  from  the  age  of  1  year,  who  came  to 
Canton  Tp.  in  1824.  He  was  brought  up  on 
the  farm,  and  received  his  education  in  the  dis- 
trict schools.  At  the  age  of  14,  he  began 
teaching,  and  taught  some  fifteen  or  eighteen 
terms,  including  three  terms  in  Canton.  On 
becoming  of  age,  he  took  charge  of  Jlr.  Sn}'- 
der's  farm  until  1848,  when  he  came  to  Canton 
and  went  into  the  mercantile  business,  remain- 
ing but  a  short  time  ;  then  moved  to  Louisville 
,and  engaged  in  business  at  that  place  In 
1856,  he  failed,  afler  which  he  traveled  a  short 
time  for  a  Philadelphia  house,  then  returned  to 
Ohio  and  rented  a  farm  near  .Middle  Branch, 
and  farmed  two  years.  He  then  moved  to 
Plain  Center,  and  farmed  there  for  three  years. 
In  1861,  he  was  elected  County  Treasurer  on 
the  Republican  ticket,  entering  upon  his  duties 
in  September.  1862;  served   four  years,   being 


;^ 


C20 


BI0GEA.PH1CAL   SKETCHES: 


re-elected  in  1863.  Upon  retiring  from  the 
office  of  Treasurer,  he  was  elected  County 
Commissioner,  and  while  in  this  orBee  the  pres- 
ent court  house  was  built.  He  was  one  of  the 
organizers  of  the  City  Bank  of  Canton,  of 
which  he  was  the  first  President,  and  afterward 
Cashier.  In  1869,  he  bought  eighty-  acres  of 
land  adjoining  Canton,  which  he  divided  into 
lots,  and  which  is  known  as  Lawrence's  Addi- 
tion to  Canton.  The  undertaking  was  ver}"^ 
successful.  About  the  year  1871  or  1872  he 
formed  his  present  partnership.  He  does  not 
take  an  active  part  in  the  management  of  the 
business.  Nov.  30,  1845,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Margaret  J.  Neese,  of  Marlborough  Tp. 
She  died  Jan.  20, 1846.  July  4, 1847,  he  married 
Miss  Savilla  Shollenberger.  She  died  April 
23,  1866.  They  had  eight  children,  four  of 
whom  are  living,  viz. :  Mary  C.  (now  Mrs.  W. 
0.  Myers),  Margaret  J.  (now  Mrs.  H.  Smith), 
Rachel  C.  (now  Mrs.  J.  Ruperdj  and  Cora  B., 
at  home,  June  20,  1867,  he  married  Mrs. 
Sutch,  formerly  E.  M,  Rockhill.  They  had  four 
children  -three  living,  viz.  :  George  W.,  Alma 
B.  and  an  infant.  Mr.  L.  has  been  a  member 
of  the  School  Board  for  ten  years.  He  was 
once  a  Democrat,  a  Free-Soiler,  a  Know-Noth- 
ing,  and  is  now  a  Repul)lican.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Churcli. 

G.  S.  LEININGER,  of  East  Canton  Empire 
Mills,  Canton  ;  was  born  in  Stark  Co.,  Oliio, 
June  9,  1826,  and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Eliza 
beth  (Slusser)  Leininger.  They  were  born  in 
Pennsjdvania,  and  came  to  Ohio  with  their 
parents  in  an  earlj'  daj',  and  settled  near  Can- 
ton. Jacob  lived  at  home  until  1831,  when  he 
went  to  Osnaburg  and  engaged  in  business. 
He  sold  out  in  the  spring  of  1857,  and  removed 
to  Illinois,  where  he  died  about  1869.  She  is 
still  living  on  the  old  homestead  in  Illinois 
with  her  son.  G.  S.,  our  subject,  was  brought 
up  on  the  farm,  receiving  his  education  at  the 
district  schools.  On  arriving  at  maturity,  he 
went  to  Canal  Fulton,  where  he  clerked  for  his 
brother  some  eighteen  months  ;  clerked  awhile 
at  Sandyville,  and  then  taught  school.  After 
farming  several  jears  and  teaching  during  the 
winter  season,  he  bouglit  a  farm  near  Canton, 
on  which  he  has  since  lived,  and  in  187G  he 
added  milling  to  his  fiirming.  He  was  married, 
Nov.  5,  1850,  to  Miss  Catharine  Rowland,  a 
native  of  Ohio.  Her  parents,  Jacob  and  Eliz- 
abeth (Bachtel)  Rowland,  came  to  Stark  Co.  in 


1810.  Their  marriage  resulted  in  twelve  chil- 
dren, ten  of  whom  are  living — six  girls  and 
four  bojs.  He  is  Republican  in  politics,  and  a 
member  of  the  Church  of  God. 

AUGUSTUS  LEININGER,  M.  D.,  Canton  ; 
is  a  native  of  Ohio  :  son  of  Joim  and  Henrietta 
Leininger,  who  came  to  Canton  Tp.  about  1850, 
where  they  still  reside.  His  father  was  a  farm- 
er and  our  subject  passed  his  early  years 
upon  the  farm.  He  received  a  good  education, 
and  in  1875  he  commenced  the  study  of  medi- 
cine with  Dr.  Portmann,  of  Canton,  remaining 
under  his  tutelage  three  years.  He  graduated 
in  the  Medical  Department  of  Wooster  Uni- 
versity, Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  1879,  and  in  1880, 
attended  Bellevue  Medical  College,  New  York. 
Since  1879,  he  has  been  practicing  in  Canton, 
and  is  establishing  a  successful  business.  lu 
1881,  he  located  his  office  in  the  new  P,  0. 
Block,  where  he  is  now  conveniently  located, 

WILLIAM  A.  LYNCH,  attorney.  Canton; 
is  a  native  of  Canton,  Ohio  ;  he  was  born  Aug. 
4,  1844.  He  received  a  course  of  study  in  the 
Canton  Schools,  and  at  the  age  of  1 7  he  began 
reading  law  with  Mr.  Louis  Schaffer,  with 
whom  he  remained  until  he  became  of  age, 
being  admitted  to  the  bar  Aug.  7,  1865.  He 
has  served  two  terms  as  Prosecuting  Attornej' 
for  the  county,  and  is  actively  engaged  in 
general  practice  in  federal  courts  of  this  and 
adjoining  counties,  and  during  recent  years  has 
done  much  corporation  practice.  His  parents, 
Arnold  and  Frances  (Horan)  Lynch,  were  eaily 
residents  of  Stark  Co.  Arnold  Lynch  has 
served  as  County  Surveyor  and  Recorder  many 
j'cars,  and  was  prominently  identified  with 
man}'  public  enterprises,  he  being  one  of  the 
projectors  of  the  Ft,  Wayne  II,  R,,  and  took  an 
active  part  in  building  the  Cleveland  &  Mahon- 
ing Valley  R.  R.,  and  in  developing  the  coal 
interests  of  Stark  Co.  He  was  also  largely 
interested  in  the  coal  and  iron  interests  of  Ohio 
and  West  Penns3lvania. 

CAPT.  G.  F.  LAIRD,  cashier  C.  Aultman  & 
Co.,  Canton,  Ohio  ;  is  a  native  of  Canton,  Ohio. 
He  was  born  Aug.  16,  1838,  and  is  the  eldest 
of  nine  children  born  to  John  and  Susan  (Faber) 
Laird  ;  they  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  he 
of  Northumberland  and  she  of  Franklin  Co. 
He  came  to  Canton,  Ohio,  in  the  j-ear  1818, 
with  his  mother,  one  brother  and  four  sisters. 
He  early  became  identified  with  the  iron  inter- 
ests of  the  count}',   first   entering   a   forge  at 


<<^  i 


CITY   OF    CANTON. 


021 


Sparta  when  about  18,  and  superintended  mak- 
ing bar  iron  ;  later  he  built  a  furnace  at  Zoar, 
and  alioul  1.S40  or  1841,  lie  opened  a  foundry 
at  Canton,  witli  wliicii  lie  was  connocloil  until 
1871.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Laird  are  living  in 
Canton.  Our  subject  was  raised  in  his  native 
citv,  and  assisted  his  father  in  the  foundry  until 
April,  ISOl.  when  he  enlistcci  in  the  4th"().  V. 
1..  and  was  commissioned  2d  Meutenant  at 
Columbus,  on  the  21st  day  of  April,  and  con- 
tinued in  the  service  until  July,  1864.  He  was 
twice  promoted,  reaching  the  rank  of  Captain. 
lie  was  in  the  battles  of  Fredericksburg.  Cluin- 
eellorsville.  Gettysburg,  the  Wilderness  and  the 
other  engagements  of  the  regiment.  I'pon  his 
return  home,  he  engaged  with  his  father  in  the 
foundry  and  remaine<l  in  same  until  1871,  since 
which  time  he  has  been  coiniccted  with  C. 
Aultnian  &  Co.  In  18(50,  he  married  Miss 
Fannie  Ashman,  of  Akron.  By  the  marriage 
there  has  been  four  children,  three  of  whom  are 
living.  The  Captain  was  a  stockholder  in  the 
Canton  Telephonic  E.xchaiige  from  its  estab- 
lishment in  April.  188(1,  until  July,  1881.  when 
the  exchange  was  sold.  He  has  also  be(>n  the 
manager  since  its  establishment  in  the  citv. 

C.  T.  MEYKR.  lawyer.  Canton,  a  native  of 
Stark  Co.,  and  .son  of  Judge  S.  >Feyer.  of  Can- 
ton. He  received  fine  educational  advantages 
attending  St.  Joseph's  (^ollege,  of  Somerset, 
Ohio,  and  Xotre  Dame  at  South  Bend,  Ind. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  practice  of  his  chosen 
profession  in  1861.  but  soon  after  enlisted  in  Co. 
A.  14th  O.  V.  1..  and  after  serving  three  months, 
re-enlisted  in  the  (J4th  0.  V.  I.,  and  served  with 
rank  of  Captain  for  three  years.  After  the 
close  of  the  rebellion  he  wont  to  Texas,  where 
he  remained  until  187:5.  assisting  in  railroad 
construction,  and  also  engaged  in  farming 
operations.  Upon  his  return  to  his  native 
county  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession with  his  lather.  In  1878.  he  became 
associated  with  William  J.  I'icro  in  practice, 
and  now  is  devotuig  his  attention  to  pro- 
fessional affairs.  Mr.  Meyer  is  regarded  as  an 
able  and  efHcient  member  of  the  bar.  and 
although  young  in  years  ranks  high  upon  the 
professional  ladder 

J.  H.  McCRKA,  furniture,  Canton,  the  lead- 
ing furniture  dealer  of  (Janton,  No.  45  Hast 
Tuscarawas  street,  was  born  in  Westmoreland 
County,  I'enn.  in  1826.  He  learned  the  trade 
of  a  cabinet-maker  in    Pittsburgh,  and  subse- 


quently worked  at  it  for  two  years  in  Cincin- 
nati. In  1868,  he  removed  to  Canton  and 
established  his  present  house,  and  by  industry, 
application  to  business,  thorough  knowledge  of 
the  trade  in  all  its  details  and  requirements,  as 
well  as  a  uniform  system  of  fair  and  honoraltle 
dealing,  he  has  built  up  one  of  the  finest 
establishments  of  the  kind  in  the  West,  and 
one,  too,  of  which  she  is,  as  she  maj'  well  be, 
proud  of  In  addition  to  the  furniture  trade, 
Mr.  McCrea.  does  a  large  business  in  uphol- 
stering. He  is  also  well  known  as  the  most 
careful  and  courteous  undertaker  in  the  city. 
He  is  probably  oix'upying  more  space  in  the 
transaction  of  his  business  than  many  of  the 
citizens  of  (!anton  are  aware  of  With  addi- 
tions recently  made,  he  now  has  an  establishment 
of  twenty-two  feet  frontage  by  17((  feet  deep, 
three  floors  and  basement,  besides  one  room, 
35xlOI{  feet  in  the  adjoining  building.  His 
annual  sales  are  about  §45.000.  He  has  never 
taken  an  active  part  in  [lolitical  afiairs,  choos- 
ing rather  to  devote  his  time  and  energies  to 
the  building  up  of  a  good  reliable  business, 
and  how  well  he  has  succeeded  is  be3-ond  the 
question  of  an  experiment.  He  is  a  member  of 
St,  John's  Catholic  Church,  a  friend  and 
liberal  donator  to  any  cause  pertaining  to  the 
improvement  of  Canton,  or  the  welfare  of  her 
citizens. 

W.  N.  MOFFETT,  superintendent  of  V,.  V. 
R.  R.,  was  born  in  Wellsburg,  W.  Va..  March 
22,  1847.  He  is  one  of  a  family  of  four  chil- 
dren born  to  John  and  Susan  (Miller)  Moffett. 
The  family  removed  from  West  A'irginia  to 
Carroll  Co.,  Ohio,  thence  to  Stark  Co.,  about 
1859.  The  subject  of  these  notes  received  his 
education  in  the  public  schools,  and  Mt.  I'nion 
College  which  he  entered  when  about  16  years 
of  age,  and  graduated  from  that  institution, 
having  taking  a  general  busness  course.  He 
then  began  to  run  on  the  P.,  Ft.  W.  C.  R.  II., 
and  after  serving  as  conductor  several  years, 
he  was  transferred  to  the  dispatcher's  office,  in 
which  position  he  remained  ten  years,  having 
been  in  the  employ  of  said  railroad  company 
about  seventeen  years.  In  April,  1880,  he  was 
engaged  as  Superintendent  of  the  C.  V.  R.  R., 
and  removed  from  Alliance  to  Canton,  January, 
1881.  He  married  Minerva  Shaffer,  October, 
1871.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Shaffer  of 
Alliance.  Mr.  Moffett  is  a  member  of  the 
I.  O.  O.  F.  and  the  Masonic  fraternitv. 


\r 


632 


BIOGRAPHICAL    ^KP:TCHES: 


ANDREW  MYERS,  deceased  ;  was  among 
the  most  prominent  eail3'  pioneers  of  Stark  Co.; 
he  was  a  native  of  Alsace,  France,  and  came  to 
tlie  United  .States  in  180-1,  and  the  same  year 
became  a  resident  of  Baltimore,  and  married 
Miss  Cordelia  Gross,  who  was  also  a  native  of 
Fnince.  Mr.  Myers  was  by  trade  a  gilder  and 
draughtsman,  and  for  a  number  of  years  after 
becoming  a  resident  of  Baltimore  he  worked  at 
the  finishing  of  shipping.  He  subsequently 
came  to  Stark  Vo.  to  live,  though  he  made  trips 
prior  to  his  settlement,  for  the  purpose  of  buy- 
ing and  enterino'  lands,  of  which  he  owned  at 
one  time  about  2,200  acres;  he  did  a  large  farm- 
ing business,  and  bought  and  sold  real  estate. 
He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  partici- 
pated in  the  battle  of  Bladensburg  ;  was  a  man 
of  fine  education,  and  being  wealthy,  he.  without 
apparent  effort.  \vielde<l  much  influence  in  the 
community.  He  died  at  the  advanced  age  of  87 
years.  His  daughter,  Mrs.  (lassilly,  is  the  only 
survivor  of  his  family'  of  three  sons  and  two 
daughters  ;  she  still  resides  in  Canton,  and  is  a 
lady  whose  courteous  manner  and  good  breed- 
ing bespeaks  the  nationality  of  her  parents. 

LEVI  L.  MILLER,  banker.  Canton  ;  is  a 
native  of  Lake  Tp..  Stark  Co.  He  was  educat- 
ed at  Oberlin  College,  Ohio.  In  18li4,  shortly 
after  finishing  his  course  at  college,  he  a(!cepted 
a  position  of  shipping  clerk  in  the  manufactur- 
ing establishment  of  C.  Aultnian  &  Co.,  and 
subsequently  was  given  a  position  in  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Akron,  of  which  he  is  now 
Cashier ;  severing  his  first  connection  with  the 
bank,  he  became  the  partner  of  Mr.  John  Hob- 
ins,  Sr.,  in  the  Eagle  Woolen  Mills  ;  for  two 
years  he  retained  his  interest  in  the  mills,  when 
he  sold  out  and  removed  to  Westfield,  N.  Y., 
where  for  three  years  he  was  Secretary  of  the 
Townsend  Manufacturing  Company,  manufact- 
urers of  locks  and  house  hardware  ;  returning 
to  Canton  he  was  for  a  time  in  the  office  of  C. 
Aultman  &  Co..  which  position  he  left  in  1872, 
when  elected  Cashier  of  the  First  National 
Bank.  Politically,  he  is  a  Republican.  For 
many  ^-ears  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  M. 
E.  Church  and  Sabbath  School,  and  of  the  lat- 
ter he  is  now  Superintendent. 

ARCHIBALD  McGREGOR,  journalist.  Can- 
ton ;  was  born  in  Hamilton,  Lanarkshire,  Scot- 
land, Dec.  14,  ISIll.  His  grandfather,  on  his 
father's  side,  participated  in  the  rebellion  of 
1 745  ;  but,  as   after  tke  battle  of  Culloden  it 


was  dangerous  to  return  to  the  highlands  of 
Scotland,  he  returned  to  Hamilton.  His  father, 
John  McGregor,  educated  at  Glasgow  Uni- 
versity, was  a  teacher  of  the  classics  in  Scot- 
laud.  In  1828,  having  emigrated  to  the  United 
States,  he  located  at  New  Haven,  Addison  Co., 
Vermont,  and  in  1833,  he  removed  to  Medina 
Co.,  Ohio,  and  took  charge  of  Wadsworth 
Academy.  He  remained  in  position  fifteen 
years.  Our  suljject  was  educated  with  parental 
solicitude,  and  a  fine  literary  taste,  unusual 
acquaintance  with  ancient  and  modern  science, 
and  especially  with  the  literature  of  England 
and  Scotland,  were  the  results.  In  1842,  he 
engaged  at  Canton  in  the  occupation  of  teach- 
ing, at  which  he  continued  for  six  years.  In 
1848,  the  leading  Democrats  of  the  town  solicit- 
ed him  and  his  father  to  take  charge  of  the 
St(irk  County  DciiKivrat.  Their  proposition 
they  accepted,  antl  he  at  once  entered  upon  a 
calling  which  has  since  become  the  business  of 
his  life,  and  in  which  he  was  assisted  by  his 
two  sons,  one  of  whom  has  since  died.  In 
1844,  he  married  Miss  Martha  McCurdy,  of 
Canton.  Her  famil}'  moved  there  from  Penn- 
sylvania, and  were  of  Scotch-Irish  parentage. 
Four  children  were  born  from  this  union — 
John,  at  present  associated  with  his  father  in 
the  publication  of  the  <SV(n7»-  (/uunti/  Democrat ; 
William,  deceased  ;  Mary  E.,  now  wife  of 
Edward  Schilling,  of  JiOuisville,  Stark  Co.,  and 
Emily,  now  wife  of  J.  V.  Lawler,  editor  of  the 
Carroll  Cmatty  ChnmicJe.  Having  taken,  in 
the  conduct  of  his  paper  during  the  war  of  the 
rebellion,  the  liberty  of  criticising  the  course 
and  doings  of  the  administration,  in  a  tair, 
though  independent  manner,  he  incurred  the 
hostilitj'of  those  who  took  opposite  views;  as  a 
consequence  of  this  feeling  at  this  period  of 
high  excitement,  a  few  Ireshly  enlisted  young 
men,  sons  of  prominent  citizens  of  Canton, 
burglariously  entered  his  printing  office  about 
midnight  on  Aug.  22,  18(31,  and  destroyod  the 
contents.  Notwithstanding  this,  he  continued 
to  issue  his  paper  regularly  each  v.eek,  though, 
for  a  short  time,  in  a  small  size.  Continuing 
his  freedom  of  speech  and  criticism,  though 
always  carefully  and  prudently  expressed,  Mr. 
McGregor  was,  by  military  authority,  on  Sun- 
day, before  the  October  election  in  1862,  ar- 
rested and  kept  in  confinement  at  Camp 
jMansfield  for  nearly  four  weeks.  Though  de- 
manding trial,  he  was  never  given  a  hearing. 


^  IS'        r~ 


liU 


(ITV    OK    CANTON. 


623 


and  was  discharged,  on  the  order  of  (tov.  Tod, 
oil  talking  the  oath  of  loyalty  to  the  Constitu- 
tion, wliitli  he  did  without  hesitation. decrlaring 
he  luul  ever  entertained  sueh  sentiments.  In 
1852.  Mr.  MeGregor  was  elected  County 
Auditor,  and  served  one  term.  For  seven 
yeai-s  he  was  a  member  of  the  Canton  Hoard  of 
Kdueation.  and  has  served  (or  years  as  Couiilv 
School  Kxaniiner  for  the  Canton  Union  Schools, 
In  1878,  iMr.  Mc(iregor  was  appointed  by 
Gov.  Bishop  one  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Cleve- 
land Asylum  for  the  Insane.  The  Si<n-h-  ( 'ounly 
Diinocrat  is  the  only  Democratic  paper  in  the 
county,  and,  as  such,  ranks  among  the  leading 
organs  of  the  State. 

t.  C.  McDowell,  cashier  of  Farmers' 
Bank.  Canton  ;  was  born  in  I'lain  Tp.,  in  this 
county  on  the  3(lth  of  May.  l.*^47,  and  is  the 
liflli  of  eight  children,  born  to  James  and 
Klizal)eth  (Hildenbrand)  McDowell,  Subject 
remained  on  the  farm  of  his  father  until  he  was 
21  years  of  age,  receiving  his  education  at  the 
district  schools  of  the  neighborhood,  and  sev- 
eral terms  at  Mt.  Cnion  College;  also  a  com- 
mercial course.  At  the  age  of  22  years  he  came 
to  Canton,  and  engaged  with  Mr,  Heibruck,  in 
the  dr3-  goods  business  for  about  eighteen 
inoiilhs  ;  then  with  .Messrs.  Keplinger  &  Shane, 
remaining  with  theni  about  nine  months,  when 
he  became  teller  and  book-keeper  in  the  City 
Bank,  continuing  about  two  years.  He  then 
conceived  the  idea  of  establishing  a  Farmers" 
Bank,  and,  in  company  with  John  II,  Brenner. 
Hiram  W.  Firestone,  James  .McDowell  and 
Henry  McDowell,  obtained  a  charter  authoriz- 
ing the  organization  of  the  Farmers'  Bank, 
Canton,  Ohio,  the  charter  bearing  date  Felj. 
21.  1874.  They  opened  business  on  the  2d  of 
May.  following,  with  J.  H.  Brenner.  President  ; 
B.  Dannemiller,  Vice  President,  and  T.  C.  Mc- 
Dowell. Cashier,  the  officers  continuing  to  the 
present  time. 

JOHN'  R.  MILLER,  dry  goods.  Canton  ;  is 
a  native  of  Berks  Co..  Penn.  He  was  born  in 
the  year  1829,  and  is  the  youngest  of  six  chil- 
dren born  to  Michael  and  Mary  (Roth)  Miller, 
they  were  natives  of  Schuylkill  Co..  Penn..  where 
he  was  principall}'  engaged  in  fiirming.  They 
came  to  Stark  Co..  Ohio,  in  1841.  and  occupied 
a  farm  near  Paris,  and.  after  farming  in  several 
locations  in  the  county,  in  1851  they  settled  in 
Canton,  and  engaged  in  the  grocery  and  pro- 
vision business,  and  eighteen  months   later  he 


sold  out,  and  became  interested  in  the  same 
business  with  his  son,  John  R.,  they  continuing 
until  his  death  in  18()3.  Mrs.  ."Miller  died  two 
years  previous.  John  R.  .Miller  began  business 
in  the  grocery  and  provision  line  with  a  capital 
of  $75,  and,  after  his  father  sold  out,  they 
formed  a  partnership  which  was  quite  success- 
ful ;  they  in  two  years  owning  their  business 
hou.se,  .\fter  his  father's  death,  he  sold  out 
and  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  business  in  his 
present  store.  For  the  first  five  years,  Mr,  J.  W, 
Gibbs  was  associated  in  partnership  with  him, 
since  which  time  he  has  done  business  alone. 
From  about  1 858  to  1 8Gt),  he  served  as  Town- 
ship Trustee  of  Canton  Tp.  In  1877,  he  was 
the  Republican  nominee  for  Sheriff,  but, 
though  running  ahead  of  the  ticket,  was  de- 
feat<Kl.  In  addition  to  his  business  interests  in 
Canton,  he  is  al.so  managing  his  farm,  which 
contains  KJO  acres,  and  is  located  between 
Canton  and  .Massillon.  In  October,  1879,  he 
married  Mrs.  Ordeaii,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania. 
W.  K.  MILLER  SuiHTiiitcndentof  the  Peer- 
less Reaper  Co.,  Canton,  Ohio;  is  a  native  of 
Sandyville,  Tuscarawas  Co.,  Ohio.  He  was 
born  March  19,  1829.  He  received  a  common 
school  education,  and  early  in  life  manifested  a 
desire  for  mechanical  pursuits.  .At  the  age  of 
15.  he  went  to  Massillon  and  apprenticed  to  the 
machinist  trade  with  the  firm  of  C.  M.  Russell 
&  Co..  and  continued  with  them  for  eightyears. 
the  latter  five  years  as  a  journeyman,  after 
which  he  came  to  Canton,  and  moved  the  ma- 
chinery of  Ball,  .Vultmaii  &  Co.  from  Green- 
town  to  Canton,  and  assisted  in  setting  up  the 
same,  when,  owing  to  tailing  health,  he  retired 
from  active  work  at  his  trade,  and  devoted 
himself  to  the  study  of  machanics  and  its 
branches,  and  brought  out  a  mowing  machine, 
the  first  one  being  built  by  Russell  &  Co.  in 
1856,  which  was  the  first  perfect  two-wheel 
reaper  on  which  the  flexible  reel  was  seen.  Mr. 
Miller  assisted  in  the  introduction  of  his  ma- 
chine until  18l)l,  when  he  was  appointed  Post- 
master of  Canton  under  Lincoln,  which  office 
he  resigned  in  1804  and  became  a  partner  with 
Russell  &  Co.,  of  .Massillon,  of  which  business 
he  became  the  Superintendent,  and  continued 
until  1870,  when  he  became  the  A'ice  President 
and  Superintendent  of  the  business  conducted 
l)y  C.  Russell  &  Co..  who  built  the  present 
works  at  Canton  under  Mr.  Miller's  supervision. 
In  January,  1877.  the  company  discontinued 


^V* 


^t 


624 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


business,  and  was  re-organized  and  Itnown  as  the 
Peerless  Reaper  Co.,  of  which  Mr.  Miller  is  the 
Superintendent.  By  improvements,  from  time 
to  time,  Mr.  Miller  has  the  satisfaction  of 
seeing  his  machine  at  the  head  of  the  list,  and 
in  that  fact,  a  worthy  result  to  the  long  j'ears 
of  patient  study  and  labor  which  he  has  de- 
voted to  that  end.  Sept.  12,  1850.  he  married 
Miss  Sarah,  daughter  of  Samuel  Burwell,  of 
Navarre,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio.  Of  their  four  chil- 
dren, two  are  living — Charles  R.  and  Burt  A. 
Mr.  Miller  is  Republican  in  his  political  belief 
and  was  raised  in  the  Methodist  faith. 

JACOB  MILLER,  of  C.  Aultman  &  Co.. 
manufacturers  of  mowers,  reapers,  etc.,  Canton; 
was  born  in  Lake  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  Sept 
2G,  1827;  his  parents  were  .John  Miller  and  Mary 
York;  his  father  was  a  native  of  Maryland,  and 
by  occupation,  a  farmer,  cabinet-maker  and 
housebuilder.  He  also  carried  on  the  manufact- 
uring of  fanning-mills.  He  moved  early  to 
Pennsylvania,  and  in  1812.  settled  in  Stark 
Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  died,  in  March,  1875.  Our 
subject  assisted  his  father  on  the  farm  and  in 
the  shop,  receiving  only  meager  advantages  in 
the  common  schools  of  his  day  ;  possessed  of 
fine  mechanical  and  executive  talent,  in  the  fall 
of  1851,  he  became  a  partner  in  the  tirm  of 
Ball,  Aultman  &  Company-,  of  Canton.  In 
1858,  the  firm  became  C.  Aultman  &  Company, 
and  in  18G5,  was  incorporated;  from  185G  to 
186-1.  Mr.  Miller  was  engaged  as  superintendent 
of  the  wood  department,  and,  since  that  time, 
excepting  one  year,  he  has  been  the  general 
manager  and  superintendent  of  the  entire 
establishment,  which  now  has  a  capital  of 
$1,500,000,  and  turns  out  an  annual  product  of 
500  engines,  1,000  threshers,  0,000  reapers  and 
mowers,  2,000  harvesters  and  binders,  500  horse 
powers  and  about  1,400  wagons  for  the  horse- 
powers and  threshers,  besides  a  vast  amount  of 
repairs,  the  whole  requiring  the  steady  work  of 
over  700  men.  In  addition  to  the  duties  of  his 
ver}-  responsible  position,  he  is  interested  in  a 
number  of  the  business  interests  of  Canton. 

I.  J.  NUMAN,  grocer,  St.  Cloud  Building, 
Canton  ;  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  His 
father,  John  Numan,  came  to  Ohio  in  1828, 
settling  in  Osnaburg  Township,  where  he  re- 
•mained  until  his  death  ;  his  mother's  maiden 
name  was  Elizabeth  Betts.  Our  subject  was 
raised  upon  a  farm  and  was  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  until  25  years  of  age;  he  then 


went  to  Osnaburg  and  erected  a  steam  saw 
mill,  which  he  operated  for  four  j'ears.  His 
next  venture  was  in  the  hotel  business  in  Paris, 
remaining  there  two  years.  After  dealing  in 
stock  for  about  four  3'ears,  he  came  to  Canton 
in  1865,  and  embarked  in  the  coal  business, 
being  engaged  in  that  business  for  two  j'ears — 
subsequently  being  elected  Street  Commission- 
er of  Canton,  he  administered  the  duties  of  that 
oflfice  for  two  years.  In  1874,  in  connection 
with  his  son,  William  F,,  he  started  a  grocery 
store  in  the  St.  Cloud  Building  ;  this  partner- 
ship lasted  for  four  years,  at  the  expiration  of 
which  the  son  retired,  aud  Mr.  Numan  has  since 
conducted  the  business  alone.  His  stock  is 
complete  and  his  trade  takes  the  lead  of  that 
branch  in  town.  He  is  a  member  of  the  K.  of 
P.  and  Royal  Arcanum.  He  was  married  in 
1847,  to  Miss  Barbara  Slusser,  who  died  in 
1871,  leaving  four  children — Walter  H.,  in 
Iowa ;  Sallie  Breneman,  a  widow,  living  in 
Canton  ;  Matilda,  deceased,  and  William  F.,  a 
resident  of  Canton,  and  commercial  traveler. 
In  1874,  he  married  a  second  wife — Mrs.  VAla. 
Wigant,  a  widow. 

J.  0.  PALMER,  merchant.  Canton  ;  is  a 
native  of  Columbia  Co..  N.  Y.  He  was  educat- 
ed at  Auburn,  aud  after  completing  his  literary 
course,  he  began  the  study  of  medicine,  in  which 
he  graduated  in  1867,  and  for  the  following  four 
jears  he  practiced  in  East  Cleveland,  Ohio. 
In  1872.  he  became  a  resident  of  Canton,  and 
shortly  thereafter  he  became  identified  with 
Oliver  Baker,  the  founder  of  the  house  of  which 
Mr.  Palmer  is  now  proprietor.  In  about  one 
year  the  firm  changed  to  Palmer  &  Stall,  under 
which  management  the  business  was  conducted 
for  about  two  years,  when  Mr.  Palmer  pur- 
chased Mr.  Stall's  interest,  and  has  since  been 
sole  proprietor.  His  house  is  No.  30  South 
Market  street,  and  is  a  three  story  brick  struc- 
ture, 30x60  feet.  The  three  floors  are  di\'ided 
into  apartments,  the  better  to  display  his  ex- 
tensive stock  of  goods,  which  comprises  every- 
thing pertaining  to  the  carpet  trade. 

J.  J.  PARKER,  lawyer.  Canton  ;  is  one  of  the 
leading  members  of  the  Stark  County  bar.  He 
is  a  native  of  Columbiana  County,  and  a  son  of 
William  J.  Parker,  who  was  a  physician  and  in 
practice  in  New  Lisbon  for  a  number  of  years. 
()ur  subject  received  good  advantages  for  edu- 
cation ;  attending  the  Salem  High  Schools.  He 
commenced  the  study  of  law  in  New  Lisbon 


^^ 


CITY    OF    CANTON. 


625 


with  Judge  Potter,  and  in  1867  was  admitted 
to  the  bar.  In  1868,  he  commenced  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  in  Alliance,  where  he  re- 
mained for  nine  years,  achieving  a  large  and 
successful  practice  and  serving  in  manj'  oflices 
of  public  trust.  He  was  Register  in  Bank- 
ruptcj-  from  1869  until  1875,  when  he  resigned; 
he  served  as  Prosecuting  Attornev  for  Stark 
County  in  1874-75,  and  also  as  Mayor  and  City 
Solicitor  of  the  cit}'  of  Alliance.  He  removed 
to  Canton  in  1877,  where  we  still  find  him  oc- 
cupying an  advanced  position  among  the  legal 
fraternity.  He  was  united  in  marriage  in 
1869.  to  Miss  Emma  J.  Brooks,  of  Warren, 
Ohio.  They  have  three  children — Joseph  J., 
Mary  B.  and  Helen  A. 

W.  B.  PERKINS  &  CO.,  books,  stationery 
and  wall  paper,  No.  4,  Opera  Building,  Canton. 
The  above  is  the  leading  house,  in  their  line,  in 
Canton.  This  business  was  established  in 
1869,  under  the  firm  name  of  Perkins  &  Wes- 
ton.- which  association  continued  until  1874, 
when  Mr.  Weston  retired,  and  C.  F.  Perkins 
became  a  member  of  the  firm.  Their  stock  is 
very  complete  and  extensive,  embracing  a  large 
line  of  wall  paper,  frames,  moldings,  etc.,  and 
all  of  the  current  literature  of  the  daj-  with  the 
leading  periodicals  and  newspapers.  The  gen- 
tlemen comprising  the  firm  are  courteous  and 
agreeable,  and  are  extending  their  trade  and 
sales  each  j'ear.  W.  B.  Perkins,  senior  partner, 
is  a  native  of  New  Bedford,  Mass.,  and  prior  to 
coming  to  Ohio,  was  engaged  in  the  hardware 
trade  in  Boston,  Mass.  In  1867,  he  removed 
to  the  West,  locating  in  Mansfield,  Ohio,  and 
engaged  in  the  hardware  trade  there,  remaining 
two  years.  In  1869,  he  came  to  Canton,  since 
which  time  he  has  been  one  of  the  leading 
business  men  there.  He  was  married  in  1870, 
to  Miss  Mary  A.  Louden,  of  Zanesville,  Ohio. 
They  have  two  children,  Ed.  L.  and  Helen. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity  and 
of  the  K.  of  H.  C.  F.  Perkins  is  also  a  native 
of  Massachusetts,  and  was  educated  for  the 
law.  He  is  a  graduate  of  the  Law  Depart- 
ment of  Harx'ard  College,  and  was  admitted 
for  practice  in  Massachusetts.  In  1871,  he 
came  to  Canton  and  joined  the  bar  there,  con- 
tinuing in  practice  until  he  entered  mercantile 
life  with  his  brother. 

WILLIAM  J.  PIERO,  lawyer,  Canton,  and 
present  Mayor,  is  a  native  of  Canton,  and  son 
of  Francis  I.  and  Julia  A.  (Krantz)  Piero.     His 


father  is  a  native  of  Alsace,  France  ;  his  mother 
of  Germany.  Tliey  both  came  to  Stark  Co. 
with  their  parents  at  an  early  day,  were  married 
in  1842,  and  are  still  residents  of  the  county. 
His  father  has  l)een  a  business  man  of  Canton 
for  many  years.  William  is  the  sixth  child  of 
a  family  of  nine  children,  eight  of  whom  are 
now  living  and  residents  of  Canton.  He  re- 
ceived a  good  education  in  the  schools  of  Can- 
ton, and  at  the  age  of  17  entered  the  law  office 
of  Judge  Meyer,  remaining  with  him  for  two 
years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time,  not  be- 
ing of  sufficient  age  to  be  admitted  to  the  bar, 
he  engaged  as  clerk  in  a  clothing  store,  and 
had  the  benefit  of  one  and  one  half  years  of 
mercantile  life.  Again  entering  the  law  office, 
and  reviewing  his  studies,  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  upon  attaining  his  majoritj',  Sept.  17,  1874. 
He  immediatt^ly  began  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession, and  the  following  spring  was  elected 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  serving  for  three  years. 
In  1878,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  C.  T. 
Meyer,  and  since  that  time  has  been  occupied 
with  the  duties  of  his  profession.  In  the 
spring  of  1881,  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  Can- 
ton upon  the  Democratic  ticket.  Mr.  Piero 
has,  with  his  partner,  Mr.  Meyer,  a  fine  and 
growing  law  practice,  and  is  one  of  the  rising 
young  lawyers  and  politicians  of  Northern  Ohio. 
In  the  administration  of  the  atfairs  of  the  re- 
sponsible position  to  which  he  has  been  elected, 
his  judgments  meet  with  universal  approval, 
and  his  aim  is  to  establish  some  needed  reforms 
in  the  city's  government.  Socially,  Mr.  Piero 
stands  without  a  peer  in  the  county,  and  his 
genial  and  hospital)le  manners  secure  him  hosts 
of  friends  and  increase  the  popularity  which 
he  has  so  justly  gained. 

JOHN  R.  POi'SER,  contractor  and  builder, 
Canton  ;  is  a  native  of  Stark  Co.,  Ohio ;  he  was 
born  in  Sugar  Creek  Tp.  Dec.  9,  1825,  and  is 
third  in  a  family  of  thirteen  children  born  to 
Joseph  and  Martha  (Reed)  Poyser.  They  were 
natives  of  Pennsylvania.  He  came  to  Stark 
Co.  in  the  year  1811,  with  his  father,  Joseph 
Povser,  who  settled  northwest  of  Canton,  and 
soon  after  moved  into  Sugar  Creek.  Martha 
Reed  also  settled  in  Sugar  Creek  with  her 
parents  at  an  early  day.  Joseph  Poyser  fol- 
lowed farming  in  the  county  until  his  death,  in 
1877  ;  Mrs.  Poyser  died  in"l878.  Our  subject 
lived  at  home  twenty  j-ears  ;  he  then  went  to 
the  carpenter's  trade   with   J.    B.   Hoover,  of 


l"^ 


626 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Canton,  with  whom  lie  remained  four  years  ;  he 
then  worked  two  years  with  Mr.  Peter  Myers, 
after  which  he  began  contracting  and  building 
on  his  own  account,  and  has  followed  the  busi- 
ness since,  during  which  time  he  has  built  over 
250  houses,  including  many  of  the  leading 
business  blocks  and  residence  property  of  the 
city.  He  has  served,  and  is  now,  a  member  of 
the  City  Council.  He  married  Miss  Mary 
Mellen  Oct.  28,  1852.  She  is  a  native  of  New 
Jersey,  and  came  to  Stark  Co..  Ohio,  with  her 
parents,  when  young.  (3f  their  four  children, 
two  are  living,  viz.:  William  J.  and  Ella  J. 

JOHN  BOBBINS  &  SONS,  Eagle  Woolen 
Mills,  Canton.  The  Eagle  Woolen  Mills,  now 
owned  and  operated  by  James  and  John  Bobbins, 
Jr.,  is  the  outgrowth  of  one  of  Canton's  oldest 
manufacturing  institutions.  John  Bobbins,  Sr., 
(retired)  was  born  in  Gloucestershire.  England, 
in  1807.  His  father  was  a  maiiufactuier  of 
woolen  goods,  in  which  business  ho  soon  liecame 
thoroughly  skilled,  and,  after  which,  he,  in  1830, 
emigrated  to  the  United  States.  Eor  about  ten 
years  he  spent  his  time  principally  in  the  fac- 
tories of  the  Eastern  States.  In  1842,  he 
returned  to  England,  and  married  Miss  Martha 
Marshall,  of  Yorkshire.  Beturningto  America, 
they  became  residents  of  Ohio,  in  1842,  and  in 
1843,  they  removed  to  Canton,  when  Mr. 
Bobbins  leased  a  woolen  factory  of  Mr.  F.  A. 
Snyder,  for  five  years.  He  then  leased  a 
building  of  Jacob  Sprankle,  in  which  he  did 
business  for  about  thirteen  years,  when  his 
business  was  suddenly  stopjuMl  by  llie  building 
and  all  its  contents  bcinu  di'stioNrd  by  fire. 
By  this  misfortune,  Mr.  IJobhins  lost  $30,000, 
which  was  the  accumulated  earnings  of  years. 
Applying  to  the  citizens  of  Canton.  Mr.  Bobbins 
quickly  found  friends  to  advance  him  820,000. 
With  this  sum  he  built  the  Eagle  Woolen 
Mills,  and  business  was  again  resumed  in  his 
name,  but  was  afterward  changed  to  Bobbins  & 
Miller,  who  organized  the  Eagle  Woolen  Mills 
Company.  They  in  turn  were  superseded  by 
John,  Jr.,  and  James  Bobbins,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Bolibins  Bros.  The  mill  is  now  fitted 
up  with  two  sets  of  forty-eight  inch  cards. 
One  self  operating  English  mule  of  408  spindles, 
and  one  hand  mule  of  360  spindles.  They 
have  a  capacity  of  using  350  pounds  of  wool  per 
day,  and  employ  about  twenty  operatives. 
They  are  now  making  a  specialty  of  the  manu- 
facture of  stockmg  j-arns.     John,  the  elder  of 


the  two  brothers,  was  educated  in  the  Canton 
schools,  and  learned  his  trade  with  his  father. 
In  1876,  he  went  to  Denver,  Colorado,  expect- 
ing to  engage  in  the  manufacturing  business  in 
that  State.  Becoming  satisfied  that  the  invest- 
ment would  not  be  a  judicious  one,  he  went  to 
Georgetown,  of  that  State,  where,  upon  the 
opening  of  the  Merchants'  Bank  of  that  town, 
he  took  the  position  of  cashier.  Six  months 
later,  when  their  charter  was  changed  to  the 
Merchants'  National  Bank,  he  still  retained 
his  position.  In  the  winter  of  1878.  his  health 
became  so  poor  as  to  oblige  him  to  resign, 
after  which  he  returned  to  Canton.  He  has 
made  two  trips  to  Europe  :  first,  in  1872,  and 
again  in  1874.  He  is  a  member  of  Canton 
Commandery  No.  4,  and — a  bachelor.  James 
Bobbins,  the  younger  brother,  has  spent  most 
of  his  life  in  Canton,  After  enjoying  the  ad- 
vantage of  the  schools  of  Canton,  he  attended 
and  graduated  from  the  Iron  City  Business 
College  of  Pittsburgh.  John,  Jr.,  also  grad- 
uated from  the  same  college.  James  is  a  quiet, 
unassuming  kind  of  man.  yet  endowed  with 
muiii  cncigy,  and  something  of  his  ancestors' 
dotcruiinati(}n  to  succeed.  All  the  detads  of 
the  business  are  familiar  to  him,  and  everyday 
finds  him  busy  at  his  post.  He  is  a  member 
of  Eagle  Lodge,  No.  431,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M. 

JOHN  P.  BEX,  merchant.  Canton,  who,  so 
far  as  can  be  learned,  has  now  been  connected 
with  the  mercantile  interests  of  Canton  for  a 
greater  number  of  years  than  any  of  the  mer- 
chants now  engaged  in  active  business,  is  a 
native  of  Canton,  and  was  born  on  Feb.  3, 1816. 
The  name  of  Bex  is  of  English  origin,  and  so 
far  back  as  the  genealogy  of  the  family  may  be 
traced,  Mr.  Bex  is  a  descendant  of  one  of  four 
brotlicrs  wiio  emigrated  from  England,  one  of 
whom  stlUi^l  in  the  South,  and  the  other  three 
in  I'ciHisyh  unia.  A  tracement  of  the  line  of 
descent  shows  Mr.  Bex  to  lie  a  descendant  of 
the  one  of  these  brothers  who  settled  in  North- 
tunpton,  Penn.  The  father  of  John  P.,  Mr. 
Jacob  Bex,  became  a  resident  of  Canton  as 
earlj-  as  1815,  Heat  once  engaged  in  the  busi- 
ness of  tailoring,  which  he  conducted  for  many 
years.  He  was  a  man  who  became  an  active 
member  of  the  community.  Always  temper- 
ate, he  early  became  identified  with  and  be- 
came an  active,  earnest  worker  in  church  affairs. 
He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  German 
Lutheran  Church,  though  he  subsequently  be- 


~^  a)    ''>• 


4v 


(  ITV    OF    CANTON. 


t>27 


caiiii^  a  im-mbL'i-  of  tiie  ^Methodist  Episcopal 
Cliurcli.  with  wliicli  he  was  conni-'eted  at  his 
death,  wliicli  occurred  in  the  spring  of  187G, 
aged  83  years.  John  P.  received  most  of  iiis 
education  through  tiie  old  subscription  system, 
and  early  learned  the  trade  of  a  tailor  with  his 
father,  and.  in  l.'^40.  hecanie  interested  with 
hiin  in  liusiuess  at  the  old  stand,  which  is  still 
occupied  as  a  merchant  tailoring  establishment, 
and  conducted  by  John  K.  Rex  it  Company. 
Tlie  members  of  the  firm  being  none  others 
than  John  P.  and  his  .son.  John  K..  the  latter 
l)eing  the  active  member  of  the  linn  and  his 
father's  successor,  after  the  manner  of  the  chan  ne 
in  the  firm  of  one  generation  preceding  him. 
John  P.  has  never  been  an  active  politician, 
though  he  has  repeatedly  been  urged  to  become 
a  candidate  for  diflerenl  oHices  in  the  county. 
He  has  taken  a  deep  interest  in  all  affairs  per- 
taining to  the  growth  of  Canton  and  the  pros- 
perity of  her  citizens.  He  has  been  successful 
without  becoming  conspicuous,  and  the  result 
of  his  industry  and  frugality  has  been  a  com- 
petency. He  is  recognized  as  one  of  Canton's 
oldest  merchants,  and  is  held  in  high  esteem 
liy  the  community,  as  one  of  its  successful  and 
honored  citizens, 

J(JHN  N.  R.V.MSEY,  County  Auditor,  Can- 
ton ;  successor  to  William  .\.  Creech,  for  a  three 
years'  term  of  Auditor  of  Stark  County  ;  is  a 
native  of  Lawrence  Co.,  Fenn.  His  early  life 
was  spent  on  a  farm,  but  after  having  acquired 
a  fair  education  he  engaged  in  teaching  school, 
which  was  his  first  venture  in  business  on  his 
ow;n  account.  In  1855.  he  came  to  Stark 
County  and  settled  in  Alliance.  He  had  learned 
the  trade  of  a  carpenter,  and  for  about  two 
years  following  his  locating  in  that  place  he 
was  engaged  in  cai'penter's  work.  He  then  be- 
gan merchandising,  in  which  he  was  engaged 
for  about  two  years,  when  he  again  resumed 
car|ientcring.  His  next  step  was  to  engage  in 
the  Imsincsss  of  merchant  tailoring.  Again  he 
changed  to  carpentering  and  contracting,  and 
also  in  the  business  of  undertaking.  Since  be- 
coming a  resident  of  the  county  he  has  taken 
more  or  less  of  an  active  part  in  political  affairs. 
His  friendship  sought,  and  his  true  worth 
learned  bv  leading  and  prominent  men  of  the 
county,  he  was  led  to  consent  to  becoming  the 
Republican  candidate  for  the  office  of  honor 
and  trust  that  he  now  occupies,  to  which  he 
was  elected  by  a  majority  of  250  votes,  and 


entered  upon  the  discharge  of  his  duties  on 
Nov.  0.  1880.  In  1859.  he  was  mairied  to  Miss 
Mar}'  A.,  daughter  of  Samuel  A.  Rockhill.  an 
old  and  prominent  pioneer  of  Stark  (bounty.  In 
1858,  he  joined  Alliance  Lodge,  No.  2(12.  of  the 
L  ().  0.  F.,  with  which  order  he  is  still  identi- 
fied. He  is  also  a  member  of  the  (Iraud  I,(i<lgi' 
of  the  State. 

DR.  W.  K.  RIIKENBROD.    physician,    Can- 
ton :  was  born  in  Carrollton.  Carroll  Co..  Ohio, 
Dec.  8,  185(1.  where  he  lived  twelve  years,  when 
his  parents  moved   to  Salem.      He  remaiueil  at 
that  place  receiving  his  education  in  the  I'nion 
Schools,  and  came  to  Canton  in  1875.     He  was 
apprenticed  to  the  machinist's  trade  at  the  age 
of  17,  at  the  Buckeye  Kngine  Works  at  Salem, 
completing  his  apprenticeshi))  in   three  years, 
when  he  commenced  reading  medicine  ( in  1870) 
with  Dr.  R.  B.  Rush  of  Salem,  and  graduated 
in  1875  from  the  Pulte  Medical  College  of  Cin- 
cinnati, and  while  at  Cincinnati  he  also  took  the 
Clinical  Course  at  the  Cincinnati  Hospital.  For 
two  years  previous  to  his  graduation,   lu;  prac- 
ticed under  Dr.  Rush,  and   for  a  few    months 
after  graduating,  he  had  charge  of  Dr.  Rush's   : 
practice  during  his  absence  in  Europe.     After  ; 
the  return  of  Dr.  Rush  he  came  to  Canton  ( in 
the   fall  of    1875)    and    has     practiced     here 
since.     He  is  a  member  of  the  American  Insti-   I 
tute   of  Homtt'opathy  :  Homieopathic  Medical 
Society  of  Ohio,  and  Honifeopathic  Medical  So-   j 
ciety   of  Northeastern    Ohio  ;  of  the  latter  he   ; 
has  served   as  Secretary,  and  is  now  its  Presi- 
dent.    July  11.1878,    he    married   .Miss    Kate   i 
Jackson,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  C.  H.  Jackson,  of 
Canton.    Ohio.     They    have    one    child — Cor-   ' 
nelius.  i 

WILLIAM  W.  RKED,  farmer:  PC,  Canton;   ' 
was  born  in  Canton  Nov.  6,  1828;  son  of  John   j 
and  Jlary  (  Poyser)  Reed,  natives  of  Maryland   j 
and  Pennsylvania.     The  former  came  to  this   I 
county  in  ISl.S.  with  his  parents,  who  settled   ! 
in  Sugar  Creek  Township,  iiis  fatlicr  being  the 
third  permanent  settler — he  lived  there   until 
his  death  at  the  advanced    age   of  84  years,   i 
John  Reed,  the  father  of  our  subject,   was  a  | 
harness-maker,   and   alter  remaining  at    home 
some  years  after  his  majority,  came  to  Canton 
and  engaged  in  the  first  shop  of  that  kind  in   j 
the  place.     After  the  death    of  his  father  his   j 
mother  came  to  Canton    and    made   her   home 
with  him  until  her  death.     He  died  in  Canton   j 
at  the  age  of  83,  a  respected  citizen.     His  wife  I 


■VK- 


638 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


died  a  few  j'ears  previous  at  tiie  age  of  75  years. 
William  W.  lived  at  home  until  he  was  22,  re- 
ceiving a  limited  education  in  the  schools  of 
the  time.  At  the  age  of  14  he  went  into  his 
father's  shop  and  soon  became  master  of  the 
trade.  He  was  married  in  July,  1850,  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  A.  Wise,  a  native  of  Stark  County. 
Her  father,  Adam  Wise,  came  from  Pennsylvania 
and  settled  in  Plain  Township  at  an  early  daj-, 
being  one  of  the  pioneers  of  that  localitj'.  Our 
subject  farmed  three  years  near  Canton  after 
his  marriage,  when  he  moved  to  Plain  Town- 
ship and  engaged  in  farming,  remaining  there 
five  years  and  then  returning  to  Canton,  and 
engaging  again  at  his  trade,  continuing  the 
same  until  1880,  when  he  retired,  and  has  since 
devoted  his  time  to  his  farming  interests.  Witli 
the  exception  of  six  jears  in  the  School  Board, 
he  has  held  no  office.  He  was  a  Whig,  and 
Republican  after  the  organization  of  the  party; 
was  anti-slavery  in  his  views,  and  a  member  of 
the  Baptist  Church  for  many  jears.  He  iiad  a 
family  of  seven  children,  five  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing, viz.:  Joseph.  Edward,  Alice,  William  and 
Harry. 

DAVID  RAUK,  miller,  Buckeye  Mills,  Can- 
ton ;  was  born  in  Franklin  Co.,  Penn.,  Oct,  23, 
1835.  His  father  was  a  miller,  and  when  our 
subject  was  12  ^ears  old,  they  moved  to  Fulton 
Co.,  Penn.,  where  his  father  ran  a  mill,  he 
working  in  it  also.  In  1851,  they  moved  to 
Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  conducting  the  milling  busi- 
ness, and  also  farming  in  the  south  part  of  the 
county.  After  working  in  mills  in  different  places 
in  Summit  and  Stark  Cos.,  includingseveral  years 
in  Massillon,  he  came  to  Canton,  and,  in  com- 
pany with  his  brother  Henrj-,  bought  the  pres- 
ent Buckeye  Mills,  which  contain  six  run  of 
buhrs  In  1878,  suljject  bought  out  his  brother, 
and  conducted  it  alone  until  Jan.  1,  1881,  when 
he  sold  a  half  interest  to  his  brother  Elliott 
and  his  brother-in-law,  Z.  S.  Mahon.  He  was 
married  May  30,  18G6,  to  Miss  Margaret  J. 
Mahon.  They  have  five  children,  viz.:  Ira  M., 
Otis  M.,  Levett  M..  Oran  W.  and  Irma.  all  of 
whom  are  at  home. 

UPTON  W.  RAUK,  firm  of  Corl  &  Rank, 
Canton  City  Mills,  Canton;  is  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania:  he  was  born  in  Franklin  Co.  Nov. 
20,  1849,  and  came  to  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  with  his 
parents  in  1851.  Our  subject  was  principal]}' 
raised  on  a  farm;  his  father  was  a  miller,  and 
also  carried  on  a  farm.     In   1870,  U.  W.  went 


into  his  brother's  mill  at  Massillon,  to  learn  the 
trade,  after  whicli,  in  company  with  John  Davis, 
he  took  charge  of  the  Union  Mills  of  Massillon, 
which  they  continued  two  years.  He  then 
came  to  Canton,  and  engaged  in  the  fiour  and 
feed  business,  in  company  with  his  father.  After 
one  year,  he  went  to  Cleveland  and  conducted 
the  tlour  and  feed  business  for  three  years;  the 
two  latter  years  on  his  own  account.  He  then 
came  to  Canton,  and,  in  company  with  his 
brother-in-law.  Mr.  Corl,  bought  the  Canton 
Cit}'  Mills,  whicli  have  five  run  of  stone,  and  a 
capacity  of  sixty  barrels  daily. 

WILLIAM  RAUK.  foreman  paint  depart- 
ment C.  Aultmau  &  Co.,  Canton  ;  is  a  native  of 
Canton,  Ohio,  and  was  born  Sept.  20,  1832;  is  the 
second  of  eleven  children  born  to  (reorge  and 
Henrietta  (Emich)  Rank.  Subject  lived  at 
home  and  was  brought  up  to  the  carpenter's 
trade,  receiving,  in  the  meantime,  a  common 
school  education.  At  19,  he  began  working  at 
painting,  which  liusine.ss  he  has  ever  since  fol- 
lowed. In  1858,  he  engaged  with  C.  Aultmau 
&  Company,  working  at  painting  in  their  shops, 
and  soon  after  he  was  made  foreman,  a  position 
he  still  holds,  and  fills  acceptably.  Of  late 
years,  there  are  from  fifty  to  sixty  men  in  his 
department.  In  1864,  he  enlisted  in  the  162d 
0.  N.  G.,  and  served  100  days,  and  was  1st  Ser- 
geant of  Co.  B.  Jan.  19,  1860,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Mar}-  M.  Chilson,  a  native  of  Astabula 
Co.  By  this  marriage  there  was  one  child — 
Warren  A.  He  is  Republican  in  politics,  and 
an  attendant  at  the  Presbyterian  Church,  but 
not  a  member. 

JOHN  F.  RAYNOLDS,  proprietor  and 
manager  of  Canton  Gaslight  Co.,  was  born 
Nov.  26,  1817,  in  Canton,  and  is  the  third  in 
the  family  of  six  children,  born  to  William  and 
Betsey  S.  (Fisk)  Raynolds,  who  were  natives  of 
Virginia  and  Rhode  Island  respectively.  His 
father  was  born  in  1789.  and  was  the  son  of 
Maj.  William  Raynolds,  a  native  of  Virginia, 
and  came  to  Ohio  in  1802,  settling  in  Zanes- 
ville.  He  served  in  Gen.  Cass'  Brigade,  and 
was  at  the  surrender  of  Hull  at  Detroit,  where 
he  contracted  a  disease  from  which  he  died  in 
1814.  He  was  living  at  Zanesville  when  he 
volunteered  under  Cass,  and  w^as  Captain  of  a 
companj' of  volunteer  infontry  which  he  raised. 
His  .son,  William,  came  to  Stark  Co.  when  a 
young  man,  about  1808,  and  in  1811  was  mar- 
ried to  Elizabeth   Fisk,   a   daughter   of  John 


t^ 


CITY    OF    CANTON. 


6-^9 


Fisk,  a  sea  captain  from  Baltimore,  who  came 
to  Stark  Co.  in  1810  to  invest  in  lands.  After 
a  few  years  he  started  again  for  the  sea,  but 
died  in  Baltimore  about  tlie  year  1810.  His 
remains  were  afterward  brought  to  Canton. 
Afti'r  marriage  >Ir.  Raynolds  dealt  in  lands,  and 
built  the  large  Hour  and  woolen  mill,  two  miles 
south  of  Canton.  He  served  as  Deputy  Clerk 
and  Recorder  for  James  Harris,  his  brother-in- 
law,  who  upon  coming  of  age  was  appointed 
Clerk  and  Recorder.  M.  R.  had  six  children — 
George  died  in  Akron  ;  Rebecca  married  Dr. 
Wallace,  of  Canton,  and  both  are  dead  ;  J.  F. ; 
Win.  v.,  Colonel  of  Engineer  Corps  ;  Harris  ; 
and  Cora,  deceased.  John  F.  lived  at  home  until 
he  was  12  years  of  age,  when  his  father  died.  Ho 
then  went  to  live  with  his  uncle,  two  miles  south 
of  Canton,  remaining  there  until  18  years  of  age, 
cleiking  in  tiie  store  and  attending  school  a  few 
terms,  and  one  three  montirs  term  at  an  acad- 
emy, that  being  the  whole  amount  of  his 
schooling.  When  18.  he  went  to  New  York 
City,  and  clerked  in  a  wholesale  store  one  year, 
when  he  returned  to  Canton,  and  engaged  in 
the  dry  goods  business  on  his  own  account.  He 
afterward  spent  five  years  in  business  at  Canal 
Fulton,  then  returned  to  Canton,  resuming  his 
old  business,  dr}-  goods,  and  afterward  em- 
barked in  hardware,  continuing  until  1869.  In 
iSSfi,  he  organized  and  built  the  Canton  Gas- 
light &  Coke  Co.,  of  which  he  was  President, 
withdrawing  some  years  later.  In  1869,  he 
bought  the  remaining  stock  of  the  Gasliglit 
Company,  and  has  since  had  the  entire  control 
of  the  business.  He  was  a  Whig,  and  then  a 
Republican,  in  politics,  and  decidedh"  anti-sla- 
ver}-.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
Church  for  thirty  years.  He  was  married  April 
23.  1839,  to  Miss"  Margaret  Faber,  a  native  of 
Franklin  Co.,  Penn.  They  have  had  seven 
children,  four  of  whom  are  living. 

MADISON  RAYNOLDS,  retired.  Canton; 
was  born  in  /anesville,  Ohio,  March  20,  1808, 
and  is  a  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (.Miller) 
Raynolds,  who  were  natives  of  Virginia,  where 
they  were  married  in  the  year  1S02.  With  a 
family  of  four  children,  they  started  for  the 
Scioto  Valle\',  Ohio,  wiiere  a  brother  and  sister 
of  Mrs.  Raynolds  lived.  But  owing  to  the  in- 
clemency of  the  season  they  stopped  at  Zancs- 
ville,  where  they  lived  until  the  death  of  .Mr. 
Raynolds  in  1814.  During  the  war  of  1812, 
he  raised  a  company  of  infantry,  of  which  he 


was  made  Captain.  He  served  under  Gen. 
Cass,  rose  to  the  rank  of  Major  anti  was  at 
Hull's  surrender  at  Detroit.  His  son  George 
was  also  in  the  arm}',  serving  in  a  compan\'  of 
calvary.  After  Major  Raynolds  death,  his 
widow  came  to  Canton,  where  she  lived  until 
her  death.  May  20,  1843,  aged  upward  of  70 
years.  Madison,  our  subject,  was  raised  in 
Zanesville  until  he  was  8  years  old,  when  he 
came  to  Canton  with  his  mother,  as  above.  He 
lived  here  until  he  was  15,  when  he  went  to 
Judge  Henrj's  and  clerked  in  his  store  aliout 
six  months,  then  he  went  to  Steubenville,  re- 
maining there  about  six  months  in  a  store.  He 
next  went  with  his  brother-in-law,  John  Laird, 
to  Dover,  now  Dalton,  where  thej-  were  en- 
gaged for  two  years  in  mercantile  business, 
when  he  returned  to  Canton.  Here,  in  com- 
pany with  John  Harris,  he  openeti  a  store  on 
tlie  west  half  of  the  present  court  house  lot. 
He  was  identified  with  the  mercantile  business 
of  Canton  for  some  thirty  years,  retiring  from 
the  business  about  the  year  1853,  and  entering 
into  the  grain  trade  ;  he  and  Mr.  Kaufman 
building  the  "  one  hundred  mile  warehouse." 
Mr.  Raynolds  remained  in  the  grain  trade  some 
eight  or  ten  years,  when  he  became  actuary  of 
the  Eagle  Woolen  .Mills,  and  after  two  years 
retired  from  active;  business  life.  Sept.  29, 
1833,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Slusser.  a 
native  of  Canton.  By  this  marriage  there 
were  seven  children,  four  of  whom  are  living, 
viz.:  Jefferson  lives  at  Las  Vega,  New  Mexico  ; 
Joshua  S.,  Georgetown,  Colo.  ;  Frederick  .\., 
Caiion  City,  Colo.,  and  Albert  II.  All  are  mar- 
ried except  the  latter,  and  all  are  bankers.  Mr. 
Ra^'nolds  has  always  been  a  Whig  and  Republi- 
can in  politics.  His  wife  is  a  Presbyterian,  and 
he  attends  the  same  church  though  not  a  mem 
ber. 

JOHN  P.  RAUCH,  of  J.  P.  Ranch  &  Co.. 
millers.  Canton  ;  is  a  native  of  Columbiana 
Co.,  Ohio.  He  was  born  Aug.  31,  1840,  and 
came  to  Paris,  Stark  Co.,  with  his  parents  in 
tlie  spring  of  1847.  He  is  the  second  in  a 
family  of  nine  children  born  to  John  Peter  and 
Sarah  (Smith)  Ranch.  They  were  natives  of 
Lehigh  Co.,  Penn.,  and  Columbiana  Co.,  Ohio. 
He  was  a  farmer,  and  moved  to  Columbiana 
Co.,  Ohio,  in  tlie  year  1812.  and  to  Stark  Co.  in 
1847.  He  was  injured  in  a  horse-power  wliile 
threshing,  and  died  from  the  etlects  in  1865. 
Mrs.  Eauch  is  now  living  in  Canton.     Our  sub- 


:^ 


630 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 


ject  remained  at  home  on  the  farm  twenty-eight 
years.  He  received  a  course  of  study  in  the 
district  schools  ;  also  at  the  unii^n  schools  of 
Lisbon,  Ohio.  He  also  taught  in  all  some  eight 
terms.  September  17,  1868,  he  married  Miss 
(iraj',  a  native  of  Columbiana  Co..  Ohio. 
He  then  assisted  on  his  father-in-law's  farm, 
and  bought  and  shipped  fruit  East.  In  Janu- 
ary, 1876,  he  came  to  Canton  and  entered  the 
duties  of  the  office  of  County  SheritI'.  he  being 
elected  on  the  Democratic  ticket,and  was  re-elect- 
ed in  1877.  Since  the  expiration  of  his  term  of 
office,  he  has  been  interested  as  a  partner  in  the 
milling  business,  the  firm  of  J.  1'.  Ranch  &  Co. 
conducting  the  Stark  Mills.  At  the  Democrat- 
ic County  Convention  of  1881,  he  was  nomi- 
nated for  County  Treasurer.  By  the  marriage 
there  are  five  children — Bertha  (t..  Anna  M., 
William  W..  Ruth  A.  and  Helen. 

GEORGE  REX,  Assistant  Superintendent 
at  C.  Aultman  &  Co.,  Canton  ;  is  a  native  of 
Canton,  Ohio.  He  was  born  April  26,  1842, 
and  received  his  schooling  in  his  native  city. 
At  the  age  of  18,  he  apprenticed  with  C.  Ault- 
man &  Co.  as  a  machinist,  and  in  August, 
1862.  he  enlisted  in  the  llfjth  0.  V.  L,  continu- 
ing in  service  until  June  25, 1865,  when  he  was 
mustered  out.  and  returned  to  Canton,  resum- 
ing his  place  with  C.  Aultman  &  Co.,  and  has 
continued  with  the  company  since,  having  held 
the  positions  of  inspector,  foreman  of  finishing 
department,  and,  for  the  past  five  or  six  years,' 
his  present  position. 

WASHINGTON  R.  REEVES,  retired.  Can- 
ton ;  is  a  native  of  Greene  Co.,  Penn.;  he  was 
born  May  H,  1817.  His  parents,  William  and 
Elizabeth  (Ihnstead)  Reeves,  moved  to  Holmes 
Co.,  Ohio,  in  1821,  where  William  Reeves  died 
the  following  year ;  Mrs.  Reeves  afterward 
married  Mr.  John  Brown;  they  finally  settled 
at  Old  Rochester,  where  the^'  died.  Some  three 
or  four  years  after  his  father's  death,  our  sub- 
ject was  bound  out  to  John  Garver.  at  Rogers- 
ville,  and  lived  there  seven  years,  when,  after 
living  one  year  with  his  step-father,  he  went  to 
Massillon,  where  he  apprenticed  to  the  carpen- 
ter's trade  ;  his  health  failing  some  two  years 
later,  he  went  to  his  brother's,  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  learned  the  stone  cutting  trade.  In  1837, 
he  came  to  Navarre,  Ohio ;  in  1838.  he  cut  stone 
for  the  aqueduct  on  the  canal  at  Dresden. 
April  7,  1839,  he  married  Miss  .\nn  Baxter,  a 
native  of  Canton,  Ohio  ;    he  then  lived  in  Can- 


ton one  year,  thence  moved  to-  Salem,  thence  to 
Navarre,  working  in  the  foundry  for  William 
L.  Wann  some  ten  years,  being  Superintendent 
some  seven  or  eight  years  of  that  time  ;  he  then 
carried  on  the  saw-mill  business  in  Tuscarawas 
and  Franklin  Counties  some  six  years,  when  he 
came  to'  Canton,  and  began  work  as  a  hand  in 
the  foundry  of  John  Laird,  and  after  one  year 
he  became  foreman,  which  office  he  held  six 
years;  he  then,  in  company  with  Mr.  David 
Hammond,  began  building  iron  bridges,  work- 
ing in  Laird's  foundry,  and  later  built  a  shop 
of  their  own,  still  later  forming  a  stock  com- 
pany, in  which  our  subject  continued  his  inter- 
est until  about  1870  ;  duiing  his  connection 
with  the  business  he  served  as  Superintendent ; 
the  business  is  now  known  as  the  Canton  Iron 
Bridge  Company.  In  May,  1881,  Mr.  Reeves 
passed  his  50th  year  since  he  first  came  to 
Stark  Co.     He  is  a  Rei)ublican  in  politics. 

SAMUEL  H.  ROCKHILL,  Prmcipal  S.  W. 
Grammar  School,  Canton  ;  is  a  native  of  Stark 
Co.,  Ohio  ;  he  was  born  Nov.  10,  1835,  and  is  the 
tenth  child  born  to  Samuel  A.  and  Nancy  (Bryan) 
Rockhill,  who  had  twelve  children  ;  they  were 
natives  of  Burlington  Co.,  N.  J.,  and  were  early 
settlers  in  Stark  Co.,  Ohio.  Our  subject  lived 
at  home  with  his  parents  until  he  was  about  17 
years  of  age  ;  he  received  a  course  of  study  in 
the  district  schools,  and  at  the  age  of  1 7  began 
teaching  school,  from  that  time  on  taking  care 
of  himself  teaching  winters,  and  attending 
school  summers,  for  some  ten  years,  during 
which  time  he  took  an  extended  course  of  study 
in  the  Mt.  Union  Seminary.  At  about  the  age 
of  27.  he  began  farming  and  dealing  in  stock. 
In  August,  1865,  he  married  Miss  Maggie  King, 
a  native  of  Chester  Co.,  Penn.;  she  came  to 
Mahoning  Co.,  Ohio,  with  her  parents,  and  was 
engaged  in  teaching  in  Stark  Co.  at  the  time  of 
her  marriage.  Our  subject  continued  his  busi- 
ness about  seven  years  after  his  marriage,  when 
he  came  to  Canton  and  engaged  in  the  grocer^' 
business  with  George  W.  Lawrence ;  the}'  con- 
tinued three  years  ;  he  then  went  to  New  Jer- 
sey, and  farmed  for  three  years  in  Camden  Co., 
where  he  yet  owns  a  farm  which  he  conducts, 
hiring  the  labor,  and  raising  sweet  potatoes, 
furnishing  about  100  barrels  per  annum  to  the 
Canton  market.  From  New  Jersey  he  returned 
to  Canton,  and  took  charge  of  his  school,  which 
he  has  taught  since.  In  Januar\',  1881,  he 
became  a  partner  in  the  firm  of  Erwin  &  Co., 


CITY    OF    CAXTOX. 


G:n 


doing  a  furniture  business  in  Canton.  Mr. 
Hoekliill  lias  a  family  of  three  children,  viz. : 
Charles  S.,  Harry  K.  and  Mary  F. 

HARRIS  RAYNOLDS  (deceased),  was  a  son 
of  AVilliam  and  Betsy  S.  (Fisk)  Ravnolds,  men- 
tioned elsewhere  in  this  work.  Our  subject 
was  liorn  in  Canton.  Ohio,  and  reared  in  his 
native  city,  where  he  became  identified  with  its 
mercantile  interests  for  many  years, and,  linallj-, 
owing  to  failint:  health,  he  engaged  in  farming, 
after  which  he  returned  to  Canton,  where  he 
lived  mainly  retired  from  active  business  until 
his  death,  in  May.  1878.  Mrs.  Isabella  Raynolds, 
his  wife,  was  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Isabella 
(McConnel)  Commins  ;  she  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, near  Shippensburg.  in  1831,  and  came  to 
Massillon,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1 832.  Her  father 
conducted  the  mercantile  business  in  that  city, 
and  was  also  identified  with  the  milling  interests 
of  that  vicinity  :  he  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
1812.  and  in  later  years  moved  to  Iowa,  where 
he  died.  Mrs.  Raynolds  and  her  two  children 
are  living  in  the  old  home  at  Canton. 

HORACE  SOMKRS.  druggist,  Canton. 
.Vmong  the  young  and  enterprising  business 
men  of  Canton  we  find  none  more  worthy  of 
mention  than  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He  is 
a  native  vt'  the  Buckeye  Slate  ;  has  had  the 
advantages  in  education  of  a  classical  course  in 
the  I'niversity  of  Wooster,  and  of  an  advanced 
course  in  chemistry.  In  business  life,  he  began 
as  a  clerk  in  a  drug  store  in  Burbank.  Wayne 
Co..  going  from  there  to  Delavan,  Ohio,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  the  same  capacity  and  busi- 
ness for  three  years  ;  and  then  in  Philadelphia, 
where  for  a  short  period  he  was  engaged  in  the 
iitail  drug  trade.  In  1880,  his  business  con- 
nection with  Canton  commenced,  and  is  proving 
successful  and  increasing.  His  place  of  busi- 
ness is  at  59  Fast  Tuscarawas  street.where  he  has 
a  pleasant  room,  and  an  extensive  and  complete 
stock  of  drugs,  medicines  and  sundries.  Mr. 
Somers  is  a  j)leasant  and  agreeable  gentleman, 
possessing  good  business  attributes,  and  en- 
dowed with  enter|)rising  ideas,  which  will,  in 
time,  place  him  in  the  front  rank  among  the 
successful  self-made  business  men  of  Canton. 

HON.  THOMAS  C.  SNYDER,  manufact- 
urer of  iron  roofing.  Canton,  and  the  present 
member  of  Legislature  from  Stark  Co.;  is  a 
native  of  Trumbull  Co.,  born  in  1843.  He  is  a 
son  of  John  aud  Anna  Snyder,  who  were  farmers 
in  that  county,  and  upon  the  farm  our  subject 


passed  the  years  prior  to  manhood.  He  re- 
ceived an  academic  education,  and  was  an  early 
volunteer  in  the  late  service.  His  first  enlist- 
ment was  in  Co.  A,  41st  O.  X.  I.,  but  after 
being  in  service  a  few  months,  was  taken  sick, 
and  after  lying  in  the  hospital  for  a  few  months, 
was  discharged,  one  year  from  time  of  enlist- 
ment. Returning  home,  he  engaged  in  teaching 
school,  and  in  the  winter  buying  arnij'  horses, 
at  which  he  continued  until  1864.  when  he 
again  enlisted  in  the  service,  becoming  a  mem- 
ber of  the  171st  Regulars,  in  the  100-day  serv- 
ice, serving  120  days,  during  which  time  he 
was  taken  prisoner,  but  was  soon  after  released. 
I'pon  receiving  his  discharge,  in  August,  18G4, 
he  rc-enlisti-d  immediately  in  Co.  G,  of  ihe 
177th  O.  \'.  I.,  and  remained  in  service  until 
the  close  of  the  war,  participating  in  the  en- 
gagxments  at  Shelliyville  Pike,  siege  of  Nash- 
ville. Fort  Anderson,  Town  Creek,  Wilmington 
and  many  other  minor  skirmishes.  He  was  at 
the  time  of  his  discharge  First  Sergeant,  re- 
ceiving his  papers  in  June.  18((5.  at  Wilmington. 
Ijion  returning  to  his  home  in  Ohio,  he  em- 
barked in  oil  speculation,  which  j)roved  dis- 
astrous. His  health  at  this  time  was  quite 
precarious,  and  for  many  years  it  afflicted  him 
so  as  to  unfit  him  for  active  business  life. 
After  teaching  school  fbra  number  of  years  he, 
in  1869,  in  connection  with  other  parties, 
leased  some  coal  land  in  Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio, 
and  Mercer  Co..  Penn..  which  were  operated 
until  1872,  when  became  to  Stark  Co.,  locating 
at  Waynesburgh,  where  he  acted  as  agent  for  a 
companj'  of  gentlemen  operating  coal  lands 
there,  until  the  spring  of  1873,  when  he  bought 
the  mines  and  operated  them  for  three  years, 
selling  out  in  1876.  which  closed  his  coal  opera- 
tions, lie  then  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
iron  roofing,  in  Waynesburgh,  under  the  firm 
name  of  T.  C.  Snyder  &  Co.,  continuing  there 
until  January,  1880,  when  he  removed  this 
busine^^s  to  Canton,  which  presented  a.  larger 
field  and  better  facilities,  since  which  time  he 
has  been  a  resident  of  Canton,  superintending 
his  business,  which  has  increa.sed  until  his 
goods  are  shipped  to  nearly  all  the  States. 
While  a  resident  of  Waynesburgh,  Mr.  Snyder 
served  as  Justice  of  the  I'eace  four  years,  re- 
signing upon  being  elected  to  the  Legislature. 
In  1879,  he  was  nominated  and  elected  to 
represent  Stark  Co.  in  the  State  Legislature, 
and  is  now  (1881)  a  candidate  for  re-election. 


6:« 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


During  his  term  in  the  Legislature  he  has 
served  the  people  with  fidelity  and  zeal.  He 
has  championed  the  cause  of  the  miners  of  the 
State,  securing  a  revision  of  the  mining  laws  ; 
also  was  an  active  Mgent  in  securing  for  the 
State  the  St.  Clair  papers,  consisting  of  letters 
from  Washington,  La  Fayette,  Gen.  Greene  and 
others,  which  furnished  some  missing  linlis  in 
history.  He  also  secured  the  passage  of  the 
vitriol  bill,  making  the  throwing  of  vitriol  a 
felony  ;  and  at  all  times  has,  by  his  honorable 
course  and  habits,  commanded  the  respect  and 
esteem  of  his  fellow-members  in  the  House. 
He  is  a  member  of  Eagle  Masonic  Lodge  and 
Nimissilla  Lodge  I.  O.  O.  F.  As  a  citizen  and 
business  man  he  ranks  as  one  of  the  most  pro- 
gressive and  enterprising,  and  has,  by  his 
genial  and  courteous  manner,  won  hosts  of 
friends  all  f)ver  the  State. 

JOHN  SClt(  X ;( ;S  (deceased),  who  was  among 
the  earliest  of  the  Tuscarawas  street  business 
men  of  Canton,  was  born  in  the  city  of  Balti- 
more, Maryland,  June  9,  1794.  But  little  of 
the  surroundings  of  his  early  life  are  known. 
During  the  war  of  1812,  he  enlisted  in  the  de- 
fense of  his  native  country,  and  was  engaged 
in  the  bombardment  of  Ft.  McHenry  and  North 
Point.  After  the  close  of  his  militar}'  service, 
he  came  to  Ohio  and  settled  at  New  Lisbon, 
where  on  May  8,  1822,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Anna  Shawke.  The  jear  following  this  event 
they  moved  to  Canton,  where  Mr.  Scroggs  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  business,  conducting 
the  same  successfully  until  1839,  when  he 
removed  to  Bucyrus.  where  he  resided  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1861.  Of  the  four 
sons  and  two  daughters  born  to  them,  but  two 
of  the  former  and  one  of  the  latter  are  now 
living  ;  Jacob,  an  attorney  and  for  mauj-  years 
connected  with  the  Crawford  County  bar  ;  Jack, 
also  an  attorney,  and  now  a  resident  of  Wyan- 
dotte. Kansas.  The  daughter,  Mrs,  Mary  Giles, 
with  whom  her  mother,  now  in  her  84th  year, 
resides,  is  a  resident  of  Freeport,  111, 

JOHN  SLUSSER.  whose  portrait  appears 
in  this  work,  was  born  in  Cumberland  County, 
Penn.,  Sept.  9, 1790.  His  fatlier,  Philip  Schlos- 
ser,  came  to  Stark  County  in  1805,  with  a  fam- 
ily of  ten  children,  five  .sons  and  five  daughters, 
all  deceased  save  one,  Mrs.  Jacob  Danner,  now 
in  her  79th  year.  All  are  buried  in  Stark 
Count}',  excepting  the  eldest  sou  Philip,  who 
removed  with  his  family  to  Illinois,  over  forty 


years  ago.  It  is  doubtful  whether  any  other 
family  have  as  many  of  the  connection  interred 
in  the  county.  Thej-  were  among  the  first  set- 
tlers ;  in  fact,  were  here  several  years  before 
the  county  was  organized.  It  was  then  the 
Western  frontier ;  Indians  were  numerous,  and 
dwellings  of  the  whites  few  and  fivr  between. 
The  now  flourishing  city  of  Canton  consisted 
of  less  than  half  a  dozen  log  cabins,  only  two 
of  which  were  occupied.  Phillip  Schlosser, 
the  father,  built  the  first  grist-mill  in  the  county. 
It  was  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  East 
Canton  Mill,  where  Ninth  street  crosses  Nimi- 
shillen  Creek.  He  erected  a  saw-mill  the  year 
before,  and  it  was  as  manager  of  this  that  the 
subject  of  our  memoir  dates  the  commence- 
ment of  his  career  with  the  outside  world.  But 
16  years  of  age,  with  ver}-  limited  education 
and  no  experience,  he  was  yet  required  to  take 
all  the  responsibility  involved  in  dealing  with 
new  settlers,  all  clamorous  for  accommodation. 
He  often  referred  to  it  as  an  experience  that 
proved  of  practical  utility  in  after  j'ears.  In 
keeping  the  saw-mill  in  repair,  and  occasionally 
assisting  the  millwright  while  working  on  the 
grist-mill,  he  acquired  considerable  skill  in  the 
use  of  wood  tools,  and  as  emigrants  arrived  in 
the  neighborhood,  and  wanted  certain  articles 
for  domestic  use,  such  as  a  dough-traj',  table  or 
cupboard,  there  being  no  cabinet-maker  within 
reach,  he  was  solicited  to  make  them.  In  this 
way,  without  having  served  an  apprenticeship 
at  the  trade,  he  became  a  cabinet-maker.  Dur- 
ing the  last  war  with  England,  when  there  was 
a  call  for  troops  from  this  section,  Mr.  Slusser, 
then  22  years  of  age,  enlisted.  While  near 
Sandusky  he  was  taken  with  a  fever,  which 
seriously  impaired  his  constitution.  Soon  after 
his  muster-out,  he  married  Nancy  Dewalt, 
daughter  of  Phillip  Dewalt,  who  came  from 
Dauphin  Count}',  Penn.,  and  settled  in  Canton 
in  1807.  His  father  gave  him  a  portion  of 
Sec.  4  (now  in  the  city  limits)  which  he  had 
previously  purchased  of  Government,  and  upon 
this  he  erected  a  frame  dwelling  house,  and  a 
work-shop.  Here  he  remained,  following  the 
trade  of  cabinet-maker  for  a  number  of  years. 
The  bureaus  and  clock-cases  of  his  make  that 
have  been  handed  down  through  several  gene- 
rations, yet  in  good  state  of  preservation,  attest 
the  workmanlike  manner  of  their  construction. 
In  1825,  he  exchanged  his  property  for  a  two- 
story  brick  house,  and  lot,  corner  of  Tuscarawas 


CITY    OF    CANTON. 


6;!S 


aiid  Piedmont,  belonging  to  and  occupied  bj' 
John  Wobb.  Soon  after  removing  to  town,  he 
engaged  in  merchandising,  and  in  company  witii 
several  other  merchants,  rode  on  horseliack  to 
Philadelphia  and  New  York,  and  with  their 
assistance,  purchased  a  stock  of  miscellaneous 
goods,  such  as  were  kept  in  stock  by  merchants 
at  that  day.  Ho  continued  in  this  business 
until  1850,  accumulating  considerable  means, 
most  of  which  he  invested  in  western  lands. 
In  18S3.  lie  sank  a  tan-yard  on  the  lot  now  oc- 
cupied by  the  Connotton  depot.  Mr.  Slusser 
was  twice  married.  Ilis  first  wife  died  in  1S42. 
They  had  seven  children  —Sarah,  the  eldest,  is 
the  wife  of  Madison  Raynolds  ;  Samuel  I),  and 
Lewis  are  living  in  Canton  ;  Mary  and  Alfred 
died  of  scarlet  fever  in  \KVi  :  John  died  in 
South  Carolina  in  1800,  and  Rebecca,  the  young- 
est, is  the  wife  of  David  Zoltars.  ilr.  Slusser 
married  a  second  wife,  Mrs.  Catharine  Whitman, 
in  1843,  but  by  her  he  had  no  issue  ;  she  died 
in  1879.  Mr.  Slusser  died  in  1859,  lespected 
by  all  who  knew  him,  as  an  iionest,  upright 
man. 

LOUIS  SCH.VKFKR,  attorney.  Canton  ;  was 
born  in  the  department  of  tiic  Moselle,  France, 
Dec.  25,  1815,  and  is  the  son  of  Philip  and 
Catharine  (Loehr)  Schaefer.  lie  was  educated 
chiefly  at  the  schools  of  liis  native  place,  and 
also  received  much  valuable  instruction  from 
his  father,  who  was  a  teacher  l)y  profession.  He 
came  with  his  parents  to  this  country  in  18150, 
and  located  in  Stark  Co.  He  stu(lie<l  law  in 
the  ottice  of  (iriswokl  &  (Jrant,  in  Canton,  and 
was  admitted  to  practice  in  1842.  In  the  fall 
of  1848,  he  was  tendered,  by  the  friends  of  the 
administration  of  John  Tyler,  the  Secretary- 
ship of  the  Legation  to  France,  which,  for 
validj-easons,  he  respectfully  declined.  Although 
closely  devoted  to  his  legal  pursuits,  he  lias 
ever  taken  a  [irosninent  and  active  part  in  ad- 
vancing the  interests  of  his  adopted  city.  He 
was  for  many  years  connected  with  the  City 
Council  of  Canton,  and  also  for  a  considerable 
period  with  the  Board  of  Kducation.  and 
devoted  much  of  his  time  to  the  welfare  of  the 
public  sciiools.  In  the  establishment  of  tiie 
Canton  (^ity  Water- Works.  Mr.  Schaefer  was  the 
leading  spirit.  J.  L.  Pillshury,  civil  engineer 
of  tliat  enterprise,  thus  speaks  of  Mr.  Schaefer 
in  his  official  report :  '•  In  concluding  this  final 
report  of  the  condition  of  the  water-works,  I 
wish  U>  render  a  just  tribute  to  the  originator 


of  the  scheme,  Louis  Schaefer,  Esq,,  who  sug- 
gested it,  and  worked  it  up  to  completion,  in 
the  face  of  all  discouragements,  personal  and 
financial,  and  who,  without  compensation,  devot- 
ed his  entire  time  to  the  work,  and  who,  with  mo- 
tives impugned,  and  factional  influence  to  com- 
bat, kept  the  project  running  steadily  onward, 
until  now  he  has  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  the  i 
work  he  labored  so  long  for,  completed,  and  in 
successful  operation.  We  only  state  what  ever}' 
citizen  knows  to  Ijc  true,  in  saying,  that  to  his 
general  knowledge  of  the  subject,  and  unre- 
mitting labors  in  the  Council,  in  financial  circles 
antl  in  the  field,  the  Canton  City  Water- Works 
unquestionally  owes  their  existence."  Mr. 
Shatter  was  also  prominenth'  active  in  securing 
the  passage  of  tlie  bill  .'lutliorizing  the  C<iunty 
Commissioners  to  build  court  houses,  and  the 
present  Stark  County  Court  House  was  the 
first  one  erected  under  that  law,  and  he  was 
ver^'  efficient  in  pushing  the  enterprise  to  com- 
pletion. In  1807,  Mr.  Schaefer  erected  his  fine 
business  block,  which  includes  the  Shaffer 
Opera  House.  Owing  mainly  to  his  eftbrts,  sev- 
eral large  manufacturing  establishments  have 
been  added  to  the  industries  of  Canton.  In 
1866,  he  was  a  candidate  on  the  Democratic 
ticket  for  Congress,  although,  as  a  rule,  he  has 
not  sought  political  preferment.  He  repre- 
sented the  Seventeenth  Ohio  District  on  the 
Commission  sent  to  Washington  City  to  demand 
the  release  of  ^^allandigham.  In  May.  1849, 
he  married  Catharine  .\nna.  daughter  of  Rev. 
Stephen  A.  Mealy,  of  Savannah,  (ia.  She 
was  an  estimable  lady  of  more  than  ordinary 
intelligence  and  accomplishments.  She  died 
Aug.  17.  1879.  having  been  the  mother  of 
three  children.  Louis  M.  wa.s  educated  in 
Kenyon  ('ollege,  Oambier.  Ohio,  studied  law 
with  his  father,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
Septeml)er,  1877.  Mary  E.  is  the  wife  of 
William  H.  Day,  of  the  law  firm  of  Lynch, 
Day  i.«t  Lynch,  of  Canton,  Ohio.  .Mice  L..  the 
second  daughter,  died  in  1874.  aged  21  years. 

CKN.  (JEORGK  STI DOER  (deceased),  who 
was  among  the  most  prominent  of  Stark 
County  s  pioneers,  was  l)orn  in  Raltimore.  Md., 
Oct.  9.  1781.  His  father  was  a  native  of  (ier- 
many,  and  his  mother  of  Holland,  though  they 
became  residents  of  Baltimore  during  the  early 
part  of  their  lives.  As  was  customary  in  those 
days,  Oen,  Stidger,  when  a  boy,  learned  a  trade 
—that  of  a  hatt«r.     But  little  of  the  surround- 


V* 


6:ii 


lIOGlJArHICAL    SKETCHES: 


ings  of  his  earl}'  life  are  known.  In  1806,  he 
beeanie  a  resident  of  Canton,  where  he  em- 
barked in  the  mercantile  business.  He  was 
married  in  New  Lisbon,  Columbiana  Co.,  Ohio, 
to  Miss  Mary  lleiley.  Ten  children  were  born 
to  them,  of  whom  are  Mrs.  M.  A.  Lester  and 
Mrs.  Julius  Whiting,  both  ladies  of  the  highest 
circle  of  societj'  of  Canton.  (Jen.  Stidger  con- 
tinued the  mercantile  business  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  on  Sept.  29,  1826,  during  a  trip 
t)  Eastern  markets  to  bu}-  a  supply-  of  goods. 
In  his  death.  Canton  lost  one  of  her  most 
enterprising  spirits.  In  the  war  of  1812,  he 
entered  the  service  of  his  country  as  a  Captain. 
His  braver}'  and  gallant  soldierly  conduct  soon 
made  him  a  fit  subject  for  promotion,  and  he 
rose  rapidly  to  the  rank  of  (xeneral,  by  Avhich 
title  his  name  is  familiar  to  the  citizens  of 
Stark  Co. 

JOHN  SAXTON  (deceased),  who  was  editor 
and  founder  of  the  Ohio  Riposi/orij,  Canton, 
Ohio,  was  born  in  Huntingdon  Co.,  Penn.,  Sept. 
28,  1792.  and  died  in  Canton.  Ohio,  April  16, 
1871.  He  was  the  oldest  of  a  large  family, 
and  learned  the  printer's  trade  when  he  was  a 
boy.  Early  in  1815,  he  came  to  Ohio,  and. 
li)cating  in  Canton,  started  the  O/iio  I'lpositoi-i/. 
in  .March  of  that  year,  on  which  he  laliored 
without  interruption  for  tifty-six  consecutive 
years.  His  newspaper  longevity  is  strikingly 
illustrated  by  the  fact  that  he  recorded  the 
final  battles  of  both  Napoleons.  In  1815.  he 
wrote  and  published  the  account  of  the  battle 
of  Waterloo,  and  the  arrest  of  the  first  Napo- 
leon. In  1870,  he  wrote  and  published  the  ac- 
count of  the  battles  of  Sedan,  and  the  arrest 
of  Napoleon  III.  It  is  believed  that  not 
another  man  in  the  United  States  has  labored 
so  long  and  on  one  newspaper.  He  was  a 
soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  while  on  garri- 
son duty  at  Black  Rock,  near  Bufi'alo,  partially 
lost  his  hearing.  In  the  discharge  from  duty, 
he  was  under  a  large  cannon,  when  a  soldier 
fired  it  oft',  and  the  concussion  occasioned  this 
loss.  During  the  whole  time  he  was  connected 
with  the  Repository,  he  was  unremitting  in  his 
application  to  duty,  and  was  constantl}'  active 
in  the  otHce  up  to  within  a  short  time  before  his 
death.  The  causes  that  sustained  and  pro- 
longed his  life  and  activit}'  were  a  good  con- 
stitution, regular  and  temperate  habits  and  a 
quiet  conscience.  He  belonged  to  the  Anti- 
Federalists,  which  was,  in   his  earl}'  manhood. 


the  Republican  party.  Subsequently  he  was  a 
Whig,  and,  after  the  dissolution  of  that  party, 
he  espoused  the  principles  of  the  present  Re- 
publican party  soon  after  its  organization.  He 
voted  for  the  following  Presidential  candidates  : 
Madison.  Monroe,  Adams,  Clay  in  1832,  Harri- 
son in  1836  and  in  1840.  Clay  again  in  1844, 
Taylor,  Scott,  Fremont,  Lincoln  in  1860-64, 
and  Grant  in  1868.  For  several  years  in  each 
he  served  as  Auditor  and  Treasurer  of  Stark 
Co.,  and  also  Postmaster  at  Canton.  Not  less 
noted  for  regularity  and  well-sustained  con- 
sistency were  his  church  relations.  He  was 
one  of  the  oldest  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Canton  ;  was  elected  Ruling  Elder  in 
1837,  and  retained  that  position  until  his  death, 
and  had  not  been  absent  from  Church  dut}'  for 
forty  years,  unless  detained  by  sickness.  He 
arranged  his  business  and  the  day  of  publica- 
tion of  his  paper  with  a  view  of  alwavs  being 
present  at  the  prayer-meeting.  He  possessed 
a  remarkable  evenness  of  temper,  and  was 
especiall}'  fond  of  children  ;  he  was  greatly  be- 
loved by  them.  He  preached  religion  in  his 
daily  life,  and  was  a  Christian  in  everything. 
His  was  a  cheerful,  happy,  conscientious,  lov- 
ing performance  of  religious  duty.  He  was,  of 
all  men,  the  kindest  and  most  careful  not  to 
wound  the  feelings  of  others.  All,  without 
distinction  of  party,  respected  and  revered  him. 
His  wife,  Margaret  Laird,  he  married  in  1815. 
She  died  in  1858,  having  been  the  mother  of 
nine  children.  Since  his  death,  the  publication 
of  the  Rcfjository  has  been  eou<lucted  b}'  his 
j'oungest  child,  Thomas  Wilson  Saxon,  who 
was  born  in  Canton,  Ohio,  Oct.  9,  1831,  and 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
city.  At  the  age  of  13,  he  entered  the  printing 
office  of  his  father,  passing  through  the  various 
departments   until    1851,    when   he    became  a 

j  partner  with  his  father  in  the  paper,  and  has 

I  been  connected  with  it  until  the  present  time. 
In  1860,  he  was  elected  Auditor  of  Stark  Co., 
and  filled  that  office  until  August,  1862,  when 
he  enlisted  in  the  army  as  Quartermaster  of 
the  115th  O.  V.  I.,  and  served  as  such  until 
Ma\',  1865,  when  he  resigned  and  returned 
home.  In  1867,  he  purchased  the  father's 
interest  in  the  paper,  and  in  1868  the  Ohio  Re- 

1  positury  was  consolidated  with  the  Stark  Coun- 
ty Republican,  under  the  name  of  the  Canton 
Repository  ami  Republican.     In  Maj",  1874,  tlie 

i  name  of  the  paper  was  changed  to  the  Canton 


1^ 


CITY    OF    (AXTOX. 


6:J5 


Repositari/.  its  present  title.  It  is  an  abl^'-con- 
ducteil  d.iil^'  and  weeltiy  journal,  tiie  daily 
issue  having  first  appeared  in  February, 
1878.  Mr.  Saxton  was  one  of  tlie  leaders  in 
the  Know-Nothing  campaign  of  1854.  He 
espoused  the  cause  of  Republicanism  upon  the 
birth  of  that  part\-,  and  has  since  been  (|uite 
an  active  Republican  |»litician.  He  has  made 
the  Reposilorij  one  of  tlie  best  Republican 
journals  in  the  State.  His  personal  character- 
istics are  those  of  a  plain,  unassuming,  agreea- 
ble gentleman.  On  March  31,  1857,  he  mar- 
ried Maria  S..  daughter  of  Samuel  Slanker, 
now  a  retired  business  man  of  Canton,  and  she 
has  borne  him  two  sons — Herbert  and  Samuel. 

T.  SI! LIJ VAN,  County  Treasurer,  Canton  ; 
became  a  resident  of  Stark  Co.  in  1859,  and 
located  at  Canal  Fulton,  where  he  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  business  ;  he  was  very  success- 
ful in  business,  and,  though  beginning  on  a 
somewhat  limited  scale,  by  close  application 
and  good  financiering  he  soon  established  a 
business  that  stood  second  to  none  in  that 
lively  little  town.  Becoming  almost  involun- 
tarily interested  in  political  affairs,  the  position 
of  a  leailer  in  the  Democratic  part\'  was  quickly 
accorded  him  by  his  friends  ;  in  the  October 
election  of  1 877,  he  was  elected  to  the  oflice  of 
County  Treasurer,  and  eleven  months  there- 
after he  took  formal  possession  of  the  office, 
in  188(1,  he  was  re-elected  to  the  same  office, 
and  is  now  actively  engaged  in  the  discharge 
of  his  duties.  While  a  resident  in  Canal  Ful- 
ton he  not  only  became  a  leading  merchant  of 
the  place,  but  he  also  took  an  active  part  in 
social  and  diureh  affairs,  and  at  the  liuilding 
of  the  Catholic  Church  of  that  place  he  was 
one  of  the  largest  individual  contributors  ; 
since  becoming  a  resident  of  Canton  he  has 
transferred  his  membership  to  St.  John's  Kn- 
glisli  Catholic  Church. 

DAVID  SHKRRICK,  retired  farmer,  Can- 
ton ;  was  born  at  Hagerstown.  Md.,  in  the  year 
1807.  son  of  John  and  Nancy  (Wyant)  Sher- 
riek,  who  were  natives  of  Lancaster  Co..  I'enn., 
and  wore  married  in  Washington  Co.,  Md.  ; 
they  lived  in  Maryland  a  number  of  years,  and 
removed  to  Pennsylvania,  remaining  two  years, 
and  then  came  to  Ohio  ;  they  had  six  children 
at  the  time,  and  came  on  by  team.  Mrs.  Sherrick 
riding  the  entire  way  on  horseback  ;  they 
settled  two  and  a  half  miles  southeast  of  Can- 
ton in  ISK).  where  thev  lived  until  his  death,  at 


the  age  of  75  years — she  died  some  three 
years  later  ;  David  lived  at  home  until  he  was 
about  26  years  old,  his  education  being 
limited  to  the  schools  of  the  time  ;  at  26  he 
and  his  brother  Jacob  made  a  raft  of  pine 
logs  at  State  Line,  between  New  York  and 
Pennsylvania,  which  they  took  to  Cincinnati, 
remaining  there  some  time  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness ;  after  which  he  located  near  ('anton  on  a 
piece  of  laud  belonging  to  his  father,  when  lie 
began  manufacturing  earthenware  which  he 
continued  but  a  short  time  ;  he  removed  to  St. 
Louis  soon  after  but  did  not  remain  long, 
returning  by  wagon  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  where  for 
four  years  he  followed  canal  boating  ;  in  1840, 
he  returned  to  Canton  and  was  engaged  in 
farming  and  in  manufacturing  stoneware,  and 
lived  in  several  different  neighborhoods  ;  iu 
1868,  he  moved  into  Canton  where  he  has  ever 
since  resided.  In  183(),  he  married  Miss 
Rebecca  Longstarf — she  died  in  1861  ;  they 
had  six  children  two  of  whom  are  living — 
Emma,  now  Mrs.  Kitzmiller,  living  north  of 
Canton,  and  John,  living  in  Canton. 

HON.  JOHNSON  SHERRICK.  merchant, 
Canton  ;  was  born  Aug.  28,1841,  near  Canton, 
Stark  Co.,  Ohio;  his  father.  Christian  Sherrick, 
is  spoken  of  elsewhere  in  this  work  ;  our  subject 
grew  up  and  attended  school  in  his  native 
county,  working  on  the  farm  in  the  summer 
and  teaching  during  winters;  in  1863.  he  went 
to  St.  Louis  and  engaged  in  business,  but  in  a 
short  time  enlisted  in  the  marine  service,  and 
was  detailed  for  duty  as  a  clerk  on  a  Govern- 
ment transport ;  he  was  taken  sick  and  after  his 
discharge  taught  school  at  Richville,  Stark  Co.; 
in  1870,  he  engaged  in  the  hardware  business, 
firm  of  Sherrick  &  Miller,  which  firm  is  yet 
doing  business  in  Canton  ;  in  1873,  as  the  first 
Democrat  elected  from  Stark  Co.  for  many 
}-ears,  he  went  to  the  State  Legislature,  was 
re-elected  in  1875  and  in  1877,  was  elected  to 
the  State  Senate  for  the  district  composed  of 
Stark  and  Carroll  Cos..  tiy  a  large  majority  ,  he 
was  a  good  worker  and  popular  with  his  fellow 
members.  As  Chairman  of  the  Democratic 
County  Central  Committee  and  Delegate  to  the 
State  Conventions  he  is  highly  esteemed  by  his 
constituents  as  a  most  useful  and  effective 
assistant  in  all  campaign  work.  Oct.  14,  1875, 
he  married  Miss  Charlotte,  only  daughter  of  I). 
D.  Miller,  of  Wooster,  Ohio,  a  highly  accom- 
plished and  respected  lady. 


636 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


CHRISTIAN  SHERRICK,  retired  farmer, 
P.  0.  Canton;  was  born  in  Washington  Co., 
Md.,  Nov.  8,  1812,  and  is  a  son  of  Jolin  and 
Nancy  (Wyant)  Sherrick.  Our  subject  lived  at 
home  until  1830,  being  brought  up  to  farming, 
and  receiving  but  a  limited  education  in  the 
common  schools.  In  1839,  he  came  to  Ohio, 
stopping  at  Da^'ton,  where  he  engaged  for  two 
years  in  canal  boating  between  that  place  and 
Cincinnati,  visiting,  in  the  meantime,  New  Or- 
leans, remaining  one  winter  in  the  South,  and 
on  returning  in  the  spring  to  Dayton,  resumed 
boating.  In  the  fall  of  1840,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Mary  Danforth,  of  Hamilton,  Ohio,  after 
which  he  returned  to  Stark  Co.,  and  located  on 
a  farm  belonging  to  his  father,  where  he  lived 
two  years,  and  then  removed  to  the  old  home- 
stead farm,  residing  here  until  1873,  when  he 
retired,  and  moved  into  Canton,  and  has  lived 
here  since.  His  wife  died  Dec.  8,  18G6  ;  they 
had  seven  children,  of  whom  six  are  still  living, 
viz.:  Johnson,  Elvina,  Louisa,  Joseph  (de- 
ceased), Jacob  D.  (physician),  Newton,  Kan.  ; 
Ida  M.,  now  Mrs.  William  J.  Hartzell,  of  Fort 
Wayne,  Ind..  and  Alvin  B.  Mr.  Sherrick  has 
always  been  a  Democrat. 

JACOB  SPIDEL,  dealer  in  leather,  hides, 
wool,  etc..  Canton ;  was  liorn  in  Cumberland 
Co.,  Penn.,  Oct.  19,  1830,  and  is  a  son  of  Chris- 
tian and  Eliza  (Smith)  Spidel,  natives  of  Penn- 
sj'lvania.  In  1836,  they  came  to  Ohio,  and 
settled  in  Green  Tp.,  then  a  part  of  Stark, 
but  now  in  Summit  Co.,  on  a  farm  that  was 
improved  to  the  extent  of  a  log  house  and  a  few 
acres  of  cleared  land.  In  a  short  time  after 
locating  on  this  place,  the  father  died,  the 
mother  remaining  there  until  June  19,  18G1, 
when  she  died.  They  had  six  children,  five  of 
whom  are  still  living — Eliza,  now  Mrs.  Boden, 
of  Wyandot  Co.;  Mary  A.,  lives  with  her  ;  Ma- 
linda.  now  Mrs.  Breckenridge,  lives  in  Summit 
Co. ;  Jacob  (suliject),  in  Canton  ;  and  Christian 
F..  in  Summit  Co.  Jacob  was  raised  on  the 
farm  until  17,  receiving  his  education  at  the 
district  schools ;  he  then  apprenticed  himself 
to  the  tanner's  trade ;  after  serving  two  years 
he  worked  as  a  journeyman  until  1858,  when  he 
went  into  business  for  himself,  buying  a  tan- 
nery- in  Wayne  Co..  Ohio,  where  he  remained  in 
business  until  1864  ;  he  then  sold  out,  and  locat- 
ed three  miles  north  of  Canton,  and  in  1865, 
bought  a  location  in  Canton,  and  moved  into 
the  city  the  following  year,  where  he  has  been 


engaged  in  his  present  business  ever  since. 
He  was  married,  in  February,  1858,  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Hoover,  a  native  of  Stark  Co. ;  she 
died  July  20,  1873,  and  June  8,  1875,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Elizabeth  Bulger,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania ;  they  had  two  children,  one  of  whom 
is  living — Herbert  Spencer  Spidel.  Mr.  Spidel 
is  a  Republican  in  politics. 

ANDY  SCHWERTNER,  boots  and  shoes, 
Canton.  This  gentleman  is  a  native  of  Bohe- 
mia. Austria  ;  he  was  born  Oct.  1,  1840.  At 
the  age  of  13,  he  apprenticed  to  the  shoemak- 
er's trade  in  the  city  of  Vienna,  where  he 
worked  for  five  years  ;  he  then  traveled  in  Ger- 
many, Austria  and  Switzerland,  for  one  year, 
after  which  he  remained  for  one  j'ear  at 
home. 

In  1860,  he  came  to  the  United  States,  and 
worked  four  years  at  his  trade  in  Pittsburgh. 
He  then  engaged  in  the  produce  business,  ship- 
ping to  that  city.  In  1865,  he  came  to  Canton, 
making  his  enUy  on  a  farm  wagon,  and  soon 
after  Isegan  work  at  his  trade,  in  a  small  store, 
which  he  rented.  The  outlook  at  this  time  was 
certainly  not  favorable — a  young  man,  far  away 
from  his  native  land,  and  without  friends  or 
money,  are  circumstances  before  which  many 
would  despair,  but  lij'  his  indomitable  energy 
and  perseverance,  he  made  his  business  success- 
ful ;  and  instead  of  the  little  8x10  of  a  few 
years  ago,  he  now  owns  and  occupies  the  com- 
modious brick  store.  No.  43  East  Tuscarawas 
street,  21x80  feet,  and  carries  one  of  the  largest 
stocks  in  the  city.  He  is  also  completing  a 
brick  block  containing  two  large  storerooms, 
on  East  Tuscarawas  street,  the  upper  two  stories 
serving  as  an  addition  to  the  American  Hotel. 
May  14,  1867,  he  married  Miss  Christina  Rich- 
ard, a  native  of  Carroll  Co.,  Ohio.  Of  their 
eight  children  seven  are  living,  viz.;  Frank, 
August,  Irwin,  Flora,  May,  Walter  and  Ida. 
Though  but  a  few  years  have  elapsed  since  Mr. 
Schwertner  came  to  Canton  a  strange  boy,  and 
without  money  or  friends,  he  has,  by  his  own 
exertions  and  foresight,  been  successful  in  build- 
ing up  a  prosperous  trade,  and  establishing  a 
reputation  for  industry,  integritv  and  business 
ability,  of  which  he  may  well  feel  proud,  and 
the  commodious  brick  buildings  which  he  has 
erected,  stand  alike  a  beauty  to  the  city,  and  a 
monument  to  his  success.  Verilj'  it  may  be 
said,  that  to  these  self-made  men  are  our  beau- 
tiful Western  cities   indebted    for  their  rapid 


^l 


fk^. 


CITY    OF    CANTON. 


637 


ij;n)wtli  ;uk1  prospi'i-ity.  wliicli  luivu  made  them 
the  wonder  and  eiivv  of  the  world. 

LEONARD  U.  TRKS?EL,  Agent  for  llie 
(,'onnottoii  Valley  U.  K..  Canton  ;  was  born  in 
Carroll  Co.,  Ohio,  Sept.  3,  1889.  He  is  the 
youngest  of  ten  children  born  to  Mathias  and 
Catharine  (  Harsh  )  Tressel ;  he  received  a  good 
common  school  education,  and  spent  some  time 
at  a  select  school  in  .Malvern.  October.  1S61, 
he  enlisted  in  Co.  A.  80th  O.  V.  I.,  and  served 
three  years.  Ainong  the  many  engagements  in 
which  he  participated,  we  may  mention  that  of 
hika.  .Mis>..  the  five  days'  tiglit  at  Corinth,  and 
many  s<'rimniages  until  they  got  in  the  rear  of  the 
army  at  Vicksburg  ;  Ft.  Gibson,  Raymond  and 
Jackson.  In  the  last-named  place  sixteen  of 
his  company  were  wounded  in  the  feet  and  legs, 
and  there  he  too  received  a  serious  wound,  a  ball 
passing  through  his  left  foot.  He  was  there 
tivken  prison  and  kept  about  two  weeks  at 
Jackson,  then  senttoLibby  Prison,  where  he  was 
kept  for  a  time  and  paroled  because  of  the 
serious  condition  of  his  wound.  He  was  sent 
to  the  h<)S[)ital  at  Annapolis,  .Md..  where  he  re- 
mained about  si.\  weeks  and  was  then  sent  to 
Indianopolis,  Ind.,  on  detached  duty,  and  was 
discharged  Octolier,  18ti-J.  Returning  to  .Mal- 
vern he  engaged  in  mercantile  an(l  railroad 
business,  the  former  he  discontinued,  and  re- 
mained in  the  employ  of  the  Cleveland,  I'itts- 
burgh  &  Wheeling  Railroad  Company,  and  re- 
mained with  them  until  the  Connotton  Valley 
Railroad  began  to  he  operated,  when  he  en- 
gaged with  that  company  and  was  appointed 
Freight  and  Ticket  Agent  at  Canton,  coming 
here  in  May.  1880.  He  married  Agnes  Fishel 
.March  24,  1868.  They  have  four  children,  viz.: 
Lottie,  Jane.  Maggie  and  Bertie. 

EDWIN  T.  THOMPSON,  Agent  for  the  1'.. 
Ft.  W.  &  C.  R.  R.  Co.,  Canton  ;  was  born  in 
CarroUton  Aug.  20,  1843.  His  father,  John 
Thompson,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  re- 
moved to  Ohio  with  his  parents  when  (piite 
young.  He  settled  in  Centerville,  now  Carroll- 
ton,  in  183C.  He  married  Margaret  E.  Geiger, 
who  was  born  in  Eppinga.  Baden,  G  erraany.  Her 
parents  emigrattnl  to  the  I'nited  States  in  1810, 
When  within  a  short  distance  of  Baltimore 
they  were  caught  by  adverse  winds  and  carried 
back  near  to  the  cojist  of  .Vfrica.  After  a  voy- 
age of  about  six  months  they  landed  safely  at 
Baltimore,  Md.  A  party  of  emigrants.  Mr. 
Conrad  C.  Geiger  with  others,  hired  teams  from 


Raitimore  to  Pittsburgh,  I'enn.;  there  the 
women  and  children  of  the  party  were  left  in  a 
cabin  while  the  men  set  out  on  foot  and  came 
to  Stark  County,  Ohio,  entered  land,  returned 
on  foot  to  Pittsburgh  and  brought  their  families 
to  their  various  selections  in  Stark  County,  and 
proceeded  to  improve  their  farms.  .Mr.  and 
.Mrs.  Thompson  have  had  four  children,  viz.: 
Samantha.  Oscar  (deceased).  Edwin  T.  and 
Conradine.  The  subject  of  these  notes,  Edwin 
T.,  is  the  third  cliild  and  only  surviving  son  of 
their  family.  He  received  the  ordinary  public 
school  education  and  in  early  manhood  worked 
at  the  carpenter's  trade  with  his  father.  He 
entered  the  employ  of  the  1*.,  Ft.  W.  &  C.  R. 
R.  Co.  in  the  spring  of  18()1,  at  Mansfield, 
where  he  learned  liie  art  of  telegraphy  with 
O.  H.  Booth.  Mr.  Thompson  has  been 
continuously  in  the  employ  of  the  Railroad 
Co.  ever  since  at  various  points  along 
the  line  from  Plymouth.  Ind..  on  the  west,  to 
Salem,  Ohio,  when-  he  worked  for  the  railroad 
nine  years,  and  in  .May.  1877.  he  was  appoint- 
ed agent  for  the  company  at  Canton,  and  has 
had  control  of  that  station  ever  since.  At  Ft. 
Wayne,  Ind.,  he  married  Esther  A.  Barr,  No- 
vember, 1867 — she  was  a  daughter  of  John 
Barr,  formerly  of  .VUeghony  ("ity,  Petin.  They 
have  two  children  :  John  B  and  Alice  E.  Mr. 
Thompson  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fratern- 
ity. Perry  Lodge  at  Salem,  Ohio. 

■  PETER  P.  TRU.MP,  retired,  Canton;  whose 
portrait  appears  in  this  history,  as  a  represent- 
ative pioneer,  is  a  native  of  Adams  Co.,  Peun,, 
and  was  born  March  2,  1803,  the  third  in  a 
family  of  seven  children  born  to  John  and 
Elizabeth  (Jacobs)  Trump,  the  former  was  a 
native  of  Germany,  and  came  to  the  United 
States  with  his  parents  when  he  was  but  (! 
months  old.  He  was  raised  on  a  farm,  and 
earl}-  moved  to  Adams  Co.,  where  he  conducted 
a  farm  and  saw-mill,  and  also  kept  a  hotel. 
.\bout  the  year  1810,  he  visited  Ohio,  making 
the  trip  on  horseback,  and  again  in  the  ne.vt 
year  he  made  a  similar  trip.  During  these 
visits  he  entered  160  acres  of  land  and  lioughl 
320  acres,  paying  for  the  latter  $10  per  acre. 
In  1812,  he  moved  with  his  family  to  this 
county,  and  settled  on  his  320  acre  farm,  which 
was  located  two  miles  east  of  Canton,  and  was 
partially  improved.  In  1816,  he  bought  a 
place,  two  miles  north  of  Canton,  on  which  was 
a  saw-mill.     Later  he  built  a  grist  mill,  which 


^! 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


he  conducted  until  1824,  when  he  retired  to 
(Canton.  Some  years  later  his  wife  died  and  he 
lived  with  his  son,  on  tlie  farm  near  town,  until 
death  two  years  after.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
died  at  the  age  of  70  years.  Our  subject  lived 
at  home  until  he  became  of  age,  working  on  the 
farm  and  tending  in  the  mill.  His  education 
was  limited  to  the  schools  of  the  period,  which 
were  poor.  He  received  the  mill  farm  after  be- 
coming of  age.  and  was  married,  .March  12. 
1824,  to  Miss  Mary  Ream,  a  native  of  Colum- 
biana Co.,  and  came  to  Stark,  with  her  parents, 
about  the  year  1806.  .\fter  his  marriage  he 
took  charge  of  the  farm  and  mill,  and  al)ont 
the  year  1845  or  1840,  built  a  grist-mill  of 
three  run  of  stone,  which  is  3'et  in  operation. 
After  having  engaged  in  ditferent  kinds  of  bus- 
iness, he  and  Alexander  Hurford  bought  and 
improved  the  St.  Cloud  Hotel,  which  they  now 
own.  He  bought  the  lot  and  erected  the  build- 
ing on  the  corner  opposite  St.  Cloud  Hotel. 
Mr.  Trump  has  al.so  been  identitied  with  the 
l)anking  interest  of  Canton,  and  in  eomijanj- 
with  Messrs.  Whiting,  Harter  and  Wikidal, 
formed  the  Canton  Savings  Deposit  Bank,  with 
which  he  was  coimected  for  a  number  of  years. 
He  has  taken  an  active  part  in  securing  to  the 
city  several  of  the  manufucturing  establisli- 
ments  now  in  operation.  His  tirst  wife  died  in 
1865  ;  there  were  nine  children,  of  whom  only 
four  are  living — Jacob  and  Henry,  in  Canton  ; 
Eli,  in  Hardin  Co.,  and  Harriet,  now  Mrs. 
Kirkpatrick.  of  Denver,  Colo.  In  April,  18(56, 
he  married  Mrs.  (leorge  Williams,  formerly 
Miss  Mary  A.  Smith,  a  native  of  Hagerstown, 
Md.  She  came  to  Ohio,  in  1880.  on  a  visit  to 
her  brother,  and  some  years  later  married  Mr. 
Williams. 

A.  C.  TONNER,  Revenue  Collector,  CanUm  : 
was  born  in  Center  Co.,  Penn.,  April  7,  1836. 
He  is  the  onl}-  son  of  a  family  of  nine  children 
born  to  John  and  Lydia  (Kreamer)  Tonner. 
His  father  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  February, 
1812,  ;ind  was  for  many  years  a  resident  of 
Center  Co.,  where  he  was  almost  continuously 
identified  with  the  management  of  countv 
affairs  ;  was  also  engaged  in  mercantile  busi- 
ness, and  in  1863  he  came  to  Canton  and  ac- 
cepted the  position  of  Secretary  for  the  manu- 
facturing concern  of  C.  Aultman  &  Co.,  which 
position  he  held  until  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  April  7,  1873.  The  subject  of 
these  notes,  entered  Dickinson  College  in  youth. 


and  at  the  age  of  17,  when  he  left  college,  was 
a  member  el"  the  senior  class.  Several  years 
were  spent  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Belle- 
fonte,  where  he  entered  upon  the  study  of  law, 
in  the  office  of  Adam  Hoy,  and  in  1860  was 
admitted  to  the  bar.  He  removed  to  Wash- 
ington, D.  ('..  in  the  latter  year,  to  enter  upon 
his  duties  as  Assisstant  Examiner  in  the 
Patent  Office,  to  whicli  he  had  been  appointed. 
Sept  lit,  1862,  he  received  his  commission  as 
Consul  Ceneral  to  Central  America,  and  made 
e\'ery  preparation  for  going,  but  through  fear 
of  the  ungenial  character  of  the  climate,  to 
which  he  was  about  to  proceed,  he  re- 
signed his  commission  and  remained  in  the 
Patent  Office  until  1865.,  He  came  to  Canton, 
in  1866,  and  purchased  the  Union  Mills,  which 
he  operated  for  two  years,  when  ho  sold  out 
and  became  President  of  the  Canton  Mal- 
leable Iron  Company,  which  position  he  held 
until  they  sold  out  in  1872.  Since  then  he  has 
been  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business,  was 
appointed  Revenue  Collector  of  the  Eighth  and 
Fifth  Divisions  of  the  Eighteentli  District, 
which  position  he  now  holds.  Sept.  6,  1866,  he 
married  ^liss  Millie  Glenn.  They  have  two 
children — John  A.  and  Ida  (I. 

DANIEL  TOXNEK,  Canton,  is  a  native  of 
Center  Co.,  I'enn.,  and  was  born  in  December, 
1818  ;  he  was  raised  on  a  farm,  and  also  taught 
school.  In  184(),  he  went  to  Illinois,  and  en- 
gaged in  teaching,  and  the  mercantile  business, 
in  Plaintield.  Will  Co.  In  1850,  he  came  to 
Canton,  Ohio,  and  did  the  corresponding  for 
C.  .\ultman  &  Co..  and  has  continued  with  the 
company  since,  of  which  he  has  become  a 
stockholder,  and.  in  1881,  elected  one  of  the 
Directors.  June  27.  1850.  he  married  Miss 
Margaret  P.  Pennington,  a  native  of  Center  Co., 
Penn..  her  great-grandparents  being  among  the 
pioneers  of  I'ennsylvania  Valley,  of  that  State. 
Mr.  Tonner  is  Republican  in  politics,  an  advo- 
cate of  temperance,  and  a  Methodist  in  his 
religious  views. 

H.  H.  TRUMP,  abstracter  of  titles,  Canton  ; 
is  a  native  of  Stark  Co.,  Ohio  :  he  was  born  in 
Plain  Tp.,  in  the  year  1840.  In  the  spring  of 
1848,  he  came  to  Canton  with  his  parents,  and 
has  resided  iiere  since.  In  1858,  he  engaged  as 
a  clerk  in  a  jewelry  store  in  Canton.  In  1861, 
he  entered  a  grocery  house;  and  in  1863.  he 
became  book-keeper  and  teller  in  the  Savings 
Deposit  Bank,  and  next  as  Cashier  of  the  Ex- 


Ll^ 


CITV    Ol"    CAXTOX. 


(539 


•.'liange  Bank,  from  wbt-re  he  eiiteiv<l  tlic  City 
Bank,  all  of  Canton.  In  1872.  ho  becanic 
Sccrelary  of  iLi'  Canton  Wrought  Iron  Bridgt' 
Co.,  and  held  the  position  one  year.  He  then 
for  two  3"eai's  revised  and  corrected  the  general 
indexes  of  the  County  Records  Otlice.  In 
1S75.  he  opened  the  abstract  office,  and  has 
followed  the  luisiiiess  since.  In  lS(i(;.  he  mar- 
ried -Mi.ss  .^!ary  .VUinder,  a  native  of  Pittsburgh, 
Henn.  They  have  four  children,  viz.:  Hany 
A.,  Percy  1\.  (ruyan  I.  and  Richard  li.  Mr. 
Trump's  father.  I'.  I'.  Trump,  is  spoken  of  else- 
uhere. 

JA.^!HS  S.  TU.NNKR,  druggist,  Canton  :  is 
a  native  of  Center  Co.,  Penn.;  he  was  born  on  a 
farm,  and  lived  on  same  until  1855.  He  re- 
ceived a  district  school  course  of  study,  and 
taught  a  number  ol'  terms  during  the  winters. 
His  brotlier.  Thomas  Tonner.  was  a  partner  in 
the  firm  of  Ball.  Aultman  &  Co.,  of  Canton, 
(^hio,  and  through  him  Jaine.s,  S.  arranged  for 
a  situation  with  the  lirra.  and  came  to  Canton 
in  1855.  The  next  day  or  two  the  lirm  s  build- 
ings burned  ilcjwn.  and  James  S.  went  West, 
but  in  August  following  he  was  sent  for,  and 
returned  to  Canton,  and  entered  his  duties  as 
book-keeper  for  the  firm,  ("pon  the  formation 
of  a  Slock  Company,  C.  Aultman  iVo  Co.,  Mr. 
Tonner  became  Treasurer,  and  continued  in 
that  position  until  January,  1870.  when  he 
withdrew,  and  during  the  summer  he  engaged 
as  8ei  lel.uy  and  Treasurer  with  C.  Russell  & 
Co.  which  position  he  held  about  seven  years. 
In  is.'^o,  he  engaged  in  his  present  business. 
In  1858.  he  married  Miss  Kate  Kuhn.  a 
daughter  of  Dr.  Henry  Kuhn.  a  pioneer  of 
Tirtin.  Ohio,  of  their  five  children  :  two  are 
livin-i     Ilarrv  and  Bessie. 

jri)(!K  J.  W.  CNDERHILL,  lawyer.  Can- 
ton :  was  born  in  (Jreeno  Co..  N.  Y.,  Oct.  tJ, 
1818.  and  is  the  second  in  a  family  of  three  chil 
dren  born  to  Nathaniel  and  Anna  (Weliber) 
Cntlerhill.  who  were  natives  of  Westchester  and 
Greene  Cos.,  X.  Y.  He  was  a  Quaker,  and  mar- 
ried ■'  out  of  meeting  " — that  is,  she  to  whom 
he  was  wedtled  was  not  of  the  Quaker  faith. 
The  family  came  to  Ohio  in  1827.  and  settled 
in  Kend:il.  now  a  part  of  .Massillon.  They 
lived  in  that  vicinity  until  death  ;  he  dying  in 
September,  188;5,  and  she  about  the  year  187H, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  82  years.  Our  subject 
lived  at  home  until  the  death  of  his  father, 
after  which  he  went  east  to  New   Y'ork  State, 


where  he  lived  with  his  uncle  and  attended 
school,  and  assisted  on  the  farm.  .Vfter  three 
years  he  returned  to  .Massillon,  where  he  at- 
tended school  further,  and  al.so  taught  .school, 
his  circumstances  not  allowing  him  to  continue 
his  education.  In  1840,  he  began  reading  law 
with  Samuel  Pease,  <^f  Massillon,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  October,  1842  ;  he  began 
practice  in  Massillon,  in  compau}-  with  H.  B. 
Hurlbut,  now  of  Cleveland,  and  after  about 
one  year  the  firm  of  Folger  &  I'ntlerhill  was 
formed  which  continued  several  j-cars.  when  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  V.  M.  Keith,  and, 
after  a  few  years  it  also  was  dissolved,  and  he 
remained  alone  until  he  came  to  Canton,  in 
1861,  having  been  elected  Probate  Judge  the 
previous  year,  to  which  office  he  was  three 
times  re-elected,  holding  the  position  twelve 
years  in  succession.  After  this,  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  John  Long(l'nderhill  &  Long) 
which  continued  in  (.'anton  until  1877.  He 
then  practiced  alone  until  1879,  when  he 
sulistantiallj'  left  the  law,  and.  as  a  Direct- 
or and  Member  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee, gave  his  attention  (receiving  and  dis- 
bursing the  Canton  Subscription  Fund)  to  the 
Cleveland,  Canton,  Coshocton  &  Straightsville 
R.  R.  Company,  but.  in  1881,  when  a  change  of 
control  of  the  road  took  place,  he  resigned. 
Judge  I'nderhill  was  elected  in  1855  to  repre- 
sent Stark  ("o.  in  the  State  Legislature.  He  has 
been  a  Republican  in  politics  ever  since  the  or- 
ganization of  the  party,  and  was  always  of  strong 
anti-slavery  proclivities.  He  was  married  Nov. 
2,  1842,  to  Miss  Henrietta  Widgeon,  a  nativeof 
Ohio.  They  had  three  children,  viz.:  Arthur 
J.,  who  married  .Miss  Henrietta  Tonner;  Eliza 
R.,  now  Mrs.  W.  .\.  Lynch,  and  Clara,  now  .Mrs. 
H.  C.  Eogle.  They  all  live  in  Canton.  During 
the  war.  Judge  Underwood  was  Chairman  of  the 
Military  Committee  of  the  county,  and  actively 
supported  all  war  measures. 

A.  VKiNOS.  I'dsI master.  Canton;  is  a  native 
of  Louisville,  Stark  Co.,  and  was  born  in  18S8. 
His  parents  were  Joseph  and  Theresa  (Frantz) 
Vignos,  both  natives  of  France,  near  Belford, 
and  settlers  in  Louisvilloabout  1830,  where  .Mr. 
\'ignos  engaged  in  the  i)usiness  of  hotel-keep- 
ing. But  little  of  incident  occurred  in  the 
early  life  of  our  subject,  but  in  18(il,  when  the 
war  of  the  rebellion  broke  out.  he  enlisted  in 
Co.  I.  of  the  19th  0.  V.  I.,  as  company  musi- 
cian, for  a  three  years'   term  of  service.   Capt. 


"*  \  ' 


^± 


040 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Rakestraw  and  Col.  S.  Beatty.  He  remained 
with  his  regiment  until  Sept.  16.  1862.  during 
which  time  they  participated  in  the  battle  of 
Shiloh,  When  they  were  before  Corinth,  he 
was  taken  with  typhoid  fever,  and  he,  with 
others,  was  laid  in  one  corner  to  die.  He  did 
not  realize  where  he  was  until  lie  found  the  man 
lying  beside  him  to  be  a  corpse.  Recovering 
somewhat,  he  obtained  a  furlough  and  returned 
home.  Securing  the  commission  of  recruiting 
officer,  he  raised  a  squad  of  men  and  joined  tlie 
107th  0.  V.  I.,  three  years'  service.  At  the  or- 
ganization of  the  regiment,  he  was  made  Cap- 
tain of  Company  H.  Tliey  were  ordered  from 
Cleveland  to  Kentucky,  and  from  there  to  Vir- 
ginia, where,  at  Fairfax  Court  House,  they  joined 
Sigel's  Corps.  July  1.  He  lost  his  right  arm 
in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  and,  not  until  three 
days  after  he  was  shot,  did  lie  have  an  oppor- 
tunity of  having  the  arm  amputated  and  the 
wound  dressed.  Sept.  1.  he  again  joined  his 
regiment,  which  lay  at  Folly  Island.  He  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  Major,  and,  on  the  22d 
of  February.  1864.  he  took  command  of  the 
regiment,  and  held  it  until  Sept.  30.  1864.  when 
he  resigned,  and  left  the  service.  His  resigna- 
tion was  the  result  of  his  at  last  realizing  the 
dangers  about  him.  An  accident,  by  which  he 
barely  escaped  losing  his  left  and  only  remain 
ing  arm.  caused  him  to  resign  while  he  might  yet 
have  the  physical  ability  to  support  himself,  but 
no  braver  man.  nor  more  honorable  soldier  ever 
enlisted  from  Stark  Co.  to  aid  in  the  suppression 
of  the  rebellion.  Feb.  25,  1866,  Mr.  Vignos 
was  married  to  Miss  Pha'be  L.  Devinney.  a 
native  of  Stark  Co.  Eight  cliildren  have  licon 
born  to  them,  named  as  follows:  Henry  J.. 
Charles  A..  Loretta  R.  (died  Jan.  12,  1881). 
Blanche  L.,  Alicu  M..  Alfred  A..  Helen  and 
Paul  a.  Shortly  after  his  marriage,  Mr.  Vignos 
removed  to  Iowa  Co.,  Iowa,  but,  in  1869,  he  re- 
turned to  Canton,  where  for  the  next  nine  years 
he  had  a  pretty  hard  time  in  the  support  of  him- 
self and  family.  A  partial  reward  was  at  last 
given  him,  when  the  citizens,  in  1878,  interested 
themselves  in  obtaining  for  him  the  position  of 
Postmaster  of  the  Canton  Post  Office,  tlie  duties 
of  which  office  he  entered  upon  on  May  16, 1868. 
G.  W.  VAN  VLECK,  M.  D..  eclectic  physi- 
cian, Canton  ;  was  born  at  Syracuse.  X.  Y.,  Oct. 
18,  1823,  the  son  of  Henry  Van  Vleck,  who 
was  a  relative  of  Martin  Van  Buren.  Our 
subject  obtained  his  early   education   in  Onon- 


daga County,  N.  Y.,  and  when  about  14  years 
of  age  he  entered  Cortland  College,  but  before 
he  graduated,  his  health  gave  wa}",  and  to  re- 
cruit his  health  he  went  to  sea  with  liis  uncle, 
James  Van  Vleck,  who  was  captain  of  a  mer- 
chantman sailing  from  New  York  City.  After 
six  months'  sea-faring  life,  his  iiealth  was  suffi- 
ciently restored  to  allow  him  to  resume  his 
studies,  which  he  did  in  the  Columbia  College, 
of  New  York  City.  Erelong  his  health  failed 
him  again,  and  again  he  returned  to  sea, 
this  time  in  the  United  States  Navj-,  liis  uncle 
having  secured  for  him  the  position  of  messen- 
ger boy,  but  was  finally  promoted,  and  there  he 
remained  tliree  years.'  During  his  service  in 
navy,  he  devoted  his  leisure  time  to  the  study 
of  medicine,  and  treated  himself  for  consump- 
tion, with  which  he  was  seriously  aflected. 
Through  the  advice  of  his  father,  he  resigned 
his  position  in  the  navy  to  pursue  the  study  of 
medicine  uu;ler  Dr.  Bigelow.  He  attended 
lectures  at  the  Seneca  Medical  College,  in 
Geneva,  also  in  the  Eclectic  Medical    College, 

I  iu  Syracuse,  where  he  graduated  in   1848.     He 

I  then  opened  an  office  in  his  native  town,  where 

'  he  practiced  a  short  time,  and  in  1846  he  re- 
moved to  Kalamazoo  County,  Mich.,  where  he 
practiced  until  the  spring  of  1848,  when  he  re- 
moved to  California  and  practiced  there  until 
1850,  when  he  came  to  Ohio.  Several  succeed- 
ing jears  he  spent  in  traveling  and  lecturing, 
and  then  located  at  Pittsburgh,  Penn.  ;  thence  to 
Cincinnati,  where  he  received  another  diploma 
from  the  American  Eclectic  Medical  College, 
and  in  which  institution  he  held  the  Professor- 
sliip  of  Theory  and  Practice,  and  of  Materia 
Mrdira  for  three  years.  He  came  to  Alliance 
in  June,  1879,  and  opened  adiugstore  in  1880, 
which  he  conducts  in  connection  with  his  prac- 

'•  tice.  His  practice  is  steadily  increasing,  and 
he  is  frequently  called  in  consultation  with 
physicians  of  other  schools  of  medicine. 

BEN  D.  WILSON.  County  Clerk,  Canton  ; 
was  born  in  1837,  in  Osnaburg  Tp.,  Stark  Co., 
and  is  the  son  of  Robert  and   Charity   (Elson) 

I  Wils(>n.  Her  father  was  John  Elson,  a  Captain 
in  the  war  of  181 2,  from  Western  Virginia.     He, 

1  with  his  wife  sulwequently  came  to  Stark  Coun- 
ty, and  botii  now  lie  buried  in  Osnaburg  Town- 

'  ship,  as  does  also  the  grandparents  of  our  sub- 
ject, who  became  residents  of  Osnaburg  Town- 
ship as  earl}-  as  1811.  The  country  was  so  new 
at  that  date,  they  were  obliged  to  clear  and  cut 


w^    fi 


^ 


CITY    OF    CANTOX. 


641 


a  road  through  the  timber  to  the  property  upon 
which  thc}'  first  settled.  Tiie  early  life  of  Ben 
D.  was  spent  on  tlie  farm  of  his  father  (now  a 
resident  of  Mapleton),  though  later  he  had  the 
advantages  of  the  public  schools,  and  subse- 
quently' finished  his  education  at  the  Mt.  Union 
College.  Returning  from  college  h((  spent  one 
year  in  a  store  in  Osnaburg.  In  18(!1.  lie  ac- 
cepted the  position  of  teacher  in  the  schools  of 
Canton,  in  which  he  continued  until  August  of 
18G2,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  115th  0.  V.  I. 
He  was  with  the  115th  for  about  one  and  one 
half  3  cars,  when  he  was  coinraissioned  in  the 
5th  r.  S.  ('.  T.  In  October,  1864,  after  the 
Petersburg  campaign,  he  resigned  on  account 
of  ill  health.  Returning  to  Stark  County,  he 
remained  somewhat  inactive  until  .January, 
ISUfJ,  when  he  received  an  appointment  in  the 
Department  of  the  Interior,  and  for  the  follow- 
ing six  j'ears  made  his  home  in  Washington, 
D.  C.  Again  ill  health  obliged  him  to  resign, 
when  he  returned  to  hi.s  native  county  and  en- 
gaged in  teaching.  In  1875.  he  was  appointed 
School  Examiner  of  Stark  County.  In  1880, 
he  became  the  Republican  nominee  for  the  office 
of  Clerk  of  Stark  County,  to  which  office  he 
was  elected  by  a  majority  of  183  votes,  and  in 
Fehruarj',  1881,  he  assumed  the  discharge  of 
the  duties  of  the  office.  In  1873,  Mr.  Wilson 
was  married  to  Miss  Victoria  M.  Cole,  who  is 
a  native  of  .Michigan. 

JOHN  WILLIS,  manufacturer,  senior  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Willis,  IJcnskin  &  Co.,  Can- 
ton;  was  born  March  17,  1830,  in  Belfast,  Ire- 
land. He  was  one  of  a  family  of  sixteen  chil- 
dren. When  he  was  10  years  old,  his  fathei 
died,  soon  after  which,  or  when  he  arrived  at  a 
proper  age,  he  was  apprenticed  to  learn  his 
trade,  which  he  did.  by  serving  five  years,  and 
paying  an  apprentice's  fee  of  £35.  In  1852, 
he  left  his  native  land,  and  came  to  America, 
bringing  with  him  a  younger  brother,  whose 
passage  he  paid.  They  made  the  voy.-vge  in  the 
vessel  Zion's  Hope — Capl.  Conner — and  were 
seven  weeks  and  three  days  on  the  water.  He 
first  became  a  resident  of  New  I'hiladelphia, 
Ohio,  where  for  one  year  he  worked  at  the  car- 
penter's trade.  He  then  removed  to  .Massillon, 
where  he  was  engaged  with  dift'erent  firms, 
among  which  were  the  firms  of  Mong  &  Snyder, 
when  he  first  learned  to  make  sash  and  doors 
by  machinery,  and  the  Russell  Reaper  Com- 
pany ;    with   the  latter   he  remained   for  nine 


years,  and  then  came  to  Canton,  and  for  the 
next  three  years  he  was  employed  in  the  A  u  It- 
man  shops.  Then  he  engaged  in  business  on 
his  own  account,  and  how  well  he  has  succeed- 
ed is  evidenced  by  the  extensive  business  they 
are  now  doing.  His  success  has  been  the  result 
of  his  own  personal  efforts,  industry  and  econ- 
omy, as,  when  he  first  arrived  in  New  Philadel- 
phia, he  had  but  $25  left  on  which  to  begin 
business  in  a  strange  land  and  among  a  strange 
people.  He  is  now  a  member  of  Canton  Lodge, 
No.  60,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  which  he  has  held  the 
office  of  J.  W. ;  he,  however,  joined  the  order 
in  his  native  country.  In  September  of  1854, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Benskin,  a 
native  of  Margate,  England ;  eight  children 
have  been  born  to  them — six  daughters  and 
two  sons. 

MARTIN  WIKIDAL,  retired,  Canton  :  was 
born  in  Moravia,  Empire  of  Austria,  Oct.  8, 
1800.  Of  his  parents,  Ignatius  Wikidal  and 
Magdalena  Palasheck,  he  is  the  youngest  son 
and  the  only  surviving  child  of  a  family  of 
twelve  children  ;  having  received  a  good 
education  in  his  own  language  in  Vienna, 
Austria,  he  repaired  to  France,  where  he  was 
employed  for  some  six  ^-ears  as  clerk  in  the 
store  of  his  brother-in-law,  John  Dryfuss  ;  he 
then  became  a  manager  in  the  concern  and  took 
charge  of  the  whole  business  for  about  eight 
years  ;  at  the  expiration  of  this  time  he  sailed 
for  America,  and,  having  arrived  at  New  York, 
he  passed  on  to  Canton,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  in 
June,  1833  ;  here  he  met  friends  from  his  native 
place,  who  persuaded  him  to  remain  and 
engage  in  business  ;  he  complied  with  their 
request,  and  for  the  first  six  months  he  con- 
nected himself  with  a  mercantile  firm  of  Can- 
ton, during  which  time  he  learned  the  method 
of  transacting  business  in  this  country;  he  then 
visited  New  Y'ork  City,  purchased  a  stock  of 
g(K)ds  and  began  business  in  earnest  in  the 
little  town.  In  August,  1834,  he  embarked  in 
trade  in  Canton,  and  until  October,  1868,  he 
remained  one  of  the  prominent,  influential  and 
leading  merchants  of  the  city  ;  at  the  latter 
date  he  retired  to  private  life,  having  by  his 
industry  and  frugality  accumulated  a  hand- 
some competency.  In  1847,  he  erected  a  fine 
business  house  on  the  spot  now  occupied  by 
the  Stark  County  Court  House ;  it  was  a  three 
story  brick  with  a  front  of  sixty -six  feet ;  he 
sold  it  in  1868,  and  it  was  removed  to  make 


642 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


place  for  the  present  building.      Among   the 
local  positions  occupied   by  him  raa3'  be  men- 
tioned :  a  Member  of  the  Canton  City  Council, 
a  stockholder  in    the  P.,  P.  W.  &  C.  R.  R.,   a 
Director  in  the  Cnnton  City  Bank,   being  its 
President  for  a  number  of  years  ;  he  is  also  at 
present  a  stockholder  in  the  Valley  Railroad, 
I   between  Cleveland  and  Canton.     On  Aug.  23, 
1834,  he  married  Fredricka  Schaefer,  daughter 
of  Philip  Schaefer,  an  early  settler  of  Stark  Co.; 
this  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  ten  children, 
six  living ;  Louis  Wikidal  is  engaged  in  farm-  I 
ing  near  Topeka,  Kan.;  William  Wikidal  in  the  i 
late   war  served   in  the    lOth  O.  V.  I.   in  the  j 
Quartermaster's  Department,  anrl  is  at  present  | 
a  member  of  the  firm  of  Bucher,  Gibbs  &  Co.,  \ 
plow  manufacturers.  Canton,    Ohio  ;    Edward  ■ 
Wikidal  is  a  rubber  goods  merchant  of  Cleve-  ! 
land,  Ohio  ;  Emma  is  Mrs.  Joiin  B.  Bucher,  of 
Canton  ;    Clara  married    Robert   S.  Shields,  a 
member  of  the  Stark  County  Bar,  and  Julia  is 
Mrs.    Fred     Hurxtlial,     of    Cleveland.      Dur- 
ing his  long  mercantile  career,  Mr.  Wikidal  has  ' 
ever   been   noted    for  his   industrious    habits,  j 
close  attention  to  liusiness  and  sterling  integ-  i 
rity.     The  great  principle  of  his  life  has  been  i 
to  do  right,  and  such  was  his  disapproval  of 
dishonesty  that  whenever  he   found    any    one 
crooked    in    business   transactions    he    would 
rather  lose  a  small   amount   than    engage    in 
litigation  ;  notwithstanding  the  long  period  in 
which  he  was  a  leading  merchant  of  Canton  he 
never  brought  suit  against  any  one  ;    neither 
was  he  'ever  sued  ;  his  business  life  has  been  a 
model  example  in  all  those  essential  elements 
of  success    which   are   so    frequently    lacking 
among  selfish  and  unprincipled  business  men. 
The  old  gentleman  is  now  in  his  81st  j'ear,  and 
as  a  result  of  having  been  temperate  and  moral 
in   his  habits,  he  is  enjoying  good   health  ;  he 
has  been  a  citizen  of  Canton  for  almost  half  a 
century,  and  is  held  in  high  esteem  by  the  com- 
munity as  one  of  its  most  successful  and  hon- 
orable  business    men.     Formerly  a   Whig,  he 
has  been  a  Republican  since  the  organization 
of  that  party. 

WILLIAM  S.  WILLIAMS  ;  Canton,  soldier 
and  civil  engineer ;  was  born  near  Canton, 
Ohio,  April  23,  1835.  His  parents  were 
George  Williams  and  Marj^  Smith.  His  father 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  became  a 
resident  of  Stark  Co.  as  early  as  1816.  But 
few  industries  were  open  to  the  early  settlers  of 


that  date,  and  his  vocation  was  principally 
farming  and  the  manufacture  of  brick.  In- 
dustrious, honest  and  enterprising,  he  was  soon 
looked  upon  as  a  valuable  acquisition  to  the 
band  of  pioneers.  William  S.  spent  the  first 
twenty  years  of  his  life  (jn  a  farm,  receiving  his 
education  at  the  public  schools  of  Canton. 
When  yet  a  young  man,  he  served  as  a  Lieu- 
tenant in  a  militia  C(mipany  called  the  Canton 
Light  Guards,  and  was  afterward  made  Cap- 
tain of  the  Canton  Battery.  Possessing  a  su- 
perior mathematical  mind,  his  inclinations 
early  turned  to  the  department  of  civil  en- 
gineering and  its  kindred  branches,  and.  while 
in  high  school,  he  paid  special  attention  to  his 
favorite  science.  With  this  preliminary  prepa- 
ration, he  fitted  himself  for  his  profession  by 
his  own  personal  efforts  ;  by  pri\ate  study,  and 
by  practice  in  the  field.  His  first  engagement 
was  as  Assistant  Civil  Engineer  of  the  South- 
west Branch  of  the  Pacific  Railroad,  running 
from  St.  Louis  into  the  Indian  Territory.  In 
1858.  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Ohio,  and 
in  Missouri  in  1859,  having  previously' read  law 
under  the  late  Judge  G.  W.  Belden,  of  Canton. 
In  the  spring  of  18(il.  he  entered  the  service  of 
the  Government  as  Lieutenant  in  an  independ- 
ent battery  of  artillery,  and  was  engaged, 
among  others,  in  the  battles  of  Scarry'  Creek 
and  Hawk's  Nest,  in  Western  Virginia,  being 
Chief  of  Artiller}-  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Frank  , 
P.  Blair.  In  November,  18(31.  he  was  commis- 
sioned by  Gov.  Dennison  to  raise  another  bat- 
ter}',  which  was  known  as  the  3d  Ohio  Inde- 
pendent Battery,  with  which  Mr.  Williams 
served  as  Captain,  making  for  himself  a  highly 
creditable  military  record.  He  participated, 
among  others,  in  the  battles  of  Shiloh,  Corinth, 
Raymond,  Champion  Hills,  siege  of  Vickslurg, 
Clinton,  Siege  of  Atlanta,  Ezra  Church,  Jones- 
boro  and  Lovejo}'  Station.  He  was,  for  a  part 
of  the  time,  Cliief  of  Artillery  of  Gen.  Logan's 
stati",  2d  Division,  17th  Array  Corps,  and  sub- 
sequently he  occupied  the  same  position  on  the 
staff  of  'Gen.  M.  D.  Legget.  After  the  fall  of 
Atlanta,  the  artillery  of  the  17th  Corps  was 
formed  into  a  brigade,  and  Capt.  Williams  was 
assigned  to  the  command  of  it  as  Chief  of  Ar- 
tillery, and  served  as  such  until  mustered  out 
of  the  service  in  December  of  18(14.  During 
his  whole  military  career,  Capt.  Williams  dis 
tinguished  himself  as  a  brave  soldier  and  an 
excellent    and    intrepid    officer.      His   superior 


.^JV   ' 


>^, 


CITV   OF    CANTON. 


64:{ 


qualifications  for  liis  position,  togetlier  witli  liis 
gentlemanly  bearing  and  courteous  manners, 
rendered  liiin  one  of  tlie  most  popular  officers 
in  liie  corps.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Society 
of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  of  which  he 
has  been  lionored  by  tlie  oflice  of  \'ice  Presi- 
dent. In  politics,  he  is  a  Republican.  Slioitly 
after  his  return  from  tiie  army,  he  was  ap- 
pointed County  Surveyor  for  Stark  Co.,  anil 
served  one  term,  and  was  subseciuently  for 
several  years  City  Engineer  of  Canton.  In 
1872.  he  was  appointed  resident  Civil  Kngincer 
of  Public  Works  of  the  State  of  Oliio,  which 
position  he  still  occupies.  In  the  years  1872-73 
and  187(i-77,  he  was  Inspector  of  Railroads 
for  the  Slate  of  Ohio,  respectively,  under  the 
Commissioners — Walcot  and  L.  G.  Dcdano.  On 
Jan.  17,  1872.  he  married  Anna,  daughter  of 
the  late  Dr.  Frederick  Hurxthal,  of  iMassillon, 
and  has  one  son — Frederick  Williams.  Capt. 
Williams  is  a  gentleman  of  tine  scholarly  at- 
tainments, and  occupies  a  prominent  rank 
among  the  leading  civil  engineers  of  the  State. 
He  is  thoroughly  devoted  to  his  department  of 
industry,  and  his  military  and  professional  rec- 
ord alike  entitle  him  to  high  regard  as  a  patriot 
and  a  citizen. 

H.  W.  WERTS.  of  H.  W.  Werts  &  Co.. 
manufacturers  of  carriages.  Canton  ;  is  a  native 
of  Lehigh  Co.,  Penn.,  and  was  horn  .Marcli  2il. 
1832;  his  parents  were  Jacob  and  .^Inry 
(Wagoner)  Werts.  natives  also  of  Pennsylvania. 
H.  W.  was  brought  up  to  farming,  receiving  his 
education  at  the  district  schfX)ls,  and  at  the  age 
of  IG  years  he  was  apprenticed  to  the  trade  of 
carriage-making,  at  Wadsworth,  Medina  Co., 
Ohio,  the  family  having  moved  to  that  place  in 
1846.  His  father  died  there,  and  his  mother 
moved  to  Michigan,  where  she  died,  in  1878. 
After  serving  a  three  and  a  iialf  jears'  appren- 
ticeship. Mr.  Werts  worked  as  a  journcvman 
with  C.  A.  Collins,  of  Middlebury.  Ohio,  for 
eight  years,  and  in  1859,  came  to  Canton,  and 
established  his  present  business.  He  started 
in  partnership  with  David  Stebbins  in  a  small 
way,  continuing  some  live  years,  when  Mr.  W. 
became  the  sole  proprietor.  Later,  he  admitted 
D.  J.  King  as  a  partner,  which  firm  continued 
seven  years,  when  Mr.  Werts  again  became  sole 
proprietor,  and  has  so  continued  to  the  present 
time.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  carriages,  and 
ships  goods  to  all  parts  of  the  country,  even 
West  to  California.     Dec.  6,  1859,  he  was  mar- 


ried to  Miss  Frances  Mason,  a  native  of  Mid- 
dlelnirv.  Ohio.     He  is  a  Republii^an  in  politics. 

JOSEPH  WEAVER,  lumber  and  manufact- 
urer. Canton  ;  was  born  in  Plain  Tp..  this  county, 
Dee.  27,  1833  ;  and  is  a  son  of  Joseph  .-iMd 
.Margaret  (Sweigart)  Weaver.  Joseph.  Sr..  was 
a  native  of  Plain  Tp.,  and  was  born  in  1S(I8  ; 
his  wife  came  from  Pennsylvania  with  her 
parents  when  quite  young.  His  father,  Valen- 
tine Weaver,  was  a  native  of  \'irginia,  and  re- 
moved to  Ohio  in  ISDIJ.  lie  entered  300  acres 
of  land  in  Plain  Tp,  and  as  his  sons  grew  uj)  he 
gave  them  each  a  piece  of  land.  He  was  a 
farmer,  and  confined  himself  to  that  liusiness, 
and  died  upon  the  place  of  his  settlement. 
Joseph.  Sr..  was  al.so  a  farmer,  and  resided  on 
a  part  of  the  old  homestead,  and  a  part  of  the 
time  kept  a  hotel,  and  was  also  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace.  He  was  thrown  fnjm  his  horse,  receiv- 
ing injuries  from  which  he  died,  in  October, 
1833;  ills  wife  died  some  eight  years  later. 
Joseph.  Jr..  was  young  when  his  mother  died, 
and  lived  with  an  uncle  until  he  was  IG,  when 
he  was  apprenticed  to  Henry  Bemenderfer,  of 
Canton,  to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade,  continu- 
ing with  him  until  he  lu'came  of  age.  when  he 
took  a  trip  to  Iowa,  and  bought  some  land  in 
that  State.  After  some  eight  months'  absence, 
he  returned  to  Canton,  and  workt'd  at  his  trade 
until  1808.  when  he  became  a  nunnlier  of  the 
firm  of  Willis.  Renskin.  Wi^aver  it  Kaily.  manu- 
facturers of  sash,  doors,  blinds,  etc..  in  which 
business  he  continued  three  years,  when  he 
sold  his  interest,  and  went  into  the  lumber 
business,  which  he  has  followed  ever  since.  In 
the  fall  of  1879  he  added  inanufacauring, 
making  a  full  line  of  building  material.  Mr. 
Weaver  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  was  Council- 
man for  1875  70.  and  has  been  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  for  twenty  years. 
Dec.  14.  1858,  he  w'as  married  to  Miss  Susan 
Lawrence,  a  native  of  Lancaster  Co.,  Penn.. 
who  came  to  Canton  with  her  parents,  William 
and  ."Mary  (Stuck)  Lawaence.  in  1837.  They 
were  natives  of  Philadelphia.  Si.x  children 
have  been  born  to  Mr.  Weaver,  four  of  them 
are  living,  viz.:  .\llen.  Edward.  Ralph  and 
Frank. 

JACOB  T.  WELTY.  retired  farmer  ;  Canton; 
was  born  in  Maryland,  November.  1815. 
His  father.  Christian  Wclty.  came  with  wife  and 
four  children  to  Stark  County  in  1835.  Jacob 
was  the  oldest  of  the  children,    and    had    re- 


Ml 


644 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


ceived  a  thorougL  academic  education  in  his 
native  State.  After  coming  to  Ohio  he  de- 
voted much  of  his  time  to  teaching  school 
and  civil  enginering  for  several  j'ears.  In 
February,  1842,  he  married  Phianna  Klinker. 
She  was  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Kliiiker,  of 
Pennsylvania,  who  had  removed  to  New  York 
thence  to  Tuscarawas  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1880.  Mr. 
Welty  turned  his  attention  to  farming  after 
he  was  married,  and  has  since  conducted  that 
business  extensively,  owning  about  600  acres 
in  Stark  Count3'.  In  1877,  he  removed  to 
Canton  and  superintends  his  farms  from  here. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Welty  reared  three  children,  viz.: 
Almon  C,  Ella  N.,  now  Mrs.  David  Nailor 
of  Sturgis,  Mich.,  and  John  C. 

JOHN  C.  WELTY,  attorney,  Canton  ;  was 
born  Sept.  10,  1852  ;  he  is  the  youngest  of 
three  children  of  Jacob  T.  and  Phianna  Welt^', 
whose  sketch  appears  above.  The  subject  of 
these  notes  got  a  good  public  school  educa- 
tion and  entered  Bethany  College,  Virginia, 
in  18{;9;  the  following  year  he  entered  Mt. 
Union  College  and  took  a  classical  course.  In 
1873,  he  began  the  study  of  law  with  Judge 
S.  Myers,  of  Canton,  and  at  the  fall  term  of 
the  District  Court  at  Canton  in  1875,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar.  He  opened  an  office  in 
Canton  and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his 
profession,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  in 
the  Federal  Courts  in  1878.  He  was  elected 
City  Solicitor  in  1877,  and  re-elected  in  1879, 
and  re-elected  in  1881,  which  office  he  now 
holds.  Oct.  11,  1877,  he  married  Miss  Gra- 
ham, daughter  of  Charles  H.  Graham,  of  Phila- 
delphia, and  grandaughter  of  the  Hon.  Mr. 
Graham,  who  was  the  first  State  Senator  from 
this  district. 

W.  H.  WYANT,  Canton;  who  has  for  a 
number  of  years  been  in  the  emploj'  of  the 
Government  in  various  capacities  ;  is  a  native 
of  Washington  Co.,  Penn.  In  1836,  his  parents 
moved  from  his  native  county  to  Jefferson 
Co.,  Ohio,  he  at  that  date  being  about  1  j'ear 
of  age.  In  1845,  they  removed  to  Stark  County 
and  settled  in  Paris  Township.  Then  his  father, 
John  Wyant,  became  a  useful  and  respected 
member  of  the  community.  He  was  by  trade 
a  blacksmith,  in  which  business  he  became  en- 
gaged and  which  he  conducted  fur  manj-  3-ears. 
He  had  been  honored  by  such  local  offices  as 
were  within  the  gift  of  his  friends,  and  for  many 
years  previous  to  his  death,  which  occurred  in 


1872,  he  was  a  warm  supporter  of  the  cause  of 
religion,  and  had  identified  himself  with  the 
M.  E.  Church.  W.  H.  was  one  of  a  family  of 
eight  children.  His  earl3'  life  was  spent  in  the 
home  of  his  parents.  Subsequently  he  became 
interested  in  and  learned  the  art  of  photog- 
raphy, in  which  he  engaged  as  a  business  and 
which  he  continued  until  1864.  In  1865,  he 
entered  the  Government  as  Assistant  Revenue 
Collector,  the  duties  of  which  office  he  continued 
to  discharge  under  this  appointment  for  five 
years.  Since  the  close  of  his  duties  as  revenue 
collector,  he  has  contined  in  the  employ'  of  the 
Government,  filling  the  various  offices  of  Inspect- 
or, Ganger  and  Storekeeper,  and  is  at  present, 
engaged  in  the  discharge  of  the  combined 
duties  of  the  two  latter.  In  politics,  he 
is  a  Republican,  and  during  the  war  of 
the  rebellion  he  enlisted  in  the  100  da}'  serv- 
ice. He  is  a  member  of  Nimisilla  Lodge.  No. 
39, 1.  O.  O.  F.,  and  has  passed  all  the  chairs  in  the 
subordinate  lodge  in  this  order.  For  the  past 
seven  years  he  has  been  Secretary  of  Canton 
Lodge,  No.  60,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  Jul}'  3,  1857,  he 
was  married  to  Jliss  Anna  E.  Withrow,  whose 
parents  were  among  the  old  and  prominent 
pioneers  of  Jefferson  County,  ()hio,  of  which 
she  is  a  native.  Their  familj'  comprises  four 
children,  the  oldest  of  which,  Frank  M.,  who  is 
now  about  22  years  of  age,  has  been  connected 
with  the  First  National  Bank  of  Canton  since 
his  ]  1th  year. 

DANIEL  WORLEY,  clergyman,  educator 
and  Legislator,  Canton ;  was  born  Feb.  28, 
1829,  in  Harrisburg,  Penn.  His  father,  Thomas 
Worley  (now  deceased),  was  a  descendant  of 
the  early  Moravian  settlers  of  Y'ork,  Penn.  Of 
a  family  of  seven  children,  three  are  living  — 
one  son.  Prof  F.  M.  Worley,  is  now  teaching 
as  Principal  of  one  of  the  public  schools  of 
Harrisburg,  Penn. ;  and  Richard  Worle}', 
another  son  (now  deceased),  was  occupying 
the  position  of  Principal  of  the  High  School  in 
the  same  city.  Our  subject  was  the  oldest  in 
the  family,  and,  after  receiving  the  advantages 
of  the  common  schools  and  Academ}'  at  Har- 
risburg, he  entered  Pennsylvania  College  at 
Gettysburg,  and  completed  a  thorough  clas- 
sical course,  graduating  therefrom  in  Septem- 
ber, 1850.  Having  the  ministry  in  view,  he  re- 
paired to  Capital  Universit}',  Columbus,  Ohio, 
with  the  intention  of  studying  theology.    While 


CITY    OF    CANTON. 


645 


doing  so,  he  accepted  and  tilled  the  position  of 
tutor  two  years,  witii  such  satisfaction  that  he 
was  prevailed  upon  to  take  a  permanent  posi- 
tion as  Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Natural 
Science,  wiiicli  chair  he  occupied  for  eleven 
years.  The  institution  hecame  one  of  the  lead- 
ing universities  ot  the  State.  Prof  Worley 
will  long  be  remembered  by  many  of  the  lead- 
ing business  and  professional  men,  who  were 
formerly  his  pupils,  as  one  of  the  most  success- 
ful and  best  educated  teachers  in  the  State.  In 
1852.  having  completed  his  theological  studies 
under  the  instruction  of  Prof  Lehman,  now 
President  of  Capital  University,  he  was 
licensed,  and,  in  1855,  ordained  a  minister  of 
the  Lutheran  denomination.  In  18fi3,  he  re- 
signed his  professorship,  and  took  charge  of 
an  academy  in  Greensburg,  Penn.,  for  one  year. 
In  the  following  year,  he  was  called  upon  to 
take  charge  as  Superintendent  of  the  Public 
Schools  of  Canton,  Ohio.  He  held  the  position 
for  a  period  of  eleven  years.  He  took  this  po- 
sition when  the  schools  were  in  an  unsatisfactor}- 
condition,  but,  by  intelligent  classification  and 
judicious  management,  he  brought  them  up  to 
a  high  state  of  efficiency  and  usefulness.  At 
the  close  of  his  labors  in  the  public  schools,  he 
retired  from  public  work,  about  a  year  after 
which  he  started  a  private  school  with  good 
success.  In  the  fall  of  1877,  he  was  nomi- 
nated and  elected  by  the  Democratic  party  as 
Representative  from  Stark  Co.  to  the  Legisla- 
ture by  a  majority  of  about  one  thousand. 
After  serving  out  his  term,  during  which  he 
was  elected  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on 
Public  Schools  and  on  (jodification  of  School 
Laws,  he  returned  to  Canton,  and  resumed 
teaching.  While  in  the  Legislature,  he  was  j 
recognized  as  a  strong  advocate  of  all  measures  I 


for  the  education  of  the  masses  ;  for  the  devel- 
opment of  the  resources  of  the  State,  and  the 
protection  of  the  liberties  of  the  people. 
While  at  Capital  University,  he  received  the 
nomination  of  the  Whig  party  for  Representa- 
tive to  the  Legislature,  and  in  the  following 
year  the  nomination  for  Congress.  This  was 
iu  the  waning  days  of  the  Whig  party,  and  he, 
of  course,  suflered  defeat.  In  Canton  he  has, 
at  difierent  times,  served  as  member  of  the  City 
Council  and  Board  of  Water- Works.  In  his 
political  career  as  a  candidate  and  officer,  he 
has,  both  publicly  and  privately,  wielded  a 
strong  influence  over  the  people  ;  and,  although 
firm  in  his  convictions  and  fearless  in  his  de- 
nunciations, he  has  never  descended  to  the  arts 
and  devices  of  the  political  trickster.  From 
the  time  he  was  ordained,  in  1855,  he  has  not 
been  derelict  to  his  ministerial  vows,  but  has 
always  officiated  as  I'astor  of  some  ttock,  and 
has  devoted  himself  to  the  profession,  building 
up  weak  congjegations ;  restoring  shattered 
and  disbanded  organizations  ;  everywhere 
preaching  the  Gospel,  and  performing  the  duties 
of  a  missionary.  During  the  time  he  lived  in 
Columbus,  he  edited  the  Luthf.ran  Standnrd 
for  nine  years.  This  was  the  organ  of  the 
Joint  Synod  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and, 
amid  all  the  changes  of  the  times  incident  to 
the  war,  he  preserved  its  circulation,  and  proved 
himself  an  able  editor  and  writer.  He  served 
also  during  one  year  as  Principal  of  the  High 
School  at  Columbus.  On  the  2d  of  November, 
1852,  he  married  Henriettc,  daughter  of  Prof 
William  Smith,  President  of  Capital  Univer- 
sitv,  and  a  clergyman  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 
Of  two  children  born  to  Prof  Worley.  but  one 
—  a  boy,  Willie  R. — is  living. 


M± 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 


CANTON     TOWNSHIP. 


MARTIN  BACHTEL,  retired  ;  F.  0.  Cant»n. 
David  Baclitel,  the  fatlier  of  our  subject,  and 
the  first  white  settler  in  Stark  Co..  was  born  in 
or  near  Hagerstown,  Md.  His  early  life  was 
spent  on  the  farm,  where  he  lived  until  1801, 
when  he  left  his  native  place  to  seek  a  home  in 
the  West.  After  a  long  and  wearisome  tramp, 
he  arrived  in  Columbiana  Co.,  this  State,  where 
he  remained  until  the  fall  of  the  same  year, 
when  he  pushed  on  to  Stark  Co.;  he  was  obliged 
to  clear  a  road  or  passage  for  fifteen  miles,  and 
the  hardships  he  underwent  cannot  be  told  with 
any  degree  of  certainty'.  He  settleil  on  100 
acres  of  land,  then  covered  with  heavy  and 
dense  forest ;  he  put  up  a  small  shanty,  and 
cleared  4  acres  of  ground.  He  then  returned 
to  Columbiana  Co.,  and  was  there  married  to 
Elizabeth  Sheel}',  who  was  a  native  of  Adams 
Co.,  Penn.  Soon  after  their  marriage,  he  re- 
turned to  Canton  Tp..  and  there  he  toiled  until 
he  cleared  his  farm.  He  and  his  wife  were 
members  of  the  (ierman  Reformed  Church. 
He  died  at  the  age  of  55  years  ;  his  widow 
reached  the  ripe  age  of  93  years.  Martin,  the 
subject  of  these  few  lines,  was  born  on  the  farm 
where  he  now  resides  March  13,  1809.  His 
childhood  days  were  spent  on  the  farm  ;  he  at- 
tended the  schools  of  his  neighborhood,  and 
acquired  an  education  such  as  the  schools  in 
that  earl3'  day  afforded.  He  lived  at  home  with 
his  parents  until  he  became  of  age  ;  he  tlien 
purchased  the  old  homestead,  and  has  remained 
on  the  same  ever  since,  with  the  exception  of 
four  years  he  lived  in  Canton  engageil  in  hotel 
keeping.  In  1836,  he  married  Miss  Margaret, 
daughter  of  Jolui  and  Elizabeth  Wiuterrode, 
who  was  a  native  of  this  State.  From  that 
marriage  there  have  been  eleven  children,  eight 
of  whom  are  living,  viz.:  Jacob,  David,  John. 
Daniel,  Margaret,  Ellen,  Martin  and  Elizabeth. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bachtel  are  members  of  the  (rer- 
man  Reformed  Church. 

JACOB  BOWMAN,  tanner;  P.  0.  North  In- 
dustr}' ;  is  the  eighth  in  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren born  to  Jacob  and  Hannah  (Klinger)  Bow- 
man, who  were  natives  of  Northumberland  Co., 
Penn.,  where  Jacob  was  engaged  in  farming. 
In  1812,  he  came  to  Ohio,  settling  in  Pike  Tp., 


Stark  Co..  on  a  farm  of  IGO  acres,  which  was 
covered  with  a  dense  forest ;  he  cleared  the 
farm,  and  lived  on  the  same  up  to  the  time  of 
his  death.  He  was  a  man  universally  esteemed 
for  his  sterling  integrity  and  honesty.  He  and 
his  wife  were  both  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church.  He  died  in  1863,  aged  84  years  ;  his 
widow  died  in  1872,  aged  88  years.  Jacob,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Stark  Co., 
Jan.  28,  1823  ;  his  childhood  was  spent  <m 
the  farm,  interrupted  but  slightly  by  educa- 
tional pursuits,  as  facilities  of  that  kind  were 
scanty  and  of  an  inferior  order  in  the  region  of 
his  home.  He  worked  on  the  farm  until  he  was 
21  years  of  age  ;  then  he  purchased  a  farm  of 
80  acres  in  this  county  ;  he,  one  \ear  later  re- 
moved to  Crawford  Co.,  this  State,  and  settled 
on  a  farm  of  240  acres,  and  there  lived  sixteen 
years  ;  he  returned  to  Stark  Co..  and  purchased 
a  farm  of  274  acres  in  Canton  Tp.,  where  he 
now  resides.  In  1844.  he  married  Louisa,  a 
daughter  of  Lewis  Runyon,  of  Jefferson  Co., 
Ohio  ;  from  that  marriage  there  have  been  six 
children,  three  of  whom  are  living,  viz.  :  Be- 
linda, Marj-  J.  and  J.  R.  Mr.  Bowman  is  a 
stalwart  Republican,  and  during  the  war  was 
the  only  Republican  in  Chatfield  Tp..  Crawford 
Co.,  who  dared  to  cast  his  vote. 

JOHN  H.  BRENNER,  farmer;  P.  O.  Canton  ; 
the  subject  of  these  few  lines  was  born  in  Lan- 
caster Co.,  Penn.,  his  birth  occurring  Aug.  5, 
1821.  His  parents,  Michael  and  Susannah 
Brenner,  were  natives  of  the  above-named  i 
county,  where  the^'  passed  their  life  on  the 
farm.  The  early  years  of  joung  Brenner's  life 
were  passed  on  the  farm  ;  he  received  a  com- 
mon school  education,  and  after  leaving  school 
worked  at  home  on  the  farm  until  he  was  18 
years  of  age  ;  his  father  then  dying,  the  responsi- 
bility of  a  farmer  rested  on  John,  who  at  thaf 
time  was  well  versed  in  the  management  of  the 
same  ;  he  continued  to  live  on  the  homestead 
until  1856,  when  lie  came  to  Stark  Co.,  settling 
in  Canton  Tp.,  where  he  purchased  450  acres  of 
valuable  land  ;  he  now  lives  on  the  farm  where 
he  settled  in  1874.  When  the  Farmers'  Bank 
of  Canton  was  organized  he  was  elected  its 
President,  holding  the  position  up  to  the  pres- 


CANTON    TOWNSHIP. 


047 


ent  time,  and  is  one  of  the  five  stoclctiolders. 
In  1867,  ho  made  extensive  purchases  in  west- 
ern lands  located  in  Anderson  Co..  Kan.;  he 
improved  the  same  and  sold  at  an  advanced 
price  ;  he  has  also  been  engaged  in  the  milling 
and  grain  business.  In  1843,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Fannie,  daughter  of  Jacob 
[jintimulh.  who  was  a  native  of  Lancaster  Co., 
I'enn.;  from  that  marriage  there  has  been  nine 
children,  four  of  whom  are  living — Susannah, 
Fannie,  Ada  L..  and  Amos  L.  Mrs.  Brenner 
is  a  member  of  the  Oerman  Baptist  Church. 
.Mr.  Brenner  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  is 
a  strict  adherer  to  his  partv. 

J.  CAHNES,  farmer;  1'".  ().  Canton;  is  the 
seventh  in  a  family  of  eleven  children,  born  to 
John  and  Hannah  Keiser  Carnes.  John  was  a 
native  of  Lancaster  Co..  Penn..  and  came  to 
Stark  Co..  in  1808  ;  he  settled  in  Pike  Tp.  on 
a  farm  ;  he  was  engaged  in  teaming  and  hauled 
the  first  dry  goods  ever  sold  in  Canton  ;  as  he 
accumulated  means,  he  engaged  in  the  distilling 
business,  and  for  several  years  he  did  a  suc- 
cessful business.  John  Carnes,  the  subject  of 
this,  was  born  in  Pike  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio. 
Jan.  1.  1829  ;  his  childhood  was  pas.sed  on  the 
farm  :  he  attended  the  common  schools  of  his 
neighborliood  and  acquired  a  good  education  ; 
at  the  age  of  21  he  engaged  in  farming  and 
stock  dealing  and  raising,  and  continued  in  the 
same  until  18G().  when  he  disposed  of  his  farm 
and  purchased  455  acres  in  Canton  Tp.,  where 
lie  now  resides  ;  he  has  one  of  the  finest  farms 
in  the  county,  and  is  considered  one  of  Stark 
County's  best  and  most  ])rosperous  farmers. 
In  1S5;{.  he  married  Miss  Hsther,  ilaughter  of 
Jacob  Miller,  of  Tuscarawas  Co.;  from  that 
marriage  there  has  been  five  children,  four  of 
whom  are  living,  viz.:  Allen  A.,  Upton  M., 
Curtis  J.,  and  Junius  B.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carnes 
are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

OTTO  (tIKSSHN.  brewer;  P.  O,  Canton; 
was  born  in  Rhine-Bavaria,  July  14.  1848; 
the  \oungest  son  of  a  family  of  seven  children, 
born  to  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Jiessen.  His 
father  is  an  attorney  by  profession,  and  was 
appointed  State  Attorney  for  Rhine-Bavaria; 
therefore,  occupying  position  and  influence, 
young  fJiessen's  early  manhood  was  spent  prin- 
cipally in  attending  school.  In  18(15,  although 
a  mere  youth,  he  emigrated  to  the  United 
States,  landed  at  New  York,  and  came  direct  tf) 
Cleveland,  where  he  secured  a  life  scholarship 


in  the  Brj-ant  &  Stratton  Commercial  College, 
and  took  a  course  in  book-keeping.  In  the  lat- 
ter part  of  the  same  year  he  began  to  learn  the 
brewing  business  with  Schmidt  &  Hotlinan, 
where  he  remained  until  the  latter  partof  IStiil, 
having  been  their  foreman  for  some  time  before 
leaving.  He  accepted  a  position  as  foreman  of 
the  Gessler  Brewery,  at  Akron,  and  sul)se- 
quently  took  an  interest  in  the  establishment 
which  lasted  until  1872.  In  the  meantime  he 
visited  Europe,  and  returned  after  a  four 
months'  .sojourn.  In  1872,  he  purchased  the 
Ciraber  Brewery,  located  two  and  a  half  miles 
from  Canton,  in  connection  with  which  are 
7  acres  of  land.  February,  1872,  he  married 
Julia  Angne,  daughter  of  George  and  Kate 
Angne  of  Akron,  Ohio.  They  have  four  chil- 
dren— Frederick,  Otto,  Charles  and  Homer.  Mr. 
(Jiessen  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 

DAVID  E.  GERBER.  farmer;  P.  O.  (Canton, 
was  born  where  he  now  resides  July  6, 
1884.  His  grandfather.  Christian  Gerber, 
came  from  Pennsylvania  to  Stark  Co.,  about 
the  3'ear  1810.  He  had  a  family  of  several 
children  when  he  came,  and  entered  considerable 
land  in  the  southern  part  of  the  township,  and 
had  his  sons  located  around  him  as  s(X)n  as  they 
began  for  themselves.  When  his  son  Elias  ar- 
rived at  manhood,  he  married  .Alaria  Richard, 
She  was  born  in  Switzerland,  in  1810,  and  in 
company  with  her  brother  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  in  1827.  Elias  Gerber  retained 
the  old  homestead,  which  is  now  the  propert3- 
of  his  sons.  He  had  a  fiunily  of  si.\  children, 
five  living,  and  of  whom  Da\id  E.  is  the  oldest. 
Oct.  1-1,  1S5S,  David  E.  married  Emeline  King, 
daughter  of  Abraham  and  Plid'be  King.  The^' 
have  had  eleven  children,  nine  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing, viz.  :  Clara  E.,  Melissa,  Katie,  (Jeorge, 
Mary,  Elva,  John,  Edward  and  Jennie.  Mr. 
(Jerber  owns  Kil  acres  of  good  land,  which  has 
been  retained  in  the  family  name  since  his 
grandfather  entered  it.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  (Jerber 
are  members  of  the  Dunkard  Church.  A 
brother,  (Jeorge,  enlisted  in  the  late  war  and 
died  in  Tennessee,  from  a  wound  received  while 
participating  in  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro. 
,\nother  brother.  Christian  IT.,  also  enlisted  in 
October,  18(52,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  si.\  months  of  the  time  being  spent  in 
rebel  prisons  in  the  South. 

PETER  KREIBUILL,  farmer:  P.  O  Canton; 
is  the  second  of  a  family  of  seven  children  born 


~e  "V^ 


M± 


(i48 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


to  Jacob  and  Fannj-  (Miller)  Kreibuill,  who 
were  natives  of  France.  Jacob  was  engaged  in 
farming  from  his  childhood  ;  he  was  a  soldier 
under  the  French  government.  Tn  1839,  he 
came  to  America,  and  at  once  started  for  Stark 
Co.,  Ohio.  He  took  up  his  residence  in  Wash- 
ington Tp.;  he  settled  on  a  farm  of  80  acres. 
After  living  on  the  80-acre  farm  a  few  }'ears,  he 
purchased  another  farm  in  the  same  township, 
and  ihere  lived  until  his  wife  died  ;  after  that, 
he  went  to  live  with  his  son,  (Christian,  where 
he  now  resides.  He  is  a  faithful  member  of 
the  Mennonite  Church.  Peter,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  in  France  April  "JO,  lS3(i,and 
when  but  3  years  old,  came  to  Ohio  with  his 
parents.  The  earlj-  years  of  his  life  were  passed 
on  the  farm  of  his  father;  he  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  neighborhood,  and  acquired 
a  liberal  education.  He  lived  at  home  until  he 
was  25  years  of  age,  he  then  began  farming  the 
homestead,  where  he  remained  two  yeans.  He 
subsequently  removed  to  Canton  Tp.,  and  rented 
the  farm  where  he  now  lives;  for  four  years  he 
rented,  and,  in  18U9,  he  purchased  40  acres, 
and  has  been  making  additions  until  now  he 
owns  101  acres  of  valuable  and  well  improved 
land.  In  18G1,  he  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  Peter  Graber,  who  was 
a  native  of  France,  and  came  to  Ohio  about 
1856.  From  that  marriage  there  has  been  ten 
children,  seven  of  whom  are  now  living,  viz.: 
Lucinda  A.,  Susanna  M.,  Catharine  L.,  P]mma 
N.,  Lizzie  C.  Harvey  L.  and  Mary  A.  Mr. 
Kreibuill  has  l>v  his  industrious  habits  acquired 
consideralile  means. 

ADAM  KNOBLOCH,  brewer.  Canton  ;  was 
born  in  Prussia  in  the  year  1843.  His  parents, 
Henry  and  Elizabeth  Knobloch,  were  natives 
of  the  same  province.  Henry  was  for  several 
years  engaged  in  hotel-keeping.  In  184(3,  he 
came  to  America,  settling  iu  Stark  Co.  He 
was  engaged  in  farming  in  Plain  Tp.  for  two 
years,  he  then  removed  to  Richville,  this  county, 
and  there  remained  eigiit  years.  In  1856,  he 
came  to  Massillon  and  engaged  in  the  grocery 
business,  which  business  he  conducted  until 
1875  ;  during  this  time  he  was  engaged  in  the 
malting  and  grain  business.  He  is  now  living 
a  retired  life  in  Canton.  Adam,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  but  three  years  old  when  he 
came  to  Stark  Co.;  his  childhood  was  spent  on 
the  farm  ;  he  received  a  common  education  ;  at 
the  age  of  14,  he  commenced  to  clerk  for  his 


father,  and  with  him  remained  until  1872;  he  en- 
gaged with  C.  N.  Oberlin.  of  Massillon,  as  clerk, 
and  with  liim  remained  three  years.  In  1875,  he 
came  to  Canton  and  purchased  a  half-interest 
in  tlie  Union  Brewery,  and,  in  1880,  he  became 
sole  proprietor.  He  lias  since  his  connection 
with  the  same,  added  a  malt  house  ;  now,  he  is 
doing  business  to  the  amount  of  4,000  bar- 
rels per  annum.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic Lodge  No.  47. 

MRS.  G.  A.  LOWMAN,  retired,  Canton; 
whose  maiden- name  was  Sarah  A.  McCormick, 
was  born  in  Pittsburgh,  Penn. ;  her  parents, 
John  and  Sarah  (Hays)  McCormick,  were  na- 
tives of  Scotland,  and  for  several  years  were 
residents  of  the  North  of  Ireland.  Mr.  Mc- 
Cormick came  to  America  at  an  early  date,  and 
settled  in  Pittsburgh,  Penn.,  where  he  engaged 
in  the  wholesale  mercantile  business  ;  he  was  a 
gentleman  of  considerable  wealth,  and  did  a 
successful  business  for  several  years.  They 
were  the  parents  of  three  daughters,  Mrs.  Low- 
man  being  the  eldest.  At  the  age  of  20  she 
married  Dr.  Thomas  Bontield,  who  was  a  native 
of  Baltimore,  Md.;  he  attended  the  schools  of 
his  native  city  and  served  with  gallantry  in  the 
war  of  181 2.  At  the  close  of  the  war,  he  studied 
medicine,  attended  and  graduated  from  a  med- 
ical college  in  Baltimore  ;  he  then  came  to 
Canton  on  a  visit,  and  was  persuaded  to  locate 
there  ;  he  did  so,  and  for  thirty  years  had  a 
successful  practice.  He  died  in  1855,  at  the 
age  of  59  years.  From  that  marriage  there 
were  three  children,  one  of  whom  is  living, 
viz.:  Lida,  wife  of  F.  A.  Snyder,  of  Omaha, 
Neb.  In  1877,  after  being  a  widow  for  twenty- 
two  and  a  half  j-ears,  she  married  the  Rev. 
G.  A.  Lowraan,  who  was  a  native  of  Morgan- 
town,  W.  Va.  He  died  six  months  after  their 
marriage,  at  the  age  of  59  vears. 

JACOB  S.  LEHR,  farmer;  P.  O.  Canton. 
The  subject  of  these  few  lines  was  born  in 
Berks  Co.,  Penn..  May  18,  1826,  and  is  the 
ninth  in  a  family  of  sixteen  children  born  to 
Samuel  L.  and  Elizabeth  (Hallabaugh)  Lehr, 
who  were  natives  of  the  Keystone  State,  where 
Samuel  was  engaged  in  the  milling,  millwright 
and  carpenter  business.  In  1828,  he  came  to 
Stark  Co.,  settling  on  a  farm  in  Osnaburg  Tp., 
where  he  lived  until  he  died  ;  he  was  engaged 
iu  contracting  and  building,  and  built  many  of 
the  industries  of  Stark  Co.  He  died  in  1858. 
aged  75  years  ;  his  faithful  companion  lived  to 


CANTON    TOWNSHIP. 


Ol'.i 


reach  tlie  ripe  age  of  85  j-ears.  .Jacob,  the 
subject  of  this  short  sketch,  came  to  Oliio  with 
his  parents  in  1828,  he  being  at  that  time  but 
7  years  of  age.  He  remained  at  home  on  tiie 
farm  until  he  was  18  years  of  age  ;  he  received 
a  common  school  education,  and  at  the  age  of 
18  he  went  to  Canton,  and  apprenticed  himself 
to  the  blacksmith  trade  ;  he  served  an  appren- 
ticcsiiip  of  three  years  ;  he  then  began  business 
for  himself  in  .Mapleton.  this  county,  where  he 
remained  eight  years.  Having  a  desire  to  be- 
come a  land-owner,  he  made  a  purchase  of  80 
acres  of  land  in  Osnaburg  Tp.,  where  he  lived 
nine  years,  working  the  farm  and  at  his  trade 
during  this  time.  In  18C7,  he  removed  to  Can- 
ton Tp.,  and  settled  on  a  farm  of  11(1  acres, 
where  he  now  resides.  In  1852.  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  M  ,  daughter  of  Peter 
Schwartz,  of  Osnaburg  Tp.  She  died  in  IStiS. 
at  the  age  of  37  years;  she  bore  him  four 
children,  viz.:  William,  of  Marshall  Co.,  Ind.; 
Charles,  on  the  homestead ;  Lamaan.  wife  of 
George  Zellers,  of  Osnaburg,  and  Malinda,  wife 
of  Isaac  Zellers,  of  Osnaburg.  Mr.  Lehr  is  a 
consistent  member  of  the  T^utlieran  Church,  and 
a  Democrat  in  politics. 

JOSKPH  ('.  MILLER,  farmer;  P.  O.  Canton; 
was  born  in  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio,  Oct.  23,  1842. 
His  parents  were  Jacob  and  Lena  (Kindlespar- 
ker)  Miller,  and  were  aniOTig  the  early  settlers 
of  Wayne  Co.  They  were  natives  of  the  State 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  came  from  Somerset  Co. 
to  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio,  about  the  year  1 820.  They 
reared  to  maturity  a  family  of  ten  children,  of 
whom  Joseph  C.  is  the  fourth.  He  was  reared 
to  the  various  pursuits  of  farm  life,  and  re- 
mained at  home  until  of  age.  At  the  outbreak 
of  the  late  war.  he  responded  to  tlu;  call  of  the 
country  for  men ;  but  six  weeks  after  his 
enlistment,  he  was  taken  seriously  ill,  and  was 
discharged  from  further  service.  June  5,  18G4, 
he  married  Sally  Kurtz  ;  she  is  a  daughter  of 
Stephen  Kurtz,  who  was  one  of  the  pioneer  sel- 
lers of  liawrence  Tp.,  Stark  Co.  .Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Miller  have  two  children  —  Franklin  and  Ira. 
In  IStJti.  they  rented  1\h'.  farm  where  they  now 
live,  and  four  years  later  they  pnrcha.sed  118 
acres,  at  .$8,750.  They  began  for  themselves 
without  much  means,  but  have  secured  and 
made  a  beautiful  and  pleasant  home  by  con- 
stant application  ami  hard  work  on  the  farm  ; 
it  is  now  in  an  excellent  state  of  cultivation, 
liesides  being  underlaid  with  a  valuable  vein  of 


coal,  of  good  (piality.  which  he  has  been  mining 
for  the  last  eight  years.  Within  the  last  three 
^•ears  he  has  put  on  improvements  in  the  way 
of  residence  and  bai'n,  at  a  considerable  expense, 
which  are  as  commodious  as  any  in  the  town- 
ship. 

J.  K.  MIS H LEI!,  farmer  ;  P.  O.  Canton  ;  is 
the  sixth  in  a  fiimily  of  thirteen  children  born 
to  Henry  and  Nancy  (Eberly)  .Mishler,  who 
were  natives  of  Center  Co..  Penn..  where  Henry 
was  engaged  in  the  milling  business.  In  1839. 
he  came  to  Ohio,  settling  in  Sutheld  Tp.,  Por- 
tage Co.,  on  a  farm,  where  he  lived  until  1854, 
when  he  removed  to  Canton  'I'p..  where  he 
engaged  in  farming  ;  he  remained  a  resident  of 
Canton  Tp.  up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  were  devout  memliers  of  the 
Church  of  Christ.  J.  E.  Mishler,  the  subject 
of  these  few  lines,  was  born  in  Lancaster  Co.. 
Penn..  March  20.  18:J5.  When  but  lour  years 
old,  he  came  to  this  State  with  his  parents  ;  the 
early  years  of  his  life  were  passed  on  the  farm  ; 
he  attended  the  common  district  schools,  and 
acquired  a  good  education,  and  when  but  17 
years  of  age  he  began  teaching,  and  for  several 
years  he  taught  in  Summit  and  Stark  Counties. 
At  the  age  of  22,  he  engaged  in  farming,  and  in 
1807  he  purchased  a  farm  of  185  acres,  and  lias 
lived  on  the  same  ever  since.  In  1870,  he  was 
called  to  the  ministry,  to  take  charge  of  the 
('anton  branch  of  the  River  Brethren  Church, 
and  has  for  the  past  eleven  years  been  a  faith- 
ful and  diligent  worker.  In  1858,  he  married 
.Miss  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  Christian  Briiliart. 
who  lived  l)Ut  a  sluH-t  time  after  their  marriaiic; 
in  18G0,  he  married  for  his  second  wife,  Miss  Nan- 
cy A.,  daughter  of  Jonathan  Fockler,  of  Stark  Co. 
From  the  last  marriag*-  there  have  been  six 
chihlreu.  five  of  whom  an;  living,  viz.  :  Ellen. 
Harvey,  Finina,  Willie  and  Laura. 

JAt.'OB  .MYERS,  retired.  Canton;  was  born 
near  Carlisle,  I'enn.,  Sept.  11,  1820,  His 
parents,  John  and  Jane  Smith  Myers,  were 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  where  John  worked 
at  the  lilacksniilii  s  trade  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  while  our  subject  was 
(piite  young ;  soon  after  his  death,  Mrs.  Myers 
came  to  Ohio  and  settled  in  Columbiana  Co.; 
she  was  obliged  to  work  in  order  to  maintain 
her  fatherless  children  ;  she  married  for  her 
second  husl)and  Henry  Freed,  ol'  Columbiana 
Co.;  shortly  after  this  they  came  to  Stark  Co., 
where  she  lived  a  short  time,  then  she  removed 


CO') 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


to  Iowa,  where  she  died  in  1880,  aged  80  years. 
Jacob  was  left  fatherless  when  bni  3  years 
old  and  without  means ;  he  lived  with  his 
mother  nntil  he  was  able  to  earn  his  own  liveli- 
hood ;  then  he  was  placed  among  strangers ;  at 
the  age  of  17,  he  was  apprenticed  to  the  shoe- 
maker's trade  ;  after  ho  finished  his  trade,  he 
commenced  working  and  for  three  years  he 
carried  on  a  shop  in  Canton  ;  he  then  removed 
to  Iowa  and  took  up  a  farm  and  tliere  remained 
tr.i  years  ;  he  subsequently  returned  to  Stark 
Co..  and  settled  on  a  farm  where  he  resided 
until  1868,  when  he  bought  100  acres  tliree 
miles  south  of  Canton,  where  he  now  resides. 
In  1841,  he  married  Miss  Catharine,  daughter 
of  Alpheus  Brovvn  ;  she  died  in  1868,  leaving 
four  children,  viz.;  Sarah,  Lucinda,  Alfred  J. 
and  Mary  P.;  in  1870,  he  married  Polly,  the 
widow  of  Jacob  Rowland,  of  Canton.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Myers  are  members  of  the  Disciples' 
Church. 

WILLIAM  XIESZ.  former  ;  \>.  O.  Canton  ; 
was  born  in  Canton  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  May 
28,  1822.  He  is  the  oldest  son  of  Ilev.  John 
and  Mary  (Young)  Niesz  ;  George  Niesz,  his 
grandfather,  with  his  family,  came  to  Stark  Co. 
in  1805;  they  settled  south  of  Canton  and 
there  the  father  of  our  subject  was  reared  lo 
manhood,  having  been  about  6  years  old 
when  they  arrived  here  ;  he,  John  Niesz,  mar- 
ried Mary  Young,  and  to  them  were  born  nine 
children, \iz.:  Elizabeth  E.,  wife  of  W.  S. 
Titus,  of  Michigan  ;  William  ;  Mary,  wife  of 
S.  S.  Bard,  of  Logansport,  lud. ;  Jacob  J.; 
George  W.;  Barbara,  who  resides  in  Logans- 
port,  Ind.;  John  K.  ;  Benjamin  F.,  of  Den- 
ver, Col.,  and  Sarah,  wife  of  Elam  0. 
Smith,  of  Newtown,  Ind. ;  the  mother  of 
these  has  been  deceased  many  3-ears,  but 
their  father  was  again  married  and  died  in 
1872,  leaving  a  widow,  who  resides  with  John 
K.  John  Niesz  united  himself  early  with  the 
church  and  was  engaged  in  the  work  of  the 
ministry  for  a  long  time,  and  was  one  of  the 
earl}'  and  active  |)reachers  in  this  vicinity  dur- 
ing the  early  growth  and  settlement  of  the 
county.  The  subject  of  these  lines  was  the 
oldest  son,  and  was  principally  engaged,  in 
early  manhood,  in  the  care  of  the  farm.  In 
December,  1844,  he  married  Delilah  Roush,  and 
settled  on  the  farm  where  lie  now  resides ;  they 
had  six  children,  viz.  ;  Mar^-,  deceased  wife  of 
Henry  A.  Cavnah  ;  John   F.,  Jacob  N.,  LTriah, 


Artie  and  Delilah  ;  Mrs.  Niesz  died  in  January, 
1854  ;  he  then  married  Annie  E.  Niesz,  who 
died  in  Januar}',  1864,  leaving  four  children, 
viz.:  Frank  B.,  Henrietta,  wife  of  Cornelius 
Foust ;  William  S.,  and  Sarah  B.  Mr.  Niesz 
has  a  well  improved  farm  of  160  acres,  where 
he  enjoys  the  comforts  incident  to  an  indus- 
trious and  temperate  career.  lie  is  a  member 
of  the  United  Brethren  Ciiurch,  and  of  which 
he  is  leader  and  trustee  of  the  congregation  ; 
he  has  also  been  a  member  of  the  society  of 
Patrons  of  Husbandry,  and  the  Stark  County 
Horticultural  Society  for  several  years. 

CHRISTIAN  NIESZ,  farmer;  P.  0.  Canton  ; 
was  born  in  this  township  Jan.  27,  1812.  His 
father,  George,  and  motlier,  Mary  (Weaver) 
Niesz,  were  natives  of  Penns3ivania,  and  with 
their  six  oldest  children  came  to  Stark  Co,, 
Ohio,  about  the  year  ISO.j,  They  settled  about 
four  miles  south  of  Canton,  which  was  then  an 
unbroken  forest.  Through  the  day  Mr.  Niesz 
would  work  at  clearing  his  farm,  and  in  the 
evenings  and  night  time,  for  years,  did  the 
blacksmith  work  of  the  neighborhood,  striving 
to  support  his  large  family,  which  was  increased 
b}'  three  children,  who  were  Ijorn  after  coming 
here,  whereby  he  broke  down  his  health  and 
died  when  Christian  was  about  10  years  old. 
The  widowed  mother  kept  her  large  family  to- 
gether three  years,  when  the  messenger  of 
death  summoned  her  away  from  her  earthly 
charge.  This  left  a  large  family  of  children, 
who  were  scattered  about  the  country 
with  strangers.  When  about  17  years  of 
age.  Christian  began  to  learn  the  tanner's  trade, 
with  James  Hazelett,  of  Canton,  where  he  re- 
mained about  four  years.  The  business  did 
not  result  in  a  pecuniary  success  for  young 
Niesz,  so  he  abandoned  it  for  the  chair-making 
business,  and  under  agreement  with  his  em- 
ployer was  to  get  50  cents  per  set  for  framing 
common  chairs,  the  usual  amount  being  one  set 
of  six  chairs  per  day,  but  in  two  weeks  practice 
Mr,  Niesz  was  able  to  make  double  that  number, 
oroue  dozen  chairs  per  day,  which  resulted  in 
jealousy  of  his  employer  at  his  ability  to  earn 
$1  per  da3',  when  50  cents  was  considered  a 
fair  day's  wages.  He  worked  at  the  chair  busi- 
ness about  seven  months,  then,  on  his  own  ac- 
count, embarked  in  the  manufacture  of  saddle- 
trees, which  was  in  ever}'  respect  a  success.  He 
purchased  property  in  Ashland  with  tlie  inten- 
tion of  establishing  a  chair  factory  there  ;  but 


-^ 


CANTON    TOWNSHIP. 


651 


being  advised  by  liis  young  wife  to  turn  his  at- 
tention to  farming,  and  for  which  he  had  a 
natural  adaptibility,  abandoned  his  idea  of 
chair  nianufacluring.  He  was  married  to  Julia, 
daughter  of  Jacob  Smith,  of  Canton,  in  March, 
1835.  They  have  two  children — Elizabeth,  now 
wife  of  Isaac  Doll  ;  and  Flarriet,  now  wife  of 
Jo.seph  Maxwell.  .Mr.  and  Mrs.  Niesz  are  now 
well  advanced  in  years,  and  are  enjoying  the 
luxuries  of  a  well  spent  life;  having  begun 
with  little  they  have  now  a  competency  of  this 
world's  goods.  They  came  to  their  present 
farm  in  1844,  whic'h  was  at  that  time  in  timber 
and  brushwood,  untouched,  but  is  now  one  of 
the  neatest  farms  of  this  township, 

( ;  K()  1 1<  1 K  N  K  H  \]\\,  stockholder  and  Manager 
of  Starii  Mills,  Canton  ;  was  born  in  Wurtem- 
berg,  Germany,  in  the  year  1836,  His  father, 
George  Neher,  was  a  native  of  the  latter  named 
place,  where  he  was  engaged  in  contracting  and 
building,  which  business  he  carried  on  success- 
fully for  several  years.  .\s  be  advanced  in 
years,  he  engaged  in  the  milling  Ijusiness,  and 
in  this  was  engaged  up  to  the  time  of  his  death. 
George,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  received  the 
advantages  of  a  good  education,  and  when  but 
10  years  old  he  had  advanced  sufficiently  in 
his  studies  to  enable  him  to  enter  the  language 
school  of  his  native  city  ;  here  he  remained 
until  his  was  14  years  old.  His  father  had  in- 
tended he  should  become  an  architect,  and  it 
was  for  this  purpose  he  was  pursuing  his 
studies.  But.  at  the  age  of  14.  he  was  his 
father's  assistant,  and  one  year  later  he  appren- 
ticed himself  to  the  milha-'s  trade,  serving  an 
apprenticeship  of  three  years;  he  then,  in  order 
to  perfect  himself  in  his  trade,  traveled  exten- 
sively through  many  of  the  European  countries. 
In  1857,  he  came  to  America,  and  came  to 
Columbiana  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  worked  by  the 
month  on  a  farm  for  eight  montlis.  He  then 
obtained  employment  at  his  trade,  and  remained 
in  the  mill  for  four  and  a  half  j'ears.  He  sub- 
sequentl}-  purchased  a  mill  propertj-  in  Will- 
iamsport  and  there  remained  four  years  ;  he 
then  removed  to  .Mlcgheny  City,  I'enn..  and  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  glue  ;  this  busi- 
ness he  conducted  but  a  short  time,  as  he  was 
glued  out  (using  his  own  words),  March,  1880, 
incom|iany  with  J  P.  Rouch,  Harvey  Ellison  and 
John  Webb,  they  purchased  the  Stark  Flouring 
Mills,  situated  two  miles  south  of  Canton,  .\t 
the  time  the  company   was  organized,   he  was 


put  in  as  Manager  and  Superintendent,  He 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Susan  Faulk,  of 
Columbiana  Co.  From  that  marriage  there  have 
been  seven  children, 

MICHAEL  SAUVEl?  (decea.sed).  Canton; 
was  born  in  Westmoreland  Co.,  Penn.,  Jan,  14, 
1835.  His  parents  were  John  and  Margaret 
(Kepple)  Sarver,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 
After  a  thorough  public  school  education, 
young  Sarver  entered  the  Mount  Pleasant  Col- 
lege, where  he  took  a  course  of  study  for 
several  years.  He  began  the  stud}'  of  the  law 
under  the  direction  of  Hon,  Edgar  Corwin.  of 
Greensburg,  Penn..  and  in  1860  was  admitted 
to  the  bar.  He  thereupon  opened  an  office  in 
Greensburg,  and  practiced  his  profession  until 
1865,  when,  in  consequence  of  failing  health, 
he  was  unfitted  for  the  close  office  duties 
necessary  to  his  profession  ;  and.  with  a  view  of 
recruiting  his  health,  he  came  to  Stark  Co..  Ohio, 
and  purchased  a  farm  of  125  acres,  adjoining 
the  Corporation  of  Canton,  He  married  Eliza 
J,  Anderson,  Sept,  27,  1859,  daughter  of  Cun- 
ningham M,  .\nderson.  of  Pennsylvania,  To 
Mr,  and  Mrs.  Sarver  were  born  six  children, 
five  of  wh(jm  arc  li\  insi,  viz.:  .Mar\  .M.,  Harry 
D,,  John  M,,  William'  E.  and  Kditli  C,  In 
1872,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sarver,  witji  their  family, 
removed  to  Santa  Barbara.  Cal,,  where  they 
resided  three  and  a  half  years.  In  the  mean- 
time, Mr,  Sarver  became  much  interested  in  the 
mammoth  grapevine,  which  has  been  described 
in  story,  and  has  been  one  of  the  chief  attrac- 
tions of  its  native  place.  Space  forbids  any- 
thing like  full  details  of  Mr,  Sarver's  course 
with  this  great  natural  curiosity,  of  which  he 
became  the  owner,  while  in  Santa  Barbara, 
For  several  j-ears  the  vine  showed  signs  of 
decay  beyond  recovery,  whereupon  Mr,  Sarver 
set  about  sectionizing  it.  and  preparing  it  for 
exhibition  during  the  centennial  year  at  Phila- 
delphia. The  work  of  sectionizing  and  taking 
the  vine  up  was  begun  Aug.  17,  1875  ;  it  was 
cut  in  sections,  so  that  it  could  be  sot  up  again 
in  its  natural  position.  The  main  branches 
near  the  trunk  an^  marked  alphalictically  ; 
many  of  the  large  branches  were  so  interlocked 
that  it  was  impossible  to  separate  them  ;  these 
were  bolted  together  where  they  crossed  each 
other,  and  cut  in  sections  of  eight  feet  and  a 
half  in  length.  The  sections  are  connected  by 
means  of  dowels  and  irons,  so  that  they  can  be 
connected  on  a  trellis  averagina  eight,  sixteen. 


652 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 


twenty-four  or  thirty-two  feet,  as  required,  in 
their  original  or  natural  position.  The  trunk 
is  left  whole,  and  is  atiout  ten  feet  long  ;  its 
diameter,  three  feet  from  the  ground,  is  four- 
teen inches,  and  nearer  the  ground  its  diameter 
is  eighteen  inches,  or  fifty-six  inches  in  eireiim- 
ference.  Its  foliage  covered  a  space  equal  to 
10.000  square  feet,  its  product  was  often  esti- 
inated  at  7,500  clusters,  averaging  about  one 
and  a  half  pounds  each,  or  nearly  12,000  pounds 
of  grapes  annually,  which  were  maturing  and 
ready  for  use  from  August  to  January.  On 
the  day  of  shipiuent  from  Santa  Barbara  to 
Philadelphia.  Mr.  Sarver  was  offered  for  this 
curiosity  the  sum  of  |1 0.000.  wliich  he  refused. 
Although  Mr.  Sarver  was  in  delicate  health, 
his  ambition  was  equal  to  the  occasion,  and  by 
his  indomitable  courage  and  will-power,  his 
exhibition  of  the  vine  was  really  a  grand  suc- 
cess, having  netted  S5.000.  At  the  close  of  the 
Centennial  Exposition  he  returned  to  his  home 
in  Canton  to  recuperate  from  the  toil  and  ex- 
citement which  had  almost  exhausted  him 
physically,  with  a  purpose  in  view  of  putting 
his  curiosity  on  a  general  round  of  exhibitions, 
but  his  exhausted  and  weak  physique  failed  to 
rally,  and  his  life  of  activity  closed  in  death 
March  IS.  1877.  The  great  natural  curiosity, 
in  which  Mr.  Sarver  was  so  much  interested, 
is  still  the  property  of  the  family,  and  in  a 
good  state  of  preservation,  and  may  be  said  to 
be  the  most  singular  natural  curiosity  in  Can- 
ton. 

JOHN  SHOCK,  retired  :  Canton  :  is  the 
eldest  in  a  family  of  seven  children  born  to 
Lucas  and  Susan  (Beck)  Shock.  Lucas  was 
born  in  Bavaria,  where  he  passed  the  early 
years  of  his  life.  He  came  to  America, 
landing  at  Baltimore.  3Id.  He  soon  after 
went  to  Washington  Co..  Md..  and  worked  in  a 
distillery  for  one  year.  He  then  married,  in 
1800.  .Miss  Susan  Beck,  who  was  a  native  of 
Germany,  but  came  to  Washington  Co..  Md.. 
in  an  early  day.  In  1814.  he  came  lo  Ohio, 
and  settled  in  Canton  Tp..  Stark  Co..  on  a  farm 
of  130  acres.  This  farm  he  increased,  until 
he  had  IGO  for  each  of  six  children.  He  was 
a  man  much  respected  and  esteemed  in  the 
community  in  which  he  lived.  He  died  in 
1851.  at  the  age  of  70  years.  His  wife  died  in 
185G,  at  the  age  of  78.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  German  Reformed  Church,  and  she  was  a 
member    <if    the    Lutheran    Church.       John 


Shock,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in 
Washington  Co.,  .Md.,  June  23.  1807,  and  in 
1814,  he  came  to  Stark  Co.  with  his  parents. 
The  early  years  of  his  life  were  passed  on  the 
farm,  assisting  in  ridding  the  land  of  its  mas- 

I  sive  oaks.  He  obtained  a  common-school  edu- 
cation in  the  schools  of  his  neighborhood.  At 
the  age  of  21,  he  took  charge  of  the  homestead 
farm,  and  in  1837  he  inherited  154  acres  of  the 
homestead,  where  he  now  lives.  In  1835,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Susan  Ehresemann, 
who  was  a  native  of  Germany.  From  that 
union  there  has  been  four  children,  as  follows  : 
Jacob,  Elizabeth,  Lucinda  and  (-aroline.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Shock  are  members  of  the  German 
Reformed  Church.  He  is  a  Republican  in  pol- 
itics. 

I       JACOB  SHERRICK.  farmer  ;  P.  (J.  Canton  ; 

I  whose  portrait  appears  in  this  history  as  a 
pioneer  of  Canton  Tp..  was  born  Nov.  28,  1802, 
in  Washington  Co.,  near  Hagerstown.  Md.     He 

]  was  one  of  a  family  of  eight  children  born  to 
John  and  Nancy  (Wyant)  Sherrick,  both  of 
whom   were  natives  of  Lancaster  Co.,   Penn., 

'  but  subsequently  became  residents  of  Wash 
ington  Co.,  JId..  where  John  Slierrick  owned  a 
farm,  a  flouring-mill  and  a  distillery.    In  1816, 

I  they  removed  to  Stark  Co.,  and  settled  in  the 
east  half  of  Section  14,  of  Canton  Tp.,  which 
My.  Sherrick  purchased,  and  the  old  homestead 
of  which  is  still  owned  by  Jacob.     Mr.  Sher- 

',  rick  was  a  Democrat,  though  not  a  politician. 
During  the  latter  years  of  his  life  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Church,  as  was  also  Mrs.  Sher- 
rick. They  both  remained  residents  of  Canton 
Tp.  until  their  death,  which  occurred  about 
1840,  in  his  74th  year,  and  his  mother's  four 
j-ears  later,  when  she  had  arrived  at  about  the 
same   age.     Theirs   was  truly    the    life  of  the 

I  pioneer.  Hardships,  privations  and  the  disad- 
vantages   of    a     new    countr\'    being    theirs 

I  while  they  lived  in  Stark  Co.  The  incidents 
and  surroundings  of  the  early  life  of  Jacob 
were  substantially  the  same  as  those  of  the 
other  young  people  of  Stark  Co.  at  that  date. 
In  1827.  on  account  of  poor  health,  he  went 
to  New  Orleans,  La.,  and  did  not  again  make 
Stark  Co.  his  home  until  about  six  years  and 
seven  months  afterward.  He  then  returned 
and  settled  down  to  farming  and  stock-raising, 
and  has  given  this  business  his  attention  the 
greater  portion  of  the  time  since.  By  his 
careful  management  and  industry,  he  has  ac- 


k^ 


•  ANTON   TOWNSHIP 


053 


cuinulatud  a  line  piopiTty.  Politically,  lie  is  a 
Democrat,  arul  in  1889  he  was  elected  one  of 
the  board  of  three  <ientlenien  to  appraise  the 
real  estate  of  Stark  Co.  Tn  184!l.  lie  was  the 
Appraiser  for  Canton  Tp..  and  in  IS')!!  he  was 
again  elected  to  the  same  position.  He  has  re- 
peatedly filled  the  oHicc  of  Trustee  of  Canton 
Tp..  and  in  ISolJ  he  was  the  Deraoeratie  nomi- 
nee for  Representative  from  Stark  Co.  To  the 
churches  and  schools,  however,  he  has  siven 
the  most  attention,  and  in  their  prosperity  he 
has  taken  the  most  <leliiiht.  never  refusing  t<i 
donate  lilierally  toward  advancing  the  cause  of 
religion.  He  is  still  a  vigorous  old  gentleman, 
though  nearly  "il  years  of  age.  His  lime  is 
spent  princii)ally  on  his  farms,  where  he  still 
enjoys  keeping  things  ship-shape.  His  name 
and  reputation  are  above  reproach,  and  all  that 
any  man  in  private  life  could  desire, 

LEVI  I.  .-i.Mrni,  fanner;  P.  0.  Canton; 
was  born  in  Canton  Township  Jan.  10.  1837, 
He  is  the  oldest  of  three  children  born  to  Sam- 
uel and  Catharine  (Stump)  Smith,  His  grand- 
father came  from  PiMinsylvania  to  this  county 
with  his  family  at  an  early  date  ;  at  that  time 
Samuel  was  ijuite  young.  He  had  been  reared 
to  faiin  life  and  continued  at  that  business  all 
his  life  time.  In  184(j.  Samuel  Smith  and  fam- 
ily settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  their 
son.  Levi  1..  on  which  there  was  no  previous 
improyements  ;  but.  by  industry  and  hard  work. 
the  forest  has  yielded  to  the  woodman's  ax. 
and  instead  of  the  brake  and  bramble,  are  the 
broad,  well-tilled  fields.  The  life  of  Samuel 
Smith  closed  on  the  old  homestead  Aug.  12, 
18(i9.  in  his  "iSth  year.  His  widow  survives 
and  resides  with  Levi  I.  The  other  two,  Will- 
iam F.  and  Lewis  S.,  are  well-to-do  farmers  in 
this  county.  The  subject  of  these  notes  got  a 
good  education  in  the  public  schools  and  re- 
mained with  his  parents  until  he  was  married, 
which  event  occurred  Nov,  SO,  186:5.  to  Mary 
A.  Foltz.  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Catharine 
Foltz.  of  Kichville,  but  now  residents  of  Michi- 
gan, To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  have  been  born 
eight  children,  viz.  :  Frances  K.,  .^Iargaret  Iv. 
Trillieu,  Jesse  J..  Samuel  ('..  Ephraim.  David 
and  ll<jsella.  For  a  period  of  several  years 
alter  their  marriage  they  lived  on  rented  farms 
ill  this  vicinity,  but  in  1872  he  bought  the  old 
homestead  of  15S  acres,  which  is  well  improved. 
Mr.  Smith  is  a  man  who  has  never  sought 
political  position,  rather  ignoring  the  offers  of 


position,  but  atten<ls  quietly  to  the  improve- 
ment and  care  of  his  well  earned  home.  He 
and  Mrs.  Smith  are  members  of  the  Evangel- 
ical Lutheran  Cluirch.  of  Canton. 

C.  SHKKER.  faruuT  :  P.  O.  North  Industry  ; 
is  the  fourth  in  a  family  of  eight  children,  born 
to  Peter  and  Catharine  (Smith)  Sherer,  who 
were  natives  of  Alsaee,  Germany,  where  Peter 
was  engaged  in  farming,  and  in  1847  he  came 
to  Ohio,  settling  in  Stark  County.  He  settled 
on  80  acres  of  land  and  there  lived  up  U>  the 
time  of  his  death.  He  died  in  1855,  at  the 
age  of  50  years  ;  his  widow  survived  him  sev- 
eral years,  dying  at  the  age  of  72  years.  Our 
subject  was  born  in  Alsaee,  (Jerrnany,  April  1, 
18;-)(i.  He  attended  the  schools  of  his  native 
place,  and  when  but  10  years  old  came  to  Ohio 
with  his  parents  ;  being  unable  to  speak  the 
English  language,  his  education  was  checked 
to  a  certain  degree  in  this  country.  However, 
he  obtained  a  good  education  and  lived  at 
home  with  his  parents  until  he  was  21  years  of 
age  ;  he  then  purchased  80  acres  of  land  in 
Carroll  County,  upon  which  he  settled,  and 
lived  there  three  years  ;  he  then  removed  to 
Hardin  County,  this  State,  and  was  there  en- 
gaged in  farming  until  1809,  when  he  returned 
to  Stark  County,  and  purchased  100  acres  of 
land  in  the  southern  part  of  the  township  where 
he  now  resides.  In  1857,  he  married  Susan 
Beckert,  who  was  a  native  of  Switzerland  ;  she 
died  in  18G5,  leaving  three  children,  viz,  :  Sarah 
A,  E.,  Rebecca  J,,  Jlarion  O,  Shortly  after,  he 
married  .Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  Casper  Bgjck- 
ert  and  sister  of  his  first  wife.  Mr.  and'Mrs. 
Sherer  are  devout  members  of  the  (icrman  l{(!- 
forracd  Church. 

A.  SPONSELLKI!.  farmer:  P.  0.  Canton; 
is  the  third  in  a  family  of  eight  children  born 
to  John  and  Catharine  (Ilerpsti'r)  Sponseller. 
John  was  a  native  of  Adams  Co.,  Penn..  and 
came  to  Columbiana  Co..  Ohio,  with  his  jjareiits, 
in  1804  or  1805,  He  lived  with  his  parents 
until  he  became  of  age  ;  he  then  returned  to 
his  native  place,  and  worked  for  his  uncle  two 
years.  In  1810,  he  came  to  Stark  Co.,  settling 
on  a  farm  in  Canton  Tp.  He  married  the 
above-named  laily,  who  was  a  native  of  Mary- 
land, but  at  the  time  of  their  marriage  lived  in 
Washington  Tp..  this  county.  Ho  was  engaged 
in  fanning  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1874,  at  the  age  of  84  years.  He 
was  interested  in  the  mercantile  business  for 


rz 


654 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


some  years.  His  widow  still  survives  liim,  and 
is  living  with  her  son  David.  Abraham,  the 
subject  of  this  sltetch,  was  boru  in  Stark  Co., 
Ohio,  Oct.  8.  1820  ;  the  early  years  of  his  life 
were  passed  on  the  farm  ;  he  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  neighborhood,  and  obtained 
a  liberal  education ;  he  was  for  some  time  en- 
gaged in  sciiool-teaching.  In  1847,  he  pur- 
chased 50  acres  of  land  in  Canton  Tp..  and 
there  lived  until  18G4.  when  he  purchased  200 
acres ;  he  settled  on  the  100-acre  farm,  and 
has  lived  there  since.  He  was  for  several  years 
engaged  in  threshing.  In  1848,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Rudolph 
Stoner.  From  that  marriage  there  have  been 
eight  children,  all  of  whom  are  living.  Mr. 
Spouseller  has  always  been  identified  with  the 
Democratic  partv. 

HENRY  SPONSELLER,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Can- 
ton ;  is  a  sou  of  John  and  Catharine  Spousel- 
ler, whose  sketih  appears  in  that  of  Abraham 
Sponseller.  Henry  was  born  in  Canton  Tp., 
Stark  f'o.,  July  2,  1835  ;  the  earl3-  3'ears  of 
his  life  were  passed  on  the  old  homestead  ;  he 
attended  the  common  schools  of  his  neighbor- 
hood, and  received  a  liberal  education.  He 
worked  at  home  until  he  was  24  years  old  ;  he 
then  purchased  70  acres  of  the  old  homestead 
farm,  upon  which  he  settled,  and  has  lived 
there  ever  since  ;  some  jears  afterward  he  made 
another  purchase,  and  now  owns  162  acres  of 
vahnible  land.  He  engaged  in  stock-raising, 
buying  and  selling,  and  has  been  very  success- 
ful hi  the  undertaking.  In  1858,  he  married 
Miss  Rebecca,  daughter  of  Emanuel  and  Elvina 
Hackman,  who  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 
From  that  marriage  there  have  been  seven  chil- 
dren, viz.:  Horace,  Mumice,  John,  Charles, 
Harrj,  Frank  and  Mary  L.  Mr,  and  Mrs.  Spou- 
seller are  members  of  the  German  Reformed 
Church.  He  has  always  been  identified  with 
the  Re()ublican  partj'. 

D.  E.  STAUFFER,  farmer;  P.  0.  Canton  ;  is 
fourth  in  a  family  of  thirteen  children  born  to 
Christian  and  Christinia  Staufier,  who  were 
natives  of  Lebanon  Co.,  Penn.,  where  Christian 
was  engaged  in  farming.  He  had  learned  the 
trade  of  a  hatter  and  worked  at  the  same  for 
fifteen  j-ears.  In  1 833,  he  came  to  Stark  Co.. 
settling  in  Lawrence  Tp..  on  a  farm  of  150 
acres,  which  he  cleared,  and  upon  which  he 
lived  until  1856.  when  he  removed  to  Nimi- 
shillen   Tp.;    he   remained   a  resident  of  that 


township  up  to  the  time  of  his  death  ;  he  died 
in  1862,  at  the  age  of  64  years  ;  his  wife  died 
in  1875,  at  the  age  of  75  years.  D.  E.,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  boru  in  Lebanon 
Co..  Penn.,  Feb.  16,  1820,  and  came  to  Stark 
Co.  with  his  parents  in  1833,  he  being  then  but 
4  j'cars  old.  His  childhood  was  passed  on  his 
father's  farm  in  Lawrence  Tp.;  at  the  age  of 
21,  he  rented  a  farm  in  Lake  Tp.,  where  he  re- 
mained five  and  a  half  years ;  he  then  re- 
moved to  Nimishillen  Tp.,  where  he  pur- 
chased a  farm,  and  there  lived  fifteen  and 
one-half  years  ;  he  sold  his  farm  and  re- 
moved to  Clark  ('o.,  111.,  where  he  bought 
a  farm  anti  there  lived  oue  year,  when  he  re- 
turned to  Canton  Tp..  and  purchased  a  farm  of 
115  a<;res,  known  as  the  Henry  Shock  Farm, 
and  has  lived  there  since.  In  1850,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  and 
Annie  Ensminger.  of  Lebanon  Co..  Penn.  From 
that  marriage  there  have  been  ten  children — 
Lvdia  A.,  Daniel  H.,  Mary  C,  Sarah  E.,  David 
F".  J.  J.,  Isaac  W..  Harvey  A.,  Isa  M.  and 
Charles  B.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stauffer  are  members 
of  the  River  Brethren  Church. 

SAMUEL  TAYLOR,  stock-raiser  and  farmer; 
P.  0.  Canton  ;  was  born  in  Jefierson  Co.,  Ohio, 
Jan.  9,  1815.  The  early  years  of  his  life  were 
passed  on  the  faim.  He  attended  the  common 
schools  of  his  neighborhood,  and  acquired  a 
good  education  ;  he  lived  with  his  parents  until 
he  was  25  years  old,  he  then  married,  in  March, 
1840,  Miss  Elizabeth  J.  McCuUough,  who  was 
a  native  of  Jefferson  Co.  Soon  after  his  mar- 
riage, he  removed  to  Carroll  Co..  Ohio,  and 
settled  on  a  farm  of  240  acres,  which  he  in- 
herited from  his  father's  estate.  He  lived  on 
the  farm  ten  j-ears  ;  he  then  moved  to  Stark 
Co..  settling  in  Canton  Tp.  on  a  farm  of  255 
acres,  where  he  now  lives.  He  now  owns  up- 
ward of  500  acres  of  well  improved  laud.  In 
1874,  he  was  one  of  the  few  men  who  organized 
the  Farmers'  Bank,  of  Canton  ;  he  is  a  stock- 
holder and  director.  Mi-s.  Taylor  died  in  1867, 
and  in  1868,  he  marrietl.  for  his  second  wife, 
3Iary  C,  the  widow  of  Christian  ( )3-er,  of  Canton. 
From  that  marriage  there  has  been  one  child. 
Mr.  Taylor  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  and  IMrs.  Taylor  of  the  Baptist. 
William  and  v^oplua  Taylor,  the  parents  of  our 
subject  were  n;itives  of  Washington  Co.,  Penn.; 
and  came  to  ( )hio  in  1812.  They  settled  in  Jeff- 
erson Co..  on  a  farm  where  they  lived  37  years, 


.^ 


(  AXro.N    TOWXSIlll' 


655 


tluMi  rciiiovetl  U)  Stark  Co.,  settling  in  Osna- 
Imrg  Tp..  and  lliore  livi\l  seven  years  ;  tiie  re- 
niainder  of  their  well-spent  lite  was  passed  with 
their  son  (our  subject);  the  father  of  our  sul)- 
jecl  died  in  1 8(51.  aged  72  years;  his  mother 
lived  to  reach  the  ripe  age  of  !)1  :  she  died  in 
lS7(i. 

LKWIS  J.  WISlv  farmer  and  dairyman  : 
I*  ().  Canton  ;  was  born  in  Plain  Tp..  Stark  Co.. 
Ohio.  March  2U,  1827.  His  father  and  mother, 
Adam  and  I'liiebe  (Stockton)  Wise,  were  both 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  about  the  year 
LS18  they  removed  from  Wasliington  Co., 
I'enn..  to  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  and  located  at  Mid- 
dle Branch,  in  Plain  Tp..  where  they  engaged  in 
farming.  .Mr.  Adam  Wise  was  a  man  of  con- 
siderable enterprise,  he  linally  built,  in  earlj' 
time,  a  grist  mill  and  ran  it.  and  was  also  en- 
gaged in  mercantile  business  at  that  point  for 
a  time,  besides  establishing  another  industry, 
that  of  a  factory  for  caiding  wool,  which  was 
then  much  desii-ed  in  the  country  for  convert- 
ing the  rough  wool  into  spinning  '■  rolls."  Tiie 
subject  of  this  article  is  the  tifth  child  of  a 
familj-  of  nine  children  :  he  was  brought  up  to 
the  various  duties  of  the  fiirm,  and  received  a 
go(xl  common  school  education,  and  began  on 
his  own  account  by  teaching  school  for  two 
winters.  In  181!l,  he  married  Susan  Cans,  she 
died  in  June.  185;i,  leaving  two  children, 
Oliver  and  Susan,  now  Mrs.  John  Shoemaker  ; 
he  was  married  to  Susan  Fisher  in  1856  :  she 
is  the  daughter  of  Jacob  Fisher,  of  Perry  Tp.; 
by  this  union  were  born  to  Mr.  Wise  seven  chil- 
dren, viz.  :  Kllen.  now  wife  of  Mahlon  Snivel^'  ; 
Williaui,  Newton.  Kdwin,  Kmma,  Hertiia,  and 
Homer,  lie  has  l)een  fretpiently  School  Direct- 
or. :ind  is  a  memljer  of  Canton  (irange.  No. 
305,  of  which  he  has  been  treasurer  for  about 
five  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wise  are  both  mem- 
bers of  the  Baptist  Church.  In  1854.  he 
removed  to  the  farm  where  he  now  resides, 
which  contains  lliO  acres  of  well  improved  land 
with  good  buildings,  located  about  one  mile  ' 
west  of  the  city  of  Canton,  on  a  beautifid  emi- 
nence overlooking  the  city,  and  merits  the 
name    ■  Citv  \'icw  Farm." 

SA.MIKI  VODKH,  farmer;  P.  O.  North 
Industiy.  KM  Voder,  the  father  of  our  subject. 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  came  to 
Stark  County  with  his  parents  in  an  early  day. 


The  early  part  of  his  life  was  passed  on  the 
farm.  He  attended  the  common  schools  and 
acquired  a  liberal  education,  although  his  ad- 
vantages were  poor  and  limited  in  the  region 
of  his  home.  He  married  .Miss  Nancy  Kopp, 
who  was  a  native  of  Lancaster  County,  Penn., 
and  she  was  raised  on  a  farm  owikhI  by  Presi- 
dent IJuchanan.  .\fler  his  marriage  he  .settled 
in  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  and  engaged  in  farm- 
ing ;  he  subsequently  removed  to  (."anton 
Township,  Stark  Co.,  settling  on  a  farm  and 
has  been  a  resident  of  the  county  ever  since. 
He  is  a  man  widely  known  throughout  the 
county  for  his  energetic  habits  and  business 
qualitications.  Samuel  Yoder,  the  subject  of 
these  few  lines,  was  born  on  his  fathers  farm 
in  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  Sept.  17.  1848.  The 
early  years  of  his  life  were  passed  on  the  farm  ; 
he  received  the  advantages  of  a  common  school 
education,  and  allhougii  oi)portunities  were  not 
favorable  he  ac(iuired  a  good  eilucation.  He 
lived  at  home  with  iiis  parents  until  he  was  30 
years  old  ;  he  tiien  purchasi-il  125  acres  of  land 
in  the  southern  part  of  Canton  Township.  He 
has  by  hard  work  and  economical  habits  pros- 
pered and  is  one  of  the  substantial  men  of  the 
township.  In  1873.  he  married  Miss  Jlary, 
daughter  of  Adam  and  Mary  Shatter,  a  lady  to 
whom  he  owes  part  of  his  success.  From  that 
marriage  there  have  been  two  children — Harve3' 
and  Ida.  Mr.  and  Mr.s.  Yoder  are  members  of 
the  Lutheran  (^hurch. 

CKOKtiK  YOlNt;  f.irmer;  P.  O.  Canton; 
was  born  in  (lermany.  April  29,  1829;  his 
early  life  was  passed  on  the  farm;  he  received 
a  common  school  education  in  his  native  coun- 
try. In  1849,  he  came  to  America,  and  his  tirst 
place  of  residence  was  in  Allegheny  Co.,  Penn., 
where  he  worked  at  the  machinist's  trade  for 
seven  years,  he  then  removed  to  Canton,  Stark 
Co.,  Ohio,  and  settled  on  a  farm  of  40  acres, 
two  miles  south  of  Canton;  he  has  lived  there 
ever  since  ;  he  has  increased  his  farm  to  105 
acres.  Few  men  have  been  more  successful  than 
Mr.  Young.  In  1853,  he  married  Phillipene 
Close,  of  Pittsburgh,  Penn.  From  that  marriage 
there  have  been  three  children,  namely,  Ceorge, 
Lizzie  and  Caroline.  Mrs.  Young  died  in  1862, 
and  in  1863  he  married  Christina  Neithaberger, 
of  Canton.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Young  are  members 
of  the  (Jernian  Reformed  Church. 


J^ 


'.^ 


BIOGRAPHIC  A  I.    SKETCHf:8: 


CITY    OF    MASSILLON. 


FREDERICK  ALBRECHT.  retired.  Mas- 
Billon;  he  was  boru  in  Rhine-Bavaj-ia.  Sept. 
1*J,  1S]S;  son  of  Nicholas  Albrecht  and 
Elizal)etL  Engle.  to  whom  were  liorn  seven 
children  -  Adam,  George.  Michael,  Charles, 
Frederick,  John  and  Cath;u-ine:  all  lived  to 
mature  age.  Oiu-  subject  learned  the  shoe 
maker's  trade  while  in  Bavaria:  lf~i40.  he  em- 
igrated to  America,  lauding  in  New  Orleans 
in  December  the  same  yeai':  in  the  sjiring  of 
1841  Ciune  to  this  city,  and,  working  as  jour- 
neyman two  years,  then  engaged  in  liusiness 
for  himself,  in  1843,  caiTving  on  the  gi-ocer}' 
bnsine.ss  in  connection  with  his  shoe  shop, 
his  brother  Michael  being  a  j)artnor  for  six 
years  iu  the  gi-ocery  store:  afterward  pur- 
chased his  brother's  interest,  and  continued 
the  business  until  1875,  when  his  son,  Louis, 
succeeded  him,  and  has  since  continued  the 
business.  His  wife  was  Elizabeth  Daiun,  born 
in  Hesse- Darmstadt  in  1822;  daughter  of 
John  Daum,  who  came  to  this  country  in  1S41. 
Mr.  Albrecht  has  seven  children-  (i.  Louis, 
Mary,  Aloiiua,  Frederick.  Emma.  Edward  and 
Edith.  Louis  succeeded  his  father  in  1875, 
and  has  since  carried  on  the  business.  Mary 
married  Henry  Deilhenu:  the  others  are  at 
home.  Mr.  Albrecht  came  to  this  country  a 
poor  man,  and  has  accumulated  considerable 
property,  all  by  his  own  exertions,  Mr.  Al- 
brecht has  two  brothers  and  one  sister  in  the 
county — Frederick  and  John — in  Perry  Tp. : 
Catharine.  Mrs.  Peter  Charles,  is  in  Tusca- 
rawas. G.  Louis  was  born  in  this  city  in  1848; 
married  Amelia  Deilhenn.  daughter  of  Peter 
Deilhenn.  and  since  1875  has  succeeded  his 
father  in  the  gi-ocer\-  trade. 

P.  a.  ALBRIGHT,  banker,  Massillon:  was 
born  in  Massillon.  Ohio.  Nov.  28.  1838;  his 
parents  were  Michael  All)right  and  Elizabeth 
Root,  both  natives  of  Germany;  his  father 
emigrated  to  America  aliout  the  year-  1830, 
and  settled  in  Kendal,  now  Massillon.  Stark 
Co.,  Ohio,  where  tor  some  ten  years  he  was 
engaged  in  selling  checks.     A  clock  which  sold 


at  that  time  for  S50  can  now  be  bought  for 
•$3.50.  He  afterward  embarked  in  the  grocery 
business,  being  one  of  the  first  wholesale  gro- 
cers of  the  place,  and  conducted  the  business 
for  a  number  of  yeai-s.  He  died  in  1850,  at 
the  eai'ly  age  of  37 :  he  was  one  of  the  most 
substantial  citizens  of  his  day:  was  noted  for 
his  open-hearted  liberalit.y.  and  it  is  not  known 
that  he  had  an  enemy.  He  had  Ave  childa-en, 
of  whom  oui'  subject  is  the  oldest  son.  Being 
left  fatherless  at  the  age  of  12,  he  was  com- 
pelled from  that  time,  to  a  great  extent,  to 
make  his  own  way  in  the  world.  His  mother 
continued  to  conduct  the  store  after  the  death 
of  her  husbiind,  and  young  Albright  became 
a  clerk  at  the  age  of  14,  and  for  four  yeiU's 
had  chief  management  of  the  business.  His 
opportunities  for  education  were  therefore 
very  much  restricted.  At  the  age  of  lU,  he 
embarked  in  business  for  himself,  in  the  gro- 
cery trade,  and  thus  continued  for  sixteen 
years.  In  January,  1872.  he  engaged  in  pri- 
vate banking,  in  company  with  William  Mc- 
Chniionds,  the  bank  taking  the  name  of  the 
German  Deposit  Bank  of  Massillon.  For  a 
considerable  time  past,  he  has  been  quite  ex- 
tensively engaged  in  dealing  in  real  estate. 
With  the  exception  of  a  term  in  the  City 
Council  of  Massillon,  he  has  never  sought  or 
held  office.  In  April,  1865,  he  mamed  Eliz- 
abeth, daughter  of  Audi-ew  Stalil,  of  Navan-e, 
Stark  Co..  Ohio.  He  is  a  Freemason,  and  is 
a  member  of  Sippo  Lodge.  No.  47.  of  Massil- 
lon. Mr.  Albright  began  life  a  poor  boy,  but 
I  by  industry  and  a  sti'ict  attention  to  business, 
i  has  worked  his  way  to  a  ))rominent  position 
among  the  self-made  men  of  his  community; 
he  has  ever  been  characterized  for  an  enter- 
]>rising  s[)irit,  having  always  taken  an  interest 
in  all  projects  for  the  advancement  of  the 
welfare  of  the  community. 

C.  B.  ALLM.\N,  merchant,  Massillon;  is 
the  senior  membon-  of  the  Massillon  Bee-hive 
Cash  Store,  its  name  being  emblematical  of 
the  bus^•  life  and  industiT  going  on  within  its 


!,>£ 


CITY   OF    MASSILLON. 


6f)7 


walls.  C.  B.  Allman  is  a  gi-andson  of  Ebenezer 
Allman.  The  latter  gentleman  was  bom  Nov. 
11,  l~l)4,  in  Maryland;  bis  wife  was  Aguos 
CaiTell,  born  July  20,  177"2.  To  this  couple 
were  born  (leorjre,  who  was  a  great  hunter; 
William,  James,  Mary,  John,  Daniel,  Carrell 
Haymon,  James  and  Barney  (twins),  Sarah, 
Elizabeth  and  Margaret.  Carrell,  from  wht)ni 
our  subject  was  named,  was  kilK'd  hy  a  ti'ee 
falling  upon  him.  Daniel,  the  father  of  Car- 
rell B.,  was  born  Sept  10,  17'J7,  in  Washing- 
ton Co.,  Penn. ;  he  married  Elizabeth  Baines. 
who  was  Ixjrn  March  11,  1S2I,  in  Yorkshire, 
England;  she  was  the  daughter  of  John 
Baines,  who  man'ied  a  Chapman.  Daniel 
Allman  had  four  children  bom  him.  Melissa, 
died  young;  Carrell  B. ;  Agnes,  became  the 
wife  of  David  M.  Anderson,  and  Haymon. 
The  Allman  family  came  to  Ohio,  locating  in 
Bethlehem  Tp.,  in  1808.  Ebenezer  Allman 
was  one  of  tho  pioneer  Methodists,  ;is  well  as 
one  of  the  first  settlers:  his  mother's  name, 
prior  to  her  marriage,  was  Neblick.  For  sev- 
eral years,  Daniel  Allman  &  Bro.  ciUTied  on 
the  mercantile  business  in  this  county,  at 
Navan-e,  and  at  Rochester.  Daniel  Allman 
died  in  1S67;  his  wife  yet  sm'N'ives  him. 
Ciirrell  B.  was  bom  in  Navan'e,  Bethlehem 
Tp.,  in  1842,  the  second  child  of  his  parents, 
and  was  raised  on  a  farm  until  IS  years  of 
age.  He  served  one  year  as  a  soldier  in  the 
l()7th  O.  V.  I.,  when  he  was  discharged  on 
account  of  disaljility.  He  lirst  engaged  in 
business  in  1804,  with  his  father,  at  BoliviU", 
remaining  one  year;  he  came  to  this  city  in 
1808,  and  has  since  c<_mtinued  in  business,  tLi-st 
beginning  with  J.  (x.  Waiwick  &  Co.,  which 
association  lasted  imtil  1S71  ;  the  name  of  the 
firm  then  changed  to  Allman,  Groce  &  Wetter, 
which  continued  until  1S70,  when  it  assumed 
its  present  name,  Allman  &  Wetter,  the  busi- 
ness, since  1871,  having  increased  100  per 
cent.  They  employ  over  a  score  of  clerks  and 
salesmen,  and  ai'e  doing  an  extensive  business. 
Mr.  Allman  maiTied  Alice  Putnam,  and  has 
two  children;  he  was  rocked  in  the  cradle  of 
Methodism,  is  one  of  the  stanch  members  of 
that  denomination,  and  is  an  enthusiastic 
worker  in  the  Sunday  school,  of  which  he  is 
Superintendent;  he  is  also  a  member  of  the 
various  Masonic  bodies  of  this  city. 


WILLIAM  BROWN,  deceased.  Mr.  Brown 
was  born  in  St.  Clairsville,  Ohio,  Oct.  SjlSlO; 
came  to  Stark  County  in  1832;  was  a  saddler 
hy  trade,  which  vocation  he  followed  for  some 
time  after  he  came  to  Massillon;  he  subse- 
quently engaged  in  Iwating  on  the  Ohio  Canal, 
dealing  mostly  in  <;oal.  March  20,  1834,  he 
was  maiTii'd  to  Mary  Austin,  who  died  in 
1840,  leaving  him  three  children,  but  one  now 
living,  James  O.,  who  resides  in  Mansfield. 
Dec.  8,  1840,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Arietta  Beacox,  who  was  born  Dec.  24,  1N24,  in 
Hamiltt)n,  Canada,  daughter  of  (leorge  Beacox 
and  Laura  Seaton.  He  was  born  in  England 
and  came  U)  Canada  when  18  years  of  ago, 
where  he  lived  until  1S33,  when  he  moved  to 
Michigan,  where  he  lived  several  years;  final 
ly  settled  in  this  coimty,  where  he  died  in 
1S47.  Laura  Seaton,  the  mother  of  Mrs. 
Brown,  was  a  tlaughter  of  Willard  Seaton. 
Mrs.  Brown's  parents  had  six  children,  one 
son  and  five  daughtei-s —  Leonard,  Am-elia, 
Amelia,  Amanda,  Arietta  and  Amanda  So- 
phrona,  who  married  as  follows;  Am'elia 
married  Robert  MiU'phy;  So[)hroua,  wife  of 
Hemy  Briukman;  Ajuanda  remains  single; 
Amelia  is  the  wife  of  Mi-.  lyle.  To  Mr. 
Brown  were  born  nine  children;  but  four  ai'e 
living—  Williiuu  Frank,  who  is  his  father's 
successor  in  business,  and  r(»sides  with  hi9 
mother,    Amelia  (Mellie),  Maude    and    Jesse. 

H.  C.  BROWN,  Massillon:  he  is  Teller 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  this  city;  was 
lx)m  Oct.  22,  1847;  son  of  Isaac  H.  Brown, 
one  of  the  old  residents  of  the  city.  With  the 
exception  of  three  years  spent  in  Tennessee, 
he  has  been  a  a^nstaut  resident  of  the  city. 
March,  1873,  he  entered  the  First  National 
Bank  at  this  place,  where  he  has  since  re- 
mained. Nov.  S,  1877,  he  was  married  to 
Ella  R.  Coleman,  only  daughter  of  John  C. 
and  Ellen  (Etteridge)  Coleman.  Mr.  Coleman 
was  a  brother  of  Joseph  Coleman,  oi'  this  city. 
Both  the  pju'ents  of  Mi's.  Brown  are  deceased. 

MRS.  REBECCA  BAHNEY,  Massillon; 
relict  of  the  late  Joseph  Bahney;  was  bom 
in  this  city  Oct.  28,  1832;  daughter  of  Syl- 
vanus  Buckius  and  Sarah  Adam.s.  Feb.  15, 
1852,  she  married  Joseph  Bahney,  who  waa 
born  in  Perry  Tj).  Sept.  28,  1.S2U,  son  of 
Jacob  J.  Bahney,  one  of  the  early  settlers  and 


658 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


business  men  of  this  city,  with  wliom  Joseph, 
the  hus,band  of  Mrs.  Bahney.  was  associated, 
being  en<jaged  in  the  fm'uitiu'e  trade,  which 
bnsine'^s  he  carried  on  after  tlie  retirement  of 
his  father.  Mrs.  Bahney  was  bereft  of  her 
husband.  Dec.  29.  1872.  since  which  time  she 
has  borne  his  name.  Mr.  Bahney  was  an  ex- 
cellent business  man  and  worthy  citizen:  was 
a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F..  and  a  true  Re- 
publican. To  him  were  born  live  children — 
LoTiisa  M..  now  wife  of  Harry  A.  French,  sta 
tion  agent  atOrville:  Charles  W..  Edward  F.. 
Harry  S.  and  Man'  Josephine,  at  home. 
Charles  W.  and  Edward  P.  have  clerkships 
and  reside  with  their  mother. 

J.  G.  BUCHER.  stoves  and  foundry.  Massil- 
lon;  is  a  native  of  Stark  Coimty;  born  June 
14,  1823,  in  Canton:  son  of  Jacob  Bncher  and 
Christina  Rex.  The  Bncher  family  are  among 
the  early  settlers  of  Stark  County.  The  gi-and- 
sire  of  our  subject  was  a  tailor  by  trade;  his 
son.  Jacob,  was  a  wheelwi'ight.  and  was  born 
in  Hagerstown,  Md..  and  came  'West  prior  to 
the  war  of  1812,  into  which  he  was  di'afted. 
He  was  of  a  family  of  eight  childi-en;  the  sons 
were  Jacob.  George.  Jose] )h.  David  and  John; 
the  daughters  were  Mi's.  Loutzenheizer, 
Mrs.  George  Miller  and  Dickerhoft'.  The 
brothers  and  sisters  of  J.  G.  are  William,  now 
residing  in  New  York,  a  manufacturer  of  me- 
tallic paint;  Harriet.  Mrs.  I.  N.  Doxsee,  of 
this  city;  Mary  Ann.  wife  of  B.  B.  Snyder, 
and  resides  in  Toledo,  Ohio;  Cornelius,  a 
merchant;  John  R.,  in  Canton:  Amelia  mar- 
ried Reuben  Hafleigh.  and  resides  in  Phila- 
delphia: Catharine,  a  maid;  Theodore,  in 
Cleveland,  engaged  in  the  manufactm-e  of 
sewing  machines  J.  G.  was  raised  to  farm-  I 
ing  oTU'suits.  At  the  age  of  17,  our  subject 
left  home  to  learn  the  tinner's  trade  of  I.  N. 
Doxsee,  of  Massillon:  afterward  taiight  school 
one  term:  soon  after,  he,  in  com])auy  with 
Impertus  Martin,  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  at  New  Franklin,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Martin  &  Co. :  was  foreman  two 
years  in  a  tin-shop  for  Ezi'a  Leoland:  associ- 
ated in  business  with  D.  H.  Harmon,  of  Can- 
ton, for  four  or  five  years:  then  with  his 
brother  J.  R..  aboiat  the  same  lengtli  of  time: 
in  1860,  he  moved  to  Massillon  and  engaged  i 
in  the  stove  and  foundry  business,  which  has 


since  occupied  his  attention;  in  1868,  he  was 
one  of  five  who  associated  together  and  built 
the  opera  house,  which  was  completed  in 
1870,  costing  nearly  .$10(),0()0:  since,  he  has 
purchased  the  entire  interest  of  the  opera 
house  proper.  March  6,  1845,  he  married 
Lucinda  J.  Kitzmiller,  daughter  of  Jacob;  and 
of  four  children  liorn  him,  two  are  living — 
Clara,  wife  of  Killinger,  and  Anna  L.  Flora 
died  at  28;  and  was  the  wife  of  Dr.  John. 
The  parents  of  Mr.  Buelier  were  Lutherans. 
Mr.  Bncher  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal 
ChLirch.  and  a  Republican. 

M.  A.  BROWN,  lumber  d.-alor.  Massillon; 
was  born  May  2U,  1824,  in  Non\ay,  Oxford 
Co.,  Me.:  son  of  Ephraim  and  Rosa  (Heald) 
Brown;  he  was  born  in  Middlesex  Co..  Mass., 
but  being  of  English  descent.  The  farm 
upon  which  Mr.  Brown  was  raised  was  in  the 
family  about  200  years.  ET>hi"iim.  who  was 
a  miller,  had  seven  children,  who  gi-ew  to 
maturity.  M.  A.  remained  on  the  farm  mitil 
he  was  14  years  old.  and  then'  went  to  learn 
the  cabinet-maker's  trade,  which  he  followed 
until  21  yeai's  of  age:  then  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  fimiitm'e.  at  Reading,  Mass., 
going  to  that  State  in  1N31.  when  7  years 
of  age;  remained  at  Reading  three  or  four 
years,  and  then  went  to  Bostcm.  where  he 
stayed  until  1852;  then  went  to  Cleveland 
and  engaged  in  the  manufactiu-e  of  furniture, 
where  he  remained  until  1865;  then  came  to 
this  city  and  ran  an  agricultm-al  house  for  J. 
M.  Brown  &  Seiberling.  which  lasted  until 
the  death  of  Mr.  J.  M.  Brown:  then  engaged 
in  the  lumber  business,  in  1868.  and  has  since 
continued.  In  1848,  he  man-ied  Ellen  M. 
Davis,  born  in  Reading,  Mass.,  in  Nov<anber, 
1S3(\  daughter  of  James  Davis.  They  have 
the  following  issue:  Frank  A..  Arthur  W.,  in 
Cleveland:  Kittie,  Mrs.  Theodore  Foeke; 
Carrie,  wife  of  James  R.  Dunn,  of  this  city, 
member  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  a  Re- 
publican. 

Z.  T.  BALTZLY.  druggist.  Massillon. 
Among  the  young  and  enterprising  dmggists 
is  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  was  born  in 
Tuscarawas  County,  in  Sejitembfr,  1^48;  son 
of  John  and  Lydia  (Miller)  Baltzly.  both 
natives  of  the  same  countv,  hf  being  born  in 
1821.  she   about  1831.      To   them   were   born 


^1 
*1 


-5>^, 


(  ITV    OF    MASSILLOX. 


uine  children,  Z.  T.  being  the  oldest  of  the 
niuuber.  The  fiiiuily  came  "West  sliortly  after 
the  war  of  1812.  locating  in  Tuscarawas 
(\)\inty.  The  family  has  desccudnd  from  the 
Hufj^uenots.  Z.  T.  was  raised  to  ii<:^-icultural 
jiursiiits  until  the  ajje  of  l(i.  when  he  entered 
school  at  Tiffin;  in  180U.  he  came  to  this  place 
<ind  engaged  in  husint'ss  with  ilr.  Demuth. 
under  the  firm  name  of  l)(>nmth  &  Co..  which 
lasted  two  veal's,  when  the  tirm  changed  to 
Baltzly  iV-  (rood,  which  lusted  until  the  spring 
of  1S74:  since,  he  has  conrlucted  the  business 
alone.  He  was  manned  in  1872  to  Mary  E. 
Iforganthaler.  born  in  this  plac>^.  daughter  of 
Henry  Morganthaler.  native  of  Germany,  who 
emigrated  to  America  in  \S'.]H.  He  has  had 
two  children — Edwin  B.  and  Stanley  M.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Baltzly  are  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church:  he  is  a  member  of  Clinton 
Lodge  A..  F.  &  A.  M. :  also  a  Knight  of  Pyth- 
ias. Lodge  No.  87. 

H.  BEATTY.  coal  business.  Massillon;  was 
born  in  Franklin  Co.,  Penn.,  Dec.  1(5,  ISlfi. 
the  fifth  of  a  family  of  eight  ciiildren,  bom  to 
James  and  Miiry  (Kate)  Beatty.  James  was 
born  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  and  settled  in 
Baltimore,  having  fom'  sons — James,  John, 
Robert  and  Hugh.  The  Beatty  family  came 
West  in  1818,  located  in  Kendal,  but  after- 
ward moved  across  the  river  on  to  Judge  Hen- 
ry's fami,  where  they  lived  thirteen  years, 
and  then  moved  to  Lawrence  Tp.,  where  he 
had  purchased  land,  and  lived  there  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1848:  liis  wife  died 
when  onr  subject  was  small.  They  had  a 
family  of  ten  cliiliken,  eight  of  whom  grew 
to  matm-ity  Ge<5rge,  John,  Hannah.  James. 
Henry.  Sarah.  Jonathan  and  Mary.  Our  sub- 
ject had  but  jioor  school  advantages,  and  re- 
mained at  liome  until  he  was  21  yejirs  of  age; 
he  then  learned  the  cooper's  trade  in  Jackson 
Tp..  at  which  he  worked  until  1S.">().  running 
a  shoj)  of  his  own.  when  he  went  to  California 
and  worked  at  mining:  returning  in  1852,  he 
engaged  in  the  gi'ocerj'  and  provision  business, 
at  which  he  continued  twenty-seven  years,  re- 
tiring from  the  same  in  1880.  For  si'veral 
years  jiast,  Mr.  Beatty  h<is  been  engaged  in 
the  coal  business.  He  w,as  married,  in  1853. 
to  Agnes  Tinkler,  born  in  England,  and  died 
in    1871,   leaving  three  children — Harry   T., 


Orrin  C.  and  Mary  E.  He  maiTied,  as  his 
siKJond  wife,  Jane  Koberts.  born  in  Indiana 
Co..  Penn..  whose  parents  were  from  England. 
He  is  a  member  of  all  th(>  Miusonic  organiza- 
tions, and  has  been  interested  in  the  political 
issues  of  the  dav.  being  a  true  Kepul)lican. 

ISAA(;  H.  BiU)\VN,  insurance  and  Notary 
Public.  Massillon:  first  saw  the  liglit  of  day, 
April  i.  1S13.  in  the  tf)wn  of  Portsmouth, 
Kocluugham  ('o..  N.  H.:  son  of  Daniel  Brown 
and  liebecca  W.  C'hadwick:  he  was  born  about 
the  year  1780,  in  Ham])ton  Falls;  sou  of  John 
Brown,  who  entered  the  Revolutionary  war  at 
the  age  of  thirty,  and  ch-ew  a  pension  for  sev- 
enty-three years,  lieing  108  yeai'sof  age  at  the 
time  of  his  death.  The  Brovv-n  family,  of 
which  otu'  subject  is  a  descendant,  are  of 
English  ancestry.  Rebecca  was  a  daughter  of 
Ebenezer  Chadwick.  whose  wife  was  a  Web 
ster,  distant  relatives  of  Daniel  W(>bster; 
they  came  from  Bradford,  near  Boston,  ilr. 
Chadwick  had  three  children,  two  daughtei-s, 
and  one  son  whose  name  was  Christopher  C. 
To  John  Brown,  the  graudsire  of  Isaac  H., 
were  born  Sanborn.  Daniel,  Jonathan,  Hor- 
atio, John  and  Hannah.  To  Daniel  and  Re- 
becca Brown  were  born  six  children,  who  grew 
to  matm'ity,  viz. ;  .Vlniira  W.,  who  married 
Samuel  Lahm.  of  Canton,  who  was  a  member 
of  Congress  from  that  district:  Ann  R  ,  wife 
of  H.  Wheeler.  Jr.,  who  w;us  Su])erintendent 
of  the  rolling  mills:  Isaac  H.,  of  Massillon; 
Daniel;  Mary  H,  wife  of  John  H  Wheeler; 
Helen  E..  Mrs.  Isaac  Hazlett,  of  Canton. 
Mrs.  Brown  died  November,  1868,  wliile  on  a 
visit  to  Knoxville,  Tenn.  The  father  of  our 
subject  was  a  merchant,  earning  on  a  whoh^- 
sale  and  retail  trade.  Oiu-  subject  was  raised 
to  mercantile  pursuits.  He  crlerked  six  years 
in  a  dry  goods  store  in  Portsmouth;  also  one 
year  each  in  Boston  and  New  York  City:  he 
came  West  to  Stark  County,  in  September, 
183-I-,  and  since  that  time  has  been  a  constant 
resident  of  the  city  and  identified  with  its  in- 
terests. Upon  his  arrival  at  this  jjlace.  hi>  lirst 
clerked  in  the  ^lassillon  rolling  mills  until 
the  fall  of  18;i8:  in  January.  INH'.t,  he  and 
Hardin  Brown  ])urchased  the  furnace  part  and 
ran  the  same  until  IS'jS,  it  being  th<-  first 
itistitution  of  the  kind  w(>st  of  Pittslnu'gh. 
He  has  always  been  identified  with  the  Re- 


~?7=~ 


^1 


6G0 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


publican  party;  he  was  Canal  Collector  for 
three  years;  was  one  of  the  Trustees  of  the 
city  during  its  early  formation;  served  sev- 
eral years  as  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  was 
Postmaster  from  1861)  to  1874,  and  Notary 
Public  tor  fifteen  years;  is  not  a  member  of 
any  chiu'ch  organization,  but  a  member  of  the 
I.  O.  O.  F.  for  thii-ty-fom-  yeai's.  Mr.  Brown 
is  engaged  in  the  insm'ance  business  and  at- 
tending to  the  duties  of  the  office  of  Notary. 
June  2,  1840,  he  man-ied  Elizabeth  J. 
Wheeler,  who  was  born  in  1815,  in  Ports- 
mouth, N.  H.,  daughter  of  Huakeu  Wheeler; 
has  hve  childi-en — Charles  H.,  now  a  banker 
in  Knoxville,  Tenn.;  Otis  A.,  same  place; 
Horace  resides  in  Massillon,  clerk  in  the  Fu'st 
National  Bank;  Hallie  W.  is  now  Deputy 
Clerk  in  the  United  States  Com't  at  Toledo, 
being  the  tirst  lady  ever  lilliiig  the  office; 
Clarence  is  the  youngest  child. 

JACOB  L.  BACHTEL,  deceased.  The 
Bachtel  family  trace  their  family  to  Samuel 
Bachtel,  who  was  born  in  Eastern  Pennsyl- 
vania, Oct.  4,  1782,  O.  S.  His  father  emi- 
gi-ated  to  the  United  States  and  settled  near 
Schuylkill  in  Montgomery  Co.,  June  12,  1853. 
Samuel  Bachtel  married  Anna  Simon,  who 
was  born  Dec.  18,  1735.  Her  father,  Isaac 
Simon,  emigi'ated  from  France,  and  her 
mother  from  Switzerland.  Simon  was  com- 
pelled to  flee  from  France  on  account  of  his 
religious  sentiments,  he  being  of  the  Men- 
nouite  persuasion.  Jacob  L.  is  of  the  foiu-th 
generation  from  Samuel,  and  was  born  in 
Jackson  Tp.,  Aug.  ID,  1821,  son  of  Samuel 
and  Elizabeth  (Leckron)  Bachtel.  Samuel 
was  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Catherine  (Kershner) 
Bachtel,  who  was  a  sou  of  Samuel  and  Anna 
(Simon)  Bachtel,  whose  father  was  the  first  of 
the  family  to  settle  in  America.  Samuel 
Bachtel,  the  father  of  the  above,  came  West 
to  this  county  and  settled  in  Jackson  Tji. 
when  the  country  was  new;  he  died  1850. 
The  childi-en  born  him  were  Rosamia,  Jacob 
L.,  Catharine,  Henry  C,  Isaac  S.,  Elizabeth 
and  Margaret.  Jacob  L.  was  raised  upon  a 
fann  upon  which  he  remained  until  after  the 
death  of  his  father,  when  he  moved  to  this 
city  and  engaged  in  the  wool  trade,  which 
business  he  carried  on  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death.     He  was  also  an  administrator  upon 


estates,  many  of  which  he  had  in  charge. 
May  15,  1855,  he  maiTied  Eliza  A.  Atwater, 
who  was  born  in  June,  1833,  in  this  city,  and 
by  her  had  one  son,  Edward  H.  Mr.  Bachtel 
died  in  1879 — was  an  excellent  business  man 
and  highly  esteemed  in  the  community  for 
his  goodness  of  heart  and  manly  virtues. 
Eliza  A.  was  a  daughter  of  Joshua  D.  At- 
water and  Dorcas  Bronson.  He  was  born  Jan. 
29,  1807,  in  Hamdeu,  Conn.,  son  of  Jared 
and  Eunice  ( Dickerman )  Atwater.  Jared 
was  a  son  of  David  and  (Rachel)  Hubbard. 
He  was  a  son  of  Joshua  and  Betsey  Good- 
year. David  Atwater  is  the  original  member 
or  head  of  the  family.  He  was  one  of  the  first 
planters  of  New  Haven.  He  and  Joshua  came 
over  from  Kent  Co.,  England,  to  New  Haven, 
as  e;u'ly  as  16*55.  The  descendants  of  Joshua 
;u'e  extinct.  David  Atwater  died  in  1692, 
antl  fi'om  him  has  descended  quite  a  numerous 
progeny.  Joshua  Atwater  came  to  Ohio  and  set- 
tled in  Massillon  and  established  a  business  in 
1832,  which  is  being  conducted  to  this  day  by 
his  son  David.  The  religion  of  the  family 
has  been  Congregational.  Mrs.  Atwater  is  a 
Methodist;  Mrs.  Bachtel  a  member  of  the 
Episcopal  ChiU'ch. 

D.  O.  BROWN,  coal  dealer,  Massillon;  was 
born  Oct.  21,  1804,  in  Belmont  Co.,  Ohio, 
son  of  William  and  Mary  (Booker)  Brown, 
both  natives  of  Virginia.  William  was  a  car- 
penter by  trade,  and  raised  a  family  of  six 
children — Hiram  D.,  Jacob  B.,  William,  Jesse, 
D.  O.,  and  Lauretta.  D.  O.  was  the  third  in 
order,  and  at  the  age  of  18  learned  the  cab- 
inet makers'  trade,  leaving  home  at  26.  In 
1834,  he  married  Harriet  Alter,  a  native  of 
Ohio;  she  died,  leaving  two  children.  He 
came  West  in  1854,  to  this  place,  and  engaged 
with  his  brother  William  in  the  coal  business, 
which  has  continued  up  to  the  present  time. 
"While  at  his  trade  he  worked  in  various  local- 
ities including  a  residence  in  Cincinnati  of 
22  years.  Having  begun  life  poor  and  not 
having  any  school  advantages,  our  subject 
has  gradually  worked  himself  into  a  position 
that  is  worthy  of  commendation.  His  pres- 
ent wife  was  Maiy  A.  Bailey,  born  in  1816,  in 
Cuyahoga  Co.,  Ohio,  daughter  of  Amasa  Bai- 
ley, who  came  to  Cleveland  from  Massachu- 
setts, about  1832.     The  Browns  are  of  En- 


'-^ 


CITY    OF    MASvSILLON. 


601 


f^lish  and  the  Bookere  of  German  descent. 
He  lias  one  brother  livintr.  Is  R('pul)lican  in 
|K)lities.  Jcssf.  the  Imrtbcr  livin<^,  resides  in 
Mound  City,  Kan.  By  his  hist  marriage  has 
one  chikl,  Cynis  O. 

J.  M.  BAHNEY,  furnitiue,  Massillon;  was 
boni  iu  this  town  Oct.  31,  1!S39;  son  of  Jacob 
J.  and  Mary  Miller,  he  being  a  son  of  Jacob, 
who  had  eight  children.  Mr.  Bahney's  t'ather, 
Jacob,  came  West  in  ISl'i,  and  located  in 
this  township.  He  had  ten  children — Will- 
iam, in  California;  Maria  and  Joseph,  dead; 
Maj.  A.  J.  Bahney,  lOlth,  served  three  years, 
now  in  Kansas;  Hiram;  Eliza,  died  in  Cali- 
fornia; J.  M. ;  Isaac,  in  Kansas;  Laura  A.: 
Mrs.  Lewis  ^Valcott  Jacob  was  a  carpenter 
and  bridge  builder  and  millwright  After 
coming  West,  Mr.  Baliney  engaged  in  the  fur- 
niture business  in  IS'24,  continuing  until  LS5-, 
when  he  was  succ(>eded  by  Joseph,  who  ran 
the  same  until  \H1'S,  when  J.  M.  took  hold  of 
it  and  has  run  it  since.  The  father  died  in 
bS75,  mother  still  living;  both  members  of 
the  Gennan  Lutheran  Church.  He  was  a 
stanch  Democrat  John  M.,  our  subject, 
left  home  before  he  was  of  age,  and  went  to 
Californiii,  staying  there  seven  and  a  half 
years.  Was  engaged  there  in  mining.  After 
his  return  from  California  he  went  to  Mis- 
souri, where  he  remained  some  time;  out  on 
the  Pacific  llailroad  for  one  and  a  half  years: 
then  to  this  ])lace,  and  again  went  to  Califor- 
nia, staying  three  and  a  half  years.  In  1S73, 
he  engaged  in  business  here,  where  he  has 
continued  since. 

F.  L.  B.ALDWIN,  attorney  at  law,  Massil- 
lon; was  born  in  this  city  and  has  since  been 
identified  with  its  interests,  smd  is  now  of  the 
firm  of  Pease  &  Baldwin.  The  Baldwins  and 
Millers,  of  whom  he  is  a  descendant  have  been 
quite  j)rominently  identified  with  the  interests 
of  the  county,  as  early  settlers  and  as  business 
men.  Ponieroy,  tin'  father  of  the  aljove,  was 
Itorn  in  this  county;  he  first  saw  the  light  of  day 
in  Hudson,  Summit  Co.,  March  0,  ISIS;  son 
of  Pomeroy  Baldwin  who  was  a  native  of 
Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.,  and  located  in  Siunmit 
Co.  in  IS  12,  where  he  died  five  years  after- 
ward. His  wife  was  Ann  Foote,  a  native  of 
Connecticut;  she  afterward  marred  Ai-vine 
Wales,   Sr.,  and  by   him  had  one  child,  the 


Hon.  A.  C.  Wales,  of  this  county.  She  died  in 
1S2N.  Pomeroy  Baldwin  (the  father  of  F.  L.) 
was  her  son  b_\'  Uer  first  marriage.  He  ciime  to 
this  county  alwut  the  year  1S3(),  and  engaged  iu 
several  lines  of  business.  He  died  March  25, 
1849.  His  widow  married  Dr.  Barrick,  who 
was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  who  came  West 
to  Columbiana  Co.  when  a  lad.  He  moved 
to  Cleveland  in  1S4(),  where  he  lived  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  March  22,  LSTIJ. 
Mrs.  Biirrick  was  bom  July  12,  1.S20,  in 
the  city  of  Massillon,  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Elizabeth  Miller.  Jacob  was  a  son  of  (Jeorge 
who  came  h'om  Frederick  Co.,  Md.,  to  Read- 
ing, Penn.,  from  which  place  they  emigrated 
to  this  county,  locating  iu  what  is  now  Jack- 
son Tp.,  in  ISOfi.  George  had  a  lai'ge  family, 
among  whom  was  Jacob,  the  father  of  Mrs. 
Clara  N.  Barrick,  who  is  the  mother  of  F.  L. 
Baldwin.  Jacob,  one  of  tlie  sons,  was  for 
many  years  Associate  Judge  of  the  county. 

S.  C.  BOWMAN,  hardware,  Massillon; 
was  bom  Sept  5,  1S22,  in  Franklin  Co., 
Penn.,  son  of  Abram  and  Christina  Kreider 
Bowman,  to  whom  were  born  ten  children,  S. 
C.  being  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth.  The 
family  came  from  Pennsylvania  to  Tuscara- 
was Tp.,  in  lS2y,  and  where  Abram  re 
mained  until  his  death  in  1S52;  his  wife 
died  in  1S68.  S.  C.  was  raised  to  farming, 
and  stayed  at  home  until  he  was  of  age.  He 
had  good  school  advantages,  and  taught 
school  himself  for  ten  years  during  the  win- 
ters. He  came  to  Massillon  about  1(S52  and 
engaged  in  the  "  fanners'  store,"  owning 
stock  of  and  being  interested  in  the  same  for 
about  five  yeai-s,  after  which  he  became  asso- 
ciated with  I.  X.  Dovs(>e  in  tin  basins  for 
two  years;  then  put  in  mill  machin(>ry,  etc., 
bought  the  building  in  company  with  Will- 
iam Taylor,  and  ran  the  same  five  or  six  years, 
sold  out,  and  in  com[)any  with  Williani  Tay- 
lor put  in  mill  machinerj-  now  rim  by  L  N. 
Doxsee.  then  bought  the  building  and  ran  the 
same  about  six  years;  then  sold  out;  then 
bought  the  Atwater  grocery,  in  which  he  con- 
tinued two  years;  then  in  hardware  in  lSt)S, 
under  firm  niune  of  Bowman  &  Meyer.  In 
December,  ISSO,  he  bought  out  Mi-.  Meyer, 
and  has  since  i-uu  the  business  alone.  Since 
1S72,  was  engaged  in  prospecting  for  coal. 


:^.=£l^ 


662 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Was  a  member  of  the  Legislatiu-e  in  1859 
and  1800:  also,  from  1870  to  1874  Is  at 
present  serving  as  a  member  of  the  State 
Board  of  Equalization.  Jan.  4.  1849.  was 
-maiTied  to  Elizabeth  Sowers,  born  in  Frank- 
lin Tp..  Summit  Co..  January,  1827.  daughter 
of  Jacob  Sowers,  who  married  a  Harter.  Has 
one  child,  Ida,  now  Mrs.  Otto  Uhlendorfl'.  Is 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Chm'ch, 
and  a  Freemason,  including  Blue  Lodge, 
Chapter,  Council,  and  Commandery,  as  well 
as  oF  the  order  of  Royal  Arcanum. 

D.  C.  BUNNELL,  livery,  Massillon;  was 
born  Sept.  12,  1839.  in  Cleveland;  son  of  Isaac 
M.  and  Mary  E.  (Reed)  Bunnell.  De  Witt 
remained  with  his  jiarents  in  Cleveland,  iintil 
August,  1862,  when  he  enlisted  as  a  private, 
in  Co.  A,  13th  O.  V.  I.,  and  remained  in 
service  until  November,  1805,  serving  three 
years  and  throe  months.  Diu^ing  the  last  half 
of  his  service  he  was  employed  at  Gen. 
Thomas'  headquarters,  as  telegraph  mes- 
senger. Upon  his  return  to  peacei'ul  pur- 
suits, he  came  to  this  city  and  for-  two 
years  was  engaged  in  butchering  with  J.  F. 
Sutterling,  under  the  fii-m  name  of  Sutterling 
&  Bunnell.  Since  the  spring  of  1808,  he  has 
been  engaged  in  the  livery  business,  having 
a  good  class  of  horses  and  vehicles,  which 
command  a  liberal  share  of  the  public  patron- 
age. For  several  years  past  he  has  been 
engaged  in  boating  on  the  canal,  having  a 
boat  of  his  own  which  he  runs  whenever  busi- 
ness demands.  Isaac  M.,  his  father,  was  born 
June  7,  1810,  in  St.  Lawi-ence  Co..  N.  Y.,  son 
of  Jesse  H.,  who  was  born  in  Massachusetts. 
April  30,  1785;  his  wife  was  Susanna  Pratt, 
who  was  bom  May  31.  17Ny.  and  by  whom 
he  had  eleven  children  —  Isaac  M..  Rachel. 
Daniel.  Mary  A..  Agnes  B.,  Charles  H..  Hem-y 
A.,  Levi  P.,  Maria  G.,  Hannah  K.  and  Will- 
iam S.  Jesse  H.,  the  grandfather  of  De  Witt, 
was  a  son  of  Jonathan  and  Mehitable  (Morse) 
Bunnell.  They  were  married  in  Kingsltmy, 
New  York.  The  fruits  of  the  maiTiage  were 
twelve  childi-en,  viz. ;  Rebecca,  Sarah.  Nathan- 
iel, Anna,  Isaac,  Solomon,  Jonathan,  Jesse  H., 
Levi,  Mary,  Mehitable  and  Abigail.  Isaac 
Morse,  the  father  of  De  Witt,  came  to  Cleve- 
land in  1833.  He  was  a  ship  carj)enter  and 
boat  builder,  at  which  he  worked  until  his 


death.  May  24.  1874.  His  wife  died  in  1865. 
I  They  had  five  children — Francis  W.,  De  Witt 
!  C,  Edwin  R..  Jesse  H..  and  Henry  H — but 
:  two  living.  D.  C.  and  J.  H..  who  is  now  in 
I  New    York,     a    manufacturer    of    telegi'aph 

instruments. 
'       C.   S.  BROWN,  merchant,  Massillon;  bom 
May  29.    185S,  in   Sugar  Creek   Tp.,  son  of 
Robert  and  Elizabeth  (Sprankle)  Browu.  John 
Brown,  the  gi-andfather  of  C.  S.,  was  a  native 
!  of  Westmoreland  Co.,  Penn.,  and  came  West 
;  to  Ohio,  about  the  time  of  the   war  of  1812, 
locating    in   Tuscarawas    Co.,  where  Robert, 
the  father  of  C.  S.,  was  born  (in  1832)  and  at 
the  age  of  5  years  was  left  fatherless.     His 
i  mother  married  Gabriel  Weimer,  with  whom 
I  he  went  to  Sugar  Creek  Tp.,  in  1839,  where 
he  lived  until  1858,  then  moved  to  Noble  Co., 
Ind.,  where  he  yet  resides.     Eight  children 
have  been  born  him,  C.  S.  being  the  third ;  he 
left  home  at  the  age  of  eight  years,  hiring 
out  to  work  for  .13  per  month;  after  ten  years' 
labor  on  a  farm  came  to  Massillon  in  1870, 
and  entered  the  "  Bee-hive "  store,  where  he 
■  clerked    several    years.       Sejit.    5,    1880,    he 
began  in  l)usiness  tor  himself  on  the  corner 
of  Erie  and  Trenjont  streets,  where  he  opened 
n\)  a  Chinaware  room,    called    the  "  Eureka 
;  Dish  Store."     In  the  spring  of  1881,  he  asso- 
ciated with    D.  R.  Rosche    in    the   business, 
\  which  is  conducted  by  these  gentlemen  who 
,  are   doing    an    excellent    trade.     In   August, 
I  1880,  ho  married  Ida  E.  Ruff,  who  was  born 
in  this  city,  daughter  of  Louis  Ruff,  who  was 
killed  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  Vieing  a  mem- 
ber   of    Co.   A,  13th   O.   V.    I.       His    wife's 
maiden  name  was  Mary  E.  Klotze.     Elizaljeth 
Sprankle,  the  mother  of  C'.  S.,  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Daniel  Sprankle,  whose  wife  was  Nancy 
All  man.  daughter  of  Etienezer  Allman,  one  of 
the  jtioneers  of  the  township  of  Bethlehem. 
E.  B.  BAYLISS,  hotel,  Massillon:  was  bom 
in  December,  1S40,  in  Kendal  (now  Foiu'th 
Ward),  second  son  of  James  and  Eliza  (Fox) 
Bayliss,  and  was  raised  in  the  city  of  Massil- 
lon.    Oct.  19, 1805,  he  married  Carrie  Zielley, 
who    was    born    in    1847,    in    Canton,    Ohio, 
I  daughter  of   Peter  Zielley.     Mr.  Bayliss  has 
three  childi-en — Lidey.  George    and   Walter. 
I  Since   June   1,    1879,   Mr.   Bayliss   has    been 
engaged  in  the  hotel    business  with  George 


^l 


CITY   OF    MASSILLON. 


C63 


Zeilley,  running  the  Tremont,  which  they  car- 
ried on  thirteen  months.  Since  July  13, 
ISS(I,  they  have  been  pro])riet(jrs  of  the  Park 
Hotel,  fonuerjy  known  as  the  American.  The 
Park  Hotel  is  the  best  house  in  the  city,  being 
cunihieted  by  thoroughly  jiractical  men,  who 
study  the  comfort  and  convenience  of  their 
guests,  which  efl'ort  on  their  part  is  duly 
appreciated  by  the  traveling  public  who  pat- 
mnize  the  house  to  the  extent  of  its  capacity. 
J.  P.  BUKTON.  coal  and  iron.  Miussillou; 
was  born  in  Penn's  Manor,  Penn.,  Sept.  30, 
1821.  Mr.  Biuion's  ancestors  were  members 
of  the  Society  of  Friends,  emigrating  with 
AVilliam  Penn.  ;md  settled  in  Delawai-e  Co., 
Penn.  The  parents  of  J.  P.  were  ^Villiam 
and  Kosanna  (Galln-aithi  Biu'ton,  the  former 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  the  latter  of  Ireland. 
The  father  was  a  civil  engineer,  and  was 
prominently  engaged  in  some  of  the  leading 
enterprises  in  that  State  in  the  erection  of 
canals  and  railroads.  Mr.  Burton  received  a 
common  school  education.  At  the  age  of  1 9  he 
was  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business,  in  the 
dry  goods  house  of  Lee  k  Taylor,  and  subse- 
quently, with  Brown  &  Burton.  In  1S43, 
he  went  to  Philadel]ihia,  Penn.,  and  embarked 
in  the  wholesale  dry  goods  trade  with  Burton 
&  Greis,  continuing  with  them  four  years, 
and  after  that  with  Davis.  Burton  k  Co.,  for 
nine  years,  in  the  French  and  India  import- 
ing trade.  Duriui;  this  time  he  was  for  the 
most  jiart  stationed  in  Eurojie  jmrchasing  and 
Khi])piug  goods  to  this  country.  In  l^^)7,  he 
withdrew  from  that  business  and  associated 
with  Jacob  E.  Eidgeway  and  others,  contract- 
ing upon  jmblic  works,  taking  the  first  ct  ntract 
upon  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad,  from  Still- 
water to  St.  Paul.  He  also  had  the  contract  for 
building  the  Citizens'  Passenger  City  Kailway, 
of  Pittsburgh,  being  the  first  enterprise  of  the 
kind  in  the  city.  In  ISS'.t,  he  removed  to 
Massillon.  Stark  Co.,  where,  in  connection  with 
llidgeway.  he])m-chased  the  Massillon  Furnace 
property  and  for  aliout  seventeen  years  was  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  jiigiron.  InlSTG, 
was  formed  the  corporation  known  as  the  Bur- 
ton Fmnace  Co..  of  which  Mr.  Burton  has  since 
b(cn  President.  In  July,  IST'.t,  the  liidge- 
way-Bm-toD  Co.  was  organized  and  incoq^o- 
rated  for  the  purpose  of   operating  in  coal, 


iron  find  iron  ores,  Mr.  Burton  being  Pres- 
ident of  the  same.  He  is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason. 
having  been  connected  with  the  organization 
for  over  thirty  years,  and  is  a  Republican 
since  the  organization  of  the  party.  He  has 
been  twice  married;  his  first  wife  was  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  of  Isaac  Jenkinson,  of  Mary- 
land, whom  he  married  in  PhihKl<'l])hia  in 
1845.  She  died  in  1807.  In Februaiy,  187  l,l>e 
man-ied  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Jonathan  Zerlje, 
of  Massillon.  The  fruits  of  the  union  are 
Alice,  Clara  and  Jonathan  Prescott  Burton. 

C.  T.  BICKNELL,  jiaper  manufactiuer, 
Massillon,  Ohio.  The  Bicknell  family,  now 
scattered  over  the  I'nited  States,  descended 
from  Zachary  Bickn(>ll,  an  English  naval 
(  flficer.  born  ly'Jd,  in  Weymouth,  England,  of 
Scandinavian  origin.  He  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica in  the  sjuing  of  1035,  landed  in  Massa- 
chusetts, and  fciunded  the  town  of  "Weymouth, 
and  died  the  following  year.  His  descend- 
ants have  all  imbibed  nnich  of  the  Puritan- 
ical honesty  and  u].rightuess,  which  is  m(  re 
clearly  demonstrated  from  the  fact  that,  fcr 
the  last  250  years,  not  one  of  the  blood  of 
Zachary  Bicknell  has  ever  stood  convicte<l  in 
any  court,  of  any  crime,  misdemeanor,  or 
fraud.  Prior  to  the  year  1820,  they  were 
Federalists,  and  though  they  have  been  tHi;:m- 
bitious  in  the  line  of  ]mblic  life  <uid  honi  I's, 
yet  the  family  has  had  its  full  share  in  the 
imjiortant  trusts  of  civil  society.  Charli  s  T., 
whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  is  of  the  si>V(  nth 
generation  fn:m  Zachary.  He  was  born  Sej)t. 
15,  1830,  in  Madison  Co.,N.  Y.,son  of  Moses, 
who  was  a  ton  of  Bennett,  son  of  Moses,  son 
of  James,  son  of  John,  who  was  a  son  of 
Zachary;  Moses,  the  father  of  C.  T.,  mairied 
Laura  Thompson,  and  by  her  hi'd  four  chil 
dreu,  who  are  Arbella  C.,  now  Mrs.  James 
Richards  on  the  homestead;  J.  Bennett,  now 
in  Cleveland  in  the  grocery  trade;  Charles 
T.,  in  Ma.ssillon,  and  Laura  M.,  n.jw  Mi's. 
C  harles  H.  C(<man,  of  Fremont,  Nel).  Charles 
T.  was  raised  to  mi^rcantile  piusuits  under 
his  father's  care.  In  1859,  he  engaged  in 
farming,  which  he  continued  until  1807,  when 
he  engaged  in  merchandising.  In  1809,  was 
elected  County  Treasurer  and  re  elected  in 
1871,  which  position  he  filled  until  January, 
1S70.     In   November,   187(>,  he   came   West 


J^l 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


and  purchased  an  interest  in  the  Massillon 
Paper  Mill,  then  returned  to  New  York,  where 
he  remained  until  1S75,  when  he  moved  his 
family  to  this  city  where  he  has  since  resided. 
He  is  Secretary  and  Treasurer  as  weli  as 
agent  for  the  Massillon  Paper  Manufactiu'- 
ing  Company.  In  1858,  he  was  maiTied  to 
Susan  Payne,  who  was  born  in  1889  in  Nel- 
son, Madison  Co.,  N.  Y.,  daughter  of  Lyman 
and  Anna  ( Chappell )  Payne,  his  father, 
Ruggles  Payne,  being  one  of  the  early  pio- 
neers in  that  locality.  Mrs.  Bickuell  died  in 
1871,  leaving  four  children — Anna  L.,  Alice, 
Warren  and  Charles.  He  man-ied  Mary 
Gostling,  in  1875.  She  was  a  native  of 
England,  daughter  of  William  Gostling. 
Mr.  Bicknell  is  a  member  of  the  A.,  F.  &  A. 
M.,  Morrisville  Lodge,  No.  t)58;  also  of  the  A. 

o.  u.  w. 

JOSEPH  COLEMAN,  jeweler,  Massillon; 
one  of  the  oldest  jewelers  in  the  coimty;  was 
born  July  4,  1828,  in  Lakenheath,  Suffolk, 
England,  the  youngest  of  a  family  of  eight 
children  born  to  William  and  Baily  (Crow) 
Coleman.  The  family  emigi-ated  to  Canada 
in  1834,  where  they  stayed  abo\it  one  year, 
from  thence  going  to  Bufl'alo,  where  they 
stayed  three  years.  The  father  was  a  brick 
mason  and  builder  by  trade.  Of  the  family 
the  following  grew  up:  William  B.,  died  in 
Buffalo  in  181)9;  John  C,  died  in  Massillon, 
1879;  Mary  Ann,  on  the  homestead;  Maria, 
now  Mi's.  Betteridge,  in  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y., 
and  Phebe,  died  in  1874  in  Canada.  From 
Biiffalo  the  family  moved  to  Detroit,  where 
they  remained  imtil  1837,  when  they  came  to 
this  coimtv  and  spent  nearly  one  year  in 
Bethlehem*  Tp.  The  following  year  (1838), 
our  subject  was  apprenticed  for  four  years  to 
Marlin  A.  Withington.  From  there  he  went 
to  Canada,  and  then  stayed  a  short  time  in 
Buffalo,  from  whence  he  returned  home  and 
began  business  in  April,  1845,  in  the  room, 
since  located,  kept  by  N.  Sibila  on  Main 
street.  He  stayed  there  two  years  and  then 
moved  to  a  small  fi-ame  building  where  the 
Park  Hotel  now  stands,  where  he  stayed  Tintil 
1851,  when  he  was  bvu-ned  out.  He  then 
purchased  the  groimd  and  began  building 
where  the  old  building  stood,  but  before  it 
was   completed,    the   parties  who    afterward 


built  the  hotel  bought  him  out.  Then  he 
bought  the  proiserty  which  the  Skinner  Bros. 
now  run,  occupying  the  place  sixteen  years 
and  living  in  the  same  building;  in  fact  all 
his  children  were  born  there.  After  that  he 
became  joint  owner  of  the  Park  Hotel,  and 
occupied  the  room  which  Hanson  now  occu- 
pies; here  he  stayed  eight  years,  after  which 
he  disposed  of  his  hotel  interests,  and  came 
to  his  present  place  in  1870,  purchasing  the 
building  No.  5  South  Erie  street.  He  was 
married  in  1852  to  Mary  Bender,  who  was 
bom  in  this  town,  daughter  of  John  Bender. 
They  have  three  chikhen — Herbert  B.,  Anna 
P.  and  .\lbert  H.  Politically,  Mi'.  Coleman 
is  a  Republican.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Town  Council  before  it  became  a  city;  was 
foiu'teen  years  Treasurer  of  the  Massillon 
Cemetery  Association;  was  Secretary  of  the 
Massillon  Coal  &  Iron  Co.,  for  five  or  six 
years;  was  also  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Directors  of  the  Union  Bank,  and,  since  the 
present  organization,  a  Director  of  the  same. 
L.  C.  COLE,  lawyer,  Massillon;  was  born 
in  Island  Creek  Tp.,  Jefferson  Co.,  Sept.  14, 
1849;  son  of  Thomas  and  Mar}'  J.  (Jackman) 
Cole,  both  natives  of  Jefferson  Co.  The  Cole 
family  originally  formed  three  branches — 
Joshua,  Thomas  and  Ezekiel.  who  came  over 
fi'om  England  with  Lord  Baltimore  and  set- 
tled in  Maryland.  L.  C.  was  raised  a  farmer, 
but  attended  school  for  several  years,  and 
afterward  took  a  four  years'  course  in  college. 
In  1871,  he  began  the  stxad}'  of  law,  under 
Judge  Martin,  of  Steubenville,  and  was 
admitted  to  and  began  the  practice  of  his 
profession  in  Januaiy,  1874,  at  Tiffin;  in 
June  of  same  year,  he  came  to  this  place  and 
associated  himself  with  Isaac  Ulman,  which 
continued  until  1879;  then  practiced  alone 
iiutil  March,  1881,  since  which  time  with  R. 
W.  McCaughey.  In  1880.  he  was  elected 
Mayor,  having  previously  served  for  five 
yeai-s  as  City  Solicitor.  He  was  mairied,  in 
October,  1873,  to  Maiiha  J.,  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Maiy  Daugherty.  They  have 
one  child,  Thomas.  Mr.  Cole  is  a  member  of 
the  L  O.  O.  F.,  and  K.  of  P.  orders.  His 
father  had  nine  children,  all  of  whom  gi-ew 
to  matiu'ity,  but  five  of  whom  ai-e  now  living 
— Caroline,  Mi's.  I.  B.  Jackman,  Daviess  Co., 


CITY   OF    MASSII.LON. 


Ind. ;  Hannah,  Mrs.  J.  G.  Gulp;  Margaret, 
Mrs.  Joseph  Jaekman,  both  of  Jeflferson  Co., 
Ohio;  ElizalH'th,  now  Airs.  W.  P.  Cooper, 
Cohimbiana  Co.,  this  State.  Father  died 
Dec.  IN,  ISuU.  Mother  yet  liviiii^  and  resid- 
ing in  Cohimbiana  ('onntv  with  Mrs.  C<H>per. 

JOSEPH  CAKNS,  rolling-mill,  Massil- 
lon;  was  born  Nov.  9.  1829,  in  Tredegar, 
Monmouthshire,  England,  son  of  James  and 
.Mary  (Richards)  Cams.  The  family  in  1S8(1. 
emigrated  to  America  and  settled  in  Balti- 
more where  they  stayed  but  a  short  time,  then 
removed  to  Chester  County,  and  from  there 
to  Cumberland  ('a,  N.  J.,  where  the  father 
was  engaged  in  the  rolling-mill  business, 
.loseph  began  the  trade  when  but  U  years  of 
age,  and  in  1S47  engaged  in  business  for  him- 
self, building  what  is  now  known  as  Buft'alo 
Iron  and  Nail  ^\'orks.  Remained  in  New 
Jersey  until  ISHH,  then  moved  to  Philadel- 
[)hia,  then  to  I'ittsbm'gh  and  to  N(>w  York,  ^\'as 
Superintendent  from  l!Sr>8  to  ISdU.  and  moved 
to  Akron,  where  he  engiiged  in  same  business, 
and  was  M;maging  Director  of  the  Akron  Iron 
Company.  In  1878,  he  dissolved  his  coimec- 
tion  with  this  company  and  joined  a  tirm  at 
Girard,  undi'r  the  name  of  the  Cams  Ii-on 
Company,  which  continued  until  the  spring 
of  1880,  when  he  sold  out  his  interest  and 
came  to  Massillon  in  .'Vugust  of  same  year, 
and  leiised  the  Massillon  Rt)lling  Mills. 
They  employ  over  one  hundred  men.  manu- 
faetm'ing  all  grades  of  iron  known  to  the 
trade.  He  married,  in  1 8,")  1 ,  Sarah  Ann  Pe;u'- 
son.  born  in  Rufl'alo,  N.  Y..  daughter  of  Chris- 
topher and  Martha  Pearson,  Mr.  C.  has  been 
identfied  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
since  1842,  and  j)rior  to  his  coming  to 
Massillon  has  l)een  an  active  and  enthusiastic 
worker  in  the  Sunday  school,  being  many 
years  in  charge  of  th(>  same  as  Su])eriutend- 
ent     Has   always  been  a  stanch  Re|)ublican. 

WILLIAM  CASTLEMAN,  lumber,  Mas- 
sillon: was  bom  Fell.  22,  1827,  in  Perry  Tp., 
Stark  Co.,  Ohio.  His  ])arents  were  John  and 
M;uT  (Meek)  Castleiiian,  the  f(inner  a  native 
of  I'ennsylvania,  the  latter  of  Marjland.  His 
father  emigrated  from  Pennsylvania  to  Ohio 
in  1811,  and  wiis  a  pioneer  of  what  was  then 
known  as  Kendal,  but  now  Fourth  Wfird  in 
Massillon.     That  part  of  the  county  was  at  the 


time  little  better  than  a  wilderness,  Massilli)n 
having  only  tw(j  houses.  He  was  a  cai-penter 
and  builder,  and  a  tine  type  of  the  genuine 
pioneer.  He  was  an  indusb'ious,  energetic 
and  hiird-working  man.  nuich  respected  by  all 
who  knew  him.  He  had  a  family  of  ten  chil- 
dren, of  whom  om-  subject  is  the  second  son. 
When  the  latter  was  only  9  years  of  age, 
his  fatlK>r  met  with  an  accident  which  cri])- 
pled  him  for  life,  and  from  that  time  onward 
young  Castleman  was  thrown  entirely  ujK)n 
his  own  resources  and  compelled  to  support 
himself.  His  o])portunitie8  for  acquiring  an 
education  were  therefore  extremely  limiteil. 
When  about  IS  years  of  agc^  he  was  employed 
for  a  short  time  as  laborer  on  the  canal,  after 
which  he  ])urchased  a  ('anal  boat  on  credit, 
and  engaged  in  boating  ft-om  Cleveland  to 
Massillon.  with  an  occasional  tri[)  to  the  Ohio 
River.  In  this  business  he  continued  for 
twenty-three  yeai-s  with  ])roiitable  residts. 
On  account  of  tlu^  hard  work  and  exposure 
incident  to  this  occupation,  he  sold  out  bis 
interest  on  the  canal  and  embarked  in  the 
lumber  trade  in  Massillon,  in  18(')().  at  which 
business  he  has  since  been  engaged.  For  a 
short  time  he  was  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business.  He  is  now  the  oldest  lumber  mer- 
chant in  Massillon.  His  mother  died  in 
1 87r),  at  the  age  of  84.  For  many  years  pre- 
vious to  her  death,  she  found  a  home  with 
her  son  William,  who  was  devoted  to  her  and 
administered  to  her  wants  to  the  end  of  her 
life.  Fonuerly  he  was  a  Democrat,  but  now 
a  Republican.      He  is  unmarried. 

PETER  DIELHENN,  merchant,  Massil- 
lon; is  among  the  successful  business  men  of 
this  city,  who,  coming  h(>re  ])oor  and  unaided, 
has  arisen  t<^)  his  ])resent  ])roportions  mainly 
through  his  own  individual  exertions.  He 
was  born  February  17,  in  Rhine- Prussia,  the 
eldest  son  born  to  his  parents,  Nicholas  Diel- 
henn  and  Catharine  Baml)ach,  to  whom  wei-e 
born  a  family  of  thirteen  children,  ten  of 
w'hom  gi'ew  to  maturity.  Mr.  Dielhenn  was 
brought  up  to  farming  pursuits.  W'as  mar- 
ried to  Sophia  Poss,  born  May  19,  1814,  and 
emigrated  to  Ohio,  leaving  his  native  shore 
March  If),  1840,  and  reached  New  York  in 
April,  remaining  one  year  in  Phliadelphia, 
and  came  to  Massillon  in  1841.     First  l)egau 


BTOGRAPIIICAL    SKETCHES: 


selling  goods  in  a  small  way,  going  from 
place  to  place.  J84'ji,  he  went  to  Uniontown 
where  he  ran  a  grocery  store  for  one  year  and 
a  half,  then  returned  to  Massillon  and  engaged 
in  the  grocery  trade;  during  this  time  kept 
tavern  in  West  Massillon  alsoiit  twelve  years, 
after  which  he  gave  his  attention  exclusively 
to  the  groceiy  trade  and  has  continued  up  to 
the  present  time,  having  secured  a  goodly 
amount  of  this  world's  goods,  which  have  been 
the  result  of  his  labor  and  attention  to  his 
biisiness  and  the  exercise  of  frugality.  Has 
foiu'  childi'eu,  two  sons  and  two  daughters. 
The  S(ms  ai'e  in  business  with  him  and  repre- 
sent two  branches  of  the  leading  mercantile 
interests  of  the  ])lace.  One  daughter  married 
to  G.  L.  Albrecht,  a  rising  young  merchant. 
Anna  at  home.  Is  a  member  of  the  German 
Reformed  Church,  and  a  Democrat. 

H.  DIELHENN,  clothing  merchant,  Mas- 
sillon. Am(_)ng  the  prominent  business  inter- 
ests of  this  city  is  the  clothing  firm  of  P.  & 
H.  Dielhenn,  which  is  being  conducted  by 
Henry  Dielhenn,  who  was  born  in  this  city  in 
1847,  being  the  second  son  of  Peter  Dielhenn, 
one  of  the  self-made  business  men  of  Massil- 
lon. Our  subject  was  raised  to  mercantile 
pursuits,  and  at  the  age  of  18  entered  the 
store  of  his  father,  for  whom  he  clerked  until 
1870.  In  March,  1871,  he  became  associated 
with  his  father,  under  the  firm  name  of  P.  & 
H.  Dielhenn,  which  connection  has  existed 
since.  In  IS"."),  he  was  married  to  !Mary 
Albright,  born  in  this  city,  daughter  of  Fred- 
erick and  Elizabeth  Daum  Albright.  Has 
two  children — Hari-y  Frederick  and  Mabel 
Hophia.  IVIi-.  Dielhenn  is  a  member  of  St. 
John's  Evangelical  Church,  of  Clinton  Lodge, 
No.  47,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  Lodge  70,  A.  O. 
U.  W. 

JOHN  E.  DANGLER,  boots  r.nd  shoes, 
Massillon;  was  born  April  17,  1834,  of  a 
family  of  nine  children  born  to  Samuel  and 
Sarah  (Bowen)  Dangler,  he  a  native  of  Berks 
Co.,  Penn.,  born  in  179fi.  Our  subject  left 
home  at  1(5  years  and  went  to  Canal  Ful- 
ton, where  he  engaged  as  clerk  in  a  drug 
store,  remaining  there  tliree  years,  when  he 
came  to  this  [)lace,  and  for  five  years  was  em- 
ployed as  clerk  for  Sausser  &  Dangler.  In 
185(),  he  associated  himself  in  the  hai'dware 


business  with  his  brother  Samuel  J.,  under 
the  name  of  Dangler  Bros.,  which  lasted  four 
years,  John  R.  at  that  time  withdi'awing  and 
going  to  Pike's  Peak,  where  he  stayed  eight 
mouths,  returning  in  the  spring  of  18f)l,  and 
engaging  in  the  oil  business  at  Mecca,  Trum- 
bull Co.  After  a  few  months,  he  went  to 
Minerva,  Stark  Co.,  and  clerked  three  and  a 
half  years  for  H.  A.  Foster  &  Co.,  and  in  1865 
came  to  this  city,  and  engaged  in  the  dry 
goods  business  as  one  of  the  tirm  of  McLain, 
Dangler  &  Co.,  which  lasted  nine  years;  he 
then  sold  out  and  went  into  the  boot  and  shoe 
business.  In  1 857,  he  married  Jane  E.  Knapp, 
born  in  this  city,  daughter  of  William  and 
Harriet  (Austin)  Knapp.  The  Knapps  were 
from  Massachusetts  and  the  Austins  were 
early  settlers.  He  is  a  member  of  the  ancient 
and  honoraMe  fraternity  of  A.,  F.  &  A.  M. ; 
also  a  Royal  Ai-ch  and  a  Knight  Templar. 
Mr.  Dangler  is  the  present  nominee  for  the 
office  of  County  Treasurer,  having  received 
1,'2S8  out  of  1,7(14  votes  cast.  Has  seven 
children,  Jennie  K.,  Hattie  M.,  Mamie  F., 
Grace,  Ruth,  Raljih  and  Florence  H. 

I.  N.  DOXSEE,  milling,  Massillon;  was 
born  April  U,  ISll,  in  Essex  Co.,  N.  Y.,  son 
of  Henry  and  Eleanor  Eldridge.  To  them 
were  born  Isaac  N.,  Anne,  Lovina  and  Jane. 
The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  native  of 
Holland;  his  mother  was  born  in  Connecticut. 
After  marrying  in  New  York,  they  came  West 
to  Ohio  in  1814,  locating  in  Tuscarawas  Tj)., 
where  he  piu'chased  land,  remaining  on  the 
same  until  his  death.  Om-  subject  was  reared 
amid  the  stirring  scenes  that  occurred  during 
the  early  settlement  of  that  township.  Re- 
maining at  home  until  jiast  his  majority,  he 
entered  a  store  where  he  clerked  some  time. 
He  then  learned  the  tinner's  trade,  which  he 
followed  for  twenty  years.  Having  an  oppor- 
tunity to  engage  in  the  milling  business,  he 
piu'chased  the  mills  he  now  operates,  and  has 
since  conducted  the  same.  The  business  was 
not  very  flattering  at  first,  having  then  but 
four  run  of  Inihrs,  and  Ijut  little  to  do.  He 
has  since  increased  the  munber  to  seven, 
which  are  now  run  night  and  day  to  supply 
his  .shipping  demand,  his  tlour  being  sold 
in  New  York,  Pittsbm-gh  and  Philadelphia. 
In  1888,  he  married  Han'iet  Bucher,  who  was 


l^ 


CITY    OF    MASSILLOX. 


667 


born  in  Ciinton,  Ohio,  in  1818,  daughter  of 
Jacob  Bucher ;  they  have  no  issne.  Mr. 
Doxsee  has  raised  several  children  and  has 
adopted  James  N.,  who  now  bears  the  name 
of  Doxsee.  Mr.  D.  and  wife  are  Ixjth  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  Chmrli.  In  politics,  he 
is  a  Republican :  dui'ing  the  time  when  the 
Free-Soil  ticket  was  teiujLj  voted,  Mi\  Doxsee 
was  one  of  two  who  exercised  his  riifht  of 
suffrage  in  the  voting  precinct  for  that  party. 

J.  11.  DUNN,  real  estate,  Massillon;  was 
born  in  Chemung  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  ISaC);  son  of 
John  D.  and  Julia  M.  (Randall)  Dunn,  the 
former  a  son  of  Judge  James  Dunn:  the  lat- 
ter, a  daughter  of  Judge  Fhineas  Randall  and 
sister  to  Postmaster  General  Alexander  W. 
Randall,  who  was  also  a  "  War  Ciovernor  of 
Wisconsin."  To  John  D.  and  Julia  M.  were 
boni  foiu'  chiklren,  John  11.,  being  the  second 
in  order  of  l)irth.  He  came  West  in  186B 
with  his  mother  and  stejtfather,  his  own  father 
having  died  in  Washington,  D.  C,  while  in 
the  em[)loy  of  the  Government.  In  1875,  he 
went  into  the  oftice  of  Kent  Jan'is  and 
remained  with  him  until  his  death  in  1S77, 
when  our  subject  was  appointed  adminis- 
trator of  the  Jarvis  estate,  remaining  in  the 
office  as  clerk  and  administrator.  He  was 
married  in  1871)  to  Carrie,  daughter  of  M.  A. 
Brown,  and  liy  her  has  one  son,  John  R. 
They  are  memboi-s  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Cleve- 
land Lodge,  No.  47,  Hiram  Chapter,  No.  18, 
and  Massillon  Commandery,  No.  4.  He  is 
doing  an  excellent  business  in  real  estate 
and  as  administrator  on  estates. 

CAPT.  H.  H.  EVERHARD.  stone  quarry, 
Massillon;  was  Ijorn  March  15,  1837,  in  Jack- 
son Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  the  third  of  a  family  of 
seven  children,  five  of  whom  lived  to  matur- 
ity, all  bom  to  Henrj-  and  Rebecca  Ever- 
hard;  he  was  a  son  of  Henry,  who  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  who  removed  to  this 
county  previous  to  the  war  of  18  Pi,  in  which 
he  was  a  participant,  settling  in  Plain  Tp., 
and  being  one  of  the  first  settlers  there.  His 
grandfather  was  an  early  settler  and  promi- 
nently connected  with  the  business  interests 
of  that  time.  The  father  of  our  subject  set- 
tled in  Jackson  Tp.,  where  his  children  were 
bom — Louis  is  living  in  Manchester,  Summit 


Co.;  Mai-ia  S.,  Mi-s.  Isaac  Wairick;  H.  H, 
Martha  A.,  Sarah  C,  Mrs.  H.  L.  Williams. 
Oiu'  subject  remained  at  home  until  he  en 
tered  the  high  school,  after  wliich  he  was 
ready  for  college.  In  18(i2,  at  the  ago  of  20 
years,  he  enlisted  as  private,  and  organized 
the  gi'eater  part  of  Company  E,  104th  O.  V. 

I  ;  was  afterward  promoted  to  Lieutenant, 
and  the  latter  part  of  18(')4,  to  Captain;  served 
until  the  war  closed,  being  in  all  the  engage- 
ments in  which  his  command  took  jjart. 
Upon  retiu'ning  home,  he  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  grindstones,  having  as  part- 
ners Messrs.  Warthorst  and  Suter,  which  con- 
nection continued  until  April  1,  1881,  when 
he  removed  to  his  present  place  of  business, 
the  firm  now  being  Suter  &  Everhard.  He 
was  married,  in  November,  ISfi"),  to  Caroline 
J.  McCullough,  born  in  1843,  in  this  j)lace, 
only  daughter  of  Thomas  McCullough. 
Thi'ee  children  have  been  born  to  them  Ethel 
R.,  Melville  and  Marian. 

ROBERT  H.  FOLGER,  Massillon,  whose 
portrait  appears  in  this  work,  is  a  native 
of  Chester  Co.,  Penn.,  one  of  the  comities  of 
the  Keystone  State,  as  it  was  called  by  Heze- 
kiah  Niles,  of  Niles'  Register,  that  was  estab- 
lished by  the  royal  proclamation  of  Charles 

II  under  the  charter  of  Pennsylvania, 
gi'anted  to  William  Penn.  When  it  is  re- 
membered that  Chester  Co.,  Penn.,  was  the 
birthplace  of  Benjamin  West,  the  painter. 
Gen.  Anthony  Wayne,  Bayard  Taylor,  and 
other  celebrities,  whos(>  names  appear  on  the 
historic  stage,  Mr.  Folger  nt^ed  not  hesitate 
to  acknowledge  the  classic  groimd  of  Eastern 
Pennsylvania  as  his  birth[)lace.  He  was  lioni 
Jan.  11,  1812;  was  the  son  of  Mayhew  and 
Mary  Folger,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mary 
Joy,  daughter  of  Francis  Joy,  merchant,  of 
the  Island  of  Nantucket,  of  which  island  his 
parents  were  natives.  His  father  was  a  sailor, 
in  all  that  the  term  implies,  having  served  in 
eveiy  position  that  a  sailor  fulfills,  from  cabin- 
b<jy  to  master  of  a  vessel.  Capt.  Mayhew  Fol- 
ger, as  master,  circmunavigated  the  globe  three 
times,  his  last  voyag(>  being  made  in  the 
Topaz,  of  Boston,  which  cniise  was  com- 
pleted in  IMO,  when  he  determined  to  quit 
the  ocean  and  seek  in  the  West  a  home,  away 
from  the  perils  of  the  "'moimtain  deep."     He 


!l£ 


068 


BLOGKAPHICAL    SKETCH E.S: 


removed  to  Chester  Co.,  Penn..  remaining  there 
ivntil  August,  1813,  when  he  removed  to  Ken- 
dal, arriving  there  in  August,  with  his  family, 
consisting  of  a  wife.  Francis  J.,  a  son  who  died 
in  1829.  Sarah,  a  daughter,  ()  years  old,  who 
was  married,  in  1832,  to  Jefferson  Reynolds, 
of  Canton,  and  is  now  deceased;  William  M., 
now  a  resident  of  Portage  County,  and  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  After  the  arrival  of 
Capt.  Folger  at  Kendal,  there  was  born  in  his 
family.  Thomas  C.  who  died  at  the  age  of  1 
year;  Mary,  now  Mrs.  Rawson,  of  Akron,  wid- 
ow of  the  late  Levi  Rawson,  Esq.,  and  Eliza- 
beth, who  died  at  Ottumwa,  Iowa,  the  wife  of 
James  D.  Ladd.  While  Capt.  Folger  was 
making  his  last  cruise  in  the  south  Pacific 
Ocean,  in  latitude  25  degrees  south  and  1 25 
degrees  west  longitude,  he  discovered  the 
surviving  mutineer  of  the  ship  Bounty  and  his 
colony,  on  Pitcairn  Island,  the  history  of 
which  has  been  so  long  before  the  reading 
world  that  it  only  needs  mention  here.  In 
this  connection,  however,  it  is  proper  to  state 
that  Mr.  Folger.  of  Massillon.  has  in  his  pos- 
session the  log-book  of  the  ship  Topaz,  with 
the  original  entry  of  his  father,  (Japt.  Folger, 
giving  a  detailed  account  of  the  visit  of  the 
Topaz  to  the  island,  and  which  is  a  record  of 
uncommon  interest.  Capt.  Folger  died  in 
MassilLm  on  the  1st  of  iSepteml)er.  1828;  his 
widow  d'u'd  in  Ravenna,  in  June,  1 858,  at  the 
house  of  her  son,  W.  M.  Folger.  They  were 
of  the  faith  of  the  people  called  Quakers,  and 
as  Quakers  adhered  to  that  faith  during  their 
lives.  Ml'.  Folger  says  that  the  death  of  his 
father  changed  the  whole  maj)  of  his  life. 
What  his  life  would  have  been,  he,  of  course, 
does  not  know,  but  he  says  that  his  father's 
death,  occurring,  as  it  did,  changed  eveiy 
plan  that  his  youthful  fancy  had  conjured  up 
as  a  rule  of  action  for  the  then  future.  Ha]i- 
j)ening  as  it  did,  at  about  midway  of  his  17th 
year,  he  having  no  definite  plans  that  he  was 
able  to  carry  out,  he  remained  out  of  any  per- 
manent employment  until  December,  1834. 
when  he  went  into  the  wholesale  and  retail 
grocery  and  provision  business,  in  which  he 
remained  until  July,  1839,  when  he  sold  out 
his  entire  stock.  In  1831,  he  determined  to 
make  the  study  and  practice  of  the  law  his 
vocation,    and    went  into  the  office  of  Gen. 


Dwight  Jarvis  for  that  j)urpose.  Changing 
his  notions  on  that  siibjecf,  he  abandoned  all 
thought  of  the  profession,  and  in  1834,  was 
maiTied  to  Miss  Amelia  Heydon,  at  Massillon. 
On  disposing  of  his  stock  in  trade  and  real 
estate,  in  1839,  he  detei-mined  tt)  resume  the 
study  of  law,  and  went  into  the  office  of  the 
late  Hon.  Samuel  Pease,  with  whom  and  with 
Gen.  Dwight  JcU'vis,  he  completed  his  studies, 
and  was  admitted  to  practice  at  New  Lisbon 
in  1842.  He  and  Hon.  Louis  Shaefi'er,  of 
Canton,  Judge  Mon-is,  of  Fort  Wayne,  and 
Hon.  Louis  Liiten.  of  San  Francisco.  Cal., 
were  admitted  at  the  same  time,  since  which 
he  has  resided  in  Massillon.  following  his 
profession,  in  which  he  is  now  actively  en- 
gaged, lieing  the  senior  member  of  the  firm  of 
Folger  &  Gan-ett.  In  1833.  Mi-.  Folger 
warmly  es])oused  the  anti-slavery  notions  of 
the  late  William  Lloyd  Garrison,  as  then 
published  in  the  Lihfratur,  and  as  here- 
tofore published  in  the  "Genius  of  Universal 
Emancipation,"  by  Benjamin  Lundy.  which 
views  he  adhere.l  to,  acting  with  any  organ- 
ization that  advocated  the  immediate  and  un- 
conditional abolition  of  human  chattelship, 
voting  with  Whigs  or  Democrats,  as  circum- 
stances seemed  to  justify.  .  On  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  old  Liberty  party,  in  1844.  Mr. 
Folger  took  an  active  part,  laboring  with 
accustomed  energy  for  Birney.  and  in 
1848,  for  Van  Buren,  and  continued  un- 
til the  formation  of  the  Republican  party, 
in  1850,  since  which  he  has  been  iden- 
tified with  that  jiarty  in  all  its  nominations 
and  movements.  Mr.  Folger  is  never  idle; 
his  researches  into  general  and  local  history 
have  enabled  him,  especially  the  history  of  the 
United  States,  from  the  commencement  of  the 
Revolution,  and  of  the  Northwestern  Territory, 
to  furnish  information  on  almost  all  subjects 
connected  with  the  organization  of  the  Terri- 
tories and  States.  His  library  in  law  and 
miscellany  is  equal  to  any  in  the  county,  and 
contains  many  choice  and  rare  works,  old 
folios  of  two  and  three  centuries  being  prom- 
inent on  his  well-filled  shelves.  Mr.  Folger'a 
family  consists  of  a  wife  and  five  children, 
one  son  and  four  daughters,  two  daughters 
and  the  son  married.  His  son  is  Lieut.  Com 
mander  W.  M.  Folger,  U.  S.  N.,  now  execu- 


CITY    OF    MASSILLON. 


669 


tivG  officer  on  the  Swatara.  in  the  Asiatic 
s<)nadron.  Of  his  mairii'd  daughters,  one  is 
the  wife  of  James  M.  Brown.  Esij..  attorney  at 
law.  Toledo.  Ohio,  and  the  other  is  the  wife  of 
Dr.  ■}.  M.  l^orter.  Denver,  Colo. 

HE.VKY  FOLTZ.  coal  dealer.  Massillon: 
was  hom  in  Lanca.ster  Co..  Penn..  Deo.  IS. 
ISdU;  he  is  the  second  of  a  family  of  seven 
children  of  Henry  and  !Mary  (HoUacher)  Foltz, 
both  natives  of  Lancaster  Co.,  Penn;  his 
brother.  S;uuuel  Foltz,  is  a  prominent  coal 
dealer  in  New  Philadelphia.  Ohio.  Our  sub- 
ject was  raised  a  farmer  imtil  the  ao^e  of  17, 
receiving  a  common  school  e(hicatioii  both  in 
English  and  German:  he  learned  the  milling 
business  with  his  lirother-in-law.  On  Dec. 
15,  lS2(t.  he  miu-ried  Mary,  tlie  daughter  of 
Henry  Kindig.  of  Little  York.  Penn..  and  in 
1834,  came  to  Ohio  and  settled  in  Wayne 
County,  to  which  liis  parents  had  emigrated 
a  few  years  previous.  Here  he  clerked  six 
years  for  Nathaniel  Eldridge.  in  Dalton.  In 
1840,  he  embarked  in  the  mercantile  business 
on  his  own  account,  contimiing  the  same  for 
ten  years,  and  dm-ing  this  time  was  connected 
with  other  interests — mining  and  contracting. 
In  lSr)0.  he  sold  his  mercantile  liusiness  and 
began  o])erating  in  coal,  tirst  at  Fairview.  and 
afterward  near  Ma.ssillon.  Ohio.  He  disposed 
of  his  coal  interests  in  Wayne  County  in 
1854.  and  removed  to  Stark  Coimty  and  settled 
on  a  farm  outside  the  limits  of  the  city  of 
Massillon:  he  has  since  located  in  the  city, 
but  continues  his  coal  operations,  being  asso- 
ciated with  Messrs.  Rhodes  &  Card,  of  Cleve- 
land, he  having  the  general  management  since 
187"i.  Since  that  time  he  has  had  an  interest 
in  the  mines.  Mr.  .1.  F.  Pocock.  his  son-in-law. 
being  associated  with  him  as  manager.  Their 
business  amounts  to  some  fom-  hunch-ed  thou- 
sand tons  annually,  ("apt.  Foltz  was  Presi- 
dent of  the  Fulton  and  Buckeye  Coal  Com- 
pany diu'ing  their  existence,  and  is  now  Presi- 
di'nt  of  the  Massillon  City  (Joal  Company. 
When  he  cam<' to  Ohio,  he  had  but  i?15  in  his 
pockf't,  but  has  accumulated  a  handsome  com- 
petency. Of  three  children  born  him.  but  one 
survives.  Minnie,  wife  of  J.  F.  Pocock. 

PETER  GRIBBLE.  livery  stable.  Massil- 
lon: was  Ijorn  in  this  city  May  4.  184(1.  the 
eldest  child  Ixjrn  to  Henrv  Gribble  and  Matil- 


da Kessell.  To  them  were  bom  three  chil- 
dren— Peter.  Henry  and  ('hristina.  but  one  of 
the  number  now  living.  The  mother  of  our 
subject  died  when  he  was  4  veal's  of  age; 
for  several  years  he  lived  at  NaviUTe.  in  Betli- 
lehem  Tp..  but  since  has  been  a  constant  resi- 
dent of  the  city;  he  began  clerking  for  his 
father  in  the  store,  an<l  in  1N(')2  went  into 
pju'tnership  with  him,  in  the  livery  Inisiness, 
under  the  ikm  name  of  Gribble  &  Son,  which 
association  lasted  until  ISBS,  when  he  jnu*- 
chase<l  his  father's  interest,  and  since  has  bei>n 
alone  interested.  He  has  one  of  the  best 
eqni])pi'd  establishments  in  the  city,  being 
supplii'd  with  excellent  horses  and  vehicles 
of  all  kinds  and  styles,  consisting  of  open 
and  top  buggies.  l)oth  single  and  double,  car 
riages.  coaches,  clarences,  hmdaus  and  couj)es, 
his  long  association  in  the  business  and.  his 
good  accommodation,  rendered  in  a  gentle- 
manly manner,  have  secured  him  a  large  pat- 
ronage. May  3.  ISTO.  he  married  Lam"a, 
daughter  of  Sylvester  Buckius,  whose  wife  was 
Sarah  Adams.  Mr.  Gribble  has  two  daugh- 
ters. Lola  Mav  and  Nellie  Josephine. 

SAMUEL  HOOVER.  M:issillon;  was  born 
in  1S"J|.  August  'ii).  in  Cumberland  Co., 
Penn. :  son  of  Martin  Hoover,  of  Frederick 
Co.,  Md..  about  the  year  1778.  of  Swiss  ances- 
try. The  mother  of  our  subject  was  !Marv 
Graybill.  of  York  Co..  Penn..  daughter  of 
Joseph  Grayliill.  whose  ancestors  were  also 
from  Switzerland.  Our  subject  was  raised  on 
the  fjuTn  of  his  father,  where  he  remained 
until  the  age  of  Ki.  when  he  struck  out  of  for 
himself,  learning  the  trade  of  hatt«'r  at  Ship- 
pensbiu'g.  Penn..  which  business  he  followed 
for  f-leveii  vears.  continuing  in  the  business 
until  l.S4<J.  ■  Feb.  T,.  1S45.  he  man-ied  Eliz- 
abeth .Ajin  Philli|is.  born  in  Shippensburg  in 
1821,  May  10,  daughter  of  Louis  Phillips 
and  Ann  McElroy.  From  1845  to  184i),  he 
was  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  hats, 
making  this  a  sjiecialty.  ri'ally,  from  IS^S  to 
1N49:  from  this  tim(?  to  1S53,  he  was  Post- 
master at  \\  illiamsburg;  subsequently  to  this 
was  engaged  in  teaching  until  1857;  was  then 
elected  County  Treasurer  of  Blair  County, 
which  ])osition  he  tilled  until  185'.);  in  18(10, 
he  resimied  the  hat  trade,  doing  a  retail 
business    until    1870,    when    he   removed    to 


Al 


670 


I5IO(iRAPIII('A].    SKETCHES: 


Ohio,  locating  in  Massillon,  and  purchased 
the  interests  of  McCnrdy  &  Geesaman  in  the 
Massillon  Atiurlcaii^  James  J.  having  one-half 
interest;  since  that  time  has  been  engaged  in 
cdiuluc'ting  the  same,  in  conjunction,  under 
the  lirm  name  of  S.  &  J.  J.  Hoover,  which  is 
being  conducted  up  to  the  present  time.  He 
has  six  children  living — Publius  W.,  Leonidas 
Q.,  John  R..  James  J.  (tvyius).  Martin  and 
Frank. 

DANIEL  HEMPERLY,  hardware.  Massil- 
lon; was  born  in  Lebanon  Co.,  Penu..  in  1830, 
June  1;  son  of  David  and  Mary  (Houck) 
Hemperly,  David  being  a  son  of  Anthony,  of 
German  extraction.  To  David  and  Mary  were 
bora  seven  children,  all  of  whom  grew  to 
maturity;  he  was  a  farmer.  Daniel,  in  the 
s}iring  of  184('),  came  to  Tuscarawas  Tp.  when 
a  lad,  his  father  dying  when  he  was  bnt  13; 
at  10,  he  began  learning  the  blacksmith's 
trade,  after  the  completion  of  which,  at  the 
age  of  20  years,  in  March,  1850,  he  went  to 
the  Pacific  Coast,  where  he  engaged  in  min- 
ing for  two  and  a  half  years;  then  returned 
to  this  coiuity,  in  September,  1853,  and  re- 
sumed his  trade  on  his  own  account,  which  he 
continued  until  1875,  when  he  engaged  in  the 
hardware  business  under  the  firm  name  of 
Brown  &  Heniperly,  which  has  continued  since. 
Jan.  '25,  1855,  he  married  Louisa  M.  Hamil- 
ton, bom  in  Pennsylvania,  daughter  of  Rev. 
J.  Hamilton,  who  came  here  in  1843.  He  had 
nine  children,  seven  of  whom  are  living  Mary, 
E.,  Mrs.  Franklin  Heirman,  Austin,  Texas; 
Emma  K.,  Franklin  L.,  Flora  A.,  William  E., 
Jennie  and  Nellie.  Mi-s.  Hemperly  i.s  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  Cluu'ch,  and  her  hus- 
band is  a  Mason;  also  a  Repulilican.  Mr. 
Hemperly  does  business  in  the  city  of  Massil- 
lon, and  resides  in  Brookfall,  Tuscarawas  Tp. 

JAjVIES  a.  HACKETT,  furniture  and  up- 
holsterer, Massillon;  was  born  July  23,  1839, 
in  Tuscarawas  Tp.,  this  county,  the  foiu-th 
child  and  second  son  bom  to  Andrew  and 
Hannah  J.  (Brown)  Hackett;  he  was  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  born  Jan.  22,  1800,  and 
c;ime  West  about  the  time  of  the  war  of  1812, 
and  to  whom  were  born  a  family  of  eleven 
children.  Our  subject  was  raised  to  farming, 
but  at  15  years  of  age,  disliking  his  occuj)a- 
tion,  and  desiring  to  get  an   education,  left 


home  and  worked  out  for  his  board,  while  at- 
tending school.  In  1801,  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany I,  70th  O.  V.  I.,  the  first  man  in  the 
towTiship  to  enter  the  service  from  Tuscarawas 
Tp.,  for  three  yeai's;  after  serving  eighteen 
months,  he  was  discharged,  in  December,  1862, 
on  account  of  disability.  Upon  his  return 
home,  he  went  to  work  at  the  boat-yard,  and 
there  became  familiar  with  the  use  of  ti:)ols; 
then  went  to  work  for  Russell  &  Co.,  and  re- 
mained with  them  five  years.  Having  accumu- 
lated .'ti2,500,  he  started  in  18()U,  with  about 
$1,500  worth  of  stuck,  and  now  (1881)  nms  a 
stock  of  over  i^lO.(KK),  In  1871,  he  maiTied 
Harriet  Rethrough,  who  died  in  1872,  giving 
birth  to  twins,  Chu-ence  and  Charles.  She 
was  an  adopted  daughter  of  I.  N.  Doxsee.  In 
1877,  he  miUTied  Josie  Priest,  born  in  Rich- 
land County,  daughter  of  John  Priest,  a  prom- 
inent citizen  of  that  county.  He  has  one 
child  by  her,  Carrie  J. ;  is  a  member  of  the  A., 
F.  &  A.  M.,  and  jjassed  through  all  the  de- 
grees to  Knight  Templar;  is  also  member  of 
the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  of  the  Encampment;  al- 
ways been  a  Rejiulilican. 

ANTHONY  HO  WELLS,  coal  and  fiu-nace 
operator,  Massillon;  was  born  in  Wales  April 
6,  1832;  son  of  Howell  and  Rachel  (Evans) 
Howells,  to  whom  were  born  a  family  of  six, 
all  of  whom  grew  to  maturity.  Anthony  emi- 
grated to  Ohio  in  1850,  and  settled  at  Youngs- 
town,  Mahoning  County,  where  he  lived  for 
twenty  years,  engaged  in  the  mercantile  and 
coal  business;  came  to  Massillon  in  1870,  and 
has  since  been  engaged  in  the  coal  and  iron 
business,  being  at  jaresent  one  of  the  proprie- 
tors of  the  Pigeon  Rim  coal  mine  and  Volcano 
fiunace.  In  1854,  he  man-ied  Elizabeth 
James,  a  native  of  Wales,  daughter  of  Will- 
iam James,  who  had  a  family  of  six  childi'en. 
jNIr.  Howells  has  four  childi-en — Melvina,  Mrs. 
J.  C.  Albright,  of  this  city;  William  E.,  law- 
yer, Youngstown;  Byron  and  Edwin  S.  Mr. 
Howells  is  a  Democrat,  and  was  elected  Secre- 
tary of  State,  serving  two  ye<u's;  he  is  an  I. 
O.  b.  F.  and  a  Knight  of  Pythias. 

F.  HOOK  WAY,  clothier  iuiA  merchant  tailor, 
Massillon.  One  of  the  oldest  clothing  merchants 
in  this  city  is  F.  Hookway,  who  came  to  this 
town  in  184(),  and  has  since  been  engaged  in 
business  here.     He  was  born  in  1822,  in  Bid- 


(  riV    (»F    MASSILLON". 


671 


dleford,  Devonshire,  Englaiul.  son  of  William 
and  Ann  (Builoy)  Hook  way,  with  wliom  he 
emif^ratod  in  IS^^fi.  to  Now  York,  locating;  in 
Onondaga  County.  Soon  after  his  jurival,  he 
left  the  paternal  home,  and  ajiprenticed  him- 
self to  leani  the  tailors  ti'ale  with  William 
Dale,  at  Janesville.  After  his  trade  was  com- 
pleted, h.j  stfu'ted  out  on  his  own  resoiu'ces, 
and  worked  as  a  journeyman  tailor  at  various 
j)laces  in  ditl'erent  States,  and  seeinii;  in  the 
time  much  of  the  world,  remaining  Ijut  a  short 
time  comparatively  in  any  one  place,  until 
IS-tfi,  when  he  came  to  this  city,  where  he 
worked,  for  a  tim(>,  on  ])iece-work,  soon  after 
opening  a  shoj)  of  his  own,  lirst  iloing  only 
custom  and  merchant  work,  l)ut  adtling,  l)y 
degrees,  a  stock  of  goods,  which  were  in- 
creased with  his  means,  and  as  business  would 
justify,  until  he  had  one  of  the  best  fur- 
nished stores  of  the  kind  in  the  city.  Being 
a  tirst-class  cutter,  and  having  had  over  forty 
years  experience,  he  has  succeeded  in  estab- 
lishing a  good  trade  in  the  merchant  tailor 
line,  at  the  same  time  keeping  his  store  amply 
st*)cked  with  ready-made  clothing  and  gents' 
furnishing  goods.  He  was  married,  in  1!S4S, 
to  Henrietta  \'>\U\  a  native  of  Stark  County, 
her  ])arents  lieing  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 
She  died  in  1878,  leaving  three  children. 
His  daitghter,  Alice,  residi>s  in  Wooster, 
Wayne  Co.,  the  wife  of  Abram  Saybrook. 
He  is  a  meml)er  of  the  various  Masonic  bodies 
in  the  city,  and  is  a  man  of  indastry  and  of  a 
<]uiet  and  retiring  dis])osition. 

ALFRED  HOPPEK,  Superintendent  of 
gas  works,  Mitssillon;  was  born  in  Jersey  City 
in  18.")",  the  only  child  living  born  to  his 
]iarents,  Thomas  Hopper  and  Aim  (Freeman) 
Ho])|)er.  Thomas  Hopper  was  Ijorn  in  1829, 
in  Kent,  England,  son  of  John  Hopper. 
Thomas  Hopper  came  to  New  York  in  INoO; 
he  was  a  builder  and  conti'actor,  which  busi- 
ness he  followed  for  several  ye.u's.  The  fam- 
ily came  West  in  1877,  locating  in  Massillon, 
where  they  now  reside.  Since  1.S7U,  Alfred 
Hop|)erhas  had  ch;u"ge  of  the  gasworks:  hav- 
ing had  much  ex  jierience  in  the  Inisiness  hereto- 
fore, is  well  ([ualifi(«l  for  the  i)osition  he  holds. 
In  August.  l87'J,  he  man-ied  Jennie  C.  Keilly, 
who  was  born  in  Cleveland,  daughter  of 
Robert  C.  Keilly.     He  has  one  child,  Thomas 


R,  John,  his  only  brother,  died  when  18 
years  of  age. 

WILLIAM  li.  HU^HBERGER,  merchant, 
Massillon;  was  born  in  this  city  Sept  K5, 
1847;  his  father,  Adam  J.  Humberger,  came 
from  Pennsylvania  to  Ohio  in  IN3'J,  and  set- 
tled in  Stark  County,  and  after  clerking  for  a 
year  each  in  lirooktield  and  Bolivar,  removed 
to  Massilhni,  and  embark(>d  in  the  ih-y  goods 
trade,  being  thi'  oldest  man  at  present  thus 
engaged  at  that  place.  He  was  one  of  the 
tirst  members  of  the  Methodist  Church  of 
Massillon,  the  organizer  of  the  Sunday  school, 
and  was  the  tirst  Sujierintendent:  formerly  an 
Abolitionist,  now  a  Republican.  He  has  always 
sustained  an  excellent  credit  as  a  business 
man.  In  Se])teml)er,  iS-i'.i,  he  mai'ried  Har- 
riet E.  Chestnutwwjd,  whose  father.  Al)raliam 
Chestnutwood,  came  from  Pennsylvania  to 
Stiirk  Coimty  in  1S2S.  He  was  one  of  the 
original  membei-s  oi  the  Methodist  Cliurch,  in 
Massillon,  and  assisted  largely  in  the  erection 
of  the  first  house  of  worship,  and  was  a  lead- 
ing and  intiuential  member  of  the  denomina- 
tion. In  1870,  Mr.  Adam  J.  Humberger  was 
afflicted  with  a  sti'oke  of  paralysis,  and  has 
since  been  laid  aside  fi'om  active  business,  but 
still  retains  an  interest  in  it,  the  business  be- 
ing conducted  by  his  oldest  son,  William,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  After  receiving  an  edu- 
cation in  the  jmblic  schools  of  his  native  place, 
young  Huml)erger  graduated  from  the  Iron 
City  Commercial  College,  in  Pittsburgh,  Penn., 
in  the  spring  of  ISH.").  He  then  became  con- 
nected with  the  dry  goods  store  of  his  father, 
as  clerk  and  geni'ral  manager.  In  18f)7,  he 
became,  and  since  continued,  a  partner  with 
his  father.  His  house  is  the  oldest  dry  goods 
establislunent  in  Massillon,  and  has  always 
sustained  an  excellent  credit.  Mr.  Hiuuber- 
ger  has  been  a  member  of  the  Massillon  B(jard 
of  Education  for  several  yeai^s,  and  for  a  number 
of  years  School  Examiner  for  the  JIassillon 
district.  In  jxjlitics,  he  is  Republican.  Nov. 
8,  1872,  he  married  Lam-a  Willson,  daughter 
of  (Jeorge  Willson,  by  whom  he  has  had  one 
sou,  (Jeorge  H.,  now  deceased. 

SALMON  HUNT.  President  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Massillcju;  was  bom  Feb.  18, 
IS  18,  in  North  Norwich,  Chenango  Co.,N.  Y.; 
his  pai-ents  were  Timothy  and  Nancy  (Long) 


073 


15I0GRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Hunt,  both  natives  of  Vermont:  his  father 
was  a  carpenter,  miller,  farmer  and  mannfact- 
nrer.  and  also  a  contractor  on  the  public 
works  in  New  York  and  New  Jersey,  among 
which  was  one  on  the  Erie  Canal,  and  also 
one  in  New  Jersey:  his  last  work  was  the 
construction  of  a  dam  in  the  Niagara  River, 
from  the  shore  to  an  island,  thereby  uniting 
the  Erie  Canal  with  the  Black  Rock  Harbor: 
he  died  during  the  prosecution  of  the  work. 
Salmon  is  the  only  son  in  a  family  of  seven 
children,  of  whom  one  sister  imly  survives. 
She  is  the  wife  of  John  Calkins,  a  lumber 
dealer  of  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.  Mr.  Hunt 
received  his  education  in  the  common  schools, 
and  in  Hamilton  Academy,  Madison  County, 
his  native  State,  his  school  privileges  ceasing 
at  the  age  of  Ki:  he  then  liegan  his  busine.ss 
career  as  a  store  clerk,  in  Norwich,  and  was 
employed  in  that  capacity,  in  difterent  locali- 
ties in  New  York,  Illinois  and  Ohio  for  about 
eight  years,  a  small  portion  of  which  time 
having  a  personal  interest  in  tlie  business. 
In  February,  1S37.  he  married  Helen,  a 
daughter  of  Abraham  Per  Lee.  of  North  Nor- 
wich, Chenango  Co..  N.  Y'.  In  the  following 
spring,  he  made  a  reconnoitering  trip  to  the 
West,  passing  tlu-ough  portions  of  Michigan 
and  Ohio,  finally  settling  in  Massillon,  and 
embju'ked  in  the  dry  goods  trade  with  his 
wife's  uncle,  T.  R.  Butler,  but  continued  in 
this  but  a  short  time:  in  the  spring  of  1S3S. 
he  became  a  salesman  in  the  store  of  Robert 
H.  Folger,  of  Massillon.  where  he  remained 
until  1S39,  when  he  entered  the  bank  of  Mas- 
sillon as  book-keeper  and  teller:  was  subse- 
quently made  Assistant  Cashier,  and  afterward 
Cashier.  l)eing  connected  with  the  institution 
twelve  years.  In  1864.  the  bank  was  merged 
into  the  First  National  Bank  of  Massillon. 
Mr.  Hunt  retaining  the  position  as  Cashier, 
and  upon  the  death  of  the  President.  Dr.  Isaac 
Steese.  in  1874.  he  was  elected  President, 
which  position  he  yet  holds.  He  has  been  a 
resident  of  Massillon  over  forty-three  years. 
and  connected  longer  with  its  banking  in- 
terests than  any  other  citizen  of  the  place. 
Mr.  Hunfs  family  has  consisted  of  foiu-  chil- 
dren: Vmt  two  are  living.  James  H..  Cashier 
of  Union  National  Bank,  and  Helen  M..  with 
her  parents.     In  politics,  he  is  a  Republican  : 


his  religious  views  are  not  such  as  some  might 
term  orthodox — that  the  soul  has  a  distinct 
existence  apart  fr(_)m  thr»  body,  and  that  it  has 
a  past,  as  well  as  a  future  immorlality. 

J.  F.  HESS,  manufacturer,  Massillim;  was 
born  in  Baden,  in  August,  1834,  the  third 
child  and  second  son  of  a  family  of  five  chil- 
ch'en.  born  to  Jacob  and  Catharine  (Bomerlin) 
Hess.  Our  subject  emigrated  to  this  State, 
with  his  parents,  in  18r)3,  locating  in  Massil- 
lon. From  the  age  of  12  years  until  he  was  17, 
he  worked  with  his  father  in  the  coal  mines. 
At  the  age  of  17,  he  began  learning  the  tin- 
ners trade,  machinery  being  his  delight;  his 
preference  was  to  enter  a  machine  shop,  and 
there  familiarize  himself  with  the  business, 
but  there  being  no  opening,  he  abandoned 
his  cherished  desires,  and  learned  the  tinner's 
trade  instead;  about  the  year  1851,  he  caught 
the  gold  fever,  and  went  to  California,  where 
he  worked  at  his  trade,  for  a  time,  in  San 
Francisco,  and  afterward  went  to  Oregon, 
where  he  engaged  in  mining;  returning  to 
this  coiiL-ty  in  1 8()1.  he  engaged  in  business 
with  5Ir.  Smith,  under  the  firm  name  of  Hess 
&  Smith,  which  partnirship  lasted  until  1804, 
Mr.  Smith  retiring.  Mr.  Hess  continuing  the 
liusiness  alone  two  years,  then  taking  in  his 
brother,  Leonard,  the  firm  has  since  been 
known  as  J.  F.  Hess  &  Bro,  and  is  doing  a 
good  business,  both  brothers  being  practical 
mechanics  and  energetic  business  men.  They 
carry  on  a  foundiy  and  machine  shop,  whore 
they  manufacture  the  latest  improved  cooking 
and  heating  stoves,  grates,  farm  boilers,  etc., 
and  all  castings  to  order.  They  make  a 
specialty  of  lift  and  foi'ce  ])umps,  and  are  the 
sole  patentees  and  manufacturers  of  the  cele- 
brated "  Novelty."  which  is  a  combined  lift 
and  force  pump:  also  patented  and  manufact- 
ure rain-water  cut-ofi's  and  eave-trough  hang- 
ers. Their  salesroom  is  at  Nos.  9  &  1 1  North 
Erie  street.  Mr.  Hess  is  one  of  the  self-made 
men  of  the  town.  In  1801,  he  married  Cath- 
arine Stahl.  who  was  born  in  Bethlehem  Tp. 
Thev  have  seven  childi-en. 

GEORGE  HARSH,  retired,  Massillon; 
was  born  March  lo,  1810,  in  Washington 
Co..  Penn.,  being  the  youngest  son  and 
only  surviving  child  of  a  family  of  six  chil- 
dren, bom  to  George  and  Catharine  ( Strieker) 


CITY    OF    MASSILLOX. 


673 


Harsh,  who  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania;  his 
father  emi^ated  to  Ohio  in  ISl:}.  and  settled 
in  Stark  County  in  the  vieiuity  of  Massillon; 
he  was  a  substantial  type  of  the  genuine  pio- 
neer, and  passed  his  life  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits, and  was  a  worthy  and  intluential  mem- 
ber of  the  community;  his  death  occm-red  at 
the  age  of  78  years.  Our  subject  passed  the 
greater  paii.  of  his  minority  at  ht)me,  having 
only  the  advantages  of  a  common  school  edu- 
cation. In  1830,  at  the  age  of  20,  he  became 
a  clerk  in  the  store  of  his  brother,  Jacob 
Hiirsh,  of  this  city,  and  afterwiird  engaged  in 
the  same  business  as  partner,  which  continued 
until  1.S84,  when  his  brother  died:  fi'om  that 
time  forward,  he  conducted  the  business  upon 
his  own  account,  for  about  twenty-live  years; 
he  was  subsequently  associated  in  the  mercan- 
tile business  with  Messi-s.  Humberger  and 
Oberlin,  of  this  city;  since  INHH,  he  has  been 
retired  from  active  business,  but  has  not  been 
idle,  having  been  engaged  in  dealing  in  real 
estate,  and  performing  a  considerable  amount 
of  work  as  executor  and  administrator  in  the 
settlement  of  astates,  having  done  probably  as 
much  business  in  this  line  as  any  man  in 
Stark  County.  At  an  early  day,  he  served  as 
a  member  of  the  Town  Council  for  eighteen 
years  in  succession,  and  served  as  a  member 
of  the  Board  of  Education,  and  as  Clerk  and 
Treasurer.  He  was  formerly  a  Whig,  but 
since  the  dissoluticm  of  that  party,  has  been 
a  Kepublican.  From  1S4H  to  1S47,  he  repre- 
sented Stark  County  in  the  Lower  House  of 
the  Ohio  Legislature;  in  IiSliO,  he  was  elected 
to  the  Ohio  Senate,  and  re-elected  in  1S()2, 
thus  serving  four  yeai's.  From  1867  to  1878 
inclusive,  he  sers'ed  on  the  Board  of  Directors 
of  the  Ohio  Penitentiary.  Aside  fi"om  his 
other  business  affairs,  he  has  been  extensively 
engaged  in  fai'ming  interests,  owning  a  con- 
siderable amount  of  real  estate;  he  was  one 
of  three  receivers  apjioiuted  hy  the  Com-t,  to 
close  up  the  affairs  of  the  old  Bank  of  ila.ssil- 
lon:  he  is  now  Vice  President  of  the  First 
National  of  this  city.  He  has  been  thrice 
married;  his  lii-st  wife  was  Snsau  Stoekly,  of 
Stsirk  County;  second  wife  was  Jane  E.  Smith, 
of  Cannonsburg,  Penn.;  his  present  wife  is 
Sarah  E.  McCarty,  of  Wayne  County,  this 
State.     By  the  first  marriage  he  had  thi'ee 


children;  by  his  present  wife  seven,  all  de- 
ceased; he  is  not  a  member  of  any  orthodox 
church,  l)ut  contrilsutes  to  the  supj)ort  of  the 
mini.sb'v  and  religious  institutions. 

WILLLA3I  H.  JUSTUS,  milling,  Massil- 
lon; was  born  Oct.  11,  18j!8,  in  Bedford  Co., 
Penn.,  the  fifth  of  a  family  of  nine  children, 
born  to  William  and  Hannah  (Hause)  Justus, 
he   a   son   of   David,  of    Welsh   ancestry,  the 
Hause  family  coming  from  Germany.     David 
Justus    had    five  children — James,    Wilson, 
Hann.di,  HaiTiel  and  William.     The   latter, 
the  father  of  our  subject,  was  a  miller  by  oc- 
cupation, and  left  Pennsylvania  in  1 884,  com- 
ing to  this  county,  where  he  lived  two  yeai's, 
then  moved  to  Canton  and  eugagf^d  in  fann- 
ing   and    milling.     In    1840,    he   moved    to 
Miami  County,  where  he  followed  farming, 
and  died,  in  1849,  his  wife  following  him  in 
1856.     William,  our  subject,  went  to  learn  his 
trade,  in  Febniiuy,  1851,  and  worked  for  his 
brother,  James,  in  the  Sippo  Mills  two  years, 
and  then  went  to  Millport,  where  he  remained 
t  until   1853,   then  to  Tippecanoe  till  July  of 
1854,  when  he  went  to  Allen  Co.,  Ind.,  and 
built  a  saw-mill,  which   he  ran   till   August, 
1856,  then  sold  out  and  went  to  Huntington 
County,  where  he  took  a  contract  to  furnish 
plank  for  fovuieen  miles  of  road.     In  May, 
1858,  he  retiuTied  to  Massillon  and  pm'chased 
an  interest  in  the  Eiu^l  Mill,  the  firm  being  J. 
H.  k.  W.  H.  Justus,  which   lasted  until  l^•■,3: 
j  then,  on  account  of  failing  health,  he  moved 
•■  to  this  town  and  engaged  in  the  gi-ocery  busi- 
ness two  years,  then  moved   to    Lima,   Allen 
i  Co.,   remaining   eighteen   months,   and   then 
'  retiu-ned  to  this  city  and  bought  an  int(»rest 
I  with  J.  H.  Justus  &  Co.,  in  Sippo  Mills,  and 
ran   the  same  until   1S74,  John  G.  Waniick 
being  a  member   of   the   firm,   when   James 
j  withdrew,  and  he  l)ecame  associatetl  with  J. 
I  G.  Wamick,  under  the  firm  njjTne  of  Warniek 
'  &  Justus,  which  has  since  continued.     He  wius 
married,  in  1M'>8,  to  Frances  M.  ShatVer,  i)orn 
in  this  county  in   1841,  daughter  of  William 
and  Gracie  Can'.     They  have  one  child,  Me- 
linda  Maude.     He  is  a  Democrat,  and  his  wife 
a  member  of  the  ^Methodist  E])iscopal  Church. 
E.  A.    JONES,    educator,   Massillon;    was 
I  born   Feb.  11,  1842,  in   Rockville,  Mass.;  his 
I  parents  were  Elisha  Adams  and  Khoda  (Ellis) 


674 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Jones.  Elisha  Jones  was  a  farmer,  and  dur- 
ing a  pai't  of  his  life  taught  school  in  the 
East.  Oiu'  subject,  diu-ing  his  boyhood,  had 
the  advantages  of  the  disti'ict  school,  diu-ing 
the  winter  months,  working  the  rest  of  the 
year  on  the  farm;  his  preparatory  course  was 
obtained  at  Mi.  Mollis  Academy,  Holliston, 
Mass..  where  he  attended  for  live  terms,  teach- 
ing school  dming  the  winter  months,  a  course 
which  he  continued  thi'oughout  his  whole  col- 
legiate life,  thus  helping  to  defray  the  ex- 
penses of  his  education.  In  1860,  he  entered 
the  Amherst  College,  Mass.,  in  the  regular 
classical  department.  Dui'ing  his  Sophomore 
year,  while  applying  himself  zealously  to  the 
prosecution  of  his  studies,  the  Government 
was  shaken  by  the  war  of  the  rebellion ;  in  the 
hour  of  his  counby's  peril,  inspired  by  that 
spirit  of  patriotism  which  animated  the  breasts 
of  so  many  loyal  men  of  his  native  State,  he 
abandoned,  for  a  time,  his  chosen  course,  and 
hastened  to  the  defense.  He  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany B,  42d  Mass.  V.  I.,  in  the  nine  months' 
service.  In  the  battle  of  Bayou  la  Foiu'che, 
La.,  he  was  wounded  in  the  shoulder,  and 
during  his  convalescence  his  term  of  enlist- 
ment expired.  Thus,  after  the  sei-vice  of 
about  a  year,  in  which  he  received  compli- 
mentary military  mention,  he  retimied  to 
civil  life,  resumed  immediately  his  coiu-se  in 
college,  and  received  the  degree  of  BacheloV 
of  Aiis  in  1NG5,  and  that  of  IMaster  of 
Arts  in  ISfiS.  After  gi'aduation,  he  was 
engaged  at  the  Lake  Forest  Academy,  at  Lake 
Forest,  111.,  as  Professor  of  Latin  and  Gym- 
nastics, and  aftei-ward  was  elected  as  Princi- 
pal. After  spending  four  years  in  the  insti- 
tution, he  came  to  Massillon,  Ohio,  and  ac- 
cejited  the  position  of  Superintendent  of  Pub- 
lic Schools.  Near  the  close  of  his  foui-th  year 
in  this  capacity,  he  resigned  his  position,  and 
accepted,  soon  afterward,  the  Superintendence 
of  the  Public  Schools  at  Marietta.  Ohio. 
After  a  term  of  two  years'  service,  he  retiu-ued 
to  Massillon,  in  1875,  and  resumed  his  orig- 
inal position,  where  he  has  since  been  miin- 
terruptedly  employed.  "While  not  an  active 
politician,  Mr.  Jones  has  always  been  an  ad- 
herent of  the  Kepublican  ])ai'ty:  in  religious 
belief,  he  is  a  Congi-egationalist,  though  at 
present  is  connected  with  the   Presbyterian 


Church,  at  Massillon,  and  is  an  active  worker 
in  the  clnu'ch,  and  for  a  number  of  yeai's  was 
Superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school;  he  is 
a  pronounced  temperance  man,  is  identified 
with  the  Massillon  Christian  Temperance 
Union,  being  at  one  time  President  of  the 
association;  he  has  been  one  of  the  jirominent 
workers  in  the  County  Institute,  served  as 
Examiner  on  the  Coimty  Board,  and  was  con- 
nected with  the  educational  interests  both  in 
the  city  and  country.  Dec.  23,  1873,  he  mar- 
ried Flora,  daughter  of  WaiTen  C.  Richai-ds, 
of  Massillon. 

WILLIAM  KITCHEN,  miller,  Massillon; 
was  born  in  ISU).  in  Jackson  T}i.,  Stark  Co., 
Ohio;  son  of  Wheeler  and  Agnes  (Shoemaker) 
Kitchen,  both  born  in  Pennsylvania.  They 
came  to  this,  Stai-k,  County,  alwut  the  year- 
1813,  fii-st  locating  in  Perry  T])..  and  after- 
ward moved  to  Jackson  T]).,  where  they  lived 
several  years,  finally  locating  permanently  in 
Lawrence,  where  they  lived  until  about  the 
year  1850.  when  they  moved  to  Putn;uu 
Counly,  and  resided  until  their  death.  They 
have  a  family  of  six  children  who  came  to 
maturity — Jacob.  Samuel.  William.  Joseph, 
Sarah  and  Wheeler  G..  all  living.  Oiu'  suli- 
ject  left  home  at  11).  and  went  to  live  with  his 
uncle,  for  whom  he  worked  at  low  wages  until 
he  was  about  30  year's  of  age,  when  he  bought 
5  acres,  afterward  adding  4  more,  which  he 
finally  sold,  and  bought  4U  acres,  which  he 
improved  and  lived  on  until  about  the  yeaj' 
18()8;  he  built  the  mill  he  now  owns  in  1875; 
it  has  four  nin  of  buhrs,  and  does  merchant 
as  well  as  exchange  work.  Previous  to  build- 
ing this  mill,  Mi\  Kitchen  had  run  (he  Earl 
Mill  for  four  yesu's.  He  was  married,  in 
1840.  to  Elizabeth  Cla])jior.  born  in  Lawrence 
Tp.,  about  the  year  IS'i'J,  daughter  of  David 
Clapper,  who  was  an  early  settler,  and  was  in 
the  war  of  1812.  Mr.  Kitchen  has  three 
children — David,  Jeremiah,  and  Sarah  (Mis. 
John  Swihart).     He  is  a  Kepublicau. 

DAVID  KEKSTETTEK,  retired.  Massil- 
lon: was  boni  May  7,  ISIO,  in  Center  Co.. 
Penn.,  the  thii-d  of  a  family  of  seven  children, 
six  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  lieing  the  issue 
from  the  union  of  Johu  and  Elizabeth  (Young) 
Kerstetter:  he  was  born  in  17U1,  in  Montgom 
ery,  in  the  Mackinaw  Yalley:  sou  of  Leonard, 


(  ITV    (»F    .\I.\S8:LI.(>N. 


075 


who  was  of  German  ancestry,  and  who  had 
been  a  soldier  in  the  Revohiti'ni.  Elizabeth 
was  bom  m-ar  Plni;id('l|)liia,  in  17111,  daughter 
of  Christian  Youuf^,  a  native  of  (rfrmany.  and 
who  had  four  chiklren.  Leonard  came  West 
in  1814,  settled  in  Lawrence  and  bought  a 
crfist-mill,  which  he  ran  for  several  years:  he 
also  bought  two  sections  of  land,  some  of  it 
being  underlain  with  coal:  he  died  in  1822 ; 
to  him  were  born  iSeliastian,  Leonard,  George, 
Adam,  John.  Peter,  Jacob  and  Christian,  all 
of  whom  grew  to  maturity  and  settled  in  Tus- 
Ciu-awas  Tp.  John,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
wiis  raised  in  LawTenoe  Tp.,  and  was  killed 
by  being  run  over  by  his  team  and  farm 
wagon;  he  had  sc'ven  children,  two  only  liv- 
ing. Our  subject  was  raised  on  the  farm  of 
his  father,  where  he  was  bom,  until  1853,  after 
which  he  made  various  changes,  Vniying  sev- 
eral farms:  located  in  town  in  bSOo:  in  1842, 
he  married  Sarah  Weygaut.  born  in  Lawrence 
Tp.,  daughter  of  Henry  Weygant,  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  that  township:  she  died  in 
1858,  leaving  four  chiklren — David,  Melissa, 
John  and  Benjamin:  he  marrieil  tlie  second 
time,  in  1^15'.'.  Sarah  Bitler,  born  in  Canton 
Tp.,  daughter  of  John  Bitler;  by  this  wife  he 
has  four  children  Marietta.  Viola,  Sadie  M. 
and  Marcellus.  David  served  in  the  army  six 
years,  four  in  the  rebellion  and  two  after  its 
close  at  Fort  Kearney,  being  Sergeant  Major 
at  the  fort:  received  two  honorable  discharges 
during  service,  and  was  a  brave  and  loyal 
soldier. 

EDWARD  KACHLEK,  retired,  Massillon. 
Among  the  retired  business  men  of  this  city 
is  Mr.  Kachler.  who  was  bom  March  30,  1824, 
in  Wurtemljerg,  the  second  son  l)om  to  Fred- 
erick Kachler,  who  was  an  officer  in  the  King's 
domain.  His  wife  was  Louisa  Beudel.  daugh- 
ter of  a  merchant.  Mi-.  Kachler,  when  a  lad 
of  14,  entered  a  drug  store  and  studied  chem- 
istry and  pharmacy,  and  remained  continu- 
ously in  the  business  imtil  his  coming  to  this 
country.  He  came  to  Cant(m  in  October, 
1844,  and  to  Massillon  in  the  spring  of  1845; 
first  clerked  for  Bigger  ic  Baldwin,  and  after- 
ward went  into  business  with  Mr.  Bigger, 
which  continued  until  1853,  when  he  pur- 
chased his  piutner's  interest,  and  conducted 
the  business  himself  until  1877.  when  he  sold 


his  drug  store  to  P.  Morganthaler,  .his  foi-mer 
clerk.  Mr.  Kachler  is  now  living  a  retired 
lif<'.  having  secured  t/j  himself  a  handsome 
competence,  and  a  nice  home  for  his  enjoy- 
ment in  his  declining  years.  In  May,  1N44, 
he  marrietl  Susan  Deitrick.  a  lady  of  culture 
and  refinement:  she  was  Iwm  in  the  kingdom 
of  Bavaria,  daughter  of  Joseph  Valentine 
Deitrick.  To  them  have  been  bom  fom-  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  are  now  decease^!.  Charles 
attained  to  man"s  estate,  and  (li(^d  in  the  serv- 
ice of  his  country:  he  enlisted  in  Miiy,  18<)3, 
in  Company  A.  I(j2d  O.  V.  L,  and  died  in 
August  of  the  same  year.  Mr.  Kachler  has 
never  taken  an  active  part  in  the  political 
issues  of  the  day,  but  has  always  been  time 
to  the  princi])les  embraced  by  the  Republican 
party:  he  is  a  memlser  of  Clinton  Lodge,  No. 
47,  A...  F.  &  A.  :M 

S.  M.  KNAPP,  jjlumber  and  gas-fitter,  Ma.s- 
sillon:  was  bom  March  23,  1835.  in  the  city 
of  Massillon;  son  of  William  and  Haniet 
(Au.stin)  Knapp.  William  Knap)i  was  a 
native  of  Ciunmingfem,  Hampshire  Co..  Mass., 
and  was  bom  in  1804:  son  of  William,  whose 
wife's  maiden  name  was  ^\"hitmarsh.  To  this 
eou])le  was  bora  William,  the  father  of  S.  M. 
The  Knapi)  family  trace  their  origin  i»  En- 
glish stock,  for,  according  to  the  tradition, 
three  brothers  came  from  England  to  this 
country  shortly  after  the  arrivjil  of  the  Pil- 
grim fathers,  and  settled,  and  from  them  have 
sprung  the  Kna])])s  of  Massillon.  Harriet, 
mother  of  our  sul)ject  was  born  in  1814.  in 
Vermont,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Isaac  and 
Theodore  (Chandler)  Austin.  William  Knapp, 
the  father  of  our  subject,  was  a  car[>enter  by 
trade.  Coming  West,  in  1830.  to  this  county, 
he  pursued  his  vocation  for  several  years,  but 
afterward  tiu-ned  his  attention  to  the  manu- 
facture of  threshing  machines,  of  which  he 
was  probably  the  first  builder  in  the  county. 
In  1843.  he  went  to  Michigan,  where  he  re- 
mained until  the  fall  of  1848:  in  tlie  sjiring 
of  18411.  he.  in  C(jmpany  with  others,  started 
for  California,  but  he  died  on  his  way  out,  at 
Fort  Independence,  in  Missouri,  the  same 
year.  Five  children  were  left  his  widow, 
whose  names  are:  Helen,  now  Mrs.  David 
Atwat*»r:  Shepherd  M. :  Jane  E..  now  .Mrs. 
John   R.  Dangler,  of  this  citj-:  William  A., 


4~ 


676 


BIOGHAPIIICAI.    SKETCHES: 


who  was. for  several  years  Adjutant  General, 
and  now  is  in  Washington,  D.  C,  Chief  Clerk 
in  the  Post  Office  Department;  the  youngest 
child,  Francis  P.,  remains  at  home.  Our  sub- 
ject, Shepherd  M.,  learned  the  machinist's 
trade,  commencing  in  Norwich,  Mass.,  and 
com]ileting  the  same  in  the  Cuyahoga  works 
at  Cleveland.  After  he  had  completed  his 
ti'ade,  he  worked  one  year  in  Wooster,  then 
engaged  with  Russell  &  Co.,  of  this  city,  with 
whom  he  remained  till  Aug.  9,  18()"2,  when  he 
enlisted  as  private  in  Company  E,  l()4th  O. 
V.  I. :  before  leaving  camp,  was  elected  lid 
Lieutenant  by  the  company,  serving  in  that 
capacity  about  two  years,  when  he  was  pro- 
moted to  1st  Lieutenant;  six  months  after- 
ward he  was  promoted  to  a  Captaincy,  which 
position  he  filled  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
participating  in  all  the  battles  in  which  his 
regiment  was  engaged.  Upon  his  return 
home  after  the  war,  he  worked  in  the  Excel- 
sior s'orks  three  years,  and  then  went  with 
Russell  &  Co.,  where  he  remained  until  Feb- 
ruary, 1881.  On  Feb.  U,  he  associated  with 
Thomas  J.  Dillon,  under  the  lu-m  name  of 
Knapp  &  Dillon,  making  a  specialty  of 
plumbing  and  gas-fitting.  In  August,  18(32, 
he  married  Barbara  S.  Anderson,  a  native  of 
Scotland,  daughter  of  John  and  Helen  Ander- 
son, llr.  Knapp  has  two  daughters,  Hattie 
McL.  and  Annie  B. 

JONAS  LUTZ,  grocer,  Massillon ;  was  bom 
in  Lancaster  Co.,  Penn.,  Jan.  31,  1840;  his 
parents  were  Al)raham  and  Elizabeth  (Kil- 
tinger)  Lutz,  both  of  German  ancestry.  Jonas 
came  West,  with  his  parents,  in  1852;  they 
located  in  Greenville,  this  county,  and  the 
father  being  a  caii:)enter,  and  of  limited 
means,  oiu*  subject  was  early  in  life  thrown 
upon  his  own  resources.  At  the  age  of  15,  he 
found  employment  for  a  time  upon  the  canal; 
afterward,  worked  with  his  father  at  the  car- 
penter's trade,  and  subsequently  engaged  as 
clerk  for  Henry  Beatty,  where  he  remained 
through  the  fall  and  winter  of  IStU-Gy.  In 
March,  18()5,  he  enlisted  for  one  yeai-  in  Com- 
pany B,  191st  O.  V.  I.,  remaining  in  the  serv- 
ice until  the  close  of  the  war,  when  h-^  re- 
ceived an  honorable  discharge.  Returning 
home,  he  entered  the  shops  of  Russell  &  Co., 
where  he  remained  tlu'ee  years,  learning  the 


molder's  trade,  after  which  he  went  to  Port- 
age County,  and  worked  three  years  in  the 
shops  of  the  Atlantic  &  Great  Western  Rail- 
road. June  1,  1873,  he  went  to  Canal  Ful- 
ton, where  he  embarked  in  the  grocery  and 
provision  trade,  remaining  there  six  years;  in 
the  fall  of  1879,  he  came  to  this  city,  and  pur- 
chased the  interest  of  F.  Loeffler  in  the  gro- 
cery business,  in  which  he  engaged,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Lutz  &  Preyer,  his  partner  dy- 
ing thi'ee  months  afterward.  The  business 
was  caiTied  on  as  before  until  Jan.  3,  1881, 
since  which  time  Mr.  Lutz  has  controlled  the 
entire  interest  and  is  doing  an  excellent  busi- 
ness, his  store  being  constantly  stocked  with 
a  full  line  of  staple  and  fancy  groceries ;  his 
long  acquaintance  with  the  people,  knowledge 
of  the  business  and  his  fidelity  to  his  custom- 
ers have  merited  him  the  success  he  has  at- 
tained. In  May,  1871,  he  married  Flora 
Loeffler,  daughter  of  Frederick  LoefHer. 
This  union  has  been  crowned  by  the  birth  of 
five  childi-en,  viz.:  Clai'ence,  AJthur,  Lillie, 
Hattie  and  Stella:  Arthur  died  in  187*). 
Politically,  he  has  always  been  a  Republican. 
While  at  Canal  Fulton,  he  was  elected  City 
Treasurer,  serving  two  years,  and  was  hon- 
ored by  a  re-election  to  the  same  office;  is  a 
member  of  the  City  Council. 

GEORGE  W.  MERWIN,  cabinet-maker, 
Massillon;  is  the  third  son  of  John  and  Maiy 
(Freese)  Merwin.  Oiu'  subject  was  born  in 
New  Lisbon,  Columbiana  Co.,  the  same  year 
his  parents  came  to  Stark  County;  he  learned 
the  cabinet-maker's  trade  in  this  city,  which 
he  followed  for  some  time;  in  the  fall  of 
IStJl,  he  volunteered  his  services  to  defend  his 
Nation's  honor,  enlisting  in  Company  I,  7(Jth 
O.  V.  I.,  where  he  remained  until  after  the 
battle  of  Arkansas  Post,  where  he  received 
wounds  of  such  a  nature  as  to  render  him 
unserviceable,  and  he  was  discharged,  having 
particijjated  in  the  battles  of  Forts  Donelson 
and  Hemy,  Shiloh,  Corinth,  Vicksbm-g  and 
Jackson,  Miss.  Since  his  retiu'n  home,  he 
has  been  engaged  in  the  wood-work  depart- 
ment at  Russell  &  Co. 's  shops;  since  1879,  has 
had  charge  of  that  department,  ^^'as  married 
to  Miss  Ellen  Willison,  of  this  city,  and  by  her 
has  two  children — Edward  and  Bertha.  He 
is    a    member    of    the    Methodist    Episcopal 


3<n 


;r^ 


'.±^ 


CITY    OF    lilASSILLON. 


677 


Church,  and  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  a 
good  Republican. 

JOHN  P.  MEKWIN,  retired  mechanic, 
Massillon;  son  of  Nicholas  and  Maiy  Merwin; 
was  born  in  ChosttT  Co.,  Penn.,  March  25, 
1808:  at  tho  proper  age,  he  was  ap[)renticod 
t<)  the  wagon-making  business.  He  was  mar- 
ried, in  August,  1880,  to  Maiy  A.  Freese,  who 
was  born  in  Chester  Co.,  Penn.,  Oct.  28, 
18011.  and  w^as  the  daught(>r  of  I'eter  and 
Elizabeth  Freese.  They  have  had  eight  chil 
drfn,  of  whom  William  M.  was  bom  in 
Schuylkill  Co.,  Penn.,  and  Joseph  K.,  Hannah 
F.  and  M?.iy  E.  in  ^Montgomery  Co.,  Penn; 
George  W.,  in  New  Lisbon,  Ohio;  David  P., 
Cynthia  A.  and  Chai'les  O.,  in  Massillon,  Ohio. 
Of  these  ohildi'en,  Hannah  F.  and  !Mary  E. 
died  in  e.u'ly  childhood;  William  M.  removed 
to  Indiana  in  1852;  he  there  tilled  many 
positions  of  trust,  and  after  occupying  subor- 
dinate clerkships,  during  several  sessions  of 
the  Legislature,  he  was  elected  Chief  Clerk 
of  the  House  of  Kepresentatives,  in  18()8.  He 
was  accidentally  killed  Jan.  5,  1878.  The 
remaining  children  reside  in  the  city  of  Mas- 
sillon. ^Ir.  John  P.  Merwin  removed  with 
his  family  to  New  Lisbon,  Ohio,  in  April, 
]  8-!U,  and  in  the  following  spring  took  U{) 
his  residence  in  Miissillon,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  He  was  foreman,  for  over  thirty  years, 
in  the  wood  dej)artment  of  the  foundry  and 
machine-shops  of  I'iulridge  &  Kessler,  and 
Messrs.  Killinger  &  Co.  He  was  a  man  of 
stioug  moral  convictions,  and  in  early  man- 
hood united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  of  which  church  his  wife  and  living 
children  are  also  members.  He  became  iden- 
tified with  the  anti-slavery  cause  in  the 
early  years  of  that  agitation.  When  the  war 
of  the  rebellion  broke  out,  in  18(51,  his  sons, 
William  M.,  Joseph  K.,  George  W.  and 
David  P.  enlisted  in  the  ai'my  of  the  Union. 
They  constituted  the  entire  "  tighting  force  " 
of  the  fimiily,  as  Father  Merwin  was  too  old, 
and  Charles  O.  too  voung,  for  military  sei-vice. 

J.  WALTER  McCLYMONDS,  manufactur- 
er, Massillon;  born  September,  1M12,  in  New 
Lisbon,  Ohio;  son  of  John  McClymonds,  of 
Scotch-Irish  extraction;  a  resident  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and 
for  several  years  was  Postmaster  at  Darling- 


ton, Beaver  Co.,  Perm.;  he  came  to  New  Lis- 
bon, where  he  married  Elizabeth  Kincaid, 
and  engaged  for  several  years  in  mercantile 
business  and  banking;  he  came  to  Massillon 
in  18()0,  and  engaged  in  banking  for  nine 
years;  in  18(59,  he  moved  to  Cleveland, 
where  he  was  one  of  the  principal  organizers 
of  the  Ohio  National  Rank,  and  since  has 
been  President  of  the  same;  also,  of  the 
Cleveland  Rubber  Company,  of  which  he 
was  jirominent  in  its  formation.  J.  Walter 
graduated  at  the  New  Lisbon  High  School, 
April,  18(51,  and  entered  the  service  of  the 
Government,  enlisting  as  a  private  in  Com- 
pany E,  I'Jth  O.  V.  I.,  in  tlu-ee  months'  serv- 
ice; afterward  re-enlisted  in  same  regiment. 
Company  A,  and  was  promoted  to  Sergeant 
Major,  where  he  served  until  the  spring  of  18(58, 
when  he  was  transferred  to  the  104th  O.  V.  I., 
serving  as  Adjutant  until  the  close  of  the  war; 
he  served  also  as  Assistant  Adjutant  General 
of  the  brigade  and  division,  and  was  tendered 
a  commission  for  the  same,  but  declined. 
During  this  time,  he  participated  in  all  the 
general  engagements  in  which  his  command 
took  pai't;  at  the  close  of  the  war,  received  an 
appointment  in  the  14th  Regular  Infanby  as 
1st  Lieutenant,  which  position  he  rt^signed, 
after  several  months,  and  returned  to  civil  life. 
During  the  latter  part  of  18(55,  was  employed 
in  the  office  of  Gen.  Poe,  Chief  Engineer  on 
Gen.  Sherman's  staff,  in  Washington,  D.  C. 
In  December,  18(55,  ho  came  to  Massillon, 
where,  for  three  years,  he  was  engaged  as 
clerk,  with  Russell  &  Co.,  and  as  Teller  in 
the  Union  National  Rank.  In  the  sjiring  of 
ISG'J,  he  moved  to  Cleveland,  where  he  was 
Assistant  Cashier  in  the  Ohio  National  Rank 
for  three  yeai's;  siting  of  1873,  came  to  Mas- 
sillon, and  became  book-keeper  for  Russell  & 
Co.:  in  January,  1876,  became  a  partner  and 
placed  in  charge  of  the  financial  department 
of  the  business;  in  January,  1878,  the  firm 
was  incoqiorated  as  Russell  &  Co.,  with  Mr. 
McClymonds  as  Secretary  and  Treasin-er, 
which  jwsition  he  still  holds.  Nov.  'J,  1870, 
he  married  Flora  A.,  daughter  of  N.  S.  Rus- 
sell; has  one  child  living. 

DAVID  P.  MERWIN,  printer  and  Dejnity 
Postmaster,  Miissillon;  bom  Dec.  11,  1N42, 
in  this  city;  is  the   fourth  son  of  John  P. 


-^z 


^ 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES 


Merwin  aud  Mary  Freese;  at  the  age  of  16 
entered  the  office  of  The  Journal  of  the  Times 
to  learn  the  printer's  art,  remaining  here 
until  October,  1801,  when  he  enlisted  in 
Company  I,  IBth  O.  V.  I.,  and  served  in  the 
same  diu'ing  the  war,  receiving  his  dis- 
charge, July  26,  1<S()5.  During  this  time,  he 
was  engaged  in  the  following  liattles:  Forts 
Donelson  and  Henry,  Shiloh,  Corinth,  Vicks- 
burg,  Jackson,  Miss.,  Arkansas  Post,  Lookout 
Moiintain,  Ringgold,  Mission  Ridge,  and 
in  all  the  liattles  of  the  Atlanta  campaign; 
diu'iug  this  time  was  in  twelve  of  the  South- 
ern States;  never  missed  but  two  engagements 
in  the  whole  time  of  service,  returning  home 
without  a  wound  or  scratch:  upon  his  return 
home,  resinned  his  trade,  working  in  the  Indc- 
pentJeiit  office  one  year;  afterward  assisted  in 
establishing  the  Massillon  American,  and  con- 
tinued in  that  office  three  years;  since  1872, 
has  served  as  Dei)uty  Postmaster,  under  C.  F. 
Ricks.  He  is  unman-ied  and  resides  with  his 
parents,  who  are  aged  aud  infirm;  much 
credit  is  due  him  for  the  filial  care  he  mani- 
fests toward  them.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal   Chiu'ch,  and   of  the  A. 

o.  u.  w. 

PHILIP  MORGANTHALER.  druggist, 
Massillon;  was  born  Jan.  29,  1S45,  in  the 
town  of  Massillon,  the  eldest  of  a  family  of 
foiu-  children,  born  to  Peter  and  Christina 
(Biunmerlin)  Morganthaler.  both  natives  of 
(lermauy;  was  raised  in  the  town,  aud  at  the 
age  of  ly,  entered  the  drug  store  of  Bucher 
&  Kachler,  and  remained  with  them  six 
months,  but  continued  with  Mr.  Kachler,  who 
conducted  the  business  alone  after  the  with- 
drawal of  his  partner,  for  thirteen  years. 
Sejit.  13,  1877,  Mr.  Morganthaler  purchased 
the  intei'est  of  his  employer,  and  has  since 
run  the  business;  keeps  a  full  line  of  drugs, 
books,  stationery  and  fancy  goods.  He  was 
married,  in  Februaiy,  1881,  to  Frances  E. 
Young,  born  in  Lawrence  Township,  the  third 
child  of  Cyrus  and  Margaret  Young,  who  were 
among  the  prominent  and  wealthy  families  of 
this  county. 

T.  CLARKE  IVnLLER,  physician,  Mas- 
sillon; was  born  in  Butler  Co.,  Penu.,  July 
17,  1842;  son  of  James  and  Margaret  G. 
Miller;  he  was  born  in  the  North  of  Ireland, 


in  1796,  and  was  the  oldest  of  a  family  of 
twelve  who  came  to  maturity.  James  came 
to  Maryland  in  1798;  settled  afterward  in 
Franklin  and  then  in  Westmoreland  Co., 
Peun.,  but  after  mairiage  settled  in  Butler 
County,  and  engaged  in  farming;  his  wife 
died  in  September,  1847.  The  Doctor  was 
the  last  of  the  children  born;  the  Doctor  was 
raised  to  farming,  and  remained  on  the  farm 
until  15  yeai's  of  age;  received  eommon- 
.school  education,  and  took  part  of  an  academic 
course:  in  the  spring  of  1861.  he  enlisted  in 
Company  F.  9tli  Penn.  V.  I.,  and  served  three 
years:  was  in  the  seven  days'  fighting  at 
Meehauicsville.  Gaines'  Mill,  C'harles  City 
Cross  Roads,  White  Oak  Swamji,  Malvern 
Hill.  Second  Bull  Run,  South  Mountain, 
Antietam,  Fredericksburg.  Gettysbm'g  and 
Williamsport,  serving  as  private  and  non- 
commissioned officer;  was  discharged  in  June, 
1864;  after  retm'n  from  service,  resumed  his 
studies  and  taught  school  until  spring  of  1865; 
graduated  at  Charity  Hospital,  at  Cleveland 
University  in  1867;  entered  Charity  Hospital 
as  Sm'geon  for  one  year;  he  began  general 
practice  of  his  profession  at  Newburg,  where 
he  stayed  two  years,  and  then  moved  to 
Cleveland,  imtil  he  came  here  to  Massillon, 
in  thi»  spring  of  1876,  where  he  has  since 
continued.  In  May,  1869,  he  married  Mary 
A.  Culbertson,  bom  in  Blairsville,  Penn., 
daughter  of  Isaac  and  Maiy  (McChesney) 
Culbertson.  They  have  foiu-  children,  Clai'ke 
C,  Rush,  Thomas  and  Clara.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and 
an  active  worker  in  the  Sunday  school,  hav- 
ing been  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school 
at  this  place 

P.  MORGANTHALER,  warehouse  and 
grain  merchant,  Massillon;  was  born  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1808,  in  Bavaria;  son  of  Nicholas  aud 
Elizabeth  (Miller)  Morganthaler.  Nicholas 
was  a  farmer,  and  died  when  our  subject  was 
but  3  years  old,  who  was  afterward  reared  to 
farming.  He  came  to  Ohio  in  1838,  and 
located  in  this  city;  coming  here  poor,  he 
worked  at  tending  in  the  warehouse  of  Mr. 
Wellman,  and  returned  to  the  old  country  in 
1837,  but  came  back  in  1841.  and  was  em- 
ployed for  about  fifteen  years  by  L.  &  S. 
Rawson,  in  the  grain  business.     In  1857,  he 


CITY   OF    MASSILLOX. 


■d^ 


engaged  for  himself  in  the  grain,  plaster, 
lime,  comeut  and  salt  trade,  and  has  aintinued 
since.  In  March,  1S43,  ho  mai'ried  Christina 
Bummerliu.  Ixirn  in  Baden,  Germany,  daugh- 
ter of  Charles  Bummerlin.  He  has  fom-  chil- 
dren—  Philip,  in  drug  business;  Flora,  Sher- 
iff's wife.  Canton;  Augusta  and  Albert  L. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Refonued 
Church. 

JOHN  :\rEINHART.  contractor,  MassiUon; 
was  boi-n  Aug.  15,  1S48,  in  Hesse-Darmstadt; 
son  of  John  and  Maggie  (Shuman)  Meinhart: 
he  was  a  son  of  John  Meinhart,  she  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  Shimian.  The  fath.T,  John,  died 
in  1851.  Our  subject  left  home  when  he  was 
17  years  of  age,  having  begun  the  trade  of 
stone-cutter  when  14;  he  emigrated  to  this 
country  in  1805,  coming  to  New  York,  where 
he  worked  several  months,  and  then  came  to 
Warren.  Ohio,  and  worked  at  his  trade  imtil 
the  spring  of  IS'iC):  then  went  to  AVooster  and 
several  other  ])laces,  finally  coming  here  to 
stay,  in  1S74;  began  contracting  in  ISTH; 
put  up  the  Union  Schoolhouse;  furnished  the 
stone  for  and  jmt  up  the  court  house,  at 
Wooster;  was  of  the  finu  of  Powell  &  Mein- 
hart. which  lasted  some  time;  since  1877,  he 
has  conducted  the  business  alone.  In  1871, 
he  married  Amelia  Baughart;  they  have  five 
children — So])hia,  Chiuies,  Henn,-,  John  and 
Frank.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
Church. 

NICHOLAS  MINICH,  hatter,  fiirrier  and 
millinery,  Massillon;  was  bom  in  Khine-Prus- 
sia,  Dec.  H,  IN'il.  the  youngest  of  a  family  of 
four  children,  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  bom 
to  Adam  and  Margaret  (Ault)  Minich,  both  of 
whom  died  wheTi  our  subject  was  young,  2i 
vears  when  his  mother  died,  0  when  his  fa- 
ther died.  May  12,  KS4(J;  left  Europe  May 
27,  setting  sail  fi-om  Ha'NTe,  and  aiTiving  in 
Now  York  July  3 ;  stayed  there  two  years ;  his 
brother  came  several  years  previous;  he  wa.s 
two  years  in  Texas  fighting  Indians:  after- 
ward joined  the  regular  army:  was  eleven 
years  a  United  States  soldiei",  and  was  killed 
at  the  storming  of  Vera  Cruz.  Our  subject 
lejirned  the  fmTier's  trade  before  leaving  the 
old  country:  when  he  arrived  in  the  United 
States  he  only  had  ?3;  first  worked  at  the  cap 
business,  smd  then  at  the  furriers  trade.     In 


the  fall  of  1848,  he  came  to  Massillon;  was 
fh'st  with  Hiram  Wellraan,  in  the  cap  busi- 
ness, and  aft«'r  six  months  bouglit  him  out,  ;ind 
started  in  the  mauufactm-e  of  hats,  caj>s,  furs 
and  gloves,  on  Erie  street,  which  lasted  two 
years,  when  he  removed  to  Main  str(*ot,  l)ut 
his  place  w;vs  bm-ned  out  the  fall  aft(>r  ho 
started,  when  he  moved  to  No.  45  Main  street, 
about  1851,  where  he  has  coiitinued  ever  since. 
In  18()8,  lie  erected  the  building  he  now  owns, 
30x05  feet,  which  cost  about  !?  15,01)0.  July 
4.  184'.*,  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Cham- 
bers, bora  in  Carroll  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1824,  daugh- 
ter of  James  and  Sarah  (Berk)  Chambers,  he 
of  Maryland,  she  of  Pennsylvania.  Had  six 
childi-en:  Flora,  Mis.  David  Hopkins,  Grand 
Rapids;  Mary,  Mrs.  William  Perong,  Cleve- 
land; William  James,  Frank  H.,  Charles  O. 
and  Charles,  2d.  who  died  respectively  at  5 
years  and  7  months  and  1 1  months.  Mr. 
Minich  is  a  member  of  the  English  Christ's 
CluuTh;   wife  of  the  Di.scijiles'  Ch\irch. 

THOMAS  McCULLOUGH,  l)anker,  Mas- 
sillon; was  born  near  Steuben ville,  Jefferson 
Co.,  Ohio,  March  0,  1810;  he  is  descended 
from  Scotch-Ii-ish  Protestant  ancestry  on  both 
sides;  his  grandfather,  Jolni  McCullough, 
emigrated  fi'om  Ireland  to  America  in  the 
year  17U0,  and  after  stojiping  for  a  few 
months  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Penn.,  located  in 
Fayette  County,  same  State,  and,  in  1 7111),  be- 
C!une  a  jjioneer  to  Ohio,  settling  near  Steu- 
benvillo,  Jefferson  Co.  Here,  in  the  wilds  of 
the  Western  wilderness,  this  sturdy  jiioneer 
erected  a  rude  cabin  of  uuhew<>d  logs,  chinked 
with  mud,  the  chimney  being  made  of  sticks 
and  cemented  with  the  same  material;  the 
windows  were  made  of  pa]>er,  smeared  with 
grease,  while  a  qnilt  served  the  j>in'])oso  of  a 
door;  the  floor  was  made  of  split  logs,  and 
through  the  openings  between  their  badly- 
fitted  edges,  rattlesnakes  would  crawl  into  the 
cabin  at  night.  Mr.  McCullough  died  in 
December,  1827,  on  the  f;mn  which  he  had 
cleari'd,  aged  75  years.  The  parents  of  om- 
subject  were  John  McCullough  and  Jane, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Ritchie,  an  Irish  emi- 
grant to  America,  and  a  pit)neer  to  Jefferson 
County,  about  the  yejir  17*J8.  They  were 
miuried  near  Steubenville,  Ohio,  and  there 
resided  for  several  years.     In  1821,  his  father 


680 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


moved  to  Springfield,  Ohio,  where,  for  several 
years,  he  kept  a  hotel.  He  died,  in  1852,  at 
the  age  of  78.  One  of  his  brothers,  David, 
was  a  soldier  of  the  v^ar  of  ISl'J.  Oiu-  sub- 
ject is  the  third  son  of  ten  children;  had  a 
farmer's  boyhood,  and  only  a  couimou- school 
education.  At  the  age  of  22,  he  went  to  Vir- 
ginia, where  he  was  employed  for  foiu:  years 
superintending  a  plantation,  near  Wheeling; 
in  February,  183(),  he  removed  to  Massillon, 
and  engaged  by  the  Massillon  Rolling  Mill 
Company  to  superintend  the  clearing  and  cul- 
tivation of  their  extensive  farms ;  in  1S40,  this 
company  failed,  and  in  1M48  Mr.  McGullongh 
pui'chasod  a  portion  of  the  land,  amounting 
to  between  8,0(10  and  4,000  acres,  of  which  he 
still  retains  three  or  four  hundred;  in  1851, 
he  became  connected  as  stockholder  with  the 
Massillon  Branch  of  the  State  Bank  of  Ohio, 
and  was  subsequently  made  its  President;  in 
1864,  this  company  was  merged  into  the 
Union  National  Bank  of  Massillon,  of  which 
Mr.  McCullough  was  President  till  1873.  He 
is  a  stockholder  in  the  Cleveland  &  Massil- 
lon Railroad,  and  was,  for  several  years,  con- 
nected with  the  City  Coxincil.  In  politics,  he 
was  formerly  a  Henry  Clay  AMiig,  and  now  a 
Republican;  in  religious  faith,  he  is  an  Epis- 
copalian, as  was  his  father,  and  has  been  for 
several  years  one  of  the  Wardens  of  St.  Tim- 
othy's Church,  of  Massillon.  He  has  been 
thrice  married;  his  first  wife  was  Caroline 
Apj)legate,  of  Wheeling,  W.  Va.,  whom  he 
man-ied  March  16,  1837;  she  died  Feb.  3, 
1838;  on  May  12,  1840,  he  married  Nancy, 
daughter  of  John  Melondy,  of  Vermont;  she 
died  May  8,  1877,  having  been  the  mother  of 
two  childi'eu,  one  son  and  one  daughter,  the 
former  deceased;  the  daughter,  Caroline,  is 
the  wife  of  H.  H.  Everhard,  of  this  city;  on 
Dec.  30,  1879,  he  married  Mi-s.  Maiy  C. 
Hm-xthal,  of  Canal  Dover. 

J.  H.  McLAIN,  milling,  Massillon;  was 
born  in  this  city;  eldest  son  of  J.  E.  McLain. 
Oiu-  subject  started  the  News  Dejaot  in  this 
city;  he  first  commenced  clerking  in  his  fa- 
ther's store,  at  the  age  of  19  years,  and  stayed 
there  one  year,  when  he  went  in  business,  tiist, 
with  Ricks  &  McLain,  which  lasted  five  years, 
and  afterward,  with  McLain,  Dangler  &  Co., 
which  lasted  six  years.     J.  H.  then  withdrew 


and  went  into  the  Exchange  Bank,  where  he 
stayed  three  years.  While  there,  he  became 
interested  in  the  White  Sandstone  Quarry, 
which  he  continued  one  year,  afterward,  in 
1876,  buying  a  half  interest  in  the  Ciystal 
Spring  Mill,  which  was  run  under  the  firm 
name  of  Justus  &  McLain;  he,  however,  in 
1878,  pm'chased  the  interest  of  Justus,  and 
continued  by  himself;  in  1S79,  he  bought  the 
Loeffler  warehouse,  and  afterward  bought  the 
warehouse  adjoining  of  the  Kelly  estate,  and 
the  same  year,  a  third  warehouse  of  the  Jarvis 
estate,  which  he  turned  into  an  engine-house, 
the  second  being  fitted  uj)  as  a  mill,  contain- 
ing six  run  of  buhi's,  at  which  he  does  an  ex- 
change business.  The  Crystal  Spring  Mill 
has  also  sis  run  of  buhi's,  and  one  pair  of 
rolls;  this  mill  is  four  miles  north  of  town; 
does  merchant  work  only,  the  other  one  being 
on  Exchange  street.  He  has,  also,  a  half  in- 
terest in  the  planing-mill  of  McLain  & 
Brown,  and  deals  in  real  estate.  In  1865, 
he  married  Ellen  Towner,  who  was  born  in 
Bellefonte,  Penu.,  daughter  of  Rev.  John 
Towner.  They  have  four  children-  Frank, 
John,  Percy  and  Helen.  Mr.  McLain  is  a 
member  of  the  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Knight  Temp- 
lar, of  A.  O.  U.  W.  and  Royal  Arcanum,  and 
a  member  of  the  Council  from  the  First  Ward. 

C.  M.  McLAIN,  merchant,  Massillon;  was 
born  March  31,  1849,  in  Massillon,  the  young- 
est of  a  family  of  three  sous,  burn  to  J.  E.  Mc- 
Lain. He  was  raised  to  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness; engaged,  at  the  age  of  16,  clerking  for 
McLain  &  Dangler,  and  remained  with  them 
five  years;  then,  in  the  spring  of  1871,  asso- 
ciated himself  with  the  firm,  under  the  name 
of  McLain,  Dangler  &  Co.,  which  lasted  imtil 
1876,  when  he  and  his  brother,  Charles  L., 
bought  out  Dangler  and  continued  until  the 
spriug  of  1878,  when  C.  M.  bought  his  brother's 
interest.  In  December,  1871,  he  married  Mary 
T.  Parsons,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Elizabetli 
Parsons;  has  had  two  childi-en — Walter  H., 
living,  and  Mabel,  dead;  is  a  member  of  the 
various  Masonic  societies  in  the  city — A.,  F. 
&  A.  M.,  R.  A.  M.,  and  Knights  Templar. 

J.  E.  McLAIN,  banker,  Massillon;  was  born 
in  Greene  Co.,  Penn.,  July  15,  1814.  His  an- 
cestors emigi-ated  from  Scotland  about  the 
time  of  the  American  Revolution,  and  became 


liL^ 


CITY    OF    MASSILLON. 


08 1 


settlers  of  the  Keystone  State.  His  parents 
were  Jamoa  and  Eleanor  (Evans)  McLain; 
they  came  from  Gi'eene  Co.,  Penn.,  and  settled 
near  New  Lisbon,  Columbiana  Co..  Ohio,  about 
the  year  1S20;  his  father  was  a  miller  by  oc- 
cupation, and  had  a  f.-uuily  of  ei<^ht  children, 
of  whom  om-  subject  wius  the  third  son.  Ho 
suflfered  the  loss  of  his  father  when  he  was 
about  7  years  of  a<^e,  and  from  the  age  of  10 
made  his  own  way  in  the  world,  eiu'uing  his 
own  livelihood  and  picking  up,  at  inten'als, 
such  meager  erumb.s  of  education  <us  the  com- 
mon schools  of  that  day  afforded;  in  this  early 
disciplinary  school,  he  learned  the  virtues  of 
industry,  self-denial  and  fnigality,  which 
hav(<  had  much  to  do  in  shaping  his  subse- 
(juent  career,  and  in  creating  that  success  with 
which  his  business  life  has  b(>en  so  signally 
chai'acterized.  When  al)out  the  age  of  18,  he 
came  to  Massillon.  and  in  April.  1S.S2,  began 
leiiriiing  the  blacksmith's  trade  under  Jacob 
.lacoby,  and  followed  the  s;une  for  about  eight 
years;  in  188r),  he  bought  the  interest  of  Mr. 
Everhart.  of  thc>  firm  of  Knapp  &  Everhart. 
who  wer(>  the  first  manufactiu'(>rs  of  threshing 
machines  in  Stark  County,  and  engaged  in 
this  manufacture,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Kna])])  A:  McLain.  and  thus  continued  until 
IS  1(1.  when  the  whole  business  was  sold  out 
to  another  Ih-m,  who,  a  few  years  subsequently, 
moved  the  Ijusiness  to  Mansfield;  !Mr.  McLain 
then  purchased  three  boats  on  the  Ohio  Canal, 
and  for  some  three  years  was  engaged  in  run- 
ning a  line  from  Cleveland  to  Portsmouth:  for 
a  few  years  subsequent,  he  was  engaged,  first 
in  the  lively  business,  then  in  the  drug,  and 
afterward  in  the  dry  goods  tr;ide;  he  was  then 
employed  to  superintend  the  building  of  the 
car-shop  at  Massillon,  of  the  film  of  Daven- 
port, Russell  &  Co..  and  still  later  by  the  Mas- 
sillon Iron  Company,  to  suiierinteiid  the  build- 
ing of  their  furnaces  and  to  purchas(>  iron  ore 
for  the  same,  and  to  sell  the  goods  manufact- 
ured. Finally,  upon  the  failure  of  the  com- 
pany, he  conducted  the  busine.-is  on  his  own 
account,  for  the  piirposeof  realizing  out  of  its 
profits  certain  sums  of  money  for  which  he 
had  previously  liecome  seciu-ity.  In  the  fall 
of  ISol.  he  finished  the  building  of  two  sec- 
tions east  of  Massillon  of  the  Ohio  &  Penn- 
sylvania, now  the  Pittsburgh.  Ft.    Wavne  & 


Chicago  Railroad.  From  184'J  to  1852,  he 
was  engaged  in  the  carriage  manufacture  in 
Massillon.  In  1802,  in  connection  with  Mr. 
Hemy  L.  Yesler,  he  erected  a  very  extensive 
sawmill  in  Seattle,  Washington  Territory. 
Al)out  the  yeiu-  185(1,  he  bought  out  a  private 
banking  institution  in  Massillon,  in  which  he 
had  become  jiecuniwily  interested,  conducted 
it  for  a  few  years,  and  finally  wound  it  uj), 
thereby  securing  certain  obligations  due  him 
by  the  firm.  From  the  spring  of  18(52  to  the 
fall  of  \H(w,  he  was  also  engaged  in  the  dry 
gixDds  trade.  From  1862  to  18(')4,  he  sei'S'ed 
as  Provost  Marshal  for  Stai'k  Count}^  In  the 
fall  of  18f)7.  he  visited  California  and  other 
jiortions  of  tiie  Pacific  coast,  looking  after  the 
interests  of  his  saw  mill  in  Washington  Terri- 
tory, and  has  since  made  annual  trips  to  that 
portion  of  the  West.  In  April,  bSfiU,  he  en 
gaged  in  private  banking,  under  the  lum  name 
of  McLain  &  Hunt,  the  latter  being  a  son  of 
Ml-.  Salmon  Hunt;  this  arrangement  continued 
for  six  years.  Mr.  McLain's  sons,  James  H. 
and  Charles  L.  McLain,  being  partners.  In 
Januar}',  1875,  Mr.  McLain  was  made  Presi- 
dent of  the  I'nion  National  Bank  of  Massillon, 
which  position  he  still  occu])i(>s.  At  various 
times  he  has  served  in  the  Massillon  City 
Council.  In  politics,  he  is  a  stanch  Rejjub- 
lican.  On  Jan.  1(1,  183U,  he  msuTied  Eliza, 
daughter  of  Isaac  Austin,  of  Massillon,  though 
originally  from  VeiTuont;  six  children  resulted 
from  this  union,  foiu-  of  whom  are  living,  and 
residents  of  Massillon.  James  H.  and  Charles 
McLain  are  now  engaged  in  the  milling  busi- 
ness, andCliU'ence  M.  is  a  dry  goods  merchant; 
the  daughter,  5I;uy,  is  the  wife  of  Charles  M. 
Russell,  of  the  tii-m  of  Russell  &  Co.,  of  Mas- 
sillon. Mr.  McLain  has  been  very  successful 
in  all  his  business  ventiu'es. 

JAMES  NEALL,  coal-dealer,  Massillon; 
was  born  Nov.  15,  bSJl,  in  Talbot  Co.,  Md., 
son  of  James  and  Rachel  ( Cox  I  Neall.  James, 
the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  1775, 
in  same  county,  son  of  Solomon,  whose  father 
came  over  from  England  with  AVilliam  Penn. 
To  Solomon  Neall  were  iKirn  Frankie,  James, 
Mary  and  Ruth.  Rachel  Cox  was  likewise 
born,  in  1782,  in  Talbot  Co.,  Md.,  daughter  of 
Isaac,  whose  wife's  maiden  name  was  Price. 
The  Nealls  are  of  Scotch  extraction,  and  were 


members  of  the  Society  of  Friends.  To  James 
and  Rachel  Neallwei'e  born  twelve  children — 
nine  daughters  and  thi-ee  sons.  At  the  age  of 
17,  the  subject  of  those  lines  went  to  Phila- 
delphia, Penn.,  and  entered  as  clerk  in  a  hard- 
ware store,  where  he  remained  until  1836;  he 
then  went  into  a  foundry  and  machine-shop, 
engaging  in  the  business,  in  1S4(),  on  his  own 
aceonut  until  1S()4,  when  he  came  to  Mas- 
silion,  where  he  has  since  lived,  and  is  engaged 
bi  the  coal  business.  Nov.  3,  1841,  was  the 
date  of  his  marriage  with  Rachel  Ann  Keeler, 
who  was  born  Feb.  15,  1813,  in  Jacobstown, 
N.  J.,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Fannie  (Kemp- 
ton)  Keeler,  both  of  New  Jersey:  Samuel  and 
Fannie  had  four  children  born  to  them. 
To  ]\Ii\  and  Mi-s.-Ne;dl  have  been  born  three 
children,  viz.,  Fannie  K.,  Helen  B.  and  Jose- 
phine. Mrs.  Neall's  parents  were  members 
of  the  Societj  of  Friends,  luider  which  influ- 
ence she  was  brought  up.  Both  Mr.  Neall 
and  wife  are  membtn's  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  of  which  Mr.  Neall  is  one  of  the 
Elders. 

J.  V.  NEWSTETTER,  salesman,  Massillon; 
',vas  born  in  Tuscarawas  Township,  of  a  family 
of  eight  children,  viz.,  Andrew,  Sarah,  Cathar- 
ine, Samuel,  Joseph  V.,  Jacob,  David  and 
Henry,  all  of  whom  were  the  olTspring  of 
Henry  and  Susanna  Voris,  whose  father  was 
Peter  Voris,  Henry  Newsletter,  the  father  of 
the  above,  was  born  in  the  "  Old  Dominion," 
on  the  James  Ri  ver,  about  the  year  1 7U2 ;  his 
father  was  Conrad  Newstetter,  a  native  of 
Bremen,  who  emigrated  to  Pennsylvania  prior 
to  the  Continental  war,  afterward  removing  to 
Virginia,  where  were  born  to  him  a  family  of 
nine  chikh'en,  viz.,  Hem-y,  Conrad,  Joseph, 
Mary,  Nancy.  Barbara,  Elizabeth,  Catharine 
and  Sarah.  Coni-ad  emigi-ated  West  to  Ohio, 
locating  in  Tuscarawas  Township  as  early  as 
1812,  where  he  entered  160  acres  of  land, 
upon  which  he  lived  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  about  182tj.  Henry,  his  son,  who 
was  the  father  of  J.  V.,  was  a  soldier  in  the 
war  of  1812,  afterward  locating  on  a  piece  of 
land  about  half  a  mile  from  the  homestead, 
which  he  cleared,  Brooktield  being  now  a  part 
of  the  f.irm  he  located ;  he  remained  a  constant 
resident  upon  this  farm  imtil  his  death,  in 
May,  1871,  his  wife  dying  the  March  preced- 


ing. Our  subject  was  raised  to  farming,  but 
in  ISoO  he  left  home  and  entered  the  store  of 
Folk  &  Bro.,  where  he  remained  some  time; 
then  went  to  Chillicothe,  remaining  two  years 
and  a  half,  when  ho  moved  to  Waterloo,  N. 
Y.,  where  he  married  Nancy  Ann  Alleman  in 
1858;  she  died  in  1861,  leaving  one  child, 
Arthur  A.,  who  died  in  the  same  year  as  his 
mother.  Retm-uing  then  to  Massillon,  he  sold 
goods  ten  years  for  William  Humberger. 
Since  1877,  he  has  been  salesman  in  the  store 
of  Allman  &  Wetter.  He  is  a  Republican, 
and  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 

C.  N.  OBERLIN,  grocer,  Massillon;  was 
born  in  Tuscarawas  Township  Jan.  28,  1820; 
son  of  John  and  Catharine  (Newstetter)  Obor- 
lin,  he  being  born  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Penn.,  in 
1788,  she  near  Yorktown,  Va.,  in  1790;  they 
(John  and  wife)  came  from  Cumberland  Co., 
Penn.,  where  they  were  married,  and  located 
in  Tuscarawas  Township,  where  he  entered 
land  in  1812;  he  raised  a  family  of  twelve 
}  children — seven  sons  and  live  daughters — sis 
I  of  whom  are  now  living;  he  died  in  1849,  his 
[  wife  in  1858.  Oiu*  subject  was  raised  to 
I  farming  until  12  years  of  age,  when  he  came 
to  town  and  clerked  for  fom-  years,  then  ten 
years  for  Atwater  &  Dickey.  In  1853,  he 
began  business  with  a  partner,  imder  the  firm 
name  of  Oberlin  &  Beatty,  which  lasted  until 
1857,  when  Mi'.  Oberlin  sold  out  to  his  part- 
ner, and  then  started  on  his  own  account,  and 
has  thvis  continued  since.  In  1847,  he  mar- 
ried Nancy  McDowell,  a  relative  of  Gen.  Mc- 
Dowell, of  the  late  civil  war;  she  was  born  in 
Tuscarawas  Township  in  1827,  daughter  of 
John  and  Nancy  (Hoaglaud)  McDowell,  who 
were  from  Washington  Co.,  Penn. ;  had  three 
children,  two  living — Ellen  F.,  Mrs.  Adam 
Knoblock,  in  Canton;  and  Edith,  at  home. 
Mi's.  Oberlin  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Ml-.  Oberlin  is  one  of  the  oldest 
grocers  in  the  city,  and  is  among  the  self- 
made  men  of  the  community.  He  is  a  Demo- 
crat. 

S.  OBERLIN,  dry  goods,  Massillon.  Among 
the  prominent  and  self-made  business  men  of 
Massillon  is  Mi-.  Oberlin,  who  was  born  Feb. 
y,  1818,  in  Tuscarawas  Township,  son  of  Peter 
and  Susanna  (Cramer)  Oberlin.  Peter  came 
West  with  his  parents,  Adam  and  Eve  Oberlin, 


:i\ 


CITV    OF    MASSILLON. 


who  were  natives  of  Lancaster  Co.,  Penu.,  who 
moved  to  Ciimberlaud,  and  then  to  this  county, 
whore  he  entered  the  land  in  this  township 
upon  which  he  lived  imtil  his  death,  in  1855; 
to  him  were  Iwrn  ten  chikh'eu,  all  of  whom 
grew  to  maturity.  Samuel  left  home  at  18, 
and  came  to  this  town  and  clerked  in  a  store 
until  he  enyaj^ed  in  business  with  Hiimberirer 
in  184t),  which  lasted  foiu-  or  five  years:  he 
then  clerked  for  Cummins  &  Humberger  thi'ee 
years,  when  he  foi-med  a  p;u'tuership  with 
Humberu;er,  the  thin  name  being  Humberger, 
Olirrlin  A;  Co.,  which  lasted  about  live  years; 
Jimies  Harsh  was  the  "Co."  In  1857,  he  sold 
out  his  interest  and  crossed  the  sti'eet,  and 
rented  a  store  building,  and  in  1859  he  bought 
the  property,  ;ind  has  since  continued  there. 
In  18-48,  lie  mcurit'd  Mary  E.  Hofl'man,  born  in 
Hagerstown,  Md.,  in  18"_'(),  daughter  of  John 
A.  Hoffman;  has  raised  fom-  childi'en — Mai'y 
F.,  I\Irs.  William  Yost;  Willie  J.,  Chai-les  E., 
Samuel  H.  His  family  are  members  of  the 
M.  E.  Church.  He  is  not  a  member  of  any 
chmch  organization;  is  a  member  of  the  I. 
O.  O.  F.,  and  a  stanch  Kepublicau,  and  a 
public -spirited  gentleman. 

H.  F.  OEHLEll,  stoves  and  tinware,  Mas- 
eillon;  was  bom  April  20,  1839,  in  Gennany, 
the  youngest  of  a  family  of  eight  children, 
who  were  Louie,  Kate,  Julius,  Chai-les,  Cai'o- 
line,  Charlotte,  Jeannette  and  H.  F.,  all  of 
whom  wei'e  born  to  Henry  and  Elizabeth 
Oehler.  The  father  of  H.  F.  died  when  oiu- 
subject  was  a  mere  lad,  who  remained  with 
his  mother  until  1850,  at  which  time  he  came 
to  i\jnerica,  and,  selecting  Ohio  as  his  future 
home,  he  came  direct  to  Massillon;  having  no 
worldly  jiossessions  to  begin  with,  he  resolved 
to  become  a  business  man,  and  entered  the 
Massillon  manufactiu"ing  works,  which  were 
conducted  by  Mr.  William  Buckius,  who  in- 
structed him  in  the  tinner's  art;  he  remained 
with  him  until  April,  18(51,  when  he  enlisted 
in  Co.  A,  18th  O.  \.  I.,  for  three  mouths,  and 
afterward  re-enlisted  for  three  years,  and 
served  until  the  expiration  of  his  term,  nsceiv- 
ing  an  honorable  discharge  Jan.  '24,  18(54;  dur- 
ing his  term  of  service,  he  ])articii)ated  in  the 
battles  in  which  his  regiment  was  engaged. 
Upon  his  return  home,  he  worked  for  Mr. 
BuckiuB  until  the  fall  of  1868.     In  February 


of  the  following  year,  he  engaged  in  business 
with  David  Stevens,  buying  out  Mr.  Huth  and 
conducting  business  for  eighteen  mouths  under 
the  lu-m  name  of  Stevens  At  Oehler,  at  which 
time  Mr.  Oehler  sold  out  to  his  partner,  and, 
in  1870,  went  to  Worth  Co.,  Mo.,  where  he 
remained  neiu'ly  two  years,  and  then  retm'ued 
to  Massillon;  he  worked  a  short  time  for  Mr. 
Stevens,  then  associated  in  business  for  one 
year  with  F.  W.  Geis.  when  Geis  purchased 
his  interest.  In  1874,  Mi\  Oehler  bought  out 
jVIi-.  Stevens,  his  former  jjartner,  and  has  since 
conducted  the  business  on  hisortu  account;  in 
1878,  he  piu'chased  the  building  he  now  occu- 
pies, where  he  keeps  a  lai'ge  assortment  of 
stoves,  and  manufactures  his  own  ware,  and 
is  doing  a  lucrative  business.  In  June,  18(j(j, 
ho  miuried  Anna  Kreisher,  a  native  of  this  city ; 
they  have  three  children — Henrietta,  Edith 
and  Alfi-ed  H. 

JOHN  F.  PETER,  dyeing  and  renovating, 
Massillon.  'Mr.  Peter  began  his  present  pros- 
perous business  in  this  city  in  1877,  at  No.  13 
South  Mill  street;  he  had  fonnerly  been  en- 
gaged in  the  same  business  at  Bellaire,  Ohio, 
afterward  in  Canton,  subsequently  coming  to 
Massillon,  as  above  mentioned.  In  this  city 
he  has  built  up  a  thriving  trade,  which  is  be- 
ing extended  throughout  the  county  and  into 
other  localities;  the  character  of  his  work  be- 
ing of  such  a  natiu^e,  whether  it  be  cleaning, 
dyeing,  or  anything  pertaining  to  his  line, 
gives  entire  satisfaction,  which  in  every  in- 
stance is  guai'anteed,  no  matter  what  the  class 
or  style  of  goods,  silks,  tine  shawls,  gloves — in 
fact,  everything,  as  it  passes  from  his  hands, 
appears  as  new.  He  was  l)orn  in  Canton  in 
1852,  son  of  Com-ad  Peter,  who  was  born  in 
1809,  in  Hesse-DaiTustadt;  July  25, 1877,  he 
married  Frances  Piero,  of  Canton;  has  one 
child — Leo  P. :  is  a  Catholic. 

WILLLUI  A.  I'D^TZCKER,  groc^-,  Mas- 
sillon; son  of  August  Pietzcker,  who  was  bom 
in  Moscow,  Russia,  in  1809,  son  of  Charles 
Frederick  Pietzcker,  who  was  a  native  of 
Prussia,  who  was  a  Minister  of  the  Interior; 
his  father  was  President  of  the  Police  Court. 
August  Pietzcker  married  ^lary  Bitterman, 
l)orn  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Peim.,  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Christina  Bittenuan.  He  served 
eight  years    as    a    soldier    under    Napoleon. 


BIOGRxiPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


ihL^ 


August  emigrated  to  this  State  in  1840,  locat- 
ing in  Stark  County;  he  has  had  eight  chil- 
dren born  to  him,  seven  of  whom  grew  up — 
Augusta,  Charles,  William  A.,  Daniel,  Ezra, 
George,  Ida  and  Henrietta  (now  deceased). 
August,  the  father  of  our  subject,  enlisted,  in 
1801,  as  a  private  soldier;  after  one  year's 
service,  was  promoted  to  Hospital  Steward  and 
Assistant  Medical  Director;  saw  five  years  of 
army  life  in  all;  since  his  return  from  service, 
has  been  engaged  as  a  machinist  in  this  city. 
William  A.  was  born  in  Bethlehem  Township 
in  1852;  at  the  age  of  14,  he  began  as  clerk; 
was  eight  years  in  the  employ  of  P.  G.  Al- 
bright. Nov.  1,  1880,  he  engaged  in  business 
with  E.  A.  Heckert,  under  the  lu'm  name  of 
Heckert  &  Pietzcker,  which  association  lasted 
until  April  27,  1881,  at  which  time  he  pur- 
chased his  partner's  interest,  and  has  since 
continued  in  business,  keeping  a  full  line  of 
staple  and  fancy  groceries;  also,  dealer  in 
countiy  produce.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias.  In  1862,  the  family  re- 
moved fi'om  Bethlehem  Tp.  to  Massillon,  where 
they  have  since  resided. 

J.  F.  POCOCK,  coal  business,  Massillon; 
was  born  in  Baltimore  Co.,  Md.,  Jan.  25, 1839, 
soa  of  Israel  and  Ruth  (Gorsuch)  Pocock, 
both  natives  of  that  county;  they  have  five 
children  who  came  to  maturity.  Israel  was  a 
son  of  Jesse.  Mr.  Pocock  came  to  Butler  Co., 
Ohio,  in  1857;  remained  two  years,  then  to 
Putnam  County,  where  he  stayed  seven  years, 
and  then  came  to  this  town  and  engaged  in 
the  coal  business,  remaining  here  since.  He 
was  married,  in  1866,  to  Amelia  E.  Foltz, 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Mary  (Kindig)  Foltz: 
she  (Mrs.  Pocock)  was  born  in  this  town,  and 
has  three  children-  -Gertrude,  Hem-y  F.  and 
Ralph  A.  Mr.  Pocock  is  Secretary  and  Treas- 
urer of  the  Massillon  City  Coal  Company,  or- 
ganized in  1874.  Mrs.  Pocock's  father  had 
the  following  family:  David  B.,  in  Navarre; 
Eliza,  Mrs.  Elisha  Bond;  Rebecca,  Mrs.  Dan 
Pocock,  near  Clyde,  Sandusky  Co. ;  George 
W.  died  in  Wooster;  J.  F.,  the  youngest  now 
living.     He  is  a  Republican. 

JAMES  PEACOCK,  book-keeper  and  ac- 
countant, Massillon;  head  book-keeper  of 
Russell  &  Co.'s  office;  was  born  Feb.  4,  1836, 
in  Kingston,  Canada,  son  of   Thomas  Peacock 


and  Elizabeth  Knight;  the  former  was  born 
in  1807,  a  native  of  Edinburgh,  Scotland;  she 
was  born  on  the  Emerald  Isle,  town  of  Mag- 
herafelt.  County  Derry.  Our  subject  early  in 
life  learned  the  ])rinter's  trade  in  Bufialo,  N. 
Y.,  which  he  followed  for  several  years  in 
Buffalo  and  in  Cambridge  City,  Ind.  At  the 
outbreak  of  the  war,  he  was  among  the  very 
first  to  respond  to  the  call,  enlisting  in  Co.  A, 
8th  Ind.  V.  I.  as  private,  and  was  mustered  into 
the  service  for  thi-ee  months  three  days  from 
the  time  the  call  was  made;  after  serving  his 
term,  being  mustered  out  as  Sergeant,  Sept.  5 
of  the  same  year  he  enlisted  for  three  years  in 
the  same  regiment  and  same  company,  the 
letter  of  the  company  being  changed  to  G; 
was  soon  promoted  to  1st  Sergeant,  afterward 
to  Sergeant  Major,  and  liually  to  Adjutant  of 
his  regiment,  serving  in  this  capacity  luitil  the 
close  of  the  war;  was  mustered  out  in  August, 
1865,  serving  nearly  foiu-  years  and  a  half; 
diu'ing  all  this  time,  he  participated  in  all 
the  battles  in  which  his  regiment  was  engaged; 
some  of  the  engagements  were  Rich  Mountain, 
Pea  Ridge,  Champion  Hills,  Siege  of  Vicks- 
burg.  Magnolia  Hill,  Big  Black  Bridge,  Mus- 
tang Island  and  Fort  Espanza.  In  August, 
1864,  he  was  transferred  to  the  Shenandoah 
Valley  and  served  under  Sheridan,  and  was 
engaged  at  the  battles  of  Winchester  and 
Cedar  Creek;  thence  to  Georgia,  and  finally 
joined  Sherman  at  Savannah.  Upon  his  re- 
turn to  peaceful  piu-snits  after  laying  aside 
the  blue,  he  went  back  to  Indiana  and  resumed 
his  chosen  vocation  in  the  printing  oflice, 
where  he  remained  until  March,  1866,  when 
he  took  charge  of  the  books  in  the  ofSce  of  L. 
Q.  Sherwood,  who  was  the  general  agent  for 
Russell  &  Co. ;  remained  in  his  employ  until 
1873,  when  he  engaged  with  the  Journal  Com- 
pany, continuing  in  their  employ  as  book- 
keeper uutil  1877,  when  he  came  to  Massillon 
and  took  charge  of  the  books  in  the  office  of 
Riissell  &  Co.,  continuing  in  their  employ  up 
to  the  present.  In  May,  1864,  he  was  united 
by  marriage  to  Miss  Annie  Kavanagh,  who 
was  a  native  of  England,  daughter  of  Law- 
rence Kavanagh,  of  Irish  birth  and  parentage; 
has  threeehildren- Edward  A,  James  K.  and 
Nicholas  L.  He  is  a  membor  of  the  Episco- 
pal Church,  a  true  Republican,  and  a  zealous 


CITY    OF    MASSILLON. 


member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  being  ad- 
vanced from  the  lodge  proper  to  the  Scottish 
Rite. 

ANSON  PEASE,  lawj'er,  Massillou;  is  a 
descendant  of  Robert  Pease,  who  sailed  in 
April.  U);i4.  from  Ipswich.  England,  liuiding 
at  Boston,  and'settlcd  at  Salem,  Mass.  To  this 
ane(>st<>r  .^^uson  Pease  traces  his  de.scent.  His 
grandfather,  Abner  Pease,  was  actively  en- 
gaged in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  received 
a  Captain's  pension:  he  was  one  of  the  jiio- 
neers  of  th(>  Western  Reserve,  having  moved 
to  Aiu-ora.  Portage  Co..  in  iSf'S.  James  Pease, 
the  father  of  our  subject,  served  in  the  war  of 
ISl'i:  .•Vmtmda  Parish,  his  mother,  wiis  born 
in  Worcester.  Mass. :  in  his  boyhood,  he  passed 
through  the  usual  experiences  of  pioneer  life, 
to  the  age  of  1 5,  working  on  a  farm  and  at- 
tending the  district  school,  and  subsequently 
spending  a  year  at  an  academy  at  Aurora 
Center;  he  then  engaged  to  learn  the  harness- 
maker's  trade,  which  business  he  had  after- 
ward to  resign  on  account  of  hmg  affection; 
for  several  months  he  received  instruction 
from  the  Rev.  John  Sewiird,  a  ])ioneer  Presby- 
terian minister,  who  acted  as  his-  tutor:  when 
10  years  of  age,  he  entered  a  store  as  a  clerk, 
remaining  one  year  and  a  half,  and  then  en- 
tered the  Western  Reserve  College.  Here  he 
took  the  English  and  scientific  course  of  in- 
struction, which  occu]iied  two  years;  then,  re- 
tmTiing  to  Massillou,  he  read  law  in  the  office 
of  his  nuele,  Samuel  Pease,  and  afterward 
with  Robert  H.  Folger;  during  this  time,  he 
acted  as  Deputy  Sheriff,  and.  by  this  occupa- 
tion secured  means  to  enable  him  to  su]>port 
himself.  In  1^44.  he  was  admitted  ti^  the  liar, 
and  since  that  time  has  been  in  the  active 
practice  of  his  j)rofession.  He  served  as  a 
member  of  the  Constitutional  Convention  of 
187'J  and  1878,  being  a  Republican  in  jjolities. 
On  the  <>th  of  A]>ril.  1844.  he  married  Miss 
Eliza  Per  Lw,  a  native  of  Noi-th  Norwich, 
Chenango  Co..  N.  Y.:  three  children  liave 
crowmnl  this  union,  the  eldest,  a  daughter, 
the  wife  jf  Charles  McLain;  Dr.  Per  Lee, 
now  a  medical  ])ractitioner  in  Massillou:  and 
Edward  N..  who  served  several  years  in  the 
regular  army,  but  is  now  in  the  clerical  de- 
partment in  the  office  of  Russell  &  Co.  While 
in    college.    Mi-.  Pease    became    much    inter- 


ested in  natural  science,  especially  chemistry, 
mineralogy  and  geology,  and  since  that  time, 
as  an  amateiu-.  has  ])ursued  those  branches 
with  much  pleasure,  as  well  as  that  of  micro- 
scopy. He  was  born  Nov.  28, 1819,  in  Aurora, 
Portage  Co.,  this  State:  he  has  a  hu'ge  and 
lucrative  practice. 

R.  A.  PINN,  lawyer,  Massillou:  was  born 
in  1843  in  Perry  Tp.,  son  of  William  and 
Zil[)ha  (Broxon)  Pimi.  The  grandsire  of  our 
subject  was  born  in  the  bonds  of  slavery  in 
the  "Old  Dominion."  AMiile  in  servitude 
his  name  was  Briggs,  which  family  resided  in 
Fauquier  Co.,  \h.  His  children  were  free 
born,  among  whom  was  William,  the  father 
of  Rol)ert  A.,  who  came  to  Ohio  when  a  young 
man,  living  somi-  time  at  Steubenville,  where 
he  worked  at  the  blacksmith's  trade  several 
years.  He  came  to  Stark  County,  residing 
some  time  in  Canton  where  he  was  married, 
afterward  locating  in  Ptmy  Tp.  about  the  year 
1888,  and  raised  a  family  of  seven  children 
— Amanda.  Martha,  Robert  A,  Elizabeth, 
Susan,  Levi  and  Harriet.  After  his  coming 
to  this  tdwnshi])  he  was  engaged  in  farming, 
remaining  heri'imtil  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  the  fall  of  1874.  He  was  a  good  citizen, 
honored  and  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him. 
His  wife  yet  survives  him;  she  was  born  in 
Mercer  Co.,  Penn.,  and  came  West  with  her 
parents.  Oiu"  subject  was  raised  on  the  farm 
of  his  father  until  IN  years  of  ii^^e.  In  1S62, 
he  left  home  and  went  into  the  army,  remain- 
ing in  the  sutler's  depaiiment  until  Sept.  5, 
1808,  when  he  was  musteredrinto  United  States 
Sei-vice,  Co.  "I"  r)th  U.  S.  C.  I.,  as  private, 
afterward  j>romoted  to  1st  Sergeant,  and  act(>d 
Sergeant  Major  on  the  non-commissioned 
staff.  He  was  in  (ronmiand  of  his  comjiany 
at  New  Market  Heights,  where  he  received 
three  bullet  wounds  afterward  received  two 
medals  from  the  Government  for  his  braveiy. 
After  two  years'  of  active  service  received  an 
lionorable  discharge  and  retm-ned  home. 
After  attending  school  at  Oberlin  College  he 
went  to  South  C!arolina  and  began  reading 
law  under  W.  H.  Thomas  in  1875.  Upon  his 
return  to  this  city,  he  entered  the  office  of  R. 
H.  Folger.  He  was  admitted  to  the  l)ar  in 
this  county  April  8,  1879,  and  is  successfuj 
in    his    profession.       He    married   Emily   J. 


"^ 


686 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 


Mauzilla,  daughter  of  Miles  Manzilla,  of 
Mahoning  County;  has  no  children. 

ALFRED  PEIRCE,  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
and  conveyancer,  Massillon.  The  Peirce 
family  are  descended  from  three  brothers, 
who  came  over  with  William  Penn;  one 
brother  settled  in  New  England,  one  iu  Penn- 
sylvania, the  other  in  Maryland.  About  the 
year  1800,  Judge  Eli  Peirce  suggested  that 
the  name  of  the  Pennsylvania,  or  Quakei', 
branch  of  the  familj'  should  be  spelled  with 
the  "  e"  before  the  "  i,"  which  was  ado]ited  by 
all  their  descendants.  The  New  England 
branch  spell  the  name  Pierce,  while  the 
Maryland  branch  spell  it  Pearee.  Alfred 
Peirce  was  born  in  Philadelphia  Sept.  12, 
1812;  liv.^d  iu  New  York  City  from  1828  to 
1839;  next  removed  to  Baltimore,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  mercantile  business  until 
184:0,  then  moved  to  Philadelphia:  in  1845, 
he  came  to  Ohio  and  engaged  in  teaching 
and  lecturing;  in  1846,  he  came  to  Stark 
County,  and  in  the  same  year  he  was  married, 
in  Salem,  Columbiana  Co.,  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Boi'den,  a  native  of  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.,  who 
came  to  Ohio  the  same  year:  foiu-  children 
living — Charles  L.,  Frank  B.,  Velma  and 
Minnie  Alfaretta.  For  over  twenty  years  Mr. 
Peirce  was  engaged  as  a  commercial  traveler, 
and  since  that  period  until  the  present  time, 
has  been  a  newspaper  correspondent.  In  the 
spring  of  1880  he  was  elected  Justice  of  the 
Peace.  His  father,  Isaac  Peirce,  was  born  in 
Chester  Co.,  Penn.,  Aug.  22,  1788:  removed 
to  Ohio  about  1885,  and  became  well  known 
throughout  the  State  as  an  imfiincliing  fi'iend 
of  the  slave,  and  an  active  member  of  the 
Free-Soil  and  Republican  parties,  being  also 
identified  with  the  Temperance  and  other 
reformatoiy  movements.  His  death  occuiTed 
March  1 1 ,  185N.  His  wife,  Elizabeth  Painter, 
was  born  Dec.  25,  1790,  and  died  Dec.  15, 
IMS.  The  ancestors  of  Mr.  Peirce  were 
Quakers  of  the  Liberal  or  Hicksite  branch, 
but  he  himself  since  his  connection  with  this 
society  ceased,  at  the  age  of  22,  has  not  been 
united  with  anv  church. 

FERDINAND  RIICHTI,  traveling  agent, 
Massillon;  was  born  June  1,  18H4,  iu  AYur- 
temberg,  C-rermany,  eldest  son  of  Joseph 
Ruchti    and    Margai-et     Heintzelman.       His 


grandfather  was  Paul  Ruchti,  who  served  as 
soldier  under  Napoleon,  being  with  him  in 
all  the  wars  of  that  period,  and  died  at  the 
age  of  103.  Josejjh  Ruchti  was  a  merchant, 
to  which  business  his  son  Ferdinand  was 
raised  until  he  became  of  age,  when  he  came 
to  Ohio — to  Canton,  in  1853,  a«id  to  Massil- 
lon the  spring  of  the  following  year,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  employ  of  the  Massillon  Fm-nace 
Company,  continuing  m\til  the  year  1859. 
Since  has  been  engaged  with  J.  P.  Burton, 
of  this  city,  as  traveling  agent.  Nov.  6, 1856, 
married  Caroline  Held,  bom  in  this  city  1836, 
daughter  of  Philip  Held  and  Philopena  Sha- 
fer.  Has  but  one  child,  Emma,  now  the 
wife  of  Dr.  Simpson  Harmount.  Mr.  Ruchti 
is  a  Republican,  and  since  his  residence  in  the 
city  served  six  years  as  a  member  of  the  Town 
Council. 

CHARLES  M.  RUSSELL,  deceased. 
It  may  not  inaptly  be  said  that  a  man 
who  for  so  many  years  assumed  so  prom- 
inent a  position  in  the  community  in  which 
he  lived  as  the  subject  of  this  notice,  becomes, 
as  it  were,  a  public  chai-acter,  and  henci.s 
every  member  of  society  feels  a  sort  of  prop- 
erty, or  rather  interest,  in  the  facts  pertain- 
ing to  his  life  and  death,,  and  which,  in  this 
instance,  becomes  more  appropriate,  from  the 
fact  that  the  fai'-reaching  enterprise  and 
energy,  with  which  the  deceased  extended  his 
own  reputation  conveyed  the  name  of  his 
home  along  with  it.  Mr.  Chai'les  M.  Russell, 
whose  portrait  ajipears  in  this  work,  was  bom 
Oct.  1,  180(),  in  Middlesex  Co.,  Mass.  He  was 
the  eldest  son  of  Cyrus  and  Louisa  (Stratton) 
Russell,  and  removed  with  them  to  the  State 
of  New  Hampshire,  and  aftei'ward  to  Vermont 
State,  where  they  died.  jVIr.  Russell  came  to 
Massillon  in  the  sjiring  of  1S38,  and  in  the 
occupation  of  master  builder,  gave  little 
promise  of  the  extended  usefulness  of  his 
futiu-e;  but  soon  after,  in  connection  with  his 
brothers  Clement  and  Nahmn,  xmder  the  style 
of  C.  M.  Russell  &  Co.,  in  the  mauufactiu'e 
of  agricultm-al  implements,  more  particularly 
threshing  machines.  The  genius  of  Mr.  Rus- 
sell would  never  jieiTuit  him  to  pursue  the 
beaten  track  of  others,  but  whenever  there 
were  imperfections  in  his  way,  improvement 
mai'ked   his    course,   and    this    characteristic 


f 


^*T 


CITY    OF    MASSILLON. 


687 


added  to  his  great  energy  and  enlarged  enter- 
prises never  permitted  him  to  rest  nntil  the 
manufactiu'ed  artielesof  the  timi  hail  deserved 
and  acquired  a  reputation  sm-passing  that  of 
iiny  other  in  the  country.  This  was  particu- 
larly the  case  with  their  threshing  machines, 
which  are  now  in  use  from  the  State  of  Oliio 
east  and  west  to  the  ocean  line  and  pro))()r- 
tionately  in  other  directions,  a  fact  which 
also  shows  the  unerring  judgment  of 'the  pub- 
lic as  to  its  p(>rfection.  Uut  the  untiring 
energy  of  the  lu'm  did  not  rest  with  this  suc- 
cess, for  in  addition  to  their  large  manufact- 
m-ing  establishments  which  already  formed 
an  important  feature  of  tlie  business  of  llas- 
eillon,  they  established  an  extensive  manu- 
factory of  cabinet  ware,  and  soon  after  the 
completion  of  the  railroad  Mr.  Kiissell,  in  con 
nection  with  Me.ssrs.  ^Vellmau  and  Davon])ort, 
erected  large  works  for  the  manufncture  of 
railroad  csu's,  which  latter  hiially  became  the 
property  of  (J.  M.  Russell  &  Co.  At  the  elec- 
tion of  isr)()  for  Directors  of  the  Pennsylvania 
&  Ohio  Railroad.  Mr.  Russell  was  elected  a 
Director  of  that  c;im])any,  which  position  he 
held  dm'ing  its  s(^{)arate  existence  and  after 
its  consolidation  under  the  style  of  Pitts- 
burg, Fort  Wayne  &  Chicago  Railroad,  mitil 
the  time  of  his  death.  His  position  in  the 
board  was  a  prominent  one,  and  his  opinions 
had  much  wt>ight  in  th(>  cotmcils  of  that  com- 
pany, in  fact  few  men  could  sustain  them- 
selves with  more  credit  in  the  m;uiy  trials  and 
embaiTassments  thnjugh  which  the  road  was 
compelliKl  to  pass;  his  loss  was  deeply  felt  by 
those  who  were  interested  in  the  road.  Diu'- 
ing  the  last  year  of  his  life  in  eomiection  with 
Mr.  Davenport,  invented  and  obtained  a  ))atent 
for  aa  Iron  Railroad  Car.  Mr.  Russell  wii-s, 
perha[).s,  in  the  most  exttmded  s(^nse  of  the 
term,  a  "  rejiresentative  man  "  of  the^Vmerican 
people:  for  he  possessed  an  individuality  of 
the  strongest  character:  and  lost  no  i)j>])or 
timity  of  tm'ning  the  course  of  events  to  liis 
own  advantage;  but  while  taking  advimtage 
of  every  oj)portunity  to  augment  his  own  fort- 
unes, instead  of  hoarding  up  the  proceeds  of 
his  ingenuity  and  lalwrs  for  the  ])urpose  of 
ama.ssing  riches,  he  was  ever  engaged  in  (jui- 
etly  distributing  the  sm-plus  goods  with  which 
Providence  had   blessed  him,  to  relieve  the 


wants  of  his  less  fortunate  brothers  of  the 
human  race.  His  benevolence,  though  exerted 
without  ostentation,  was  constantly  put  in 
])ractice,  and  the  unfortunate  nev(>r  applied 
to  him  for  relief  and  went  away  empty 
handed.  There  was  no  class  of  people  who 
held  a  hu'ger  place  in  his  regard  than  the 
mechanics;  never  forgetting  that  he,  too, 
sj)rang  from  this  gi-eat  class,  the  corner-stone 
of  om*  social  fabric;  ho  was  their  wai'm  bosom 
fi'iend,  ever  ready  to  aid  and  assist  them  in  every 
])ossible  manner.  Among  those  who  had  the 
good  fortune  to  sustain  relations  oi  favored 
intiuKicy  with  the  deceased,  language  would 
fail  in  the  i>roduction  of  terms  to  describe  his 
tnie  genial  natiu-e;  and  far  from  being  dem- 
onstrative in  his  friendship,  the  pure  Damas- 
cus is  not  more  perfect  and  true  in  its  nature 
than  was  his  unswerving  lidelity.  To  the 
town  of  Massillon.  he  has  ijeen  the  chief 
among  her  (citizens,  and  unlike  many  others 
who  went  out  from  her  in  her  hour  of  advers- 
ity, brought  about  by  a  change  in  the  moans 
of  intercommunication,  he  was  always  fore- 
most in  her  defense,  and  using  his  best  ener- 
gies in  her  welfare.  Her  citizens  had  always 
the  benefit  of  his  wise  counsels  and  wise 
experiences.  He  was  e<jually  prompt  to  dis- 
tribute his  money  to  forward  the  best  inter- 
ests of  the  town,  either  in  a  religious,  social 
(jr  public  point  of  view.  His  death  occmTod 
Feb.  li),  ISOO.  Thus  passed  away  a  deai- 
brother,  a  kind  friend  and  worthy  citizen. 
His  m;uTiage  with  Nancy  Davis  was  unfruit- 
ful— no  children  were  born  to  them. 

RUSSELL  BROTHERS,  manufacturers, 
Massillon.  Their  great-gi-audfather  was  a 
native  of  Scotland  and  emigrated  to  Middle- 
sex Co.,  Mass.,  early  in  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury. The  old  family  Bible,  yet  in  the  pos- 
session of  the  family,  reveals  the  following 
story,  viz. :  Joseph  Russell,  son  of  the  great- 
grandfather, was  Iwrn  in  Weston,  MidtUesex 
Co.,  Mass.,  July  T),  17-1.").  May  20,  177:],  he 
miUTied  Susanna  Upham,  who  was  boni  Aug. 
20,  1751,  their  children  were  as  follows: 
Joseph,  liom  Jan.  30,  1778;  Sukey,  born 
March  20.  17S1;  Sarah,  born  Dae.  21,  17S2; 
Cvrus,  l)oni  Dec.  17,  17N4;  Abigail,  born  Feb. 
10,  nsU;  Sylvauius,  bom  Oct.  22,  1793; 
Clement,  bom  June  25,  1795.     Cjtus  Russell 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


^. 


(the  father  of  the  Russell  brothers),  married 
Loixisa  Stratton,  who  was  born  Nov.  8,  ITSO. 
To  theiQ  were  bom  the  following  children, 
whose  names,  according  to  the  order  of  birth, 
are:  Charles  M,  born  Oct.  1,  ISOfi;  Martha 
Upham,  born  Jan.  12,  ISOS;  Harriet,  born 
April  12,  ISOO:  Nahum  S.,  born  Feb.  17, 
1813;  Sylvanius,  born  Aug.  22,  1815;  Clem- 
ent, born  Dec.  29,  1817;  Joseph  K.,  born 
June  26,  1823:  Sarah  Susana,  born  Nov.  25, 
1825;  Thomas  H.,  tornMav  15.  1828;  George 
L.,  born  Oct.  27,  1830;  Alba  Allen,  born  May 
7,  1833.  Nathnm  S.  married  Esther  K.  Mil 
lard:  to  them  were  born  three  children — 
Flora,  Mary  L.  and  Anna.  Charles  M.  mar- 
ried Nancy  Davis;  no  children.  Martha  U. 
married  Eev.  A.  Rawson:  by  him  had  three 
daughters  and  (me  sou-  Alanson  R.  Mary 
A.,  Juliette  and  Harriet.  Harriet  married 
Milan  Harris:  one  daughter  born  them.  Har- 
riet L.  Clement  was  twice  married,  fii'st  to 
Laura  M.  Waterman,  who  bore  him  one  son 
and  one  daughter — Charles  and  Louisa. 
Second  man-iage  to  Mrs.  Augusta  Miller:  no 
issue.  Jose]ili  K.  was  twice  man-ied,  first  to 
Lucretia  J.  Harris,  who  died  Feb.  28.  1875; 
five  children—  Z.  Ninet  S.,  Charles  M.,  Mary 
E.,  Louisa  J.  and  Jesse  L.  Second  mai'iiage, 
was  July  27,  187(),  to  Mrs.  Lydia  H.  Harris, 
born  in  Nelson,  N.  H.,  February.  1828.  daugh- 
ter of  Oliver  Heald;  no  children  l)y  last  wife. 
Thomas  H.  Russell  married  Ellen  Dunn;  had 
five  children,  three  living  WaiTen  R.,  Laiira 
and  Hattie.  Sarah  S.  married  Alfi-ed  Q. 
Evans;  they  had  one  daughter,  Susan  S. 
George  L.  maiTied  Sarah  Galagher;  by  her 
had  one  son — Willie  C.  Second  wife,  MJrs. 
Martha  Kennard.  Allen  A.  married  Lorinda 
Chase.  Second  time  to  Olive  Cook;  she  bore 
him  two  children  Hardy  A.  and  Carrie  B. 
Deaths  of  the  Russell  brothers  and  sisters — 
Svlvanius  died  Aug.  18,  1844;  Sarah  S.,Mav 
20.  1851:  Charles  M.,  Feb.  19,  18B0;  Harriet, 
December.  1880. 

NAHITM  S.  RUSSELL,  manufacturer, 
Massillon.  President  of  the  corporation  of 
Russell  &  Co,,  manufacturers  of  threshers, 
horse-powers,  portable  traction  engines  and 
saw-mills:  was  born  at  Weston,  Middlesex 
Co..  Mass..  Feb.  17.  1813.  the  fourth  child  of 
Cvms  Russell,  who  served  with  credit  as  an 


oflSeer  in  the  war  of  1812.  For  a  more 
extended  accoimt  of  the  Russell  family,  the 
reader  is  referred  to  the  genealogical  state- 
ment of  the  Russell  Bros.  Few  men  have  had 
more  humble  beginnings  than  they,  or  have 
achieved  for  themselves  a  brighter  and 
clearer  record  as  biTsiness  men;  by  their  zeal 
and  imflagging  industry,  have  pioneered  their 
way  through  an  eventful  past,  many  times 
dark  and  portentious.  surviving  panics  and 
hard  seasons,  which  at  times  seemed  ready  to 
engulf  them  into  business  disaster  and  ruin, 
yet  by  their  adherence  to  the  principles  of 
right  and  justice,  coupled  with  their  noted 
energy  and  praiseworthy  fidelity  to  their  busi- 
ness and  its  consequent  obligations  they  sur- 
mounted the  difficulties  that  have  environed 
their  ])athway  and  distinguished  themselves 
as  mamifactiu-ers  and  stalwart  business  men, 
and  are  now  sending  their  products  all  over 
the  world,  the  mauufactiu-e  of  which  gives 
direct  emplojinent  at  their  shops  to  hundreds 
of  men,  and  indirectly  to  thousands  of  others. 
Nahum,  the  eldest  of  the  six  brothers  living, 
was  raised  on  the  home  farm.  His  advan- 
tages for  schooling  were  ])oor,  attending  school 
a  short  time  during  the  winter  months,  and 
working  at  home  during  the  remaining  j)art 
of  the  year.  In  the  winter  of  1831,  he  went 
to  Walpole,  New  Ham};shire,  to  learn  the  trade 
of  carpenter  and  joiner,  serving  for  three 
years  as  an  apprentice.  Daring  his  apj)ren- 
ticeship,  he  strove  to  improve  himself  in  every 
way;  realizing  the  advantages  of  an  education, 
attended  the  Academy  at  Walpole  what  time 
he  could  spare  from  his  labor.  In  the  spring 
of  1835  he  moved  to  Keene,  N.  H..  where  he 
remained  one  year  working  at  his  trade. 
Afterward  went  to  Yirgennes  and  Buffalo  and 
New  York.  Afterward  went  to  Cleveland  and 
assisted  in  building  the  American  Hotel  on 
Superior  street.  He  remained  in  Cleveland 
until  1838,  when  with  his  brothers,  Charles 
M.  and  Clement,  he  came  to  Massillon,  and 
in  connection  with  them  engaged  in  the  build- 
ing and  contracting  business.  April  27, 
1841.  he  married  Esther  K.  Millard,  born 
Feb.  29,  1819,  in  New  York,  daughter  of 
William  J.  Millard,  born  Feb.  28,  1790,  whose 
wife  was  Elizabeth  J.  Ball,  born  Oct.  12,  1800. 
Jan.  1.  1842.  in  connection  with  his  brothers. 


V" 


CITY    OF    MASSILLON. 


68U 


Charles  and  Clement,  formed  a  copartner- 
ship under  the  style  of  C.  M.  Kussell  &  Co,, 
for  the  manufacture  of  tlu'eshers  and  horse- 
powers, in  conjunction  with  their  business  as 
carpenters  and  buildere.  Their  capital  stock 
was  but  §1,500;  thus  stai-ting  with  a  small 
capital  they  built  and  by  hard  work  and  tire- 
less enerj^y  and  perseverance,  one  of  the  lai'g 
est  an<l  most  prosperous  manufacturing  estab- 
lishments in  the  country,  giving  employment 
to  hundreds  of  men.  For  a  more  general 
account  of  the  business,  etc.,  the  reader  is 
referretl  to  the  history  of  the  business  inter- 
ests of  Massillon,  of  whi('h  this  is  the  most 
prominent.  Mi'.  Kussell  had  three  chikh'en 
born  to  him,  but  two  living—  Flora,  wife  of 
J.  "W.  McClymonds,  of  this  city,  and  Anna, 
wife  of  Louie  McClymonds,  who  are  residents 
of  Cleveland.  Mary  Louisa  died  March  10, 
1801,  aged  ni  vears. 

CHARLES  'r.  RICKS,  Postmaster,  Mas- 
sillon; was  born  July  23,  1809,  in  Piiissia, 
the  second  of  a  family  of  three  sons.  His 
parents  were  William  Ricks  and  Caroline 
Duve.  William  Ricks,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, served  thi-ee  yeiU's  as  a  soldier  imder 
Blucher,  and  was  at  the  batth>  of  Waterloo. 
His  occupation  was  that  of  a  commission  and 
fonvarding  merchant;  his  property  was  finally 
confiscated  by  the  French.  His  death  occuiTed 
in  1 856.  His  eldest  son  served  forty-  four  years 
in  the  Prussian  army,  his  rank  lieing  that  of 
General  in  Commissary  Dep;u-tmeut;  he  is 
now  on  the  retired  list.  Next  to  him  in  order 
of  birth  was  our  subject  The  third  son  died 
at  the  age  (jf  14.  Our  subject  left  the 
parental  home  at  the  age  of  15  and  went  to 
live  with  his  uncle,  Georg(>  Duve,  who  was  a 
paper  manufacturer,  which  vocation  Mr. 
Ricks  learned,  and  after  leaving  his  luicle  he 
Wiis  engaged  at  the  same  business  imtil  his 
departure  f(jr  this  countrj".  He  left  his  native 
land  in  July,  18H3,  landed  in  Baltimore  Sep- 
tember 8,  the  same  year,  l)eing  forty-two 
days  on  the  ocean.  He  with  four  others  who 
were  com])anions  on  the  voyagi?,  walked  on 
foot  to  Pittsburgh,  luriving  October  1,  when 
he  found  em[iloynient  in  a  book  and  [laper 
manufactory,  run  by  Johnson  &  Stockton,  in 
whose  emj)loy  he  remained  eight  years.  April, 
1842,  came  to  Ohio  and  engaged  in  the  mer- 


cantile business  at  West  Brookiield  in  this 
county,  whore  he  continued  eleven  years; 
dm'ing  this  time  he  served  six  years  as  Post- 
master und(>r  J.  K.  Polk's  administraton, 
being  the  first  office  that  was  established  at 
that  place,  and  was  brought  about  mainly 
through  Mr.  Rick's  influence.  While  in 
Pitltsburgh,  Jan.  1,  I8H5,  he  was  married  to 
Regiua  M.  Corter,  torn  in  Osuabiu-g,  in  Ger- 
many, 1808,  daughter  of  Perie  Corter.  After 
Mr.  Ricks  had  continued  in  business  eleven 
yeai-8  at  ^\'est  Brookfield,  he  sold  out  his 
store  imd  rotiu'ned  to  Pittsburgh,  where  his 
wife  died  in  1858.  The  fruits  of  this  mar- 
riage were  William  F.,  Augustus  J.,  Helena, 
Chai'les,  Robert  C.  anil  Tht^odore  O.  Remain- 
ing two  years  in  Pittsbm-gh,  he  returned  to 
Stark  County  and  clerked  one  year  in  the 
J'armers'  &  Jleehanics'  Store.  After  this  he 
engaged  in  business  with  his  brother-in-law, 
John  J.  Huflman,  under  Urm  name  of  Huff- 
man &  Ricks,  which  association  lasted  until 
when  he  engaged  in  business  upon  his  own 
account  which  he  carried  on.  Has  filled  sev- 
eral positions  of  trust,  served  for  ten  years  as 
Trustee  of  the  Charity  Roach  School.  In  1874, 
was  appointed  Postmaster  at  this  place  under 
Grant's  administration;  was  re-appointcxi  by 
R.  B.  Hayes,  and  still  holds  that  position. 
He  was  raised  in  the  Reformed  Chm-ch,  but 
since  he  came  to  Massillon,  aiiiliated  with  the 
Presljyterian  Church,  serving  as  Elder  since 
1 8t)"J,  and  Treasxu-or  for  nineteen  yeai's.  Has 
three  childi-en  living  -  William  F.,  who  suc- 
ceeded his  father  in  the  merctmtilo  business; 
Augustus  J.,  now  U.  S.  Circuit  Com-t  Clerk  j 
at  Cleveland,   and  served  as  Captain  of  Co. 

,  in  the   late  war.     Helena  A.,  now  the 

wife  of  Dr.  Lewis  Sliisst^r,  of  Canton.  Mi-. 
Ricks  was  miin-ied  second  time  to  Rebecca 
Funk,  a  native  of  Hagerstown,  Md. :  she  died 
1!S75,  leaving  no  issue. 

G.  LIT.  RYDER,  insm-ance,  Massillon. 
One  of  the  leading  insurance  agencies  of  this 
county  is  rej)resented  by  Mr.  Ryder,  who  has 
■thirteen  of  the  most  responsible  comjianies  on 
his  list.  This  gentleman  is  a  native  of 
Holmes  County,  this  State,  where  he  took  his 
first  observations  in  the  yocU"  1845.  He  is 
the  only  surviving  member  of  a  fiunily  of  five 
children.      His   parents    were   Absalom    and 


'k 


090 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Jane  Livingston.  Absalom  was  born  in  the 
Empire  State,  of  a  family  of  six  children, 
born  to  his  father,  Eleazur  Ryder.  Absalom 
Ryder  came  to  Ohio  about  the  year  1839,  and 
engaged  quite  extensively  in  the  mercantile 
business.  His  death  occurred  in  18(57.  G.  Liv. 
came  to  Massillou  in  1852;  received  the 
advantages  afforded  by  the  best  schools  in  the 
city ;  in  1867,  he  was  engaged  in  the  News  Depot 
at  this  place;  in  1868,  was  married  to  Anna 
Kitzmiller,  born  in  Newark,  Ohio,  daughter 
of  Dr.  Henry  Kitzmiller  and  INIary  Cramp. 
Mr.  Ryder  has  four  children-  Helen,  Grace, 
Gilbert  and  Heniy.  He  is  a  Republican. 
His  brother  Henry  died  in  the  defense  of  his 
coimtry  in  ISfiS:  was  a  member  of  the  Co. 
E,  104th  O.  V.  I.  Ml-.  Ryder  is  a  member 
of  the  A.,  F.  &■  A.  M.,  Chapter  and  Command- 
ery,  of  this  city.  For  several  years  past  has 
given  his  entire  attention  to  the  insurance 
business. 

G.  P.  REED,  merchant,  Massillon.  Among 
the  long  established  merchants  of  this  city  is 
Mr.  Reed,  who  was  born  in  Kendal,  Sejit.  3, 
1828,  son  of  Thomas  and  Adaline  E.  Reed. 
Thomas  Reed  was  a  native  of  Lynn,  Mass.,  of 
Quaker  parentage;  he  emigi'ated  to  this  Sta+e 
with  his  father,  Thomas  Reed,  who  located  in 
Jackson  Tovpnship,  and  entered  land  fi'om  the 
Government  in  1817.  The  father  of  om-  suli- 
ject  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  and 
dealt  in  wool.  G.  P.  was  early  in  life  initi- 
ated into  the  details  of  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness, beginning  at  the  age  of  14  as  a  clerk 
for  the  firm  of  J.  &  Z.  S.  Ely;  continued  in 
their  employ  two  years;  during  this  time 
attended  school  six  months  at  Gambler,  Ohio; 
aftei-ward  clerked  for  Jarvis  &  Hine  for  a 
time,  then  with  Reed  &  Searl,  the  former 
being  Thomas  Reed,  his  father;  continued 
with  them  until  May  0,  1856.  His  father 
was  imfortunate  in  his  business  relations;  in 
the  goodness  of  his  heart  in  order  to  accom- 
modate his  friends  became  surety  for  them 
and  in  consequence  was  broken  up.  He  died 
in  1875,  aged  72.  His  wife  yet  survives  him 
and  resides  with  her  son,  yet  a  bachelor,  who 
is  her  staff  and  comfort  in  her  declining  years. 
Since  the  retirement  of  his  father,  Mr.  Reed 
has  succeeded  him  in  the  same  business,  con- 
tinuing   steadily    without    any    intermission 


since  that  time,  and  in  the  same  building, 
and  notwithstanding  the  difficulties  attending 
his  early  youth,  and  the  subsequent  discour- 
aging circumstances,  he  has  overcome  them 
all,  and  stands  to-day  one  of  the  prominent 
and  successful  merchants  in  Massillou  City,  a 
self-made  man. 

JOSEPH  K.  RUSSELL,  agricultural 
works,  Massillon:  was  l)orn  June  26,  1823,  in 
Cheshire  Co.,  N.  H.,  the  fifth  son  and  seventh 
child  of  a  family  of  eleven  children,  born  to 
Cyrus  and  Louisa  (Stratton)  Russell;  he, 
born  in  Weston,  Mass.,  son  of  Joseph,  whose 
ancestors  came  fi'om  England.  Joseph  had 
four  sons  and  three  daughters-  Cyrus,  Syl- 
vanus,  Clement  and  Joseph;  Abigail,  Susan, 
and  Louisa.  His  wife  was  a  daughter  of 
Isaac  Stratton.  The  Strattons  came  from 
Lincoln,  Mass.  Isaac  Stratton  had  Nahum, 
Henrj-,  Lewis,  Louisa,  Mary,  Priscilla  and 
Miu'cha.  Cyrus  received  certificate  of  bounty 
land  for  services  in  the  war  of  1812.  He 
died  in  1872,  in  Connecticut,  having  gone 
there  foiu-  or  five  years  previously.  The  boys 
remained  on  the  fann,  but  J.  K.  came  West  in 
1842.  and  worked  at  a  tirade,  but  returned  to 
Ntnv  England  in  1845,  and  stayed  until  1863, 
then  returned  here.  He  was  married  Jan.  1, 
1841),  to  Lucretia  J.  Harris,  who  was  born  in 
Cheshire  Co.,  N.  H.,  in  1828,  daughter  of 
Milan  and  Lois  Wright.  He  has  five  chil- 
dren-Burnett, Charles  M.,  Mary  E.,  Louisa 
J.  and  Jessie  L.  Burnett  is  in  Council  Bluffs; 
Charles,  in  business  with  firm,  as  Assistant 
Secretary  and  Treasurer.  Wife  died  in  1875; 
married  in  1876  to  Mrs.  Lydia  H.  Harris, 
born  in  Nelson,  N.  H.,  daughter  of  Oliver 
Heald.  She  has  one  son  -  Edgar  C.  Mem- 
ber of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church.  Is 
a  strong  Temperance  man,  and  a  Repiiblican. 

THOMAS  H.  RUSSELL,  mauufacturer, 
Massillou;  was  born  in  Alstead,  N.  H.,  May 
15,  1828,  the  sixth  son  liorn  to  Cjrus  and 
Louisa  (Stratton)  Russell;  came  West  in  1847 
to  Massillon,  and  learned  the  machinist's  trade 
at  this  place  with  the  firm  of  Russell  Bros., 
and  afterward  worked  in  their  office  as  book 
keeper,  subsequently  becoming  a  partner:  since 
1868,  has  been  Superintendent  of  the  works. 
Sept.  13,  1853,  he  married  Eleanor  Dunn,  who 
was  born  in  Trenton,  Tuscarawas  Co.,  Ohio, 


^ 


^- 


(  ITY    OF    MASSILLON. 


Jtine  3,  1833.  daughter  of  Edward  and  Julia 
(Fox)  Dnnu.  lie  beinc^  born  in  Irebinil.  the  Fox 
family  coming  from  Now  York.  To  Thomas 
Kussell  and  wife  have  beonborn  live  children, 
three  living  AVarren  E.,  Laura  M,  and  Hatie 
M.  Mrs.  Russell  is  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian Cluu-ch. 

MICHAEL  UrCH:  was  born  in  Alsace 
April  7,  18(1(5:  son  of  Micliael  Ruch,  to  whom 
were  born  foin-  childi'en  George,  Mary,  Mi- 
chael and  Catharine:  Michael,  the  elder,  was  a 
mason  by  trade.  Our  subject  was  raised  to 
the  trade  of  stone-cutting,  having  begun  at 
the  age  of  in,  and.  after  working  six  years  at 
it  at  home,  came  to  America  in  182S,  and  to 
Canton,  where  he  remained  two  weeks,  Inxt, 
there  being  nothing  for  him  to  do  there,  he 
returned  East  to  Petersburg,  where  he  worked 
for  one  and  a  half  years ;  then  came  to  Canton, 
stayed  one  year,  and  then  to  Massillon  for 
three  years,  working  at  his  trade  all  the  time: 
in  1834,  he  went  to  Canal  Fulton,  where  he 
bought  land,  som<'  of  which  now  lies  in  the 
corporation.  In  1873,  ho  moved  to  Massillon 
and  has  remained  there  since.  Aug.  1.  1829, 
he  married  Mary  Long,  born  in  1808,  in  Alsace, 
daughter  of  ilichael  Long,  who  came  to  this 
eoTinty  in  1828:  had  seven  children — Mary, 
married  Sam  Smith,  who  raised  a  family  and 
died  in  ISdU,  in  Fulton:  John,  in  Sheboygan, 
Wis.;  William,  died  in  the  service  of  his 
country  in  18('>3:  Lewis,  in  Fulton;  Christo- 
pher, in  Fulton:  Caroline.  Mi's.  L.  Bommerlin, 
Massillon:  Frederick,  shot  by  Indians  in  In- 
dian Territory.  His  wife  died  in  18(')8:  is  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  Church:  is  a  Re- 
publican. 

CLE:\rENT  RUSSELL,  coal  dealer,  Mas- 
sillon; was  born  Dec.  2U,  1817,  in  Middlesex 
Co..  Mass:  his  parents  were  ('vrus  and  Louisa 
(Stratton )  Russell.  In  1838,  Mr.  Russell  came 
to  Ohio,  a  young  man,  and  worked  as  an  ap- 
prentice at  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  subse- 
quently associated  in  business  with  0.  M.  Rus- 
sell &  Co..  the  members  of  the  firm  being 
Charles  M.,  Nahum  S.  and  Clement  IJussell. 
The  company  was  formed  Jan.  1,  1842.  with 
a  capital  of  S^],5()0,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Russell  &  Co.,  manufacturers  of  threshing 
machines,  hor.se-powers,  portable,  fraction  and 
farm  engines.     The  firm,  though  small  in  its 


beginning,  steadily  increased  its  business  until 
it  amounted  to  over  |1,()0().(I()0  annually.  Mr. 
Russell,  since  JanuM'y.  1878,  has  been  engaged 
in  the  coal  business,  being  largely  interested 
in  the  Sipjio  coal  mines:  having  sold  his  in- 
terest in  the  agricultural  works,  in  consecpience 
of  failing  health,  t<j  his  brother.  Dec.  U,  1843, 
he  married  Laura  M.  Waterman,  who  was  born 
July  2").  182"),  in  (ieauga  County,  her  parents 
being  natives  of  Connecticut.  Mrs.  Russell 
died  June  2.  1872,  leaving  two  childrmi  - 
Charles  W.  anil  Louisa  M.  Jan.  (i,  187;"),  ho 
married  Mrs.  Augusta  M.  Miller,  who  was 
born  in  Janesville.  Wis.,  daughter  of  Ebenezer 
and  Clara  (Bishop)  Bostwick.  ThoBostwicks 
trace  their  ancestry  to  John  Bostwick,  who  wiis 
born  in  England  in  KkSC),  and  came  to  Now 
Milford,  Conn.,  in  1707.  Mr.  Russell  has 
always  taken  an  active  part  in  all  enterprises 
calculated  to  advance  the  material  interests  of 
the  locality  in  which  he  has  for  so  long  been 
a  valued  member;  on  all  (piestions  of  finance, 
and  those  requiring  mature  thought  and  delib- 
eration, Mr.  Russell's  opinions  are  recognized 
as  being  of  value. 

GEORGE  L.  RUSSELL,  machinist,  Mas- 
sillon: was  born  Oct.  28,  1830.  in  the  town  of 
Sutton.  Caledonia  Co..  Vt..  the  seventh  son 
and  tenth  child  born  to  bis  parents,  Cyrus  and 
Louisa  (Stratton)  Russell.  He  came  West  in 
June,  1850,  and  engaged  to  work  at  the  ma- 
chinist's trade  for  C.  M.  Russell  &  Co.,  con- 
tinuing with  them  until  18('>4.  at  which  lime 
he  became  a  member  of  the  firm.  He  was 
maiTied  in  18r)3,  and  has  one  son,  William  C. 
Since  1878.  the  firm  has  been  known  as  Rus- 
sell &  Co.,  four  of  the  Russell  brothers  being 
members  of  the  firm,  each  having  his  own  de- 
partment to  sujierintend.  George  L,  having 
charge  of  the  machine-shop. 

H.  :\I.  RICHARDS,  blacksmith,  Massillon: 
was  born  in  this  city  July  29.  1849,  the  sec- 
one  child  and  only  sou  bom  to  his  parents, 
Warren  C.  and  Helen  (Ford)  Richards;  the 
former  was  born  October  2,  1814.  near  Yellow 
Springs,  Ohio,  son  of  Aml)rose  Richards,  a 
native  of  Virginia:  Warren  C.  was  his  young- 
est son,  and  came  West  with  his  sister  Jemima 
to  this  county,  wlu'n  he  was  0  years  of  age. 
J(>minia  marricnl  John  Sj)rague,  who  raised 
Mr.  Richards  and  tautrbthim  the  blacksmith's 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


trade  at  Kendal,  where  he  attended  the 
Charity  School.  May  22,  1844,  he  married 
Helen  Ford,  who  was  horn  Aug.  17,  1820,  in 
Cummington,  Hampshire  Co.,  Mass.;  her  j^ar- 
ents  were  Darius  and  Eunice  (Orcutt)  Ford; 
the  former  was  born  May  16,  1790,  near  Bos- 
ton, Mass.,  son  of  Hezekiah,  who  was  born 
Dec.  29,  1760,  son  of  Hezekiah,  who  was  of 
English  ancestry.  Eunice  was  born  in  1 795, 
daughter  of  Nathan  Orcutt,  whose  mother  was 
Hukia  Cobb,  born  in  Abingdon  in  1764.  To 
Darius  Ford  were  born  three  childi-en-  Helen, 
now  Mrs.  Richards;  Hulda,  now  Mi-s.  Dr. 
Matthews,  of  Painesville,  Ohio;  and  Marshall, 
deceased,  who  settled  in  East  Cleveland.  The 
Ford  family  came  West,  locating  in  Licking 
County,  this  State,  in  1830;  three  years  later, 
they  came  to  this  township,  remaining  a  short 
time,  when  they  moved  to  Cleveland,  where 
they  died,  he  in  1857,  she  in  1845;  both  were 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Chiu'ch.  Mr. 
Richards,  jifter  locating  in  this  townhip,  re- 
mained continuously  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  Feb.  14,  1877;  his  wife  yet  siu'vives 
him.  H.  M.  learned  his  trade  with  his  father, 
who  was  an  excellent  smith,  and  associated 
with  him  in  business  in  1860,  two  years  later, 
he  engaged  in  business  with  Adam  Volkmer, 
which  partnership  lasted  seven  years,  since 
which  time  he  has  been  conducting  the  busi- 
ness on  his  own  account,  making  a  specialty 
of  horseshoeing,  and  doing  first-class  work.  In 
March,  1874,  he  married  Emma  Paul,  who  was 
born  in  this  city,  daughter  of  John  and  Sophia 
(Link)  Paul,  who  were  natives  of  GeiTuany. 
The  fruits  of  Mi".  Richards'  marriage  are  thi-ee 
childi-en. 

D.  R.  ROSCHE,  merchant,  Massillon;  is  a 
native  of  Stark  County,  and  was  liorn  in  Aug- 
ust, 1858,  in  Bethlehem  Towushi}),  the  second 
son  of  his  parents,  who  were  Peter  and  Cath- 
erine (Urschel)  Rosche;  the  former  was  born 
in  1823,  in  Alsace;  the  latter  in  Bavaria  and 
emigrated  to  America  in  1842;  coming  West, 
they  located  in  Bethlehem,  on  unimproved  land, 
upon  which  he  yet  remains.  Three  children 
were  born  him;  the  eldest  is  George,  who  is 
now  Professor  of  Music  in  Elmhurst  Univer- 
sity, at  Chicago,  being  a  graduate  of  the  Royal 
Conservatory  of  Music  in  Stuttgardt;  D.  R., 
our  subject,  and  Arpha,  at  home.     D.  R.  left 


home  at  15,  went  to  Fostoria,  where  he  at- 
tended college  some  time;  afterward  went  to 
Chicago,  where  he  engaged  in  the  jewelry 
business.  In  March,  1881,  he  came  to  Mas- 
sillon and  engaged  in  business  with  C.  S. 
Brown,  under  the  firm  name  of  Rosche  & 
Brown;  their  stock  consists  of  queensware  and 
house- furnishing  goods,  of  which  they  keep 
an  ample  stock,  and  are  building  up  a  flour- 
ishing trade. 

H.  C.  ROYER,  homceoijathic  physician, 
Massillon,  whose  portrait  ajjpears  in  this  work, 
was  born  July  14,  1846,  in  Bath,  Steuben  Co., 
N.  Y.  He  is  the  oldest  son  of  a  family  of  ten 
chilih-en,  born  t  >  George  H.  and  Julia  Ann 
(Hemenway)  Royer;  he  passed  the  first  fifteen 
years  of  his  life  on  a  farm,  but,  tiring  of  the 
occupation,  he  left  home  to  "  paddle  his  own 
canoe."  Eai'ly  in  life  he  had  a  desire  to 
study  medicine,  laut  was  without  means  to 
jirosecute  his  studies;  with  the  object  in  view 
of  attaining  his  desires,  he  went  to  Rochester, 
N.  Y.,  and  there  learned  the  manufacture  of 
electrical  and  sui'gical  insi  ruments,  this  occu- 
pation being  indirectly  of  advantage  to  him  in 
his  ]ireparation  for  his  chosen  profession;  in 
the  meantime,  he  made  diligent  use  of  his  leis- 
lu'e  horn's  in  private  reading  and  study,  which 
he  often  pursued  far  into  the  hours  of  mid- 
night; by  such  indefatigable  application,  and 
possessing  a  remarkably  receptive  mind,  he 
made  very  rapid  progress  in  acquiring  both 
professional  and  general  knowledge;  he  was 
scrupulously  careful,  however,  not  to  encroach 
upon  the  hoiu's  of  the  Sabbath,  for  physiolog- 
ical, as  well  as  for  moral  reasons.  He  subse- 
quently removed  to  Cleveland,  where  he  re- 
ceived special  and  very  valuable  instruction 
fi'om  Prof.  W.  M.  Davis,  who  spent  consider- 
able time  in  devising  electric  clocks;  in  this 
way,  young  Royer  spent  some  eight  years, 
working  and  studying  as  his  circumstances 
required  or  permitted.  With  this  admirable 
jireparation  for  a  regular  course  of  professional 
study,  he  began  the  same  under  the  direction 
of  Dr.  H.  H.  Baxter,  Professor  of  Materia 
Medica  in  the  Cleveland  Homreopathic  Med- 
ical College,  and  attended  his  fii'st  course 
in  the  Cleveland  Homoeop::thic  Hospital. 
Being  then  compelled  to  do  something 
to  replenish  his   depleted   purse,  he,   in  the 


CITY   OF   MASSILLON. 


693 


spring  of  1874,  settled  in  Seville,  Ohio,  and 
at  once  entered  upon  a  remarkably  successful 
practi<!e.  In  the  folhiwiiiLr  autumn,  he  re- 
turned to  the  Cleveland  Colloife,  and  graduated 
therefrom  with  honor  in  the  spring  of  1875, 
being  Salutatoriau  of  the  Hahnemann  Society 
in  the  commencement  exorcises  of  the  same. 
After  graduating,  he  retm-ned  to  Seville,  Me- 
dina Co.,  but  remained  thereonly  a  short  time, 
and  in  Decembi^r,  187(5,  removed  to  the  city  of 
Massillon,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in 
active  ])ractice.  The  length  of  time  oc<-ui)ied 
in  the  preparation  of  his  profession,  and  the 
assiduity  with  which  he  prosecuted  his  studies 
therein,  render  him  oneof  the  most  thoroughly 
read  physicians  in  the  State,  and  fi'om  the  veiy 
beginning  of  his  practice  an  unusual  success 
has  crowned  his  efforts.  Although  compara- 
tively young  in  years,  he  ranks  among  the 
leading  meml)ers  of  the  homoeopathic  fi'ater- 
nity  in  Ohio,  and  is  President  of  the  Homoeo- 
pathic Medical  Society  in  Northeastern  Ohio, 
and  also  a  member  of  the  Homceopathic  Med- 
ical Association  of  this  State.  In  addition  to 
his  general  practice  of  medicine,  he  makes  a 
specialty  of  general  surgeiy,  but  more  p;u'ticu- 
larly  of  diseases  of  the  eye  and  eai',  in  the 
treatment  of  which  he  has  been  remarkably 
successful  in  removing  tumors  and  cataracts, 
thus  j)erforming  cures  which  have  given  him 
an  enviable  reputation,  and  has  liofore  him  a 
futur(>  that  i)romis(>s  much  for  the  honor  of 
himself  and  his  profession.  His  practice 
has  now  attained  lucrative  proportions.  Be- 
sides his  residence,  he  has  an  excellent 
farm  in  Kansas.  He  is  Past  Grand  Master 
in  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  of  Ohio,  and  Grand  Miuster 
Workman  in  the  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen.  In  politics,  he  is  a  Republican. 
In  Januiu-y,  ISOO,  he  mairied  Lucv  E.,  daugh- 
ter of  Jotliam  T.  Williams, of  Danville.  N.  Y., 
and  has  two  childien  -Herbie  J.  and  Effie  L. 
JAMES  SITER.  stone  -luarry.  Massillon. 
One  of  the  prominent  business  men  in  this  city 
is  Mr.  Suter.  who  was  born  April  27,  18'25.  in 
Zurich,  Switzerland,  son  of  James  and  Esther 
(Lascher)  Suter,  who  was  a  son  of  Jacob. 
James,  our  subject,  came  to  this  State  from 
Switzerland  in  July,  184S.  While  in  his 
native  country,  he  attended  school,  obtaining 
a  good  education,  after  which  he  served  a  four- 


yeai's'  apprenticeship  at  book-keeping.  After 
coming  to  this  country,  he  engaged  as  clerk 
for  some  time.  In  1850,  he  engaged  in  the 
(juarry  business  at  the  north  end  of  Summit 
street,  with  his  uncle,  Mr.  Warthorst, 
and,  in  1867,  formed  the  partnership  of 
Wiu'thorst  &  Co.,  the  Knn  being  com])osed  of 
Wai'thorst,  Everhard  and  Suter,  which  lasted 
live  yeiU's,  and  then  changed  to  \Varthorst 
Company,  in  honor  of  the  uncle,  being  com- 
posed of  Suter  and  Everhai'd,  which  ran  eight 
years.  In  1880,  the  lejise  expired.  They  then 
came  to  the  place  where  they  now  are,  and 
where  he  had  (piarried  stone  twenty-five  years 
before.  They  manufacture  gi-indstones  of  all 
sizes,  and  ship  their  productions  not  only  to 
all  sections  of  theL'nion.  but  to  Canada  as  well. 
They  also  make  a  specialty  of  grinding  sand, 
such  as  is  used  in  steel  works;  employ  about 
tifty-six  men.  Mr.  Suter  was  married,  in  An 
gust,  ISOl,  to  Miss  Augusta  Pietzckor,  born  in 
Berlin,  Prussia,  in  November,  1825;  she  died 
in  1877,  leaving  one  daughter,  Anna.  He  was 
man-ied  a  second  tim(>,  to  Mina,  sister  of  first 
wife,  in  1878.  Jlr.  Suter  is  a  member  of  the 
Protestant  Reformed  Chiu-ch,  and  is  a  stanch 
Republican. 

CHARLES  K.  SKINNER,  deceased;  was 
bom  in  Januai'y,  1792,  in  the  city  of  Haiiford, 
Conn.,  on  the  old  homestead,  situated  on 
Cooper  Lane,  now  La  Fayette  sti'eet,  the  place 
having  been  inherited  by  his  father  fi'om  his 
grandfather,  whose  father  w;is  a  blacksmith,  the 
blacksmith's  father  having  come  fi'om  England 
in  the  early  settlement  of  Connecticut.  During 
the  years  of  his  earlier  youth,  while  yet  resid- 
ing in  his  native  State,  he  w'orked  in  a  woolen- 
factory,  and  b(>came  familiarized  with  its 
operations.  In  the  year  1812,  he  decided  to 
follow  the  coiu'se  of  his  elder  brother,  Alex- 
ander, and  come  to  Ohio.  Bidding  good-by 
to  his  aged  parents  and  younger  brothers,  he 
mounted  his  horse  and  faced  for  the  West,  not 
daring,  as  heaftm-ward  told  us,  to  h;ok  Ijehind, 
where  stood  the  dear  ones  watching  his  reced- 
ing form.  He  passed  through  New  York,  then 
a  small  city  (City  Hall  Pcark  then  being  on  its 
extrem(>  outskirts),  across  New  Jersey,  through 
Pennsylvania  and  over  the  mountains,  being 
guided  to  the  best  stopping-jilaces  for  night 
l)y  the  most  worn  and  beaten  tavern  yards, 


69* 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


and  where  the  straw  lay  thickest,  there  he 
found  the  best  fare:  he  crossed  the  Ohio  at 
Steubenville,  and  took  the  road  for  Ktmdal. 
By  this  time,  the  adv.-ince  guard,  so  to  speak, 
of  the  pioneers,  had  driven  back  and  thinned 
oft"  the  Indians,  so  that  but  few  scattering  ones 
remained,  and  the  autumn  fires  of  Indian 
times  had  ceased  to  burn  the  tall,  dry  grass  of 
the  plains  and  hills:  scrub  oaks  had  sprung 
up.  and  at  this  time  (1812)  were  well  started, 
being  knee  high  to  a  horse,  of  which  such  as 
now  remain,  .ire  trees  fifty  to  eighty  feet  in 
height:  grass  then  grew  on  the  Kendal  green 
and  its  surroiuiding  jilains  breast  high  to  a 
man.  Such  was  Kendal  seventy  years  ago. 
Arriving  there,  he  went  to  work  for  his  brother 
Alexander,  who  at  this  time  was  a  partner 
with  Thomas  Roach  in  a  woolen-factory 
already  built,  in  which  stood  near  the  foot  of 
Rodman  street,  in  Kendal.  It  was  Alexander 
Skinner  who,  at  that  early  day.  built  the  brick 
house  which  stands  at  the  corner  of  Front  and 
Rodman  streets,  the  latter  then  leading  down 
t((  the  factory,  and  to  the  old  road  to  Canton; 
this  was  the  first  house  of  the  kind  built  in  the 
township):  the  work  was  done  by  two  brick- 
layers from  Boston,  and  the  old  house  as  it 
stands  to  day  attests  the  skill  and  honesty  of 
their  workmanshiji.  Alexander  finally  dis- 
solved the  ])artuership  with  Thomas  Roach, 
and  moved  to  Loudonville,  where  he  built  a 
grist-mill  on  the  site  now  oceu})ied  by  A.  A. 
Taylor's  gi'eat  fioiu'ing-mill;  doing  some  re- 
l)airs  to  his  new  and  unsettled  mill-dam,  work- 
ing in  the  water,  contracted  the  bilious  fever 
of  the  country  at  that  time,  and  died  in  the 
year  1820.  at  the  eai'ly  age  of  •'58.  Thus  were 
nipped  in  early  manhood  his  building  enter- 
prises, and  for  over  sixty  years  the  green  grass 
has  been  growing  over  his  jieaceful  and  un- 
marked grave — unmarked  at  his  own  request. 
Charles  remained  with  Thomas  Roach,  carry- 
ing on  the  business  of  the  Kendal  woolen- 
factory  for  him:  (juitting  his  employ  finally, 
he  set  u])  some  carding  machines  in  James 
Duncan's  grist-mill,  in  the  new  town  of  Mas- 
sillon;  a  prosperous  business  at  once  com- 
menced: an  addition  to  the  mill  was  built  for 
a  complete  woolen- factory,  which  continued 
to  prosper,  and  eventually  was  the  means  of 
drying  up  the  one  in  Kendall.    Among  the  old 


records  that  may  be  found  in  the  office  of  the 
Probate  Judge  of  Stark  County  is  the  follow- 
ing: 
Stark  County  S.  S. 


Sfiil 


I  lu-rcliy  ciTlify  tliat  on  llic  -i'M  day  of  Novcnihcr 
last,  I  joined  tosji'ilicr  in  tlic  holy  lianil  of  matrimony 
Charles  Skinner  and  Eli/.a  Heed.  Iiy  lieense  aicreeablc 
to  law.  Given  under  my  hand  anil  seal  this  'Jl^d  day 
of  November.  Anno  Domini.  1821. 

GlLEERTH.^RP  E.MU..  .1.  P 

"  Sijuire  Earl  1  "  Peace  and  l(jve  to  his 
memory!  A  kindly  gentleman  of  the  old 
school,  whose  friendly  and  ivnassuming  ways 
and  genial  hospitality  at  his  home  in  the 
woods  did  nuich  to  brighten  and  to  cheer  the 
circu inscribed  circle  of  social  intercourse. 
Long  may  "  Earl's  Bridge"  and  "  Earl's  Mill 
Road  "  remain  a  name,  and  a  land- mark  to 
perpetuate  the  memory  of  the  earliest  pioneer 
of  that  locality,  and  a  good  man's  name!  It 
might  be  remai'ked,  parenthetically,  that  up 
to  this  time,  and  for  a  number  of  years  after, 
there  was  no  chm-ch  btit  the  Quaker  Meeting- 
house, nor  established  preacher,  nor  regular 
preaching;  but,  while  the  (piiet  community 
were  denied  the  smiles  and  benedictions  of 
the  preacher,  they  could  not  do  without  a 
library,  and  at  that  early  day  a  circtilating 
library  of  useful  and  entertaining  books  was 
formed.  Thus  we  may  see,  in  the  establish- 
ment oi  this  library,  an  exponent  of  those 
germs  of  thought  which  eventually  blossomed 
into  the  early  adoption  by  the  town  of  Mas- 
sillon  of  the  present  school  system.  Surely 
those  ([uiet  men,  many  oi  whom  were  cut  down 
in  their  prime,  have  not  lived  in  vain!  Charles 
and  Eliza  Skinner  became  the  parents  of  four 
children — Alexander,  who  died  in  infancy; 
Augustus  Thomas,  born  in  1824,  married  Ce- 
celia A.  Van  Rensselaer,  of  Canton,  Oct.  15, 
1849,  and  resides  in  Massillon;  Charles  Phil- 
lips, bom  m  1 827,  married  Emily  Piatt,  of 
Owego,  N.  Y.,  in  1858,  where  they  reside:  Sarah 
Elizabeth,  born  in  1831,  married  James  P.  Zay, 
of  Milan,  Ohio,  in  August,  1849,  and  resides 
in  Cincimiati.  Eliza  Reed  Skinner  was  born 
in  Lynn,  Mass.,  in  the  year  1797;  her  father, 
Thomas  Reed,  in  his  day,  was  extensively  en- 
gaged in  the  leather  and  tanning  business  in 


'  '{<'  S r- 


'k 


CITY    OF    MASSILLON. 


005 


his  native  town  of  Lynn—  a  pioneer  in  the 
business,  which  has  since  become  a  leading 
branch  among  the  industries  of  New  England : 
himself  a  Quaker,  as  were  his  ancestors,  who 
were  settlers  in  Lynn  nearly  two  hundred 
years  before  him,  and  ai'o  mentioned  in  the 
annals  of  Lynn.  His  wife,  Elizabeth  Phillips, 
came  from  an  ancestry  whose  records  date 
back  2r)0  years,  were  also  Quakers,  originally 
from  Wales,  England,  and  of  that  branch  of 
the  Phillips  family  of  whom  an  eminent  Btis- 
tonian  recently  said :  "  They  have  owned  land, 
for  2r)0  years,  for  miles  along  the  beach  fiMm 
Swampscott  to  Lynn,  that  is  now  worth  $1, (•(•() 
an  acre — very  good  sort  of  jieople,  but  they 
won't  sell  any  of  their  land."  Eev(>)-ses  in 
business  which  followed  the  war  of  1812,  in- 
dorsements for  fi-iends  and  the  results  which 
flowed  therefi'om,  induced  him  to  close  his 
affairs  and  to  trj-  the  virgin  soil  of  Ohio.  In 
Octob(>r.  1S17.  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  Keed, 
with  their  children-  Eliza,  Phillips  and  Walter 
— left  1  heir  pleasant  homeby  the  sea  -  so  near 
that  when  the  Atlantic  was  driven  by  Eastern 
storms,  their  fi'out  windows  would  be  covered 
with  salt  spray:  packed  in  their  wagons,  be- 
held with  tearful  eyes  the  dear,  familiar  scenes 
of  their  childhood  fade,  as  they  slowly  moved 
along  the  beach  from  Lynn  to  Boston,  Egg 
Rock,  Nahant,  High  Bock,  and  finally  the  blue 
waters  of  the  ocean  disaj>peared — forever,  fiom 
those  j)arents'  eyes.  For  two  long  months  ihey 
held  their  weary  way.  stop])ing  only  for  Sun- 
days and  rainy  days.  Reaching  Cant»)n. 
Thomas  Roach  sent  AiTiue  AVah's,  then  a 
young  man — father  of  the  Hon.  A.  C.  "Wales 
— there  to  meet  them,  and  to  escort  them  to 
Sj)ring  Hill,  where  they  were  most  hospitably 
entertained  by  Thomas  and  Charity  Roach  for 
a  week,  when  they  took  a  temporary  residence 
in  Kendal  for  the  winter,  and  the  following 
spring  moved  onto  their  farm  in  Jackson 
Township,  opposite  the  fann  of  C.  K.  Skinner, 
where,  by  this  time,  resided  his  parents,  and 
younger  brother.  William  T.  Skinner,  now  and 
for  many  years  j)ast  residing  on'his  farm  in 
Coshocton  County.  After  unaccustomed  toil 
incident  to  clearing  and  opening  a  farm  in 
the  woods,  Thomas  Reed  took  the  bilious  fever, 
and,  begging  for  water,  which  was  denied  him 
by  the  medical  practice  of  those  times,  breathed 


his  last  July  7,  1824.  For  his  amiable  quali- 
ties he  was  much  loved,  and  his  death  re- 
gretted by  all  who  knew  him.  Elizabeth,  his 
gentle  wife,  followed  him  in  the  s[iriiig  of 
1832.  Thomas  Phillijis  Keed.  in  early  life, 
entered  the  woolen -factory  of  his  brother-in- 
law,  C.  K.  Skinner,  and  was  associated  with 
him  for  many  years,  when,  in  1840,  he  entered 
the  merchandise  business  in  M.ussillon;  in  this 
he  continued  for  a  number  of  years:  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  sou,  Gustavus  P.,  under  whom 
it  continues  to  prosper.  Thomas  Phillips  Reed 
died  June  21,  1875.  Walter  Augustus  Reed 
chose  the  occupation  of  his  fath(>r,  and  !)ecame 
a  tanner;  built  the  first  tannery  in  Massillon; 
built  four  or  five  brick  houses  in  the  town,  as 
well  as  some  frame  ones,  and  was  early  identi- 
fied with  the  j)rosperity  of  Massillon;  he  C(m- 
tinued  in  the  tanning  business  until  1849, 
when  he  went  to  California;  after  an  absence 
of  nearly  two  years,  he  returned  to  his  home, 
where  he  remained  until  IST)."),  when,  meeiiug 
reverses,  he  moved  to  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  where 
he  has  again  acquired  a  handsome  competency 
for  himself  and  his  children;  has  amved  at 
serene  old  age.  surrounded  by  all  the  com  torts 
that  loving  children  and  grandchildren,  and 
all  that  prosperity  can  buy.  Eliza  Reed 
Skinner  died  Jan.  17,  18G(').  Charles  K. 
Skinner  died  Nov.  4.  1875. 

HARMON  SHRIVER,  farmer  and  coal 
speculator,  Massillon;  is  among  the  success- 
ful financiers  of  this  city:  born  Oct  10, 181>), 
in  Hanover,  the  eldest  of  u  family  of  four  ehil- 
di'en;  after  his  majority,  he  came  to  this 
countiy:  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade:  came  to 
Ohio  a  poor  man,  but  worked  hiU'd,  and  by 
the  most  rigid  economy,  was  enabled  to  make 
a  commencement.  Buying  a  tesmi,  he  en- 
gaged, for  a  time,  at  first,  in  farming;  after 
ward  worked  on  the  public  works,  taking  jobs 
and  contracts  on  the  railroad;  also  acted  in 
the  capacity  of  superintendent  over  laborers; 
afterwai'd,  he  purchased  a  fann  of  171  .acres, 
in  Jackson  Township,  which  he  improved,  dis- 
posing of  the  wood  to  the  railroad  company; 
subsequently,  he,  in  company  with  AVilliam 
Brown,  were  instnimental  in  starting  a  coal 
bank,  which  was  among  the  earliest  that  was 
established  in  the  township;  since  1807,  he 
has  been  a  resident  of  the  city  of  Massillon, 


3?i; 


096 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


and  interested  in  real  estate  and  the  coal  in- 
terests. In  January,  1840,  he  married  Barbara 
Eickhnimer,  a  native  of  Saxony;  she  died  in 
1879;  of  the  children  born  him  are  Chris- 
tina, wife  of  L.  Hess;  Harmon;  Catharine, 
wife  of  John  Dielhenn ;  Maiy ,  IMi-s.  Fred  Sny- 
der; unmarried:  Frances,  Otto;  Martha  and 
Louisa.  JL-.  Shriver  is  a  member  of  the  Luth- 
eran Chiu'ch,  and  one  of  the  efficient  memliors 
of  the  same. 

CHARLES  STEESE,  banker,  Massillon; 
Cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Massil- 
lon; was  boiTi,  1842,  in  Canal  Dover,  Tusca- 
rawas Co.,  ■^he  eldest  son  born  to  Dr.  Isaac 
Steese  and  Ann  Johnson;  he  came  to  this  city 
when  about  fom-  years  of  age;  he  received  the 
advantages  of  the  common  school  and  com- 
pleted his  education  at  Kenyon  College;  his 
first  business  experience  was  in  the  banking 
business;  was  employed  about  thi-ee  years  in 
the  Merchants'  Bank,  at  this  place,  as  Teller; 
at  the  organization  of  the  First  National 
Bank,  he  was  emjiloyed  as  Assistant  Cashier; 
since  1874,  has  been  Cashier;  September, 
1875,  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with 
Miss  A.  Giles;  no  issue. 

FRANK  P.  SLADDEN,  railroad  agent, 
Massillon.  The  gentlemanly  and  efficient 
agent  on  the  C,  T.  V.  &  W.  R.  R.  Co.,  of  this 
city,  is  the  above  gentleman,  who  was  born  in 
Kent,  England,  May  17,  1827;  his  parents 
were  George  Sladden  and  Emma  Tomsett,  to 
whom  were  born  a  family  of  thirteen  chil- 
dren, eleven  of  whom  grew  to  years  of  matur- 
ity. Mr.  Sladden  has,  for  one  of  his  years, 
seen  much  of  the  world,  and  had  the  benefit 
of  extended  travel.  Leaving  England  at  the 
age  of  14,  he  went  to  the  East  Indies,  going 
as  a  sea-fai'ing  lad;  subsequently  to  the  coast 
of  Afi'ica,  as  a  citizen,  remaining  at  Sierra 
Leone  some  time,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
trading  with  the  natives;  afterward  retm-ned 
to  England,  where  he  spent  some  length  of 
time,  after  which  he  went  to  Demerara;  re 
ijiained  five  years;  during  the  time  was  en- 
gaged in  sugar  planting;  from  here,  went  to 
New  York  and  other  points,  being  engaged 
at  different  places  as  salesman  and  book- 
keeper; since  1872,  has  had  charge  of  the 
freight  and  ticket  office  of  the  C,  T.  V.  &  W. 
R.  R.  Co.;  1801,  was  married  to  Hannah  L. 


Miller,  a  native  of  Bulialo,  N.  Y.,  daughter  of 
James  and  Ann  Drew,  the  former  a  native  of 
England,  the  latter  of  Wales;  his  wife  died 
in  1864,  leaving  two  chikb-en;  in  1868,  mar- 
ried Mary  F.  Miller,  sister  of  former  wife;  by 
her  has  six  ehildi-en;  is  a  member  of  the 
Episcopal  ChTU'ch;  also  Clinton  Lodge,  A., 
F.  &  A.  M.,  No.  47,  and  a  stanch  and  wide- 
awake Republican. 

NELSON  J.  SMITH,  farmer;  P.  O.  Massil- 
lon; born  in  June,  183",  in  Luzerne  Co.,  Penn., 
the  third  of  the  family  born  to  his  parents,  who 
were  Benjamin  Smith  and  Mary  Coder;  he 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1800;  son  of 
Phineas  Smith,  a  native  of  Mai-yland.  To 
Benjamin  Smith  and  wife  were  born  nine 
children.  Mai'y  was  a  daughter  of  Henry 
Coder,  who  served  in  the  war  of  1812.  Ben- 
jamin Smith  came  to  Stark  County,  locating 
in  Perry  Township,  in  1830,  purchasing  160 
acres  of  unimproved  land,  upon  which  he  re- 
mained until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
November,  1873;  he  was  for  fifty  years  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Church;  his  father 
was  a  local  preacher.  IVIrs.  Smith  also  was  a 
faithful  member  of  her  husband's  church ;  she 
died  April,  1844.  Nelson  J.  remained  on  the 
home  fai-m  until  April,  1854,  when  he  married 
Matilda  Wesener,  who  was  born  in  the  city  of 
Philadelphia  Sept.  11,  1833,  daughter  of 
Christian  Wesener,  who  was  born  in  Westpha- 
lia, Gennany,  in  1776,  the  youngest  of  a  family 
of  twelve  children.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Smith 
was  educated  for  a  priest;  his  father  was  a 
prominent  man  of  that  time;  he  had  a  son 
who  served  in  King  William's  army,  and  was 
said  to  be  seven  feet  in  height.  Christopher 
Wesener,  not  liking  the  idea  of  being  raised 
in  priesthood,  left,  and  came  to  the  Isle  of 
Demerara,  where  he  had  one  child  born,  Vin- 
cent, the  eldest  child  of  his  family.  The 
mother  of  Mrs.  Smith  was  Charlotte  Bnekius 
Smith,  being  the  youngest  child.  His  second 
wife  was  Margaret  Buckius.  Christopher 
Wesener  was  an  excellent  chemist;  after  leav- 
ing the  Isle  of  Demerara,  he  located  in  Rose- 
ville,  in  the  subiu'bs  of  Philadelphia,  where 
he  followed  his  profession.  Mr.  Buckius,  the 
paternal  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Smith,  was  a 
native  of  Germany,  and  a  Mason;  while  on 
his  voyage  to   this  eountiy.   the   vessel   was 


CITY    OF    MASSILLON. 


fiOT 


tiikon  by  pirates,  and  ho  about  t<i  he  killed, 
but  making  the  mystic  sign  of  his  order,  his 
life  was  spiired  and  wiis  put  off  on  an  island. 
Mrs.  Smith  came  to  (,'anton  in  184(1;  one 
yeai"  lat(>r,  came  to  this  township,  and  has 
since  remained.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  have 
two  children,  Anna  W.  and  Emma  C.  All  of 
the  family  im^  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcojial  Cluu'ch.  Mr.  Smith  has  been  a 
constant  resident  of  the  township  since  his 
birth,  and  lived  adjoining  to  the  homestead 
farm. 

JOHN  SHEPLEY,  retired.  Massi  1km:  was 
born  Jan.  1,  1810,  in  Funkstown,  Wiushington 
Co.,  Md. :  son  of  Peter  Shepley  and  Catharine 
Shilling.  Peter  Shepley's  father  was  named 
Peter,  who  married  Barbara  Oberlin,  and  by 
her  had  three  sons  and  one  daughter,  viz. : 
Frederick,  Peter,  Samuel  and  Martha.  Peter, 
the  father  of  our  subject,  entered  the  war  of 
1812,  and  sened  as  Drum  Major,  and  died  ere 
the  close  of  the  war:  lie  had  but  two  ehildi-en 
— John  and  Frederick.  WHien  a  lad  of  U,  our 
subject  walked  out  to  this  county:  came  in 
company  with  his  uncle,  Adam  Shilling,  who 
moved  his  ficmily  by  wagon,  and  settled  in 
TusciU'awas  Tp.,  where  our  subject  remained 
until  1827,  living,  in  the  meantime,  with 
different  parties  :  one  year  with  his  aimt ; 
two  years  with  John  Saylor  and  over  three 
yeai-s  with  Samuel  Mock.  In  1827,  he  came 
to  Kendall,  and  remained  ten  years  in  the 
emjjloy  of  Skinner  &  Dimcan;  since  that  time, 
he  has  been  a  constant  resident  of  this  city; 
afterward  engaged  in  business  for  himself, 
running  a  dray,  and  doing  general  ti-ansporta- 
tion  work;  he  worked  in  a  mill  one  yeiir; 
clerked  one  year  for  Hiunberger  &  Cummings; 
for  some  time  was  employed  on  the  railroad. 
During  the  ])almy  days  of  boating  on  the  Ohio 
Canal.  ln>  ownied  and  ran  two  boats,  the  Her- 
cule.s  and  Giraffe,  which  he  ran  in  the  interest 
of  the  coal  trade;  he  has  been  a  life- long 
Democrat;  voted,  however,  for  Lincoln — his 
last  election:  ho  has  filled  various  offices  of 
trust  and  responsibility,  such  as  Towniship 
Clerk.  Treasurer  and  Constable,  and  from 
1  Sal)  to  lSfi2.  as  De|)uty  Sheriff;  al.so,  as 
De])uty  Unit(Kl  States  Marshal,  for  two  years; 
as  I'ostmaster,  under  Pierce's  administi'ation; 
was  elected,  and  seiwed  two  years  as  Coroner; 


once  as  City  Marshal,  during  the  esu'ly  his- 
tor}'  of  the  city,  and  had  charge  of  the  poor: 
for  several  years  was  engage<l  in  the  hat  trade 
with  George  A.  Killeng(>r,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Killonger  &  Co.,  which  began  in  1S47 
and  terminated  in  1851.  He  has  been  thrice 
married;  first,  July  I<>,  1834,  to  Elizabeth 
Sprague,  daughter  of  John  Sprague,  a  native 
of  Vermont;  she  died  in  1843,  leaving  no 
issue:  was  married,  the  second  time,  to  Susan 
Kellenberger,  Iwrn  Feb.  1,  1817,  in  Lancaster 
Co.,  Penn.,  daughtm-  of  Peter,  whose  wife  was 
a  Kiidy:  she  died  Aug.  11,  184"),  leaving  one 
(ihild.  George  A. 

FKEDERICK  H.  SNYDEll,  machinist, 
Massi  lion:  was  born  Nov.  1 7, 1 839,  in  the  town 
of  JIassillon.  and  is  the  eldest  of  a  fiunily  of 
eight  (children,  who  gi-ew  t«  matiu'ity,  born  to 
Frederick  and  Anna  Snyder.  Our  subject  re- 
mained with  his  parents  and  attended  school 
until  his  17th  yoai',  when  he  went  to  loiu-n 
the  machinist's  trade,  tinst  in  Rochester,  and 
afterward  in  ^\'ooster.  He;  worked  as  jour- 
neyman until  July.  1874.  mostly  in  JIassillon. 
conducting  business,  under  the  firm  name  of 
F.  H.  Snyder  &  Bros.,  Jacob  F.  and  Charles 
F.  being  his  partners;  since,  has  been  en- 
gaged in  the  niauufactm-o  of  iron  and  brass 
castings,  etc.  Jacob  F.  is  a  i)ractical  work- 
man, and  Charl(>s  has  charge  of  the  foundry. 
They  are  the  founders  of  this  business  here, 
and  by  diligence  and  ai)i)lication,  have  in- 
creased their  productions  steadily  and  veiy 
materially;  they  emjiloy,  usually,  about  fif- 
teen men.  Frederick  was  married,  in  1S(*)3, 
to  Barbara  Jlom-e,  a  native  of  Germany, 
whose  ])areuts  died  when  she  was  quite  young. 
They  have  four  children — Frank.  Albert,  Ed 
ward  and  Hattie.  Mi-,  and  Mrs.  Snyder  are 
members  oF  the  German  Lutheran  Chiu-ch; 
he  is  a  RejMiblican. 

F.  C.  STEVENS,  ])hysician,  Massi  Hon;  is 
one  of  the  youngest  practitioners  of  materia 
medica  in  Stark  Coimty;  he  is  a  native  of 
Mai-lborough  Tp.,  where  ho  was  lx)rn,  in 
September,  1859:  has  spent  the  greater  jior- 
tion  of  his  life  in  scIkhiI;  at  an  early  age. 
he  entered  the  Baldwin  I'niversity,  at  Berea. 
whore  he  gi-aduated  with  honors:  prior  to  his 
graduatit)n,  he  began  reading  medicine  with 
Dr.  Clark,  his  uncle,  at  that  place;  aft«i-ward. 


4. 


698 


BIOGHAPIIICAL    SKETCHES: 


with  Dr.  Procter  Thayer,  of  Cleveland, 
where  he  attended  two  courses  of  lectiu'es,  and 
finally  pi'aduated,  in  Columbns,  Ohio,  at  the 
Starling  Medical  College,  in  February,  INSl; 
came  to  Massillon  in  May,  same  year,  to  prac- 
tice his  profession.  His  parents  are  H.  K. 
Stevens  and  Theresa  Clark.  H.  R.  Stevuus 
was  born  in  Rensselaer  Co..  N.  Y.,  in  LS'iO; 
sou  of  Ebeuezer  Steveus,  who  came  to  Ohio, 
with  his  family,  in  1M43,  locating  in  Akron, 
II.  R.  being  at  this  time  but  17  years  of  age; 
he  worked  on  the  Ohio  Canal;  afterward  in 
merchandising  and  fai'ming.  He  married 
Theresa  Clark,  who  was  boru  in  Pennsylvania, 
daughter  of  John  Clark,  who  was  born  in  Ire- 
land, sou  of  William  Clark.  The  head  of  the 
family  for  four  generations  were  physicians. 
The  children  of  Ebenezor  Stevens  were  John, 
Ebenezer,  Edwin.  H.  R.,  Angeliue,  Mary, 
Elizabeth  and  Emily.  H.  R.  Steveus  has  two 
children-  AVilliam  H.  and  F.  C.  William  H. 
is  now  engaged  in  farming,  at  Garuett,  Kan. 
The  parents  of  om'  subject  are  residents  of 
Berea. 

GEORGE  SNYDER,  boots  and  shoes, 
Massillon:  was  born  in  the  town  of  Massil- 
lon in  1S43,  the  third  son  of  a  family  of  eight 
children  born  to  Frederick  H.  and  Anna  C. 
(Schriver)  Snyder,  lx)th  natives  of  Germany. 
The  former  was  from  the  kingdom  of  Bavaria, 
his  father's  name  being  George  M.  Snyder. 
his  mother's  maiden  name  also  being  Snyder. 
Frederick  H.  was  a  CEU'jjenter  and  contractor, 
having  learned  his  trade  in  Massillon,  which 
he  followed  for  twenty-four  years;  he  died' 
Nov.  25,  1M58;  his  wife  is  still  living.  The 
following  menjl)ers  of  the  family  grew  to 
maturity:  Fred  H.,  Maria,  George  M.,  Jacob, 
Henry,  Charles  F.,  John  B.  and  Benjamin  F.; 
Anna  died,  aged  2  years.  George  served  an 
apprenticeship  to  a  shoe-maker,  three  years 
with  Sausser  &  Wert,  with  Loxiis  Schworm 
as  foreman,  then  worked  at  journeyman  work 
one  year,  and  at  the  age  of  lU,  began  Imsiness 
for  himself,  on  Erie  street.  He  liought  out 
the  man  he  worked  for;  he  2)aid  $176  for 
stock,  and  borrowed  $175  of  his  uncle  to  start 
with,  continuing  there  one  year,  where  the 
opera  house  now  stands,  working  six  months 
alone,  afterward  hiring  one  man.  April  1, 
lSfi4,  he  moved  on  Main  street,  where  John 


Dangler  now  keeps,  in  the  Welker  building, 
buying  oiit  George  Young,  for  $350  cash. 
Here  he  employed  four  men,  and  after  being 
here  one  year,  moved  back  on  Erie  street, 
where  Joseph  Colman  now  does  business, 
when  he  bought  a  stock  worth  $400,  of  East- 
ern goods;  he  then  had  seven  men,  and  the 
second  year  had  nine,  remaining  there  three 
years;  the  second  year  he  was  there  he  piu'- 
chased  the  lot  where  his  building  now  stands, 
to  which  he  moved  April  1,  1868,  and  to 
which  he  built  an  addition  of  thirty-five  feet, 
in  1875,  and  has  since  continued  in  business 
there;  when  he  left  the  Colman  place,  his 
stock  iuvoiced  $3,500;  he  worked  seven  men 
until  1N75,  and  since  has  had  four.  He  en- 
listed, in  1864,  in  Company  A,  162d  O.  N. 
G.,  and  served  full  time,  although  only  20 
years  of  age.  He  married.  May,  1865,  Ma- 
linda  Waggoner,  born  in  Massillon  in  1846, 
daughter  of  Christian  W.,  who  was  from 
Pennsylvania.  They  have  six  children,  viz. : 
Anna  C.,  Nellie  I.,  Harmon  H.,  Otto  P.,  Dan- 
iel W.  and  Eva  V.;  two  died  in  infancy — 
George  C.  and  Thomas  H.  Mr.  Snyder  is  a 
member  of  the  German  Lutherac  Church,  and 
is  a  Republican  in  politics. 

J.  M.  SCHUCKERS,  drug  store,  Massil- 
lon; was  born  in  Wooster,  Wayne  Co.,  July 
2.  1846;  son  of  Jacob  W.  and  Elizabeth 
(Kirkpatrick)  Schuckers,  he  born  in  Lancaster 
Co.,  Pfun.,  and  she  in  England:  they  had 
three  children,  those  living  being  J.  M.  and  a 
brother;  he,  J.  W.,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
engaged  in  business  in  Wooster,  and  there 
died;  he  wfis,  for  several  years,  editor  of  the 
Wai/nc  CoHiitii  Rcpiililican;  also  ran  the 
queens  and  stone  ware  business.  Ovu'  subject 
came  to  this  town  when  2i  years  old;  he 
received  the  advantages  afforded  by  the  com- 
mon schools;  first  engaged  with  the  Massillon 
Coal  Company,  but  now  keeps  the  books  and 
has  charge  of  the  Warmington  mine;  also 
k(^eps  the  books  of  three  other  mines;  he  also 
runs  a  drug  store,  keeping  a  practical  di-ug- 
gist  for  that  purpose. 

JOHN  SILK,  jwper-mill,  Massillon;  was 
born  May  2,  183U,  in  Germany;  son  of  John 
and  Maria  (Schussler)  Silk,  who  had  three 
chikb-en,  our  subject  being  the  seccmd  of  the 
number;  he  came,  with  his  parents,  to  Cleve- 


L^ 


CITY   or    MASSILLON. 


land,  in  1851,  being  12  years  of  age,  and 
leiirnod  the  manufaoture  of  paper,  continuing 
thiTc  until  1st)];  llicn  went  to  Canton,  and 
commenced  the  pa])er  mainifacturing  business 
with  Ernest  Bachert  and  L.  Hundredmark, 
under  the  tlrni  name  of  Bachert,  Silk  &  Co., 
N.  W.  Taylor,  of  Cleveland,  afterward  taking 
the  place"  of  "Co."'  In  US70,  Mr.  Silk  came 
to  this  city,  and  engaged  in  the  same  business 
under  the  corporate  name  of  Massillon  Paper 
Com])any,  an  account  of  which  will  be  found 
in  the  history  of  Massillon.  Mr.  Silk  still 
retains  his  interest  in  the  manufactory  at  Can- 
ton. He  was  married,  in  lSr)U,  to  Adaline 
Richards,  l)orn  in  Stark  CJoimty,  Canton  T])., 
about  1!S4'.I,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Mar- 
garet (Simmons)  Richards,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  this  county.  Three  children 
have  blessed  the  union  of  Mi".  Silk  and  wife  — 
Frank  B.,  Charles  B.  and  Jennie  R.  He  is  a 
memlier  of  the  United  Brethren  Church:  also 
of  the  A.  O.  U.  W. :  is  a  Republican.  Two 
brothers  of  our  subject,  Henry  and  Com-ad, 
served  terms  in  the  late  war  and  came  otit 
safely.  The  father  died  when  Mr.  Silk  was 
but  3  years  of  age,  and  his  mother  mar- 
ried Henry  Slack,  by  whom  she  had  thrive 
children — Conrad,  .^lugnsta  and  Valentine; 
one  brother  and  sister — Barbara  and  Henry. 
ADAM  SIBIL.4,  deceased.  Mr.  Sibila  was 
bom  INtlH,  in  Hessa-Homburg,  (iermany;  his 
parents  were  .\dam  and  Eve  (Chrone)  Sibila, 
to  whom  were  born  (leorge,  Adam,  Catharine, 
Frank,  Jaeoi)  and  Nicholas.  Adam,  our  sub- 
ject, was  married  al)out  iho  year  1832,  to 
Elizabeth  Burffhard,  who  was  born  in  1813, 
daughter  of  Michael  and  Eliz.abeth  Burghard, 
whose  childi-en  were  John,  Cathaiine,  Eliza- 
beth, Mary,  Michael,  John  and  AVilliain.  iVL". 
Sibila  emigi-ated  to  this  coiuitry  in  |S3(),  locat- 
ing in  Massillon,  having  at  the  time  of  his 
arrival  S40().  which  he  exi)ended  in  land. 
For  about  eight  yeai-s  ho  engaged  in  the  shoe 
business,  then  embarked  in  the  hotel  and  gro- 
cery business,  at  which  he  continued  until 
1873,  when  he  retiretl  from  active  business, 
having  secureil  to  himself  a  good  pro])erty  as 
the  fruits  of  his  lal)or  and  ocononmical  man- 
agement. His  death  occmred  Aug.  10,  1873. 
His  children  ware  as  follows:  Catharine,  John, 
Jacob,  William,  Frank,  Elizabeth,  Henry  and 


Adam;  those  deceased  are  Cathai'ine,  John 
and  William.  Adam,  Jr.,  was  bom  in  ISrjC), 
be.ng  the  youngest  of  the  fmiiily,  and  was 
raised  in  the  gi'oc^ery  business  with  his  father. 
In  1875,  he  began  business  foi'  himself,  and 
has  since  continued,  doing  a  good  and  in- 
creasing business.  In  JanuiUT,  1N78,  he 
m.irried  Louisa  Vogt,  daughter  of  John  Vogt, 
of  this  citv. 

FRANK  SIBILA,  hotel  and  grocer,  Mas- 
sillon; was  born  Nov.  14,  1847,  in  the  city  of 
Massillon,  the  second  son  living  and  the 
eighth  child  bom  to  Adam  and  Elizabeth 
(Bm'ghiu-d)  Sibila.  Frank  i)egan  Inisiness  for 
himself  in  May,  IS73,  on  Erie  street,  koe|)ing 
a  grocery  and  provision  stori',  and  is  now  pro- 
prietor of  the  Eagle  House.  In  January, 
1873,  he  married  Sarah  Miller,  who  was  born 
in  184!)  iu  this  county,  daughter  of  Jos(>])h 
and  CiU'oline  (Lehman)  Miller,  who  came  to 
this  county  about  the  year  183(1.  Mi'.  Miller 
died  in  18()3;  his  wife  in  1878.  Frank  has 
four  children — Edward,  Elizabeth,  Caroline 
and  Victor. 

M.  SCHAFER,  agent  sewing  machines, 
Massillon;  is  the  resident  agent  for  the 
Domestic  Sewing  Machine,  and  a  native  of 
Massillon;  his  father,  Martin  Schafer,  was 
born  iu  1793,  in  Rhine,  Bavaria,  and  luaiTied 
Wilhelma  Held,  who  was  born  in  1810,  a 
daughter  of  Philip  Held,  who  was  a  son  of 
Ludwig.  The  Schafer  family  emigrated  to 
Ohio  in  1833.  The  fath(>r  of  our  subject  was 
a  tailor  by  trade,  which  vocation  he  followed 
in  this  city  for  twenty  years,  and  subsequently 
engaged  in  the  grocery  business,  which  he 
caiTied  on  for  ten  years.  His  death  occurred 
in  April,  1857;  his  wife  survived  him  until 
December,  1871.  To  them  were  born  eight 
children,  who  grew  up,  viz. :  Louis,  now  in 
Mansfield,  Richland  Co.,  this  State;  Martin 
and  William,  of  tnis  city;  Jacob,  in  Cincin- 
nati; Christina,  the  wife  of  Louis  Zeller,  of 
this  city;  Caroline,  now  Mrs.  Joseph  Bergold; 
Louisa,  now  Mi's.  S.  C.  Cheney,  of  this  city, 
and  Margaret,  now  deceased,  was  the  wife  of 
William  McClintock.  The  family  moved  to 
Loudonville  in  184i(,  where  they  live<l  until 
1858.  After  the  death  of  liis  father,  the  care 
of  the  family  largely  devolved  upon  oui-  sub- 
ject;    he    learned     tlie    belt-maker's    trade. 


i)  "^ 


BIOGHAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 


working  at  the  same  for  Russell  &  Co.  nine 
years.  Since  1868.  be  has  been  engaged  in 
the  sewing  machine  business,  first  handling 
the  Howe,  then  the  Singer,  bui  later,  the 
Domestic,  for  which  he  has  had  a  lai-ge  sale, 
having  handled  them  nine  years.  Mr. 
Schafer's  father  was  one  of  the  number  who 
assisted  in  the  organization  of  the  German 
Reformed  Chm'ch,  of  this  city.  William 
Schafer.  the  brother  of  oiu-  subject,  served 
through  the  late  war:  was  a  member  of  Com- 
pany K.  45th  O.  Y.  I.:  Margin,  not  being  of 
strong  constitution,  remained  at  home  to  care 
for  the  family:  he  has  served  as  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  and  since  1875,  has  held  the  office  of 
Township  Treasm-er. 

CH.AJILES  E.  TAYLOR,  editor,  Massil- 
lon:  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Massillon 
Iii</(jnii(J(iit:  was  born  in  Hinsdale,  Berkshire 
Co.,  Mass.,  April  19,  1847:  he  is  the  son  of 
John  Taylor  and  Eliza  Culverhouse,  to  whom 
were  bom  three  chikh'eu,  our  subject  being 
the  siuwiving  child.  The  parents  of  the  above 
emigrated  from  England  to  this  country  when 
quite  young:  his  father  was  a  wi^)olen  manu- 
facturer, which  Imsiness  he  followed  for  many 
yeai-s  in  the  State  of  Massachusetts.  Charles 
E.  passed  the  years  of  his  early -boyhood  as  a 
workman  in  the  woolen  mills,  and  at  tlie  age 
of  14.  he  entered  the  printing  office  of  the 
Valli  1/  Glcaiirr.  in  Lee,  Mass.,  where  he  re- 
mained two  years,  leai-ning  the  printer's  trade; 
while  here,  learned  many  things  of  a  practical 
character,  and  gained,  by  reading  and  study, 
much  valuable  information.  After  learning 
his  trade,  he  s]ient  some  five  years  as  journey- 
man in  various  localities,  in  New  York,  Con- 
necticut, Illinois  and  Indiana,  and  in  October, 
1867,  came  to  Massillon  and  engaged  in  the 
same  capacity,  on  the  Massillon  Independent, 
a  jom-nal  founded  by  John  Frost,  in  July, 
1863,  in  connection  with  Peter  Welker.  At 
the  expiration  of  four  years,  Mr.  Taylor  pur- 
chased, in  March,  1873,  Mi-.  Frost's  interest, 
in  that  juiper.  and  in  company  with  Mr. 
\Yelker.  conducted  it,  for  about  three  years, 
when  in  October.  1876,  he  pm'chased  his  pai't- 
ner's  interest,  since  which  time  he  has  been 
the  sole  owner  and  proprietor.  Being  a  prac- 
tical printer,  he  has  the  advantage  over  other 
newspaper    men,    who    are    only    acquainted 


with  the  duties  of  the  editorial  room.  The 
Independent  is  a  stanch  Republican  jomnal, 
and  has  a  fair  measiu-e  of  support.  Mr.  Tay- 
lor is  a  Past  Grand  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. ;  also  a 
Past  Chief  Patri;u-ch  in  the  Encampment:  he 
is  also  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
and  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  On 
Sept.  28. 1874,  he  maiTied  Laiu-a,  daughter  of 
CjTus  and  Frances  Bowen.  of  this  county; 
has  no  children. 

HIRAM  rMBENHOLTR.  retii-ed  f aimer; 
P.  O.  Massillon:  is  the  eldest  son  of  Jacob 
Umbenhom'  ;md  ^lai'y  Ritter;  he  was  born  on 
the  homestead  f.mn,  in  Tuscai'awas  Township, 
March  10,  1842,  where  he  was  brought  up  to 
agi'icultural  pursuits,  remaining  with  his 
parents  until  his  marriage.  March  17,  1864, 
was  wedded  to  Nancy  Fickes,  who  was  born 
inl845,  in  Tuscarawas  Township,  daughter  of 
David  Fickes  and  Ellen  McDowell,  who  were 
natives  of  Ohio.  After  his  maiTiage,  \w. 
located  on  his  farm,  in  Tuscarawas  Township, 
where"  he  was  engaged  in  farming,  where  he 
lived  until  the  summer  of  1875:  his  health 
becoming  inqiaired,  he  removed  to  Massillon, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  He  has  KSO  acres 
of  land,  underlaid  with  coal:  besides  his  resi- 
dence, has  an  interest  in  the  Pai'k  Hotel,  of 
this  city;  has  two  sons,  Willard  and  David  J. 

JOHN  YOGT,  stone  quarry  and  contractor, 
Massillon:  born  Jan.  11,  183(1,  in  Wurt.em- 
berg,  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  nine  children, 
viz.;  John,  Amelia,  Augusta,  Henry,  Eliza- 
beth, Frank,  Maria  L.,  Mary  F.  and  Catharine, 
— the  latter  was  bm'ued  to  death  in  Chicago, 
— born  to  Franc  Anton  Yogt  and  Mary  Frances 
Huth.  He  was  born  18(»2,  in  the  Fader- 
land,  and  served  six  years  in  the  King's 
Guard,  He  was  a  son  of  Francis  Anton,  a 
native  of  Germany,  who  emigrated  to  this 
country  in  1832:  went  "West,  to  Missouri,  and 
founded  the  town  of  New  Hfuraony,  where  he 
remained  until  his  death,  1853,  at  which  time 
he  was  buried  with  militaiy  honors.  Franc 
Anton,  Jr..  the  father  of  our  subject,  came  to 
this  country  also  in  1832:  stojsped  in  Buffalo 
until  1834,  when  he  came  to  Massillon,  and 
engaged  at  his  trade,  being  a  stone-cutter:  he 
assisted  in  cutting  stone  which  are  now  within 
the  walls  of  several  of  the  prominent  build- 
ings  in  this  city:  he   afterward  engaged  in 


CITY    OF    MASSILLON. 


701 


building  and  contracting,  be  is  yet  living  in  the 
city.  Oiir  subject  came  West  with  his  father, 
in  l'S::{4;  was  raised  in  the  (jnarries:  his 
school  advantages  were  of  the  most  limited 
character;  in  1852,  he  began  business  for  him- 
self, under  the  firm  name  of  John  Vogt  &  Co., 
which  association  lasted  four  yesu^:  then 
went  into  the  employ  of  L.  S.  Rawson  as  ship- 
ping-clerk, who  was  engaged  in  the  milling 
business:  he  continued  with  him  seven  yeare: 
during  this  time,  he  learned  the  practical 
part  of  milling  in  its  many  details:  subse- 
quently engaged  in  the  contracting  business  for 
the  Pittsburgh.  Fort  Wayne  &  Chicago  Kail- 
road,  furnishing  stone  for  bridi;es  and  depots, 
and  building  the  same,  in  which  l)usinesshe  is 
now  engaged:  he  is  now  sole  proj)rietor  of  the 
Bridgejjort  Stone  Quarry,  which  was  worked 
by  his  father  many  years  ago.  Mr.  Vogt  was 
married.  April  2").  ]K)2.  to  Regina  Haungs. 
bom  in  Baden  May  31.  1S33:  by  her  has 
ses'en  children  —John  J.,  William  H.,  Francis 
T..  Marj-  L.,  Laura  C,  Olivia,  John  H.  and 
Victor  Hugo.  Joseph  is  now  foreman  for  his 
father  on  the  road;  William  H.,  foreman  in 
the  quarry:  Mary  L.,  wife  of  Adam  Sibila,  of 
this  citv. 

JACOB  D.  WETTER,  merchant.  Massil- 
lon;  is  one  of  the  self-made  men  of  this  city; 
was  born  in  Switzerland,  in  August,  1S40, 
son  of  Andrew  and  Annii  (Howenstinei  Wet- 
ter. The  family  emigrated  to  America  in 
1853.  locating,  first,  in  Wayne  County,  where 
he  engaged  in  farming.  There  was  a  family 
of  six  children,  all  of  whom  came  to  maturity 
— Jc>hu;  ilarj'.  Mrs.  K.  Gross,  near  Hunting- 
ton, Ind. :  John,  in  Dnnde<'.  Tuscarawas 
County:  Henn',  in  this  city:  Frederick,  in 
Wayne  County.  Our  subject  was  raised  on  a 
farm,  remaining  under  the  parental  roof  until 
13  years  of  age,  when  ho  engaged  to  work  by 
the  month  for  six  years,  when  he  was  inca- 
pacitatetl  for  labor  by  having  his  leg  broken: 
then  went  to  Dalton,  AVa\-ne  C(j..  where  he 
clerked  two  years;  came  to  Massillon  in  1^02, 
beg.m  clerking  for  John  Warnick,  and  re- 
mained with  him  until  1871 ;  then  engaged  in 
business  for  him.self.  becoming  associated  with 
C.  B.  -Vllman  and  (i.  E.  Gross,  imder  the  firm 
name  of  Allman.  Gross  &  Wetter,  which  con- 
nection lasted   until   1870.  when  Mr.   Gross 


withdrew,  and  the  firm  has  since  been  Allman 
&  Wetter.  He  was  married,  in  187(1,  to 
Sophia  J.  Allbright.  bom  in  Massillon,  daugh- 
ter of  Michael  and  Elizabeth  Allbright.  They 
have  (me  child,  Albert  M.  Is  a  member  of 
St.  John's  Evangelical  Church;  both  of  the 
parents  of  Mrs.  Wetter  are  living,  and  reside 
in  Wavne  Couiitv. 

M.  W.  WILSON.  Massillon:  was  bom 
Nov.  1(1.  1838.  in  Cheshire  Co.,  N.  H.;  only 
child  bom  to  Mainard  and  Liu-a  Bumap, 
both  natives  of  New  Hamjjshire;  he  died  in 
1854.  Our  subject  Ciune  West  in  1858,  set- 
tled in  ^Ia?sillon,  and  learned  the  trade  of 
machinist  with  Russell  Bros.;  after  serving 
sis  years  and  a  half  in  the  shops,  he,  for  sev- 
eral ye.'u-s.  performed  the  duties  of  shipping- 
clerk,  and  then  book-keej)er  for  the  firm,  be- 
ing in  their  emy)loy  alwut  twenty  years.  In 
November.  1878.  he  associated  himself  with 
Clement  Russell,  in  the  coal  business,  Mr. 
Russell  being  President,  and  Mr.  Wilson  Sec- 
retary and  Treasurer  of  the  company,  which 
was  incorjxjrated  in  Jannarj',  1879,  under  the 
title  of  the  Sippo  Coal  Company.  Nov.  27, 
1872,  Mr.  Wilson  married  Slary  M.  Gage, 
bom  in  December,  185(',  in  Merrimack  Co.,  N. 
H.,  daughter  of  Isaac  K.  and  Susan  (Johnson) 
Gage.  Two  children  are  the  fruit  of  this 
union — Florence  Lee  and  Susie  G.  Mr.  Wil- 
son is  also  Cashier  in  Allbright  &  McCly- 
mond's  bank:  he  is  a  Republican. 

FRANK  WILLENBORG,  stone  quarry, 
Massillon;  was  bom  Dec.  25,  1825,  in  the 
village  of  Lohne,  Grand  Duchy  of  Oldenburg, 
neai' Bremen,  Prussia;  son  of  Frederick  and 
MaiT  (.^.shbrate)  Willenborg,  who  emigrated 
to  America  in  1839.  and  in  the  spring  of  1840 
came  to  Massillon.  Oiu*  subject  learned  the 
trade  of  molding,  which  he  followed  nine 
years,  being  apprenticed  five  years;  then  had 
charge  of  the  shojis  of  Piu-tridge  &  Kessler 
for  four  yesirs,  after  which  he  went  into  the 
grocery  business  with  his  brother  Henry,  for 
five  years;  sold  out  and  moved  West,  to 
Decatur,  where  they  engaged  in  the  s.ome 
business:  continued  in  that  four  years  more, 
and  finally  came  back  here,  in  1850,  and  took 
charge  of  a  stone  quarr}'.  also  engaging  in  the 
butchering  business,  for  nineteen  years. 
Since   1878,  however,  he  has  been  engaged 


^ 


702 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


exclusively  in  the  quarry.  He  was  married, 
in  1859,  to  Christina  Kift'er,  who  was  born  in 
this  town,  daughter  of  Nicholas  Kift'er,  who 
came  here  in  1!S4(\  They  have  four  children 
living — Mary,  JVIi-s.  CharlesW;u-thorst;  Louisa, 
Josephine  and  George ;  those  dead  are  Ernest, 
Anna  and  Charles.  Are  members  of  the 
Catholic  Church.  Mr.  Willenborg's  father 
was  lost  on  the  sea,  while  acting  as  mate  of 
a  fishing  smack.  He  had  four  childi-en,  hut 
Frank,  our  subject,  is  the  only  surviver. 

THOMAS  S.  WEBB,  retired,  Massillon. 
Col.  Webb  was  born  in  Salem,  Ohio,  May  (3, 
1808;  his  paternal  ancestors  emigrated  from 
England  and  settled  in  Chester  Co.,  Penn., 
at  a  very  early  day;  they  were  Fi lends  in  re- 
ligious belief.  John  Welib,  the  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  emigrated  from  Harford  Co., 
Md.,  to  Salem,  Cohunbiana  County,  in  1805,  on 
land  that  is  now  embraced  within  the  north- 
east part  of  the  city  of  Salem.  The  maternal 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  Thomas  Smith, 
settled  in  Georgetown,  ]3eaver  Co.,  Penn.,  in 
1792,  and  established  Smith's  FeiTy.  John 
Webb,  the  father  of  Thomas  S.,  was  a  hatter 
by  trade;  came  to  Georgetown,  Penn.,  in 
1805,  and  there  man-ied  Phebe  Smith,  daugh- 
ter of  the  Thomas  Smith  just  mentioned.  He 
had  six  childi'en,  of  whom  our  subject  is  the 
eldest,  who,  at  the  age  of  14,  went  to  New 
Lisbon,  Ohio,  and  there  learned  the  saddler's 
trade  with  John  Alexander,  and  remained 
engaged  in  the  same  seven  years;  Sept.  8, 
lH'i'2,,  he  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Yost 
Harbaugh,  oi-igiually  from  Frederick  Co.,  Md 
Five  children  were  the  fruits  of  tiiis  union. 
In  the  sjiring  of  1833,  he  embarked  in  the 
hotel  Imsiness,  at  Massillon,  and  for  thirteen 
years  kept  the  Franklin  House,  and  did  a 
large  business;  in  183('),  he  was  made  a 
Colonel  in  the  State  militia;  in  1846,  he  went 
to  New  Philadelphia,  this  State,  and  became 
jiroprietor  of  the  Eagle  House  for  live  years; 
he  then  erected  the  Union  Hotel,  which  he 
conducted  for  four  years,  and  in  1855,  re- 
tiu'ned  to  Massillon  and  jjurchased  a  farm  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  ciiy,  which  he  has  since 
carried  on.  In  1857  and  1858,  he  had  the 
management  of  the  United  States  Hotel,  in 
Atlantic  City,  N.  J.;  in  1863,  he  repaired  to 
New  Philadeljihia  and  re-piu'chased  the  Union 


Hotel,  and  started  his  sons,  Jesse  and  Frank 
Webb,  in  the  business,  which  then  continued 
successfxiUy  for  thi'ee  years,  when,  on  account 
of  the  ill-health  of  Jesse,  they  sold  out  and 
returned  to  this  city,  Frank  engaging  in  the 
grocery  business.  During  the  late  war,  Mr. 
Webb  was  commissioned  as  Colonel  of  the 
115th  Regiment,  but,  on  account  of  advanced 
age,  he  did  not  accept;  he  was  also  tendered 
the  position  as  Paymaster  in  the  army,  which 
he  also  declined;  he  took  a  leading  part  in 
the  erection  of  the  Massillon  gas  works,  and 
may  be  called  the  father  of  the  enterprise;  he 
was  raised  a  Friend,  his  parents  being  of  that 
persuasion;  he  has,  however,  for  many  years, 
been  connected  with  the  Episcopal  Church 
in  this  city,  having  filled  several  positions  in 
the  same. 

M.  E.  \^TLCOX,  agent,  Massillon ;  general 
traveling  agent  for  Russell  &  Co. ;  was  born 
June  27,  1833,  near  Preble,  in  Cortland  Co., 
N.  Y.,  the  eldest  child  born  to  his  parents,  who 
were  Isaac  C.  Wilcox  and  Adaline  Segm-,  both 
natives  of  New  York;  Isaac  was  born  in  1811, 
son  of  Ansel  Wilcox,  a  native  of  Massachu- 
setts; Adaline  was  born  in  April,  1814,  daugh- 
ter of  James  Segiu\  whose  father,  it  is  said, 
was  stolen  when  young,  and  for  several  years 
was  confined  on  shipboard.  Our  subject  re- 
moved with  his  parents  to  Ashland  County, 
this  State,  in  1837;  his  father  was  a  wagon- 
maker  by  trade.  At  the  age  of  17,  he  went  to 
Canal  Fulton  to  learn  the  saddle  and  harness 
maker's  trade,  which  vocation  he  followed  for 
about  twenty  years,  being  a  resident  of  this 
place  the  greater  portion  of  the  time:  diu'ing 
this  time,  he  became  identified  with  the  in- 
terests of  the  place,  and  closely  affiliated  with 
its  varied  interests,  serving  as  Township  Clerk 
ten  or  twelve  years,  Village  Recorder,  Justice 
of  the  Peace,  and  six  years  as  County  Record- 
er; since  1877,  has  been  engaged  with  Russell 
&  Co.  as  their  general  traveliiig  agent.  In 
November,  1N55,  he  was  married  to  Letitia 
Mobley,  born  April  2,  1837,  daughter  of  John 
Mobley;  she  died  Oct.  26,  1.S77;  by  her  he 
had  seven  children,  five  living — Frank  A., 
Etta  A.,  Collins  C,  Harter  C.  and  Albeitus 
A.;  W'illie  J.  and  Jesse  E.,  deceased.  His 
present  wife  was  Cora  A.  Prince,  born  Dec.  2, 
1846,  in  Canton,  daughter  of  William  Prince 


t^ 


CITY    OF    MASSILLON. 


703 


and  Christiiiii  Rex;  he  was  a  native  of  Page 
Co.,  Ya.,  she  of  Smnmit  County,  this  State. 
Mr.  Wilcox  is  a  Kejiublican,  and  a  member  of 
the  A.,  F.  A:  A.  M. 

FKANK  li.  AVEBB,  wholesale  grocer,  Mas- 
sillon:  is  a  native  of  Massillon,  born  Aug.  "'", 
18;{b.  youngest  son  of  Col.  Thomas  S.  \Vebb. 
Our  subjeet  was  raised  in  the  hot(>l  business, 
which  his  fjither  conducted  successfully  for 
several  y»<u"s.  For  three  yeiU's.  he  and  his 
bi'other  Jesse  can'ied  on  the  I'Uion  Hotel  at 
Philadelphia,  when,  on  account  of  tailing 
health,  he  sold  out  and  traveled  for  some  time, 
when,  his  health  being  I'estoi'ed.  he  engaged, 
in  bSnC).  with  H.  K.  Dickey  in  the  wholesale 
grocery  business,  conducting  an  extensive 
wholesale  trade  in  groceries,  teas  and  tobacco, 
doing  a  business  of  815(1.0(10  auniuvlly:  this 
partnership  continued  until  Ajn-il,  1<S!S1,  when 
he  bought  out  Mr.  Dick(>y,  and  has  since  run 
the  business  on  his  own  account.  Nov.  3, 
1SG3,  he  married  Kate  A.  Dickey,  daughter  of 
Hiram  K.  Dickey  and  Maria  C.  Whijiple.  ih: 
Webb  has  two  children — Frank  R.  and  M. 
Arline:  is  a  m<>mber  of  the  several  Mast)nic 
bodies  in  this  eitv. 

J.  li.  WHITE.'  Bank  Teller,  Massillon:  is 
a  native  ot  the  Keystone  State,  Iwrn  Dec.  14, 
Ih-tO,  in  New  Castle,  La-wrenee  Co.,  the  fifth 
child  of  a  family  of  six  children:  his  pju'ents 
were  Samuel  H.  White  and  Mary  A.  Keyuolds: 
the  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  Daniel 
White,  who  was  a  Tiativeof  Hager-stown.  Md., 
and  removed  to  New  Castle.  Penu.,  before  the 
place  was  founded:  he  was  one  of  the  tii'st 
settlers  in  that  locality,  and  the  land  he  cleared 
and  imjn'oved  is  yet  in  possession  of  his  de- 
scendants. Our  subject  remainc'd  at  home  until 
he  gi'ew  to  man's  estate:  he  gra<luat(Hl  at  tlui 
higii  school  at  his  native  [)lace.  When  y(>t  in 
his  teens,  he  volunteered  his  services  to  the 
Government  and  went  forth  with  the  "  boys  in 
blue."  enlisting  in  lS(j'J.  in  Co.  F,  •'JathO.Y.  I., 
for  three  months,  serving  his  time,  and  retmniod 
home;  iuM;u'ch,  1S(U,  heenlisted  forfouryears 
in  Co.  K,  100th  Pennsylvania  "  Komid  Head  " 
regiment,  serving  until  disabled,  when  he  was 
dischiu'ged  and  returned  home.  In  Februiiry, 
liS(K).  he  went  to  Baltimore  and  accepted  a  po- 
sition in  the  Auditors  office  of  the  Northern 
Centi'al   Railroad,   having  chiu-ge  of  the  con- 


ductors' and  agents'  accounts;  he  remained  in 
this  iH)sition  until  Se])tember.  1871.  when  he 
r(>signed  and  caiue  to  Mas-Dillon  and  accept<>d 
a  situation  in  the  Union  National  Bank  as 
Teller,  which  )x)sition  be  has  since  filled.  Oct. 
'ZC).  ISTI.  he  formed  a  mati'ionial  alliance  with 
Miu-y  J.  McClymonds.  born  Jan.  4. 1S4N.  in  N(!w 
Castle.  Penu..  daughter  of  William  McCly- 
monds and  Jane  Dunlap,  who  were  born  in 
Darlington,  Penn.  In  187"),  he  was  elected 
as  Clerk  of  the  City  Council,  being  honcjred 
with  a  re-election  each  succeeding  year.  He 
has  fom-  children,  viz..  Mary  D.,  Edward  Mc- 
Clvmouds.  Florcnc'  E.  and  Charles  A. 

FRANK  WAKTHORST.  deceased.  Massil- 
lon; was  the  founder  and  original  projirietor  of 
the  Warthoi-st  stone  ((uarry,  oni-  mile  west  of 
ti)wn.  at  th(>  junction  of  the  P.,  Ft.W.  &  C,  and 
C.  T.  V.  &  W.  Railroads.  H(>  waslxjrnin  1801, 
in  Bremen,  (iermany.  son  of  P'rank  Warthorst 
and  iMary  Willenborg.  Mr.  \\';u'thorst  came  to 
Ohio  about  the  year  18:54:  he  was  a  practical 
stone-cutter,  and  was  an  exjx'rienced  quarry- 
man.  Soon  after  his  coming  to  Massillon,  he 
began  developing  the  stone  (|uarry,  which  he 
continued  to  work  u])to  1871.  His  death  oc- 
cunx'd  Feb.  2,  1 872.  while  on  a  visit  to  Eiirope. 
His  wife  died  in  Switzerland  Aug.  14,  1N80. 
No  chihb-en  were  born  to  them;  they  have  one 
adopted  son,  E.  F.  Warthorst.  The  success- 
ors of  oiu"  subject  ai'e  Frank  Wi llenborg,  Frank 
W.  and  Carl'  L.  Warthorst  (Mr.  ^Villenborg 
being  President  of  the  (]umTy,  Cai'l  L.  Super- 
intendent, and  Frank  W.  Secretary).  Carl 
L.  Wiuihorst  was  born  Jan.  1,  185'i,  in  Rhine- 
Prussia,  he  being  the  youngest  of  a  family  of 
three  children  born  to  Frederick  Wiu-thorst 
and  Amelia  Martinstein;  his  father  was  a  civil 
engineer,  and  died  in  18r)"2;  his  wifi^  smvives 
him.  To  them  were  born  l"'rank  \\'.,  Annie 
and  Cjirl  L. ;  Annie  remained  in  the  old 
country;  Cai'l  L.  and  Frank  W.  Ciune  to  Massil- 
lon in  1868.  Carl  L.  engaged  to  work  in  the 
quaiTv  with  his  uncle,  and  from  him  learned 
the  business.  In  A])ril,  1S80.  he  became  a 
pai'tner  in  the  business,  they  ;us-'uming  the  fum 
name  of  Warthorst  &  Co.,  and  iu-e  manufact- 
urers and  dealers  in  grindstones  for  wet  and 
dry  grinding:  also  block  and  dimension  stones, 
which  ai'e  fui-nished  to  order.  Feb.  '22, 1881, 
Carl  L.  was  married  to  Mary  Willenborg,  who 


^rr 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


l^ 


was  bom  in  1 862,  in  Perry  Township,  daugh- 
ter of  Frank  Willenborg.  The  Warthorsts 
are  Kepublicans. 

GEORCiE  YOUNG,  retired,  Massillon;  bom 
May  22,  1817,  in  Alsace,  town  of  Hoffen, 
county  of  Sultz,  being  the  eldest  sou  of  Barn- 
hart  Young  and  Dorothea  Olier :  Barnhart  was 
a  son  of  John  and  Sarah  (Weimer)  Y'oung, 
Dorothea  being  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Olier:  to 
Barnhart  Young  were  born  George,  INIichael, 
Barliara  and  Barnhart.  George,  our  sul)ject, 
was  the  eldest  of  the  family.  Jane  11.  1836, 
he  emigrated  to  America,  landing  in  New 
York,  where  he  remained  about  foiu-teea 
months.  .He  learned  the  shoemaker's  trade 
before  leaving  the  Fatherland,  which  vocation 
he  followed  while  in  New  York.  In  Septem- 
ber, 1837.  he  came  to  Uniontown,  this  State, 
remaining  there  biit  a  short  time,  and  finally 
locating  in  Massillon,  where  he  engaged  at  his 
trade.  He  came  here  with  nothing  Irat  his 
trade,  which  he  pursued  industriously,  and 
what  he  has  acquired  has  been  through  his 
own  instrumentality  alone.  In  May,  1844, 
he  married  Magdalena  Stroeble,  who  was  bom 
in  Wurtemberg  in  1824,  May  27,  daughter  of 
Godfi-eid  Stroeble  and  Magdalena  Emhoflf, 
which  couple  came  to  Stark  County,  locating 
in  Bethlehem  Township,  in  1S33:  he  had  six 
children — Frederick,  John,  Magdalena,  Wil- 
helmenia,  Wilhelm  and  Mary.  To  Mr.  Young 
has  been  born  six  children,  five  living — George, 
John,  Louis,  Charles  and  Edward:  Louis  and 
Edward,  in  Hancock  County,  this  State;  John, 
in  St.  Jo  Co.,  Mo.;  the  others  are  residing  in 
this  county.  John  served  as  a  soldier  four 
years  in  Co.  I,  76th  O.  V.  I.,  and  was  wounded 
at  the  battle  of  Resaca:  Charles  is  engaged  in 
the  livery  business  in  this  city.  For  several 
years,  Mr.  Young  was  engaged  in  the  grocery 
business.     Politics.  Dcnioeratie. 

WILLIAM  YOST,  harness-maker.  Mas- 
sillon: was  born  in  Jackson  Tovraship  June  6, 
1841,  the  youngest  child  of  his  parents.  Our 
subject  was  reared  under  the  paivntal  roof, 
attending  the  schools  of  his  district  and  com- 
pleting his  education  in  Massillon.  At  the 
age  of  19,  he  came  to  this  city  and  entered 
the  grocery  store  of  Fred  Loeffler,  where  he 
remained  imtil  186(1,  then  engaged  as  clerk 
for  S.  A.  Com-ad.  with  whom  he  remained  until 


Aug.  4,  1862,  when  he  enlisted  in  Co.  E,  104th 
O.  V.  I.,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
participating  in  all  the  battles  of  the  Atlanta 
campaign,  Resaca  being  his  first  battle;  he 
went  tlu'ough  the  war  without  a  scratch.  Upon 
his  retiu'n  home,  he  went  to  Ala'on  for  a  short 
time,  but  in  1868  he  entered  into  business 
with  his  brother  Geoi'ge,  in  the  harness,  saddle 
and  leather  findings  business;  also  inrimning 
a  tannery:  in  1.S74,  his  brother  took  the  tan- 
nery, and  they  continued  in  the  harness,  sad- 
dle and  findings  business  until  March,  1877, 
where  our  subject  has  since  continued,  having 
added  to  his  former  business  wagons  and  car- 
riages. He  was  married,  Oct.  5,  1869,  to 
Mary  Frances  Oberlin,  daughter  of  Samuel 
Oberlin,  of  this  city,  born  in  this  township; 
they  have  had  four  children,  three  of  whom 
are" living  -Ella  M.,  Charles  O.  and  William 
K.  Mr.  Yost  is  a  member  of  the  Clinton 
Lodge.  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  is  a  Republican. 
GEORGE  YOST,  harness  and  tannery, 
Massillon;  was  born  June  29, 182S,  in  Alsace; 
son  of  John  G.  and  Barbara  (Rehl)  Yost,  who 
were  born  May  7,  1793,  and  May  28,  1794, 
respectively.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject 
was  named  George,  whose  birth  occui-red  in 
1760:  his  wife  was  Elizabeth  Loewenguth, 
by  whom  he  had  four  children  who  grew  to 
manhood  and  womanhood.  His  death  occurred 
March  3,  1823. .  July  2,  1839,  John  Yost  and 
family  sailed  for  America,  arriving  in  Buffalo 
Sept.  25,  and  came  to  Ohio  Nov.  17  of  the 
same  year,  locating  in  Jackson  To^\^lship, 
where  he  jnu'chased  NO  acres,  only  a  portion 
of  which  was  improved;  upon  this  farm  he  re- 
mained until  his  death,  which  ocoiu'red  Feb. 
22,  1866;  his  wife  "passed  over"  the  same 
month  and  day  six  years  [in^vious.  Their 
family  was  composed  of  ten  children,  nine  of 
whom  grew  up.  viz.,  Philip,  Margaret,  Jacob, 
Barbara.  George,  Catherine.  Elizabeth,  Magda- 
lena and  William:  JohnG.  died  aged  4  years. 
Our  subject  left  home  at  the  age  of  18,  when 
he  was  apprenticed  to  learn  the  saddle  and 
harness  trade  with  Hahn  &  Cook,  of  Akron. 
After  his  trade  was  completed,  he  worked  at 
journey  work  in  the  city  of  Massillon.  In  the 
spring  of  1852,  he  associated  five  years  with 
Mr.  Judd.  under  the  firm  name  of  Judd  &  Yost; 
then  formed  a  copartnership  with  C.  C.      '  \ 


t)  ^ 


!>: 


PERKY    TOWNSHIP. 


705 


der  for  two  years,  which  was  known  as  Yost 
&  Snyder,  when  his  partner  dropped  out,  Sir. 
Yost  continuinLj  the  business  alone  until  after 
the  wiU',  when  he  took  in  jNIi-.  Gai'ver  as  part- 
ner for  three  years;  after  this  dissolution,  he 
took  in  his  brother  William,  they  addinj^  the 
tanning  business,  who  continued  with  him 
until  1S77,  when  another  change  was  made, 
to  George  Y'ost  &  Co.;  in  ISSO,  he  piu'chased 
the  "  Co."  interest;  since  that  time,  the  busi- 
ness has  been  carried  on  by  the  sons  of  our  sub- 
ject, under  the  linn  name  of  Y'ost  Bros.  Mr. 
Yost  has  since  been  engaged  with  Mr.  Jones 
in  the  tanneiy.  March  11,  1N55,  Mr.  Y'ost 
was  united  by  marriage  to  Elizabeth  F.  Ben- 
nett, who  was  born  May  H,  1S44,  in  Kent, 
England;  she  was  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Fannie  ( Jndd)  Bennett.  Mi-s.  Yost  came  to 
this  countiy  with  her  mother  in  lS4fi.  SIi'. 
Y'ost  has  had  ten  chikb-en  born  him,  viz.,  H.  B., 
G.  W.,  Maiy  F.,  E.  Ai-letta,  Everett,  Sarah 
E.,  Ervin,  Edward,  Chai'les  and  Hemy,  nine 
living;  Sai'ah  E.,  deceased.  In  business.  Mr. 
Y'ost  has  always  been  conscientious  and  up- 


right in  all  his  dealings  with  his  fellow-men, 
and  an  honest  workman.  Hi^  and  wife  are 
members  of  the  M.  E.  Chm'ch;  ho  is  also  a 
member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  having  passed 
thi-ough  the  subordinate  degrees  to  the  en- 
campment, and  in  politics  is  a  Republican. 

OTTO  E.  YOUNG,  attorney  at  law,  Mas- 
sillon;  Prosecuting  Attorney  of  the  city  of 
Massillon  for  1880  and  1881;  was  born  in 
this  city  Nov.  29,  1857,  son  of  Michael  and 
Rosa  (Minich)  Y'oung.  Slichael  Y'oung  was 
born  in  Alsace  in  1821;  came  toOhioin  1830, 
and  located  in  Massillon  in  1840.  Mrs.  Young, 
the  mother  of  om-  subject,  is  a  native  of  Prus- 
sia. The  fi'uits  of  the  union  are  five  childien, 
viz.,  William,  Flora,  Charles,  Otto  E.  and  Ida. 
Otto  was  educated  in  this  city,  and,  after  his 
graduation  in  1876,  he  began  reading  law 
with  Anson  Pease;  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
May  10,  1880,  and  elected  City  Solicitor  thi-ee 
days  after  his  admission  (in  the  spring  of 
1880),  and  has  fulhlled  the  duties  of  the  ofiBce 
with  credit  to  himself  and  with  evident  satis- 
faction to  the  people. 


PERRY    TOWNSHIP. 


IRA  M.  ALLEN,  Superintendent  of  Roach 
School,  Massillon;  was  born  May  11,  1821,  in 
Rensselaer  Co.,  N.  Y'.  He  is  the  third  son  in 
a  family  of  six  children  of  Caleb  and  Huldah 
(Dawley)  Allen,  natives,  the  former  of  Rhode 
Island,  and  the  latter  of  New  Y'ork.  Up  to 
fifteen  years  of  age  he  lived  on  a  farm  and 
attended  a  common  school.  He  then  spent 
two  yeai-s  in  Skaneateles  Academy,  New  Y'ork, 
and  at  18  began  his  career  as  a  teacher  in 
Ontario,  County,  in  the  same  State,  for  four 
years.  In  1842,  he  came  to  Stark  Co.,  Ohio, 
and  for  thi'ee  years  was  cngiiged  in  teaching 
the  public  schools  at  Kciulal  and  vicinity. 
There  he  gathered  together  the  nucleus,  which 
was  aftenvard  to  prove  the  cmde  though 
potent  beginning  of  the  system  of  township 
central  high  schools  in  Ohio.  He  remained 
in  this  connection  for  some  seven  yeai's,  with 
the  exception  of  a  part  of  a  year  sjient  in  a 
select  school  in  Canal  Dover,  Ohio.     He  was 


empliyed  in  184U  as  a  teacher  in  the  old 
Canton  Academy,  previously  under  the  charge 
of  the  late  John  McGregor  and  his  son  Arch- 
ibald, the  latter  now  editor  of  the  Stark 
County  Democrat.  Upon  the  organization  of 
the  Canton  Union  School,  INIi'.  Allen  was  made 
Superintendent  and  served  as  such  thi-ee  years. 
In  1854,  he  Ijecame  Superintendent  of  the  Char- 
ity Roach  School,  in  which  connection  h(!  re- 
mained for  ten  years  ;  for  live  ye.u's  subse- 
quently he  was  engaged  in  farming.  In  the 
fall  of  1869,  he  was  elected  Treasurer  of  Stark 
County,  and  filled  the  office  for  two  yeiU's. 
From  lN74to  1878,  he  was  variously  employed, 
part  of  the  time  as  Superintendent  of  the 
Press  Works  of  Canton.  In  April,  1878,  he 
was  again  chosen  Superintendent  of  the 
Charity  Roach  School,  which  position  he  yet 
holds.  For  twelve  years  or  more  he  has 
served  on  th(>  County  Board  of  School  Exam- 
iners, and   while    residing    in    Canton,  from 


706 


BIOGKAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


1869  to  1878,  was  one  of  the  examiners  of 
that  city.  In  May,  1844,  he  married  Ella 
Olivia,  daughter  ot  Senator  John  Graham  of 
this  county.  Of  live  childi-en  liy  this  union, 
four  are  living.  His  only  son,  John  C.  Allen, 
is  a  commercial  agent  and  was  for  several 
years  connected  respectively  with  the  Center 
Bridge  Works,  and  with  Russell  &  Co.  Em- 
ma S.  is  the  wife  of  Luit])old  Solhnau.  a  busi- 
ness man  of  New  York  City.  The  two  other 
daughters  reside  at  home,  the  elder  of  them 
being  assistant  in  the  Charity  Roach  School. 
For  nearly  forty  years  Prof.  Allen  has  been 
prominently  identified  with  the  educational 
interests  of  the  county,  having  been  intimately 
associated  with  men  of  'eminent  rank  in  the 
profession.  Deprived  in  his  youth  of  anything 
more  than  an  academic  course,  he  is  entirely 
self-educated.  In  politics,  he  is  Rejmblican: 
in  religious  belief,  a  Presbyterian. 

JOHN  G-.  BECK,  farm'er,  Na\arre;  was 
born  Aug.  11,  1 807,  in  Wui-temberg,  Germany, 
son  of  John  George  Beck  and  Anna  M.  Dill- 
man,  to  whom  were  born  three  children — two 
sons  and  one  daughter.  Our  subject  emi- 
grated to  America  with  his  ])arents  when  he 
was  a  mere  lad.  His  father  John  George, 
was  a  soldier  under  Napoleon,  and  was  with 
his  army  at  the  biuming  of  Moscow,  and 
crossed  the  Alps:  his  brother  was  in  the  same 
command,  but  was  frozen  to  death  while  cross- 
ing the  Alps  on  that  memorable  retreat.  The 
parents  of  our  subject  died  when  he  was  vei-y 
young  ;  he  was  then  early  in  life  throwna  upon 
his  own  resom'ces.  He  learned  the  tin  and 
coppersmith's  trade  which  he  followed  in 
Lancaster  Co.,Penn.,  for  several  years.  Was 
married  in  May,  1849,  to  Lydia  Cross,  who 
was  born  in  Essex  Co.,  Eng.,  and  emigrated 
with  her  parents  to  Lancaster  Co.,  Penn..  in 
1843.  Her  parents  were  Joseph  and  Hannah 
(Miller)  Cross,  who  had  ten  children;  seven 
of  the  niimber  came  to  years  of  maturity. 
Father  was  a  cabinet-maker  and  upholsterer, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends 
or  Quakers.  He  died  honored  and  respected 
in  18G8.  aged  82;  his  wife  died  in  August, 
1874,  in  her  87th  year.  The  faiuily  was 
patriotic,  as  foiir — the  sons  of  Joseph  Cross 
— were  soldiers  in  the  late  Avar,  and  whose 
names  were,  Joseph  A.,   William,  John   and 


James.  John  was  wounded  the  first  day  of 
the  battle  at  Nashville,  and  afterward  died  of 
his  wounds:  William  died  in  service  of 
di'opsy;  James  raised  a  company  in  Lan- 
caster Co.,  Penn.,  and  was  chosen  Captain  of 
the  same,  and  served  his  full  tenu.  He  is 
now  a  clerk  in  the  Waj-  Department  in  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.  Joseph  is  now  in  Lancaster 
City,  Penn.  Maria  resides  in  Navarre,  Beth- 
lehem, wife  of  William  Johnson.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Cross  were  Methodists.  Mr.  Beck  came 
to  Ohio  in  1850,  locating  in  NavaiTe,  Bethle- 
hem Tp.,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade,  and 
dealt  in  tin  and  copper  for  several  years. 
Moved  to  his  present  place  of  residence  in 
1S6S,  having  a  farm  of  101^  acres  in  the 
southeast  quarter  of  Sec.  32.  Has  a  large 
stone  residence  situated  on  an  eminence, 
overlooking  the  plain  below,  making  it  one 
among  the  most  desirable  locations  of  the 
township.  Since  his  location  here  has  given 
his  attention  to  farming,  haviug  acquiivd 
what  he  has  by  patient  industry  and  econ- 
omy. Has  four  chikh'en — George  H.,  John 
E.,"Emma  L.  and  Adelaide  M.  All  of  the 
familv  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Chiu'ch. 
SOLOMON  BPvOWX,  farmer,  fJautou;  was 
bom  Feb.  2,  ISOI,  in  Schuylkill  Co.,  Penn. 
His  ])arents  were  John  Balsar  Brown  and 
Christina  Scholl,  both  natives  of  same  county. 
Nine  children  were  bom  them,  viz. :  Joseph, 
Solomon,  Cathai'ine,  Moses,  Rebecca,  Diana, 
Elias  and  James.  The  gi-andfalher  of  Solo- 
mon was  George  Brown,  a  native  of  Germany, 
who  sensed  as  groom  for  WashiugtoQ,  in  the 
war  of  the  Revolution.  He  located  in 
Schuylkill  CJonnty  when  the  country  was 
S2:)arsely  pojiulated.  He  had  three  children 
born  him — John  Balsar,  Maria  and  Elizabeth. 
Christina  was  the  daughter  of  Peter  Scholl, 
to  whom  six  children  were  born — Jacob, 
Leonard,  Peter,  Henry.  Adam  and  Christina. 
Jacob  and  Leonard  served  in  the  war  of  1S12. 
Solomon  emigrated  to  Ohio  in  1819.  locating 
with  his  parents  four  miles  south  of  Canton, 
u|5on  233  acres  of  land,  part  of  which  his 
father  had  traded  for  land  in  Pennsylvania. 
He  died  in  1828  and  was  among  the  highly 
esteemed  citizens  of  his  time,  and  a  member 
of  the  Lutheran  Church.  Solomon  remained 
on  the  homestead  nntil  aftej-  the  death  of  liis 


£k. 


PERRY    TOWNSHIP. 


707 


father,  after  which  he  took  care  of  his  mother.  ] 
April  6,  1S2S.  he  niiin-ied  Elizabeth  Hine.s 
who  was  bom  in  York  Co.,  Pi>nn.,  in  ISda, 
daiifjhter  of  Jesse  Hines,  whose  wife's  maiden 
Dame  was  Fry.  In  LS:-58,  he  located  on  the 
farm  he  now  owns;  he  purchased  16t)  acres 
at  a  cost  of  SG  per  acre:  but  about  twenty 
acres  of  which  Wiis  cleared.  Of  ei<jht  children 
IxjiTi  five  we  livinj^ — Sarah,  married  Daniel 
Ydnkiium,  and  re.sides  in  Kansas:  Maria,  wife 
of  Absoloui  Spunhour.  of  Orville,  Wayne  Co., 
Ohio;  Cecelia,  married  Daniel  Deckard;  Re- 
becca. Hiuriet.  George  and  Jesse,  in  this 
township.  Mr.  Brown  is  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  Chm'ch. 

JOHN  DECKAIi.  farmer;  P.  O.  Canton;  j 
was  born  in  Canton  Township  Jan.  21,  1828,  i 
and  is  a  son  of  Daniel  Deekar,  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  Stark  County,  born  Nov.  15,  17U0, 
in  Center  Co..  Penn.  He  ma!Tie<l  CathiU'ine 
Brown,  daughter  of  Balsar  Brown,  who  was 
likewise  an  eai'ly  settler  in  the  county.  The 
Deckai'  family  ai'e  noted  tor  their  longevity,  i 
the  father  of  the  above,  now  about  eighty  five 
years  of  age.  retains  very  much  of  the  vigor  of 
his  eai'ly  years,  and  thinks  nothing  of  walking 
six  miles  to  visit  his  son,  or  to  go  to  Canton. 
He  has  Ijeen  a  resident  of  the  county  nearly 
sixty-five  yeai's.  To  him  have  been  bom 
John,  liebecca,  Mrs.  Michael  Frederick,  of  i 
Canton:  Auias.  in  Canton:  Hannah,  ili's. 
Michael  Yohe.  who  resides  in  Indiana;  Jane, 
Mrs.  Ejihram  Richards,  in  Canton;  and  Reuben 
on  the  homestead.  John  remained  at  home 
until  28  years  of  age.  Feb.  2.  ISut),  he  mar- 
ried Caroline  Miller,  born  Fel).  18,  1832,  in 
this  township,  daughter  of  Geoi-ge  Miller,  who 
was  one  of  the  early  settlers  in  this  township. 
Subsecpient  to  his  mairiage,  he  purchased  a 
small  fann  in  Canton  To\vnship,  ujion  which 
he  lived  until  1867,  wheu  he  moved  to  this 
township,  purchasing  DS  acres  w'hich  he  has 
improved  very  much,  erecting  new  buildings 
througlmut.  Has  four  chikh-en — Cyrus.  Marv 
M,  Bradl(>y  C.  and  Charles.  Was  formerly 
Democratic,  but  since  the  Know-Nothing 
pju'ty  ceased  to  exist  he  has  been  a  Repub- 
lican. 

JOHN  FREEMAN,  farmer;  P.O.  Massi lion. 
Is  a  native  of  Essex  Co.,  N.  J.,  born  Jan.  10, 
1810,  the  eldest  of  a  familv  of  six  children  who 


came  to  years  of  maturity.  His  parents  were 
David  and  Susanna  (Little)  Freeman.  The 
former  a  nativ(>  of  Massachusetts,  having  a 
family  of  seven  sous,  David  lieing  the  young- 
est of  the  number.  Th(»  Freemans  are  of 
English  and  the  Littles  of  French  descent. 
The  father  of  Susan  beiug  a  Frenchman.  At 
the  age  of  14,  our  subject  had  the  misfortune 
to  lose  his  mother,  his  father  marrying  again. 
This  union  was  not  a  satisfactory  one  to  John, 
who  never  lived  at  home  afterward,  but  worked 
out,  and  made  his  home  among  strangers,  his 
father  reaping  the  fruits  of  his  labor.  At 
the  age  of  10.  he  bought  his  time  ;md  from 
then  was  his  own  man.  He  came  West  to 
Ohio  in  1820,  with  a  mjin  by  the  name  of 
Wells,  with  whom  he  lived  several  years, 
being  industrious  and  watchful,  he  was  soon 
after  made  foreman  for  his  employer,  remain- 
ing in  Jefferson  Co.,  Steuben vi lie,  until  lit 
years  of  age.  when  he  came  to  Stark  County, 
and  mai'ried  about  the  year  1889.  His  wife 
was  Mary  Scott,  born  in  1812,  in  Scotland, 
daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  Scott,  who 
came  to  this  township  when  the  ct)uutry  was 
comparatively  new.  Mr.  Freeman  subse- 
quently jnu-chased  l;md  of  his  father-in-law, 
and  has  since  been  a  resident  of  the  townshi]). 
The  following  iire  th(>  children:  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Ambrose  Wliipjile;  M;iry,  Mi's.  G-(>orge 
Ingold,  in  Plain  Township;  Jennett,  wife  of 
James  AVlii[)])le:  Susan  resides  in  Rice  Co., 
Kan.,  wife  of  John  Baily:  Agues,  in  this 
townshi]),  wife  of  Jacob  Deweese:  Anne, 
married  Gabriel  Swihart,  of  this  township; 
Delia,  Mrs.  Swiuehart,  in  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio; 
Ai'letta,  married  Lester  Nave;  John  and  Orrin, 
in  this  township.  Mr.  Freemsm  has  about 
30(J  acrt^s  of  lantl  and  is  a  ])rosperous  farmer. 
He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Ba]itist 
Church.  His  mother  was  a  Presbyterian; 
his  fathcT  was  not  a  member  of  any  church; 
was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1M2. 

JOHN  P.  FLOOM,  farmer:  P.O.  Canton; 
was  born  June  2S,  1820,  on  the  .\lleghany 
Mountains,  in  Cambria  Co.,  Penn.,  the  fifth 
child  of  a  family  of  ten  children,  born  to 
Francis  X.  Floom  and  Annie  Ake.  He  was 
bom  in  Baden  December,  I  TIM,  and  eniigi'ated 
U)  Bucks  Co.,  I'enn.,  when  a  young  man.  He 
was    a   cooi>er    and    brewer    by    occupation. 


_i: 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


5)    i>» 


June  20,  1819,  he  married  Annie  Ake,  who 
was  born  in  Berks  Co,  Penn.,  Feb.  21,  1802, 
daughter  of  Peter  Ake  and  Magdaleua  Case. 
Mr.  Floom  came  West  to  Stark  County  in 
1833,  and  settled  in  Perry  Township,  piu'- 
chasiug  a  small  piece  of  land  on  the  south- 
east quarter  of  See.  11.  His  means  were  lim- 
ited, but  being  industrious  and  frugal  he 
added  to  his  tu'st  purchase  at  difierout  times, 
as  his  means  would  allow,  until  he  acquii'ed 
yO  acres.  For  several  years  kept  public 
house,  at  the  same  time  carried  on  his  farm- 
ing. His  death  occurred  Oct.  22,  ISj'J.  The 
children  born  him  who  came  to  maturity  were 
Joseph,  John  P.  and  Mary  L.  Jo8ei)h  was 
a  physician  and  practiced  his  profession  at 
Louisville,  Nimishillen  Tp.,  for  several  years, 
now  deceased.  Mary  L.,  wife  of  John  Whip- 
ple, and  resides  in  Jersey  Co.,  111.;  John  P. 
was  raised  on  the  homestead  to  farming  pur- 
suits. At  an  early  age  he  left  home  and  for 
five  years  was  engaged  in  Russell's  Shop  on 
wood  work;  the  business  being  too  confining 
and  impairing  his  health,  he  abandoned  his 
mechanical  pursuits,  locating  on  the  home- 
stead farm  in  1852,  where  he  has  since  re- 
mained. In  1868,  married  Mary  Sjiirnagle,  a 
native  of  this  county.  Her  parents  dying 
young  she  knows  but  little  of  them.  Three 
childi-en — Edwin  B.,  Otto  B.  and  Ama  E.,  are 
the  names  of  the  children  born  him.  Mi: 
Floom  might  be  termed  a  genius,  of  the 
mechanical  order,  having  jjlanned  several 
inventions.  Has  a  fine  ear  for  music,  which 
he  executes  nicely  on  his  favorite  instrument, 
the  violin.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
Catholic  Church. 

WILLIAM  HOLLINGER,  farmer:  P.  O. 
Massillon;  born  in  Franklin  Co.,  Penn.,  May 
9,  1824,  being  the  fourth  of  a  family  of  seven 
chikh'en.  His  parents,  John  and  Catharine 
Hollinger,  were  natives  of  the  Keystone 
State.  Abraham  Hollinger  was  the  grandsire 
of  William;  he  was  a  native  of  Germany,  and 
emigrated  to  Pennsylvania.  He  had  fom- 
sons  and  two  daughters — Abraham,  Jacob, 
William,  Isaac,  John,  Barbara,  and  one  name 
not  known.  Jacob  was  9  years  of  age  when 
his  parents  came  to  this  State,  locating  in 
PeiTy  Township,  and  pm-chased  4(')  acres  of 
hmd.      He   died   shortly   after  his   arrival   in 


this  county,  leaving  the  family  of  children  in 
charge  of  his  wife.  Of  the  number  who  grew 
up  were  Polly,  Mrs.  M.  W.  Bab}>,  now  of 
Defiance  County;  Samuel  has  settled  in 
Nebraska,  and  engaged  in  farming;  Josiah, 
in  Perry  Township;  Peter,  Hiram,  Joseph,  and 
Lucinda,  deceased.  His  mother  died  in 
August,  1874,  aged  72.  William  remained 
at  home  uutil  April  15,  1855,  when  he  became 
the  husband  of  Martha,  daughter  of  John 
Armstrong.  She  was  Ijorn  in  Tuscarawas 
Township  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  Sec.  25, 
in  1834.  For  two  years  after  his  marriage 
he  lived  on  land  of  Jacob  Umbenhower.  In 
April,  1859,  he  moved  on  the  farm  he  now 
owns,  having  saved  $1,200,  which  he  invested 
in  land,  buying  at  first  ()0  acres,  which 
belonged  to  Dwight.  He  now  has  82  acres, 
of  land  which  is  favorably  located,  with  ele- 
gant house  and  bai'n  thereon,  all  recently 
erected,  the  house  being  one  of  the  finest 
farmhouses  in  the  township.  Has  seven  chil- 
di-eu,  who  ai-e  William  H.,  Ada  F.,  Harry, 
Lizzie  N.,  Minnie  M.,  Emmet  H.  and  Eveline. 
Ada  is  now  teacher  in  the  Union  School  ac 
Massillon,  and  is  a  lady  of  artistic  taste. 
Chikh'en  unmarried  and  at  home. 

DAVID  KOONTZ,  farmer,  Massillon:  was 
born  June  13,  1813,  in  Huntingdon  Co., 
Penn.,  the  fourth  of  a  family  of  thirteen  chil- 
di-en.  His  parents  were  Jacob  and  Mary 
(Obeuhour)  Koontz.  He  was  a  native  of 
Virginia,  son  of  Peuer  Koontz,  whose  birth- 
place was  England,  and  had  two  childi-eu, 
Jacob  and  Polly.  Maiy  was  a  daughter  of 
Harmon  Obeuhour,  a  native  of  Germany. 
Jacob  Koontz,  the  father  of  David,  emigrated 
to  Ohio  by  wagon,  in  the  year  1815,  and  set- 
tled in  Nimishillen  Township,  where  he  rented 
land  for  several  years,  remaining  here  until 
after  the  death  of  his  wife,  then  moved  to 
Plain  Township,  where  he  lived  two  years, 
th«n  came  to  Perry;  this  continued  to  be  his 
residence  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
while  on  a  visit  to  Indiana,  during  war  times. 
The  children  born  him  were  John,  Susie, 
Jacob,  Daniel,  William,  Lydia,  Mary,  Betsy, 
Barbara,  Frederick,  Christina.  Sallie  and  Har- 
rison, all  of  whom  lived  to  manhood  and  wo- 
manhood, except  HaiTisou.  Of  the  number 
now  living,  are   John,  in    Canton   Township; 


PERRY    TOWNSHIP. 


William,  in  Schuyler  Co.,  111.';  Frederick,  in 
Minnesota;  Sallie,  who  married  Peter  Niiniie- 
maker;  Christina,  the  wife  of  B.  Smith,  now 
of  Michigan,  and  David.  David  was  raised 
to  ai,'riciiitural  pursuits  and  remained  with 
his  father  until  23  years  of  age,  after  which 
time  ho  engaged  in  diffei-ent  occupations  for 
several  years.  February,  1!S3'.),  married  Annie 
Essig,  born  in  Stark  County,  1S19,  daughter 
of  Jactib  and  Elizabeth  (Weaver)  Essig.  After- 
wanl  liveil  spven  yeiu's  in  Pike  Township,  then 
resided  seven  years  in  Bethlehem,  when  he 
disposed  of  his  land  and  located  in  this  town- 
shij),  near  Richville,  where  he  lived  until  1S72, 
then  located  on  50  acres  near  the  city  limits, 
where  he  has  settled  for  life.  Wife  died  in 
1S74;  she  bore  him  six  children — Alpheus, 
Newton,  Louisa,  Jacob,  Franklin  and  Calvin. 
Alpheus  and  Calvin  reside  in  Albia,  Monroe 
Co.,  Iowa.  Newton  and  Jacob,  in  Norton  Tp., 
Medina  Co.  Louisa,  maiTied  Mr.  Hoberstock. 
He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Disciples' 
Chiu'ch  about  forty  ypai's.  In  former  years 
he  was  Democratic,  Init  since  Buchanan's 
time  has  been  in  the  Rejmblican  ranks. 

DR.  J.  L.  LEEPER,  physician  and  farm- 
er, Navarre;  was  born  Aug.  27,  ISIS,  in  Nor- 
folk, Ya.,  son  of  William  and  Eleanor 
(Louthers)  Leeper,  he  (William)  being  a  son 
of  James,  who  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  whose 
ancestors  were  natives  of  France,  who  left  that 
country  in  conserjuence  of  religious  persecu- 
tion. Eleanor  was  a  daughter  of  Alexander 
Louthere,  who  were  natives  of  Ireland.  Will- 
iam Leeper,  the  father  of  om-  subject,  moved 
with  his  family  from  Norfolk  to  Brooke  Co., 
Ya.,  about  ISOl,  and  came  to  Ohio  in  1818, 
locating,  first  in  Ciu^'oll  County,  and  clearing 
up  a  fann,  but  was  a  machinist  by  trailc:  he 
was  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  at  the  battle  of 
Fort  Meigs  assisted  in  burying  the  dead  at 
River  Raisin;  he  died  in  Carroll  County  in 
185,"),  having  raised  three  children — James  L., 
William  A.  and  ^Martha  J.;  William  .V.  lives 
on  the  old  homestead,  in  Carroll  County; 
Martha  J.,  WMfe  of  Hon.  William  Adair,  of 
Carroll  County,  who  was  the  framer  of  the 
Adair  Liquor  Law;  and  our  subject,  who  was 
raised  a  farmer,  and  married,  July  4,  1837, 
Sophia  N.  Dickey,  born  in  Marietta,  in  1820, 
daughter   of   Solomon    Dickey.     Dr.  Leeper 


came  to  this  county  in  May,  1840,  and  settled, 
first,  in  Navarre,  where  he  lived  until  1870, 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine;  while 
here  at  Navarre,  he  carried  on  a  diiig  store  for 
fifteen  years;  located  in  Perry  Township  in 
1878,  and  has  remained,  where  he  owns  200 
acres  of  land;  one  child  has  been  Iwm  to  him, 
George  C. ;  all  the  family,  on  both  his  mother's 
and  father's  side,  were  Presltyterians,  whilst 
he  is  a  Methodist;  was  an  old  lin<>  Whig,  but 
never  sought  office;  is  at  pi-escnt  a  Prohibi- 
tiimist;  also  a  member  of  the  Patrons  of  Hus- 
bandrv. 

SAAIUEL  F.  LONAS,  farmer;  P..  O.  Massil- 
lon:  is  a  native  of  Bctlilchfiii  Township;  is  the 
third  son  and  fifth  child  liorn  to  his  parents, 
who  were  John  W.  and  Leah  Louas,  who 
were  early  settlers  in  that  townshiji.  For  a 
more  extended  notice  of  the  family,  the  read- 
er is  referred  to  the  sketches  of  some  of  the 
older  members  of  the  family.  Our  subject 
was  reared  to  agricultural  ])nrsuits,  remaining 
at  home  until  his  marriage,  with  Miss  Stimer, 
which  oeciu-red  April  9,  18(j8;  she  (Fianna) 
was  born  in  Tuscarawas  Township,  in  1847, 
daughter  of  Jonathan  Stoner,  one  of  the 
stanch  farmers  of  that  township;  after  his 
mairiage,  he  farmed,  renting  land  of  his  fa- 
ther three  years,  then  purchased  land,  and 
remained  on  the  same  two  years;  then  piu'- 
chased  105  acres  (m  Sec.  30,  situated  in  the 
west  part  of  Perry  Township,  where  he  has 
since  resided,  having  it  well  improved  and 
choice  buildings  thereon,  and  is  a  successful 
farmer;  he  has  five  ehildi'en — Sarah  W.,  Ollie 
R.,  Ira  J.,  Charles  M.  and  Frederick.  Mr. 
Lonas  is  a  member  of  the  German  Reformed 
Chiuch. 

T.  W.  LERCH,  blacksmith,  Canton;  was 
V)orn  Oct.  11,  1841,  in  Nortumberland  Co., 
Penn.,  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  twelve  chil- 
dren, born  to  George  W.  and  Eve  (Kluse) 
Lerch,  both  natives  of  Northmuberland 
County;  they  emigrated  to  this  tmMisbip  in 
the  spring  of  1851.  Our  subject  was  raised 
at  home,  and  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade 
of  his  father.  Aug.  9,  1 802,  donned  the  blue, 
and  went  forth  to  battle  for  his  coimtry,  sei-v- 
ing  until  -Tune  5,  1805,  when  he  received  an 
honorable  discharge;  he  participated  in  twen- 
ty-one different  engagements:  Fort  Mitchell, 


BIOGKAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Knoxville,  Cumberland  trap,  Resaca,  Dallas, 
Eutaw  Creek,  Atlanta,  Colimibia,  Nashville, 
Franklin,  Old  Town  Creek  and  Wilmington 
were  among  the  more  prominent  engagements; 
with  the  exception  of  a  slight  wound  in  the 
hand,  and  a  few  bullet-holes  in  his  clothing, 
he  returned  home  safely;  his  regiment  was 
the  l(l4tli  O.  V.  I.,  Company  E;  upon  return- 
ing home,  he  resumed  his  trade.  In  18()U,  he 
married  Sarah  Koeher,  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
daughter  of  Edward  and  Levina  ( Beck )  Koeh- 
er; since  his  maiTiage,  he  has  been  engaged 
at  his  trade,  caiTving  on  business  on  his  own 
account,  at  Lerchville,  this  township,  and  is 
doing  a  good  business;  his  parents  are  yet 
living;  his  father  was  bom  Aixg.  18,  1818, 
son  of  Jacob  Lerch,  who  had  six  children 
born  him,  foiu-  sons  and  two  daughters:  Eve 
(Koeher)  Lerch  was  born  in  1811),  and  l)ore 
her  husband  twelve  children,  Thomas  W.  be- 
ing the  eldest;  eleven  children  are  living, 
Jacob  is  a  minister  of  the  Reformed  Church, 
of  which  his  parents  and  T.  W.  are  members; 
has  five  childi-en  — George  E.,  John  W.,  Charles 
H.,  Elby  F.,  Ellis  S.  and  a  babe  unnamed; 
the  family  is  Republican. 

MRS.  SAB  AH  A.  MILLER,  fanning:  P. 
O.  Canton:  was  born  Sept.  15,  1829,  in  West- 
moreland Co.,  Penn;  her  pai'ents  were  Boyd 
and  Nancy  (Long)  Ward,  both  natives  of 
Northiunl  )erland  County :  they  were  members 
of  the  Associate  Reformed  Church.  ]Mr. 
Ward  died  1851):  his  wife  in  bS40;  ten  children 
were  born  them,  viz. :  John,  Maiy,  Nancy, 
Thomas,  Rebecca,  W^illiwn,  Henry,  Edward, 
Sarah  and  Amos.  Nancy  was  a  daughter  of 
William  Long,  whose  childi'en  were  Henry, 
Jane,  Elnora  and  Nancy.  Boyd  was  a  sou  of 
Boyd  Ward,  who  had  two  sons,  Boyd  and 
William.  Dec.  28,  1853,  Mrs.  Miller  was 
united  by  maiTiage  to  Daniel  B.  Ralston, 
born  Dec.  5,  1820,  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Penn., 
son  of  Paul  and  Eliza  Ralston;  removed 
West,  to  Stark  Coirnty,  locating  in  Canton 
Townshii),  in  January,  1854,  where  they  lived 
three  years.  Mr.  Ralston,  in  1802,  Aug.  20, 
went  forth  to  defend  the  stars  and  stripes, 
enlisting  in  Company  E,  115th  O.  V.  I.;  he 
died  at  Cincinnati,  in  the  hospital,  Jan.  21, 
1803.  Six  children  were  born  him — Boyd, 
Henry,   Caroline,    Catharine,    Elizabeth    and 


Greorge,  the  two  latter  are  deceased:  Caroline 
married  Aaron  Race:  Catharine.  Henry 
Reese,  both  of  this  townshijx  Jan.  5.  1805, 
she  married  George  Miller,  who  was  born 
Jan.  1,  1800,  in  Cmuberland  Co.,  Penn.;  of  a 
family  of  six  childi'en  born  to  George  Miller, 
who  served  in  the  Revolutionary-  war,  ;i,nd 
was  Gen.  Washington's  hostler;  he  was  a 
Methodist  of  the  John  Wesley  type,  his  house 
being  ever  open  for  the  reception  of  ministers, 
or  to  hold  meetings;  in  early  life  he  was  a 
Democrat,  but  later  in  life,  became  affiliated 
with  the  opposite  party:  he  died  Nov.  10, 
1870,  aged  70  years  5  months  and  15  days, 
leaving  one  son,  George,  Jr.,  who  resides  with 
his  mother.  Mrs.  Miller  has  80  acres  of  laud, 
and  still  holds  to  the  religious  tenets  of  the 
old  Scotch  Church  of  her  parents,  known  as 
the  Associate  Refonned. 

WILLIAM  RITTER.  farmer;  P.  O.  New- 
ton, J  usper  Co. ;  was  born  in  Stark  Coiuity ;  son 
of  Daniel  Ritter,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the 
county.  William  was  raised  in  Perry  Tt)vm- 
ship,  and  to  fanning  pm-suits:  was  married  to 
Martha  Shoemaker,  and  afterward  settled 
near  Richville,  in  Perry  Township,  removing 
to  Iowa  about  the  year  1850,  and  has  since 
been  a  resident  of  that  State,  being  located 
near  Newton,  Jasper  Co.,  where  he  is  engaged 
in  fanning.  Several  childi-en  have  been  born 
to  him  —  Melvin,  Luther,  William,  Ann, 
Charles,  George  and  HaiTv;  Melvi?i  is  a  rail- 
road man,  being  employed  on  the  Pittsburgh 
&  Fort  Wayne  Railroad,  where  he  has  run  an 
engine  several  yeai-s;  the  remainder  of  the 
children  are  in  Iowa. 

LEVI  STUMP,  farmer.  Perry  Township. 
Levi  Stump,  Esq.,  whose  portrait  accompanies 
this  sketch,  is  one  of  the  representative  agri- 
culturists of  the  populous  old  township  of 
Perry;  he  was  bom  on  the  farm  on  which  he 
now  lives,  and  where  he  has  lived  fi'om  his 
birth,  the  f ann  being  known  as  the  southwest 
quarter  of  Sec.  27.  Mr.  Stump  was  born  on 
the  29th  of  April,  1825,  consequently  is  in 
the  57th  year'  of  his  age;  he  is  one  of  the 
sm'viving  childi'en  of  Frederick  and  Margaret 
Stump,  whose  maiden  name  was  Margaret 
Smith,  his  parents  being  among  the  first  set- 
tlers of  the  now  township  of  Peny,  then  Lake 
Township,  in   Columbiana  County.     On  the 


'-^ 


PERRY    TOWNSHIP, 


711 


organization  of  Stark  County,  in  1809,  the 
territory  on  which  Mr.  Stump  theu  r(>sided. 
was  included  in  C'anton  Township,  where  it 
n^iuaincd  until  IS  14,  when  Mr.  Stunij),  Sr., 
aided  in  organizinij  the  now  township  of 
Perry.  The  subject  of  this  sketch,  liki>  Ham- 
let, may  well  claim  that  he  is  a  native  and  to 
the  manner  born,  a  distinction  of  which  he 
may  well  be  proud:  he  is  one  of  a  family  of 
eleven  children,  all  of  whom  are  natives  of  the 
same  township,  except  the  eldest,  Daniel 
Stump.  Escj.,  who  now  resides  at  Columbus, 
in  Franklin  County,  and  who.  dm-inj^  his  res- 
idence in  Stark  (bounty,  was  a  merchant,  and 
.lustice  of  the  Peace  in  Bethlehem  Townishi]). 
The  family  of  Frederick  Stump,  in  addition 
to  Daniel,  were  Catharine,  married  to  Samuel 
Smith,  of  Canton  Township,  now  a  widow; 
John,  louf^  since  deceased :  Eve,  niiuried  to 
Barnabas  .Vllman,  of  the  adjoininn;  townshi}) 
of  Bethlehem,  now  also  a  widow;  Frederick, 
a  minister  of  the  liefonued  Chm-ch.  now 
deceased;  Adam,  also  a  minister  of  the  same 
church,  and  also  deceased;  Elizabeth,  man-ied 
to  Adam  H.  Baiighman.  Esq.,  now  a  widow 
residinj;^  in  Iowa;  Louis,  also  <leceased;  Will- 
iam, also  a  minister  of  the  Reformed  Church, 
and  deceased:  Levi;  and  one  other  son,  who 
died  in  infancy.  .V  brief  sketch  of  the  older 
Mr.  Stumi>  will  not  be  deemed  out  of  place 
here,  as  he  was  one  of  the  sturdy  pioneers,  the 
recollections  <if  whom  furnish  the  strayglini; 
beams  of  history,  that  serve  "  to  point  the 
moral. and  adorn  the  tale"  of  Perry  Town- 
ship's early  organization.  When  Frederick 
Stump  arrived  at  what  ho  regarded  a  proper 
stopjiing- place  in  the  unbn)ken  forest,  on  the 
borders  of  civilization,  tlieri"  being  a  land 
oflice  at  Steubenville.  in  Jefferson  County,  lie 
entered  at  that  office  the  southeast  cpiarter  of 
Sec.  28,  in  the  i)th  Rang.-,  in  ISOfi.  three 
years  before  the  county  was  organized,  and 
eight  years  ])revious  to  the  organization  of  the 
townshi)),  on  which  quartar  section.  Dr.  James 
L.  Leep(!r  now  resides;  the  southeast  (]uart(>r 
of  Sec.  27,  in  the  same  range,  he  purcha.sed 
of  James  F.  Leonard,  who  had  obtained  it  by 
entry  at  thi>  land  office.  At  that  time  there 
was  V)ut  one  cabin  where  is  now  the  po])ulous 
and  growing  city  of  Canton,  and  that  was 
known  as  Cmson's  Tavern.     On  the  28th  of 


April,  1808,  he  brought  his  family  into  the 
townshiji;  then  there  were  Imt  few  houses  in 
CJanton.  and  but  three  white  families  resident 
upon  the  territory  now  embraced  within  the 
township  lines;  Indians  were  abundant,  but 
))eaceable.  He  ])aid  SI 8  for  the  lirst  barrel 
of  tloiu-,  and  S22  for  the  tirst  ban-el  of  salt  he 
used  in  his  family.  Iwtii  of  which  were 
brought  \i]>  the  Muskingum  and  Tuscarawas 
in  canoes.  Pittsburgh  and  Steubenville  were 
the  nearest  market  places  for  trade  and  mill- 
ing, and  Mr.  Stumj>  thought  it  a  privilege 
when,  fifteen  years  later,  a  market  was  opened 
at  Cleveland,  he  could,  with  a  four-horse 
load  of  wheat  obtain  a  side  of  sole  leather  and 
a  barrel  of  salt,  "  even  up.'"  For  weeks,  he 
and  his  family  lived  on  jtotatoes,  relying  on 
the  "  shadowy  future  "  as  an  earnest  of  better 
times.  Politically.  Fr(>d(>rick  Stump  was  a 
Democrat.  He  was  born  on  the  7th  of  June, 
17S1.  in  Bethel  Tp..  Berks  Co.,  Penn..  in  the 
stonny  period  of  the  JVnleri(^•ln  Revolution, 
and,  with  his  parents,  when  quite  young,  re- 
moved West,  to  LetterkiMiney  Townshi]),  in 
Franklin  County,  and  maiTied  th(>re.  in  IS'T). 
By  a  compai'ison  of  dates,  it  will  1><>  seen  that 
his  ])olitical  character  was  formed  during  the 
bitter  contest  that  at  last  resulted  in  the 
election  of  Jefferson  over  Buit,  by  the  United 
States  House  of  Representatives,  in  1801,  and 
became  a  voter  in  the  second  ye;u-  of  5Ii-.  Jef- 
ferson's athninisti'ation.  The  ])olitical  |>rin- 
ciples  ho  then  espoused  he  clung  to  during 
his  entire  life.  It  miiy  well  be  said  of  him: 
"H(>  was  a  Democrat  of  Democrats  brought 
U])  at  the  feet  of  the  ])olitical  (iamaliel  of 
that  era,  who  proclaimed  that  all  men  were 
created  ecjual.  endowed  by  their  Creator  with 
certain  inalienabl(>  rights,  among  which  are 
life,  lib<>rty  and  the  ])ursuit  of  happiness." 
His  religious  ideas  were  in  unity  with  the 
Reformed  Church,  of  which  he  became  a 
member  in  early  life,  and  continued  luitil  his 
death;  he  was  life-long  prominent  in  the 
affairs  of  the  township,  and  it  may  well  be 
said  of  him,  he  aided  essentially  in  causing 
"the  wilderness  to  blossom  as  the  rose." 
Levi,  the  son,  subjtvt  of  this  sketch,  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Margaret  Roush.  also  a  native  of 
Perry  Townshi]>.  on  the  I'Jth  of  March.  1817: 
she  was  a  daughter  of  Frederick  and  Anna 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Maria  Roush,  whose  maiden  name  was  Haf- 
legh,  natives  of  Dauphin  Co.,  Penn.,  who 
emigrated  to  Peiry  Township  in  1828.  They 
were  of  the  sturdy  Pennsylvania  Dutch  ele- 
ment, to  which  the  whole  county  of  Stark  is 
so  much  indebted  for  its  prosperity.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Levi  Stiunp  are  the  parents  of  thir- 
teen children — Victoria  O.;  Gassendi,  married 
to  Hannah  Gerber;  Frederick  W.,  a  minister 
of  the  Reformed  Church;  Anna  M.,  married 
to  Charles  Kocher;  Ada  A.;  Levi  B.,  mai-ried 
to  Melissa  Hikh-eth:  Mai'garet  I.,  James  O., 
Ira  E.,  Samuel  O.  (deceased),  Rosa  C,  Mar- 
gie V.  and  Benjamin  F.  Squire  Stump,  in 
his  political  tendencies,  is  a  Democrat,  "but 
not  an  ultra-Democrats"  In  religion,  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Reformed  Church.  "These 
things  hath  he  kept  from  his  youth  up."  Has 
served  the  township  one  term  as  a  Justice  of 
the  Peace,  for  twenty  years  has  held  the  office 
of  Notary  Public;  as  a  draftsman  of  deeds, 
moi-tgages,  etc.,  he  serves  his  neighbors  on  all 
occasions  when  called  on.  He  is,  however, 
at  the  head  of  liis  profession  as  a  farmer, 
horticulturist  and  pomologist,  being  the  first 
in  the  township — Perry — to  make  small  fruits 
a  specialty,  and  in  which  he  has  been  emi- 
nently successful.  He  has  served  as  Presi- 
dent, Vice  President  and  Director  of  Stark 
County  Agricultui'al  Society  for  sixteen 
years,  and  is  now  President  of  the  County 
Horticultural  Society.  His  life  of  industry 
and  careful  study  of  his  profession,  together 
with  prudent  economy,  have  brought  him  a 
competence  which  enables  him  to  live  in  ele- 
gant style,  and  as  a  gentleman  farmer  takes 
rank  among  Stark  Coimty's  best. 

JOSEPH  SMITH,  farmer;  P.  O.  Canton; 
was  born  in  Cumberland  '^'-c,  Penn.,  Oct.  13, 
1815,  being  the  tifth  child  born  to  his  parents, 
Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Rhodes)  Smith,  who 
were  early  pioneers  in  Stark  County,  pur- 
chasing luiimproved  land  at  $4  i)er  acre;  he 
was  one  of  the  stanch  representatives  of  the 
Keystone  State,  and,  in  common  with  others 
of  his  class,  turned  his  back  upon  his  native 
State,  and  cast  his  lot  in  the  then  wilds  of 
Ohio,  that  he  might  secure  to  himself  and 
family  cheap  lands  which  he  might  convert 
into  a  home;  he  died  as  he  lived-  an  honest 
and  worthy  citizen;  he  was  a  member  of  the 


Lutheran  Chivrch  and  a  Jackson  Democrat; 
his  death  occurred  about  the  year  1864  Of 
the  family  of  the  children  born  him,  now  liv- 
ing, are  John  and  Joseph,  who  reside  in  this 
township;  Anna,  married  Christian  Niesz,  in 
Canton;  Sarah,  Mrs.  Thomas  Van  Horn,  of 
Canton;  and  David,  who  resides  on  the  home- 
stead farm,  in  Canton  Township.  For  several 
years.  Jacob  Smith,  the  father  of  the  above, 
ran  an  oil-mill  where  the  Canton  water- works 
are;  his  wife  died  about  1856.  Joseph  re- 
mained with  his  parents  until  1836;  he  then 
farmed,  renting  land  several  years.  Oct.  12, 
1831),  he  maiTied  Nancy  Biu'ger,  who  was  born 
in  Cohunbiana  Co.,  Ohio,  Jan.  4,  1816,  being 
the  youngest  child  born  to  Peter  Burger  and 
Elizabeth  Wert,  to  whom  were  born  nine  chil- 
dren. In  the  winter  of  1840,  Mr.  Smith 
located  on  the  fann  he  now  owns;  had  400 
acres,  which  he  has  sold  off  until  he  now  has 
150.  The  children  born  him  are  Alonzo, 
Darwin,  Cyrus,  Jacob  L.,  Emma  J.,  Senora  C. 
and  Mary  A.  Emma  married  Jolm  Sponsler; 
Senora,  !\Irs.  John  Freeman.  Mr.  Smith  is  a 
member  of  the  Reformed  Church. 

CAPT.  A.  H.  SMITH,  fanner;  P.  O.  Mas- 
sillon;  is  a  native  of  Lake  Tp.,  Stark  Co.; 
born  May  19,  1837,  and  is  the  fourth  of  a 
family  of  eight  children  born  to  George  E. 
Smith  and  Sarah  Christ;  he  was  born  April 
18,  17yy,  in  Adams  Co.,  Penn.,  son  of  George 
Sniith,  who  was  a  native  of  Cumberland 
County;  his  wife  was  a  native  of  the  Emerald 
Isle.  To  George  Smith,  the  grandsire  of  our 
subject,  were  born  Samuel,  Benjamin,  George, 
Rachel  and  two  others,  whose  names  cannot 
be  recalled.  Sarah  was  a  daughter  of  Chris- 
tian Christ,  a  native  of  Delaware;  he  married 
Susan  Slusser,  and  by  her  had  three  daugh- 
ters— Polly,  Sarah  and  Susan.  George  Smith, 
Sr.,  came  West,  with  his  family,  in  1812,  and 
settled  in  Plain  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  where  he  en- 
tered lands  and  remained  on  the  same  until 
his  death.  George  E.,  his  son,  settled  in 
Lake  Township,  ujion  imimproved  land,  which 
he  cleared  up.  To  him  were  born  Christian, 
Andrew  H.,  Benjamin,  Joel,  Alonzo  and  Philo; 
Christian  went  West  several  years  ago,  and 
has  not  been  heard  from;  A.  H.,  in  Perry 
Tovraship;  Benjamin,  Canton  Township;  Joel 
and  Alonzo,  in  Summit  County;  Philo,  a  stu- 


^. 


PERRY    TOWNSHIP. 


:>. 


dent  Father  Smith  remained  on  the  home 
farm,  in  Plain,  until  185'J,  when  he  moved  to 
Canton  Township,  remaining  until  his  death, 
1878.  Andrew  H.  remained  at  home,  on  the 
farm,  and  raised  to  agricultural  pursuit.s:  in 
October,  1861,  enlisted  in  Company  L,  ('>th 
Ohio  Cavalr}-,  as  private,  and  was  ))romoted 
throufjh  all  the  successive  i^ades,  with  the 
exception  of  2d  Lieutenant,  until  he  was  com- 
missioned Captain;  served  until  Aui^ust,  1865, 
when  he  was  mustered  out.  Benjamin,  also, 
served  in  the  late  war.  U}x»n  his  retiu'n  home, 
he  resumed  fiirming;  Dec.  27,  1866,  he  mar- 
ried Eliza  Gans,  born  in  Lake  Township, 
1842,  dauijhter  of  Benjamin  and  Susannah 
(\Villiaius)  Gans.  who  had  eleven  children. 
After  !Mr.  Smith's  marriage,  he  located  in 
Perry  Township,  having  190  acres  of  choice 
farming  laud,  tipon  which  he  has  erected 
choice  farm  buildings:  has  live  chikh'eu, 
whose  names  are  Logan  H.,  Clai-k  G.,  ilary 
and  Blanche  (twins)  and  Gracie. 

JAMES  M.  SNYDER,  farmer:  P.  O.  Can- 
ton: bom  in  Bethlehem  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  Sept, 
3,  1843,  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren, born  to  his  parents,  who  were  Hugh  and 
Miury  (Kemer}')  Snyder.  Hugh  was  born  in 
1820,  in  Pennsylvania,  sou  of  Daniel  Snyder, 
who  emigrated  to  Ohio,  this  county,  and  set- 
tled in  Bethlehem  Township,  about  the  year 
183(1:  here  he  settled  and  remained  until  his 
death:  his  sou,  Hugh,  located  on  a  farm  about 
one  mile  west  of  his  father's:  to  him  were 
born  James,  Jacob,  Anna,  George,  Newton, 
Henry,  ^A'illiam,  Franklin  and  Jacxjb.  Hugh 
Snyder  died  in  1878,  a  man  highly  respected 
in  the  community — an  honest  man  and  a 
Christian:  was  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
Church,  and  a  good  Democrat.  Mary,  his 
wife,  was  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Kemery,  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania:  coming  West,  he 
located  in  Pike  Township:  his  chiklren  were 
Adam,  Jacob,  John,  Betsey,  Mary  and  Anna. 
James  M.  remained  at  home  and  reared  to 
agricultiu-al  pm-suits:  Dec.  12,  1870,  married 
Margaret  Harjier,  bom,  1842,  in  Noble  Co., 
Ind.,  daughter  of  Solomon  Harper  and  Mary 
Shobe.  After  Mr.  Snyder  was  married,  he 
resideil  five  years  in  Bethlehem  Township:  he 
located  on  the  farm,  in  Perry  Township,  in 
1875,  having  115  acres.     He  has  seven  chil- 


dren— Mary  L,  Charles  H.,  Willijun  A.,  Homer 
E.,  Albert  E.,  Jacob  H.  and  Howard  R.:  ho 

and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  and  ptu'taking  of  his  father's  {xjlitic- 
al  tenets,  is  also  Democratic  in  politics. 

JACOB  SMITH,  deceased;  V>om  in  Decem- 
ber, 17U,"),  in  Guilford  Tp.,  Franklin  Co., 
Penn. ;  his  piu^ents  were  Daniel  and  Eve  (Heck) 
Smith,  who  were  blessed  with  a  family  of 
eleven  children;  those  who  grew  up  were  Eliz- 
abeth, Susan,  JIargaret,  Eve,  Mary,  Cathai'iu(», 
Jacob.  John,  Daniel  and  Adam.  Jac<)b  Smith 
was  man'ied,  in  1829,  to  Lydia  Biukley.  who 
was  born  in  1805,  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Penn., 
being  the  second  of  a  family  of  live  children 
bom  to  Peter  Biukley  and  Margaret  Lee,  who 
were  natives  of  Peimsylvania:  the  Binkley 
family  ai'e  descended  from  Germany.  Jacob 
Smith  and  family  came  West  to  Ohio  in  1833, 
pm'chasiuga  fanu  in  Perry  Township  in  1834, 
said  fann  containing  126  acres,  in  the  south- 
east quarter  of  Sec.  33,  which  was  settled  by 
Mr.  Allmau.  Mi-.  Smith  died  Sept.  4.  1865; 
was  a  member  of  the  Gei-raan  Reformed 
Church,  and  a  good  citizen.  Eleven  children 
were  bom  him;  five  are  living,  viz.,  Margaret, 
Daniel,  Angeline,  Jacob  nnd  Lewis,  all 
living  in  this  township  except  Jacob,  who 
resides  in  Bethlehem  Township;  Daniel  re- 
mains on  the  homestead,  having  purchased 
the  farm. 

G.  STUMP,  farmer;  P.  O.  Richville; 
he  was  bom  Feb.  10,  1850,  on  the  home- 
stead farm,  being  the  second  child  bora  to 
Levi  and  Margaret  (Roush)  Stump;  he  was 
raised  to  f;irming  and  fruit  growing.  In  Oc- 
tober, 1873,  he  maiTied  Hannah  M.  Gerber, 
who  was  born  in  this  township  in  1852,  the 
only  daughter  of  Christian  and  Catharine 
(Keehn)  Gerber.  Chi'istian  Gerber  was  born 
in  Canton  Township  Jan.  8,  1820,  and  lived 
in  that  township  until  1852,  when  he  moved 
to  Perry  Township,  where  he  has  since  lived. 
His  parents'  names  were  JacoVj  and  Magdalene 
(Buchtel)  Gerber.  He  was  born  in  Berks  Co., 
I'enn.,  in  1791,  and  came  to  Stark  County, 
where  he  was  married,  in  1819,  to  Magdalene 
Buchtel,  who  was  born  in  Franklin  Co.,  Penn., 
in  1799;  they  settled  in  Canttm  Township  and 
had  four  chiklren  Christian,  David,  Jacob 
and  Hannah.     He  died  in  Canton  Township 


June  20,  1827;  his  wife  is  yet  living.  Chris- 
tian Gerber  was  married  to  Catherine  Keehn 
on  Sept.  21,  1851,  and  she  died  July  25,  1S73; 
she  was  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Anne  M. 
Keehn.  In  1878,  Mr.  Stump  located  on  the 
Gerber  farm,  consisting  of  83  acres;  he  has 
three  children  living — Franklin  E.,  Eva  and 
Mabel;  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
Chm'ch.  Ml'.  Stump  is  a  promising  young 
farmer,  and  a  Patron  of  Husbandi-y. 

JOHN  SMITH,  farmer;  P.  O.  Canton; 
born  in  Lancaster  C!o.,  Perm.,  son  of  Jacob 
and  Elizabeth  (Rhodes)  Smith.  Jacob  Smith 
was  boni  in  Cumberland  Co.,  Penn.,  son  of 
Balsar  Smith,  a  native  of  Germany,  and  emi- 
grated to  Ciunberland  County  shortly  after 
the  war  of  the  Revolution.  He  raised  live 
sons  and  several  daughters;  the  sons  were 
Balsar,  William,  Samuel,  Joseph  and  Jacob. 
Elizabeth  was;:  daugtherof  Frederick  Rhodes; 
the  ehildi'en  boni  him  were  Elizabeth,  John, 
George,  Samuel,  Frederick,  and  two  daugh- 
ters, one  of  whom  maiTied  Mr.  Duck,  the  other 
a  Mr.  Trit.  Oiu*  subject  came  West  with  his 
parents  about  the  year  1817,  they  locating  in 
Canton  Township,  where  he  pm'chased  about 
2( )( )  acres  of  land,  which  he  cleared  up.  The 
following  are  the  children  bom  to  him,  all  of 
whom  came  to  matiu'ity:  Polly,  Anna,  Sarah, 
John,  Samiiel,  Joseph  and  David.  John  Smith 
is  a  bachelor,  and  owns  over  3(tO  acres  of  land, 
and  is  a  successful  business  man. 

J.  B.  SiVnTH,  farmer;  P.  O.  Massillon;  was 
born  on  the  farm  he  now  lives  upon  Feb.  15. 
1835,  second  son  of  Benjamin  and  Maiy 
(Coder)  Smith;  was  raised  on  the  farm,  and 
to  farming  pursuits.  May  3.  1856,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Julia  Rempis,  who  was 
bom  Fel).  1(3,  1834,  in  Coshocton  Co.,  Ohio, 
daughter  of  Lewis  and  Louisa  (Biu'ke)  Rempis, 
who  were  natives  of  Germany,  and  were  early 
settlers  in  this  county.  Subsequent  to  his 
marriage,  he  moved  to  Fayette  Co.,  111.,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  farming  pm-suits  for  six 
years,  returning  to  this  township  in  1865,  and 
has  since  been  residing  on  the  homestead. 
Of  five  childi'en  born  to  him,  four  are  living 
— Lucy  O.,  William  J.,  Harvey  B.  and  Frankie 
J.  He  and  wif(>  are  members  of  the  M.  E. 
Church.  The  Smith  family  are  loyal  Repub- 
licans. 


AMBROSE  A\TEIIPPLE,  farmer;  P.  O.  Can- 
ton. In  the  year  1812,  there  came  a  dis- 
charged soldier  from  the  war' to  Canton  Town- 
ship, with  a  knapsack  strapped  upon  his  back, 
which,  with  75  cents  in  his  pocket,  were  his 
entire  possessions.  This  soldier  was  John 
Whipj>le,  the  father  of  Ambrose.  He  was 
born  March  (>,  1790,  near  Hartford,  Conn., 
son  of  Zebulon  Whipple,  a  Revolutionary 
soldier.  To  him  were  bom  Chaimcey,  Zeb- 
ulon, William,  Lydia,  Sophia  and  John,  the 
latter  being  drafted  into  the  service  at  the 
outbreak  of  the  war  of  IS  12.  Receiving  his 
discharge  at  Cleveland,  he  tiu'ned  his  steps 
toward  this  locality,  and  an'ived  as  above  de- 
scribed; he  was  a  brick-maker  by  trade,  which 
vocation  ho  followed  for  several  years;  he  as- 
sisted in  making  and  biu-ning  the  brick  for 
the  old  com't  house.  After  several  years'  resi- 
dence in  Canton  (theD  a  mere  village),  he 
moved  north  of  that  point  half  a  mile.  About 
the  year  1836,  came  to  this  township,  purchas- 
ing land  in  the  extreme  northeast  corner, 
which  he  lai'gely  improved,  and  remained  on 
the  same  until  his  death,  which  occuiTed  June 
5,  185y,  the  year  of  the  "big  frost."  His 
worthy  companion  yet  sui'vives  him,  being  now 
in  her  83d  year;  her  name  was  Catharine  Car- 
roll, born  Sept.  30,  1798,  in  Kilkenny,  Ire- 
land, daughter  of  John  CaiToll,  whose  property 
was  confiscated  at  the  time  of  the  persecution, 
and  he  soiight  a  home  for  himself  and  family 
on  America's  free  soil.  Thirteen  childi'en 
were  born  John  Whipple,  as  follows:  Maria, 
now  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  H.  K.  Dickey; 
Lydia,  Mrs.  Allen  Clai-k,  of  Peny  Co.,  Ohio; 
John,  died  young;  next  comes  Ambrose;  Nich- 
olas, went  to  CalifoiToia  in  1849,  where  he 
died;  Julia,  married  James  Moflit,  in  Nimi- 
.shilleu  Township;  John  P.,  in  Jersey  Co.,  111.; 
William,  was  killed  in  the  ai'my;  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  11th  Penn.  C;  Matthew  C,  in 
Richfield,  Montgomery  Co.,  111. ;  James  C,  in 
Colorado,  engaged  in  mining;  Eleanor,  wife 
of  J.  C.  Richards,  of  Kansas  City;  John  W., 
in  Jackson  Towushij);  Thomas  J.  being  the 
youngest;  he  resides  on  the  homestead.  At 
the  time  of  the  death  of  Mr.  Whii)ple,  he 
owned  about  4S()  acres  of  laud,  l)eing  the 
fruits  of  his  toil  and  fnigality;  he  was  a  man 
who  stood  hig-h  in   the  commuuitv  as  an  hon- 


J^l 


PERKY    TOWNSHIP. 


71.- 


orable  gentleman,  and  was  f<steemed  by  all 
who  know  biui;  he  was  an  Old-Line  ^Vliif;,  and 
true  to  its  principles.  He  was  not  a  niemlter 
of  any  chiu'ch  organization,  but  was  a  zealous 
Mason,  iind  j>asse<l  tlirough  the  various  de- 
grees, and  had  the  honors  of  Knighthood  con- 
ferred ii])on  him.  Ambrose  was  V)om  in  Can- 
ton Township  July  2,  1S2();  was  raised  on  the 
homestead,  and.  March  31.  1852,  mirrlod  Eliz- 
abeth Freeman,  born  in  1S;]1.  in  this  town- 
shi|i.  daughter  of  John  Freeman  and  Mary 
Sp.  )tt.  Ml-.  Whipple  has  three  children — 
Maria.  Mary  E.  and  Nicholas;  has  120  acres 
III  the  northeast  corner  of  the  township,  where 
lie  n.sid.'S. 

TM(  )M.\!S  J.  WHIPPLE,  farmer:  P.  O.  Can- 
ton; was  the  youngest  child  born  to  his  ])ar- 
ents,  wlio  were  John  and  Catharine  (Carroll) 
Whipple.  Our  subject  was  born  on  the  farm 
he  now  owns  Nov.  2H,  1S40,  which  was  the 
land  his  father  located  upon  when  he  came  to 
this  township.  Thomas  J.  was  reared  to  agri- 
cultiu'al  pursuits,  and  remained  on  the  home- 
stead up  Uj  the  time  of  his  union  with  Flora 
A.  Rogers,  which  occurred  He]>t  20,  1869; 
she  was  bom  in  1S45,  in  this  township,  daugh- 
ter of  David  Rogers  and  ^largaret  Knecht, 
who  were  natives  of  Germany.  Since  the 
marriage  of  Mi\  "Whipple,  he  has  remained  on 
the  homestead,  having  160  acres  of  land, 
which  descended  to  him  from  his  father.  He 
has  five  children-  -Katie,  Maggie.  Harvey  J., 
Lee  ;md  Belle;  is  a  member  of  the  Rep\iblican 
pailv,  but  not  a  partisan,  voting  for  men 
rather  than  as  a  party  slave. 

J.  G.  WERTZBAFGHER,  fiu-mer;  P.  O. 
Massillon:  was  born  in  1888,  on  Sec.  10,  Perrj' 
Township:  his  parents  were  John  and  Mary 
(Cormanyl  Wertzl)ailgher.  John,  the  father 
of  oiu-  subject,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in 
17'J8,  sfm  of  Pbilij),  who  died  in  November, 
1816.  Mary  Cormany  was  born  in  Mai-yland 
March  V.K  ISKt,  daughter  of  Joseph  Cormany. 
The  fathiT  of  the  aljove  came  West  with  his 
brother  Phili])  in  1828,  ])nrchci.sing  100  acres 
of  nnimjiroved  land  on  Sec  K',  upon  which 
they  settled,  each  having  NO  acres,  John  re- 
maining on  his  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
March  31,  1S47.  his  wife  surviving  him  until 
April  25.  1873:  Ixjth  were  members  of  the  M. 
E.  Church.  Mr.  Wertzbaugher  being  an  active 


worker  in  the  Bame.  In  politics,  he  was  first 
a  Whig,  but  later  in  life  worked  with  the  ,\l)- 
olition  element,  an<l  was  awann  friend  to  the 
bondmen.  Of  seven  chikbvu  l)orn  them, 
were  Joseph,  now  in  California:  Frances,  wife 
of  Benjamin  Allen,  of  Massillon:  Emeline, 
now  Mrs.  Isaiah  Ickes:  Mary  A.,  unmarried; 
John  G. :  Eliza,  now  Mrs.  Richard  Crawfonl; 
and  James  B..  all  of  Perry  Tnwuship.  John 
G.  was  raised  cm  the  farm  he  now  resides  ui)on, 
and  to  farming  pursuits.  On  Aug.  13,  1862, 
he  enlisted  in  Co.  A,  13th  O.  V.  I. ;  was 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  and  dis- 
charged in  Ajiril,  1863,  on  account  of  injiu'ies 
received  in  that  engagement.  Returning 
home,  and  not  being  able  to  ])erfonn  manual 
labor,  he  went  to  Massillon,  where  he  engaged 
in  the  photograph  business  for  three  years,  at 
the  end  of  which  time  he  regained  his  lu^aith 
and  returned  to  th(^  farm,  wIkmv  he  has  since 
remained.  He  has  always  been  a  true  Rejiub- 
lican.  In  the  sja-ing  of  1881,  he  was  elected 
Township  Trustee:  he  has  served  the  township 
as  Assessor,  and  for  fifteen  velars  ])ast  been  a 
member  f  the  School  Board.  On  May  16, 
1S61,  he  maiTied  Isabella  Cole,  who  was  bi.rn 
June  1,  1839,  in  Lincolnshire.  England,  daugli- 
ter  of  Benjamin  and  Elizab(<th  A.  (Oldryde) 
Cole.  The  family  emigrated  to  Ohio  in  1844, 
locating  in  this  township.  Benjamin  Cole 
was  born  Oct.  13,  1798;  his  wife,  Oct.  9,  1801; 
their  deaths  occuiTod  Nov.  4,  1S70.  and  Jan. 
26,  1878.  respectively;  he  was  a  mi^mber  of 
the  Episcojial  Church,  she  of  the  Methodist 
Ejiiscopal;  to  them  were  born  a  family  of 
fourteen  children,  twelve  of  whom  came  to 
maturity.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wertzbaugher 
have  been  born  two  daughtei-s,  Clara  ^lay 
and  Bertha  Evaliue. 

OLIVER  YOST,  farmer;  P.  O.  Ma.ssillon; 
was  born  March  23,  1837,  in  Perry  Co.,  Ohio, 
the  second  child  and  eldest  son  born  to  Isiiac 
Yost  and  Elizabeth  Phearson;  Isaac  was  a  son 
of  John  Yost,  who  was  a  native  of  Lancaster 
Co.,  Penn.,  and  emigrated  to  Perry  County  at 
an  early  day.  John  Yost's  wife's  maiden  name 
was  McCormick.  and  she  tore  him  four  sons 
and  two  daughters:  the  sons  were  Isaac,  .\b 
ram,  John  and  William:  Polly  and  Patty  were 
the  daughters,  all  born  in  Perry  County.  Eliz- 
abeth was  a  daughter   of  Robert  Phearson, 


J^ 


l^ 


716 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


who  was  born  in  County  Cork,  on  the  Emerald 
Isle.  He  was  one  of  the  early  pioneers  in 
Perry  County,  being  one  of  the  three  who  came 
to  that  locality  when  it  was  all  woods.  He 
raised  the  following  offspring:  Robert,  John, 
William,  George,  Mary  J.,  Margaret,  Elizabeth 
and  Ada,  who  was  born  blind.  Mr.  Phearson 
was  t'ne  founder  of  Unity  Chiu-ch,  in  Clayton 
Tp.,  Perry  Co.  He  said  the  name  was  sym- 
bolical of  the  unity  of  feeling  that  ought  to 
pervade  and  influence  the  minds  of  the  early 
settlers.  Isaac  Yost,  the  father  of  the  above, 
spent  his  days  in  Perry  Township;  after  he 
became  a  man,  he  purchased  land  adjoining 
the  homestead,  upon  which  he  lived  until  May 
9,  18JS1,  when  he  was  removed  by  death. 
Eight  children  were  born  him;  five  are  living; 
Amour  is  a  hardware  merchant;  Owen,  an 
attorney  at  law,  both  residing  in  Somerset; 
Albert  resides  near  by,  and  is  engaged  in 
farming;  Clara  is  the  wife  of  Albert  Hull, 
all   of  Perry  County.     Feb.   3,   1S63,  Oliver 


Yost  married  Clara  Chapman,  born  June  26, 
1841,  in  Bethlehem  Township,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Chapman,  who  married  Rebecca  War- 
ner June  30,  183H;  the  former  came  from 
Virginia,  the  latter  fi'om  Pennsylvania:  they 
had  six  children — Warren,  William  M.,  Clara, 
Anna  M.,  Elizabeth  and  Eva  A.  They  came 
to  Stark  County  about  1N38.  In  18ni,  Mr. 
Yost  came  to  Perry  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  locating 
on  Sec.  30,  on  the  Oswalt  farm;  in  1875,  he 
purchased  143  acres  on  the  northwest  (jviarter 
of  Sec.  22,  where  he  has  since  lived.  He  has 
four  children — Mary  R.,  Harriet  E.,  Clara  and 
Thomas  O. ;  the  parents  were  members  of  the 
Reformed  Church.  Mrs.  Yost's  brothers  and 
sisters  were  Maria,  now  Mrs.  Levi  Smith,  of 
Bethlehem  Township;  Elizabeth  is  the  wife 
of  Prof.  O.  S.  Hiu'sk,  of  Heidelberg  College; 
Eva  A.  married  Rev.  James  Steele,  of  Mohi- 
gan:  Warner  remains  on  the  homestead.  Her 
parents  were  also  members  of  the  Reformed 
Church. 


thL. 


CITY    OF    ALLIANCE. 


CITY    OF    ALLIANCE. 


JAMES  AMERMAN,  attorn  ey-at-law; 
Alliance  ;  was  born  in  Gfnesee,  Mich., 
.\iig.  20,  1848.  His  parents  were  John  and 
Mary  A  (Duns)  Laidler;  the  former  was 
born  in  ISVi  in  the  Highlands  of  Scotland, 
and  th(!  hitter  in  1814.  They  were  marrie<I 
in  Wollan  Parish,  Northumberland,  and  em- 
igrated to  the  United  States  in  1842;  after 
a  short  '■esidence  in  New  York  they  removed 
to  Michigan.  They  had  six  children;  and 
upon  the  death  of  his  mothe.  in  18.')0,  our 
subject  was  adopted  by  Daniel  and  Mary 
Amerman,  of  Thornville,  Lapeer  Co  ,  Mich 
and  enjoyed  the  privileges  of  a  good  English 
education  in  his  boyhood.  He  came  to  Alii 
aiice  with  his  adopted  father  in  1858,  and  in 
April,  18(i2  enlisted  in  Co.  B.,  82d  O.  V.  I. 
and  followed  the  fortunes  of  his  -egiment, 
partici])ating  in  the  many  serious  battles  of 
the  thre(^  v'-srs  service.  In  the  second  Bull 
Run  tight,  he  was  slightly  wounded  in  the 
side,  and  at  Gettysburg  he  was  taken  prisoner 
and  confined  on  Belle  Island  three  months, 
when  he  was  paroled  and  returned  to  his  reg- 
iment when  exchanged.  He  was  mustered 
out  of  service  in  June  186.5.  Part  of  the  time 
of  his  service,  he  was  on  detailed  duty  in  the 
office  of  the  Adjutant-General,  Army  of  the 
Potomac.  Returning  to  Alliance,  he  studied 
law  with  A.  L.  Jones,  Esq.,  and  was  admitted 
to  practice  in  April,  1807;  was  a  short  time 
associated  with  his  ])receptor,  but  in  1869  the 
partnership  was  dissolved  and  he  has  remained 
alone  ever  since.  He  has  been  associated  in 
the  trial  of  several  noted  cases,  with  some  of 
the  most  eminent  legal  talent  in  the  state  ; 
among  these  may  be  mentioned  the  Boyle 
murder  trial  in  18?7,  in  which  he  assisted 
the  state  in  prosecution,  the  verdict  being 
eighteen  years  in  the  penitentiary.  Another 
was  the  case  of  Teeters  vs.  Brainard,  involv- 
ing the  ownership  of  Alliance  College.  Mr. 
Amerman  was  attorney  for  plaintifl";  the  case 
was  tried  in  the  Common  Pleas  and  District 
Courts,  with  verdict  for  plaintiil'  in  both  trials. 
In  these  cases  were  retained  •  Ex-Chief  .lus- 
tices  Ranney  and  Day,  Judges  Ambler,  Un- 
derhill  and  Raflf.       Also  the  celebrated  libel 


case  of  Fowler  vs.  Hester,  in  which  (he  diinui- 
ges  were  laid  at  *25,000,  associated  with 
Judge  Ambler.  He  was  attorney  for  defend- 
ant, against  McSweeny  and  others  for  the 
prosecvition,  with  verdict  for  defendant.  An- 
other was  the  case  of  Ohio  vs.  Ohr,  charged 
with  murder  in  the  first  degree;  and  the  case 
of  the  State  vs.  Sarnet  with  a  like  charge. 
In  both  cases  he  appeared  for  defendant. 
He  has  become  distinguished  for  the  zeal  and 
enerfry  with  which  he  j)ushes  his  cases,  and 
has  met  with  signal  success  in  his  profession. 
For  two  years  he  was  attorney  for  the  Lake 
Erie  and  Alliance  R.  R.  Co.,  and  has  also 
served  as  City  Solicitor.  In  his  32d  year,  he 
was  candidate  for  Mayor  of  Alliance  but  was 
defeated  by  27  votes,  the  only  reason 
urged  against  him,  being  that  he  was  too 
young.  His  law  library  is  one  of  the  finest 
in  the  county.  Nov.  7,  1870,  he  married 
Rachel,  daugiiter  of  Elisha  Teeters.  Three  chil- 
dren have  been  borji  to  them,  two  livnig,  viz' 
—Maud  M.  and  Allen  E.  On  May  7, 1879, 
they  lost  by  death  a  daughter,  Rosa  Vivian, 
of  2J  years  of  age,  and  out  of  compliment  to 
her  and  her  parents,  was  nami>d  the  ''  Vivian 
Lodge,"  of  the  new  secret  order  of  Royal  Ar- 
canum, of  which  some  of  the  leading  citizens 
of  Alliance  are  members.  In  August,  1874, 
his  father  died  at  Thornville,  Mich.,  aged 
about  66  vears. 

WILLIAM  II.  ALLERTON,  manufac- 
turer of  brick;  P.  O  Alliance;  was  born  in 
Mahoning  Co.,  O.,  Feb.  iO.  i841.  He  is  the 
son  of  John  and  Martha  (Hoffman;  Allerton, 
who  came  to  Ohio  (rom  I'cinisylvania,  and 
engaged  in  farming  in  Mahoning  Co.  When 
William  H.,  was  about  18  years  of  age,  he 
began  to  work  at  brick-making  in  Mahoning 
Co.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  the  late  war,  (^o. 
B.,  65th  O.  V.  1  and  served  three  years;  on 
Dec.  31,  1862,  he  was  taken  prisoner  by  the 
rebels,  at  Murfreesboro,  and  sent  to  Libby 
Prison,  where  he  remained  until  the  3d  of  the 
following  February,  when  hi'  was  exchanged 
and  brought  to  Aniia])olis,  M<1.  While  in 
prison  he  was  taken  very  sick,  and  when 
first  paroled,  Jan.  23,  he  was  unable  to  leave; 


^f 


feeling  that  his  life  would  soon  be  ended  if 
compelled  to  remain  there  much  longer,  he 
resolved  to  leave  the  first  opportunity  that 
offered  ;  on  the  2nd  of  February,  when  a 
few  other  prisoners  were  being  exchanged, 
h'  made  every  effort  and  with  some  assistance 
reached  the  wagon  in  which  they  were  carried 
to  the  boat,  and  thereby  got  to  Annapolis,  Md., 
where  he  remained  in  hospital  for  a  short 
time,  and  on  account  of  disability  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  at  Co- 
luml)us,  O.,  and  thence  to  Indianapolis,  Ind., 
for  there  he  received  his  discharge  Nov.  2, 
1864,  and  returned  home.  Duritig  his  ser- 
vice he  participated  in  many  of  the  severe 
battles  of  the  war.  He  came  to  Mt.  Union  in 
1867,  and  engaged  in  his  business  there,  and 
has  continued  to  manufacture  brick  ever  since, 
making  about  400,001)  brick  annually,  which 
are  largely  used  in  Alliance,  Mt.  Union  and 
surrounding  country.  In  October,  1868,  he 
married  Amelia  Scranton;  they  have  three 
children,  viz. — Nellie  O.,  Laura  B.  and  I^ouie. 
In  1873  he  built  his  very  commodious  two- 
story  brick  residence  on  Mt.  Union  street 
near  the  fo  ithern  limits  of  Alliance. 

J.  K.  ALLEN,  postmaster;  Alliance;  was 
born  in  St.  Clairsville,  Belmont  Co.,  Ohio;  he 
came  to  Alliance  in  1861,  and  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  this  place  ever  since.  Here  he  got 
a  liberal  education  in  the  public  schools,  and 
was  engaged  in  the  jewelry  business  about 
six  years.  He  accepted  a  position  as  clerk 
in  the  post  office  under  Henry  Shreve  for  four 
years;  and  from  1875  he  was  employed  in  the 
train  dispatcher's  office  of  the  P.,  Ft.  W  &  C. 
R.  R,  at  this  station,  until  he  received  the 
nomination  for  Postmaster  of  Alliance,  which 
was  contirmed  in  January,  1881. 

ELIAS  BURNETT,  passenger  conductor 
on  P.  Ft.  &  C.  R  R.;  Alliance;  was  born  in 
Lancaster,  Penn.,  May  27,  1837,  the  third  of 
a  family  of  seven  children  born  to  Elias  and 
Mary  ;^Thomas  Burnett,  both  natives  of 
Pennsylvania.  The  family  removed  to  the 
western  part  of  Mahoning  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1839, 
and  for  several  years  his  father  pursued  his 
trade,  that  of  a  tailor,  when  the  remorseless 
hand  of  death  removed  the  devoted  husband 
and  father.  The  widow  and  a  large  family 
of  helpless  children  were  left  in  poor  financial 
circumstances,  consequently  each  was  obliged 
to  do  for  him  or  herself  early  in  life.     When 


about  16  years  of  age,  the  subject  of  these 
lines  began  to  work  at  the  carpenter's  trade, 
and  followed  that  for  several  years;  During 
the  construction  of  the  Pittsburg,  Ft.  Wayne 
&  Chicago  R.  R.,  he  began  as  a  teamster  and 
continued  until  the  road  was  in  running  or- 
der, when  he  was  engaged  as  brakeman  and 
has  steadily  grown  in  favor  as  his  habits  of 
industry  well  attest.  He  had  charge  of  a 
freight  train  for  over  ten  years,  and  in  1871 
he  was  appointed  to  the  position  of  passenger 
train  conductor,  where  has  faithfully  performed 
his  dutv  and  occupies  that  position  to  this 
day.  For  upwards  of  twenty  years  of  rail- 
road life  his  career  has  been  successful  and 
continuous  on  the  same  road;  he  began  driv- 
ing team  at  its  construction,  and  has  been  so 
far  free  from  the  many  mishaps  which  are  so 
frequently  occurring  on  railroads.  His  "run" 
lies  between  Crestline,  Ohio,  and  Pittsburg, 
Penn.,  although  his  residence  has  been  at 
Alliance  since  1856.  He  married  Clara  J., 
daughter  of  James  A.  Penney,  of  Louisville, 
Ohio,  late  of  Canton,  Deo.  lo,  1871.  He  has 
now  erected  a  fine  two-story  brick  residence 
which  will  be  one  of  the  best  arrange!  homes 
in  the  town. 

LUTHER  W.  BALLARD,  surgeon-dent- 
ist, Alliance;  was  born  in  Pittsburg,  Penn., 
Apiil  26, 1854;  the  son  of  A.  W.  and  Margaret 
(Irwin)  Ballard,  his  father  being  a  native  of 
New  Hampshire,  and  his  mother  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, of  Scotch  parentage.  The  family  re- 
moved from  Pittsburgh  to  Canton,  Ohio,  in 
1858.  When  Mr.  Ballard  had  completed  an 
academic  course  of  study  he  entered  the 
dental  office  of  Dr.  Douds,  of  Canton,  and 
remained  under  his  instruction  until  1872, 
when  he  began  his  course  in  the  Philadelphia 
Dental  College,  of  Philadelphia,  Penn.,  and 
graduated  from  that  institution  in  1873.  He 
returned  to  Canton,  and  began  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  for  a  short  time  with 
his  brother.  In  April  1879,  he  removed  to 
Alliance,  where  he  opened  the  finest  dental 
i-ooms  in  this  place.  He  married  Grace 
Greenwood,  May  30,  1878.  She  is  daughter 
of  G.  G.  B.  Greenwood,  of  Minerva.  They 
have  one  child — Whitcomb  G.  Mr.  Ballard  is 
a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows. 

SAMUEL  BROOKE,  civil  engineer  and 
deputy     revenue    collector  ;     Alliance;     was 


'k 


CITY    OF    ALLIANCE. 


born  in  Brookeville,  Montgomery  Co.,  Md., 
June  19,  ISOS.  The  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject— Rodoer  Brooke — was  an  early  settler  of 
Brookeville,  Md.,  in  hoixir  of  whom  the  place 
derived  its  name.  Col.  Richard  Brooke,  who 
was  one  of  Wasliingtoii's  aide-de-camp  during 
the  Revolution,  was  a  brother  of  Mr.  Rodger 
Brooke.  Chief  .1  ustice  Rodger  Brooke  Taney, 
who  was  appointed  by  Gen.  Jackson,  was 
also  a  relative.  Every  branch  of  the  family 
were  radically  anti-slavery,  and  emanci})ated 
all  their  slaves  when  that  course  was  a  most 
unpoj)ular  one.  And  although  Chief  .Justice 
Taney  emancipated  his  slaves,  some  of  his 
rulings  were  scarcely  in  accord  with  that 
principle,  which  brought  on  him  many  ana- 
themas from  his  anti-slavery  friends.  Yet  he 
was  acting  in  accordance  with  the  law  and 
constitution,  which  he  was  sworn  to  adminis- 
ter and  maintain,  and  could  not  have  done 
otherwise.  Our  subject  bears  his  father's 
name,  and  was  the  sixth  of  nine  children  born 
to  Samuel  and  Sarah  (Garrigues)  Brooke, 
three  of  whom  are  living.  His  mother  was  a 
descendant  of  the  Huguenots.  When  Mr. 
Brooke  had  taken  the  regidar  course  of  study 
in  the  common  schools  he  attended  the  Stras- 
burg  Academy,  in  Pennsylvania.  In  1831  he 
entered  upon  the  profession  of  civil  engineer, 
with  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  R.  R.  Co.,  and 
subsetpiently  surveyed  and  located  a  portion 
of  the  .lames  Hiver  and  Kanawha  Canal,  the 
part  which  was  destroyed  by  Sheridan  during 
the  late  war.  In  IH'.iS  he  was  employed  by 
the  Illinois  State  government  to  survey  the 
Kaskaskia  River,  with  a  view  to  removing  flat- 
boat  obstructions,  and  also  on  railroads 
throughout  the  State.  He  was  in  charge  of 
the  levee  constructions  at  Cairo,  Ills.,  and 
while  there  studied  the  character  of  the 
Mississippi  River,  and  was  the  first  to  suggest 
the  advantage  of  constructing  jetties  for  the 
protection  of  St.  Louis,  which  was  finally 
accomplished  by  Gen.  Prentice.  On  account 
of  failing  health  Mr.  Brooke  came  to  Ohio,  in 
184"^,  antl  spent  about  a  year  in  recruiting  his 
health.  He  then  entered  into  the  anti-slavery 
cause  with  heart  and  soul;  first,  as  general 
agent  for  the  Anti-Slavery  Society  of  Ohio, 
and  subsequently  as  general  agent  of  the 
American  Anti-Slavery  Society  of  the  West. 
In  this  humane  cause  his  labors  were  unceas- 
ing, and  traveling  extensive.     Aside  from  his 


philanthropic  views,  he  was  also  deeply  inter- 
ested in  the  general  development  of  the  re- 
sources of  the  country.  Through  his  business 
acquaintance  of  the  West  he  was  early  familiar 
with  the  wonderful  resources  of  the  prairie 
beyond,  if  railroads  were  onl}-  pushed  through 
to  intersect  the  Mississippi,  and  to  that  end 
drafted  resolutions,  which  were  presented  in 
Congress,  setting  forth  the  necessities  and 
advantages  to  be  derived  by  the  extension  of 
the  Pennsylvania  R.  R.  The  citizens  of 
Salem,  O.,  at  a  meeting  called  by  Mr.  Brooke 
in  reference  to  railroad  matters,  raised  funds 
to  pay  his  way  to  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  and  to  there 
present  this  scheme  to  the  interested  cai)ital- 
ists  and  stockholders  of  the  Pennsylvania 
road.  He  proceeded  to  Pittsburg  on  foot  and 
explored  the  course  of  the  railroad,  which  he 
made  full  re])ort  of  at  the  time,  which  course 
was  finally  adopted  with  one  unimportant  ex- 
ception. His  thorough  knowledge  of  the 
country  gained  for  him  the  reputation  of  be- 
ing the  best  route-explorer  of  the  west  at 
that  time.  In  1855  he  married  Hannah  N., 
daughter  of  Mahlon  Willman,  a  pioneer  of 
Marlborough  Tp.  They  have  two  adopted  chil- 
dren. Mr.  Brooke  was  appointed  Assistant 
Assessor  by  Salmon  P.  Chase,  in  18G3,  and 
also  Deputy  Revenue  Collector  of  the  18th 
Dist.,  in  which  capacity  he  has  served  ever 
since  his  appointment.  Mrs.  Brooke  had 
one  sister  and  a  brother,  the  latter  was  Dr.  A. 
J.  Willman,  of  Knoxville,  Ky.,  who  at  the 
out-break  of  the  late  war,  enlisted  in  the 
Union  service,  with  rank  of  Major,  in  the 
18th  Ky.  V.  I.  While  in  command  of  the 
regiment  at  Chickamauga  he  was  wounded, 
and  after  recovering  sufficiently,  he  returned 
to  his  home  in  Kentucky  to  recuperate. 
While  resting  there  he  was  dragged  from 
the  bosom  of  his  familj'  by  a  band  of  armed 
and  disguised  guerrillas  on  the  pretext  that  he 
was  a  "  prisoner  of  war  ;"  they  proceeded 
but  a  short  distance  when  the  Major  was 
shot,  denuded  of  everything  of  value,  and 
the  body  concealed  in  the  brush.  Mr.  Brooke 
is  one  who  has  grown  old  in  the  battle  for 
human  rights  and  the  cause  of  liberty,  and 
like  his  venerable  ancestors,  accounted  but 
as  trifling  any  sacrifice,  however  great,  that 
would  attain  the  much  to  be  desired  freedom 
of  all  mankind.  His  father,  in  partnership 
with    Frank    Key    (the    hitter's   name    being 


^1 


720 


BIO(4RAPHICAL    SKETCHES : 


rpiidered  immortal  by  the  proiluction  of  the 
"  Star  Spangled  Banner  "),  were  the  proprie- 
tors of  the  first  nail-mill  in  the  United 
States,  which  cut  and  headed  the  nail  at  the 
same  motion. 

REV.  SAMUEL  W.  BROWN,  minister 
of  the  Disciples'  Church  ;  Alliance;  was  born 
in  Lickinn-  Co.,  O.,  Aujr.  19,  1846  ;  he  is  the 
son  of  Russell  P.  and  Clarissa  (Emerson) 
Brown,  who  were  natives  of  Connecticut,  and 
with  their  seven  oldest  children  moved  to 
Ohio  a  short  time  prior  to  the  date  of  our  sub- 
ject's birth.  They  settled  on  a  farm  in  Lick- 
ing Co.,  and  when  he  was  about  three  years 
old  his  parents  were  called  away  by  death. 
The  older  ones  of  the  family  were  then  able 
to  do  for  themselves,  but  the  younger  ones 
were  taken  and  reared  by  strangers.  In  his 
boyhood  he  had  few  advantages  for  procuring 
an  education,  and  in  this  direction  he  felt 
keenly  the  want  of  parental  care.  When  he 
reached  his  majority  he  apprenticed  himself 
to  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith,  and  as  he  be- 
came more  familiar  with  the  outer  world  the 
more  he  found  himself  deficient  in  knowl- 
edge. The  thought  of  having  been  deprived 
of  education  in  youth  weighed  upon  his  mind 
until  he  resolved  to  exert  himself  in  every 
laudable  way  until  the  deficiency  was  fully 
compensated  for.  He  went  to  the  district 
school,  and  was  classed  with  pupils  of  which 
he  was  very  much  the  senior.  Eagerly  and 
earnestly  his  studies  were  pursued  under  try- 
ing circumstances,  as  he  was  without  means 
other  than  that  which  he  could  procure  by  his 
own  labor  during  vacations.  He  took  a  course 
of  study  at  the  Reynoldsburg  High  School. 
Having  united  with  the  Disciples'  Church, 
June  5,  1867,  he  chose  the  ministry  as  a  pro- 
fession and  a  duty,  and  accordingly  entered 
the  Bethany  College,  Bethany,  Pa.,  in  the 
spring  of  1873,  where  he  took  a  classical  and 
theological  course  at  the  same  time,  and  grad- 
uated from  that  institution  in  June,  1877. 
During  his  collegiate  course  he  preached  oc- 
casionally at  Fairview  and  Holiday's  Cove, 
W.  Va.  In  the  same  month  in  which  he  grad- 
uated he  was  ordained,  and  accej)ted  a  call  to 
the  church  at  Bedford,  O.,  where  he  remained 
about  eighteen  months,  when  he  accepted  a 
call  for  a  short  time  to  Canton.  In  May,  1880, 
he  came  to  the  Alliance  congregation,  which, 
under  his  zealous  care,  is  awaking  to  a  reali- 


zation of  its  duty  and  shaking  off  its  manacles 
of  lethargy.  On  June  22,  1873,  he  married 
Eveline  M.,  daughter  of  Austin  Fuller,  of 
Millfield,  Athens  Co.,  O.  They  have  one 
child — Wiley  S.  Mr.  Brown  is  one  of  those 
who  have  climbed  life's  rugged  paths  un- 
daunted by  the  many  uninviting  conditions 
with  which  he  was  surrounded  ;  and,  for  a 
young  man,  has  already  reached  an  eminence 
worthy  of  his  determination  and  zeal  ;  much 
cheer  and  encouragement  to  persevere  in  his 
prescribed  course  has  been  afforded  him  by 
his  ever  devoted  wife. 

AMOS  WALLACE  COATES,  inventor 
and  manufacturer;  Alliance;  whose  portrait 
appears  in  this  history  as  one  of  Stark  Co.'s 
successful  manufacturers;  was  born  near  Marl- 
borough in  this  county,  April  34,  1834.  His 
paternal  grandfather  was  a  jnoneer  to  Coates- 
ville,  Chester  Co.,  Pa.,  and  laid  out  that 
town.  His  parents  were  Amos  and  Jane  B. 
(Norris)  Coates,  both  natives  of  Pennsylva- 
nia. They  removed  to  Ohio  in  an  old-fash- 
ioned moving  wagon  in  1823,  and  settled  in 
Marlborough  Tp.,  Stark  Co.  His  father  was  a 
man  of  scholarly  attainments;  had  charge  of 
an  academy  in  Chester  Co.,  Penn.,  and  subse- 
quently a  merchant  of  Phila<lelphia.  After 
coming  to  Ohio  he  engaged  in  farming,  and 
part  of  the  time  in  teaching.  He  had  a  fam- 
ily of  twelve  children,  of  whom  our  subject 
is  the  seventh  son.  He  was  educated  in 
Marlborough  Academy,  completing  his  course 
at  the  age  of  seventeen.  He  then  spent  two 
years  learning  stove-plat(;  and  machine 
casting,  and  subsequently  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  his  brother-in-law,  .f.  D.Arnold,  un- 
der the  firm  name  of  Arnold  &  Coates,  and 
began  the  manufacture  of  plows  and  castings 
in  Paris,  this  county.  This  enterprise  prov- 
ing a  pecuniary  success,  they  added  to  their 
works  the  manufacture  of  hay-rakes  on  the 
old  "  Sander's  "patent  in  1855,  and  in  the  lat- 
ter part  of  the  same  year  introduced  what  was 
said  to  be  the  first  sulky  spring-tooth  horse- 
rake  ever  used  in  Stark  Co.  At  the  end  of 
the  first  season  they  disposed  of  their  interest 
in  the  rake  business,  and  for  several  years  de- 
voted themselves  to  the  manufacture  of  plows 
and  other  castings.  During  this  time  Mr. 
Coates  occupied  the  little  leisure  afforded  him 
in  reading  law,  under  the  instruction  of  Alex- 
ander Bierce,  Esq.,    of  Canton.     In    1860    he 


r 


CITY    OF    ALLIANCE. 


721 


purohasoiJ  the  factory  and  foundry,  but  in  the 
fall  of  18G1,  sold  the  same  and  enlisted  in  the 
Froniont  Body  CJuaid,  going  to  St.  Louis 
with  part  of  a  company.  In  consequence  of 
Gen.  Fremont's  removal  and  the  disbandment 
of  the  Guard;  he  was  discharged,  returned 
home  and  resumed  his  law  studies  under  his 
former  preceptor,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  the  Supreme  Court  at  Columbus,  in  the 
Sffsion  of  December,  1863.  He  did  not  en- 
ter upon  the  practice  of  law,  but  early  in 
LSG3  lie  re-purchased  the  Paris  foundry  and 
plow  works,  and  conducted  them  about  one 
year.  In  September,  1804,  he  removed  to  Al- 
liance, and  began  the  erection  of  the  build- 
ings now  occupied  by  his  works,  and  contin- 
ued the  manufacture  of  plows.  In  the  spring 
of  18il.5,  lie  abandoned  this  business  and  em- 
barkctl  in  the  manufacture  of  what  was  known 
as  the  White  Hay  Rake.  In  the  fall  of  1865 
he  invented  his  Lock  Lever  Rake,  which  was 
patented  in  ISOT,  and  has  since  continued  to 
manufacture  the  same,  frequently  imjjroving 
it  to  keep  pace  with  the  ever  advancing  prog- 
ress of  farm  implements.  Several  additions 
have  been  put  to  his  buildings  since  he  began 
tile  manufacture  of  rakes,  to  secure  facilities 
for  sup])lving  the  increasing  demand.  In  the 
fail  of  L'stiH  was  formed  the  partnership  known 
as  Coatcs,  Gray  &  Co.,  which  was  dissolved  in 
1874,  by  Mr.  Coates  purchasing  the  entire  in- 
terests of  his  partners.  He  has  taken  out 
eight  patents,  viz.:  three  on  his  lock-lever 
hay-rakc;  on  ■  on  the  spring-seat  for  the  same, 
two  on  guarded  scissors,  one  on  a  child's 
pocket-knife,  and  one  on  a  water-elevator  for 
wells  and  cisterns.  In  the  fall  of  1875  he 
was  a  candidate  on  the  Republican  ticket,  for 
the  Ohio  Senate  for  the  21st  Senatorial  Dis- 
trict, compiising  the  counties  of  Stark  and 
Carroll,  and  came  within  forty-eight  votes  of 
carrying  his  district,  the  Democracy  carrying 
the  district  in  the  previous  and  subsequent 
elections  by  over  a  thousand  majoritj'.  In 
1877  he  erected  the  Coates'  Block  at  a  cost  of 
120,000.  It  is  one  of  the  finest  business 
structures  in  Alliance,  the  upper  story  of 
which  is  elegantly  fitted  up  expressly  for  the 
meetings  of  the  I.  ().  O.  F.  He  was  for  a  time 
proprietor  of  the  Independent  Af/e,  a  journal 
devoted  to  literature,  news  and  religion.  He 
has  been  a  member  of  the  City  Council,  and  is 
an  active  member  of  the  following  secret  socie- 


ties; I.  O.  O.  F.,  Freemasons,  Knights  Tem- 
plar, Knights  of  Phythias,  Knights  of  Honor, 
Roval  Arcanum,  and  American  Legion  ol  Hon- 
or. March  23, 185U,  he  married  Ada  F.,  daugh- 
ter of  A.  B.  and  Catharine  Freer,  of  Paris,  this 
county.  They  have  had  nine  children,  six 
of  whom  are  living — Hallam  F.,  now  attend- 
ing Mt.  Union  College,  with  promise  of  fine 
success,  and  whom  his  father  intends  aiding 
in  the  j)ursuit  of  any  profession  he  may 
choose  ;  Ida  M.,  Nellie  L.,  liartwell  W., 
Hayes  K.,  and  Fffie  F.  N.;  Horatio  H.,  (next 
younger  th.in  Hallam)  was  one  of  the  three 
youths  who  lost  their  lives  by  breaking  through 
the  ice  while  skating  on  the  Alliance  Reser- 
voir, on  New  Year's  day,  1880.  Their  oldest 
child,  Horace  L.,  died  when  four  years  of  age, 
at  Paris,  and  Harlan  since  their  removal  to 
Alliance. 

MAJOR  WM.  W.  CANTINE,  hardware 
merchant;  Alliance;  was  born  in  Onondaga 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  August  13,  1833,  the  only  son  of 
Henry  and  Carolina  .M.  (Titus)  {'antine.  The 
family  emigrated  from  New  York  to  Michigan, 
and  located  at  BattU^  Creek,  in  1837.  They 
were  farmers,  and  consequently  the  boyhood, 
and  early  manhood  of  our  subject  was  spent  in 
attending  school,  and  engaged  on  his  father's 
farm.  In  1849  he  engaged  as  clerk  in  the  gen- 
eral merchandise  business  in  Battle  Creek,  and 
remained  there  until  1851;  thence  to  Grand 
Rapids,  Mich.,  where  he  remained  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  late  civil  war,  when  he 
was  commissioned  Quarter-Master  of  the  third 
Michigan  Cavair}-,  in  August,  1861,  and 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Being 
stationed  in  the  meantime  at  St.  Louis,  Little 
Rock,  New  Orleans  and  Mobile.  In  .July, 
1862,  he  was  promoted  to  Chief  Commissary 
of  Subsistence  of  the  7th  Army  Corps,  and  of 
the  Division  of  the  Mississippi,  with  the  rank 
of  captain,  and  had  charge  of  the  principal 
supply  depot  at  .Mobile.  In  October,  1865,  he 
received  his  discharge  with  th  •  rank  of  Brevet- 
Major.  His  war  record  was  highly  creditable 
to  himself,  and  evidences  efficiency  in  the 
performance  of  his  duty.  He  remained  in 
Alabama  si.x  years  subsequent  to  the  close  of 
the  war,  during  which  time  he  turned  his 
attention  to  the  production  of  cotton  on  a 
plantation  of  1100  acres,  which  he  purchased 
about  150  miles  from  Mobile,  where  he  resided 
about    two   vears,    and    then    removed   into 


Mobile,  where  he  remained  four  years.  His 
experience  on  the  plantation  did  not  result  in 
pecuniary  success,  in  consequence  of  the  high 
rates  of  labor  and  provisions  followed  by  a 
series  of  unfavorabh?  seasons  and  poor  cotton 
crops.  Having  sustained  considerable  loss  of 
capital  he  removed  iiom  the  South  and  came 
to  Alliance  in  1871,  where  he  purchased  an 
interest  in  the  gas  works,  and  remained  in 
that  business  until  October,  1880,  when,  in 
companv  with  Ciias.  Y.  Kay,  and  S.  M.  High- 
land, the  h.irdware  firm  of  W.  W.  Cantiue  & 
Co.  was  established.  May  13,  1858,  he  mar- 
ried Emily  W.  Dickenson,  of  Grand  Rapids, 
Mich.,  and  to  them  was  born  one  child,  Ger- 
trude; now  Mrs.  Charles  Y.  Kay. 

P.  J.  CALLAHAN,  M.  D.,  eclectic  practi- 
tioner, Alliance;  was  born  in  Mahoning  Co., 
Ohio,  in  October,  1835,  the  fourth  child  of  a 
family  of  nine  children,  born  to  Thomas  and 
Mary  Callahan.  His  boyhood  and  early  man- 
hood was  spent  in  the  multifarious  duties  of  the 
farm  and  attending  school.  When  about  19 
years  of  ago  he  entered  the  office  of  Dr. 
James  M.  Hole,  of  Greenford,  as  a  student  of 
medicine.  His  preceptor  was  of  the  eclectic 
school  and  in  the  winter  of  1857  and  1858 
he  attended  lectures  at  the  Philadelphia  Medi- 
cal University,  after  which  he  entered  upon 
the  practice  of  his  profession  in  his  native 
county,  where,  with  several  chang-es  of  loca- 
tion, he  practiced  for  nianj'  years.  He  at- 
tended a  second  course  of  lectures,  at  the 
Eclectical  Medical  College  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  graduated  from  this  institution  in  18G!). 
He  located  at  Canfiehl,  where  lie  practiced  a 
short  time;  disposing  of  his  interest  in  the 
drug  business  there  to  his  partner.  Dr.  Ethan 
Hole,  he  removed  to  Berlin  Center,  Mahoning 
Co.,  where  he  practiced  his  profession  ten 
years;  thence  to  Alliance,  in  187U,  where  he 
has  established  a  good  practice.  New-year's 
day,  1862,  he  married  Ada  B.  Margerum, 
who  came  to  Ohio  from  Springfield,  ilass., 
but  was  forinorly  of  Connecticut.  They 
have  two  children,  viz. — Sarah  A.,  and  Ada 
M.  In  the  late  war.  Dr.  Callahan  went  to  the 
southern  hospitals,  and  remained  at  his  own 
expense,  and  loss  of  time,  assisting  as  a  nurse, 
without  either  appointment  or  remuneration 
for  his  pains,other  than  the  experience  which 
he  gained  from  being  brought  in  contact  with 
sickness  and  suffering. 


STEPHEN  CASE,  general  manager;  Al- 
liance; in  the  firm  of  Case,  Shaffer  &  Ellison, 
of  the  Alliance  Bag-ging  Manufactory;  was 
born  in  Sussex  Co.,  New  Jersey,  July  14, 1814, 
son  of  Stephen  and  Sarah  (Sausman)  Case, 
who  were  also  borii  in  New  Jersey.  The 
youthful  days  of  Mr.  Case  were  spent  on  his 
father's  farm,  and  in  early  manhood  he  learn- 
ed the  carriage  making  business.  Having  fin- 
ished his  tra<.le,  he  set  out  for  the  AVest,  and 
proceeded  to  Michigan  in  1838;  he  remained 
there  but  a  short  time  when  he  retraced  his 
steps  as  far  as  Newton,  Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio,  and 
there  began  to  work  at  his  trade  and  continu- 
ed it  about  ten  years.  He  then  purchased  a 
farm  and  turned  his  attention  to  stock-rais- 
ing, and  dealing  for  many  years,  in  which  he 
was  very  successful.  For  six  years  of  his 
residence  in  Mahoning  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  County  Commissioners.  In 
1809  he  came  to  Alliance,  and  in  company 
with  two  others  organized  the  bagging  works; 
his  original  partners  however  have  withdrawn, 
but  Mr.  Case  and  his  interests  have  remained 
unchanged.  The  estalilishment  has  been,  and 
is,  well  managed  by  the  enterprising  proprie- 
tors. They  have  been  heavy  losers  by  fire, 
being  twice  swept  out  totally,  and  once  sus- 
tained serious  damage,  but  in  every  case 
promptly  set  about  rebuilding  and  repairing. 
1'he  annual  cajiacity  of  their  works  is  about 
400,000  yards  of  manufacture  1  matei  al.  It 
is  made  from  flax,  and  is  used  exclusively  for 
covering  cotton  bales,  and  put  up  in  rolls  of 
fift}'  yards  each.  Mr.  Case  married  Amelia 
Durell,  Jan.  16,  1840.  They  reared  six  clid- 
dren,  viz. — Thc^rn,  his  only  son,  enlisted  in 
the  21st  O.  V.  I.  in  1801,  from  Mahoning  Co., 
and  served  until  May  28,  1864;  when  at 
Resaca  he  was  mortally  wounded,  was  brought 
to  Chattanooga,  where  he  died  July  23;  Anna 
B.,  now  wife  of  R.  E.  Collar;  Charlotte  L., 
deceased,  was  wife  of  S.  R.  Patterson;  Cor- 
nelia H.,  is  widow  of  W.  C.  Meeker;  Lovina 
P.  and  Blanche  A.  The  two  last  named  and 
their  widowed  sister  reside  with  Mr.  Case. 
Mrs.  Case  passed  away  July  4,  1873.' 

GEORGE  B.  N.  COATES,  general  superin- 
tendent. Alliance;  of  the  "  Coates"  Hay  Rake 
establishment.  He  is  the  sixth  child  and 
fifth  son  born  to  Amos  and  Jane  B.  (Norris) 
Coates.  His  boyhood  was  spent  on  his  fath- 
er's farm,  at  the  same  time  he  obtained  a  good 


ihL^ 


CITY    OF    ALLIANCE. 


723 


common  school  education.  He  beiran  to  learn 
the  joiner  and  carpenter's  trade  when  about 
18  years  of  age,  in  Marlboroujrh,  serving 
about  three  years,  and  then  conducted  the 
business  on  his  own  account,  contracting  and 
building  many  of  the  fine  farm  residences  in 
this  county,  and  also  the  Disciples'  Church, 
building  at  New  Baltimore.  At  the  out- 
break of  the  late  war,  he  enlisted  in  the  7(ith 
O.  V.  I.,  and  while  the  regiment  was  at  Camp 
M;insfield,  Ohio,  was  takini  sick,  and  there 
received  his  discharge  before  they  had  gone 
to  the  front.  He  engaged  in  the  sash  and 
window  blind  establishment  of  Wilson — sub- 
se(|uentiv  Do\'lc  &  Co.,  where  he  remained 
about  four  j'ears;  and  severed  his  connection 
with  the  last  named  firm  in  1808,  to  take  the 
position  of  general  manager  of  the  horse  hay- 
rake  establishment  of  his  brother  (A.  W. 
Coates),  wliere  he  has  remained  ever  since. 
On  New  Year's  day,  1851,  he  married  Mary 
Uhuk,  daughter  of  David  Black,  of  Randolph, 
Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  formerly  of  Pennsylvania. 
-Mr.  and  Mrs.  Coates  are  parents  of  four  chil- 
dren, viz. — Jane  E.,  deceased;  Harriet  M.; 
Eva  M.,  and  Jessie  K.  Mr.  Coates  has  been 
electC'l  and  is  serving  the  ihird  term  in  the 
Alliance  City  Council.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  I.  O.  O.  F.  He  began  business  in  limited 
financial  circumstances,  but  by  unceasing  in- 
dustry he  has  accumulated  a  nice  property  in 
Alliance,  owning  five  good  residences  besides 
his  own  pleasantly  lo(;ated  home. 

JAMES  C.  CRAVEN,  contractor  and 
builder;  Alliance;  was  born  in  Ijawrence  Co., 
Pa.,  in  Dec,  1840;  he  was  the  fourth  child  of 
a  family  of  seven  children  born  to  Richard 
and  Hannah  (GotF)  Craven.  His  father  was 
a  heavy  contractor  and  builder,  which  busi- 
ness our  sul)ject  also  early  in  life  adopted. 
In  1860  he  went  from  Pennsylvania  to  Ten- 
nessee, and  was  contracting  and  building  in 
Nashville  at  the  outbreak  of  the  late  war.  On 
account  of  the  war  and  demoralized  state  of 
business  in  the  South,  he  came  to  Ohio,  and 
while  stopping  at  Salem,  Columbiana  Co.,  he 
enlisted  in  Co.  B.  Oolh  O.  V.  1.,  in  October, 
1861.  Shortly  afterward  his  sight  became 
seriously  affected,  which  unfitted  him  for  the 
service;  he  was  promjjtly  discharged,  but  was 
confined  to  hospital  in  Philadelphia  for  some 
time  in  conse(pience.  Having  recovered  his 
usual  health  he  returned  to  Ohio,  and  assisted 


his  father  who  had  taken  the  contract  for 
building  the  Mt.  Union  College  in  1863.  The 
following  j-car  the  subject  of  these  notes  took 
the  contract,  on  his  own  account,  for  building 
the  round  house  for  the  P.,  Ft.  W.  &  Chicago 
R.  R.  Co.,  at  Alliance.  July  3,  ISOM,  he  mar- 
ried Emma  Werner,  daughter  of  George 
Werner,  of  this  county.  He  has  since  re- 
sided in  Alliance,  except  one  year  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  has  made  contracting  and  build- 
ing his  life  work;  some  of  the  best  business 
rooms  of  Alliance  were  erected  under  his  di- 
rection. In  1876,  he  erected  his  own  hand- 
some two-story  brick  residence  on  FJnden 
Ave.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Craven  have  foin-  chil- 
dren living,  viz. — Nellie  M.,  George  R.,  Min- 
nie S.  and  .lames  F.  Mr.  Craven  is  an  active 
member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 

JAMES  W.  COULTER,  attorn(>y  at  law; 
Alliance  :  was  born  in  Butler  Co..  Pa.,  Aug. 
27,  18.54,  the  only  son  of  James  W.  and  Mar- 
tha A.  (Thompson)  Coidter.  In  early  life  his 
father  learned  and  worked  at  the  blacksmith's 
trade,  but  later  in  life  turned  his  attention  to 
farming  ;  he  died  when  James  W.  was  only  a 
few  weeks  old,  leaving  a  wiihnv  and  two  help- 
less children.  When  our  subject  was  about 
10  years  old  his  mother  dispose<l  of  their  farm, 
and  removed  with  the  two  children  to  Iowa, 
and  about  sev(Mi  years  after  their  removal  to 
that  State  she  died.  Mr.  Coulter  was  left  to 
his  own  resources  early  in  life,  and  made  eve- 
ry possible  effort  to  obtain  a  thorough  educa- 
tion. After  the  district  school  course,  he  ap- 
plied himself  to  teaching  one  term,  an<l  after- 
wards had  the  advantages  of  an  academic 
course  ia  Iowa  City,  and  one  year  in  the  pre- 
paratory department  of  Iowa  State  Univt^r- 
sity.  In  187.3  he  returned  to  Ohio  and  ap- 
plied himself  to  teaching  school  and  the  study 
of  law  with  M.  M.  King,  of  Alliance.  In 
1877  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  Dis- 
trict Court  of  New  Philadelphia,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1879  he  opened  an  office  in  Alli- 
ance, and  the  same  year  was  (dected  Justice 
of  th(!  Peace.  In  July,  187'.',  he  married 
Phoebe  V.  Peet  ;  they  have  one  child. 

L.  J.  DALES,  M.  D.,  physician;  Alliance  ; 
was  born  in  Brownsville,  Pa.,  Aug.  26,  1827. 
He  is  of  English  descent  ;  his  grandfather, 
Henry  Dales,  (Muigratcd  from  Bath,  England, 
to  the  United  States,  with  his  family  of  seve- 
ral children,  and  located  at  Brownsville,  Fay- 


'i'    s- 


r^ 


Jill: 


7J4 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


ette  Co.,  Pa.  He  was  a  practical  tanner,  and 
established  an  industry  of  that  kind  in 
Brownsville  shortly  alter  his  arrival.  One  of 
the  family,  John,  removed  to  the  West,  and 
located  at  iSt.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  was  engaged  as 
Cashier  of  the  iirst  Bank  ever  estaL)lished  in 
that  city.  Wiiliam  was  about  10  years  of 
age  when  they  came  to  this  country  ;  he  mar- 
ried Mary  Stewart  in  Brownsville  ;  they  were 
parents  of  fourteen  children,  of  whom  our 
subject  is  the  fifth  son  ;  eleven  lived  to  years 
of  maturity.  William  Dales,  with  his  family, 
removed  to  Ohio  in  183S,  and  settled  in  Co- 
lumbiana Co.,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  ; 
and  amid  the  various  iluties  of  the  farm  and 
pioneer  life,  and  with  all  diligence  as  to  their 
education,  the  youths  arrived  at  maturity. 
Early  in  life  Dr.  Dales  united  himself  with 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  prepared 
for  the  work  of  the  ministry.  His  first  charge 
was  the  church  at  Hanover,  Ohio,  and  from  the 
Pittsburg  Conference  he  was  appcjinted  to 
the  Central  Ohio  Conference.  Fifteen  years 
of  his  life  was  spent  in  active,  earnest  work 
in  behalf  of  the  church,  when,  on  account  of 
im|)ai!ed  health,  he  was  obliged  to  withdraw 
from  ministerial  labor.  During  these  years 
of  ministerial  work  he  applied  himself  studi- 
ously, acquiring  a  thorough  knowledge  of 
medicine,  and  when  his  voice  became  affected 
through  preaching,  he  entered  upon  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine  near  Liniaville,  this  county, 
in  1863.  For  a  time  he  was  also  deeply  in- 
terested in  the  development  of  excellent  coal 
mines,  in  which  his  farm  proves  to  be  quite  val- 
uable. S:'ptember,  1850,  he  married  Cynthia 
A.  Konible,  of  Columbiana  Co.,  Ohio.  They 
have  had  five  children,  viz. — Kemble  B.,  of 
M'ellsville  ;  Wilbur  F.,  a  conductor  on  the 
P.,  Ft.  W.  &  C.  R.  R.;  Oscar  L.,  a  practicing 
physician  of  Bryan,  Ohio  ;  and  Carrie  B. ;  Ora 
D.,  deceased  in  childiiood.  They  removed 
from  the  farm  to  Alliance  in  1879,  where  the 
doctor  continues  to  practice  his  profession. 

JAMES  DAVIDSON,  Eclectic  physician; 
Alliance;  was  born  in  Burton,  Geauga  Co., 
Ohio,  Felj.  15,  1829.  His  father  Thomas 
Davidson;  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  a  mill- 
wright by  trade,  and  was  one  of  a  party  of 
eight  who,  in  the  year  1800,  walked  from  Con- 
necticut, to  what  is  now  Harrison,  Portage 
Co.,  Ohio,  fi'r  the  purpose  of  building  a  mill 
near  there,  on  the  Cuyhoga  River,  for  a  Mr. 


Punderson.  They  were  supplied  with  an  ox- 
team  to  haul  their  tools  and  outfit,  but  were 
themselves  obliged  to  make  the  entire  journey 
on  foot.  Mr.  Davidson  married  one  Susan 
Stull,  who  had  come  here  with  her  parents 
from  New  Jersey.  Our  subject  is  the  eighth 
of  their  nine  children;  his  boyhood  was  spent 
on  the  farm  and  in  attending  the  Burton  Acad- 
emy. When  he  arrived  at  manhood  he  was 
employed  for  many  years  bj'  various  firms  in 
Cleveland  as  collector,  and  in  1>850  he  be<:;an 
to  study  medicine  with  Dr.  O.  Manly,  of  G  ir- 
rettsville,  Portage  Co.,  and  remained  with  him 
four  years.  In  the  winter  of  1859  and  1860 
he  attended  le'ctures  at  the  Eclectic  Medical 
College  at  Philadelphia,  and  the  following 
winter  attended  a  second  course  at  tiie  same 
institution,  where  he  graduated.  In  the  win- 
ter of  1806-67  he  attended  a  third  course  in 
the  University  of  Medicine  and  Surgery  of 
Philadelphia,  and  also  graduated  from  that 
institution.  He  practiced  considerable  with 
his  preceptor,  and  in  1862  he  came  to  Alliance 
and  has  practiced  in  this  vicinity  ever  since, 
except  two  years  residence  in  Marlborough. 
In  April,  1862,  he  married  Mary  E.  Hawley, 
by  whom  he  had  three  children — Charles, 
Wilber  and  Jammie. 

DAVID  FORDING,  attorney-at-law;  Al- 
liance; was  born  in  Salem,  Columbiana  Co., 
Ohio,  July  3,  18-12;  his  father,  Ewan  Fording, 
was  a  native  of  Green  Co.,  Pa.,  who  came  to 
Ohio  when  5  years  old;  soon  after  the  family 
was  separated  by  the  death  of  the  mother, 
when  Ewan  started  among-st  strangers  to  do 
for  himself.  From  early  life  he  showed  those 
traits  of  character,  industry  and  moral  worth 
which  have  characterized  his  whole  life.  At 
the  age  of  22  he  married  Christina  Clippinger, 
then  a  resident  of  Columbiana  Co.  They 
reared  a  family  of  six  children,  all  of  whom 
are  now  living  and  prosperous — Lloyd,  a  resi- 
dent of  Mahoning  Co.,  received  a  gun  shot 
wound  at  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  from  the 
effects  of  which  he  lost  the  use  of  his  left  arm, 
since  which  time  his  occupation  has  been 
principally  that  of  a  teacher;  Leander  is  en- 
gaged in  merchant  tailoring  in  Allianci;;  Mil- 
ler is  a  member  of  the  Erie  Conference  of 
the  M.  E.  Church  and  now  stationed  at  Col- 
umbus, Pa.;  T.  J.,  the  youngest,  read  law 
j  with  David  and  soon  after  his  admission  to 
'  the  bar,  opened  an  office  at  Abilene,  Kansas, 


iV 


CITY    OF    ALLIANCE. 


725 


where  he  remained  three  years,  then  removed 
to  San  Bernardino,  Cal.,  his  present  liome; 
Sannuitha,  the  only  daughter,  married  Rev. 
Wm.  J.  Hahn,  now  a  resilient  of  Lisbon,  Linn 
Co.,  Iowa.  The  family  moved  to  Mahoning 
Co.  when  David,  the  subject  of  tiiis  sketch, 
was  about  4  years  of  age.  His  early  life  was 
variouslv  spent  on  his  fathc's  farm  and  at- 
tending common  school;  subsequently  he 
entered  college  at  Mt.  Union,  where  he  re- 
mained but  a  short  time  when  he  began  the 
study  of  law.  The  first  year  of  his  legal 
study  was  spent  at  home;  the  econd  year  in 
the  office  of  W.  C.  PippiU.  '^ept.  13,  18^0, 
at  the  District  Court  in  Cleveland,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  and  opened  an  office  in 
Alliance  and  began  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession. The  profession  at  Alliance  was  then 
represented  by  ten  regularly  practicing  attor- 
neys, notwithstanding  which  he  secured  a 
paying  practice  from  the  first,  which  steadily 
increased.  His  temperate  habits  and  open 
denunciation  of  the  unlawful  sale  and  use  of 
liquor  gave  him  favor  with  the  temperance 
people,  regardless  of  party,  which  led  to  his 
being  taken  up  against  his  protest  during  the 
temperance  excitement  of  1874,  and  elected 
Mayor  on  what  was  known  as  "  the  people's 
ticket;"  he  servcl  as  mayor  two  years  in  con- 
nection with  his  law  practice,  and  was  after- 
wards appointed  to  fill  a  short  vacancy  caused 
by  the  death  of  Mayor  Barnaby.  In  1875  a 
law  ])artncrHhip  was  formed  with  J.  J.  Parker, 
known  as  the  firm  of  Parker  &  Fording,  which 
was  dissolved  in  1876.  May  11,  1875,  he 
was  admitted  to  practice  in  the  F<'deral 
Courts.  He  was  married  to  Esther  J.  MiCon- 
nej',  of  Portage  Co.,  Oct.  5,  1870;  they  have 
a  family  of  three  children — two  sons  and  one 
daughter. 

P.  J.  GAUME,  dry  goods  merchant.  Alli- 
ance; was  born  near  Louisville,  Stark  Co., 
Ohio,  in  April,  1844;  the  son  of  Louis  andJose- 
phine  (Faivre)  Gaume,  who  were  natives  of 
France,  and  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
about  18.35.  Five  of  their  eight  children  are 
still  living.  Mrs.  Gaume  died  in  1856,  and 
Mr.  Gaume  married  a  second  wife.  The  boy- 
hood of  our  subject  was  spent  on  the  farm 
until  about  2'>  years  of  age,  wl  en  he  went  to 
Ft.  A\'ayne,  Ind.,  and  clerked  there  two  years 
in  the  dry  goods  business.  At  the  expiration 
of  that  time   he  returned  home,  and  accepted 


a  position  as  clerk  with  the  Haines  Bros., 
which  he  retained  four  years,  and  gained  for 
himself  a  desirable  record  for  industry  and 
faithfulness.  When  he  severed  his  connec- 
tion with  the  Haines  Bros.,  he  engaged  with 
the  firm  of  King,  Weekcrt  &  Warren,  where 
he  remained  about  six  years.  He  married 
Miss  Nancy  R.  Haines,  Sept.  9,  1873,  and 
they  have  one  cliikl,  Harry  H.  He  remained 
two  y«;ars  with  Mr.  King,  subsequent  to  some 
changes  in  the  firm,  and  when  King  &  Co., 
removed  to  Paris,  Mr.  Gaume  began  business 
for  himself,  and  by  economy  and  adaptability 
and  the  help  of  ^Irs.  Gaume,  who  was  also 
familiar  with  that  line  of  business  in  her 
brother's  (!stablishment,  out  of  a  limited  capi- 
tal they  have  built  up  a  good  and  prosperous 
trade. 

FRANK  W.  GASKH-L,  grocer;  Alliance; 
was  born  where  he  now  resides,  .Jan.  28,  1858. 
His  father,  William  Gaskiil,  was  a  native  of 
Ohio,  and  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  and 
was  prominently  engaged  contracting  and 
building  in  tiiis  vicinity  at  an  early  date.  He 
marrieil  Catharine  McDugan,  who  came  here 
from  Ireland  with  a  sister,  in  1849.  Mr. 
Gaskiil  died  in  1800,  leaving  a  widow  and 
four  small  children,  viz. — Elleti,  Ava,  now 
Mrs.  John  W.  Bowden,  Frank  W.  and  Anna. 
Frank  W.  got  a  fair  education  in  the  Alliance 
pid^lic  schools,  and  when  eighteen  years  of 
age  conceived  the  idea  of  opening  a  grocery 
at  the  residence  located  in  the  old  part 
of  the  town  known  as  P^reedoin,  and  although 
he  had  nothing  to  begin  with,  he  was  trusted 
for  some  goods,  and  begun  on  a  very  small 
scale,  being  industrious  and  of  good  busiiKJss 
qiialiticatioMS  he  has  built  up  an  admirable 
and  ])rofitable  trade.  Every  effort  has  been 
met  with  success,  and  since  he  has  begun  bus- 
iness he  has  purchased  the  interests  of  the 
other  heirs  in  the  old  homestead.  His  mother, 
widow  Gaskiil,  married  .James  Hunter  for 
her  second  husband,  by  whom  she  has  one 
son. 

JOHN  G.  GARRISON,  editor  and  i)ro- 
prietor  of  the  Alliance  Standard;  Alliance; 
was  born  in  Powhattan,  Belmont  Co.,  Ohio, 
Feb.  22,  185.5.  He  is  the  second  son  of  a 
family  of  six  children  of  Jantes  W.  and 
Amanda  Garris  in.  His  father  was  for  many 
years  engaged  in  printing  in  Pittsburg  and 
Cincinnati.  In  1859  he  came  to  Alliance  where 


^ 


726 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


he  became  prominently  identified  with  the 
newspaper  interests.  When  nine  years  old 
young  Garrison  entered  the  printing  business 
under  the  supervision  of  his  father,  who  was 
an  experienced  and  practical  printer,  he  thus 
acquired  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  business 
which  added  to  his  natural  taste  he  became 
master  of  his  chosen  profession  at  the  age 
of  15.  At  this  time,  partly  on  account  of 
ill  health  and  force  of  circumstances  he  accept- 
ed a  clerkship  in  the  store  of  E.  H.  Brosius, 
which  he  retained  for  six  years,  making  for 
himself  a  creditable  record  for  ability  and 
faitlifulness.  While  thus  engaged  he  contin- 
ued private  study  to  better  fit  himself  for 
newspaper  work.  In  1870  he  was  elected 
Township  Clerk  and  served  one  year,  declin- 
ing a  second  nomination.  Shortly  after, 
himself  and  partner  leased  the  Alliance 
Monitor,  but  on  account  of  his  partner's  con- 
duct, and  to  him  unknown  embarrassment  of 
the  concern,  he  suffered  pecuniary  loss.  He 
then  leased  the  job  office  of  the  Hevieio  for 
eight  months  during  which  time  he  settled 
satisfactorily  and  in  full  with  the  creditors  and 
subscribers  of  the  Monitor  which  suspended 
when  Mr.  Garrison  severed  his  connection 
with  it.  He  then  became  manager  of  the  Inde- 
2}endent  Age,  and  in  1878,  at  the  solicitation 
of  various  citizens  he  opened  a  job  printing 
office,  and  before  his  outfit  was  unboxed  he  had 
received  unsolicited  orders  for  two  months 
work.  In  1880  he  purchased  the  fixtures  of 
the  Indeptndent  Age,  and  established  the 
Alliance  Standard.  Starting  for  himself  at  the 
age  of  fifteen  he  struggled  against  financial 
embarriissmcnt  and  ill  health,  being  also  of 
frail  physique,  but  by  a  manly  and  indepen- 
dent course,  marked  by  industry,  faithfulness' 
and  honesty,  he  gained  the  confidence  and 
respect  of  the  community,  and  gathered 
around  him  a  host  of  friends.  His  early  ex- 
perience has  made  him  a  thorough  and  prac- 
tical printer.  The  "Garrison  Steam  Printing 
House  "  has  attained  a  high  reputation  for  the 
neatness  and  superior  quality  of  its  work. 
June  28,  1880,  he  married  Nettie  S.,  daughter 
of  Asbury  and  Mary  P.  A.  Reno,  of  Roches- 
ter, Penn.  He  is  united  with  the  M.  E. 
Church,  and  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 

E.  WILSON  GRAY,  banker;  Alliance; 
was  born  in  Salem,  Ohio,  April  20,  1825.  He 
was  the    only  son   and   fourth   child    born    to 


Wi  lliam  and  Edith  (Glover)  Gray,  in  a  family 
of  seven  children.  The  latter  was  a  native 
of  New  Jersey,  and  the  former  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, where  they  were  married,  and  moved 
into  Ohio  at  any  early  date.  His  parents 
were  farmers,  and  in  those  pursuits  Mr.  Gray's 
liovhood  was  spent.  Subsequent  to  his  moth- 
er's death,  his  father  traded  off  the  farm, 
and  entered  into  the  mercantile  business  in 
Limaville,  this  county.  At  this  time  Mr. 
Gray  was  about  15  years  of  age,  and  had  re- 
ceived some  knowledge  of  the  elementary 
branches  taught  in  the  common  schools  of 
that  time.  His  opportunities  for  obtaining  a 
thorough  education  were  very  limited,  as  he 
was  taken  into  the  store  of  his  father  at  that 
time,  and  continued  there  for  five  years, 
when  he  began  to  read  medicine  with  Dr. 
Day,  who  was  also  a  merchant  of  I^imaville, 
and  with  whom  Mr.  Gray  remained  in  his 
study  three  years.  At  the  exj^iration  of  this 
time  he  was  employed  by  Dr.  Day  in  the  ca- 
pacity of  clerk,'  where  he  remained  about  one 
year;  thence  to  Deerfield,  in  same  capacity 
for  about  six  months,  when  he  returned  to 
Litnaville  and  opened  a  store  of  general  mer- 
chandise on  his  o\vn  account  in  1848,  and  con- 
ducted it  imtil  1851.  He  removed  to  Deer- 
field  again,  and  in  partnership  with  Isaac 
Wilson,  opened  a  store  there,  with  several 
chang-es  in  the  firm.  Mr.  Gray  continued  in 
the  UKM'cantile  business  until  1868,  when  he 
came  to  Alliance  and  entered  into  partner- 
ship with  A.  W.  Coates,  in  the  manufacture 
of  horse  hay-rakes,  which  continued  until 
1874.  While  he  was  yet  engaged  in  the  man- 
ufacturing business,  h<i  was  also  interested  in 
the  firm  of  Griener,  Steel  &  Co.,  bankers, 
and  on  withdrawing  from  the  firm  of  Coates, 
Gray  &  Co.,  was  formed  the  present  partner- 
ship of  Lamborn  &  Gray,  in  1875.  He  mar- 
ried Juliette  Clark,  Oct.  10,  184'J;  her  father, 
Richard  Clark  and  family,  came  from  Massa- 
chusetts. By  this  union  one  child  was  born, 
Hi'len  F.,  who  died  in  childhood.  Mr.  Gray 
is  an  active  member  of  the  following  secret 
societies,  viz:  JIasonic,  I.  O.  O.  F..  Knights  of 
Honor,  and  American  Legion  of  Honor.  On 
May  li,  1881,  Mrs.  Gray  departed  this  life  in 
her  71st  vear. 

CURTIS  GODDARD,  manufacturer  of  the 
"Right  Speedy"  Corn  Sheller;  Alliance;  was 
born  in    Hartford  Co.,   Conn.,  July  22,    1823. 


y^\S 


CITY    OF    ALLIANCE. 


His  parents  wore  Joab  and  Martha  Goddard, 
both  natives  of  Connecticut.  They  ivartJ 
two  cliildren  to  maturity,  viz — ("urtis  and 
IJoilin  il.  The  father  was  a  blacksmith  l)y  i 
trade,  but  finally  turned  his  attention  to  farm- 
ing. When  Curtis  was  about  oijrht  weeks 
old,  the  family  moved  to  Ohio,  and  located  at 
Windsor,  Ashtabula  Co.,  where  th(>y  remain(>d 
about  a  year,  wiien  they  removed  to  IJecrfield, 
Portage  Co.,  where  they  remainei!  about  five 
years,  and  from  thence  went  to  Edinburgh, 
where  the  old  folks  died,  many  years  ago. 
]n  youth,  Curtis  assistcMJ  his  father  at  the 
blacksmith's  trade,  but  when  he  grew  to  man- 
hood he  diverged  to  the  carpenter's  and 
joiner's  trade,  which  lie  followed  some  time. 
In  1849  he  returned  to  his  native  State,  and 
engaged  in  the  Collin's  Ax  Factory,  of  Col- 
linsville,  Conn.,  for  some  time,  and  thence 
went  to  Pine  Meadow,  and  worked  there 
aliout  a  year  and  a  half  in  Chapin's  Tool 
Factorv,  ami  then  returni'd  to  the  old  home- 
stead in  Edinburgh,  O.,  where  he  farmed 
several  vears.  Hn  married  Miss  S.  P.  Jones, 
(biughter  of  Thos.  Jones,  of  Poitagc  Co. 
Tlwy  have  two  children — .Minnie  S.,  now  Mrs. 
C.  B.  Haines,  and  Clarence  A.  .Mr.  Goddard 
is  of  an  inventive  turn  of  mind,  and  has 
seeuri'd  varions  patents,  among  which  we 
mention  a  machine  for  turning  bedstead 
pins,  which  was  extensively  used  while  the 
cording  method  was  in  use,  also  a  clothes 
line  holiK'r.  In  1860  he  came  to  Alliance, 
and  engaged  occasionally  at  joiners'  work, 
•erecting  a  gtod  residence  for  himself.  In  1875 
he  began  work  on  his  "Right  Sjieedy  "  corn 
sheller,  which  was  patented  1877,  since  which 
time  he  has  devoted  his  attention  lo  manufac- 
turing, producing  about  8,000  shellers  annu- 
ally, which  are  sold  all  over  the  United 
States,  and  some  in  Europe,  principally  in 
Bulgaria,  Austria,  Switzerland  and  Italv. 
July  31,  1879,  the  Italian  government  granted 
to  Mr.  Goddard  a  diploma  and  sUver  medal, 
demonstrating  the  favor  with  which  this  in- 
expensive sheller  was  met.  Considering  the 
utility  and  trifling  expense  to  the  purchaser 
as  well  as  its  durability,  we  doulit  if  its 
equal  has  over  been  ofTcr.-il  to  the  public. 

JOX.VTHAX  R.  HAIXE.S,  farmer;  P.  O. 
Allianci';  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  Dec.  28, 
1821,  the  only  child  born  fo  Abraham  and 
Axey  (Bryan)  Haines,  who  lived  to  maturity. 


Jonathan  Haines,  the  grandfather  of  the  sub- 
ject of  these  notes,  was  a  native  of  New 
Jersey,  who  with  his  family  moved  to  Ohio 
and  settled  in  Columbiana  Co.,  in  1802.  Ab- 
raham (Jonathan  R.'s  father),  was  then  a  lad 
about  G  years  old,  and  grew  ui)to  manhooil  in 
the  pioneer  days  of  Columbiana  Co.  Here  he 
formed  the  iiccpiaintance  of  Axey  Bryan,  a 
young  laiiy  who  came  from  New  Jersey  to 
Ohio  on  a  visit  to  some  friends,  which  led  to 
a  matrimonial  alliance,  and  after  their  mar- 
riage they  began  farming  and  clearing  up 
their  home.  Some  time  later  they  paid  a 
visit  to  the  parents  of  his  young  wife;,  in  New 
Jersey,  and  while  there  Jonathan  R.  was 
born.  They  returned  to  their  home  in  Ohio, 
and  continued  to  farm.  Jonathan  R.  was 
reared  to  farming  and  its  kindred  pursuits. 
Sept.  28,  1841,  he  married  Sarah  Grant, 
daughter  of  John  Grant,  who  emigrated  from 
New  Jersey,  and  settled  where  Mr.  Haines 
now  resides,  in  1811,  and  remained  in  this 
place  until  his  death  which  occurred  in  ]8.')4. 
The  latter  part  of  his  lite  was  spent  with  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Haines,  as  they  came  to  his  old 
homestead  in  1S.')2.  They  have  five  children 
living,  viz. — J.  Columbus;  T.  Foster;  Charles 
B.,  of  Warren,  O.;  Alma  G.,  now  Mrs.  T. 
Lingo,  of  Warren,  and  Florence  A.,  at  home. 
Mr.  Haines'  ancestors  were  of  the  Society  of 
Friends,  but  in  his.  religious  views  he  is  un- 
scctarian.  Politically,  he  early  in  1842,  es- 
poused the  anti-slavery  cause,  which  was  a 
most  un]iopular  cause  at  that  time.  Believ- 
ing that  the  Republican  party  had  fulfilled  its 
destiny,  he  withdrew  from  its  ranks,  and  ailil- 
iated  with  the  liberal  Democracy,  which  nom- 
inated Horace  Greeley  in  1872.  He  attended 
the  convention  in  Cleveland,  which  nnininated 
John  C.  Fremont  for  President  in  1804.  Mr. 
Haines  has  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Education  of  Alliance  for  several  years,  and 
is  a  meinl)er  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  He  is  one  of 
those  men  who  are  favored  with  that  most 
valuable  and  desirable  gift,  commn)i  sfiisi'.,  is 
pleasant  and  unassuming,  and  at  all  times  the 
same,  yet  a  man  of  clear  and  well-defined 
views. 

RICHARD  W.  HAINES,  retired  farmer; 
Alliance  ;  was  born  in  Burlington  Co.,  N.  J., 
July  5,  1801.  He  is  of  English  descent  ;  his 
grandfather,  Ephraim  Haines,  and  three  broth- 
ers, emigrated   from  England  to  this  country 


7[^ 


^f7 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


during  its  colonial  history  ;  some  settled  in 
New  Jersey,  some  in  Pennsylvania.  John 
Haines,  son  of  Ephraim,  married  one  Mary 
Wells,  and  of  their  seven  children  Richard 
W.  is  the  fifth.  His  early  life  was  spent  on 
his  father's  farm  until  early  manhood,  when 
he  went  to  Philadelphia  and  learned  the  cab- 
inet-maker's trade,  remaining  there  about 
seven  years,  when  he  returned  to  New  .Jersey. 
In  1839  he  removed  to  Ohio,  and  settled  in 
Damascus,  where  he  carried  on  the  cabinet 
trade  for  about  five  years.  He  married  Re- 
becca H.  Crispin  in  .July,  1830.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Abel  and  Hannah  (Evans)  Cris- 
pin, of  Mahoning  Co.,  formerly  of  New  Jer- 
sey. In  1835  Mr.  Haines  turned  his  attention 
to  farming  in  Lexington  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  for  a 
short  time,  and  then  removed  to  Goshen  Tp., 
Mahoning  Co.,  where  he  resided  for  a  period 
of  upward  of  thirty  years.  Their  family  having 
all  married  and  doing  for  themselves,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Haines  sold  their  farm  in  1873,  and  re- 
moved to  Alliance,  where  they  built  a  com- 
modious residence,  and  are  now,  in  their  ad- 
vanced years,  enjoying  the  fruits  of  their  in- 
dustrious and  well-spent  lives.  To  them  were 
born  six  children,  viz. — Mary,  Hannah,  wife 
of  B.  F.  Slusser,  of  Terre  Haute,  Ind.;  John 
C,  of  Mt.  Union  ;  Abel  C,  of  Emporia,  Kan.; 
Elizabeth,  the  widow  of  F.  Lassaux,  Creston, 
Iowa  ;  and  Nancy  R.,  now  Mrs.  J.  P.  Gaume, 
of  Alliance.  Mr.  Haines  was  a  staunch  abo- 
litionist, and  early  in  the  history  of  the  Re- 
publican party  espoused  that  cause.  His 
religious  training  and  views  were  those  of 
tiip  "  Society  of  Friends,"  as  were  also  those  of 
Mrs.  Haiues.  Her  ancestors  also  are  English, 
her  paternal  grandfather  having  emigrated 
here  with  William  Penn. 

JAMES  GUTHRIE  HEATON,  deceased; 
was  born  Feb.  5,  1838,  in  Millsborough,  Wash- 
ington Co.,  Pa.,  and  came  to  Alliance  when  a 
young  man,  residing  here  a  short  time;  he 
began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Paint- 
er, a  homoeopathic  physician,  and  attended 
lectures  at  the  Cleveland  Homoeopathic  Col- 
lege. He  then  returned  to  his  native  place 
where  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession until  his  preceptor.  Dr.  Painter,  had 
an  aberration  of  the  mind  which  compelled 
him  to  withdraw  from  active  life,  when  Dr. 
Heaton  was  solicited  to  return  and  take  charge 
of  the   office   and   practice.     After  returning 


to  Alliance  Dr.  Heaton  graduated  from  the 
Cleveland  Homoeopathic  Medical  College  in 
1869,  and  established  a  good  practice  in  the 
vicinity  of  Alliance.  He  married  Margaretta 
Williams,  Dec.  14,  1805;  she  was  daugh- 
ter of  John  Williams  of  Mt.  Union.  She  died 
iJec.  1,  1874,  leaving  three  children — Clyde, 
Mary  J.  and  Hugh.  Jan.  IS,  1876  he  married 
Miss  Susan  R.  Cooper,  who  was  a  graduate 
in  medicine.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Morris 
Cooper  of  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.  Dr.  Heaton 
was  seriously  affected  with  pulmonary  trouble, 
and  with  a  view  of  seeking  relief  he  started 
for  California,  stopping  a  few  days  with 
friends  at  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  where  his  disease 
culminated  in  death,  June  27,  1876.  Mrs. 
Heaton  then  returned  to  Alliance  and  remain- 
ed a  short  time,  when  she  removed  to  Colorado 
for  a  few  months,  but  again  returned  to  Al- 
liance, and  began  the  practice  of  her  pro- 
fession in  the  spring  of  1878.  Mrs.  Heaton 
was  a  student  of  both  schools  of  medicine, 
her  first  preceptor.  Dr.  Philo  P.  Hatch,  of 
Minneapolis,  Minn.,  being  one  of  the  most 
prominent  homoeopathic  physicians  of  the 
Northwest.  Under  his  instruction  she  be- 
came thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  practice 
of  homoeopathy.  She  read  medicine  with  Doc- 
tor Mary  E.Wilson,  also,' who  practiced  un- 
der the  Old-school  system,  and  was  a  gradu- 
ate of  the  Woman's  Medical  College  of  Penn- 
sylvania, at  Philadelphia.  Mrs.  Heaton  at- 
tended lectures  at  the  Woman's  Medical  Col- 
lege of  Pennsylvania,  at  Philadelphia,  during 
the  winter  of  1873  and  1874,  and  graduated 
from  tliat  institution  in   1875. 

MATTHIAS  HESTER,  retired;  Alliance; 
was  born  in  Green  Co.,  Penn.,  Oct.  17,  1793; 
the  third  son  of  a  family  of  nine  children  born 
to  John  and  Elizabeth  (Mason)  Hester.  His 
mother  was  a  daughter  of  one  Martin  Mason, 
who  when  a  lad  of  14  years,  was  stolen  by  the 
Indians  from  his  home  in  Virginia,  and 
brought  to  Ft.  Ducpiesne — now  Pittsburg, 
Pennsylvania,  where  a  Frenchman  saw  and 
took  compassion  on  him,  and  finally  pur- 
chased young  Mason  from  the  Indians  for  a 
bottle  of  rum.  The  Frenchman  was  on  his 
way  to  Montreal,  took  Mason  along,and  there 
remained  as  one  of  the  family  until  he  was  21 
years  of  ag'e,  then  returned  to  his  folks  in 
Virginia,  who  had  long  since  given  up  any 
hope  of  ever  hearing  anything  of    him   again. 


Ai! 


ik* 


CITY    OF    ALLIANCE. 


72!> 


Mr.  Hester's  parents  removed  from  Pennsyl- 
vaiiiii,  and  settled  in  Coluinhiaiia  Co.,  Ohio, 
in  1807.  Tliey  were  agriculturisls,  but  our 
subject  boin<r  of  frail  physique,  was  appren- 
ticed to  the  tailor's  trade  in  New  I^isl)on. 
He  cominiMiced  the  business  for  himself  in 
Salem,  aft(;rward  remaininjj  in  it  at  that  place 
about  ten  years.  In  183(5  he  came  to  Mt. 
Union  and  opened  a  grocery  store,  l:)ut  in  1838, 
removed  his  stock  to  Freedom — now  Alliance, 
his  being  the  first  mercantile  establishment 
in  the  place,  and  continued  in  business  until 
1848.  He  has  always  been  an  enterprising 
citizen,  and  very  liberal  with  his  means  to 
assist  any  and  every  improvement  of  general 
interest.  He  was  a  warm  sujiporter  of  the 
railroad  enterprises  of  the  town,  when  those 
corporations  were  an  uncertainty,  and  donated 
to  them  over  §6,000  worth  of  real  estat;-.  He 
married  Susan  Gaskill,  of  Salem,  in  1819. 
Mi-s.  Hester  died  in  M:ireh,  1804.  They  were 
the  parents  of  ten  childien,  viz: — David  G.; 
John  N.,  deceased;  Sarah,  Eliza,  George  W., 
deceased;  Charles  M.;  Thomas;  Ri^becca.  de- 
ceased; Harrison,  cleceased;  and  one  died  in 
childhood.  Mr.  Hester  is  now  in  his  88th 
year,  and  is  remarkably  well  preserved  for 
one  of  his  age,  though  never  of  robust  consti- 
tution. In  later  years  he  has  enjoyed 
remarkably  good  health,  and  only  through  a 
slow,  natural  process  of  exhaustion  of  vital 
force  is  the  finger  of  time  discernible.  He  is 
a  man  of  sterling  character,  honored  and  re- 
spected most  by  tho.sc  who  know  him  best. 

DAVJD  G.  HESTER,  agent  for  the  White 
Bronze  Monumental  Works,  and  Insurance 
Agent;  is  the  eldest  son  of  Matthias  Hester, 
was  born  in  Salem,  Columbiana  Co.,  in  Mav, 
1821.  In  boyhood  and  early  manhood  he  was 
occupied  as  clerk  in  his  father's  store,  and 
continued  in  the  niertantile  business  many 
years.  In  March,  1850,  he  married  Sarah  H. 
Fox,  of  Deerfield,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio.  They 
have  two  children,  Shelley  and  Frederick. 
In  1861  Mr.  Hester  opened  a  book  and  paper 
store  in  Alliance,  which  he  conducted  until 
1873;  and  then  engaged  in  the  insurance  bus- 
iness, representing  a  number  of  good  compa- 
nies, among  which  may  be  mentioned  the 
Home  of  New  York,  Pennsylvania  of  Phila- 
delphia, North  A:nerica;i  anil  Fraiikiin  of 
Philadelphia;  Hartford,  Ai.tn-d,  and  Phccnix 
of    Hartford,    and     many    other    American 


companies,  both  life  and  fire  ;  besides  the 
North  British  and  Queen  of  England.  In 
January,  1881,  he  was  appointedag<>nt  for 
the  White  Bronze  Monumental  Manufac- 
turing Company,  of  Bridgeport,  Coini., 
for  Stark  and  adjoining  counties.  In 
a  short  time  this  cla.ss  of  work  promises  to 
supersede  marble  and  granite  for  statuary 
and  monumental  designs  ;  being  beautiful  in 
appearance,  and  as  has  been  demonstrated  in 
the  "Old  World,"  is,  by  the  action  of  the 
elements,  unchanged  for  hundreds  of  years. 
SIMON  JOHNSON,  Mayor  of  Alliance; 
was  born  in  W'ashington  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  Nov. 
12,  1826.  His  grandfather,  Caleb  Jolmson, 
was  a  well-to-do  farmer  in  I'entisylvania,  and 
a  man  whose  advice  was  largely  sought  in  mat- 
ters of  local  interest.  He  was  appointed  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace,  and  held  said  oflice  contin- 
uously forty-eight  years.  He  had  a  family 
of  eight  children,  and  the  four  boys,  Ellis, 
Simon,  Caleb  and  Job,  emigrated  to  Ohio  and 
settled  in  Stark  Co.;  of  these  only  Ellis  sur- 
vives, in  his  03rd  year.  The  second  one,  Si- 
mon, married  Keziah  White,  and  came  here 
about  1823.  Thoy  reared  a  family  of  ten 
children,  of  whom  our  subject  is  the  second, 
and  bears  his  father's  name.  There  were  five 
girls  and  five  boys,  one  of  each  sex  being  de- 
ceased. The  Mayor's  early  education  was 
such  as  the  common  schools  afforded,  besides 
some  time  spent  in  study  at  Mt.  Union  Semi- 
nary. He  was  one  of  the  four  students  pres- 
ent at  th'e  orgainzation  of  said  institution,  and 
subsequently  took  a  course  at  Marlborough 
Academy.  April  3,  1851,  he  married  Jane 
Teeters,  daughter  of  John  Teeters,  who  resi- 
ded near  Salem.  They  moved  to  a  farm  in 
Knox  Tp.,  Columbiana  Co.,  where  they  resid- 
ed eight  years,  three  of  which  he  served  as 
Justice  of  the  Peace.  In  1859  they  removed 
to  Alliance,  and  the  following  year  he  was 
elected  Mayor,  and  served  one  year.  In  1862 
he  was  re-elected  Mayor  and  served  three 
years.  At  the  expiration  of  this  term 
of  office,  they  removed  to  the  old  home- 
stead in  the  country,  and  in  186S  returned 
to  Alliance.  During  his  residence  here  from 
1859  he  was  largely  engaged  dealing  in  live- 
stock through  the  period  of  the  late  civil  war, 
and  spent  some  time  traveling  in  the  interests 
of  the  agricultural  works  of  B^isher,  Shaw  & 
Co.,  then   of  this    town.     Two    years   subse- 


730 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


quent  to  1868,  lie  spent  travelino;'  as  assistant 
State  agent  for  the  Security  Life  Insurance 
Co.,  of  New  York;  three  years  for  Forest  City 
Fire  Insurance  of  Cleveland,  anil  one  year 
for  the  Buckeye  Insurance  Co.  In  the 
spring  of  1880  he  was  re-elected  Mayor  of 
Alliance,  which  office  he  now  holds.  They 
have  had  five  children,  four  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing— John  H.,  Rosetta,  (deceased);  Mary  K., 
L.  M.,  now  in  Akron,  and  William  W.  Mr. 
Johnson  is  a  plain  and  unassuming  gentleman 
of  fine  personal  appearance,  a  man  of  sterling 
qualities,  and  most  respected  wliere  he  is 
best  known. 

J.  H.  JOHNSON,  Insurance  Agent;  Alli- 
ance ;  is  thi'.ehlest  son  of  Simon  and  Jane 
(Teeters)  Johnson  ;  hf  was  born  in  Wiishing- 
tun  Tp.,  this  county,  Feb.  17, 1852.  His  edu- 
cation was  secured  at  the  public  schools  of 
Alliance,  and  he  also  spent  a  short  time 
at  the  Alliance  College.  When  quite 
young  he  began  to  assist  his  father,  who  was 
then  representing  several  insurance  ompa- 
nies,  and  has  ever  since  devoted  his  attention 
to  that  line  of  business,  and  represents  many 
of  the  most  reliable  insurance  companies  do- 
ing business  on  this  continent,  among  which 
may  be  mentioned  the  Royal  of  England  and 
the  Travelers'  Life  and  Accident  of  Connecti- 
cut. He  married  Rosa  Hartzell,  June  "48, 
1876  ;  she  was  a  daughter  of  Freilerick  Hart- 
zell, of  Belmont,  Mahoning  Co.,  Ohio.  They 
have  one  child — Lucy  K.  Mr.  Johnson  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Honor  for 
the  past  six  years. 

THOMAS  J.  JOHNSTON,  City  Marshal  ; 
Alliance  ;  was  born  in  Franklin  T]3.,  Colum- 
biana Co.,  Oliio,  Sept.  25,  1847.  He  is  the 
youngest  of  five  children  born  to  William 
and  Elizabeth  R.  .lohnston.  His  parents  were 
both  born  in  County  Antrim,  Ireland,  and 
came  to  the  United  States  when  quite  young. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  with  his  famih',  set- 
tled in  Columbiana  Co.  about  ]  828,  and  his 
maternal  grandfather  (whose  name  was  also 
Johnston)  settled  in  the  same  neighborhood 
about  1830,  and  all  engaged  in  farming. 
AV'hen  Thomas  J.  was  about  three  years  old 
his  father  died,  leaving  a  widow  and  five  chil- 
dren. Mrs.  Johnston  remained  on  the  farm, 
and  reared  the  childn^n  to  farm  life,  and  gave 
them  a  fair  common-school  education,  and 
prepared  them  for  doing  for  themselves.    She 


lived  to  enjoy  their  filial  affection,  and  died 
at  the  old  home  in  September,  1879.  The 
children  are — Rosey,  now  Mrs.  J.  C.  Shoe- 
maker, of  Alliance  ;  Robert,  now  in  Marion 
Co.;  Mary,  who  resides  on  the  old  homestead; 
William  J.,  in  Jefferson  Co.;  and  Thomas  J. 
When  about  14  years  old,  Thomas  J.  began 
to  learn  the  shoemakers'  trade,  and  worked 
about  a  year  and  a  half,  when  he  enlisted, 
early  in  the  summer  of  1863,  in  tlie  12th  Ohio 
Cavalry,  being  first  under  Cm.  Burbage,  but 
aiterward  transferred  to  Cen.  Stoneman's 
command.  He  served  until  November,  18G5, 
when  he  got  his  discharge  and  returned  home, 
and  employed  himself  at  general  business, 
principally  bricklaying  and  plastering,  for 
several  years.  March  3,  1870,  he  married 
Mary  J.  Aikens,  of  Alliance  ;  thev  have  two 
children,  viz. — Frank  W.  and  Elizabeth  J. 
Mrs.  Johnston's  parents  came  to  the  United 
States  from  France.  Mr.  Johnston  came  to 
Alliance  in  1867  ;  he  took  a  position  on  the 
police  force  of  Alliance  in  1878,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1880  was  elected  City  Marshal. 

JOHN  JOSEPH,  manufacturer  of  stone- 
ware; Alliance;  was  born  in  Beaver  Co., 
Penn.,  Aug.  27,  1837^  son  of  Burton  and  IMar- 
garet  (Kramer)  Joseph,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  Pennsylvania.  The  Joseph  family 
came  from  Delaware  to  the  "  Keystone " 
State  at  an  early  date.  The  parents  of  our 
subject  followed  agricultural  pursuits,  to 
which  he  also  was  early  initiated.  They  were 
parents  of  eight  children,  four  of  whom  lived 
to  maturity.  In  1842  his  father  died,  leav- 
ing a  widow  and  four  helpless  children,  viz  : 
Alexander,  Daniel,  John  and  Burton,  the 
youngest  of  which  was  born  a  few  weeks 
after  his  father's  demise.  At  this  time  they 
were  on  a  large  rented  far  m,  and  in  order  to 
provide  the  necessaries  of  life  for  her  family, 
and  get  the  business  safely  within  her  control, 
ilrs.  Joseph  gave  up  the  rented  place,  dis- 
posed of  their  surjjlus  chattels,  and  purchased 
a  small  piece  of  land,  where  the  devoted 
mother  reared  and  supjiorted  her  family  un- 
til they  began  to  learn  trades  and  do  for 
themselves.  John  was  especially  restive,  and 
in  lioyhood  full  of  youthful  mischief,  which 
caused  many  an  ominous  shake  of  the  wise- 
acres '  heads.  But  as  he  advanced  in  years, 
and  began  to  reach  out  into  the  realities  of 
life,  the   scene  changed  materially.     When  a 


^0 


>^ 


CITY    OF    ALLIANCE. 


731 


youth  of  about  15,  he  began  to  run  on  the  P., 
F't.  W.  &  C.  R.  R.,  and  eight  years  later,  ISGO, 
he  was  promoted  to  loconiotive-entrineer, 
where  he  remained  until  18(55,  when  he  left 
the  railroad  to  engage  in  teaming  in  Alliance. 
Thus  lie  occupied  his  time  until  1871,  when 
he  embarked  in  the  coal  trade  until  1874.  On 
abandoning  the  coal  trade,  he  conceived  the 
idea  of  establishing  a  pottery  here,  more  for 
business  recreation  tiian  out  of  necessity. 
In  superintending  this  he  takes  great  delight, 
and  makes  the  finest  kind  of  "stone-ware." 
His  business  has  been  a  pecuniary  success, 
and  conducted  in  such  an  unassuming  man- 
ner that  many  of  the  citizens  scarcely  realize 
its  proportions.  He  manufactures  about  sixty- 
five  kihis,  with  an  average  of  3,500  gallons  of 
ware  of  all  kinds,  to  the  kiln  annually,  and 
gives  employment  to  ten  hands.  He  has  been 
married  three  times;  first  in  1855,  to  Mar- 
garet Durbin,  who  died  in  less  than  a  year 
from  th:- d  ite  of  their  marriage.  His  second 
marri;ige  was  with  Mary  E.  Allerton,  July  2, 
1857;  she  died  in  1877,  leaving  one  child — 
Flora  E.  Nov.  2.  1878,  he  married  Margaret 
M.  Gassaway,  by  which  union  there  is  one 
child — Gertrude  M.  Personally,  he  is  a  man 
much  above  the  average  size;  his  weight  be- 
ing upward  of  300  pounds.  At  one  time 
himself  and  two  brothers,  jointly,  w<'ighed 
nearly  ten  hundre<l  pounds.  When  he  b:>;jan 
for  himself  he  was  without  means  of  any 
kind,  l)ut  by  industry  he  has  accumulated  a 
fine  property  in  Alliance,  the  inccmie  of 
which  is  more  than  sufficient  for  his  every  de- 
mand. He  is  a  mi'mlier  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity, Knights  of  Honor,  and  American  Le- 
gion of  Honor. 

PETER  I).  KEPLINGER,  boarding  house 
keeper;  Alliance;  was  liorn  in  Paris  Tp., 
Stark  Co..  Ohio,  Aug.  0,  1824.  His  father, 
Samuel  Keplinger  was  a  tobacconist,  and  a 
native  of  Atlanis  Co.,  Penn.  He  married 
Miss  Sarah  Slagle,  a  native  of  the  same  county. 
Her  father  was  financially  well-to-do,  ami  at 
an  early  date  in  the  settlement  of  Staik  Co., 
he  came  here  and  entered  a  large  tract  of 
land  in  what  is  now  Paris  Tp.  In  1823,  his 
son-in-law,  Mr.  Samuel  Keplinger,  removed 
with  his  young  wife  to  the  tract  of  land  al- 
ready referred  to,  with  a  view  of  occii])ying 
and  improving  that  portion  which  liis  wife 
would  eventually  inherit.      When  they  came 


here  thcj'  were  young,  and  knew  little  of  the 
hardships  which  they  would  have  to  encounter 
in  the  almost  unbroken  forest;  their  means 
were  limited  and  only  the  things  actually 
necessary  were  procured.  Tliey  erected  in 
the  woods  a  log  cabin  10x12  feet,  and  lived 
in  it  without  either  lloor,  except  the  one 
formed  by  nature,  or  furniture;  and  the  few 
rude  things  made  of  riven  boards,  forming 
bed-steads  by  driving  posts  in  the  ground. 
Such  were  the  luxuries  of  pioneer  life!  But 
in  a  year  or  so  they  were  able  to  erect  a  more 
comfortable  dwelling.  When  they  once  got 
a  patch  of  ground  cleared,  everything  grew 
luxuriantly,  but  it  was  almost  impossible  to 
raise  even  a  small  sum  of  money.  When 
they  had  been  living  in  their  new  home  over 
two  years,  the  entire  sum  of  cash  raised  in 
that  time  by  Mr.  Keplinger  was  §1.50.  There 
was  no  market  or  demand  for  anything  pro- 
duced in  the  country,  conseipiently  no  circu- 
lation of  mone}'.  The  fond  memory  of  other 
days  and  circumstances,  with  the  pleasant 
associations  of  her  girlhood,  frequently  caused 
the  silent  tears  to  tr'ckle  down  the  young 
wife's  cheek.  But  these  times  they  outlived, 
the  settlements  increased,  the  country  opened 
up  to  the  outer  world  by  the  construction  of 
the  canal,  circumstances  and  society  changed, 
and  their  d;iys  of  privation  gave  place  to 
seasons  of  plenty.  Mrs.  Keplinger  jiassed 
away  in  1847,  he  in  1849.  Peter  1).  was  the 
oldest  of  their  six  children,  and  his  early  life 
was  spent  on  the  farm.  He  married  Carolina 
Miller,  but  she  died,  hjaving  two  children — 
Elmira  and  Samuel  L.  He  then  marri(Hl  Ra- 
chel Scheatzley.  She  was  born  in  Germany, 
and  came  to  Stark  Co.,  with  her  parents  in 
1831,  being  at  that  time  8  years  old.  By 
this  union  three  children  were  Ijorn,  viz. — 
Mar}' L.,  Lyman  D.,  and  Frank  E.  In  1850, 
Mr.  Keplinger  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  in  New  Franklin,  for  about  four 
years,  thence  went  to  North  Georgetown, 
where  he  remained  about  six  years  in  business. 
In  1800  he  came  to  Alliance  and  has  engaged 
in  almost  every  kind  of  industry  in  the  |)lace. 
He  was  interested  in  the  inanufacture  of 
light  steel;  also  in  the  wagon  and  carriage 
hub  factory,  which  burned  down,  causing  him 
considerable  loss;  and,  unfortunately  he  was 
the  loser  of  §5,000  by  the  failure  of  the 
Fisher,  Shalters  &   Co.'s   agricultural    works. 


^j; 


Al: 


II. 


7^2 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Nevertheless,  ln'  has  accumulated  a  good 
property,  owning-  one  of  the  best ,  business 
rooms  on  Main  street,  occupied  by  Mr.  Katz- 
enstein,  in  the  dry  goods  trade,  besides  other 
valuable  property. 

MARION  M.  KING,  Attorney  at  Law;  Alli- 
ance; was  born  in  Columbiana  Co.,  Ohio,  May 
31,  1853.  He  is  the  eldest  of  the  family  of 
four  children  of  Levi  and  Mary  (Lower) 
King,  who  were  likewise  natives  of  the  same 
county.  His  education  was  that  afforded  by 
the  common  schools  and  Georgetown  Acad- 
emy, which  institution  has  been  abandoned. 
When  about  1?  years  of  age  ho  began  to 
teach  school  in  the  winter  months,  and  at- 
tended Mt.  Union  College  during  the  spring 
and  summer.  He  began  the  study  of  law 
with  A.  L.  Jones,  of  Alliance,  in  1873,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  District  Court 
of  Stark  Co.,  Se]it.  17,  1874.  He  opened  a 
law  office  in  Alliance,  where  he  practiced 
until  November,  1880,  when  a  partnership 
was  formed  with  himself  and  his  preceptor, 
under  the  firm  name  of  .Jones  &  King.  March 
6, 1877,  he  married  Dora,  daughter  of  Mr.  A.  L. 
Jones.  They  have  one  child — Roxy  Verne. 
A.  L.  Jones  was  born  in  Columbiana  Co., 
Nov.  37,  183(3;  he  is  the  second  in  descent 
from  Samuel  Jones,  a  native  of  Nevv  Jersey, 
who  emigrated  to  Virginia,  and  whose  son,  of 
same  name  (Samuel),  emigrated  to  Ohio,  and 
settled  in  Columbiana  Co.,  near  New  Lisbon, 
at  a  very  early  day.  A.  L.  was  the  eighth  of 
ten  children,  and  when  about  15  years  of 
age  he  was  apprenticed  to  the  tailor's  trade, 
but  abandoned  that  to  secure  a  more  liberal 
education,  and  attended  an  academy  at 
Washingtonville  and  Marlborough.  When 
about  36  years  of  age,  he  began  to  read  law 
with  W.  D.  Ewing,  of  New  Lisbon,  and  in  May, 
1851:,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  in  the 
fall  of  same  year  was  admitted  to  practice  in 
the  Federal  Courts.  Oct.  3,  1849,  he  mar- 
ried Ruth  A.  Coffee,  daughter  of  Joseph 
Coffee,  of  Columbiana  Co.  They  had  four 
children — Joseph  C,  Samuel  A.,  Dora,  now 
Mrs.  King,  and  Ruth  A.  Mrs.  Jones  passed 
from  this  life  Oct.  37,  1878. 

LEWIS  KIRK,  miller  and  general  man- 
ager of  the  Alliance  City  Flouring  Mill;  Al- 
liance; was  born  at  Grampian  Hills,  Clear- 
field Co.,  Pa.,  Dec.  19.  1814.  His  father, 
Asaph   Kirk,   was   born    Feb.     10,   1814,  and 


reared  to  agricultural  prusuits  in  Clearfield 
Co.,  Pa.  He  married  Eliza  Wall,  in  18;)5, 
she  was  born  in  York  Co.,  Sept.  9,  1815,  and 
when  a  little  girl  moved  to  Clearfield  Co., 
with  her  parents.  After  tlunr  marriage  they 
settled  on  a  farm  near  the  Grampian  Hills 
P.  O.,  where  they  reside  to  this  day,  and 
where  their  family  were  all  brought  up  to 
farm  life,  with  very  limited  school  facili- 
ties. They  had  five  children — -Mary,  Jona- 
than, Jason,  Lewis  and  Jane,  all  married. 
Lewis  was  the  third  son,  and  when  about 
31  years  old  he  learned  the  art  of  photoi^raphv, 
and  followed  it  until  August,  1868,  when  he 
started  to  Ohio  in  a  one-horse  wagon  to  seek 
a  new  field  of  labor;  towanl  the  close  of  the 
first  day's  travel,  he  stopped  at  a  small  town 
and  while  loitering  around  saw  two  bars  of 
heavy  iron  nailed  to  the  ground,  and  extend- 
ing as  far  as  he  could  see;  upon  enquiry,  as  to 
their  use  he  was  told  that  it  was  a  railroad, 
"  What  ?  a  railroad  within  one  day's  drive  of 
Skunk-hollow."  He  then  concluded  to  send 
his  horse  and  wagon  home  and  try  the  thing. 
He  had  heard  of  railroads  somewhere,  but 
knew  nothing  of  academies  and  colleges,  and 
was  lost  in  amazement  at  the  extent  of  the 
country  when  he  got  to  riding  in  a  big  box 
with  windows  in  it.  He  arrived  in  Ohio  sev- 
eral days^ahead  of  time,  but  ho  traveled  over 
the  State  considerable,  and  finally  selected 
Alliance  as  the  most  desirable  spot  to  con- 
vert a  Keystone  boy  into  a  Buckeye.  His  fa- 
ther and  two  uncles,  Isaac  and  David  Kirk, 
purchased  the  Alliance  City  Flouring  Mills, 
and  he  took  charge  Jan.  15,  1869,  as  princi- 
pal business  manager,  and  apprentice 
to  the  milling  trade.  At  Cleveland,  Jan. 
7, 1869,  he  married  Hannah  Margaret  Spencer; 
the}'  have  three  children — Cora  V.,  Elsie  F., 
Raphael  S.  Mrs.  Kirk  was  born  in  Clearfield 
Co.,  Pa.,  April  33,  1850,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (Stugart)  Spence,  who 
were  married  there  in  1840,  and  in  1868, 
moved  to  Benton,  Holmes  Co.,  Ohio,  with  two 
sons,  .lesse  and  Isaac,  they  are  engaged  in  the 
milling  business;  their  eldest  son  John  was 
killed  May  6,  1864,  in  the  battle  of  the  Wil- 
derness, and  Elsie  the  youngest  is  with  her 
parents.  In  1873,  on  the  death  of  his  uncles, 
our  subject's  father  purchased  their  joint  half 
interest  in  the  mill,  and  the  management  re- 
mains unchanged. 


fe- 


CITY    OF    ALLIANCE. 


733 


JASON  KIRK,  th(>  second  son.  was  born 
Oct.  7,  1840,  .and  worked  on  his  fatlioi's  farm 
until  Aiisif.  12,  1802,  wlipij  he  enlisted  in  Co. 
K.  UO,  P.  V.  1.,  one  of  the  famous  "Buck- 
tail"  Regiments,  of  the  Ai  my  of  the  Potomac, 
he  w.is  in  the  Seven-days'  Fight,  the  Battle 
ot  the  Wilderness,  in  the  hottest  contested 
points  of  the  Battle  of  Gettyshurg,  and  many 
others,  and  serveil  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
without  receiving  even  a  scratch.  On  return- 
ing from  the  army  he  learned,  and  afterward 
engaged  in  the  photographic  art  until  1S(J9, 
when  he  came  to  Alliance  to  assist  his  brother 
in  running  the  mill,  remaining  until  July, 
1873,  when  he  repaired  to  the  oil-reigons  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  engaged  in  drilling  oil- 
wells  until  August,  1878,  when  he  returned 
to  Alliance,  and  resumed  business  as  practi- 
cal miller  and  business  manager.  He  was 
married  Sept.  9,  1875,  to  Anna  E.  Edwards, 
of  Honieworth,  Columbiana  Co.,  Ohio. 

SAMUEL  KATZKXSTEIN,  Alliance;  is 
one  of  the  leading  merchants  of  Alliance. 
He  came  from  Europe  to  the  United  States 
when  quite  young.  Having  been  engaged  in 
the  dry  goods  trade  from  early  boyiiood,  he 
continued  in  that  business  in  this  country,  and 
iias  now  established  one  of  the  best  dry  goods 
liouses  in  Alliance. 

LEVI  LESLIE  LAMBORN,  physician 
and  banker;  Alliance;  was  born  in  Chester 
(  1).,  Pa.,  Oct.  10, 1829.  He  is  the  youngest  son 
of  a  family  of  eleven  children  born  toTownsend 
and  Ann  (Clayton)  Lainborn.  His  father  was 
a  prominent  Whig  politician,  and  passed  ma- 
ny years  of  his  life  as  an  officeholder  in  his 
county.  He  was  greatly  opposed  to  Freema- 
sonrj',  and  once  ran  for  Governor  of  Pennsyl- 
vania on  the  anti-Masonic  ticket.  When 
young  Lamborn  was  about  8  years  old  lie 
came  with  some  of  his  older  brothers  to  Ohio, 
and  located  near  Salem,  where,  in  conformity 
with  the  religious  creed  of  his  relations,  he 
was  reared  and  educated  in  tlie  schools  of  the 
"  Friends."  At  the  age  of  15,  having  already 
determined  upon  medicine  as  a  profession,  he 
I>i-gan  reading  under  the  supervision  of  Dr. 
Scilonion  Sleeve,  of  Damascus;  attended  his 
first  two  courses  of  lectures  in  Philadelphia, 
and  a  third  at  the  medical  department  of  the 
West  rn  Reserve  College  in  Cleveland,  where 
he  graduated  in  1819.  He  entered  upon  the 
practice  of  his  profession  in  Mt.  Union,  where 


he  continued  fifteen  years.  In  1863  he  re- 
moved tt)  Alliance,  and  having  practiced  for 
three  years  he  retired  from  the  profession. 
In  1805,  in  company  with  others,  he  purchas- 
ed 350  acres  near  Alliance,  a  part  of  which  is 
now  the  southern  addition  to  the  city.  In  the 
sessions  of  1859-00  and  of  1800-61,  he 
served  as  Clerk  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives of  Ohio,  having  been  a  Free 
Soil  candidate  for  that  body  the  year  pre- 
vious. Before  the  late  war  he  was  a  Re- 
publican, but,  possessing  conservative  views 
as  to  the  policj'  to  be  pursued  toward  the 
South,  he  became  what  was  known  as  a  Union 
Democrat,  and  has  since  affiliated  with  that 
party.  In  1874  he  was  a  candidate  for  State 
Senator  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  and  in  1870 
Was  nominated  for  Congress  from  the  17th 
Ohio  District.  In  1874  he  engaged  in  private 
banking  with  E.  W^  Gray,  though  for  several 
years  previous  he  transac.ed  quite  an  exten- 
sive loan  and  discount  business.  He  possesses 
natural  abilities  of  a  high  order,  coupled  with 
good  judgment,  grciut  caution  and  shrewdness. 
He  has  acquired  a  leading  position  among  the 
most  successful  business  men  of  the  county, 
and  is  of  independent  and  decided  views,  be- 
ing outspoken,  yet  of  genial,  alFable  manners. 
As  a  physician  he  enjoyed  an  extensive  prac- 
tice, and  achieved  position  among  the  eminent 
practitioners  of  eastern  Ohio  ;  was  a  member 
of  the  various  medical  associations  of  the 
County  and  State,  and  has  been  a  mend^er  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  State  Asylum 
for  the  Deaf  and  Dumb,  at  Columbus.  He 
is  connected  with  no  organization  of  any  kind, 
secret  or  religious,  but  has  been  an  earnest 
advocate  of  the  policy  of  the  Democratic 
party  ;  has  acquired  a  reputation  as  a  public 
speaker,  and  a  prominent  place  among  the 
effective  platform  orators  of  this  part  of  the 
State.  In  June,  1851,  he  married  Maria, 
daughter  of  Stacey  Grant,  of  Alliance.  They 
have  had  seven  children,  six  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing ;  their  only  daughter,  Lissetta  L.,  is  the 
wife  of  Alexander  Fletcher,  an  official  of  the 
P.,  Ft.  W.  &  C.  R.  R. ;  Leroy  L.  conducts  one 
of  the  most  extensive  floral  establishments  in 
this  part  of  the  State. 

RICHAliD  LEE,  retired  farmer;  P.  O.  Al- 
liance; was  born  in  Berks  Co.,  Penn.,  Oct. 
25,  1817.  His  great-grand-parents  were  from 
Wales  and  Ireland.    They  came  to  this  conti- 


734 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


nent  prior  to  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  set- 
tled in  Pennsylvania.  His  father,  Jeremiah 
B.  Lee,  married  Mary  Tea,  of  his  native  place. 
To  them  were  born  seven  children,  of  whom 
the  subject  of  these  notes  is  the  third.  When 
he  was  about  10  years  old  his  mother  died, 
and  father  married  again.  Two  children 
were  the  result  of  this  union.  Richard  was 
apprenticed  to  the  pottery  business  when  10 
years  old,  and  continued  in  that  business  un- 
til about  34  years  of  age.  In  1840,  the  fam- 
ily, consisting  oi  father,  step-mother  and  six 
childien,  came  to  Ohio  and  located  at  Albany, 
Columbiana — now  Mahoning  Co.  They  en- 
gaged in  farming,  and  got  along  well  in  their 
new  home.  The  old  folks  returned  to  their 
former  home  in  Pennsylvania,  on  a  visit  after 
about  two  years  residence  in  Ohio.  When 
returning  here  his  father  took  sick  by  the  way 
and  died  at  New  Brighton.  April  1,  1841, 
Richard  married  Susan,  daughter  of  John  and 
Mary  Teeters,  and  began  to  farm  for  himself. 
He  was  appointed  administrator  of  his  fath- 
er's estate;  and  unknown  to  the  family  his 
father  had  signed  as  surety  the  paper  of  a 
merchant  of  Salem,  to  the  amount  of  $2,500, 
which  became  due  soon  after  his  death,  and 
for  which  the  farm  was  sold  to  meet  the  de- 
mand. Richard  and  a  brother-in-law,  William 
Hoppes,  purchased  the  place  between  them 
and  succeeded  in  making  satisfactory  arrange- 
ments, thus  retaining  the  old  homestead. 
Richard's  early  education  was  very  deficient, 
as  he  was  continuously  engaged  from  10  years 
of  age  until  15  years,  in  the  pottery,  having 
attended  school  about  six  months  in  all,  after 
he  was  10  years  old.  At  15  years  of  age,  he 
was  obliged  to  haul  iron  ore  from  the  mines  to 
the  smelting  works  during  the  winter  months, 
and  through  the  summer  continue  in  the  pot- 
tery; thus  he  was  employed  until  he  was  34 
years  of  age.  In  the  meantime  he  had  ac- 
cpiired  a  fair  knowledge  of  the  common 
branches  of  education  by  close  and  hard  study 
at  nights;  by  the  light  of  the  fire  he  eagerly 
perused  what  few  books  he  could  secure,  and, 
although  working  hard,  made  more  progress 
in  gaining  a  knowledge  of  the  practical  idea 
than  many  who  were  favored  with  better  facil- 
ities. In  the  spring  of  1844,  the  family  re- 
moved from  Columbiana  to  Stark  Co.,  and  set- 
tled in  Washington  Tp.,  where  Mr.  Lee  be- 
came   one    of    the     most    successful   farmers. 


and  resided  until  1875,  when  he  retired 
from  the  farm  and  came  to  Alliance,  where  he 
has  resided  ever  since.  He  officiated  as  Treas- 
urer of  Washington  Tp.,  for  twelve  years; 
was  County  Commissioner  six  years,  and  is 
now  serving  his  fifth  year  as  Trustee  of  Lex- 
ington Tp.  Early  in  life  he  affiliated  with  the 
Democracy;  being  opposed  to  the  pro-slavery 
issues,  he  resolved  to  unite  with  the  "  Know- 
Nothing"  party,  which  was  then  being  organ- 
ized. Having  presented  himself  for  initia- 
tion, the  secret  oath  being  administered,  in 
which  there  were  unpleasant  and  unpatriotic 
issues  developed,  he  instantly  called  a  halt 
in  ceremonies,  reached  for  his  hat,  and  bid 
the  party  a  lasting  farewell.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Lee  five  children  were  born — Mary,  now 
Mrs.  W.  Coffee;  Jeremiah,  Ellen  P.,  wife  of 
T.  F.  Haines;  Jane,  wife  of  Robert  W.  Cook, 
and  Jessie  E.  His  son  Jeremiah  enlisted  in 
the  late  war,  115th,  O.  V.  I.,  and  served 
three  years,  having  received  his  discharge  the 
day  he  was  31  yeai'S  old.  He  returned  home 
broken  down  in  health,  married  and  survived 
until  July  4,  1873,  when  he  died  of  disease 
contracted  in  the  service. 

HARVEY  LAUGHLIN,  attorney  at  law; 
Alliance;  was  born  in  Deerfield,  Portage  Co., 
Ohio,  Jan.  10,  1813.  His  father,  James 
Laughlin,  was  born  in  Virginia,  and  came  to 
Pennsylvania  with  his  parents  when  quite 
young;  in  the  latter  State  he  married  Letitia 
Dunlap,  and  in  the  year  1800  they  removed 
to  Ohio,  settling  in  Deerfield  Tp.,  of  Portage 
Co.  They  were  parents  of  twelve  children — 
six  girls  and  an  equal  number  of  boys;  ten 
grew  up  to  maturity,  seven  of  %vhom  survive. 
Harvey  was  the  eiglith  child.  Mr.  James 
Laughlin  was  by  trade  a  mill-wright;  he 
was  a  man  of  push  and  energy;  with  an  idea 
of  the  early  demand  for  milling  in  the  rapidly 
developing  settlement,  he  began  the  erection 
of  a  dam  on  the  Mahoning  River,  one  mile 
south  of  Deerfield  Center.  He  put  in 
machinery  for  both  grist  and  saw-milling; 
this  was  among  the  first  mills  in  Portage  Co.; 
he  lived  there  to  a  good  old  age,  and  passed 
away  in  1851.  His  wife  preceded  him  in 
death  several  years.  Harvey  obtained  his 
education  at  the  common  schools  and  Sturde- 
vant  Academy  of  Talmadge.  His  early  man- 
hood was  spent  variously  between  teaching 
school  and  being  employed  in  his  father's  mill. 


If^ 


CITY    OF    ALLIANCE. 


735 


and  farming.  In  1842  he  began  tlie  study 
of  law  with  Griswold  and  Grant,  of  Canton, 
and  in  the  fall  session  of  1844-,  of  the  Supreme 
Court  in  Canton,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar. 
He  did  not  enter  immediately  upon  t  ho  practice 
of  law,  but  returned  to  the  old  homestead  in 
Deerfiold,  Portage  Co.,  and  of  which  he  had 
charge  until  185:i.  That  same  year  he  moved 
to  Alliance,  and  opened  a  law  office,  where 
he  has  practiced  ever  since.  lie  has  been 
twice  married,  first  to  Sarah  A.  Baldwin,  of 
Wheeling,  Va.,  in  1836,  who  died,  leaving 
one  chiki — Sarah  A.  Uis  second  marriage 
was  with  Minerva  M.  Mills,  of  Deerfield,  in 
May,  1840.  By  this  union  five  children  %vere 
born,  four  of  whom  are  living,  viz. — Eliza 
M.,  Harvey  C,  James  L.  and  Mary  E.  His 
eldest  son,  Harvey,  has  been  in  the  employ  of 
the  Pioneer  Oil  Co.,  of  Cleveland,  in  the 
capacity-  of  book-keeper  for  the  past  ten  years. 
.Tames  L.  graduated  from  Harvard  College, 
in  1.S73,  where  he  is  now  Assistant  Professor 
of  Political  Economy. 

JONATHAN  MYERS,  contractor  and 
builder  ;  Alliance  ;  was  born  in  Smith  Tp., 
Mahoning  Co.,  Ohio,  June  6,  1836.  His  fath- 
er's name  was  Jonathan  Myers,  who  was  born 
in  Virginia,  Nov.  11,  1806.  When  quite 
j-oung,  his  parents  removed  from  Virginia  to 
Carroll  Co.,  Ohio,  and  when  he  arrived  at  man- 
hood he  worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade.  He 
finally  married,  and  with  his  wife  removed  to 
Smith  Tp.,  Mahoning  Co.,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming.  They  reared  eleven  children,  seven 
boys  and  four  girls  ;  of  these,  ten  lived  to 
maturity.  The  subject  of  these  notes  is  the 
third  child  of  the  family  ;  he  received  the 
ordinary  tuition  afforded  in  the  common 
schools,  and  until  about  2'i  years  of  age  was 
variously  engaged  on  his  father's  extensive 
farm  and  in  working  at  the  carpenters  trade  ; 
for  the  latter  he  had  a  decided  natural  turn  of 
mind.  He  began  for  himself,  with  what  ex- 
])erience  he  had  then  acquired,  in  contracting 
and  building,  throughout  the  neighborhood, 
in  which  operations  he  was  quite  successful. 
Aug.  5,  18(j-2,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  H,  10.5th  O. 
V.  I.,  and  went  to  the  front ;  on  the  8th  of 
October,  the  same  year,  while  participating  in 
the  battle  of  Perryville,  Ky.,  he  was  shot 
through  the  right  arm,  breaking  it  above  the 
elbow,  which  disabled  him  from  further  duty 
as  a  soldier  ;    he  lay  there  in    hospital   three 


months,  and  was  then  removed  to  Louisville, 
Ky.,  where  he  was  discharged  Jan.  14,  1863, 
on  account  of  disability.  The  ensuing  sum- 
mer he  attended  a  select  school  in  Mahoning 
Co.,  and  in  1864  he  accepted  a  |>osition  as  I 
bookkeeper  in  the  planing-mill  of  .John  Pack-  '< 
er,  where  he  remained  seven  months,  when  he  I 
purchased  a  piece  of  real  estate  in  Alliance, 
and  began  building,  and  selling  house  and 
lot  as  soon  as  finished.  He  did  a  good  busi- 
ness in  this  way  during  the  influ.\  of  jjopula- 
tion  to  the  town  when  it  was  comparatively 
new.  This  line  of  business  he  has  continued 
ever  since,  besides  being  for  three  years  the 
partner  of  J.  T.  Weybreeht  in  the  planing-mill 
and  lumber  business.  June  8,  1865,  he  mar- 
ried Etneline  Cop})ock,  a  daughter  of  Pleas- 
ant and  L\-dia  E.  Coppock,  of  Mahoning  Co. 
They  have  five  (children  living — Mar)'  (de- 
ceased), Charles  S.,  Howard  F.,  Orlando  B., 
Oscar  and  Edward  ;  one  died  in  childhood. 
Besides  his  town  property,  he  purchased  in 
April,  1880,  a  farm  of  120  acres  adjoining  the 
citv  corporation. 

B.  F.  MERCER,  manufacturer  of  wooden 
pumps;  Alliance;  was  born  in  Columbiana 
Co.,  Ohio,  Dec.  20,  1831.  He  is  the  son  of 
Solomon  and  Elizabeth  (Fitzpatrick)  Mercer, 
who  were  both  natives  of  this  State.  His 
father  learned  the  potters'  trade,  and  worked 
at  it  in  his  younger  days,  but  subsequently 
turned  his  attention  to  farming,  where  he 
reared  his  family.  Consequently  the  early 
life  of  B.  F.  was  spent  on  the  farm,  and  at 
the  age  of  1.5  hl^  was  apprenticed  to  the 
carriage  manufacturing  business  in  Massillori, 
and  worked  at  that  trade,  including  a  term  of 
apprenticeship,  about  fifteen  years.  In  1864 
he  removed  to  Alliance,  and  embarked  in 
the  manufacture  of  horse,  hay  and  grain- 
rakes,  and  conducted  that  three  years;  the  busi- 
ness could  scarcely  be  considered  a  financial 
success,  and  abandoned  it.  In  1868,  in  part- 
nership with  Dr.  Armstrong,  he  established 
the  manufactory  of  wooden  pumps,  and  about 
one  year  later  he  purchased  tlic  interest  of 
his  partner,  since  which  time  he  has  conducted 
the  business  himself.  In  this  he  has  been 
favored  with  a  rapidly  extending  patronage  ; 
lays  no  claim  to  any  new-found  plan  or  patent, 
but  manufactures  a  first-class  pump,  of  the 
very  best  material,  for  either  deep  or  shallow 
wells.     His  establishment  is  commodious  and 


t^ 


736 


BI0(5RAPmCAL    SKETCHES: 


suited  to  his  business;  he  employs  five  to  ten 
hands,  according  to  the  season  of  the  year, 
and  turns  out  about  5,000  pumps  annually, 
which  are  sold  to  dealers  throug-hout  the 
states  of  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Indiana  and 
Michigan.  April  13,  1851,  he  married  Sarah 
C.  Freer,  of  Paris,  this  country.  The\-  have 
three  children,  viz. — Harlcv  F.,  Fannie  and 
Burr  S. 

CHARLES  L.  MORGAN,  physician  and 
surgeon;  Alliance;  was  born  Sept.  19, 
1857,  in  Alliance.  He  is  the  son  of  John  C. 
and  Elizabeth  (Pennock)  Morgan,  both  of 
whom  are  natives  of  Ohio.  Charles  L.  is  the 
second  son  of  three  children.  He  received 
a  thorough  practical  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools,  and  in  1S71  entered  Mt.  Union 
College,  and  subsequently  graduated  from 
the  High  School  of  Alliance,  and  in  1876  be- 
gan the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  J.  H.  Tres- 
sel,  in  this  place.  The  first  course  of  lectures 
he  attended  was  in  the  Miami  Medical  College 
of  Cincinnati;  and  again  at  the  College  of 
Physicians  and  Surgeons  of  Baltimore,  Md., 
where  he  graduated  in  1879.  He  began  the 
practice  of  his  profession  in  partnership  with 
Dr.  E.  I.uolien,  of  Westfield,  Morrow  Co., 
and  in  1880  he  removed  to  Alliance,  where 
he  has  established  himself,  and,  so  far,  has  se- 
cured a  good  patronage,  which  is  daily  in- 
creasing. As  a  student  he  was  a  close  worker 
and  observing,  and  as  a  practitioner  no  doubt 
the  same  characteristic  will  predominate. 
With  his  naturally  agreeable  and  pleasing 
manners,  combined  with  his  professional  abil- 
ity, it  is  only  a  question  of  a  short  time  and 
circumstances  when  he  will  stand  in  the  first 
ranks  of  the  profession.  While  he  is  profi- 
cient in  all  branches  of  the  science  of  medi- 
cine, surgery  claims  his  special  atttenion. 
Sept.  3,  1880,  he  married  V.  Esteila  Miller, 
daughter  of  Dr.  Jesse  Miller,  of  Alliance. 

EMERY  MILLER,  dealer  in  live  stock;  Al- 
liance; was  born  in  Mahoning  Co.,  Ohio,  .fnly 
21,  1839.  The  second  of  nine  children  born 
to  John  H.  and  Elizabeth  (llgenfritz).  Miller; 
and  in  youth  was  brought  u]j  to  farming  and 
its  kindred  pursuits.  After  the  regular  course 
of  study  in  the  district  schools,  he  received  a 
liberal  education  in  the  Canfield  Academy, 
and  began  teaching  school  when  16  years  of 
age;  having  completed  six  terms  before  he 
was  31  years  old,  some  of  the  time  being  em- 


ployed in  the  schools  of  New  Middleton' 
When  of  age,  he  began  to  clerk  in  a  drv 
goods  store,  and  a  year  later  (1861)  he  came  to 
Alliance,  and  opened  a  diy  goods  store  which 
he  continued  for  eight  years  ;  when  he  pur- 
chased a  good  farm  of  240  acres  in  Mahoning 
Co.,  a  short  distance  from  Alliance,  and  en- 
gaged in  stock  dealing  extensively,  to  which 
business  he  devotes  his  whole  attention.  His 
annual  shipments  average  about  500  head  of 
horses,  sold  {)rincipally  in  Philadelphia,  and 
about  1300  head  of  cattle,  which  are  slaugh- 
tered principally  in  Youngstown,  Ohio,  to 
supply  the  meat  market  of  his  brother,  whose 
patronage  requires  upwards  of  1300  beeves 
yearly.  In  March,  1860,  Mr.  Miller  married 
Maggie  I.,  daughter  of  David  Weikart,  of 
Mahoning  Co.  Three  children  have  been 
born  to  them,  viz:  Austie  I.,  Ivie  C,  and 
Chloe  E.  Mr.  Miller  has  pursued  industrious- 
ly a  straight,  business-like  course,  which  has 
been  greeted  with  more  than  ordinary  suc- 
cess. He  began  in  business  with  a  very 
limited  amount  of  capital,  and  has  now,  in  the 
prime  of  life,  a  competency;  for,  besides  his 
stock-farm,  he  owns  9  acres  within  the  cor- 
porate limits  of  Alliance,  on  which  he  erpcted 
one  of  the  finest  residences  in  Alliance,  in 
1877,  at  a  cost  of  upwards  of  $11,000,  with  all 
necessary  out-buildings.  He  is  an  ai-tive 
member  of  the  Society  of  American  Legion 
of  Honor. 

JESSE  MILLER,  physician  and  sur- 
geon; Alliance;  son  of  Rev.  .Fohn  B.,  and  Sarah 
Sliller;  was  born  in  Washington  Tp.,  Stark  Co., 
Ohio,  May  4,  1837.  His  early  education  was 
received  in  the  common  schools,  and  subse- 
quently at  Mt.  Union  Seminary;  he  began 
teaching  in  his  17th  year,  during  win- 
ter, and  attended  school  in  the  interval. 
In  1858  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  with 
J.  P.  Gruwell,  M.  D.,  at  Damascus,  Ohio; 
attended  lectures  at  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania, at  Philadelphia,  and  graduated  there 
in  March,  1871.  He  married  Maria  Summer, 
daughter  of  David  and  Anna  Summer  of 
Columbiana  Co.,  Sept.  29,  1859;  he  began  the 
practice  of  his  profession  in  1861  at  North 
Benton,  Ohio;  where  he  remained  until  he 
engaged  in  the  war  of  the  late  rebellion  in 
1864,  as  Assistant  Surgeon,  U.  S.  A.,  and 
was  assigned  to  duty,  first  at  Indianoplis, 
soon  after  ordered  to  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  from 


r 


^14* 


CITY    OF    ALLIANCE. 


737 


tlu'ie  went  to  Nashville,  Tenn.,  and  was  as- 
sigiR'd  to  general  iiospital  No.  2,  where  he  re- 
mained until  March,  1805,  when  he  returned 
home  havinjj  contracted  rheumatism  from 
which  he  has  suffered  severely  since.  In  1809 
he  was  compelled  to  quit  practice,  on  account 
of  disability  induced  by  rheumatism,  and  de- 
cided to  try  a  change  of  climate.  He  then 
removed  to  Topeka,  Kan.,  where  he  resided 
five  years  without  anj'  improvement,  but  his 
rheumatic  double  had  so  far  disabled  him  as 
to  make  him  almost  entirely  helpless.  He 
returned  to  Ohio  in  1874,  and  located  in  Al- 
liance where  he  now  resides.  His  suffering 
has  been  extreme,  even  to  the  dislocation  of 
his  joints;  his  esteemed  wife  has  been  his 
constant  companion  and  care-taker  during 
these  many  years  of  his  afiliction,  which  he 
has  borne  with  patient  resignation.  They 
have  two  children,  viz. — Viola  Estelle,  and 
William  Leslie. 

REV.  JOHN  B.  MILLER,  Presbyterian 
minister  ;  Alliance  ;  was  born  near  North 
Benton,  Columbiana  (now  Mahoning)  Co., 
Ohio,  Feb.  13,  1816.  His  father,  Abraham 
Md'er,  was  a  native  of  Fayette  Co.,  Pa.,  and 
moved  to  Ohio  and  settled  in  Smith  Tj).  of 
Columbiana  Co.,  in  1804  ;  his  wife's  name 
was  Nancy  Blackburn  ;  they  reared  a  family 
of  eight  children.  The  children  were  sent  to 
subscrijjtion  schools  in  the  winter,  and  were 
reared  to  the  industries  of  farm-life  during 
summer.  In  this  way  . I  oh  n  B.  secured  a  good 
practical  education,  and  was  never  an  hour 
under  instruction  which  was  paid  from  any 
public  fund.  When  about  12  years  of  age  he 
united  himself  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  early  distinguished  himself  as  a 
leader  ;  on  the  day  he  was  16  years  of  age 
he  received  a  license  from  that  denomination 
to  exhort  in  Randolph,  Portage  Co.,  and  was 
regidarly  ordained  at  Warren,  Trumi.idl  Co., 
Aug.  1,  1841,  as  a  local  minister.  Two  vi^ars 
subsequent  to  his  ordination,  when  the  Church 
was  divided  on  the  issue  of  slavery  in  the 
United  States,  Mr.  Miller  went  with  the 
seceding  faction  and  joined  the  M^esleyan 
Methodists,  in  Auo-usi,  1843;  he  was  tlien 
a])pointed  to  a  circuit,  and  spent  ten  years  as 
traveling  minister,  principally  in  the  "Western 
Reserve,"  except  one  year  which  he  spent  in 
the  Westville  circuit,  in  the  counties  of  Co- 
lumbiana  and   Stark.     Althongii    evervthing 


was  in  harmony  as  regarding  his  connection 
with  the  Wesleyan  body,  yet  his  better  judg- 
ment and  more  cool  reflection  would  continu- 
ally deprecate  his  withdrawal  from  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  body.  In  December,  1853, 
he  united  himself  with  the  Westville  Pres- 
bytery, and  was  received  by  that  body  on  cer- 
tificate from  the  Wesleyan  MetJiodists,  as  an 
ordained  minister,  as  he  had  been  ordained  an 
elder  while  connected  mth  the  Wesleyan 
M(!thodist  Church.  He  was  then  installed 
pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  New 
Waterford,  Columbiana  Co.,  where  he  preach- 
ed fourteen  years,  when  he  received  and  ac- 
cepted a  call  to  preach  at  Enon  Valley,  in 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  remained  three  years, 
when  he  accepted  a  call  from  the  churches  of 
Betliesda  and  Hanover,  in  Columbiana  Co., 
where  he  preached  three  year.s,  half  the  time 
to  each  church,  as  neither  congregation  was 
able  to  sustain  regular  weekly  service.  He 
then  severed  his  relation  with  the  Hanover 
church,  and  preached  two  years,  giving  all  his 
time  to  the  church  at  Bethesda.  In  Ajjril, 
1877,  he  was  obliged,  on  account  of  failing 
health,  to  give  up  his  charge  at  Bethesda, 
since  which  time  he  has  been  supplying  dif- 
ferent churches  ;  for  about  eighteen  months 
past  he  has  been  preaching  to  the  congrega- 
tion at  New  Harrisburg,  Carroll  Co.  Dec.  2, 
1834,  he  married  Sarah  Shaffer,  and  to  them 
were  born  twelve  children,  eight  of  whom  are 
living,  viz.^ — .Jesse  (whose  sketch  is  in  this 
work),  Bradford,  now  Treasurer  of  Shawnee 
Co.,  Kan.;  Williatn  W.  and  Hiram  B.,  part- 
ners in  mercantile  and  live-stock  trade,  in 
Osage,  Kan.;  Henry  H.,  a  ph3-sician,  in  prac- 
tice at  Rossville,  K;in.;  John  A.,  in  the  boot 
and  shoe  business  in  North  Topeka;  Stephen  is 
a  merchant  in  Florence,  Kan.;  Jane  A.  is  now 
Mrs.  William  Millard,  of  tliis  county.  Mrs. 
Miller  died  Nov.  6,  1805  ;  Mr.  Miller  married 
his  second  wife,  Mrs. Mary  Boies,  nee  Hamilton, 
widow  of  the  late  W.  Boies,  Nov.  6,  1866. 
Although  well  advanced  in  years,  Mr.  Miller 
is  a  man  full  of  vitality,  energetic  in  the  good 
cause,  an  ever-ready  and  zealous  worker; 
what  he  may  have  lacked,  in  early  life,  in 
collegiate  education,  is  fully  compensated  in 
native  ability,  a  large  amount  of  common- 
sense,  seasoned  with  a  long  and  varied  expe- 
rience. Five  of  his  sons  were  engaged  in  the 
late  civil  war,  viz. — Jesse,  Bradford,  John  A., 


738 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Willium  W.  and  Hiram  B.  Bradford  served 
for  some  time  as  Assistant  Provost  Marshal  at 
Alliance. 

WILLIAM  McLERAN,  commercial  trav- 
eler and  hardware  merchant;  Alliance;  was 
born  at  Philadelphia,  April  28,  1832.  His 
parents  were  James  and  Mary  (Brown)  Mc- 
Leran,  both  natives  of  Scotland;  who  came  to 
the  United  States  with  their  respective 
families  when  children.  James  McLeran  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  woolens  in  Phil- 
adelphia, and  continued  in  that  business  until 
1832,  when  he  removed  with  his  family  to 
Salem,  Columbiana  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  coverlid  and  carjiet  weaving,  and 
continued  in  that  business  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1852.  His  widow  survived 
until  1867.  They  had  four  children — James, 
John;  and  Mary  and  William  (twins).  Wil- 
liam's boyhood  was  spent  in  Salem,  and  when 
about  14  years  old,  he  began  to  clerk  in  a 
store  of  general  merchandise,  and  remained 
three  years,  when  he  began  to  learn  the 
carriage-blacksmitliing-  trade,  and  worked  at 
that  for  four  years.  Being  much  inclined  to 
travel,  he  decided  on  making  a  tour  of  the 
Western  States  and  Territories,  which,  includ- 
ing his  stay  in  California,  occupied  a  period 
of  four  years.  In  1855,  he  left  California,  and 
returned  to  Ohio,  and  engaged  in  the  dry 
goods  business  in  Hanover,  and  subsequently 
in  the  merchant-tailoring  in  Salem  for  several 
years,  and  then  disposed  of  his  interest  in 
that  business  to  his  brother,  who  was  his  part- 
ner, and  went  to  Pittsburg  in  April,  1859, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  hardware-jobbing 
business  until  January,  1861,  when  he  went 
to  Philadelphia,  and  has  been  a  commercial 
traveler  from  the  latter  city  ever  since.  His 
experience  for  the  last  twenty-one  years  as 
traveling  salesman  over  the  north-west,  has 
been  varied  and  interesting.  His  strict 
integrity  and  close  attention  to  business  has 
placed  him  high  in  the  confidence  of  his  em- 
ployers, and  won  him  many  friends  among 
ills  patrons.  Nov.  7,  1855,  he  married  Laura 
.].  Laubie,  daughter  of  .James  Laubie,  of 
Salem,  formerly  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.  In  the 
spring  of  1881,  he  established  a  retail  hard- 
ware store  in  Alliance,  in  partnership  with 
his  nephev/,  Will.  M.  Grumrine,  the  latter 
gentleman  has  charge  of  the  business,  in 
which  he   has   had    considerable    experience. 


He  was  born  in  Salem,  Ohio,  April  2*^,  1856; 
son  of  Daniel  and  Mary  (McLeran)  Crumrine 
— she  the  only  sister  of  Mr.  McLrran.  Mr. 
Crumrine  was  engaged  in  a  hardware  store 
where  he  remamed  six  years,  and  then 
accepted  a  position  in  the  wholesale  house  of 
Wagner  &  Forney,  of  Mansfield,  as  traveling 
salesman,  which  position  he  resigned  when 
the  firm  of  McLeran  &  Crumrine   was  formed. 

WILLIAM  MURPHY,  manufacturer  and 
repairer  of  steam  boilers,  &c.;  Alliance  ; 
was  born  in  Cork,  Ireland,  Feb.  10,  1846. 
When  he  was  about  3  years  old,  his  parents 
came  to  the  United  States,  and  settled  at  Buf- 
falo, N.  Y.  There  his  mother  died,  and  his 
father  married  a  second  wife,  and  reared  a 
large  family.  When  about  19  years  of  age, 
William  began  to  work  with  the  Buckeye 
Boiler  Co.,  of  Cleveland;  finished  his  trade 
with  the  Variety  Iron  Works  Co.,  and  subse- 
quently established  a  shop  in  Newcastle, 
Penn.,  but  being  in  limited  financial  circum- 
stances, he  suffered  considerable  loss  in  the 
panic  of  1873,  and  was  obliged  to  suspend 
business  in  that  place.  He  then  opened  a 
shop  in  the  oil  regions  of  Pennsylvania,  which 
he  finally  sold  and  returned  to  Ohio.  On 
Aug.  29,  1872,  he  was  married  to  Margaret 
Ryan,  daughter  of  William  Ryan,  of  Mt. 
Union.  Since  their  return  to  Ohio,  Mr.  Mur- 
phey  worked  at  his  trade  during  the  winter 
months,  and  worked  Mr.  Ryan's  farm  during 
the  summer,  until  November,  1880,  when  he 
established  liis  present  boiler  works  in  the  old 
Nixon  agricultural  works  building,  where  he 
does  all  kinds  of  boiler  manufacturing  and  re- 
pairing. They  have  three  children — William 
F.,  Charles  H.,  and  John  A. 

J.  W.  MoFARLAND,  machinist  and 
manufacturer  of  engines;  Alliance;  was 
born  in  Chester  Co.,  Penn.,  August  26,  1833; 
he  is  the  youngest  of  five  children  of  John  and 
Ann  (Wiley)"  McFarland.  His  father  died 
when  he  was  quite  young,  and  until  about 
his  17th  year  he  lived  and  worked  on  the 
farm.  He  then  began  to  learn  the  ma- 
chinist's trade  at  the  Brandywine  Machine 
Works,  and  served  four  years.  In  1855  he 
came  to  Ohio,  and  started  a  saw-mill  near 
Salem,  Columbiana  Co.,  and  ran  that  about 
three  years.  He  came  to  Alliance  in  the 
spring  of  I860,  and  was  employed  in  the  ma- 
chine works  here  as  "  master  mechanic;"  he 


f^ 


CITY    OF    ALLIANCE. 


739 


held  this  |ii)sitiou  until  18GG,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Uoatesville,  Penn.,  and  engaged  at 
his  trade  there  several  years,  after  which  he 
returned  to  Alliance  and  took  charge  of  Nix- 
on &  Co.'s  works  for  a  short  time.  In  1872 
he  began  business  for  himself;  although  his 
out-set  was  at  a  time  most  unfav()ral)le  for 
business  enterprise,  he  pushed  his  work  per- 
severingly  and  steadily  in  a  small  way,  and 
has  been  favored  with  unexpected  success, 
em|)loviug  now  live  or  six  hands,  as  trade  de- 
mands. In  June,  1858,  he  married  Phoebe 
P.  Babb,  of  Chester  Co.,  Penn.  They  have 
two  children — Laura  E.,  (who  has  charge  of 
the  books  o!  the  concern),  and  Leetta. 

ISAAC  C.  MILBOURX,  general  stationery 
dealer;  Alliance;  was  born  in  Hanover,  Co- 
lumbiana Co.,  Ohio,  Nov.  19,  18'.28.  He  is 
the  youngest  of  a  family  of  eight  children, 
one  girl  and  seven  boys,  born  to  Samuel  and 
Jane  (Craig)  Milbourn,  who  removed  from 
Virginia  to  Chio  about  1804.  They  located 
on  a  farm  in  Columbiana  Co.,  and  on  which 
they  ever  afterward  resided  until  their  demise, 
which  occurred,  his  in  1S64,  and  his  widow 
survived  until  1870,  both  well  advanced  in 
years.  Isaac  C.  Milbourn's  vouth  was  spent 
on  the  farm  until  about  18  y.ars  of  age;  he 
then  learned  the  carpenter's  trad(\  and  fol- 
lowed that  business  until  1864.  The  follow- 
ing j'ear  he  abandoned  the  carpenter  business 
anil  opened  a  store  of  general  hardware  in 
Waynesburgh,  this  county,  which  he  conduct- 
ed two  years,  and  then  embarked  in  the  dry 
goods  trade  until  1869.  He  disposed  of 
his  business  in  Waynesburgh,  and  came  to  Al- 
liance the  same  year,  and  toi)k  a  contract  of 
grading  the  Pittsburg,  Baltimore  &  Ohio  R. 
R.,  from  Connellsville  to  Cumberland,  which 
occupied  him  over  a  year.  His  contract  com- 
pleted, he  returned  to  Alliance  in  1870,  and, 
to  learn  the  business,  he  accepted  a  clerkship 
in  a  stationery  ostalilishment,  which  he  pur- 
chased in  1874,  and  has  conducted  that  busi- 
ness ever  since.  March,  1853,  he  married 
Elizabeth  Manfull.  They  hail  one  child  who 
died  when  4  years  old.  Mrs.  Mill)ourn  is  a 
daughter  of  Stephen  Manfull,  of  Augusta, 
Carroll  Co.,  Ohio. 

FRANK  M.  ORR,  tin,  stove,  and  hardware 
merchant;  Alliance;  was  born  in  Harrison  Co., 
Oliii,  July  12,  1838;  the  son  of  John  and 
Elizabeth   (Adkinson)    Orr,    who    came   from 


Virginia  to  Ohio,  and  located  in  Harrison  Co. 
His  father  was  a  mill-wright  bv  trade,  but  af- 
ter coming  to  Ohio  his  time  was  spent  prin- 
cipally in  fanning.  They  reared  eight  chil- 
dren of  whom  Frank  M.,  is  the  only  survivor; 
he  got  the  advantages  of  a  good  common 
school  education,  and  being  left  to  his  own 
resources  at  10  years  of  age,  he  learned  indus- 
try and  economy  out  of  necessity.  At  15 
years  of  age  he  began  to  learn  the  tinner's 
trade  in  Carrollton,  Carroll  Co.,  and  in  1856 
removed  to  Canton,  where  he  worked  at  his 
trade  until  1802.  In  the  spring  of  that  year 
he  moved  to  Alliance,  and  set  up  in  business 
for  himself,  where  he  has  continued  in  the 
tin,  hardware,  stove  and  house-furnishing 
trade  ever  since.  In  his  business  career  there 
existed  a  partnership  until  1873,  which  termi- 
nated then  by  Mr.  Orr  purchasing  the  entire 
business,  immediately  preceding  the  panic 
of  1873;  in  this  he  was  a  heavy  loser,  but 
through  energy  and  good  executive  business 
tact  he  surmounted  the  impending  difficulties 
of  trade  and  has  done  a  flourishing  business 
since.  In  October,  1859,  he  married  Isabel 
Grim,  for  whom  he  had  formed  an  early  attach- 
ment in  youth,  in  Harrison  Co.  By  this  union 
were  born  eight  children,  six  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing, viz. — Alice  (now  Mrs.  II.  H.  Highland), 
Elmer  E.,  Kittic,  Lo>i  A.,  William  J.  F.,  and 
Edna  B.  Mr.  Orr  has  been  a  member  of  tlie 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  since  18G0, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum. 

MORRIS  C.  PENNOCK,  hardware  mer- 
chant and  banker;  Alliance;  of  the  firm  of 
Wright  &  Pennock;  was  born  in  Chester  Co., 
Penn.,  May  22,  1830,  and  is  the  son  of  John 
and  Sidney  (Chambers)  Pennock.  The  Pen- 
nock family  in  this  country  trace  their  ances- 
try back  to  one  Christopher  Pennock,  who 
was  an  officer  in  the  British  army,  but  on  em- 
bracing the  religion  of  the  Quakers,  he  resign- 
ed his  position  in  the  army  and  came  to 
Pennsylvania  with  Wni.  Penn,  when  the  lat- 
ter came  to  this  continent  on  his  second  visit. 
Christopher  Pennock  had  three  sons  who 
were  the  heads  of  the  various  branches  of  that 
family  now  in  the  United  States.  The  parerits 
of  our  subject  removed  from  Pennsylvania  to 
Ohio  in  1832,  and  settled  about  eight  miles 
south  of  Salem,  where  they  farmed  about  10 
years,  and  then  moved  to  the  near  vicinity  of 
Salem,  where  they  now  reside;  their  ages  re- 


spectively  being 79  and  74  years;  they  reared 
a  family  of  five  children,  four  of  whom  are 
living,  viz. — Elizabeth,  now  Mrs.  Jos.  Davis; 
Morris  C;  Rachel  P.,  now  Mrs.  C.  Bonsall; 
and  Sidney  M.  They  were  brought  up  to 
farm  life,  and  got  a  liberal  education  in  the 
public  schools.  Morris  C  attended  a  private 
school  in  Salem,  and  for  six  or  eight  years  he 
taught  school  in  the  winter,  and  worked  on 
the  farm  during  the  summer.  In  March, 
1857,  he  married  Emma  E.  Wriglit,  daughter 
of  Redmond  Wright,  of  Trumbull  Co.  They 
had  one  child,  now  deceased.  For  the  pur- 
pose of  learning  the  hardware  business,  he 
accepted  a  clerkship  in  an  establishment  of 
that  kind  with  Chessman  &  Wright,  of  Salem, 
which  he  retained  until  1862;  when  a  partner- 
ship was  formed  between  himself  and  Mr.  Al- 
fred Wright.  Their  present  hardvvare  house 
was  established,  and  to  it  Mr.  Pennock  gives 
his  undivided  attention.  In  all  their  busi- 
ness enterprises  they  have  been  greeted  with 
that  success  which  awaits  industry  and  hon- 
est effort.  He  is  one  of  the  originators  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Alliance,  which  was 
organized  in  1872,  and  has  been  a  member  of 
its  Board  of  Directors  ever  since  the  organi- 
zation, and  is  now  the  Vice-President.  He 
has  also  been  a  member  of  the  City  Council, 
and  is  president  of  the  Board  of  Education. 
Mrs.  Pennock,  his  first  wife,  died  in  1802;  and 
in  May,  1808,  he  married  Mrs.  A.  Keith,  nee 
Colcstack;  she  has  one  child,  Chas.  S.  Keith, 
by  her  first  husband,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
store. 

WILLIAM  REYNOLDS,  retired  train 
conducto"  and  merchant;  Alliance;  was  born 
in  Monmouthshire,  England,  Aug.  5,  1821. 
When  he  was  about  20  years  of  age  his 
brother  John,  their  father,  George  Reynolds, 
and  liimself  emigrated  to  the  United  States. 
They  came  to  Fallstown,  Penn.,  where  their 
fatlier  engaged  at  his  trade,  that  of  wire- 
drawing, as  did  the  subject  of  these  notes; 
but  death  called  John  away  ere  they  had 
been  long  in  this  country.  In  1851,  our 
subject  engaged  with  tlie  Ohio  &  Pennsylva- 
nia R.  R.  Co.,  now  the  P.,  Ft.  W.  &  C.  R.  R., 
as  wood  contractor  while  it  was  being  con- 
structed. As  soon  as  the  road  was  in  order 
for  running  trains,  he  was  employed  as  bag- 
gage master  on  the  train,  and  was  soon  pro- 
moted to  conductor,  in  which  capacity  he   has 


been  on  every  grade  of  train  fmui  the  gravel 
or  construction  train,  up  to  the  "  Lightning 
E.Kpress,"  being  the  conductor  on  the  first 
Lig'htning  Express,  and  the  conductor  on  the 
last  trip  made  by  the  Liglitning  Express, 
which  trains  were  run  during  a  period  of 
heated  competition  of  the  "  Trunk"  Lines. 
He  married  Margaret  J.  McDonnal,  of  Alli- 
ance, in  1853,  formerly  of  Florence,  Pern. 
Subsequent  to  their  marriage,  he  settled  on 
a  farm  and  in  1800,  they  came  to  reside  in 
town  where  they  have  remained  ever  since. 
They  have  one  child — Elizabeth  Jane.  In 
1863  he  opened  a  hotel  in  Alliance,  having  se- 
cured a  contract  for  supplying  the  soldiers  who 
were  called  thither,  this  being  the  headquar- 
ters of  the  Provost  Marshal  for  this  district. 
He  is  a  gentleman  of  shrewd  business  facul- 
ties and  has  been  several  times  in  the  mercan- 
tile business;  when  proper  opportunity  would 
present  itself,  he  would  purchase  or  sell  out 
his  business,  and  never  devoted  himself  to 
any  special  branch  of  business;  with  all  he 
has  been  favored  with  success.  He  united 
himself  with  the  Masonic  fraternity  in  New 
Brighton,  Penn.,  and  with  the  lodge  there,  h(; 
has  sustained  his  membership  for  a  period  of 
upwards  of  twentv-tive  vears. 

WILLIAM  A.  ROUfSON,  master  of  trans- 
portation on  the  Eastern  division  of  P.,  Ft.  W. 
&  C.  R.  R.;  Alliance;  was  born  Sept.  24, 1841, 
in  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio,  and  is  the  second  of  a 
family  of  eight  children,  born  to  Samuel  and 
Jane  (Morrison)  Routson.  His  father  was 
extensively  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
stone-ware  and  sewer-pipe,  which  business 
he  conducted  for  many  years.  William  A. 
received  a  liberal  education,  and  early  in  life 
began  to  learn  the  art  of  telegraphy,  and  was 
variously  employed  as  ojierator  and  superin- 
tendent's clerk,  at  Mansfield  fir  some  tinie. 
On  leaving  Mansfield  he  was  given  charge  of 
the  railroad  and  telegraph  offices  at  Wooster, 
where  he  remained  several  years;  thence  to 
Massillon,  and  had  charge  of  the  railroad 
office  there  as  freight  and  ticket  agent,  until 
1872,  when  he  was  promoted  to  Master  of 
Transportation  on  the  New  Castle  and  Law- 
rence branches,  of  the  Pennsylvania  R.  R. 
In  1875  he  was  appointed  to  his  present  posi- 
tion, includiTig  also  the  Massillon  Branch  R.  R. 
His  position  is  one  of  much  responsibility  and 
trust.     During  these   many  years  of  railroad 


If^ 


]^ 


CITY    OF    ALLIANCE. 


business  in  the  various  departments,  from  the 
least  up  to  ills  present  position,  he  has  always 
bCi'ti  faithful  and  diligent  in  the  discharge  of 
his  duty.  In  October,  18G5,  he  married  Eliza 
K.  Finlev,  daughter  of  Rev.  Robert  M. 
Finley,  a  Presbyterian  Minister,  of  Wooster, 
Ohio.  One  child  is  the  result  of  this  union — 
William  A.,  Jr. 

H.  K.  RUTH,  merchant;  Alliance;  was  born 
in  Lancaster  Co.,  IVnu.,  Jan.  10,  1831,  the 
fifth  child  of  a  family  of  twelvi'  children  born 
to  Peter  and  Kesiah  (Itegar)  Ruth,  both  na- 
tives of  Pennsylvania.  They  removed  to 
Ohio  and  settled  in  Osnaburg,  Stark  Co.,  en- 
gaging in  the  hotel  business,  where  they  re- 
mained about  fifteen  years,  and  fnially  re- 
moved to  Columbiana  Co.,  where  they  died, 
well  advanced  in  life;  he  in  his  87th,  and  she 
in  her  80th  year.  When  about  16  years  of 
age,  young  Ruth  engaged  as  clerk  in  Minerva 
lor  a  short  period,  thence  went  to  Canton 
where  he  held  a  similar  position  with  M.  Wik- 
idall;  thence  to  Osnaburg,  and  engaged  with 
the  Kountz  Bros.,  who  are  now  so  favorably 
and  well  known  as  bankers  and  merchants  in 
New  York,  Oniaha  and  Denver.  In  185:3  he 
established  a  store  of  general  merchandise  in 
partnership  with  George  Sloan,  Sen.,  in  Han- 
over, Columbiana  Co.,  where  he  conducted 
business  until  1800,  and  thence  went  to  Au- 
gusta, where  he  was  in  business  three  years. 
He  came  t«  Alliance  in  1804,  and  was  in  the 
mercantile  business  a  short  time  when  he  ac- 
cepted a  ]K)sition  as  commercial  traveller,  and 
remained  in  that  capacity  about  ten  years.  In 
1877  he  opened  a  notion  and  fancy-goods 
store,  and  does  a  prosperous  business.  lie 
married  Hannah  Hamilton,  Sept.  28,  1854, 
of  Hanover.  They  have  five  children,  viz — 
Charles,  William,  Clifford,  Frank  and  Katie. 
Of  his  father's  family  of  twelve  children,  eight 
are  still  living — Elizabeth,  married  Charles 
Haines,  of  Minerva,  who  is  now  in  the  oil  trade 
at  Oil  City,  Penn.,  since  1860;  Mary  A.,  has 
been  twice  a  widow,  her  first  husband  was  R. 
Smith,  alter  his  decease  she  married  William 
Frost;  William,  married  Adaline  Kountz,  and 
resides  in  Denver,  Col.;  Matilda,  deceased, 
was  wife  of  Henry  Shaffer,  of  Saline,  Ohio; 
Kate  is  now  the  wife  of  Augustus  Kovnitze, 
senior  member  of  the  Kountze  Bros.  Banking 
House,  New  York;  Jefferson  is  a  resident  of 
Utah,    dealing    in    agricultural     implements; 


Emma,  unmarried,  resid(?s  in  Hanover,  Ohio; 
Rufus  C.  is  a  commercial  traveler  lor  a  Phila- 
delphia house  for  the  last  six  years. 

HENRY  SHAFFER,  farnier  and  shipj.er 
of  moulding  sand;  P.  O.  Alliance;  was  born 
in  Washingtcm  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  Jan.  7, 
1834;  the  fourth  of  eight  children  born  to 
Samuel  and  Mary  (Berger)  Shaffer,  whrjse 
sketch  appears  in  this  work.  His  parents 
moved  to  Alliani'e  when  he  was  quite  young. 
He  went  out  to  his  uncle  .Jonathan  Shaffer's, 
where  he  lived  three  years,  ^\'h(■n  about  10 
years  of  age,  he  began  to  learn  the  carp(Mi- 
ter's  trade  with  James  K.  Blackburn,  and  fol- 
lowed that  business  until  1850,  in  the  mean- 
time having  contracted  and  built  many  farm 
buildings.  Dec.  24,  1855,  he  married  hJliza- 
beth  Chance;  they  have  one  child,  Franklin 
H.  Mrs.  Shaffer  is  a  daughter  of  Perry  and 
Lovina  Chance,  of  Alliance.  For  two  years 
he  was  running  a  saw-mill,  and  in  1858  he 
rented  a  small  farm  and  turned  his  attention 
to  farming,  which  lasted  only  that  season. 
Having  lost  all  his  crops  by  the  severe  and 
memorable  freeze  in  June,  1858,  he  became 
disgusted,  and  secured  a  jiosition  on  the  P.,  Ft. 
W.  &  C.  R.  R.,  as  a  brakeman,  but  was  soon 
placed  in  chargeof  a  freight  train;  then  promo- 
ted to  coruhictor  on  a  passenger  train  between 
Ft.  Wayne  and  Chicago,  having  his  residence 
in  the  latter  place,  from  1801  to  1800.  They 
returned  to  Alliance,  when  he  quit  railroad 
work,  where  he  has  remained  since.  He 
purchased  a  small  farm  of  43  acres,  on  which 
is  found  valuable  beds  of  moulding  sand,  for 
which  there  is  a  good  demand  in  the  mould- 
ing establishments  all  over  the  country,  from 
Pittsburg  east,  to  Indianapolis  and  Chicago  in 
the  west  Mr.  Shaffer  has  been  a  member  of 
the  ATasonic  faiternity  since  18(i0.  He  has 
been  a  Director  of  the  Alliance  &  Lake  Erie 
Railroad,  and  for  two  years  Superintendent 
of  said  railroad,  and  one  of  its  promoters. 

JOHN  SEFERT,  meat  market;  Alliance; 
was  born  in  Canton  T|).,  Ohio,  July  17,  1832. 
He  is  the  oldest  son  of  U'.n  children  born  to 
Michael  and  Sally  (Wills)  Sefert.  They 
came  to  Stark  Co.,  about  1828,  when  much  of 
itwasyetin  its  natural  ctmdition.  Theirchild- 
ren  are — John,  George,  Carolina  (deceased), 
Sarah,  Michael,  Christian,  Henry,  Washing- 
ton, Cora  and  Alice.  Having  spent  his  early 
manhood  on  his  father's  farm,  John   engaged 


:^ 


-'4* 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


in  the  butclieiing  business  in  Waynesburtr 
four  years,  when  he  removed  to  Alliance  and 
opened  up  the  same  business  here  which  he 
closed  out  in  a  year  to  take  a  position  on 
tlie  P.,  Ft.  W.  &  C.  R.  R.,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed ten  years,  nine  of  which  he  was  con- 
ductor. He  then  resigned  his  railroad  posi- 
tion, and  started  again  in  the  meat  market  in 
Alliance,  which  he  has  continued  ever  since. 
Nov.  13,  1854,  he  married  Anna  Griffith,  a 
daughter  of  Jacob  Griffith,  of  this  county. 
They  have  had  nine  children,  viz. — -Carolina, 
Hulila  E.,  George  H.,  William  E.,  Franklin 
(deceased),  Mary  A.,  Salome  B.,  Emma  A., 
and  one  died  in  childhood.  Mr.  Sefert  is  a 
quiet,  industrious  citizen,  and  has  been  a 
member  of  theMasonic  fraternity  for  the  last 
si.xteen  years. 

RALPH  SCRANTON,  deceased,  was  born 
in  Atwater,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  August  12, 
1812.  In  youth  he  learned  the  cabinet-mak- 
ing business  in  Ravenna,  and  worked  at  iiis 
trade  in  Deerfield  for  ten  years.  In  1846  he 
purchased  a  small  farm  in  Lexington  Tp., 
Stark  Co.,  and  carried  on  his  trade  in  connec- 
tion with  his  farming.  They  sold  out  in  1850, 
and  I'enioved  to  the  farm  where  his  widow  now 
resides  In  the  fall  of  1835,  he  married  Eliza- 
beth Pickering.  She  was  born  in  Dorchester, 
Eng.,  Oct.  23,  1814,  a  daughter  of  Joseph 
and  Annie  Pickering,  who  with  their  seven 
children,  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in 
1830;  came  direct  to  Deerfield,  Portage  Co., 
Ohio,  where  they  located  and  remained  until 
their  death.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Soranton  were 
born  ten  children,  nine  living,  viz. — Lovina, 
Irving,  Edwin  E.,  Paiuelia,  Harrison,  Albert, 
I^ouisa,  Aldine  and  Rosetta.  Mr.  Soranton 
died  April  10,  1867.  Two  of  their  sons  par- 
ticipated in  the  late  war — Irving  and  Edwin 
E.  The  former  was,  at  the  time  of  the  out- 
bi-eak  of  the  rebellion,  a  resident  of  Iowa,  and 
enlisted  in  the  16th  la.  V.  I.,  was  seriously 
wounded  by  gunshot  at  the  battle  of  Pitts- 
burg Landing,  from  whence  he  was  discharged 
becavise  of  disability. 

EDWIN  E.  SCRANTON,  railroad  agent; 
Alliance  ;  was  born  March  2,  1840,  while  his 
])arents  resided  in  Deerfield,  and  is  the 
third  child  of  the  family.  He  was  educated 
at  the  Public  Schools,  and  at  Mt.  LTnion  Col- 
lege, where  he  took  a  course  extending  over 
two  years.     For  two  years  he  taught  school  in 


the  counties  of  Stark  and  Portage.  He  en- 
listed in  the  late  war,  Oct.  28,  1861,  in  Co.  B., 
65th  O.  V.  I.  On  July  1,  1864,  he  was  pro- 
moted to  First  Lieutenant,  and  steadily  rose 
in  favor  in  his  regiment.  .Jan.  1, 1865,  he  was 
promoted  to  Regimental  Adjutant,  and  Nov. 
30,  was  mustered  out,  with  the  rank  of  Cap- 
tain. His  war  record  is  in  every  respect 
highly  honorable,  and  so  far  as  escape  from 
injury  is  concerned,  was  exceedingly  fortu- 
nate, considering  that  he  participated  in  four- 
teen of  the  most  prominent  battles  of  the  whole 
campaign;  among  which  we  may  mention  the 
engagements  at  Shiloh,  Stone  River,  Chicka- 
mauga.  Mission  Ridge,  through  the  Atlanta 
Campaign,  Franklin  and  Nashville,  besidts 
many  skirmishes.  On  his  return  from  the 
army,  he  farmed  two  years,  then  disposed  of 
his  interests  in  that  line  and  for  the  greater 
part  of  his  time  since  was  in  the  employ  of  the 
P.,  Ft.  W.  &  C.  R.  R.  Co.,  engaged  in  office 
work  at  Alliance,  until  the  spring  of  1881, 
when  he  engaged  with  the  Lake  Erie  &  Alli- 
ance R.  R.  Co.  He  attends  to  general  office 
work,  and  is  agent  for  said  conjpany  at 
Alliance.  Feb.  28,  1866,  he  married  Hannah, 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Aliigail  Wood.  They 
have  five  children — Melville,  Clarence,  Lau- 
rin,  Evelina  and  Edison  E.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Scranton  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 
He  has  been  for  two  years  a  member  of  the 
City  Council,  and  served  three  years  on  the 
Board  of  Education  of  Alliance,  and  for 
two  years  Assistant  Superintendent  of  the 
Sunday  School. 

JACOB  SHAFFER,  treasurer  and  secre- 
tary of  the  Alliance  Bagging  Co.;  Alliance; 
was  born  in  Washington  Tp.,  this  county, 
July  3,  1828.  He  is  the  son  of  Samuel  and 
Mary  M.  vShaffer,  who  is  referred  to  elsewhere 
in  this  work.  His  boyhood  was  spent  in  his 
father's  store  as  clerk  while  he  was  yet  quite 
young,  in  which  capacity  he  continued  many 
years.  On  attaining  his  majority  he  entered 
into  partnership  with  his  father  in  the  mer- 
cantile business;  they  estaVilishcd  a  general 
store  of  merchandise,  besides  handling  pro- 
duce largely.  They  also  took  in  as  partner 
one  A.  C.  Hanger,  the  firm  name  being  S. 
Shaffer  &  Co.,  which  was  dissolved  in  1857. 
Our  subject  then  embarkeil  in  the  dry  goods 
trade  with  Mr.  Keplinger  for  about  three 
years.     In  1862  a  partnership  was  formed  be- 


s  Vy 


Al^ 


Vv 


CITY    OF    ALLIANCE. 


743 


tween  himself  and  Jlr.  Ely,  in  the  mercan- 
tile business  wliich  lasted  until  1S?3.  In  the 
meantime  he  and  Mr.  Ely  had  taken  an  in- 
terest in  the  bao^j^ing  nianufactury,  and  ere 
long  Mr.  Shaffer  joined  the  latter  establish- 
ment, and  has  been  an  active  member  of  the 
firm  ever  since.  He  was  married  to  Emeline 
Stanley  in  March,  184:8.  She  was  a  daughter 
of  L.  B.  Stanley,  of  Malioninir  Co.  They 
have  six  children,  viz. — Minerva  J.,  Emma  S., 
Alonzo  T.,  Knivilla,  Charles  C,  and  TIenry  C. 
Mr.  Shatlor  is  one  of  those  unassinninij,  quiet 
business  mini,  who  watch  their  own  business 
interests  without  courting- a  superficial  popu- 
larity. He  has  been  elected,  and  served  sev- 
eral years  as  member  of  the  Alliance  Town 
Council. 

GEORGE  SEFERT,  meat  market;  Alli- 
ance; was  born  in  Canton,  Ohio,  March  3, 
1834;  the  second  son  of  ten  children  born  to 
Michael  and  Sally  (Wills)  Sefert.  He  was 
brought  up  to  farm  work  in  youth,  and  when 
about  1(3  years  of  age,  he  went  to  Wheeling, 
Va.,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  glass-blo.v- 
ing  business  about  five  years.  Returning  to 
this  county  he  engaged  in  farming  and  stock- 
dealing  with  his  father,  who  was  largely  en- 
gaged in  driving  live  stock.  In  1858  he 
opened  a  moat  market  in  Wa\'nesburgh,  and 
th(s  following  year  moved  to  Minerva,  where 
he  continued  his  business  until  IS&Z.  On 
Feb.  8,  of  that  year,  he  enlisted  in  the  3d  O. 
L.  A.  of  the  late  war,  and  was  assigned  to 
duty  as  Sergeant,  and  afterward  was  promot- 
ed to  Orderlj'  Sergeant,  then  to  2d  Lieu- 
tenant, and  then  to  Senior  1st  Lieutenant, 
in  which  capacity  he  served  to  the  close  of  the 
war,  having  participated  in  many  of  the  impor- 
tant battles  of  the  war,  among  which  we  men- 
tion the  engagements  of  Raymond,  Mi.ss.,  Jack- 
son, Miss.,  Chani])ion  Hills  and  Seige  of 
Vicksburg.  He  then  returned  home  and  re- 
cruited soldiers  for  six  months,  and  again 
joined  his  regiment  which  was  then  at  Cairo, 
III.,  but  soon  advanced  to  Georgia,  participa- 
ting in  the  Kcnasaw  Mountain  engagement. 
Chat  dioochee  River,  and  Atlanta,  on  the  '22d 
of  July,  1864,  where  Gen.  McPherson  was 
killed.  His  regiment  was  then  sent  back  to 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  wh(>re  they  remained  until 
the  close  of  the  war.  His  war  record  has 
been  of  a  character  to  reflect  lasting  credit. 
Sej)temb:>r,  180.5,  he  came  to  Alliance  and  es- 


tablished his  present  business,  and  has  in  con- 
nection with  it,  engaged  extensively  in  live- 
stock <tealing  ever  ?-ince.  He  married  Bar- 
bara Weaver,  of  O.snaburg  Tp.,  March  28, 
1858,  and  there  were  born  to  them  two  child- 
ren— Amelia  and   Charles. 

SAMUEL  SHAFFER,  deceased;  was  born 
in  eastern  Pennsylvania,  in  1803;  the  sec- 
ond child  of  a  family  of  thirteen  children 
born  to  William  ShafTr^r.  William  Shaffer 
came  to  Ohio  with  his  faniilj'  in  1814,  and  lo- 
cated in  Washington  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  where  he 
entered  considerable  land.  His  numerous 
family  of  children  all  lived  to  maturity,  and 
he  and  his  wile  remained  in  the  same 
place  until  their  demise,  which  occurred  many 
years  ago.  Their  sons  all  settled  in  Ohio,  but 
some  of  their  daughters  removed  to  the  west 
with  their  families.  Samuel  married  Mary 
Barger,  Sept.  20,  1825.  She  was  daughter 
of  Christian  Barger,  a  minister  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church,  who  came  with  his  family 
from  Pennsylvania  early  in  the  spring  of 
1825,  and  settled  at  Harrisburg,  Stark  Co. 
He  labored  in  the  good  cause  for  about  three 
years  in  the  pioneer  settlements,  when  the 
Master  called  him  from  earthly  scenes.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Shaffer  pursued  their  farming  voca- 
tion about  two  arid  a  half  miles  southwest  of 
Mt.  Union,  until  by  rheumatism  he  was  dis- 
abled in  one  leg,  being  then  less  able  to  in- 
dulge in  active  work  of  the  farm,  and  still  re- 
taining his  usual  energy,  he  was  determined 
to  do  something;  so  he  opened  a  grocery  at  his 
residence,  which  he  conducted  for  about  three 
years.  In  1841  he  moved  to  Freedom — now 
Alliance — and  opened  the  second  store  ever 
in  this  place.  He  was  early  identified  with 
the  United  Brethren  Church,  of  which  he  was 
Trustee  for  many  years,  but  subsequently  uni- 
ted himself  with  the  M.  E.  Church,  which  de- 
nomination granted  him  a  license  to  preach, 
but  being  of  a  reserved  and  retiring  turn  of 
mind,  ho  never  entered  on  ministerial  duties. 
He  was  a  man  of  good  business  abilitv,  and 
did  much  for  the  general  welfare  and  devel- 
opment of  Alliance.  In  partner-ship  with  his 
son  Jacob,  he  built  the  provision  warehouse 
now  owned  by  Jacob  Lower,  and  conducted 
business  there  several  years.  He  was  cho-iMi 
Township  Trustee,  which  office  he  held  for 
many  years.  .Mr.  an<l  Mrs.  Shaffer  were  par- 
ents of  nine  children,  eight  of  whom  lived  to 


744 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


niaturitv,  viz: — Jacob,  Henry,  Samuel  (was  a 
eor.duciur  on  the  P.,  Ft.  W.  &  C.  R.  R.,  on 
which  he  sustained  fatal  injuries  at  Massillon,) 
Isaac,  Sarah,  Susan,  Sophia  and  Lucinda. 
Mr.  Shaffer  died  Feb.  7.  1877.  Mrs.  Shaffer 
is  left  in  vi.^ry  comfortable  circumstances,  and 
is  remarkably  hale  for  one  of  her  age,  and  es- 
pecially for  one  who  has  cared  for  so  large  a 
family,  and  borne  the  burthen  and  withstood 
the  trials  of  pioneer  life. 

REUBEN  SHI DLER,  proprietor  of  livery 
stable;  Alliance;  was  born  in  Paris  Tp.,  Stark 
Co.,  Ohio,  July  3,  18:57.  His  father  David, 
and  his  mother,  Lydia  (Fryfogle)  Shidler,  were 
both  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  removed  to 
Ohio  when  young.  The  Shidler  family  were 
among  the  early  settlers  of  Paris  Tp.  Our 
subject  is  the  fourth  of  a  family  of  nine 
children,  six  sons  and  three  daughters.  His 
boyhood  was  spent  on  the  farm,  but 
when  about  14  years  of  age,  his  father  removed 
his  family  to  Homeworth,  and  there  engaged 
in  the  steam  saw-mill  business,  remaining  un- 
til their  demise.  Young  Shidler  engaged  in 
the  lumber  trade,  which  he  continued  for  a 
time;  when  he  purchased  a  farm  and  dcvotetl 
himself  to  the  caieof  it  for  about  three  years, 
but  on  the  beginning  of  the  oil  excitement  in 
Pennsylvania,  he  repaired  thither,  but  re- 
turned in  a  short  time  and  sold  his  farm,  and 
engaged  in  the  hotel  business  at  Homeworth 
for  three  years.  In  April,  1870,  he  came  to 
Alliance,  intent  on  establishing  a  dray-line, 
which  he  concluded,  on  his  arrival,  would  not 
be  a  paying  arrangement.  He  leased  a  small 
stable,  and  in  partnership  with  Albert  Reed, 
turned  his  attention  to  the  livery  business. 
Soon  thereafter  he  purchased  a  lot  and  erect- 
ed his  present  stables.  The  partnership  rela- 
tion of  the  firm  was  dissolved  by  Mr.  Shidler 
purchasing  the  interest  of  Mr.  Reed  in  the 
stable  in  "March,  1881.  He  married  Hattie 
King,  of  Columbiana  Co.,  in  18.58.  Their 
onlv  child  is  William  W.,  now  witli  Mr.  Se- 
fert. 

SAMUEL  SHIMP,  freightand  ticket  agent 
of  P.,  Ft.  W.  &  0.  R.  R.;  Alliance;  was  born 
in  Franklin  Co.,  Penn.,  Nov.  21,  1838;  the  sec- 
ond child  and  oldest  son  born  to  Samuel  and 
Catharine  (Stouifer)  Slump,  who  were  also  na- 
tives of  Pennsylvania.  His  father  was  a  car- 
penter by  trade,  but  subsequently  turned  his 
attention  to  farming,  to  which  life  our  subject 


was  brought  up.  When  about  19  years  of 
age,  he  began  to  learn  the  carpe?iter's  trade, 
and  continued  in  that  business  about  eight 
years.  In  February,  1851,  he  accepted  a 
clerkship  in  a  dry  goods  store,  and  followed 
that  vocation  for  various  employers  for  a  pe- 
riod of  six  years.  In  1802  he  entered  into 
the  employ  of  the  Pittsburg,  Ft.  Wayne  & 
Chicago  R.  R.  Co.,  at  Alliance,  and  in  No- 
vember, 1863,  was  appointed  freight  and 
ticket  agent  of  the  Company  at  this  station, 
and  has  remained  here  ever  since.  He  mar- 
ried Sarah  Ann  Greenawalt,  Nov.  1,  1850,  of 
Montgomery  Co.,  Penn.  They  have  three 
cliildren  living,  viz. — S.  Edgar,  Zoe  F.,  and 
Carrie  B.  During  these  years  of  service, 
where  there  is  a  great  deal  of  responsibility, 
Mr.  Shimp  has  invariably  been  equal  to  the 
task  and  is  kind  and  sociable  under  all  cir- 
cumstances; at  all  times  willing  and  prompt 
to  oblige  and  accommodate  the  patrons  of  the 
railroad,  or  any  who  may  call  on  him  in  any 
capacity.  With  business  reputation  above  sus- 
picion, he  holds  the  friendship  and  universal 
indorsement  of  the  business  men  of  Alliance. 
GEORGE  G.  SMITH,  physician  and  sur- 
geon; Alliance;  was  born  in  Trumbull  Co., 
Ohio,  Jan.  31,  1837.  His  parents  were  Phil- 
ander and  Martha  (Freer)  Smith,  of  New 
York,  who  removed  to  Ohio  about  1833,  and 
settled  in  Trumbull  Co.  They  reared  eleven 
children.  Mr.  Smith  was  by  occupation  a 
mill-wright.  After  a  common-school  educa- 
tion, the  Doctor  set  out  in  life  for  himself. 
He  came  to  Alliance  when  a  mere  youth  and 
entered  into  the  employ  of  Drs.  Wilson  & 
Armstrong,  in  the  capacity  of  drug-clerk. 
He  became  interested  in  the  study  of  med- 
icine iind  while  clerking,  spent  his  leisure 
hours  in  study,  consequently  his  employers 
became  at  the  same  time  his  preceptors.  He 
was  in  very  limited  circumstances,  as  he  was 
depending  entirely  on  the  resources  of  his 
own  labor,  to  furnish  means  of  support 
and  education;  in  consecjuence  of  which  the 
completion  of  the  medical  course  was  somewhat 
retarded.  Ho  accepted  a  clerkship  in  a  drug 
store  in  Janesville,  Wis.,  where  he  remained 
one  winter;  thence  to  Cincinnati,  whore  he 
held  a  similar  position,  and  while  there 
attended  a  course  of  lectures  in  the  Ohio 
Medical  College.  In  1859  he  removed  to 
Michigan,  and  began  the  practice  of  medicine 


-^ — "i^ 


CITY    OF    ALLIANCE. 


in  partnership  with  Dr.  James  A.  Leasia.  He 
enlisted  in  the  late  civil  war  in  August,  1861, 
in  Co.  K,  9tli  Mich.  V.  I.  At  the  organiza- 
tl(in  of  the  rej^iment,  he  was  chosen  sergeant 
and  arose  steadily  to  distinction  in  the 
service.  Fiis  regiment  was  ordered  to  Ken- 
tucky, and  as  soon  as  they  arrived  he  was  de- 
tailed as  hospital  steward  at  West  Point, 
Ky.,  where  he  remained  about  two  months, 
when  he  was  removed  to  Elizabethtown  and 
occupied  the  same  position  at  the  post  hos- 
pital, linniediately  after  the  battle  of  Pitts- 
burgh Landing,  he  was  ordered  to  Nashville, 
and  assigned  to  duty  in  Hospital  No.  5. 
While  there  he  attended  a  cour.se  of  lectures 
at  the  medical  department  of  th<j  University 
of  Tennessee,  and  graduated  in  the  winter  of 
iy62-63.  In  April,  1863,  he  was  appointed 
assistant  surgeon  of  his  old  regiment.  In 
.I\dy  of  18G4  he  was  again  (h'tailed  from  his 
ri'rriment,  this  time  as  surgeon  of  the  19th 
U.  S.  I.,  throughf  ut  the  Atlantic  campaign, 
and  the  following  October,  he  received  his 
commission  as  surgeon  of  his  old  regiment,  to 
which  he  returned  in  December,  18()4,  to  the 
mutual  satisfaction  of  himself  and  his  old 
associates,  as  his  congeniality  during  his  term 
as  assistant  surgeon,  had  made  him  a  favorite, 
and  many  warm  friends.  When  mustered 
out  of  the  service  in  1805,  he  returned  to 
Ohio,  opened  an  office  in  Newtown  Falls, 
Trumbull  Co.,  and  resumed  the  practice  of 
his  profession,  and  remained  three  years.  He 
attended  a  course  of  lectures  in  the  Cleveland 
Medical  College  in  the  winter  of  ISOr  and 
1868,  and  graduated  in  the  spring  of  the 
latter  year,  receiving  the  ad  vundetn  degree. 
In  October  of  the  same  year  he  came  to  Al- 
liance, where  he  has  practiced  ever  since, 
and  enjoys  an  ever  incn^asing  patronage. 
He  married  Kate,  G.  Coleslock,  daughter 
of  Daniel  Colestock,  of  Columbiana  Co. 
They  had  two  children,  both  deceased.  He 
is  a  meml)er  of  the  Stark  County  Medical 
Society,  and  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Fra- 
ternity. He  was  apjiointed  U.  S.  Examining 
Surgeon  for  this  county. 

GKORGE  W.  SOURBECK,  restaurant 
ke:p.;r;  Alliance;  was  born  in  Briilgeport, 
Cumberland  Co.,  I'enn.,  Feb.  26,  1837.  He  is 
the  oldest  son  of  .John  Sourbeek,  by  his  sec- 
ond wife  (Sarah  A.  Collier).  The  subject  of 
these  notes  was  only  7  years  old  at  the  time 


his  father  was  drowned  (which  event  is  noted 
in  the  sketch  of  Daniel  Sourbeck),  therefore 
he  was  early  in  life  necessitated  to  do  for 
himself,  and  began  his  career  as  driver  on  the 
canal  from  llarrisburg  to  Nanticoke  and 
Wilkcsbarre.  This  he  followed  one  season, 
when  he  wont  to  Mechanicsburg  and  appren- 
ticed himself  to  the  boot  and  sho(;  trade,  and 
remained  there  six  years.  In  18.55  he  came 
to  Alliance,  and  was  engaged  in  his  brother's 
dining  hall  at  the  railroad  depot,  for  about  one 
and  a  half  years.  He  went  to  Voungstown 
and  engaged  at  his  trade  for  a  short  time, 
when  he  accepted  a  clerkshij)  in  Union  Hotel, 
where  he  remained  two  years.  He  purchased 
the  passenger  dining-rooms  on  Liberty  street, 
Pittsburg,  which  he  conducted  about  a  year, 
sold  out  and  returned  to  Youngstown,  Ohio, 
and  Jan.  3,  1861,  he  married  Mary  A.  Wilson. 
They  moved  to  Allegheny  City,  Penn.,  where 
he  began  to  "run"  on  the  P.,  Ft.  W.  &  C.  R. 
R.,  and  was  soon  promoted  to  a  conductor- 
ship  on  the  road,  which  position  he  retained 
seven  years,  when  he  was  appointed  Night- 
train  Dispatcher  at  the  outer  depot  for  one 
year,  and  then  returned  to  his  jiosition  as 
conductor,  and  "ran"  one  year  when  he  re- 
signed to  engage  in  the  hotel  business  in  Alli- 
ance, having  been  running  the  Exchange  Ho- 
tel about  ten  months,  when,  on  Ma\-  'i'i,  1871, 
it  burned.  He  then  cjpencjd  the  restau'rant 
close  to  the  depot,  which  he  has  conducted 
ever  since  with  much  success.  They  have 
five  children,  viz. — Alva  L.,  Emma  S.,  Harry 
P.,  George  W.,  Jr.,  and  Lillie  C. 

DANIEL  SOUl!Ui;CK,  hotel-keeper;  Al- 
liance; was  born  in  Cumberland  Co.,  Pcnn., 
May  10,  1812.  His  parents  were  John  and 
Lydia  (Hemphill)  Sourbeck,  both  natives  of 
Pennsylvania.  His  father  was  a  hotel-k(;e|jer 
for  five  years  at  Karrisburg,  and  twenty  years 
at  Bridgeport,  Penn.  He  was  drowned  while 
fishing  in  the  Susquehanna  near  Dauphin,  in 
1839.  Of  eight  children  our  subject  is  the 
oldest  son.  He  received  his  e(bication  at  the 
common  schools,  and  in  his  youth  was  vari- 
ously employed;  learning  the  car])cnter's  trade 
and  in  his  father's  hotel,  and  followed  the 
former  occupation  several  years.  In  the;  fall 
of  1834  he  came  to  New  Brighton,  Penn., 
with  William  Laborn,  a  well-known  briilge- 
builder,  and  was  in  his  employ  about  a  y'-ar, 
assisting   him    to  build  the   bridge  across  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Big  Beaver  River  at  New  Brighton.  During 
the  two  succeeding  years  he  was  completing 
work  on  the  Erie  Canal,  which  was  contracted 
by  himsell'  and  two  others  under  the  firm 
name  of  Phillips,  Foreman  &  Sourbeck.  He 
then  returned  to  Now  Brighton,  and  was  pro- 
prietor of  the  Sourbeck  House  of  that  town 
from  1837  to  1853.  In  May  of  the  latter  year 
he  removed  to  Alliance,  Ohio,  where  he  has 
since  remained  engaged  in  the  hotel  business. 
He  is  still  proprietor  of  the  Sourbeck  House 
at  New  Brighton,  which  is  run  by  his  step- 
grandson,  Daniel  Robertson.  In  December, 
1835,  he  married  the  widow  of  Edward  Dow- 
ney, ^jfe  Eliza  Jack.  He  was  connected  with 
the  Ohio  militia,  having  been  a  lieutenant  in 
the  Alliance  Light  Guard,  and  while  in  Penn- 
sylvania he  was  Captain  of  a  cavalry  company 
known  as  Beaver  Co.  Light  Horse.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  I.  O. 
O.  F.  for  nianj  years.  On  the  evening  of 
Dee.  8,  1856,  a  collision  occurred  in  which  a 
train  on  the  Cleveland  &  Pittsburg  R.  R.,  ran 
into  a  train  on  the  P.,  Ft.  W.  &  C.  R.  R.,  at 
the  crossing  close  to  his  house,  one  of  the  cars 
being  thrown  into  the  rotunda  of  his  hotel. 
Nine  persons  were  killed  outright,  and  several 
severely  wounded.  On  Aug.  29, 1860,  he  had 
a  narrow  escape  from  death,  in  an  accident 
which  occurred  on  the  Camden  &  Amboy 
(New  Jersey)  R.  R.,  in  which  thirty-two  per- 
sons lost  their  lives.  In  the  car  which  Mr. 
Sourbeck  was  in  twenty-two  were  killed. 
The  train  was  running  liackward  at  a  rapid 
rate  of  speed,  and  was  thrown  from  the  track 
by  a  team  and  carriage  which  was  crossing 
the  road.  Being  between  high  embankments 
the  cars  were  smashed  into  kindling-wood, 
and  the  passengers  bruised  beyond  recogni- 
tion. He  had  the  scalp  torn  from  the  top  of 
his  liead  and  his  skull  fractured,  which  dis- 
abled him  for  four  months.  He  has  been  in 
the  hotel  business  for  forty-four  years,  and  is 
widely  and  favorably  known  thorughout  the 
United  States,  and  part  of  the  old  country  as 
one  of  the  old  "land-marks,"  and  proprietor 
of  one  of  the  best  railroad  hotels  in  this  coun- 
try, in  which  many  dignitaries  of  the  United 
States,  Indian  Chiefs,  Prince  of  Wales,  and 
other  potentates  have  been  guests.  It  is 
doubtful  if  any  other  railroad  hotel  proprietor 
in  the  United  States  has  so  long  held  his  posi- 
tion amid  the  various  changes  of  railroad  cor- 


porations. He  truly  is  a  self-made  man,  of 
fine  ])ersonal  appearance,  good  business  qual- 
ifications, independent  and  outspoken  in 
everything,  affable,  courteous  and  possessing 
a  high  sense  of  honor. 

AMOS  C.  SILVER,  boot  and  shoe  mer- 
chant; Alliance;  was  born  in  Salem  Tp.,  Col- 
umbiana Co.,  Ohio,  Sept.  3,  1838.  He  is  the 
eldest  of  a  family  of  three  children  born  to 
James  and  Nancy  (Tharp)  Silver.  Amos  C. 
received  a  liberal  education  at  New  Lisbon 
Union  School  and  Damascus  Academy. 
When  about  20  years  of  age  he  taught  school 
several  winters,  and  was  employed  on  the 
farm  the  rest  of  the  year.  In  1861  he  entered 
the  United  States'  Service,  building  and  re- 
pairing telegraph  lines  during  the  war.  He 
continued  in  this  business  until  September, 
]8(i3,  when  he  accidently  cut  his  foot  with  an 
ax,  while  at  work  at  Cul]j(>pper  Court  House. 
The  wound  so  far  disableil  him  as  to  confine 
him  to  the  hospital,  three  months,  at  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.  He  obtained  his  discharge,  and 
returned  home;  and  in  1864  he  was  employed 
on  the  telegraph  lines  along  the  P.,  Ft. 
W.  &  C,  and  the  C.  &  P.  R.^R.s,  of  which 
he  has  had  the  care  until  1878.  At  the  latter 
date,  he  engaged  in  the  boot  and  shoe  trade 
in  Alliance.  Jan.  11,  1866,  he  married  Sarah 
A.  Kelty.  They  have  one  child — Charles. 
Mrs.  Silver  was  born  in  Columbiana  Co., 
Ohio,  but  when  quite  young  her  parents  re- 
moved to  Bedford,  Mahoning  Co.  A  brother 
of  Mr.  Silver,  William  H.,  was  also  in  the 
service  in  the  late  war;  he  enlisted  in  the  103d 
O.  V.  I.  in  1862,  and  served  until  at  the 
battle  of  Resaca,  Ga.,  May  14,  1804,  he  re- 
ceived a  gun-shot  wound  in  the  hip.  He  was 
taken  to  the  hospital  at  Chattanooga,  where  he 
died  on  .June  3,  following. 

JOHN  M.  STILLWELL,  boot  and  shoe 
merchant;  Alliance;  was  born  in  Troy,  Geauga 
Co.,  Ohio,  Oct.  15,  1845.  His  parents  were 
Kortenus  and  Wait  B.  (Stafford)  Still  well. 
His  father  was  formerly  of  New  Jersey  and 
his  mother  of  New  York.  They  came  to  Ohio 
aliout  1837,  and  located  in  Geauga  Co.  John 
M.  is  the  youngest  of  their  six  children,  and 
until  he  was  13  years  old,  his  time  was  spent 
on  the  farm.  At  that  age  he  began  to  learn 
the  machinist's  trade  at  Chagrin  Falls,  and 
worked  at  that  business  there  and  at  Alliance 
about  eight  years.      About  four  years  he  sold 


l^ 


Af 


iK 


CITY    OF    ALLIANCE. 


sewing  machines,  and  the  subsequent  four 
\'ears,  he  farmed  in  Geauga  Co.  In  the 
spring  of  18S0,  lie  estalihshed  himself  in  the 
lioot  and  slu)e  tra<Ie  in  Alliance,  which  he  now 
conducts.  Oct.  17,  1807,  he  married  Madora 
Niece.  Siie  is  daughter  of  .J.  B.  Niece,  of 
Chagrin  Falls.  They  have  one  child — Mark. 
Mr.  Stillwell  is  now  serving  as  a  member  of 
Alliance  Town  Council,  and  is  also  a  member 
of  tlu!  Masonic  fraternitv,  and  the  I.  ().  ().  F. 
.JOHN  H.  TRESSEL;  physician  and  sur- 
geon ;  Alliance  ;  was  born  near  Malvern, 
Carroll  Co.,  Ohio,  March  17,  1833.  He  is  the 
third  son  of  a  family  of  ten  children  born  to 
Matthias  and  Catharine  (Harsh)  Tressel,  both 
natives  of  Washington  Co.,  Pa.,  and  moved 
to  Carroll  Co.,  Ohio,  about  18".23.  His  father 
was  a  farmer  and  a  man  of  fine  culture,  a  warm 
friend  to  the  cause  of  education,  and  for  many 
years  held  influential  ])()sitions  on  boards  of  ed- 
ucation in  his  community.  When  he  settled  in 
Ohio  he  was  in  moderate  circumstances,  but 
by  industry  he  accumulated  a  competency, 
and  became  the  owner  of  400  acres  of  im- 
proved land.  He  was  a  member  of  the  IJe- 
formed  Presbyterian  t'hurch,  in  which  faith 
he  died  in  18-18,  at  the  age  of  bi  years.  Due- 
tor  Tressel's  early  manhood  was  spent  in  at- 
tending school  and  working  on  the  farm.  In 
18.52  he  began  to  read  mediciTie  with  Dr.  S. 
F.  Rukenbrod,  of  Malvern.  During  the  yel- 
low fever  and  cholera  epidemic  in  1856,  he 
visited  the  plague-infected  districts  of  the 
South  and  Cuba.  With  a  view  to  advancing 
his  knowledge  in  the  science  of  medicine,  he 
visited  Paris,  France,  with  the  intention  of 
taking  a  course  in  the  best  Medical  Colleges 
in  Europe  ;  but  before  his  dijsign  in  that  di- 
rection was  fully  consummated  he  was  sum- 
moned home  by  cablegram,  in  consequence 
of  what  was  believed  to  be  a  fatal  illness  of 
his  mother.  While  abroad  he  visited  Africa, 
where  he  remained  a  short  time.  Previous  to 
his  emigration  to  France  he  had  almost  com- 
pleted the  regular  course  of  study  at  Mt.  Un- 
ion College  ;  on  his  return  he  jjraduated 
therefrom  in  June,  18G0  ;  and  the  two  suc- 
ceeding years  he  was  Principal  of  the  Acade- 
my in  Malvern.  In  the  summer  of  18G1  his 
leg  was  broken  in  five  ])laees  by  a  horse  fall- 
ing upon  him.  In  the  winter  of  18C)l-6".i  he 
attended  lectures  in  the  Cleveland  Medical 
College,  and  the  following  summer  began  the 


practice  of  medicine  in  Malvern.  The  suc- 
ceeding winter  he  attended  lectures  in  the 
.same  ijistitution,  graduated  in  the  sj)ring 
of  18G3,  and  resumed  his  practice  at  Mal- 
vern, whi-re  he  was  engaged  for  ten  years. 
During  the  late  war  he  did  good  service  as 
surgeon,  being  employed  in  times  of  special 
emergency  in  deta-hed  service,  not  being 
able,  on  account  of  ill-health,  to  be  on  contin- 
uous duty.  In  1873  he  sold  out,  with  the  in- 
tention of  removing  to  the  South.  Through 
the  advice  of  friends  he  changed  his  purpose, 
and  came  to  Alliance,  where  he  has  a  steadily 
increasing  practice.  In  the  spring  of  1876 
he  was  ap})ointed  surgeon  for  the  Pittsburgh, 
Ft.  Wayne  &  Chicago  and  the  Cleveland  & 
Pittsburgh  K.  R.s,  which  position  he  still  holds. 
When  residing  in  Malvern  he  was  Secretary 
and  one  of  the  Censors  of  Carroll  Co.  Medi- 
cal Society,  and  is  now  one  of  the  Censors  of 
Stark  Co.  Medical  Society,  and  a  member  of 
Northeastern  Ohio  Medical  Association,  also 
of  the  American  Medical  Association.  He 
has  contributed  to  various  medical  journals, 
and  has  prepared  a  series  of  articles  on  the 
causes  and  variations  of  diseases  and  on  ther- 
apeutics. In  November,  1876,  he  lost  almost 
all  his  effects  by  fire,  including  his  instru- 
ments, medical  and  general  library.  He  has 
acquired  a  tine  rejiutation  as  a  surgeon,  and 
has  performed  a  number  of  very  delicate  ope- 
rations, among  which  may  be  mentioned,  the 
resection  of  the  should(!r-joint  and  of  the 
lower  limbs,  the  removal  of  a  tumor  from  the 
brain  of  an  insane  patient  by  tri'])hining  ;  the 
patient  had  been  insane  for  a  j)eriod  of  ten 
years,  and,  on  removal  of  the  tumor,  immedi- 
H.elv  gave  evidence  of  remembering  facts 
which  were  identical  in  time  with  the  first 
symptoms  of  his  insanity  ;  he  became  of 
sound  mind  and  is  now  a  well-to-do  farmer, 
and  from  the  throat  of  another  he  extracted 
a  tumor,  which  was  pronounced  by  some  lead- 
ing surgeons  impossible  without  sacrificing 
life.  .June  1!',  1862,  he  married  Susannah  T., 
daughter  of  Thomas  Hawkins,  of  IJerlin,  Ma- 
honing Co.  They  have,  three  children — I>ora 
H.,  Gertrude  H.  and  John  K.  Mrs.  Tressel's 
pencil,  crayon  and  oil  work  would  do  credit 
to  the  professional  artist.  The  doctor  is  a 
member  of  the  fraternity  of  Freemasons,  In- 
dependent Order  of  0»ld  Fellows,  K.  of  P., 
and  other  secret  societies. 


-^ 


748 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


JOHN  T.  WEY^BRECHT,  lumber  dealer 
and  contractor;  Alliance;  was  born  in  France 
Jan.  27,  1839.  His  parents'  names  were  John 
and  Hannah  Weybrecht,  also  natives  of 
France.  In  yovith  Mr.  Weybrecht  learned 
the  carpenter's  trade,  and  in  1854  emigrated 
to  the  United  States,  and  after  a  short  resi- 
dence in  Pennsylvania  he  removed  to  Stark 
Co.,  Ohio,  and  continued  at  his  trade.  He 
soon  began  to  take  building  contracts,  which 
proved  a  success;  and  in  1856  opened  a  lum- 
ber yard  on  a  small  scale,  and  was  in  this 
direction  greeted  with  success;  and  in  1805 
he  established  a  planing-mill,  thereby  be- 
ing able  to  furnish  the  material  for  his 
ever  increasing  building-trade  in  any 
necessary  form  or  quantity.  In  1878  he 
built  his  present  brick  planing-mill,  and 
continues  to  do  an  annual  business  of 
about  $30,000  in  value,  many  of  the  best 
buildings  in  Allinnce  being  the  result  of  his 
architectural  ability.  Among  the  heaviest 
contracts  secured  and  carried  out  by  him,  were 
the  Union  School  building,  at  a  cost  of  $22,- 
000,  and  the  Alliance  College,  at  a  cost  of 
*!80,000,  both  of  which  are  imposing  struct- 
ures. He  married  Margaret  Honacker  in  Jan- 
uary, 185(5;  she  was  the  daughter  of  Christo- 
pher Honacker,  of  Alliance,  formerly  of  Wur- 
temburg,  Germany,  who  emigrated  to  this 
countrv  in  1832.  They  have  six  children — 
Mary  (now  Mrs.  Leroy  L.  Lamborn),  B.  F., 
Anna,  Jennie,  Charlie  and  Andrew.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
ows,  and  of  the  Knights  of  Honor,  but  has  re- 
peatedly refused  to  accept  any  public  offit;e. 
Mr.  We}d)recht  came  to  this  place  in  limited 
financial  circumstances,  but  through  strict  at- 
tention to  business,  and  economy,  he  has  estab- 
lished himself  in  a  desirable  and  lucrative 
position. 

WILLIAM  H.  WHITACRE,  merchant 
and  railroad  conductor;  Alliance;  was  born  in 
New  Lisbon,  Columl)iana  Co.,  Ohio,  June  8, 
1839;  son  of  James  and  Julia  (Frazier)  Whit- 
acre.  He  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  she  of 
Pennsylvania,  but  came  to  this  State  when 
quite  young.  Mr.  Whitacre  is  the  third  of  a 
family  of  ten  children.  His  early  manhood 
was  spent  on  the  farm,  but  when  20  years  of 
age  he  obtained  a  position  on  the  Cleveland 
&  Pittsburg  Railroad,  in  the  capacity  of 
brakesman,  and  in  18G3,  about  one  year  later, 


he  was  promoted  to  the  position  of  conduc- 
tor of  the  "local,"  which  he  retained  until 
1867,  when  ho  was  transferred  to  the  passen- 
ger department  as  conductor,  where  he  has 
continued  ever  since.  In  1S61  he  entered 
into  a  |iartnership  with  Isaac  Miller  in  the  boot 
and  shoe  business,  and  has  been  engaged  in 
that  lino  of  trade  ever  since.  While  his  posi- 
tion on  the  railroad  renders  it  impossible  to 
devote  all  his  time  to  the  store,  he  keeps  a 
general  supervision  of  the  business,  and  has 
always  at  his  leisure  hours  in  the  evening 
kept  the  books  of  the  concern,  and  is  accred- 
ited with  being  one  of  the  most  active  busi- 
ness men  of  Alliance.  He  married  Jennie 
Wilson,  of  Uniontown,  Penn.,  March  20, 
1860.  Of  their  six  children  only  one  sur- 
vives, viz: — Edward  J.  Mr.  Whitacre  is 
prominently  connected  with  the  M.  E.  Church, 
a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  also  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity.  Since  Mr.  Miller  severed 
his  business  relations  with  Mr.  Whitacre,  Price 
W.  Beardbley  has  purchased  an  interest  in 
the  establishment,  and  conducts  the  business, 
the  firm  name  having  been  Whitacre  &  Beards- 
ley  since  1879.  Mr.  Beardsley  was  born 
in  Geauga  Co.,  Ohio,  April  13,  1839.  His 
father,  Lyman  Beardsley,  came  from  Ben- 
nington, Vt.,  about  1830.  His  mother, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Fannie  Presley, 
was  a  native  of  Ohio.  They  reared  three 
children,  of  whom  our  subject  is  the  eld- 
est. When  about  18  years  of  age  he  came 
to  Alliance,  and  began  to  learn  the  boot  and 
shoe  trade.  In  1864  he  enlisted  in  the  162d 
O.  N.  G.  for  three  months'  service.  He  mar- 
ried Mary  A.  Stanley,  and  they  have  thr(^e 
children — T.  G.,  Alvah  P.,  and  Carrie  S.  He 
is  a  member  of  I.  O.  O.  F. 

ALFRED  WRIGHT,  hardware  merchant, 
of  the  firm  of  Wright  &  Pennock;  Alliance; 
was  born  in  Burlington  Co.,  New  Jersey, 
July  28,  1819;  the  son  of  John  Elizabeth  (Bul- 
lock) Wright,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of 
New  Jersey,  and  of  English  descent.  One 
Joshua  Wright,  a  Quaker,  of  whom  our  sub- 
ject is  a  lienal  descendant,  emigrated  from 
England  in  1669,  and  settled  in  what  is  now 
Burlington  Co.,  N.  J.;  there  he  made  a  p\ir- 
chase  of  a  large  tract  of  land,  for  which  he 
paid  King  Charles  II,  and  then  he  re-pur- 
chased his  claim  from  the  Indians.  The  de- 
scendants  of  this  pioneer  became  numerous 


•^ 


'^ 


LEXINGTON    TOWNSHIP. 


749 


in  Burlington  Co.,  and  principally  devoted 
th(>inselves  to  stock-raising  and  agricultural 
pursuits.  .lulin  Wriglit  was  a  prominent  far- 
mer and  influential  citizen  in  his  community; 
he  roared  a  family  of  four  children,  viz: — Ab- 
ner,  Charles,  Samuel  H.,  and  Alfred;  they  re- 
ceived as  liberal  an  education  as  the  schools 
of  that  day  afforded.  Alfred  got  his  educa- 
tion principally  in  private  schools  and  private 
study,  until  about  17  years  of  age,  wluiii  he 
attended  school  in  Philadelphia.  When  18 
years  old  he  began  teaching  in  Philadelphia, 
wiiere  he  continued  two  years:  at  the  expira- 
tion of  that  time  he  engag(>d  in  the  hardware 
business,  and  in  1842  came  to  Salem,  Ohio, 
where  he  opened  the  first  hardware  store  in 
that  town,  and  soon  afterwards  added  to  his 
hardware  business  a  stock  of  drugs,  which 
was  the  most  extensive  establishment  of  the 
kind  in  northeastern  Ohio.  Jlr.  Wright's 
wonderful  success  is  principally  due  to  his 
practical  business  ideas,  amounting  almost  to  a 
science.  Through  the  medium  of  the  journals 
of  northeastern  Ohio,  he  presented  his  busi- 
ness properly  to  the  public,  and  was  the  first 
merchant  in  Salem  to  think  of  advertising  in 
newspapers,  other  than  those  of  his  own  town. 
With  the  public  demand  he  was  familiar,  and 
was  ever  in  readiness  to  meet  it.  In  1862 
was  formed  the  partnership  of  Wright  &  Pen- 
nock    to    do    business    in  Alliance;  but  Mr. 


Wright  conducted  his  extensive  hardware 
and  drug  trade  at  Salem  until  1865,  when  in 
consequence  of  ill  health  he  sold  out  that 
establishment,  also  his  interest  in  a  fruit  farm, 
in  southern  Illinois,  and  an  interest  in  a  farm, 
steam  saw-mill  and  lumber  trade  in  Indiana. 
In  politics  he  has  always  affiliated  with  the 
Republican  party,  but  even  when  political 
prejudice  was  at  its  zenith  during  the  late  war, 
he  never  failed  of  receiving  the  patronage  of 
the  most  radical  opponents;  for,  while  firm  in 
his  views  on  political  questions,  he  avoided  un- 
necessary parade  of  conflicting  sentiments.  In 
January,  1866,  when  he  had  retired  from  bus- 
iness, the  iSa/em  licpuhlican  and  Buckeye 
State,  in  appropriate  terms,  deplored  the  loss, 
or  withdrawal  from  active  life  of  one  of  their 
most  public-spirited  and  enterprising  citizens. 
A  partnership  was  formed  between  himself 
and  Samuel  Chessman,  which  continued  four- 
teen years.  July  3,  1845,  Mr.  NVright  mar- 
ried Amelia  R.  Middleton,  of  Philadelphia. 
She  died  in  1865,  leaving  four  children,  viz.: 
Edgar  A.,  of  Davenport,  Iowa;  Ella  V.,  Ida 
M.  and  Arlhm-.  He  removed  from  Salem  to 
Alliance  in  1874,  and  was  elected  president 
of  the  Alliance  and  Lake  Erie  R.  R.  four 
years  ag(j,  which  office  he  has  now  n>signed, 
but  still  remains  a  member  of  the  board  of 
directors. 


LEXINGTON    TOWNSHIP. 


THEODORE  ARMSTRONG,  A.  M.,  pro- 
fessor of  jienmanship,  and  assistant  sups^rinten- 
dent  of  the  commercial  department  of  Mt. 
Union  college;  Mt.  Union;  was  born  June  13, 
1848,  in  North  Uenton,  Ohio.  He  is  the  oldest 
of  a  family  of  ten  children  born  to  Dr.  Robert 
and  Amy  B.  (Woodruff)  Armstrong.  His 
grandfnther  Armstrong,  came  to  Ohio,  and 
was  one  of  the  first  pioneers  of  Mahoning  Co., 
as  were  the  Woodruffs  also,  who  entered  their 
land  of  the  government.  When  moving  from 
New  Jersey  to  Ohio,  their  team  being  heavily 
lixided  with  their  effects,  the  grandmother 
Mrs.  Woodruff,  walked  on  foot  the  entire  dis- 


tance. Dr.  Robert  Armstrong  was  a  promi- 
nent physician,  and  had  a  very  extensive  and 
lucrative  practice  in  Mahoning  Co.,  and  vicin- 
ity. The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  a 
liberal  common  school  course,  and  in  the  fall 
of  1865,  he  entered  Mt.  Union  College,  and 
was  appointed  tutor  of  a  class  in  ]86>^,  in  the 
meantime  pursuing  his  own  studies;  but  be- 
ing of  frail  constitution,  he  was  compelled  to 
give  up  his  college  work  for  a  short  time. 
Upon  finding  his  health  recruited  by  out- 
door exercise,  he  returned  and  graduated  in 
the  scientific  course  in  Mt.  Union  in  1870, 
and  in  1871  graduated  in  the   classics.      He 


750 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


was  then  appointed  professor  of  penniauship 
and  assistant  superintendent  of  the  commer- 
cial department  of  the  college.  May  1,  1873, 
he  married  Emma  M.,  daughter  of  Zachariah 
and  Mary  Bertolett,  of  North  Benton,  Ohio. 
They  have  two  children  living — Mary  I.,  and 
Bertolett.  Prof.  Armstrong  lias  a  very  com- 
mcjdious  home,  which  he  has  taken  great 
delight  in  beautifying,  doing  all  the  work 
himsplf  as  recreation  in  his  leisure  hours. 

Wn,LIAM  ARMSTRONG,  Mus.  B.,  pro- 
fessor of  instrumental  music,  special  vocal  cul- 
ture and  musical  composition ;  Mt.  Union;  was 
born  in  Cheshire,  England.  In  youth  he 
was  a  ]irivate  ]5upil  of  Henry  C.  Coojjer,  of 
the  Cobden  Philharmonic  Society,  of  London. 
He  was  a  teacher  of  music  in  London  for  sev- 
eral years,  but  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
in  1870,  and  after  a  short  residence  in  New 
York,  he  was  associated  with  Dr.  Henry  Sut- 
ter of  Painesville,  Ohio,  who  was  formerly 
"Hofkapell-Meister"  , to  the  Grand  Duke  of 
Hesse-Darmstadt — and  with  him  established 
the  Sutter  College  of  Music;  and  with  Dr. 
Sutter 'he  was  joint  author  of  the  "Grand 
German  Piano  Forte  Method  "  and  "  Classi- 
cal Method  of  Voice-Culture."  Mt.  Union 
College  ratified  the  degree  of  Mus.  B.,  in 
187"^,  since  which  time  he  has  been  a  member 
of  the  Faculty. 

JAMES  A.  BRUSH,  A.  M.,  professor  of 
mathematics  and  didactics  in  Mt.  Union  Col- 
lege; Mt.  Union;  was  born  in  Washington 
Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  Sept.  26,  1838.  His  par- 
ents were  Charles  and  Fannie  (Fitch)  Brush, 
the  former  a  native  of  Long  Island,  and 
the  latter  of  Norwalk,  Conn.  They  were 
married  in  New  York  city,  where  Mr. 
Brush  was  engaged  in  the  boot  and  shoe 
business  ;  several  years  later,  they  removed 
to  Lima,  in  western  New  York,  and  in  that 
place  continued  his  business  for  several  years. 
He,  however,  disposed  of  his  business  there, 
and  they  removed  to  Ohio  and  located  in 
Washington  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  in  183.5  ;  here 
Mr.  Brush  purchased  a  farm,  and  devoted  his 
time  chiefly  to  that  vocation  until  1870,  when 
he  sold  out  and  retired  from  business,  and 
died  in  Mt.  Union  in  1870,  in  the  74th  year 
of  his  age.  His  widow  still  survives  at  the 
advanced  age  of  72  years.  They  reared  eight 
children,  viz. — Amanda  M.  (now  Mrs.  O.  N. 
Hartshorn)  ;  Mary  C.  (now  Mrs.  Amasa  Gar- 


wood, near  Etna  Green,  Ind.);  Jane  A.  (Mrs. 
Daniel  Johnson,  of  Etna  Green,  Ind.);  James 
A.,  Charles  H.  (of  East  Norwich,  Long  Island) ; 
Fannie  A.  (Mrs.  Leroy  Bentley,  of  Salem); 
Theresa  (Mrs.  Chas.  Johnson,  Beloit,  Ohio); 
and  Beckie  S.,  who  resides  with  her  aged 
mother  in  Mt.  Union.  James  A.  was  the 
fourth  child  and  eldest  son  of  the  family  ;  his 
boyhood  was  spent  on  his  father's  farm  and 
attending  the  common  school  in  the  winter, 
until  he  was  about  16  years  of  age,  when  he 
entered  Mt.  Union  College,  and  graduated  in 
classical  course  from  that  institution  in  18G3. 
In  the  spring  of  1862  he  enlisted  in  Co.  G, 
86th  O.  V.  I.,  in  the  "three  months"  service, 
but  served  considerably  over  that  length  of 
time.  He  early  chose  teaching  as  a  profes- 
sion, and  bent  all  his  energy  and  time  in  pre- 
paring himself  for  that  calling.  He  freipient- 
ly  taught  in  the  public  schools,  and  was  Prin- 
cipal of  the  public  school  of  Minerva,  this 
county,  one  year,  and  accejited  a  similar  posi- 
tion in  the  Ravenna  schools  for  two  yeare. 
In  185.5  he  was  appointed  Assistant  Professor 
of  Mathematics  and  English  Classics  in  Mt. 
Union  College,  until  1879,  when  he  was  ap- 
pointed Professor  of  Mathematics.  June  23, 
1863,  he  married  Amelia  A.  McCall.  She  is 
daughter  of  Joseph  McCall,  of  Nelson,  Port- 
age Co.,  of  which  he  was  a  pioneer  settler, 
formerly  of  Middlebury,  Conn.  Mrs.  Brush 
also  chose  teaching  as  a  profession,  and  pre- 
pared herself  thoroughly  for  the  work.  Be- 
fore she  was  married  Mrs,  Brush  had  taught 
several  terms  in  public  schools,  and  was  Prin- 
cipal of  the  Nelson  Academy  for  several 
vears,  and  was  also  her  husband's  assistant 
teacher  in  Minerva.  In  1880  she  beg-an  teach- 
ing in  Mt.  Union  College,  having  ])reviously 
graduated  from  that  institution  with  the  de- 
gree of  Ph.  B.,  and  was  elected  as  Preceptress 
in  the  Ladies'  Department,  and  Professor  of 
English  Literature  and  Rhetoric.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Brush  have  been  born  four  children, 
viz. — Harlie  W.,  Walter  S.,  Louis  H.  and 
Anna. 

L.  W.  BUTLER,  farmer;  P.  O.  Alli- 
ance; was  born  in  Burlington  Co.,  N.  .1., 
Sept.  15,  1797.  His  grandfather,  John 
Butler,  when  about  16  years  old,  in  com- 
pany with  another  boy  of  similar  age,  left 
their  home  in  Ireland,  unknown  to  their  folks, 
and  emigrated   to  this  continent,  settling  in 


LEXINGTON    TOWNSHIP. 


751 


New  Jersey.  John  Butler  married  and  re- 
mained there.  He  had  only  one  son,  Benja- 
min, who  lived  to  maturity.  When  he  (Ben- 
jamin) arrived  at  manhood,  he  married  Han- 
nah AVebster,  daui^hter  of  Lawrence  Web- 
ster, of  Enirlish  descent.  Of  this  union,  the 
subject  of  tiiese  notes  was  first-born  of  their 
nine  children.  About  the  year  1804,  the  fam- 
ily moved  from  New  Jersey  and  located  in 
what  is  now  a  surburb  of  the  city  of  Phila- 
delphia; there  th(>v  remained  until  1811,  when 
they  removed  to  Ohio  and  settled  east  of  Da- 
mascus, Columbiana  Co.,  and  the  following 
year  located  in  Goshen  Tp.,  now  Mahoning 
Co.,  where  his  parents  died;  his  fatiior  in  his 
6Gth  year,  and  his  mother  at  85  years  of  age. 
Tiiey  belonged  to  the  orthodox  society  of 
"Friends,"  as  did  all  the  family  reared  in 
that  faith.  His  early  secular  education  was 
such  as  the  ordinary  subscription  schools  of 
his  time  afforded.  .March  20,  1820,  he  was 
married  to  Sarah  Votaw,  daughter  of  Moses 
Votaw,  a  pioneer  of  Columbiana  Co.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Butler  started  out  on  life's  "  jour- 
ney" together,  in  the  woods,  with  very  lim- 
ited means;  l)ut  although  their  log  cabin  was 
a  rude  affair,  it  was  surrounded  by  luxuries 
which  gold  can  never  purchase — an  air  of  con- 
tentment and  happiness,  which  caused  even 
the  wilderness  to  sniile.  In  their  humble  and 
unassuming  way  they  toiled  and  prospered, 
and  saw  the  fruits  of  their  labor  accumulate 
until  they  were  in  good  financial  circumstan- 
ces. To  them  were  born  nine  children,  viz. — 
Moses,  now  in  Cedar  Co.,  Iowa;  Hannah,  wife 
of  David  Tatum,  of  Cleveland;  Mary,  de- 
ceased; Lewis,  now  of  Toledo,  Ohio;  .Joseph 
and  Benjamin,  twins,  the  latter  in  Morgan  Co., 
Ind.;  Joseph  removed  to  Arkansas,  where  he 
died;  Eunice  is  the  wife  of  Flemming  Staidey, 
of  Michigan,  and  .fohn  is  in  Kansas.  Mr. 
Butler  succeeded  in  business,  and  accumula- 
ted considerable  property  in  his  life-time, 
but  has  of  late  years  distributed  it  liberally 
amongst  his  children,  giving  each  a  fair  por- 
tion to  enable  them  to  start  for  themselves; 
and  was  somewhat  unfortunate  in  going  as 
surety  for  ^5,000,  which  amount  he  was 
obliged  to  settle.  When  younger  and  more 
able  to  stand  the  burthen  of  worldly  care,  he 
was  energetic  and  active  in  business,  a  ready 
discerner  of  character,  possessed  of  good 
judgment,    and  was  firm   in    his   friendships. 


His  wife  died  in  1866,  and  in  October  of  18G8, 
he  married  Ann  Beck.  He  attends  to,  or 
oversees,  the  work  on  his  farm,  and  notwith- 
standing his  advanced  age,  he  is  a  man  of  re- 
markable vital  force  and  physical  ability. 

GEORGF:  W.  CLARKE,  A.  M.,  professor 
of  Greek  and  Latin,  Mt.  Union  Colleg<>;  Mt. 
Union;  was  born  in  North  Springfield  Tp., 
Portage  Co.,  now  Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  July  24, 
1825.  He  is  the  third  child  of  a  family  of 
twelve  children  born  to  Robert  L.  and  Nancy 
I.  (Do  Haven)  Clarke.  The  Clarke  and  De 
Haven  families  were  both  early  pioneers  in 
that  section  of  the  State,  and  were  among  the 
most  prominent  and  influential  citizens  of  the 
Western  Reserve,  wh(!re  they  located  about 
the  year  1810.  The  parents  of  Mr.  Clarke 
were  farmers,  and  in  the  duties  consequent 
upon  that  vocation,  and  attending  the  com- 
mon school  of  the  neighborhood  his  boy- 
hood days  were  spent.  He  was  the  third 
of  their  twelve  children,  nine  of  whom  lived 
to  mature  years.  When  about  16  years  of 
age,  Mr.  Clarke  attended  an  academy  at  Kent, 
Ohio,  and  through  the  winter  months  taught 
school,  and  worked  some  on  the  farm.  He 
entered  the  Allegheny  College,  at  Meadville, 
Penn.,  when  about  22,  and  supported  himself 
throughout  his  collegiate  course  by  teaching 
at  intervals,  as  opportunity  afforded,  and  by 
doing  chores  for  his  uncle,  who  was  professor 
of  Greek  and  Latin  in  that  institution  at  the 
time.  In  .July,  1852,  he  graduated,  third  in  a 
class  of  thirty-two,  with  the  honorary  degree 
of  A.  B.  The  following  August  he  took 
charge  of  an  academy  at  Conneautville,  Craw- 
ford Co.,  Penn.,  where  he  taught  almost  two 
years.  On  account  of  the  failing  of  his  uncle. 
Prof.  Clarke,  in  the  Allegheny  College  at 
Meadville,  our  sul)ject  was  appointed  for  a 
time  in  his  place  as  tutor  of  Greek  and  Latin, 
with  his  alma  mater;  and  while  in  that  place 
was  chosen  to  the  professorship,  which  he  now 
holds,  in  1854,  whore  he  has  labored  contin- 
uously ever  since.  He  has  frequently  assisted 
in  branches  other  than  the  languages,  viz.: 
astronomy,  botanj',  physiology,  elocution  and 
classic  vocal  music.  He  has  also  served  as 
secretary  of  the  College  Faculty  for  the  last 
twenty  years.  April  6,  1862,  he  married  Eliz- 
abeth M.  Hill,  of  Summit  Co.  By  this  union 
two  children  were  born,  viz. — J.  Wilbertand 
Mary  Ida.     They  both  graduated  at  the  same 


•RT 


:^. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


time;  he  in  the  classics,  and  she  in  English 
literature  and  music.  J.  Wilbert  studied 
law  with  W.  C.  Pippitt  about  two  years;  was 
considered  an  accomplished  scholar  and  pos- 
sessed of  more  than  ordinary  ability  for  his 
time;  but  he  was  stricken  by  cerebro-spinal 
meningitis,  and  survived  the  attack  but  a 
short  time,  dying  May  10,  1877,  in  his  23d 
year.  Miss  Clark  is  a  fine  musician,  and  de- 
votes her  time  principally  to  teaching  that 
art,  and  it  is  generally  conceded  that  she  is 
one  of  the  finest  pianists  in  the  State. 

ELIAS  ELLETT,  farmer;  P.  O.  Alliance; 
was  born  in  Salem  Co.,  N.  J.,  Jan.  20,  1812; 
he  was  the  fourth  child  of  nine  children  born 
to  James  and  Catharine  (Sickler)  EUett.  He 
was  brought  up  to  the  various  duties  of  farm 
life.  He  married  Eimira  Sarash  in  Novem- 
ber, 1835,  and  in  1838  they  removed  from 
New  Jersey  to  Columbiana,  now  Mahoning 
Co.,  Ohio;  they  followed  farming  in  that 
county  until  1843,  when  they  removed  to  Lex- 
ington, Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  and  purchased  90  acres 
where  Mr.  Ellett  now  resides.  December  30, 
1858,  Mrs.  Ellett  was  called  away  by  death, 
leaving  twelve  of  their  thirteen  children,  ten 
of  whom  lived  to  maturity,  viz. — Mary,  Cath- 
rine,  W.  K.,  Sarah  A.,  John  E.  (deceased),  Re- 
becca J.,  A.  J.,  S.  P.,  E.  J.,  A.  F.,  and  three  diid 
in  childhood.  Mr.  Ellett  married  again,  Mrs. 
R.  J.  Fogg,  in  June,  1801;  by  this  union  there 
is  one  child,  Henry  B.  His  present  wife  was 
the  widow  of  the  late  Aaron  Fogg,  of  Alliance, 
who  sustained  fatal  injuries  on  the  railroad. 
His  oldest  son,  W.  K.,  enlisted  Aug.  7,  18(i2, 
in  the  115th  O.  V.  I.,  in  the  late  war,  and 
served  three  years.  Besides  attending  to  his 
farm,  Mr.  Ellett  dealt  in  horses  for  a  period 
of  twenty-five  years,  frequently  shipping  to 
the  Eastern  markets.  As  stated  elsewhere, 
he  is  a  charter  inember  and  President  of  the 
Lexington  ^[utual  Aid  Association.  He  has 
been  a  faithful  member  of  the  Baptist  Church 
these  forty-seven  years  past,  both  himself  and 
Krst  wife  uniting  with  the  church  in  New 
Jersey,  in  1834,  and  for  the  last  twenty-five 
years  he  has  officiated  as  deacon  in  the  Bap- 
tist Church  of  Alliance,  of  which  his  present 
wlf '  has  been  a  member  for  the  past  sixteen 
vears. 

SHADRACH  FELTS,  deceased  ;  was  born 
in  Sussex  Co.,  Va.,  May  23, 1794.  His  father, 
Jesse   Felts,  wife    and   two    children,   viz. — 


Shadrach  and  a  sister,  constituted  one  of  the 
seven  families  who  in  company,  removed  from 
Virginia  to  Ohio  in  1807.  The  party  consist- 
ed of  about  fifty  souls,  viz. — Jesse  Felts,  wife 
and  two  children  ;  Charles  Hamlin  and  five 
children  (his  wife  having  died  in  Virginia); 
William  and  John  Hamlin,  each  with  a  wife 
and  five  children  ;  Josej)h  Sebrell,  wife  and 
seven  children  ;  Thomas  Wood,  wife  and  two 
children  ;  and  Judson  .Tones,  wife  and  two 
children,  &c.  On  April  22,  1807,  thpy  set  out 
in  their  wagons  to  traverse  the  country  and 
cross  into  Ohio,  in  search  of  a  home  in  the 
new  and  unsettled  West.  They  arrived  at 
Salem,  Columbiana  Co.,  the  following  June. 
There  they  encamped  on  a  lot  which  had  been 
partially  cleared,  and  were  the  recipients  of 
much  kindness  at  the  hands  of  some  few  set- 
tlers at  that  point.  Taking  Salem  as  a  basis 
of  operations,  they  began  to  look  around  for 
permanent  locations.  .Jesse  Felts  and  Charles 
Hamlin  soon  set  out  on  a  prospecting  tour, 
and  wandering  into  what  is  now  Lexington 
Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  accidentally  found  the  "Stan- 
ton" settlement,  which  had  been  made  near  the 
Mahoning,  near  Lexington  village,  several 
years  Ijefore.  The  Stantons  persuaded  Felts 
and  Hamlin  to  settle  in  their  vicinitv,  and  ac- 
cordingly each  made  an  entry  of  land  on  what 
is  now  Sec.  10:  Felts  160 acres  and  Hamlin  320 
acres;  and  to  this  place  they  removed  their  fam- 
ilies, from  their  temporary  encampment  at  Sa- 
lem, in  the  "fall"  of  1807.  Charles  Hamlin's  son, 
Stephen,  by  this  time  had  married  the  only 
daughter  of  Jesse  Felts  ;  they  too  came  to 
this  section,  constituting  another  family.  The 
Joneses  and  Sebrells  moved  in  afterward,  un- 
til the  settlement  was  considerably  enlarged. 
After  about  two  years'  residence  here,  busi- 
ness called  Charles  Hamlin  to  return  to  Vir- 
ginia, and  on  his  way  back  here  he  took  ill  at 
Salem  and  there  died  suddenly.  Jesse  Felts 
died  here  in  1818,  his  being  one  of  the  first 
interments  made  in  Lexington  cemetery  ;  his 
wife  survived  until  1840.  January  30,  1817, 
our  subject  and  Mary,  daughter  of  Charles 
Hamlin,  were  united  in  matrimony,  and  began 
the  battle  of  life  for  themselves  on  the  farm 
where  Mrs.  Felts  resides  to  this  day.  It  was 
a  portion  of  the  original  entry,  and  has  never 
been  out  of  the  hands  of  the  family.  They 
had  nothing  to  begin  with  except  the  home- 
stead and  able  and  willing  hands.     For  several 


LEXINGTON   TOWNSHIP. 


753 


vcars  till!  only  product  which  they  had  for 
excliange,  for  any  other  article  they  were 
obliged  to  have,  was  sugar  made  from  the 
sugar-maple.  They  struggled  along  and  hore 
many  hardships  of  toil  and  privation  incident 
to  pioneer  life,  but  in  their  time  have  seen 
manv  and  extreme  changes.  They  had  five 
children,  viz. — John,  .Jesse,  Charles,  Edwin 
and  Richard  E.  Of  these  only  .John  and 
Jesse  survive.  Charles  died  h(-re  in  18GS, 
leaving  a  widow  and  two  children.  Edwin 
and  Richard  E.  both  enlisted  in  the  late  war  ; 
the  former  died  at  his  home,  Ft. Wayne,  Ind., 
from  disease  contracted  in  the  artny,  and  the 
latter  dl(!d  in  Kentucky  from  a  similar  cause. 
In  18.50  Jesse,  then  a  young  man  of  34 
years,  went  with  an  emigrating  part}'  to  Cali- 
fornia, and  has  been  there  and  engaged  on 
the  frontier  as  a  freighter  for  over  thirty  years, 
at  times  being  years  without  correspondence 
with  his  parents,  many  of  his  friends  believ- 
ing he  was  dead.  But  Time  itself  could  not 
shake  that  maternal  faith  and  desire  of  Mrs. 
Felts  to  see  her  son  once  more  ;  in  which  she 
was  gratified  on  a  December  evening  of  1880, 
when  to  her,  her  long- lost  boy  walked  in,  not 
exactly  like  the  vouth  of  twenty-odd  sum- 
mers who  left  her  in  18.50,  but  a  man  of  mid- 
dle age,  of  venerable  look  and  whitened  locks. 
As  it  were,  he  providentially  arrived  a  few 
weeks  before  the  demise  of  his  father,  which 
occurred  in  January,  1881,  who  had  long 
wished  and  waited  "  for  to  see  his  boy  again." 
Mrs.  Felts  is  one  of  the  few  pioneers  of  the 
county  who  still  survive  ;  she  was  born  in 
Virginia  April  29,  1794;  now  well  advanced 
in  her  8Sth  year,  she  is  a  woman  of  remarka- 
ble vitality,  although  of  quite  slender  ])hys- 
ique,  is  possessed  of  extraordinary  nervous 
force,  combined  with  good  c(mimon  sense  and 
considerable  executive  ability,  and  one  of 
those  women  in  whose  vocabulary  the  term 
"fail"  or  "can't"  never  had  a  place.  Her 
eldest  child,  John,  has  always  remained  single 
and  at  home  with  his  parents,  and  is  well  ad- 
vanced in  years,  not  being  in  a  robust  state 
of  health.  They  pass  their  time  quietly  on 
the  farm  where  Mrs.  Felts  has  lived  seventy- 
four  years. 

ELI  GRANT,  farmer  ;  P.  O.,  Alliance  ; 
was  born  in  this  township,  Oct.  9,  18:5:$.  He 
is  the  third  of  a  family  of  eight  children,  born 
to   Stacey   and     Jemima    (Rockhill)    Grant. 


His  grandfather,  John  Grant,  came  from  New 
Jersey  to  Ohio  with  his  wife  and  two  oldest 
children.  They  located  at  Salem,  Columbi- 
ana Co.,  where  the  family  was  increased  in 
due  season  by  six  more  children;  in  all  there 
were — Harriet,  who  married  and  removed  to 
Indiana;  Thomas,  to  Williams  Co.,  Ohio; 
Stacey,  who  remaine  1  here  and  is  the  father 
of  several  heads  of  families,  who  reside  in  the 
vicinity;  Clayton  in  Indiana;  Eliza,  Hannah, 
Ann,  and  Sarah  are  the  children  of  .lohn 
Grant,  who  came  to  Lexington  Tp.,  and  lo- 
cated on  what  is  now  the  wc'stern  portion  of 
Alliance,  on  what  is  now  the  farm  of  .1.  R. 
Ilaines,  in  .about  1812.  He  was  a  wagon 
maker  by  trade,  and  an  ingenious  wood  or 
iron  worker,  and  many  of  the  first  wagons 
made  in  this  section  of  the  Stute,  were  the 
production  of  his  mechanical  skill.  Stacey 
also  worked  at  that  bvisiness  with  his  father, 
and  together  produced  some  of  the  first  bug- 
gies ever  manufactured  in  this  j)art  of  Ohio. 
As  stated  elsewhere,  .John  Grant  passed  the 
closing  days  of  his  life  v^ith  his  son-in-law  (.1. 
R.  Haines)  on  the  old  homestead.  Stacey 
Grant,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  these  lines, 
was  born  April  17,  1807;  and  May  25,  1828, 
he  married  Jemima  Rockhill.  She  was  born 
in  New  Jersey,  Feb.  ti,  1811;  of  six  children 
of  David  Rockhill,  Mrs.  Grant  was  the  only 
daughter.  Previous  to  their  marriage  Mr. 
Grant  had  purchased  some  land,  all  in  woenls, 
to  which  they  repaired,  and  immediately  be- 
gan the  necessary  improvements,  and  at  in- 
tervals, did  considerable  work  at  the  black- 
smith's trade.  Thus  variously  employed,  he 
conducted  his  affairs  successfully,  and  remain- 
ed on  the  same  farm  on  which  he  began  for 
himself,  until  his  death,  which  occurod,  Nov. 
1,  18G7.  They  reared  eight  children,  seven 
lived  to  maturity,  viz. — Juliana  Maria,  now 
Mrs.  Dr.  L.  L.  Lamborn;  Eli,  .Joseph,  Henry 
(deceased),  Annetta  and  Samuel.  Mrs.  Grant 
still  survives,  and  is  admirably  well  preserved, 
both  physicaly  and  mentally,  for  one  who  has 
passed  "  the  allotted  span  "  of  time.  Eli  was 
the  oldest  son.  He  received  a  fair  education 
in  the  common  schools,  and  spent  some  time 
at  the  Mt.  Union  Seminary.  Aug.  27,  18.57, 
he  married  Malinda  Babb.  She  was  a  daughter 
of  Harrison  Babb  of  Chester  Co.,  Penn. 
They  have  had  three  children,  one  living — 
Henry  E.       He   engaged  in   the  mercantile 


business  with  Teeters  &  Bates,  which  lasted 
three  years.  He  then  went  into  the  Agricul- 
tural Works,  through  which  he  sustained  some 
pecuniary  loss.  In  1871  he  purchased  a  small 
farm,  having  severed  all  connection  with  the 
Agricultural  Works  Co..  for  whom  he  had 
been  traveling  salesman  for  some  time.  He 
now  owns  53  acres  of  good  land,  west  of  the 
city,  which  is  underlaid  with  a  valuable  vein 
of  coal,  which  he  is  working. 

JOSEPH  GRANT,  farmer;  P.  O.  Alliance; 
was  born  Jan  2'.t,  1830.  He  is  the  second  son 
and  fourth  child  born  to  Stacey  and  Jemima 
(Rockhill)  Grant.  His  early  education  was 
that  received  at  the  common  schools,  and 
a  short  time  at  the  Mt.  Union  Seminary  He 
was  desirous  of  obtaining  a  thorough  educa- 
tion, but  ill  health,  induced  by  sedentary 
habits  incident  to  constant  study,  compelled 
him  to  return  to  greater  e.xercise  on  the  farm, 
to  which  he  has  ever  since  devoted  his  atten- 
tion. Oct.  10,  1858,  he  was  married  to  Mary 
Keyser,  whose  father,  Daniel  Keyser,  came 
from  PiMinsylvania  a  young  man,  and  married 
Maria  Bryfog'le,  and  settled  in  Marlborough 
Tp.,  Stark  Co.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grant  began 
for  themselves  where  thev  now  reside,  on 
about  67  acres,  which  he  got  off  his  father's 
estate;  but  by  their  unceasing  industry,  they 
have  added  by  purchase,  until  they  now  own 
130  acres  of  good  land,  in  an  excellent  state  of 
cultivation,  and  with  farm  buildings  not 
excelled  in  Lexington  Tp.  They  had  two 
children,  both  of  whom  died  in  childhood. 
They  have  one  adopted  son — Samuel  J.,  whose 
name  they  had  changed  from  that  of  his  nat- 
iiral  paient  to  Grant.  His  natural  father — 
Fry — lel't  here  several  years  ago,  leaving  a 
wife  and  several  small  children,  to  look  out  a 
])roper  location  in  the  West,  but  was  never 
more  heard  of.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grant  are 
members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  of 
which  he  has  been  a  steward  for  some  time. 

REV.  ORVnXE  NELSON  HARTS- 
HORN, LL.  D.,  President  of  Mt.  Union  Col- 
lege and  Professor  of  Moral  and  Intellectual 
Philosophy  and  International  Law,  whose 
portrait  appears  in  this  work,  was  born  Aug. 
;iO,  1823,  in  Nelson,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio.  He 
is  the  second  child  and  eldest  son  of  five  chil- 
dren born  to  Norris  and  Asenath  Hartshorn. 
Mr.  Norris  Hartshorn  was  born  April  1,  1785, 
in    Torrington,    Litchfield    Co.,    Connecticut; 


and  after  the  close  of  the  War  of  1S12,  in 
which  lie  was  a  soldier,  he  emigrated  to  Ohio, 
and  located  in  Portage  Co.,  where  he  was 
married  to  Asenath,  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Abigail  Backus,  and  died  at  Mt.  Union,  at 
the  age  of  75.  Mr.  Backus  was  born  Aug.  20, 
1764,  in  Palmer,  Northampton  Co.,  Mass.; 
and,  having  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary War,  moved  from  Massachussets  in 
1810  with  his  family  to  Deerfield,  Portage  Co., 
Ohio,  and  died  July  20,  1854,  near  Alliance, 
Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  at  the  residence  of  his  daugh- 
ter, Asenath,  at  the  advanced  age  of  nearly 
90  years.  The  subject  of  this  sketch.  Presi- 
dent Hartshorn,  was  brought  up  to  farm  life, 
and  there  received  only  a  moderate  common 
school  education.  To  his  devoted  Christian 
mother,  he  is  chiefly  indebted,  under  a  kind 
Providence,  for  the  normal  development  of 
his  intrepid  and  decisive  character.  He  not 
only  inherited  from  his  cultured  mother  her 
remarkable  and  naturally  strong  straits  of 
character;  but,  from  infancy  even  to  manhood, 
he  daily  received  from  her  skilled  hand  emi- 
nently practical,  affectionate  and  positive 
training.  This  regular  and  strict  training — 
embracing  religious  and  systematic  home  in- 
struction given  by  his  mother  during  his  first 
twelve  years,  not  only  in  the  common  branches 
of  an  English  education,  but  especially  in  the 
immutable  and  eternal  principles  of  truth  and 
right,  and  in  the  daily  and  voluntary  practice 
of  stern  duty,  self-reliance  and  self-govern- 
ment in  strict  accordance  with  the  laws  of  his 
entire  being — laid  the  solid  foundation  of  his 
sterling  character,  and  gave  an  irresistible 
impetus  in  the  direction  of  all  his  subsequent 
actions  and  marked  achievements.  It  was 
also  his  heroic  mother  who  taught  the  first 
public  school  which  he  attended,  she  having 
taught  in  the  public  schools  during  the  ten 
years  preceding  her  marriage.  This  salutary 
home-training-  thus  early  received  from  his 
devoted  mother,  supplemented  by  that  of  the 
Sunday  School  in  which  she  was  also  his 
teacher,  was  the  chief  means,  under  Provi- 
dence, of  early  leading  him  to  Christ,  and  of 
form'ng  corr(^ct  habits,  and  subsequently  of 
using  patiently  and  conscientiously  the 
requisite  efforts  to  acquire  liberal  cpialifica- 
tions  for  his  active  life's  work.  Though  most 
of  his  youth  was  cheerfully  devoted  to  phys- 
cal  labor  on  the  farm,  and  at  intervals  to  car- 


'^ 


LEXINGTON   TOWNSHIP. 


pentering,  yet  he  attendofl  district  school 
a  portion  of  the  winter  months,  and  for  some- 
time a  high-scliool  near  his  home,  at  Deer- 
field.  Then  lie  took  a  further  course  of  three 
years  of  faithful  study  at  the  Atwater  Lin- 
naean  AcadcMuy  in  his  native  county.  He 
then  attended  Alle<j;heny  College  at  Mead- 
ville.  Pa.,  another  three  years;  and  after  there 
prosecuting  and  completing  its  Classical 
course  of  four  vears"  study,  he  there  graduated 
in  the  decree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts;  and,  three 
years  later,  in  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts. 
While  a  student  both  at  the  Academy  and  the 
College,  he  defrayed  his  entire  expenses, 
partly  bj-  manual  labor  during  short  intervals, 
but  chiefly  by  teaching  public  schools 
during  the  winter  season.  Self-support  by 
honest  and  thoughtful  labor,  and  self- 
reliance,  with  humble  yet  implicit  trust  in 
the  infinitely  perfect  One  ;  also  fidelity  to 
dutv  and  love  for  his  neighbor,  have  always 
characterized  his  generous,  positive,  enter- 
prising and  intensely  active  life.  Oct.  4, 
1840,  he  organized  at  Mt.  Union,  Stark  Co., 
Ohio,  an  institution  known  as  Mount  Union 
Seminary.  The  surroundings  for  a  school 
seemed  inauspicious,  and  at  t!\e  beginning  there 
were  only  six  students;  but  the  number  in- 
creased until  the  roll  showed  the  first  year  an 
average  of  twenty  students.  Under  his  judi- 
cious planning,  persevering  energv  and  well 
directed  care,  this  aggressive  institution  regu- 
larly grew  in  substantial  patronage  and  favor, 
even  beyond  his  fon<lest  hopes,  thus  adding 
zeal  to  his  well-considered,  firm  and  conscien- 
tious purpose  to  lay  liroadly  the  foundation 
of  an  educational  institution  of  national  use- 
fulness, based  on  the  principles  of  truth  and 
right,  and  the  actual  needs  of  our  American 
people,  and  having  as  its  distinctive  object,  the 
rendering  of  an  integral,  liberal,  Christian  edu- 
cation, easily  and  erjually  accessible  to  every 
honest  and  enterprising youn<r  man  and  young 
woman,  however  lowly  or  self-di'])endent.  He 
conducted  this  progressive  seminary  with 
eminent  prudence,  patience,  ability  and  suc- 
cess until  January,  1S.58,  when  it  was  regu- 
larly chartered  as  a  college.  It  had  become 
a  college  in  fact,  lacking  only  the  authority  to 
confiT  degrees,  antl  the  accumulation  of  suffi- 
cient funds  to  place  it  on  a  firm  basis.  How- 
ever, many  intelligent,  generous  and  wealthy 
persons, — who  had  observed  this   institution 


during  its  first  few  years  struggling  bravely 
for  honorable  existence  and  recognition,  now 
becoming  an  eligible  place  of  sound  learning 
of  no  secondary  importance, — responded  with 
living  sj'mpathy,  wise  counsel  and  liberal  do- 
nations, thus  giving  it  a  good,  substantial 
foundation.  (See  the  College  History  in  gen- 
eral chapter).  At  its  opportune  and  effi- 
cient organization  in  1858  as  a  college.  Dr. 
Hartshorn  was  elected  President  of  its  Fac- 
ult}'  ;  also  President  of  its  Board  of  Trust- 
ees. After  successfully  serving  for  ten 
years  this  college  of  the  people,  by  the  peo- 
ple and  for  the  people,  in  both  these  capaci- 
ties, he  resigned  Juno,  1868,  in  favor  of  Hon. 
Lewis  Miller,  of  Akron,  Ohio,  the  Presidency 
of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  in  order  that  he 
might  give  his  whole  energies  to  his  increas- 
ingly responsible  duties  as  President  of  the 
Faculty.  Having  in  his  early  manhooil  devo- 
ted considerable  time  to  the  study  of  law  un- 
der the  instruction  of  Hon.  Chester  Hayden, 
LL.  D.,  of  Cleveland,  there  have  been  since 
then  a  number  of  students  of  Mt.  Union  Col- 
lege, who  have  read  law  jirivately  under  Dr. 
Hartshorn's  instruction,  and  were  admitted  to 
law  schools  for  completing  their  course  or 
graduation,  on  his  examination  and  recom- 
mendation. His  earlier  impressions  had  in- 
clined him  to  the  practice  of  law,  but  his  more 
deliberate  convictions  ol  duty,  involving  en- 
larged usefulness  to  American  youth,  even  to 
the  most  lowly  and  self-dependent,  finally  in- 
duced the  settled  purpose  to  study  theology  in 
connection  with  the  practical  truths  of  sci- 
ence, and  to  enter  in  earnest  the  united,  ardu- 
ous and  self-d(!nying  duties  of  the  Christian 
ministry,  and  the  liberal  instruction  of  youth, 
being  profoundly  imbued  with  the  belief  that 
the  actual  work  of  the  faithful  teacher  of  sci- 
entific or  natural  truth  is  not  only  compatible 
with,  but  is  quite  as  needed  and  sacred  as  are 
the  truly  consecrated  and  responsible  ser- 
vices of  the  devoted  teachers  of  Biblical 
truth.  After  due  study  and  preparation  he 
was,  in  18.52,  regvdarly  licensed  to  preach  by 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  subse- 
quently was  properly  ordained  and  elected 
a  member  of  the  Pittsliurg  Conference 
of  that  church,  which  relations  to  the  church 
he  still  retains,  except  that  under  a  gen- 
eral rule  he  became  a  member  of  the 
East  Ohio  Conference,  in  1876,  upon    its   or- 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


gatiization  by  authority  of  the  General  Con- 
ference. In  18G8,  he  was  elected  by  the 
Pittsburg  Annual  Conference,  a  delegate  to 
the  General  Conference  of  the  church,  which 
in  that  quadrennium  met  in  Chicago.  After 
visiting  and  carefully  examining  most  of  our 
American  colleges,  Dr.  Hartshorn  was,  in  1867, 
appointed  bj'  the  College  Trustees  to  visit  the 
various  countries  of  Europe,  in  order  to  inves- 
tigate their  educational  systems,  museums  and 
institutions;  also  to  investigate  plans  and 
methods,  and  secure  specimens  and  apparatus 
for  the  Mt.  Union  College  museum,  cabinets 
and  laboratories.  The  Ohio  College  Associa- 
tion, also  the  Ohio  Teachers'  Association,  had 
elected  him  to  procure  European  educational 
facts  and  methods,  and  to  report  the  result  to 
each  of  these  bodies,  which  he  did.  Accord- 
ingly, he  started  July  7th,  1867,  on  this  Euro- 
pean tour,  and  returned  in  the  forepart  of 
the  next  year,  after  faithfully  and  acceptably 
accomplishing  this  responsible  mission,  having 
visited  all  the  principal  countries,  museums 
and  institutions  in  Europe;  in  the  meantime 
spending  a  few  days  inspecting  the  Paris 
International  Exposition  of  1867.  It  is 
proper  to  say,  in  brief,  that  this  foreign  visit 
was  productive  of  eminently  valuable  results, 
in  securing  not  only  a  vast  amount  of  impor- 
tant and  practical  information,  but  especially 
in  obtaining  rare  and  invaluable  specimens 
and  apparatus,  and  in  establishing  superior 
methods  and  means  for  continuously  collect- 
ing both  natural  and  historical  specimens  of 
rare  educational  value  from  all  parts  of  the 
habitable  globe,  and  thus  to  accunuilate  and 
regularly  extend  economically  and  systemat- 
ically, through  the  agents  established  on  the 
plan  of  the  British  Museum,  in  all  countries 
of  the  world,  the  museum  of  Mt.  Union 
College,  thereby  progressively  making  this 
free  educational  museum  of  science  and  art 
second  to  none  other  in  this  country.  In 
1855-6,  he  was  chosen  to  edit  the  Famibj  and 
School  Instructor,  a  monthly  magazine  of 
forty  pages,  published  by  the  professors  and 
students  of  the  institution.  This  educational 
journal  was  both  ably  conducted  and  well 
received.  To  his  ready  pen  we  are  also 
indebted  for  numerous  essays  and  public 
addresses,  and  a  large  amount  of  valuable 
contributions  to  our  periodical  literature,  as 
well  as  publications  of  more  permanent  form; 


among  the  latter  there  being  a  treatise  enti- 
tled "  The  Supremacy  of  Law,"  embodying 
all  that  this  title  implies.  As  a  writer  and 
author,  his  style  is  clear  and  logical;  as  a 
public  s]ieaker,  whether  in  the  pulpit  or  on 
the  platform,  his  style  is  characterized  by  its 
force  and  appropriateness  of  thought,  natural- 
ness, energy  and  purity  of  expression,  the  use 
of  proper  words  in  proper  places,  and  its 
directness  of  argument  and  freedom  in  deliv- 
ery. He  likewise  knows  how  and  where  to 
be  silent.  But  as  a  teacher  of  youth,  whether 
in  the  recitation  or  lecture-room,  all  his  pow- 
ers, both  natural  and  acquired,  find  their 
freest  and  fullest  play.  It  is  in  the  school 
that  his  great  usefulness  and  influence  are 
most  widely  and  efi"ectively  felt.  Among  his 
leading  traits  of  character  are  concentrative- 
ness,  simplicity,  frankness,  animation,  mag- 
nanimity, courage,  force  of  will,  breadth  and 
integrity  of  purpose.  His  powers  of  inde- 
pendent and  consecutive  thought,  discern- 
ment of  motives  and  of  character,  physical 
endurance,  combined  with  his  unswerving  at- 
tachment to  friends  and  sympathy  with  needy 
youth  and  the  masses  of  the  common  people, 
have  not  only  enhanced  his  efficiency,  success 
and  growing  usefulness  as  an  organizer,  disci- 
plinarian and  instructor  of  youth;  but  also 
as  a  trusted  guide  and  benefactor  of  society. 
Besides  being  actively  connected  with  the 
educational  associations  in  his  native  state, 
he  is  a  member  of  the  American  Philological 
Societj^;  also  a  member  of  the  American  Asso- 
ciation for  the  promotion  of  Science.  Ap- 
pointed in  1851  by  the  Stark  County  Teach- 
ers' Institute  to  represent,  with  his  friend  and 
the  eminent  teacher.  Prof.  Lorin  Andrews, 
then  superintendent  of  the  Union  Schools  of 
Massillon,  that  body  in  the  National  Teachers' 
Association,  he  was,  in  this  year,  elected  one 
of  its  life  members.  As  early  as  1850,  he 
was  recognized  as  a  faithful  worker  in  vari- 
ous important  reforms  demanding  earnest 
attention,  among  which  may  be  named  the 
cause  of  Anti-slavery,  Sunday  Schools,  Tem- 
perance, Graded  and  Normal  Schools,  County 
and  State  School  Supervision.  He  has  usu- 
ally participated  in  the  State  and  National 
T-emperance  Organizations,  Sunday  School 
Conventions,  and  Young  Men's  Christian 
Associations.  Being  a  member  of  the 
National  Christian  Temperance  Association; 


«e^« — ^ 


LEXINGTON    TOWXSIIIP. 


he  was  elected  by  its  annual  meeting  in 
the  spring  of  1875  at  Chicago,  as  one  of 
its  two  delegates  from  Ohio  to  represent  that 
body  in  tlic  International  Christian  Tcnijicr- 
ance  Union  that  met  June,  181';,  in  Philadel- 
phia. Being  a  member  of  the  first  class, 
which,  in  1874  graduated  at  Chautauqua  in  the 
National  Sunday  School  Assembly's  Course 
of  Study.  He  was,  at  its  annual  meeting  in 
1876,  elected  by  its  Alumni  Association  to 
act  in  connection  with  ten  judicious  represen- 
tatives appointed  from  as  many  evangelical 
churches,  to  prepare  the  Chautauqua  Normal 
Sunday  School  Course  of  Study.  Though 
never  an  active  politician.  Dr.  Hartshorn  was 
urged  at  the  begiiuiing  of  our  late  war  to 
accept  a  position  of  important  trust  in  the 
Union  army;  and  later,  a  responsible  service 
in  the  civil  affairs  of  his  country.  Though  in 
no  sense  lacking  in  patriotism,  nor  inappre- 
ciative  of  these  honorable  avenues  to  em- 
inence and  usefulness;  yet  he  has  foregone 
these  and  other  inviting  fields  of  state  and 
national  distinction,  from  a  dominent  convic- 
tion that  his  unbroken  life's  work  should  be 
in  the  direction  of  humbly  aiding  to  make  a 
thnrough,  liljeral  Christian  education,  econom- 
ically and  easily  accessible  to  every  energetic, 
right  minded  j'oung  man  or  woman,  however 
poor  or  neglected.  He  also  sincerely  aims  to 
discharge  properly  all  his  political  and  relig- 
ious duties,  with  a  patriotism  above  partyism, 
and  with  a  Christianity  above  sectarianism. 
His  accurate  and  practical  knowledge  of  hu- 
man nature,  and  especially  <if  the  distinctive  la- 
bors, varying  motives  and  influences  incident 
to  student  life,  and  his  tested  experience  with 
other  extensive  qualifications,  admiral  dy 
adapt  him  to  the  arduous  and  peculiarly  re- 
sponsible duties  of  the  President  of  a  live, 
modernized,  aggressive  college,  as  actually 
needed  by  our  American  people.  Naturally 
blest  with  an  excellent,  physical  constitution, 
as  well  as  with  a  highly  social,  cheerful,  sym- 
metricnl  disposition,  with  his  simple,  genial, 
systematic  habits,  he  n-adily  forms  personal 
acquaintances,  and  strong  attachments  for 
students  and  friends;  and  though  in  his  fifty- 
eighth  year,  he  seems  now  in  his  prime.  He 
has  fn/quently  during  his  life,  made  as  might 
be  expected,  serious  mistakes;  but  scarcely 
would  any  one  question  either  his  willingness 
to  correct  them,  or  the  purity  of  his  purpose. 


By  possessing  deep  and  positive  convictions, 
with  true  teachableness,  firmness  and  well- 
poised  character,  his  course  would  inevitably 
antagonize  those  of  opposite  or  erroneous  pur- 
pose and  action  ;  uev(  rtheless,  he  is  accus- 
tomed simply  to  perform  his  duty,  and  thus 
honorably  exercise  the  natural  right  to  think 
and  act  responsibly  for  himself,  in  strict  ac- 
cord with  the  nature  of  things  and  with  his 
deliberate  judgment  and  conscience — being 
always  equally  willing  to  concede  cheerfully 
the  same  personal  rights  and  freedom  to  oth- 
ers. His  daily  and  minutest  acts,  as  well  as 
his  more  momentous  or  public  duties,  being 
so  frequently  and  intimately  in  the  presence, 
and  thus  open  to  the  varying  scrutiny  and 
conflicting  criticisms  of  those  knowing  him 
from  childhood,  it  might  be  expected  that  his 
motives,  plans  and  actions,  however  sincere 
or  correct,  would  be  constantly  subjected  to 
opposite  or  diverse  opinions  and  utterances, 
and  that  those  failing  to  appreciate  or  approve 
them  would,  at  least  in  some  instances,  be 
notedly  slow  either  to  coiulone  or  forget  them. 
Under  these  as  well  as  all  other  circumsUmees, 
his  favorite  motto  is:  "  Take  a  square  view, 
trust  God,  then  act,  leaving  to  Him  the  con- 
sequences." Itnpartial  and  tolerant  to  all, 
conservative  in  retaining  whatever  is  good  in 
the  past,  and  progressive  in  radically  apj)ly- 
ing  the  wise  and  good  to  new  and  worthv 
objects,  he  has  been  uniformly  accustomed, 
with  head,  heart  and  hand,  to  go  directiv  for- 
ward, exercising  envy  or  malice  toward  none 
— it  being  his  rule  and  happiness  to  cherish 
for  all  a  charity  that  is  kind,  that  thinks  no 
evil,  and  suffers  long.  His  entire  life,  though 
characterized  by  severe  conflict,  labor  and  re- 
sponsibility, has  been  one  of  hope,  happiness 
and  benefit.  Respecting  his  public  life's 
work,  he  has,  under  Providential  guidance, 
been  eminently  fortunate  in  his  choice  of 
wise,  prudent  and  efficient  counselors,  asso- 
ciates and  helpers.  Nor  has  he  been  unfortu- 
nate in  his  domestic  relations.  Nov.  1,  1840, 
he  was  suitably  married  to  Miss  Amanda  Mcl- 
vina  Brush,  who,  during  the  three  preceding 
years,  had  been  an  apt  and  faithful  student  in 
the  Seminary,  being  one  of  the  first  six  stu- 
dents in  attendance.  Mrs.  H  rtshorn,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Charles  and  Fanny  Brush,  of  Mt.  I'n- 
ion,  was  born  in  New  York  city,  March  13, 
18ii8.     To  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Hartshorn  have  been 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


born  six  chililreii,  fire  of  whom  are  living, 
viz. — Lucetta  (now  Mrs.  Dr.  B.  U.  Jacoli,  of 
Chicago);  Dora  (now  Mrs.  Otis  D.  Croolcer, 
of  Cleveland);  Homer  Ciiase  and  Emma 
(twins);  and  Walter.  The  State  and  Union 
Law  College,  of  Cleveland,  in  I860,  conferred 
on  President  Hartshorn  the  degree, pro  m«ri(o, 
of  Doctor  of  Laws.  His  whole  life  and  study 
having  been  devoted  cheerfully,  assiduously' 
and  unselfishly,  to  the  equal  advancement  of 
Christianity  and  of  popular  and  higher  educa- 
tion, he  has  thereby  efficiently  promoted  the 
true  interests  and  elevation  of  the  masses, 
and  the  free  diifusion  of  knowledge  and  hap- 
piness among  the  lowly  and  common  people. 
Mt.  Union  College,  to  whose  normal  growth 
he  has,  with  right  purpose,  so  unostentatiously" 
yet  effectively  given  his  untiring  energies, 
and  uniformly  has,  with  many  others  whose 
noble  acts,  cooperation  and  benefactions  form 
the  chief  part  of  its  history,  only  humbly 
helped  to  make  it  an  impartial  and  beneficent 
source  of  continual  blessings  to  self-depend- 
ent youth  of  both  sexes,  though  for  years  this 
institution  was  interposed  by  stiff  obstacles — 
does  now  nobly  attest  that  this  his  life's  work 
of  love  has  not  been  in  vain. 

HON.EIJWIN  NORMAN  HARTSHORN, 
A.  M.,  Professor  of  International  and  Com- 
mercial Law,  and  superintendent  of  the  Com- 
mercial Department  of  Mt.  Union  College; 
was  born  near  Alliance,  Ohio,  May  37,  1835. 
His  parents,  Nurris  and  Asenath  Hartshorn, 
having  moved  from  New  England,  settled 
at  an  early  day  in  Nelson,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio. 
He  is  the  youngest  of  five  children,  and  was 
raised  to  farm  life,  and  enjoyed  for  some 
years  the  advantag-es  of  the  common  schools. 
He  received  from  his  parents,  especially  from 
his  cultured  and  devoted  mother,  systematic 
and  affectionate  training,  until  at  the  age  of 
nearly  twelve;  and  being  then  put  under  the 
care  of  his  older  brother.  Dr.  O.  N.  Hartshorn, 
he  entered  in  the  fall  of  18-1:6  upon  a  course 
of  study  at  Mt.  Unijn  Seminar}',  being  one  of 
its  first  six  students.  He  regularly  continued 
his  studies  at  this  seminary  until  it  was,  .Jan- 
uary, 1858,  chartered  as  a  college,  defraying 
his  entire  expenses  by  doing  janitor  service 
during  the  first  four  years,  and  during  the 
next  seven  or  eight  years  by  teaching  a  part 
of  the  time  in  the  Seminary,  but  chiefly  by 
teaching    public     schools   during    the   winter 


season.  At  the  organization  of  the  Institu- 
tion in  1856  as  a  college,  he  was  elected  one 
of  its  Charter  Trustees,  also  Professor  of 
Natural  Science,  having  previously  devoted 
most  of  his  teaching  to  giving  instruction  in 
mathematics.  Soon  after  it  was  chartered,  he 
regularly  graduated  at  Mt.  Union  College  in 
both  its  Scientific  and  Classical  courses,  and 
three  years  later  in  the  degree  of  Master  of 
Arts.  In  the  spring  of  1862  he  was  elected 
Superintendent  of  the  Graded  or  Union 
Schools  of  Brownsville,  Pa.;  but  after  faith- 
fully and  acc-eptably  conducting  for  a  few 
months  the  Brownsville  Schools,  he  accepted 
the  urgent  request  of  the  Trustees  and  Fac- 
ulty to  return  and  resume  his  teaching  and  du- 
ties in  Mt.  Union  College.  His  labors  as  Pro- 
fessor until  1868  were  chiefly  confined  to 
Natural  Science  and  Mathemat4cs,  though 
during  part  of  this  time. he  was  required  to 
teach  Ancient  Classics,  Logic,  Rhetoric,  Po- 
litical Economy  and  History.  In  1868  *he 
Commercial  Department  being  duly  organiz- 
ed under  the  charter  of  the  college.  Prof. 
Hartshorn  was  elected  its  Superintendent, 
and  was  appointed  to  teach  Book-keeping, 
International  and  Commercial  Law,  and  Act- 
ual Business.  He  had  a  t>w  years  before 
taken  a  full  course  in  Dufl''s  Commercial  Col- 
lege at  Pittsburgh;  and  having  there  in  1856 
graduated,  received  a  Diploma  from  that  Busi- 
ness College.  Having  been  a  close  student 
during  the  preceding  fifteen  or  twenty  years, 
and  being  an  original  and  systematic  thinker, 
and  possessing  the  physical  as  well  as  men- 
tal stamina  to  endure  a  large  amount  of  con- 
secutive and  thoughtful  labor,  he  exerted  all 
his  energies  to  systematize  this  Commercial  or 
Business  Department,  and  to  put  it  on  a  sub- 
stantial basis.  He  prepared  a  thorough  and 
systematic  course  of  study,  and  of  actual  busi- 
ness, and  so  organized  the  depai  tment  as  to  re- 
duce all  its  features  to  a  complete  system,  prob- 
ably not  surpassed  in  thoroughness  and  practi- 
cal detail  by  any  business  college.  East  or 
West.  He  has  instructed  in  this  department 
over  2,000  students,  who  are  now  occripying  re- 
sponsible and  lucrative  positions  in  various 
respectable  business  houses,  where  the  most 
thoroi\gh  and  approved  modes  of  doing  busi- 
ness are  required.  Quite  a  number  of  the 
graduates  of  this  department  are  ladies,  who 
are,  by  their  thorough  and  practical  qualifica. 


'%i= 


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■fV 


il^ 


LEXINGTON   TOWNSHIP. 


759 


tioii  in  the  Theory  of  Accounts  and  Actual 
Business,  making  themselves  a  necessity  to 
their  respective  employers,  and  are  receiving 
for  their  services  a  sahiry  not  excelled  by 
gentlemen  of  equal  experience.  Prof.  Harts- 
horn has  thus  from  the  first  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  General  Faculty,  and  has  judi- 
ciously borne  during  this  time  a  resjwn- 
sible  part  in  its  general  internal  manage- 
ment, involving  the  government,  instruction 
and  classificati<m  of  the  students.  He  has 
likewise  been,  from  the  origin  of  the  college, 
an  efi'ective  member  of  its  Board  of  Trustees 
and  of  its  Executive  Committee;  and  during 
the  past  fourteen  years  has  acted  as  its  assist- 
ant treasurer,  receiving  all  the  internal  funds, 
disbursing  the  same  and  keeping  the  books 
therefor.  Though  ids  chief  labors  have  been 
in  the  college,  yet  Prof.  Hartshorn  has  also 
discharged  various  responsible  duties  as  a 
citizen.  He  has  from  its  origin  served  on 
the  Board  of  Education  for  the  union  schools 
of  Mt.  Union;  also  for  several  years  on  the 
Board  of  C'ouncilmen  for  that  incorporateil 
village.  Having  been  treasurer  of  its  Board 
of  Education  during  some  ten  years,  and 
having  taken  an  active  and  efficient  part  in 
the  planning  and  erection  of  its  now  and 
excellent  Union  School  building,  he  has  also 
been  required  to  take  a  responsible  share  in 
the  selection  of  teachers,  and  in  the  proper 
management  of  this  union  school.  In  all  his 
duties  he  trusts  nothing  to  luck,  but  depends 
solely  on  the  prompt,  lionorable  and  exact 
compliance  with  all  the  conditions  of  success. 
In  ail  his  plans,  duties  and  trar'.sactions  with 
either  the  public  or  with  private  parties,  he  is 
unifortnlv  straigiit-forward,  decisive,  respect- 
ful, prompt,  temperate,  firm,  generous,  reliable, 
and  faithful.  As  to  church  relations,  he  is  a 
Methodist;  as  to  politics,  he  is  a  Re])ul)lican, 
and  as  a  neighbor  and  citizen  he  has  given 
ample  evidence  of  his  enterprise,  kindness, 
honesty  and  fidility.  During  the  late  war  he 
took  with  his  means  and  time  a  highly  gener- 
ous, patriotic  and  active  jiart,  both  in  raising 
numerous  recruits,  and  in  nobly  sustaining 
our  Union  soldiers  at  the  front;  and,  indeed, 
he  would  also  have  eagerly  ndegated  to  others 
these  patriotic  home  supports,  and  entered  the 
active  service  in  the  fielil,  had  it  not  been  that 
his  presence  and  stipulated  services  were  also 
imperatively  needed   in  the  college.     He   has 


devoted  considerable  time  to  the  study  of 
law;  also  in  conducting  Teachers'  Institutes, 
and  in  delivering  educational  and  other  pub- 
lic addresses.  Botii  as  a  speaker  and  a  writiir 
his  style  is  logical,  clear  and  forcii)le.  In 
1878,  he  was  nominated  and  elected  State 
Senator  for  the  Twenty-first  District  of  Ohio, 
embracing  the  counties  of  Stark  and  Carroll. 
During  his  two  years  of  public  service  in  the 
Senate,  he  was  appointed  chairman  of  some 
important  coinmiltees,  as  "Common  Schools 
and  School  Lands; "  "  Universities,  Acade- 
mies and  Colleges. "  He  also  served  on 
other  important  committees,  as  "  Soldiers' 
and  Sailors'  Orphans'  Home  and  Schools 
for  Imbecile  Youth  ;  "  "  Public  Printing;" 
"Revision."  While  a  member  of  the 
Ohio  Senate,  during  the  G4th  General 
Assembly,  he  introduced  the  following 
Bills,  which  passed  both  Houses,  and  are 
now  law,  viz. — Senate  Bill  No.  70,  amending 
Section  1,155  (llevised  Statutes),  providing 
compensation  to  county  recorders  for  keep- 
ing up  general  indices;  Senate  Bill  No.  89, 
dividing  Washington  Township,  Stark  Coun- 
ty, into  two  election  precincts;  Senate  Bill 
No.  144,  amending  Section  5,2.jl  (Revised 
Statutes),  relating  to  the  demand  of  witness' 
fees;  Senate  Bill  No.  158;  Senate  Bill  No. 
333,  providing  for  the  appointment  of  an  as- 
sistant to  the  Mine  Inspector;  Senate  Joint 
Res(jlution  No.  39,  granting  the  use  of  battle- 
flags,  guns,  tents  and  accoutrements  to  the 
Reunion  of  Soldiers  and  Sailors,  held  Sept. 
1st,  1880,  at  Canton,  Ohio;  also  a  Senate  Joint 
Resolution,  providing  for  admitting  Sarah 
Curan,  of  Slarlborough  Tp.,  Stark  Co., 
into  the  Cleveland  Asylum  for  the  Insane; 
Senate  Resolnticm  No.  14,  fixing  the  pay  of 
the  pages.  Three  other  Bills  were  introduced 
by  Senator  Hartshorn  (Nos.  110,  426  and  33G), 
and  passed  the  Senate,  but  did  not  get  through 
the  House.  He  has  recently  (1881)  been  nomi- 
nated without  opposition  to  serve  another  term 
of  two  years  in  the  Ohio  Senate.  Mr.  Harts- 
horn was  happilv  married  January-  1st,  IS.'iS, 
to  Miss  Elvira,  daughter  of  John  and  Martha 
Allerton,  of  Alliance?,  Ohio.  To  Senator  and 
Mrs.  Hartshorn  have  been  born  six  children — 
Loyal  Douglas,  Carrie  T.,  Wilber  A.,  Jessie 
G.,  Gertrude  Josephine,  and  Florence;  all  of 
whom  are  living  exce]>t  the  eldest  S(m,  who 
died  at  the  age   of  eighteen,   and    Gertrude 


<<,Ts 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Josepliine,  who  died  when   four  years  of  age. 

ELLIS  HAZEN,  farmer;  P.  O.  Alliance; 
was  born  in  Mahoning  Co.,  Ohio,  April  19, 
1824.  His  father,  Daniel  Hazen,  was  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  of  German  descent.  He 
came  to  Ohio  in  1801,  and  settled  in  Colum- 
biana, now  Mahoning  Co.,  and  was  a  well-to- 
do  farmer,  and  a  man  of  considerable  influ- 
ence in  the  neighborhood  in  which  he  resided. 
He  was  married  to  Polly  Wood,  and  to  them 
were  born  four  children,  viz. — Ellis,  Thomas, 
Elizabeth  and  R.  J.  C.  The  family  removed 
from  Mahoning  Co.  to  Lexington  Tp.,  Stark 
Co.,  in  1833,  and  located  on  Sec.  16,  where 
Thos.  Hazen  now  lives,  and  on  said  location 
Mr.  Hazen  remained  until  called  away  by 
death  in  1869.  He  was  a  man  worthy  of 
trust  and  much  respected  in  his  own  vicinity, 
and  was  almost  continuously  serving  in  some 
township  office.  After  the  organization  of 
Lexington  was  effected,  Daniel  Hazen  was 
the  first  Township  Treasurer,  an  office  which 
he  held  about  twenty  years.  The  subject  of 
these  notes  is  the  oldest  of  the  family.  His 
early  education  was  received  in  the  public 
schools,  and  limited  at  that,  as  delicate  con- 
dition of  his  father's  health,  demanded  that 
Eilis'  attention  and  labor  should  be  directed 
to  the  care  of  the  farm.  Dec.  IS,  1845,  he 
was  married  to  Emeline  Wickersham.  She 
was  born  in  Columbiana  Co.,  April  20,  1824, 
and  came  to  Stark  Co.  with  her  parents  in 
1841.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hazen  began  on  their 
own  account,  and  farmed  in  this  township 
ever  since,  and  in  this  they  have  been  quite 
successful.  They  have  had  eight  children, 
six  of  whom  are  living — Almiretta,  Lewis 
(deceased),  Curtis  (deceased),  Eva,  Lyde,  Ed- 
ward, William  and  Adalbert.  Mr.  Hazen  had 
but  little  means  when  he  began  for  himself, 
but  by  industry  and  care,  he  is  now  financially 
well  fixed,  having  a  good  farm  of  226  acres 
in  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  He  was  elec- 
ted to  the  office  of  Township  Trustee,  which 
he  held  four  years,  and  in  October,  1878,  he 
was  elected  County  Commissioner,  which 
office  he  now  holds.  He  is  in  manner  unas- 
suming and  pleasant,  and  although  holding 
an  office,  the  gift  of  the  people,  he  is  no  pol- 
itician; but  a  man  who  has  gained  and 
retains  the  respect  and  confidence  of  his 
fellow-citizens. 

HARVEY     V.    MERRICK,    A.  B.,    Pro- 


fessor of  the  German  Language  in  Mt. 
Union  College;  was  born  in  Columbiana 
Co.,  Ohio,  March  27, 185.5,  son  of  Wm.  and  Jane 
(Coulson)  Merrick,  who  are  both  natives  of 
the  same  county.  They  reared  six  children, 
viz  : — Martin,  who  enlisted  for  the  late  war  in 
the  115th  O.  V.  I.,  and  served  throe  years, 
and  returned  home  and  died  in  1866  ;  Sarah; 
liizzie  (deceased);  Harvey  V.,  Allen  and  Har- 
per. Harvey  V.  was  the  fourth  child  and 
second  son  ;  his  boyhood  was  spent  on  the 
farm,  and  in  attending  the  public  school  ;  af- 
ter he  had  taught  one  term,  he  entered  Mt. 
Union  College  in  1875,  and  took  a  five  years' 
course,  employing  himself  teaching  in  the 
winter  terms  as  a  means  of  suppoit  during  the 
succeeding  college  term.  During  his  col- 
legiate course  he  studied  the  German  language 
thoroughly,  and  was  appointed  professor  there- 
of immediately  after  his  graduation  in  July, 
1880.  July  26,  1880,  he  married  Carrie  P. 
Chapman,  daughter  of  John  B.  Chapman,  who 
was  a  pioneer-settler  and  attorney,  of  Warsaw, 
Ind.  Subsequent  to  the  death  of  her  father, 
Mrs.  Merrick,  with  her  mother,  removed  to 
Adams  Co.,  Iowa,  and  settled  near  Corning  ; 
there,  in  early  childhood,  Mrs.  Merrick  be- 
came familiar  with  the  Icarians,  a  French- 
speaking  community,  of  whom  she  readily  ac- 
quired the  rudiments  of  the  French  language; 
and  having  access  to  their  libraries,  and  a 
natural  taste  for  such  studies,  she  soon  became 
familiar  with  much  of  their  literature,  and 
a  proficient  French  linguist.  She  attended 
Mt.  Union  College,  from  which  she  graduated 
in  July,  1879  ;  and  in  February,  1880,  was 
appointed  Professor  of  the  French  Language 
and  History. 

MICHAEL  McGRATH,  deceased;  was 
born  in  County  Kildare,  Ireland,  in  Octo- 
ber, 1826.  When  about  20  years  of  age 
he  emigrated  to  the  United  States,  and 
spent  his  first  year  in  this  country  at  Auburn, 
N.  Y.  He  removed  thence  to  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  and  entered  the  employ  of  the  Cleve- 
land, Pittsburg  &  Wheeling  R.  R.  Co.,  as 
overseer  on  a  portion  of  that  road  during  its 
construction.  In  March,  1852,  he  came  to  Alli- 
ance, and  engaged  with  the  P.,  Ft.  W.  &  C. 
R.  R.  Co.,  as  overseer  of  a  gang  of  repairers; 
this  position  he  occupied  until  his  late  illness, 
which  resulted  in  his  death.  May  15,  1881. 
He  was  quiet,  sober  and   industrious,  and  al- 


k 


LEXINGTON'    TOWNSHIP. 


though  working  for  nominal  wages,  he  was, 
through  industrious  habits,  enabled  to  pur- 
chase a  farm  of  78  acres  adjoining  the  city 
corporation  of  Alliance,  on  the  west.  On 
.Jan.  22,  1854,  he  married  Phcebe  A.  Rock- 
hill.  They  had  nine  children,  seven  of  whom 
are  living,  viz: — Josephine,  John  H.,  Michael 
D.,  James  E.,  Ida  .M.,  Joseph  F.,  and  Ellen  O. 
In  September,  1878,  their  oldest  son  George, 
took  his  gun  and  with  several  others  went 
hunting.  When  several  miles  away  he  step- 
ped to  the  wagon  in  which  his  gun  was  lying, 
and  while  in  the  act  of  taking  it  out  it  was  acci- 
dentally discharged;  the  muzzle  being  toward 
him  and  in  close  proximity  with  his  body,  the 
load  took  effect  in  the  u|>])er  part  of  his  body, 
which  caused  di/ath  instantly.  He  leaves  a 
young  wife  and  one  child  to  mourn  their  un- 
timely loss.  Mr.  Michael  McGrath  leaves  his 
family  in  very  comfortable  circumstances, 
with  a  good  home  surrounded  by  all  the  com- 
forts necessary.  He  was  through  life  a  con- 
sistent member  of  the  Catholic  Church. 

JOHN  NEILER,  farmer;  P.  O.  Alliance; 
was  born  in  Chester  Co.,  Pa.,  April  3,  1811. 
His  father  Samuel,  and  his  mother,  Sarah 
(Evans)  Neiler,  were  both  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. His  father  was  a  miller  and  farmer, 
and  from  boyhood  up,  John  being  the  oldest 
of  the  family,  was  kept  at  the  milling  business, 
in  which  he  soon  became  practical  and 
thorough.  He  received  at  intervals,  a  fair 
common  school  education.  He  conducted 
the  business  for  some  time  after  the  death  of 
his  father;  and  at  the  settlement  of  the  affairs 
of  the  estate  he  removed  to  Ohio,  ami  located 
in  Goshen  Tp.,  Mahoning  Co.,  where  he  began 
to  farm  and  remained  five  years;  thence  to 
Salem,  Columbiana  Co.,  and  purchased  the 
Allison  Mills,  which  he  ran  seven  years.  He 
sold  out  liis  mill  property  in  Salem,  and  re- 
turned to  Mahoning  Co.,  where  he  resided 
until  18G7,  when  he  sold  out  and  removed  to 
Lexington  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  and  purchased  a  farm 
of  40  acres;  on  which  he  has  resided  ever 
since.  He  married  Beulah  W.  .Morris,  March 
12,  1853;  she  was  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Rachel  Morris,  of  Mahoning  Co.,  who  with 
their  ten  children,  emigrated  from  New  .Jersey, 
in  a  two-horse  wagon,  and  located  in  Goshen 
Tp.,  Mahoning  Co.,  in  1821.  Her  par  nts  re- 
niiiined  in  the  same  place  where  they  settled 
until  she  died,  many  years  since.      Mr.   Neiler 


is  unassuming  and  plain  in  his  manner,  a  man 
of  unquestioned  candor,  and  highly  respected 
by  those  with  whom  he  becomes  acquainted. 
Thev  had  two  children,  both  deceased. 

JOHN  M.  PETTIT,  grocery  merchant. 
Alliance;  was  born  in  New  Lisbon,  Columbi- 
ana Co.,  Ohio,  May  15,  1817;  In;  was  the 
second  child  and  oMest  son  of  Austin  and 
Elizabeth  (Middleton)  Petlit,  who  came  from 
Pennsylvania  to  Ohio  in  1812,  and  located  in 
Columbiana  Co.,  where  he  engagnil  in  farm- 
ing and  stock  dealing.  When  John  M.  was 
about  8  years  old,  his  mother  died,  leaving 
four  children.  His  father  married  Elizabeth 
Schooley  for  his  second  wife,  and  by  this  union 
six  children  were  born.  Until  Mr.  Pettit  ar- 
rived at  his  19th  year  his  life  was  similar  to 
that  of  most  young  men  reared  in  the  country, 
variously  occupied  on  the  farm  and  in  attend- 
ing school,  after  which  he  accepted  a  clerk- 
ship in  a  store  of  general  merchandise  in 
Salem,  which  he  retained  about  six  years.  In 
March,  1845,  he  came  to.Mt.  Union,  Stark  Co., 
and  in  partnership  with  Isaac  Wilson  opened 
a  general  store;  shortly  afterward,  at  the 
demise  of  Mr.  Wili-on,  Mr.  Pettit  purchased 
the  entire  busines.-,  and  conducted  it  until 
1853,  when  the  partnership  of  Pettit  and 
Park  was  formed.  In  1859  Mr.  Pettit  em- 
barked in  the  general  jiroduce  business  with 
one  Nixon,  as  Pettit  &  Nixon,  which  continu- 
ed until  18t)5,  when  Mr.  Reed  took  Nixon's 
place  in  the  establishment;  the  latter  partner- 
»hi])  lasting  about  five  yi*ars.  In  1870  Mr. 
Pettit  engaged  in  the  fire  and  life  insurance 
lousiness  for  about  four  years,  and  then  in 
partnership  with  his  son,  established  his  pres- 
ent business  in  Alliance.  Dec.  28,  1843,  he 
married  .Mary  Bean,  daughter  of  Israel  and 
Jane  Bean,  of  Salem,  Ohio.  They  had  four 
children;  two  died  in  childhood  and  two  are 
living,  viz: — Presley  C,  who  is  Cashier  of  the 
First  National  Bank,  and  George  P.,  now  in 
Colorado.  Although  these  many  years  en- 
gaged in  active  business  in  Alliance,  he  has 
always  been  a  resident  of  Mt.  Union  since  the 
spring  of  1845.  Ho  has  been  in  active  busi- 
ness since  19  years  of  age,  a  man  of  public 
spirit  and  enterprise,  and  decided  business 
ability.  ' 

REV.  LOUIS  PAINE,  Minister  of  Meth-  1 
odist  Episcopal  Church,  Limaville;  was  born  I 
in  Salem,  Columbiana  Co.,  O.,  Dec.  4,  1837.   j 


_®     v*" 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


His  parents  were  Rul'us  and  Narcissa  (Al- 
drich)  Paine.  Rufus  Paine  was  born  in  Smith- 
field,  R.  I.,  Sept.  11,  i;9;'..  Narcissa  Aldrich 
was  born  in  Northbridge,  Mass.,  April  3,1809. 
They  were  married  at  Norwich,  Conn.,  April 
27.  1836,  and  removed  to  Ohio  in  the  spring 
of  1837.  In  1838  they  located  in  Limaville, 
Stark  Co.,  where  Mr.  Paine  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business;  but  at  the  end  of  two 
years  he  disposed  of  the  same,  and  purchased 
a  farm  on  the  northern  limits  of  the  village, 
which  has  been  the  family  homestead  ever 
since.  To  Rufus  and  Narcissa  Paine  were 
born  four  children,  viz:  Louis;  Rufus  Smith, 
who  (lied  at  the  age  of  16;  Henry,  now  in  the 
real  estate  and  banking  business,  in  Ducorah, 
Iowa;  and  Eva,  now  Mrs.  C.  T.  Mattingly,  of 
Plymouth,  Ind.  Louis  Paine's  primary  edu- 
cation was  received  in  the  public  school,  and 
in  a  select  school  in  Limaville,  his  first  teacher 
being  H.  M.  Lewis,  now  of  Alliance.  After- 
ward he  attended  the  Atwater  Academy,  nnd 
in  1857  entered  Mt.  Union  Seminary,  which 
soon  afterwaid  was  chartered  as  a  college, 
and  from  which  he  graduated  in  the  classical 
course  in  186^.  Jan.  1,  1860,  while  a  student, 
Mr.  Paine  was  married  to  Mary  E.  Cunning, 
of  Shanesville,  O.,  who  died  April  21,  1861. 
In  the  beginning  of  1856  Mr.  Paine  had  united 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church;  but  up 
to  this  event  had  pursued  his  educational 
course,  having  in  view  a  business  life;  now, 
however,  his  thoughts  turned  toward  the  min- 
istry. In  the  fall  of  1861  he  was  licensed  to 
preach  by  the  Quartei  ly  Conference  of  the 
Alliance  Circuit.  In  the  fall  of  1 802,  after  his 
graduation,  he  was  appointed  by  Dr.  I.  N. 
Baird,  who  was  the  Presiding  Elder,  to  the 
Marlborough  Circuit.  In  March,  1863,  he  was 
received  on  trial  in  the  Pittsburgh  Conference, 
and  appointed  to  the  Columbiana  Circuit.  In 
March,  1864,  he  was  appointed  to  the  Elkton 
Circuit.  On  the  20th  of  March,  1865,  at  the 
Conference  held  in  Canton,  Ohio,  he  was  or- 
dained to  the  office  of  Deacon,  by  Bishop 
Ames.  At  the  close  of  this  Conference,  on 
the  evening  of  March  21,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Mary  E.  Lind,  who  was  a  teacher 
in  the  Canton  Union  School,  and  a  daughter 
of  John  Lind,  Esq.,  of  New  J3erlin,  Stark  Co., 
O.,  this  being  the  second  marriage  solemnized 
in  the  M.  E.  Church  of  Canton,  O.  The  suc- 
ceeding two  years,  for  the  purpose  of  recuper- 


ating his  health,  he  took  no  charge  in  the  Con- 
ference, but  resided  in  Limaville,  and  engageil 
in  mercantile  and  farming  pursuits.  At  the 
Conference  held  in  Massillon,  O.,  in  March, 
1807,  he  was  ordained  by  Bishop  Thoinjison 
to  the  office  of  Elder,  and  appointed  to  Roch- 
ester, Pa.  Here  he  organized,  in  the  town 
hall,  the  first  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
with  about  05  members;  but  the  work  pros- 
pered so  successfully  that  during  the  three 
years  of  his  staj'  as  pastor,  he  received  over 
300  additional  members,  and  succeeded  in 
erecting  their  present  fine  two-story  brick  ed- 
ifice. From  the  arduous  labor  of  this  charge 
he  retired  in  March,  1870,  but  his  health  hav- 
ing suffered  thereby,  he  again  retired  to  the 
farm  for  the  succeeding  two  years.  In  March, 
1872,  he  was  appointed  to  Irondalo,  O.,  hav- 
ing in  view  the  liquidation  of  a  debt  upon  a 
new  church  building.  In  March,  18?3,  he  was 
])laced  in  charge  of  the  "  Centenary  Church,'' 
Pittsburgh,  Pa.  Here  he  completed  a  ehureli 
building  which  had  been  some  years  before 
begun,  at  a  cost  of  some  $22,000.  At  the  ex- 
piration of  two  years,  in  March,  1875,  the  Con- 
ference having  concluded  to  divide  into  the 
Pittsburgh  and  the  East  Ohio  Conference,  he 
asked  to  be  placed  again  in  the  Ohio  work,  and 
was  appointed  to  Mt.  Union  charge,  in  Stark 
Co.,0.  Here  he  remained  during  three  terms, 
or  until  September,  1878;  and  his  labors  were 
eminently  successful,  receiving,  in  one  reviv- 
al, one  hundred  into  the  church.  From  Sep- 
tember, 1878,  to  September,  1880,  he  was  pas- 
tor of  the  Wellsville  charge,  during  which 
time  he  received  into  the  church  about  160  by 
letter  and  on  profession  of  faith.  In  Septem- 
ber, 1880,  he  was  appointed  to  Wilhmghby, 
Lake  Co.,  O.,  vphere  he  officiates  at  this  date. 
Rev.  Mr.  Paine  retains  the  old  family  home- 
stead at  Limaville,  O..  where  his  mother  still 
resides,  his  father  having  died  in  1804,  and 
where  his  family  spend  a  portion  of  each  sum- 
mer. To  Louis  and  Mary  E.  Paine  have  been 
born  seven  children,  five  of  whom  are  living, 
viz: — Dellie  (deceased  when  a  few  weeks  old), 
Bertram  Lind,  Mary  Myrtilla,  Lura  Bell,  Stel- 
la Rosalie  (died  at  the  age  of  2  years),  Lou- 
is Henry,  and  Bertha  Leona. 

DAVID  ROCKHILL,  farmer  and  proprie- 
tor of  livery  stable  ;  P.  O.  Alliance  ;  was  born 
near  the  site  of  Alliance,  Stark  Co.,  Dec.  11, 
1846,    son  of  David  and  Hannah  (Buekman) 


LEXINGTON   TOWNSHIP. 


76S 


Rockliill.  The  latter  was  a  native  of  Pennsylva- 
niii,  but  the  father  came  here  at  an  early  date 
from  New  Jersey.  They  reared  seven  child- 
ren, six  of  whom  are  livinc;.  Mr.  Rockhill 
married  Jaiu;  E.  McDonald  in  1870.  They 
have  two  children,  riz: — Wesley  L.  and  Es- 
tella  May.  In  18i',)  he  purchased  the  livery 
establishment  of  Mr.  Phillips,  and  has  charge 
of  that  business  as  well  as  superintendina;  his 
farm,  uj)<)n  which  he  still  resides,  and  which 
is  the  same  farm  entered  by  his  grandfather 
Kockhill,  when  they  first  locatei!  here. 

CLEMENT  ROCKHILL,  farmer;  P.O. 
Alliance  ;  was  born  where  he  is  now  residing, 
Jan.  8,  1828.  He  is  the  fifth  child  and  oldest 
son  of  eleven  children  (all  of  whom  lived  to 
maturity)  born  to  Samuel  A.  and  Nancy  (Bry- 
ant) Rockhill.  His  parents  were  natives  of 
New  Jersey,  and  after  they  were  married 
thev  removed  to  Ohio,  and  settled  at  Salem, 
Columbiana  Co.,  in  P^ebruary,  1820.  They 
had  stopped  a  short  time  whcMi  they  removed 
to  Stark  Co.,  and  entered  100  acres  west  of 
Mt.  Union,  and  subsequently  purchased  the 
farm  which  our  subject  owns,  which  is  all 
within  the  corporate  limits  of  Alliance,  for 
the  sum  of  $3  per  acre.  When  quite  young, 
Mr.  Rockhill  was  obliged  to  work  on  the  farm, 
as  he  was  the  eldest  son  of  a  large  family  ; 
consequently  his  early  education  was  rather 
limited.  When  he  had  attained  his  majority 
he  began  to  do  for  himself,  and  took  charge 
of  the  homestead.  In  1858  he  married  Sarah 
Hogate,  a  d  aighter  of  John  Hogate,  of  Mar- 
shall Cyo.,  Ind.  She  died  in  November,  1871, 
leaving  three  children,  vi/: — (":issius  Clay, 
Lulu  M.  and  Clarence  A.  Mr.  Rockhill  mar- 
ried a  second  wife,  Louisa  Barnes,  by  whom 
he  had  one  child — Charles  C.  From  her  he 
obtained  a  bill  of  divorce.  His  present  wife 
was  Sarah  Stone,  of  Ravenna,  i'ortage  Co. 
They  own  a  farm  of  49  acres  in  the  corpora- 
tion of  Alliance,  which  is  a  comfortable  home. 
Mr.  Rockhill  is  a  quiet,  industrious  citizen 
and  has  always  been  one  of  those  men  who 
attends  tt)  his  own  affairs,  and  allows  others  a 
like  privilege. 

WILLIA.M  SOULE,  M.  S.,  Ph.  D., 
Professor  of  Physics  and  Chemistry  in  Mt. 
Union  Colleg-e;  was  born  at  Dover  Plains, 
Duchess  Co.,"N.  Y.,  Dec.  5,  18:J4.  His  pa- 
rents were  John  B.  and  Jane  (Tabor)  Soule, 
the  former  a  teacher   in  his  early  life,  but  lat- 


terly turned  his  attention  to  farming,  and  was 
an  influential  citizen  in  his  neighborhood. 
The  early  education  of  our  subject  was  that 
of  the  common  schools,  which  cost  him  six 
miles  of  travel  each  day.  He  subsequently 
attended  the  famous  "Qiiintillian  Seminary," 
of  Rev.  Eliphaz  Fa}'.  In  IS-jlJ,  he  entered  tlu: 
American  Seminary,  and  was  a  close  student 
and  hard  worker,  to  the  serious  injury  of  his 
sight  and  general  health.  He  entered  the 
University  of  Michigan,  Ann  Arbor,  Mich., 
in  1858,  and  graduated  from  that  institution 
in  1861  ;  he  touk  a  post-grailuatc  course  in 
chemistry  and  natural  history,  and  tDok  a  sec- 
ond degree.  In  May,  1SG3,  he  married  Ade- 
lia  E.,  daughter  of  Eber  White,  a  prominent 
and  early  resident  of  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.  They 
have  two  children — Stella  and  Marion.  Sub- 
sequent to  his  post-graduate  course.  Prof. 
Soule  returned  to  New  York  ;  was  principal 
of  a  school  for  some  time,  and  was  then  ap- 
pointed Professor  of  Natural  Science  in  Caz- 
enovia  Seminary,  where  he  remained  thirteen 
years.  During  this  time  many  medical  stu- 
dents pursued  a  regular  course  of  analytical 
chemistry  under  his  instruction.  He  is  fre- 
quently called  upon  to  decide  the  character  of 
minerals,  the  purity  of  drugs,  etc.  Upon  one 
occasion,  a  case  of  supposed  poisoning  was 
submitted  to  him  ;  the  body  was  exhumed, 
which  he  analyzed,  and  his  report  accepted  as 
conclusive.  In  the  summer  of  1880  he  was 
elected  to  the  professorship,  which  he  now 
holds  in  Mt.  Union  College.  The  honorary 
degree  of  Ph.  D.  has  recently  been  conferred 
upon  Prof.  Soule. 

HENRY  A.  SOLIDAY,  Limaville;  of  the 
firm  of  Soliday  &  Sparr,  millers,  proprietors 
of  the  Valley  Mills;  was  born  in  Blair  Co., 
Penn.,  Feb.  25,  1837;  the  third  in  a  family  of 
ten  children  born  to  Abraham  and  (Jatharine 
Solida}'.  His  parents  were  both  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  his  father  a  millwright 
by  trade.  In  1845  the  family  removed  from 
Pennsylvania  to  Ohio,  and  settled  near 
Wooster,  Wayne  Co.,  where  his  father  en- 
gaged in  the  milling  business.  Having  been 
brought  up  to  that  trade  l>y  his  father,  the 
subject  of  these  notes  followed  mill-building 
until  about  28  years  old,  when  he  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  business  in  Doylestown,  where 
in  connection  with  his  business,  he  was  Post 
Master,  and  served  as  a  Justice  of  the   Peace 


:f^ 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES* 


about  seven  years.  He  removed  to  Akron  in 
18^3,  and  continued  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness until  1879,  when  he  purchased  the  Val- 
ley Jlills,  at  Limaville,  and  took  as  partner 
his  brother-in-law,  B.  F.  Sparr.  They  have  re- 
fitted and  made  various  important  improve- 
ments in  the  mills,  they  beina;  only  adapted  to 
water-])ower  when  they  purchased;  but  they 
have  since  provided  a  35-horse  power  steam 
enjrine  and  boiler,  and  are  now  prepared  to  do 
work  at  any  season.  In  Noveuiber,  1860,  Mr. 
Soliday  married  Sarah  A.,  daughter  of  Elias 
Galehouse,  a  pioneer  of  the  township  in  which 
he  settled,  in  Wayne  Co.  By  this  union 
there  are  three  children  living,  viz. — Charles 
H.,  George  W.,  and  Jessie  A. 

JOSEPH  SEBREI.L,  farmer;  P.  O.  Lima- 
ville; was  born  in  Sussex  Co.,  Va.,  April  15, 
179G,  the  fifth  child  of  Joseph  and  Rebecca 
(Jones)  Sebrell,  who  with  their  si.\  children, 
were  a  part  of  the  party  of  some  fifty  persons 
who  emigrated  from  Virginia  to  Ohio  in  1807. 
Several  families  came  direct  to  Stark  Co., 
while  Mr.  Sebrell's  family  located  near  Salem, 
and  remained  there  until  1823.  His  father 
was  a  hatter  by  trade,  and  during  the  pioneer 
days,  when  it  was  almost  impossible  to  pro- 
cure money  for  pi'oduce  of  any  kind,  Mr.  Se- 
brell found  his  manufactured  articles  a  handy 
commodity  to  exchange  for  other  necessaries. 
When  he  got  the  hatting  business  established, 
his  sons  also  worked  at  the  trade  with  him, 
but  soon  turned  their  attention  to  farming. 
The  sul>ject  of  these  notes  states  that  their 
first  few  crops  of  corn  were  almost  all  devour- 
ed by  squirrels,  having  in  his  boyhood,  day 
by  day  paced  the  field  and  guarded  the  seed 
corn  when  planted,  until  it  had  grown  beyond 
the  stage  when  liable  to  suffer  from  the  pests; 
but  as  soon  as  it  formed  "  ears,"  the  ravages 
of  these  pests  were  as  bad  as  ever,  necessita- 
ting the  corn  to  be  cut  when  only  in  roasting- 
ear,  and  gathered  near  their  cabin  for  protec- 
tion. His  father  came  to  Stark  Co.,  and 
purchased  160  acres  about  a  mile  west  of 
Lexington,  and  to  this  location  the  family  re- 
moved from  Salem  in  1823.  Previous  to 
their  removal,  Joseph,  the  subject  of  those 
notes,  married  Mary  Shinn,  in  1817.  She 
was  born  in  New  Jersey,  July  3,  1798,  and 
came  with  her  parents  to  Salem  in  1803.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Sebrell  have  been  familiarized  with 
hardship  in  pioneer  life,   which   can  be  real- 


ized only  by  those  who  settleil  in  the  unbrok- 
en forest,  where  naught  of  civilization  was  to 
be  found.  They  are  both  hale,  and  happily 
passing  their  declining  days  with  their 
daughters.  Although  Mrs.  Sebrell  has  for 
some  time  been  totally  blind,  and  the  organs 
of  hearing  somewhat  affected,  she  is  other- 
wise enjoying  good  health,  and  is  sound  of 
mind,  with  a  wonderful  memory  of  past 
events.  They  are  parents  of  nine  children, 
all  of  whom  lived  to  maturity — Abigail  (de- 
ceased), wife  of  Jos.  Wiley;  Mathews;  Re- 
becca, wife  of  E.  Bennett;  Thomas;  Mary  A. 
(deceased),  wife  of  J.  Kennedy;  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Aaron  Gibson;  Hannah,  Joseph  and 
Hulda. 

ELISHA  TEETERS,  farmer;  P.  O.  Alli- 
ance; whose  portrait  appears  in  this  history 
as  a  representative  pioneer  of  Lexington  Tp., 
was  born  in  what  is  now  Mahoning  Co.,  Ohio, 
Jan.  11,  1814.  His  grandfather,  Elisha  Tee- 
ters, emigrated  from  Germany  to  this  country 
about  the  time  of  the  Revolutionary  war, 
and  settled  in  Eastern  Pennsylvania,  in  1796, 
finally  becoming  one  of  the  early  pioneers  to 
what  was  then  Columbiana,  now  Mahoning  Co., 
Ohio.  The  parents  of  our  subject  were  John 
and  Mary  (Cook)  Teeters.  His  father  was  a 
Colonel  under  Gen.  Harrison  in  the  war  of 
1818;  a  warm  friend  to  educational  and  moral 
reform,  and  an  influential  member  of  the  com- 
munity. He  was  a  "  Friend "  in  his  relig- 
ious belief,  a  Democrat  up  to  the  beginning 
of  the  late  war,  and  afterwards  a  Republican. 
He  died  July  35,  1866,  in  his  85th  year.  Of 
a  family  of  ten  children,  Elisha,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  is  the  oldest  son.  Reared  amiil 
the  surroundings  of  pioneer  life,  he  obtained 
such  an  education  as  that  early  period  afforded. 
On  July  16,  1835,  he  married  Eliza,  daughter 
of  Richard  Webb,  an  early  pioneer  to  Co- 
lumbiana Co.,  and  in  August  following  they 
moved  to  Lexington  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  where  he 
began  life  for  himself  in  the  woods  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  this  place,  where  he  has  since  re- 
mained, a  lover  of  agriculture  and  its  kindred 
pursuits,  and  now  resides  near  Alliance,  on 
one  of  the  finest  farms  in  Stark  Co.  Aside 
from  his  industry,  he  has  been  prominently 
identified  with  various  local  enterprises.  Early 
in  the  history  of  Alliance,  he  was  for  several 
years  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  and  produce 
trade.     He  then  engaged  in  private  banking, 


-^ 


f 


-14* 


LEXINGTON    TOWNSHIP. 


70:i 


which  he  carried  on  for  fifteen  years,  his  son, 
R.  W.,  iiaving  been  a  partner  most  of  the 
time.  He  was  also  for  a  number  of  years  of 
this  time,  treasurer  of  the  Lake  Erie,  Alli- 
ance &  Wheeling  R.  R.  Co.,  and  along  with 
this  business  he  was  for  ten  years  connected 
with  the  manufacturing  interests  of  Alliance, 
being  president  of  Nixon  &  Co.'s  Agricultu- 
ral Works.  In  this  enterprise  he  was  the  un- 
fortunate loser  of  about  $"250,000  surety 
money,  none  of  the  obligations  being  of  his 
own  contracting.  For  six  years  he  has  served 
as  County  Commissioner,  and  is  now  one  of 
the  trustees  of  the  Fairmount  Children's 
Home,  situated  near  Alliance,  for  the  coun- 
ties of  Stark  and  Columbiana.  He  is  also  the 
owner  of  Alliance  College  and  Boarding  Hall, 
the  original  cost  of  which  was  upwards  of 
1100,000.  Politically,  he  has  been  a  life-long 
DeiMO  rat,  and  firm  in  that  faith,  and  for 
many  years  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church, 
and  an  elder  in  the  same.  He  has  long  en- 
joyed the  reputation  of  being  a  clear-headed 
business  man,  honorable  in  his  dealings,  firm 
in  his  views,  and  a  plain,  unostentatious 
gentleman,  possessed  of  an  unusual  amount 
of  sterling  good  sense.  He  has  ever  been  a 
warm  and  zealous  advocate  of  all  measures  cal- 
culated to  advance  the  social  and  moral 
welfare  of  the  community,  and  now  being 
well  advanced  in  years  he  enjoys  the  confi- 
dence and  respect  of  all  good  citizens.  Mrs. 
Teeters  died  in  January,  1866,  having  been 
the  mother  of  ten  children,  all  living  but  one. 
Jesse  W.  lives  on  the  old  homestead,  which 
was  cleared  by  his  father;  R.  W.,  is  a  busi- 
ness man  of  Alliance;  Isaac  F.  and  Charles 
are  eng.iged  in  stock-raising  in  western  Kan- 
sa-s;  K.  P.  is  now  mail  agent  on  the  Lake 
Erie  &  .\lliance  R.  R.;  -M.  Susan,  is  now  Mrs. 
John  Sliimj),  of  Canton;  Rachel  L.  is  the 
wife  of  James  Amerman,  an  attorney  of  Al- 
liance; Rosa  J.  is  now  Mrs.  C.  C.  Eddy,  of 
Kansas  City,  Mo.;  and  Laura  E.,  now  .Mrs. 
George  Kay,  book-keeper  in  the  bank  of 
Laudjorn  &  (iray.  On  July  14,  1!S71,  Mr. 
Teeters  married  a  second  wife,  Sarah  R., 
daughter  of  .Mathias  Hester,  whose  biography 
is  in  this  work. 

JESSE  W.  TEETERS,  farmer  ;  P.  O.  Al- 
liance ;  was  born  where  he  is  now  residing, 
June  5,  1836.  He  is  the  oldest  of  ten  child- 
ren born  to  Elisha  and  Eliza  (Webb)  Teeters. 


He  was  reared  amid  the  scenes  and  circum- 
stances incident  to  a  newly  settled  locality. 
He  was  brought  up  to  the  multifarious  duties 
of  farm  life,  and  received  a  fair  education  in 
the  common  schools.  June  28,  1800,  he  was 
married  to  A<ldi(!  Brosius  ;  she  is  a  daughter 
of  Amos  and  Esther  Brosius,  of  Washington 
Tp.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Teeters  have  one  child — 
Mary  Mabel.  Mr.  Teeters  has  a  good  farm  of 
19"3  acres,  well  improved  and  in  a  beautiful 
location,  being  the  old  homestead  where  his 
father  settled  when  he  first  came  to  this  town- 
ship. He  is  much  interested  in  good  farming 
and  stock-raising,  and  has  taken  pains  to  in- 
troduce some  excellent  short-horn  cattle, 
which  are  beginning  to  attract  the  attention 
of  the  farmers  and  stock  m(^n  of  this  section, 
from  the  grand  results  produced  on  his  farm. 
At  various  times  he  has  marketed  steers  of 
this  breed,  when  four  years  old,  weighing  up- 
wards of  two  thousand  pounds.  Mr.  Teeters 
is  a  gentleman  of  no  political  or  oflBce-seeking 
aspirations;  he  is  a  pleasant,  unassuming  man, 
possessed  of  considerable  natural  ability,  ex- 
cellent judgment,  and  above  all,  that  rare 
gift,  common  sense.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Disciples'  Church,  and  at  the  division  of  the 
congregation  he  united  with  the  Independent 
faction. 

JOSHUA  WOOD,  farmer;  P.O.  Alliance; 
was  born  on  the  farm  adjoining  the  west  of 
his  present  home,  Dec.  3,  1830.  His  father, 
Robert  Wood,  came  with  his  parents  from 
Virginia  when  quite  young  ;  they  located  near 
Salem,  Columbiana  Co.  He  (Robert  Wood) 
married  Abigail  Gaskill,  a  daughter  of  one  of 
the  first  pioneer  families  of  that  section  of 
Ohio.  They  came  to  Lexington  Tp.,  and  set- 
tled in  the  unbroken  forest,  and  began  to 
clear  up  their  land  ;  and  in  which  they  made 
good  progress  by  dint  of  industry.  .Mr. 
VVood  became  a  man  of  considerable  influ- 
ence in  the  new  settlement,  and  was  sought 
after  by  the  citizens  as  a  proper  person  to 
transact  the  duties  of  the  township  offices, 
some  of  which  he  held  almost  all  his  life;  he 
died  here  about  1802,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
70  years.  They  had  13  children,  of  whom 
six  sons  and  twodaughlers survive,  viz: — Levi, 
of  Lexington  Tp.;  Joshua;  E.  .!.,  in  Iowa; 
E.  M.,  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  in  .M.  E. 
Church  at  Pittsburgh,  Pa.  ;  J.  D.,  of  Mahon- 
ing  Co.;  Daniel,   in  Colorado;    Hannah,  now 


"B  ""V 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Mrs.  E.  E.  Scraiitoii,  of  Alliance;  ami  Jatie, 
Mrs.  L.  .1.  KcUey,  of  this  township.  The  sub- 
ject of  these  notes  began  on  his  own  account, 
in  the  vicinity  in  whicli  he  lives  ;  first  having 
acquired  a  good  common  school  education, 
and  that  principally  by  private  study  at  night, 
by  the  blazing  torch-light  iu  the  old-fashioned 
fire-place  of  his  father's  log  cabin,  as  school 
facilities  were  poor  and  expensive  ;  and  a 
large  family  to  be  cared  for,  with  limited 
means.  Amid  such  surroundings  the  family 
were  reared  to  be  industrious  and  frugal. 
But  above  all  else,  Joshua  evinced  a  strong 
desire  for  instruction  and  a  love  for  knowl- 
edge. His  scanty  stock  of  books  he  eagerly 
perused,  and  fitted  himself  for  teaching;  he 
taught  eleven  school-terms — ten  of  which  he 
was  in  the  saine  school.  December  31,  185-t, 
he  married  Maria,  daughter  of  George  and 
Eunice  Carter,  who  were  formerly  of  Portage 
Co.  They  have  five  children,  viz  : — Lorinda 
O.,  now  Mrs.  G.  A.  Winner  ;  Bell,  Edwin  G; 
Ona  E.,  and  Artie  B.  Mr.  Wood  has  always 
held  some  township  office  since  he  has  been 
of  age;  and  in  1872  he  was  elected  County 
Commissioner,  and  held  that  office  six  years 
in  succession.  He  has  ever  been  an  industri- 
ous, energetic  citizen,  and  a  promoter  of  every 
measure  which  proposed  general  and  material 
development  for  the  welfare  of  the  commu- 
nity. A  portion  of  the  old  homestead,  which 
was  owned  and  first  settled  on  by  his  father, 
constitutes  a  part  of  his  present  farm  of  156^ 
acres,  which  is  a  comfortable  home — the  re- 
sult of  his  own  and  his  wife's  industry  and 
care. 

JOSEPH  L.  WICKERSHAM,  farmer  ;  P. 
O.  Alliance;  was  born  in  Columbiana  Co.,  Ohio, 
Jan.  9,  1833.  His  father,  Ellis  Wickersham, 
came  to  Ohio  from  Chester  Co.,  Pa.,  when  a 
young  man.  He  married  Eliza  Morgan,  and 
they  reared  ten  children.     The  family  remov- 


ed from  Columbiana  to  Slaik  Co.,  and  settled 
on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Joseph  L.  in  18-11; 
its  im]irovenients  were  then  of  little  value — 
an  old  log  cabin  for  residence,  and  the  greater 
part  of  the  farm  covered  with  heavy  timber. 
Here  the  family  grew  up  and  spread  out  over 
the  country,  as  follows  :  Mary  A.  was  mar- 
ried to  William  Angus,  and  removed  to  Wood 
Co.,  Ohio  ;  Lydia  E.  married  D.  Wood,  and 
went  to  Indiana  ;  Emeline  is  Mrs.  Ellis  Ha- 
zen  ;  Lewis  went  to  Iowa,  thence  to  Kansas, 
where  he  died  ;  Ellis  T.,  deceased  ;  Thomas 
M.,  deceased  ;  Joseph  L.,  William  Q.,  went 
to  Kansas  ;  and  two  died  in  childhood,  .lo- 
seph  L.  was  the  seventh  child.  His  early  ed- 
ucation was  of  the  public  schools  and  Marl- 
borough Union  School.  He  taught  district 
school  two  winters.  He  has  a  good  farm  of 
183  acres,  on  which  is  found  beds  of  excellent 
quality  of  potters'  clay,  which  he  furnishes  to 
various  manufacturing  institutions  in  this  part 
of  the  State.  Nov.  26,  1859,  he  was  married 
to  Susan  Fowler.  Her  father  was  a  native  of 
New  York  and  came  to  Pennsylvania  a  young 
man;  there  married  and  came  to  Portage  Co., 
Ohio,  in  1830.  Mr.  Wickersham  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  County  Board  of  Agricul- 
ture, which  office  he  has  held  since  1876.  He 
was  prominently  instrumental  in  the  organi- 
zation of  the  Lexington  Aid  Association,  in 
1876 — a  mutual  agreement  by  several  farmers 
to  aid  each  other  in  case  of  fire  ;  it  has  given 
such  satisfaction  that  its  promoters  were  en- 
couraged to  organize  under  the  State  laws, 
and  apply  for  a  charter,  which  was  duly  grant- 
ed June  4,  1881.  The  charter-members  are  : 
Joseph  Grant,  Joseph  L.  Wickersham,  Joshua 
Wood,  William  Hugus,  Joseph  Kelley,  Jacob 
Butler,  Elias  Ellett,  President  of  the  organ- 
ization, and  others.  Mr.  Wickersham  has 
been  Secretary  of  the  Company  since  the 
organization  in  1876. 


-f 


L.WVRRNCK    TOWNSIHI' 


d>>^ 


LAWRENCE     TOWNSHIP. 


S.  M.  BUCKMASTEK.  m;iiinf;utuiL"r  of 
Ciirricigcw  and  buggies  and  general  i'ej)airing. 
Canal  Fnlton:  was  horn  in  Jackson  Tji..  Stark 
<•(..  in  ISK):  son  of  James  and  Nancy  (  Millerl 
Biickmaster.  Passing  his  youth  upon  a  farm. 
our  subject,  at  the  age  of  IV),  commenced  to 
learn  his  trade  in  Canal  Fulton,  under  in- 
structions, from  William  Staiu,  with  wliom  he 
c-mtinued  for  eiglit  montlis.  sulisiM|ut'ntly  lin- 
ishing  his  ai)])renticeshii)  in  Batli  Tp.,  Sum 
mit  Co  In  lS(il,  he  enlisted  in  the  ir)th  O. 
T.  I.,  and  was  soon  after  detailed  for  duty  as 
a  lilacksmitli:  lie  remained  in  the  service  over 
tlu'ee  years,  and  then  re-enlisted  as  a  veteran 
ill  the  'id  Ohio,  which  was  under  the  command 
of  Shennan;  he  was  soon  detailed  as  a  scout, 
under  tlie  command  of  Harry  Kenderdine,  of 
Iowa,  and  in  thisea))acity  entered  the  rebel  lines 
several  times  in  seiirch  of  information.  Our 
limited  s]iaci'  will  not  permit  of  a  recital  of  the 
many  exciting  episodes  in  which  he  was  a  par- 
tici])ant:  his  army  lifecontinued  until  theclose 
of  the  war.  In  ISfi'i,  he  purchas(»d  from  Stam 
his  blacksmith-sho]),  and  commenced  business 
operations,  in  Canal  Fulton,  where  he  has 
remained  an  important  business  factor;  his 
incr(>asing  trade  has,  from  tinio  to  time,  com- 
jielled  an  increase  in  room  and  assistance',  and 
at  the  ])resent  time  is  contemplating  still  more 
improvements  and  enlargements.  He  manu- 
factures all  varieties  of  wagons,  carriages  and 
buggies,  and  docs  all  manner  of  jobbing  and 
repairing,  his  business  being  one  of  the  lead- 
ing industries  of  the  community.  em])loying. 
Ht  difl'erent  seasons,  from  nine  to  sixteen 
hsinds.  As  a  citizen.  Mr.  Buckmaster  is])rom 
inent  and  honored:  he  has  served  as  (council- 
man for  six  years,  and  a  member  of  the 
Sch<x)l  Board  six  years:  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Honor:  in  the  Masonic  onler  he 
is  Master,  and  for  the  last  fourteen  yeai-s  h;is 
been  Past  (irand  in  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fraternity: 
he  is  also  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  Camp 
and  Eureka  Lodge.  No.  24,  Ma.ssillon  En- 
campment.     He   was   lUiuried.    Sept.   7,  ISTT), 


to  Miss  Belle  Lambright,  of  Pennsylvania; 
they  have  six  chihlren  —  Hattie,  Waldon, 
Champion,  Truman.  Franklin  and  Carrie. 

BE.VU  .V  AETHER,  sash,  doors  and  Ijlinds 
and  j)laning mill.  Canal  Fulton.  Franklin 
Bear,  the  senior  member  of  this  firm,  is  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania;  he  commenced  when  a 
youth  to  lesuMi  the  Ciirpenter's  trade,  which  he 
followed  for  a  few  years,  and  was  alsi)  cmgaged 
in  a  rifle  manufactory,  in  Pennsylvania,  work- 
ing in  that  two  yeiU's;  he  next  engaged  in  a 
saw-mill,  in  Center  Co.,  Penn,  and  soon  after 
engaged  in  a  sash,  door  and  blind  manufac- 
tory, in  Pittsburgh,  remaining  ther(>  three 
years.  In  INTT),  he  came  to  Canal  Fulton, 
and  entered  into  ])arlnership  with  his 
brother  Samuel,  manufacturing  sash,  doors 
and  blinds  together  nearly  three  years;  his 
brother  then  retired  fi'om  the  tirm,  John 
Arther  becoming  liis  succi'ssor,  since  which 
time  they  have  been  associated  together,  mak- 
ing sasli,  doors  and  blinds:  als(j  running  a 
planing-mill  and  cider  j>ress.  Messrs.  Bear  & 
Arther  have  excellent  facilities  for  the  prompt 
execution  of  business,  and  iU'e  relial)le  and 
entc>rprising  business  men.  Mr.  Bear  was 
man'ied,  in  ](S7(J,  to  Miss  Lavina  Kissinger, 
of  Indiana;  they  have  one  child,  Birdie.  Mr. 
Be:u'  is  a  practical  engineer,  and  has  charge 
of  the  tire-engine  at  Canal  Fulton.  John 
Arther  was  Ijom  in  tianal  Fulton  in  1858;  he 
is  a  son  of  Baltzer  and  Katharine  (Gileher) 
.\rther:  he  is  a  car])enter  by  tratle.  and  jnir- 
sued  that  vocation  the  great(>r  portion  of  his 
time  until  he  became  a  partner  with  Mr.  Beju-. 
since  which  time  he  has  devoted  his  attention 
to  that  business:  he  is  a  young  man,  of  g<^)d 
business  (pialifications,  and  ranks  well  as  a 
citizen,  ^h:  Arther  was  united  in  man-iage, 
in  1S~U.  to  Miss  Louisa  Ehrett;  they  have  one 
child,  Charles  E. 

J.  M.  BILLIN(i,  dry  goods.  Canal  Fulton: 
is  one  of  tlm  leading  and  enterprising  l)usi- 
ness  men  of  Canal  Fulton;  he  is  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  b(jrn  in  Mercer  County,  in  1838. 


\ 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


^ 


Mr.  Billing  has  been  in  the  mei-cantile  busi- 
ness for  the  gi'eater  portion  of  his  life,  com- 
mencing as  a  clerk  when  15  years  of  age,  in 
his  native  connty,  where  he  remained  eight 
years;  he  then  embarked  in  a  business  enter- 
prise in  Greenville,  Penu.,  doing  a  dry  goods 
trade  there  for  five  years;  he  then  came  to 
Ohio,  and  was  associated  with  his  father-in- 
law  in  the  hotel  and  life  insurance  business, 
in  Holmes  County,  for  about  one  year;  he 
then  engaged  as  a  salesman  for  Wegener, 
Brouse  &  Co.,  of  Aki'on,  and  was  in  their  em- 
ploy two  years;  in  1871,  he  came  to  Canal 
Fvilton,  and  established  a  dry  goods  trade 
thei'e,  under  the  firm  name  of  A.  W.  Miller  & 
Co.,  continuing  for  seven  years,  since  which 
time  the  firm  has  been  known  as  J.  M.  Billing. 
Mr.  Billing  carries  an  extensive  stock  of  dry 
goods,  groceries,  hats  and  caps,  etc. ;  his  store 
is  located  in  the  Union  Block,  and  his  lousi- 
ness connections  are  extended  and  yearly  in- 
creasing. He  was  manied,  in  June,  185U,  to 
Miss  Lue  M.  Griffin,  of  Pennsylvania;  they 
have  one  child.  Cora  May.  Mi .  Billing  was 
a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  for  nine 
years;  served  one  year  as  Townshij)  Treas- 
m'er,  and  is  now  administering  the  duties  of 
that  office.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  Honor,  and  also  an  Odd  Fellow,  in 
which  he  has  passed  through  all  of  the 
grades. 

H.  BEVARD,  drugs  and  medicines.  Canal 
Fulton;  is  a  native  of  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio,  born 
in  1840;  he  is  a  sou  of  James  and  Nancy 
(Kindig)  Bevard,  who  came  to  Ohio  from 
Pennsylvania,  and  located  iu  Wayne  County 
about  1881,  where  they  still  reside.  Our  sub- 
ject commenced  a  mercantile  career  at  the  age 
of  14.  entering  a  dry  goods  store  in  Dalton, 
where  he  was  employed  for  five  years;  in 
1801,  he  enlisted  in  Com{)any  E,  (Jlst  O.  V. 
I.,  and  was  in  active  service  for  three  years: 
he  participated  in  the  battles  of  Gettysburg, 
Chancellorsville,  Bull  Run,  Mission  Ridge, 
Peach  Tree  Creek.  Lookout  Mountain  and  in 
the  battles  in  front  of  Atlanta,  where  he  was 
woimded  in  the  left  arm,  which  crippled  it  for 
life:  after  lying  in  the  hospital  for  eight 
months,  he  was  mustered  out,  at  Ciuup  Denni- 
son,  iu  181)5^  After  his  return  home,  he  en- 
gaged in  the  grocery  lousiness,  in  Dalton,  re- 


maining there  one  year;  then  to  Orrville,  in 
the  same  business,  and  in  1869,  he  removed 
to  Canal  Fulton;  he  was  engaged  in  the  gro- 
cer}' trade  for  over  six  years,  when  he  disposed 
of  his  stock  and  engaged  in  the  di'ug  business, 
which  he  has  continued  at  since;  his  stock 
consists  of  a  full  line  of  di'ugs,  medicines  and 
fancy  goods.  He  was  married,  in  1878,  to 
Miss  Sarah  Bliler,  of  Canal  Fulton;  they  have 
two  children-  Eve  Y.  and  Ollie  B.  Mr. 
Bevard  is  a  member  of  the  Common  Council, 
and  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  Lodge,  of 
Fulton. 

A.  B.  CAMPBELL.  i)hysician  and  sur- 
geon. Canal  Fulton;  was  born  in  Canada  iu 
1845;  he  commenced  reading  medicine  in 
Canada,  and  in  18t)'.t  entered  the  University 
of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Ai'bor,  and  gradiiated  iu 
medicine  and  surgery  in  1871;  he  commenced 
jiractice  in  Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1871,  re- 
maining there  two  years.  In  1878,  he  lofated 
in  Caual  Fulton,  where  he  has  since  resided, 
and  where  he  has  established  a  large  and  suc- 
cessful practice.  In  the  winter  of  1880-8], 
he  attended  the  Jefferson  Medical  College,  of 
Philadelphia,  to  perfect  himself  still  more  in 
his  chosen  [irofession,  and  he  now  ranks  as  one 
of  the  most  skilled  physicians  of  Stark  County. 
Dr.  Campbell  was  united  in  marriage,  in  1874, 
to  Miss  Amelia  Upjohn,  daughter  of  Dr. Upjohn, 
of  Kalamazoo,  Mich. ;  she  died  in  Canal  Fulton, 
leaving  a  son,  Archibald  U})john.  Dr.  Camp 
l)ell  is  a  member  of  the  County  Medical 
Society,  and  of  the  Northeastern  Medical 
Association. 

F.  N.  CHAMBERLAIN,  dentist.  Caual 
Fulton;  is  a  native  of  Alcron.  Summit  Co., 
Ohio,  where  he  was  born  in  1851 ;  he  re- 
mained upon  a  farm  until  21  years  of  age, 
soon  after  beginning  the  study  of  dentistry, 
at  Kent,  Ohio,  with  (t.  A.  Case,  remaining 
with  him  over  two  years:  he  then  went  to 
Peninsula,  Ohio,  where  he  practiced  his  pro- 
fession nearly  three  yeais;  in  1880,  he  re- 
moved to  Canal  Fulton,  where  he  has  estab- 
lished a  successful  jiractice.  Dr.  Chambi^r- 
lain  is  an  efficient,  skillfvil  workman,  and  does 
artistic  work.  H'>  was  maiTied.  in  1878,  to 
Miss  Demaris  Viall,  of  Summit  County; 
they  hfive  one  child,  Blanche.  Dr.  Chamber- 
lain is  a  member  of  the  Kniirhts  of  Honor. 


^— "k> 


LAWRENCE   TOWNSHIP. 


769 


CHALMERS  M.  DICKSON,  physician  and 
surgeon.  Caxial  Fulton;  is  a  son  of  Dr.  M.  M. 
Dickson,  of  Norton  Tp..  Summit  Co. :  bf'  Ix'gan 
his  education  iu  the  common  schools,  and  from 
thence  to  the  liigh  school  and  business  colleife, 
of  Aki-on,  fi-om  bt)th  of  which  he  graduated; 
he  also  received  a  practical  business  eilucation 
as  book-keeper  and  Cashier  of  the  business 
house  of  Samuel  Steese.  Aki-on.  with  whom  he 
was  connected  two  years:  having  decided  upon 
the  profession  of  medicine  for  his  lif(i-work, 
he  entered  the  office  of  his  father,  under  whose 
tutelage  he  remained  one  year,  at  the  expira- 
tion of  which  time  he  bi-came  a  student  of  the 
Ann  Arbor  ^ledical  College,  and  after  three 
years"  coui-se.  gi-aduated.  in  July.  ISSO.  Dr. 
Dickson  th-st  located,  for  practice,  at  Port 
Clinton.  Smnmit  Co.,  where  he  remained  only 
seven  months,  and  iu  March.  1 SS 1 ,  removed  to 
Canal  Fulton,  w'here  he  intends  to  remain 
penuaneiitly.  Dr.  Dickson  is  an  educated 
and  genial  gentleman,  and  is  a  valual)le  adili- 
tion  to  the  comnnmity  in  which  he  has  loc^ated. 
He  was  imited  iu  miuriage,  in  May,  ISSl,  to 
Miss  Nannie  Payne,  of  Port  Clinton. 

H.  DISSINGEE.  physician  and  surg(>on, 
Canal  Fulton;  is  a  native  of  Franklin  T]>., 
Summit  Co..  Ohio;  he  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Mdlly  I  Waggoner)  Dissinger.  who  were  early 
settlers  in  that  locality:  when  1(*  years  of  age, 
his  jiai'euts  removed  to  Manchester,  where  his 
eai'lv  days  were  passed:  in  1875,  he  com- 
mencsnl  the  study  of  medicine,  with  Dr.  D. 
Kowe,  of  Manchester,  remaiiuug  imder  his 
instructions  and  tutelage  for  three  years,  at- 
tending, in  the  meantime,  the  Medical  College 
of  Ohio,  located  at  Cincinnati,  where  he  re- 
ceived his  diploma,  in  ISTS:  he  then  attended 
one  coiu'se  of  th(!  Long  Island  Hos|)ital  Col- 
lege, at  Br(X)klyn,  N.  Y.,  of  which  he  is  also  a 
graduate.  He  commenced  immediately  the 
practice  of  his  profession,  at  (^anal  Fnlttm, 
locating  there  in  December,  1S7S,  where  he 
has  entered  upon  a  successful  and  pi'oininent 
])ractiee.  Dr.  Dissinger  was  united  in  mar 
riage,  in  October,  1S7S.  to  Miss  Caroline  Sis- 
ler.  of  Manchester,  Summit  Co. ;  they  have 
one  child — Earl.  Dr.  Dissinger  is  a  member 
of  the  Knights  of  Honor. 

JOHN  DAVIS.  Postmaster.  Canal  Fulton: 
is  one  of  the  earlv  settlers  of  Canal  Fulton, 


and  has  been  ]iromin(!ut  in  business  associa- 
tions since  his  first  location  there.  Mr.  Davis 
is  a  native  of  York  Co.,  Peim.,  where  he  was 
born  in  1S18;  ho  learned,  when  young,  the 
hatter's  trade  in  Adams  County,  wliere  he 
remained  for  two  years;  in  the  fall  of  ISHI), 
he  came  to  Ohio,  and  in  the  spring  of  1887, 
located  at  Canal  Fulton,  where  he  commenced 
the  manufacture  of  hats;  this  business  he  fol- 
lowed for  some  time,  and  finally  drifted  into 
the  hat  trade,  keeping  a  store  of  mauufact- 
m-ed  goods:  this  l)nsiness  he  continued  at 
until  ItSliO,  when  he  received  the  a])pointment 
of  Postmaster,  which  office  he  has  faithfully 
administ(>red  u|)  to  the  present  time.  Mr. 
Davis  was  married,  in  1S48,  to  Miss  Martha 
Miller;  she  died  in  iS5)5,  leaving  one  child 
Melissa;  he  was  united  to  a  second  wife,  INIrs. 
Mobley,  widow  of  William  Mobley,  in  IH'A; 
she  died  in  1S77,  leaving  a  son,  W.  Emerson, 
and  two  daughters  Ity  her  former  maiTiage, 
Missoiu'i  and  Virginia. 

J.  W.  DICKEUHOOF,  station  agent  and 
telegraph  operator  of  the  C,  T.  V.  &  W.  R.  R.. 
Canal  Fulton;  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
came,  with  his  parents,  to  Franklin  Tp.,Siuu- 
mit  Co.,  in  IsiS;  his  father  was  a  farmer, 
and  he  remained  at  home  assisting  upon  the 
fann  until  20  years  of  age;  he  then  learned 
the  cai'penter's  trade  and  followed  that  trade 
for  about  ten  years;  he  came  to  Canal  Fulton 
in  1S72,  working  at  his  trade  until  1S7<'), 
when  he  commenced  learning  telegrajihy  at 
the  C.  T.  V.  &  W.  U.  R.:  in  1.S78.  he  "was 
appointed  agent  at  Warwick,  where  he  re- 
mained until  May,  1S81,  when  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  Canal  Fulton,  and  is  now  the  station 
agent  and  telegraph  operator  there.  Mr. 
Dickerhoof  was  married,  in  187Vt,  to  Miss 
Catharine  A.  Williams,  of  Pennsylvania. 

SAMUEL  ESCHLIMAN.  farmer:  P.  O. 
North  Lawrence;  is  anotlu^r  representative  .)f 
th(^  prominent  fanners  of  Lawrence  Townshiji. 
and  of  the  Eschliman  family;  he  was  born  in 
Lancaster  Co.,  Penn..  in  \S'-V.i:  he  was  united 
in  marriage,  in  l^,")!),  to  Miss  Anna  Martin, 
of  Baughman  Tp.,  Wayne  Co..  and  soon  after 
became  a  resident  of  the  fann  upon  which  he 
now  resid(>s.  'Mi:  Eschliman  is  lai-gely  engaged 
in  farming;  ho  now  owns  over  8oO  acres  of 
improved  land,  and  is  one  of  the  progressive 


Jil^ 


770 


ISIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


and  liberal-minded  men  of  Stark  County;  his 
family  consists  of  eleven  childi'en — Mary 
Zimmerman  and  Fanny  Hershey,  of  Wayne 
County:  Sarah.  Anna,  David,  Susie,  Henry, 
Emma,  Ehner,  Ida  and  Samuel. 

JONAS  ESCHLIMAN.  fai-mer;  P.  O. 
North  Lawi'ence;  is  a  prominent  farmer  of 
the  township,  and  rt^sident  of  the  Eschliman 
liomestead  farm;  he  was  born  in  Lancaster 
Co..  Penn.,  in  1S84:  was  married,  in  1855,  to 
Miss  Fanny  Martin,  who  was  a  native  of 
AVayne  County:  she  died  in  1861,  leaving  four 
children — Elizabeth,  Jacob,  Nancy  and  Jonas; 
he  sulisequently.  in  18(33,  married  Miss 
Martha  Martin,  a  sister  of  his  deceased  wife, 
and  by  this  union  there  have  been  eight  chil- 
dren— John.  Abram,  Mary,  Amos.  Ezra,  Dan- 
iel. HeniT  and  Martha.  Mr.  Eschliman  is  an 
intelligent  and  jiraetical  fai'mer,  and  owns 
about  200  acres  of  e.xcelleut  land,  which  is 
well  cultivated;  his  buildings  are  first-class, 
commandingly  located  and  present  a  picture 
of  thi'ift  and  prosperity.  Mr.  Eschliman  is 
considered  one  of  the  solid,  snlistantial  fa)m- 
ers  of  Stark  County. 

CHRISTIAN  ESCHLIMAN.  retired  far- 
iui>r:P.  O.  North  LawTcnee:  is  a  son  of  Al)raham 
and  Elizabeth  (  Horst )  Eschliman,  natives  of 
Pennsylvania.  They  emigrated  fi'om  Lancas- 
ter County  to  Ohio,  IS'iil,  locating  in  Law- 
rence Townsliiji,  where  they  became  large  and 
successful  farmers  and  passed  the  remainder 
of  their  days;  he  died  in  1870,  aged  70  years; 
his  wife  died  the  same  year,  aged  74;  they 
were  ])arents  of  eight  children,  who  grew  to 
maturity — Nancy  Showalter,  a  resident  of  Ill- 
inois; Chrislian;  Elizabeth  Weaver,  in  Elk- 
hart, Ind. ;  Susanna  Hoover,  also  a  resident  of 
Indiana:  Abraham,  in  the  West:  David,  a 
large  and  successful  farmer  of  Michigan,  and 
Samitel  and  Jonas,  farmers  of  Lawrence 
Township.  Christian  is  a  native  of  Lancaster 
Co.,  Penn:  l)orn  in  1828:  he  mamed,  in  1843, 
Miss  Mary  Gardner,  of  Baughman  Tp., 
^\'ayne  Co.,  and  soon  after  became  a  resident 
of  the  fann  upon  which  he  has  since  resided: 
he  now  is  the  possessor  of  over  200  acres  of 
superior  land  in  the  township,  all  of  which  is 
well  cultivated  and  improved;  he  is  now  re- 
tired fi'oin  farming,  and  is  occu])ying  his  time 
in  matters  of  trust,  acting  as  administrator  in 


settling  estates,  and  as  collection  agent;  he  has 
served  the  township  as  Trustee,  and  was,  for 
many  years,  actively  interested  in  educa 
tional  matters;  is  a  strict  advocate  of  tem- 
perance; a  member  of  the  Disciples"  Chm-ch, 
and  one  of  the  valued  citizens  of  the  commu- 
nity. Of  a  family  of  fom'  children,  only  one 
now  siu^vives,  Elizabeth  Lawrence,  living  in 
Wayne  Co. 

CHARLES  EASLY,  hotel  proprietor, 
Canal  Fulton;  son  of  William  and  Nancy 
(Carr)  Easly;  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in 
1832,  and  came,  with  his  mother,  to  Ijawrence 
Township  in  183(),  his  father  having  been 
killed  in  Pennsylvania  by  falling  from  a 
building.  Om-  subject  passed  several  years 
in  farming,  in  liawivnce  Township;  in  1855, 
he  came  to  Canal  Fulton,  and  engaged  in  the 
grocer}'  and  butchering  business,  for  about 
six  years;  he  then  disposed  of  his  goods,  and 
for  a  period  of  three  years,  was  engaged  in 
buying  and  selling  stock:  in  1865,  he  em- 
barked in  the  grocery  and  jirovision  tiade, 
continuing  in  that  line  until  1876,  when  he 
started  the  Easly  House,  and  has  since  been 
engaged  in  its  management;  he  has  served 
the  township  as  Trustee  two  terms;  as  Town- 
ship Assessor,  one  term,  and  is  now  Street 
Commissioner  of  Canal  Fulton.  Mr.  Easly  is 
a  genial  and  courteous  gentleman  and  deserv- 
edly popular  as  a  hotel  proprietor;  while  as  a 
citizen,  he  ranks  among  the  liest;  he  was  united 
in  marriage,  in  1853,  to  Miss  Jane  O.  Riley, 
of  Wayne  Coimty;  they  have  eight  children 
living — Mary,  Lizzie,  Wallace,  of  Akron; 
Jay,  a  promising  law  student,  Sadie,  Charlie, 
Lavina,  Maggie  and  Willie  T. 

J.  B.  EASLY,  dealer  in  horses.  Canal  Ful- 
ton; is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  but  at  the 
age  of  2  years  came  with  his  mother  to  Law- 
'rence  Township;  in  1847,  he  went  to  Navaire, 
and  learned  the  tinner's  trade;  in  1851,  he 
commenced  in  that  business,  at  Canal  Fulton, 
in  partnership  with  William  McDowell,  with 
whom  he  remained  three  years;  he  then  con- 
tinued in  the  tinning  business  until  1878,  es- 
tablishing a  large  and  successful  business, 
which  was  damaged  by  the  loss  of  his  health; 
since  1878,  he  has  been  dealing  in  horses, 
which  he  ships  to  Boston;  he  occupied  a  prom- 
inent position   at  one  time  among  the  busi- 


-V 


LAWRENCE   TOWNSHIP. 


ness  men,  and  served  in  various  oflSces  of 
trust;  as  Township  Treasurer,  one  term;  as 
Couucilmau  alxjiit  eif^lit  years,  and  one  term 
as  Mayoi". 

JOHN  A.  FISHER,  retired,  Canal  Fidton; 
is  a  native  of  Germany;  lie  came  to  America 
in  1840,  and  settled  in  Auglaize  County,  re- 
maining there  a  few  years,  and  in  1848  he 
removed  to  Canton,  making  that  his  home 
until  1844,  when  he  came  to  Canal  Fulton, 
and  was  engaged  in  conducting  a  cabinet 
shop  for  twelve  years:  in  1S5(),  in  connection 
with  George  Wolfsperger,  he  piu'chased  an 
interest  in  a  flom'ing  mill  ])roperty.  Wolf- 
sperger died  soon  after,  but  his  interest  was 
retained  by  a  son.  They  continued  together 
until  1878,  when  the  property  was  divided, 
"Wolfsjierger  retaining  the  mill,  and  our  sub- 
ject (Ul  acres  of  land,  since  which  time  he  has 
been  engaged  in  agricultural  life,  but  at  pres- 
ent is  retired  from  active  lalxjr.  He  was  mar- 
ried, in  184,"),  to  Miss  Christiana  Wolfs])erger, 
who  died  ten  years  after,  leaving  two  children 
— Henry  and  Annie;  he  m.'U'ried,  for  a  second 
wife.  Widow  Housley,  in  185(5;  they  had  two 
children — Frank  and  Mary  Sutherland:  his 
wife's  maiden  name  was  Annie  ]\Ia('hamer,  and 
her  people  were  eiU'ly  settlers  of  Lake  Town - 
shij>,  where  they  came,  about  iS'i'.^,  from  Penn- 
sylvania, and  were  residents  there  the  remain- 
der of  their  li\es.  Annie  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  married  to  Levi  Housley,  in 
1838:  he  died  in  1852,  leaving  eight  children, 
five  of  whom  are  now  living.  Frank  Fisher 
is  a  member  of  the  milling  firm  of  Hamion 
&  Fisher;  he  is  a  native  of  Lawrence  Town- 
ship; son  of  John  A.  and  Annie  Fisher;  he 
received  a  good  education,  and  has  begun  a 
promising  business  career  in  his  native  town- 
ship; in  May,  1879,  he  became  associated  with 
Daniel  Harman  in  the  flouring  mill,  and  they 
are  establishing  an  honorable  and  successful 
reputation  as  busint>ss  men.  IMr.  Fisher  also 
is  devoting  part  of  his  time  to  the  cultivation 
of  his  father's  land;  he  is  an  intelligent  and 
studious  young  man,  with  ])r<.)mising  pros- 
pects. 

H.  A.  FISHER,  express  and  station  agent 
Pennsylvania  Railroad;  was  bom  in  Canal 
Fulton  in  1848;  his  parents  were  John  A. 
and  Christiana    (Wolfsperger)    Fisher;  they 


were  natives  of  Germany;  mairied  in  Stwk 
County,  and  resided  several  years  in  Canal 
Fulton,  where  he  was  eng.iged  in  the  cabiiu-t- 
maker's  ti'ade;  in  1855,  his  wife  died,  ami  he 
was  subse(|uently  mju-ried  to  the  Widow  H(}us- 
ley;  in  1850,  he  sold  out  his  cabinet-shop  to 
Mr.  Tromp  and  engaged  at  milling  in  the 
tovvnshi]);  he  is  now  living  in  the  township 
upon  a  farm;  by  his  lirst  wife,  there  were  two 
chikh-en  Anna,  and  H.  A.,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch;  by  his  second  wife,  also  were 
two  children  Friink  and  Maiy .  Our  subject 
commenced  his  business  car<>er  as  a  clerk  in 
the  dry  goods  store;  of  C.  \V.  Robinson,  with 
whom  he  remained  three  years;  he  then  i>n- 
gaged  in  the  drug  trade  in  connection  with  J. 
F.  Zeller,  remaining  in  that  line  two  years; 
also  acting  as  st.ation  agent  of  the  C.  &  Mt. 
Y.  R.  K.  during  this  time;  he  then  sold  out, 
and  since  that  time  (1873)  has  been  giving 
his  entin>  attention  to  railroad  business,  act- 
ing as  station  agent  of  what  is  now  a  branch 
of  the  Pacilie  Railroad,  and  as  ex])ress  agent 
of  the  Union  Express  Company.  Mr.  Fisher 
has  sei-ved  as  Coipuration  Clerk  fom-  yeai's, 
and  is  now  serving  as  Township  Clerk;  he 
is  a  meU-ber  of  the  Masonic  OnltT  of  Waynes- 
bm-gh.  Heman-ied,  in  1S75.  Miss  FloraPorti'r, 
of  Wayne  County :  they  have  two  children  — 
Olive  and  Walter. 

WILLL\M  FINDLEY.  uairchant,  Cliap 
man;  is  a  young  and  |in)niising  business  man 
of  Lawreuci'  Township:  he  is  a  native  of  Scot- 
land, and  in  1S57  emigrated  to  America  with 
his  parents,  whom  he  was  soon  imfortnnate 
enough  to  lose.  He  was  then  taken  into  the 
family  of  his  uncle,  Archibald  Findley,  and 
reared  as  if  h(>  were  their  own  son.  William 
assisted  and  workeil  around  the  mines,  in 
LawTence  Township  and  vicinity,  until  he 
attained  his  majority,  when  he  entered  into  a 
business  partnership  with  Thomas  Masters, 
of  Youngstown  Hill,  and  they  m-e  now  en- 
gaged in  the  gi-ocery  and  provision  trade  there, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Masters  &  Findley. 
AYilliam  was  married,  Jnly  ('),  1870,  to  Miss 
Annie  Rowland,  daughter  of  Edward  Row- 
land, of  Lawrence  Township;  they  have  one 
child,  Maggie  K.  Archib.\li)  Findley  is  a 
native  of  Scxjtland,  and  emigrated  to  America 
in  1855;  he  located  in  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio,  for  a 


773 


BIOGRAPHICAI,    SKETCHES: 


short  period,  but  soon  after  settled  in  Law- 
rence Township,  where  he  has  since  resided 
and  engaged  in  mining,  which  business  he 
followed  in  the  old  country.  He  was  mar- 
ried, in  1851,  to  Miss  Jane  Dougall,  also  a 
native  of  Scotland;  they  have  one  child,  Jean- 
ette,  now  the  wife  of  John  Street.  Mr. 
Findley  has  also  a  small  tract  of  land,  which 
he  gives  part  of  his  attention  to. 

HENRY  GILCHER,  lumber.  Canal  Ful- 
ton; is  one  of  the  oldest  business  men  of 
Canal  Fulton  now  living;  he  is  a  native  of 
Germany,  born  in  1804;  he  emigrated  to 
America  in  1833,  with  his  family,  wliich  con- 
sisted of  a  wife  and  one  child;  he  first  located 
in  Tuscarawas  Township,  and  engaged  at  his 
trade,  as  carpenter,  remaining  there  about  one 
and  a  half  years;  then  removed  to  Massillon, 
where  he  remained  for  three  months,  and  in 
1835  came  to  Canal  Fulton,  where  he  has 
since  resided  and  lieen  identified  with  its 
business  and  social  interests;  he  first  engaged 
as  a  journeyman,  for  two  years,  and  then  em- 
barked in  business  for  himself,  as  contractor 
and  builder;  about  1855,  he  engaged  in  the 
lumber  trade,  which  has  been  his  chief  busi- 
ness up  to  the  present  time,  for  the  past  eight- 
een years  having  been  associated  with  his  son 
David.  Their  yards  are  extensive  and  well 
supplied,  and  in  eoimection  therewith  they  run 
a  ))laning-mill  and  do  a  large  business  in  con- 
tracting and  building.  Mr.  Gilcher  is  one  of 
the  valued  and  resjiected  citizens  of  the  town- 
ship; he  has  served  in  offices  of  tnist  with 
honor  and  fidelity;  with  the  school  interest 
he  was  identified  as  Director  for  ten  years, 
and  in  1863  and  18()4  served  as  Township 
Trustee,  and  in  corporation  offices  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Council;  he  is  now  serving  as  Vice 
President  of  the  Cemetery  Association;  he 
was  married,  in   Germany,  in  1828,  to  Catha- 


rine Fickisen;  she  died  in  Canal  Fulton  in  J  amount  of  time  in  traveling  through  adjoin 


May,  1878;  they  had  three  children — Mary 
Lambight,  who  died  in  18(52;  Catharine 
Utter  and  David,  both  residents  of  Canal  Ful 
ton.  Mr.  Gilcher  is  now  living  with  a  second 
wife,  who  was  Mrs.  Susan  Hhoads,  of  Penn- 
sylvania. David  Gilcher  was  born  in  Massil- 
lon, a  few  weeks  previous  to  the  removal  of 
his  parents  to  Canal  Fulton;  he  has  been  a 
resident  of  the  latter  place  since  that  time, 


and  one  of  her  practical  and  industrious  bus- 
iness men,  during  his  later  years;  he  learned 
the  carpenter  trade  of  his  father  v^^hen  a  youth, 
and  was  engaged  in  that  calling  over  fifteen 
years;  in  1863,  he  became  associated  in  busi- 
ness with  Ilia  father,  which  has  lasted  up  to 
the  present  time.  David  has  the  supervision 
of  the  business,  which,  under  his  skillful  man- 
agement, has  become  extensive;  he  was  mar- 
ried, in  March.  1861,  to  Miss  Kate  Ecki'oad, 
of  Lawrence  Townslii});  they  have  two  chil- 
di'en  living — Eugene  and  Henry  B.,  and  one 
deceased,  Carrie.  Mr.  Gilcher  has  served  on 
the  Common  Council  over  ten  years;  Town- 
ship Trustee,  two  years  (and  is  now  serving  in 
that  capacity  again);  as  Township  Treasurer, 
foiu-  years,  and  as  member  of  School  Board 
one  term;  he  is  a  member  of  the  L  O.  O.  F. 
JOHN  GESAMAN,  farmer;  P.  O.  North 
Lawi-ence;  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Barbara 
(Reiehai'd)  Gesaman,  natives  of  Franklin  Co., 
Penn. ;  they  settled  in  Lawrence  Township  in 
1829,  and  were  residents  of  the  township  un- 
til their  death;  his  mother  died  in  1847,  and 
his  father  subsequently  married  Anna  M. 
Bruch,  a  widow.  By  the  first  marriage  there 
were  ten  chikii'en,  seven  of  whom  are  now  liv- 
ing— Lavina  Shilling,  living  in  Indiana;  John; 
Kate  Calbeck,  of  Noble  Co.,  Ind. ;  Joseph, 
also  a  resident  there;  Sabina  "Walter,  living 
in  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio;  Alvira  Lawi'ence  and 
Melinda  Linn,  residents  of  Lawrence  Town- 
ship. By  the  second  wife  there  were  three 
children,  two  now  living — Daniel,  living  in 
Michigan,  and  Sarah  Linn,  also  a  resident  of 
Michigan.  His  father  died  in  1861.  John 
Gesaman  was  born  in  Westmoreland  Co., 
Penn.;  he  owns  175  acres  of  improved  land, 
in  Lawi'ence  Township,  where  he  has  lived 
since  1  j'earold;  his  occupation  has  been  that 
of  a    farmer,    but    he   has    devoted    a    large 


ing  counties  as  a  lectiu-er  to  children  in 
schools,  principally;  his  lecture  was, "' Morals, 
Manners  and  Temperance,"  and  his  desire  to 
instill  in  the  minds  of  the  young  elevated 
thought  and  the  use  of  a  good  education;  he 
was  mairied,  in  184U,  to  Miss  Mary  M.  Rein- 
oehl,  daughter  of  William  Reinoehl,  an  early 
settler  of  Lawi'ence  Township;  she  is  a  native 
of  the  township.     Mr.  and  IVIi-s.  Gesaman  have 


LAWRENCE   TOWNSHIP. 


773 


had  five  children,  onlj'  two  of  whom  now  sur- 
vive- George  Q.  and  Ezi-a.  They  iire  mem- 
bers of  the  United  Brethi-en  Church,  and  es- 
teemed members  of  society. 

J.  T.  GOUCHEll,  M.b.,  North  Lawence; 
is  a  native  of  the  Keystone  State;  he  com- 
menced teaching  school  when  14  yeiu-s  of  age, 
in  Michigan,  where  his  pai'ents  had  removed 
to  from  Pennsylvania;  his  father,  C.  W. 
Goucher,  is  a  physician  of  Lansing,  Mich., 
and  has  thi'ee  brothers  who  are  also  membci-s 
of  thai,  profession;  a  peculiar  coincidence  in 
the  family  is,  that  each  has  a  son  who  is  a 
practicing  physician.  Our  subj(>ct  eiirly  be- 
gan the  study  of  medicine,  under  his  father's 
instructions,  together  with  his  duties  as  a 
teacher,  at  which  he  continued  for -eight  years: 
he  then  became  an  attendant  of  the  University 
of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor,  where  he  gradu- 
ated in  the  medical  department  in  the  winter 
of  1872-73;  he  began  the  practice  of  his 
chosen  profession  in  Inwood,  Ind.,  where  he 
resided  for  three  years,  and  subsequently  re- 
moved to  Leiter's  Ford,  Ind.,  where  he  re- 
mained nearly  four  years;  he  then  came  to 
Ohio,  and  after  a  residence  of  two  years  in 
Orrville,  Wayne  Co.,  resumed  his  practice  in 
North  LawTence,  in  187U,  where  we  find  him 
at  the  present  WTiting  establishing  a  success- 
ful practice.  Dr.  Goucher  is  an  intelligent 
and  cultured  gentleman  and  de.serving  of  suc- 
cess; he  wjus  united  in  marriage,  in  1875,  to 
Miss  Maggie  J.  Walter,  of  Ornille.  They 
have  two  children — Carl  R.  and  Leonainie. 

E.  K.  HELD,  grocer.  Canal  Fulton;  is  a 
son  of  Philip  and  Philaphina  Held,  who  were 
natives  of  Germany;  they  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica and  setthid  in  Massillon,  subsequently  re- 
moving to  Canal  Fulton,  where  they  contiii 
ued  residents  for  the  remainder  of  their  lives. 
Philip  Held  was  a  prominent  business 
man,  and  in  Canal  Fulton  was  engaged  in 
conducting  a  manufacturing  business;  his 
connection  with  Canal  Fulton  lasted  through 
thirty  or  forty  yeai-s  of  honorable  and  suc- 
cessful business,  in  the  foundry  line,  manu- 
facturing stoves,  plows,  and  doing  general 
casting;  as  a  citizen,  he  ranked  high,  serving 
fifteen  years  as  Justice  of  the  Peace;  his 
death  occurred  in  18G7:  his  wife's  in  1861); 
they  were  parents  of  eighteen  children,  thir- 


teen of  whom  are  now  living — Elizabeth,  now 
Mrs.  Hess,  of  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio;  Caroline, 
now  Mi'.s.  Ruchti,  Massillon;  Malviua,  uow 
Mrs.  Porter,  of  Canal  Fulton;  Emma,  now 
Mrs.  Myers,  in  Indiana;  Martin,  a  resident  of 
Portage  Co.,  Ohio;  Philip  A.,  of  Alliance; 
W'illiam,  in  Cleveland;  Herman,  Robert  and 
Adolf,  of  Chicago;  Ferdinand,  in  Kent; 
Chai-les,  in  Minnesota,  and  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  F(*rdinfaid,  William,  Charles. 
Adolf,  Herman  and  Adam  were  all  pai-tici- 
pants  in  the  late  war.  Our  subject  began  his 
business  career  at  the  age  of  14  as  clerk  for 
Lewis  Ruch,  who  was  in  the  gi-ocery  business 
in  Canal  Fulton,  remaining  with  him  two 
years;  he  next  became  clerk  for  T.  Sullivan 
in  the  grocery  business,  continuing  as  clerk 
for  him  five  years,  and  then  became  associ- 
ated with  him  as  a  partner,  which  business 
connection  continued  until  Sullivan  was 
elected  County  Treasurer;  he  then  purchased 
his  intei-est  and  since  that  time  has  continued 
in  business  alone,  conducting  an  honora- 
ble and  successful  business,  and  ranking  as 
one  of  the  progressive  and  enterprising  busi- 
ness men,  and  one  whose  career  promises  to 
extend  into  moi'e  extended  iields. 

JOB  HANEY,  fai-mer;  P.  O.  Massillon. 
The  mother  of  our  subject,  Saloma  Yount,  was 
a  native  of  Bedford  Co.,  Penn. ;  she  married 
there,  David  Dick,  and  in  July,  1817,  they 
emigrated  to  Ohio,  settling  in  Lawrence 
Township.  David  Dick,  died  in  1822,  leav- 
ing three  childi-en  Jlatilda  (deceased),  Eliz- 
abeth and  Catharine.  IVL-s.  Dick  subse- 
quently married  John  Hsmey,  in  1827 :  he  was 
a  native  of  Bucks  Co.,  Penn.,  and  also  a  pio- 
neer of  Ohio.  Mr.  and  ilrs.  Haney  passed 
the  remainder  of  their  lives  upon  the  farm  now 
owned  by  oiu-  subject,  in  Lawrence  Township. 
The  mother  died  in  March,  186(5,  and  the  fa- 
ther in  M;u-ch,  1877;  five  children  were  born 
to  them — Jacob  and  Reuben  dicni  in  infancy; 
Job ;  Sarah  Hams,  living  in  Tuscarawas 
Township;  and  an  infant  deceased.  Job 
Haney  was  born  in  December,  ]88(),  upon  the 
old  iiomestead  farm,  in  Lawrence  Township; 
his  occupation  has  always  been  that  of  a 
farmer,  and  at  that  calling  he  makes  a  prac- 
tical success;  he  has  always  taken  advanced 
interests  in  matters  of  public  imjwjrtance,  and 


j)  \ 


15I0GRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


is  a  respected  and  valued  citizen;  lie  was 
man-ied,  in  186],  to  Miss  Maria  Camp;  tbey 
have  had  eight  children — J.  H.  Knox  (de- 
ceased): Ezra  D.  died  at  the  age  of  4  years; 
Josiah,  Coleman,  William  O.,  Orsella  Ann 
(deceased),  Sai'ah  C.  and  Thomas  C.  Mi', 
and  Mi's.  Haney  are  members  of  the  Reformed 
Presbyterian  Clnu-ch. 

AMOS  J.  HEESHEY,  farmer;  P.  O.  Canal 
Fnlton:  is  a  son  of  John  and  Sabiua  (Wamp- 
ler)  Hershey,  natives  of  Pennsylvania;  his 
father  was  a  native  of  Lancaster  Co.,  and 
came  with  his  father,  Jacob  Hershey,  at 
an  early  day,  to  Stark  County:  his  mother  was 
a  native  of  Westmoreland  County,  and  came 
with  her  parents  to  this  county:  they  settled 
in  Tuscarawas  Township,  after  their  maiTiage, 
where  they  remained  until  1S54,  when  they  be- 
came residents  of  Lawi'ence  Tovniship,  living 
there  until  1865,  when  they  rettu'iied  to  Tusca- 
rawas Township,  where  they  passed  the  remain- 
der of  fheir  days,  the  father  dying  in  1874,  the 
mother  in  1872:  they  have  seven  chikh'en 
now  living-  Maiy  A.  Setterlin  and  William, 
residents  of  Massillon;  Eliza  Mathie,  of 
Plain  Towiiship:  Loetta  Gesaman,  of  Noble 
Co.,  Ind. :  Amos  J.;  Sai'ah  J.  Houk,  living  in 
New  Mexico,  and  Frank  M.,  living  in  Massillon. 
Amos  J.  Hershey  is  a  native  of  Tuscarawas 
Township,  and  until  20  years  old  remained  as 
an  assistant  upon  the  home  farm ;  he  then  en- 
tered the  shops  of  the  Russell  manufacturing 
company,  Massillon,  where  he  was  employed 
eighteen  months;  he  was  married,  in  1870, 
to  Miss  M.  Mcllvaiue,  of  Wayne  County,  and 
in  the  spring  of  1871  became  a  resident  of 
the  farm  upon  which  he  now  resides,  in  Law- 
rence Township,  which  consists  of  100  acres 
of  improved  land.  They  have  five  children — 
Reuben  W.,  Rose  D.,  Edmond  Hayes.  Frank 
and  Wright.  He  is  a  member  of  Elliot 
Lodge,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Fulton  and  Hiram 
Chapter.  No.  18,  Massillon. 

GEORGE  W.  HARDGROVE.  farmer:  P. 
O.  Canal  Fulton:  is  a  son  of  Richard  iind 
Rosanna  (Martin)  Hai'dgrove,  who  were  among 
the  earliest  settlers  of  the  township:  they 
came  from  Pennsylvania  to  Lawrence  Town- 
ship about  1811,  where  the  father  had  erected 
a  cabin  the  yeai'  before,  and  amidst  pioneer 
times  commenced  to  clear  the  land  and  estab- 


lish a  home;  here  this  worthy  coujjle  passed 
the  remainder  of  their  days,  his  death  occur- 
ring in  November,  1843,  and  the  mother's  in 
August,  1854;  he  was  a  j^i'ominent  citizen, 
and  sei'\'ed  as  Constable  and  Township  Trustee, 
also  taking  an  interest  in  aifairs  of  education. 
Mr.  Hai'dgrove  was  a  member  of  the  Method- 
ist Chiu'ch:  he  had  the  following  family — 
Robert,  a  resident  of  Chipi)ewa  Tp..  Wayne 
Co. ;  Samuel,  a  resident  of  this  townshij):  Ruth 
Earl,  of  Perry  Township:  Rachel,  deceased; 
Mary  Shaffer,  of  Wayne  County:  George  W. 
and  Sarah  Myers  (twins),  and  John  and  Will- 
iam, farmers  in  Lawrence  Township.  George 
W.  Hardgi'ove  was  born  upon  the  old  home- 
stead farm,  in  1821.  and  upon  it  engaged  in 
farming,  at  which  he  has  passed  his  life;  he 
is  one  of  the  respected  citizens  of  the  town- 
ship, and  has  served  as  Township  Tnistee  for 
two  terms:  he  was  married,  in  1858.  to  Miss 
Martha  Oberlin,  a  native  of  Lancaster  Co., 
Perm.:  they  have  two  chikh'en  living — Sarah 
A.  King,  living  in  Mahoning  Coiuity,  and 
Martin,  at  home. 

DANIEL  HARMAN,  miller,  Canal  Fulton; 
is  a  son  of  Frederick  and  Lucinda  Harman, 
both  natives  of  Holland  and  emigi'auts  to 
America  in  183(>.  settling  in  Lawi'ence  Town- 
ship. Frederick  Hai'man  is  by  trade  a 
blacksmith,  which  vocation  he  has  followed  a 
great  many  yeiu's  in  the  township;  they  ;ire 
now  living  in  retirement  in  Lawrence  Town- 
ship. Daniel  is  the  third  child  of  a  family  of 
six  children:  he  enlisted,  in  1861,  in  Company 
G.  1st  Battalion,  18th  United  States  Regular 
Lifantry,  and  remained  in  service  for  five  years, 
participating  in  si.vteen  of  the  leading  en- 
gagements of  the  late  war,  and  at  its  close  was 
sent  to  Dakota  Territory.  While  there,  the  mas- 
►iacre  of  Fort  Phil  Kearney  occurred,  and  he  was 
in  three  engagements  with  the  Indians:  after 
serving  on  the  border  eighteen  mouths,  he  was 
discharged,  at  Fort  Reno,  and  returned  home, 
walking  800  miles  over  the  plains  to  reach 
transportation.  Upon  his  retiu'n  to  La^vl•enee 
Township,  he  engaged  at  fai'ming  for  three 
years,  and  then  worked  at  mining  alx)ut  live 
years;  in  1876,  he  purchased  an  interest  in 
the  milling  business  in  the  tovmship,  and  was 
associated  with  another  gentleman  for  eight- 
een months:  in  1879,  he  formed  a  partnership 


^=^ 


•<a    i 


'.iL^ 


LAWRENCE  TOAVNSIIll'. 


775 


with  Frank  Fisher,  and  they  still  continue  to 
do  business  together,  under  tlie  firm  name  of 
Harman  <&  Fislier:  their  work  is  principally 
custom  trade:  he  served  as  Constable  live 
years,  and  is  a  member  of  I.  O.  ().  F.  Lodge 
of  Fulton:  he  was  married,  in  1872.  to  Miss 
Lavina  Bnchtel.  of  Summit  County:  they 
have  three  children  living — Alta  L..  Esther 
B.  and  Percv. 

D.  J.  HOW'ENSTINE.  foundry  and  brick- 
yard. Canal  Fulton:  is  the  jiro]  rietcir  of  one  of 
the  leading  industries  of  the  townshi]>:  he  is 
a  native  of  Lawrence  Townshi]).  liorn  in  1S44: 
his  parents  were  Jacob  and  Nancy  (Jackscn) 
Howenstine:  his  father  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania: his  mother,  of  Lawrence  Townshij): 
they  were  early  settlers  and  picneers  of  the 
county  and  township.  Our  subject  was 
brought  uj)  on  a  farm,  learning  the  cooper's 
trade  of  his  father  when  a  youth:  at  the  age 
of  18.  he  enlisted  in  Company  H.  of  the  IC'id 
O.  V.  I.,  and  was  in  service  until  the  close  of 
the  war:  ujion  his  return,  he  attended  school 
f(ir  a  few  years,  and  then  engaged  in  the  jew- 
elry business  in  Canal  Fulton,  ci  ntinuing  in 
that  trade  for  seven  years:  in  1877.  he  pur- 
chased from  E.  Held  the  foundry  with  which 
he  has  since  been  identified:  he  does  general 
casting  and  jobbing,  and  also  manuafctiu'es 
some  grain  drills:  he  has  also  been  interested 
in  brick  manufacturing,  to  which  he  is  now 
giving  especial  attention,  and  doing  a  flour- 
ishing business.  Mr.  Howenstine  was  mar-  i 
ried.  in  1808.  to  Miss  Martha  E.  Van  Kirk,  of 
^Vayue  County:  they  have  three  cihldren — 
Cora  C.  Annie  M.  and  Eliza  B. 

.JOHN  HOWENSTINE.  f aimer:  P.  O. 
Canal  Fulton:  is  a  son  of  David  and  Magda- 
lene (Cook)  Howenstine.  the  former  a  native  | 
of  Lancaster  County,  and  the  latter  of  Frank- 
lin Co..  Penn. :  they  removed  to  Ohio  in  181-5"). 
locating  in  Stark  County,  where  they  began 
farming:  the  father  was  a  cooper  by  trade 
and  did  a  small  business  in  that  line  in  con- 
nection with  his  agricultural  pursuits:  they 
lived  in  the  township  a  number  of  yeai-s,  then 
remo\ed  to  Wayne  County,  where  they  were 
residents  a  number  of  years.  While  living 
there  the  mother  of  our  subject  died:  his 
father  subsequently  returned  to  LawTence 
Township,  and  departed  this  life  in  Fulton. 


Our  subject  was  the  second  child  of  a  family 
of  eleven  children:  he  is  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, born  in  1820,  and  learned  the  trade  of 
cooper  fri  m  his  father,  and  in  connection  with 
his  fyrming  ojeraticns,  works  at  his  trrde. 
Mr.  H(-wenstine  owns  hO  acres  of  finely  im- 
proved land,  in  the  southeastern  ];ortii  n  of 
the  townshij).  and  is  one  of  the  most  intelli- 
gent and  substantial  farmers  of  Stark  County: 
his  wife's  maiden  luime  was  Lydia  Brougher, 
and  was  fn  m  Jackscn  Townshi]>:  they  have 
six  childrtn. 

JOHN  HAMMEE.  farmer:  P.  O.  Canal 
Fulton:  is  a  son  of  Lcminick  and  Catharine 
(Malline)  Hammer,  both  natives  of  Bavaria, 
Germany,  where  they  were  married,  subse- 
(juently  (1840)  removing  to  the  L'nited  States: 
they  immediately  located  in  Lawrence  Town- 
shi]). and  went  to  farming;  his  fathers  death 
occurred  in  1847:  his  mother  is  still  living: 
they  were  parents  of  two  children — our  sub- 
ject and  Frances,  now  Mrs.  Steiner.  John 
was  born  in  Geimany.  and  since  the  location 
of  his  parents  in  Lawrence  Township,  has 
been  a  resident  there,  engaged  in  farming 
and  dealing  in  stock.  The  old  homestead 
farm  of  which  he  is  the  pos.sessor.  consists  of 
100  acres  of  land,  part  of  which  is  within  tho 
corporation  limits  uf  Canal  Fulton:  he  is  also 
owner  of  several  valuable  business  houses  in 
town.  Mr.  Hr.mmer  has  served  as  a  member  of 
the  Common  Council  a  number  of  terms,  and 
is  a  liberal  miuded.  progi'essive  citizen;  he 
was  maiTied.  in  1804.  to  Miss  Mary  C.  Dunn, 
of  Akron.  Ohio:  they  have  four  children  liv- 
ing—  Edward.  Williiim.  Martha  and  Felix. 

JAMES  H.  JrSTl'S,  miller,  Canal  Fulton; 
is  one  of  the  prominent  members  and  pioneers 
of  the  milling  interests  of  Stark  County.  He 
was  born  in  Bedford  Co.,  Penn.,  in  1820,  and, 
until  14  years  of  age,  worked  u))on  a  farm. 
His  father  being  a  miller,  he  subseiiuently 
learned  millwrighting.  So  much  of  Mr.  Jus- 
tus' life  having  been  spent  inthemilling  busi- 
ness, and  in  so  many  i)laces.  we  only  mention 
a  few  of  his  most  imjiortant  connections.  He 
was  connected  with  Wellman's  mill,  at  Mill- 
port. Jackson  Tp..  for  eleven  years,  going  there 
.•;s  third  miller,  and  fcr  the  last  five  years  there 
had  the  chai-ge  and  i-uper\'ision  of  the  mill. 
He  then  went  to  Massillon  and  su])eriutended 


"*-7l- 


•f^  (L_ 


77(5 


BIOGKAPHK^'Vl.    SKETCHES: 


the  building  of  the  present  Sij)po  Valley  Mill, 
now  owned  and  operated  by  Warwick  & 
Jiistiis  Bros.,  remaining  there  two  years, 
having  charge  of  the  mill.  He  then  retm-ued 
to  Jackson  Towushij)  and  superintended  the 
rebuilding  of  the  mill  with  which  he  had  been 
formerly  employed  (which  had  bm-ned,  and, 
in  connection  with  H.  B.  Wellman  and  David 
Fahs,  conducted  the  mill  for  three  years  as  a 
partner,  and  for  two  years  as  Superintendent. 
He  then  was  engaged  in  milling  in  the  old 
mill  known  as  Earl's  Mill,  U(>ar  Massillon, 
with  several  parties  as  partners,  for  seven 
years,  and  soon  after  bought  an  interest  in  the 
Sij)po  Mills,  with  J.  G.  Warwick,  under  the 
name  of  J.  H.  Justus  &  Co.,  his  brother,  Will- 
iam H  Justus,  subsequently  becoming  a  part- 
ner; he  continued  in  this  association  for  about 
eight  years,  aud  in  1874  sold  his  interest  to 
Warwick.  Retiu'uiug  to  Millport,  he  bought 
the  old  mill  there,  in  connection  with  William 
Kitchen,  continuing  there  with  different  }>ar- 
ties  for  several  years.  His  next  venture  was 
in  the  lumber  trade  in  Massillon,  with  E.  B. 
Leighley,  and  conducting  a  planing-mill  in 
connection  for  two  years.  In  1881,  in  con- 
nection with  Warwick  and  Jiistus,  of  Massil- 
lon, he  bought  the  ilouring-mill  at  Canal  Ful- 
ton, which  he  has  refitted  and  improved,  and 
is  now  engaged  in  pursuing  the  calling  to 
which  he  is  eminently  fitted,  and  in  which  he 
has  devoted  nearly  half  a  centmy.  The  mill 
at  Fulton  is  ran  by  steam,  and  contains  foui' 
runs  of  stone.  Mi-.  Justus  was  married,  in  1848, 
to  Laviua  Beattv,  of  Lawrence  Townshij), 
daughter  of  James  Beatty,  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  the  county.  They  have  had  eight  ehildi-en, 
only  three  now  siu-viving — Anna,  Lee  and 
Hariy.  While  in  Massillon,  Mr.  Justus 
served  as  Township  Treasurer  and  Trustee, 
as  member  of  the  School  Board  and  Council, 
and  was  one  of  the  Directors  and  stockholders 
of  the  rolling-mills. 

GEORGE  S.  KILGORE,  grain  and  feed. 
Canal  Fulton;  is  a  native  of  Wayne  Co., 
Ohio.  His  gi-andfather  came  from  West- 
moreland Co.,  Penu.,  and  settled  in  Sugar 
Creek  Tj).,  Wayne  Co.,  at  an  early  day,  resid- 
ing there  the  remainder  of  his  life.  His  par- 
ents were  William  and  Nancy  (Shipley)  Kil- 
gore,  who  remained  residents  of  that  township 


all  of  their  days;  his  father  died  in  18(52,  and 
his  mother  in  1847;  they  were  parents  of 
three  children,  George  S.  being  the  second 
child.  Our  subject  passed  his  early  life  upon 
a  farm.  In  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  H,  l(l2d 
O.  V.  I.,  and  was  in  service  three  years,  most 
of  the  time  on  detached  duty;  he  was  a  par- 
ticipant in  some  of  the  most  severe  battles  of 
the  war-  Franklin,  Athens,  Decatm-  aud  Pu- 
laski, dvu'ing  which  engagement  he  was  injiu'ed 
by  the  wi'ecking  of  a  train  so  as  to  slightly 
cripple  him  in  the  ankles.  Upon  his  retiu'n 
to  his  home,  he  entered  upon  an  extended 
Western  toiu',  through  Dakota  and  Wyoming 
Teiritories,  which  occupied  one  year.  He  then 
entered  into  mercantile  life,  starting  a  dry 
goods  and  di'ug  store  in  OiTville.  Wayne  Co., 
where  he  continued  in  business  lor  six  yesu's; 
he  then  went  to  Knox  Co.,  Ohio,  and  for  three 
years  was  engaged  in  agrieultm'al  [)m-suit8, 
after  which  he  romoved  to  Canal  Fulton,  Ohio, 
and  has  been  engaged  in  the  grain  business 
with  his  father-in-law,  R.  R.  Porier,  up  to  the 
present  writing.  He  was  married,  in  1869, 
to  Miss  Nannie  J.  Porter,  of  Canal  Fulton; 
they  have  foiu-  children — George  E.,  Cora 
May,  Lloyd  P.  and  Minnie  E.  jVIi-.  Kilgoreis 
now  sei-ving  as  Justice  of  the  Peace;  is  a 
member  of  the  Fulton  Masonic  Lodge  and  of 
the  Royal  Ai-ch of  Massillon.  In  polities,  Mi'. 
Kilgore  is  a  Republican,  and  has  always  taken 
an  active  interest  in  seciu-ing  the  advancement 
of  that  party.  He  is  a  prominent  member  of 
the  Stark  County  executive  force,  and  has 
served  as  a  member  of  the  Central  Committee 
for  three  years,  during  which  time  he  has  done 
effective  service  in  his  district. 

JOSEPH  KIRK,  farmer;  P.  O.  Canal  Ful- 
ton; was  born  in  Center  Co.,  Penn.,  in  1805. 
His  father's  name  was  Michael,  and  he  was 
a  native  of  Ireland ;  his  mother's  maiden  name 
was  Christina  Bait;  she  was  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, and,  with  four  children — George,  Julia 
Ann,  Rebecca  and  our  subject — came  to  Law 
rence  Township  in  1815;  she  rode  on  horse- 
back with  the  younge)'  children,  the  boys  walk- 
ing. They  settled  in  this  tcjwnship,  two  miles 
below  Fnltou,  where  Jacob  Kirk,  a  bi'other, 
had  settled  tlu-ee  years  before.  Joseph  was 
bound  out  to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade  soon 
after  their  arrival ;  he  was  to  receive  his  board. 


\^  S — ■ — r- 


l.AWRENCE    TOWNSHIP. 


777 


two  months  schoolinor,  and  SI  5  in  cash  at  the 
ond  of  his  apprenticeship;  he  then  engaj^ed 
with  John  Taylor  for  four  years  at  !?12  jier 
month.  In  1825,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Su- 
sanna Karr,  and  immediately  began  farming 
openations  in  the  township,  njioji  the  tract  of 
laud  where  lie  now  lives.  Mr.  Kirk  has 
brought  his  land  from  the  primeval  forest  up 
to  a  condition  of  superior  cultivation,  devot- 
ing his  time  exclusively  to  that  business,  with 
pleasing  results.  His  buildings  are  line,  and 
are  a  pictiu'e  of  thrift  and  comfort:  he  has 
100  acres  of  land  on  his  farm,  conveniently 
and  pleasantly  located.  He  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Church  over  fifty  years, 
and  his  entire  life  has  been  exemplaiy  and 
honorable.  His  first  wife  died  in  1854;  she 
was  the  mother  of  ten  chikb'en — Grace,  Mrs. 
Sichly,  a  widow,  now  a  resident  of  Akron: 
George,  decea.s(>d:  William,  deceased;  James 
R.  was  killed  at  Stone  River,  after  eight 
months'  service  in  def(>nse  of  his  country: 
Ellen  J.,  wife  of  Adam  Km-tz.  who  is  now 
working  the  old  homestead:  Samuel  W.  lives 
at  Canal  Fulton :  Rebecca  O. :  .Ellis  died  while 
in  the  anny;  Marthii,  wife  of  L.  C.  Schu- 
macher, of  AJa-on:  and  (3yiiis,  living  in  Canal 
Fulton.  5Ir.  Kirk  is  now  the  oldest  male 
person  living  in  LawTence  Townshij).  which 
elects  him  Vice  President  for  that  township 
of  the  Stark  County  Picmeer  Association. 

.JOSEPH  W.  KIRK,  farmer:  P.  O.  Canal 
Fulton;  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Aim  (FurstI  Kirk, 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  emigrant  from 
Clinton  Co.,  Penn..  Ui  Lawrence  Townshij). 
about  1812.  locating  near  Canal  Fulton,  where 
they  resided  diu'ing  the  remainder  of  their 
lives.  His  father  became  an  extensive  land 
owner,  possessing  at  one  time  over  (50(^  acres 
in  the  township,  and  80(t  acres  in  Indiana: 
be  was  also  a  jjrominent  citizen,  and  served  as 
Justice  of  the  Peace.  They  were  both  mem 
bers  of  the  Disciples'  Church,  his  mother  hav 
ing  formerly  been  a  Lutheran.  Of  a  family 
of  (>leven  chikh'en,  only  four  now  survive- 
Jacob.  a  resident  of  Illinois:  Christina,  now 
INIrs.  (Jilchrist.  (jf  Iowa:  Henry,  of  Illinois;  and 
the  sul)ject  of  this  sketch,  who  was  the  sixth 
chiki,  and  Iwrn  in  Lawrence  Township  in 
1819.  He  has  followtnl  farming  all  his  life 
in  La\\T(>nce  Township,  and.  since  1844,  u])on 


the  farm  where  he  now  resides.  He  has  '2fi1 
acres  of  land,  which  he  has  cleared,  cultivated 
and  improv(>d  unti  1  it  presents  a  model  appear- 
ance; his  buildings  are  beautiful,  large  and 
commodious,  and  finely  located.  He  is  one  of 
the  substantial  and  practical  farmers  of  the 
county  and  is  woithy  of  the  esteem  accorde<l 
him  by  his  fellow  citizens.  He  served  the 
township  two  terms  as  Land  Api>raiser.  Mr. 
Kirk  has  been  thrice  man-ied — first,  to  Chir- 
issa  McFarland.  who  died  in  1847 ;  second,  in 
1850,  to  Miss  Isal)ella  Taylor;  she  died  in 
1858,  leaving  out*  child,  Ann  M..  Mrs.  Hous- 
man.  In  1N54,  he  married  Alta  Cole;  they 
have  six  children  living — Eva  A.,  Silva  E., 
Charles  L..  Howard  L.,  Horace  Greeley  and 
Henry  Dwight. 

PHILIP  KELLER,  farmer;  P.  O.  Canal 
l''ulton:  is  a  son  of  Philip  aud  Catharine 
(Shook)  Keller,  who  were  natives  of  Chester 
Co..  Penn.,  and  emigrated  to  Ohio  at  an  eju'ly 
day.  They  located  near  Manchester  for  a 
short  time,  but  soon  after  removed  to  Jack- 
son Townshij).  where  they  located  uj)on  a 
farm.  While  living  there  our  subject's  mother 
died,  and  his  father  subset juently  re-mwTied, 
and  lived  there  until  1S()8.  when  he  removed 
to  Summit  Coiinty,  where  he  died  about  1875. 
Philij)  was  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  eleven 
chikh'eu,  and  was  born  in  Summit  County  in 
Febniary,  IHHr.  his  (>iirly  life  was  passed 
ujjon  a  fann  in  Jackson  Townshij).  At  the 
age  of  21,  he  married  Maria  Whitmyre,  daugh- 
ter of  Pliilij)  Whitmyi-e,  of  Lawrence  Town- 
shiji,  and.  removing  to  that  townshij),  settled 
ujjon  a  farm  in  the  eastern  j)Oiiion  thereof, 
where  he  remained  for  fomieen  years,  subse- 
(juently  removing  to  his  jiresent  location,  in 
the  western  psu't  of  the  township,  wh(>re  he  has 
180  acres  of  land,  well  imj)roved.  His  wife 
died  iu  1878,  leaving  the  following  children: 
Alvin  Keller,  the  eldest  child,  was  born  in 
LawTence  Townshij)  in  1S44,  where  he  has 
always  resided,  following  f;mning;  he  was 
man-ied,  in  18fir),  to  Miss  Margai-et  Walter,  of 
Wayne  County;  thev  have  thi'ee  children 
Wa"lter  L..  Oli'ver  F.  and  Charles  W.:  he  has 
80  acres  of  fine  land,  situated  adjoiiiiug  his 
fath(>r's.  and  is  a  well-iuftsmied.  j)ractical  citi- 
zen: Elizabeth  lives  in  Ashland  County;  Lu- 
cinda,  now  Mrs.   Stauff'er.  in  Wayne  County; 


778 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Emeliue,  now  Mrs.  Gruff,  of  Summit  County; 
and  Catharine,  now  Mrs.  Shaffer,  a  resident 
of  Wayne  County,  comjirises  the  rest  of  the 
family.  Mr.  Keller  married,  in  1S77,  the 
widow  Miller,  for  a  second  wife. 

J.  H.  KITCHEN,  farmer;  P.O.  Massillon: 
is  one  of  the  early  residents  of  Stark  County, 
and  for  over  forty  years  of  the  farm  vipon 
which  he  is  now  living.  He  is  a  native  of 
Colmnbia  Co.,  Peun.  In  1825,  he  came  to 
Ohio  and  resided  in  Portage  County  for  two 
years,  working  upon  the  construction  of  the 
Ohio  Canal.  In  1827,  he  l)ecame  a  citizen  of 
Stark  County,  locating  in  Jackson  Township, 
where  he  farmed  for  six  years,  at  the  expira- 
tion of  which  time  he  removed  to  Lawrence 
Township,  where  he  has  continued  to  reside 
ever  since.  He  has  114  acres  of  fertile  and 
well-improved  land.  Mr.  Kitchen  was  mar- 
ried, in  1882,  to  Miss  Sai-ah  Breed,  of  Lynn, 
Mass.  Of  a  family  of  five  children  born  to 
them,  thi'ee  are  now  living — Parmelia;  Heury 
Kitchen,  a  celebrated  physician  of  Cleveland, 
Ohio;  and  Mary  Brieze,  a  resident  of  St. 
Louis,  Mo.  Ml-.  Kitchen  has  been  a  valued 
citizen  of  Lawrence  Township,  and,  although 
liow  in  feeljle  health,  is  interested  in  all  mat- 
ters of  public  progi'ess. 

J.  V.  LERCH,  Pastor  Reformed  Chmch, 
Canal  Fulton;  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
Ijorn  in  Nortluunberland  County  in  1848.  His 
father,  G.  W.  Lerch,  was  also  a  native  of  the 
Keystone  State;  his  mother's  maiden  name 
was  Eve  Klase.  They  camf>  to  Ohio  aliout 
1848,  and  settled  in  Richville,  Perry  Tp.,  Stark 
Co. ;  his  father  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade, 
and  for  several  years  followed  that  occupation 
in  Richville;  subsetjuently,  they  removed  upon 
a  small  farm  in  Pen-y  Township  whei'e  they 
still  reside.  Om'  subject,  at  the  age  of  10, 
wfus  apprenticed  to  Russell  &  Co.,  of  Massil- 
lon, to  learn  the  machinist's  trade,  remaining 
in  that  institution  about  eighteen  months, 
when,  in  18()2,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  E.  of  the 
104th  O.  V.  I.,  and  was  in  the  service  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  His  health  failing  him  while 
in  service,  he  was  coniined  to  a  cot  in  the  hos- 
pital for  one  year-,  after  which  he  was  ei:igaged 
in  dispensing  medicine  from  the  dispensary 
for  the  remainder  of  his  enlistment.  Upon 
his  return  to  his  home  in  Stark  County,  he 


began  his  education  in  the  higher  schools, 
preparatory  to  a  college  com'se,  which  was 
necessary  for  the  exalted  calling  of  the  min- 
istry, which  he  had  concliTded  to  make  his  life 
work.  He  attended  the  academy  at  Greens- 
burg,  Summit  Co.,  two  terms,  from  thence  to 
Mt.  Union  College,  and  in  the  spring  of  1869 
entered  Heidelberg  College,  located  at  Tiffin, 
Ohio.  He  completed  his  college  course  in 
1871,  and  his  theological  coiu-se  two  years 
later.  Upon  the  completion  of  his  education, 
he  went  to  Illinois,  where,  in  1878,  he  was  t^x- 
amined  and  ordained.  Accepting  a  commission 
as  a  missionary  for  ]Missouri,  he  removed 
thither  in  1874,  having  previously,  in  the 
same  year,  been  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Melissa  M.  Myers,  daughter  of  W.  G.  Myers, 
Esq..  of  Canal  Fulton.  While  a  resident  of 
MissoTU'i,  he  united  with  his  labors  as  Pastor 
the  duties  of  a  teacher,  and  for  two  years  was 
the  Principal  of  the  public  school  at  Prince- 
ton; after  a  residence  of  over  two  years,  he 
closed  his  labors  there  and  returned  to  Ohio, 
and  was  located  at  Ashland  until  November, 
187y,  when  he  was  bereaved  by  the  loss  of  his 
wife.  He  then  removed  to  Canal  Fulton,  in 
order  to  secure  care  for  his  children,  and  has 
been  a  resident  there  since,  dm'ing  which  time 
he  has  established  and  organized  a  congrega- 
tion and  built  a  chm-ch;  the  membership  now 
numbers  eighty-eight,  and  the  chm'ch  and 
society  is  iu  a  healthy  and  nourishing  condi- 
tion. 

ANDREW  LYTLE,  farmer;  P.  O.'  Canal 
Fulton ;  is  a  son  of  Andrew  and  Jane  Preston 
Lytle,  his  father  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and 
his  mother  a  native  of  Maryland:  were  mai'- 
ried  iu  Fayette  Co.,  Penu.,  where  they  lived 
for  a  few  yeai's  subsequent.  In  1812,  his 
father  and  his  brother  William  came  to  Law- 
rence Township  and  cut  off'  an  acre  of  timber 
fi'om  the  northeast  corner  of  Sec.  8,  and,  after 
building  a  log  house  upon  it,  theyretm-ned  to 
Pennsylvania.  In  1813,  he  rented  a  farm  in 
Beaver  Co.,  Penn.,  and  worked  it  until  1817, 
when  he  came  to  Lawrence  Township  with 
his  family,  consisting  of  five  chikb'en,  and  set- 
tled dowTi  upon  their  land;  here  the  worthy 
cou))le  successfully  cleared  and  improved  their 
land,  and  lived  to  enjoy  some  of  the  well 
earned  fruits  of  industry.     Out  of  a  family  of 


^ 


i^ 


J.AWRENCE    TOAVNSHIP. 


eleven  children,  the  following  now  survive: 
Robert  F.,  a  resident  of  Lawrence  Township 
for  many  years,  Imt  now  living  in  Chippewa 
Tp..  Wayne  Co. ;  Maria  Preston,  of  La  Grange 
Co..  Ind. :  and  the  subject  of  this  biogi'aphy. 
Andrew.  Jr..  was  born  in  Beaver  Co..  Penn., 
in  ISlC),  and.  upon  his  father's  farm  in  Law- 
rence Township,  found  ample  work  for  his 
youthful  days  in  helping  to  clem-  and  culti- 
vate the  land.  He  is  familiar  with  the  growth 
and  development  of  the  community  from  its 
early  days,  and  relates  many  interesting  tales 
of  pioneer  life.  He  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade  when  14  years  of  age,  and  passed  four- 
teen years  in  the  busy  plying  of  that  branch 
of  industry.  In  1850,  he  married  Elizabeth, 
a  daughter  of  John  and  Eleanor  Richey,  early 
settlers  of  the  township,  ^hc.  and  Mi's. 
Richey  were  man-ied  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
settlers  of  Lawrence  Township  in  1819,  locat- 
ing upon  the  farm  now  in  possession  of  oiu- 
subject;  they  resided  there  for  many  years, 
engaged  in  cultivating  and  improving:  he  was 
accidentally  killed  while  on  a  trip  to  Pann- 
sylvania.  but  his  wife  still  siu'S'ives,  a  resident 
of  Illinois.  Since  his  maiTiage,  Mr.  Lytle 
has  cultivated  the  soil  with  profitable  returns. 
His  long  residence  in  the  township  and  his 
honorable  Christian  life  render  him  a  vahiable 
and  respected  citizen.  He,  as  is  also  his  wife, 
is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
long  standing.  They  have  had  four  children 
—  Leeman  H  and  Horace  Williard,  living: 
and  Frank  H.  and  Mav  B.,  decensed. 

LANDFEAR  &  MILLER,  hardware,  stoves 
and  tinware.  Canal  Fulton.  This  house  was 
estal)lished  in  187'.*,  by  a  pai'tnorship  between 
r.  W.  Landfeiir  and  John  Buck,  who  were  as- 
sociated t<3gother  until  the  spring  of  1881, 
when  Buck  retired  and  Charles  C.  Miller  be 
came  a  ])artner,  under  the  lirm  name  of  Land 
fear  &  Miller:  although  they  have  been  es- 
tablished only  a  short  time,  they  iu'e  doing  a 
large  and  increasing  business,  and  are  honor- 
able and  ])rogressive  business  men;  they  are 
making  a  specialty  in  stoves,  tinware  and 
general  jobbing  business,  which  line  they 
ai'e  doing  the  l(>ading  trade  F.  W.  Land 
fear  is  a  native  of  Portage  Co.,  Ohio:  he 
learned  his  trade  in  Bedford,  Cuyahoga 
Co.,    commencing    at    the    age   of     18.      In 


187."),  he  started  in  a  business  venture  at  Pen- 
insula, Summit  Co.,  and  was  in  the  hardware, 
tin  and  stove  business  there  for  fom-  years. 
In  187U,  he  came  to  Canal  Fultwn  and  em- 
bai-ked  in  trade  there,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided. Ho  was  miuTied,  in  187<j,  to  Miss  M. 
R,  Cook,  of  Cuyahoga  County;  they  have 
one  child,  Lucius  R.  Mr.  Landfesir  is  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Honor.  Clharles 
C.  Miller  is  a  son  of  Abraham  jmd  Sophia 
(Humbert)  Miller;  his  father,  Abraham 
Miller,  was  lM)m  in  Lawrence  Township; 
he  was  a  son  vi  Hem-y  Miller,  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  the  township.  Abraham  Miller  was 
a  fanner,  and  lai'gely  interested  in  horticult- 
ural piu-suits;  he  owned  a  fiu-m  of  150  acres 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  ")•  I  acres  of  which  was 
in  orchai-ds;  he  was  one  of  the  Iwgest  fruit- 
growers in  the  township,  making  a  specialty 
in  peaches  and  apples ;  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
he  was  engaged  in  the  grocei-y  trade  in  Canal 
Fulton;  he  died  in  July,  1875,  leaving  seven 
children — Lucy  J.,  Henry  A.  (a  resident  of  Ft 
WajTie,  Ind. ),  Emma  Ridentmr  (of  Massillon), 
Ciu-'tis  J.,  Louis  (deceased),  Charles  C.  and 
Flora.  Chai  les  C.  was  bom  in  Lawrence  Town- 
ship in  1857,  and  has  always  been  identified 
with  his  native  town;  he  foi-medhis  first  busi- 
ness partnership  and  venture  as  mentioned 
above,  and  starts  in  life  with  Mattering  prom- 
ises of  success. 

LAMBRIGHT  &  KITTINGER,  Canal  Ful- 
ton, ai-e  extensive  dealers  in  lumber;  conduct 
a  planing-mill,  manufacturi>  dooi-s,  sash  cUid 
blinds,  and  mu!  also  contractors  and  builders. 
S.  W.  Laml)right  is  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  he  was  born  in  183'2,  and  learned 
the  carpenter  and  joiner's  trade  when  a  youth. 
In  185"2,  he  came  to  Canal  Fulton  and  was 
employed  at  his  trade  there  for  a  few  months, 
then  went  to  Western  Ohio,  where  he  en- 
gaged at  his  trade  for  two  yeiu-s,  subseijuently 
returning  to  Canal  Fulton,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  Hi>  worked  at  contracting  iuid  build- 
ing until  lS7'.t,  when  h(>  entered  into  partner- 
ship with  David  Jackson  in  tlie  luml)er  trade, 
continuing  until  January,  ISM,  when  Jack- 
son and  .J.  N.  Kittinger  becmne  a  member  of 
the  tii-m.  He  was  mairied,  in  1857,  to  Miss 
Maiy  A.  Gilcher,  daughter  of  Henry  Gilcher, 
of  Fulton;  she  died  in  ISfJl,  leaving  one  child. 


=^=^^ 


ihL. 


780 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Hamilton  M.  In  1862,  lie  married  a  second 
wife — Miss  Nancy  Bnckmaster,  of  Canal  Ful- 
ton; they  have  five  children — Flora  B.,Minta 
A..  Eva  G..  Jessie  L.  and  Bessie  S.  He  has 
served  the  townshij)  as  Trustee  two  terms, 
and  as  member  of  the  Council  of  Fulton 
one  term;  he  is  an  old  and  consistent  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Chiu-ch.  J.  N.  Kit- 
tinger  is  a  native  of  Lawi-ence  Township, 
son  of  David  Kittinger,  who  was  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  but  a  resident  of  Stark 
County  since  1833.  Ovu-  subject  learned  the 
carpenter's  trade  with  his  father,  which  call- 
ing he  is  still  ])ursuing,  superintending  the 
extensive  contracts  of  the  firm  of  which  he  is 
a  member.  In  ISSl,  he  became  a  member  of 
the  above  linn.  He  was  married,  in  1868,  to 
Miss  Celestia  Stock,  of  Hiu-on  Co.,  Ohio;  they 
have  five  children — Albert,  Chloe,  Zoe,  Frank 
and  Floyd.  Mr.  Kittinger  is  an  esteemed 
citizen  and  business  man,  and  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Church. 

JOHN  P.  LAWRENCE,  farmer;  P.  O. 
North  Lawrence:  is  a  son  of  Philip  and  Kath- 
erino  (Hartz)  Lawrence,  natives  of  Prussia, 
who  were  emigrants  to  America  in  1844,  and 
soon  after  settled  in  Lawrence  Township,  where 
they  have  since  resided;  they  have  two  chil- 
dren-Jacob, a  resident  of  Wayne  Coimty; 
and  John  P..  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He 
was  born  in  Oermany,  but,  since  the  coming 
of  his  father  to  Lawrence  Township,  has  been 
a  resident  there,  with  the  exception  of  one 
year.  Mr.  Lawi-ence  has  been  engaged  in 
farming  all  of  his  life,  at  which  he  engages 
his  whole  attention;  he  has  111  acres  of  im- 
proved land,  situated  in  the  western  portion 
of  the  township,  adjoining  Wayne  County :  he 
has  always  taken  a  leading  hand  in  educa- 
tional aft'airs:  was  Clerk  of  the  Board  of 
Education  in  the  township,  and  has  also  been 
Township  Tnistee,  serving  at  the  present  time 
his  third  term.  He  was  married,  in  1861,  to 
Miss  Elina  Gesaman.  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Barbara  ( Reichard)  Gesaman,  who  were  pioneer 
settlers  of  the  township.  IVIr.  and  Mrs.  Law- 
ernce  have  a  familvof  eight  childi-en  -  Emma 
G..  Cassie  E..  Charles  G.,  Jacob  G..  Ida  E., 
Orriu  F.,  Laudi-eth  C.  and  Aid  in.  They  are 
members  of  the  V.  B.  Church  of  Lawrence 
Township. 


JOHN  LINN,  farmer;  P.  O.  Canal  Fulton; 
is  one  of  the  earlier  settlers  of  Lawrence 
Township,  and  worthy  of  an  extended  sketch 
of  his  life.  He  is  a  native  of  Bedford  Co., 
Penn.,  where  he  was  born  in  1807;  he  emi- 
grated to  Ohio  in  October,  182U.  and  located 
upon  the  farm  in  Lav^reuce  Township  whera 
he  now  resides,  and  upon  which  he  has  passed 
over  half  a  century.  When  he  came,  his  farm 
was  all  timber;  it  is  now  one  of  the  fine,  cul- 
tivated and  valuable  farms  of  Stark  Coimty, 
and  to  Mr.  Linn  the  change  is  due;  he  now 
owns  SO  acres  of  land,  and  to  farming  he  has 
devoted  his  life- time.  He  maiTied,  in  Au 
gust,  1833,  Miss  Susanna  Stock,  of  the  town- 
ship; she  was  born  in  Adams  Co..  Penn.,  in 
1816;  they  have  nine  children  living — David, 
a  farmer  of  Lawrence  Township,  was  a  mem 
ber  of  the  104th  O.  V.  I.,  and  in  service  over 
thi'ee  yeai's;  Harriet  Sheets,  in  Richland 
CoTinty;  Barbara  Dayhoof;  Addis,  a  resident 
of  Orrville,  Ohio;  Abraham,  a  fai'mer  of  Mich 
igan:  William,  living  in  Richland  County; 
Jacob,  in  Williams  County,  Ohio;  John  and 
Mary,  at  home.  Addis  was  also  a  volunteer 
in  the  late  service  for  over  thi-ee  years,  in  the 
63d  O.  V.  I.,  and  a  son,  Isaac,  was  killed  in 
Georgia,  after  sers'ing  thi-ee  yeai's  in  the  18th 
Regulars,  of  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Linn  are 
members  of  the  U.  B.  Church. 

F.  D.  LIGGETT,  clothing,  Canal  Fulton; 
is  one  of  the  prominent  business  men  of  Canal 
Fulton,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  his  con 
nections  there  are  of  recent  date.  Mr.  Lig- 
gett came  to  Fulton  in  1874,  from  Center  Co., 
Penn.,  where  he  had  fonnerly  been  engaged 
in  the  milling  and  flouring  business;  he  asso- 
ciated himself  in  partnership  with  John  Mob 
ley  in  the  clothing  trade,  and  conducted  the 
business  for  two  years,  when  be  disposed  of 
his  interest,  but  retained  the  management, 
which  he  still  holds.  In  March,  1881,  his 
brother,  John  Liggett,  of  Pennsylvania,  be- 
came  the  owner  of  the  stock,  and  for  him  he 
is  now  conducting  the  business ;  the  stock  con- 
sists of  a  large  line  of  ready-made  clothing, 
hats,  caps,  gentlemen's  furnishing  goods, 
trunks,  traveling-bags,  etc..  and  the  trade  en- 
joyed by  this  house  is  large  and  extended. 
Ml-.  Liggett  is  an  enterprising  and  liberal 
minded  citizen,  and  an  efficient  and  success 


IW 


^ 


LAWRENCE    TOWNSHIP. 


781 


fill  managei-.  He  was  united  in  marriage,  in 
1860,  to  Hiss  Harriet  Mobley,  of  Lawrence 
Township;  thev  have  three  children  -  John. 
Salathiel  and  Miirv. 

MYERS.  ELLIOTT  &  CO..  hardware,  Canal 
Fulton :  is  one  of  the  extensive  business  houses 
of  Stark  County.  This  house  was  established 
in  187U,  since  which  time  their  business  has 
increased  until  tliev  were  forced  to  make  a 
change  in  location,  and.  in  July.  1S81.  they 
took  possession  of  their  uew  rooms  in  the  Union 
Block,  vvlierc  they  have  added  a  large  addi- 
tion, depth  of  !()(•  feet,  aud  two  floors,  and 
where  they  have  now  ample  room  for  their 
mammoth  stock  of  hardware,  which  is  comjilete 
in  everj- respect ;  they  carry  a  full  line  of  agri- 
cultural implements.  Wii.i.i.\m  X.  Myers,  is 
a  native  of  Wayne  Co..  Ohio,  where  he  was 
bom  in  1850;  his  business  experience  began 
in  1868.  when  he  came  to  Canal  Fulton  and 
entered  the  c»m{)loy  of  J.  W.  Waggoner  in 
ihe  hardware  trade,  with  whom  he  remained 
until  187(1.  when  his  father.  W.  G.  Myers,  and 
G.  X.  Elliott.  Ixjught  the  store,  forming  the 
company  of  Myers.  Elliott  &  Co..  aud  since 
that  time  hais  gi\en  to  his  business  his  entire 
attention.  He  was  maiTied.  in  June.  1877, 
to  Miss  Mary  Kirk,  of  Fult<^m;  they  have  two 
children — Carl  and  an  infant.  Mr.  Myers 
has  sened  as  Corporation  Treasurer,  and 
is  an  esteemed  and  efficient  business  man. 
G.  N.  Elliott  is  a  descendant  of  the  Elliotts 
who  were  refugees  from  Ireland  on  account  of 
their  religious  belief,  as  o])|)osed  to  Catholi- 
cism and  the  Established  Chm-ch  of  England; 
emigrating  to  America  as  a  family,  they  set- 
tled in  Holmes  and  Coshocton  Counties  at  an 
early  day,  and  were  piimeers  of  the  Methodist 
Church.  Dr.  Charles  Elliott,  the  celebrated 
author  and  editor,  was  a  brtjther  of  the  grand- 
father of  our  subject.  Dr.  Elliott  was  refused 
admittance  to  the  College  of  Edinburgh  on 
account  of  religious  belief.  Coming  to 
America,  he  took  an  advanced  rank  in  litera- 
ture, and  was  the  editor  of  several  Methodist 
papers.  Our  subject  was  born  in  Holmes  Co.. 
Ohio,  in  l>41,aud  was  raised  upon  the  farm; 
in  18(51.  while  attending  school  at  Delaware, 
he  enlisted  in  Co.  D.  'idth  O.  V.  I.,  aud  was 
in  service  three  years,  participating  in  all  the 
severe  battles   and  engagements  of  the  Ai-mv 


of  the  Tennessee,  from  Ft.  Donelson  up  to  the 
taking  of  Atlanta,  only  eight  out  of  bis  com- 
pany escaping  unhurt.  After  the  war,  he  was 
engaged  in  farming  inChi])pewa  Tp.,  Waj'ne 
Co.,  until  1^70.  when  lie  became  a  member  of 
the  above  hrm.  Ho  w;is  married,  in  1868,  to 
Miss  Rosa  J.  Myei-s;  they  have  one  child — 
Cora  Belle.  Mr.  Elliott  was  one  of  the  or- 
ganizers of  Lodge  Xo.  514,  A.,  F.  &  A. 
M..  which  has  his  name,  being  known  as 
Elliott  Lodge,  and  is  also  a  member  of 
Massillon  Commandery  and  Chapter.  Rich- 
ard F.  Myers  was  born  Xov.  '2U,  i8r)8,  in 
W^tyne  County,  and  in  18S()  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Myers,  Elliott  &  Co.,  his 
father.  W.  G.  Myers,  retiring.  "Dick"  had 
previously  been  ctmnected  with  the  business 
for  two  years,  in  tbe  capacity  of  clerk;  he 
now  represents  the  "Co." 

WILLIAM  G.  MYERS,  lawyer.  Canal  Ful- 
ton; is  one  of  the  re])resentativo  self  made 
men  of  our  times.  He  is  a  native  of  Chippewa 
Tp..  Wayne  Co..  Ohio,  and  son  of  Peter  and 
Sarah  Miller  Myers,  the;  former  a  native  of 
Xew  York,  the  latter  of  Cumberland  Co..  Penn. ; 
his  father  emigrated  in  1816  U)  Pen-y  Tp., 
Stark  Co..  where  his  mother's  peojjle  had  lo- 
cated in  1812;  they  were  miited  in  man'iago 
there  in  1817.  aud  soon  after  went  to  Chi])])ewa 
Township,  where  they  lived  about  three  years, 
retm-ning  subsequently  to  Perry  Township; 
his  father  died  in  1840,  his  mother  in  1879, 
in  the  home  of  our  subject.  William  (i.  Myers 
was  an  inmate  of  his  grandfather's  home  in 
Perry  Township  until  14  years  of  age;  he  then 
engaged  in  a  store  in  Massillon,  S(,)on  after 
going  to  Canal  Fulton,  where  he  was  indent- 
ured to  learn  the  cabinet-maker's  trade;  he 
remained  in  Fulton  about  one  year,  and  then 
went  with  his  prece]>tor  to  Bath,  Summit  Co., 
where  he  remainc^d  for  foiu"  years:  retmniing 
to  LawTence  Township,  he  changed  his  occu- 
pation to  that  of  a  carpenter,  and  followed  it 
for  four  years,  teaching  school  in  the  winter 
in  the  meantime,  for  nine  winters.  In  1843, 
he  marrietl  Sarah  J.  Hardgrove,  of  Lawrence 
Townshij),  and  in  1844  began  fanning  opera- 
tions in  Wayne  County.  In  1850,  he  com- 
menced reading  law,  and.  although  not  at  that 
time  admitted  to  practice,  was  employed  in 
numerous  cases  in  the  region  around  his  home; 


n^r 


BIOGIIAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 


he  also  was  an  auctioneer,  at  which  he  made 
a  snccess  and  extended  his  acquaintance;  his 
farming  operations  were  successful  and  exten- 
sive, owning,  at  one  period,  atout  400  acres, 
and  continued  until  1870,  when  he  became  a 
resident  of  Canal  Fulton,  and  became  inter- 
ested in  the  morcantile  branches  of  trade.  In 
187."),  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  since 
that  time  has  devoted  his  attention  to  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  and  in  settling  e.states, 
acting  as  guardian,  and  doing  a  general  busi- 
ness of  trust,  and  still  pursuing  his  calling  as 
an  auctioneer.  Mi'.  Myers  has  made  a  success 
of  life  by  perseverance,  industry  and  honorable 
dealing.  His  education  as  procured  by  him- 
self, and  the  handsome  property  which  he  has 
accumulated  is  the  direct  result  of  his  own 
labor  and  wise  skill  as  a  financier.  In  the 
law,  he  possesses  high  natm'al  abilities,  sup- 
plemented by  study  and  reseai-ch.  He  has 
always  been  a  strict  disciple  of  temperance, 
and  is  one  of  the  valued  citizens  of  which 
Stark  County  may  be  justly  proud.  His  chil- 
dren are  Mary  M.  Lerch,  deceased;  John  W., 
Rosa  J..  Elliott,  AVilliam  M.,  George  W.  and 
Richard  F. 

J.  W.  MYERS,  farmer;  P.  O.  North  Law- 
rence; is  a  son  of  W.  G.  Myers,  Escj.,  of  Canal 
Fulton;  he  is  a  native  of  Chippewa  Tp., 
Wayne  Co.,  and,  until  22  years  of  age,  re- 
mained with  his  pai'ents,  secm'ing  a  good  edu- 
cation. In  18()-t,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  I,  5th  O. 
V.  C,  and  was  in  the  service  about  one  year; 
mustered  out  at  Charlottesville,  N.  C.  In  No- 
vember. 1869,  he  wiis  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Letitia  J.  Young,  daughter  of  Cyrus  and 
MargcU-et  ( Sheaf er)  Young,  of  Lawrence  Town- 
shiji.  Ml-.  Myers  has  for  a  number  of  years 
past  been  engaged  in  farming  177  acres  be- 
longing to  the  Young  estate.  Mi',  imd  Mi's. 
Myers  have  f oiu-  children  living — Cyrus,  Will- 
iam, Sadie  and  Maggie;  and  two  deceased — 
Chai'les  and  Oscar. 

PETER  MATHIE,  deceased;  was  a  native 
of  France,  coming  to  America  in  1882  with 
his  parents  and  locating  in  Plain  Township. 
He  married,  in  1839,  Susanna  Duck,  of  Plain 
Township;  they  resided  in  Plain  Township  for 
one  year  after  his  marriage,  and  then  removed 
to  Monroe  Co.,  111.,  where  he  remained  two 
years;  returning  to  Plain  Township,  he  bought 


his  father's  farm,  where  he  lived  until  1853, 
when  he  came  to  Lawrence  Township  and  pur- 
chased land,  upon  which  his  sons  now  reside, 
where  he  lived  until  his  death,  in  1865;  his 
wife  died  in  1878.  They  were  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Chiu'ch.  Nine  children  are  now 
living,  descendants  of  this  couple — William 
J.,  in  Plain  Township;  S;unuel,  a  retired 
farmer,  living  at  Black  River,  Ohio;  Louis  D., 
George  W.  and  John  P.,  residents  and  farm- 
ers of  this  township;  Caroline  Hisner,  of  Ful- 
ton; Josejah,  in  Michigan;  Charles,  in  Jackson 
TovmshijJ;  and  Evangel  Daly,  a  resident  of 
Michigan. 

G.  W.  MATHIE,  farmer;  P.  O.  Canal  Ful- 
ton; is  a  young  and  enterprising  farmer  of 
Lawi'ence  Township,  son  of  Peter  and  Susanna 
(Duck)  Mathie.  Om'  subject  was  born  in  Plain 
Township  in  1847;  since  the  removal  of  his 
parents  to  Lawrence  Township,  he  has  been  a 
resident  and  farmer  there.  He  owns  107  acres 
of  land,  conveniently  located.  Ho  was  united 
in  maiTiage,  in  January,  1875,  to  Miss  Hattie 
A.  Lu3as,  of  Lawi-ence  Township;  they  have 
one  child,  Elton  Lee.  Mi'.  Mathie  has  also 
been  a  school-teacher,  and  served  the  township 
one  term  as  Assessor. 

JOHN  MOBLEY,  merchant.  Canal  Fulton; 
is  a  prominent  citizen  of  Stark  County,  an 
old  established  business  man,  and  a  descend- 
ant of  an  old  pioneer  family,  who  early  set- 
tled in  Osnabiu'g  Township.  The  father  of 
oiu'  subject  was  Ezekiel  Mobley,  who  came  to 
the  county  with  his  pai'euts  at  an  early  day, 
subsequently  removing  to  Wayne  County. 
Ezekiel  mai'ried  in  Stark  Coimty  Miss  Sarah 
Bear,  and  soon  after  located  in  East  Union 
Tp.,  Wayne  Co.,  where  they  remained  for  the 
remainder  of  their  lives,  engaged  in  agricult- 
ural pursuits.  John  Mobley  was  the  oldest 
child  of  a  family  of  six  children;  he  was  born 
in  Wayne  County  in  18 1 5,  and  until  15  years  of 
age  remained  as  an  assistant  ujiou  the  farm 
homestead.  He  then  learned  the  saddler  and 
hai'uess-maker's  trade  in  Stark  County,  and 
first  embarked  ui>dn  the  sea  of  business  life  in 
Brooktield,  where  he  only  remained  one  year, 
when,  about  1835,  he  came  to  Canal  Fulton, 
and  up  to  the  present  writing  has  been  engaged 
in  successful  business  life  there.  He  worked 
at  his  trade   in  Fulton  for  thirtv  ^ears,  and 


;r^ 


A 


LAWKEXCE    TOWXSHIP. 


ihi'n  eng.aged  in  tanning  and  shoe  mamifact- 
iiriug:  and  for  a  number  of  years  was  inter- 
ested also  in  a  clothing  store.  Mr.  Mobley  is 
at  the  present  time  engagetl  in  the  boot  and 
shoe  trade  exclusively,  and  in  that  lint^  car- 
ries the  leading  stock  and  is  doing  the  leading 
business.  Mr.  Mobley  has  been  an  honiu'ed 
progi-essive  citizen  of  Lawrence  Townshi])  for 
many  years:  all  works  of  merit  and  schemes  for 
the  promotion  of  the  ])ublic  good  receive  en- 
couragement at  his  hands.  \\'ith  the  exception 
of  one  year,  in  1N4U,  when,  during  the  gold  ex- 
citement of  that  year,  he  visited  California,  he 
has  been  a  continuous  resident  from  18:^5,  and 
has  seen  the  progi'ess  and  development  of  "  Old 
Stark  "  fi'om  j)ioneer  days  to  the  present.  He 
has  sei'v-ed  as  Township  Trustee,  as  a  member  of 
the  School  Board  and  as  a  Councilman.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  long  standing  of  the  I.  O. 
O.  F.  Mr.  Mobley  was  mairied  in  1885  to 
Miss  Sarah  Gibson,  who  died  in  lN4y,  leaving 
one  child.  Belle,  now  living  in  Southern  Ohio. 
He  married  a  secoutl  wife,  Miss  Mary  Augus- 
tine, in  ISol.  They  have  one  child  now  liv- 
ing— Ellsworth  E. 

JOSEPH  MILLEK.  farmer:  P.  O.  Canal 
Eultt)n:  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Magdalena 
(Weaver)  Miller,  his  father  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia, his  mother  of  Mai-yland,  and  both 
came  to  Stark  County  when  young.  They 
were  man'ied  ne.u"  Canton  in  INK),  and  soon 
after  came  to  Lawrence  Township,  settling  on 
the  tract  of  land  wliich  is  now  the  finely  cul- 
tivated and  im])r(>ve<l  home  of  om  sul)ject. 
Here  this  worthy  couple  lived  for  forty  yeai's, 
being  familiiir  with  all  phases  of  ]3ioneer  life, 
Bubseiiuently  removing  to  the  farm  now  owned 
by  Elias  Miller,  near  Fulton.  Hinrry  Miller 
was  extensively  engaged  in  farming,  becom- 
ing a  large  land-owner,  and  cleared  and  im- 
prtA'ed  many  acres  of  laud  in  the  township. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Keformed  Church  as 
was  also  his  wife:  they  were  parents  of  nine 
children  Maiy  Simmcmds,  who  died  in  this 
towushij):  Samuel,  killed  by  the  cars  in  Craw- 
ford County  while  on  his  way  to  insj)ect  his 
land  there;  Abraham,  decea.sed;  Joseph;  Su- 
sanna, died  in  Crawford  Coiuity;  John, 
deceiised:  Zephiuia.  deceased:  Hairiet,  now 
Mi's.  Shiuuacher,  of  Indiana:  and  Elias.  a 
l>rominent    fanner   of    Lawrence    Township. 


Joseph  Miller  was  born  in  Lawrence  Town 
ship  in  1822,  and  has  always  been  a  resident 
there,  with  the  excepti(m  of  foiu"  years  upon 
the  old  homestead  farm.  He  jjurchased  it 
from  his  father  in  IS'iS,  and  has  improved  it 
until  it  is  one  of  the  most  valuable  pieces  of 
))roperty  in  the  township.  He  was  man-ied 
in  lS4f)",  to  Miss  Lydia  Albright,  of  Jackson 
Township;  she  died  in  185t),  leaving  fom- 
children — Amanda  Streby,  Dila  J.  Tiltcm, 
Melissa  J.  Tilton  and  Amos.  Mr.  Miller  sub- 
sequently was  united  to  a  second  wife,  Mary 
Albright,  by  whom  he  has  six  children — 
Frank,  Edward,  Waldo,  Lillie  (deceased), 
Itosa  and  Bertha.  Mr.  Miller  devotes  his 
entire  attention  to  farming,,  but  takes  an 
interest  in  all  aflairs  of  j)ublic  improvement 
and  refoiTQ.  His  standing  is  among  the 
jirominent,  useful  and  successful  farmers  of 
Stark  County. 

MAETIN*  cS:  CAMPBELL,  groceries  and 
])rovisions.  Canal  Fulton.  This  firm  was 
established  in  January,  1S81,  and  is  composed 
of  F.  M.  Martin  and  I.  D.  Campbell,  two  well- 
known  gentlemen  who  have  been  connected 
with  Lawrence  Township  for  several  years  in 
other  occupations.  Their  s-toek  consists  of  a 
large  assortment  of  groceries  and  provisions, 
and  they  have  already  made  a  pi"omising  stai't 
for  public  favor  and  patronage.  F.  M.  Mar- 
tin is  a  son  of  William  and  Abigail  Martin, 
natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  early  settlers  of 
the  community.  Om'  sul)ject  was  the  second 
child  of  a  family  of  nine  children  born  in 
Wayne  County  in  1811.  He  enlisted  in  Au- 
gust, 1862,  in  Co.  A,  104th  O.  V.  I.,  and  was 
in  active  service  for  nearly  three  years,  partic- 
ijjatiug  in  many  of  the  well-knowii  battles, 
among  which  are  mentioned  the  Atlanta 
campaign.  Siege  of  Kuoxville,  lasting  twenty- 
one  days,  and  with  Hood's  e.xpedition  through 
Tennessee.  He  was  wounded,  in  February, 
18t)4.  in  a  skirmish  near  Wilmington,  N.  C, 
by  a  bullet  striking  the  buckle  of  his  belt 
and  driving  it  into  his  body.  Upon  his 
return  from  the  army  he  was  engaged  in 
drilling  and  prospecting  for  mineral  and  coal 
luitil  January,  1S8I,  when  he  formed  the  busi- 
ness pai-tnei-ship  mentioned  above,  and  hiis 
been  giving  his  attention  to  that  since.  He 
was  united  in  marriage  in  Januaiy,  18(59,  to 


^1^ 


784 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Miss  Mary  Hai-tgrove,  of  Lawrence  Township. 
They  have  live  children-  Milton,  Forrest. 
Eva  B.,  Samuel  and  Bertha.  Irvin  D.  Camp- 
liell  was  born  in  Ashland  Co..  Ohio,  in  185'2, 
and  tii'st  entered  upon  the  stage  of  business 
action  by  learning  telegraphy  at  Russell  Sta- 
tion. This  tiusiness  he  gave  his  attention  to 
for  seven  years,  acting  as  station  agent  and 
operator  in  Canal  Fulton  for  the  C,  T.  V.  & 
W.  E.  R.  In  Jamiary,  1S81.  he  embarked  in 
trade  with  Mr.  Martin,  and  to  that  lousiness 
he  is  devoting  his  exclusive  attention.  Mi-. 
Campbell  was  married  in  1879  to  Miss  Cora 
M.  Miller,  of  Lawrence  Township.  They 
have  one  child — Kelev. 

D.  C.  McDowell,  f aimer:  P.  O.  Canal 
Fulton;  is  a  native  of  Tuscarawas  Township, 
where  he  was  born  in  18"iO.  His  parents  were 
James  and  Mary  (Craig)  McDowell,  who  were 
natives  of  Washington  Co..  Penn..  and  in 
1814  came  to  Tuscarawas  Tp.,  Stark  Co..  set- 
tling upon  a  farm  where  they  continued  to 
reside  for  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  His 
father  served  as  Township  Trustee  and  was 
an  honored  and  useful  citizen.  They  have 
five  descendants  now  living — Nathaniel,  liv- 
ing in  Illinois:  Maiy  Fulton,  of  Shelby  Co.. 
Ohio:  Letitia  Winter.s,  now  residing  in  Kan- 
sas: Nancy  Lyon,  of  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio:  and 
the  subject  of  this  liiography.  Robert  Mc- 
Dowell was  a  member  of  the  filst  O.  V.  L,  but 
was  subsequently  transferred  to  the  fi'id  Regi- 
ment: was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Chan- 
clorsville.  and  was  sent  home,  dying  from  the 
effects  of  the  Wound.  D.  C.  ]\[cDowell  became 
a  resident  of  LawTence  Township  in  1842, 
since  which  time  he  has  been  engaged  in 
fanning  there.  He  owns  108  acres  of  valu- 
able land,  which  has  been  extensively  mined 
for  coal.  He  was  maiTied  in  1843  t«  Miss 
Margaret  Porter,  daughter  of  Richard  Porter, 
of  Wayne  County.  They  have  two  children 
-  Orrin  and  Ella.  Mr.'  McDowell  lost  his 
wife  in  1871.  He  is  a  man  widely  known 
and  universally  respected:  is  enterprising 
and  one  of  the  most  valued  citizens  of  Stark 
Co.  During  the  war.  he  served  the  township 
several  terms  as  Townsliip  Trustee.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  ChiU'ch. 

JOHN  MICHENER,  farmer:  P.  O.  Canal 
Fulton:  is  a  representative  of  one  of  the  old 


pioneer  families  of  the  township,  and  is  prob- 
ably the  oldest  person  born  within  its  limits. 
He  is  a  son  of  Jonathan  and  Jane  (Hobson) 
Michener;  his  father  was  a  native  of  the  Key- 
stone State  and  his  mother  of  Virginia.  They 
were  mairied  in  Jefferson  Co.,  Ohio,  ab.iut 
1815,  and  in  1817  became  residents  of  Law- 
rence Townshii),  settling  on  the  tract  of  land 
now  in  possession  of  our  siiliject,  where  the 
remainder  of  their  lives  were  passed;  his 
mother  died  in  1838.  She  was  the  mother  of 
eight  children,  John  being  the  only  one  now 
surviving:  his  father  was  subsequently  mar- 
ried to  a  second  wife  by  whom  he  had  two 
daughters:  his  death  occurred  in  183U.  John 
Michener  has  been  a  resident  of  Lawrence 
Township  all  his  life,  engaged  in  the  quiet 
routine  of  farm  life,  at  which  he  has  achieved 
great  success:  he  is  the  possessor  of  the  old 
homestead  farm  consisting  of  1(')( )  acres  of  well- 
improved  and  finely  cultivated  land.  He  has 
served  the  township  as  Trustee  three  terms, 
and  in  matters  of  education  has  always  taken 
a  leading  interest,  serving  as  Director  and 
Clerk  for  eighteen  years.  He  was  married 
in  1848  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Beatty,  of  Jackson 
Township:  they  had  three  children — Mary, 
John  B.  and  J.  WmTen. 

THOMAS  MASTERS,  Postmaster  and  mer- 
chant, Chajnnan:  is  a  native  of  England.  He 
emigrated  to  America,  in  18ri().  locating  in 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  worked  at  mining  for 
two  yeai's.  He  then  came  to  Ohio  and  for  two 
years  was  engaged  in  the  mines  in  Eastern 
Ohio-  Trumbull  and  Mahoning  Counties. 
He  next  removed  to  Stark  County,  and  for  a 
short  time  followed  mining;  subsequently 
engaging  in  the  groceiy.  notion  and  provision 
business  at  "  Youngstown  Hill.''  where  he  has 
since  continued.  He  has  filled  the  office  of 
Postmaster  since  his  appointment  in  1875. 
In  June,  187()  he  became  associated  in  busi- 
ness with  William  Findley,  and  they  are  still 
doing  business  together  under  the  firm  name 
of  Masters  &  Findley.  Mr.  Masters  was  mar- 
ried in  1875  to  Miss  Sarah  Powell,  also  a 
native  of  England.  They  have  three  children 
— William,  Thomas  and  Amelia.  Mr.  Mas 
ters  is  a  member  of  Lawrence  Lodge,  I.  0.0. 
F.,  and  is  one  of  the  substantial  and  trust- 
worthy citizens  of  the  township. 


LAWUENCE   TOWNSHIP 


785 


ALBERT  H.  MILLER,  fanner;  P.  O. 
Canal  Fultou;  is  a  son  of  John  Miller,  who 
Wius  born  in  Lawi-ence  Township  in  1N27;  he 
was  a  son  of  Henry  and  Magdalena  ( Weaver) 
Miller,  early  sefctlei-s  and  pioneei-s  of  Stark 
County.  John  Miller  was  a  prominent  citizen 
and  farmer  of  Lawrence  Township  all  his 
life;  he  married  Catharine  Albright  of  Jack- 
son Township,  and  in  IStiO  bought  the  farm 
npon  which  our  subject  now  lives,  and  lived 
there  until  his  death  in  INTO.  He  wiis  a 
member  of  the  Reformed  ChiU'ch.  Five  chil 
dren  are  descendants  from  this  union,  four  of 
whom  are  now  living — Melvina  J.,  now  Mrs. 
McLaughlin;  Albert  H.;  Cora,  Mrs.  Campbell; 
and  George  Wesley;  Logan,  deceased.  Mi's. 
Miller  is  still  living  and  a  resident  of  Law- 
rence Township.  Albert  H.  Miller  is  a  native 
of  Lawrence  Township,  where  he  now  resides. 
He  has  chosen  the  occupation  of  a  farmer, 
and  is  now  cultivating  the  old  homestead 
farm.  He  was  united  in  marriage  in  1878  to 
Miss  Flora  A.  Shilling,  of  Tuscarawas  Town- 
ship. Thev  have  two  chiklren — Homer  Orton 
and  Blanche  Estelle. 

RICHARD  R.  PORTER,  gi-ain,  wool  and 
feed  warehouse.  Canal  Fulton;  is  a  native  of 
Beaver  Co.,  Penn.,  where  he  was  born  in  1818. 
His  father  was  a  native  of  Ireland  and  emi- 
grated U)  America  at  the  age  of  19;  he  located 
in  Pennsylvania  when  the  western  jiortion  of 
the  State  was  yet  a  wilderness,  and  when  he 
arrived  at  Pittsburgh  it  ct)nsisted  of  nineteen 
log  shanties;  he  continued  a  resident  of  that 
State  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  Bea- 
ver County  in  1841.  The  mother  of  oiu-  sub- 
ject died  while  residing  with  him  in  1870, 
aged  91.  Richai'd  R.  Porter  was  the  ninth 
child  of  a  family  of  ten  children,  live  boys 
and  live  girls — only  live  of  whom  are  now 
living— Alexander,  now  a  farmer  of  Lawrence 
Township;  Eleanor,  now  Mrs.  Barclay,  of 
Columbiana  County ;  Elizabeth,  now  Mrs.  Par 
nell,  of  Seneca  County;  Ann,  Mrs.  Rhodes,  of 
Darlington,  Beaver  Co.,  Penn.;  and  the  sub- 
ject of  this  biography.  Our  subject  emigrated 
to  Ohio  when  2 1  years  of  age,  coming  to 
Lawrence  Townshij),  where  an  uncle  of  his 
had  located.  Here  he  commenced  to  learn 
the  carpenter's  trade,  which  pursuit  occupied 
his  attention   for  three  vears.      He  was  then 


taken  sick  and  after  recovering  returned  to 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  remained  only  a  short 
])eriod,  his  father  dying  there  in  the  meantime, 
when  he  retimied  to  Lawi-ence  Township, 
which  locality  has  retained  him  as  a  citizen 
up  to  the  present  time.  Mi'.  Porter  was  for 
many  yeai's  engaged  at  farming,  and  still 
retains  farming  interests  and  j)ossessions,  but 
since  1875  he  has  been  a  resident  of  Canal 
Fulton,  where  he  is  pleasantly  situated  and 
enjoying  well-earned  leisiu'e.  Having  jiassed 
the  greater  )iortioii  of  his  life  in  stirring  and 
practical  business  and  in  order  that  his  leism'e 
might  not  become  too  monotonous,  he  erected 
a  wiU'ehoiise  near  the  depots,  whore  in  con- 
nection with  his  son-in-law,  George  Kilgore, 
he  is  now  engaged  in  the  grain,  wool  and 
feed  business.  Mi'.  Porter  owns  KM)  acres  of 
land  in  the  township,  the  opera  building, 
and  various  b-acts  of  real  estate  in  Canal 
Fulton.  As  a  citizen  he  has  attained  a  high 
position  in  the  coimty  and  has  been  identified 
with  many  of  the  public  enterprises  which 
have  secured  to  the  juniple  lasting  benefits. 
To  positions  of  honor  and  trust  he  has  been 
many  times  elected  as  a  fitting  representative; 
among  the  many  we  will  mention  as  a  worker 
and  member  of  the  school  interests  for  thirty 
years,  as  Township  Assessor,  as  County  Com- 
missioner for  six  years,  during  which  the 
court  house  was  built  and  the  iron  bridge 
system  was  adopted.  In  both  movements  he 
was  a  leading  sjiirit,  and  last  as  a  member  of 
the  State  Boai'd  of  Pulilic  Works,  serving  in 
that  capacity  two  tei'ms.  In  1875,  he  was  a 
prominent  canditlate  for  the  State  Legisla- 
tiu'e,  but  as  disaster  was  the  rule  with  the 
Republican  party  that  yeai',  he  failed  to  be 
elected.  He  is  a  leading  politician,  working 
with  zeal  each  year  for  the  success  of  the  Reinil)- 
lican  ])arty,  which  embodies  in  his  ideas  all  the 
attributes  necessary  for  honorjible  and  success- 
ful local  and  national  govei'nment.  He  is  a 
member  of  highest  degree  of  the  Odd  Fellow 
fraternity  of  Canal  Fulton.  Mr.  Porter  was 
maiTied  in  1841  to  Mi.ss  Kezia  Martin,  a 
native  of  Beaver  Co.,  Penn.  They  have  had 
the  following  children:  John,  deceased,  a 
member  of  Co.  A,  l()4th  O.  V.  I.,  and  subse 
(juently  a  member  of  the  stiifl'  of  Gen.  Riley, 
served  over  tliree  years;  he  was  wounded  at 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


the  battle  of  Franklin;  his  death  occun-ed 
in  Canal  Fnltou.  in  1878,  leaving  a  wife; 
Thomas,  served  two  years  in  the  (iSth  O.  V. 
I.,  and  is  now  a  resident  of  Canal  Fulton: 
Nancy,  wife  of  George  S.  Kilgore.  is  also  a 
resident  of  Fulton:  Joseph  is  a  resident  of 
Denver,  Colo.,  and  Charles,  a  leading  dentist 
of  Massillon,  Ohio. 

JOHN  PORTER,  fanner:  P.  O.  Canal  Ful- 
ton: is  a  son  of  Richard  and  Nancy  (Mc- 
Laughlin) Porter:  his  father  was  of  Ii-ish 
nativity:  his  mother  of  Pennsylvania.  They 
emigrated  from  Allegheny'  Co.,  Penn..  to 
Baughman  Tp.,  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1815. 
where  they  located  and  passed  the  remainder 
of  their  days.  Our  subject  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania in  1811;  he  has  been  engaged  in 
agricultural  pin'suits  all  of  his  days.  In  1S40, 
he  became  a  resident  of  Stark  County,  pur- 
chasing the  farm  in  Lawrence  Township 
where  he  is  now  residing.  He  has  158  acres 
of  rich  and  well-improved  land,  and  to  its 
thorough  cultivation  Mr.  Porter  has  given  the 
attention  of  forty  years  of  careful  su]>ervis- 
ion.  He  was  united  in  marriage,  in  1840,  to 
Eliza  J.  McDowell,  of  Tuscarawas  Township. 
Two  children  are  the  issue  of  this  union — 
Arabella,  wife  of  J.  P.  Yockey.  editor  and 
proprietor  of  the  Fulton  Sir/iia/.  and  James 
H..  a  traveling  salesman  for  a  Mansfield 
house.  Mr.  Porter  was  afflicted  deeply  by 
the  death  of  his  wife  in  May,  1881.  "Mr. 
Porter  is  one  of  the  respected  and  solid  farm- 
ers of  Stark  County,  and  an  influential  and 
progressive  citizen. 

RICHARD  A.  PORTER,  farmer;  P.  O. 
Canal  Fulton:  is  a  son  of  John  A.  Porter,  a 
native  of  Allegheny  Co.,  Penn.:  he  mairied 
in  Beaver  Co.,  Penn.,  Miss  Maria  Scott,  also 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  They  emigrated 
to  Ohio  about  1827,  locating  in  Wayne  Coianty 
upon  a  farm,  where  they  resided  for  ton  years. 
They  then  removed  to  Lawrence  Township, 
where  they  became  successfvd  fanners  and 
valued  citizens.  Mi'.  Porter  died  in  1875; 
his  wife  still  survives  h'm,  living  upon  the 
old  homestead  which  is  located  in  the  western 
portion  of  the  township.  Mrs.  Porter  is  the 
mother  of  five  children — Richard  A.,  Nancy, 
Belle  Rail,  all  residents  of  Fulton:  and  two 
deceased — Jane,  who  was  married  to  a  Porter, 


and  Thomas.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
born  in  Wayne  County  in  1829.  His  life  has 
always  been  passed  in  farming,  and  since  the 
removal  of  his  father  to  this  township,  within 
its  limits.  In  1855,  he  became  a  resident  of 
the  farm  which  adjoins  the  okl  homestead, 
and  which  consists  of  100  acres  of  tine  land, 
well  cultivated  and  improved.  He  was  united 
in  marriage  in  1855  to  Miss  E.  J.  Whitcraft, 
daughter  of  Thomas  WTiitcraft.  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  the  township.  They  have 
five  children  living — Belle  Tromp.  of  Canal 
Fulton,  Howard,  Elta,  Allen  and  Oscar. 

JOHN  POLLOCK,  postal  clerk,  North 
Lawrence;  is  a  son  of  George  and  Elizabeth 
(Mehon)  Pollock,  and  is  a  native  of  Ireland. 
U])on  the  subsetjuent  removal  of  his  parents 
to  Scotland,  he  became  a  miner  in  that  coun- 
I  try.  In  18()2,  he  emigrated  to  America  and 
j  located  in  Stark  County,  where  he  engaged  in 
mining  in  Perry  and  Lawrence  Townships 
until  1877,  and  in  the  meantime  at  different 
periods  traveling  through  the  State  in  tlio 
interest  of  the  Miners'  Association — at  one 
time  for  three  consecutive  yeai's  He  removed 
to  North  Lawi'ence  with  his  family  in  ISfiS, 
and  has  since  made  that  his  home.  In  De- 
cemlier.  1877,  he  was  appointed  Postmaster  of 
North  Lawrence,  which  position  he  held  imtil 
he  received  a  commission  in  the  mail  service, 
in  July.  1879.  His  first  route  was  from  Pitts- 
burgh to  Indianai  olis,  but  was  soon  after  de- 
tailed to  the  Canal  Dover  &  Marietta  route, 
which  he  filltd  for  one  year,  and  after  one 
month's  seivice  from  Chicago  to  Crestline,  he 
was  assigned  to  the  route  from  Pittsburgh  to 
Crestline,  which  he  has  since  retained.  Mr 
Pollock  was  engaged  in  the  grocery  trade  at 
the  time  of  his  service  as  Postmaster  of  North 
Lawrence.  He  was  elected  Justice  of  the 
Peace  iu  1879,  and  has  administered  the 
duties  of  that  office  ever  since.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  Lodge,  of  Canal  Fulton, 
and  an  esteemed  and  valued  citizen.  Mr. 
Pollock  was  married  in  Scotland,  in  1838,  to 
Miss  Catharine  Maine,  who  is  a  native  of  that 
coiuitry.  They  have  eight  children  living- 
George,  Jennet,  Elizabeth,  John,  Robert,  Jane, 
Peter  and  Alice. 

ROBERT  POLLOCK,  Pc.stma.ster,  grocer- 
ies and  provisions,  North  Lawrence;  is  a  son 


LAWRENCE    TOWXSHIP. 


7S7 


of  George  and  Elizabeth  (Mehou)  Pollock, 
who  were  natives  of  Ireland,  but  subsequently 
removed  to  Scotland,  and  from  there  emigrat- 
ing to  America  with  their  family  in  18(i:^. 
locating  ne;u'  Mnssillon.  in  Lawrence  Town- 
ship: the  father  died  in  1S72;  the  mother  is 
still  residing  there.  Six  children  were  the 
result  of  this  marriage-  Ann  McDonald. 
William  Roliert.  Mary  MeKenzie.  Elizabeth 
Kay  and  John.  Robert  Pollock  is  a  native  of 
Ireland:  his  parents  removed  to  Scotland 
when  he  was  1(1  yeai's  of  age  and  there  his 
early  days  were  passed  upon  a  farm,  but  he 
subsefpiently  became  a  miner,  which  he  fol- 
lowed until  180)2.  when  he  emigrated  to 
America,  and  for  two  years  worked  in  the 
mines  near  Massillon.  In  IBfiT),  he  came  to 
North  Lawi-ence  and  has  since  resided  there. 
He  worked  at  mining  until  March,  1879,  and 
receiving  the  appointment  of  Postmaster  in 
ISSO.  he  opened  a  gi'ocery  store  in  connection 
therewith,  which  business  he  has  since  con- 
ducted. ]\Ir.  Pollock  was  married  in  1855  to 
Miss  Margaret  Ray,  a  native  of  Scotland. 
They  have  ten  children  living  -George,  Mar- 
garet (now  Mrs.  Johnson),  James,  Elizabeth M., 
Robert,  Jr.,  William,  Ann,  Jane,  INIartha  and 
Andrew  F. 

CHARLES  W.  ROBINSON,  merchant. 
Canal  Fulton:  is  a  son  of  John  and  Nancy 
(Slusser)  Robinson:  his  father  was  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania:  his  mother  of  Stiu-k  County. 
John  Robinson  was  one  of  the  earlier  busi- 
ness men  of  Lawrence  Townshij).  and  one  of 
the  prominent  energetic  citizens.  He  came 
to  Canal  Fulton, near  1S;{(),  and  first  engaged 
in  business  with  Judge  Henry  in  general 
merchandising,  and  buying  and  selling  grain; 
sitbsequently  continuing  business  alone  th<Te 
until  his  death.  His  transactions  wer(>  upon 
a  large  scal(>  and  his  business  ventures  suc- 
cessful. His  first  wife  died  in  1842,  leaving 
five  children.  William  H.  was  a  prominent 
business  man.  engaged  in  boot  and  shoe  busi- 
ness, and  subsequently  iuterest<'d  in  a  fern- 
company  in  Detroit.  Mich. :  subse(jueiitly  re- 
turning to  Canal  Fulton  nnd  purchasing  stock 
from  his  father's  estate,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death  a  business  man  there.  Thomas  died  in 
La  Salle  Co..  111.:  Harriet,  deceased:  Charles 
W..  and    Nancv   Warner,  a   resident   of    St. 


John,  N.  B..  her  husband  being  United  States 
Consul  there:  he  subsetpiently  married  a  sec- 
ond wife.  Margaret  Russell,  of  Pennsylvania, 
by  whom  he  had  on(>  child—  Robert  T..  living 
in  Pennsylvania.  ('.  W.  Robinson  is  a  native 
of  Canal  Fultx^n.  where  he  was  born  in  1888. 
His  life  has  been  passed  in  Canal  Fulton 
engaged  in  merchantile  ])ursuits.  He  has  a 
large  stock  of  general  merchandise  and  does 
an  extensive  Inisiness.  He  has  served  the 
township  as  Treasurer  and  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Comuion  Council  of  Fulton.  He 
was  united  in  marriage  in  18()7  to  Miss  Sarah 
A.  Kirk.  They  have  four  childi-en  living- 
Edwin  B..  Russell  R..  Hiu-ley  H.  and  Annie, 
and  one  deceased.  John  W. 

DAVID  RHOADES.  fanner:  P.  O.  Canal 
Fulton:  is  a  son  of  George  and  Margaret 
(Smith)  Rhoades.  both  natives  of  Lancaster 
Co..  Penn.,  where  they  were  married.  They 
emigrated  ta  Ohio  in  1810.  locating  in  Can- 
ton, where  they  remained  al)oul  two  years, 
sitbsequently  settling  in  the  noi-theastern corner 
of  Lawrence  Township  about  1812,  where 
their  son  now  lives,  continuing  residents  until 
their  deaths.  His  father  was  drafted  in  the 
war  of  1812,  but  on  account  of  his  family 
secured  a  substitute:  he  followed  farming, 
vaiying  the  monotony  of  that  (juiet  life  by 
distilling  whiskv*.  and  also  ruiniing  a  cardiug- 
machiue.  All  ])hases  of  pioneer  life  and 
experiences  were  familiar  to  this  family. 
David  was  the  fourth  child  of  a  family  of 
seven,  four  of  whom  are  now  living:  he  was 
born  in  Lawrence  Township,  in  1820  and  has 
continited  a  resident  up  to  th(>  present  time. 
With  the  exception  of  one  year  at  milling 
and  two  vefu's  as  proj)rietor  of  the  American 
House  at  Canal  Fulton,  he  has  l)e(>n  (>ngaged 
in  farming  upon  the  old  home  farm.  In  1840, 
he  took  a  trip  to  California,  remaining  there 
about  two  years.  He  lias  H'>0  acres  of  im- 
proved land,  and  has  it  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation.  He  was  married  in  1851  to  Miss 
Margaret  Machami>r.  daughter  of  (reorge  and 
Katharine  (Wolfe I  Machainer.  early  settlers 
of  Lake  Township:  her  father  wa-s  a  native 
of  Scotland:  her  mother  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  they  were  the  parents  of  thirteen  chil- 
dren, nine  of  whom  are  now  living.  A  more 
extended  sketch  of  this  family  will  ajipear  in 


^,. 


^lA 


788 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Lake  TowDship  history.  Mr.  cand  Mrs.  Rhoades 
have  the  following  childcen  uow  living — 
Emma,  Sabina,  (Jharles,  Belle,  Hattie,  Clara, 
Altie,  Theo.,  Grace  and  Walter. 

ISAAC  ROWLAND,  farmer;  P.  O.  Canal 
Fulton;  is  a  son  of  Jacob  Rowland,  who  came 
to  Stark  Coxinty  in  1810,  starting  a  mill  near 
whei'e  the  city  of  Canton  now  lies;  he  was 
also  engaged  in  farming,  and  until  his  death 
interested  in  works  of  enterprise.  A  family 
of  eleven  children  are  the  descendants — 
David,  one  of  the  earlier  settlers  of  Lawi-ence 
Towushi]),  where  he  still  resides;  Christina 
Kitzmiller,  of  Canton;  Isaac;  Susan  Haines; 
Mary  deceased:  Nancy  Sholter,  of  Jackson 
Township;  Jacob,  deceased;  Barbara  Firestone, 
Canton  Township;  Harriet,  deceased;  Katha- 
rine Loutzenheizer,  of  Canton;  and  Elizabeth 
Haines,  of  Jackson  To^iiship.  Isaac  was 
born  near  Canton,  and  until  26  years  of  age 
lived  with  his  parents,  engaged  as  an  assist- 
ant of  his  father  in  the  mill  and  upon  the 
farm.  In  1836,  he  became  a  resident  of  Law- 
rence Township,  where  he  has  since  lived. 
He  owns  150  acres  of  improved  land,  to  the 
cultivation  of  which  he  has  given  his  entire  at- 
tention. In  1 886,  he  was  united  in  mamage  to 
Miss  Lydia  Haue,  of  Canton  Township.  Of 
a  family  of  thirteen  children  born  to  them, 
eight  are  now  living — Harriet,  married  and  a 
resident  of  Michigan;  Louisa  Bruch,  in  Illi- 
nois; Reynolds,  in  this  township;  John,  a 
resident  of  Wayne  County;  Daniel;  Emma 
Prater;  Esther  Keifer,  and  Ida.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Rowland  are  members  of  the  Disciples'  Church. 

WILLIAM  ROHR,  can-iage-maker  and 
blacksmith.  Canal  Fulton;  is  a  son  of  Henry 
and  Margai'et  Rohr,  who  came  from  Germany 
and  settled  in  Jackson  Tovsmship  about  1840. 
The  father  of  oiu-  subject  was  a  mason  by 
trade,  which  he  followed  together  with  farm- 
ing. He  died  in  Jackson  Township  in  1871; 
the  mother  still  resides  there.  William  was 
born  in  Jackson  Township,  and  is  the  young- 
est child  of  a  family  of  seventeen  children. 
He  commenced  to  learn  his  trade  at  the  age 
of  16  at  Massillon,  where  he  remained  for 
four  and  one -half  years.  He  then  went  to 
Carrollton  and  embarked  in  business  for  him- 
self. He  only  remained  there  a  short  time, 
however,   and    in   March,    1881,   removed    to 


Canal  Fulton,  where  he  has  started  a  manu- 
factory, making  all  kinds  of  carriages,  bug- 
gies, wagons,  etc.,  and  in  connection  has  a 
blacksmith  and  general  rej)airing  shop.  This 
shop  promises,  in  time,  to  be  one  of  the  lead- 
ing industi-ies  of  that  section.  Mr.  Rohr  was 
married  in  November,  1880,  to  Miss  Laura 
Fosnacht,  of  Perry  Township. 

C.  K.  REINOEHL,  farmer;  P.  O.  North 
Lawi'ence;  is  a  son  of  Levi  and  Nancy  (Bear) 
Reinoehl,  who  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  early  settlers  of  Lawrence  Township, 
where  they  resided,  engaged  in  agi'icultural 
pursuits  until  their  deaths;  his  father's  death 
occiuTing  in  1861,  and  his  mother's  in  1865. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch,  Cyrus  K.,  is  the 
only  descendant.  He  was  born  in  Lawrence 
Township  where  he  has  always  resided  vipon 
the  old  homestead  farm  which  he  inherited. 
It  consists  of  165  acres  of  improved  land 
located  in  the  central  portion  of  the  township. 
He  was  mai'ried  in  March,  1873,  to  Miss  Har- 
riet Mock,  of  Wayne  County.  They  have  foiu- 
children — Charles,  Maude,  Dade  and  Frank. 
Mr.  Reinoehl  is  an  enterprising  citizen  and 
farmer,  and  is  also  a  teacher  of  vocal  music, 
to  which  he  gives  his  attention  in  the  winter 
seasons. 

ALOIS  STEINER,  farmer;  P.  O.  Canal 
Fulton;  is  a  son  of  John  and  Rosalia  Fogle, 
natives  of  Alsace,  France.  They  came  to 
America  in  1839,  first  locating  in  Ma,ssillon. 
His  father  was  a  teacher  by  jirofession,  and 
engaged  in  teaching  the  German,  English 
and  French  branches  for  fifteen  yetu-s  in  that 
locality;  his  death  occun-ed  in  1853  in  Law- 
rence Township,  the  mother  surviving  until 
1878.  Of  a  family  of  seven  children  four 
now  sui'vive,  om'  subject  being  the  eldest;  he 
was  bom  in  France,  but  passed  his  youth  in 
Stark  County,  receiving  a  good  education  in 
German  and  English.  He  Isegan  farming  in 
I860  in  Lavsrence  Township,  where  he  has 
been  successfully  engaged  up  to  the  present 
time,  being  also  engaged  in  the  manufactiu'e 
of  brick  for  seven  years.  He  now  owns  125 
acres  of  well-improved  fertile  land,  conven- 
iently located,  being  only  a  short  distance 
fi-om  the  limits  of  Canal  Fulton.  His  build- 
ings are  superior  and  his  land  shows  good 
practical    supervision.       He   has    seryed   the 


LAWltENCE    TOWNSHIP. 


township  foui-  terms  as  Towuship  Trustee, 
and  was  an  active  member  of  the  School 
Board  for  five  years.  In  1859,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Frances  Hanmier,  of 
Lawi-enee  Township.  They  have  eij^ht  chil- 
dren— Philomena,  a  teacher;  Katharine,  John, 
Joseph.  William,  Frank,  Charles  and  Clara. 

GEORGE  STOVER,  farmer;  P.  O.  Canal 
Fulton;  is  a  native  of  the  farm  upon  which 
he  now  lives  in  Lawrence  Township.  He  was 
born  in  1888,  son  of  Samuel  and  Margaret 
Stover,  and  with  the  exception  of  a  short  res- 
idence in  Lake  Townshij).  whither  his  parents 
removed,  he  has  been  a  resident  of  LawTence 
Township  and  identified  with  its  progreas 
and  improvement  all  his  life;  assisting  as 
well  as  he  could  for  the  advancement  of  cult- 
ure and  civilization.  He  was  engaged  as  a 
teacher  in  his  eai'lier  days — teaching  winter 
sessions — this  he  followed  for  several  years. 
His  principal  occupation  has  been  that  of  a 
husbandman,  also  making  a  specialty  in 
breeding  sheep  and  cattle.  Mi'.  Stover  has 
served  as  Trustee  for  the  Children's  Home,  at 
Fairmount,  Washington  Township,  for  the  past 
si.x  years,  and  is  still  administering  the  duties 
of  that  position.  Ho  is  a  Mason,  and  one  of 
the  most  liberal-minded  and  prominent  citi- 
zens of  the  county.  He  was  married  in  Jan- 
uary, 181)9,  to  Miss  Louise  J.  Beardsley,  of 
Akron.  They  have  two  children  living — 
George  P.  and  Harry  W.,  and  one  deceased, 
William  B.,  who  died  aged  eight  months. 
Mr.  Stover  is  the  j^ossessor  of  the  old  home- 
stead farm,  consisting  of  81  acres  of  valuable 
land. 

PHILIP  SHEAFER,  farmer;  P.  O.  Canal 
Fulton;  is  a  son  of  John  and  Eve  (Wag(mer) 
Sheafer,  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  where  they 
were  mai'ried  in  1818,  and  the  same  year  emi- 
grated to  Ohio,  locating  npim  a  fann  now 
own(>d  by  I'hilip,  where  thej'  continui<d  to 
reside  until  their  deaths.  His  father  died  in 
18()1,  his  mother  in  187(5;  his  father  was  a 
man  res])(>cted  and  honored,  serving  as  Town- 
shij) 'J'rustee.  Th(>y  wer(^  parents  of  eight 
children  William,  deceased:  Michael,  de- 
ceased; Susanna,  deceased;  Mary  Bowman, 
living  in  Indiana;  Philip,  and  Margaret 
Young,  residents  of  Lawrence  Township; 
John,  decea.sed;  and  Maria  J.  Greenfield,  in 


Indiana.  Philip  is  a  native  of  the  townshij) 
where  he  was  bom  in  1824,  and  hiis  been  a 
resident  and  fiu'mer  up  to  the  present  time. 
He  owns  107  acres  of  superior  land;  as  a  cit- 
izen he  ranks  as  one  of  the  most  respected, 
and  has  served  the  township  as  Assessor.  He 
was  miuried  in  1851  to  Miss  Sarah  Krevetic, 
of  the  township;  she  died  in  1870,  leaving 
fom'  chikh'en  Edward  H. ;  Enuna  C".  Dott; 
Mettie  F.  McFarland,  now  a  resident  of  Kan- 
sas, and  Mary  J.,  deceased.  In  1872,  he  was 
united  to  a  second  wife,  Mary  Groff,  widow 
of  John  Groflf,  and  by  this  union  they  have 
one  child,  Eva.  Th(>y  an*  m(>mbers  of  the 
Methodist  Chiu-ch. 

C.  HL  SULLIVAN,  grocery  and  provisions. 
Canal  Fulton;  was  l)orn  in  Ireland  in  1851. 
He  is  a  son  of  Jeremiali  and  Mary  (Moylan) 
Sullivan.  They  emigrated  to  America  in 
1853,  and  located  in  Chij)pewa  Tp.,  AVayne 
Co.,  where  they  resided  for  some  time  and 
from  there  to  Franklin  T{).,  SimimitCo.,  where, 
in  1871,  his  father  died;  his  mother  is  .still 
living;  there  are  seven  children  in  the  family, 
as  follows — John,  living  in  Smumit  Coimtj'; 
Timothy,  now  County  Troasiu-er  of  Stai-k 
County;  Jeremiah  J.,  a  resident  of  Holmes 
County,  and  State  Senator  during  the  session 
of  1880;  Johanna  Mur])hy,  in  Canal  Fulton; 
William,  in  Kansas;  Ellen;  and  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  who  began  his  business  career 
first  as  a  miner  for  five  years,  then  for  six 
yeai's  working  for  his  father  ui)on  the  fann, 
and  then  to  Canal  Fulton  where  he  was  a 
clerk  in  his  brother  Timothy's  grocery  store 
for  fom-  years.  In  1875,  he  began  business 
for  himself  and  is  now  doing  a  hu-ge  grocerj- 
and  provision  trade..  He  was  married  in 
1876  to  Miss  Kate  Marks,  ot  Lawi'once  Town- 
ship; they  have  thi'ee  childi'eu  Clarence, 
Gertrude  and  Oscar.  Mr.  Sullivan  is  a  ])rom- 
inent  citizen  of  Lavvrenco  Townshi])  and  is 
at  present  acting  as  Town  Treasurer. 

WILLIAM  STOVER,  fanner;  P.  O.  Canal 
Fulton;  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Margaret 
( ICreichbaum )  Stover,  natives  of  Pennsylvania 
and  pioneers  of  Summit  County;  a  more 
extendetl  sketch  of  whom  appears  elsewhere. 
William  is  a  native  of  Lawrence  Township, 
and  has  remained  a  citizen  thereof  all  his  life 
with   the  exce])tion  of    two   years.     Ho   has 


1)  1^ 


^ 


■'JO 


BIOGKAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


made  fai'miii<j  and  the  breedinp;  ot  Ijlooded 
horses  his  })rofession.  and  has  achieved  prac- 
tical success  from  his  labors.  In  1860,  he 
became  the  owner  of  the  farm  upon  whicli  he 
now  resides,  movinif  upon  it  in  1801.  He 
was  the  projn-ietor  of  the  American  House  in 
Canal  Fultt)n  for  two  years,  after  which  he 
retiu'ned  to  his  farm,  where  we  find  him  at  the 
present  writing.  He  has  100  acres  of  im- 
proved land,  conveniently  located.  Mr.  Sto- 
ver has  been  a  progi-essive  citizen;  has  served 
the  townshiji  as  Trustee  four  terms,  as  Assessor 
two  years,  and  as  Infirmary  Director  for  six 
years.  He  was  married,  in  1861,  to  Miss 
Maggie  M.  Buchtel,  of  Jackson  Townshij). 
They  have  two  childi-eu — Clara  A.  and  Otis 
G.  ^Ii:  Stover  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
Order  at  Canal  Fulton. 

ISAAC  SANDWITH,  merchant.  North 
Lawrence;  is  a  native  of  England.  He  came 
to  America  in  1877,  and  immediately  located 
in  North  Lawrence,  serving  as  clerk  for  John 
Moore  until  June,  187U,  when  he  was  united 
in  maiTiage  to  Mrs.  Thomas  Lester,  and  since 
th'it  time  has  been  conducting  the  dry  goods, 
gi'ocery,  hardware  and  general  line  store, 
which  was  established  by  Thomas  Lester  in 
1863.  Mr.  Sandwith  is  doing  the  leading 
business  in  his  locality  and  is  an  intelligent 
and  res])ected  citizen.  They  have  one  child, 
Clara.  Thomas  Lester,  deceased;  was  for 
many  years  a  prominent  business  man  in 
North  Lawrence;  he  was  a  native  of  England; 
emigrating  to  America,  he  located  in  Lawrence 
Township,  and  in  1860  was  united  in  mar 
riage  to  Miss  Jeanette  Brown.  In  1868.  he 
commenced  in  trade  in  North  Lawrence,  car- 
rying a  large  stock  of  dry  goods,  groceries, 
hardware,  etc. :  he  continued  in  business,  es- 
tablishing a  lai'ge  trade,  until  he  died,  in  1876. 
Mr.  Lester  was  a  respected  citizen,  and  served 
as  Postmaster  for  a  number  of  years.  The 
following  childi'en  are  now  living:  Alexander, 
Maggie  J.,  Jennie  and  Cora. 

SAMUEL  SWIG  ART,  farmer:  P.  O.  Canal 
Fulton:  is  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth 
(Pfeififer)  Swigart,  who  came  iroui  Pennsyl- 
vania to  Stark  County  about  1822,  locating 
near  Canton,  where  they  remained  about  two 
years,  and  then  became  residents  of  Lawrence 
Township,  settling  on  a  tract  now  owned  by 


their  son,  where  they  remained  until  their 
deaths.  They  had  a  family  of  twelve  children, 
six  of  whom  are  now  living.  Samuel  was 
born  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Penn.,  in  1814,  and, 
since  the  removal  of  his  parents  to  Lawrence 
Township,  has  been  a  resident  of  the  old 
homestead  farm,  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits; he  has  now  24(*  acres  of  tine  land,  well 
improved  and  cultivated.  He  was  married,  in 
1840,  to  Miss  Ann  Grubb,  also  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  has  now  six  children  living 
— Isaiah,  man-ied  in  February,  1866,  to  Miss 
Sarah  Diehl,  now  living  in  Siunmit  County; 
La  Fayette,  married  in  December,  1865,  to 
Miss  Frank  Sisler,  of  Manchester,  now  living 
in  LawTence  Township;  Samuel  L.  and  Fran- 
cis, at  home;  Emma,  now  MJrs.  Stump,  in  Simi- 
liiit County:  and  Saloma,  at  home.  Mr.  Swi- 
gart is  one  of  the  practical  farmers  and  re- 
spected citizens  of  Stark  County. 

JAMES  STERLING,  lawyeV  and  Notary 
Public,  Canal  Fulton;  is  a  native  of  Holmes 
Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  was  born  in  1.S49;  his 
early  days  were  passed  upon  a  farm  until  he 
attained  the  age  of  15,  receiving  a  common- 
school  education:  he  then  attended  for  two 
terms  a  select  school,  and  at  the  age  of  16 
commenced  to  teach,  continuing  at  that  voca- 
tion for  five  yefirs;  at  the  age  of  21,  he  joined 
the  North  Ohio  Conference  of  the  M.  E.  Chm'ch, 
and  for  three  and  a  half  years  was  an  itinerant 
minister,  his  first  chai'ge  being  Canal  Fulton. 
In  1875,  he  began  the  study  of  law  with  W. 
G.  Myers,  Esq.,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bai- 
in  1877,  since  which  time  he  has  been  prac- 
ticing that  profession  in  Canal  Fulton:  he  also 
represents  several  leading  fire  insm*ance  com- 
panies. Ml".  Sterling  is  one  of  the  leading 
citizens  of  Canal  Fulton  in  point  of  public 
spirit,  and  is  accjuiring  an  extensive  practice; 
he  has  served  as  Mayor  two  terms,  and  as  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace  one  term:  was  mairied,  in 
May,  1871,  to  Miss  Kate  Taggart,  of  Dalton, 
daughter  of  Dr.  T.  M.  Taggart:  they  have  two 
children — Merrill  and  Willie. 

A.  C.  STANSBURY,  m;u-ble  works.  Canal 
Fulton;  was  born  in  Tuscarawas  Tp.,  Stark 
Co.,  in  1851.  He  is  a  son  of  W'illiam  and 
Elizabeth  (McKinley)  Stansbury,  early  settlers 
in  that  township,  where  they  now  reside.  Our 
subject  was  raised  upon  a  farm  until  18  years 


LAWRENCE    TOWNSHIP. 


of  age,  when  he  came  to  Canal  Fiilton,  in 
ISfii).  and  commeuced  to  learn  his  trade  with 
his  lirothcr.  with  whom  he  remained  five  years. 
In  1S74,  in  connection  with  D.  J.  Wilhehii, 
he  hoii^lit  out  the  works,  and  has  lieen  en{jag(Hl 
in  business  up  to  the  present  time.  Staushury 
At  Willu'lm  carry  a  large  stock  of  gi-anite  and 
marble,  and  are  prepared  at  any  time  to  exe- 
cute work  in  the  highest  style  of  their  ai't. 
Mr.  Stausbury  was  united  in  marriage,  in 
1874,  to  Miss  p]sther  Cujiph's,  of  Tuscai'awius 
Township.  He  is  a  m(>mber  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 
fraternity  of  Canal  Fulton;  is  well  spoken  of, 
and  an  honorable '  and  successful  business 
man. 

JOHN  8CHR0DP:R,  butcher,  Canal  Ful- 
ton: is  a  native  of  Germany;  he  emigrated 
to  America  in  1853,  and,  after  six  months' 
residence  in  New  York,  came  to  Canal  Fulton 
and  entered  into  partnership  with  his  brother 
Barney  in  the  meat  mai'ket  business,  which 
they  have  carried  on  up  to  the  present  time, 
anil  in  which  they  are  doing  the  leading  busi- 
ness; they  also  own  a  farm,  consisting  of  5(t 
acres,  in  the  township,  which  they  are  operat- 
ing in  connection  with  their  other  business. 
John  was  married,  in  1855,  to  Miss  Susan 
Price,  of  "Wayne  Cotmty.  He  has  served  as 
Township  Trustee  one  term,  and  is  now  serv- 
ing his  second  term  as  member  of  the  Corpo- 
ration C(juncil :  he  is  a  member  of  the  K.  of  P. 
Lodge  of  Wooster.  Ohio.  Barney  came  to 
Canal  Fulton  one  year  previous  to  his  brother; 
he  was  mjirried  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Price  in 
1S54;  they  have  three  children -JIary,  Eliza- 
beth and  Callie. 

SAMUEL  STOVER,  retired  farmer:  P.  O. 
CaTial  Fulton;  is  on<'  of  the  j)ioiieer  settlers 
of  Stark  County:  he  was  bom  in  Aaronsliurg. 
Center  Co..  Penn.,  Aug.  Ki.  18i;i:  he  came  to 
Lawrence  Township  May  'ifi.  lS'i3.  where  he 
rcflnained.  ujion  the  farm  on  which  he  now  re- 
sides, until  the  fall  of  1831,  wlien  he  went  to 
Canton  and  learned  the  gunsmith's  trade  with 
Jacob  Banner,  with  whom  he  remained  three 
years:  returning  to  the  iiunn  in  Lawrence 
To\vnshi[),  he  has  since  resided  there.  He 
was  united  in  mai'riage,  Feb.  12,  1835,  to 
Margaret  Kreighbaum;  they  have  two  chil- 
dren— William  and  George,  both  prominent 
citizens  and  farmers  of  Lawrence  Township. 


JOSEPH  SAILER,  cigar  manufactory, 
Canal  Fulton;  is  a  native  of  Germany;  he 
emigrated  to  America  in  1N()U  and  located  in 
Massillon,  and  went  to  work  for  his  l)rotber, 
Peter  Sailer,  who  is  an  extensive  cigar  niami- 
facturer;  Jose[)h  had  previously  learned  his 
trade  in  (Germany;  he  remained  with  his 
brother  for  three  years,  and  in  1 872  came  to 
Canal  Fulton,  where  he  embarked  in  business 
for  himself,  and  hits  established  a  successful 
trade:  h(<  m;uiufactm-es  four  different  brands 
of  cigars,  and  also  does  a  retail  trade  in  to- 
baccos. Mi\  Sailer,  although  a  resident  of 
Canal  Fulton  for  a  few  yeiu's.  has  established 
an  honorabl(>  reputation  as  a  business  mun, 
and  as   a  citizen  is   liberal  and  progi'essive. 

I.  M.  TAGGART.  Su]ierintendent  of 
Schools,  Canal  Fulton:  is  a  native  of  Wayne 
Co..  Ohio,  where  he  was  bom  in  1S5I>;  his  par- 
ents were  "William  and  Lydia  (Reiter)  Tag- 
gart;  his  mother  was  a  native  of  Berks  ('o.. 
Penn.,  and  came  with  her  parents  to  Wooster 
at  an  esu'ly  day;  his  father  was  born  in  Bel- 
mont, and,  at  the  age  of  21,  came  to  Wooster 
and  embarked  in  the  business  of  making  sad- 
dle-trees and  harness;  in  this  occupation  he 
was  engaged  for  several  years,  subsecjuently 
becoming  a  fanner,  at  which  he  continued 
until  his  de.Tth,  in  ]8()2:  the  mother  is  still 
living  in  Wooster;  she  is  the  mother  of  eight 
children,  seven  of  whom  are  now  living,  of 
whom  Emmet  F.  was  a  member  of  the  lll2d 
O.  V.  I.,  and  was  in  service  two  years,  seven 
months  of  which  he  passed  in  "retirement" 
in  Andersouville  Prison:  he  is  now  a  resident 
of  Akron,  Ohio;  William  R.,  a  member  of  the 
120th  O.  V.  I.,  served  three  yeai-s,  and  is  now 
farming  in  Wooster  Townshi]);  James,  a  mem- 
l)er  of  the  100-day  service,  is  now  farming 
near  Wooster.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  the  sixth  child,  and,  during  his  earlier 
years,  was  an  assistant  upon  the  home  farm; 
he  received  a  good  education,  attending  the 
Smithville  High  School,  and  from  there  went 
to  Mt.  Union  College,  wliere  he  graduated  in 
bS70,  at  20  years  of  age.  Mr.  Taggart  lias 
devoted  his  attention  to  U'aehiug  from  that 
time  until  the  present,  with  the  exception  of 
two  yetirs  in  the  mercantile  business  at  North 
Lawrence:  he  came  to  Canal  Fulton  in  the 
fall  of  1875,  where  he  has  had  ehaige  of  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES; 


public  school  since,  and  under  his  supervision 
it  has  attained  a  high  degi-ee  of  excellence; 
the  school  is  divided  into  foiu'  departments, 
and  is  jiresided  over  by  live  teachers,  the  aver- 
age attendance  diu'iug  the  present  year  (ISSl) 
being  270;  Mr.  Taggart  is  the  instructor  in 
the  high  school  department;  he  ranks  as  one 
of  the  most  progressive  and  valuable  citizens 
of  that  community;  since  his  residence  in 
Fulton,  he  has  served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
and  is  now  upon  his  third  term:  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  both  the  Odd  Fellow  and  Masonic  fra- 
ternities. Mr.  Taggart  was  united  in  mar- 
riage, in  June,  1N71,  to  Miss  Laura  E.  Fulton, 
of  Canal  Fulton;  they  have  live  children — 
Minnie,  Frank,  Bertha,  Carrie  and  Cora. 

W.  F.  TROMP,  deceased;  was  born  in  Ger- 
many in  lS()(i;  his  wife,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Elizabeth  Pettrie,  was  also  a  native  of 
Germany;  her  people  emigrated  to  America 
about  1825,  and  located  in  New  York.  Mr. 
Tromp  also  located  in  New  York  upou  coming 
to  this  country,  and  while  there  met  his  wife, 
and  in  18-14  they  were  married.  He  was  a 
cabinet-maker  liy  trade,  and  followed  it  and 
piano-making  in  that  city  for  some  time. 
They  emigi-ated  to  Ohio  about  1856,  locating 
in  Canal  Fulton;  here  Mr.  Tromp  began  to 
work  at  his  trade  in  a  small  way,  and,  by  per- 
severance and  honorable  industry,  succeeded 
in  establishing  a  large  and  floiu-ishing  busi- 
ness and  accumulated  a  handsome  property:  ' 
he  died  in  1874;  his  wife  now  owns  the  ware- 
house and  shops,  the  business  being  conducted 
by  her  sons,  William  H.  and  Clement  O. ; 
they  carry  a  well-selected  stock  of  furnitiu-e, 
which  is  well-displayed  in  their  large  and 
commodious  warerooms,  and  also  do  an  under- 
taking business,  for  which  they  are  well-pre- 
jiared;  the  boys  are  good  workmen  in  their 
occupations,  having  learned  their  trade  from 
their  father,  Mrs.  Tromp  has  seven  children 
now  living — Martha,  Louisa,  Caroline;  Will- 
iam H,  (born  in  New  York  in  1850,  married 
in  1878  to  Miss  Sally  B.  Porter,  of  Canal 
Fulton;  they  have  two  childrea — Came  and 
an  infant),  Fred,  Clement  O.  and  Lillie. 

EDW^ARD  JOSEPH  VATTMANN,  Roman 
Catliolic  Priest,  Canal  Fulton;  was  born  in 
Westphalia,  Pnissia;  he  is  one  of  a  family  of 
fom'  childi'en,  one  of  whom  is  a  Circuit  Court 


Judge,  and  another  Color  Sergeant  in  a  Uhlan 
regiment  of  the  land  of  his  birth.  After  at- 
tending the  public  schools  of  his  native  place 
until  he  was  11  years  of  age,  our  subject  en- 
tered the  Gymnasium  and  made  a  complete 
com'se  of  nine  years,  when  he  gi'aduated  at  the 
age  of  20}-ears;  he  then  studied  medicine  one 
year,  after  which  he  commenced  a  regular 
philosophical  and  theological  couree  in  Pad- 
erborn  University,  and  in  three  years  grad- 
uated; he  was  then -ordained  a  Deacon  of  the 
Catholic  Chm'ch.  He  emigrated  to  America 
in  the  fall  of  1S64,  and  proceeded  to  St, 
Charles,  Mo,,  where,  after  a  short  service  as 
an  assistant,  he  became  parish  priest  of  St, 
John's  congregation,  Franklin  Co.,  Mo. ;  he 
remained  in  this  charge  about  two  years, 
within  which  he  bought  the  PresbHerian 
Church  building  at  the  county  seat,  and  fitted 
it  up  for  a  Roman  Catholic  Church;  it  was 
while  he  was  located  at  St.  John's  that  he  be- 
came amenable  to  the  law  known  as  ''Drake's 
test  oath  law,"  under  which  he  and  about  forty 
other  Catholic  priests,  upon  refusal  to  take 
this  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  United  States 
Government,  were  incarcerated  in  the  public 
jails;  having  been  released  on  his  own  recog- 
nizance, he  was  never  afterward  called  upon 
to  answer  before  the  coiu't.  On  the  expira- 
tion of  his  service  in  Franklin  Co.,  Mo.,  he 
was  appointed  to  a  charge  at  Findlay,  Ohio, 
where  he  remained  about  two  years,  and  built 
St.  Nicholas'  Church,  at  a  cost  of  SI 5,000; 
diu'ing  his  stay  there,  he  attended  mission 
stations  at  Fostoria  ( where  he  built  a  parson- 
age), at  Winter's,  at  Cai'ey  ( where  he  laid  the 
corner-stone  of  a  new  chm'ch  edifice),  and  at 
Bluft'ton;  he  was  next  appointed  to  Dungannon, 
Columbiana  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  remained 
about  eight  years,  and  diu'ing  his  services 
there  he  established  a  Catholic  school,  which  he 
j)laced  in  chai'ge  of  sixteen  "  Sisters  of  Divine 
Providence,"  who  had  been  banished  from 
Mayence,  Germany,  by  the  Government,  and 
over  this  school  Father  Vattmann  was  a]i- 
pointed  Superior;  at  the  close  of  his  pastor- 
ate in  Dungannon,  he  removed  to  Canal  Ful- 
ton, where  he  has  built  a  fine  parsonage,  and 
officiates  as  Pastor  at  mission  stations,  among 
which  may  be  mentioned  Marshallville,  Orr- 
ville,  Manchester,   Fairview,  Medina,  Russell, 


L A WH EXCt    TOWNSH IP 


North  Lawrence  and  several  others;  he  has  a 
sch<,x)l  in  connection  with  the  congregation, 
which  numbers  about  one  hunih'ed  and  twenty 
pupils,  and  emj)loys  as  teachers  only  those 
who  iire  (lualilied  to  pass  examination  by  the 
County  Board  of  Examiners.  Father  \'att- 
maun  is  an  enthusiastic  and  efficient  worker  in 
the  imjwrtant  position  he  occupies,  and  as  a 
Pastor  and  preacher  has  achieved  gi'eat  success; 
bis  manners  are  genial,  education  su[)erior,  has 
fine  athninistrative  and  executive  ability,  imd 
is  popular  with  all  classes  of  the  communit)- 
in  which  he  resides. 

FRAXKLIX  WATROrS.  retired  farmer: 
P.  O.  Caual  Fulton:  is  a  native  of  Cuyahoga 
County,  and  was  brought  u])  upon  a  fann. 
In  July.  1S4H.  he  was  united  iu  marriage  to 
Miss  Drusilla  McCadden.  of  Lawrence  Town- 
ship, and  soon  after  settled  upon  a  farm  iu 
Cuyahoga  County,  remaining  iu  tliat  county 
the  most  of  the  time  for  ten  years.  In  ISolS. 
they  settled  upon  the  old  McCadden  home- 
stead farm,  in  La^vTence  Township,  where  they 
remained  until  1872.  when  they  retired  from 
active  labor  and  are  now  enjoying  the  evening 
of  their  days  in  a  pleasant  home,  west  of  the 
corporation  limits  of  Canal  Fulton.  Jcjhn  Mc- 
Cadden. an  old  pioneer  settler  of  the  township, 
and  the  father  of  Mi-s.  Watrous.  \\  as  born  in 
L'eland;  he  emigrated  to  America  in  1S08. 
landing  in  Baltimore,  and  soon  after  made  his 
way  to  Virginia,  where  he  man-ied  MaryEdg- 
ington  in  18(19,  and  shortly  after,  in  company 
with  her  father.  John  Edgington.  came  to 
Lawrence  Township,  where  they  all  located 
and  lived  for  the  remainder  of  their  liv(>s. 
John  McCadden  was  a  prominent  citizen, 
serving  as  Xotary  Public,  and  valued  highly 
by  all  classes:  his  di-ath  occuiTed  in  18")!); 
his  wife's,  seven  years  previous,  in  1852;  they 
were  parents  of  seven  chiklren.  only  two  now 
sun-iving — !Mrs.  "Watrous.  and  Maria  Malone, 
in  Lansing.  Mich. 

JACOB  WEYGANDT,  farmer;  P.  O.  North 
LawTence:  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth 
(Wilhelm)  Weygandt,  his  father,  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  his  mother  of  Virginia.  They 
came  to  Ohio  about  1820,  settling  upon  the 
farm  now  owned  by  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
they  continued  residents  of  the  township  until 
their  deaths:  Jacob  "Weygandt  die»l  in  1850. 


aged  70;  his  wife,  in  1854,  aged  64.  Nine 
children  were  born  to  this  worthy  couple,  as 
follows:  Hannah  (Joon,  of  Wayne  County; 
Elizabeth  Reinoehl,  living  in  Minnesota;  Jo 
seph,  in  Indiana;  William,  a  resident  of 
Wayne  County:  Sarah  Wilson,  of  Lawrence 
Township;  Matilda,  deceased;  Margaret  Putt 
and  Jacob,  residents  of  the  townshii);  and 
Amanda,  deceased.  Jacob  Weygandt,  o\ir  sub- 
ject, was  born  upon  the  farm  uj)ou  which  he 
now  livi«,  in  bS28;  here  his  life,  U])  to  the 
present  wTiting,  has  been  pa.ss(Hl;  to  farming 
he  has  devott>d  his  attention,  and  has  80  acres 
of  well  ciltivated  and  improved  land.  He 
was  man-ied.  in  1S55,  to  Miss  Mary  J.  Jackson, 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Eva  (Fleshmen) 
Jackson,  early  settlers  of  the  county,  and  resi- 
dents of  Tuscarawas  Township  where  they 
died.  Mr.  and  ]VIi-s.  Weygandt  have  one  child, 
Sarah  Jane;  they  iu-e  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church. 

EDWARD  ^AILIJAMS,  livery.  Canal  Ful- 
ton; is  a  son  of  John  and  Sarah  (Swyers) 
Williams,  natives  of  Scotland;  upon  emigrat- 
ing to  America,  they  located  first  in  New 
York,  where  they  remained  for  ten  years  or 
more,  subse<iuently  removing  to  Ohio  and  set- 
tling in  the  southern  portion  of  the  State.  Our 
sul)ject  commenced  to  leam  the  hiu-ness- 
maker's  trade  at  the  age  of  17,  in  Southern 
Ohio;  this  trade  he  followed  for  several  years. 
He  came  to  C'anal  Fulton  in  1870,  and  was 
connected  in  business  with  Wesley  Grayham 
in  harness-making;  they  continued  together 
for  one  and  a  half  years,  and  Mr.  Williams 
continued  alone  until  1881,  rimning,  in  con- 
nection, a  lively  stable,  which  he  stiuted  iu 
1870;  in  1881,  he  disj^sed  of  his  harness- 
shop,  and  is  now  engaged  in  the  livery  busi- 
ness exclusively;  his  stables  are  l;irg(>  and 
well-appointed,  and  it  is  the  aim  of  Mi-.  Will- 
iams to  conduct  his  business  upon  a  tii-st-class 
basis.  He  is  a  membtu-  of  the  Masonic  ordt^r 
of  Canal  Fult<jn,  and  one  of  the  leading  public- 
spirited  citizens.  He  was  man-ied,  in  18(*.). 
Ui  Miss  Lottie  A.  Caldwell,  of  Stark  County; 
thev  have  one  child,  Flora. 

MRS.  MARGARET  YOFXG,  Massillon;  is 
the  widow  of  Cyrus  Young,  a  sketch  of  whom 
apjiears  in  another  jwrtion  of  this  work  Mi's. 
Yountr,  whose   maiden  name    was   Mai'garet 


794 


inOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Sheafer,  is  a  ilaugliter  of  John  aud  Eve  (Wag- 
oner) Sheafer,  early  settlers  of  Lawi'ence 
Township;  she  was  born  in  the  township  in 
1N26,  and  was  mairied  to  Cyrus  Yt)ung  Juno 
8.  1848.  From  this  union  there  are  ten  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Letitia.  wife  of  J.  W.  Myers, 
of  Lawrence  Townslii]),  was  born  March  5, 
1S4U:  William  S..  born  Aug.  28.  IS,")!);  Clem- 
ent Russell,  born  Aug.  U».  ISo'i,  died  in  LSHO; 
Frances  Eve  Morgauthalor,  of  itassillon,  born 
Aug.  18,  1854;  Mary  Melissa,  born  Oct.  15, 
l>i5(),  married  to  George  Leonard  in  Decem- 
ber. 1S79,  and  now  a  resident  of  Medina 
County;  Charles  Fremont,  born  Oct.  1 5,  1856; 
A.  Lincoln,  born  April  7.  185U;  Cyrus  O.sra, 
born  April  7,  18(51;  Philip  A.,  born  Sept.  4, 
1S6;5:  and  Violet  May,  born  Oct.  18.  1867. 
Mrs.  Young  is  nicely  situated  in  a  beautiful 
home  inLawTence  Township;  she  is  anagi'ee- 
able  lady  ;ind  a  kind  and  devoted  mother. 

WILLIAM  S.  Y0UN(3t,  farmer  and  capi- 
talist; P.  O.  Massillon;  was  born  in  La  vrence 
Township  Aug.  23,  1850;  he  was  an  assistant 
of  his  father  until  1874,  when  he  went  to  In- 
diana, where  he  remained  one  year;  retiu'ning 
t(j  Ohio,  he  engaged  in  the  oil  business  in 
Lorain  County,  in  whielihe  is  still  interested, 
having  four  producing  wells  of  the  finest  lu- 
bricating oil  found  in  the  United  States;  he 
also  engaged  in  the  hotel  business  in  Belden 
one  yeai';  he  returned  to  Stark  County  in 
1880,  and  since  that  time  has  had  the  man- 
agement of  his  father's  numerous  interests 
aud  estate,  of  which  he  is  the  athninistrator. 
Mr.  Young  is  a  young  man  of  fine  executive 
aud  business  ability,  and  possesses  a  liberal 
and  progi'essive  spirit,  which  is  bound  to  make 
life  a  success  with  him;  he  is  a  large  laud- 
owner  in  the  county,  and  i.s  largely  interested 
in  valuable  real  e.state  in  Massillon.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  and  Odd  Fellow  organ- 
izations. 

CIL^ELES  F.  YOrXO.  farmer;  P.  O. 
North  Lawrence;  is  a  native  of  Lawi'ence 
Township,  where  he  was  born  in  1850.  He 
was  connected  with  the  home  farm  until  1870, 
when  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Isabella 
Walter,  of  Lawrence  Township,  and  soon  after 
moved  to  his  present  residence  in  Wayne 
County,  upon  the  line  dividing  the  two  coim- 
ties;  his  fai'm  consists  of   220  acre.^,  which  is 


located  in  both  Stark  and  Wayne  Counties. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Y''oung  have  two  children-  — 
Myrtle  and  Homer. 

JOHN  P.  YOCKEY,  editor  and  proprietor 
of  the  Fulton  Signal,  Canal  Fulton;  is  a 
native  of  Lawi'ence  Township,  and  son  of 
Philip  and  Elizabeth  Y'ockey,  former  residents 
of  LawTonce  Township,  now  deceased.  Our 
subject  was  rendered  an  orphan  wheu  7  years 
of  age,  and  from  that  period  until  12  years  old 
he  lived  with  relatives,  receiving  meager  edu- 
cational advantages;  at  the  age  of  14,  he 
commenced  working  for  wages  upon  a  farm, 
for  five  years  in  the  employ  of  Clii'istiau  Esch- 
liman.  of  LawTence  Township,  to  whom  Mi'. 
Yockey  owes  a  debt  of  gi'atitude  for  judicious 
advice  and  instillation  of  higher  aims  in  life; 
at  the  age  of  19,  he  went  to  Smithville  Acad- 
emy of  Wooster,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  for 
thi-ee  years,  teaching  school  in  winter  sessions; 
after  completing  his  education,  he  became  a 
teacher,  and,  in  1808,  became  the  Superintend 
ent  of  Schools  at  Canal  Fulton,  where  he  re- 
mained for  thi'ee  years,  going  from  there  to 
Doylestown,  where  for  two  years  he  was  en- 
gaged in  teaching.  In  1875,  he  returned  to 
Fulton  and  liought  out  the  ILrnJil,  changing 
the  name  to  the  Fulton  Siipml,  which  he  has 
conducted  ably  and  successfully  up  to  the  pres- 
ent writing;  his  subscription  books  have  been 
increased  from  200  to  000,  and  he  has  added 
a  job  office,  in  which  de})artment  he  is  able  to 
do  complete  and  artistic  work.  Mr.  Yockey 
entered  into  a  matrimonial  alliance,  Sept.  20, 
1877,  with  Miss  Ai-abella  Porter,  daughter  of 
John  Porter,  of  Lawrence  Township;  they 
have  one  child,  Leila  Joy.  Mr.  Yockey  is  a 
valuable  citizen  of  Lawrence  Township,  being 
enterprising  and  public- spirited,  and  possess- 
ing a  genial  and  accommodating  nature.  In 
all  works  of  advancement  and  progress,  you 
will  find  him  in  the  front  ranks;  he  has  served 
the  township  as  Clerk  two  terms,  and  for  three 
years  has  been  Clerk  of  the  School  Board;  is 
a  member  of  the  K.  of  H. 

SIMEON  YOCKEY,  milling.  North  Law- 
rence; is  a  native  of  the  Empire  State,  and 
when  quite  young  came  with  his  parents  to 
Ohio;  they  located  in  Wayne  Coimty,  subse- 
(juently  removing  to  Stark  County,  where  his 
father  died ;  his  mother  died  in  Wayne  County. 


A 


d4v 


TUSCARAWAS   TOWNSHIl' 


Our  subject  was  raised  upon  a  farm,  Imt,  diir- 
in<j  the  later  yeiirs  of  his  life,  has  given  his 
attention  to  millinu;.  In  1858,  he  came  to 
Lawrence  Township,  and  since  that  period  has 
been  a  resident  there.  He  was  united  in  mar- 
ria;;e.  in  1S41.  to  Miss  Eleanor  Johns,  a  nfitive 
of  Franklin  Co..  Penn. ;  they  have  six  children 
living-  Frank,  in  Dakota  Territorj-;  Samuel; 
John,  in  Alliance;  Charlotte  Milligan.  a  resi- 
dent of  Wayne  County;  Mary  Kettler  and 
Matilda.  Samuel  Yockey  is  a  native  of  Law- 
rence Township,  and  has  been  identified  with 


his  native  township  all  his  life;  he  worked  at 
mining  for  a  few  years,  but  has  given  his  at- 
tention to  operating  saw-mills  the  greater  por 
ti(m  of  his  life;  he  is  now  in  partnership  with 
his  fatlier  in  a  saw-mill  enterj^rise  in  Nurth 
L;uvTence.  where  they  have  superior  fficilities 
for  the  ujieration  of  their  business;  they  also 
are  ninning  a  chopper  in  connection  with  their 
mill.  Mr.  Yockey  is  a  young  but  entei-jiris- 
ing  citizen,  and  bound  to  make  life  a  success. 
He  was  married,  in  ISTl,  to  Miss  May  R. 
North,  of  Van  Wert  Co..  Ohio. 


TUSCARAWAS     TOWNSHIP. 


JAMES  BAYLISS,  farmer:  P.  O.  Massillon. 
Among  the  early  settlers  and  prominent  men 
of  this  locality  is  the  above  gentleman,  who 
was  bom  Nov.  7,  1808,  in  Stratford.  England. 
His  fatlier  was  Benjamin  Bayliss,  who  was 
born  in  the  same  countrv-  in  1777.  He  was 
the  son  of  Thomas,  who  had  four  sons — Ben- 
jamin. Thoma.s,  William  and  Samuel.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  was  Mary,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Timbell.  who  was  a  native  of  Wiu-- 
wickshire,  England.  In  May,  1818,  the  Bay- 
liss family  left  Warwickshire,  England,  in  the 
ship  Islington,  a  sail  vessel,  James  being  at 
this  time  a  lad  of  10  years.  They  landed  at 
Philadelphia.  His  father  w;is  a  tailor  and 
clothier  by  ti-ade.  which  vocation  he  followed 
for  seven  years  at  Germantown;  aftenvard 
moved  to  New  York  City,  where  he  lived  two 
ye!irs.  Benjamin  Bayliss  died  at  Rochester, 
N.  Y.  Nine  children  had  been  bom  him 
Elizabeth.  Mary.  Harriet,  Sarah.  James  and 
Samuel  were  the  nmnber  who  grew  up.  At 
the  age  of  ]'i).  our  subject  left  home  and  served 
two  years'  apprenticeship  at  the  tailor's  trade. 
In  1827,  he  came  to  this  county,  and  joined 
the  "  Kendal  Conmiunity.'"  After^vard.  hi- 
and  thive  others.  Edward  Dunn.  Hezekiah 
Camp  and  W.  G.  Mason,  formed  a  coj>artner- 
shi])  with  the  Trust<^es  of  Charity  SchiX)l,  and 
c<jnducted  the  same  for  four  years.  In  1832. 
he  bought  land  in  Tuscarawas  Township, 
where  he  lived  four  years.  th(>n  r(>turned  to 
Kendal   and  resumed  his  trade.      In  1849,  he 


went  to  California,  where  he  lived  two  years, 
being  engaged,  in  the  meantime,  in  mining 
and  trading.  I'pon  his  return  home,  he  (en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  business  for  four 
years  at  Massillon.  at  the  same  time  being  en- 
gaged in  the  wool  trade  on  his  own  account  for 
two  or  three  years;  afterward,  he  made  it  his 
principal  business  for  several  years,  repre- 
senting a  large  firm  in  the  East,  his  ]>ur- 
chases  amounting  to  enonnous  sums  annually. 
In  1864,  he  purchased  040  acres  of  land  in 
Sec.  10,  in  Tuscarawas  Township,  at  a  cost  of 
about  §42,00(>;  this  section  has  until  recently 
remained  unbroken,  having  sold  40  acres  to 
Jacob  Christman.  In  the  meantime.  Mi-. 
Bayliss  resided  in  Massillon.  ciirrving  on  the 
farm,  upon  which  he  had  a  sawmill,  which 
was  kept  busy  cutting  up  the  timber  with 
which  his  fann  was  plentifiiUy  supplied. 
For  twenty-five  years  he  lived  in  the  city  of 
Massillon.  In  Jnne,  1S77,  he  moved  to  his 
farm  in  Tuscarawas  Township,  where  he  has 
been  engaged  in  fiirming.  Jan.  1,  1881,  he 
was  mairied,  by  Escjuire  Blackbrnii,  to  Eliza 
J.  Fox,  who  was  bom  in  Tusciu-awas  Town- 
ship March  10.  1814;  she  was  a  daughter  of 
Jehiel  Fox  and  /Vnna  Doxsee.  which  couple 
emigrattnl  in  1812.  from  neai'  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  in  Vermont,  to  Tuscarawas  Town 
ship.  Five  children  have  tieen  bt)m  to  him 
Edwin.  BeTijamin.  Mary  A.  Carrie  and 
James  M.  On  Jan.  1 .  1 88 1 ,  Mr.  Bayliss  cele- 
brated  his   golden   wedding,    and   is   now  78 


"S   > 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


years  of  age,  yet  he  moves  about  with  the 
sprightliness  of  a  youth  of  20,  and  retains  his 
mental  faculties,  which  are  yet  quick  and 
active.  Mr.  Bayliss  is  a  Republican,  and  has 
always  taken  an  active  part  in  concerns  of  his 
city  and  township;  has  borne  his  share  of  the  re- 
sponsibility that  rests  equally  upon  every  man 
of  enterprise  in  the  communtiy.  While  in  the 
city,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Council  four 
years,  and  President  of  the  same  two  years. 
Director  of  the  Union  School  for  several  years, 
and  Treasiu'er  of  the  School  Board :  also  Presi  - 
dent  of  the  State  Association  of  Wool  Buyers, 
and  prominently  identitied  with  the  Eolling- 
Mill  Association,  and  President  of  the  same; 
also  Townshi])  Tnistee,  and  in  all  matters  in 
which  the  public  interests  have  been  con- 
cerned he  has  borne  his  ]  )roportionate  part. 

MRS.  SARAH  A.  BROWN;  P.  O.  East 
Greenville;  was  born  Feb.  12,  1824,  in  Plain 
Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  the  eldest  daughter  and  third 
child  in  order  of  birth  born  to  John  and  Hannah 
(Moore)  Gaft'.  John  was  born  Dec.  22,  1794, 
in  Westmoreland  Co.,  Penn.,  he  being  u  son 
of  James,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  who  came 
to  Stark  County  in  IS07,  whose  wife  was 
named  Elizabeth  Kilgore,  and  by  whom  he 
had  seventeen  children,  fom'teen  growing  to 
maturity,  and  but  one  now  living — Mrs.  Je- 
mima Smith,  of  GreentowTi.  John  was  mar- 
ried, July  5,  1821,  to  Hannah  Moore,  born  in 
1797,  in  Union  Co..  Penn.,  who  emigi-ated 
with  her  father,  Joseph  Moore,  to  Stark 
County.  Joseph  was  in  the  war  of  1812. 
After  John  Gaff  and  wife  were  married,  they 
settled  in  Plain  Township  and  remained  upon 
the  farm  until  his  death,  which  occurred  Sept. 
8,  1868.  He  united  with  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Canton  in  1835,  and  was  a  consis- 
tent member  of  the  same  until  his  death;  he 
was  highly  esteemed  as  a  citizen,  and  was  a 
man  of  unliending  integrity.  Hannah,  his 
wife,  died  in  February,  18(i3.  ]VIr.  (4aff  was 
the  father  t)f  eight  children,  four  of  whom 
grew  to  maturity — Sarah  A.,  Elizabeth.  Mary 
J.  and  Amanda;  the  balance  died  yoimg.  Eli- 
zabeth and  Mary  J.  live  near  Canton,  the  for- 
mer the  wife  of  Jacob  Ru])ard,  and  the  latter 
the  wife  of  Lewis  Essig;  Amanda  died  at  23. 
Mrs.  Brown  has  eight  children  living — Virgil 
S.,  in  the  Russell   works;  Alpheus,  at  home; 


and  Alice,  wife  of  Andrew  Allard,  at  Orville. 
Mrs.  Brown  removed  to  this  township  in  1867; 
has  100  acres  of  good  land;  she  carries  on  the 
fann  herself;  is  a  member  of  the  Disci{)les' 
Church. 

JACOB  BASH,  farmer;  P.  O.  Massillon. 
This  gentleman,  now  a  resident  of  Tuscarawas 
Townshi})  since  1864,  was  born  Nov.  2,  1821, 
in  Westmoreland  Co.,  Penn.  His  father, 
Michael,  was  born  March  11,1 789,  in  the  same 
county,  son  of  Mai'tin  Bash,  a  native  of  Lan- 
caster Co.,  Penn.,  whose  union  with  Margaret 
Auckerman  was  honored  by  the  birth  of  the 
following:  Michael,  Henry,  Mai-y,  Catharine, 
Martha,  Susan,  Christina,  Barbara  and  Char- 
lotte. Michael  married  Sarah,  who  was  a 
daughter  of  Jacob  Rugli  and  Sevilla  Mechling, 
which  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  the  fol- 
lowing childi-en:  Michael,  Jacob,  Benjamin, 
Daniel,  John,  Hannah,  Susan  and  Sarah, 
Jacob  Rugh  was  a  prominent  man  of  his  time; 
represented  his  county  in  the  Legislature,  and 
was  honored  with  important  offices  of  trust. 
Both  of  his  grandparents.  Bash  and  Rugh, 
died  in  1845;  they  were  both  excellent  men, 
and  prominently  identified  with  the  church. 
Michael  Bash  died  in  1862,  his  wife  yet  siu-- 
viving  him.  Of  the  childi'en. living  are  John, 
who  resides  on  the  homestead  in  Westmore- 
land Coimty;  Jacob,  in  this  township;  and 
Susanna,  in  Pennsylvania,  being  the  wife  of 
Jacob  Roadman.  Mr.  Bash  was  educated  for 
a  fai'mer.  In  1856,  he  mai'ried  Lavina  Huff- 
man, boi'n  in  1 826,  in  Westmoreland  Co.,  Penn., 
daughter  of  George  Huffman  and  Magdalene 
Fink.  Mr.  Bash  remained  on  the  fann  until 
the  death  of  his  father.  In  the  spring  of 
1864,  he  came  to  Ohio  and  purchased  100  acres 
of  land  in  this  township,  and  has  since  been  a 
resident  of  the  same;  has  been  a  member  of 
the  church  since  19  years  of  age,  and  early  in 
life  imbibed  the  political  proclivities  of  his 
father,  who  was  a  ^^1lig.  Mr.  Bash  is  now 
serving  his  third  term  as  Township  Trustee; 
is  a  fi'iend  to  education  and  general  progress; 
has  the  following  children:  Sybilla  L.,  Jacob 
L.  and  Reuben  H. 

ABRAHAM  BOWMAN,  farmer;  P.  O.  Mas- 
sillon; was  born  Dec.  15,  1813,  in  Franklin 
Co.,  Penn.;  his  father  was  Abraham  Bowman, 
who    was    twice    married  -first    to  Barbara 


TUSCAUAWAS   TOWNSHIl' 


797 


Herslioy,  by  whom  he  had  eix  children — 
Catharine,  Jacob,  John,  Barbara,  Bonjamin 
and  Abraham.  His  second  marriai;e  \va,s  to 
Christina  Crider,  by  wliom  he  had  ten  chil- 
dren. The  iri'eat-graudfathor  of  our  subject 
was  a  native  of  Baden,  and  eiiii<p'ated  to  Lan- 
caster Co.,  Penn..  in  an  early  day:  two  of  his 
sons  were  ca])tured  by  the  Indians  and  taken 
to  their  tribe  and  tied  to  trees,  but  escajicd, 
and  retm-ned  uninjured  to  their  homes.  The 
Bowman  family  came  "West  in  18'2U,  locating 
in  the  northeast  part  of  Tuscarawas  Town- 
ship, on  ll'id  acre.s.  Abraham,  the  father  of 
our  subject,  died  in  the  spring  of  \X')H\  he 
was  an  upright  man,  a  worthy  citizen,  and  a 
zealous  member  of  the  V.  B.  Church.  The 
subject  of  these  lines,  since  be  was  10  years 
of  age,  has  been  a  constant  resident  of  the 
township.  In  December.  lS:iS,  he  man-ied 
Susanna  Kohr.  a  native  of  Washington  Co., 
Md.,  born  June  i;i  I S15,  daughter  of  Christian 
and  Elizabeth  (Thomas)  Kohr.  The  family 
emigi-ated  West  to  Tuscarawas  County  about 
the  year  ISiili.  Nine  chiJdi-en  were  lioru  them, 
but  live  of  whom  are  living — John,  Cliristian, 
Samuel,  I'olly  and  Mi-s.  Bowman.  After  Mr. 
Bowman  was  married,  he  piu'chased  land  on 
Sec.  10,  this  townshiji,  upon  which  he  lived 
fifteen  years.  In  1854,  he  purchased  the  farm 
he  now  owns,  on  Sec  1,  consisting  of  90  acres. 
He  has  seven  childnm  living,  viz.,  Maiy.  at 
home:  John  and  Benjamin,  in  La  Salle  Co., 
111.;  Samuel,  inCiUToll  Co.,  Iowa:  Abram  H., 
Susan,  and  Charles,  who  resides  with  his 
brotliers  in  Illinois.  Mr.  Bowman  and  wife 
are  members  of  the  I'.  B.  Chiu'ch,  he  having 
been  identified  with  that  l)odv  for  fortv  years. 
AZARIAH  CILA.RLTON,"  fm-mer;"  P.  O. 
Pig€»on  liiiu;  was  bom  Sept  1"),  1  SI  1,  in  Bed- 
ford Co.,  Penn.:  his  parents  were  Thomas  and 
Elizabeth  (McClain)  Charlton,  both  natives  of 
Pennsylvania.  The  grandfather  of  Azariah 
was  a  native  of  Ii-eland:  his  family  of  children 
consisted  of  Robert,  Isaac,  John.  Samuel.  Will- 
iiim,  Joseph,  Polly,  Fannie.  Hannah  and  Bet- 
sey. Elizabeth,  the  mother  of  Azariah,  was  a 
daughter  of  Azariah  McClain,  who  emigrated 
from  Marjland  to  Bedford  Co.,  I'enn.,  when 
the  Country  was  new  and  sparsely  ])ojiulated. 
The  names  of  the  children  born  Thomas  ChiU'l- 
ton  and  wife  were  John,  Azariah,  Henrietta, 


William  and  Isaac.  Azsiriah  was  bereft  of  a 
father's  care  at  an  early  age,  and  was  in  a 
manner  raised  by  his  uncle,  William  McClain, 
who  was  very  rigid  with  his  nephew;  .so  he 
left  him  at  '20,  and  cju-ed  for  himself.  In 
1833,  he  came  to  this  county,  direct  to  Sugar 
Creek  Townshi]),  where  he  has  since  lived. 
Upon  his  an-ival  here,  he  had  no  means,  but 
worked  out  by  the  day  or  mcmth,  and  turned 
his  attention  to  any  em])Ioyra»'nt  that  was  to 
be  had.  His  uncle,  Isaac,  had  j)receded  him 
to  this  townshi))  several  years.  Azariah  had 
three  brothers  who  came  West,  but  none  of 
them  located  in  this  county.  John  Ciune  first 
to  Fairfield  County:  afterward  settled  in  Allen 
Count}-.  William  came  also  afterward,  and 
was  killed  in  a  saw-mill.  Isaac  came  after- 
ward t<i  Portsmouth,  where  he  died  of  cholera 
three  days  after  his  an-ival.  Azariah  at  length 
saved  sufficient  means  to  enable  him  to  j)ur- 
chase  40  acres,  which  he  ki'pt  for  tlu't>e  years, 
then  pm'chased  84  acres,  which  he  kept  about 
ten  years.  About  this  year,  he  piu-chased  the 
farm  he  now  owns,  locatcMl  in  the  south  ])art 
of  Tuscarawas  Township,  in  the  southwest 
quarter  of  Sec.  35,  consisting  of  K'T  acres, 
which  was  settled  by  Samuel  Slusser.  After 
living  a  bachelor  many  years,  he  manned,  in 
June,  18S0,  Mrs.  Elizabc>th  Walton,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Augustine,  a  native  of  Co- 
li;mbiana  Co.,  Ohio.  The  children  born  to 
Azariah  McClain  were  six  John.  Samuel, 
William,  Polly.  Sarah  and  Elizabeth  the 
mother  of  Azariidi. 

MRS.  GEORCE  CRIDER  farming:  P.  O. 
Pigeon  Run.  The  Crider  family  are  also 
prominent  among  the  e;u-ly  an-iv'als  of  Stark 
County.  The  family  have  difl'orent  spellings 
of  the  name  some  spelling  it  with  a  '  K  " 
others  with  a  "C,"  yet  nevertheless,  it  is  the 
same  name;  all  of  the  different  families  of 
the  name  sprung  from  the  same  family  head. 
Mr.  George  Crider,  now  deceased,  was  born 
in  this  township  Ajiril  '22.  1821;  he  bore  his 
fathers  name.  George  Crider,  Sr.,  was  one  of 
the  number  who,  with  others,  left  their  Penn 
sylvania  home,  and,  in  order  to  better  their 
condition,  cast  their  lots  with  those  hardy 
men  who  liraved  th(>  hardshijis  and  ])rivations 
in  order  that  th(>y  niight  secure  to  themselves 
;  and  families  homes  and  a  heritage.     Mr.  Cri- 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 


der  was  married,  in  November,  1853,  to  Chris- 
tiana Saiirbaugli,  born  Sept.  27, 1828,  in  this 
township,  daughter  of  Philip  and  Polly  ( Wol- 
gamod)  Sanrbaugh,  who  were  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania, born  Nov.  22,  1799,  and  Jan.  31, 
]8()2,  and  were  married  in  December,  1823, 
the  fruits  of  which  were  five  childi'en — Eliz- 
abeth. Sarah,  Chi-istiaun,  Henrietta  and  Ab- 
salom. Philip  Saui'baugh  died  Nov.  6  1868, 
aged  68  years  11  months  and  14  days;  his 
wife  died  the  same  mouth  and  day  eight  years 
previous,  aged  58  years  9  months  and  6  days. 
Subset (uent  to  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Crider,  they  located  on  the  farm  situated  on 
the  west  half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  Sec. 
34.  Here  Mr.  Crider  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  days;  his  death  occiu-red  Nov.  6,  1880. 
During  his  life,  he  was  an  honest  and  upright 
man.  a  good  citizen  and  a  Christian  gentle- 
man, having  been  for  many  years  a  worthy 
member  of  the  Reformed  Church,  and  Deacon 
of  the  same;  he  was  a  man  of  intelligence,  a 
great  reader,  and  of  sound  information.  He 
left  a  wife  and  two  childi-en  to  mourn  his  loss, 
who  remain  on  the  homestead.  The  children 
are  Mary  A.  and  Harvey  H. ;  are  members  of 
the  chiu'ch  of  their  father's  choice. 

JACOB  CHRISTIMAN,  fanner;  P.  O.  West 
Brookfield;  was  born  Aug.  10,  b826,  in  West- 
moreland Co.,Penn.,  the  youngest  of  a  family 
of  live  childi'en  who  came  to  matiu'ity.  His 
parents  were  Jacob  and  Mary  (Houck)  Christ- 
man.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
named  Jacob,  and  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier. 
Mary  Houck  was  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Houck, 
who  was  likewise  a  soldier  in  the  Continental 
army,  serving  through  the  entire  struggle. 
To  Jacob  Christman,  Sr.,  were  born  seven  chil- 
dren, but  four  living — John,  Elizabeth,  Will- 
iam and  Jacob.  To  Jacob  Houck  were  born 
George,  Elizabeth,  Esther,  Susan,  Mary  Mag- 
dalina  and  Jacob.  Our  subject  was  reai-ed  to 
agricultural  pursuits.  Sept.  2,  1851,  he  mar- 
ried Caroline  Fiseus,  who  was  born  in  1829, 
in  Unity  Tp.,  Westmoreland  Co.,  Penn., 
daughter  of  John  and  Annie  Pem'od  Fiseus. 
Mr.  Chi'istman  emigrated  West  in  the  fall  of 
1851,  locating  in  Tuscarawas  Township,  pur- 
chasing the  farm  he  now  owns,  on  See.  15, 
consisting  of  1<30  acres,  upon  which  place  he 
has  since  lived,  and    improved  the  same,  so 


that  now  it  is  one  of  the  best  faims  in  the 
neighborhood,  having  now  204  acres,  with  the 
best  of  imjirovements  thereon.  The  bricks 
for  his  spacious  residence  were  made  from  the 
material  upon  his  fann,  which  he  made  and 
biu-ned  for  use.  His  family  consists  of  wife 
and  three  children — Silas,  now  in  Henry  Co., 
Ohio;  Mary  and  Edward  F.,  at  home.  His 
wife  and  children  are  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian Chm-ch;  his  parents  were  of  the  Lu- 
theran Church.  Since  Greeley's  time,  Mr. 
Christman  has  been  identified  with  the  Re- 
publican jiaiiv. 

WILLIAM  CHRISTMAN,  farmer;  P.  O. 
Massillon;  was  born  in  Westmoreland  Co., 
Penn.,  the  only  son  born  to  Heniy  Chi'ist- 
man and  Susana  Bash.  He  was  born  July 
29,  1801,  iu  Westmoreland  County,  son  of 
John  Jacob  Christman.  Susana  was  born 
July  26,  1800,  daughter  of  Martin  Bash. 
They  were  married  Oct.  24,  1822;  came  West 
to  Ohio  iu  October,  1850,  locating  on  the 
northwest  quarter  of  Sec.  14.  To  them  were 
born  five  children;  foiu'  came  to  matm-ity — 
Sarah,  who  married  John  Hai'shey  and  set- 
tled in  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio;  William;  John  J. 
died  in  1863;  Martha  M.,  the  wife  of  John 
L.  Steele.  William  was  married,  March  16, 
1 852,  to  Laviua  Felger,  born  in  Wayne  Coimty 
March  23,  1832,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Sus- 
ana Lauffler  Felger;  has  since  resided  on  the 
farm;  has  six  children-  -Samuel,  Susanna, 
James  and  Jane  (twins),  William  F.  and  Henry 
J.  The  mother  died  iu  June,  1881 ;  the  father 
is  yet  living,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Reformed  Church  since  19  years  of  age;  cast 
his  tirst  vote  for  Jackson.  William  is  a  mem- 
ber of  his  father's  cluu'ch.  and  of  the  same 
politics. 

JOSEPH  ECKROADE,  farmer;  P.  O.  East 
Greenville;  is  among  the  self-made  men  of 
this  township.  He  is  a  native  of  Berks  Co., 
Penn.,  boru  Oct.  28,  1808.  being  the  eldest 
child  born  to  his  pai'ents.  The  father  of  Jo- 
seph was  Chi-istian  Ecki'oade.  a  shoemaker  by 
trade,  son  of  George,  who  was  born  neai' 
Philadelphia,  Penn.  Ellen,  the  mother  of 
Joseph,  was  born  in  the  State  of  New  York, 
and  was  the  daughter  of  John  Ireley,  a  native 
of  Gennany.  Joseph  remained  with  his  father 
until  he  was  2  years  past  his  majority,  being 


^Tv" 


:fe 


TUSCARAWAS    TOWNSHIP. 


799 


iu  his  father's  employ;  then,  leaving  home,  he 
worked  several  years  iu  the  coal  works  at 
Pottsville,  and  while  there  was  married  to 
Elizabeth.  dau>;;hter  of  (xeorge  Singley,  and 
with  her  removed  West  to  Ohio  in  1S;]3,  making 
a  sojourn  of  several  months  near  Bristol, 
Wayne  Co..  f  n)m  which  j)lace  he  canu'  to  Canal 
Fulton,  Lawrence  Tp.,  in  1884.  For  three 
years  after  lu>  was  married,  he  had  neither 
bedstoad,  chairs  nor  table,  using  in  their  stvid 
such  substitutes  as  t)ld  boxes  and  other  arti- 
cles improvised  for  the  occasion,  having  no 
means  to  buy  even  the  most  common  neces- 
saries. For  three  years,  in  lieu  of  a  wagon, 
he  used  a  sled  made  of  saplings,  until  circum- 
Htances  afi'orded  him  a  vehicle  more  in  accord- 
ance with  his  tastes.  He  began  by  renting 
a  small  piece  of  ground:  saving  a  little  each 
year,  he  at  last  piu'chased  40  acres,  which  ho 
had  rented  for  eighteen  consecutive  years,  sub- 
sequi>ntly  adding  to  it  piece  by  piece,  until  he 
ac<iuired  a  sinig  farm.  He  lived  in  this  town- 
ship until  1S.")7.  when  he  sold  his  farm  and 
j)urchased  KiO  acres  located  in  the  southeast 
<piarter  of  Sec.  ."),  wliere  he  has  since  remained, 
and  is  now  in  excellent  financial  condition.  He 
has  been  tlu-ice  married,  his  lirst  wife  bear- 
ing him  five  children:  those  living  are  Susan, 
Catharine.  Henry  and  Jacob.  He  was  mar- 
ried a  so;'ond  timi',  to  Keziah  Klinedinst,  a 
native  of  Maryland:  she  bore  him  fom-  chil- 
di'eu — Mary  E.,  Fiauk,  Corwin  and  Charles. 
His  last  wife  was  Mi's.  Sarah  McCoi'mick  whose 
maiden  name  was  Fullmer;  by  her  he  has  three 
children  Ettie  May,  Cora  B.  and  Harry  AVeb 
ster.  Ml'.  Eckroade  is  a  member  of  the  (ler- 
man  Lutheran  Chm'ch.  His  farm  consists  of 
H)4  acres. 

D.  ERB.  farmer;  P.  O.  W'est  Brooktield. 
David  Erbwas  born  May 'iU,  ISIS;  is  a  native 
of  Lancaster  Co..  Penn.  Josei)h  Erb,  his 
father,  was  twice  married  first,  to  Sarah  Bow- 
man, who  bore  him  live  children.  His  second 
maiTiage,  to  Sarah  Browers,  resulted  in  an 
addition  of  six,  of  whom  David  was  the  oldest. 
The  gi'andfather  of  David  was  Messick  Erb, 
to  whom  were  born  live  children,  viz.,  John, 
Esther.  Elizabeth.  Catharine  and  Josepii.  To 
Joseph  and  Sarah  Erl)  were  born  David,  Susan, 
Elizabeth,  Siunuel,  Rachel  and  Catharine; 
Catharine  and    Elizabeth    died    in   srirlhood. 


Joseph  Erb  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade,  and, 
being  a  man  of  small  means,  could  not  give 
his  childi'eu  such  advantages  as  he  desired. 
David  left  home  when  ycning,  and  at  the  age 
of  T]  w(>nt  to  learn  the  shoemaker's  trade, 
completing  the  same  at  the  age  of  20;  after- 
wai'd  worked  three  ycsars  at  jommey  work,  then 
engaged  in  the  business  for  himself.  In  April, 
ISoH,  he  joined  the  tide  of  emigration  West- 
ward to  Ohio;  came  first  to  Dalton,  AVayne 
Co.,  but,  remaining  but  a  few  months,  came 
to  this  township,  where  he  had  previously 
purcha.sed  SO  acres,  situated  on  the*  north  half 
of  the  northeast  (juarter  of  Sec.  15,  for  which 
he  paid  !j40  jier  acre.  He  has  now  a  good 
fai-m,  with  excellent  buildings  thereon,  ail  of 
which,  with  the  exce])tiou  of  .fOOU.liO,  which 
came  by  legacy,  he  has  made  himself;  has  a 
coal-mii>e  on  his  finm,  which  yields  him  an 
extra  income.  His  marriage,  in  September, 
1S51,  to  Mary  Yost  (who  was  born  in  Wur- 
temberg,  Germany,  daughter  of  -John  Yost), 
has  been  crowned  with  four  children,  who  are 
Franklin,  Hemy,  Melinila  (now  the  wife  of 
Charles  Lyons,  of  this  townshi]))  and  John. 
Henry  resides  in  Baughman  Tp.,  \\'ayne  Co., 
Ohio:  John  and  Franklin,  at  home.  i\Ii\  Erb's 
father  died  Aug.  5,  ISoJ;  his  mother,  in  Se|> 
tember.  IS,") '2.     Mr.  Erb  is  a  Re])ublican. 

JOHN'  H.  FISm^K,  farmer:  P.  O.  Massil- 
lon;  was  born  in  Lel)au(inCo.,  I'enn.,  January 
27,  1S2(),  being  the  fourth  child  born  to  Henry 
and  Sarah  (Meiley)  Fisher:  he  was  a  sou  of 
John  Peter  Fisher,  who  man'iod  a  Hnber,  both 
of  Lebanon  County:  to  them  wer<^  born  Philip, 
Peter,  David,  Henry.  Sarah,  Keb(>cca,  Mary 
Louisa.  Sarah  was  a  daughter  of  Emanuel 
Meiley,  who  had  born  to  him  Emanuel,  Will- 
iam, George,  Samuel,  John  H.,  Joseph,  Charlas, 
Mary,  Catharine,  Susan,  Saiah  and  Elizabeth. 
John  Fisher,  the  great-uncle  of  John  H., 
served  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  The 
children  boin  to  Hemy  and  Sarah  (Meiley) 
Fisher  were  Mm'ia,  wife  of  Jeremiah  SU'ayler, 
of  Lebanon  County;  Susan,  wife  of  John 
FoiTey.  of  the  same  county;  Sarah,  Mre. 
Hemy  Blanch,  of  same  place;  Elizabeth  mar- 
ried Abram  Kaufman,  of  the  same  county  and 
State;  Hemy,  at  the  homestead;  and  John  H., 
who  rasides  at  Tuscarawas.  Hemy  Fisher 
was  a  wagon-maker  by  trade;  he  was  a  poor 


i^ 


800 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


man,  and  was  unable  to  give  his  children  a 
start  in  the  world.  John  H.  left  home  at  19 
to  learn  the  cabinet-maker's  trade;  came  to 
Ohio  in  1847,  and  worked  at  his  trade  in  var- 
ious places  — Cincinnati,  Louisville,  and  other 
places — imd  came  to  Lebanon  in  1855,  where 
he  started  in  business,  which  he  continued 
until  1868,  when  he  came  to  this  township 
and  bought  88  acres  of  land  on  Sec.  23,  south- 
west quartei,  entered  by  Biddleeome;  Mr. 
Fisher  has  since  remained  on  the  farm.  In 
February,  1850,  he  married  Mary  A.  Keifer, 
bom  in  1831,  in  Lebanon  Co..  Penn.,  daughter 
of  Frederick  and  Sai'ah  Snyder.  Mr.  Fisher 
has  seven  children,  viz.,  Hemy,  David,  Louisa 
(who  married  C  H.  Bender,  in  Allegan  Co., 
Mich.),  Sai-ah,  Mary.  John  H.  and  Elizabeth. 
For  several  years  past,  Mr.  Fisher  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Ediication,  and  served 
as  Township  Trustee;  is  a  member  of  PeiTy 
Lodge,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.  Mr.  Fisher  is  a  self- 
made  man. 

A.  R.  HANNA,  farmer;  P.  O.  Greenville; 
was  born  in  June,  1833,  in  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio, 
and  cauie  to  this  township  with  his  parents 
about  the  year  1838,  who  located  on  the  north- 
west quarter  of  Sec.  17.  Here  our  subject 
has  since  remained.  Jan.  13,  1857,  he  mar- 
ried Mary  J.  Cook,  born  Jan.  12,  183C,  in 
Daltou,  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio,  daughter  of  Asa 
and  Mary  (Campbell)  Cook,  both  natives  of 
Wayne  County.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hannahave 
been  born  seven  children,  viz.,  Charles,  the 
eldest,  was  drowned.  May  31,  1881,  while 
bathing  in  Bell  Creek,  Biii-t  Co.,  Neb.;  Ella 
M.  (called  "Mamie")  resides  in  Burt  Co., 
Neb.,  wife  of  S.  A.  McDowell;  Hulda  B.,Willie 
A.,  Frank  A.,  Ella  and  Earl  C,  at  home.  Mi-. 
Hanna  has  a  farm  of  100  acres;  is  one  of  the 
Board  of  Directors  of  the  Coimty  Agricultural 
Society;  also  a  memlicr  of  the  Horticultm'al 
Society:  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Chiu'ch,  and  one  of  the  Elders  of  the  same. 
The  Hanna  family  ai-e  emphatically  Repub- 
lican. The  parents  of  the  above  were  Archi- 
bald and  Mary  Ramage.  He  was  liorn  Feb. 
12,  17'JO,  in  Washington  Co.,  Penn.,  son  of 
Samuel  Hanna,  who  removed  with  his  family 
to  Harrison  County  in  1802,  and  was  one  of 
the  early  settlers  in  that  locality,  and  one  of 
the  pioneer  members  of  the  Crab  Apple  Clnu-ch. 


His  son,  Ai'chibald,  entered  college  in  1810, 
and  completed  his  collegiate  course  in  1815; 
then  began  the  study  of  Hebrew  under  Rev. 
John  Walker,  and  the  studv  of  theolog\-  under 
John  Rea,  D.  D.  April  4*.  1810,  he  man-iod 
Mary  Ramage,  who  was  born  Oct.  23,  17'J6,  in 
Washington  Co.,  Penn.;  she  was  a  woman  of 
rare  beauty,  energy  and  mental  vigor.  She 
died  April  23,  185*1,  leaving  nine  sons  and 
three  daughters  Samuel,  Joseph  and  James 
were  ministers,  and  graduates  of  Jefferson 
College;  Joseph  has  a  pastorate  in  Oregon; 
James,  in  Center  Co.,  Iowa;  Newton  died  Jan. 
20,  1864,  in  Nashville,  Tenn. ;  was  a  member 
of  Co.  I,  76th  O.  V.  I. :  Ale.xander  resides  in 
Iowa;  John,  in  Ashlan<l  Coiuity,  this  State; 
Maria  is  the  wife  of  Rev.  D.  R.  Colinery; 
Jerry,  in  Licking  Co.,  Ohio;  Belle  resides  in 
Kansas  City,  wife  of  J.  M.  C.  Wilson;  Calvin, 
in  Eugene  City,  Ore. ;  A.  R.,  on  the  home- 
stead. In  181 8,  Archibald  Hanna,  the  father 
of  our  subject,  was  licensed  to  jireach  by  the 
Ohio  Presbytery,  and  removed  to  Wayne  Co., 
Ohio,  in  181U,  where  he  had  charge  of  three 
churches — Mt.  Eaton,  Pigeon  Run  and  Fred- 
ericksbm-g;  in  1820,  was  ordained  Pastor  of 
the  same,  having  full  charge:  after  several 
years,  he  resigned  Mt.  Eaton  and  gave  all 
his  time  to  Fredericksburg,  preaching  at  Dal- 
ton  also  for  many  years;  he  was  one  of  the 
pioneer  ministers  of  Wayne  and  Stai'k  Coun- 
ties, and  preached  the  tnith  with  earnestness 
and  simplicity;  many,  through  his  instra- 
mentality.  were  led  to  tiu'u  from  the  error  of 
their  ways  and  seek  salvation.  He  settled  on 
the  land  now  occupied  by  his  son,  A.  R.,  m 
1838,  which  he  cleared  up,  and  remained  on 
the  sameimtil  called  to  his  reward;  his  death 
occuiTed  Jivue  'J,  1875,  in  his  86th  year. 
Thus  passed  away  an  u]>right  man  and  devoted 
Clu'i.stian,  "  and  his  works  doth  follow  him." 
EMANUEL  HORNBERGER,  farmer:  P. 
O.  Massillon;  is  a  native  of  Lancaster  Co., 
Penn.,  boru  Oct.  15,  1812,  son  of  John  Horn- 
berger  and  Leah  Ramp.  Emaimel  came  West 
to  this  township  in  1S37,  his  father  having 
preceded  him  two  years,  locating  on  the  land 
now  owned  by  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  which 
was  j/iu'chased  of  David  Gaff,  who  obtained  it 
direct  from  the  Government;  said  farm  con- 
sisted of  80  acres.     To  John  Hornberger  were 


-^: 


i>    fy 


.£. 


TUSCARAWAS   TOWNSHIP. 


801 


bom  Benjamin,  now  deceased;  Polly,  whore- 
sides  in  Indiana,  the  wife  of  Isaacs  Grainlini^; 
Elizabeth,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  Mr.  B(K)u: 
Susan,  man-ied  John  Lichley,  now  of  San- 
dusky County;  John,  now  deceased;  Isaac, 
now  resides  in  De  Kalb  Co.,  Ind.  Emanuel 
has  remained  (jii  the  homestead  farm  since 
his  first  occupancy,  and  has,  by  diligence  and 
economy,  increased  his  first  possessions  until 
he  now  has,  in  all,  273  acres  of  land.  His 
father  died  in  1851.  Mi'.  Hornlierger  was 
married,  in  1837,  to  Annie  Hiuxlman,  a  native 
of  Lancaster  County,  who  was  a  daughter  of 
Theophilus  Hiu'dman.  The  children  of  oiu' 
subject  are  Eliza,  ]Mi-s.  William  Hullinger, 
of  Perry  Township;  Caroline,  Mrs.  Joseph 
Collor.  residing  in  De  Kalb  Co.,  Ind.;  Elias 
died  in  1875,  leaving  four  children;  Samuel 
resides  on  the  home  farm;  Harriet  is  the  wife 
of  Hiram  Overderf ;  Lewis,  at  home;  Annie, 
now  he  wife  of  Frank  Umbenhour.  of  Massil- 
lon.  Fanning  has  been  the  business  that  has 
occupied  Mr.  Hornberger's  attention  since  his 
location  in  the  county,  and  is  successful;  his 
home  farm,  situated  on  the  southeast  quiuier 
of  Sec.  '23.  He  is  not  a  member  of  any  sect 
or  denomination,  but  is  a  Democrat  in  politics. 
JOSEPH  HASSLEE,  dec.>ased;  was  born 
July  10,  18H),  in  Franklin  Co.,  Penn.,  a  son 
•of  Joseph,  who  was  the  S(m  of  Joseph,  sup- 
posed to  be  a  native  of  Germany.  The  mother 
of  Joseph,  our  subject,  was  Mary  Stump  ; 
they  had  a  family  of  six  children  Elizabeth, 
Polly,  Reb(<cca,  John,  Joseph  and  DanitU. 
Josejih  (third)  came  to  this  township  from 
Franklin  Co.,  Penn.,  in  March,  1838,  and, 
having  been  out  two  years  j)n^viou8  to  that 
time,  (concluded  to  locate  on  the  land  now 
owned  by  Mrs.  Hassler.  He  was  mairied, 
April  25,  1838,  to  Charlotte  Poonniin,  born 
May  12,  1820,  in  Franklin  Co.,  Penn.,  the 
ninth  child  Ixam  to  her  parimts,  Peter  and 
Mary  (Richards)  Poorman.  After  his  mar- 
riage, he  located  on  land  and  lived  in  a  log 
cabin  four  yeju-s:  remained  on  this  farm  until 
his  death,  Miirch  27,  1875;  was  a  member  of 
the  Reformed  Church,  and  Elder  of  the  same 
for  thirty  yeare.  He  was  a  man  of  great 
benevolence,  giving  freely  to  charitable  causes; 
was  an  Old -Line  ^^'hig,  but  latterly  a  zealous 
Republican.     He  had  a  family  of  twelve  chil- 


dren, eleven  of  whom  are  living — Mary  A., 
Mrs.  Charles  Finkler,  in  Massillon;  Melissa 
R.,  Mrs.  John  Shilling,  of  this  township; 
John  P.,  of  this  townshij);  Hadessa  A.,  Mrs. 
Dallas  Oberlin,  this  township;  Lucinda,  Mrs. 
William  Beavers,  this  township;  Eliza,  dead; 
Rev.  Anson  L.,  minister  at  Pulaski,  Williams 
Co. ;  Alice  O.,  wife  of  Calvin  McDowell,  this 
township;  Ida  C,  wife  of  Rev.  Silas  Mase; 
Lottie  E.,  Emma  J.  imd  Cora  B.,  at  home. 
Mi-s.  Hassler  has  92  acres  of  laud,  with  ex- 
cellent buildings  thereon;  she  is  a  member  of 
the  Reformi'd  Church,  as  well  as  are  all  the 
family,  except  one,  the  youngest.  There  are 
over  forty  in  the  family,  including  sons-in- 
law  and  chihhvn,  and  doing  well  in  life. 

JOHN  P.  HASSLER,  fanner;  P.  O.  Mas- 
sillon; was  born  on  the  homestead,  in  this 
township,  April  3,  1844,  the  third  child  born 
to  Joseph  and  Chai'lotte  Poorman.  He  re- 
mained at  home  until  23  years  of  age,  when 
he  was  joined  in  wedlock  with  Melissa  Har- 
mon, which  event  was  duly  celebrated  Mjirch 
7,  1867 ;  she  was  born  in  this  township,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Harmon  and  Maria  Brady,  who 
were  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  To  them  were 
born  eleven  children;  those  who  gi-ew  up 
were  Mai-y  E.,  Louisa  C,  .tVmelia  A.,  Rebecca 
J.,  Clara  C,  Melissa,  John  and  Washington; 
the  two  last-mentioned  served  as  soldiers  in 
the  Vfith  O.  V.  I.,  John  soning  three  years; 
Washington  died  on  the  battle-field.  The  [)ar- 
ents  died  in  1801,  in  October,  and  in  1853, 
respectively.  They  were  meml)(>rs  of  the  Re- 
formed Chm'ch.  Since  his  marriage,  hp  has 
resided  (m  his  fai'm,  consisting  of  75  acres  on 
the  northeast  quarter  of  Sec.  28,  which  was 
formerly  owned  by  his  father-in-law;  has  one 
child,  William  J.  5Ii\  Hassler  and  wife  are 
nier^bers  of  the  Reformed  Church. 

SYLVESTER  HIGERD,  carpenter.  West 
Brooktield;  was  born  in  Perry  Township  Aug. 
4,  1841I;  son  of  Samuel  Higerd  and  Frances 
Roush.  Samuel  was  born  Sept.  13,  1N2*),  in 
Cumberland  Co.,  Penn.;  son  of  Peter  Higerd, 
whose  father  was  a  native  of  Holland. 
Frances  Roush  was  a  daughter  of  Frederick; 
she  was  l)orn  July  11,  1827,  in  Lancaster  Co., 
Penn.,  and  came  West,  to  Stark  County, 
when  she  was  young.  Samm>l  Higerd  came 
to  Ohio  about  the  year  1831,  locating  in  Perry 


KJ I  — 


802 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHE.S: 


Township,  in  l(S4(t.  where  he  has  since  resided. 
Of  foiir  chikken  liorn  to  Samuel  Higerd  and 
wife.  Sj'lvester  is  the  only  one  living.  Maxi- 
millia,  his  sister,  lived  to  be  grown,  and  mar- 
ried B.  F.  Schwier,  and  died  in  1873.  The 
mother  of  oiu-  subject  died  in  1865;  his  fa- 
ther mari'ied  the  second  time.  Sylvester  re- 
mained with  his  father  until  nearly  his  ma- 
jority. At  the  age  of  15,  he  began  work  for 
Russell  &  Co.:  his  father,  in  the  meantime, 
received  the  benefit  of  his  wages;  he  remained 
in  Russell's  employ  until  ])ast  his  majority: 
he  afterward  worked  nearly  two  yefU's  in  the 
Excelsior  works;  in  1872.  he  went  to  Brook- 
field,  where  he  has  since  resided;  for  several 
years  was  engaged  at  the  carpenter's  trade.  In 
1873,  he  married  Saliina  Gaddis,  who  was  born 
Dee.  7,  1850,  in  this  township,  daughter  of 
Thomas  L.  and  Elizabeth  (McVey)  Gaddis, 
both  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  Mr  Gaddis 
came  to  this  township  about  the  year  1 835. 
and  for  several  years  served  as  Justice  of  the 
Peace:  he  died  in  18()2.  and  his  wife  is  yet 
living.     Mi:  Higerd  continued  at  the  carpen- 

I  ter's  trade  until  18S(I.  but  since  that  time  has 
been    engaged    in   rmming    a   butcher    shop. 

I   He  vvas  elected   Township   Clerk  in  187U;  is 

I  Republican  in  polities,  and  a  member  of  Sip- 
po   Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  v..  No.  48:  he  has  three 

!   sons     Floyd  A..  Waldo  L.   and  Cliflbrd  E. 

J  SAMUEL  K  RIDER.  Justice  of  the  Peace. 
Massillon;  was  Iwru  Jan.  23,  LSll.  in  Frank- 
lin Jo..  Penn. ;  son  of  George  and  Fannie 
(Hoover)  Krider:  he  was  born  March  24. 
178;):  she  Dec.  25.  1788:  had  nine  children, 
seven  sons  and  two  daiighters.  The  gi-eat- 
grandfather  of  oiu'  subject  came  from  Ger- 
many, and  the  Hoovers  from  Switzerland.  In 
18rJ,  George,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
came  out,  with  his  son.  George,  and  Sarah: 
the  year  following,  the  Maxheimer  family 
came  out.  George  settled  on  the  farm  now 
owned  by  Jolm  Weffler;  he  died  in  1873:  he 
had  seven  sons  and  two  daughtei-s — Samuel, 
Jeremiah,  Benjamin,  John,  George,  Abraham, 
Solomon,  Sarah  and  Eliza,  the  latter,  Mrs.  A. 
J.  Stohl:  Sarah  died  in  Pennsylvania:  Sam- 
uel was  raised  on  the  fann.  and  left  home  at 
I'J:  went  to  Pennsylvania,  and  learned  the 
tailor's  trade:  returned  in  1832,  and  voted  for 
Gen.  Jackson:  Nov.  26.  1835,  he  was  man-ied 


to  Ann  Augustine,  born  Jan.  9,  1819,  in  this 
tovraship,  daughter  of  Andi-ew  and  Elizabeth 
(Slusser)  Augustine.  The  Augustines  were 
from  Maryland,  the  Slussers  fi-om  Penusyl- 
vania.  Three  chikh'en  have  been  born  to  him, 
two  of  whom  are  living-  Benjamin,  in  White- 
ley  Co.,  Ind.,  and  Charles,  at  home.  Mi\ 
Ki'ider  has  followed  his  trade,  and  has  25 
acres  of  land;  was  elected  Justice  of  the 
Peace  m  1804,  and  sen'ed  fifteen  years;  was 
School  Director  for  thirty  yeai's:  has  also  i'ej>- 
resented  his  county  in  the  State  Legislature 
three  years:  is  a  memlier  of  the  Reformer! 
Church,  and  a  Deacon  in  th(>  same:  is  a  Detu- 
oerat,  sound  and  true. 

MRS.  ROSANNA  KERSTETTER,  fanu 
ing:  P.O.  Massillcn:  wasborn  Feb.  21, 1821,  in 
Wurtemberg,  Germany:  daughter  of  George 
and  Christina  ( Abla)  Baur,  who  had  a  family 
of  foiu'  children — Catharine,  Gotlieb,  Rosanna 
and  Frederica,  the  last  named  dying  young. 
The  Baur  family  emigrated  to  America  about 
the  year  1830,  going,  first,  to  New  York 
State,  where  they  lived  six  or  seven  years, 
and  then  moved  to  Canada,  where  they  re- 
mained a  short  time,  after  which  they  came 
to  Ohio,  and  settled  in  LawTenee  Go. :  aftei-  a 
twenty  years'  residence  there,  they  moved 
to  Henry  Co.,  where  Mr.  Baur  died,  in 
1868,  his  wife  having  died  in  1831.  In 
1846,  Rosanna  was  man-itnl  to  Peter  Kor- 
stetter,  who  was  born  Oct.  2(  >,  1 794,  in 
Center  Co.,  Penn.  Peter  was  twice  married, 
first,  to  Anna  Mary  Young,  who  died,  in  1845, 
leaving  no  issue.  Mr.  Kerstetter,  the  husband 
of  Rosanna,  located  in  the  northeast  part  of 
Tuscarawas  Township,  on  115  acres  of  land 
he  received  from  his  father,  afterward  adding 
89  acres:  was  in  the  war  of  1812:  he  died  on 
his  farm  Feb.  17,  1860:  by  his  last  wife  he 
had  five  childi-en  Matilda  C,  at  home; 
George  W.,  died  in  infancy:  Mary  E..  Mi-s. 
Joseph  Chapman,  died  in  INTO:  Peter  B..  on 
the  homestead:  and  David  W.  at  home.  Ho 
was  a  member  of  the  Bajitist  Church  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  but  had  formerly  been  a 
Lutheran.  Mrs.  Kerstetter  is  a  Baptist,  \mt 
the  children  belong  to  the  United  Brethren  in 
Christ  Church.  Mr.  Kerstetter  had  formerly 
been  a  Democrat,  but  latterly  voted  the  Re- 
publican ticket.     Matilda,  w-ho  was  bom  Oct. 


!£: 


T I  ■.SCAR  A  WAS   TOW^'tellU'. 


Mi 


3,  1846,  married  Mr.  Hnrdgrove,  and  by  him 
had  one  child.  Ranals  S..  horn  April  Ki,  1808. 
Mrs.  Hardirrovo  resides  on  the  homestead  with 
her  mother. 

WILLIAM  KITZMILLER,  fiirmer;  P.  O. 
Massillon:  was  horn  in  Canton  Township,  .\ujir. 
14.  1818.  the  seventh  of  a  family  of  t-eli  chil 
dren.  His  piuvnt.s  were  Jacoh  and  Sarah 
(Kruggi  Kitzmiller:  he  was  boru  iu  Adams 
Co..  Penn..  about  1778,  and  was  a  son  of  M<ir- 
tin  Kitzmiller,  whose  father  emigrated  fi-t)m 
Germany  to  Pennsylvania  when  that  ctiuntry 
was  new.  To  Martin  Kitzmiller  was  horn 
Jacob,  Maitin,  John  and  one  daughter. 
Jacob  Kitzmiller  came  to  Stark  Coimty  in  the 
spring  of  1814;  he  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade, 
which  he  had  learned  of  his  father;  he  set- 
tled alxiut  one  mile  and  a  half  southeast  of 
C';inton,  piu'chasing  16(1  acres:  here  he  re 
mained  until  about  tlie  year  1880,  when  he 
moved  to  the  edge  of  Canton  (now  included 
within  the  city  limits):  he  died  in  1846.  a 
man  highly  respected:  was  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church,  and  was  sti'ong  in  the  prin- 
ciples embraced  by  the  Whig  ))arty.  Of  the 
children  born  him  were  Maria,  who  married 
V.  Buckius,  and  settled  in  Cimton  Townshiji 
(now  deceased):  Matilda,  of  Cantcm;  John 
settled  in  Lawrence  Townshi]),  and  died  in 
1881:  Henry  died  in  Newark.  Ohio,  in  1865: 
Rebecca  is  the  wife  of  John  Buckius,  of  Can- 
ton; Jacob  is  in  Ciinton  also:  William,  in 
Tuscarawas  Town.shii):  Sarah.  Mrs.  William 
Kelly,  of  Salem,  Cohimliiana  ('o. :  I'-dward,  in 
Pickaway,  Miami  Co.,  this  State:  Lucinda, 
now  the  wife  of  Jacob  Booker,  of  Massillon. 
William  remained  with  his  father  until  2'' 
years  of  age.  March  12,  184(',  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Anna  Shilling,  who  was  bom  in  this 
township  in  1821.  daughter  of  .\daiii  Shilling, 
who  was  born  in  Franklin  Co..  I'eiin..  Feli.  1 1. 
1792.  and  came  West  in  1816.  to  Stark  County, 
and  settled  in  this  township.  After  Mr.  Kitz- 
miller was  marri<>d,  he  lived  two  years  on  the 
homestead:  then  moved  to  Lawrenc<>  Town- 
ship: lived  elevt'U  years;  then  I'etiu-ned  to 
Canttm,  where  he  lived  until  18(15.  when  he 
came  to  this  township:  is  a  Re|'ublican.  and 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

HENRY  J.  LONAS,  fiumer:    P.    O.    Na- 
viure:    born   March   4,    184(\    in    Bethlehem 


Township,  the  second  child  of  a  family  of 
thirteen  chilibvn;  his  father.  John  W.  Loua.s, 
was  born  in  1811,  in  Shenandoah  Co..  Ya. ; 
he  mari'ied  L(<ah  Huiitsb(>rger,  wliosc;  father, 
John  Huntsl)erger,  was  a  native  of  Yirginia 
but  of  (German  descent.  The  father  of  our 
subject  emigrat<'d  West,  to  Ohio,  locating  in 
Stark  County  in  the  fall  of  18H'J,  purchasing 
scneral  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Bethlehem 
township,  and  remained  a  constant  resident 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  Aug.  IS, 
IS71I,  while  on  a  visit  to  Htmtingtou,  Ind. ; 
he  was  a  man  highly  resjiected  in  the  commu- 
nity; was  for  many  yeiU's  a  member  and  elder 
in  the  (iermau  Reformed  Church:  his  wife 
survived  him  until  May  2-5,  1S7();  of  the  chil- 
dren born  them  now  living,  are  S;u'ah  C.,  th(> 
wife  of  John  H.  Geseman:  Henry  J.,  iu  Tus 
carawas  Township;  M;u\v  J.,  miuried  Jacob 
ICrberly,  of  Bethlehem  Townshi));  Barbara  R. 
A.,  wife  of  S.  B.  Leighley,  also  of  Bethlehem; 
Webster  and  John  in  same  townshi]):  Sanuiel, 
in  Perry:  Julia  Ann,  now  in  Huntington  Co., 
Ind.,  the  wife  of  Josejih  Adams;  Sarah,  now 
Mrs.  John  H.  (xeseman,  in  Indiana.  Henry 
J.,  remained  at  home  until  he  was  2.')  years  of 
age;  Feb.  28,  bSC),").  maiTied  Sarah  (leseman, 
who  was  born  iu  LawTence  Township,  Dec. 
15.  1818,  being  the  fourth  of  a  family  of  sev- 
en childi-en,  born  to  Samuel  and  Mjiry  (Har- 
klerode)  Lona,s;  he  was  born  in  Franklin  Co., 
Penn.,  in  181(1;  she  in  same  State  in  the  year 
1818;  were  married  m  Pennsylvania,  and 
came  West,  settling  in  Lawrence  Township  on 
a  farm,  remaining  here  until  about  1855,  when 
they  moved  t<i  Bethlehem  Township;  since 
March.  1881.  have  resided  in  Huntington  Co., 
Ind.  The  children  born  them  are  John,  ^Nlary, 
Sarah,  Jacob,  M.u-garet,  Rebecca  and  Sanjuel. 
all  of  whom  reside  in  Indiana,  except  Mrs. 
Louiis  and  Mary,  who  reside  in  Bethlehem 
Township.  Mr.  Lonas  moved  on  the  f;irm  he 
now  owns  iu  1865,  hiiving  init  1?25(1  when  he 
came;  afterward  received  !?2,7(MI  from  his 
father;  then  went  in  debt  .?8,75(t:  jifterward, 
$5,4()(t:  has  now  160  acres,  all  paid  for  and 
well  im])roved,  which  he  has  been  oflered 
SI  U)  per  acre;  coal  has  been  found  on  his 
hmd,  which  has  enhanced  its  value;  he  has 
two  children — Laura  .\.  and  Nettie  J.;  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Reformed  Chm-ch. 


;^ 


^. 


804 


BIOGHAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


JACOB  LUTZ,  farmer;  P.  O.  Massillon; 
was  bom  Aug.  2i\  1S17,  in  Lancaster  Co., 
Penn.,  the  oldest  child  of  Christian  Liitz,  who 
married  a  Lohman,  his  mother  dying  when 
Jacob  was  but  4  weeks  old.  Om-  subject  was 
raised  by  his  uncle,  Mr.  Foreman,  who  located 
in  Perry  Township  when  Jacob  was  5  years 
old,  and  with  whom  he  remained  until  the 
uncle  died,  in  I8r)7.  Jacob's  father  moved 
out  several  years  afterward,  and  settled  in 
this  cormty,  from  where  he  removed  to  Craw- 
ford County,  and  finally,  to  Williams  County, 
where  he  died,  in  1S70.  Jacob  Lutz  was 
married,  to  Polly  Riggle,  born  in  Lancaster 
Co.,  Penn.,  daughter  of  Martin  Riggle,  fi-om 
which  Lmiou  has  resulted  one  child,  Laiu-a, 
now  Mrs.  Adam  Miller,  of  this  township;  he 
has  88  acres  of  excellent  land,  and  is  a  Re- 
publican. 

WILLIAM  MOFFITT,  farmer;  P.  O. 
Massillon;  was  born  March  12,  1815,  in  Mid- 
dletown,  Washington  Co.,  Penn.,  being  the 
third  of  a  family  of  six  childi'en,  born  to  his 
parents,  Peter  and  Mary  (Snee)  Moffitt.  The 
grandsire  of  William  was  born  in  England; 
his  childi'en  were  Robert,  William,  Noah, 
Peter,  Catharine  and  Mrs.  Porter.  Peter 
Moffitt  was  a  native  of  County  Donegal,  Ire- 
land, born  about  the  year  1781 ;  his  wife,  Mary 
Snee,  was  a  native  of  the  same  county  as 
himself,  but  born  ten  years  later;  she  was  a 
daughter  of  William  Snee,  whose  wife  was 
killed  in  a  storm;  their  childi'en  were  as  fol- 
lows: Mary,  Nancy,  William,  James  and  Sarah. 
Peter  Moffitt  emigrated  to  America  about  the 
year  1800,  when  a  single  man,  landing  in 
Baltimore;  his  brother,  Noah,  had  preceded 
him  several  years.  Peter  was  a  chair-maker 
by  ti'ade,  which  vocation  he  followed  several 
years  in  Baltimore;  then  went  to  Pittsbiu'gh, 
Penn.,  where  he  was  married,  about  the  year 
1808,  to  Mary  Snee,  and  subsequently  removed 
to  Washington  Co.,  Penn;  thence  to  Smith- 
field,  Jefferson  Co.,  in  1817,  remaining  al)out 
two  years;  then  to  New  Philadeljihia,  Tusca- 
rawas Co.,  Ohio,  remaining  two  years;  next, 
to  Mt.  Eaton,  Wayne  Co.,  in  1823,  remaining 
until  1827;  thence  to  Dalton,  where  he  re- 
mained until  his  death,  which  event  occuiTed 
in  1850.  He  and  wife  were  members  of  the 
Methodist  Ejjiscopal  Church,  the  latter  having 


been  fifty- eight  years  a  member.  William's 
father  being  poor,  was  unable  to  give  his  son 
anything  but  his  blessing  and  his  good  will; 
leaving  home  at  12,  he  went  to  live  with  his 
imcle,  with  whom  he  lived  until  17  years  of  age; 
then  leaving,  apprenticed  himself  to  learn  the 
shoemaker's  trade,  which  he  followed  some 
time;  afterward  sold  goods;  in  1889,  married 
Luciuda,  born  in  this  township,  Feb.  26, 
18U),  on  Sec.  23,  only  daughter  of  Nathan 
Eldi'idge  and  Elizabeth  Thacker,  both  being 
natives  of  Essex  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  came  West, 
in  1811,  locating  in  tliis  township;  in  1828, 
moved  to  Dalton,  and  kept  store  until  1843; 
then  located  on  northwest  quarter  of  Sec.  23, 
now  owned  by  Mr.  Moffitt,  who  came  here  with 
his  father-in-law,  and  has  been  a  constant 
resident.  Mr.  Eldridge  died  in  Febmary, 
1851;  his  wife,  Sept.  18,  1864.  Elizabeth 
Thacker  was  born  in  1795;  she  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Stephen,  of  Esses  Co.,  N.  Y.  The 
Thacker  family  located  in  Brookfield,  this 
township,  in  1815.  To  Peter  Moffitt  and  wife 
were  born  eight  chikh'en,  all  of  whom  grew 
to  man  and  womanhood,  who  were  Cathai'ine, 
who  was  the  wife  of  Rufus  Hardy,  of  Massil- 
lon ;  also  Valentine,  who  served  as  Captain  in 
Company  E,  120th  O.  V.  I.;  was  a  prisoner 
several  months  in  Texas;  he  had  also  foui- 
sons  who  sei'ved  all  through  the  rebellion,  and 
came  home  unscathed.  William  died  Octo- 
ber, 1868.  Next  in  order  comes  William, 
then  Noah,  Benjamin,  Wesley,  and  James, 
who  died  in  the  service  of  his  country;  Noah 
settled  in  Dalton ;  Benjamin  in  Richland 
County;  Wesley  in  Michigan,  Genesee  Co.; 
the  last  of  the  family  was  Ann  Eliza,  who 
man-ied  John  Fletcher.  Mr.  AVilliam  Moffitt 
has  had  three  children  born  him;  but  two  ai-e 
living;  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  James  Fletcher,  of 
Dalton;  Nathan,  now  on  the  farm;  he  was  a 
member  of  Company  I,  76th  O.  V.  I. ;  was 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Ai-kimsas  Bluff,  and 
was  discharged  on  account  of  disability;  Mary 
died  at  the  age  of  20;  Mr.  Moffitt  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  he 
and  wife,  and  Nathan;  daughter  and  husband 
of  the  Presbyterian. 

SAMUEL  MILLER,  farmer;  P.  O.  Mas- 
sillon; was  born  Oct.  15,  1828,  in  this  town- 
ship, the   youngest  of  nine  children,  born  to 


rrscvKAWAs  township. 


805 


Frederick  and  Rebecca  (Dewalt-Hess)  Miller; 
he  was  lx)rn  in  Center  Co.,  Penn.,  coming 
West,  locating  in  this  ttjwnshij),  and  purchas- 
ing !()()  acros  of  land,  npon  which  he  remained 
until  he  died,  which  event  occurred  in  Novem- 
ber, 1857;  that  of  his  wife  in  October,  18f57. 
Stunuel,  our  subject,  remained  at  home 
until  21  years  of  age.  Oct.  24,  1849,  he  was 
married  to  Nancy  Kurtz,  bom  in  Lawi-ence 
Townslii]!  Aj)ril  '11,  183l',  daughter  of  Adam 
and  E(>b('cca  (Steele)  Kurtz.  After  the  mar- 
riage of  Samuel,  he  moved  on  land  his  father 
gave  him,  iipon  which  he  lived  until  187(5, 
then  moved  to  where  he  now  lives.  He  had 
four  children — Absalom,  Amanda,  wife  of 
Theodore  Princehom,  Adam  S.,  Itebecca,  Mi-s, 
Pester  Kerstetter.  Mr.  Miller  has  325  acres, 
besides  (U)  acres  of  coal  land.  For  several 
years  he  labored  industriously  and  persist- 
ently, and  was  linally  rewarded  by  the  devel- 
opment of  a  mine  that  pays  him  a  hpa^'y  roy- 
alty, reachi ng  as  high  as  ^5,( )( H )  quarterly.  In 
liSt)4,  he  enlisted  in  Ci)mj)any  E,  178th  O.  V. 
I.,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
Himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  as  were  also  his  motlier  and  father. 
He  has  always  voted  the  Republican  ticket 

JOHN  McMILLEN,  farmer;  P  O.  East 
Greenville;  was  born  Nov.  14,  1817,  in  Jeflfer- 
Bon  County,  near  Richmond,  the  eighth  child 
of  John  P.  and  Catharine  (Moore)  McMillen, 
he  bom  in  Westmoreland  Co.,  Penn.,  in  1775, 
son  of  John,  a  native  of  Ireland,  she  in  Mer- 
cer Co.,  Penn.,  daugliter  of  John  Moore,  also 
a  native  of  the  Emerald  Isle.  John  P.,  the 
father  of  oiu*  subject,  came  to  Ohio  when  he 
was  2()  years  of  age  (ISOI),  and  located  in 
this  (!ounty,  buying  2(10  acres  of  laud,  which 
he  afterward  traded  for  mill  property,  ;md 
then  sold  out  and  bought  \W  acres  of  land 
in  this  township,  in  1829.  When  he  came 
here  there  was  but  little  improvement,  but  he 
s(>ttled  and  remained  upon  the  land  until 
184(5,  when  he  moved  to  Fredericksburg, 
Wayne  Co.,  where  ho  lived  until  his  death, 
which  occtuTed  Jan.  20,  1851.  He  was  an 
active  member  of  the  Prtisl)yterian  Church 
from  his  2(5th  year;  was  a  Whig,  and  raised 
the  first  barn  in  the  township,  without  whisky; 
his  wife  died  July  13,  18(57;  they  had  live 
children,  foiu-  of  whom   grew  to  maturity- 


Mary  maiTied  Jacob  Mandeville,  in  Morrow 
County;  Alexander  died  in  Lebanon.  May  4, 
1875;  was  a  physician;  John,  our  subject,  on 
the  homestead;  James,  in  Akron.  Our  sub- 
ject remained  with  his  parents  and  farmed, 
since  1S45.  Sept.  9,  1845,  he  was  married  to 
Rebecca  Kraj^pensberger,  born  in  Tuscarawas 
County  Jan.  1,  1825,  daughter  of  William 
and  Nancy  (Beals)  Kraiipensberger;  he  from 
Westmoreland  Co.,  Penn.,  and  she  from  York 
Co.,  Penn.  Mr.  McMilleu  has  been  continu- 
ously on  the  farm  since  he  hiis  been  here;  he 
has  four  children — Warner  P.,  physician, 
Fort  Wayne,  Ind. ;  DeWitt  H.,  physician. 
West  Lebanon,  Wayne  Co. ;  Hadassah,  Mrs. 
M.  F.  Brown,  a  widow;  Nancy  E.,  a  school- 
teacher. Mr.  McMillen  has  1(50  acres  of  laud; 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Methodist  E])isco- 
pal  Church  since  1859;  also  Steward  of  this 
church;  was  first  a  Whig;  at  present  a  Re- 
publican; never  missed  but  one  election. 

WILLIAM  MAXHIMER,  farmer:  P.  O. 
Pigeon  Run.  Among  the  prominent  farmers 
and  early  residents  of  the  township,  is  Mr. 
Maxhimer,  who  was  born  Aug.  2(5,  1818,  in 
Franklin  Co.,  Penn.,  the  eldest  of  a  family  of 
eight  children,  five  of  whom  grew  to  maturity 
— William,  Eliza,  Amanda,  John  and  ben- 
jamin, the  result  of  the  union  of  Christian 
and  Nancy  (Krider)  Maxhimer.  Christian 
was  born  in  179(5,  Oct.  H\  in  Franklin  Co., 
Penn.,  and  was  a  son  of  William,  who  had  a 
family  of  six  children  John,  Christian, 
Jacob,  Elizabeth,  Mary  and  Catharine.  Nancy 
was  bom  in  March,  179(3,  in  Franklin  Co., 
Penn.,  daughter  of  George  Krider,  a  native 
of  Virginia.  William,  our  subject,  came  We.st, 
with  his  parents,  when  he  was  2  years  (jld 
(1820),  and  located  in  this  township,  living 
in  a  stable  until  better  quarters  could  be  ob- 
tained; they  located  on  Sec.  27,  piu'cbasing 
100  acres  of  unim])roved  land,  and  with  no 
roads  leading  lo  it;  he  remained  on  this  farm 
(51  vear.s,  removing  to  Orrville,  Wayne  Co.,  in 
the  spring  of  1881 ;  his  wife  died  in  1870;  he 
has  been  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  in 
Christ  (!!hurch  for  forty  years;  was  an  ardent 
Whig,  but  is  now  a  stanch  Republican.  Our 
sul)ject  has  always  remained  at  home;  in 
April,  1844,  he  married  Elizabeth  Colo,  liorn 
in  Jefferson  Co.,  Ohio,  in   182(5,  daughter  of 


-ji! 


806 


BIOfiKAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Joshua  ami  Oaroliue  (Armstrong)  Cole,  he 
horn  in  cast  i)art  of  that  State,  in  1800.  she 
in  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Maxhimer  has  had 
live  ehiklren  born  to  him,  foni-  of  whom  are 
still  living — Cecelia.  Mrs.  Nathan  Moffitt; 
Clariuda.  Mrs.  Leonard  Slusser:  Franklin  F., 
of  Wayne  County,  and  Sheridan.  Mr.  Max- 
himer has  served  as  To^\Tishij)  Trustee  sev- 
eral years,  and  as  Clerk  one  year:  has  90 
acres  of  laud  with  excellent  improvements:  is 
a  Republican. 

REV.  S.  MASE,  minister.  Massillon:  was 
bom  in  1848,  in  Tuscarawas  Townshij).  the 
second  of  the  children  of  John  and  Mary 
(Crider)  Mase;  born  Dec.  24,  18'20:  he  was 
bom  March  9,  1822,  in  Bethlehem  Township, 
this  county,  son  of  William  Mase,  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania.  Mary  was  a  daui;;hter  of  Mar- 
tin. To  John  and  Mary  were  born  three  chil- 
dren— John,  Jr.,  in  Hardin  Count}':  Rev.  S., 
Rosanna  E.,  Mrs.  Georf^e  Caylor,  this  town- 
ship. Rev.  S.  left  home  at  the  age  of  24, 
when  he  started  first  t  o  Mt.  Union  College, 
afterward  going  to  Heidelberg,  where  he  com- 
2)leted  his  course;  in  1878,  he  took  chai'ge  of 
four  congregations — New  Jemsalem  and  St. 
Johns,  this  township;  St.  James,  in  Sugar 
Creek  Township,  and  Christ's,  this  township: 
has  charge  since;  he  was  miUTied,  in  August, 
1880,  to  Ida  C.  Hassler,  born  on  the  home- 
stead in  1857,  daughter  of  -Joseph  and  Char- 
lotte Hassler.  Mr.  Mase,  being  raised  within 
the  field  of  his  present  operations,  has  jiroven 
the  old  saw,  that  "  a  prc^phet  is  not  withoixt 
honor  save  in  his  own  country,"  to  be  incor- 
rect in  his  case,  for  he  is  tilling  acceptably 
and  giving  njany  evidences  of  fruitfulness  in 
his  work,  right  in  the  midst  of  those  who  have 
known  him  fi'om  his  ci-adle. 

JOHN  McINTOSH,  fm-mer;  P.  O.  Navarre; 
is  a  native  of  Perry  Township:  bom  Aug.  10, 
1825,  being  the  foiu'th  of  the  family,  and  the 
eldest  son  of  John  Mcintosh  and  Elizabeth 
Donot.  John  Mcintosh  was  born  in  Ireland; 
came  to  Perry  Township  about  the  year  1820; 
he  died  about  the  year  1828;  his  wife  mar- 
ried Ludwick  Yoimg,  and  the  children  were 
put  out.  Our  subject  lived  some  time  with 
Mr.  Donot,  his  relative:  afterward  with  Mr. 
Bixler;  he  learned  the  plasterer's  trade, 
which  vocation  he  followed  for  thirty  years; 


Oct.  23,  1849,  was  married  to  Anna  Bixler, 
who  was  bom  Feb.  15,  1881,  in  Perry  Town- 
ship, (laughter  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth 
(Mock)  Bixler,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 
Mr.  Bixler  was  among  the  early  settlers;  he 
assisted  building  the  Ohio  Canal.  The  first 
land  Mr.  Mcintosh  purchased  was  25  acres  in 
Bethlehem  Township,  afterward  adding  to 
the  same:  came  to  this  township  in  18<56,  pur- 
chasing 95  acres  at  $75  per  acre,  of  Mr.  Cres- 
inger.  Ten  children  were  born,  eight  living 
— Ahnira,  wife  of  John  Whitmore:  Frances, 
wife  of  Mr.  Miller,  in  Sugar  Creek  Township; 
Samuel,  Amanda,  Sarah,  John  S.  (telegraph 
operator),  Milton  J.  and  Clara  A.  Those  who 
died  were  Franklin,  when  a  lialie,  and  Peter, 
who  was  nearly  18  years  of  age  at  the  time  of 
his  death.  Ml".  Mcintosh  has  now  168  acres 
of  land,  which  is  located  in  the  southeast 
quai-ter  of  See.  86;  is  a  member  (jf  the  Re- 
formed Church.  Mr.  Bixler,  father  of  Mrs. 
Mcintosh:  resides  in  Bethlehem  Township, 
and  is  now  86  years  of  age. 

DAVID  MILLER,  farmer;  P.  O.  West 
Brooktield:  was  liorn  in  Center  Co..  Penn., 
Aug.  22,  1815,  the  fourth  child  born  to  Fred- 
erick Miller.  David  came  West,  with  his 
parents,  when  8  years  of  age,  and  settled  in 
this  township.  David  stayed  at  home  until 
21  years  of  age,  and  at  22  married  Sarah 
Oberlin.  born  in  this  township  July  22,  1818, 
daughter  of  John  Ob--rlin,  and  sister  of  C.  N. 
Oberlin,  of  Massillon.  After  maiTiage,  they 
moved  to  this  place,  where  thej'  have  since 
resided.  He  began  fanning  for  others  on  the 
"shares,"  but  now  owns  114  acres  of  good 
land;  he  has  eleven  children-  Frederick,  at 
home;  John,  this  township:  Rebecca,  Mrs. 
John  Packard,  this  township:  Catharine,  Mrs. 
Jacob  Myers,  this  townshiji;  Amelia,  Mrs. 
George  Kendrick,  in  Crawford  Co.,  111. ;  Israel, 
same  county;  Caroline,  Mi's.  John  Asleman, 
in  Kansas:  Alice,  Mrs.  David  Mattey,  -Jeffer- 
son: David,  at  home:  Sai'ah,  at  home.  Mr. 
Miller  sent  three  sons  to  the  war,  all  of  whom 
came  safely  home:  he  and  wife  are  members 
of  the  German  Refcn'med  Church. 

JACOB  NEWSTETTER,  farmer;  P.  O. 
Massillon:  was  born  Ai)ril  9,  1880,  in  this 
township,  on  Sec.  12:  son  of  Heniy  and 
Susan  (Voris)  Newstetter.      Jacob  remained 


TUSCARAWAS   TOWNSHIP. 


807 


under  the  parental  roof  until  23  years  of  aj^e; 
in  June,  1853,  he  was  married  to  Amanda 
Km-tz,  who  was  born  Feb.  IS,  1840,  in  Law- 
rence Townshi]).  daughter  of  Adam  Kiuiz  and 
Rebecca  Steeh':  in  the  fall  of  ]Sr)4,  he  moved 
to  Lawrence  Township,  where  he  lived  nine 
years  on  the  Kurtz  farm;  returned  to  this 
townshi])  in  the  fall  of  1865,  locatinij  on  the 
Grattz  fann,  situated  on  the  northeast  c(u;ir- 
ter  of  Sec.  21.  where  lie  has  since  lived;  has 
121  acres;  has  had  tkree  diildren  born  him, 
two  living — David  F..  married,  and  resides 
in  Greenville:  Mcnetty.  at  home.  Tlie  New- 
stetter  family  ai'e  all  loyal  Eepublicans  from 
the  ancestors  down  to  the  last  gi'Ut^ration. 

W.  DALLAS  OBERLLN.  fann.>r;  P.  O. 
Dalton:  is  a  son  of  Peter  Olierlin.  wlio  was 
born  in  this  to^vnship.  on  Sec.  Ill,  Jan.  2'J, 
1820,  and  raised  in  this  to\vnship.  He  mar- 
ried Lydia  Lichty.  who  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, a  daughter  of  John  aud  Maiy  (SchlootI 
Lichty.  wlio  raised  fotu-  children  —Abram  L., 
Susau.  M.-irtha  and  Lydia.  Susan  married 
John  Cully,  of  Sugar  Creek  Tp.,  Wayne  Co.. 
Ohio;  Mai-tha,  wife  of  Jacob  Slaymau,  and 
resides  in  (,'arroll  Co..  111.;  Abram  L.  resides 
in  the  same  county  and  State.  The  Lichty 
family  came  West,  to  Ohio,  about  the  year 
1825.  Peter  Oberlin  removed  to  Wood 
Coiuity,  this  State,  about  ISUi,  where  he  re- 
mained sevei-al  years;  then  located,  several 
years,  in  Sugar  Creek  T]i..  Wayne  Co.;  finally 
located  permanently  in  this  township,  on  the 
northwest  (pim'ter  of  Sec.  2S.  in  this  tt)\\niship, 
where  he  remained  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  Febnuuy,  1872;  he  was  a  member 
of  the  Reformed  Church,  and  Elder  in  the 
same  for  several  ye:u-s,  and  was  an  active  worker 
in  the  Simday-school  cause;  was  Superintend- 
dent;  his  wife  yet  survives  him,  and  remains 
on  the  homestead,  in  this  township.  They 
had  five  children-  Simiantha.  W.  Dallas, 
Otilia,  wife  of  Peter  Poorman.  in  Sugar  Creek 
Township,  tliis  county,  Joseph  and  Ira  J. 
AV.  Dallas  was  born  in  Wood  (bounty,  this 
State;  received  llic  advantages  of  the  common 
schools  and  the  high  .school,  at  Smithville 
aud  Lexington:  at  the  age  of  19,  he  began 
teaching,  and  has  taught  twelve  terms  and  is 
a  successful  t<'acher.  June,  18GU.  he  mai-ried 
Hadassah  Hassler,  who  was  born  in  this  town- 


ship, daughter  of  Josejih  Hassler;  has  one 
child — Anson  Leroy;  is  a  member  of  the 
Refonned  Church,  and  a  Democrat;  has  aban- 
doned teaching,  and  is  giving  his  time  entire- 
Iv  to  farming. 

■  AVILLLVM  E.  OBERLIN,  Massillon;  was 
born  in  Tuscarawas  Township,  Mai'ch  '.),  1822, 
the  sixth  son  in  order  of  birth,  bom  to  Peter 
and  Susanna  (Cramer)  Oberlin.  Oiu'  suljji'ct 
was  raised  to  farming,  attending  the  district 
schools,  aud  tinishing  his  education  in  the 
academy,  at  Wooster;  for  some  time  taught 
school  and  clerked  for  variotis  thins,  after 
which  he  went  to  Wooster  to  school,  and  tliere 
resumed  teaching,  having  taught,  all  told, 
sixteen  terms.  In  October,  1852,  he  married 
Susan  Dague,  born  in  Lancaster  Co..  Penn., 
in  1832.  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Maria  (Over- 
ley)  Dague.  The  Dague  family  came  to 
Waj-ne  County  in  1837.  .\fter  the  man-iage 
of  our  subject,  he  purcliased  a  ^mall  pifce  of 
land,  cm  which  he  lived  five  years,  when  he 
sold  it  aud  moved  to  his  ()resent  i)hice,  of  70 
acres,  known  as  "Stand's  Fai-m."  having  in 
all  about  140  acres;  he  has  fom-  children — 
Otto  E.,  .41bert  B..  Charles  1).  and  Jennie  M. 
Mr.  Oberlin  was  elected  Township  Assessor 
about  1854.  aud  served  thi'ee  terms;  served 
also  as  Ju.-^tice  of  the  Peace  from  1857.  and 
was  re-elected  in  1881 :  also  as  Township 
Treasiu-er  nineteen  years;  has  administnited 
on  several  estates,  and  been  giuu'diau  for  ten 
persons;  he  has  always  b(>eu  a  Democrat,  and 
is  a  member  of  the  Reform«>d  Chmch. 

JOSEPH  OBERLIX,  farmer;  P.  O.  West 
Brooktield;  was  born  July  5,  182(5,  on  Sec.  19, 
Tuscarawas  Tj>.,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio.  He  is  the 
seventh  son  born  to  Peter  Oberlin,  who  was  a 
son  of  Adam  and  Eve  Oberlin.  who  won* 
among  the  (>arly  ]uoneers  of  TusciU'awas 
Towushiji.  Jos(>ph  was  raised  to  man's  estate 
under  the  jiarent^l  roof,  having  received  good 
school  advant<iges.  he  imjiroved  the  sjuue,  by 
teaching  th(^  young  ideas  of  tlie  neigliborhood 
for  several  years.  In  February,  1S53,  he 
caught  the  gold  fever  aud  spent  foiu-  years 
and  a  half  in  California,  where  he  was  mostly 
engaged  in  mining,  rettu-niug  to  Stark  County 
in  1857.  Dec.  2(»,  18(i0,  he  mai-ried  Miu-y 
Clmstman,  born  July  3(\  1S3S.  in  this  town- 
ship,   daughter   of    John    Christmau.    whose 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


wife's  maideu  name  was  Margaret  Fisher. 
John  Christman  was  horn  Feb.  17,  ISll,  in 
Mt.  Pleasant  Tji..  Westmoreland  Co..  Penn., 
son  of  Jacob,  who  had  seven  childi-en  born 
him.  John  being  the  eldest.  Jolm  Christman 
was  married  May  Ifi.  ISHH,  to  Margaret 
Fisher,  who  was  born  in  IS  11.  in  Westmore- 
land Coimty.  Mr.  Christman  emigrated  to 
this  State  in  ISSa.  and  purchased  1(50  acres 
in  Tuscarawas  Township,  upon  which  he  has 
since  lived  Mrs.  Oberlin  died  Jixne  9.  1'S7y. 
leaving  four  children — Ai'thur  C.  Anna  M., 
Inez  R.  and  Mary  L.  After  Mr.  Oberlin's 
marriage  he  moved  on  the  homestead,  where 
he  lived  several  years.  He  has  now  1(H)  acres 
on  See.  19.  Since  18(59,  he  has  resided  with 
his  father-in-law,  Mr.  Christman.  Mr.  Ober- 
lin is  a  member  of  the  Gennan  Reformed 
Chnrch. 

JOHN  POORMAN,  farmer;  P.  O.  Massillon; 
was  bom  Feb.  7,  1S25,  near  Chambersbm-g, 
Franklin  Co..  Penn.,  the  youngest  of  a  family 
of  ten  chikh-en.  His  parents  were  Peter  and 
Mary  (Richard)  Poormau.  Our  subject  came 
to  this  township  with  his  parents  in  the  fall 
of  ]  828.  his  father  purchasing  320  acres  of 
land  located  on  Sec.  28.  for  which  he  paid  $8 
per  acre.  The  farm  was  then  in  a  wild  con- 
dition, a  large  portion  of  which  he  made  pro- 
ductive, remaining  on  thi»  same  until  FebiTi- 
ar^,  1842;  his  wife  sin-vived  him  just  twenty 
years.  Of  nine  childi'en  left  at  their  decease, 
were  Rachel,  wife  of  Jacob  Hiunberger.  of 
Massillon;  Leah.  Mi's.  Jacob  Culler:  ('har- 
lotte,  Mrs.  Joseph  Hassler  and  John  of  this 
townshij):  David,  in  Defiance  Coimty:  Mary. 
now  Mrs.  Joshua  Kilgore.  of  Noble  Co.,  Ind. ; 
Susanna,  wife  of  Jacob  Stair,  of  Elkhart  Co., 
Ind.:  Barbai'a  married  George  Feighner,  of 
Macomb  Co..  Mich.:  Peter,  in  Effingham  Co., 
111.  Our  subject  was  raised  on  the  farm  he 
now  lives  upon.  In  November.  1844.  he  was 
married  to  Caroline  Kelker,  who  was  born  in 
1824,  in  Franklin  County,  daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Elizabeth  (Schertzer)  Kelker,  who  came 
West  to  Ohio  about  the  year  1835.  locating 
in  Richland  County,  wlierc  they  resided 
about  two  years,  then  moved  to  Springfield, 
and  subsequently  to  this  township  where  they 
died.  Mi-s.  Poorman  died  in  August,  1871, 
leaving   seven    childi-en — Jacob    L.,  Martha, 


Peter  L.,  William  H..  Franklin  F.,  Charles  E. 
and  Clara  F. :  Elizabeth,  deceased;  Jacob  now 
resides  in  Reno  Co..  Kan.;  Peter  L.,  in  Sugar 
Creek  Township:  the  others  are  residents  of 
this  township.  May  25,  1875,  he  married 
Mrs.  Naomi  A.  Augstadt,  who  was  born  in 
this  township,  A]n-i\  10,  1839,  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Anna  (Birchfield)  Sliisser.  Mrs. 
Poorman  was  first  married  to  Ben  F.  Max- 
heimer,  and  by  him  had  three  children.  Sam- 
uel Slusser  was  born  in  1810  in  this  township; 
said  to  lie  the  first.  He  was  a  son  of  Peter 
Slusser  and  died  Jan.  2Ci,  1803.  Mr.  Poor- 
man  has  110  acres  of  land.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Lutheran  Chiu'ch,  of  which  his  father 
was  one  of  the  founders.  He  has  always  been 
a  Repulilican;  has  served  twelve  years  as 
Township  Trustee,  and  Clerk  five.  In  1873, 
he  was  elected  County  Commissioner  and 
served  six  years. 

GEORGE  RALSTON,  fai-mer;  P.  O.  West 
Brookfield;  was  born  in  Lebanon,  Lebanon  Co., 
Penn.,  Dec.  24.  182(),  the  fifth  child  born  to 
William  and  Jane  (Roach)  Ralston.  William 
being  born  near  Marietta,  Penn..  son  of 
Josejih,  who  was  a  native  of  England.  Jane 
Roach  was  a  daughter  of  John,  a  native  of 
Germany,  who  came  to  Pennsylvania  when 
young,  locating  in  Lancaster  County.  Joseph 
Ralston  had  six  chikh'en — Rebecca,  HaiTiet, 
Eliza,  William,  Joseph  and  David.  John 
Roach  had  a  family  of  two  children  by  first 
wife — James  and  Maria.  Our  subject  came 
West  when  he  was  but  8  years  of  age  with  his 
parents,  who  located  in  this  township,  liuying 
53  acres,  where  he  lived  foiu'  years:  then 
moved  to  West  Brookfield  in  1839,  stayed  one 
yeai',  and  the  following  settled  on  the  farm 
now  owned  by  George.  Our  subject  was  mar- 
ried Oct.  24,  1850.  to  Margaret  M.  Cook,  born 
in  Canada  in  1827,  daughter  of  John  S.  Cook. 
Since  Mr.  R.  was  married  he  has  remained  on 
the  farm.  Fe  has  eight  childi'en — Leander 
D,  at  home:  Frances  M.,  Mrs.  B.  Reinoehl, 
of  this  township;  Budd,  on  the  A.  &  G.  W. 
R.  R. ;  Allen,  in  Brookfield;  Wilbiu-.  at  home; 
Clara,  Ella  and  Mary.  Since  Mi-.  R.  has 
owned  the  farm,  he  has  helped  cleai'  about  (>0 
acres.  He  has  now  81  acres.  Father  is  a 
Democrat,  boys  all  Re})ublicans.  Heniy, 
William    and  George  all  served  in  the  late 


-^ 


TISCARAVVAS    TOWN.SHIP. 


809 


w;ir.  He  is  a  member  of  Clinton  Lodge  No. 
47,  A.,  F.  &  A.  JL,  of  the  I.  O.  ().  F.,  Sii)i)o 
Lodge,  No.  48,  and  of  Em'eka  Encampment. 
Mi\  R.  has  served  as  a  meml)er  of  the  15o;u-d 
of  Education.  His  father  was  a  Freemason, 
and  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Clim-ch; 
his  wife  of  the  German  Reformed.  John  M. 
Cook,  the  father  of  the  wife  of  our  subject, 
was  born  Feb.  1,  1802;  his  wife,  July  2,  ISOl; 
he  died  April  26,  1S67;  she,  March"22.  1.S52. 
They  had  six  daughtere  and  one  son. 

ADAM  RODOCKER.  farmer;  P.  O.  Massil- 
lon;  was  born  on  Sec.  82,  northeast  cjuarter,  Tus- 
carawas Township,  May  81,  1821,  the  young- 
i>st  of  a  family  of  eight  children.  His  parents 
were  Frederick  antl  Margaret  (Oberlin)  Ro- 
docker.  The  gi-andsire  of  Adam  was  Freder- 
ick Rodocker,  who  came  from  (iermany  to 
Pennsylvania  when  three  years  of  age,  his 
father  being  one  of  the  pioncH-rs  in  Cumber- 
land Co.,  Penn.  Frederick  Sr.,  mairied  a 
lady  by  the  name  of  .Sauers,  and  by  her  had 
seven  childi'en,  viz.: — Hem-y,  Philip,  .John, 
Frederick,  Samuel  George  and  H(>nry  2d; 
Frederick,  Jr.,  was  the  father  of  Anna,  Mary, 
Samuel,  Rebecca,  Sai'ah,  John.  Lydia  and 
Adam.  Margaret  was  the  daughter  of  .\dam 
and  Ev(>  Oberlin.  whose  miuriage  was  blessed 
by  the  births  of  the  following:  Catharine, 
Barbara,  Fredoi'ick,  Margaret,  Peter,  Eve, 
John  and  Elizabeth.  Frederick,  Jr.,  tlie 
father  of  .\dam,  (-migrated  to  Ohio  in  1804, 
making  his  first  settlement  in  New  Lisbon, 
Ciiluiubiana  Co.,  where  hi;  lived  two  years, 
then  locat(>d  in  Stark  County,  ueju-  Canton, 
in  1 80(),  where  he  entered  a  quarter  section, 
remaining  on  the  same  ten  yi'^irs.  His  next 
remove  was  to  the  farm  now  owned  by  Adam, 
in  the  spring  of  18 Hi:  ime  small  cabin  was 
on  the  plac<>:  the  "'  u|)-stairs"  was  reached  by 
a  ladder  |>laeed  outside;  three  acres  only  were 
cleare<l.  Here  this  pioneer  couple  spent  the 
remainder  of  their  davs,  both  dving  of  flux  in 
18411;  his  death  was"  Sept.  24";  that  of  his 
wife  three  days  later.  They  were  pioneer 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  this 
t<nvnship.  ,\dam  has  remained  continuously 
on  the  homestead.  Was  man-ied  in  1843  t<) 
Cathiirine,  born  182fi  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Penn., 
daughter  of  George  and  Elizabeth  (Stoner) 
Ziirtman,   who   came    West   in    1837.       Mrs. 


Rodocker  died  .su<ldenly  at  her  own  gateway. 
March  28,  1881;  foiuieen  children  were  bom 
them,  ten  living,  viz.:  Angelina,  Mrs.  Theo. 
Culler:  Isaiah,  in  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio;  Samuel 
and  Henry,  in  Deliiince  County;  Melissa.  Mi-s. 
Jackson  Reese,  of  WajTie  County;  William, 
Melinda,  Peter  1'.,  Fernando  and  Clement,  at 
home.  Josiah  (now  d(H;eased)  was  a  soldier 
tlu'ee  yeai's  in  the  18th  O.  V.  I.  Isaac,  Cla- 
rissa and  Franklin  died  young.  Mi'.  Rodocker 
has  280  acres  and  is  a  successful  farmer. 

SOLOMON  REINOEHL,  farmer;  P.  O.  East 
Brookfield;  was  born  Sept.  28,  1812,  in  Lel)- 
anon  Co.,  Peim.,  the  eldest  child  born  to 
Henry  and  Catharine  (Langle)  Reinoehl. 
Solomon  early  in  life  learned  the  blacksmith's 
trade  with  his  father.  Om-  subject  came 
West  to  Ohio  in  the  fall  of  188(),  when  a  sin- 
gle man,  and  hired  out  as  journeyman  at 
iJnxjkfield,  working  several  years  as  such.  At 
the  age  of  2.")  he  was  married  to  Eliza  Kreil- 
ing,  who  was  l)oni  in  Lehigh  (,'o..  Perm., 
daughter  of  Ginjrge  Ki'eiling,  who  came  to 
Wayne  Coimty  in  1834,  and  live  years  later 
located  in  Tuscarawas  Townshi]),  this  cotmty. 
After  marriage,  Mr.  Reiiux'hl  set  up  in  busi 
ness  for  himself,  at  Brooklield,  having  at  the 
time  but  $200,  which  he  hail  saved  fi-om  his 
<'arnings-  he  continued  in  business  at  that 
place  about  twenty  years  and  then  moved  to 
the  farm  he  now  owns,  which  he  had  pm-- 
chased  of  his  father-in-law  (IVIi-.  Ivi-eiling) 
situ.ited  on  Sec.  14,  southeast  (juarter,  con- 
taining 100  acres,  where  he  has  sinire  resided. 
Of  the  children  liorn  him  six  are  living 
John,  living  with  his  father;  Robiscm,  resid- 
ing at  Brookfield,  this  townshii>;  Frank,  now 
a  law  student  with  R.  H.  Folger,  of  Massil 
Ion;  Charles,  at  home;  Catharine,  an  invalid; 
Sarah,  residing  in  Greene  Co.,  Ohio,  the  wife 
of  Amos  Huernel.  Mi'.  Reinoehl  sent  three 
sons  to  battle  for  his  country  Hiram,  George 
and  John.  Hiram  and  John  were  members  of 
the  1 04th  O.  V.  I.,  Co.  E.  George  was  a  mem 
ber  of  Co.  I,  44th  O.  ^".  I.,  and  sen-ed  three 
years  and  was  woundtnl  at  Franklin,  Tenn., 
by  a  shai'j)- shooter,  after  his  time  had  ex[)ired, 
and  died  from  the  effects  of  the  woiuid. 
Hiram  died  in  1871.  John  lost  the  sight  of 
one  of  his  eyes  while  in  service  fi'om  the  flash 
of  a  gixn.      Ml".  Reinoehl   is  now  comfortably 


'7^ 


^! 


810 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


situated  in  life,  having  a  good  home  and  a 
sufficient  competence.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  Chiu-ch. 

WILLIAM  STANSBURY.  farmer:  P.  O. 
Pigeon  Rim.  Prominent  among  the  early  arriv- 
als of  Tusciirawas  Township  is  the  Stansbiu'g 
family,  who  came  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Jeffer- 
son County  in  1810,  being  among  the  pioneers 
of  that  locality.  Our  subject  was  born  April 
2(1.  hS()7,  in  Baltimore  Co.,  Maryland,  son  of 
Elijah  Stansbury,  whose  father  William,  was 
one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Baltimore,  and 
was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 
He  raised  a  family  of  four  sous  who  were 
— Abraham.  William,  Jacob  and  Elijah: 
the  latter  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
Jacob  Eak,  a  native  of  Switzerland,  who  raised 
a  family  consisting  of  Martin.  Jacob,  John 
and  Elizabeth,  who  was  the  mother  of  Will- 
iam Stansbury.  The  Stansburj-  family  trace 
their  ancestry  to  England.  Several  mem- 
bers of  the  family  were  prominent  among 
tlie  men  of  their  time,  having  held  positions 
of  trust  in  military  and  civil  life.  Elijah 
Stansbury  came  to  this  township  in  ISll,  and 
entered  IfiH  acres  of  land  in  Sec.  35:  also  the 
same  number  of  acres  in  Canton  Towushi];. 
Ho  died  in  ISK'),  leaving  live  children,  thi-ee 
sons  and  two  daughters —Dorcas.  Tiee.  Wash- 
ington, William  and  Julia  Ann.  The  family 
were  kejat  together  by  the  mother  who  did  as 
well  by  them  as  her  slender  means  aiforded. 
She  died  at  the  advanced  age  of  95.  Her 
husband  was  a  man  possessing  abilities  above 
the  average  of  men  of  his  time — not  only  a 
man  of  education  and  refinement  but  an  excel- 
lent financier.  William  was  raised  by  his 
mother,  and  early  in  life  learned  the  chair- 
miiker's  trade  as  well  as  the  painter's  art;  he 
painted  the  first  hoiise  in  Richmond.  Jefferson 
Co.,  Ohio.  May  10.  1828,  he  married  Eliza- 
beth Armstrong,  who  was  born  Aug.  5,  1811. 
in  Lancaster  Co.,  Penn. :  her  ])arents  were  John 
and  Elizabeth  ( McKinley )  Annstrong,  the 
latter  being  of  li-ish  extraction.  The  Arm- 
strong family  came  West  to  Jefi'erson  County 
in  1814.  Caroline,  Jose])h,  Elizabeth.  Mary 
A..  Thomas.  Susan.  Benjamin  and  Martha 
were  the  childi-en  born  to  John  and  Elizabeth 
Ai-u>strong.  Immediately  after  the  marriage  of 
o\ii  subject,  he  came  to  tliis  township,  locating 


on  the  farm  he  now  owns,  and  has  since  been 
a  constant  resident  of  the  township.  Eleven  - 
children — John,  Josiah,  Joshua,  Haft,  Tice, 
Alsina.  Joseph,  Mahala  and  Alisalom  were 
the  number  who  grew  up.  Elizaljeth  and 
Thomas  died  young.  John,  Joshua  and  Haft 
in  Indiana,  the  others  in  this  towushi[). 
Tice,  in  Massillon,  marble  cutter;  Alsina,  also 
in  the  city,  and  the  wife  of  Reuben  Bireh- 
tield;  Mahala,  now  of  Canal  Fulton,  being 
the  wife  of  Daniel  Wilhelm:  .\bsalom  in  same 
place;  Joseph  resides  in  this  township.  Mr. 
Stansbury  has  124  acres  of  land.  Is  a 
stanch  Republican,  and  has  always  taken  a 
lively  interest  in  the  aflaii's  of  his  county,  as 
well  as  the  cause  of  education.  Has  been  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Ejnscopal  Church 
for  forty-five  years,  officiating  the  greater  part 
of  the  time  as  Steward. 

CHRISTIAN  SNAVELY.  fanner;  P.  O.  Pig- 
eon Run:  was  bcrn  Sept.  18,  1823,  in  Himting- 
don  (now  Blair)  Co.,  Penn..  son  of  Daniel,  who 
was  born  1793.  in  Himtingdon  Co.,  Penn.,  of 
Swiss  parentage.  To  him  were  born — David, 
Jacob,  John,  George,  Chi-istian,  Daniel,  Esther 
and  Susan.  Daniel  Snavely  married  Susaima 
Rhodes,  whose  father  was  a  large  mill  owner 
in  Huntingdon  Co.,  Penn.  To  Daniel  Snavely 
and  wife  were  l)orn  nine  children,  Sarah,  the 
wife  of  Josiah  Oberlin,  who  resides  in  Rich- 
land County;  Chi-istian,  Elizabeth,  now  de- 
ceased, who  married  Augustus  Crossland; 
Susan,  Mrs.  Isaac  Brinker,  settled  in  Bethle- 
hem Township;  Nancy,  Mrs.  Roupe,  of  Indi- 
ana; Adaline,  married  Jeremiah  (ialla;  David, 
in  Indiana;  Rachael  (deceased),  maiTied  Mr. 
Cams.  Of  the  above,  five  are  living.  Daniel 
Snavely  was  a  miller  by  trade,  also  a  manu- 
factm-er  of  gi-ain  cradles,  which  business  ho 
followed  the  gi'eater  part  of  his  life.  He 
emigxated  to  Ohio  in  1831,  locating  first  near 
Canton,  where  he  remained  until  about  the 
yccU'  1836,  when  he  located  in  Tuscarawas 
Township,  pm'chasing  75  acres  of  land  in  Sec. 
34,  costing  $15  per  acre,  where  he  remained 
until  1809,  the  year  of  his  death.  He  was  an 
unpretentious  and  unassuming  man,  a  worthy 
citizen  and  Christian  worker,  being  a  member 
of  the  United  Brethren  Chiu-ch.  Our  subject 
leai'ued  the  cradle  business  of  his  father  with 
whom  he  worked,  and  has  since  condiicted  the 


^ 


tiL 


TUSCAUAWAS   TOWNSHIP. 


business.  His  sous  havo  also  been  instructed 
in  the  same.  Mr.  Snavely  has  always 
remained  on  the  homestead.  He  vf;is  married 
Jan.  1,  1851,  to  Kosana  iVrmstrong,  who  was 
born  in  Jefferson  County,  182S,  daughter  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  (McKinley)  Armstrong, 
Mrs.  Snavely  being  the  youngest  of  the  girls. 
Seven  children  have  been  born  them-  Susanna 
E.,miirried  A.  Bughman,  of  Elkhart  Co.,  Ind.; 
Benjamin  F.,  (Jeorge  R.,  Isaac,  Daniel,  Charles 
and  Nellie  (t.,  all  of  this  town.ship.  ]\L-. 
Snavely  and  wife  are  membei-s  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church.  Has  2H"2  acres,  which  he 
carries  on  in  connection  with  his  cradle  man- 
ufacture. 

REUBEN  SNYDER,  fai-mer;  1'.  O.,  Na 
I  varre;  born  in  Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  May 
2,  1819,  son  of  Daniel  Snyder  and  Susanna 
Shroy<>r.  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania;  he 
was  a  son  of  Abraham,  a  native  of  Lancaster 
County.  The  father  of  Susanna  was  John 
Shi'oyer,  who  was  likewise  a  Pennsylvanian. 
Daniel  Snyder  wiis  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
1812,  and  eiuigi"ited  to  this  county  in  1880, 
locating  in  Bethlehem  Township  where  he 
purchased  1(50  acres  of  land,  remaining  on  the 
same  as  long  as  he  lived;  his  death  occuiTed 
in  1879;  his  wife  "passed  over"  the  year  fol- 
lowing. Eleven  children  were  bom  to  them, 
four  living — Ruben,  Catharine,  now  the  wife 
of  Thomas  Shrefler,  of  Bethlehem;  Priscilla, 
mjirried  Josejih  Snively.  who  resides  on  the 
old  homestead;  John,  in  Peny  Township. 
Daniel  Snyder  was  a  life-long  Democrat,  an 
upright  man  and  for  many  years  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  Church.  Ruijen  remained  with 
his  father  until  he  was  20  years  of  age.  In 
1854,  he  married  Eliza  Shriflor,  who  was  a 
native  of  Dauphin  Co.,  Penn.,  bom  182(3, 
daughter  of  Conrad  and  Catharin*?  (Bordner) 
Shrifler.  both  natives  of  Dau])hin  County. 
Mr.  Shrifler  served  in  the  1812  war.  After 
Mr.  Snyder  married  he  began  fanning  on  his 
own  account.  For  several  yeai-s  he  worked 
out  by  the  month  and  laViored  hard  to  secure 
means  with  which  to  enable  him  to  [)urcha8e 
a  home  of  his  own;  Ijy  diligence  and  economy, 
he  at  length  succeeded,  making  his  lii'st  piu-- 
chase  in  Bethlehem  Township  of  100  acres. 
Since  1871  has  residetl  in  Tuscarawas  Town- 
ship;  farm  situated  in  the  extreme  southeast 


corner  of  the  U)wnship.  Has  divided  out  his 
land  among  his  children,  reserving  80  acres 
where  ho  now  lives;  also  (50  acres  in  Sugar 
Creek  Township.  Of  six  childi-en  born  him 
live  are  living,  viz.:  .Vdaline,  now  Mrs.  O.  F. 
Johnson,  of  13ethlehem;  Daniel,  s;mie  town- 
ship; Finloy,  in  Pen-y;  Alice,  JL-s.  J.  C.  Kel- 
l(<r,  of  Sugar  Creek  Tp. ;  Ohio,  at  home;  John 
died  when  17  years  old.  Mr.  Snyder  is  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  Chm'ch. 

JACOB  STONER,famier;  P.O.  Pigeon  Run; 
Is  one  of  the  substantial  representatives  of 
the  old  Keystone  State.  He  was  born  in 
York  Co.,  Penn.,  in  August,  1800,  son  of 
Andrew  and  Mai'garet  (Mittman)  Stt)uer,  to 
whom  were  born  Charles,  Peter,  George, 
William,  Polly,  Jacol),  Andrew,  Christopher. 
Samuel  and  Rebecca.  Jacob,  the  subject  of 
these  lines,  emigrated  westwai'd  with  his  p<u-- 
ents  in  1818,  who  located  in  the  west  [>art  of 
Tuscarawas  Township,  pm'chasing  KiO  acres 
situated  in  the  southwest  (juarter  of  Sec.  2 1 . 
Here  thi'  jjareuts  of  Jacob  lived  until  removed 
by  death,  which  occurred  in  Jime,  1850,  his 
wife  sm-viving  him  eigliteen  yeiU's.  Jacob 
remained  on  the  homestead  until  1829,  when 
he  moved  to  the  place  where  he  now  resides, 
purchasing  the  east  half  of  the  northeast 
quarter  of  Sec.  84,  which  was  unimproved; 
here  he  has  since  lived.  His  mm'riage  with 
Peggy  Rodocker  was  crowned  by  the  bii-th  of 
ten  chiklren,  nine  of  the  number  coming  to 
matiu-ity,  the  eldest  being  Hem-y;  then  in 
order  comes  Josiah,  John,  Samuel  and  Louisa 
(twins)  Jacob,  Levi,  Jeremiah  and  Fiauna 
(twins)  and  Lovina,  all  of  whom  are  residents 
of  this  township,  e.xcept  Fianna,  who  resides 
in  Perry  (Townshiji),  wife  of  Samuel  Lonas, 
who  was  a  native  of  B(>thlehem  Townshij). 
Mr.  Stoner  has  raised  a  family  of  children, 
that  have  reflected  honor  upon  their  parents, 
all  of  whom  iu-e  maiTied  well,  and  are  thrifty 
and  prosperous  farm<^rs,  residents  of  this 
townshij).  Mr.  Stoner's  fai'm  consists  of  100 
acres;  while  in  his  81st  year,  built  a  large 
and  substantial  bank  barn  of  the  gcwd  old 
Pennsylvania  kind.  Mr.  Stoner  and  family 
ai'e  members  of  the  Ijutheran  Church. 

JOHN  W.  SHILLINO,  farmer :  P.O.  Massil- 
lon;  was  bom  Oct.  2,  1822,  in  Lawrence  Town- 
ship, he  being  the  second  of  a  family  of  nine 


^rr 


J± 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


cbiklivn.  His  father  Samuel,  was  bom  1802, 
September  16,  in  Lancaster  County,  son  of 
Jacob  Shilling,  to  whom  were  born  seven 
chiklren,  five  sons  and  two  daaghters.  The 
Shilling  family  emigrated  West  to  Stark 
County  in  1816,  locating  in  this  township. 
Samuel  man-ied  Sarah  Weaver,  who  bore  him 
the  following  children  who  gi-ew  up:  Isaac, 
who  is  a  merchant  in  Chicago,  111. :  Samuel 
and  Hem-y,  in  Cass  Co.,  Ind. :  Simon  and  John 
reside  in  California;  Emily,  married  J.  Clay- 
ton, and  Sarah,  Daniel  Drift,  both  of  Cass  Co., 
Ind.;  John  W.,  of  this  township.  Samuel 
Shilling,  the  father  of  the  above,  was  a  tailor 
by  tra<le,  which  he  followed  two  years,  remov- 
ing to  Lawi-ence  Township  in  1818,  where  he 
piu  chased  land,  and  remained  on  the  same 
until  his  death,  in  September,  1858;  he  was 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  ChiU'ch, 
and  ;i  Jackson  Democrat.  His  wife  died  in 
1872.  John  W.  lived  at  home  luitil  23,  after 
which  for  several  years  he  was  engaged  in  the 
saw  mill  and  threshing  Imsiness.  In  1854, 
caught  the  gold  fever  and  went  to  California, 
where  he  lived  until  1865;  dui'ing  this  time 
was  engaged  in  mining  and  teaming.  In 
July,  the  following  year,  married  Abigail 
Gratz,  who  was  born  in  this  township.  Her 
parents  were  Jacob  and  Sai'ah  (Kimmel) 
Gratz,  both  hailing  fi'om  Pennsylvania,  and 
came  West  to  this  township  in  1825,  locating 
on  Sec.  21.  where  he  had  piu'chased  land 
which  he  im])roved  and  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  life,  which  wont  out  1858;  his  widow- 
is  yet  living.  They  had  seven  children,  six 
daughters  and  one  son.  In  1866,  Mr.  Shilling 
located  on  the  farm  he  now  owns.  He  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
Piiliticallv,  is  Republican. 

DANIEL  SHILLING,  fai-mer:  P.  O.  Mas- 
sillon ;  was  born  in  this  township  on  the  farm 
where  he  now  lives,  Feb.  4,  1828.  the  young- 
est son  (if  Adam  Shilling  and  Mary  Koan. 
Adam  was  born  in  Franklin  Co.,  Perm.,  Feb. 
11,  1792.  His  parents  were  John  and  Bar- 
bara (Obei-lin)  Shilling.  John  Shilling's 
father  came  from  Germany  and  settled  in 
Pennsylvania  when  it  was  a  wilderness;  he 
had  several  brothers,  some  of  whom  were  capt- 
iu"ed  and  taken  off  by  the  Indians.  To  John 
and     Barbara    Shilling    were     bom    Adam, 


Jacob,  Samuel,  Peter,  John,  "Peggy"  and 
Catharine.  The  father  of  the  above  died 
when  Adam  was  a  lad  in  his  teens.  In  1816, 
he  came  Westward  to  Ohio  and  settled  in  this 
township,  and  is  yet  living,  having  seen  his 
foiu-soore  and  ten  years  (neai-ly).  To  him 
were  born  eight  children,  seven  living,  viz. : 
John,  who  resides  in  Canaan  Tp.,  Wayne  Co., 
Ohio;  Joseph,  in  De  Kalb  Co.,  Ind;  Catharine, 
now  deceased;  she  mtirried  Peter  Spangler, 
and  by  him  had  seven  children — Polly,  resides 
in  De  Kalb  Co.,  Ind.,  wife  of  George  Houk; 
Barbara  resides  in  this  township,  wife  of 
William  Kitzmiller;  Solomon,  in  De  Kalb 
Co.,  Ind.;  also  Elizabeth,  wife  of  David 
Frantz.  Adam,  the  father  of  the  above,  lives 
among  his  children,  alternating  firom  Indiana 
to  this  State.  Daniel  Shilling  being  the 
youngest,  has  always  resided  on  the  home- 
stead. In  January,  1852,  he  married  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  of  Daniel  and  Sarah  Frybor- 
yer,  who  were  from  Berks  Co.,  Penn.  Mr. 
Shilling  has  foiu-  children — Jacob,  who  mar- 
ried Miss  Overdnrf,  and  resides  in  this  town- 
ship; Laura  resides  near  Canal  Fulton,  wife 
of  Albert  Miller;  William  resides  in  De  Kalb 
Co.,  Ind.,  on  his  father's  farm;  Ettie,  the 
youngest,  at  home.  The  homestead  farm  con- 
sists of  200  acres.  The  Shilling  family  jire 
good  Republicans. 

WILLIAM  FOSTER  SLUSSER,  f aimer; 
P.  O.  Pigeon  Run.  The  Shisser  family  have 
been  tpiite  prominently  associated  with  Stark 
Coimty  as  early  settlers  and  stanch  citizens  of 
the  same.  William  Foster,  son  of  Peter  and 
Susanna  (Augustine)  Shisser,  was  born  in  this 
township  in  1822.  His  grandsire,  Phillip 
Slusser,  was  among  the  earliest  pioneers  in 
the  county;  he  came  West  to  Canton  from 
PennsylvEmia,  and  there  settled  when  there 
was  but  little  promise  of  its  future  as  an 
inland  town.  Peter  Slusser  located  one  mile 
south  of  Brookfield,  this  township,  in  1809, 
where  he  remained  until  his  death  (1865); 
his  wife  died  five  years  previous.  Mr.  Slusser 
was  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him,  being 
worthy  of  the  respect,  with  which  he  was  held 
in  the  cominimity  of  which  he  was  so  long  a 
representative— both  as  citizen  and  a  Chris- 
tian gentleman,  having  been  a  consistent  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for 


^1^ 


rrsCARAWAS    TOWNSHIP. 


miiny  yeai-s.  Ten  children  were  bom  him, 
three  oi  whom  are  livinj; — Williimi  Foster, 
Geori^e  and  Elizabeth,  of  Hillsboio,  Highland 
C;o..  this  State.  William  Foster  left  home  at 
2ii.  Sept  5,  1844;  was  united  in  wedlock  to 
Harriet  N.  Boreland.  who  was  bom  in  1827, 
dauf^hter  of  John  and  C'larinda  (Hoadly) 
Boieland  who  wore  natives  of  the  Eastern 
State.',  and  emigrated  West  to  Ohio  when  the 
eoiuitry  was  new,  Mr.  Boreland  being  among 
the  j)ioneer  school  teachers.  Mr  Slusser. 
moved  to  his  present  place  of  living  in  Octo- 
ber. 1844,  his  land  being  situated  in  the 
northwest  piu-t  of  the  southwest  (juarter  of 
Se.'.  ■17>.  Of  three  children  born  him  but  one 
is  living  Cai'oline  Ann,  now  of  Mahoning 
Co..  Ohio,  being  the  wife  of  John  E.  Gray. 
Mr.  Slusser  and  wife  are  members  of  the 
I'nited  Brethren,  he  being  one  of  the  official 
membi  rs  of  that  body. 

JOHN'  L.  STEELE,  farmer:  P.  O.  West 
Brooklield  John  Latimer  was  born  March 
21,  1S26,  on  the  farm  where  he  now  lives,  the 
only  child  bom  to  James  and  Mai'garet  (Lati- 
mer) Steele.  Margaret  was  a  daughter  of 
Robert  Latimer,  of  English  descent,  but  born 
in  Pennsylvania,  who  emigi'ated  to  Stark 
County  at  an  early  day,  locating  in  Osnabiu'g 
Township,  where  his  daughter  Margaret  was 
born.  His  children  were,  John,  Benjamin, 
George.  P;u'kinson  and  Hubert:  daughters 
were,  Margarc^t,  Mary,  Sarah.  Martha  and 
Rachel.  l)utone  of  them  now  living.  Rachel, 
of  Coles  Co.,  111.  Archibald  Steele  was  the 
grandfather  of  the  above  who  was  bom  in 
County  .'Vntrim,  Ii'eland.  his  imcestors  being 
natives  of  Scotland.  His  wife  was  Mai'garet 
Wilson,  a  native  of  same  county  as  himself, 
whom  he  man'ied  in  17<S().  and  eiuigratixl  to 
Lancaster  Co.,  Penn..  ten  yeiu-s  later,  remain- 
ing there  until  17'J8,  when  they  moved  to 
Washington  Co.,  Penn.,  where  they  lived  until 
their  emigration  to  Stark  County  in  ISIT), 
locating  in  Tuscarawas  Townshi]).  northeast 
(juiuter  of  Sec.  22;  at  tne  same  time  entered 
l()0  acres  in  Sugar  Creek  Tp.,  in  Wayne  Co.. 
Ohio.  To  him  were  l)om-  -Archibald,  Jane, 
Elizabeth  and  James;  the  latter  was  married 
to  Margaret  Latimer,  of  Osnabrrg.  in  1824, 
John  L.  being  the  only  issue,  who  has  since 
resided  on  the  farm  that  his  grandsire  entered. 


there  being  now  four  generations  of  the  fam- 
ily living.  His  aunt  Jime  is  yet  living,  being 
now  nearly  'JO.  and  reads  without  ghisses. 
Jan.  U.  1852,  John  L.  maiTiod  MargiU'et  AL 
Christman,  born  Jan.  \C>,  1830,  in  Westmore- 
land Co..  Penn..  second  daughter  and  youngest 
child  of  Henry  and  Susan  Bash  Christman. 
This  union  has  been  crowned  by  the  birth  of 
three  children — James  H.,  now  a  minister  of 
the  Gospel  at  Mohigan:  William,  a  medical 
student:  and  Ida,  yet  at  home.  Mr.  Steele 
has  manifested  a  desire  to  give  his  children 
the  best  of  school  advantages.  He  and  wife 
were  formerly  of  Presbyterian  faith,  but  since 
the  church  died  out  here,  he  and  the  entire 
family  are  members  of  the  Reformed  Church. 
Has  always  fellowshipped  with  the  Repub- 
lican element. 

CAPT.  JOHN  M.  SJMITH,  deceased;  was 
bom  in  Pennsylvania  in  April,  1826;  son 
of  Sebastian  Smith,  who  was  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  the  t<:mnishi|).  and  owned  a  distil- 
lery in  the  town  at  ;ai  early  day.  He  married 
Eliza  J.  Hissem,  who  was  bom  April  1,  1820, 
in  Westmoreland  Co.,  Penn.  Om-  sul)ject 
was  a  farmer  and  school  teacher,  farming  dur- 
ing the  summer  and  teaching  the  young  idea 
during  the  winter  months.  Oct.  H.  18G2,  ho 
enlisted  in  Co.  K,  ]  10th  O.  V.  I.,  and  served 
imtil  May  5,  1864,  when  he  received  a  wound 
at  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness  that  caused 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  the  hospital  at 
Washington  May  27  of  that  year.  For  his 
bravery  and  meritorious  conduct  he  was  pro 
moted  from  the  ranks  until  ho  was  commis- 
sioned as  Captain  of  his  company,  which 
jiosition  he  held  at  the  time  of  his  death. 
He  was  highly  respeck'd  in  the  comnnuiity 
as  a  man  and  citizen.  He  was  a  Repnblic-an 
;md  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  His  wife 
yet  survives  him,  and  yet  boars  his  name. 
She  and  her  son  Chitrles  M.  reside  together  at 
West  Bro()kfi(>ld,  in  this  township.  Charles 
M.  was  l)oru  May  26,  1857. 

HENRY  STONER,  farmer;  P.  O.  Pigeon 
Run;  is  a  native  of  Tusciu-awas  Township,  and 
was  born  in  1 82'J ;  is  the  fii'st-bom  of  Jacob  and 
Margaret  Stoner,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Fred- 
erick Rodocker,  who  came  to  Stark  Coiinty 
when  itwa.sa  wildi-rness.  Frederick  married 
a  daughter  of  Adam  Oberlin,  by  whom  he  had 


:^f 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETriIE> 


Kamui'l.  Jobu,  Polly  Lydia,  Sarali  and  Adam. 
Andrew  Mittman,  the  grandsire  of  Henxy  on  his 
mother's  side,  served  all  tlu'oiigh  the  war  of  the 
Revolntion.  Hem-y  lived  with  his  father  until 
he  was  25.  In  1858.  he  was  married  to  Char- 
lotte Culler,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Leah 
(Poorman)  Chiller.  He  located  on  the  farm 
he  now  o^vns  the  year  following  his  marriage, 
his  farm  consisting  of  105  acres,  situated  on 
the  southwest  (juarter  of  Sec.  27.  Of  nine 
children  born  to  him,  live  are  living.  Loreu 
F.  being  the  eldest,  and  is  a  successful 
teacher  of  several  years'  experience:  next  in 
order  of  birth  is  Ida  A.,  Valentine  Y.,  Ada  V. 
and  Sheridan,  all  of  whom  ai'e  on  the  home- 
stead. 

JACOB  SIBILA,  fiirmer;  P.  O.  Massillou; 
was  born  in  Kendal,  now  Massillon,  Oct.  Ci, 
1838.  the  second  child  born  to  his  parents, 
Adam  and  P21izabeth  Sibila.  Jacob  was  a 
member  of  his  father's  hoiisehold  until  he  was 
22  years  of  age.  In  August,  ISfiO,  he  formed 
a  mati'imonial  alliance  with  Regiua  Witt,  who 
was  born  in  Peny  Township  in  18-K),  daugh- 
ter of  Christian  Witt,  one  of  the  early  resi- 
dents of  the  township.  In  the  spring  of  1 8()(), 
MJr.  Sibila  moved  to  Tuscarawas  Township, 
locating  on  the  homestead,  where  he  has  since 
resided  and  l)een  engaged  in  fanning.  He 
has  the  following  children  living  -  Jacob  R., 
Mary  A.,  Charley,  Rosa,  Ad<uu  C,  Joseph  and 
Edward.  He  and  wife  are  memliers  of  St. 
Mary's  Chiu-eh. 

JACOB  X'MBENHOWER,  farmer;  P.  O. 
Massillon:  was  born  March  13,  1817.  in 
Jefferson  Co.,  Ya.  His  jiarcnts  were  -lacob 
Umbenhower  and  Abba  Weyhult,  both  natives 
of  Pennsylvania  and  of  Grerman  descent.  He 
came  West  with  his  parents  when  18  years  of 
age,  his  father  purchasing  187  acres  of  Thomas 
Dean,  in  this  township,  remaining  on  the 
same  until  1849,  when  he  moved  to  Wayne 
Comity,  near  Wooster,  where  he  lived  until 
1864.  then  moved  to  Indiana,  where  he  died 
in  18()U,  aged  78,  his  wife  dying  thi-ee  years 
])revious,  aged  81.  Jacob  was  of  a  family'  of 
six  children,  viz.,  John,  Peggy,  Jacob,  Fannie. 
Samuel  and  Adam.  Peggy  manied  David 
Bughman;  Fannie  man'ied  James  Miller ; 
all  of  the  above  reside  in  Indiana  with  the 
exception  of    Jacob,    who    remained    on    the 


homestead.  March  81,  he  was  mairied  to 
Miiry  Ann  Ritter.  born  in  Perry  Township 
March  7,  1828;  her  parents  were  Daniel  and 
Catharine  (Slusser)  Ritter;  he  was  born  in 
Chamberslmrg.  Penu.,  about  the  year  1793; 
he  was  a  son  of  John,  who  came  West  to  this 
county  at  a  very  early  day.  bringing  with  him 
a  wife  and  eight  children,  the  country  l)eing 
then  an  almost  unbroken  wilderness;  he  died 
three  days  after  his  arrival,  leaving  eight  sons 
for  his  widow  to  care  f  ( jr.  The  nearest  neigh- 
bor was  Air.  Oswalt,  being  nearly  two 
miles  away,  who  came  to  see  them,  they  not 
being  aware  of  the  presence  of  any  settlers 
anywhere  about.  Mrs.  Ritter  afterward  mar- 
ried a  Krider.  Daniel,  the  father  of  Mrs. 
Fmljenhosver.  was  a  weaver  by  trade,  yet  after- 
ward farmed;  the  year  of  the  cholera  he 
moved  from  Perry  Township  to  Massillon,  and 
for  over  two  years  and  a  half  was  engaged  in 
running  a  hotel,  called  the  Jake  Miller  Tavern; 
afterward  moved  dovm  near  Richville  and 
purchased  a  farm,  remaining  ( in  the  same  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  1850;  his  wife 
survived  him  eight  years.  Of  the  eight  sons 
aliove  mentioned,  who  were  born  to  John 
Ritter,  were  Jonas,  Daniel,  Heniy,  David, 
Joseph,  Isa;ic,  Jacob  and  J(jlm.  To  Daniel 
Ritter  and  wife  were  born  nine  children — 
Elizabeth,  Mrs.  John  Umbenhower,  in  Elkhart, 
Ind.;  Philip,  in  Iowa;  Sarah,  married  Will- 
iam Dipford,  of  Iowa;  Jonathan,  of  Richland 
Co.,  111. ;  Katie  Ann,  the  wife  of  Jacob  Copper, 
who  resides  in  Iowa:  William,  in  Newton, 
Jasjter  Co.,  same  State;  Rebecca,  Mrs.  John 
Haines,  of  Mt.  Union;  and  Mrs.  Umbenhower, 
wife  of  Jacob.  After  the  marriage  of  the 
above,  he  lived  in  Peny  Township  four  years, 
then  came  to  this  township,  on  the  fann  ad- 
joining, wheri>  they  remained  three  years, 
finally  locating  on  their  present  farm  in  1849. 
Mr.  Umbenhower  is  a  sucessfid  farmer;  has 
over  700  acres  of  land,  much  of  which  is  un- 
derlaid with  coal.  He  has  three  children 
Hiram,  Franklin  and  Charles;  are  members 
of  the  U.  B.  Church. 

DANIEL  W AMPLER,  farmer:  P.  O.  W.st 
Brookfield:  born  Dec.  28,  1818,  in  Frederick 
Co.,  Md..  being  the  youngest  of  two  children 
born  to  Frederick  and  Ann  M.  (Siess)  Wamp- 
ler.     Frederick  was  born  Eel).  11,1 785 ;  his 


TUSCARAWAS    TOWNSHIP. 


wife,  Nov.  29,  1792.  His  father,  John  Wamp- 
IcT.  was  a  native  of  Switzerland;  his  wife, 
Dorothy  Hiller.  was  l)orn  in  France.  John 
Waiupler  emiLjrated  to  York  Co.,  Pciin.,  where 
lie  settled,  and  raised  a  family  of  six  sons  and 
three  dan<:fhters  Lewis,  Jasper,  Leonard, 
Georj^e.  Frederick.  David.  Eve,  Susan,  and 
another  name  unknown.  Ann  Siess  was  a 
diiiif^hter  of  Geor<^e,  whose  wife's  maiden 
name  was  Aeclienhrad;  to  them  were  horn 
Gwiri^e.  David  Benjamin,  Samuel,  Jacob. 
Annie,  Barbara  and  Elizabeth.  John  V\'am]>- 
ler.  the  lyrandfatherof  Daniel,  served  as  a  sol- 
dier in  the  Revolution;  his  son,  Frederick. 
Wiis  drafted  in  the  war  of  1X12.  but  sent  a 
substitute  in  his  stead.  He  was  a  mason  liy 
trade.  l)ut  finally  turned  his  attention  to  the 
tanning  business,  which  he  followed  up  to 
1^527,  when  he  emiip'ated  to  St.u-k  County,  ro 
maining  in  Su^ar  Creek  Townshij)  until  April. 
1S8(I:  duriuj^  this  time,  he  had  purposed  set- 
tling; in  Seneca  Coiuity.  havinu;  entered  Kit  I 
acres  of  land,  but,  the  locality  j)rovin<4-  un- 
satisfactory, he  retm-ned  to  this  county  and 
purchased  the  farm  now  owned  by  oiu'  sub- 
ject: HO  acres  was  the  amount  pm'chased.  He 
remained  on  this  faim  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  .\]iril  2"!.  ISoS.  ajjed  7;*  veal's  8 
months  and  14  days.  He  was  an  ui)ri<fht  man, 
and  hij;hly  respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 
Daniel  was  raised  a  fiU'mer.  and  has  always 
remained  continuously  on  the  fiimi.  In  1'S47, 
he  was  married  to  Xancy  Iludy,  Ixirii  in  Lan- 
caster Co..  Pemi..  daui^hter  (if  William  Rudy, 
whose  wife's  maiden  name  was  Kellenberger, 
and  by  her  had  Martin.  Levi,  Daniel.  Georije, 
William.  Grabill,  Eliza.  Maria,  Nancy  and 
Catharine.  The  Rudy  family  came  West 
about  theyeiU'  1^:57,  local in>;  in  this  towiiship. 
Mrs.  Wampler  died  in  l^ad,  leaving  two  sons, 
William  F.  and  George  L.  In  ]Sr>2,  he  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Walter,  born  in  IS27,  in  .\llo- 
gheuy  Co.,  Peun.,  daughter  of  John  Walter: 
his  wife's  family  nanie  was  Rouj).  Mr. 
Wampler,  by  his  last  wife,  has  ten  children- 
Amanda.  Sabina,  Maria.  Emma.  John.  Paul, 
Barbiira,  Lizzie,  Amos  and  Jane.  Amanda 
resides  in  Wooster,  and  is  the  wife  i>{  W.  W. 
Meeks;  Sabina,  near  Dalton,  Mis.  J.  M.  Mc- 
Dowell: Mariii,  Mrs.  R.  O.  Ellis,  of  thistown- 
shi]):  Emma,  Mrs.  Jose])h  Updegraff,  of  Pig- 


eon Run.     Mr.  Wampler  is  a  member  of  the 
same  church  to  which  his  father  belonged 
Reformetl;  has  1115  acres  of  land.     His  sister, 
Sabina.  married  John  Harsher. 

JOHN  WEFLiat.  farmer;  P.  O.  Pigeon 
Run;  is  a  self-made  man;  was  born  March 
15,  1N21,  and  baptized  on  the  20th,  in  Swit- 
zerland, eldest  of  the  family.  His  parents 
were  John  and  Susan  ( Gausen)  Wefler.  The 
grandsire  of  our  subject  was  Peter  W^efler, 
who  married  Magdaleua  Seickendolar,  and 
raised  a  large  family,  among  whom  were  Peter, 
John,  Jacob,  Samuel  and  David;  the  daugh- 
ters were  Anna,  Magdalena,  Mary,  Elizabeth, 
and  others  whose  name  cannot  now  be  given. 
Susan  was  a  daughter  of  John  Gausen,  whose 
wife  was  Elizabeth  Geiger,  and  by  her  he  had 
four  children  John.  Christian,  Susan  and 
Elizabeth.  The  Wetler  family  came  to 
America  in  1S:!7.  sailing  on  the  Franconia, 
a  sailing  vessel,  which  oc(ni])ied  thirty-three 
days  in  making  her  voyag<>:  came  to  Massillon 
the  same  year:  lived  in  I'aris  two  years,  then 
moved  to  Knox  Townshij),  in  Columbiana 
County,  where  they  lived  four  years;  after- 
ward removed  to  Mt.  Union,  where  they  stayed 
until  1S45,  when  they  located  in  Pern'  Town- 
shi]).  Mr.  Wetler  remained  with  his  father 
until  28  years  old.  giving  his  father  the  bene- 
fit of  his  labor.  Then.  l(>aving  home  poor, 
he  began  f.muing  on  rented  land  in  Perry 
Township,  remaining  (m  one  farm  fifteen 
years.  In  the  si>ring  of  l''^5»»,  he  came  to 
this  fownshij):  he  and  his  brother  Christian 
])urchased  HH*  acres  of  land,  which  they  car- 
ried on  in  piu-tnershi))  for  some  time,  when  he 
jiurchased  his  brother's  interest,  and  has  since 
resided  on  the  farm.  In  August,  bS59,  Mr. 
Wefler  inan-ied  Ann  Mary  Smith,  a  native  of 
Switzerland,  Vx)rii  in  June,  ISMl,  daughter  of 
John  Smith  and  Snsiui  Bucher.  who  came  to 
Ohio  in  1N4S.  Mr.  Weller  has  ten  children 
William  H.,  Sophia  (Mrs.  John  Siuihler,  of 
Massillon),  Ann  M.  (Mrs.  McPherson),  Lucy, 
John,  Simon,  Elizabeth,  Rosana,  CUara  E.  and 
Daniel  :\r..  all  of  this  townshi]).  Mr.  Wetler's 
brothers  and  sistei-s  were  Susanna,  Eliz 
abeth.  Christian.  Samuel,  Catharine,  Jlary 
and  Jacob,  who  grew  u])  to  manhood  and  wo- 
manhood. Mr.  Wefler  is  now  one  of  the  well- 
to-do  farmers   of  the  township,  having  220 


^ 


.[^ 


BlUGHAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


acres  uf  laud,  aud  choice  farm  buildings 
thereon;  a  member  of  the  German  Reformed 
Church. 

J.  B.  WENDLIx\G,  fai-m  aud  dairy;  P.  O. 
Massillou;  was  born  Dec.  24,  183;5,  in  Perry 
Township,  aud  is  the  fom'th  son  of  a  family  of 
twelve  children  boi'u  to  John  Adam  and  Chris- 
tina (Held)  \Vendling;  the  fonner  was  born 
Nov.  l"),  1804,  in  the  Khine  couutiy,  son  of 
Michael  aud  Mary  (Dabuse)  Wendling,  who 
had  six  ehildi-en  bom  to  them,  viz.,  John 
Adam,  Hem-y,  Valentine,  Barbar-a.  Elizabeth 
and  Margaret.  John  Adam  aune  to  America 
in  lH?>fi  locating  in  Massillou  July  10  of  the 
same  year;  he  was  a  locksmith  aud  nail- 
maker,  which  vocaticm  he  followed  for  many 
yeiU's.  His  wife  died  April  liH.  1809,  having 
borne  him  twelve  children  Philip,  Heniy, 
Jacob,  John,  Elizabeth,  Adam,  Caroline  and 
Christina,  were  those  who  grew  n\\  Philiji, 
Adam  and  Henry  served  in  the  late  war. 
Henry  was  a  member  of  the  8d  Ohio  Battery, 
aud  served  three  years  and  three  days;  he 
died  at  Nashville,  Teuu.  Adam  was  in  the 
18th  Regulars,  2d  Battalion,  and  served  over 
foui'  years,  and  was  confined  about  fifteen 
months  as  a  prisoner  in  Andersonville,  Libby 
and  at  other  points.  Philip  was  a  member 
of  Co.  A,  IHth  (.).  Y.  I.,  and  served  three 
mouths.  Jacol )  B.  learned  the  saddler's  trade 
at  Massillou,  following  the  same  about  seven- 
teen years.  Jan.  4,  1856,  he  set  up  in  busi- 
ness for  himself,  continuing  until  February. 
bS04,  when  he  engaged  in  farming.  On  Feb. 
3,  isri3,  he  marrie<l  Mrs.  Margaret  Brechbill. 
born  in  1827,  in  Westmoreland  Co..  Penu.. 
daughter  of  John  and  Nancy  (Brinker)  Brech- 
bill. Mr.  Wendling  has  three  children 
Nancy  J.,  Mary  C.  aud  Jacob  J.  Since  1875, 
he  has  been  engaged  in  the  dairy  busiuess, 
which  he  runs  in  connection  with  his  fanning. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church; 
also  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  also  of  theEncam])- 
ment,  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias:  is  a  stanch 
Republican.      He  has  105  acres  of  land. 

A.  L.  YOUNG,  farmer:  P.  O.  East  Green- 
ville: is  the  fom'th  son  and  seventh  child  bom 
to  Cyrus  and  Margaret  Young.  He  was  bom 
on  the  homestead,  in  Lawrence  Townshij), 
April   7,    1859.     Abram   Lincoln    Yoimg  was 


raised  to  farming  pursuits,  and  at  the  age  of 
10  took  charge  of  the  farm  he  now  occujiies, 
situated  in  Tuscarawas  Township,  consisting 
of  320  acres,  which  lies  as  follows:  !()(•  l)eing 
that  of  the  northeast  (piarter  of  Sec.  17:  the 
remainder  is  the  northwest  quarter  of  Sec.  10, 
all  of  which  belonged  to  Cyrus  Young,  now 
deceased.  Abraham  was  married,  in  Decem- 
ber, 1880,  to  Esther  Hartel,  who  was  boi'u  in 
MarshallsvilJe.  WajTie  Co..  Ohio,  eldest  daugh- 
ter of  Lewis  and  Mary  (Genseiuor)  Hartel, 
who  are  natives  of  Germany.  They  had  three 
childi-en  born  to  them  Esther,  now  Mrs.  A.  L. 
Young;  Otto  and  Pearl  May.  He  located  on 
his  farm  in  March,  1881.  and  is  now  engaged 
in  the  management  of  it. 

CASPER  J.  ZIEGLER.  blacksmith.  West 
Brookfield;  was  born  March  14,  1843,  in  Ba- 
varia, son  of  Caspe)'  J.  Ziegler  and  Dorothy 
Fazer.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
named  Sebastian  Zeigler.  The  subject  (  f 
these  lines  came  to  America  with  his  piu^euts 
in  1847,  to  Bufi'alo,  N.  Y.  Six  children  were 
born  to  his  parents,  Casper  being  the  eldest; 
the  others,  in  order  of  their  birth,  were: 
Philip,  Elizabeth,  Helena,  Wendling  and 
Maiy.  His  father  was  a  weaver  by  occupa- 
tion, but  his  son  Casp(>r  chose  the  trade  of 
blacksmith,  which  he  began  learning  at  the 
age  of  1 7 ;  after  its  completion,  he  worked  at 
Bufi'alo,  Oil  City  aud  other  places.  His 
father  and  mother  died  in  New  York  State, 
the  fonner  in  180().  his  mother  the  year  fol- 
lowing. After  her  death,  he  came  to  Ohio, 
locating  in  West  Brookfield;  soon  after  his 
arrival,  he  formed  h  pai'tuership  with  Daniel 
Hempeily,  which  busiuess  association  lasted 
until  1875,  when  Mr.  Hem})ei"ly  withdrew; 
since  that  time,  he  has  continued  the  busi- 
ness at  the  same  old  stand.  Sept.  8,  1868,  he 
married  Agues  Sweetter,  who  was  born  in 
Switzerland  Jan.  1,  1850,  daughter  of  Nich- 
olas Sweetter;  this  union  has  been  blessed 
with  five  children — Elizabeth,  John,  Philip, 
Rose  aud  George.  He  was  raised  in  the 
Catholic  faith,  and  is  a  Democrat.  Having 
seen  th(^  baneful  efi'ects  of  intoxicating  li<juors, 
he  has  become  strougLy  opposed  to  their  use 
in  anv  form,  and  votes  Prohibition. 


^ 


SANDY    TOWNSHIP. 


A 


SANDY    TOWNSHIP. 


THOMAS  A.  BARNKS,  fiumor;  P.  O. 
Wayiieshiiijrli.  The  ijraiuit'atliir  of  our  subject, 
Gen.  Barnes,  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  wliere  he 
married.Iane  P;irks:  they  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica and  first  settled  in  Pennsylvania,  subse- 
qvientiv  removing  to  Sandy  Tp.,  wli("re  ihey  re- 
mained until  their  deaths.  They  were  parents 
of  fovir  children — Andrew,  who  died  in  Iowa; 
Thomas,  the  father  of  our  .■subject;  Ann  Beatty, 
now  a  ri'sident  of  Carroll  Co.  and  Robert, 
living  in  Iowa.  Thomas  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  came  with  his  parents  when 
they  came  to  Ohio  about  1S24;  he  married 
Miss  Ann  Guiney,  of  Sandy  Tp.,  and  was  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits  in  the  town- 
ship until  his  death,  in  1836;  his  wife  is  still 
living  in  C^arroll  Co.  Their  children  are  as 
follow- — Elizabeth  Calwell,  living  in  Carroll 
Co.;  .lane  Sutton,  a  resident  of  Jefferson  Co., 
and  Thomas  A.  born  in  1836,  after  the  death 
of  his  father.  His  mother  subsequently  mar- 
ried Francis  Brothers,  and  removed  to  Paris 
Tp.,  where  our  subject  passed  his  early 
days.  In  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  B,  104,  O. 
V.  I.,  and  was  in  severe  and  active  service 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  In  the  fall  of  1865, 
he  married  Emma  Hi  Tritt,  of  Minerva,  and 
in  1866,  removed  to  Brown  Tp.,  and  en- 
gaged in  farming,  lesiding  there  until  1874, 
when  he  was  elected  to  the  responsible  posi- 
tion of  County  Treasurer,  he  removed  his 
family  to  Carroilton,  and  for  four  years  faith- 
fully and  honojably  administered  the  affairs  of 
that  office.  In  1879,  he  came  to  Sandy  Tp., 
and  purchased  the  Firestone  farm,  about 
one-half  mile  North  of  Waynesburgh,  where 
he  has  since  resided.  He  has  80  acres  of  fine 
vallc}-  land,  and  has  improved  his  place  by  an 
elegant  and  tasty  residence  Mr.  Barnes 
is  an  efficient  antl  practical  man  in  all  things, 
and  deserving  of  the  esteem  and  respect  ac- 
corded him.  They  have  one  child,  Henry  F., 
at  home. 

ELI  BROTHERS,  farmer;  P.  O.  Magnolia; 
is  an  extensive  farmer  of  the  township  and  a 
representative  of  an  old  pioneer  fjnnily.  His 
father,  Jonas  Brothers,  was  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  cam  ■  with   his  p;irents  to  Stark 


Co.,  when  a  lad;  they  located  in  Pike  T[)., 
and  were  residents  of  that  communitv  the 
remainiler  of  their  lives.  .lonas  married  in 
that  locality  Polly  Bordner,  and  passed  the 
greater  portion  of  his  life  there;  he  died  in 
Hancock  Co.;  his  wife  died  in  Sandy  Tp.,  she 
was  the  mother  of  twelve  children,  of  whom 
the  following  are  now  living — Esther,  Mrs. 
Cox,  a  resident  of  Hancock  Co.;  Eli,  .lacob, 
living  in  Canton  Tp.;  Ananias  in  Han- 
cock Co.,  and  Martha,  .Mrs.  Darr,  also  living 
in  Canton  Tp.  Ananias  was  a  soldier  of 
the  late  war,  servinij  about  four  years. 
Eli  was  born  in  Pike  Tp.,  in  December,  1823. 
He  waii  reared  and  brought  up  upon  a  farm, 
and  has  made  that  oecupatior)  his  life 
work.  Commencing  life  with  no  pecuniary 
assistijnce  he  has  accumulated  a  large  tract  of 
fertile  and  improved  laiul,  which  is  the  direct 
result  of  honest  and  efficient  industry.  He 
now  owns  450  acres,  a  portion  of  which  lies 
in  Pike  Tj).  His  land  is  cultivated  to 
general  farming,  but  he  also  gives  a  large 
share  of  attention  to  sheep-raising,  usually 
shearing  from  two  to  three  hundred  ann\ially. 
Mr.  Brothers  was  united  in  marriage  in  1853 
to  Miss  Sarah  Bowman,  daughter  of  Henry 
Bowman,  of  Pike  Tp.  They  have  six 
children — John,  now  in  (-anton;  Emma,  Mrs. 
Sickafoose,  in  Pike  Tp.;  Cora,  Curtis  A., 
Hallie  and  Nannie.  Mr.  Brothers  has  been 
a  resident  and  land-owner  of  the  town- 
ship since  1848,  when  he  purchased  part  of 
the  land  upon  which  he  now  lives.  He  has 
served  the  township  as  Trustee,  and  always 
takes  a  leading  hand  in  matters  of  ])ub;ic  in- 
terest and  impoi  tance.  He,  with  his  wile,  is 
a  member  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church. 
IRA  BOWMAN,  farmer  ;  P.  O.  Magnolia; 
is  a  son  of  John  Bowman,  who  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania  in  1802,  and  came  to  Pike  Tp., 
when  he  was  a  boy,  with  his  parents; 
he  remained  in  that  township  until  he  was 
married  to  Lydia  Whitner,  of  Bethlehem 
Tp.,  when  he  removed  to  Saiidy  'J'p., 
and  has  been  a  resident  there  since,  and 
until  a  few  years  ago  engaged  in  farming; 
he  is  now  li\  iiig  with  his  son,  Henry,  who  has 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


.1 


purchased  the  old  homestead  rarn],aiid  is  tak- 
ing care  of  his  parents  in  their  declining 
years;  thoy  have  had  seven  children — five  now 
living — Sarah  Bonhrak,  living  in  Indiana; 
John  in  Calit'ornia;  Henry,  Hannah  Newton, 
a  resident  ol  Carroll  county;  and  Eli;  Lydia, 
died  while  young;  Samuel  was  a  volunteer  in 
the  U.  S.  Service  in  the  51st  O.  V.  S;  was 
taken  prisoner  at  Chickamauga,  and  died  in 
Anderson ville  prison;  Eli  was  born  in  Sandy 
Tp.,  in  1845,  and  has  been  a  resident  of 
the  township  since;  he  has  devoted  his  extire 
attention  to  agriculture,  and  is  one  of  the  suc- 
cessful and  respected  farmers  of  that  section; 
he  bought  his  present  location  in  1870;  he  has 
100  acres  of  improved  land,  and  cultivates  it 
to  general  farming;  he  was  also  in  the 
late  service,  enlisting  in  the  Itj^nd  O. 
N.  G.,  and  was  with  his  company  during  its 
entire  service;  he  was  married  in  November, 
1866,  to  Miss  Emma  J.  Miller,  a  native  of 
Tuscarawas  Co.;  they  have  three  children  liv- 
ing— Samuel  M.,  Riley  E.,  and  Eli  N.  Mr. 
Bowman  is  now  serving  as  one  of  the  Town- 
ship Trustees,  and  has  always  been  found  upon 
the  right  side  in  matters  of  public  improve- 
ment and  education.  Henry  Bowman  was 
born  in  Sandy  Tp.,  in  J  840;  he  is  now  farming 
the  old  homestead  farm  which  he  has  recently 
purchased;  he  has  100  acres  of  the  fertile  land 
which  lies  adjacent  to  the  "  Sandy  Valley," 
and  does  a  general  farming  business;  he  has 
an  extended  army  experience,  being  a  mem- 
ber of  the  51st  O.  V.  1.,  and  in  active  and 
arduous  service  for  three  years;  he  participated 
in  the  battles  of  Stone  River,  Chickamauga, 
Lookout  Mountain,  Mission  Ridge,  Atlanta, 
and  all  the  battles  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennes- 
see; he  was  married  in  186S  to  Elizabeth  A. 
Farber,  of  Carroll  Co.;  they  have  four  chil- 
dren— .John  F.,  Eiizabetli,  Franklin  P.,  and 
Maogie  M. 

IRA  D.  BROWNSON,  farmer,  P.  O. 
Waynesburgh  ;  is  a  representative  of  one  of 
the  old  pioneer  families  vvho  settled  in  Sandy 
Tp.  at  an  early  day.  The  father  of  our 
subject,  Charles  Brownson,  came  with  his 
parents  to  the  township,  and  was  a  resident 
of  the  township  up  to  h:s  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  1855.  His  mother's  maiden  name 
was  Sarah  Beyer  ;  her  |)arents,  Conrad  and 
Margaret  Beyer,  were  both  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and   pioneers   of   Sandy  Tp.,  locat- 


ing, in  181'i',  in  the  Northern  portion 
and  where  Conrad  Beyer,  jr.,  now  resides; 
were  residents  there  uistil  their  deaths. 
Sarah  was  bor?i  in  Sandy  T[).,  in  1830; 
she  was  married  to  Cliarles  Brownson,  in 
1847.  Only  two  children  now  survive — Mar- 
garet, now  the  wife  of  Wm.  Shearer,  and  liv- 
ing in  Sandy  Tp.,  was  married  in  1860. 
Mr.  Shearer  is  a  son  of  Adam  and  Eliza 
Shearer,  old  settlers  and  residents  of  Osna- 
burg  Tp.,  when  William  was  born,  in 
1843;  thej'  have  three  children,  Elnora, 
Ada  and  Eliza.  Ira  D.  Brownson  was  born 
in  Sandy  Tp.,  in  1848  ;  he  has  always 
been  engaged  in  farming,  and  is  now  tlie 
owner  of  73  acres,  which  is  part  of  the  land 
entered  and  cleared  by  his  ancestors.  He 
was  united  in  marriage  in  186'J,  to  Miss  Eliza 
Baxter,  of  Carroll  Co.  They  have  three 
children — William,  Wi^sley  and  Ira.  Mrs. 
Brownson  is  living  with  her  daughter  Mar- 
garet, in  Sandy  Tp. 

JAMES  BOYD,  farmer;  P.  O.  Waym>s- 
burgh;  is  a  native  of  Ireland,  where  he  was 
born  in  1826.  He  emigrated  to  the  Ur.ited 
States,  in  1846,  landing  in  Philadelphia,  where 
he  remained  for  ten  years;  after  which  he 
went  to  the  oil  regions  of  Pennsylvania,  re- 
maining there  about  five  years,  engaged  in 
various  occupations.  In  1863,  he  came  to 
Stark  Co.,  and  commenced  farming,  buy- 
ing the  Blythe  farm,  near  Waynesburgh, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  Mr.  Boyd  h  is 
devoted  his  entire  attention  to  agriculturi',  in 
which  he  has  been  eminently  successful.  He 
now  owns  345  acres  of  land  in  the  township, 
all  of  which  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion; and  in  location  it  cannot  be  excelled, 
lie  was  married  in  Philadelphia,  in  1850,  to 
Miss  Isabella  Campbell.  She  died  in  1875, 
leaving  one  child — McClure — who  was  married 
in  187'.)  to  Miss  Susan  Richie;  they  have  one 
son — James  C.  McClure  is  now  living  upon 
part  of  his  father's  farm,  in  Sandy  Tp. 
Mr.  Boyd  was  united  to  a  second  wile.  Miss 
Cordelia  Rogers,  daughter  of  J.  B.  Rogers, 
of  Sandy  Tp.,  in  1876.  They  are  both  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Boyd 
is  a  conscientious  and  honored  citizen,  and 
an  exalted  member  of  the  community  in 
which  he  resides. 

EDWARD  BOORY,  deceased;  was  born 
in     Switzerland     in     1814,    and     emigrated 


SANDY    TOWNSHIP. 


to  America  with  his  parents  when  he  was 
ten  years  of  age;  tiicy  iocaVil  upon  a 
farm  near  Minerva,  whore  iiis  early  days 
were  passeil.  At  tiie  age  of  lii,  he  com- 
menced to  learn  the  Tanners'  trade  in  a  Tan- 
nery neai-  Minerva,  snhsequenlly  working  for 
Judge  Greenwood,  at  Paris;  from  there  he 
went  to  St.  ]^ouis,  wliere  he  worUi-d  for  some 
time,  finally  returning  to  Ohio,  and  cmliarking 
in  a  busini:ss  venture  for  himself,  going  into 
partnership  with  a  man  named  Kngel,  at  Mi- 
nerva. In  Mareii,  I84H,  he  cani(>  to  Waynes- 
burgh,  and  bought  out  a  small  Tannery  from 
.John  Souser.  which  he  enlaigcMl  and  im- 
proved; he  established  a  large  and  successful 
business,  and  accumulated  a  handsome  prop- 
erty, all  of  which  was  secured  by  his  industry 
and  good  business  management.  He  was  an 
honored  and  respected  citizen,  and  served  as 
a  member  of  the  Common  Council,  and  took  a 
leading  interest  in  the  schools  and  education. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Waynesburgh 
Masonic  Lodge,  serving  as  Treasurer  of  that 
body  for  some  years.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  German  Reformed  Chuich.  Mr.  Boory 
was  united  in  marriage  in  18-iO,  in  Minerva, 
to  Miss  Ainiis  Anderson.  They  had  five 
children,  only  three  of  whom  are  now  living — 
William.,  Maiy  Poole  and  Cynthia  Hewitt,  all 
residents  of  Waynesburgh.  Mr.  Boory  died 
in  Waynesburgh,  Oct.  lith,  1878;  his  wife  still 
survives  him.  Wm.  Boory  was  born  in 
Waynesburgh,  in  18.51,  and  learned  his  trade 
with  his  father,  in  his  earlier  years;  he  was 
engaged  in  partnership  with  him  for  five 
years  previous  to  his  death,  after  which  he 
succeeded  him  in  the  business  which  is  now 
owned  and  operated  by  him.  He  was  married 
in  18i4,  to  Miss  Mattie  Clark,  of  Waynes- 
burgh. He  is  now  serving  the  township  as 
Treasurer,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Corporation  Council  since  his  father's  death. 
J.  M.  BYE,  physician  and  surgeon; 
Waynesburgh;  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  in 
Hanover  Township,  Columbiana  Co.,  March  2, 
1835.  His  father  being  a  farmer,  our  subject 
passed  his  earlier  years  upon  the  farm.  He 
acquired  a  good  education,  attending  the 
Union  Sch<;ols  .at  New  Lisbon  and  Hanover, 
becoming  a  teacher  at  the  latter  place  in  the 
Union  school.  He  followed  teaching  for  five 
years,  receiving  pay  one  of  those  years  for 
thirteen    months   service.     In    1858,    having 


decided  upon  the  profession  of  medicine,  he 
entered  the  ofiBce  of  Dr.  .John  Yates,  of  Hano- 
ver, and  began  the  study  of  his  life-work. 
Dr.  Bye  is  a  graduate  of  the  University  of 
Michigan,  and  received  his  diploma  at  Ann 
Arbor  in  18G3.  He  entered  immediately  upon 
the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Mechanics- 
town,  Carroll  Co.,  where  ho  r(Mnain(ul  two 
years;  and  then,  after  one  month's  service  in 
the  hospital  at  Fri-derick  City,  Md.,  removed 
to  Waynesbmgli,  where  he  has  bicn  in  con- 
tinuous practice  up  to  the  present  writing, 
1881).  He  WIS  united  in  marriage  in  1803  to 
Miss  Mary  E.  Keith,  daughter  of  J.  G.  Keith, 
Esq.,  of  Canton.  They  have  two  children — 
Miss  Carrie  B.,  attending  school  in  Canton,  and 
Joseph  K.,  aged  seven  years.  Dr.  Bye's 
parents  were  of  Quaker  descent;  liis  father 
died  in  Columliiana  Co.  in  1848,  his  mother 
surviving  until  1880.  Dr.  Bye  is  a  member  of 
the  County  Medical  Association,  and  served  as 
Vice  President  of  that  body  the  past  year; 
and  is  also  a  member  of  both  the  Masonic 
and  Odd  Fellow  orders  of  Waynesburgh.  He 
is  one  of  the  leading  ])hysiciaiisof  the  county, 
and  an  intelligent  and  esteemed  nn-mber  of 
the  community  in  which  he  resides.  He,  with 
his  wife,  is  a  member  of  the  Disciples'  Church 
of  Waynesburgh. 

KICHAPvD  BLYTHE,  deceased,  was  born 
in  Fayette  Co.,  Pa.,  in  1808;  ho  was  a  son 
of  Henry  and  Sarah  Blythe,  who  I'lnigra- 
ted  to  Jefferson  Co.,  O.,  about  181"',  where 
they  located  some  land  and  remained  resi- 
dents. Here  Richard  passed  his  early  life. 
He  came  to  Sandy  Tp.,  about  IS'-i'i,  and  pur- 
chased what  is  now  the  Boyd  farm,  and  began 
farming  operations  there.  He  was  united  in 
marriage  May  5,  183i;,  to  Miss  Margaret 
Robertson,  who  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  came  with  her  parents  to  Ohio  in  l>i'i'i,  at 
which  time  she  was  two  years  olil.  They 
remained  upon  that  faini  until  ISHl,  when  it 
was  dispo.sed  of  to  James  Boyd,  and  they 
then  removed  to  near  Mapleton,  purchasing  a 
farm  known  as  the  John  Shearer  farm.  Here 
they  continued  resitlents  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  May  14,  1SG8.  He  served  as  Town- 
ship Trustee,  and  was  an  honored  memb'^r  of 
society,  and  a  conscientious  christian  and  num- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mrs.  Blythe 
remained  upon  the  Mapleton  farm  for  three 
years  alter  his  death,  when  she  removed  to 


820 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


WaynesliurjTh,  where  she  is  now  pleasantly 
situated.  They  had  nine  children,  as  follows 
— Sarah  J.  McKonkey,  of  Mapleton;  Eleanor 
Tlioinpson,  Brown  Tp.;  Ann  E.,  deceased; 
John  C,  a  member  of  19th  O.  V.  I.,  who  was 
killed  in  service  at  the  battle  of  Stone  River; 
Usher  Criswoll,  Canton  Tp.;  Alice  Dougherty, 
Colninlius,  O.;  James  D;  Laura  L.  and 
Marv  E. 

JAMES  D.  BLYTHE,  inMchant;  P.  O. 
Waynesburgh;  was  born  in  Stark  Co.,  in 
1854.  He  was  upon  the  farm  until  the  age 
of  14,  when  he  commenced  to  learn  the  black- 
smith's trade  in  CarroUton,  working  at  it  over 
a  y^ar  and  then  engaging  at  rail-roading  for 
nearly  three  years.  He  then  engaged  in 
traveling  for  thri-e  months,  in  the  Enlarging 
Picture-proctss  business.  He  then  engaged 
in  trade  with  J.  C.  Elsass,  in  Waynesburgh, 
in  the  provision  business,  commencing  in 
November  1875,  and  continuing  over  a  year 
in  partnership,  after  which  he  was  engaged 
in  that  business  alone  for  one  year.  He  then 
disposed  of  that  business,  and  in  1878  entered 
into  partnership  with  Wm.  Raedel,with  whom 
he  is  still  associated.  He  was  married  in 
January,  1879,  to  Miss  Annie  E.  Newkirk,  of 
Pennsylvania.  They  have  two  children — 
Mary  M.  and  Richard  H.  Mr.  Blythe  has 
served  as  a  member  of  the  Common  Council 
for  two  terms,  and  is  one  of  the  progressive 
and  promising  business  men  of  the  com- 
munity. 

LEW.  S.  BONBRAK,  tinware,  stoves,  etc.; 
P.  O.  Waynesburgh,  was  born  in  Magnolia, 
In  1857.  He  commenced  to  learn  his  trade 
when  he  was  15  years  of  age,  with  Robert 
Jop.es,  remaining  with  him  for  two  years,  and 
then  went  to  Salem  and  continued  under  in- 
structions there  for  about  a  year,  finishing  his 
trade;  after  which  he  returned  to  Waynes- 
burgh and  worked  at  his  trade  with  James 
Hewitt  a  year  ;  he  then  went  to  Minerva  and 
worked  for  Alexander  a  short  time,  subse- 
quently returning  to  Waynesburgh  and  again 
entering  the  employ  of  Hewitt.  In  1877  he 
lieoame  associated  with  Robert  Jones,  under 
the  partnership  name  of  Jones  &  Bonbrak; 
they  bought  out  Hewitt  and  continued  in 
partnership  together  until  February,  1881, 
when  tlie  partnership  was  dissolved  and  Mr. 
Bonbrak  commenced  an  enterprise  in  the 
Sweet  and   Painter   block,    where   he   still  re- 


mains. While  with  Jones  they  invented  and 
patented  the  "  Improved  continous  sheet  and 
cap  combined  Iron  Roofing,"  which  L.  Scolt 
&  Co.  are  now  introducing  upon  the  market 
with  improving  success — a  more  extended 
notice  appearing  elsewhere.  Mr.  Bonbrak  is 
also  the  inventor  and  patentee  of  an  "  eave- 
trough,"  which  is  a  most  valuable  patent,  and 
can  be  manufactured  without  a  seam,  in 
lengths  of  10  feet,  the  longest  upon  the  mar- 
ket being  55  inches.  This  is  to  be  placed 
upon  the  market  as  soon  as  suitable  machinery 
can  be  made  for  its  manufacture.  He  also 
has  an  eve-trough  fastener,  which  he  has  ap- 
plied for  a  patent  upon.  Mr.  Bonbrak 
is  occupying  one  of  the  largest  and 
finest  salesrooms  in  the  town;  he  car- 
ries a  large  stock  of  goods  in  tinware 
stoves  and  house-furnishing  goods,  and  is 
constantly  adding  new  features.  He  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  corporation  clerk  at 
the  last  election,  which  office  he  is  now  ad- 
ministering. He  is  the  local  correspondent 
for  several  county  papers,  and  ranks  as  one  of 
the  enterprising  men  of  Waynesburgh.  Mr. 
Bonbrak  was  married  in  January,  1879,  to 
Miss  Lizzie  McElhinney,  of  Carroll  Co.;  they 
have  one   child,  Jennie  L. 

GEORGE  CASPER,  farmer  ;  P.  O.  Mag- 
nolia ;  was  born  in  Alsace,  now  a  German 
possession,  in  1819.  His  parents,  .Tacob  and 
Margaret  Casper,  emigrated  to  America  about 
1832,  settling  in  Sandy  Tp.,  where  the  re- 
mainder of  their  days  was  passed.  George 
has  followed  the  occupation  of  farming  all  of 
his  life,  and  has  been  a  resident  of  the  town- 
ship since  the  removal  of  his  parents  there. 
He  now  owns  240  acres  of  land,  and  his  homt^- 
stead  farm  is  finely  improved  with  buildings, 
and  ornamented  by  a  new  and  elegant  resi- 
dence. He  was  married  in  1846  to  Miss  Lou- 
isa Ullman,  of  Rose  Township,  Carroll  Co. 
They  have  twelve  children,  ail  living — Wil- 
liam, a  resident  of  Pike  Tp.  ;  Hannah 
Tresler,  living  in  Sandy  Tp.  ;  Jacob,  in 
Indiana  ;  Susannah  Richards,  in  Indiana  ; 
Isaac,  living  in  Indiana,  teaibing  school  ; 
Henry,  in  the  harness  trade,  Waynesburgh  ; 
Annis  Newton,  Pike  Tp.  ;  .I.-imes,  Ida, 
Edward,  Curtis  and  Abraham.  .Mr.  Casper  is 
one  of  the  solid,  substantial  fanners  of  the 
township,  and  universally  respect.'d. 

AUGUSTUS  R.    ELSON,    miller;    P.    O. 


^h, 


SANDY  TOWNSHIP. 


821 


Marrnolia;  is  a  son  of  Richard  Elson,  a  native 
of  Brook.'  Co.,  Va.;  horn  July  12,  i:!)T. 
Richard  K'son  passed  through  a  varied  anil 
interesting  life;  he  was  raised  upon  a  farm, 
and  began  life  for  himself  upon  the  Ohio  river, 
engaged  in  carrying  provisions  down  the  river 
upon  flat-l)oats,  which  he  had  built  himself, 
and  disposing  of  the  whole  cargo  in  Southern 
cities.  This  occupation  he  was  eng.iged  in 
for  seven  years.  He  would  walk  the  entire 
distanc-  back  to  his  home  at  the  end  of  his 
trip,  carrying  his  money  in  a  knap-sack  and 
using  it  for  a  ])illow,  many  niglits  lying  out 
under  the  stars.  Upon  one  occasion,  upon 
arriving  South,  he  found  an  epidemic  raging 
with  such  violence  that  he  was  forced  in  order 
to  get  home,  to  make  a  coast-voyage  to  New 
York,  from  which  place  he  walketl  home.  He 
came  to  Oliio  soon  after  his  parents  had  set- 
tled in  Osnaburg  Tp.  and  bought  a 
small  piece  of  land  near  there.  After  the 
death  of  his  father,  he,  with  his  brother,  opera- 
sed  and  controlled  the  home  farm.  He  soon 
after  began  large  and  extensive  farming  opera- 
tions in  Sandy  Township,  entering  a  quarter 
section  of  land,  where  C.  C  Elson  now  lives. 
About  1S34—.J  he  purchased  three  quarters  of 
land  in  and  around  Magnolia,  in  partnership 
with  John  W.  Smith.  They  erected  a  saw- 
mill, and  sawed  out  the  timber  for  the  grist- 
mill, which  was  coon  after  erected.  The  mill 
was  originally  made  40  feet  square;  it  has 
been  in  operation  from  that  time  forward, 
and  has  made  an  extended  reputation.  They 
also  located  the  town  of  Magnolia,  which  is 
now  a  thriving  village.  Soon  after  Mr.  Elson 
moved  his  familvupon  his  land,  there  occupy- 
ing a  small  log  house  for  some  years.  He  then 
disposed  of  his  share  in  the  mill  property  to 
Smith,  and  removed  to  his  farm  north  of 
Waynesburgh,  remaining  there  until  1839, 
when  he  bought  the  entire  mill  property  and 
moved  to  Magnolia,  where  he  resided  until  his 
death.  He  disposed  of  the  mill  to  his  son, 
Augustus  R.,  in  1851,  and  was  extensively  en- 
gaged in  farming  until  his  death.  He  was  one 
of  the  largest  hind  owners  in  the  township, 
and  the  lan<l  purchased  by  him,  althougii  con- 
domniMl  by  others,  prov(;d  to  be  the  most  fer- 
tile and  valuable  in  that  region.  He  secured 
the  post-office  for  Mi^giiolia,  and  was  Postmas- 
ter for  many  years;  also  served  in  mar.y 
other   offices  of  public  trust.     He  was  mar- 


ried in  1827  to  Miss  Sophia  F.  Boegeb 
of  Waynesburgh  ;  slu^  died  in  1829,  leaving 
three  children — Margaret  and  Catharine — 
twins.  Margaret,  now  the  wife  of  Wm.  H. 
Greer,  of  Magnolia,  and  Catharine,  wife  of  Dr. 
Whitacre,  now  living  in  Iowa,  formerly  of  Mag- 
nolia, and  the  subject  of  this  ski'tch.  Mr. 
Elson  was  married  to  a  second  wife,  Sarah 
A.  Brandon,  of  West  Virginia  ;  she  died  in 
1847,  leaving  three  children — Mary  F.  Red- 
man, living  iu  Iowa,  Corwiii  C,  of  Sandy 
Tp.,  and  Richard,  jr.  Mr.  Elson  died  Aug. 
28,  1879.  A.  R.  Elson  was  born  in  Sandy  Tp., 
in  1829.  He  began  life  upon  his  father's 
farm,  and  upon  their  removal  to  Magnolia, 
and  commencing  milling  operations,  he  en- 
tered the  mill,  and  became  thoroughly  con- 
versant with  that  occupation.  To  this  he  has 
devoted  his  entire  life,  and  at  it  he  has 
achieved  a  wonderful  success.  Mr.  Elson  has, 
by  continued  re-building  and  enlarging,  se- 
cured one  of  the  largest  mills  in  that  section. 
He  is  continually  adding  new  and  improved 
machinery,  and  contemplates,  during  the  sea- 
son of  1881,  to  build  more  additions  to  his 
buildings,  and  thoroughly  overhaul  it  and  add 
new  features.  His  power  is  furnished  by  the 
best  water  canal  imaginable,  and  is  sufficient 
to  run  his  immense  establisiimcnt  day  and 
night,  during  the  entire  year.  Something  of  an 
idea  can  be  furnished  by  the  statement  of  the 
amount  of  business  done  by  him;  from  the 
wheat  season  of  1880  until  April,  1881, 
ground  over  31,000  bushels  of  wheat.  Mr. 
Elson  is  one  of  the  prominent,  enterprising 
business  men  of  Ohio.  Honorable  in  all  of  his 
dealings,  and  |iossessing  genial  and  social  attri- 
butes of  high  order,  he  honors  to  the  utmost  the 
community  in  which  he  resides.  He  was 
united  in  marriage  in  December,  1855,  to  Mar- 
garet E.  Ross,  of  Waynesburgh.  They  have 
seven  cliildp'n  living — -Vustin  R.,  l)orn  .luni^ 
17,  1857;  Richard  R.,  born  March  8,  18i;0;  Em- 
ma F.,  born  Aug.  18,  1802;  John  R.,  born  A|)ril 
3,  18G5;  Frank,  born  Sept.  10,  1869  ;  Maggie 
E.,  born  Jan.  24,  1874,  and  Harry  E.,  born 
Sept.  27,  1879.  Mr.  Elson  has  served  as 
townshij)  trustee,  has  been  of  great  service 
to  the  (educational  interests  of  Magnolia,  and 
is  identified  with  the  development  of  all 
public  measures  that  promise  to  advance  the 
interests  of  the  peoph;.  He  owns  and  oper- 
ates   a    saw  and   planing-mill,    and    was    the 


A 


822 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


originator  of  Chadclock  &  Sons'  Woolen  Mill 
of  Maprnolia.  He  erected  in  Magnolia,  in 
1878-79,  an  elegant  brick  residence,  which 
is  fiuelv  appciinted. 

JOHN  H.  ELSON,  farmer;  P.  O.  Waynes- 
burg;  is  the  oldest  representative  of  an  old  and 
prominent  pioneer  family;  his  grand-parents 
were  pioneer  settlors  of  West  Virginia;  his 
father,  John  Elson,  was  a  native  of  Maryland; 
he  married  in  West  Virginia  Miss  Margaret 
Wiggins,  a  native  of  that  State;  they  emigra- 
ted to  Ohio  in  18;i0,  locating  near  Mapleton, 
in  Osnahurg  Township,  where  thoy  purchased 
some  land  and  began  to  improve  it;  his 
father,  however,  only  lived  a  short  time  after 
their  arrival,  dying  in  182!i;  his  mother  sur- 
vived several  years  after;  there  were  ten 
children  in  the  family,  only  three  now  living — 
Thomas  W.,  a  resident  of  Wayne  Co.,  Iowa  ; 
Charity  Wilson,  living  in  Mapleton;  and  John 
H.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  John  was  born  in 
West  Virginia  in  1806,  and  was  fifteen  years 
of  age  at  the  time  of  his  parents  removal  to 
this  county,  since  which  time  he  has  been  a 
resident  of  the  coanty,  and  of  Sandy  Town- 
ship since  1833;  his  purchase  of  land  in  San- 
dy was  in  1829;  he  was  married  in  1833  to 
Miss  Osie  Wilson,  born  in  Osnaburo-  Town- 
ship in  1815,  and  daughter  of  Douglas  Wil- 
son, also  a  pioneer,  a  more  extended  sketch 
of  him  appearing  elsewhere.  Mr.  Elson  has 
been  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  all  his 
days,  and  is  one  of  the  prominent  farmers  of 
Stark  County;  he  is  one  of  the  large  land- 
owners of  that  section,  part  of  which  he  has 
disposed  of  to  his  children.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  El- 
son have  had  thirteen  children,  eight  of  whom 
are  now  living — Sarah  Ann  Wilson,  living  in 
Pennsylvania;  James  W.  died  at  the  age  of  13; 
Wm.  P.,  a  resident  of  Missouri;  Douglas  W. 
died  an  infant;  John  H.  Elson,  Jr., 
died  in  the  service  of  his  country.  He 
enlisted  in  September,  1861,  in  Fremont's 
body  guard,  which  was  soon  disbanded,  and 
soon  after  he  became  a  member  of  the  olst  O. 
V.  I.,  and  served  until  Jan.  2,  1863,  when 
he  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Stone  River, 
and  died  a  few  days  after  in  the  hospital. 
Henry  C,  Sandy  Tp.;  Vallonia  V.;  Venilia 
Frame,  living  in  Missouri;  Owen  T.  died 
an  infant;  Edwin  W.,  living  in  Missouri;  Em- 
ma L.,  in  Missouri;  B.  Frank,  married  to 
Miss  Olive  M.  Sickafoose,  of   Sandy  Tp.,  in 


1880,  and  now  faruiing  in  Sandy  Tp.; 
and  Florence  N.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  13 
years.  Mr.  Elson  has  served  the  township  as 
Trustee,  and  always  been  an  advocate  for 
measures  to  promote  the  prosperity  and  best 
interests  of  the  township.  He  has  devoted  his 
time  exclusively  to  his  farming  interests,  and 
has  made  it  a  successful  life-work. 

H.  C.  ELSON,  farmer;  P.  O.  Waynesburgh; 
was  born  in  Sandy  Township  in  1843.  He  is 
a  son  of  John  and  Osie  (Wilson)  Elson  of 
Sandy  Tp.  Our  subject  was  an  assist- 
ant at  home  until  the  breaking  out  of  the 
n^bellion,  when  he  enlisted  Nov.  13,  1861,  in 
the  19th  O.  V.  I.  He  was  in  severe  service 
all  through  the  struggle,  and  participated  in 
the  following  battles :  Pittsburg  Landing, 
Farmington,  Corinth,  Perry  ville.  Crab  Orchard, 
Stone  River,  Chattanooga,  Pickett's  Mills, 
Pine  Knob,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Chattahoo- 
chee, Peach  Tree  Creek,  Atlanta,  Lovejoy 
Station,  Columbia,  Franklin  and  Nashville. 
He  was  tak(Mi  prisoner  .fan.  3,  1863,  in  the 
Stone  Ris'er  fight,  and  u[)0ri  the  same  day  his 
brother,  .John,  was  wounded,  and  confined  in 
Libby  Prison  for  one  month,  fortunately  being 
exchanged  alter  one  month.  He  passed 
through  all  of  the  engagenients  of  the  regi- 
ment, and  was  mustered  out  at  San  Antonio, 
Texas,  Nov.  35,  1865.  Returning  home  he 
rented  his  father's  farm  for  three  years,  and  in 
the  S|)ring  of  1869  bought  eighty  acres  of  his 
father,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Mr.  Elson 
has  one  of  the  finest  locations  in  the  township, 
and  has  improved  his  place  with  superior  build- 
ings. He  was  married  Oct.  33,  1868,  to  Miss 
pjiizabeth  C.  Hewitt,  daughter  of  Wilbam 
Hewitt,  of  Waynesburgh.  They  have  four 
cliildren — Loretta  O.,  Eliza  B.,  Jessie  M.  and 
Margaret  E. 

C.  C.  ELSON,  farmer;  P.  0.  Waynes- 
burgh; is  a  son  of  Richard  and  Sarah  A. 
(Brandon)  Elson;  he  was  boin  in  Magnolia 
in  1841,  and  assisted  when  a  youth  in  the 
management  of  his  father's  land;  he  was  in 
the  service,  enlisting  in  Oct.  1861,  in  Co.  K., 
51st  O.  V.  I.  under  the  command  of  Stanley 
Mathews,  and  served  all  through  the  war; 
enlisting  first  in  the  three  years  service,  and 
subsequently  as  a  veteran  he  served  in  all  of 
the  battles  of  his  regiment — -and  never  missed 
a  day's  service  in  38  months,  at  the  time  of  the 
discharge  he  was  ranking  First  Sergeant;  upon 


l-f^ 


^j^ 


SANDY    TOWNSHIP. 


823 


his  return  to  ^lagnolia,  he  assisted  at  home 
for  about  two  years,  and  in  1868  moved  to 
his  present  location,  north  of  Wayncsburgii, 
upon  land  first  entered  by  his  father;  he 
was  married  March  28,  1S72,  to  Miss  Salina 
L.  Rutter,  of  Waynesburgli;  tiiey  have  three 
chiklren — Mary  Kate,  Fannie  B.,  and  Paul  R. 
Mr.  Elson  has  now  320  acres  of  rich  valley 
land,  which  he  has  under  superior  cultivation 
and  elegantly  improved  in  building-s.  He  has 
served  the  townsiiip  as  Truster,  and  is  one  of 
the  most  respected  and  enlightened  citizens 
of  the  township;  he  devotes  his  time  entirely 
to  his  farming  interests,  but  also  keeps  up  to 
the  spirit  of  the  advanced  times  in  matters 
of  intelligence  and  progress. 

RICHARD  ELSON,  Jr.,  farmer;  P.  O.  Mag- 
nolia; was  born  in  Magnolia,  May  4,  1847,  in 
the  house  in  which  he  how  lives;  he  has  been 
ideiitllied  with  farming  interests  from  his 
youth  up,  and  now  owns  over  '?0(J  acres  of  the 
rich  land  of  the  "  Sai.dy  Valley;"  he  makes  a 
specialty  in  sheep;  and  also  in  laising  garden 
products,  for  which  his  rich  suil  seems  espec- 
ially adapted.  Mr.  Elson  has  been  a  resident 
of  Sandy  Tp.  his  entire  life,  and  is  foremost  in 
all  public  measures  and  in  good  works;  he 
gives  his  whole  attention  to  the  management 
of  his  land.  He  was  unit(>d  in  marriage  Nov. 
4,  1874,  to  Miss  (yatharino  A.  Baxter;  she  was 
born  in  Hancock  Co.  Va.,  in  November 
1850;  they  have  two  children  living — Mary  R., 
born  in  August,  187.3,  and  Ella  D.,  born  in 
M;irch,  1877;  Charley  B.,  died  an  infant. 

WILLIA.M  H.  EVANS,  merchant  tailor, 
Wavncsburgh  ;  was  born  in  Chester  Co.,  Pa., 
in  1849.  He  commimcod  learning  his  trade 
at  the  age  of  12  years,  in  Wilmington,  Dela- 
ware, remaining  there  about  si.x  years  ;  he 
then  went  to  Rlkton,  Md.,  where,  for  two 
years,  he  was  engaged  at  his  trade,  as  cutter  ; 
from  thence  to  Pniladcdphia,  where  he  was 
employed  in  the  trimming  department  of 
Waniiamaker's  establishment ',  subsequently 
returning  to  Elktoii,  Md.,  where,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Evans  «&  Desmond,  he  embarked 
in  a  business  venture  of  his  own,  continuing 
there  two  years  ;  he  then  disposed  of  his  in- 
terest and  came  to  Ohio,  locating  at  Saline- 
ville,  where  he  was  employed  at  his  trade 
about  a  year,  and  then,  for  a  little  recreation, 
took  a  short  trip  abroad,  visiting  many  of  the 
continental  cities.     Upon  his  return  to  Amer- 


ica he  located  in  Wayncsburgh,  in  1872,  start- 
ing in  a  small  way  in  the  merchant  tailoring 
line.  Here  he  has  since  resided,  having  estab- 
lished a  large  and  flourishing  trade,  and  carry- 
ing a  complete  and  e-xtensive  line  of  goods. 
Mr.  Evans  has  been  making  a  specialty  of 
military  and  band  uniforms,  and  in  that  branch 
has  secured  an  extended  trade,  which  is  not 
confined  to  Ohio,  Init  extends  to  neighboring 
States.  Hi-  is  a  skillful  and  proficient  artist 
in  his  profession,  and  fully  deserving  of  the 
success  which  has  attended  his  business.  He 
was  united  in  marriage  in  1872,  to  Miss  Ruha- 
mah  Herbert,  of  Salineville,  O.  They  have 
one  child,  Annetta.  Mr.  Evans  is  a  member 
of  Wayn.'sburgh  Lodge,  No.  5.38, 1.  O.  O.  F., 
and  of  Sandy  Encampment,  No.  190.  He  has 
served  as  a  member  of  the  Corjjoration  Coun- 
cil, and  is  one  of  the  enterprising  and  progres- 
sive citizens  of  NVaynesburgh. 

JOHN  \V.  GLESSNER,  mayor  and  jew- 
eler: P.  O.  Waynesi)urgh;  is  a  son  of  Jacob 
Glessner,  who  was  born  in  Somerset  Co.,  Pa., 
in  1794;  he  le.irned  his  trade  of  cabinet 
maker  at  Wheeling,  and  was  subsequently 
engaged  in  traffic  upon  the  Ohio  river,  taking 
a  load  of  produce  upon  a  flat-boat,  and  dis- 
posing of  them  in  Southern  cities,  walking 
the  entire  distance  back.  In  1818  he  came 
to  New  Lisbon,  Columbiana  Co.,  and  in  1822, 
came  to  Waynesburgh,  where  he  engaged  at 
his  trade  of  cabinet-making  and  undertaking, 
until  1836,  when  he  removed  to  New  Lan- 
caster, O.,  where  he  remained  four  years,  sub- 
sequently returning  to  Waynesburgh,  and  has 
since  been  a  resident  there.  He  continued 
at  his  trade  until  1874,  and  since  1876,  has 
been  totally  blind.  His  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Margaret  Ranne,  was  from  Ra- 
venna, O.  They  have  one  child  living,  John 
W.;  he  was  born  in  New  Lancaster,  0.,  in 
1840.  He  was  a  salesman  in  a  Hardware 
Store  for  three  years  previous  to  the  war,  and 
was  a  member  of  the  19th  O.  V.  I.,  enlisting 
in  1863,  and  in  service  until  the  close  of  the 
war  in  1865.  He  participated  in  many  of 
the  battles,  notably.  Rich  Mountain,  Corinth, 
Port  Gibson,  Raymond,  Siege  of  Vicksburg, 
Mission  Ridge,  and  in  all  of  the  engage- 
ments of  his  regiment.  He  was  in  the  army 
of  the  Tennessee  under  Mcl'herson  and 
Logan,  and  was  the  principal  musician  of  his 
regiment;  while  in    the  service    he    learned, 


it 


■il^ 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


from  an  old  experienced  watchmaker,  his 
trade.  Upon  his  return  to  WaynesSurgh,  he 
engaged  at  that  calling,  at  which  he  has  since 
been  engaged.  Mr.  Glessner  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Common  Council,  Mayor  four 
terms,  and  is  the  present  incumbent  of  that 
office.  He  is  a  member  of  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of 
which  order  he  has  passed  through  all  grades. 
He  was  married  in  1867  to  Mi&s  Jos(>phine 
Keagle,  of  Pennsylvania  ;  they  have  five 
children — George  E.,  Charles  L.,  Kittie, 
Madge  and  Harrv. 

ROBEIIT  HAMILTON,  deceased  ;  was 
born  in  Donegal,  Ireland,  June  5,  1795.  He 
emigrated  to  America  and  first  located  in 
New  York  city,  where  he  marrii^d  Finniah 
Henry,  April  1,  1823;  she  was  born  in 
that  city  Oct.  13,  1SI)3.  They  remained 
in  that  city  for  15  years,  keeping  a  grocery 
and  provision  store  on  the  corner  of  Elm  and 
North  streets.  Emigrating  to  Ohio  they 
located  about  3i  miles  north  of  Waynesburgh, 
and  commenced  keeping  a  country  travern 
and  also  a  small  country  store,  the  goods 
being  purchased  by  Mr.  Hamilton  in  New 
York.  They  remained  in  that  location  for 
about  six  years,  and  in  1837  removed  to 
Waynesburgh  and  started  the  Hamilton 
House,  which  has  been  in  operation  up  to  the 
present  time,  and  has  extended  its  reputation 
far  and  near  as  one  of  the  best  hotels  in  the 
country.  Here  the  worthy  couple  passed  the 
remainder  of  their  days,  dispensing  their  hos- 
pitalities with  a  liberal  hand  and  receiving  in 
return  a  large  and  liberal  patronage.  They 
were  both  old  and  respected  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  and  were  esteemed  uni- 
versally by  their  friends  and  neighbors,  and 
the  traveling  public  generally.  Mr.  Hamilton 
died  Aug.  31,  1876,  his  wife  Oct.  12,  1879. 
They  were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  eight 
now  living — James  M.,  the  oldest,  has  been  as- 
sociated with  the  management  of  the  house 
for  many  years;  Cordelia,  laarried  to  Ur.  A. 
F.  Atwell  in  1858;  Adeline,  wife  of  John  E. 
Wilson,  of  Waynesburgh;  Finniah  Taylor, 
living  in  Kentucky;  AleciaM.,  Laura,  now  Mrs. 
Rogers;  Edward  H.was  born  in  Waynesburg  in 
1838.  H(-  has  been  engaged  in  the  livery  busi- 
ness for  the  most  of  his  life  and  is  now  doing  an 
extensive  business  in  that  line;  married  June, 
1869,  to  Sarah  J.  Morledge,  of  Waynesburgh; 
they  have  three   children,   Nora,  Harvey   and 


Frank.  Robert  B.  Hamilton,  the  second  son, 
was  born  in  New  York  in  1829,  and  for  many 
years  was  engaged  in  mercantile  operations 
at  Waynesburgh,  doing  a  large  business, 
which,  however,  resulted  disastrously,  since 
which  time  he  has  been  engaged  in  farming, 
and  at  his  trade  of  wagon-making;  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Usher  Robertson,  of  Carroll 
Co.;  they  have  six  children;  he  has  served  as 
Townshiji  Trustee,  President  of  Board  of  Eilu- 
cation  and  member  of  council  for  several 
years;  is  a  Knight  Templar,  of  Massillon 
Commandery  No.  4.  Mr.  Robert  Hamilton 
was  appointed  Postmaster  of  Waynesburgh 
in  184.5,  the  original  commission  from  C. 
Johnson,  Postmaster  General,  being  now  in 
possession  of  the  family;  also  served  as  Post- 
master several  years  later.  The  Hamilton 
House  is  now  under  the  management  of  James 
C.  Rogers,  assisted  by  his  wife,  Mrs.  Atwell 
and  Miss  Alecia  Hamilton.  The  traveling 
public  who  patronize  the  "Hamilton"  will 
find  their  "  lines  cast  in  pleasant  places." 
James  C.  Rogers  was  born  in  Sandy  Tp., 
in  1850 — son  of  John  B.  and  Elinor  (Creigh- 
ton)  Rogers,  of  Sandy  Tp.  James  passed 
his  early  days  upon  his  father's  farm  during 
his  earlier  years,  and  then  upon  a  farm  of  his 
own,  where  he  continued  until  April,  1880, 
when  he  assumed  the  management  of  the 
Hamilton  House.  He  has  a  small  and  well 
improved  farm  of  50  acres  in  the  township. 
He  was  married  Oct.  12,  18T6,  to  Miss  Laura 
Hamilton. 

JOHN  HEWITT,  retired  farmer;  P.  O. 
Waynesburgh;  is  a  son  of  James  and  Eliza- 
beth (Thompson)  Hewitt,  natives  of  Ireland. 
His  father  came  to  America  at  the  age  of 
twenty  years,  in  1791,  and  his  mother  in  1790, 
when  ten  years  of  age.  They  were  married 
in  Peinisylvania  in  1808,  and  soon  after  came 
to  Sandy  Tp.,  where  he  had  previously 
taken  up  and  improved  some  land,  coming  out 
in  1807  with  John  Creighton  and  John  Reed 
for  that  purpose.  They  continued  residents 
of  this  community  until  their  death.  He 
served  as  one  of  the  Erst  Justices  of  the  Peace; 
his  death  occurred  in  or  about  1852;  his  wife 
had  died  in  1844.  They  had  ten  children, 
six  hoys  and  four  girls.  William  Hewitt,  the 
oldest,  was  the  first  white  male  child  born  in 
what  was  then  Sandy  T]i.  William 
followed  farming  in  Sandy  and  Brown  town- 


^. 


w 


ik^ 


SANDY    TOWNSHIP. 


825 


ships  for  many  years.  He  is  now  living  in 
Wiiyiiesburgh  in  retirement,  as  lie  is  badly 
cri|]pled  by  rheumatism,  which  has  troubled 
him  for  forty  years.  William  w:is  mirried 
when  twenty-six  years  of  a^^e  to  Eliza  Brotii- 
ers  of  Paris  Tp.  They  have  had  throe 
children — Amanda  J.,  deceased;  James  T., 
living  in  Sandy  Tp;  and  Elizabeth  C, 
the  wife  of  H.  C.  Elson  of  Sandy  Tp. 
John  Hewitt,  the  subject  of  this  biography, 
was  born  in  what  is  now  Brown  Tp.,  Carroll 
Co.,  in  1811.  He  continued  a  resident  of  the 
old  homestea  1  farm  until  he  was  S'i  years  of 
age,  wlien  he  was  united  in  marriage  in  184"2, 
to  Miss  Isabella  .\rbuckle,  who  was  at  that 
time  living  in  that  portion  of  Stark,  which  has 
since  been  transferred  to  Carroll  Co.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  John  Arbuekle,  an  early  settler  in 
that  locality.  Mr.  Hewitt  was  engaged 
actively  in  farming  operations  until  1873 
when  he  removed  t3  Waynesburgh,  and  has 
since  resided  there,  retired  from  active  busi- 
ness. He  owns  150  acres  of  land  in  Carroll 
Co.  Mr.  Hewitt  lost  his  wife  April  8,  1873. 
They  had  two  sons  and  two  daught(>rs — Aloii- 
zo,  a  resident  of  Carroll  Co.;  ho  was  a  meni- 
biT  of  the  2Clh  Ohio  Battery,  and  in  service 
about  18  months;  James  A.,  living  in  town; 
Martha  E.  Mad<lock,  of  Carroll  Co.,  and  Jane 
I.,  living  at  homi';  this  young  lady  possesses 
rare  musical  accomplishments,  being  a  superior 
performer  and  also  composer.  Mr.  Hewitt 
was  married  to  a  second  wife  in  September, 
1874,  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Mays.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Pres!)yterian  Church,  in  which  he  has 
been  an  elder  since  1846. 

ROBERT  JONES,  foundry,  plows,  stoves 
and  tinware;  Waynesburgh;  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  the  leaiUng  industry  of  Waynes- 
burgh; he  is  a  sun  of  John  .Jones,  horn  near 
Dublin,  Ireland,  in  1792;  he  married  there  in 
1817  Eliza  Ince,  and  in  1819  emigrated  to 
Ain(,'rica,  landing  at  Philadelphia,  where  he 
remained  for  a  short  time,  subsequently  re- 
moving lo  the  vicinity  of  Wilkesbarre,  Pa., 
where  he  remained  until  the  spring  of  1821. 
VV'hile  living  there  Robert  was  born,  in  the 
year  182U.  They  next  emigrated  farther 
west,  remaining  in  Pittsburgh  a  short  period, 
and  finally  settleil  abnut  8  miles  north  of  the 
city,  near  "  Braddock's  Field."  H(;re  htey 
rcmain(!d  until  the  spring  of  1823,  when  they 
again  took  up  the  line  of  march  and  came  to 


Ohio,  and  in  the  fall  of  that  year  he  entered 
some  land  in  what  is  now  Rose  Tp.,  and 
owned  by  Andrew  Jimeson,  upon  which  he 
erected  a  small  cabin  and  began  life  in  the 
woods.  Here  he  remained  with  his  family 
until  the  spring  of  1838,  when  lie  sold  out  and 
removed  to  Pittsburgh,  where  for  eight  years  he 
was  employed  as  spinning  master  in  a  cotton 
manufactory,  at  the  end  of  which  time  ho. 
again  removed  to  Carroll  Co.,  where  he  had  in 
the  meantime  purchased  a  piece  of  land  ad- 
joining his  original  purchase,  upon  which  he 
settled  and  lived  until  about  1859,  when  he 
removed  with  his  wife  to  Waynesburgh,  re- 
tiring from  active  labor.  Here  the  couple  re- 
mained until  their  deaths;  he  died  at  the  age 
of  73  years,  and  his  wife  aged  70  years. 
Robert  remained  with  his  parents  until  the}' 
removed  from  Pittsburgh  in  1830,  where  he  re- 
mained behind,  and  apprenticed  himself  to 
learn  the  machinist's  trade  in  a  cotton  machin- 
ery manufactory.  He  received  his  freeilom 
when  about  the  age  of  19,  and  immediately 
came  to  Massillon,  obtaining  employment 
with  McMillan  &  Partridge  about  3  months, 
and  then  engaging  with  C.  M.  Russell  &  Co., 
with  whom  he  remained  until  the  fall  of  1847, 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  threshing  ma- 
chines. He  then  removed  to  Waynesburgh 
and  embarked  in  a  business  enterprise  for 
himself,  purchasing  a  small  foundry  of  Pat- 
rick Call,  which  he  has  enlarged  and  continued 
up  to  the  present  time.  He  manufactures 
several  different  lirands  of  plows,  many  of 
which  have  an  extended  reputation;  he  is  also 
the  patentee  of  .tones'  Iron  Plow,  and  has 
several  valuable  improvements  in  that  line 
not  patented;  about  1851  he  added  a  line  of 
stoves  and  tinware  to  his  other  busin(>ss, 
which  he  has  continui'd  at,  with  the  exception 
often  vears.  In  1877,  he  associated  with  him  in 
business  in  that  department,  Mr.  Lew  S.  l?ori- 
lirak,  who  continued  with  him  until  1881. 
They  are  the  inventors  and  patentees  of  the 
Iron  Roofing,  which  bears  their  name,  and 
in  connection  with  L.  Scott,  commenced  its 
manufacture  in  January,  1880.  Mr.  .lones,  with 
Holding,  has  applied  for  a  jiatent  upon  a 
"  Quadruplex  Seamer,"  for  joining  this  roof- 
ing. He  was  united  in  marriage  in  S(!ptem- 
ber,  1842,  to  Miss  Margaretta  Taupert,  a 
native  of  Germany,  who  cani(>  with  her  parents 
to  Massillon     in  183G.     Tliev  have  one  son — 


£k. 


82ti 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES : 


Charles  li.  Mr.  Jones  has  served  the  town- 
ship as  its  clerk  for  over  ten,  years,  and  in 
education  and  other  matters  of  public  impor- 
tance, has  taken  a  progressive  interest.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Wayuesburgh  Masonic 
Order,  and  with  his  wife,  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  church. 

CHARLES.  H.  JONES,  Waynesburgh;  is 
a  son  of  Robert  and  Margaretta  (Taupert) 
Jones.  He  was  born  in  Massillon,  in  1845. 
At  the  age  of  10  he  commenced  to  learn  the 
tin  and  coppersmith's  trade  in  his  father's  shop, 
finishing  at  Canton,  after  which  he  taught 
school  three  months  in  Brown  Township.  At 
the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion  he  enlisted 
in  the  3d  Independent  Battery  O.  V.  A.,  with 
which  he  was  connected  for  about  a  year, 
when  he  was  promoted  to  the  position  of 
Hospital  Steward  U.  S.  A.,  with  the  rank  of 
Ordinance  Sergeant,  regular  army;  he  admin- 
istered the  duties  of  this  office  for  one  j^ear, 
and  then  received  promotion  to  the  command 
of  a  company  in  the  1st  Mississippi  Mounted 
Riflemen,  which  was  organized  at  Memphis 
by  Col.  Jackson,  and  was  composed  of  white 
refugees;  in  this  position  he  remained  until 
he  was  mustered  out  at  the  close  of  the  war. 
Since  his  return  from  the  army  he  has  en- 
gaged in  many  and  various  occupations,  and 
has  traveled  over  most  of  the  States  in  the 
Union.  He  was  married  in  Octolier,  1869,  to 
Miss  Laura  Christy,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  since 
which  time  he  has  remained  in  Waynesburgh. 
He  has  three  children — Robert  Christy,  Clem- 
ent Russell,  and  Harry  M.  Mr.  Jones  has  dis- 
played in  all  his  business  transactions  intelli- 
gent and  efficient  qualification.  Although 
never  receiving  a  collegiate  education,  he  has, 
by  a  judicious  course  of  study  and  reading, 
combined  with  the  knowledge  to  be  attained 
by  an  extended  tour  of  travels,  attained  a 
liberal  education.  He  has  devoted  a  large 
share  of  his  later  years  to  journalistic  pur- 
suits, in  which  department  he  is  recog- 
nized as  the  leading  spirit  of  his  community. 
He  has  devoted  also  much  time  and  care  in 
collectiug  old  historical  facts,  and  incidents  of 
the  early  days  of  Sandy  Tp.,  which  matter, 
arranged  and  enlarged  by  his  own  hands, 
will  be  presented  to  the  people  of  Sandy  Tp., 
in  this  work. 

JOSEPH  KIMMELL,  retired  farmer;  P. 
O.  Waynesburgh;  is  one  of  the  early  settlers 


of  Stark  Co.,  and  is  intimately  acquai:ited 
with  the  rise,  progress  and  advancement  of 
the  county  from  its  pioneer  days  to  the  pres- 
ent time.  He  is  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Hannah 
(Weldie)  Kimmell,  both  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. Adam  Kimmell,  the  eldest  son,  came 
to  Stark  Co.  in  1815,  and  was  soon  after 
joined  by  two  younger  brothers,  William  and 
John.  The  parents  emigrated  to  the  county 
in  1823,  with  the  remainder  of  the  family, 
consisting  of  four  boys  and  three  girls.  His 
father  had  traded  some  property  in  Pennsyl- 
vania for  a  farm  in  Lake  Tp.,  and  here  the 
family  located,  the  parents  remaining  there 
until  their  deaths.  The  father,  besides  his 
occupation  of  a  farmer,  taught  school  for  a 
number  of  years,  teaching  either  German  or 
English.  His  death  occurred  in  1845;  the 
mother's  in  1851.  Adam,  the  elder  son,  was 
a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  after  his  re- 
moval to  Stark  Co.,  became  an  influential  cit- 
izen, serving  as  justice  of  the  peace  in  Can- 
ton for  several  years.  The  children  now  liv- 
ing are  as  follows  :  Rebecca,  wife  of  Judge 
Loutzenheimer;  .Joseph,  Jr.,  Hannah  Loutzen- 
heimer,  living  in  Indiana  ;  Amos,  a  resident 
of  Illinois,  and  Jacob,  living  in  Lake  Tp. 
Joseph  Kimmell  was  born  in  Union  Co., 
Pa.,  in  1802,  and  came  witih  his  parents  to 
Stark  Co.  at  the  time  of  their  removal  thither. 
As  he  was  the  oldest  son  at  home,  he  had  a 
practical  experience  in  the  hardships  and  toil 
of  those  early  times.  In  1823  he  went  to 
Canton,  and  engaged  at  the  trade  of  fulling 
and  carding,  in  the  employ  of  his  brother 
Adam  and  a  man  named  Gaff,  who  had  em- 
barked in  that  enterprise.  In  1830  he  bought 
out  the  interest  of  Gafl",  and  with  his  brother 
continued  in  that  trade  until  1837.  He  then 
purchased  a  farm  in  Carroll  Co.,  a  short  dis- 
tance from  Waynesburgh,  upon  which  he  re- 
mained until  1850,  when  he  sold  out;  and  after 
ten  years'  residence  in  Logan  Co.,  Indiana, 
returned  to  Stark  Co.,  purchasing  a  farm  in 
Sandy  Tp.,  which  he  operated  until  the  fall 
of  1877,  when  he  retired  from  an  active  and 
successful  business  life,  and  is  now  pleasantly 
located  in  Waynesburgh.  He  was  married 
in  1823  to  Catharine  Emick,  by  whom  he  had 
seven  children,  four  now  living — -Cyrus,  in  In- 
diana; Harriet  Arnold,  in  Iowa;  Orlando,  a 
resident  of  Iowa;  and  Emeline  Casper,  in  In- 
diana.    His    wife    died   in    1858.     In   April^ 


^-. 


:fz 


SANDY    TOWNSHU'. 


827 


18G0,  he  was  married  to  a  second  wife,  Cath- 
arine Seabuiy,  "ho  died  in  1877.  In  June, 
1878,  he  married  a  third  wife,  Barbara  Fogle, 
a  daugliter  of  Geo.  Fogle,  one  of  the  pioneei  s 
of  Stark  Co.,  who  came  there  in  1815,  and 
marrieil  Anna  M.  Loutzenheimer,  both  now 
deceased;  his  death  occurred  in  April,  1876, 
and  his  wife's  February,  1880.  Mr.  Kimmeli 
has  served  Sandy  Tp.  as  trustee  one  term,  and 
whik;  a  resident  of  Carroll  Co.  was  justice  of 
the  |)eace  three  years.  He  was  formerly  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  churcli,  but  since 
livincf  in  Waynesburgh  has  joined  thi;  Pres- 
byterian denomination,  of  which  his  wife  is  a 
member. 

JEREMIAH  KOONTZ,  farmer;  P.  O. 
Magnolia;  is  a  son  of  John  and  Rebecca 
Koontz,  who  were  married  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  1816,  and  soon  after  emigrated  to 
Ohio.  Tliey  located  in  Sandy  Tp.  about 
1818,  upon  a  farm  in  the  northern  portion  of 
the  township,  and  about  18-55,  removed  to 
Rose  Tp.,  Carroll  Co.,  whine  the  father  took 
up  160  acres  of  land,  and  remained  a  resident 
until  his  death  in  1848;  his  mother  survived 
until  1862,  when  she  died  at  the  home  of  her 
son  David,  in  Hardin  Co.  O.  They  had  eleven 
children,  only  three  of  whom  ;ir<"  now  living — 
Jeremiah,  Mary,  wife  of  John  Housinaii,  of 
Hardin  Co.  O.,  and  Lydia,  wife  of  Adam 
Housman,  of  Tuscarawas  Co.,  O.  William 
Koontz,  a  son,  deceased,  was  in  the  late  ser- 
vice, and  died  while  in  service  at  Nashville, 
Tenn.  Jeremiah  was  born  in  Columbiana 
Co.,  O.,  Se])t.  16,  1817,  itnd  saw  considerable 
of  the  hardships  and  trials  of  the  pioneer  days. 
He  has  been  engaged  in  farming  all  his  life, 
and  has  made  it  successful  in  a  pecuniary 
way.  His  present  location  is  one  of  the  finest 
in  the  township;  his  land  is  fertile  and  well 
improved,  and  he  has  erected  upon  it  as  fine 
buildings  as  can  be  desired.  His  residence 
and  biun  are  especially  tiotici-able,  and  are 
corainandingly  situated.  Mr.  Koontz  enlisted 
in  Co.  K.  51st  O.  V.  I.,  in  1861,  and  was  in  the 
service  over  threevears,  participating  in  all  the 
b:ittles  and  engagements  of  his  regiment.  He 
was  married  in  1844  to  Elizabeth  F.  Beatty, 
daughter  of  W^'brents  and  Mary  (Filson) 
Bi-atty,  early  settlers  of  Rose  Tp.,  Carroll  Co. 
She  was  born  in  1820;  they  have  five  children 
now  living,  two  deceased — John  and  Rebecca 
Fishley,  both  deceased;  Robert,  Jeremiah,  Jr., 


George,  Wm.  Stanley  and  Ellen  (now  Mrs. 
Fish-ley,)  now  living  in  Michigan.  Jane  Fish- 
ley,  a  grand-daughter,  makes  her  home  with 
them  also.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Koontz  are  both 
members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church. 

WM.  H.  KNCTTS,  farmer  ;  P.  O.  Magno- 
lia; is  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  old  ])ioneer 
families  ;  his  parents  were  William  and  Han- 
nah Knotts,  his  father  a  native  of  Maryland, 
and  his  mother  of  Virginia.  They  emigrated 
to  Ohio  hi  1808,  and  settled  in "  Sandy  Tp., 
upon  the  farm  that  our  subject  now  owns. 
Here  they  passed  the  remainder  of  their  days; 
his  death  occurred  in  1850,  and  his  wife  many 
years  previous,  about  1824.  There  were  eleven 
children  in  the  family,  of  whom  our  subject 
was  the  tenth  child.  He  is  a  native  of  Sandy 
Tp.,  born  in  1815,  and  was  brought  uj)  upon 
the  farm,  remaining  at  home  until  twenty- 
three  years  of  age.  He  then  went  upon  the 
Ohio  Canal,  and  was  engaged  in  boating  ope- 
rations upon  it  for  twenty-one  summers.  He 
then  removed  to  Indiana,  and  for  two  years 
was  engaged  in  the  waoehouse  business  there. 
Returning  to  Saiuly  Tp.,  he  was  married  in 
1863  to  Emily  S.  Miller,  of  Dunkirk,  O. 
Since  his  return  to  Stark  Co ,  Mr.  Knotts  has 
been  engaged  in  the  mercantile  busiiu'ss  at 
Magnolia  for  ten  years,  and  also  farming,  at 
which  he  still  continues.  He  owns  171  acres 
in  the  township.  He  has  three  children — 
William,  Hniih  atul  Ann. 

LEWIS  KLOTZ,  shoemaker;  Waynes- 
burgh;  was  born  in  Carroll  Co.,  in  1838; 
he  commenced  to  learn  his  trade  at  the  age 
of  fourteim  in  Canton,  under  the  instructions 
of  .loseph  Ricluii'ds,  with  whom  he  continued 
eighteen  months,  he  then  went  to  Pittsburgh, 
where  he  remained  two  years,  and  from  thence 
to  Malvern,  Carroll  Co.,  remaining  there  only 
eight  months,  when  he  began  business  for 
himself  in  Magnolia,  opeiiii;g  up  a  shop  there, 
where  he  resided,  and  worked  at  his  trade  for 
nine  years.  He  came  to  Waynesburgh  in 
1807,  and  embarked  in  business  there,  in  his 
line,  where  he  has  since  resided  and  conduct- 
ed a  successful  business.  Mr.  Klotz,  was  a 
volunteer  in  the  late  war,  eidisting  in  May, 
1864,  in  the  162nd  O.  N.  G.,  Co.  I.;  they  were 
in  the  U.  S.  service  about  four  months.  He 
was  united  in  marriage  in  1860,  to  Miss  Sarah 
Van  Mater,  of  Carroll  Co.  They  have  nine 
children  living — John  W.,  William  N.,  Lewis 


s)     fy 


E.,  Charles  M..  George  W.,  Frank  A.,  Cora 
E.,  Mary  M.,  and  Rebecca  F.  Mr.  Klotz  is  a 
member  of  both  the  Masonic  and  Odd  Fellow 
orders,  and  a  respected  citizen  of  Waynes- 
bur<;-h. 

MADISON  M.  MAYS,  dealer  in  fine 
stock,  and  farmer,  P.  O.  Waynesburgh;  one 
of  the  jsrogressive  business  men  and  practical 
farmers  of  Stark  Co.  Ho  is  a  son  of  Andrew 
and  Rebecca  (Ryan)  Mays;. his  father  was  born 
in  Washington  Co.,  Pa.,  in  1798.  He  was  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  Sandy  Tp.,  coming-  there  in 
1814,  and  a  resident  of  the  township  nntil  1879, 
wlien  he  went  to  Mercer  Co.,  Pa.,  to  live  and 
where  he  still  resides.  His  marriage  with 
Rebecca  Ryan,  occurred  in  Sandy  Tp.  in 
1821;  she  was  a  daughter  of  Cornelius 
Ryan,  who  came  to  the  township  from 
Pennsylvania,  at  an  early  day.  The 
mother  died  in  1854.  There  were  nine 
boys  and  three  girls  in  the  family,  of  whom 
only  the  following  now  survive — Madison  M., 
Tliomas  C,  now  a  resident  of  Hot  Sprinas, 
Arkansas,  Wilfred  O.,  living  in  Iowa,  and 
Nerrissa  Fell  of  Mercer  Co.,  Pa.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  born  in  this  township  in  1830. 
At  the  age  of  14,  he  commenced  droving,  and 
from  that  time  forward  has  been  in  constant 
and  active  business  ventures;  for  several 
years  he  was  contractor  upon  railroad  con- 
struction, and  in  1854,  removed  to  Davenport, 
Iowa,  and  was  proprietor  of  the  Le  Clare 
House  for  one  year,  subsequently  returning  to 
Waynesburgh,  where  he  engaged  in  brewing 
and  distilling  malt  liquors.  During  the  war, 
he  was  engaged  most  of  the  time  in  stock 
operations,  and  in  oil  speculations  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. He  jiurchased,  in  1800,  a  farm  adjoin- 
ing Waynesburgh,  and  in  18G5  bought  his 
present  location,  and  since  that  time  has  been 
extensively  engaged  in  farming  operations. 
He  now  owns  about  3  0  acres  of  su|)erior 
land,  finely  improved,  and  makes  a  specialty 
in  dairying;  and  for  the  past  three  years  has 
owned  and  operated  a  large  cheese  factory 
upon  his  farm.  His  cattle,  sheep,  fowl  and 
horses  are  all  blooded  stock,  and  his  farming 
is  conducted  with  all  th(!  a<lvanced  machin- 
ery of  the  age.  Since  1874,  Mr.  Mays  has 
been  interested  in  the  Rappleye  Wire 
Fence,  and  is  now  General  Agent  for  its 
introduction.  He  is  doing  an  immense  busi- 
ness  in   that   line,  and   travels    all    over    the 


United  States  in  its  interests.  During  the 
past  winter  (1880)  Mr.  Mays  passed  a  large 
sliare  of  his  time  in  the  Southern  States,  and 
while  there,  purchased  seven  blooded  horses; 
four  of  them  are  now  upon  his  farm,  under  the 
charge  of  an  experienced  driver,  and  will  be 
entered  for  the  sporting  season  of  1881.  Mr. 
Mays'  location  is  near  the  limits  of  Waynes- 
burgh, and  although  his  place  is  finely 
improved,  he  says  that  more  improvements 
are  soon  to  follow,  and  is  contemplating 
making  it  a  model  farm  and  home.  He  ])os- 
sesses  superior  business  and  social  qualities, 
and  is  daily  to  be  found,  when  at  home, 
exhibiting  his  stock  and  enterprises  to  large 
numbers  of  visitors.  He  was  married  in  1853, 
to  Miss  Clarissa  Koontz,  daughter  of  Solo- 
mon Kooiitz,  a  former  business  partner  of 
his  fatlier's.  They  have  three  children — 
Albert,   Emma  F.  and  Mary  A. 

THEODORE  McCALL,  farmer;  P.  O. 
Waynesburgh;  is  a  son  of  Thomas  McCall, 
who  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Stai-k 
Co.  His  mother  was  Sarah  Brothers,  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania;  she  died  about  1857.  His 
father  is  now  a  resident  of  Canton,  a  more 
complete  sketch  of  whose  life  will  appear  in 
that  township  history.  Theodore  has  been 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  from  his  boy- 
hood up  to  the  present  time.  After  his  mar- 
riao-o  he  moved  upon  his  father's  farm,  and 
resided  with  him  until  April,  1877,  when  he 
purchased  the  farm  of  his  father,  who  then  re- 
moved to  Canton.  The  farm  is  situated  upon 
the  Canton  and  Waynesburgh  road,  about 
four  miles  from  the  latter  place.  It  consists 
of  135  acres  of  land,  a  goodly  portion  of 
which  is  finely  adapted  to  horticultural  pur- 
poses, and  in  this  line  Mr.  McCall  is  making 
quite  a  specialty.  The  more  particular 
varieties  of  fruit  that  he  is  giving  attention  to 
are  quinces,  peaches  and  apples,  having  about 
3,000  trees  of  the  latter,  and  making  annually 
about  fifty  barrels  of  vinegar.  He  cultivates 
the  greater  portion  of  his  land  to  general 
farming.  Mr.  McCall  was  united  in  marriage 
in  1872  to  Miss  Sarah  Reed,  of  Osnaburg  Tp., 
daughter  of  William  Reed,  a  well-known  resi- 
dent of  that  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCall 
have  a  family  of  three  girls^Alice,  Effie  and 
Jessie.  Mr.  McCall  has  given  his'  entire 
attention  to  farming,  not  seeking  any  political 
honors.     He    is   an    intelligent  and   practical 


SANDY  TOWNSHIP. 


Iiut^ljaiuliiutii,  and   is   a|ipreoiatcil  as  a  titizeii 
of  ^rciiuliie  wortli. 

JAMES  MORLEDGE,  wool,  .rraiii  and 
produce;  Waj-neshurgh;  was  born  in  Car- 
roll Co.,  O.,  in  lU'll;  his  father,  John  Mor- 
ledge,  was  a  native  of  England,  and  came  to 
Ohio  in  1813,  and  settled  in  Carroll  Co.  He  j 
married  there,  in  1817,  Hannah  Westfall,  a  na-  j 
tive  of  Pennsylvaia.;  her  father  was  a  captain  | 
in  the  revolutionary  war  anil  sul)se(|uently  a 
pioneer  of  Carioll  <'  'o.  Roger  Morledge,  a 
brother  to  John,  came  to  Sandy  Tp.  at  the 
same  time  his  brother  settled  in  Carroll 
Co.,  wiiere  he  lived  until  his  death.  John 
Morledge  died  in  184<);  his  wife  died  about 
1873.  James  was  engaged  in  farming  until  30 
years  of  age,  when  he  moved  to  Minerva  and 
engaged  in  the  grain  and  i)roduce  business 
there.  In  18.58  he  came  to  Wayiicsburgh, 
and  has  resided  there  since,  dealing-  in  grain 
and  produce  and  making  a  specialty  of  wool. 
He  was  associated  in  partnership  with  J. 
Ranne  from  1858  to  1865,  and  in  18G8  went 
into  partnership  with  Fred  Mackaman,  since 
which  time  they  have  conducted  a  large  and 
successful  business.  Mr.  M.  was  married  in 
1843  to  Miss  Mary  Dumbleton,  a  resident  of 
Carroll  Co;  she  died  in  1873,  leaving  six 
children — Sarah  J.  Hamilton,  wife  of  E.  H. 
Hamilton,  of  Waynesburgh;  Kate,  wifeof  N.  L. 
Glover,  of  Akron;  John  D.,  one  of  the  business 
men  of  Carrollton;  Lizzie,  wife  of  S.  Woy, 
living  in  Sparla,  Wis.;  Mettie,  wife  of  John 
Brouse,  Cambridge,  ().  and  Lorin  B., married  to 
Lizzie  Wilson,  daughter  of  John  E.  W^ilson,  of 
Wavnesburgh;  he  is  now  engaged  in  the 
butcher  business  in  Waynesburgh.  Mr.  Mor- 
ledge was  married  to  a  second  wife  in  1876, 
Lucinda  Miller,  of  Hiram,  O.;  she  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Disciples'  Church. 

F.  MACKAMA>i',  grain  and  produce; 
Waynesburgh;  was  born  in  Carroll  Co.,  in 
1833.  He  is  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Lucinda 
Mackaman,  early  settlers  of  Carroll  Co.,  and 
now  residents  of  Tuscarawas  Co.  Our  sub- 
ject passed  his  early  days  assisting  his  father 
to  till  tlie  soil.  Alter  attaining  his  majority, 
recognizing  that  a  good  education  was  neces- 
sary to  attain  a  prominent  ]i()sition  among 
men,  and  for  a  successful  business  future,  he 
commenced  going  to  school  in  Tuscarawas  Co., 
and  was  assigned  to  classes  containing  boys 
many   years    his   junior.      Nothing   daunted 


however,  he  pressed  on,  soon  after  was  pre- 
pared to  enter  an  academy,  when  in  si.x 
months  he  received  a  certificate  to  teach. 
After  teaching  for  a  period  of  seven  years, 
he  had  saved  ^1,000,  ;uid  soon  invested  it  in 
a  farm  in  Tuscarawas  Co.,  lor  which  he  obli- 
gated himself  to  pay  $6,000.  He  then  began 
farming  and  stock  operations  there,  in  which 
he  was  very  successful,  remaining  there  until 
1868  when  he  removed  to  Waynesburgh  and 
has  since  made  that  his  home.  Since  his  resi- 
dence there  he  has  been  interested  in  many  and 
various  enterprises,  giving  his  attention  more 
particularly  to  wool,  grain,  and  produce,  in 
all  of  which  he  achieves  successful  issues. 
Mr.  Mackaman  is  a  fair  type  of  the  self-made 
men  of  our  day.  Commencing  life  with  no 
pecuniary  aid,  he  has  achieved,  while  yet  a 
young  man,  success  which  many  aged  men 
might  envy.  Hij  possesses,  besides  his  rare 
executive  and  business  tact,  genial  social 
qualities  of  a  high  order,  and  a  liberal  and 
progressive  spirit.  He  educated,  at  his  own 
expense,  a  younger  brother,  in  the  medical 
profession,  fitting  him  to  l)e  well  prepared  for 
the  battle  of  life.  Mr.  Mackaman  is  a  ])rom- 
inent  politicaii,  democratic  in  his  ter)dencies, 
and  his  name  has  been  prominently  men- 
tioned for  high  political  honors,  which  he  has 
the  ability  to  honorably  represent.  He  was 
united  in  marriage  in  1857,  to  Miss  Charlotte 
Hagarty,  of  Virginia.  They  have  one  child — 
Miss  Luella  F.,  now  attending  the  Steuben- 
ville,  f).,  Female  Seminary. 

JEROME  MIJCKLEY," farmer;  P.  O.  Mag- 
nolia; is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Nancy  (Rhine- 
hart)  Muckley,  who  were  early  settlers  and 
residents  of  Sandy  Tp.  His  father  was  born 
in  Germany  in  1810,  and  came  to  America 
with  his  parents  when  he  »-as  nine  years  of 
age,  who  settled  in  Sandy  Tp.  He  was  a  re- 
sident of  the  township  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1866.  The  mother  is  still  living. 
They  were  parents  of  ten  children,  seven  of 
whom  are  now  living — Barbara  Boory,  living 
in  Kansas;  Jerome;  Adam,  a  resident  of  Can- 
ton Tp.;  Francesca  Welker,  of  Sandy  Tp.; 
Sarah  J.  Elsass,  Brown  Tp.,  Carroll  Co.,  James 
H.  and  David  V.,  both  residents  of  Sandy  Tp. 
A  son,  .Fohn,  now  decased,  was  a  member  of 
the  126th  O.  N.  G.,  and  died  from  disease 
contracted  while  in  service.  Jerome  was  born 
in  Sandy  Tp.  in  1844;  he  has  always  been  a 


~ii   "V 


830 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES : 


resilient  of  his  native  town,  and  has  been 
engaged  in  farming  from  his  youth  up.  He 
was  married  in  1869  to  Miss  Mary  Farber,  of 
Carroll  Co.,  after  which  he  farmed  the  old 
homestead  i'arm  three  years.  In  1873  he  pur- 
chased his  present  location  where  he  has  since 
resided.  He  has  100  acres  of  improved  iand 
and  has  erected  upon  it  large  and  commodious 
buililings.  They  have  six  children — Elizabeth 
J.,  Nannie,  Henry  M.,  Maggie,  Frank,  and 
Olive  M. 

NETZ  &  MYERS,  ladies'  and  gents'  fur- 
nishing goods,  clothing  and  carpets;  Waynes- 
burgh.  This  house  was  established  in 
Waynesburgh  in  1879,  and  consists  of  two 
old,  experienced  and  efficient  merchants; 
they  removed  to  their  present  location  in 
March,  1880,  where  they  have  a  large  and 
well-lighted  salesroom — centrally  located — 
and  are  doing  a  leading  and  increasing  busi- 
ness. Tiieir  stock  consists  of  a  large  assort- 
ment of  clothing — of  the  newest  styles — a 
complete  line  of  hats  and  caps,  ladies  and 
gents  furnishing  goods,  trunks  and  valises, 
and  a  full  and  complete  assortinent  of  carpets 
and  oil  cloths  of  superior  makes  and  newest 
designs.  In  September,  1880,  they  started  a 
branch  store  at  Dell  Roy,  Carroll  Co.,  which  is 
under  the  supervision  of  Mr.  Jacob  Derringer, 
who  is  now  associated  with  them  as  a  partner. 
Their  enterprise  at  Dell  Roy  was  first  started 
as  a  clothing  store,  but  in  March,  1881,  the 
firm  added  a  line  of  dry  goods,  groceries,  etc., 
and  are  now  doing  a  general  trade,  with  fine 
prospects.  Messrs.  Netz  and  Myers  are  en- 
terprising and  deservedly  popular  merchants, 
and  are  recommended  to  the  people  at  large 
as  honorable  and  progressive  business  men. 
Richard  Netz,  is  a  native  of  Waynes- 
burgh; his  father,  John  Netz,  was  a  native  of 
Germany;  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Catharine  Pearch,  was  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, where  they  were  married,  subse- 
quently removing  to  Sandy  Tp.,  where  his 
father  followed  farming  and  continued  a  resi- 
dent until  his  death.  His  mother  is  still  liv- 
ing and  six  of  their  children  are  now  living. 
Richard,  the  fourth  child,  was  born  in  1844; 
he  remained  upon  the  farm  until  1861;  when 
a  youth  of  17,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  F,  126th 
O.  V.  I.,  and  was  in  the  service  of  his  country 
for  three  years,  the  last  year  as  brigade  color 
bearer  under  Gen.   Keifer,  now  M.   C.     He 


participated  in  the  battles  of  Winchester, 
Cedar  Creek,  Strasburgh,  Wilderness,  Spot- 
sylvania, Cold  Harbor,  Mine  Run,  Peters- 
burg, Richmond,  and  was  "in  at  the  death" 
when  Lee  surrendered.  Upon  his  return 
home  he  taught  school  in  Osnaburg  and  Sindy 
Tps.  for  six  years — winter  sessions;  he  then 
entered  upon  his  mercantile  career,  engaging 
with  R.  B.  Hamilton,  with  whom  he  remained 
two  years;  then  was  in  the  employ  of  Elson  & 
Higley  two  years.  He  next  entered  into 
partnership  with  Beans  &  Elsass,  and  was  in 
business  until  1878,  when  he  disposed  of  his 
interest,  and  in  1879  formed  his  present  busi- 
ness partnership  with  A.  J.  Myers.  Mr. 
Netz  has  served  in  many  offices  of  Township 
Trust — Justice  of  the  Peace  three  years,  Town- 
ship Assessor  three  terms,  as  Street  Commis- 
sioner and  Member  of  the  School  Board,  and 
is  now  serving  as  Township  Clerk.  He  was 
married  in  1868  to  Miss  Maggie  Van  Norden, 
of  Osnaburg  Tp;  they  have  four  children — 
Olive.  Robert  M.,  Charles  E.  and  George  W. 
Alfred  J.  Myers  was  born  in  Linn  Co., 
Iowa,  in  1849;  he  is  a  son  of  Jacob  P.  and 
Catharine  (Brown)  Myers;  his  father  is  a  na- 
tive of  Pennsylvania  and  his  mother  of  Ohio; 
his  father  came  to  Ohio  when  a  boy  with  his 
parents,  who  located  in  Columbiana  Co. 
After  his  marriage  he  was  engaged  In  the 
shoemaking  business  in  Canton,  subsequently 
removing  to  Iowa  where  he  engaged  at  farm- 
ing and  also  working  at  his  trade.  He  finally 
returned  to  Ohio,  and  is  now  living  in  Canton 
Tp;  his  mother  died  in  1871.  xllfred  was 
the  third  child  and  only  son;  he  passed  his 
early  days  at  farming  at  home  until  he  ob- 
tained his  majority.  He  was  united  in  mar- 
riage in  1870  to  Miss  Angeline  Van  Norden, 
of  Osnaburg  Tp.,  and  engaged  in  farming 
nearly  two  years.  He  then  removed  to  Can- 
ton and  worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  nearly 
four  years;  he  then  was  engaged  in  contracting 
and  building  there  two  seasons,  after  which 
he  removed  to  North  Industry,  and  in  1877 
started  a  general  store  there,  remaining  there 
one  year  and  then  removing  to  Sparta  where 
he  was  engaged  in  merchandizing  one  year. 
He  then  sold  out  and  came  to  Waynesburgh 
and  formed  his  present  business  connection. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Myers  have  two  children, 
Eltona   and  Richard. 

H.  W.  RHOADS,  station   agent;  Waynes- 


^' 


IV 


t\^ 


SANDY   TOWNSHIP. 


bnrgh;  was  bom  in  Pennsylvania  in  1813; 
oanie  to  Waynesburgli  about  1840,  and  lor 
many  vears  was  engaged  in  commercial 
transactions,  clerking  for  R.  K.  Gray  until 
1850,  when  he  removed  to  lin'^o  Tp.,  Carroll 
Co.,  and  for  five  years  was  engaged  in  I'arm- 
ing,  afterward  returning  to  Waynesburgh. 
In  1806  lie  received  an  appointment  as  sta- 
tion agent,  which  position  he  lias  since  held, 
altiiough  lor  the  past  few  years  the  business 
has  been  done  by  his  sons.  He  was  married 
in  1S3S  to  Miss  Kacliel  Adams,  of  Westmore- 
land Co.,  Pa.  They  have  the  ff>llowing  chil- 
dren, one  deceased — Samuel,  now  in  mercaii- 
t  le  business  at  Dell  Roy;  Barbara  Elsass, 
living  in  Massillon;  Geoige  W.,  in  Iowa,  en- 
gaged in  mercantile  business;  Jonathan,  who 
conducted  the  railroad  business  for  several 
years  for  his  father,  is  now  in  Dover,  as  agent 
there;  Josoph,  mail  agent  on  the  Connotlon 
Valley  Railroad;  ilaggie  Robertson,  Wa\-nes- 
burgh;  AbcLF. ;  and  Harry,  agent  at  Bridge- 
port. Mr.  Rhoads  has  served  the  township 
as  assessor  for  three  terras,  which  office  he  is 
now  administering.  They  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church. 

A.  F.  RHOADS,  acting  station  agent  and 
telegraph  operator;  Waynesburgh;  was  born  in 
Waynesburgh,  in  1852.  He  passed  about 
four  years  in  his  earlier  days  in  the  mercantile 
business,  part  of  the  time  in  Cleveland,  but 
for  the  past  few  years  has  been  in  the  railroad 
business  at  Waynesl)urgli,  and  is  now  the  act- 
ing agent  and  telegraph  operator  there.  He 
was  married  in  18?  i",  to  Miss  Ida  Hickson,  of 
Kansas  City;  her  father,  Dr.  Hickson,  is  now 
residing  in  Illinois.  They  have  one  son, 
Claudie.  Samuel  served  three  months  in 
the  Home  Guards,  and  then  enlisting  in  the 
3d  Ohio  Battery,  serving  three  years,  and 
afterwards  as  a  veteran  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  George  Rhoads  was  in  the  three  months' 
service  as  a  member  of  Co.  I.,  18th  O.  V.  I., 
under  Co!.  Ball,  of  Canton.  Joseph  Rhoads, 
enlisted  in  the  20th  Ohio  Battery,  serving  fif- 
teen months,  most  of  the  time  in  guarding 
the  ars  nal  works  at  Natchez,  Miss. 

W.  A.  ROBERTSON,  retired  farmer;  P.  O. 
Waynesburgh.  Proininoiit  among  the  old  res- 
idents of  Sandy  Tp.  and  Waynesburgh  is  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  He  was  born  in  Al- 
legheny Co.,  Pa.,  March  15,  1818.  His  par- 
ents  were    Denny  and  Eleanor  {McConke}') 


Robertson,  natives  of  Ireland;  they  emigrated 
to  Ohio  in  1821,  and  settled  in  that  portion 
of  Sandy  Tp.  which  has  since  been  added  to 
Carroll  Co.,  Brown  Tp.,  where  his  father  loca- 
ted some  GOO  acres  of  land,  and  was  an  exten- 
sive farmer  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
April,  1829;  his  mother's  death  occurred  in 
June  following.  Thev  wore  the  parents  of 
eight  children,  of  whom  William  was  the  sec- 
ond; five  of  the  children  are  now  living — 
James,  in  .Sandy  Tp.;  and  David,  in  Carroll 
Co.;  Margaret  Blythe,  and  Eliza  Jane  in  this 
township.  In  1843  William  made  a  purchase 
of  130  acres  near  Waynesburgh,  where  he  re- 
sided, engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  until 
1855,  when  he  removed  to  Waynesburgh, 
where  he  has  since  resided;  retired  from  ac- 
tive labor,  his  chief  business  since  his  resi- 
dence there  has  been  in  the  lumber  trade. 
He  was  unit(>din  marriage  in  1847  to  Miss  Is- 
abella J.  Mclnlyn.  Mr.  Robertson  hasserve<l 
the  township  in  many  and  various  offices  of 
trust  and  honor;  he  was  a  Trustee  of  the  Town- 
ship for  a  score  of  years,  and  in  educational 
affairs  has  taken  an  active  and  leading  inter- 
est, serving  upon  the  School  Jioard  for  many 
years.  He  is  always  willing  to  lend  a  helping 
hand  to  well-deserving  enterprises,  and  is  a 
most  respected  and  honored  citizen.  In  pol- 
itics he  is  Republican,  and  has  been  one 
since  the  formation  of  the  party.  In  religion 
he  worships  with  the  Presbyterians. 

JOHN  B.  ROGERS,  farmer,  P.O.  Waynes- 
burgh; is  one  of  the  solid,  substantial  farm(>rs  of 
Sandy  Tp.,  whose  prosperity  is  due  solely  to 
his  individual  energy,  perseverance  and  indus- 
try. Mr.  Rogers  is  a  native  of  the  "  Emerald 
Isle,"  where  he  was  born  in  1813.  His  i)arents 
John  and  Margaret  (Hamilton)  Rogers  em- 
igrated to  America  when  he  was  3  years 
old,  and  settled  in  New  York  for  two  years, 
after  which  they  continued  their  travels  until 
they  reached  Ohio,  locating  in  Coshocton  Co., 
where  his  father  farmed  until  1827,  when  they 
removed  to  Sandy  Tp.,  remaining  there,  how- 
ever, only  two  years,  when  they  again 
removed,  settling  in  Brown  T]).,  Carroll  Co., 
where  they  continued  to  reside  for  the  re- 
mainder of  their  days;  his  father  died  in 
I860;  his  mother,  in  1800.  Our  subject  com- 
menced life  upon  his  father's  farm,  where  he 
remained  until  he  attained  the  age  of  17, 
when  he  commenced  to  learn  the  blacksmith's 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


trade  with  A.  Silvers,  of  Wayiiesburgh.  This 
occupation  he  followed  for  about  twenty 
years  ill  Wayiiesburgh.  In  1849  he  purchased 
134  acres  of  land  of  A.  Halter,  located  about 
three-and-a-half  miles  out  upon  the  Canton 
road.  Here  Mr.  Rogers  has  since  resided, 
improving  his  farm  in  buildings  and  fences 
until  it  has  become  a  model  of  neatness  and 
comfort.  He  added  to  his  Oiiginal  purchase 
until  he  attained  over  200  acres,  50  of  which 
he  has  given  his  son  James  C.  He  was  inar- 
ried  in  1839  to  Miss  Eleanor  Creigliton,  daugh- 
ter of  James  Creighton,  a  pioneer  and  old 
resident  of  Stark  Co.  She  was  born  in  Sandy 
Tp.  They  have  had  six  children — William 
P.,  died  June  'io,  1879;  he  was  a  young  law- 
yer of  great  promise,  and  was  rapidly  achiev- 
ing distinction  in  his  chosen  profession  in 
Cleveland,  where  he  had  commenced  his 
practice;  his  untimely  death,  in  all  proljabil- 
ity,  cut  short  a  career  of  great  brilliancy,  and 
proved  a  severe  blow  to  the  bereaved  parents; 
James  C,  now  managing  the  Hamilton  House 
of  Waynesliuroh,  and  John  H.  at  home;  Cor- 
delia, wife  of  James  Boyd,  Esq.,  Sandy  Tp.; 
Zipporah  Griffith,  living  in  Carroll  Co.,  and 
Alice  Robertson,  also  a  resident  of  Carroll 
Co.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rogers  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  which  he  is  an  Elder. 
WM.  RAIDEL,  merchant;  Waynesburgh; 
is  one  of  the  leading  merchants  in  the 
southern  portion  of  Stark  county.  Mr. 
Raidel  is  a  native  of  Germany,  where  he 
was  born  in  18"28.  He  married  there,  in  1851, 
Miss  Augusta  Kundze,  and  in  1852  emigrated 
to  America.  In  1855  he  came  to  Magnolia, 
and  embarked  in  a  woolen  mill  enterprise,  re- 
maining there  about  eight  years.  In  1864, 
he  removed  to  Waynesburgh,  and  engaged  in 
mercantile  pursuits,  clerking  a  short  time  for 
J.  Ranne  &  Co.,  and  subsequently  for  R.  B. 
Hamilton.  He  then  became  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Grays,  Raidel  &  Shorts,  which  was 
afterwards  changed  to  Raidel  &  Shorts.  In 
March,  1878,  he  associated  with  him  in  busi- 
ness, Mr.  James  D.  Blythe,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Raidel  &  Blythe;  they  have  since 
been  in  business  together.  While  a  resident 
of  Magnolia  he  was  elec  ed  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  which  office  he  held  for  twelve  years, 
and  after  an  interval  of  four  years  was  again 
elected,  and  held  it  up  to  the  present  time. 
He  has  also  served  as  clerk  of  the   board    of 


education  and  a  member  of  the  common  coun- 
cil. He  is  a  prominent  Mason,  belonging  to 
the  Waynesburgh  Lodge,  of  which  he  has  occu- 
pied the  chair  of  Master,  and  in  various  other 
offices  of  the  order.  Has  five  children-— Pau- 
line, Clara  E.,  Maggie  A.,  Wm.  K.  and  Jen- 
nie C. 

RAIDEL  &  BLYTHE,  dry  goods  and 
groceries;  Waynesburgh.  This  is  the  lead- 
ing dry  goods  house  of  Waynesburgh.  It  is 
composed  of  two  experienced  gentlemen,  who 
have  been  in  mercantile  pursuits  for  years, 
and  understand  how  to  conduct  and  manage 
a  successful  business.  The  firm  was  organ- 
ized in  March,  1878,  and  has  been  rapidly  in- 
creasing in  public  favor  and  in  its  extended 
trade.  Messrs.  Raidel  &  Blythe  carry  a 
complete  line  of  dry  good,  groceries,  boots 
and  shoes,  and  a  general  line  of  merchandise; 
also  are  extensive  dealers  in  country  produce. 
They  have  an  excellent  location  and  are  cour- 
teous and  honorable  liusiness  men. 

WM.  A.  STRAYER,  hardware;  Waynes- 
burgh; is  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of 
Waynesburgh.  He  was  born  in  Carroll  Co., 
Ohio,  in  1847;  his  parents  are  Jacob  and  Eliz- 
abeth (Jenkins)  Strayer,  both  natives  of  Jef- 
ferson Co.,  Ohio.  They  moved  to  Carroll  Co. 
in  1831,  where  they  now  reside;  the  father  is 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  and  is  an  ex- 
tensive land  owner.  They  were  parents  of 
eight  children,  six  of  whom  are  now  living; 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  being  the  youngest. 
William,  passed  his  early  years  upon  the 
farm,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty  years  com- 
menced teaching,  which  he  only  continued  at 
for  two  terms.  In  1868  he  came  to  Waynes- 
burgh and  embarked  in  trade  in  the  hard- 
ware line;  to  this  business  he  has  from  that 
time  forward  devoted  his  exclusive  attention, 
and  has  established  a  successful  trade.  For 
ten  years  Mr.  H.  S.  Moses  was  associated  with 
him  in  business,  at  the  end  of  which  period 
Mr.  Moses  disposed  of  his  interest  and  re- 
moved to  iNIansfield,  remaining  there,  how- 
ever, only  one  year,  when  he  returned  and 
repurchased  one-half  interest,  which  he  still 
retains.  They  carry  a  iuU  and  complete  line 
of  hardware  and  are  doing  a  leading  business. 
Mr.  Moses  now  resides  in  Canton,  where 
Moses  &  Strayer  have  another  hardware  es- 
tablishment under  the  firm  name  of  Moses, 
Couch    &  Strayer.     Mr.     Strayer  has  served 


SANDY    TOWNSHIP. 


as  Councilman  and  Township  Treasurer,  anil  is 
also  the  agent  of  the  Union  Express  Co.  Ho 
was  united  in  marriage,  in  ISTO,  to  Miss  Flora 
E.  Couch,  of  Waynesburgii;  they  have  three 
cliildren:  Edward  S.,  Frank  C.  and  Oliver. 
Mr.  Strayer  is  a  public-spirited  and  progress- 
ive citizen,  and  an  able  and  successful 
business  manager. 

C.  H.  SLUTZ,  hardware  ;  P.  O.  Waynes- 
burgh;  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  in  Tuscara- 
was Co.,  in  1846.  His  grandfather's  family 
consisted  of  eighteen  children — twelve  boys 
and  six  girls.  Nine  of  them  arc  now  living, 
the  youngest  1)imiii;0"3  years  old.  His  parents 
were  Joshua  and  Mary  Magdalene  Slutz — 
rt-sidents  ol  Pike  Tp.,  where  his  father  still 
resides;  his  mother  died  about  1858.  Charles 
began  life  assisting  upon  his  father's  farm 
until  he  attained  20  years.  His  educa- 
tion was  commenced  in  the  district  schools, 
and  finished  at  Mt.  Union  College — teaching 
school  in  winter  sessions  to  pay  for  his  tuition 
while  there.  When  23  years  of  age  he 
started  for  the  West,  and  while  in  Kansas, 
enlisted  in  Co.  A,  8th  Kansas,  U.  S.  service, 
and  was  upon  the  frontier  one  year  looking 
after  the  Indians,  under  Sheridan  and  Custer. 
Their  route  was  down  through  the  Indian 
Territory  into  Texas,  and  was  replete  with 
interest  and  excitement.  One  of  the  especial 
features  of  his  trip  was  the  rescue  from  captiv- 
ity of  two  white  girls,  who  had  been  captured 
in  Northern  Kansas.  Upon  his  return  he  lo- 
cated in  Kansas,  being  employed  in  the  office: 
of  a  land  agency,  remaining  in  the  State,  in 
all,  four  years.  He  then  returned  to  Ohio 
and  taught  school  in  Pike  Tp.,  three  terms. 
In  1875    he  came   to  Wavnesburgh,  and   was 


PETER  SHERER,  farmer  ;  P.  O.  Magno- 
lia ;  was  born  in  France  in  1828,  and  emigra- 
ted to  America  with  his  [jarents  when  about 
2U  years  of  age  ;  they  located  in  I'ike 
Tp.,  remaining  there  several  years,  and  th<;n 
removing  to  Canton  Tp.,  where  his  parents 
died.  Peter  began  life  as  a  farm  laborer, 
working  by  the  month  and  year  until  1855, 
when  he  married  Miss  Caroline  Kinright  ;  her 
father  was  from  Maryland,  and  an  early  settler 
of  Sandy  Tp.,  where  he  died.  After  his  mar- 
riage, Peter  began  farming  operations  for 
himself  in  Sandy  Tp.,  where  he  remained  un- 
til October,  1880,  when  he  removed  across 
the  line  into  Carroll  Co.,  where  he  now  re- 
sides, and  is  engaged  in  farming.  Ho  has 
devoted  his  time  entirely  to  farming,  at  which 
he  has  been  very  successful,  and  aix-uniu- 
latod  a  large  tract  of  land  ;  ho  owns  200  acres 
in  Carroll  Co.,  where  he  resides,  and  ;520  acres 
in  Sandy  Tj).,  which  is  o|)ciated  by  his  sons, 
John  and  Michael.  His  wife  died  in  Decem- 
ber, 1875,  leaving  nine  children — .fohn,  born 
1857  ;  Michael,  born  1858,  in  Sandy  Tp.;  Em- 
ma, Alice,  Mary,  William,  Amos,  George  and 
Lydia.  They  make  a  specialty  of  raising 
sheep,  cattle,  horses,  and  stock-farming  gen- 
erallv. 

GEORGE  C.  WELCH,  physician  and  sur- 
geon, Wavnesburgh;  was  born  in  Hairison  Co. 
O.,  Sept.  10,  1838;  his  parents  were  William 
and  Isabella  (Crawford)  Welch;  his  father, 
whose  ancestors  came  over  in  the  Mayflower, 
was  a  native  of  New  York,  and  about  the  year 
1803  emigrated  to  Ohio,  settling  in  Jefferson 
Co.,  near  Steubonville,  and  afterward  in  Harri- 
sem  Co.;  he  was  first  cousin  of  our  late  lamented 
minister  to  Great  Britain,  Hon.  John  Welch,  of 


a  teacher  in  the  union  schools  there  for  three  i  Philadelphia,  President  of  the  Centennial  Ex- 


years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time  he 
entered  into  the  hardware  trade,  at  which  he 
is  still  successfully  engaged.  He  was  associ- 
ated in  partnership  with  T.  B.  Newhon  until 
M.irrh  5,1881.  Mr.  Slutz  carriesa  large  stock  of 
goods  in  shelf  and  heavy  hardware,  paints,  oils 
agricultural  implements,  etc.,  etc.  He  is  now 
serving  as  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  present  School  Bo.ard.  Is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  lodge,  and  was  Cajitain  of  the 
W.aynesburgh  militia  at  the  time  of  its  disband- 
meiit.  He  was  married  in  April,  1875,  to  Miss 
Jennie  Huscroft,  of  Steubenville,  O.  Child- 
ren— Thomas  W.,  Olive  K.,  and  Addie  J. 


position,  and,  on  his  mother's  side,  a  cousin  to 
President  Z.  Taylor.  Our  sul)iect  in  his  boy- 
hood enjoyed  the  educational  facilities 
offered  by  the  common  schools  of  his  nalivi,' 
place;  later  he  attended  the  well  known  New 
Hagerstowri  (Ohio)  Academy,  and  obtained 
while  at  this  institution  a  good  practical  edu- 
cation. Before  he  reached  the  age  of  eight- 
een his  father  died,  and  from  that  time  he 
was  thrown  upon  his  own  resources;  at  the 
age  of  20  years  he  began  to  teach  school,  and 
after  having  taught  for  a  time  in  Carroll  Co. 
with  good  success,  he  followed  the  same 
business  for  about  a  year  in   Missouri;  upon 


834 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


the  l)reakinf;  out  of  the  rebellion,  he  returned 
to  Ohio,  when  he  resumed  his  occupation  as 
teacher.  During  his  course  of  ]3reparation 
for  the  medical  profession  his  expenses  wore 
met  by  his  remuneration  as  teacher;  in  1862, 
he  placed  himself  under  the  tutelage  of  Ur. 
G.  M.  Elliott,  of  New  Hagerstovvn,  and  for 
about  three  years  devoted  himself  closely  to 
study,  when  not  occupied  by  his  duties  as  in- 
structor; he  attended  lectures  at  the  Charity 
Hospital  Mi'dical  College  at  Cleveland — now 
the  medical  department  of  the  University  of 
Wooster,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1870. 
Dr.  Welch  immediately  began  practice  at 
Kilgore,  Carroll  Co.,  where  he  remained  one 
year,  and  immediately  after  he  located  for  one 
year  at  Carrollton,  Ohio,  where  he  received  a 
fair  share  of  patronage.  While  at  tiiis  place 
he  was  commissioned  by  Governor  Brough, 
under  the  commutation  law,  military  sur- 
geon of  Carroll  Co.,  with  ratik  of  Major,  com- 
mission to  run  throe  years  from  May,  1805; 
he  next  settled  at  Mechanicstown,  Carroll  Co., 
where  for  thirteen  years  he  enjoyed  a  large 
and  successful  practice;  in  April,  1878,  he 
located  in  Waynesburgh,  0.,  where  he  still 
resides,  and  now  is  receiving  a  larger  patron- 
age than  any  other  physician  in  that 
place.  He  has  served  as  Member  of  the  School 
Board,  both  at  Mechanicstown  and  Waynes- 
burgh, and  has  been  connected  with  the  Pres- 
byterian church  for  about  eighteen  years.  Dr. 
Welch  married  in  18(31,  Abigail  Amanda 
Hine,  of  Missouri,  originally  from  Trumbull 
Co.,  Ohio.  From  this  union  liave  been  born 
five  children,  four  of  whom  are  now  living. 
The  oldest  son,  William  A.  Welch,  is  studying 
medicine  with  his  father.  Dr.  Welch's  prac- 
tice in  Waynesburgh  has,  both  in  successful 
treatment  and  in  extensive  patronage,  placed 
him  at  the  head  of  his  profession.  All  laud- 
able, public  enterprises  receive  his  support. 
In  his  intercourse  with  people,  he  is  gentle- 
manly and  courteous,  and  these  qualities, 
added  to  his  reputation  as  a  physician,  rightly 
place  him  among  the  leading  citizens  of  his 
locality.  (From  Biographical  Cyclopaedia  of 
Ohio). 

WILLIAM  WIREBAUGH,  blacksmith  ; 
Waynesburgh  ;  is  a  son  of  John  and  Eliz- 
abeth (Bechtel)  Wirebaugh,  both  natives 
of  Stark  Co.,  where  they  were  married  and 
lived  their  entire  lives.     He  was  by  trade  a 


|)lasterer,  and  also  engaged  in  teaming  to 
Pittsburgh  when  the  country  was  new.  His 
first  wife  died  when  William  was  quite  young, 
leaving  ten  children,  seven  of  whom  are  now 
living;  he  subsequently  married  the  widow 
Whaler.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  he  was 
residing  upon  his  farm  in  Nimishillen  Tp.; 
his  death  occurred  in  December,  1877.  Our 
subject  was  raised  upon  a  farm  until  the  age 
of  seventeen,  when  he  enlisted  in  Co.  I.,  19th 
O.  V.  I.,  and  was  in  all  the  active  service  that 
his  regiment  passed  through  ;  this  regiment 
was  called  the  "  Boy  Regiment,"  as  it  was 
mainly  composed  of  voutlis  under  age.  The 
"  Boys,"  however,  passed  through  the  battles 
of  Shiloh,  Siege  of  Corinth,  Stone  River,  Mis- 
sion Ritlge,  Chickamauga,  Atlanta  and  many 
others,  leaving  an  honorable  and  distinguished 
record.  In  the  battle  before  Atlanta,  in  1864, 
William  was  wounded,  and  confined  to  the 
hospital  for  a  year  ;  upon  his  recovery,  he  was 
transferred  to  the  Veteran  Reserve,  and  sent 
to  Illinois  ;  while  there,  his  company  had  the 
honor  of  guarding,  in  Springfield,  the  last 
resting-place  of  the  illustrious  martyr,  Abra- 
ham Lincoln.  He  remained  there  al)out  four 
months,  and  there  received  his  discharge, 
ranking  at  the  time  as  Orderly  Sergeant. 
Upon  his  return  to  his  home,  he  engaged  in 
burning  lime  upon  the  home  farm,  for  one 
season,  and  then  commenced  to  learn  his 
trade,  in  Marlborough  Tp.,  where  he  remained 
about  four  years,  setting  up  and  running  his 
first  shop  there.  He  next  removed  to  Can- 
ton, and  was  employed  in  the  Agricultural 
Works  of  C.  Russell  &  Co.,  for  four  years, 
after  which  he  removed  to  Waynesburgh, 
where  he  has  since  resided,  and  has  been  con- 
ducting a  profitable  business.  Mr.  Wire- 
baugh is  an  esteemed  citizen  of  Waynes- 
burgh, and  ranks  as  one  of  its  most  honorable 
liusiness  men.  He  has  one  child — Maudie 
May. 

DOUGLAS  WILSON,  farmer;  P.  O. 
Waynesburgh;  is  a  son  of  Douglas  Wilson, 
who  was  born  near  Frederick,  Md.,  in  1778; 
his  parents  emigrated  to  Washington  Co., 
Pa.,  when  he  was  only  three  years  of  age; 
they  remained  in  that  locality  for  the  remain- 
der of  their  lives.  Douglas,  Sr.,  was  married 
in  that  county  to  Osie  Hinds,  and  emigrated 
to  Stark  Co.,  in  1811,  settling,  March  550th  of 
that  year,  in  the  southern  portion  of  Osnaburg 


SANDY    TOWNSHIP. 


Tp.,  where  they  coiithiued  until  their  deaths. 
Tiii'v  wer  lor  many  yeais  members  of  the 
Methodist  Gliurch,  and  exemphiry  members  of 
society;  his  death  was  in  1846,  and  his  wife's 
in  1854;  thirteen  children  were  in  this  family 
— James,  died  in  1828  upon  the  old  farm;  Ben- 
jamin living  in  Osnabui-i;  Tj).;  Nancy,  de- 
ceased; Hoijert,  livinij  in  .Mapletoii;  Isaac, 
died  in  W"  d  Co.,  O.;  DoiiirJas;  Osie  Elson, 
wife  of  John  Elson,  of  Sandy  Tp.;  Phebe 
Yohe,  living  in  Osnaburg  Tp. ;  Sarah  Kinney, 
deceased;  John,  living  in  Indiana;  and  two 
infants  deceased.  Douglas,  ,!r.,  was  born  in 
Osnaburg  Tp.  in  1812,  and  was  a  resjdontand 
assistant  upon  the  homestead  farm  until  28 
years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  Columbiana 
and  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  with 
Dr.  Silvers,  with  whom  he  was  under  instruc- 
tion for  three  3-ears.  He  then  returned  to  his 
home  and  commenced  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession, and  also  giving  some  attention  to 
farming.  After  his  father's  death  he,  with 
his  brother  Peter,  operated  the  old  homestead 
until  18G5,  when  he  disposed  of  his  interest 
there,  and  removed  to  Sandy  Tp.,  buying  the 
old  Brownson  farm,  where  he  has  since  resi- 
ded. He  has  IGO  acres  of  land,  which  he 
supervises,  having  given  up  the  practice  of 
medicine,  in  which  for  many  years  he  was  ac- 
tivelj-  and  successfully  engaged.  Mr.  Wil- 
son was  married  April  13,  1845,  to  Miss  Jean- 
ette  Brownson,  daughter  of  Wm.  Brownson, 
a  native  of  Xew  York  State,  and  resident  of 
Sandy  Tp.,  from  1840  up  to  his  death.  They 
have  seven  children  living — Josephine  Adams; 
Dency  Bauni;  Lvcurgus,  a  resident  of  Louis- 
ville; Chas.  W.,'\Vm.  D.,  Phebo  S.,  and  U. 
S.  Grant;  a  daughter  Ann,  died  at  the  age  of 
20  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilson  are  old  and 
esteemed  members  of  the  Methodist  Church. 
Mr.  Wilson  is  always  to  be  found  upon  the 
progressive  side  in  matters  of  public  advance- 
ment, endeavoring  to  promote  the  best  inter- 
ests of  the  community. 

MICHAEL  R.  WELKER.  farmer,  P.  O. 
Waynesbiirgh;  is  a  son  of  Wm.  and  Sarah 
(Faulk)  Welker;  his  father  was  a  native  of 
Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa.,  and  emigrated  to 
Stark  Co.  with  his  parents,  who  located  in 
Pdii'  Tp.  at  an  early  day;  his  nuther  was 
born  in  New  Jersey,and  came  with  her  parents 
in  pioneer  times,  settling  in  Sandy  Tp.  upon 
the  farm  that  Michael  now  owns.     They  were 


united  in  marriage  in  Sandy  Tp.,  and  immedi- 
ately settled  upon  the  farm  now  owned  by 
their  son,  James  J.,  in  Sandy  Tp.,  where  the 
remainder  of  their  lives  were  passed.  The 
father  died  in  1876,  and  the  mother  in  1872. 
Thev  had  eleven  children  in  all,  six  of  whom 
are  now  living — George,  a  resident  of  Osna- 
burg Tp.,  was  in  (he  100  days  service  during 
the  late  war;  Christina,  Michael,  James  J., 
who  served,  also,  100  days  in  the  army,  Cath- 
arine and  Martha  Crestine  are  residents,  all,  on 
Sandy  Tp.  Michael  Welker  was  born  if 
Sandy  Tp.,  in  1838;  he  remained  upon  the 
home  farm  until  1861,  when  he  answered 
the  call  of  his  country  and  went  forth  to  bat- 
tle for  its  liberties.  He  enlisted  as  a  private 
in  the  19th  O.  V.  I.,  and  was  in  all  of 
the  severe  and  active  enjragements  of  his 
regiment  iluring  a  period  of  three  years; 
he  participated  in  the  battles  of  Shiloli, 
Stone  River,  Mission  Ridge  and  in  many  of 
the  engagements  of  the  Atlanta  cam- 
paign; upon  his  return  to  his  home  he  re- 
mained upon  the  old  homestead  farm  until 
1868,  when  he  was  united  in  wedlock  to  Miss 
Mary  Swan,  of  Pike  Tp.  In  1874  they 
moved  upon  their  present  location,  and  have 
been  continuous  residents  there  since.  They 
have  two  children,  Theodore  and  Leona.  Mr. 
Welker  has  133  acres  of  land  which  is  finely 
improved.  In  1876  he  erected  a  large  and 
commodious  barn,  and  in  1879  an  elegant  and 
sightly  residence.  Mr.  Welkcr's  entire  prop- 
erty shows  marks  of  wise-handed  skill  and 
practical  industry. 

RICHARD  E.  WILSON,  farmer  and  sur- 
veyor; P.  O.  Waynesburgh.  The  Wil- 
son family  are  of  Scotch  descent.  Doug- 
las Wilson,  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Maryland,  in  1778;  married  in  June, 
1801,  to  Osie  Hinds,  who  was  born  in  New 
Jersey,  in  1782.  They  came  to  Ohio  in  1811, 
and  became  residents  of  Osnaburg  Tp.,  re- 
maining there  until  their  deaths.  They  had 
eleven  children.  Robert,  father  to  Richard, 
was  born  in  Washington  Co.,  Pa.,  in  October, 
1807;  married  in  Osnaburg  Tp.,  in  Se])tember, 
1830,  Charity  Elson;  they  have  resided  in  that 
township  up  to  the  present  writing,  and  are 
the  parents  of  eleven  children,  eight  now  liv- 
ing. Richard  was  thi' second  child  and  oldest 
son,  born  Sept.  10,  1834.  He  assisted  upon 
the  farm  until  he  attained  his  majority.     He 


836 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


was  married  Feb.  7,  1856,  to  Miss  Matilda 
Faulk,  daughter  of  Andrew  Faulk,  of  Sandy 
Tp.;  she  is  a  native  of  Sandy  Tp.,  born 
May  1"^,  183G.  After  his  marriage,  he  farmed 
at  home  and  taught  school  winter  sessions  for 
three  years,  and  then  removed  to  Mt.  Union, 
and  attended  college  for  two  years.  He  then 
removed  to  Ma])leton,  and  was  onaaged  in 
mercantile  business  there  about  six  years,  and 
after  farming  one  year,  returned  toMt.  Union, 
and  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  there,  and 
continued  tiie  finishing  of  his  college  course  in 
1870.  While  there  he  was  elected  County 
Surveyor  of  and  removed  to  Canton,  where  he 
resided  three  years.  In  1874  he  purchased  his 
present  farming  location  in  Sandy  Tp.,  where 
he  has  since  resided,  engaged  in  surveying, 
farming,  and  operating  and  dealing  in  stock. 
He  owns  IGO  acres  of  land  situate  in  the 
northern  portion  of  the  township.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Wilson  have  had  seven  children,  five  of 
whom  are  now  living — Andrew  T.,  born  De- 
cember, 1856,  died  in  1870;  Cora  P.,  born  Oc- 
tober, 1858,  died  January,  1859;  Ida  May,  born 
May,  1860;  Robert  F.,  born  .July,  186-v';  David 
B.,  born  September,  1865;  Ed.  S.,  born  March, 
1868,  and  George  N.,  born  April,  1871.  Mr. 
Wilson  was  a  member  of  a  Home  Guard  Co.,  of 
Osnaburg  Tp.,  and  in  1864  was  called  out  with 
his  company,  and  served  four  months,  return  ing 
as  Captain  of  the  lG3d  Regiment,  O.  N.  G. 
He  has  served  as  Township  Assessor  of  Osna- 
burg Tp.,  and  is  one  of  the  intelligent  and 
progressive  farmers  of  Sandv  Tp. 

JOHN  S.WELKER,  farmer;  P.  O.Waynes- 
burgh;  is  a  son  of  Michael  and  Nancy  (Stahl) 
Welker;  the  former,  a  native  of  Sandy  Tp. 
(his  parents  being  very  early  settlers),  was  a 
land-owner  and  resident  until  his  death,which 
occurred  in  1877.  His  mother's  people  were 
from  Pennsylvania,  emigrating-  to  Stark  Co. 
in  early  times;  her  father  used  to  team  from 
Massillon  to  Baltimore,  before  the  railroad 
was  built.  He  finally  removed  to  the  west, 
where  he  died;  his  mother's  death  was  in  1880, 
leaving  three  children— John  S.,  Henry  W., 
living  in  Fostoria,  and  Mrs.  Olive  G.  Jack- 
man,  a  resident  of  Sandy  Tp.,  and  of  the  old 
homestead  farm.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  in  Sandy  Tp.,  in  December,  1845; 
has  always  been  a  resident  there,  and  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  was  married  in 
March,  1869,  to  Miss  Francesca  Muckley,  of 


Sandy  Tp.  They  have  three  children — James 
A.,  Wesley  M.,  and  Howard  M.  He  is  oper- 
ating 160  acres  of  land,  140  of  which  he  owns. 
Michael  Welker  served  as  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  for  several  years;  he  was  a  consistent 
member  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  as  was  also  his 
w  ff,  who  was  a  licensed  e.xhorter,  and  they 
visited  and  traveled  through  several  states, 
attending  camp  meetings  and  revivals,  serving 
the  Master  until  he  called  them  unto  himself, 
in  the  prime  of  their  lives,  "  only  remembered 
by  what  thev  have  do]ie." 

B.  WINGERTER,  jeweler  and  under- 
taker; Waynesburgh;  was  born  in  Alle- 
gheny Co.,  Pa.,  in  1850.  He  is  a  son  of 
Martin  and  Cecilia  (Hegner)  Wingertor,  who 
became  residents  of  Carroll  Co.  in  1855, 
where  they  still  reside,  his  father  following 
the  occupation  of  a  farmer.  Our  subject  com- 
menced to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade,  at  the 
age  of  19,  which  occupation  he  has  followed, 
to  a  certain  extent,  ever  since.  He  became  a 
resident  of  Waynesburgh,  in  1869,  and  has 
remained  there  since.  He  began  business 
operations  in  the  line  he  is  now  engaged  at, 
in  1878.  His  start  was  in  chromos,  picture 
frames,  etc.,  establishing  a  large  and  still 
increasing  trade  in  that  branch,  and  in  Decem- 
ber, 1879,  added  a  large  Line  of  jewelry, 
watches,  clocks  and  silverware,  making  a  spe- 
cialty in  repairing  watches  and  jewelry.  In 
February,  1881,  he  bought  out  Glessner's  un- 
dertaking business,  and  is  now  enlarging,  and 
intends  to  give  this  liranch  his  particular  atten- 
ion.  He  was  married  in  October,  1878,  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Highlands,  of  Mngnolia;  they  have 
one  child — Vida  L.  Mr.  Wingerter  is  an  ener- 
getic and  pushing  business  man,  and  will 
doubtless  achieve  a  prosperous  business  fu- 
ture. 

J.  J.  WELKER,  farmer;  P.  O.  Waynes- 
burgh; is  a  son  of  William  and  Mary  Faulk 
Welker;  was  born  in  Sandy  Tp.  in  18.'59  and 
has  always  lieen  a  resident  of  the  township 
and  engaged  in  farming.  He  was  in  the 
late  service,  enlisting  in  the  163d  O.  N.  G. 
and  in  the  U.  S.  service  about  four  months. 
He  was  unite<l  in  marriage  Oct.  13,  1879,  to 
Miss  Sarah  A.  Kimmel,  of  Carroll  Co.,  where 
her  parents  were  residents  and  early  settlers; 
they  have  three  children — Nettie  M.,  Thomas 
J.  and  Katherine  M.  M.  Mr.  Welker  has 
given    considerable  attention  to  stock  opera- 


SANDY    TOAVNSHIP. 


837 


tions,  l)uj'ing  and  shipping  to  Eastern  mar- 
kets, liogs,  sheep  and  cattle,  for  the  past  few- 
years  ;  hi>  is  a  resident  and  owner  of  the  old 
homestead  farm   consisting  of  156  acres  and 


has  also  about  50  acres  in  Pike  Tp.,  all  under 
a  good  state  of  cultivation.  He  is  a  young  and 
enterprising  business  man  and  a  progressive 
and  liberal  minded  citizen. 


Addendum  to  Sandy  Township  Biographies. 

Received  Too  laic  for  Alphabetical  Insertion. 


THOMAS  McCALL,  retired;  P.  O.  Can- 
ton; whose  pirtrait  appears  in  this  history,  as 
a  representative  pioneer  of  Sandy  Tp.,  was 
born  in  Bridgeport,  Fayette  Co.,  Penn.,  March 
28,  1809,  and  was  the  fourth  child  of  a  fam- 
ily of  seven  children,  born  to  Robert  and  Nancy 
(Robertson)  McCall.  They  were  both  natives 
of  Westmoreland  Co.  Penn.;  the  former  born 
July  7,  1776,  and  died  in  ISoS.  His  mother 
was  born  Feb.  9,  1781,  and  died  in  1858.  Bar- 
ney McCall,  the  grandfather  of  Thomas,  came 
from  Ireland  tu  the  colonies  when  young.  He 
married  Jliss  Mary  Newell,  a  native  of  Mary- 
land. They  lived  and  died  in  Westmoreland 
Co.  Penn.  His  grandfather,  William  Robert- 
son, was  a  native  of  Scotland.  He  came  to 
the  colonies  when  a  boy,  and  subsequently 
married  Miss  Saiah  Hurst,  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia. Tli(>v  also  lived  and  died  residents  of 
Fayette  Co",  Penn.  On  March  17,  1828, 
Thomas  arrived  with  his  parents  in  Stark  Co. 
They  settled  in  Sandy  Tp.  on  a  farm, 
though  his  father  did  but  little  or  no 
farming;  he  being  by  trade  a  inill-wright, 
and  spent  his  time  principally  at  his 
trade.  Their  home  was  on  the  northeast 
quarter  of  Sect.  22,  adjoining  the  village 
of  Waynesburg,  which  at  the  time  was  com- 
posed of  four  families.  As  early  as  1807-8, 
Robert  McCall  came  to   Ohio,   and   built  a 


number  of  mills  in  Columbiana,  Stark  and  ad 
joining  counties.  Tliomas  was  raised  a  mill- 
wright, and  worked  at  the  trade  with  his 
father  until  the  latter's  death,  when  he  took 
charge  of  the  old  homestead  farm,  where  he 
lived  until  184G,  and  then  moved  to  a  farm 
four  miles  north  of  Waynesburg,  and  resided 
there  until  1859,  when  he  removed  to  Canton, 
by  reason  of  his  having  lieen  elected  to  the 
office  of  Auditor  of  Stark  Co.,  by  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  with  which  he  has  affiliated  since 
bacoming  a  legal  voter.  In  1861,  his  term  of  of- 
fice expired,  when  he  returned  to  his  farm,  and 
resided  there  until  1872,  and  then  again  be- 
came a  resident  of  Canton,  which  is  his  home  at 
present.  He  has  also  served  as  land  Assessor 
for  the  townships  of  Canton,  Osnaburg,  Pike, 
Paris  and  Sandy.  Nov.  13,  1833,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Sarah  Brothers,  of  Favette 
Co.,  Pa.  She  died  Feb.  22,  1855.  B\-  this 
marriage  eight  children  were  born  to  them, 
five  of  whom  are  living,  viz  :  Thomas,  in 
Boulder  Co.,  Col.;  Harriet  E.,  now  Mrs.  M. 
Prouse,  of  Missouri  ;  Theodore,  on  the  old 
homestead  ;  .John  S.  and  George  D.,  both  in 
Woodbury  Co.,  Iowa.  June  26,  1863,  he  was 
married  to  Mrs.  H.  M.  Harold,  formerly  Miss 
Harriet  M.  Reed.  By  this  marriage  they  have 
one  child,  Miss  May  R. 


^ 


^ 


838 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


OSNABURC    TOWNSHIP. 


JOSIAH  ANTHONY,  farmer;  P.  O.  Osna- 
burg;  one  of  the  most  attractive  places,  and 
one  which  catches  the  eye  of  a  stranger  in 
driving  out  the  State  road  is  the  residence 
and  barn  of  Josiah  Anthony,  a  farmer  living 
three  miles  east  of  Osnaburg.  Mr.  Anthonv 
was  born  Feb.  28,  1835,  in  Osnaburg  Tp"; 
his  parents  were  John  and  Juliann  A.  (Schull) 
Anthony,  of  Adams  Co.,  Penn.  His  father 
having  died  when  Josiah  was  a  youth  of  13, 
he  was  phicod  under  the  care  of  a  guardian, 
Henry  Hossler;  at  18  he  began  the  carpen- 
ter's trade  under  Samuel  Immel,  which  he 
followed  in  the  west  until  1863.  Returning 
to  Ohio,  he  again  engaged  in  farming,  at  first 
purchasing  80  acres  of  the  present  homestead. 
In  1868  he  added  the  remainder  of  the  orig- 
inal place,  making  in  all  130  acres  of  highly 
improved  farming  land.  In  connection  with 
his  model  farming  he  has  of  late  years 
being  dealing  some  in  Merino  sheep  and  Dur- 
ham cattle;  his  present  herd  is  a  cross  from 
the  thorough  bred  Durhams  imported  from 
Canada  by  Sprankle  and  Williamson.  In 
the  arrangement  of  his  barn  and  yards  he  has 
spared  no  pains  or  expense  to  have  every 
convenience  for  the  comfort  of  his  stock. 
Mr.  Anthony  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Lucinda  Baughman,  of  Nimishillen  Tp.,  and 
is  surrounded  with  a  pleasant  and  harmoni- 
ous family  of  eight  children,  five  boys  and 
three  girls;  in  religion  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anthony 
are  communicant  members  of  the  Reformed 
Church,  at  Paris,  O. 

FRANK  BOWEN,  coal  dealer,  Osnaburg. 
Among  the  most  prominent  of  the  younger 
l)usiness  men  of  Osnaburg  Tp.,  may  be 
mentioned  Frank  Bowen,  owner  of  an  exten- 
sive coal  field,  at  the  southern  edge  of  Osna- 
burg village.  Mr.  Bowen  married  Lydia 
Kungelman,  July  30,  1848.  His  father  was 
a  native   of    Pennsylvania,   having   moved  to 


Loudonville,  O.,  in  his  12th  year.  Frank  en- 
listed in  the  100-day  service  under  Col.  Ball, 
162d  O.  N.  G.  At  his  return  in  1864  he  began 
his  apprenticeship  at  tinning.  In  1868  he 
commenced  business  for  himself  as  tinner,  in 
partnership  with  his  brother  and  Joseph  Ball, 
which  continued  two  years.  Mr.  Bowen  then 
returned  for  a  stay  of  two  years,  on  the  farm 
with  J.  Holwick.  In  1873  he  ventured  on 
opening  up  the  first  tin  shop  in  Osnaburg, 
where  he  held  forth  for  a  decade.  At  the 
death  of  Mr.  Holwick,  his  father-in-law,  the 
court  appointed  him  executor.  He  removed 
to  the  present  homestead,  upon  his  wife's 
place.  He  enlarged  the  capacity  of  coal  pro- 
duction, so  that  in  the  winter  of  1880-81  he 
v;as  employing  fourteen  men.  During  the 
summer  season  the  demand  being  light, 
Mr.  Bowen  is  taking  advantage  and  making 
arrangements  to  employ  mule-power,  thus 
increasing  the  producing  capacity  of  one  of 
the  largest  coal  mines  in  the  Township, 
the  average  monthly  yield  for  the  winter 
being  13,000  tons.  In  1870,  he  took  unto 
himself  a  better  half  in  the  person  of  Alice 
Holwick.  The  family  consists  of  one  child, 
Carrie  A.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bowen  are  both 
members  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  Mr.  Bowen 
has  been  honored  by  his  brethren  and  the 
young  people,  by  his  selection  to  the  S.  S. 
Superintendency,  and  leader  of  class.  In 
his  political  career,  he  maintains  the  Repub- 
lican faith,  having  been  elected  to  office  of 
Township  Clerk  for  three  years.  Mr. 
Bowen  is  one  of  the  youngest  members  of 
the  present  Union  School  Board,  at  Osna- 
burg. 

ABRAHAM  CLARK,  coal  dealer;  Osna- 
burg. Abraham  Clark  was  born  in  Schuyl- 
kill Co.,  Penn.,  Nov.  1,  1814,  son  of  Jacob 
and  Susanna  (Bowman)  Clark.  He  removed 
to  Osnaburg  Tp.  with  his  parents  at  the  early 


\^ 


OSXABUKG  TOWNSHIP. 


839 


age  of  two  years,  ■where  he  was  raised 
upon  the  farm,  clearing  up  the  forests  and 
assisting  at  the  heavy  laljor  of  a  new  county. 
In  1845  he  began  for  himself  and  purcliiised 
his  present  homestead,  the  Kuntz  farm,  which 
he  has  improved  in  buildings,  &c.,  until  it  is 
one  of  the  attractive  rural  residences  of  Osna- 
burg  Tp.  Mr.  Clark  continued  working  the 
coal  bank,  already  opened  by  his  predecessor, 
supplying  the  various  manufacturing-  estab- 
lishments located  at  Canton,  Akron,  Alliance, 
Fort  Wayne,  and  other  points  at  a  distance. 
From  1800  to  1878  Mr.  Clark  was  the  princi- 
pal coal  dealer  of  Osnaburg  Tp.,  ranging 
from  50,000  to  100,000  bushels  per  annum. 
One  secret  of  his  success  was  he  never  leased 
his  mines  to  other  parties,  but  was  a  direct 
manager  and  overseer  of  his  own  business. 
His  coal  land  is  a  tillable  farm  of  144  acres, 
lying  at  the  western  edge  of  Osnaburg  village. 
In  addition  to  being  an  excellent  grain  farm, 
Mr.  Clark  has  given  it  a  reputation  and  a 
name  as  a  fine  fruit  hill  with  its  natural  com- 
plement, an  extensive  apiary.  In  1835  he  was 
joined  in  wedlock  to  Miss  Catherine  Reatlin- 
ger  of  Osnaburg.  The  fruit  of  this  wedlock  is 
foiir  children — three  boys  and  one  girl.  The 
boys  are  all  on  the  farm.  Mrs.  Catharine 
Clark  died  18U5.  Mr.  Clark  was  remarried  to 
Mrs.  Mar)'  Meizer  of  Osnaburg.  In  politics 
he  has  always  cast  his  lot  with  tiie  Democracy. 
Mr.  and  Mis.  Clark  and  family  are  attendants 
and  memljers  of  the  Reformed  Church. 

JACOB  DAGER,  sheep-raiser;  P.  O.  Osna- 
burg; was  born  in  Washington  Co.,  Pa.,  Au- 
gust 9,  1814.  His  parents  were  Jacob  and 
Catharine  (Hewitt)  Dager,  of  Pennsylvania. 
His  grandfatlier,  Martin  Dager,  was  a  native 
of  Germany.  Mr.  Dagir  was  bereaved  of  his 
father  in  1826;  four  years  later  his  mother 
married  Henry  Everhard,  now  of  Stark  Co. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  made  his  home 
upon  the  farm  of  his  nativity  until  his  ■.i8th 
year.  His  intellect  and  energy  soon  gave 
him  a  position  at  home  as  a  teacher,  at  which 
he  was  engaged  over  five  years.  Between  his 
terms  of  teaching  he  prosecuted  an  English 
course  of  study  at  Washington  College,  Penn- 
sylvania. Among  some  of  his  pupils  that  have 
attained  high  positions,  may  be  mentioned 
Ptevs.  Thos.  and  Samuel  Wilson;  also,  Chief 
Justice  of  Ohio,  Mcllvain.  He  came  to  Car- 
roll Co.  in  1840,  teaching  in  winters  and  clear- 


ing his  newly-purchased  farm  in  the  other 
seasons.  In  the  spring  of  1853  he  purchased 
a  part  of  his  present  homestead,  to  which  he 
has  annexed  adjoining  farms  until  he  is  the 
owner  of  280  well-improved  acres.  This 
locality  being  well  adapted  to  combine  stock- 
raising  with  farming,  led  Mr.  Dager  into 
the  sheep  business,  in  which  he  has  justly 
gained  an  enviable  reputation.  His  enter- 
prise ranks  him  as  the  very  first,  both  as  in- 
troducer and  breeder  of  Merino  sheep,  in  Os- 
naburg Tp.;  and  judging  from  the  county  fair 
records,  he  is  entitled  to  the  front  rank  in  his 
business  in  Stark  Co.  His  flock  consists  of 
the  pedigreed  Atwood  importation.  In  1877, 
himself,  his  son  and  his  son-in-law,  John  B. 
Criswell,  purchased  four  ewes  and  two  lambs 
of  S.  S.  Campbell,  of  Harrison  Co.  In  1881, 
the  firm  made  a  purchase  of  Campbell  and 
Law  of  a  ram  for  §400.  In  the  herd- book  he 
ranks  as  No.  95  (Glengary).  On  November 
8,  1838,  Mr.  Dager  and  Miss  Eleanor  Hast- 
ings were  united  in  the  holy  bonds  of  wedlock, 
which  union  has  been  blest  by  three  children, 
the  eldest,  Mrs.  John  B.  Criswell,  joining 
farms;  Isaac  N.  is  also  a  farmer  and  stock- 
dealer;  John  H.  is  yet  at  home,  associated 
in  business  with  his  venerable  sire. 

GEORGE  DOLL,  Osnaburg  P.  O.,  is  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  having  been  born  in 
York  Co.  He  moved  with  his  parents,  John 
and  Elizabeth  (Kith)  Doll  to  Stark  Co.  in  his 
early  3'outh.  He  remained  on  the  farm  until 
he  was  15  years  of  age,  and  afterward 
was  stage-driver  for  seven  years  on  the  Lis- 
bon and  Canton  road,  at  thS  meager  wages  of 
§10  per  month  and  expenses  paid.  He 
was  afterwai  d  employed  by  the  National  Stage 
Route  Co.,  having  the  honor  of  driving  the 
first  stage  over  the  new  National  Road.  In 
1840  he  hired  to  Linn  &  Murry,  proprietors 
of  a  traveling  circus  of  considerable  note  in 
that  day.  Two  years  afterward,  he  returned 
to  Osnaburg,  and  "  took  unto  himself  a  wife," 
making  the  haj)pj-  choice  of  Miss  Susan  Mei- 
ser,  of  Osnaburg,  in  1843.  Miss  Meiser  came 
formerly  from  Lebanon  Co.,  Pa.  Mr.  Doll 
followed  the  mason's  trade  fur  several  years, 
leaving  many  lasting  monuments  of  his  work, 
in  the  walls  and  battlements  of  this  locality. 
With  his  hard-earned  accumulations  he  pur- 
chased a  farm,  which  he  afterward  sold  and 
bought  the  American  House,  and  was  land- 


':TZ 


BI(3CtRAPHICAL    sketches  : 


lord  at  this  stand  for  eight  years.  Mr.  Doll 
cared  for  his  aged  parents,  and  furnished  them 
rooms  at  this  hot(!l  until  their  death.  He  sold 
his  tavern  to  Jacob  Reece  in  1858,  living  a 
private  life  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war, 
at  which  time  he  not  only  gave  his  sons  to 
the  cause,  but  enlisted  himself,  under  Capt. 
Gotchsell,  as  company  farrier.  The  regiment 
proceeded  to  Nashville,  witnessing  the  first 
engagement  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh.  At  Mur- 
freesboro  he  was  made  veterinary  surgeon  of 
the  regiment.  The  next  engagement  was  at 
Lookout  Mountain.  Mr.  Doll  was  with  the 
army  in  their  march  to  the  sea,  under  Gen. 
Sherman,  this  trip  being  the  most  agreeable 
in  his  army  experience.  One  incident  that 
his  profession  called  his  especial  attention  to 
was  the  severity  of  a  trailing  brier  that  did 
great  injury  to  the  limbs  of  the  horses,  the 
thorns  being  so  severe  that  they  would  make 
great  incisions  in  the  horses'  legs  like  knives. 
After  their  return  to  Nashville,  Mr.  Doll  was 
started  down  to  the  Mississippi  river  with  two 
steamers  of  broken-down  mules,  which  were 
intercepted  a  few  miles  below  Nashville,  and 
the  men  captured.  Mr.  Doll,  in  company 
with  two  negroes,  escaped  again  to  the  steam- 
ers, and  were  rescued  by  the  timely  arrival  of 
a  Federal  iron-clad.  Mr.  Doll  received  but 
one  injury  during  his  military  career  ;  that 
was  caused  by  the  slipping  of  his  horse,  se- 
verely injuring  one  of  his  limbs.  Mr.  Doll  is 
at  present  a  citizen  of  Osnaburg,  and  inter- 
ested in  the  Osnaburg  Coal  Co.,  and  he 
has  had  considerable  experience  in  the  coal- 
mining business.  He  is  a  Republican 
in  politics,  casting  his  first  vote  for  Henry 
Clay.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Doll  are  communicants 
in  the  German  Reformed  Church. 

HIRAM  DOLL,  merchant  ;  Osnaburg 
is  one  of  the  younger  business  men 
of  the  town  of  Osnaburg,  being  born  in 
1843,  in  this  township;  descendant  of  John 
Doll,  who  came  originally  from  York  Co., 
Penn.  His  father  was  Geo.  Doll,  whose  life 
is  noticed  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Mr.  Doll 
spent  his  boyhood  days  in  Osnaburg  village, 
where  he  attended  the  public  schools.  In 
the  spring  of  18C0  he  removed  to  Perry  Tp. 
A  year  from  the  following  fall,  at  the  break 
ing-out  of  the  war,  he  enlisted  in  company 
I,  19th  Ohio,  under  Capt.  Wm.  Rakestraw, 
and  Col.  Sara.  Beaty,  going  first  to  camp  Den- 


nison,  then  to  Louisville,  Ky.  During  his 
term  of  service  he  was  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh, 
at  the  Siege  of  Corinth,  Murfreesboro,  Tenn., 
Perryville,  Ky.,  and  Chickamauga,  and  at  the 
latter  place  was  among  the  unfortunates, 
being  taken  prisoner  the  last  evening  of  the 
engagement.  He  was  removed  to  Richmond, 
afterward  to  Danville,  Andersonville  and 
Savannah,  also  to  Millen.  At  Andersonville 
he  served  a  term  of  six  months,  experiencing 
all  the  hardships  of  Confederate  prison -life, 
scurvy  being  one  of  the  afflictions  at  that 
place.  At  Danville  he  was  incarcerated  for 
a  period  of  five  months,  at  which  place  he 
was  sorely  afflicted  with  the  small-pox.  He  was 
imprisoned  in  all  fourteen  months.  Mr.  Doll 
having  served  over  three  years,  received  an  hon- 
orable discharge,  Jan.  13, 1865.  The  following 
May  he  was  united  in  the  holy  bonds  of  wed- 
lock, with  Miss  Lydia  Newman,  of  Osnaburg. 
Of  this  union  there  are  three  children  living — 
Charley  H.,  Nettie  and  Maggie.  One  child, 
James  R.,  was  buried  in  the  winter  of  1873. 
After  the  war  he  was  engaged  in  coal  mining 
and  painting,  until  1876,  in  which  year  he  be- 
gan general  merchandising  in  Osnaburg,  at 
which  business  he  is  at  present  emploj'ed. 
His  prison-life  and  army  career  has  made 
him  a  Stalwart  Republican.  Has  held  local  of- 
fice in  the  township,  serving  as  Township  Clerk, 
also  Treasurer  for  one  3'ear;  in  spring  of  1881 
was  elected  again  to  that  office,  and  is  the  pres- 
ent incumbent.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Doll  are  members 
of  the  German  Reformed  Church.  Has  held 
the  position  of  Deacon  in  same  for  fourteen 
years.  He  takes  great  interest  in  Sunday- 
school  work,  and  has  held  the  position  of 
Superintendent  for  several  terms.  At  other 
times  has  been  a  constant  teacher  of  a  class. 
Mr.  Doll  lives  in  one  of  the  finest  dwellings 
in  the  village — a  neat,  brick  edifice,  upon 
Nassau  street,  opposite  his  store-room. 

JOSIAH  FINK,  farmer;  P.  O.  Osnaburg; 
was  born  April  l-i,  1833,  in  Lancaster  Co., 
Penn.,  son  of  Ephraim  and  Susanna  (Shenkle) 
Fink.  Five  years  later  they  moved  to  Stark 
Co.,  locating  in  Osnaburg  Tp.  He  served  a 
faithful  apprenticeship  on  the  farm  with  his 
father,  and  in  1850  began  to  learn  the  car- 
penter's trade;  this  pursuit  he  followed  but 
four  years,  when  he  rented  a  farm  in  Osnaburg 
Tp.  In  about  six  years  his  thrift  and  econ- 
omy enabled  him  to  puachase  40  acres  of  his 


^- 


OSNABUKG  TOWNSHIP. 


present  dwelling  spot  in  the  northwest  corner, 
Sec.  6,  of  Osnaburg  Tp.  In  1880  he  added  to 
his  present  farm  30  acres,  a  portion  of  wliicli 
lies  in  Niruishillen  Tp.  For  thirteen  years  Mr. 
Fink  followed  threshing  of  grain;  in  1872  he 
sold  his  interest  in  this  branch  of  machinery, 
and  has  since  made  farming  his  exclusive  busi- 
ness. In  politics  he  is  a  "full-blooded"  Kepubli- 
can,  having  been  nominated  and  elected  by 
that  party  to  the  office  of  Township  Trustee, 
and  in  1880,  as  Land  Appraiser  for  the  present 
term.  His  associates  in  the  Home  Insurance 
Co.  have  elected  him  their  clerk  many  terms. 
At  prese'it  is  a  member  of  the  township  School 
Board;  his  different  offices  and  occupations 
combined  with  fine  social  qualities  have  made 
him  very  generally  known  and  honored  in 
this  part  of  the  countj'.  Mr.  Fink  was  mar- 
ried June  12,  1853,  to  Miss  Sarah  Wenger. 
Mrs.  Fink  is  a  daughter  of  one  of  the  oldest 
and  wealthiest  families  of  the  township.  Their 
home  has  been  made  joyous  with  six  children 
— Susanna,  Amanda,  Isaac,  Martin,  Josiah  and 
Samuel. 

FRED.  J.  FRY,  farmer;  P.  O.  Osna- 
burg; was  born  April  13,  1829,  upon  the 
present  finely  located  spot,  popularly  denom- 
inated "Centcrville  farm."  His  parents, 
Frederick  and  Elizabeth  (Neidig)  Frj-,  were 
natives  of  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  and  moved  to 
Ohio  and  located  in  Stark  Co.,  in  1816.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  remained  with  his  par- 
ents upon  this  farm,  until  his  22d  year,  at 
which  age  he  purchased  148  acres  of  the 
paternal  homestead.  Mr.  Fry  has  been  a 
dealer  in  live-stock,  sheep  being  his  favorite 
branch  of  the  business.  At  present,  he  has  a 
fine  drove  of  100  Merinos.  In  matrimony, 
he  joined  his  fortunes  with  those  of  Miss 
Mary  Fogle,  Feb.  9,  1865.  The  sweets  of 
married  life'  were  strengthened  by  a  family 
of  eleven  children.  Miss  Frances,  the  eldest, 
is  still  at  home;  Miss  Ada  is  in  her  22d  year, 
also  residing  on  the  farm;  Marion  is  21  years; 
Henry  in  his  20th  year;  Alfred  IS;  Mary  L., 
17;  Bradley  G.,  16;  Johnny  L.,  15;  Reason,  in 
his  12th  year;  Walter,  a  lad  of  10  summers. 
The  family  circle  remained  unbroken  until 
they  were  called  around  the  bedside  of 
their  dying  mother,  Aug.  19,  1880.  Mr.  Frj', 
and  part  of  the  family,  are  communicant  mem- 
bers of  the  Reformed  Church,  at  Paris,  O. 
Mr.  Fry,  has  held  an  active   relation  to   Sun- 


day School  and  Church  work  for  many  years. 
He  has  been  repeatedly  elected  Sunday 
School  Superintendent,  at  Centerville  organ- 
ization. The  orderly  appearance  of  his  farm 
and  home,  speak  in  high  terms  of  his  atten- 
tion and  skill  in  husbandry,  and  rearing  of  a 
dutiful  family  of  children. 

REV.  JOHN  M.  GRETHER,  Osnaburg. 
Out  of  the  numerous  congregations  in 
the  village  of  Osnaburg  there  is  at  present 
only  one  resident  minister,  the  Rev.  John  M. 
Grether,  of  the  Reformed  Church  of  the  United 
States,  born  in  Niederweilder,  Grand  Duchy 
Baden-Baden,  Germany,  Dec.  22,  1828,  his 
parents  being  John  J.  and  Catharine  (Eber- 
hart)  Grether.  His  father  died  in  1841  when 
John  M.  was  but  12  years  of  age.  He  received 
a  thorough  common-school  education  in  the 
German  schools.  After  his  14th  year,  he 
continued  his  course  of  study  in  a  religious 
direction,  laboring  in  vacations  for  a  number 
of  years  with  his  relatives,  in  the  bakery  busi- 
ness. June  21,  1847,  Mr.  G.,  with  his  mother 
and  their  family  of  eight  children,  sailed 
from  Havre  for  America,  arriving  Aug.  2. 
They  moved  first  to  Canton,  Ohio.  Mr.  G. 
engaged  himself  in  the  bakery  and  confec- 
tionery business  at  Akron,  O.  Tiring  of  this, 
he  began  a  course  of  medicine  under  Dr.  John 
Weimer  of  that  city,  completing  his  medical 
education  in  the  Cleveland  Medical  College. 
Practiced  three  years  at  Wooster.  A  severe 
type  of  diphtheria  breaking  out  at  New  Phila- 
delphia, Dr.  G.  was  called  to  that  locality  to 
treat  the  disease  among  the  Germans.  He 
continued  his  practici^  in  this  place  very  suc- 
cessfully four  j'ears.  The  last  two  years  he 
served  as  County  Physician  at  the  Infirmary. 
The  many  scenes  of  suffering  and  dying  inci- 
dent to  the  medical  profession,  called  forth  the 
more  serious  part  of  Mr.  Grether's  nature,  and 
he  took  up  a  course  of  theological  reading 
during  his  last  year  of  medical  practice,  and 
even  before  he  was  ordained  minister,  he  was 
called  to  various  fields  of  church  labor  by  the 
ministry  of  the  Reformed  Church.  In  1862— 
63  he  took  a  special  course  in  theology,  being 
ordained  as  minister  of  the  holy  gospel  in 
1863.  His  appointment  by  the  Synod  was  for 
Medina  and  Ashland  Counties,  serving  three 
congregations  and  establishing  a  fourth  at 
Ashland.  In  1867  was  sent  to  Warren,  Ohio, 
where  he  labored  for  six  years.     During  his 


4« 


8-12 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


administration  he  lifted  the  entire  debt  of 
$1,800  from  the  small  congregation  of  Youngs- 
town.  In  1873,  Mr.  G.  was  called  to  Hart- 
viUe,  Stark  Co.,  serving  the  three  congrega- 
tions of  Hartville,  Randolph  and  Liniaville. 
In  the  spring  of  1877  he  began  his  pastoral 
labors  in  Osnaburg,  serving  at  present  three 
congregations,  beside  the  village  one  atStras- 
burg,  which  he  organized  March  16,  1879. 
The  St.  Martin's,  east  of  Osnaburg,  is  the  third 
congregation.  They  have  a  communicant 
membership  of  230.  Mr.  G.  was  deprived  of 
his  first  wife  March  5,  1854.  Dec.  17,  1854, 
he  was  remarried.  This  union  was  blessed 
with  ten  children,  six  sons  and  four  daughters, 
all  living — Frank,  the  eldest,  is  in  his  36th 
year;  at  present  is  minister  and  tutor  in  the 
Mission  College,  Franklin,  Wis.;  William  is 
in  the  same  school;  Emma  is  wife  of  J.J. 
Broumbach;  Louisa,  the  second  daughter,  is 
teaching;  John,  Amanda,  Anna,  Frederick, 
Alfred  and  George.  Mr.  Grether  stands  liigh 
among  his  people,  and  is  an  earnest  laliorer 
among  them,  in  all  branches  of  ecclesiasti- 
cal labor,  constantly  holding  extra  services 
through  the  week. 

GEO.  W.  HENNING,  teacher  and  min- 
ister, Osnaburg.  Rev.  Geo.  W.  Henning, 
is  a  descendant  of  Abram  and  Susanna 
(Bair)  Henning.  His  mother  is  a  grand- 
daughter of  Rudolph  Bair,  one  of  the  dele- 
gates to  the  first  Constitutional  Convention 
of  Ohio.  He  was  born  Jan.  5,  1833,  and 
until  his  18th  year  remained  upon  the  farm 
with  ins  parents,  attending  winter  school. 
Having  assiduously  given  his  spare  moments 
to  books,  he  was  soon  competent  to  begin 
tlie  profession  of  teaching,  in  which  he  has 
since  taken  so  high  a  rank.  His  first  attend- 
ance at  advanced  schools  was  at  Massillon, 
under  Prof.  L.  Andrews,  who  afterward  be- 
came President  of  Kenyon  College.  In  1851 
he  entered  Mt.  Union  Seminary,  and  gradu- 
ated in  1859,  being  Valedictorian  of  his  class. 
The  following  year  he  was  employed  as  Mathe- 
matical Professor  in  Eden  Seminary,  Trumbull 
Co.  In  1859-60,  he  was  elected  to  fill  a  chair 
in  the  Western  Reserve  Seminary.  In  1860-63 
he  acted  as  Principal  of  Georgetown  Semi- 
nary. In  connection  with  his  profession,  he 
read  sufficient  theologj'  to  be  ordained  min- 
ister of  the  Gospel  in  the  Reformed  Church 
of  the  U.  S.      From   1864  to  1875,   he   was 


constantly  employed  in  the  South  Grammar 
School.  Feeling  the  need  of  physical  recup- 
eration, he  returned  to  his  I'arm  in  the  eastern 
part  of  Osnaburg  Tp.,  teaching  the  short 
winter  terms  at  home,  and  improving  his 
farm.  The  winter  of  1879-80  again  found 
L.  Longshore,  of  East  Fairfield,  Nov.  10, 1859. 
him  in  the  school,  teaching  a  scliool-year  in 
Louisville,  Stark  Co.  He  was  married  to  Maria 
This  union  has  been  blest  with  ten  children, 
all  of  whom  are  at  home,  except  the  eldest 
son,  who  is  teaching  school  in  their  home 
district.     In  politics  he  is  Democratic. 

ALFRED  HURFORD,  farmer  and  coal- 
dealer;  P.  O.  Canton.  Alfred  Harford  was 
born  in  Canton  Tp.,  July  16,  1814.  His 
parents'  names  were  Thomas  and  Mary 
(Wilcoxen)  Hurford,  of  Chester  Co.,  Penn. 
Mr.  Hurford  remained  with  his  father 
upon  the  farm  until  the  death  of  the  latter, 
which  occurred  in  1835,  six  months  before 
Alfred  arrived  at  his  majority,  thus  prevent- 
ing him  from  acting  as  executor  of  the  es- 
tate, which  consisted  of  a  fine  half  section  at 
the  south  of  the  city  of  Canton,  a  part  of 
which  is  at  present  within  the  city  limits.  The 
executor  was  so  dilatory,  that  the  estate  did 
not  yield  to  the  family  what  it  should.  Mr. 
Hurford  engaged  himself  to  John  Myers,  with 
whom  he  labored  on  the  farm  for  one  year. 
He  afterwards  became  an  employe  of  Dun- 
can, at  50c.  per  day.  He  and  his  younger 
brother  afterward  leased  the  homestead,  which 
they  managed  in  partnership  for  four  years. 
In  1839  he  rented  his  mother-in-law's  farm,  re- 
maining until  Nov.  26,  1845,  when  he  removed 
to  his  present  place,  and  purchased  eighty- 
two  acres,  at  $25  per  acre.  In  1849,  he  added 
si.\ty-two  acres  on  the  northeast  side.  In 
1863  he  purchased  five  acres,  making  in  all 
at  present  a  farm  of  190  acres, -well  diained 
and  enriched  land,  with  three  veins  of  work- 
able coal  underlying  it.  Was  married  March 
37, 1836,  to  Miss  Dinah-Brown  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, from  which  union  there  were  six  ciiildren, 
five  are  still  living — Hiram  B.,  a  m.^chanio  in 
Canton,  O.;  Henry  E.,  in  a  grain  depot,  Cin- 
cinnati, O.;  Lewis  K.  is  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness; Zachary  T.  died  from  a  disease  con- 
tracted in  the  army,  returning  and  dying  sur- 
rounded by  the  family;  Maria  R.  Hurford  is 
at  home.  The  youngest  is  living  at  Canton, 
O.     Mr.  Hurford  is    widely   known    and    re- 


^f^ 


OSXABURG   TOWNSHIP. 


8« 


spect«d  among  his  fellow  business  men,  as  a 
man  hij^lily  honorable,  and  good  as  Iiis  word 
in  every  undertaking  that  he  lends  a  helping 
hand.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Home  Iiisur- 
rance  Co.;  also  of  the  Board  of  Educa-  j 
tioii  for  many  years;  is  a  Republican. 

JACOB  KLOTZ,  dairvinan;  P.  O.  Canton. 
Jacob  Klotz  was  born  in  Neiderbrund,  Alsace, 
France,  Jan.  5,  1831.  In  1836,  Mr.  Klotz, 
in  company  with  his  parents,  Jacob  and 
Christiana  (Gutebube)  Klotz,  emigrated  for 
America,  and  located  at  Magnolia,  Carroll  Co. 
H(?  apprenticed  himself  to  the  trade  of  shoe- 
making,  but  not  enjoying  the  business,  he 
began  on  the  farm,  which  agreeable  occupa- 
tion he  pursued  for  sixteen  years.  In  1871, 
he  purchased  100  acres  in  southern  Nimi- 
sliillen,  which  he  sold  at  a  neat  profit ;  in  1 873, 
he  purchased  his  present  dairy  farm,  in  Sec- 
tion 6,  N.  W.  quarter  of  Osnaburg  Tp.,  in  all 
a  finely  watered  tract  of  107  acres.  In  1876, 
Mr.  Klotz,  began  the  dairy  business  that  he 
has  so  successfully  continued  up  to  the  pres- 
ent time.  His  market  is  the  city  of  Canton, 
which  demands  seventeen  to  twenty  cows;  in 
connection  with  his  milk  trade,  he  cultivates 
garden  vegetables  for  the  sjiring  and  summer 
markets.  In  connection  with  !iis  many  farm 
improvements,  Mr.  Klotz,  has  manifested  his 
enterprise  by  erecting  a  capacious  cider-pres-, 
which,  last  season  alone,  expressed  1,650 
barrels  of  cider.  In  1857,  Feb.  10,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Eva  Mutchler,  of 
Jacfeon  Tp.  In  politics  he  casts  his  lot  with 
the  Democracy;  in  religion  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Klotz, 
are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  Canton, 
Ohio. 

GEO.  LIEBTAGis  a  native  of  Germany; 
born  in  Creuznacli,  on  the  Rhine.  His  parents 
were  Gabriel  and  Elizabeth  (Eccardt)  Lichtag. 
He  sailed  for  America  in  1853,  and  located  in 
Berks  Co.,  Penn.  The  family  came  the  fol- 
lowing year.  After  a  six  years'  residence  in 
that  county,  they  engaged  in  a  family  grocery 
store.  Mr.  Liebtag  afterwards  became  inter- 
ested in  mill  property,  and  engaged  in  the 
grist-mill  business  for  six  years.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  moved  to  New  York  City  in 
1859.  From  York  State  he  came  to  Stark 
Co.,  O.,  in  the  winter  of  1860.  In  this  county 
he  began  the  coal-mining  business,  commenc- 
ing in  Clark's  coal  mine,  and  remained  there 
until  the   breaking-out  of  the    war.     Mr.    L. 


enlisted  under  Col.  Beatty,  in  the  19th  Ohio. 
Started  dinct  for  camp  Dennison,  and  from 
there  to  Louisville,  and  through  the  Kentucky 
campaign.  At  the  time  of  the  battle  of 
Shiloh,  Mr.  Liebtag  was  with  the  wagon-train, 
and  did  not  arrive  at  the  scene  of  battle  until 
after  the  contest  was  end"d,  reaching  the  bat- 
tle-fieid  on  the  Tuesday  following.  From  that 
date  he  was  engaged  in  skirmishing,  until  the 
evacuation  of  Corinth.  Marching  through 
Alabama,  to  Battle  Creek,  Tenn.,  following 
Gen.  Bragg  in  his  retreat,  reaching  Louis- 
ville in  advance  of  Gen.  Bragg;  from  this  city 
they  followed  him  to  Perryviile,  Kj-.,  at  no 
time  coming  in  direct  contact  with  the  Con- 
federate troops,  except  in  a  few  minor  skirm- 
ishes. The  next  engagement  was  at  Crab 
Orchard.  Nothing  of  special  interest  until 
the  engagement  at  Stone  River,  Dec.  31st, 
at  which  time  Mr.  Liebtag  received  a  flesh 
wound  in  the  thigh,  disabling  him  for  ten 
months.  He  again  joined  the  regiment  at 
Cliattanooga,  Tenn.,  where  the  army  was 
being  besieged  by  Gen.  Bragg.  Mr.  Liebtag 
participated  in  the  advance  of  Orchard  Knob; 
also  in  the  charge  of  Mission  Ridge,  passing 
through  one  of  the  severest  marches  of  the 
entire  campaign  to  Knoxville,  camping  at 
Strawberry  Plains.  Here  he  re-enlisted 
for  three  years  more,  and  was  granted  a  fur- 
lough. After  the  second  return,  began  the 
Atlanta  campaign;  was  engaged  at  New 
Hope  Church,  Kenesaw  and  Peach  Tree 
Creek.  In  front  of  Atlanta  and  Lovejoy 
Station,  engaging  in  many  a  hot  skirmish, 
until  the  evacuation  of  Atlanta.  Was  also  in 
the  battles  of  Franklin  and  Nashville,  after 
which  he  went  with  the  10th  on  their  memor- 
able campaign  to  Texas.  He  returned  to 
Columbus,  O.,  and  received  his  discharge 
Nov.  25,  1865,  making  in  all  four  years  and 
three  months  of  active  service.  Mr.  Liebtag 
is  very  fully  informed  upon  a  general  as  well 
as  a  detailed  history  of  the  late  Rebellion. 
Politics:  he  was  formerly  a  Whig  and  Repub- 
lican, until  the  Greeley  Campaign;  he  has 
since  voted  with  the  Democratic  party.  He 
was  sent  by  his  Democratic  brethren  to  Colum- 
bus, O.,  as  delegate,  in  the  summer  of  1880,  for 
the  purpose  ol  nominating  delegates  to  the 
National  Convention,  at  Cincinnati.  Has 
held  minor  local  ofliees,  being  one  of  the  Town 
Councilmen  of    Osnaburg   at   present.      Mr_ 


n^ 


;f^ 


844 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Liebtag  has  been  connected  for  many  years 
in  the  coal-mining  business,  and  is  a  stock- 
holder and  mine  superintendent  of  the  Osna- 
burg  Coal  Company.  Mr.  Liebtag  was  mar- 
ried in  18G7.  The  fruit  of  this  marriage 
are  three  children — Charley,  Lizzie  and 
Delia,  who  are  all  at  home.  Mr.  L.  received 
his  education  in  Germany,  and  acquired  his 
knowledge  of  English  by  his  own  unaided 
efforts,  after  coming  to  America. 

SAMUEL  MARKS,  farmer;  P.O.  Osna- 
burg;  is  connected  with  one  of  the  oldest 
families  of  Stark  Co.  His  father,  Jacob 
Marks,  Sr.,  who  is  still  among  us,  has  weath- 
ered the  storms  of  87  wintry  blasts, — the 
oldest  man  in  the  township.  His  venerable 
mother  died  in  January,  1881.  The  subject  of 
this  biography  was  born  in  Osnaburg  Tp., 
March  5,  1834.  He  is  one  of  a  family  of  five, 
living  with  his  parents,  three  miles  south  of 
Osnaburg,  doing-general  farm  work  and  attend- 
ing district  school  in  the  winter  When  he 
became  of  age,  he  engaged  in  farming,  for 
eight  years,  in  Carroll  Co.,  renting  a  tract  of 
land  in  Brown  Tp.  In  1862,  he  returned  to 
Stark  Co.,  purchased  101  acres  at  $80  ]>er 
acre.  In  3  872,  he  added  to  his  homestead, 
the  Speigle  farm  of  31  acres,  at  |100  per  acre. 
With  the  many  improvements  and  richness 
of  this  tract  of  land,  it  is  estimated  to  be 
worth  from  $125  to  $130  per  acre.  In  May 
1858,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Swalle,  of  Osnaburg  Tp.  Of  this  family.  Miss 
Amelia  is  the  eldest,  the  next  are  twins, 
*  George  A.  and  Luellen,  Emma  is  the  youngest. 
They  are  all  minors,  and  still  form  an  unbro- 
ken family  circle.  Opposite  to  his  father,  Mr. 
Marks  is  a  Democrat,  and  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church.  Mrs.  Marks  is  a  member 
of  the  German  Reformed;  the  eldest  daugh- 
ter is  also  a  communicant  member  of  same. 

WILLIAM  JAMES  McCONKEY,  phy- 
sician; Mapleton;  was  born  July  3d,  183G, 
in  Armagh,  County  Tyrone,  Ireland.  He 
is  a  grandson  of  John  McConkey,  a  freehold 
farmer;  he  inheritshis  love  for  the  medical 
profession  from  his  father,  Dr'  Wm.  Mc- 
Conkey; his  mother  was  Rebecca  V.  (Max- 
well) McConkey;  he  attended  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  country  until  his 
IGth  year,  when  he  was  advanced  as  clinical 
pupil  in  the  county  infirmary  for  two  years. 
At   the   age   of   18   he    removed   temporarily 


to  Dublin,  taking  a  four  years'  course  of 
medical  lectures  at  the  Royal  College ; 
he  repaired  to  Glasgow  and  obtained  his 
surgical  degree;  after  completing  his  studies 
in  other  branches,  he  received  his  second 
diploma  and  M.  D.  from  Edinburgh;  thus 
thoroughly  equipped  with  a  classical  edu- 
cation and  two  degrees  in  his  profession,  he 
began  practicing  in  1854,  at  Clonrael,  Ire- 
land. In  1858  he  sailed  for  the  shores  of  the 
United  States,  locating  and  practicing  four 
years  in  New  York  city;  in  18G3  he  located 
in  Mapleton,  where  his  practice  has  kept  him 
busy.  The  active  part  he  takes,  and  the  in- 
fluence he  wields  in  the  Stark  County  Medi- 
cal Societj',  speak  volumes  for  his  reputation 
among  his  competitors.  In  1864  he  united 
his  fortunes  with  Miss  Sarah  J.  Blythe,  of 
Waynesburgh;  he  is  surroinided  with  five 
happy  children — Eletta  V.,  Wm.  A.,  Edith, 
Auren  M.  and  James  C;  in  politics  he  is  Re- 
publican. Dr.  McConkey,  besides  his  extended 
information  from  books  and  practice  has 
traveled  quite  extensively,  having  made  trips 
through  France,  Germany,  Belgium,  England 
and  Ireland,  and  in  this  country  he  has  visited 
many  places  of  historical  interest  both  East 
and  West.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McConkey  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

JOHN  McLaughlin,  farmer;  P.O.  Os- 
naburg. Connected  with  one  of  the  old- 
est families  and  estates  of  Osnaburg,  is 
John  McLaughlin,  born  in  Canton  Tp.,  Feb. 
29, 1812.  George  McLaughlin,  his  father,  was 
native  of  Ireland,  his  mother,  Mary  (Fink) 
McLaughlin.  In  1831  he  moved  to  Osnaburg 
Tp.,  and  began  the  wagon-making  business 
with  Jacob  Hossler,  which  trade  he  pursued 
for  about  eight  years  in  connection  with  farm- 
ing. In  1832  he  purchased  the  N.  W.  \ 
of  Sec.  4,  Osnaburg  Tp.,  of  his  mother,  for 
S700,  and  in  1851  bought  the  tract  of  land  ho 
at  present  resides  upon.  No  better  improve- 
ments were  upon  it  other  than  a  log  hut,  sur- 
rounded with  a  dense  forest.  All  the  fine 
improvements  and  conveniences  now  on  the 
property,  are  monuments  to  his  good  manage- 
ment. In  1866  he  purchased  the  Reading 
farm,  one  mile  west  of  his  dwelling,  which  he 
afterward  sold.  In  Lake  Tp.  he  purchased 
seventy-five  acres.  Selling  same  to  his  son- 
in-law,  he  purchased  twenty  in  Nimishillen 
Tp.   in  1876.     In  1880  he  purchased  eighty- 


)  "V 


^Ul 


OS-N'ABURG  TOWNSHIP. 


845 


two  acres,  holding  same  for  speculation  but 
a  short  time.  Boyoiid  the  State  he  pur 
chased  160  acres  iu  1875,  situated  in  Illinois, 
which  was  disposed  of  to  his  son-in-law. 
Mr.  McLaughlin  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Wonger,  Aug.  30,  1841.  Miss  Wenger 
was  a  member  of  one  of  the  pioneer  families 
of  Stark  Co.  Tliis  union  was  made  happy 
with  five  children — Leah,  wife  of  Geo.  IIul- 
ber,  Osnaburg  Tp.;  Lydia,  wife  of  .Jacob 
Lorah;  Mrs.  Susanna  C'aldran,  of  Illinois; 
Mis.  Elizabeth  Slusser,  of  Lake  Tp.;  Celena, 
at  honn'. 

MANASSES  MOUL,  farmer  and  stock 
dealer  and  raiser,  P.  O.  Osnaburg;  was  born 
Sept.  29, 1829,  in  York  Co.,  Peinisylvania;  son 
of  John  and  Margaret  (Wertz)  .\Ioul.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  moved  to  Ohio,  Osna- 
burg Tp.,  in  1833,  and  began  laboring  on  the 
farm,  continuing  at  the  same  until  his  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Susanna  Wetter,  June  2,  1852. 
In  1857,  he  purchased  the  Werntz  saw-mill  at 
Bedford,  running  it  for  two  years.  In  1859,  he 
removed  to  his  present  home  at  the  western 
edge  of  Osnaburg  village,  Sec.  18.  In  connec- 
tion with  his  farming,  Mr.  Moul  takes  great 
interest  in  live  stock,  having  been  the  first  to 
introduce  into  the  Township,  the  "  New  Kirk 
Steamer  and  Evaporator,"  with  which  he 
steams  all  the  food  for  the  farm  stock.  Mr. 
Moul  has  the  following  children — Amanda 
A.,  Mrs.  Bycrlcy,  of  Lake  Tp.;  Byron  S.  and 
John  F.,  still  remain  with  him  on  the  farm; 
the  latter  is  associated  with  his  father  in  the 
"  New  Kirk  Evaporator."'  Mr.  Moul  has 
always  been  a  Democrat,  although  in  a  Re- 
publican precinct,  he  has  been  repeatedly  elec- 
ted Township  Clerk.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moul  are 
members  of  Reformed  Church.  He  is  also 
member  of  the  Village  School  Board.  Mr. 
Moul's  sober  and  industrious  habits,  combined 
with  a  fine  business  talent,  has  given  him 
rank  among  the  first  in  his  profession,  as  well 
as  a  well  merited  social  position. 

ADAM  NIMAN,  farmer  and  wagon  maker; 
Osnaburg.  Among  the  few  in  Osnaburg 
Tp.,  of  foreign  birth  is  Adam  Niman,  who  was 
born  in  Hesse-Darmstadt,  Germany,  Feb.  2, 
1833,  and  in  the  following  Maj-,  he  crossed 
the  ocean  with  his  parents,  John  and  Barbara 
(Aloelin)  Ximan,  who  located  in  Columbiana, 
Co.  In  1852  the  family  moved  to  Stark  Co., 
working   with    his  father    in   the  shop  in  the 


winter  season,  and  pursuing  agriculture  in  the 
other  seasons.  For  many  years,  Mr.  Niman 
and  his  father  were  the  chief  wagon  makers 
in  the  township,  which  trade  they  have  pur- 
sued up  to  the  present  time,  but  more  limited 
in  late  years.  In  1851,  Mr.  Ximan  purchased 
his  presnt  home  of  ei^hty  acres;  lie  has  since 
added  twelve  acres  to  it.  Mr.  Niman  deals 
to  a  limited  degree  in  live  stock,  sheep  being 
his  preference.  He  was  married  Oct.  6,  18G7, 
and  from  this  union  there  are  four  children — 
Harvey,  George  W.,  Levi,  and  Frances.  In 
politics  he  votes  with  the  Democratic  pirty, 
having  cast  his  first  piesidential  vote  for  .James 
Buchanan.  Mr.  Niman  and  family  were  all 
baptized  in   the  Lutheran  faith. 

PETER  NUMAN,  coal  dealer;  Osnaburg; 
was  born  March  25,  1827,  in  Berks  Co.,  Pa. 
His  parents'  names  were  Peter  and  Esther 
(Chrest)  Numan.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania.  In  1835  he  moved  with  his 
parents  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Osnaburg  Tp., 
three  miles  east  of  the  village.  Mr.  Numan 
remained  with  his  parents  on  this  farm  until 
a  year  after  his  marriage  to  Jliss  Eleanor 
Dewalt,  May  20,  1847.  In  the  following 
March,  he  rented  his  father's  farm  of  120 
acres,  and  remained  on  same  until  1852. 
After  which,  he  removed  upon  his  father's 
newly  purchased  farm,  south  of  the  first.  In 
1854,  he  moved  to  the  Kitt  farm.  In  1855, 
he  took  up  his  abode  upon  the  John  Numan 
land,  at  which  place  he  began  the  coal  busi- 
ness. In  1856  he  purchased  the  George 
Numan  property,  selling  same,  he  moved  to 
Michigan,  in  1857,  and  bought  80  acres  in 
Hillsdale  Co.,  Mich.  In  1859,  Mrs.  Numan 
died,  after  which,  he  returned  to  Ohio,  and 
engaged  for  a  year  and  a  half  in  general  mer- 
chandising. Dec.  31,  1859,  he  was  again 
married.  Miss  A.  C.  Long,  becoming  his 
wife.  In  18G1,  removed  to  Mrs.  Lily's  farm, 
Osnaburg  Tp.  In  1862  he  purchased  the 
American  House,  Paris,  O.,  presiding  over  it 
for  two  years.  In  1864  he  sold  his  farm  and 
hotel,  and  moved  to  Wooster,  and  run  the 
Eagle  House,  two  years.  In  1866  he  pur- 
chased the  Canton  'Bus  Line.  In  1874  he 
sold  out  his  'Bus  Line,  and  invested  in  his 
present  homestead  farm  of  eighty  acres.  In 
the  Centennial  year  he  moved  upon  this  land, 
making  coal  his  principal  business,  increasing 
his  production  to  about   50,000  bushels   an- 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


nually.  There  are  four  children  living-  of  the 
first  union,  and  seven  from  the  second.  In 
relio-ion  he  was  raised  in  the  Roformeil 
Ciiurch,  but  in  1S65,  he  iiecame  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  Church.  At  present,  he  is  a 
iTienibor  of  the  Reformed  Church;  is  a  Deacon 
and  Sunday  School  Superintendent  in  same. 
Is  member  of  I.  O.  O.  F.,  Lodge  No.  39,  at 
Canton,  O. 

GEORGE  REED,  Osn.nburg;  was  born  in 
Berks  Co.,  Ponn.,  .July  3,  1835;  son  of  Jacob 
and  Elizabeth  (Bowen)  Reed,  both  citizens  of 
Berks  Co.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  re- 
mained upon  the  farm  with  his  father,  engag- 
ing ill  live  stock  dealing  at  an  early  age  until 
his  31st  year.  When  yet  a  mere  boy 
he  drove  market  horses  across  the  mountains 
to  the  eastern  cities.  Not  infrequently  he 
would  drive  a  herd  of  cattle  or  sheep  over  this 
long  and  tiresome  route,  long  before  the  whis- 
tle broke  the  silence  of  the  "rock-ribbed" 
Alleghenies.  In  one  season  Mr.  Reed  spent 
about  one  hundred  days  upon  this  mountain- 
ous trip.  After  becoming  of  age  he  continued 
this  business,  having  had  so  thorough  a  train- 
ing under  his  father.  Handling  a  great 
amount  of  live-stock  led  him  to  study  the 
habits  and  diseases  of  cattle  and  horses,  which 
has  given  him  more  than  a  local  reputation  and 
a  name  in  doctoring  and  giving  diagnoses  of 
various  stock  diseases.  In  this  department  he 
ranks  foremost  in  this  section  of  the  country. 
Mr.  Reed  has  been  identified  with  the  stock  in- 
terest of  Ohio  since  1840,  having  located  at 
that  time  in  Osnaburg  Tp.  In  1854  he  pur- 
chased real  estate  in  the  east  edge  of  the  vil- 
lage, which  in  twenty  years  has  risen  in  value 
400  per  cent.  Mr.  Reed  was  married  Aug.  8, 
1853,  to  Miss  Mary  Warner.  Mr.  Reed  is  the 
happy  father  of  six  children:  the  eldest,  Ange- 
line,  died  in  November,  1880;  Henry  is  a  stu- 
dent in  Oberlin  College;  will  complete  his 
course  with  the  class  of  1883;  Josephine  is  yet 
at  home;  William  inherits  his  father's  love  for 
a  fine  horse,  and  is  well  skilled  for  a  youth  in 
that  line  already,  and  is  a  close  student  of  the 
otock  market;  the  youngest  boy,  George,  is 
in  his  12th  year;  the  "baby"  is  Ida. 
She  is  in  her  9th  year.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reed 
are  communicants  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 
In  politics  he  has  always  been  a  Democrat. 
Mr.  Ri'i'd  is  a  member  of  No.  60  Lodge,  Free 
Masons. 


C.  L.  REIFSNIDER,  Osnaburg  was  born 
in  Orwiosburg,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Penn.,  Oct.  8, 
1827.  The  parents  of  Mr.  Reifsnider,  were 
Daniel  and  Mary  (Greatf)  Reifsnider,  both 
born  in  Pennsjdvania.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  educated  in  the  German  district 
School,  at  Greentown,  Ohio.  After  his  Ger- 
man education,  he  took  a  short  English  course, 
and  turned  his  attention  to  commercial  pur- 
suits. Beginning  as  a  clerk  in  Greentown, 
which  he  followed  for  the  two  years,  1848-9,  in 
a  dry  goods  store.  In  1850  he  was  employed 
by  J.  B.  Estef,  a  dry  goods  merchant  of  Can- 
ton, O.,  remaining  in  his  service  for  five  years. 
His  next  position  was  as  employe  of  Kimball 
&  Co.,  in  the  same  city  for  five  years.  In  the 
Fall  of  1864,  he  was  elected  County  Recorder 
for  Stark  Co.,  on  the  Lincoln  ticket.  After 
serving  his  full  term  in  this  capacity  with 
great  credit  to  himself  and  county,  he  was  ap- 
pointei!  Deputy  Postmaster  from  1869  to 
187r,  at  which  time  he  moved  to  Osnaburg, 
opening  out  a  general  store  on  Main  street. 
Not  only  is  he  at  present  one  of  the  leading 
merchants,  but  is  also  a  stockholder  and 
President  of  the  Osnaburg  Coal  Co.,  organi- 
zed April  1,  1881;  an  enterprise  tliat  bids 
fair  to  be  the  leading  feature  of  the  township 
in  the  future.  Mr.  Reifsnider  was  married 
May  8,  1866,  to  Miss  Emma  Painter,  of  Pike 
Tp.,  Stark  Co.  They  had  tvs-o  children,  a  boy 
and  girl,  both  of  whom  are  dead,  the  former 
d3'ing  at  three  months,  and  the  other  at  the 
age  of  six  and  one-half  years.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Eagle  Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  Canton, 
O.;  also  of  the  Nimisilla  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F., 
Canton,  O.  In  politics  he  is  a  pronounced 
Republican.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the 
Disciples'  Church,  Canton,  there  being  no 
congregation  of  that  faith  in  Osnaburg. 

B.  F.  SHENGLE,  lumber  dealer  and  sawyer, 
Osnaburg.  Benjamin  F.  Shengle  was  born  in 
Lancaster  Co.,  Penn.,  Feb.  8,  1831,  son  of 
John  and  Mary  (Boucher)  Shengle;  at  the 
early  age  of  two  he  moved  with  his  parents 
to  Nimishillen  Tp.;  he  served  an  apprentice- 
ship upon  the  farm  until  his  20th  year,  at 
which  time  he  engaged  himself  to  Eph.  Fink, 
a  leading  carpenter,  from  whom  he  learned 
the  trade.  During  the  seven  years  that  he  fol- 
•lowed  this  business,  he  spent  one  year  in 
Indiana;  in  1858  he  returned  to  the  old  home- 
stead and  conducted  the  farm   for  about  five 


^P 


"V 


J^— 


-^ 


OSNABURG  TOWNSHIP. 


j-cars.  Preferring  village  life,  he  moved  to 
Osnaburg  and  oiigagod  again  in  the  lumber 
and  building  business  and  purchast-d  a  half 
interest  in  the  village  saw  mill,  supplying 
the  luniijer  for  many  of  the  county  contracts 
in  bridge-building  and  other  public  work.  At 
present  he  is  also  a  member  of  the  newly 
organized  Osnaburg  Coal  Co.,  having  the  con- 
tract for  sawing  all  the  timbers  used  in  the 
mine.  In  18.55  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Fannie  Youtz,  of  Stark  Co;  of  this  union 
there  arc  eight  children — .losiah,  William, 
Franklin,  Benjamin.  William  is  in  the  livery 
business  at  Louisville,  the  other  boys  are  still 
at  home.  Mary  A.,  Ellon,  Sarah  and  Alice  are 
the  four  daughters.  Mary  is  wife  of  Henry 
Warner,  Marlborough  Tp.;  in  politics  has  al- 
ways been  a  Republican.  His  friends  and 
neighbors  have  honored  him  with  local  offices 
and  duties,  as  Township  Trustee,  Delei^ate  to 
the  county  conventions;  wa.s  appointed  one 
of  the  agents  to  incorporate  the  rising  city 
of  Osnaburg.  He  is  a  member  of  Lodge  No. 
60,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Canton;  his  wife  is  a 
communicant  member  of  the  Evangelical 
Church. 

JOHN  H.  SPRANKLE,  dealer  in  short 
horn  cattle;  Paris,  O.;  was  born,  Sept.  7,  1829, 
in  Canton  Tp.,  Stark  Co.  He  is  connected 
with  one  of  the  early  families  that  braved  the 
hardships  of  early  border  life,  his  parents 
Jacob  and  Margaret,  (Drushal)  Sprankle,  of 
Pennsylvania,  being  numbered  with  the 
pioneers;  when  he  became  of  age  he  engaged 
himself  as  an  apprentice  at  Canton,  O.,  in  the 
woolen  mills,  and  acquired  a  knowledge  of 
every  department  of  that  business.  In  his 
twenty  sixth  year  he  purchased  110  acres  of 
the  present  farm.  In  a  comparatively  few 
years  his  energy  called  for  more  territory,  so 
that  in  1803,  he  was  the  purchaser  of  100 
more  acres,  and  has  been  adding  on  every 
side  since  then,  his  last  purchase  being  80 
acres  in  1876.  Though  yet  in  the  prime  of  life 
he  is  the  possessor  of  300  acres  of  excellent 
iarming  and  grazing  land.  His  enterprise 
led  him,  notwitiistanding  strong  prejudice  and 
ridicule  against  him,  to  go  to  Canada  in  1S75, 
aud  buy  a  herd  of  pedigreed  short  horn  Dur- 
ham cattle;  he  has  practically  demonstrated 
to  himself  and  neighbors  the  difference  be- 
tween feeding  and  housing  the  '-pennyroyal" 
stock    and    the   sleek  "  marble "    backed  and 


"  well  flanked  "  Durham.  In  the  care  of  his 
stock  and  sale  cattle,  he  takes  great  care  and 
pride,  keeping  them  in  a  good  breeding  con- 
dition. The  success  of  this  venture  has  en- 
couraged him  to  make  other  purchases  in  the 
near  future  from  abroad.  Mr.  Sprankle  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Anna  Fry,  Stark 
Co.  Si.x  children  constitute  the  family-^the 
eldest  is  Jacob,  engaged  in  the  dairy  business, 
in  Pennsylvania;  Alfred  E.,  is  running  a  porta- 
ble saw-mill  in  this  county;  Henry  S.,  on  the 
farm;  Florence  T.,  Anna,  John  G.  are  all 
minors.  In  ])olitics  he  is  a  pillar  in  the  Re- 
publican party  of  his  corner  of  the  township. 
JOHN  SHENGLE,  deceased;  was  born  in 
Chester  Co.,  Penn.,  March  6,  1797.  lie 
was  one  in  a  family  of  nine  born  to  Martin 
and  Elizabeth  (.Mooushower)  Shengle,  who 
were  also  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  When 
17  years  of  age,  John  left  the  home 
farm,  and  commenced  working  at  the  stone 
masons'  trade,  a  business  he  followed  until  his 
marriage  with  Mollie  Bucher,  which  took 
place  about  1S19,  in  Lancaster  County. 
His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  .Jacob  Bucher, 
a  family  well  known  in  that  count}'.  lie 
lived  in  Pennsylvania,  fanning  until  1834, 
when  he  moved  to  Stark  Co.,  O.,  locating  in 
Nimishillen  Township,  on  the  farm  now  owned 
by  .1.  B.  Draimo.  The  farm  at  that  time 
was  only  about  one-third  cleared,  and  after 
his  settlement  Mr.  Shengle  commenced 
clearing  and  improving  the  place,  and  soon 
erected  a  saw  mill,  which  was  for  many  years 
the  leading  saw-mill  in  the  neighliorhood. 
Mr.  Shengle  was  a  man  of  considerable  inge- 
nuity, and  while  he  did  not  profess  to  be  a 
master  mechanic  ofanykind,  he  always  did 
the  harness  and  shoe-making  for  his  own 
family,  and  to  some  extent  for  his  neighbors 
also.  To  his  union  with  Miss  Bucher,  there 
were  born — Susan,  Sarah,  Nancy,  Mary,  Eliz- 
abeth, B.  F.,  Jacob  and  J.  B.  Mr.  Shengle 
died  February  23,  1872.  He  was  a  man  well 
known  to  the  community  for  his  upright 
character  and  deep  religious  principles,  being 
a  mem!)er  of  the  German  Baptist  Church  for 
upwards  of  fifty  years.  His  political  actions 
were  with  the  Democrats,  until  Lincoln's 
nomination  in  1860,  when  he  voted  the  Re- 
publican ticket,  atid  afterwards  became  iden- 
tified with  that  party.  His  widow  still 
survives  him,  and  is  a   resident  of  Wyandot 


.k 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Co.  Jacob  Sliengle,  their  son,  was  born  May 
23,  1847,  in  Nimisliillen  Township  on  the  old 
homestead.  He  remained  at  home,  assisting 
on  the  farm  until  21  years  old,  during  which 
time  he  received  a  very  ordinary  educa- 
tion. He  was  married  June  1,  1858,  to 
Catharine  Bower,  daughter  of  David  and 
Mary  (Bollinger)  Bower.  This  lady  died 
February  15,1859.  Mr.  Shengle's  second  and 
present  wife  is  Melinda,  daughter  of  Isaac  and 
Susan  (Stull)  Myers,  who  was  jjorn  in  Osna- 
burg  Township  in  October,  1845.  By  her  he 
has  a  family  of  eight — Milton,  Abana,  Olivia, 
Phebe,  Vinnie,  Ira,  L.  D.  and  Maude.  After 
his  marriage,  Mr.  Shengle  worked  as  a  day 
laborer  for  a  few  years.  In  1863  he  started  a 
steam  saw-mill  at  Osnaburg,  and  followed 
that  until  the  spring  of  1875,  when  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  Elias  Essig,  at  Louisville, 
in  a  planing  mill  and  general  lumber  dealing. 
The  firm  name  is  Essig  &  Shengle;  a  more 
detailed  account  of  their  business  will  be 
found  in  the  history  of  Louisville.  Politically 
speaking,  Mr.  Shengle  is  a  staunch  Repub- 
lican, adhering  to  the  principles  laid  down  by 
the  National  Republican  Party.  In  1868  he 
was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  Osnaburg 
Tp.,  and  was  successively  re-elected  until 
1880,  when  he  refused  to  serve  again,  as 
his  business  did  not  give  him  the  time  to 
attend  to  the  office. 

THOMAS  TINKLER,  dealer  in  iron  ore, 
and  farmer;  Paris,  O.;  was  born  in  England, 
Sept.  9,  1826;  son  of  Joseph  and  Anna  Tink- 
ler, in  whose  company  he  sailed  for  America, 
at  the  age  of  7  years.  At  13,  he  was 
placed  under  the  tutelage  of  Arvine  Wales,  a 
farmer  residing  near  Massillon,  O.  After 
arriving  at  his  majority,  he  engaged  as  a 
clerk,  in  Massillon,  in  1856.  In  1862  he  was 
employed  by  Hon.  J.  P.  Burton,  of  Massillon, 
to  go  to  Tuscarawas  Co.,  for  making  inspec- 
tions in  the  black  iron-ore  belt.  But  he 
subsequently  discovered  the  thickest  stratum 
of  black-band  ore  of  the  entire  belt  in  Osna- 
burg Tp.,  upon  the  farm  that  he  now  resides 
upon,  the  maximum  thickness  measuring  18 
feet,  with  two  to  three  feet  of  stripping  under- 
laid with  twenty-four  inches  of  coal  deposit. 
Being  employed  as  Superintendent,  he  began 
at  once  to  open  up  this  mine,  the  magnitude 
of  which  can  be  partially  conceived,  when  we 
consider  that  twenty-five  to  thirty  teams  were 


employed  in  the.  favorable  seasons,  for  five 
years,  with  an  average  delivery  at  Louisville, 
of  forty  tons  daily.  He  was  employed  by  J. 
P.  Burton,  in  Stark  and  Tuscarawas  Cos.,  for 
about  fourteen  years,  which  has  given  him  a 
wide  and  practical  knowledge  of  the  geologi- 
cal formations  of  the  black-band  ore,  and 
strata  contiguous  to  it.  In  his  opinions  he  has 
met  with  opposition  from  the  State  Geologist, 
Newberry,  Mr.  Tinkler  claiming  that  no 
other  belt  of  black-band  ore  has  ever  been 
discovered  outside  of  a  three-mile  belt,  begin- 
ning at  Mineral  Ridge,  Trumbull  Co.,  and 
extending  S.  W.  to  the  Ohio  River.  Mr. 
Tinkler  was  married  to  Miss  Harriet  Hicks, 
of  Massillon,  in  February,  1856.  This  mar- 
riage is  blest  with  one  child,  a  young  lady  of 
culture  and  refinement,  still  at  home.  Mr. 
Tinkler  is  at  present  engaged  in  ornament- 
ing and  improving  his  beautiful  home  and 
farm. 

JOHN  VAN  VOORHIS,  farmer  and  stock- 
man; P.  O.  Mapleton.  Among  the  many 
prominent  families  of  Osnaburg  Tp.  is 
that  of  Van  Voorhis,  which  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  represents.  John  Van  Voorhis 
was  born  in  Osnaburg  Tp.,  Sept.  19,  1824, 
son  of  Peter  and  Margaret  (Sickman)  Van 
Voorhis.  His  father  was  a  native  of  York 
State;  his  mother  of  the  Keystone  State. 
John  was  an  apprentice  on  his  father's  farm 
until  he  was  eighteen,  at  which  time  he  en- 
gaged himself  to  a  shoemaker  in  Canton,  O., 
and  continued  pounding  his  last  for  nine 
years.  During  these  years  he  purchased  111 
acres  in  the  southern  part  of  Osnaburg  Tp., 
In  1851  he  removed  to  the  same.  In  1863, 
he  increased  this  fine-sized  farm  by  an 
additional  tract  of  31  acres.  Not  only  has 
he  his  fields  in  the  highest  state  of  cultiva- 
tion, but  he  has  also  removed  many  of  the 
early  land  marks,  and  replaced  them  by  neat 
and  convenient  buildings.  In  connection 
with  his  grain  farming,  he  usually  keeps  a  few 
stall-fed  steers,  and  a  well  assorted  lot  of 
choice  Merino  ewes.  Mr.  Van  Voorhis,  uni- 
ted in  marriage,  Feb.  27,  1845,  and  has  been 
blessed  with  eleven  children,  ten  of  whom 
are  living — Elizabeth,  Mrs.  William  Judd; 
Peter  K.,  in  Osnaburg  Tp.;  Mary,  Mrs.  Sutz- 
chal,  of  Sandy  Tp.;  Dan.  E.,  of  Pike  Tp., 
dealer  and  shipper  of  live  stock;  Margaret, 
Mrs.    Niman,    deceased,   of  Osnaburg    Tp.; 


«^  s ir* 


l\^ 


OSNABUKG  TOWNSHIP. 


840 


Caroline,  Mrs.  Ed.  L.  Roaher,  of  Michigan 
Tliose  who  are  at  home  are:  Eleanora,  Wil- 
liam and  Elmer.  Mrs.  Van  Voorhis,  died 
Aug.  24,  1875.  Mr.  Van  Voorhis  was  re-uni- 
ted in  we<liock  to  Miss  Barbara  .fudd,  in  the 
centennial  year.  They  are  all  members  of 
the  Christian  Church.  In  politics,  he  began 
with  the  Whig  party,  and  remained  in  that 
faith  until  the  Republican  party  arose,  with 
which  he  still  affiliates. 

.JACOB  M.  WALK,  P.  O.  Osnaburg;  is  one 
of  the  most  earnest  and  driving  farmers  in  the 
vicinity  of  Osnaburg,  who  was  born  in  Lan- 
caster Co.,  Penn.,  Aug.  26,  1824,  son  of 
Samuel  and  Christina  (Miller)  Walk.  Mr. 
Walk  was  a  posthumous  child.  His  mother 
remained  a  widow  for  eight  years,  when  she 
was  married  a  second  time  to  Mr.  John  Singer. 
Mr.  Walk  remained  with  his  mother  until  his 
twenty-first  year.  Tn  1S3S  he  removed  to 
Stark  Co.  bj'  wagon,  spending  a  fortnight  upon 
the  route.  In  the  spring  of  the  following  year 
he  moved  with  his  parents  to  near  the  present 
village  of  Mapleton.  Since  that  date  the  vil- 
lage has  been  organized  and  built  up,  Mr. 
Walk  still  remembering  the  first  sale  of  the 
lots,  which  ranged  in  price  from  §15  to  130. 
Mr.  Singer  being  a  weaver  by  profession,  his 
step-son  learned  the  business  of  coverlid  weav- 
ing in  1842,  at  which  occupation  he  remained 
until  1860,  investing  his  surplus  funds  in  real 
estate,  and  doing  some  farming.  He  pur- 
chased his  first  home  of  20  acres,  one-half 
mile  soutiiwost  of  Mapleton.  He  subsequently 
made  a  purchase  of  the  "  Baker"  farm,  a  rich 
body  of  land  lying  three-quarters  of  a  mile 
west  of  Mapleton,  a  farm  of  96  acres. 
This  land  not  l>eing  extensive  enough  to 
satisfy  his  ambition,  he  moved  to  Wayne  Co., 
where  he  engaged  more  extensively  in  general 
agriculture.  M'hile  absent  he  sold  the  Baker 
farm  and  purchased  the  present  farm  and  coal 
bank  of  145  acres,  a  short  distance  southwest 
of  Osnaburg,  bordering  on  one  side  the  Con- 
notton  Valley  Railroad.  With  his  near  access 
to  the  railroad  for  his  coal,  a  rich  farm  and  an 
eligible  building  locality',  Mr.  Walk  has  reason 
to  he  as  content  as  he  is.  He  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Catharine  Staub  of  Osna- 
burg Tp.  Dec.  31,  1846.  She  was  born  in 
Prussia,  coming  to  America  at  the  early  age 
of  three  years.  Mrs.  Catharine  Walk  died  in 
1874,  leavinff  three  sons  and  two  daughters — 


Mary  E.,  the  eldest  daughter,  is  an  instructor 
in  music  in  Osnaburg  and  several  of  the 
neighboring  villages.  Ellen  C.  is  at  home. 
Both  of  the  daughters  are  members  of  the  M. 
E.  Church  and  S.  S.  Mr.  Walk  was  re-married 
to  Mrs.  Lucinda  Clark  of  this  county;  they 
have  one  child,  a  l^oy  of  fourteen  months, 
christened  Jacob  Howard.  In  politics  Mr. 
Walk  was  raised  a  Democrat,  and  remained  of 
that  faith  until  the  "  Know-Nothing"  party 
sprang  up,  when  he  became  a  Republican. 
Mr.  Walk  is  an  uncompromising  advocate  of 
temperance,  his  zeal  having  made  him  hated 
by  the  "  beer  element"  of  the  neighborhood, 
having  been  active  in  prosecuting  several 
saloonists.  Mr.  Walk  was  chosen  chairman  of 
the  Christian  Temperance  Union.  In  his 
religious  life  few  have  lived  more  active  and 
consistent.  Ho  was  confirmed  in  the  Lutheran 
Church  at  16  years  of  age,  and  had  his  entire 
family  baptized  in  the  same.  For  many  years 
there  being  no  Sabbath-school  at  Mapleton, 
he  with  a  few  others  succeeded  in  organizing 
one,  he  being  chosen  first  superintendent. 
He  held  the  superintendency  also  during  his 
residence  in  Wayne  Co.,  and  has  been  rej)eat- 
edly  chosen  to  that  position  and  as  teacher 
since  his  residence  in  Osnaburg.  Mr.  Walk 
has  never  been  an  office-holder  or  seeker,  but 
his  fellow-townsmen  sent  him  as  one  of  a  com- 
mittee of  three  to  secure  the  incorporation  of 
the  village  of  Osnaburg,  and  he  was  also  mem- 
ber of  the  first  town  council. 

DRS.  B.  A.  and  JOSHUA  WHITE- 
LEATHER,  Osnaburg,  are  the  two  leading 
jjhysicians  of  the  village  of  Osnaburg.  Dr. 
B.  A.,  was  born  April  7, 1835;  Dr.  J.  in  1830; 
they  each  received  a  common  school  educa- 
tion in  their  native  county,  Columbiana;  Dr. 
B.  A.  attended  Mt.  Union  College  classical 
course;  both  brothers  hold  diplomas  from  the 
Wooster  Me<lical  College,  Cleveland.  The 
younger  brother  began  jiracticing  in  Cliam- 
bersburg,  Columbiana  Co.,  and  afterward  re- 
moved to  Osnaburg,  where  he  has  been  a  con- 
stant practitioner  of  the  allopathic  school  up 
to  the  present  date  except  during  his 
absence  in  the  armv,  having  served  as  Major 
in  the  162d  O.  N.  G.  under  Col.  Ball,  in  the 
100-day  service  in  the  spring  of  1864.  At  the 
close  of  the  war  the  two  brothers  formed  a 
second  partnership,  being  the  sole  practi- 
tioners up  to  1879.      In  the  spring  of   1881 


efv 


ta^ 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Dr.  B.  A.  took  a  special  course  at  Belle  View 
Hospital  under  Professor  Knapp;  in  politics 
he  has  always  been  a  supporter  of  the  Repub- 
lican party;  has  never  allowed  his  name  to  be 
used  in  any  state  or  local  ticket.  Dr.  Joshua 
is  of  the  opposite  belief;  and  votes  regularly 
the  Democrat  ticket  on  national  issues;  the 
two  own  in  partnership  one  of  the  principal 
coal  fields  at  present  in  the  vicinity  of  Osna- 
burg,  having  run  in  favorable  seasons  as  many 
as  twelve  to  fifleon  miners  at  a  time,  the 
principal  market  being  Canton.  Since  the 
ConnoUon  Valley  R.  R.,  arrangements  will  be 
made  to  lay  a  side  track  to  the  shaft.  Dr. 
Joshua  was  married  to  Miss  Lucinda  F. 
Adams,  Knox  Co.,  III.,  1860,  she  dying  after 
the  brief  period  of  six  months  of  wedded  life. 
In  religion  Dr.  B.  A.  is  a  member  of  the  Dis- 
ciples' Church.  The  junior  member  of  the 
firm  led  his  bride,  Miss  Margaret  Criswell,  to 
the  altar  of  Hymen  iu  1858. 

PROF.  GEORGE.  A.  WISE,  Osnaburg. 
The  satisfactory  condition  in  which  the  Union 
Schools  of  Osnaburg  are  conducted  is  due  to 
the  abilities  and  management  of  Prof.  Geo. 
A.  Wise,  a  young  man,  born  in  Lake  Tp., 
Stark   Co.,   June   4,  1856.      His    father   and 


mother  were  Lewis  and  Elizabeth  (Raljer) 
Wise,  also  natives  of  Stark  county.  His  grand- 
father, Mr.  John  Wise,  was  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania. Young  Wise,  being  an  apt  student, 
was  prepared  to  teach  at  the  age  of  16,  and 
actually  engaged  in  this  profession  the  follow- 
ing year  at  his  home,  in  Greentown  In  the 
spring  of  1874,  Mr.  Wise  entered  Greensburg 
Seminary.  In  the  fall  terms  of  1875-76  he 
was  a  student  in  Mt.  Union  College,  teach- 
ing during  the  winter  terms.  In  the  fall  of 
1878  he  was  elected  Principal  of  the  Green- 
town  schools,  serving  in  that  capacity  for 
two  years.  During  the  summer  vacation  he 
enlarged  his  store  of  information  by  a  trip 
through  the  Northwest,  and  returning  by 
Indiana.  In  the  fall  of  1880  he  was  elected 
Principal  of  the  Union  Schools  of  Osnaburg. 
The  school  now  numbers  175  pupils,  consist- 
ing of  three  departments.  In  politics  he  was 
born  and  bred  a  Republican,  casting  his  first 
Presidential  ballot  for  James  A.  Garfield. 
Mr.  Wise  was  a  delegate  to  the  State  Sen- 
atorial Convention  at  the  age  of  22.  He  is 
an  active  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  serv- 
ing as  S.  S.  Superintendent  in  Osnaburg,  in 
1880-81. 


PIKE    TOWNSHIP. 


JACOB  BUCHMAN,  farmer  and  stock 
dealer;  P.  O.  Pierce;  was  born  in  Pike  Tp., 
March  27,  1838;  son  of  Lewis  and  Anna 
Maria  (Thomas)  Buchman.  Lewis  was  born 
in  Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa.,  Nov.  28,  1807;  he 
was  the  son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Marohant) 
Buchman,  and  was  a  teamster  in  Pennsylvania 
for  many  years,  hauling  goods  from  Philadel- 
phia and  Baltimore,  to  Pittsburg,  in  connec- 
tion with  his  brother  Henry  and  their  father, 
Jacob  Buchman,  who  followed  this  occupation 
over  the  same  route,  before  the  Pike  road  was 
constructed  between  these  cities.  When  27 
years  of  age,  Lewis  stopped  teaming,  and 
settled  on  a  farm.  He  was  married  April  15, 
1834,  to  Miss  Anna  Maria  Thomas,  who  was 
born  Nov.  6,  1810.  They  moved  to  Ohio  in 
1836,  settling  in  Pike  Tp.,  upon  320  acres  of 


land,  now  owned  by  their  son  .Jacob.  Lewis 
was  a  member  of  the  Presbjterian  Church  in 
Pennsylvania,  but  united  with  the  Reformed 
denomination  after  settling  in  Pike  Tp.  He 
was  the  father  of  two  children — Henry,  who 
died  in  infancy,  and  Jacob,  now  a  resident  of 
Pike  Tp.  Lewis  died  Oct.  10,  1880.  Jacob 
was  raised  and  educated  in  Pike  Tp.  During 
tlie  war,  was  a  member  of  the  Ohio  National 
Guards,  and  was  in  active  service  for  four 
months.  In  1870,  he  purchased  119  acres 
from  the  heirs  of  Nathaniel  Thomas.  He  was 
married  March  28,  1874,  to  Elizabeth,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Margaret  (Miller)  Knotts; 
they  have  four  children — Lewis,  Anna  Maria, 
John,  and  Henry.  The  Buchman  farm  has 
been  noted  for  many  years,  as  having  some  of 
the  finest  stock  in  this  section  of  the  State. 


^ 


PIKE   TOWNSHIP. 


Mr.  Lewis  Buchman  gained  by  his  experience 
as  a  teamster,  while  a  young  man,  information, 
which  in  after  years  proved  of  much  benefit 
to  him  in  raising  fine  animals;  and  for  many 
years  he  was  casjiiged  buying,  rearing-,  and 
"selling  the  best  grades  of  horses;  having  at 
times  on  his  farm,  the  finest  animals  in  the 
county,  which  were  reared  from  tliree-year- 
old  colts.  He  frequently  visited  farms  in 
many  surrounding  counties,  in  order  to  obtain 
valuable  colts  of  that  age,  which  he  kept  until 
they  became  old  enough  to  use.  Mr.  Buch- 
man introduced,  into  Pike  Tp.,  the  first  Short- 
horn cattle,  which  he  purchased  over  twenty- 
five  years  since,  but  after  a  few  years,  sold 
these  and  bought  Merino  sheep;  during  the 
past  fifteen  years,  however,  the  Buchmans 
have  always  kept  Short-horn  cattle,  paying  in 
many  instances,  high  figures  for  these  animals, 
viz:  1150  for  one  bull,  $135  for  a  bull-calf 
ten  months  old;  at  the  age  of  four,  this  animal 
weighed  2.800  pounds;  $200  was  paid  for  his 
present  animal  "  The  Royal  Baron,"  when  he 
was  ten  months  old;  the  beast  is  now  valued 
at  $500.  About  1860,  the  Buchmans  pur- 
chased fifty  head  of  improved  Merino  sheep, 
for  which  they  paid  $2,000;  since  then,  they 
have  always  had  sheep  of  this  grade,  paying 
some  four  ye;us  since,  $125  for  two  bucks. 

SAMUEL  BOWMAN,  retired  farmer;  P. 
O.  Pierce;  son  of  Jacob  and  Hannah  (Klinger) 
Bovvinan,  natives  of  Northumberland  Co. 
Penn.,  who  removed  to  Stark  Co.  in  1813, 
and  a  few  years  afterward  settled  in  Pike 
Tp.  .Jacob  was  born  February  22,  1777,  and 
his  wife  March  24,  1784;  they  were  the 
parents  of  ten  children,  one  died  in  infancy, 
nine  grew  to  maturity  as  follows:  .John,  of 
Sandy  Tp.;  Henry,  of  Pike  Tp.;  Sarah,  now 
Mrs.  Bonebrake,  of  Homeworth;  Catharine, 
now  Mrs.  William  Miller,  of  Huntington 
Co.,  Ind.;  Lydia,  now  Mrs.  David  Flora,  of 
Huntington  Co.;  Hannah,  married  George 
Flora,  both  deceased;  .Jacob,  of  Canton  Tp.; 
Polly,  married  Samuel  Miller  and  now  de- 
ceased; Samuel,  of  Pike,  subject  of  this 
sketch.  Jacob  was  a  member  of  the  old 
Luth;  ran  Church;  he  originally  purchased  in 
Pike,  ItJO  acres  from  the  government,  and  also 
240  in  Crawford  cotinty,  which  latter  tract  was 
occupied  for  many  years  by  one  of  his  sons. 
Jacob  died  in  July,  185'j,  and  his  wife 
December  7,  1871;  the  youngest  son,  Samuel, 


was  born  Feb.  18,  1827,  at  the  farm  on  which 
he  now  resides.  He  was  raised  and  educated 
in  Pike  Tp.;  continuing  with  his  father  dur- 
ing the  latter's  life  and  then  purchased  the 
farm  from  the  heirs.  He  was  married  Feb. 
25,  1849,  to  Elizabeth  Brothers,  who  was  born 
April  12,  1828,  and  died  Nov.  15,  1857;  she 
was  the  mother  of  four  children — Hiram,  of 
Pike;  Martha  Jane,  now  Mrs.  William  Ecker- 
inan,  of  Iowa;  her  husband  is  a  minister  of 
the  Disciples'  Church;  Albert,  died  aged  2; 
Levi,  now  of  OsnaburgTp.  Mr.  Samuel  Bow- 
man was  married  a  second  time  January  1, 
1861,  to  Lucinda  Van  Mater;  three  children 
were  born  who  died  in  infancy  and  his  second 
wife  died  April  2,  1870.  Mr.  Bowman  served 
as  Trustee  for  some  six  terms;  he  was  elected 
Land  Appraiser  in  the  fall  of  1879,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Disciples'  Church  at  Sparta. 
His  present  residence  was  built  in  1871  on  the 
site  of  the  old  log  cabin  erected  by  his  father 
about  1815.  He  owns  110  acres  at  the  present 
time,  which  is  farmed  on  shares  by  his  son 
Hiram,  who  married  Lydia  L.  Anderson,  to 
whom  two  children — Samuel  Franklin  and 
Charles  Edward,  were  born. 

MCSES  BACHTEL,  farmer;  P.  O.  Pierce; 
is  a  native  of  Pike  Tp.,  and  son  of  one  of  the 
pioneer  settlers  of  Stark  county.  He  was 
born  Sept.  12,  1826;  was  raised  and  educated 
in  Pike,  and  at  the  age  of  18  commenced  to 
teach  school,  which  occupation  he  followed 
for  sixteen  winters,  farming  during  the  sum- 
mer time;  residing  with  his  mother  until 
March  6,  1861,  when  he  was  married,  and 
removed  to  his  present  farm  of  55^  acres, 
which  he  purchased  from  his  mother-in-law. 
His  wife  was  Miss  Susan  Miller,  who  was 
born  October  25,  1839,  daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Susan  (Kerstetter)  Miller,  who  were  early 
settlers  of  Pike  Tp.  The  latter  was  a 
remarkable  woman,  aiid  died  in  1880,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  84.  Mr.  Bachtel  was  a 
member  of  the  -Ohio  National  Guards  during 
the  war,  and  was  called  into  active  military 
service  for  four  months,  during  1864.  In  the 
spring  of  1868  he  was  chosen  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  and  re-elected  in  1871,  serving  in  this 
position  six  years;  was  afterward  appointed 
Notary  Public,  and  has  also  served  as  Clerk 
of  Pike  Tp.  for  two  terms.  He  was  raised  a 
member  of  the  German  Keformed  Church,  but 
his  wife  and  family  are  at   present  connected 


y\'- 


^1 


>^. 


852 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


with  the  Disciples'  Church,  of  Sparta.  Mr. 
Bachtel  is  the  father  of  seven  children  as 
follows:  Lincoln  Marshal,  Clara  Lavina, 
John  Wickliff,  Edwin  N.,  Virginia,  who  died 
in  infancy  ;  Lillian  Gertrude  and  Delano 
Foster.  The  grandfather  of  Moses  Bachtel 
removed  from  Maryland  to  Stark  county  with 
his  family,  at  a  very  early  day,  and  settled  on 
land  now  owned  by  Mahlon  Slutz.  His  son, 
David  Bachtel,  married  Mary  Taylor,  and 
they  had  four  children — Lazarus,  of  Pike  ; 
Moses,  subject  of  this  sketch;  Issac,  who 
died  in  1843,  and  Levi,  of  Pike.  David 
farmed  in  the  summer  time,  and  during  winter 
followed  weaving  and  made  flour  barrels  ;  be 
died  Sept.  32,  1838. 

HENRY  BUCHMAN,  farmer;  P.  O. 
Pierce;  was  born  in  Westmoreland  Co., 
Penn.,  May  9,  1806;  the  son  of  .Incob  and 
Elizabeth  ('Marchant)  Buchman.  His  grand- 
father, George  Buchman,  came  to  America 
when  about  17  vears  of  age,  and  was  sold  for 
three  years  to  defray  the  expense  of  his  pas- 
sage across  the  ocean;  he  died  about  1832  at 
the  age  of  83;  the  Marchants  were  of  French 
or  Swiss  descent,  and  many  persons  bearing 
this  name  are  now  residents  of  Westmoreland 
Co.,  not  a  few  being  doctors  of  medicine. 
Henry  was  raised  in  that  county  and  worked 
for  his  father  until  he  became  of  age;  then 
for  many  years  he  was  a  teamster,  hauling 
goods  from  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore  to 
Pittsburgh;  the  first  trip  he  made  was  in  1827; 
in  those  days  all  goods  were  transported 
between  these  cities  in  wagons,  and  the  team- 
sters were  allowed  twenty  days  in  which  to 
make  the  trip,  being  held  responsible  for  all 
losses.  Henry  al'terwards  purchased  his 
father's  farm  in  Pennsylvania,  and  was  married 
March  29,  1837,  to  Mary,  daughter  of  Peter 
and  Barbara  (Heiberger)  Whitehead.  In 
1849  he  moved  to  Pike  Tp.  with  his  family, 
purchasing  200  acres,  known  in  those  daj'S  as 
the  James  Hazelett  land.  During  the  first 
fall  his  saw-mill  was  destroyed  by  fire;  he 
afterwards  built  the  flouring-mill,  now  stand- 
ing at  Sparta,  and  having  disposed  of  his  land, 
he  purchased  of  Benjamin  Painter  320  acres, 
about  half  of  which  lie  has  transferred  to  his 
children  and  other  parties,  and  he  now  owns 
and  occupies  about  160  acres.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Buchman  were  in  early  life  active  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church;  they  are  the  parents 


of  the  following  children:  one  died  in  infancy, 
seven  are  living  as  follows — Sarah,  now  Mrs. 
.John  Yant,  of  Sparta;  Catharine,  died  aged  11; 
Elizabeth,  now  Mrs.  Wallen  Evans,  of  Pike; 
Alpheus,  now  of  Fort  Wayne,  Ind.;  Daniel,  of 
Pike;  Jane,  now  Mrs.  Alfred  Young,  of  Pike; 
Marv,  now  Mrs.  Isaac  McKinney,  of  Pike; 
William,  on  the  homestead  with  his  father. 

JOSEPH  BRIGGLE,  farmer;  P.O.  Pierce; 
is  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Catharine  (Beard) 
Briggle.  Joseph,  Sr.,  came  from  Germany 
when  six  years  of  age  with  his  parents;  they 
settled  in  Pennsylvania,  where  he  resided  dur- 
ing his  later  childhood,  and  finally  moved  to 
Stark  Co.;  he  was  married  to  Catharine  Beard, 
of  SummitCo.;  they  had  twelve  children,  two 
of  whom  died  young  and  ten  reached  ma- 
turity, as  follows:  Caroline,  now  Mrs.  Henry 
Shemp,  of  De  Kalb  Co.,  Ind.;  Sarah,  now 
Mrs.  Moses  Brown,  of  Canton;  Eliza  Ann, 
now  Mrs.  Jesse  Van  Nostran,  of  Canton; 
Amanda,  now  Mrs.  Nathan  Evans  of  Pike. 
John  died  of  small-pox  June  19,  1871,  while 
a  resident  of  Pike  Tp;  Catharine,  now  Mrs. 
Levi  Bouebrake,  of  Huntington  Co.,  Ind.; 
Almira,  Joseph,  Melancthon  and  George  S.; 
the  latter  four  are  residents  of  Pike.  Their 
father  lived  in  Pike  nearly  forty  years,  and 
died  October  31,  1875,  at  the  age  of  76.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church  at 
Sandyville.  Joseph  Briggle,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  born  in  Pike,  May  21,  1845, 
where  he  was  raised  and  educated;  he  con- 
tinued on  his  father's  farm  until.  April,  1863, 
when  he  enlisted  for  three  years  in  the  107th 
Regiment,  and  remained  in  the  service  for 
some  t\vo  years  and  eight  months.  After  the 
war  closed  the  portion  of  the  107th  Regi- 
ment that  had  enlisted  for  three  years  were 
transferred  to  the  25th  Ohio,  which  was  sta- 
tioned at  Columbia,  S.  C;  during  his  term  of 
service  he  was  never  sick  or  absent  from  the 
regiment.  When  he  returned  home  he 
worked  as  a  farm-laborer  until  the  spring  of 
1871,  when  ho  settled  on  his  present  farm  of 
93  acres  ;  he  was  married  June  28,  1868,  to 
Sarah  Jane,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Mc- 
Kinney) Williams;  they  are  the  parents  of  four 
children — John  Roy,  Homer  Vincent,  Allen, 
who  died  in  infancy,  and  Stewart.  Politically 
Mr.  Briggle  is  a  Republican,  and  is  a  member 
of  the  M.  E.  Church  of  Sparta,  his  wife  also 
beinor  connected  with  the  same  congregation. 


i^ 


PIKE   TOWNSHIP. 


8r)3 


WILLIAM  H.  BRIGGLE,  miller;  P.  0. 
Pierce,  ;  was  born  Sept.  8,  1861,  in  Pike 
Tp.;  son  of  John  and  Eliz:ibeth  (Wil- 
liams) Briggle.  John  Brig^'lo,  son  of  Jo-eph 
and  Catharine  (Bi.'ard)  Briggle,  was  born  Dec. 
27,  1839;  was  raised  and  educated  in  Pike 
Tp.,  and  was  married  August  22,  18(50,  to 
Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah 
Jane  (Alexander)  Williams,  who  were  pio- 
neer settlers  of  Pike  Tp.  Some  five  years  af- 
ter their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Briggle  set- 
tled on  119  acres,  now  owned  principally  by 
their  brother  Joseph,  occupying  this  farm  un- 
til Ajiri),  1871,  when  tliey  removed  with  their 
family  to  Sparta.  They  had  every  prospect 
of  a  long  and  happy  life,  when  the  loving 
husband  and  kind  father  was  suddenly  stricken 
down  by  a  frightful  contagious  disease — small- 
p<).\ — and  died  June  19,  1871.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  the  father 
of  four  children — William,  subject  of  this 
sketch;  Gertrude,  Mary  Catharine,  who  reside 
with  their  mother,  and  Homer,  who  died  aged 
on(!  year.  Mrs.  Briggle  was  afterwards  mar- 
ried to  J.  J.  Burnheimer,  and  was  by  him  the 
mother  of  two  children — Eddie,  who  died 
aged  nearly  five,  and  Charles  Wesley.  Wil- 
liam H.  Briggh-  was  raised  in  Pike  Tp.,  and 
when  only  17  years  of  aiie  entered  the 
llou  ring-mill  at  Sparta,  in  March,  1879,  serv- 
ing an  apprentieeshij)  of  one  year  under 
Alonzo  Fo.\.  In  March,  1880,  he  was  em- 
ployed by  Samuel  Cable,  owner  of  the  mill,  to 
run  the  establishment  on  shares,  which  trust 
he  satisfactorily  fulfilled,  and  when  (Jable  sold 
out  to  John  Swan,  the  new  proprietor  contin- 
ued him  in  the  same  responsible  position, 
which  he  has  faithfully  filled  for  eighteen 
months,  although  he  has  not  yet  attained  the 
twentieth  anniversarv  of  his  birth. 

MICHAEL  BORTS,  farmer;  P.O.  North 
Industry;  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Mary  (Fisher) 
Borts,  who  were  for  many  years  residents  of 
Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa.,  and  the  parents  of  ten 
children;  one  died  in  infancy,  eight  are  resi- 
dents of  Pennsylvania,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  being  the  only  one  of  this  large  family 
living  in  Stark  Co.  Henry  was  a  farmer  in 
Westmoreland  Co.,  he  died  some  three  years 
since,  and  his  wife  a  shor;  time  previous;  their 
son  Michael  was  lorn  Nov.  6,  1829.  He  re- 
ceived a  common  school  education,  and  resi- 
ded on  the  farm  until  he  became  of  age;  then 


worked  at  bricklaj'ing,  as  a  stone-mason,  and 
in  a  saw-mill  until  he  was  married.  This  event 
took  place  Feb.  7,  18.3G,  and  the  yf)Uiig  lady 
who  accompanied  him  to  the  altar  was  Miss 
Rebecca  Jane  Rutf.  About  one  year  after- 
ward, they  removed  to  Stark  Co.,  and  settled 
on  his  present  farm,  purchasing  in  connection 
with  his  brother-in-law,  Franklin  Rufl",  160 
acres  from  Michael  Welker;  this  quarter 
section  was  divided  between  Messrs.  Borts 
and  Ruff,  each  owning  half  of  the  tract,  but 
in  later  years  Mr.  Borts  purchased  55  acres 
from  Theodore  Swan,  and  now  owns  135 
acres,  a  portion  of  which  is  underlaid  witli 
limestone,  and  a  3^  foot  vein  of  coal.  Two 
mines  have  been  opened  on  his  land,  and  in 
addition  to  his  labors  as  a  farmer,  he  is  en- 
gaged mining  and  burning  lime  to  a  limited 
extent.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Borts  are  membere  of 
the  Lutheran  Church  at  Magnolia.  They  are 
the  parents  of  nine  children — Albi'rt,  Richard 
Porter,  William  Henry,  Elizabeth  Amelia, 
Simon,  Agnes,  Sarah  Savilla,  Mary  Ann,  and 
John.  In  politics,  Mr.  Borts  is  a  Republican. 
JAMES  FARBER,  farmer  and  stock  dealer; 
P.  O.  Magnolia;  a  native  of  Tuscarawas  Co., 
and  second  son  of  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
this  section  of  Ohio;  his  father,  John  Farber, 
was  born  in  New  Jersey,  Oct.  24,  1781,  son 
of  Philip  and  Margaret  Farber;  Philip  was 
born  Oct.  3,  1758,  and  Margaret  April  19, 
1758.  The  Farber  family  left  New  Jersey  in 
I  1804,  and  settled  for  a  time  near  Steubenville; 
'  in  ISOG  they  removed  to  Tuscarawas  county, 
^  locating  in  Sandy  Tp.  At  that  time  their  near- 
!  est  neighbor  was  the  Huff  family,  who  lived 
some  eight  miles  away,  south  of  what  is  now 
Zoar  village.  Canton  at  that  time  contained 
only  a  few  rude  log  cabins,  and  the  Farbers 
visited  Cleveland  for  their  salt  wh(!n  the  fu- 
ture Forest  Cit\'  contained  about  one  dozen 
houses.  The  family  cleared  a  patch  of  six  or 
seven  acres  for  corn  by  June,  1806,  and  were 
rewarded  bj-  a  fine  crop;  the  next  year  many 
I  other  families  purchased  farms  and  settled  in 
the  same  neighborhood.  In  those  days  they 
I  could  catch  a  barrel  of  fish  in  half  an  hour, 
and  deer  and  bee  trees  were  plenty.  John 
Farber  started  in  life  a  ()oor  boy,  but  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  in  1804,  was  a  large  land 
owner.  During  his  life  he  held  many  offices  of 
honor  and  trust  to  which  he  was  chosen  by 
his  neighbors;  he  married  Elizabeth  Douglas, 


854 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


who  was  of  Scotch  descent,  and  they  were 
the  parents  of  fourteen  children;  several  died 
when  the}'  were  young;  nine  lived  to  maturity, 
raised  families,  and  John  was  the  ancestor 
of  many  descendants,  who  are  living  in  Car- 
roll, Tuscarawas  and  Stark  counties,  and  many 
localities  in  the  west;  Elizabeth  died  in  1873. 
James  Farber,  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born 
in  Sandy  Tp.,  Tuscarawas  Co.,  March  1,  1808, 
where  he  was  raised  and  educated,  remain- 
ing on  his  father's  farm  until  October,  1833, 
when  he  married  Caroline,  daughter  of  Oliver 
Weaver;  he  then  purchased  from  his  father  a 
quarter  section  in  Pike  Tp.,  which  land  he 
has  occupied  for  nearly  fifty  years,  his  present 
residence  having  been  built  in  1840.  During 
his  life  has  purchased  other  real  estate, 
now  owning  over  400  acres,  and  in  addition 
to  this  has  transferred  over  900  to  his  chil- 
dren; he  has  in  past  j'ears  paid  more  atten- 
tion to  sheep  raising  than  farming,  wintering 
at  times  over  one  thousand  head.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
James  Farber  are  the  parents  of  seven  child- 
ren; onediedin  infancy;  six  are  now  living,  as 
follows — John,  of  Carroll  Co.;  Isabel,  now  Mrs. 
John  Keiffer,  of  Carroll  Co.;  Oliver,  now  of 
Sandy  Tp.,  Stark  Co.;  Philip,  of  Pike;  Abigal, 
now  Mrs.  Franklin  Newhouse,  of  Pike;  Eliza- 
beth, now  at  home  with  her  parents. 

PHILIP  FARBER,  farmer  and  stock- 
dealer;  P.  O.  Pierce;  son  of  James  and  Caro- 
line (Weaver)  Farber,  was  born  in  Pike  Tp. 
Jan.  3,  1841,  where  he  was  raised  and  edu- 
cated, receiving  instruction  in  the  schools  of 
the  neighborhood;  he  remained  on  his  father's 
farm  until  Dee.  19,  1873,  when  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Mary  L.  Bonders,  who  was  born 
in  Germany  and  removed  to  America  with 
her  parents  when  she  was  four  years  of  age; 
her  father  was  killed  in  1803,  at  the  battle  of 
Gettysburg.  After  their  marriage  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Philip  Farber  removed  to  iiis  present 
farm  of  172  acres,  which  he  purchased  from 
liis  father;  they  have  three  children.  Jay, 
May,  and  Etta.  Mr.  Farber's  principal  busi- 
ness is  stock  raising,  and  he  is  more  directly 
interested  in  sheep  and  cattle,  having  a  spe- 
cial grade  of  fine  sheep.  During  the  Rebel- 
lion Mr.  Farber  was  a  member  of  the  Ohio 
National  Guards,  and  as  such  was  called  in 
active  service  for  fcrur  months,  serving  from 
May  to  September,  1864,  in  the  162d  Regi- 
ment under  Col.  Ephraim  Ball. 


JACOB  FLORA,  deceased;  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Pike  Tp.,  was  born  in  Witten- 
berg, Germany,  and  emigrated  to  America 
when  quite  young,  with  his  father,  George 
Flora,  who  assisted  in  hauling  stone  for  the 
first  jail  in  Baltimore.  Jacob  removed  to 
Pike  Tp.  in  1816,  purchasing  160  acres  of 
land  now  owned  in  part  by  J.  .1.  Burnheimer. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  old  Lutheran  Church, 
and  the  father  of  six  children — David,  died 
in  Huntington  Co.,  Ind.;  Catharine,  now  Mrs. 
John  Burnheimer,  of  Magnolia;  Daniel,  died 
in  Huntington  Co.;  Barbara,  married  Harmon 
Smith,  and  removed  to  Indiana;  George,  died 
while  a  resident  of  Pike  Tp.;  Mary,  now  Mrs. 
Cornelius  Henline,  of  Huntington  Co.  Jacob 
removed  to  Huntington  Co.  in  1844,  where  he 
died  shortly  afterward.  His  son  George  lived 
on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Adam  Muckley, 
until  he  died  in  1871.  He  married  Hannah 
Bowman,  daughter  of  .Jacob  Bowman,  of  Pike 
Tp.,  and  had  five  children — Frank,  now  of 
Dansville,  N.  Y.;  Jacob,  of  Pike  Tp.;  Harriet, 
now  Mrs.  .John  Farber,  of  Carroll  Co.;  Harri- 
son, now  of  Dickinson  Co.,  Kan.;  Emma, 
now  of  Dickinson  Co.,  Kan.  The  three 
boys  were  in  the  Union  Army,  during  the 
war;  Frank  served  three  j'ears;  Harrison  was 
Second  Lieutenant  in  the  107tli  Ohio.  Jacob 
was  born  Dec.  3,  1836,  was  raised  and  educa- 
ted in  Pike  Tp.,  and  attended  Oberlin  College 
for  several  years,  from  which  institution  he 
graduated  in  1859.  He  has  taught  school  for 
twenty-three  winters.  He  was  elected  Asses- 
sor several  times  by  the  citizens  of  Pike. 
He  enlisted  in  1861,  and  was  mustered  in 
June  5,  serving  for  eighteen  months  in  the 
4th  Ohio;  he  then  returned  home  and  assisted 
his  father  on  the  farm,  and  took  an  active 
part  in  "  regulating''  the  affairs  in  this  section, 
during  those  turbulent  times.  He  was  Cap- 
tain of  a  company  of  National  Guards,  com- 
posed entirely  of  citizens  of  Pike  Tp.,  which 
was  in  active  service  four  months  during  1804. 
Jacob  was  married  June  13,  1865,  to  Lucinda 
McFarland,  daughter  of  John  McFarland,  an 
early  settler  of  Pike  Tp.;  they  have  three 
children — Sarah  H.,  Emma  N.  and  William  F. 

WASHINGTON  GUEST,  farmer;  P.  O. 
North  Industry;  is  a  leading  influential  citi- 
zen of  Stark  Co.,  and  one  of  the  three  com- 
missioners. He  was  born  at  the  farm  upon 
which  he  now  resides,  Nov.  13, 1819;  the  son 


;V 


M* 


-fe^ 


PIKE  TOWNSHIP. 


855 


of  Rev.  Pitney  and  Catharine  (Miller)  Guest, 
who  were  natives  of  New  Jersey.  Pitney 
was  bom  Sept.  19,  1783,  and  Catharine,  May 
26,  1?82;  they  were  married  March  0,  1805, 
and  emigrated  to  Pike  Tp.  in  1812;  first  set- 
tling upon  Sec.  16,  making  improvements 
there  for  which  1100  was  afterwards  paid. 
Mr.  Guest  then  purchased  80  acres  from  the 
Government.  He  was  a  minister  of  tlie  Bap- 
tist Church  for  many  years;  was  the  Hrst  Jus- 
tice elected  for  Pike  Tp.,  which  position  he 
held  about  21  years,  and  was  also  Trustee 
many  terms.  He  was  drafted  at  the  last  call 
during  the  war  of  1812,  but  before  entering 
active  service,  peace  was  declared.  Rev.  Pit- 
ney Guest  was  for  many  years  a  leading  and 
influential  citizen,  anil  reference  is  made  to 
him  in  the  General  History  of  Pike  Tp.  He 
died  A\igust  9,  1856;  his  wife  survived  him 
nearly  two  decades,  and  died  Jan.  29,  1874, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  92.  Her  father,  Ben- 
jamin Miller,  was  a  soldier  during  the  Revolu- 
tionary War.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pitney  Guest 
were  the  parents  of  seven  children — Mary 
Ann,  now  Mrs.  Phillip  Bordner,  of  Crawford 
Co.,  O;  Jesse,  died  many  years  since  in  Carroll 
Co.;  Lydia,  married  .faeob  Bordner  and  died 
in  Wood  County;  Jephtha,  died  aged  19;  Hes- 
ter, now  Mrs.  Daniel  McKinney,  of  Pike; 
Washington,  subject  of  this  sketch;  Harriet, 
now  Mrs.  .Jos(>ph  Stults,  of  Huntington  Co., 
Indiana.  Washington  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  Pike  Tp.,  and  afterward  attended 
a  select  school  in  Canton,  conducted  by  Ar- 
chie McGregor,  Esq,,  now  editor  of  the  Stark 
County  Democrat;  and  afterward  taught 
school  for  about  eighteen  winters.  At  the  age 
of  22  he  was  elected  Assessor  and  served  in 
this  position  for  ten  years;  was  also  Treasurer 
many  terms,  and  Trustee;  of  Pike  Tp.,  at  va- 
rious times.  In  October,  1870,  he  was  chosen 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  re-elected  in  1873,  and 
again  in  1876,  serving  nine  years.  In  1879, 
he  was  nominated  by  the  Republican  party 
as  their  candidate  for  Commissioner,  and  suc- 
ceeded by  his  personal  popularity  in  securing 
a  small  majority  at  an  election  which  resulted 
in  a  victory  for  some  candidates  of  the  oppo- 
site party,  nominated  for  county  officers.  Mr. 
Guest  owns  at  the  present  time,  160  acres  of 
land,  80  of  which  he  has  purchased  since  his 
lather's  death.  He  was  married  October  26, 
1  !^.54,  to  Miss  Ellen,  daughter  of  Bernard  and 


Bridget  Collins.    His  wife  was  born  December 

28,  1831,  and  died  Feb.  14,  1878,  leaving 
eight  children — Osborne  Pitney,  of  Pike  ; 
Martha  Ellen,  now  Mrs.  .Jeremiah  Aplcy,  of 
Pike;  Olive  Olivia,  now  Mrs.  W.  H.  Becher, 
of  Pike;  Cora  Alice,  Katie  Ann,  William 
Elmer,  George  Washington  and  Ida  May. 

DR.  DANIEL  L.  GANS,  physician,  farmer 
and  stock  raisi^r;  P.  O.  Pierce;  was  born  July 
31,  1819,  of  German  parentage  in  Springhill 
Tp.,  Fayette  Co.,  Penn.;  he  was  the  son  of 
William  and  Magdalena  (Custer)  Gans,  the 
doctor  ])eing  a  cousin  of  the  brave  and  la- 
mented Gen.  Custer,  who  perished  during  the 
Indian  war  of  1876,  while  fighting  against 
overwhelming  odds.  Dr.  Gans  was  reared  on 
a  good  farm  under  the  training  of  kind,  indus- 
trious, well-to-do  Christian  [)arents  and  en- 
joyed some  of  the  sweets  of  handling  a  plow 
in  stony  ground,  of  cutting  grass  witli  an  old- 
fashioned  scythe  and  grain  with  the  time-hon- 
ored sickle.  About  the  age  of  18  years  he 
conceived  that  the  medical  profession  was  the 
field  for  him,  and  so  stated  to  his  father,  who 
presented  his  strongest  arguments  to  induce 
the  son  to  remain  'on  the  farm,  but  they  had 
not  sufficient  weight  and  did  not  avail.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  passionately  fond 
of  reading  and  employed  most  of  his  leisure 
hours  in  that  way.  His  preliminary  educa- 
tion consisted  of  what  he  could  obtain  at  a 
country  school  and  some  advantages  of  a 
select  course  in  Virginia.  In  the  fail  of  1838 
he  left  home  and  went  to  Moundsville,  Vir- 
ginia reading  medicine  there  with  his  elder 
brother  for  two  years.  He  completed  his 
medical  course  at  the  Ohio  Medical  College 
of  Cincinnati  during  the  years  1840  and 
1841,  and  comnienced  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession in  Smithfield,  Penn.,  three  miles  from 
his  former  home,  continuing  there  about  eight- 
een months  during  an  epidemic  of  typhoid 
fever.  The  country  being  rough  and  mount- 
ainous, the  doctor  determined  to  leave  for  a 
more  pleasant  one  to  travel  over.  In  Octo- 
ber, 1842,  he  located  in  Magnolia,  single  ai:d 
a  stranger;  in  two  or  three  years  he  grew  into 
an  extensive  practice,  remaining  there  eight 
years.  He  soon  learned  it  was  not  good  for 
a  doctor  "  to  be  alone"  and  was  married  April 
22,  1845,  to  Miss  Margaret,  daughter  of 
James  and  Mary  (Gordon)  Hanna;  her  par- 
ents were   born  in    Ireland  and  emigrated  to 


^ 


856 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


America  when  about  24  years  of  age.  In  the 
fall  of  1850  Dr.  Gans  removed  with  his  family 
to  his  farm  near  Sparta  where  he  now  resides, 
continuing  to  practice  his  profession,  having 
served  nearly  forty  years  in  that  capacity. 
His  practice  has  been  a  general  one,  although 
he  has  performed  some  of  the  major  opera- 
tions, as  amputation  of  the  thigh  and  arm,  re- 
duction of  fractures,  etc.  During  the  period 
he  has  been  located  in  Stark  Co.  five  students 
have  received  instruction  under  him,  and  are 
now  filling  positions  of  usefulness.  Dr.  Gans 
at  the  present  time  owns  and  farms  385 
acres  of  land;  he  was  one  of  the  first  to  intro- 
duce Spanish  Merino  sheep  into  this  section, 
and  keeps  his  farm  stocked  with  sheep  of  this 
and  other  grades  to  its  full  capacity,  only  cul- 
tivating enough  grain  to  keep  the  whole  farm 
in  grass.  April  29,  1875,  fire  destroyed  his 
house  with  most  of  its  contents,  and  his  pres- 
ent residence  has  been  erected  since  that 
date.  Dr.  Gans  is  the  father  of  five  children, 
two  sons  and  three  daughters.  The  eldest 
daughter  died  when  young;  the  eldest  son  W. 
C.  Gans,  who  is  a  graduate  of  Bethany  Col- 
lege, is  now  engaged  in  the  drug  business  at 
Youngstown,  Ohio;  Ollie,  the  second  daugh- 
ter, is  the  wife  of  H.  C.  Muckley,  principal  of 
the  Central  School  of  Youngstown;  Miss 
Lizzie  and  EmmetGans  are  students  at  Hiram 
College.  The  docter  has  always  voted  the 
Kepublican  ticket,  but  never  sought  for  office 
or  held  one  in  the  gift  of  the  people,  as  he  is 
contented  with  living  at  home  on  his  farm. 

WASHINGTON  HINES,  farmer;  P.  O. 
North  Industry;  was  born  in  York,  Pa.,  .July 
4,  1811,  son  of  Jesse  and  Elizabeth  (Fry) 
Hines,  who  removed  with  their  children  to 
Stark  Co.  in  1833,  settling  in  Paris  Tp.  for 
some  three  years,  but  in  1826  purchased  from 
Henry  Bordner,  of  Pike  Tp.,  the  farm  now 
owned  and  occupied  by  their  son  Washing- 
ton. Jesse  was  a  blacksmith  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, which  occupation  he  followed  for  some 
thirty  years,  but  after  he  removed  to  Ohio,  was 
a  farmer;  he  brought  his  tools  along,  however, 
erected  a  forge  upon  his  farm,  and  his  son 
Absalom,  who  had  learned  the  trade  in  Penn- 
sylvania, conducted  the  business  for  some 
years.  Washington  Hinos  reports  "  that  when 
their  family  removed  to  Pike  Tp.  tlu're  was 
neither  a  school-house  nor  meeting-house  in 
the  township,  but  still-houses  were  numerous. 


whisky  being  found  in  every  household;  and 
that  his  father  was  the  first  man  in  Stark  Co. 
who  refused  to  supply  whisky  for  his  hands 
during  harvest."  Jesse  was  a  Presbyterian 
in  Pennsylvania,  but  after  removing  to  Pike 
Tp.  connected  himself  with  the  United  Breth- 
ren church;  he  died  January  6, 1856,  aged  77; 
his  wife  died  nearly  twenty  five  years  pre- 
vious. They  were  the  parents  of  seven  chil- 
dren— Absolom  removed  to  Indiana  and  died 
there;  Elizabeth,  married  Solomon  Brown,  and 
died  in  Perry  Tp.;  Jesse,  died  at  Reedsburg, 
Wayne  Co.,  while  pastor  of  the  German  Re- 
formed Church;  Anthony,  now  a  resident  of 
Plain  Tp.;  Washington,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  Rebecca,  now  Mrs.  Levi  Briggs,  of 
Whitley  Co.  Indiana;  Sarah,  died  aged  15. 
Washington  remained  on  the  farm  with  his 
father,  who  at  his  death  willed  his  son  the 
land,  stipulating  that  he  should  settle  with 
the  other  heirs.  Washington  was  married 
Oct.  33,  1837,  to  Miss  Jane  Hockensmith, 
daughter  of  Peter  and  Christina  (Smith) 
Hockensmith;  they  are  the  parents  of  eleven 
children,  six  boys  and  five  girls,  as  follows — 
Hiram  Harvey,  in  Lucas  Co.;  George  W.,  and 
Salathiel,  in  Pike  Tp.;  Henry,  in  Upper  San- 
dusky, Ohio;  Sarah,  now  Mrs.  Robert  Hall, 
they  are  missionary  teachers  in  New  Mexico; 
Elizabeth,  now  Mrs.  Christ  Wiles,  of  Phila- 
delphia, Pa.;  Maria,  now  wife  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Hunter,  a  M.  E.  minister  in  Kansas;  Jesse,  in 
Pike  Tp.;  Amanda,  now  Mrs.  James  Evans  of 
Pike  Tp.;  Harriet  and  John,  at  home  with 
their  parents.  Three  of  Mr.  Hines'  sons  were 
in  the  army  during  the  Rebellion,  viz:  Hi- 
ram in  the  107th  Regiment  O.  V.  I.,  and 
George  and  Salathiel  in  I63d  Regiment  O. 
N.  G.  Washington  was  in  early  life  an  old 
line  Whig,  but  since  the  Republican  party 
was  organized  he  has  voted  that  ticket. 

GEORGE  HOWENSTINE,  farmer;  P.  O. 
Pierce;  for  many  years  an  influential  citizen 
of  Pike  Tp.  and  Stark  Co.;  was  born  in 
Franklin  Co.,  Penn.,  Aug.  4,  1807;  his  grand- 
father, also  named  George,  came  from  Ger- 
many about  one  hundred  years  ago,  and  raised 
a  large  family  of  children  as  follows — John, 
George,  Jacob,  William,  Rebecca,  Susannah, 
Elizabeth,  Samuel,  Peter  and  Henry.  Jacob, 
father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born 
April  1,  1784;  he  married  Catharine  Crause, 
who  was  born  June  13,  1786;  thev  had  six 


^1 


tk 


PIKE  TOWNSHIP. 


857 


children,  who  are  now  living — George,  Jacob, 
Margaret  (now  Mrs.  .John  Epley),  Samuel  C, 
Jeremiah  and  Mary  Ann  (now  Mrs.  Michael 
Lichten  waiter).  AH  of  these  ixci-pt  Jeremiah 
are  residents  of  Pike  Tp.  Jacob  Howenstine 
removed  with  his  family  to  Stark  Co.  in  1822, 
remaining  one  year  in  Bethlehem  Tp.;  finding 
that  locality  to  bo  sickly,  he  came  to  Pike 
Tp.  and  settled  upon  about  400  acres  of  land, 
which  he  purchased  from  his  father-in-law, 
George  Crause,  and  other  parties;  he  also 
owned  at  one  time  160  acres  near  the  present 
site  of  the  cemetery,  near  Canton.  Jacob  died 
March  11,183.5;  his  widowsurvived  him  many 
years  and  died  April  28,  1868.  Their  son 
George  remained  at  homo  assisting  his  parents 
until  April  3,  1827,  when  he  was  married  to 
Christina,  daughter  of  George  and  Margaret 
Sicafoose;  he  then  settled  on  his  present 
farm  upon  which  he  has  resided  over  fifty 
years.  At  the  present  time  he  owns  120  acres, 
but  during  his  life  has  had  other  real  estate, 
some  of  which  he  has  transferred  to  his  sons; 
He  is  at  present  one  of  the  Trustees  of  Pike 
Tp.,  and  has  occupied  this  position  several 
terms;  was  also  Clerk  one  term,  many  years 
since;  was  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  eighteen 
years,  and  chosen  Commissioner  of  Stark  Co. 
on  two  occasions,  serving  in  this  position  six 
years;  he  was.  on  the  Board  when  the  old 
Court  House  was  built  and  also  when  the 
old  "brick  anne.x"  was  finished.  Among  those 
who  were  Commissioners  during  these  six 
years  were:  William  Dillon,  of  Marlborough; 
.fohn  Bretz,  of  Tuscarawas,  Jacob  Gallaton,  of 
Sugar  Creek,  and  Jacob  Schlott,  of  Plain. 
Squire  Howenstine  voted  the  Democratic 
ticket  until  the  Missouri  Compromise  was 
reiealcd,  and  after  the  formation  of  the  Re- 
publican party  he  gave  his  vote  and  influence 
to  the  Republicans.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  M.  E.  Church  at  Sparta,  and  held  many 
offices  of  honor  and  trust  in  the  congregation; 
is  now  C  ass-le;ider  and  has  been  Steward  and 
Recording-Steward.  He  is  the  father  of  nine 
children,  five  sons  and  four  daughters,  as  fol- 
lows— Wiliam  S.,  of  Whitley  Co.,  Iiid.;  John 
S.,  of  Canton;  Margaret  Ann,  now  Mrs. 
Christian  Henry,  of  Whitley  Co.;  Catharine, 
now  Mrs.  Jesse  Hisem,  of  Whitley  Co.; 
Samuel  S.,  of  Pike;  Harriet,  now  Mrs.  S.  P. 
Wilson,  of  Nimishillen  Tp.;  George  Lyman,  of 
Canton;  Sarah,  died  aged  .33,  on  Jan.  30,  1871, 


and  Jacob  Marion,  now  on  the  farm  with  his 
parents.  Three  of  these  sons  were  in  the 
arm  V  during  the  reljellion ;  John  S.  and  George 
Lyman  served  three  j'ears,  and  Samuel  was 
out  for  four  months.  Jacob  Marion  married 
Alice  Sandford  Oct.  6,  1872,  and  they  have 
one  son,  Homer. 

JACOB  HOLM,  farmer;  P.  O.  North  In- 
dustry; born  in  Pike  Tp.,  Oct.  9,  1822;  son 
of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Shutt)  Holm.  John 
was  born  near  Ilagerstown,  Maryland,  May  1, 
1701;  ho  removed  with  his  father,  Michael 
Holm,  to  Ohio  about  1813.  Michael  settled 
on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Abraham  Hover- 
land,  and  afterwards  removed  to  the  land 
now  occupied  by  Charles  Hant;  he  died 
there  about  1835,  at  the  advanced  a^ie  of  80 
years.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Dunkard 
Church;  was  married  twice,  and  had  twenty 
children.  His  son  John  married  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  John  Shutt,  who  was  one  of  the 
early  j)ioneers  of  Stark  Co.  Shutt  settled  on 
the  farm  now  owned  by  George  Holm,  re- 
maining there  over  fifty  years;  ho  died  about 
1862,  at  the  advanced  ago  of  97  years;  he  was 
a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church,  and  the 
father  of  four  children,  viz.:  Polly,  married 
a  Mr.  Savington,  and  died  in  Tuscarawas 
Co.;  Elizabeth  married  John  Holm;  Jacob 
died  in  Perry  Tp.;  Catharine  married  a  Mr. 
Albright,  and  moved  to  Summit  Co.  John 
Holm  and  wife,  after  marriage,  settled  on  the 
land  now  farmed  by  Daniel  Seaman,  where 
they  died.  He  was  the  father  of  four  child- 
ren, who  reached  maturity — Susan  married  a 
-Mr.  Soladay;  George,  of  Canton;  Jacob,  of 
Pike;  Jeremiah,  who  wjis  killed  at  Gettysburg 
while  fighting  to  preserve  the  American 
Union.  Jacob  Holm,  suljject  of  this  sketch, 
was  raised  and  educated  in  Pike  Tp.;  served 
a  regular  apprenticeship  at  the  shoe-makers' 
trade,  and  afterward  wcjrkel  as  a  journeyman 
at  Canton;  lu;  was  married  May  23,  1844,  to 
Ann  Rosenbury,  daughter  of  William  Rosen- 
bury,  of  Tuscarawas  Co.,  and  they  had 
seven  children,  one  died  in  infancy  ;  the 
other  six  are — Rachel  Ann,  now  Mrs.  Jacob 
Hoverland,  of  Sugar  Creek;  William  N.,  lost 
during  the  Rebellion,  at  the  battle  of  Chancel- 
lorsville;  Asbury,  of  Sugar  Creek;  Sarah 
Jane,  died,  aged  17;  Angelina,  now  Mrs. 
Frank  Buxser;  Margaret,  now  Mrs.  George 
F.  Sunth,   of   Niniisiiillen.     Mr   Holm's    first 


fk^ 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


wife  died  Feb.  19,  1857,  and  lie  was  married 
a  second  time  to  Martlia  Worley,  who  is  the 
mother  of  seven  children,  viz.:  Emma,  Alice, 
Cora,  Lewis  E.,  Flora  H.,  Perry  and  John 
Edwin.  Jacob  Holm  settled  on  his  present 
farm  in  the  year  1845,  which  was  formerly  the 
property  of  liis  giandfather,  .Joliu  Shutt;  he 
now  owns  171  acres  in  Pike  Tp.  His  present 
residence  was  built  in  1808.  Mr.  Holm  is 
connected  with  the  United  Brethren  Church, 
of  which  denomination  he  has  been  an  active 
member  for  nearly  forty  years. 

DAVID  B.  ilENLl'NE,  farmer;  P.  O. 
Bolivar,  Tuscarawas  Co.;  is  the  son  of  an 
early  si'ttler  of  Pike  Tp.  His  father,  Samuel 
Henlino  was  liorn  in  Somerset  Co.,  about  the 
year  1793,  and  moved  with  his  father,  Cor- 
nelius Heuline,  to  Pike  Tp.,  at  an  early  day; 
he  married  Elizabeth  Flickinger,  who  died 
September  18,  1824,  after  bearing  him  five 
children.  Pinton,  the  eldest,  died  April  35, 
1842,  and  his  only  son  is  now  running-  a  store 
at  Navarre.  The  other  four  children  died 
without  issue;  Samuel  was  married  the  sec- 
ond time  to  Mary  Ann,  daughter  of  Nicholas 
Leichley,  a  pioneer  school-teacher  of  Stark  Co. 
she  was  born  in  December  :;!0,  1800,  and  of 
her  six  children,  two  died  in  infancy  and  four 
grew  to  maturity,  viz.:  Caroline,  now  Mrs. 
kilbourne  Mills,  of  White  Co.,  Ind.;  Samuel, 
died  aged  24,  in  1850;  Susannah,  now  Mrs. 
John  Justis,  of  Canton  Tp.,  and  David  B., 
subject  of  this  sketch.  Samuel  took  the 
Zoarite  Community  across  the  Sandy  river  in 
a  canoe  when  they  first  arrived  in  this  section 
of  the  State;  during  his  life  he  owned  a  saw- 
mill, still-house  and  choppiii;i-mill;  was  a 
member  of  the  old  Lutheran  Church,  a  cap- 
tain in  the  militia  and  owned  over  400 
acres  of  land.  He  died  June  ]0,  1849; 
his  son,  David  B.  Henline,  was  born  August 
2,  1844;  was  educated  in  Pike  Tp.,  of  which 
he  has  always  been  a  resident;  was  in  active 
military  service  for  four  months  during  the 
war  in  the  162d  Regiment,  and  is  farming  at 
the  present  time  287  acres,  belonging  to  him- 
self and  the  Henline  heirs;  he  has  been  a 
dealer  in  stock  during  past  years  and  at  the 
present  time  is  breeding  a  high  grade  of  native 
improved  short-horn  cattle;  is  the  largest 
dealer  in  thoroughbred  Chester  White  hogs 
in  the  township,  feeding  annually  a  car-load 
for  the  Eastern  market.     His  sheeu  are  fine 


wool  ontirelv,  his  father  having  purchased 
Merino  sheep  about  forty  years  ago,  and  since 
then  the  Henlines  have  always  had  animals  of 
this  grade.  Mr.  Henline  has  held  the  oiBce 
of  School  Director  in  his  district  for  about  10 
years.  He  was  married  February  22,  1865, 
to  Sarah,  daughter  of  Henry  Evans,  of  Pike 
Tp.;  they  have  three  children,  one  son  and 
two  (laughters — Mary  Loretta,  Samuel  H.  and 
H.  C.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henline  and  their  eldest 
daughter  are  members  of  the  Disciples' 
Church  at  Sparta,  of  which  denomination  he 
has  been  an  active  member  and  Elder  for 
many  years. 

VICTOR  HALTER,  farmer  and  stock- 
dealer;  P.O.  Pierce;  was  born  in  Alsace, 
France,  Feb.  22,  1837,  and  when  two  years  of 
age,  his  parents  removed  to  America,  and 
settled  in  Sandy  Tp.,  Stark  Co.  Victor  is  the 
son  of  Lawrence  and  Susanna  (Shear)  Halter, 
who  had  fourteen  children.  His  father  is  now 
a  resident  of  Canton.  Victor  was  raised  and 
educated  in  Sandy  Tp.;  farmed  his  father's 
land  195  acres,  for  three  years,  and  was  then 
married,  April  27,  1857,  to  Miss  Catharine 
Rotherstine,  shortly  afterward  settlitig  on 
the  55  acres  now  owned  by  him,  which  he 
jiurchased  from  Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Layrailler. 
He  has  since  bought  another- tract,  containing 
40  acres,  from  his  brother-in-law,  Andrew 
Rotherstine,  and  now  owns  95  acres.  He  is 
more  espeoiall}'  engaged  in  stock-raising  than 
at  farming,  having  many  head  of  choice  ani- 
mals, amoKig  which  are  several  short-horns. 
Victor  is  the  father  of  six  children — Catharine, 
Henry,  George,  Valentine,  Mary,  and  Eme- 
line.  The  family  are  connected  with  the 
Catholic  Chui  ch  of  Canton.  When  interroga- 
ted in  regard  to  his  political  views,  Mr.  Halter 
exclaimed — "  Say  I  am  a  Democrat  of  the 
Hard  Shell  kind;  put  it  down  that  way,  for 
it  is  a  fact." 

DANIEL  KEEIIN,  farmer;  P.  0.  Canton; 
was  born  in  Bethlehem  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  Jan. 
5,  1829.  His  grandfather,  George  Keehn, 
removed  from  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  nearly  seventy 
years  ago,  and  purchased  320  acres  in  Beth- 
lehem Tp.,  where  he  lived  over  twenty  years. 
He  was  the  father  of  eight  children,  who 
reached  maturity,  two  sons  and  six  daughters; 
the  sons,  John  and  Jonathan  Keehn,  were 
residents  of  Bethlehem  Tp.  many  years.  John, 
the  father  of  Daniel,  was  drafted  during  the 


<.:^' 


PIKE  TOWNSHIP. 


859 


4 


war  of  1812.  He  married  Elizabeth  Traul; 
thev  had  five  sons  and  three  daughters — 
Daniel,  of  Pike  Tp.;  John,  of  Bethlehem  Tp.; 
Levi,  of  Kosciusko  Co.,  Ind.;  Jonathan  and 
George,  of  Noble  Co.,  Ind.,  the  latter  being 
Ci'unty  Tri-asurer;  Mary,  now  Mrs.  Zebulon 
Clover,  of  Kosciusko  Co.;  Sojihia  died  aged 
1!);  Catharine  married  Jolin  Win^ert,  and 
died  in  Lagrange  Co.,  Ind.  John  Keehn  died 
in  1852,  and  his  wife  in  1848.  Their  son 
Daniel,  the  suiiject  of  this  sketch,  continued 
with  his  parents  until  about  20  j'ears  of  age, 
then  served  an  apprenticesliip  at  the  carpen- 
ter's trade  for  over  two  years,  tlien  worked  as 
a  journeynnin  for  several  years, and  in  March, 
185U,  removed  from  Stark  to  Noble  Co.,  Ind., 
where  he  followed  his  trade  until  about  Jan- 
uary, 1803,  when  he  was  apjiointcd  Deputy 
U.  S.  Marshal,  for  the  13th  Congressional 
District  of  Indiana,  and  served  until  the  close 
of  the  Ribellion,  during  which  period  his 
duties  consisted  mostly  in  recruiting.  When 
he  first  removed  to  Noble  Co.,  that  section  of 
the  State  was  infested  by  a  gang  of  thieves, 
organized  to  plunder  the  iniiabitants;  a  Vigi- 
lance Committee  was  form  d  by  the  citizens, 
and  Mr.  Keehn  appointed  ( 'aptain.  He  re- 
lates many  interesting  incidints  in  regard  to 
the  work  of  this  committee,  in  crushing  out 
the  spirit  of  lawlessness  in  tliat  neighborhood, 
lie  was  married  Sept.  21,  1851,  to  Miss  Cath- 
arine Whitmer,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Whit- 
mer,  of  Bethlehem  Tp.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  ten  children — John  Wesley,  George 
Finley,  Margaret,  now  Mrs.  Frank  Coburn; 
Andrew  .Jackson,  Benjamin  Franklin,  and 
Emma,  who  died  in  infancy;  William  Seward 
and  Millie,  Ollie  and  Elbe,  who  also  died  in 
infaticy.  His  wife  died  May  27,  1874.  Some 
two  years  afterwards,  on  March  23,  187G,  he 
returned  to  Ohio  with  his  family,  having  been 
a  resident  of  Indiana  just  two  days  less  than 
twenty  years.  He  was  married  March  26, 
1876,  to  Mrs.  Anna  ShrefBer,  daughter  of 
Jacob  Kemerly,  of  Pike  Tp.  Mr.  Keehn  owns 
at  the  present  time,  about  90  acres  of  land  in 
Stark  Co.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Disciple's  Church  for  many  years.  Politically 
he  is  a  Democrat,  and  is  one  of  the  Township 
Trustees,  to  which  office  he  was  first  elected 
in  April,  1S80,  it  being  reported  that  he  is 
the  first  Democrat  elected  to  a  township  office 
in  Pike,  for  many  years. 


JOSEPH  L.  KEEL,  farmer;  P.  O.  Boliver, 
Tuscarawas  Co.;  youngest  son  of  Joseph  and 
Elizabeth  (Chestnutwood)  Keel;  was  birn  in 
Pike  Tp.,  Sept.  1,  1849;  his  father,  Joseph 
Keel,  was  born  Dec.  13,  1806,  in  Pennsylva- 
nia, and  when  about  13  years  of  age,  moved 
with  his  father,  Joseph,  to  Stark  Co.  He  was 
a  blacksmith  by  trade,  and  followed  this  occu- 
pation many  years.  Was  married  Oct.  30, 
1828,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Chcstimtwood,  who 
was  born  June  2,  1805;  he  died  Aug.  8,  1878; 
his  wife  is  still  living  in  Canton.  They  had 
t  n  children;  four  are  living,  six  are  dead,  as 
follows:  John,  deceased;  David,  formerly  of 
Pike  but  now  dead;  Levi  died  in  boyhood; 
Aurora,  now  of  Ft.  Wayne,  Ind.;  Sarah  mar- 
ried Levi  Stands,  but  now  deceased;  Abra- 
ham, of  Pike;  Reece  J.  died  during  Rebell- 
ion, of  disease  contracted  while  in  the  ser- 
vice; Elizabeth  dii-d  in  infancy;  Harriet,  now 
Mrs.  Wellington  Douds,  of  Canton;  Joseph 
Lilirand,  the  j'oungest  son  and  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  raised  and  educated  in  Pike  Tp. 
He  afterward  attended  Mt.  Union  College  for 
one  term,  and  when  19  years  of  age  com- 
menced to  learn  the  blacksmith's  trade,  which 
occupation  he  followed  about  three  years — 
some  fifteen  months  at  Sandyville,  ai\d  two 
years  at  North  Industry;  then  ])urchased  his 
pres,  nt  farm  of  94  acres,  uj)on  which  he 
has  erected  the  buildings  now  standing. 
Was  married  Ma}'  28,  1874,  to  Miss  Ellen, 
daughter  of  Mathias  and  Catharine  (Richard) 
Umliolz,  of  Pike  Tp.  Mathias  died  Sept.  20, 
187G,  and  his  wife  Aug.  15,  1873.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Keel  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church.  They  have  had  four  children;  one 
died  in  infancy,  three  are  living — Elizabeth, 
Charles  and  Allen. 

MICHAEL  LICIITENWALTER,  farmer; 
P.  O.  Pierce.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  one 
of  the  most  active  and  energetic  farmers  of 
Pike  Tp.;  he  was  born  in  Canton  Tp.  Stark 
Co.,  D,-c.  16,  1823;  his  father,  Michael  Lich- 
tenwalter,  was  born  in  1777,  in  Lancaster  Co., 
Pa.  and  in  1809,  settled  in  Canton  Tp.;  he 
married  Mary  Ovster,  and  they  were  the  par- 
ents of  nine  children — Rebecca  married  Ben- 
jamin Bowers,  and  died  in  Van  Wert  Co.; 
Catharine,  now  Mrs.  Abraham  Kinney,  of 
Kosciusko  Co.,  Ind.;  John  of  Canton  T|).; 
Abraham  Lichten waiter,  of  Crawford  Co., 
Elizabeth   never   marriecl;    Michael,  of  Pike 


t\^ 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 


Tp.;  Clu'isriana  married  Samuel  Shatzer,  and  is 
now  deceased;  Mary,  now  Mrs.  David  Stullz; 
Harriet,  now  Mrs.  Doug-las  Pierson  ;  Micliael, 
Sr.,  died  Jan.  29,  1844:,  and  liis  wife,  manj- 
years  afterward,  in  February,  1860.  Michael, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  raised  in  Can- 
ton Tp.,  receiving  a  common-school  educa- 
tion; he  remained  with  his  mother  until  about 
four  years  after  his  father's  death,  and  in 
1848  moved  to  the  farm  now  owned  Ijy  Squire 
Yant,  and  after  living-  there  eiaht  years  sold 
it,  with  the  intention  of  going  West,  but  gave 
up  the  idea  and  ))urchased  his  present  farm; 
first  1G3  acres,  of  Peter  Becher,  and  afterward 
80  acres  of  Thomas  Ayers;  he  afterward  bought 
other  small  tracts,  and  now  owns  260  acres; 
he  was  married  Oct.  31,  1847,  to  Mary  Ann 
Howenstine,  who  was  born  November 
38,  1837.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Jacob 
Howenstine.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lichtenwal- 
ter  are  connected  with  the  Luthern 
Church,  being  members  of  the  Melshei- 
mer  congregration;  they  are  the  parents  of 
nine  children;  two  died  in  infancy,  seven  are 
living,  as  follows — John  Calvin,  of  Pike;  Mary 
Catharine,  now  Mrs.  F.  M.  Young,  of  Pike; 
Hilary,  now  Mrs.  Peter  Yant,  of  Pike;  Wil- 
liam, Daniel,  Emory,  Maggie  and  Viola. 
Mr.  Lichtenwalter  is  a  Republican,  and  at 
the  present  time  one  of  the  Directors  of  the 
Pike  Tp.  Insurance  Company. 

WASHINGTON  McKlNNEY,  farmer 
and  stock-dealer;  P.  O.  Pierce;  was  born 
Doc.  -3,  1847,  in  Pike  Tp.,  where  he  was  raisetl 
and  educated,  continuing  on  his  father's  farm 
until  he  became  of  age,  when,  after  working 
for  different  parties  for  some  months,  he  en- 
tered the  store  of  F.  M.  Shaffer,  at  Sparta, 
and  when  his  employer  was  stricken  with  the 
small-pox  nursed  him  until  he  died.  Wash- 
ington was  then  employed  by  the  administra- 
tor of  Shaffer's  estate  to  close  out  the  stock  of 
goods  on  hand,  and  the  next  spring,  in  con- 
nection with  Samuel  Cable,  opened  a  store  un- 
der the  firm  name  of  Cable  &  McKinney.  In 
October,  1874,  the  latter  sold  his  interest  in  the 
establishment,  and  the  next  spring  moved  to 
his  farm  west  of  Sparta,  where  he  remained 
with  his  family  until  they  removed  to  their 
present  residence  in  the  village.  In  1874 
Mr.  McKinney  was  chosen  Treasurer  of  Pike 
Tp.,  serving  in  this  position  for  seven  years. 
He  is  a  director  at  the  present  time  of  the 


Pike  Township  Insurance  Company,  which  he 
was  greatly  instrumental  in  organizing.  For 
some  ten  years  he  purchased  wool  at  Sparta 
each  spring,  and  in  later  years  has  paid  consid- 
erable attention  to  bu^'ing  and  sellinc"-  stock. 
He  was  married  March  9,  1875,  to  Miss  Mary 
Rager,  who  was  raised  by  .lohn  Carnes, 
formerly  of  Pike  Tp.,  ami  they  have  three 
children — Chloe  Camilla,  Mervin  Monroe  and 
Blanche  Grace.  Martin  McKinney,  g-rand- 
fathev  of  Washington,  was  born  in  Franklin 
Co.,  Penn.,  just  previous  to  the  Revolutionary 
AVar;  during  this  struggle  his  father  entered 
the  American  army  and  fell  in  battle;  Martin 
was  raised  amono;  strangers;  he  married  Susan 
Benedit  about  1804,  and  in  the  spring  of  1816 
they  removed  to  Pike  Tp.  with  their  family, 
settling  on  land  now  owned  hy  William 
AVilliams;  Martin  was  the  father  of  seven 
children — Elizabeth,  married  William  Tee- 
pies;  Daniel,  of  Pike;  Samuel,  deceased;  John, 
of  Canton;  Peter  and  Silas,  of  Pike;  and  Polly, 
now  Mrs.  John  Williams,  of  Pike.  Daniel, 
the  second  child,  father  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  November  4,  1808,  and  re- 
ceived but  a  limited  education  in  consequence 
of  the  poor  school  facilities  in  those  early  days. 
He  was  married  in  1835  to  Miss  Hester  Guest, 
daughter  of  Rev.  Pitney  Guest,  an  early 
settler  of  Pike  Tp.;  some  two  years  afterward 
Daniel  was  chosen  Justice  of  the  Peace  and 
served  for  five  terms  or  fifteen  years.  He 
was  Constable  previous  to  his  marriage  and 
also  served  as  Clerk  several  terms.  Trustee 
many  years  and  Treasurer  for  some  six  terms. 
Daniel  and  wife  are  the  parents  of  nine  chil- 
dren— Mary,  John,  died  aged  20;  Isaac,  died 
aged  8;  Catharine,  now  Mrs.  Leonard  H. 
Stands,  Lanson,  of  Sparta,  Washington,  Altha, 
Elizabeth,  now  Mrs.  Wesley  Miller  and  Nancy 
Ann. 

SAMUEL  MILLER,  proprietor  portable 
saw-mill;  P.  0.  North  Industry;  was  born  in 
Stark  Co.,  near  Alliance,  Dec.  25,  1834;  the 
son  of  Rev.  Michael  A.  Miller,  who  has  been  a 
minister  of  tlie  German  Reformed  Church  for 
forty  years,  during  which  time  he  has  faith- 
fully labored  in  the  Master's  cause.  Samuel 
was  married  July  4,  1858,  to  Martha,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Magdalena  (Buchtel)  Grove, 
who  were  the  parents  of  four  children; 
Joseph,  died  in  1871,  aged  30;  John  J.,  of 
Pike;   Samuel,  of  Bethlehem  Tp.;  and  Martha, 


?r^ 


PIKE    TOWNSHIP. 


wife  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  After  their 
marriage  Mr.  an  i  Mrs.  Miller  lived  in  Portage 
Co.  for  one  year;  then  moved  to  Canton 
where  they  resided  two  or  three  years, 
Samuel  being  employed  in  the  Aultinan  shops; 
they  then  removed  to  Uniontown,  Stark  Co., 
where  Mr.  Miller  was  engaged  in  the  foundry, 
remaining  there  nine  years;  then  settled  in 
Pike  Tp.,  and  after  two  years  occupied  their 
present  home  where  they  have  lived  for  nine 
years.  For  the  past  two  years  Mr.  Miller  has 
been  engaged  running  a  portable  saw-mill. 
He  is  the  father  of  four  children — Louis, 
Emma,  Ida  C,  and  Maggie  E.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Miller  are  nienibers  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church;  residing  with  them  at  the  present 
time  is  their  mother,  Magdalena  (Buehtel) 
Grove,  wliose  father,  Peter  Buchtel,  was  a 
soldier  during  the  war  of  1812,  and  died  at 
Sandusky  City;  she  is  an  aunt  of  the  noted 
John  R.  Buchtel,  of  Akron,  founder  of  Buch- 
tel college;  is  at  the  present  time  over  80 
jrears  of  age,  and  has  been  a  resident  of  Stark 
Co.  seventy  years. 

SIMON  RICE,  farmer;  P.  O.  Pierce,  was 
born  in  Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa.,  about  the 
year  1827;  son  of  John  and  Rebecca  (Wible) 
Rice.  Simon  was  raised  in  the  "  Key-stone 
State,"  receiving  a  common  school  education. 
He  remained  with  his  father  until  he  attained 
his  sixteenth  year;  then  worked  for  other 
jieojik",  several  seasons.  He  removed  to 
Kosciusko  Co.,  Ind.,  remaining  there  several 
years;  grubbing,  mauling  rails,  clearing  up 
land,  and  at  other  hard  work.  On  the  20th 
of  .March,  1850,  he  left  Warsaw,  Indiana,  with 
several  com))anioiis  for  California;  two  died 
of  the  cholera  during  the  journey,  and  Mr. 
Rice  was  sick  for  a  short  time,  but  reached 
his  distinatiun  Sept.  0,  18.50,  having  walked 
2,000  miles  during  this  time,  the  entire  dis- 
tance except  25  miles.  After  remaining  one 
year  iu  the  gold  regions,  he  returned  home 
by  the  Nicaragua  route,  and  was  for  some 
months  in  Carroll  Co.,  wh-re  he  purcliased 
I'.'O  acres  of  land.  In  March,  1853,  he  left 
again  for  California,  via,  the  Panama  route, 
returning  to  the  States  in  June,  1854. 
During  these  two  trips  he  sufl"<'red  severe  pri- 
vations, and  met  with  many  adventures.  Ho 
relates  now  many  interesting  incidents  of 
which  he  had  a  personal  knowledge.  He 
saved  $2,400  of  the  funds   obtained  in  Cali- 


fornia, and  by  industry  and  good  management 
of  his  resources  he  has  secured  a  competency, 
owning  at  the  present  time  -308  acres  in  Pike 
Tp.,  150  in  Tuscarawas  Co.,  and  225  in 
Carroll  Co.;  total  74-3  acres.  Mr.  Rice 
was  married  Nov.  18,  1854,  to  Miss  Sarah  A., 
daughter  of  .John  Truxal,  of  Westmoreland 
Co.,.  Pa.;  they  removed  to  Carroll  Co.  in 
1855,  remaining  there  until  tlie  spring  of 
1874,  when  he  settled  in  Pike  Tp.  He  was 
for  many  years  an  ext(!nsive  stock  dealer  in 
Carroll  Co.,  but  at  the  present  time  has 
discontinued  operations  to  a  great  extent. 
He  is  the  father  of  si.\  children — Silas,  now  of 
Tuscarawas  Co.;  John  T.,  now  in  the 
hardware  business  at  Mineral  Point;  Lewis 
H.,  of  Pike  Tp;  Lilly,  James  A.  and  Emma 
who  reside  at  home  with  their  parents.  His 
two  daughters  are  connected  with  the  Metho- 
dist Church  of  Sparta.  Mr.  Rice  states  that 
politically  he  is  an  "Old  Hickory"  Demo- 
crat. He  served  for  several  terms  as  Trustee 
while  a  resident  of  Carroll  Co. 

DAVID  RILEY,  farmer;  P.O.  Pierce;  was 
born  Feb.  8, 1845,  in  Bedford  Co.,  Pa.;  son  of 
James  and  Rachel  (Speaker)  Riley.  They  re- 
moved to  Ohio  in  1858,  remaining  in  Madison 
Co.  one  year,  then  settled  in  Tuscarawas  Co., 
continuing  there  until  the  fall  of  1803,  when 
they  removed  to  Carroll  Co.  In  the  year 
18C8  they  located  in  Osnaburg  Tp.,  Stark  Co. 
James  was  then  a  farmer,  but  in  his  early  days 
followed  shoemaking  for  twenty-one  years. 
While  a  resident  of  Osnaburg  Tp.,  he  was 
engaged  in  the  coal  business,  and  at  the  pres- 
ent time  is  running  a  provision  store  at  New 
Franklin.  His  children  are  all  residents  of 
Stark  Co.,  except  one,  who  is  located  in  Mis- 
souri. Daviil,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  re- 
ceived a  common-school  education.  He  as- 
sisted his  father  on  the  farm  for  many  years, 
and  was  afterwards  engaged  in  the  coal  busi- 
ness in  Osnaburg  Tp.,  leasing  a  mine  belong- 
ing to  Daniel  Saucer,  and  mined,  with  six 
diggers,  an  average  of  500  bushels  per  week 
the  entire  year.  He  settled  in  Pike  Tp.,  in 
1871,  on  his  present  farm,  and  was  married 
Nov.  26,  1SG8,  to  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Thomas 
and  Margaret  (McKee)  Newhouse.  She  was 
born  Feb.  24,  1850.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Riley  are 
members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  of  Sparta.  They 
have  two  sons,  James  T.  and  Hiram;  their  only 
daughter,    Mary    M.,    died    aged  3.      David 


yc. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


was  a  member  of  the  O.  N.  G.  during  the 
Rebellion,  and  was  in  active  service  for  four 
months  in  18G4.  He  was  elected  Trustee  of 
Pike  Tp.  in  the  spring  of  1S80,  and  re-elected 
in  1881;  has  served  on  the  Township  Board  of 
Education  five  or  six  years,  and  has  been 
a  Director  for  many  terms.  As  a  man  he  has 
been  successful  in  whatever  he  undertook. 

HENRY  STANDS,  farmci;  P.  0.  ISTorth 
Industry;  was  horn  Sept.  24,  1811, in  Franklin 
Co.,  Pa.;  son  of  Peter  and  Eve  (Albert)  Stands, 
who  were  natives  of  the  same  county.  Peter 
was  an  invalid  for  many  years  previous  to  his 
death,  being  troubled  with  dropsy;  conse- 
quently he  was  not  able  to  work,  and  as  he 
was  very  poor,  his  family  suffered  many  hard- 
ships, being  in  want  frecjuently  of  the  necesr 
saries  of  life.  Henry  was  raised  on  corn- 
bread  and  buckwheat,  and  got  only  about 
three  loaves  of  white  bread  during  the  whole 
of  his  stay  in  Franklin  Co.,  for  if  the  young 
Stands  ciiildren  got  plain  white  bread  occa- 
sionally, they  considered  themselves  happy 
children.  When  quite  young,  Henry  was 
hired  out  to  different  parties,  by  his  mother, 
receiving  at  first  only  $1.50  per  month,  which 
meager  stipend  was  always  collected  by  his 
mother  and  used  to  buy  food  for  the  younger 
children;  when  he  grew  older  he  earned  more 
wages  for  the  family,  and  finally  learned  the 
weaver's  trade.  The  Stands  children  were 
ambitious,  and  when  they  grew  up,  desiring 
to  better  their  financial  condition,  Henry  re- 
n)oved  the  family  to  Stark  Co.,  in  1839,  where 
Peter  was  supported  by  his  son  John,  until 
ho  died,  several  years  after  coming  to  Ohio. 
His  wife  died  some  two  years  afterwards, 
having  had  five  children — John,  now  of  Pike; 
Leonard,  of  Canton  Tp.;  Henry,  of  Pike;  Su- 
sannah, now  Mrs.  George  Finkenbinder,  of 
Huntington  Co.,  Ind.,  and  Barbara,  now  Mrs. 
John  Shartzer,  of  North  Industry.  After  Henry 
removed  to  Stark  Co.,  he  wove  coverlids  for 
three  years  in  a  shop,  some  three  miles  east 
of  Canton,  which  formerly  belonged  to  John 
Feichner;  then  followed  butchering  for  six 
months,  and  alter  taking  out  cooper  lumber 
for  about  half  a  year,  he  opened  a  cooper  shop, 
which  he  ran  for  two  years,  hauling  barrels 
to  Massillon;  then  moved  to  Pike,  and  com- 
menced farming  on  land  which  he  rented 
from  different  parties,  until  he  purchased  his 
present  farm  of  170  acres,   most  of   which  he 


bought  from  Joseph  Medill.  For  twenty-five 
years  Mr.  Stands  was  actively  engaged  buy- 
ing horses,  cattle,  and  trading  in  stioek  gener- 
ally, at  which  business  he  was  very  success- 
ful. He  was  married  in  18.34,  to  Lydia, 
daughter  of  Michael  Holm,  who  bore  him 
fourteen  children,  four  of  whom  died  young, 
and  ten  grew  to  maturity  as  follows — Leonard 
H.,  of  Pike;  Caroline,  died  aged  37;  Isaiah, 
of  Wabash  Co.,  Ind.;  Samuel,  of  Pike;  Katy 
Ann,  died  aged  33;  Mary,  now  Mrs.  George 
Hoverland,  of  Pike;  Margaret,  at  home; 
Saiah,  now  Mrs.  Jacob  Yutz}',  of  Pike;  John, 
of  Sumner  Co.,  Kan.;  Amanda,  now  Mrs. 
Milliard  Young,  of  Pike.  Mr.  Stands  has 
served  as  School  Director  for  seventeen  years 
in  his  district,  and  has  been  chosen  Town- 
ship Trustee  twice;  he  has  been  a  member  of 
the  United  Brethren  Church  for  thirty  years, 
and  has  held  many  offices  of  honor  and  trust 
in   the  community. 

JOHN  SIFFERT,  farmer;  P.O.Canton; 
was  born  at  the  farm  upon  which  he  now 
resides,  June  7,  1817;  son  of  Philip  and 
Esther  (Jarvis)  Siffert.  Philip  was  a  native 
of  Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa.,  and  Esther  was 
born  in  New  Jersey;  they  were  married  in 
the  east,  and  came  to  Ohio  in  1806.  For  a 
short  time  they  lived  in  a  tent  near  what  is 
now  Canton,  but  afterwards  removed  to  Pike 
Tp.,  and  entered  the  land  now  owned  by  their 
son  John.  He  afterwards  purchased  160  acres 
in  Wayne,  160  acres  in  Hancock,  and  160  acres 
in  Wood  Cos.  When  Philip  first  settled  in 
Pike,  the  country  was  very  wild,  the  woods 
were  full  of  bears  and  deer,  and  they  were 
frequently  visited  by  the  Indians,  but  had 
plenty  to  eat,  drink,  and  wear;  it  was  neces- 
sary however,  to  visit  Steubenville  and  other 
markets  still  farther  off,  in  order  to  purchase 
their  supplies.  Philip  and  his  wife  were 
members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  and 
at  an  early  day,  their  home  was  the  center  of 
the  religious  efforts  of  this  denomination  in 
the  neighborhood;  quarterly  meetings  being 
frequently  held  here;  also  several  camp  meet- 
ings were  conducted  in  the  woods  upon  the 
Siffert  farm,  which  was  in  that  early  day,  a 
place  where  the  banner  of  the  Lord  was  ever 
unfurled  to  the  breeze.  Philip  died  May  16, 
185.3,  aged  75  years,  11  months  and  6  days; 
his  wife  dying  some  ten  j-ears  previous.  They 
were  the  parents  of  eleven  children — Margaret 


i>  \' 


i^Al, 


PIKE   TOWNSHIP. 


863 


married  Jacob  Simons,  and  removed  to  Put- 
uam  Co.,  but  returned  and  died  in  Stark; 
Elizabeth  died  in  childhood;  Rosannub  mar- 
ried John  Keel  and  died  in  Putnam  Co.; 
Joseph  died  in  Bethlehem  Tp.,  whore  he 
resided;  Eliza  married  David  Wolf,  and  died 
while  a  resident  of  Coshocton  Co.;  John,  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch;  Nancy  married  Jacol> 
Ruthraurrh  and  died  early  in  life;  Philij>  was 
drowned,  in  infancy;  Hester  also  married 
David  Wolf,  and  died  in  Coshocton  Co.; 
William,  now  a  resident  of  Whith'y  Co.,  Ind.; 
and  Samuel  died  at  18  years  of  age.  John 
Siffert,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  raised 
and  educated  in  Pike  Tp.,  an  I  has  been  a 
fanner  all  his  life.  When  HO  y<  ars  of  age  he 
was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel,  and  was 
received  liy  the  Muskingum  Annual  Confer- 
ence of  the  Unit<'d  Brethren  Church,  as  a 
minister;  he  traveled  for  two  years  on  Crooked 
Run  Circuit,  in  Tuscarawas  Co.,  and  then  for 
one  j'ear  on  Nimishillcn  Circuit  in  Stark  Co. 
At  the  present  time  he  is  connected  with 
Otterbein  Chapel  of  Pike  Tp.,  but  for  many 
years  has  not  been  an  active  minister  of  the 
Church.  He  was  married  in  November,  1849, 
to  Amanda,  daughter  of  Richard  Hughs,  and 
was  by  her,  the  father  of  five  chihlren — Mary 
Ellen  married  William  Teaby,  and  died  Feb. 
4,  ]8S1,  leaving  two  children — Charles  Ells- 
worth, and  Walter  W.;  Melancthon  P.,  a 
sciiool  teacher;  Angeline,  Ida,  Olive,  and 
.John  E.  at  home  with  their  parents.  His  first 
wife  died  A))ril  12,  1^^0.5,  and  he  was  married 
a  second  time,  to  Miss  Anna,  daughter  of 
Christopher  Bender,  of  North  Industry.  She 
is  the  mother  of  three  children — Delia  Belle, 
Thurman  C,  and  Cora  Alice. 

JOHN'  S.MITH,  farmer;  P.  O.  Pierce;  born 
in  Chester  Co.  Pa.,  Dec.  17,  1818;  son  of 
Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Watson)  Smith,  who 
removed  to  Pike  Tp.  in  the  spring  of  1829, 
settling  on  30  acres  of  land  now  owned  by 
Leonard  Shroyer;  after  remaining  some  twen- 
ty years,  Jacob  removed  to  Washington  Tp., 
where  he  died  in  May,  1875;  he  was  the  father 
of  five  children,  one  died  aged  18,  four  are 
living  as  follows — I/awrence  B.  and  John  of 
Pike  Tp.;  Elizabeth,  now  Mrs.  George  Hud- 
son, of  Nebraska;  Waircn  G.,  of  Alliance. 
When  the  Smith  family  first  moved  to  Pike 
Tp.,  the  facilities  for  acquiring  an  education 
were  very  poor,  but  the  subject  of  this  sketch 


wishing  a  more  thorough  knowledge  of  the 
different  branches  of  science  than  could  be 
obtained  near  home,  walked  to  Canton  each 
morning  carrying  his  dinner  and  returning  in 
the  evening;  thus  he  accpiired  an  education 
which  has  been  transmitted  to  very  many  of 
his  descendants;  he  early  learned  the  trade 
of  a  shoemaker,  which  occupation  he  followed 
many  years.  About  the  year  1849  he  was 
chosen  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  served  one 
term,  after  six  years  was  re-elected,  and  serv- 
ed for  two  terms;  he  has  also  been  Clerk  and 
Ass(>ssor  for  several  terms,  and  is  Township 
Treas>n-er  at  the  present  time.  He  was  mar- 
ried May  12,  1839,  to  Miss  Martha,  daughter 
of  Peter  Hockensmith.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John 
Smith,  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church 
of  Bolivar;  they  are  the  parents  of  eleven 
living  children,  as  follows — Jacob,  of  Pike; 
Margaret,  now  Mrs.  Jeremiah  Culler,  of  Can- 
ton Tp.;  Mary  Jane,  at  home;  Charity,  now 
Mrs.  James  Walz,  of  Pike;  William  H.,  of 
Dakota  Territory;  Caroline,  now  Mrs.  .John 
Ijash,  of  Bolivar;  Wesley,  of  Si)arta;  Benja- 
min, Elmer,  James  and  OUie.  Jacob  Smith, 
the  eldest  son  was  born  in  Pike  Tp.,  April  5, 
1840,  where  he  was  raised  and  educated,  after- 
ward teaching  school  for  three  terms;  he  learn- 
ed the  shoemaker's  trade,  which  he  followed 
until  1870,  since  which  year  he  has  been  en- 
gaged as  a  carpenter  and  contractor,  putting 
up  houses  and  barns.  August  7,  18C2,  he  en- 
listed for  three  years  in  the  107th  Ohio,  and 
served  until  June  20,  1805,  when  the  Rebell- 
ion having  been  subiluod,  he  was  discharged. 
During  this  period  he  served  for  one 
year  with  the  army  of  the  Potomac;  the  bal- 
ance of  the  time  in  South  Carolina  and  Flo- 
rida. He  was  married  Sept.  19,  1807,  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Ann  Shell,  who  was  raised  by  Wil- 
liam Groves,  Sr.  He  is  the  father  of  five  chil- 
dren— Flora  Ellen,  Jennie  Lillian,  Margaret 
Pearl,  Bertha  Mabel  and  Ethel  Agnes.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Smith  are  connected  with  the 
M.  E.  Church,  of  Bolivar.  Wesley  Smith, 
son  of  Jacob,  was  born  Feb.  11,  1853;  elected 
Justice  of  the  Peace  in  the  fall  of  1879;  Mar- 
ried April  11,  1880,  to  Miss  Sadie,  daughter 
of  Phillip  and  Sojihia  (Klsass)  Smith. 

ISAAC  SICKAFOOSE,  farmer;  P.O.  North 
Industry;  was  born  in  Sandy  Tp.,  Sept.  30, 
1835.  Ilis  father,  George  Sickafoose, a  native 
of  Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa.,  removed  to  Stark 


^S         - 


'M^ 


864 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 


Co.  in  1813,  and  settled  in  Sandy  Tp.  on  160 
acres  of  land,  which  he  purchased  iVoni  the 
government.  He  was  a  soldier  during  the  war 
of  1813;  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church, 
and  died  in  July,  1840.  His  wife,  formerly 
Miss  Margaret  Wagner,  died  in  December, 
1857.  She  was  the  mother  of  ten  children — 
Tena,  now  Mrs.  George  Howenstine,  of  Pike 
Tp.;  Samuel,  of  Whitley  Co.,  Ind.;  George, 
died  .Taiiu  ry,  1876,  near  Freeport,  111.;  Mich- 
ael, of  Whitley  Co.,  Ind.;  Mary  Ann,  married 
Barton  BIythe,  and  died  in  Sept.,  1875;  .lohn, 
of  Sandy  Tp.;  Andrew,  of  Whitley  Co.,  Ind.; 
Benjamin,  of  Sandy  Tp.;  Isaac,  of  Pike  Tp., 
and  Margaret,  now  Mrs.  James  Robinson,  of 
Sandy  Tp.  Isaac  Sickafoose,  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  raised  and  educated  in  Sandy  Tp., 
and  when  his  father  died,  he,  in  connection 
with  his  brother  Benjamin,  purchased  the 
homestead,  which  they  farmed  until  some 
seven  years  ago,  when  he  sold  his  interest 
and  rented  a  farm  in  Sandy  Tp.  for  one  year, 
then  purchased  his  present  land  in  Pike  Tp., 
from  the  heirs  of  Ciiarles  Laiblin.  During 
the  Rebellion  he  was  a  member  of  the  O.  N. 
G.,  and  was  in  active  service  for  four  months 
in  the  16"-id  Regiment  under  Col.  Ball.  He 
was  married  Nov.  15,  1864,  to  Mary  Ann, 
daughter  of  David  Read,  one  of  the  pioneer 
settlers  of  Sandy  Tp.  They  have  three  child- 
ren— David  Reuben,  George  Emory  and  Cur- 
tis Read.  His  farm  of  91  acres  in  Pike 
Tp.,  is  underlaid  with  a  vein  of  coal,  which 
is  in  some  places  three,  and  in  others  four 
feet  in  thickness. 

JEREMIAH  STEINER,  farmer  and  stock- 
man; P.  0.  Pierce;  was  born  Jan.  39,  1835,  in 
Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa.  His  parents,  Jacob 
and  Elizabeth  (Thomas)  Steiner,  were  natives 
of  the  same  county  where  Jacob  followed  his 
trade  as  a  hatter  for  over  thirty  years  at 
Adamsville.  In  1853  he  moved  to  Stark  Co. 
with  his  family,  purchasing  the  farm  now 
owned  by  his  son  Jeremiah  and  Benj.  Whit- 
mer.  Jacob  served  as  Treasurer  of  Pike  Tp. 
many  terms;  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church;  his  wife  was  a  Presbvterian.  He 
died  Jan.  1,  1863;  she  in  April, "lS79.  They 
wore  the  parents  of  eleven  children;  thi-ee 
died  in  infancy,  eight  grew  to  maturity,  as 
follows — George  G.,  of  Pil«e;  Jacob,  of  Des 
Moines,  la.;  Jeremiah,  of  Pike;  Barnett  T. 
was  Captain  of  the  107th  RegMnent  O.  V.  I., 


during  the  Rebellion,  was  wounded  at  Gettys- 
burg, and  died  shortly  afterwards  from  the  in- 
juries; William,  now  of  Sandoval,  111.;  Eliza- 
beth, now  Mrs.  Aaron  Skelton,  of  Pike;  Jane 
M.,  now  Mrs.  George  Hines,  of  Pike;  Char- 
lotte S.,  now  Mrs.  Benj.  Whitmcr,  of  Pike. 
Jeremiah  was  raised  in  Adamsburg,  and  re- 
ceived a  common  school  education;  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Pike  Tp.,  remaining  on 
the  farm  until  aliout  21  years  of  age.  He 
then  embarked  in  business  as  a  drover;  was 
employed  first  as  an  assistant  by  other  par- 
ties, but  soon  commenced  purchasing  stock 
and  driving  them  east  on  his  own  account, 
and  since  then  he  has  been  engaged  in  this 
business  with  considerable  success.  Formerly 
cattle  were  driven  from  Stark  Co.  through 
Pennsylvania  to  the  eastern  market,  and  it 
required  four  weeks  to  make  the  trip.  Mr. 
Steiner  has  made  many  trips  over  the  Alle- 
gheny Mountains  driving  cattle.  The  last 
time  was  in  1863,  when  the  animals  were 
nearly  captured  by  the  Rebels.  He  pur- 
chased the  farm  of  120  acres,  upon  wliich  he 
now  resides,  in  1862;  and  also  owns  105  acres 
purchased  from  his  father's  heirs.  His  pres- 
ent residence  was  built  during  the  summer  of 
1881.  He  was  in  the  100  days'  service  during 
the  war;  was  married  in  February,  1801,  to 
Miss  Nancy,  daughter  of  .lames  Carnes,  and 
they  have  six  children — Barnett,  Emma,  Ed- 
ward, William,  Hattieand  James. 

MAHLON  SLUTS,  farmer,  P.  O.  North 
Industry;  was  born  in  Tuscarawas  Co.,  July 
17,  1812,  son  of  Sanniel  and  Sarah  (Hague) 
Slutz.  Samuel  was  born  in  Frederick  Co., 
Md.,  March  6,  1783.  He  was  the  son  of  John 
Sluts,  whose  father  came  from  Germany,  and 
settled  in  Baltimore.  John  was  the  father  of 
eighteen  children,  fifteen  growing  to  maturity 
and  raising  families.  Ho  was  a  wheelwright  by 
trade,  served  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and 
settled  with  his  family  near  Steubenville  in 
1806.  His  son  Samuel  was  married  Oct.  26, 
1810,  to  Sarah  Hague,  who  was  born  July  15, 
1788.  She  was  raised  a  Quaker,  and  by  him 
the  mother  of  four  children,  viz: — Mahlon,  of 
Pike;  Susan,  married  Benjamin  L.  Critchet 
and  now  deceased;  Mahala  died  aged  three; 
William  also  deceased;  Samuel  settled  in 
Tuscarawas  County  with  h;s  wife  in  1811, 
and  died  there  Nov.  27, 1821.  His  widow 
was    married   in    18R4,    to  Peter  Houseman, 


^f^ 


PIKE   TOWNSHIP. 


They  had  four  children.  She  died  May  17, 
1857,  at  Dunkirk,  Ohio.  Mahlon  Sluts,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  lived  iti  Tuscarawas 
Co.,  until  he  was  13  years  of  afje;  his  father 
being  dead,  he  lived  with  his  Uncle  James, 
then  a  resident  of  Sugar  Creek  Tp.,  continu- 
ing with  this  kinsman  until  March  23,  1834, 
when  he  married  Rebecca  Wallburn.  After 
living  a  few  months  in  Holmes  County,  they 
bought  130  acres  in  Sugar  Creek,  upon  which 
tract  they  lived  over  three  j'ears;  then  moved 
to  Carroll  County,  remaining  there  ten  years, 
on  two  different  farms.  September  14,  1848, 
the  family  settled  in  Pike  Tp.,  purchasing  75 
acres  at  first,  to  which  was  added  other  tracts 
until  Mr.  Sluts  owned  323  acres.  He  trans- 
ferred some  of  this  to  his  son,  and  now 
owns  212  acres.  Mr.  Sluts  and  wife  have 
been  members  of  the  Methodist  Church  for 
over  23  years.  Previous  to  this  they  were 
connected  with  the  United  Brethren  de- 
nomination. He  has  been  Class  Leader, 
Trustee  and  Steward  in  the  congregation,  and 
represented  the  Society  at  conference,  and 
was  School  Director  for  fourteen  years.  He 
was  the  father  of  seven  children;  two  died 
before  they  reached  maturity,  five  are  living, 
as  follows — Samuel,  of  Pike;  Sarah  Ann,  now 
Mrs.  Wm.  M.  Howenstine,  of  Huntington 
Co.,  Ind.;  George  J.,  of  Pike;  Rebecca  Jane, 
at  lK)nie  with  her  parents;  William  L.,  grad- 
uated at  Mt.  Union,  and  during  the  past  eight 
years  has  been  a  minister  of  the  M.  E.  Church, 
and  loi'ated  at  Colorado  Springs. 

LEONARD  H.  STANDS,  teacher;  P.  O. 
Pierce;  Clerk  of  Pike  Tp.  since  April,  1871; 
born  May  3,  1835;  the  son  of  Henry  and  Lydia 
(Holm)  Stands.  I^eonard  is  a  native  of  Pike 
Tp.,  and  received  during  his  youth  a  good 
common  school  education,  after  which  he  at- 
tended Mt.  Union  College!  lor  three  years;  he 
visited  Missouri  during  tiie  fall  of  1860  and 
taught  school  there  the  winter  previous  to  the 
war;  returning  to  Ohio  in  1  SOI,  he  was  mar- 
ried Dec.  29,  of  that  year  to  Kate  McKinney, 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Hestrr  (Guest)  Mc- 
Kinney; they  have  three  children — Cora 
Alice,  Emmet  Grant  and  Charles  Monroe. 
In  the  spring  of  1807  he  purchased  his  present 
homo  of  12}  acri's  which  he  has  occupied 
since  October,  1867.  He  is  a  miniber  of  the 
M.  E.  Church  at  Spirta,  and  his  wife  and 
daughter  Alice  are   connected    with   the  same 


congregation.  During  the  war  Mr.  Stands  was 
a  member  of  the  Ohio  National  Guards,  and 
he  was  in  active  service  for  four  months  in 
1S64,  holding  the  rank  of  Second  Licjutenanl. 
He  was  first  chosen  Ckrk  of  Pike  Tp.  in  1871, 
and  the  best  |>roof  that  he  faitiifully  executes 
the  duties  of  the  office  is  the  fact  that  he  has 
been  re-elected  to  the  same  position  each 
spring  since  then,  and  is  now  serving  his 
eleventh  term.  Mr.  Stands  is  by  occupation 
a  school  teacher,  which  calling  he  has  fol- 
lowed for  twenty-five  years  in  Pike  Tp.  and 
Tuscarawas  Co. 

ALFRED  WILLIAMS,  farmer  and  stock- 
dealer;  P.  O.  Pierce;  is  a  grandson  of  Bar- 
tholoiniiw  Williams,  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  Stark  Co.  This  pioneer  married  Miss 
Elizabeth  Farber,  a  native  of  New  Jersey; 
they  emigrated  to  Jefferson  Co.  in  1804,  about 
the  same  time  the  Faibers  did;  Mrs.  Williams 
being  the  daughter  of  Philip  Farber.  After 
a  few  years,  Williams  removed  to  Pike  Tp., 
purchasing  from  the  government  the  quarter 
section  now  owned  and  occujiied  by  Simon 
Rice;  he  afterwards  entered  in  his  son's  name 
the  land  now  owned  by  Alfred  Williams. 
John  Williams,  son  of  Bartholomew,  was  born 
Oct.  22,  1800,  in  Jefferson  Co.,  and  when 
quite  small,  his  parents  removed  to  Pike  Tp. 
By  two  wives,  he  was  the  father  of  ten  child- 
ren; he  was  married  Aug.  13,  1837,  to  Miss 
Sarah  Jane  Alexander,  who  was  born  May  10, 
1818,  and  was  the  mother  of  four  children — 
Nancy,  now  Mrs.  John  Newhouse;  Elizabeth, 
naw  Mrs.  J.  J.  Burnheimer;  and  William  B.,all 
three  of  Pike  Tp.;  the  fourth  child  died  when 
quite  small;  their  mother  died  May  21,  1844, 
and  Mr.  Williims  was  married  a  second  time, 
to  Mrs.  BtMijamin  Brothers,  formerly  Miss 
Mary  McKinney,  born  Dec.  20,  1813,  and  by 
Mr.  Williams,  she  was  the  mother  of  six 
children — Alfred,  subject  of  this  sketch;  Susan 
B.  died  aged  15;  Sarah  Jane,  now  Mrs.  Joseph 
Briggle;  John  Emory,  died  in  childhood; 
Mary  Etta,  now  Mrs.  A.  W.  Dyrc,  of  Musk- 
ingum Co.;  Martha  died  in  childhood.  Joim 
Williams  was  a  xnember  of  the  M.  E.  Church, 
of  Sparta.  He  died  of  small-pox,  June  7, 
1871.  A  short  time  previous  to  his  death,  he 
was  shot  by  a  man  named  Tceples,  without 
any  just  provocation ;  the  wound,  which  ordin- 
arily wouKl  not  have  been  fatal,  was  the  indirect 
cause  of  his  death,  as  he  was  taken  with  small- 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


pox  before  the  bullet  wound  could  heal,  and 
the  murderous  assault  thus  had  a  fatal  ter- 
mination. His  son  Alfred  was  born  Feb.  26, 
1846,  and  was  raised  and  educated  in  Pike 
Tp.,  where  he  has  always  resided.  At  the 
present  time  he  owns  183  acres  of  land,  and 
is  engaged  farming  and  raising  stock,  prin- 
cipally sheep.  He  was  married  May  12, 
1870,  to  Miss  Ellen,  daughter  of  Nathan  and 
Christina  (Welker)  Thomas,  and  they  have 
two  children — Ada  May,  and  Walter  Clyde. 

WILLIAM  WILLIAMS,  farmrrand  stock- 
dealer;  P.  O.  Pierce;  was  born  October  17, 
1842,  in  Pike  Tp.;  son  of  John  and  Sarah 
Jane  (Ale.xander)  Williams  and  a  grandson 
of  Bartholomew  and  Elizabeth  (Farber) 
Williams;  a  more  extended  reference  of  these 
old  settlers  will  be  found  in  the  sketch  of 
Alfred  Williams.  The  subject  of  this  bio- 
graphical sketch  is  one  of  the  most  active  and 
successful  business  men  of  Pike  Tp. ;  he  was 
raised  and  educated  in  Pike,  and  remained 
with  his  father  until  the  great  Rebellion  was 
inaugurated;  in  November,  1861,  when  he 
enlisted  in  the  76th  Ohio  and  served  until 
early  in  1863,  when  he  was  discharged,  Init 
afterwards  as  a  member  of  the  O.  N.  G.  he 
re-entered  the  service  and  received  a  com- 
mission as  First  Lieutenant  of  Company  F, 
102d  Regiment,  but  owing  to  the  continued 
al)sence  of  the  captain  Mr.  Williams  had 
charge  of  the  company  during  the  greater 
portion  of  his  term  of  service.  In  18G5  he 
removed  to  his  present  farm,  whieh  he  pur- 
chased from  his  father  and  the  heirs  of  his 
father's  estate,  and  now  owns  180  acres  of 
land.  He  was  married  January  26,  1865,  to 
Susan  Jane,  a  dughter  of  Samuel  and  Agnes 
(Evans)  Cable;  tJiey  have  four  children — 
Loretta,  Loemma,  John  S.  and  Blanch.  At  the 
present  time  he  is  engaged  in  farming  and 
also  buying,  fattening  and  selling  stock  for 
the  Eastern  market;  he  has  been  engaged 
in  the  stock  business  in  connection  with 
Jeremiah  Steiner  for  some  years  and  with 
considerable  success.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Williams 
are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  of  Sparta, 
of  which  congregation  he  has  been  Trustee 
and  Class  Leader;  he  is  a  Steward  at  the  pres- 
ent time,  and  has  also  served  as  Superintendent 
of  the  Sabbath  School. 

DANIEL  YANT,   farmer  and  Justice   of 


the  Peace;  was  born  in  Canton  Tp.,  Jan.  12, 
1828.  His  father,  John  Yant,  also  a  na- 
tive of  the  same  township,  was  born  about 
the  year  1805,  and  died  aged  44.  His  mother, 
formerly  Miss  Lj^dia  Jolly,  was  born  June  16, 
1803,  and  is  still  living'  at  an  advanced  age. 
Daniel's  parents  removed  with  their  family  to 
Carroll  Co.,  when  he  was  about  5  years  of 
age.  After  his  father  died  the  family  re- 
turned to  Canton  Tp.  Daniel  worked  on  his 
father's  farm  until  he  attained  his  16th  year, 
and  was  then  apprenticed  to  learn  the  black- 
smith trade,  and  continued  at  that  occupation 
for  many  years.  After  the  Yante  returned  to 
Canton  Tp.,  he  worked  at  his  trade  there  one 
year,  then  opened  a  shop  at  I\Iap!eton,  Osna- 
burg  Tp.,  continuing  in  business  there  until 
June,  1802,  when  he  enlisted,  serving  for 
three  years  in  the  115tb  O.  V.  I.  He  was 
mustered  out  in  July,  1865;  three  of  his  broth- 
ers also  served  in  the  army  during  the  Re- 
bellion. Mr.  Yant  returned  to  his  forge  in 
Mapleton,  remaining  there  one  year;  then  re- 
moved to  Canton  Tp.,  where  he  farmed  for 
two  years.  He  purchased  the  88  acres  now 
owned  by  Dr.  Becher,  which  farm  he  occu- 
pied four  years,  during  which  period  he  was 
also  engaged  mining  coal,  the  last  year  selling 
over  50,000  bushels.  Having  sold  this  farm, 
he  purchased  from  Peter  Moret  160  acres, 
60  of  which  he  afterward  transferred  to  his 
son.  In  April,  1874,  he  was  chosen  Justice 
of  the  Peace,  and  re-elected  to  this  position 
in  1877,  and  again  in  1880.  Previous  to  this 
he  served  as  Trustee,  and  also  held  the  same 
position  in  Osnaburg  Tp.  He  was  married 
Feb.  16, 1851,  to  Miss  Sophia  Kinney,  daugh- 
ter of  Peter  and  Elizabeth  (May)  Kinney, 
who  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  but  re- 
moved to  Stark  Co.  at  an  early  day.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Yant  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 
They  are  tJie  parents  of  eight  children,  only 
three  of  whom  are  living — Sarah  Elizabeth, 
died  aged  7;  William  Preston,  died  aged  4; 
Peter  K.,  now  of  Pike;  Cordelia,  now  Mrs. 
Edward  Bach,  of  Sugar  Creek  Tp.;  Johnny, 
died  in  infancy;  Martha  Loemma,  died  aged 
3;  Ida  May,  at  home  with  her  parents;  Ber- 
tha Florence,  died  aged  5.  In  addition  to 
their  three  living  children,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yant 
have  taken  a  young  lad,  Harvey  M.  Craig, 
whom  they  are  raising  as  their  own  child. 


-r— ^1^ 


PARIS  TOWNSHIP. 


.^ 


PARIS    TOWNSHIP. 


AMOS  D.  BAKER  farmor;  P.  O.  Paris. 
Mr.  Baker  was  born  on  the  5th  day  of  May, 
1819,  in  Washington  County,  Pennsylvania. 
He  was  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Nancy  (Mowl) 
Baker,  his  mother  havinjf  emigiatcd  from 
Germany  in  her  infancy.  ^^r.  Baker  em- 
barked in  matrimony  on  the  JJd  day  of  Sep- 
tember, A.  D.  1840;  the  cloice  of  his  affec- 
tions being  Letitia  Murray.  He,  in  com- 
pany with  his  better  half,  came  to  Ohio 
on  the  11th  day  of  April,  A.  D.  1842, 
locating  in  Paris  Tp.,  on  a  farm  of  50  acres, 
which  he  then  purchased.  He  has  now  aug- 
mented his  accumulations  to  the  amount  of 
170  acres.  He  was  the  father  of  two  child- 
ren— Isaac  D.  and  Sarah  M.  Botii  are 
married  and  have  forsaken  the  parental  roof. 
Mr.  Baker's  political  propensities  have 
always  been  Democratic.  He  has  been 
Trustee  and  Delegate  several  times,  and  dis- 
charged the  duties  of  Justice  of  the  Peace 
during  two  terms.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baker  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

JACOB  BURGER,  farmer;  P.O.  Minerva. 
Amotig  the  oldest  settlers  and  descendants  of 
pioneer  blood  may  be  mentioned  .lacob 
Burger,  born  Dec.  31st,  1807;  son  of  Daniel 
and  Mary  (Keller)  Burger.  His  grandfather 
was  Jacob  Hursxer,  a  native  of  Switzerland,  a 
soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  In  fall 
of  1817,  he  started  for  Ohio  with  his  parents, 
locating  in  Stark  Co.,  Paris  Tp.  the  following 
May,  leasing  of  David  Wyley,  a  farm  in  Sec- 
tion 36.  Mr.  Burger  attended  common  (very 
common)  school,  and  remained  with  his 
father  until  1841,  when  Jacob  took  the  home- 
stead, and  united  himself  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Anna  Morrow,  of  Paris  Tp.,  Dec.  15,  1842. 
Mr.  Burger  had  the  following  family  of  chil- 
dren— Jacob,  carpenter  at  Minerva;  Hiram, 
junior  partner  of  Jacob  in  carpentering; 
Rachel,  now  Mrs.  [laynam;  Harriet,  now  Mrs. 
Holms;  Hannah,  Mrs.  Henry  Crowl,  farmer. 
Mr.  13.  is  a  Lutheran  and  a  Democrat. 

JOHN  CARSON,  farmer  and  sheep-raiser; 
P.  O.  Minerva,  was  born  in  Ireland,  County 
Tyrone,  July  15, 1819;  son  of  Samuel  and  Marj' 
Carson.      The    family   sailed    to  the    United 


States  in  1834,  and  located  in  Rose  Tp., 
Carroll  Co.  Mr.  Carson  received  his  early 
education  in  Ireland,  and  finished  a  common 
school  education  in  western  Pennsylvania; 
when  he  began  in  Washington  Co.  to 
farm,  continuing  at  same  for  fourteen 
years.  In  June,  1S.">2,  he  removed  to  Carroll 
Co.  Ohio.  In  1856,  he  located  in  Stark  Co., 
Paris  Tp.,  Section  36,  where  he  purchased 
the  present  farm  of  160  acres,  to  which  he  ad- 
ded 25  acres  in  1878.  Mr.  Carson  began  his 
sheep-breeding  and  wool-growing  at  the 
opening  of  the  Rebellion.  His  flock  are  of  a 
high  grade,  the  original  blood  being  from  the 
^yells  &  Dickeson  herd.  Mr.  Carson  has  a 
flock  of  160,  culled  and  selected  from  many 
years  of  breeding;  having  purchased  blooded 
animals  of  choice  pedigrees  from  time  to  time, 
to  cross  with  his  ewes.  Mr.  Carson  was  mar- 
ried in  the  spring  of  1853,  to  Miss  Mary  A. 
Bell,  of  Washington  Co.,  Pa.  In  politics  Mr. 
Carson  is  not  radical,  but  other  things  being 
equal,  he  sustains  the  Democratic  ticket  in 
national  issues;  served  as  Trustee  for  the 
township  a  period  of  ninteen  years.  Him- 
self and  his  wife  are  niemljers  of  the  Presb}'- 
terian  Church  at  Minerva,  he  holding  the  pos- 
sition  of  Elder  in  that  church  for  inanv  years. 
LEWIS  CONRAD,  farmer;  P.  O"^.  Paris; 
was  born  in  Paris  Tp.,  Feb.  15,  1829;  a  son  of 
Peter  and  Maria  (Loutzenheiser)  Conrad. 
Peter  was  a  native  of  Alsace,  France,  now 
Germany,  and  born  in  1793.  Henry  Loutzen- 
heiser, his  father-in-law,  was  among  the  early 
settlers  of  Stark  Co.,  and  laid  out  the  village 
of  Louisville.  Mr.  Conrad  labored  upon  the 
farm,  and  attended  the  log  school-houses  of 
his  day,  during  his  minority.  After  arriving 
at  his  majority  he  farmed  the  homestead  for 
seven  years,  when  he  purchased  his  present 
farm  of  120  acres,  which  he  has  improved  by 
tiling  the  low-land,  and  enriching  the  up- 
lands, making  it  in  many  respects  a  model. 
May  4,  1854,  Mr.  Conrad  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Stuckey,  of  Wash- 
ington Tp.,  of  which  union  there  were  ten 
children,  eight  living — .Miriam,  Mrs.  Robert 
Shearer,  of  I'aris  Tp.;  Addie,  at  home;  Alice, 


A5- 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


deceased;  Eliza,  at  home;  Marion,  at  home; 
Carrie,  deceased;  Howard,  Nettie,  Amanda, 
Alvin,  minors,  at  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Con- 
rad are  members  of  the  Reformed  Church,  at 
Paris,  he  being  an  Elder  in  the  same  for 
six  years.  In  politics  he  was  formerly  a 
Whia;,  but  of  later  davs  a  Democrat. 

J.  F.  DOUGHERTY,  dentist;  Minerva; 
was  born  Auj^-.  10,  1858,  in  Lake  Tp., 
Stark  Co.  His  paternal  lineage  is  in  the  line 
of  Dr.  J.  E.  Doiighrety,  one  of  the  leading  phy- 
sicians in  the  county  ;  his  mother,  Angeline 
(Gorgas)  Dougherty.  Frank  attended  high 
sohooi  at  Greentown  ;  afterward,  took  a  course 
at  Inland  Seminary,  Summit  Co.  In  1879 
he  entered  the  dental  office  of  Craig  &  Dough- 
erty, Canton,  O.,  where  he  apprenticed,  and 
prosecuted  his  course  for  two  years.  In  1881 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  I.  A.  Burson, 
constituting  the  only  dental  firm  in  the  rising 
town  of  Minerva.  In  1881  he  entered  the 
University  of  Michigan,  to  complete  the  more 
advanced  studies  of  dentistry.  Whether  he 
returns  to  continue  his  profession  at  Minerva 
or  chooses  a  larger  field  of  labor,  his  intelli- 
gence and  skill  have  already  won  him  a  place 
in  the  profession,  and  presage  a  successful 
career,  wherever  he  casts  hislot.  Mr.  Dough- 
erty inherits  Republicanism,  and  continues 
strong  in  that  political  faith,  casting  his  first 
vote  for  James  A.  Garfield.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  church,  and  a  worki-i  in  the 
Sunday  School. 

G.  J.  GESZNER,  farmer;  P.  O.  K'n.rts- 
ville;  was  born  Nov.  3,  18.37,  in  Cinrlniiati, 
O.;  a  son  of  George  L.  and  Catharine  (Weir- 
man)  Geszner,  natives  of  Prussia;  sailed  for 
the  United  States  in  1818;  and  his  father  con- 
tinued his  trade  as  baker  in  Philadelphia. 
In  1836  they  removed  to  Cincinnati;  his 
parents  returned  to  Philadelphia,  and  after  a 
short  residence  removed  to  Stark  Co.  in  1847, 
and  purchased  142  acres.  George  L.  Geszner 
died  in  18()5,  leaving  the  estate  to  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  and  Elizabeth  wife  of  Valentine 
Mong.  Thf  farm  being  willed  to  George,  he 
has  improved  it  with  a  fine  residence  where 
he  enjoys  the  felicities  of  single  life.  In 
politics  Mr.  Geszner  votes  the  Democratic 
ticket.  Ho  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  at  Robertsville  and  a  strong  supporter 
of  the  same  financially. 

JOHN   HAYNAM,    farmer;    P.    O.    New 


Franklin.  Among  the  influential  and  old 
families  of  Paris  Tp.  may  be  mentioned  John 
Haynam,  the  eldest  of  three  brothers,  all 
residing  in  central  Paris,  and  well  provided 
with  real  estate.  John  was  born  in  Colum- 
biana Co.,  Dec.  18,  1814;  son  of  Thomas  and 
Barbara  (Rule)  Haynam.  His  grandfather 
was  Thomas,  a  native  of  England.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  but  four  weeks  old  when 
he  moved  to  Stark  Co.  with  his  parents,  mak- 
ing him  the  oldest  resident  of  the  first  raising 
in  Paris  Tp.  Mr.  Haynam  is  one  of  the  few 
men  who  were  content  to  abide  their  time  in 
the  dense  forests,  to  clearing  and  improving 
until  he  had  procured  himself  a  fine  home, 
and  reared  a  family.  His  early  education  was 
received  in  the  pioneer  school  room.  Among 
his  first  teachers  he  recalls  with  pleasure, 
William  Alexander,  William  Keath,  Bazillian 
Etzler  and  Herriot  Parker.  April  13,  1837, 
he  was  married  to  Catharine  Neidigh,  of  Paris 
Tp.  His  father  having  moved  to  the  present 
homestead  of  George  Haynam,  when  .lohn 
was  14  years  of  age,  he  returned,  when  mar- 
ried, to  the  original  homestead,  and  purchased 
80  acres  of  his  father.  In  1858,  he  added  to  this, 
25  acres.  In  1865  he  increased  his  farm  again 
by  50  acres  more.  In  1858  he  added  another 
20  acres.  Mr.  Haynam  was  blest  with  twelve 
children,  nine  boys,  and  three  girls;  four  boys 
are  dead — George  was  slain  in  the  Franklin 
battle,  Tenn.;  Thomas  died  at  home;  Manuel 
died  in  Canto)i.  Of  the  ones  living,  Samuel 
is  a  farmer  in  Paiis  Tp.;  William,  farmer 
in  Oregon;  David,  farmer  in  Paris  Tp.;  Joseph, 
carpenter  in  Osnaburg;  James  F.  at  liome; 
Hannah  E.,  wife  of  John  Geiselman,  Colum- 
biana Co.;  Mar}' A.,  veife  of  Lycurgus  Martin, 
Alliance;  Barbara  R.,  wife  of  Elmer  Hasler. 
In  politics  Mr.  Haynam  was  formerly  a  Dem- 
ocrat, but  since  the  Rebellion,  has  voted  with 
the  Republicans. 

SAMUEL  HAINES,  farmer;  P.  O.  Min- 
erva; was  born  in  Frederick  Co.,  Md.,  Nov. 
25,  1808;  son  of  Abraham  and  Elizabeth 
(Flickenger)  Haines.  At  the  age  of  13  he 
removed  to  Columbiana  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he 
continued  his  common  school  education  and 
fitted  himself  for  teaching;  beginning  first 
in  Paris  Tp.  in  1829;  he  afterward  returned 
to  Maryland  where  he  taught  for  two  winters; 
laboring  in  the  summer  vacations  at  $7  per 
month  on  a  farm;  after  which   he  returned  to 


hL^ 


Ohio,  and  continued  teaching  in  Stark  and 
Cohinibiana  Cos.  for  three  winters,  in  all 
aliout  twenty-five  months.  In  1835  he  pur- 
cliased  his  present  homestead,  then  a  dense 
forest  of  heavy  timber.  Mr.  Haines  added  to 
his  first  farm .  of  30  acres  G3  acres  more  in 
1S71,  and  purchased  in  the  village  of  Minerva 
three  houses  and  five  lots  besi<les  propertj'  at 
IJayard.  Mr.  Haines  united  liis  fortunes  in 
1830  with  those  of  Catharine  Crowl;  of  this 
union  tliere  is  one  child — Uriah  H.,  a  farmer 
of  Paris  Tp.  Mrs.  Haines  died  in  October, 
1800.  Mr.  Haines  was  re-married  July  25, 1878, 
to  Miss  Amanda  Mortland,  of  Virginia.  In 
politics  he  was  formerly  a  Democrat,  but  sub- 
sequently changed  to  the  Republican  faith 
during  the  first  Lincoln  campaign,  an  active 
supporter  of  which  he  has  ever  since  been. 
He  had  held  several  minor  offices;  Assessor, 
Trustee,  etc.  Mrs.  Haines  is  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Chiirch  at  Minerva,  while  Mr. 
Haines  is  a  non-professor  of  religion.  Mr. 
Haines'  scholarly  attainments  have  given  him 
much  estate  administration  and  other  legal 
business  to  transact  for  the  neighborhood  and 
township. 

HIRAM  HOSTETTER,  farmer  ;  P.  O.  Mi- 
nerva. Hiram  Hostetter,  farmer  and  stock- 
man, is  a  son  of  David  Hostetter,  a  native  of 
Baltimore  city,  Md.,  one  of  the  jjioneer  set- 
tliTS  of  Stark  Co.  His  grandfather,  Uirick 
Il'istetter,  was  a  native  of  Switzerland.  Da- 
vid Hostetter  entered  land  in  Sec.  25,  Stark 
Co.,  in  1808.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war 
of  1812,  he  entered  as  2d  Lieutenant  of  O. 
V.  I.,  under  Capt.  Roller,  participating  in  the 
battle  of  Maiden  and  the  surrender  of  Hull 
at  Detroit.  At  the  time  Mr.  David  Hostetter 
moved  upon  the  present  homestead  of  his  son, 
the  township  was  a  dense  forest,  infested  with 
all  the  native  animals  of  the  State.  Hiram 
was  born  Sept.  19,  1825,  remained  on  the 
farm  until  his  20th  year,  when  he  entered 
the  Wooster  Academy.  Mr.  Hostetter  com- 
pleted his  education  by  "  swinging  the  ferule" 
for  a  few  terms  in  district  school.  In  1854 
he  taught  a  school  at  Racine,  Wis.  In  the 
following  year  he  taught  a  precinct  school  in 
Chicago,  111.  In  1857  he  returned  to  Ohio, 
and  began  the  study  of  law  at  Ashlatul. 
\\  ith  tills  fine  foundation  in  erudition  and 
iiis  knowledge  of  men,  he  chose  the  pleasant 
occupation  of  husbandry,  and  returned  to  the 


homestead,  which  he  has  since  enlarged  and 
improved.  Mr.  Hostetter  has  never  ceased  the 
prosecution  of  his  studies,  to  which  the  retire- 
ment of  rural  life  is  so  favorable.  His  read- 
ing and  research  has  been  wide  and  liberal, 
and  given  him  a  high  rank  in  the  community 
for  his  accomplishments  in  the  sciences  and 
history.  In  politics  he  was  formerly  a  Dem- 
ocrat, but,  during  tiie  Fremont  campaign,  he 
changed  to  the  Republican  faith,  of  which  he 
has  ever  since  been  a  staunch  supporter  in 
brain  and  purse.  Mr.  Hostetter  w;is  2d  Lieu- 
tenant in  the  102d  O.  V.  I.  In  religion  he  is 
a  supporter  and  member  of  the  Christian 
Church.  He  was  married  Jan.  1,  18G0,  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  P.  Walker,  of  Paris  Tp.  A 
family  of  four  children  living  is  the  fruit  of 
this  union — Carl.  M.,  in  his  20th  year;  Almira, 
Atta  Carrie,  and  Victor  Grant ;  all  at  home. 
Two  children  are  deceased,  having  died  by 
accident  :  Ethel,  drowning  ;  and  Arete,  fall- 
ing from  a  tree,  receiving  a  fatal  shock. 

W.  W.  HOOPES,  druggist,  Minerva,  O.; 
successor  to  Hoopes  &  Son,  was  born  Nov. 
1,  1851,  in  Carroll  Co.,  O.;  son  of  Marshall  and 
Mary  (Moore)  Hoopes.  In  the  spring  of  1852 
his  parents  moved  to  Minerva,  and  young 
Hoopes  spent  his  boyhood  days  in  the  village 
schools  of  Minerva.  Having  completed  the 
common  schools,  and  entered  Mt.  Union  for 
two  terms,  and  afterward  a  short  course  at 
Alliance  College,  paying  special  attention  to 
pharmacy,  fitting  himself  for  the  drug  busi- 
ness, at  which  he  returned  to  engage  in  part- 
nership with  his  father.  The  firm  of  Hoopes 
&  Son  dissolved  in  March,  1880,  when  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  became  sole  proprietor, 
doing  a  business  of  §8,000  annually  in  drugs 
and  notions.  Mr.  Hoopes  was  married  Feb. 
G,  1873,  to  Miss  Virginia  Perdue,  born  Aug. 
28,  1854.  This  union  has  been  blest  with  two 
children — Mollie  C,  7  years,  and  Bertha  J., 
5  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ho'>pes  are  members 
of  the  Disciples'  Church,  and  their  education 
and  refinement  place  them  in  the  best  social 
circles  of  Minerva.  In  politics  Mr.  Hoopes 
is  a  Republican. 

JOHN  F.  JEROME  Lawyer;  Minerva; 
was  born  May  23,  1848,  in  Carroll  Co.,  and  is 
a  son  of  James  and  Isabella  (Elliott)  Jerome. 
His  mothi^r  is  a  descendant  of  the  Indian 
Missionary  Elliott,  of  early  American  co!oniza_ 
tion  fame.     Like  a  jjreat  number  o*"   3ur  sue 


i  \  " 


870 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


cessful  professional  men,  young  Jerome  was 
raised  on  a  farm.  In  1864  the  family  moved 
to  Minerva,  and  John  F.  manifested  his  patri- 
otism by  enlisting  in  the  service  under  Capt. 
Davis.  At  close  of  the  war  he  entered  the 
Mt.  Union  College,  and,  having  prosecuted 
his  course  for  a  year,  returned,  and  took  a 
special  course  as  a  private  student  under 
Prof.  Elliott  of  Minerva.  In  18G9  he  began 
his  law  course  under  Benjamin  F.  Potts,  the 
present  Territorial  Governor  of  Montana.  In 
May,  1871,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  since 
wliich  date  he  has  been  the  only  lawyer  in 
Paris  Tp.  In  1870  he  was  elected  by  the 
State  Senate  as  Assistant  Scrgeant-at-Arms. 
Mr.  Jerome  has  been  a  loyal  Republican  from 
his  youth,  beginning  in  1809  to  stump  the 
county  for  that  cause.  In  1874  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  U.  S.  Dist.  Court,  having  an 
extended  practice  in  bankruptcy  causes  in 
this  iind  adjoining  counties.  The  party  have 
complimented  Mr.  Jerome  by  sending  him  as 
their  representative  to  various  committees 
and  State  conventions.  In  the  fall  cam{)aign 
of  1880,  he  lield  the  position  of  Chairman  of 
the  Garfield  Club  and  Central  Committee. 
Mr.  Jerome's  social  and  accommodating  dis- 
position have  won  for  him  more  than  a  local 
reputation  in  this  line.  He  was  united  in 
matrimony  in  187"3,  to  Miss  Amy  D.  Perdue. 
The  union  is  blest  with  two  children — Grace, 
6  years,  and  Mary  L.,  1  year. 

E.  MESSMORE,  green-house  and  insur- 
ance; Minerva;  was  born  in  Columbi- 
ana Co.,  Feb.  13,  1820.  His  parents  were 
George  and  Margaret  Messmore,  natives  of 
Pennsylvania.  He  spent  the  years  of  his 
minority  upon  the  farm,  where  he  was  taught 
the  lessons  of  industry  and  management  that 
have  characterized  his  subsequent  career. 
His  first  position  where  he  became  of  age,  was 
that  of  clerk,  at  New  Chambersburg,  a  posi- 
tion that  he  occupied  for  five  years.  In  18.50, 
he  established  a  store  of  his  own  in  East 
Rochester;  the  following  year  he  removed  to 
West  Liberty,  Iowa,  and  continued  in  mer- 
chandising for  six  years,  when  ho  removed 
to  Minerva,  Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in  insur- 
ance, with  the  Surety  Life  Insurance  Co., 
holding  the  general  agency  for  four  States, 
during  a  period  of  fifteen  years.  In  con- 
nection with  the  former,  he  was  also  agent 
for  the    Mutual   and  Equitable.     In  1880,  he 


was  appointed  general  manager  of  agencies 
for  the  Stoubenville  Mutual  Protection  Asso- 
ciation. In  1870,  he  opened  up  the  green- 
house business;  at  first  a  private  affair,  to 
cultivate  the  many  choice  varitics  of  plants 
he  had  collected.  The  demand  at  home  and 
the  neighboring-  cities  having  increased  un- 
til he  has  enlarged  two  houses,  11  x  70  feet, 
and  one  20  x  70  feet.  He  has  three  planta- 
tions of  strawberry  beds,  making  in  all,  six 
acres  of  this  fruit.  His  selection  and  col- 
lection of  green-house  plants  is  both  rare  and 
various.  His  most  Eastern  market  at  present 
being  at  Pittsburgh,  Pa.  Mr.  Messmore 
was  united  in  the  sacred  l)onds  of  matrimony, 
in  1851,  to  Miss  Angie  Montgomery.  There 
is  a  family  of  two  children — C.  F.,  telegraph 
operator  and  Station  Agent  at  the  C.  &  C.  R. 
R.  The  daughter  is  Mrs.  Laura  C.  Caler- 
dine  of  Cincinnati,  O.  Mr.  Messmore  is  Re- 
publican in  politics,  but  keeps  aloof  from 
office  seeking.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Messmore  are 
members  of  the  Christain  Church.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  lodge,  and  a  Royal 
Arch  Mason,  at  Hanover,   O. 

WILLIAM  L.  MYERS,  farmer;  P.O.  New 
Franklin;  was  born  in  Plarrison  Co.  Oct.  3, 
1821;  son  of  John  and  Fannie  (Lowmiller) 
Myers,  pioneers  of  Harrison  Co.,  where  Wi  1- 
iara  was  inured  to  the  hardships  of  farm 
life,  attending  district  schools  in  the  winter 
season.  In  1844  he  moved  to  Paris  Tp.,  to 
the  present  homestead  of  David  Unkefer,  a 
farm  of  40  acres,  purchasing  for  $600,  the 
same  piece  selling  in  1877  for  $3,200.  In 
1850  he  moved  to  his  present  home,  having 
purchased  128  acres,  which  he  has  improved 
both  in  buildings  and  cultivation.  In  1800 
he  added  40  acres  to  the  east.  In  connection 
with  his  farming,  he  keeps  a  selected  drove 
of  brood-ovres,  a  herd  ranging  from  100  to 
125,  of  Merino  blood.  Mr.  Myers  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  Myers,  in  1844, 
who  bore  him  the  following  children — Al- 
pheus,  farmer  of  Columbiana  Co.;  Josiah, 
farmer  of  southeast  Kansas;  Jacob,  carpenter, 
Paris  Tp.;  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  S.  Shively,  of  Ne- 
braska. Mrs.  Myers,  died  July  4, 1854,  and  he 
was  re-married  jfune  4,  1855,  to  Miss  Hannah 
Slack,  of  Paris  Tp.  Of  this  union  there  are 
six  children — Ephraim  S.,  farmer,  of  Paris; 
Boughman;  Ona  C;  William  and  Charles 
at  home.     In   religion,  Mr.  and    Mrs.   Myers 


*^> 


PARIS    TOWNSHIP. 


871 


Sarah  J.,  Mrs.  S.  Kline;  Sainantha  E.,  Mrs. 
are  Geniiaii  Baptists.  Mr.  Myers  has  been  a 
Democrat  in  politics,  castini^  his  lirst  vote  for 
James  K.  Polk.  He  has  been  lionored  as 
Trustee  of  the  Tp.,  anil  coininittee-inan  to 
various  conventions. 

ISRAEL  METZ,  farmer;  P.  O.  New 
Franklin;  was  born  in  Paris  Tp.,  Jan.  24, 
1824,  son  of  Joseph  an'l  Rebecca  (Crown- 
becker)  Metz.  The  former  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, the  latter  of  Maryland.  Israel  was 
engaged  upon  the  farm  until  he  arrived  at 
his  majority,  receiving  a  common  school  edu- 
cation from  the  district  schools.  In  1846  he 
btcamo  an  owner  of  real  estate,  purchasing 
80  acres  In  Paris  Tp.,  the  paternal  lioraestead, 
and  remained  upon  the  same  until  1864, 
when  he  sold,  and  purchased  his  present 
beautifully  situated  farm  of  160  acres  in  Sec- 
tion 2,  of  Paris  Tp.  Mr.  Metz  has  not  only 
conducted  farming  successfully  but  has  been 
a  wool-grower,  keeping  a  flock  of  over  TOO 
sheep.  Dee.  24,  1848,  Mr.  Metz  and  Miss 
Lucy  Freed,  were  married,  and  of  this  union, 
there  is  a  family  of  six  children — Harriet, 
Lotta,  Mrs.  I.  Mong;  Anna  M.,  wife  of  Mr. 
L.  Davis;  John  S.  at  homo,  farmer;  Emma 
and  Ettie  B.,  at  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Metz 
are  members  of  the  Christian  Church  at  Mi- 
nerva. In  politics  he  has  been  a  loyal  sup- 
porter of  the  Republican  faith  since  the  late 
rebellion.  He  has  always  held  himself  aloof 
from  politics,  and  reaps  the  fruits  of  mind- 
ing his  own  business,  and  is  enjoying  a 
well  regulated  home  and  farm  in  the  N.  E. 
part  of  the  Township. 

VALENTINE  MONG,  farmer;  P.  O. 
Paris;  was  born  May  24,  1828,  in  Bavaria, 
Germany;  a  son  of  Nicholas  and  Catharine 
(Steine^  Mong,  who  sailed  for  the  United 
States  in  1835,  and  located  in  Stark  Co.,  Paris 
Tp.,  where  Valentine  attended  the  common 
school,  and  finished  his  education  in  the  Can- 
ton schools.  In  1858  he  began  farming  for 
himself,  when  he  bought  a  farm  of  110  acres, 
in  Sec.  30,  of  Paris  Tp.  In  1867  he  pur- 
chased 88  acres  in  Sections  9  and  10.  In  1874 
he  added  to  his  present  homestead  30  acres' 
which  he  improved  in  1877  with  a  fine  resi- 
dence and  handsome  farm  buildings.  In  con- 
nection with  his  farming  he  has  been  a  wool- 
grower,  and  keeps  a  well  selected  herd  of  75  to 
100  head.     Mr.  Mong  was  elected  Trustee  of 


Stark  Co.  Agricultural  Society  in  1878.  In 
politics  Mr.  Mong  is  a  Democrat,  being  a 
strong  supporter  of  the  Union  during  the  war. 
He  has  been  honored  with  the  office  of  Town- 
ship Trustee  for  fourteen  years,  and  elected  to 
represent  the  townshi])  at  various  county  and 
district  conventions.  Mr.  Mong  was  married 
in  March,  1851.  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Geszner,  a 
native  of  Philadelphia;  from  which  union  has 
resulted  the  following  children — George  II., 
farmer,  of  Paris  Tp.;  John  V.,  farmer;  Maria, 
now  Mrs.  William  Shetzley,  of  Paris;  Emma, 
wife  of  Mr.  Geoige  Klutz,  of  Carrol,  Ellen 
and  Clara,  minors,  at  home.  Mr.  and  Jlrs. 
Mong  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church  at 
Paris,  O. 

DAVID  MYERS,  farmer;  P.  O.  Minerva; 
was  born  in  P"'ranklin  Co.,  Pa.,  April  16,  1830; 
son  of  John  S.,  and  Catharine  (Beam)  Myers, 
natives  of  Franklin  Co.,  Pa.  His  parents  mov- 
ed to  Stark  Co.  when  David  was  in  his  4th 
year,  and  remained  upon  the  farm  until  20 
years  of  age,  when  he  liegan  the  carpenter's 
trade,  which  ho  has  since  so  successfully 
followed.  Mr.  Myers  purchased  his  present 
home  in  1864,  a  farm  of  80  acres.  During 
his  career  as  a  carpenter  iie  has  built  and  assist- 
ed in  building  many  of  the  dwelling  and  pub- 
lic buildings  of  Paris  Tp.  Mr.  Myers  was 
married  May  22,  1851,  to  Miss  Caroline  Eys- 
ter  of  Paris  Tp.;  her  parents  were  William 
and  Juliana  (Hiiikle)  Eyster.  The  latter  was 
born  in  York  Co.,  Pa.,  Oct.  28,  1778,  having 
been  a  resident  of  Paris  Tp.  for  fifty-four 
years.  She  is  living  with  her  daughter  Mrs. 
David  Myers,  in  good  health  with  iier  second 
eye-sight,  and  cutting  her  third  set  of  teeth. 
Mr.  Myers  has  a  familj'  of  seven  sons — Ephraim 
E.,  farmer,  of  Indiana;  J'-remiah  E.,  farmer,  of 
Columbiana  Co.;  Hiram  E.,  caqienter,  of  Stark 
Co.;  Sylvanus  E.,  machinist  and  money  broker; 
Ellsworth  E.,  John  W.  E.,  and  Harvey  E.,  all 
minors  at  home.  Mr.  Myers  is  a  member  of 
the  German  Baptist  Church,  Mrs.  Myers,  of 
the  Lutheran.  In  politics  Mr.  Myers  votes 
with  the  Democrat  party.  His  trade  and  social 
qualities  have  made  him  wididy  known  in  this 
and  adjoining  townships.  Mr.  Mj'crs  has 
improved  his  homestead  and  surrounded  him- 
self with  many  of  the  comforts  of  life,  so  that 
his  last  days  mav  be  his  most  enjoyable. 

JACOB  MATZ,  hotel-keeper;  Paris.  Mr. 
Matz  was  born    on   the  7th  day  of  January, 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


A.  D.  1829,  in  Germany.  He  was  a  son  of 
Jacob,  Sr.,  and  Elizabeth  (Wingeid)  Matz. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  brought  to 
America  wlion  he  was  8  years  of  age. 
His  father  located  in  Paris  Tp.,  and  Jacob,  Jr. 
remained  with  liis  father  until  his  19th 
year,  when  he  married  Eliza  Shidler,  of  Paris 
Tp.  Mr.  Matz  purchased  80  acres  of  land  in 
this  Township,  on  which  he  spent  the  first 
seventeen  j'ears  of  married  life.  He  owns 
360  acres  of  land,  and  the  American  Hotel  in 
Paris,  wliich  he  is  now  running.  He  was  the 
father  of  eleven  children,  seven  of  whom  still 
survive,  four  are  married,  leaving  three  in  the 
family  circle.  Mr.  Matz  is  a  Democrat  in 
politics,  and  in  religion  he  and  his  companion 
adhere  to  the  creed  of  the  Reformed  Church. 
JOHN  NUMAN,  dry  goods  merchant, 
Minerva ;  was  born  Sept.  18,  1838.  His 
lineage  is  preserved  for  four  generations. 
His  parents  were  John  and  Catharine  (Fryfo- 
gle)  Numan.  His  grandsire  was  Henry,  of 
Pennsylvania  ;  his  great-grandfather,  Peter, 
was  a  native  of  England,  a  descendant  of 
Walter  Numan.  Several  branches  of  this 
family  will  be  noticed  in  other  townships  of 
this  work.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
raised  upon  the  farm  until  his  15th  year,  when 
he  engaged  himself  to  John  F.  Reynolds,  of 
Canton,  as  clerk,  for  one  year.  After  return- 
ing to  the  farm  for  one  vear,  he  removed  to 
Loudonville,  O.,  working  in  a  store  for  a  short 
period,  when  he  hired  to  a  firm  in  Osnaliurg 
for  about  a  year.  In  1857  he  took  an  irregu- 
lar course  at  Mt.  Union  College  ;  on  his  re- 
turn, engnged  himself  to  Hoi  wick  at  Osna- 
burg  for  one  year.  Having  again  returned  to 
the  farm,  he  was  united  in  the  holy  ties  of 
wedlock  to  Miss  Lovina  Dangler,  of  Osna- 
burg.  Mr.  Numan  is  blest  with  a  fimily  of 
eleven  children — the  eldest,  C.  H.  Numan,  be- 
ing engaged  in  business  with  his  father;  Flor- 
ence is  the  wife  of  W.  M.  Morehead  ;  the 
others  are  minors,  still  at  home.  Willie  G. 
and  an  infant  are  deceased.  In  1861  he  re- 
moveil  to  Minerva,  and  acted  as  salesman  for 
H.  A.  Foster  for  four  years.  Mr.  Numan  was 
one  of  the  volunteers  under  Col.  Ball,  being 
promoted  to  the  position  of  Sergeant- Major  of 
the  regiment.  Returned  and  engaged  in  the 
livery  business  at  Minerva  for  one  year,  after 
which  he  engaged  in  th  >  shoe  business  with 
Joseph  Morehead.     In  1866  he  purchased  the 


entire  interest,  which  he  retained  until  1869. 
After  selling  goods  for  J.  F.  Yingling  for  a 
short  time,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Davis 
in  the  dry  goods  business.  In  1871  he  pur- 
chased the  entire  interest,  which  store  he  has 
conducted  with  success,  and  is  doing  thi'  lead- 
ing business  in  that  line  at  present.  In  politics 
Mr.  Numan  is  a  well-informed  and  enthusi- 
astic Republican,  having  been  honored  by  his 
party  as  delegate  to  State  and  district  conven- 
tions at  various  times.  Of  the  minor  positions 
he  holds  maybe  mentioned:  member  of  Si.'hool 
Board  and  Town  Council,  and  Director  and 
Vice  President  of  the  Minerva  Union  Agri- 
cultural Association.  He  is  a  member  of  Sla- 
sonic  Lodge  No.  235,  and  Minerva  Chapter, 
R.  A.  M. 

SAMUEL  OYSTER,  retired  farmer;  P.  0. 
Paris.     On    the    15th    day  of  April,    A.    D., 
1817,   while    living    in    Columbiana    Co.,   O., 
Samuel,  Sr.,  and  Barbara  (Keller)  Oyster,  of 
German     nationality,   were  gratified   by    the 
birth    of  a    son,    whom  they    named    Samuel. 
When  he  was  9   years  of  age    liis  parents  re- 
moved to    Mahoning  Co.     There   Mr.  03'Ster 
lived  with  his  father  until    he   grew    up  into 
manhood.     Then  he  took  unto  himself  a  wife, 
I  the  lady  being  Catharine  Landes,  of  Mahon- 
[  ing  Co.     Mr.  Oyster   then  beg^n  clearing  his 
'  father's  forest,  which  resulted  in  the   clearing 
of  50  acres  of  land,  on  which  he  had  erected  a 
rude  log  cabin.     After  having  been  sheltered 
by  this   cabin    fifteen   years,  he  sold   his    land 
and  moved  to  Stark  Co.     He  bought  160  acres 
of  land  in  Paris  Tp.,  on  which  he  lived  eight- 
een    years.      He     then     purchased    property 
in  Paris  and  retired  from  labor.     Mr.  03'ster 
j  also  owns  a  farm  of  103  acres   in  Tennessee. 
i  He    was  the   father  of  ten   children,    one    of 
I  whom  is  dead,  six   are    married,  and  two  are 
living  at  home.     Eli  is  in  Kansas,  and  has  re- 
cently purchased  some  land.     Mr.  Oyster  is  a 
firm  Repul)lican. 

WILLI  A RD  PENNOCK,  of  Pennock 
Brothers,  railroad-car  manufacturers;  Minerva. 
The  village  of  Minerva  had  been  in  rather  a 
dormant  state  for  many  years,  until  a  few 
men  of  enterprise  and  skill  took  advantage  of 
her  many  resources,  and  cheap  rents,  and 
started,  in  the  3'ear  1879,  the  business  "boom  " 
j  that  has  given  it  a  stir  worthy  of  a  young 
I  city.  The  leaders  of  this  new  impetus  were  the 
Pennock  Brothers,  manufacturers  of  railroad 


If^ 


4^ 


I'ARIS   TOWNSHIP. 


873 


cars.  This  firm  opened  up  business  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1874,  at  the  corner  of  Walnut  and  [ 
Mill  streets,  as  manufacturers  of  agricultural  | 
implements.  After  a  successful  career  of  i 
five  years,  they  ventured  their  capital  in 
establishing  more  extensive  works,  and  in  | 
1879,  they  began  the  manufacture  of  freight  i 
cars,  with  a  capital  of  $15,000.  The  demand 
has  grown  faster  than  their  capacity  to  supply, 
although  the  firm  did  a  business  of  $163,000  j 
in  the  year  ending  April  1,  1881,  which  did  , 
not  supply  the  demand.  Not  only  are  they 
running  their  foundry  to  its  fullest  capacity, 
but  the  amount  of  unfilled  orders  warrants 
the  erecting  of  new  shops,  that  will  be  com- 
pleted by  the  middle  of  the  summer  of  1881, 
increasing  the  force  to  twice  its  present 
strength,  which  is  at  present  forty  mechanics. 
The  difference  in  rents  and  board  renders  it 
twenty  per  cent  more  profitable  to  laborers  in 
comparison  with  neighboring  cities,  at  the 
same  terms  per  month.  The  firm  is  composed 
of  I.  N.  and  Williard  Pennock,  both  born  in 
Carroll  Co.  Williard  was  born  July  21,  1853; 
son  of  Joel  and  Charlotte  (Van  Horn)  Pen- 
nock. He  labored  upon  the  farm  until  his 
16th  year,  when  he  began  clerking  in  the 
village  of  Minerva,  in  the  hardware  business, 
attending  in  winters  the  village  schools.  In 
the  year  1872-3  he  prospected  in  the  oil 
regions  of  Pennsylvania,  and  returned  to 
Minerva  and  formed  the  above  partnership 
with  his  brother.  In  polities  he  is,  and  has 
alwaj's  been  a  Republican,  casting  his  first 
ballot  for  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  Lodge  No.  225, 
Minerva. 

THOMAS  J.  ROACH,  furniture  finisher; 
Minerva  ;  was  born  in  Stark  Co.,  Paris 
Tp.,  Aug.  18,  1837,  son  of  Samuel  and  Mary 
(Biler)  Roach.  Thomas  spent  his  boj'hood  at 
farm  labor  and  in  attendance  at  the  district 
schools  until  his  ISth  year,  when  he  began 
the  trade  of  carpentering  at  Canton.  In  1859 
he  removed  to  Minerva,  where  he  took  a 
special  course  at  school  for  one  year.  The 
following  year  was  spent  in  completing  his 
trade  under  McDowell,  the  leading  cabinet- 
maker of  Minerva.  In  1861  he  enlisted  under 
Col.  Ball  and  Capt.  Davis,  in  the  162d 
O.  N.  G.  After  the  service,  he  returned  and 
engaged  with  O.  J.  Pitney.  In  the  years 
1866—7-8  he  conducted    his  business   at  Mal- 


vern, since  which  time  he  has  been  engaged 
under  Cap.  Yost  in  furniture  manufacturing. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  having  cast  his 
first  vote  lor  Abraham  Lincoln.  Mr.  Roach 
has  held  many  mitior  complimentary  positions 
and  some  official.  In  the  spring  of  1880,  he 
w'as  elected  Mayor  of  the  city.  He  has  been 
a  member  of  the  Town  Council  for  3  years. 
ilr.  Roach  was  married  in  1860,  to  Miss  Lu- 
cinda  Stein  of  Paris  Tp.  This  union  is  blest 
with  a  faniil3'  of  four  children,  three  living — 
Jason  B.,  .lohn  C.  and  Frank.  In  religion 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roach  arc  members  of  the  M.  E. 
Ciiurch.  Mr.  Roach  is  a  temperance  man  and 
a  strong  advocate  of  rigid  legislation  against 
the  traffic  of  liquor,  or  any  other  measures 
to  stamp  it  irrevocably  from  existence. 

A.  M.  SPEL\L\N,  hotel  and  livery;  Min- 
erva; was  born  in  Portage  Co.,  June  5,  1843. 
His  parents  were  M.  F.  and  Mary  A  (Reed) 
Spelman,  natives  of  Connecticut.  Mr.  Spel- 
man  remained  on  the  farm  until  his  18th 
3'ear,  when  he  entered  the  service  under 
Capt.  Baird  as  Sergeant  of  Company  I,  104th 
O.  V.  I.,  participating  in  211  engagements  and 
skirmishes,  among  which  was  the  Georgia  Cam- 
paign as  far  as  Atlanta,  during  which  campaign 
he  received  a  slight  wound  from  an  enemy's  l.'all 
upon  his  right  thigh,  accomplishing  its  deadly 
mission  by  piercing  the  vitals  of  a  comrade, 
standing  by  his  side.  After  his  return  under 
Gen.  Thomas,  he  shared  in  the  sanguinary 
contest,  at  Franklin,  Tenn.,  in  which  their 
captain  was  slain,  and  a  great  number  of 
privates.  They  then  fell  back  to  Nashville, 
following  the  enemy  to  the  Terniessee  River, 
and  went  to  Cincinnati  by  water,  and  from 
thence  to  Washington  D.  C.  From  the  capital 
the  regiment  was  sent  to  Wilmington,  N.  C, 
and  Mr.  Spelman  being  sick,  joined  the  troops 
at  Newbern,  N.  C.  After  the  surrender  of 
Gen.  Johnston  they  returned  to  Clev(;land, 
and  were  mustered  out  of  the  service,  when 
he  returned  to  his  Portage  Co.  farm,  and 
engaged  in  dealing  in  live  stock,  making 
horse-shipping  and  raising  a  specialty. 
Among  the  steeds  of  local  and  State  notoriety 
that  he  has  owned,  are  ■'  M;iggie  Smith,"  with 
a  2:35  record;  "  David  Cro  kett,"  in  the  2:22 
class;  "  Mambrino  Clay,"'  which  won  first 
money  and  sweep-stakes  at  Northern  Ohio 
State  Fairs  for  two  successive  years;  "  Fire 
Clay,"    with   a   record   of  2:42;    "  JTambrino 


A 


874 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH ES : 


Clay,  Jr.,"  owned  by  Mr.  Spelinaii  at  present, 
a  four-yuar-uld,  in  2:02  class;  entered  on  the 
Indiana  and  Michigan  circuits  for  the  season  of 
1881.  Mr.  Spelnian  purchased  the  Unkefer 
House  at  Minerva  in  1880.  His  long  associa- 
tion with  the  public,  and  fine  social  qualities, 
together  with  a  well  regulated  house,  have 
ah'eady  placed  him  at  the  head  in  this  line  of 
business  at  Minerva.  He  is  also  lessee  of 
the  Minerva  Union  Fair  Grounds  for  1880-81. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  S]jolman  are  members  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church.  There  is  a  family  of 
two  children-  -Dwight,  in  his  11th  year,  and 
Herbert,  in  his  5th  year. 

JAMES  SLENTZ,  wagon-maker  and  far- 
mer; P.  O.  New  Franklin;  was  born  in  Adams 
Co.,  Penn.,  Dec.  17,  1821;  son  of  Jacob  and 
Nancy  (Carr)  Slentz.  His  father  was  a  na- 
tive of  Pennsylvania;  his  mother  of  the  city 
of  Baltimore,  Md.  Mr.  Jacob  Slentz  moved 
to  Richland  Co.,  O.,  in  18'i3;  afterward  re- 
turned to  Cokunliiana  Co.,  and  again,  in  the 
summer  of  181U,  he  removed  to  New  Frank- 
lin, Stark  Co.  To  them  were  born  a  family  of 
seven  children.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
labored  on  the  farm  until  his  16th  year,  when 
he  learned  the  wagon-making  trade  of  his 
father.  AVlien  he  was  23  years  of  age  he  set 
up  shop  for  himself  in  Columbiana  Co.,  where 
he  continued  his  trade  for  twelve  years.  In 
1855  he  returned  to  Stark,  and  paid  at- 
tention to  manufacturing  grain-cradles,  which 
he  has  since  worked  at  in  New  Franklin,  cul- 
tivating his  farm  at  the  east  end  of  the  village 
at  the  same  time.  Jan.  5,  1813,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Elizabeth  Snider,  of  Paris  Tp. 
Of  this  union  there  were  seven  children,  six 
living — Elmer  F.,  Colorado;  Albert  O.,  fore- 
man of  wood  department  of  Russell  shops, 
Canton,  0.;  Orville  L.,  at  home,  manufactur- 
ing grain-cradles;  Parmelia,  now  Mrs.  En- 
sign, of  Columbiana  Co.;  Mrs.  Ruth  R.  Riley, 
at  Paris,  and  Mrs.  Nancy  K.  More,  of  Paris  Tp. 
In  politics  Mr.  Slentz  is  a  Democrat,  being 
repeatedly  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  of 
Paris  Tp.  Since  1861  Mr.  Slentz  has  fre- 
quently represented  his  township  in  the  vari- 
ous county  and  district  conventions  during 
the  last  few  years. 

ANDREW  S.  SUTTON,  farmer  and  wool- 
grower;  P.  O.  Minerva;  was  born  in  Jeffer- 
son Co.,  Ross  Tp.,  March,  1818;  sou  of  Wil- 
iam  and  Rebecca    (Shane)  Sutton,  natives  of 


New  Jersey,  and  residents  for  several  years 
of  Virginia.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
raised  upon  the  farm  and  received  his  educa- 
tion from  the  district  school.  In  his  business 
education  he  had  an  excellent  tutor;  his  father 
who  has  been  one  of  the  successful  accumu- 
lators of  wealth,  in  the  wool-growing  and  cat- 
tle trade  of  Jefferson  Co.  In  1876,  Andrew 
removed  to  Stark  Co.,  and  purchased  200 
acres  in  Section  21,  a  tract  of  land  well  adapt- 
ed by  nature  to  his  special  line  of  business, 
having  both  bottom  and  upland  pasturage, 
watered  with  nine  perennial  springs.  Mr. 
Sutton  keeps  a  drove  of  200  to  225  sheep. 
Merino  being  his  principal  breed  ;  of  other 
stock  he  usually  winters  hfteen  to  twenty  head 
of  market  cattle,  buying-  and  selling  in  the  sum- 
mer season.  Mr.  Sutton  was  married  Oct.  3, 
1876,  to  Miss  Eliza  A.  Wallace,  of  Jefferson 
Co.  They  have  two  children — Henry,  4 
years,  and  Mary,  2  years.  In  politics  he 
was  raised  and  remains  a  Republican.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Sutton  are  members  of  the  Presliy- 
terian  Church,  at  Minerva,  he  holding  the 
position  of  Trustee  at  present.  Among  the 
younger  business  men  of  this  part  of  Stark, 
Mr.  Sutton  holds  a  high  rank  for  his  liberal 
and  upright  dealings  and  stirring  business 
qualities. 

NICHOLAS  STONEHILL,  farmer;  P.  O. 
Robertsville;  was  born  April  4,  1831,  son  of 
Solomon  and  Catharine  (Miller)  Stonehill. 
Solomon  moved  to  Stark  Co.,  in  company  with 
his  father,  Godfrey  Stonehill,  a  native  of 
Hamburg,  Germany,  about  1813,  and  located 
in  Stark  Co.,  OsnaburgTp.;  afterward  moved 
to  northwest  part  of  Wayne  Co.,  and  there 
finished  his  days.  Solomon  purchased  the 
present  homestead  of  Nicholas,  in  1816,  of 
McEntaffer — the  interior  of  Sections  19  and 
30.  Solomon  was  engaged  in  farming  and 
blacksmithing  until  his  death  in  1841.  Dur- 
ing the  early  manhood  of  Nicholas,  he  ap- 
plied himself  to  studies,  and  was  fitted  to 
teach,  an  occupation  he  afterward  followed  for 
five  terms.  At  the  death  of  his  father  he  and 
his  brother  John  purchased  the  shares  of  the 
remaining  four  heirs,  and  have  continued 
farming  the  same  in  partnership  ever  since, 
.lohn  being  yet  single  lives  with  his  brother 
Niciiolas.  in  1860  he  added  23  acres,  making 
a  farm  of  150  acres.  Mr.  Stonehill  has  been 
a  dealer  in   live   stock,  making  wool-growing 


PARIS  TOWNSHIP. 


i\±. 


at  one  time  a  specialty.  In  1863  he  was  uni- 
ted in  wedlock  to  Miss  Eliza  Keith.  Tlie 
marriage  has  been  blest  with  five  children,  two 
still  living,  Ettie  and  John  W.,  both  at  home. 
In  politics  Mr.  Stonehill  is  a  Republican.  In 
1879,  he  was  elected  Justice  of  tlie  Peace  over 
a  Democratic  candidate  in  a  Democratic  pre- 
cinct by  76  majority.  Mr.  Stonehill  is  a  well 
read  farmer,  and  few  have  the  reputation 
among  their  neighbors  for  equal  fair  dealing, 
and  general  information  on  the  topics  of  the 
day.  He  is  a  non-professor  in  religion,  and 
liberal  in  his  views. 

DAVID  B.  SHERWOOD,  editor,  Minerva 
Monitor,  Minerva;  was  bom  in  Wayne  Co., 
Peiui.,  Oct.  IJr,  1840.  He  remained  upon  the 
farm  until  his  12th  year,  at  which  time  he  be- 
came a  "  devil  "  in  a  printing  office.  In  1871 
he  removed  to  Illinois  and  continued  at  his  pro- 
fession for  nine  years.  In  the  Spring  of  1881 
he  opened  an  office  in  the  stirring  village  of 
Minerva,  and  called  into  existence  the  Minerva 
Monitor,  an  eight  column  folio,  with  a  circula- 
tion of  500  to  start  with.  The  paper  so  far  pub- 
lished has  been  complimented  by  its  patrons  on 
every  hand,  and  bids  fair  to  have  a  long  lease 
of  life.  Mr.  Sherwood  is  a  member  of  the  A. 
U.  W.  Loi!gi\  and  is  independent  in  politics. 

JACOB  SCHMACHTENBEUGER,  farm- 
er; P.  O.  Minerva.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch,  and  whose  portrait  appears  in  this 
history  as  a  reprcsentive  of  the  pioneers  of 
Paris  Tp.;  was  born  in  Canton  Tp.,  Stark  Co. 
Aug.  3,  1819,  and  is  the  son  of  Adolph  and 
Margaret  (Rupert)  Schmachtenbergcr.  His 
grandfather,  Adam,  was  one  of  seven  brothers 
that  figured  quite  prominently  as  soldiers  in 
the  American  Army,  during  the  Revolution. 
The  father  of  Mr.  S.  was  a  native  of  Mary- 
land, but  moved  to  Ohio  in  1806,  and  settled 
near  Osnahurg,  Stark  Co.  He  subsequently 
removed  to  Canton  Tp.,  where  he  resided  for 
twenty-two  years.  His  mother  is  still  living, 
aged  89  years.  Jacob  remained  a  resi- 
dent of  Canton  Tp.  until  18-tn,  and  then 
went  to  Paris  Tp.,  where  he  has  since  resid- 
ed. In  1849,  he  purchased  what  is  now  the 
old  home  farm,  just  north  of  the  village  of 
-Minerva;  to  this  he  added  diflFerent  purchases 
from  time  to  time,  until  he  now  owns  a  fine 
property  of  well  cultivated  and  valuable  farm 
land  of  181  acres,  with  two  other  farms  not 
adjoining,     as    well   as     property      purchas- 


ed in  Minerva,  in  1868.  His  careful  marvige- 
ment,  steady  habits  and  good  financiering  have 
won  the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  com- 
munity in  which  he  lives.  As  a  result,  many 
positions  of  public  trust  have  been  given  him. 
He  is  now  serving  his  twentj'-ninth  year  as 
Justice  of  the  Peace;  for  six  years  he  has 
held  the  office  of  Assessor,  and  is  also  at  pres- 
ent President  of  ihe  Scliool  Board  of  Minerva 
Union  School,  and  has  acted  as  such  for  the  last 
eight  years.  In  the  latter  office  he  has  shown 
his  excellent  financiering  by  extricating  the 
city  from  a  long  impending  debt  of  $7,500, 
and  leaving  the  corporation  free  from  all  debt, 
and  in  possession  of  a  fine  brick  Union  School 
building.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat,  and 
has  had  the  honor  of  representing  his  party 
in  various  State  and  district  conventions. 
Mr.  Schiiiachtenberger  h;is  given  his  atten- 
tion principally  to  agriculture  and  wool-grow- 
ing, though  he  also  owns  a  saw-mill,  and  has 
bought,  sold,  and  handled  a  large  quantity 
of  lumber.  He  was  married  in  1840  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Myers;  six  children  have  been  born 
to  them,  two  only  of  whom  are  living — David, 
a  resident  of  Minerva,  and  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, and  Alvin,  who  still  resides  with  his 
parents.  Mrs.  Schmachtenberger  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Dunkard,  and  he  of  the  Lutheran 
Church.  Whatever  his  position  in  the  com- 
munitj'  as  a  man  of  honor  and  ability  may  be, 
it  has  been  gained  by  his  own  careful  con- 
duct, and  always  adhering  to  the  principles 
of  right  and  honesty.  He  now  has,  as  the 
result  of  his  frugality  and  industry,  a  fine 
property  and  a  pleasant  home,  but  best  of  all, 
he  has  builded  for  himself  a  name  and  repu- 
tation, that  will  ever  be  remembered  with 
pride  by  his  friends  and  family. 

DR.  H.  H.  SHAFER,  physician;  Roberts- 
ville;  was  born  in  Osnaburg  Tp.,  Stark  Co., 
Nov.  36,  1852;  son  of  John  and  Mary  A. 
(Roos)  Shafer;  his  father  was  a  native  of 
Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.  His  grandfather  P"'redric 
was  a  native  of  Germany.  The  Doctor's 
mother  is  still  living,  having  her  home  in 
Sandy  Tp.  He  attended  the  district  schools, 
after  which  he  taught  a  short  time  and  en- 
tered the  Canton  Academy.  In  1875  he  en- 
tered Hiram  College  and  prosecuted  studies 
preparatory  to  his  medical  course,  which  fitted 
him  to  enter  the  Starling  Medical  College  of 
Columbus,  O.,  where  he  completed  a  course 


"^f^ 


Mil 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


in  allopathy.  In  1876-7-8-9  he  remained  in  the 
office  of  Drs.  B.  A.,  and  J.  Whiteleather,  of 
Osnaburg.  In  1880,  he  opened  up  an  office 
and  began  practice  at  Magnolia,  where  in  the 
face  of  strong  competition,  he  established  a 
lucrative  practice.  In  the  Spring  of  1881  he 
located  in  Robertsville,  near  his  old  home 
and  is  the  only  residentphysician;  he  has  in  the 
short  time  already  established  confidence 
among  his  neighbors  and  patrons  of  that  por- 
tion of  Paris  and  Osnaburg  Tp.  Sept.  4, 
1879,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Angia  Reed,  a 
daughter  of  George  Reed,  of  Osnaburg.  The 
union  was  made  happy  by  one  child,  a  boy — 
Charley  S.,  yet  an  infant.  Mrs.  Shafer  died 
Jan.  25,  1881. 

WALTER  R.  WALKER,  stone-mason, 
Minerva;  born  on  the  Battle-ground  of  Bran- 
dywine,  Chester  Co.,  Penn.,  Oct.  12,  1810; 
son  of  Jacob  and  Rachel  (Craig)  Walker,  na- 
tives of  Pennsylvania.  His  grand-father  was 
John  Walker,  native  of  Ireland.  Mr.  Walker 
moved  to  Ohio  in  1833.  He  located  in  Paris 
Tp.,  Sec.  24,  and  purchased  60  acres.  At  19 
years  of  age,  Mr.  Walker  began  the  mason's 
trade  in  Pennsylvania,  farming  a  limited 
amount  until  his  trade  engaged  a  great  deal  of 
his  attention.  In  1847  he  purchased  53  acres. 
In  1851  he  added  40  acres  more.  To  illus- 
trate the  endurance  and  energy  of  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  it  may  be  recorded  that  he 
made  an  overland  trip  on  foot  to  Philadelphia, 
Reading  and  other  eastern  cities,  but  in  the 
later  days  he  has  enjoyed  this  route  by  rail. 
Mr.  Walker  has  not  only  improved  the  neigh- 
boring farms  with  buildings  and  stonework, 
but  has  left  a  standing  monument  of  his  skill, 
by  putting  himself  up  a  durable  stone  residence, 
the  most  capacious  stone  dwelling  in  southern 
Stark  Co.  St.  Valentine's  day  1838,  was  ap- 
propriately celebrated  by  the  union  of  Mr. 
Walter  Walker  and  Miss  Evalina  Edwards. 
Of  this  union  there  were  six  children— Anna, 
Mrs.  Thos.  Newcomer,  of  Stark  Co. ;  William, 
farmer  and  carpenter,  Columbiana  Co.; 
Hiram,  farmer  and  saw-mill,  Columbiana  Co.; 
Lewis,  running  saw-mill  in  Columbiana  Co.; 
Walter,  farmer  at  home;  Evalina,  Mrs.  John 
Lucas.  Mrs.  Evalina  Walker  died  Sept.  23, 
1871.  Mr.  Walker  was  re-married  to  Lydia 
Orr,  March  13,  1873,  no  issue.  In  politics  he 
was  an  "  old  line  Whig,"  and  a  Republican 
since  the  birth  of  the  party. 


ISRAEL  WARTMAN,  farmer,  stock  ship- 
per and  raiser;  P.O.  Paris;  was  born  in  Vienna 
Tp.,  Trumbull  County,  O.,  January  29,  1830, 
son  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Heke)  Wartman. 
His  father,  a  native  of  Berks  Co.,  Penn.  His 
grandfather,  Abraham  Wartman,  emigrated 
to  Trumbull  Co.,  in  1818,  where  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  spent  his  boyhood  days,  when  at 
the  age  of  16  he  moved  with  his  father  to 
Stark  Co.,  and  labored  at  farm  work  until  he 
became  of  age.  In  18.50  he  moved  upon  the 
present  homestead  situated  on  the  State  Road, 
the  main  wagon  thoroughfare  of  the  State; 
here  he  purchased  150  acres  which  he  has 
improved  with  the  finest  frame  residence  in 
the  northern  part  of  Paris  Tp.  In  1872  he 
added  to  his  farm  80  acres.  About  1855  Mr. 
Wartman  began  dealing  in  live  stock,  ship- 
ping, feeding  and  raising.  He  has  enlarged 
in  this  department  until  he  ranks  as  the  lead- 
ing shipper  and  dealer  of  the  township,  which 
has  given  him  a  wide  acquaintance  through 
Stark,  Carroll,  Columbiana  and  other  neighbor- 
ing counties.  Mr.  Wartman  shipped  for  three 
years  from  Indiana  and  the  Western  part  of 
the  State,  reaching  in  number  9,000  sheep, 
besides  many  cattle  and  hogs  annually.  In 
1870  he  purchased  a  small  herd  of  thorough- 
bred. Short-horn  Durhams,  of  H.  Wartman,  of 
Trumbull  Co.,  which  his  present  herd  of 
graded  and  blooded  stock  are  from.  He  was 
united  in  marriage  June  15,  1855,  to  Miss 
Rachel  Miller,  of  Paris  Tp.,  which  union  has 
been  blessed  with  five  children,  three  yet 
living — Theodore,  farmer,  of  Paris  Tp.,  Alfred 
and  Howard,  minors,  yet  at  home.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Wartman  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  at  Paris,  Ohio.  In  politics  he  votes 
the  Democratic  ticket. 

JACOB  WALKER,  farmer;  P.  O.  Minerva. 
Among  the  descendants  of  the  old  and  honor- 
able families  of  Stark  Co.  is  Jacob  Walker, 
whose  father  was  one  of  the  leading  men  of 
the  past  generation  of  Stark  Co.  His  grand- 
father, Jacob  Walker,  was  a  native  of  Ireland, 
born  June  17,  1774,  and  a  man  of  powerful 
endurance,  making  a  journey  in  1856  to  Ohio, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  83,  visiting  among 
his  grand-children.  His  father,  Eli  C.  Walker, 
was  born  Oct.  2,  1808,  in  Chester  Co.,  Penn., 
moved  to  Ohio  in  1840,  and  located  in  Paris 
Tp.,  where  he  reared  a  family  of  nine  children. 
His     mother,    Elizabeth     (Barbary)    Walker^ 


PARIS    TOAVNSHIP. 


877 


was  a  fit  holp-ineot  for  so  earnest  a  husband, 
an  I  shared  in  the  many  hardships  of  early  days. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  first  of  the 
family  born  in  Ohio,  wliich  event  transpired 
Feb.  2,  1843.  His  father  having  died  Sept. 
28,  186?,  Jacob  remained  on  the  homestead 
with  his  mother,  and  farmed  the  place  until 
it  was  sold,  in  1865,  when  Jacob  and  Joseph 
purchased  it,  after  which  Jacob  bought  out 
his  brother,  making  a  farm  of  100  acres  of 
choice  land,  and  Mr.  Walker  yet  a  young 
man.  He  unites  general  stock-raising  with 
his  farming,  in  that  way  utilizing  all  his  own 
products.  Sept.  29,  18G4,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Henrietta  Miller,  of  Min- 
erva, and  has  been  blest  with  six  children — 
Frederick  C,  16  years;  Susannah  E.,  John 
Charles  M.,  Jacob  H.,  Alonzo  Cye,  Ira  A.; 
all  minors,  at  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walker 
are  members  of  the  Reformed  Church.  In 
politics  he  has  always  voted  the  Republican 
ticket,  casting  his  first  vote  for  A.  Lincoln. 

CAPT.  T.  D.  YOST,  planing  mill,  Miner- 
va; was  born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  Feb.  10, 
1839,  son  of  Philip  and  Elizabeth  (Blasie) 
Yost.  The  family  embarked  for  the  United 
States  in  1846.  From  the  tiine  he  was  14,  to  18, 
he  learned  the  trade  of  furniture  finishing, 
with  the  firm  of  Lemon  &  Hotchley,  of  Pitts- 
burgh, Pa.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war, 
Mr.  Yost  enlisted  under  Capt.  Boatty  as  a  pri- 
vate. He  held  this  rank  but  a  short  time,  be- 
ing promoted  to  the  2d  Lieutenancy  Feb.  8, 
1862.  His  competency  and  address  won  him 
another  promotion,  being  commissioned  1st 
Lieutenant  March  13,  18G2,  and  at  the  close 
of  the  fail  campaign  he  received  his  commis- 


sion as  Captain  of  Comjjany  F.  Although  he 
passed  so  rapidly  from  the  rank  of  private  to 
this  latter  position,  he  was  yet  further  hon- 
ored with  the  appointment  and  commission  of 
Captaincy  of  the  Independent  O.  V.  L.  A., 
26th  Battery,  holding  the  same  command  un- 
til his  honorable  discharge,  Sept.  2,  1865. 
Capt.  Yost  was  a  participant  in  seventeen 
pitched  battles,  besides  numerous  skirmishes; 
among  the  more  im])ortant  was  the  Siege  of 
Vicksburg,  being  in  the  attack  the  entire  time, 
losing  a  lock  of  hair  over  his  left  ear  by  a 
rebel  bullet.  He  was  made  prisoner  at  the 
surrender  of  Harper's  Ferry  in  1862.  After 
his  return  he  engaged  in  business,  buying 
one-third  interest  in  the  firm  of  O.  J.  Pitney 
&  Co.;  remained  at  same  for  eighteen  months, 
after  which,  in  company  with  J.  M.  Perdue 
and  W.  F.  Unkefer,  he  established  the  Pio- 
neer Planing  Mill.  In  1871  tiie  firm  changed  to 
Perdue  &  Yost.  Four  years  later,  Capt.  Yost 
purchased  the  entire  interest  of  his  partner,  and 
added  the  department  of  furniture  manufac- 
turing. It  is  the  only  planing  mill  in  the  vil- 
lage, the  capital  stock  being  115,000,  doing 
an  annual  business  of  §30,000,  with  orders 
unsupplied,  which  will  demand  an  increase  of 
one-fourth  the  present  force  of  twenty-five 
men  employed.  Capt.  Yost  was  married  Jan. 
16,  1866,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Perdue.  This 
union  has  been  blessed  with  a  family  of  three 
children — Viola  Elizabeth,  David  Eugene  and 
William  Frank.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yost  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Disciples'  Church  ;  both  are  active 
laborers  in  Sunday  School  work,  the  Captain 
being  Superintendent  for  eight  years. 


"fy" 


Jd^ — ^ 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


PLAIN    TOWNSHIP. 


J.  E.  ANSTINE,  farmer;  P.  O.  New  Berlin; 
was  born  in  York  Co.,  Pa.,  March  20,  1819; 
is  the  second  in  a  family  of  eight  children  born 
to  George  and  Catharine  Anstine.  George 
Anstino  s.as  a  farmer,  and  during  tlie  war  of 
1S12,  was  engaged  in  teaming  from  Baltimore 
to  York,  Pa.  Our  subject's  early  life  was 
spent  on  the  farm,  and  he  remained  at  home 
until  he  was  21  years  of  age.  He  then 
apprenticed  himself  to  the  carpenters' 
trade,  serving  two  years  as  an  apprentice. 
He  then  purchased  a  carding  and  dyeing 
mill,  and  for  five  years  was  engaged  in  that 
business.  He  then  engaged  in  farming,  where 
he  remained  ten  years,  then  came  to  Ohio, 
settling  in  Plain  Tp.,  on  a  farm  of  240 
acres,  where  he  still  resides.  In  1843  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Catharine  Landis,  of 
York  Co.,  Pa.,  who  bore  him  twelve  children, 
eight  of  whom  are  living,  viz: — Henry,  Sophia, 
Rebecca,  John,  Ellen,  Malinda,  George  and 
Marne.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anstine  are  members 
of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

JOHN  BAIR,  farmer;  P.  O.  Middle  Branch. 
Jacob  Bair,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  near  Hagerstown,  Md.,  where  he  passed 
his  childhood,  and  then  removed  to  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  was  there  married  to  Miss  Nancy 
Rhodes,  who  was  a  nat've  of  Bedford  Co.,  Pa. 
In  1805  he  came  to  Plain  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  O., 
in  company  with  an  older  brother,  where  they 
erected  a  cabin  and  began  to  clear  a  piece  of 
land.  After  remaining  there  one  year 
he  was  obliged  to  leave  on  account  of  the 
wild  beasts.  He  went  to  Columbiana  Co., 
where  he  remained  two  years,  and  then  re- 
turned to  Plain,  and  there  lived  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death.  He  died  in  186-3,  aged 
76  years;  his  widow  still  survives  him,  and 
has  reached  the  ripe  age  of  87  years.  John 
Bair,  our  subject,  was  born  in  Plain  Tp., 
Stnrk  Co.,  O.,  June  23,  1821.  The  early  years 
of  his  life  were  passed  in  the  labors  of  the 
farm,  and  but  little  interrupted  by  educa- 
tional pursuits,  the  chances  for  obtaining  an 
education  being  scanty  and  of  an  inferior  na- 
ture in  the  region  of  his  home.  He  lived  at 
home  and  worked  for  his  father  until  he  was 


28  years  of  age.  He  soon  after  bought  a 
small  farm  in  Marlborough  Tp.,  and  there  lived 
nine  years.  Disposing  of  it  he  purchased  the 
farm  where  he  now  lives.  He  now  owns  183 
acres  of  well  improved  land.  In  1849  he 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  Brouse, 
of  Canal  Fulton.  From  that  marriage  there 
have  been  eight  children,  three  of  whom  are 
living — Reuben,  now  a  resident  of  Indiana; 
Ozias,  on  the  homestead,  and  Mary  E.,  now  of 
Cass  Co.,  Mich.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bair  are  faith- 
ful members  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  uniting 
with  the  same  several  years  ago.  Ozias  Bair 
was  born  in  Plain  Tp.,  this  county,  in  March, 
1850.  His  childhood  was  passed  on  the  farm 
with  his  parents,  with  whom  he  lived  until  he 
was  26  years  of  age.  He  received  a  common 
school  education  in  the  schools  of  his  neigh- 
borhood. He  learned  the  carpenter's  trade 
and  worked  at'the  same  but  a  short  time,  as 
he  preferred  farming  to  a  trade.  In  1876  he 
married  Miss  Mary  Miller,  of  Plain  Tp.,  and 
soon  after  he  rented  a  farm  in  Canton  Tp., 
and  in  1881,  returned  to  the  old  homestead, 
where  he  is  engaged  in  farming.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Bair  united  with  the  church  while  young, 
and  are  much  respected  in  the  community  in 
which  they  live. 

J.  D.  BACHTEL,  retired  merchant  and 
farmer;  P.  O.,  New  Berlin;  was  born  in  Plain 
Tp.,  Nov.  25,  1832.  His  parents,  Isaac  and 
Susanna  (Smith)  Bachtel  were  natives  of  the 
Keystone  State.  When  but  10  years  of  age  the 
father  of  our  subject  came  to  Stark  Co.,  with 
his  parents,  they  settling  on  a  farm  in  Plain 
Tp.,  in  1808,  whereon  his  youthful  days  were 
spent.  He  obtained  a  common  school  educa- 
tion, and  when  21  years  of  age  began  teaching 
sciiool  in  his  neighborhood,  where  his  instruc- 
tions were  appreciated  by  all.  He  continued 
in  this  vocation  for  several  years  and  then  set- 
tled on  a  farm,  where  he  lived  some  time  and 
died  in  1866,  at  the  age  of  67  years.  He  was 
a  man  greatly  admired  in  the  neighborhood 
in  which  he  lived,  for  his  true  manly  character 
and  good  citizenship.  Our  subject's  youth 
was  spent  at  home,  he  received  his  education 
in  the  common   schools,  and  while  young  he 


:V 


^, 


PLAIN   TOWNSHIP. 


entered  his  father's  store  and  was  there  en- 
gaged as  clerk  for  eight  years.  In  1861  he 
eng-aged  in  the  grocery  business  at  New  Jierlin 
and  soon  after  took  his  brotiier,  A^'illiani  H.  H., 
into  partnership,  this  lasting  three  years,  when 
ho  disposed  of  his  goods  and  has  since  lived  re- 
tired. He  owns  a  farm  of  188  acres  in  Lake 
Tp.,  and  property  in  town.  In  1857  he  was 
married  to  Susan  Sell,  of  Lake  Tp.  From  that 
union  tiiere  has  been  one  child,  Carrie  E.,  an 
accmplished  young  lady.  He  has  always  been 
identified  with  the  Democratic  party. 

M.  BITZER,  retired:  New  Berlin;  is  a 
son  of  .lohn  B.  and  Elizabeth  Bitzer,  who 
were  natives  of  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  where  the 
father  was  engaged  in  farming  and  tlie  grist- 
mill business.  lie  was  engaged  in  farming 
principally,  up  to  the  time  of  his  death  in  187T, 
at  the  age  of  81  years.  There  were  ten  chil- 
dren in  the  family,  our  subject  being  the  oldest; 
was  born  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  Sept.  28, 
1819.  His  youth  was  spent  on  the  farm,  and 
at  the  age  of  20  he  began  learning  the 
miller's  trade  and  after  workmg  at  the  same  for 
three  years  he  returned  to  the  farm.  In  1843 
he  came  to  Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  settling  on  a 
farm  north  of  Mogadore,  and  there  remained 
until  1851,  when  lie  removed  to  Lake  Tp., 
and  in  1853  settled  at  New  Berlin.  He  was 
engaged  for  several  years  keeping  hotel  and 
butchering  ;  he  also  owned  a  valuable  piece 
of  land  adjoining  the  town  of  New  Berlin. 
At  the  organization  of  the  Home  Insurance 
Co.,  of  Plain  and  Jackson  Tps.,  he  was  elected 
President,  and  has  filled  the  office  up  to  the 
present  time.  He  was  called  out  in  Co.  E., 
162d  Regiment,  O.  N.G.,  and  was  out  100 
days.  In  18-16  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  .Jacob  Schlott,  of  Plain  Tp. 
From  that  marriage  there  were  five  children, 
two  of  whom  are  living — Mary  A.,  wife  of 
Frank  Schiltz;  and  Catharine  E.,  wife  of  Ben- 
jamin ^yinger,  both  of  New  Berlin.  Mrs. 
Bitzer  died  in  1878,  at  the  aire    of   50    years. 

.JOHN  BLOO.^^•'IELD,'' farmer,  P.  O. 
Middle  Branch;  was  born  in  Crawford  Co., 
Penn.,  his  birth-day  occurring  Feb.  18,  1821. 
He  lived  at  home  until  23  years  of  age;  his 
parents  during  these  years  coming  to  Ohio, 
he  attended  the  common  schools,  where  he 
acquired  a  fair  education.  At  the  age  of  23 
years  he  began  farming  his  father-in-law's 
farm,  where  he   remained  twelve  years,    after 


which  time  he  was  given  the  farm,  making 
additions  to  the  same  until  he  owned  160  acres.^ 
After  living  there  several  years  he  remorgd 
to  the  northeastern  part  of  Plain  Tp.,  where 
he  settled  on  a  farm  of  170  acres,  and  re- 
mained there  until  1866,  when  he  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  business,  which  he  conducted 
successfully  for  seven  years,  retiring  from 
which  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Canton, 
where  he  lived  a  short  time,  but  not  being 
engaged  in  business  in's  ambition  would  not 
allow  him  to  enjoy  life,  the  result  being  a  re- 
moval to  the  farm  where  he  now  lives.  Ho 
now  owns  196  acres  of  well  improved  lands. 
In  184:3  he  took  for  his  partner  through  life, 
Miss  Rebecca  ^Yise,  of  Plain  Tp.,  who  bore 
him  the  following  children — Emeline,  Lewis, 
Hiram,  Senia,  Wm.  E.  and  Elmer  E.  Mr. 
ami  Mrs  Bloomfield  are  members  of  the  Bap- 
tist Church,  having  united  with  the  same 
oyer  thirty  years  ago.  Lewis  and  Susan 
(Krok)  Bloomfield,  the  parents  of  our  subject 
came  to  Stark  Co.  from  Green  Co.,  Penn.,  in 
the  year  1833.  The  father,  Lowis  Bloomfield, 
bought  a  farm  of  160  acres  in  Plain  Tp.,  where 
he  lived  three  years;  then  settled  on  another 
farm,  and  there  remained  until  his  faithful 
companion  departed  this  lif',  after  which  he 
lived  with  his  dauijhter  until  his  death. 

SOLOMON  BAIR,  farmer;  P.  O.  Middle 
Branch;  is  the  third  in  a  family  of  six  chil- 
dren born  to  .John  and  Sarah  Bair,  who  were 
natives  of  Adams  Co.,  Pa.,  and  in  1806  came 
to  Stark  Co.,  settling  in  Plain  Tp.  John  Bair, 
the  venerable  old  pioneer,  settled  on  a  farm 
when  it  was  a  dense  forest,  but  cleared  the 
same,  and  has  lived  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
place  upon  which  he  settled,  ever  since.  He 
was  married  three  times,  and  was  the  father  of 
nineteen  children.  He  is  highly  spoken  of 
for  his  manliness  and  hospitality.  Solomon, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Plain 
Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  Jan  12,  1826.  His  childhood 
was  spent  on  the  farm,  where  he  remained 
until  he  was  27  years  of  age.  He  then  rented 
a  farm  in  Plain  Tp.,  where  he  remained 
thirteen  years,  and  in  1866  he  purchased 
160  acres  of  valuable  land,  where  he  has 
lived  since.  Mr.  Bair  began  life  a  poor 
boy,  but  by  his  industry  he  has  accumulated 
considerable  property.  In  1835  he  married 
Catharine,  daughter  of  John  Markley,  of  Lake 
Tp.     From  that  union  there  have  been  seven 


A^ 


880 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


children— Lucy  A.,  Susan,  Mary,  Andrew, 
Jaha,  Solomon  and  John.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bair  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

ISRAEL  CARPENTER,  carpenter;  New 
Berlin;  is  a  son  of  Gabriel  and  Susanna 
(Schrantz)  Carpenter,  who  were  natives  of 
Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.  In  1837,  they  came  to 
Ohio,  settling  in  Plain  Tp.  The  husband 
worked  for  a  man  for  thirteen  years,  and  then 
removed  to  Lake  Tp.,  and  lived  there  several 
years.  He  lived  with  his  daughter  the  latter 
part  of  his  life,  and  died  in  1870  at  the  age 
70  years.  Tiiere  were  eleven  children  in  the 
family,  our  subject  being  the  second.  He  was 
born  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  Iti  1838,  and  when 
9  years  old  came  to  Plain  Tp.,  with  his  par- 
ents, and  owing  to  their  limited  means  he,  at 
the  age  of  11  years,  went  to  work  for  farmers, 
continuing  at  farm  labor  until  he  was  18 
years  old;  he  then  apprenticed  himself  to  the 
carpenter's  trade,  serving  as  an  apprentice 
three  years,  he  then  began  working  at  his 
trade  in  Plain  Tp.,  and  has  been  engaged  in 
the  same  business  ever  since.  He  has  been 
engaged  in  contracting  largely  for  several 
years,  and  owing  to  his  competency  and  faith- 
fulness, he  has  always  been  busily  engaged. 
His  two  sons  have  been  engaged  in  the 
same  business.  In  1854,  he  was  married  to 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Daniel  Holl,  of  Plain 
Tp.;  she  died  in  1804.  From  that  marriage 
there  v/ere  three  children,  two  of  whom  are 
living — Clayton  and  Silas.  He  married  for 
his  second  wife,  Leah,  the  widow  of  Isaac 
Sell.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carpenter  are  members 
of  the  Disciples'  Church. 

SAMUEL  CORRELL,  farmer;  P.  O.  Can- 
ton; is  the  second  in  a  family  of  twelvoi 
children  born  to  John  and  Elizabeth  (Lind) 
Correll,  who  were  natives  of  Carroll  Co.,  Md., 
where  John  was  engaged  in  the  distilling 
business,  and  farming.  In  1813  he  removed 
to  Adams  Co.,  Pa.,  and  engaged  in  farming, 
which  business  he  carried  on  until  1834,  when 
he  removed  to  Stark  Co.,  settling  on  a  farm 
in  Plain  Tp.,  where  Samuel  now  resides.  He 
remained  on  this  farm  until  death  removed 
him  from  the  midst  of  many  friends,  who 
keenly  felt  the  loss  of  his  amiable  disposition 
and  true  manliness.  Samuel,  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Adams  Co.,  Pa.,  March  10,  1815, 
and  his  childhood  was  spent  on  the  farm, 
where  he  received  his   education   in  the  com- 


mon schools  of  his  native  county,  and  when 
19  years  of  age  came  to  Ohio  with  his 
parents.  The  year  following,  he  apprenticed 
himself  to  the  tanner's  trade,  serving  an  ap- 
prenticeship of  two  years.  He  then  workeil 
as  journej'man  for  a  short  time,  and  estab- 
lished a  business  in  Harrisburg,  this  count}', 
where  he  remained  twenty-four  years.  Ho 
then  removed  to  the  farm  where  he  now  lives, 
(it  being  1861).  In  1840  he  married  Miss 
Lucetta,  daughter  of  John  and  Julia  Depuy, 
of  Stark  Co.  From  that  marriage  there  have 
been  seven  children,  five  of  whom  are  living — - 
John  H.,  William  W.,  Elizabeth  E.,  Julia^I., 
and  Samuel.  Mr.  Correll  is  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican, and  has  held  many  township  offices  in  a 
Democratic  township. 

SAMUEL  L.  CROMER,  Superintendent 
of  Stark  Co.  Infirmary  ;  Cantc  .  John  and 
Maria  Cromer,  the  parents  of  our  subject, 
were  natives  of  Franklin  Co.,  Pa.,  where  John 
worked  at  the  wagon-makers'  trade  and  coach 
building,  and  still  lives  in  Penns^-lvaniain  the 
town  of  Mercersburg.  Samuel,  our  subject, 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Chambersburg,  Pa., 
Dec.  33,  1842.  He  attended  the  school  of  his 
native  town  until  he  was  15  years  of  age,  when 
he  commenced  learning  the  carriage  and 
wagon-makers'  trade,  serving  two  years  as  an 
apprentice,  after  which  he  worked  two  years. 
In  1868  he  enlisted  in  Co.  F.,  32d  regiment. 
Pa.  C,  serving-  in  the  same  until  the  close  of 
the  war,  doing  his  duty  faithfully  and  heroic- 
ally. He  was  in  the  battles  of  Gettysburg, 
Petersburg,  and  other  hard-fought  battles. 
Out  of  1100  of  Pennsylvania's  brave  sons,  only 
169  returned;  among  them  the  brother  of  Sam- 
uel, who  rode  the  same  horse  from  the  time  ho 
left  home  until  he  returned,  being  in  many  of 
the  fiercest  battles.  In  1865  Samuel  came  to 
Stark  Co.,  and  commenced  work  as  a  farm-hand 
on  the  Infirmary  farm;  here  he  remained  three 
years,  faithfully  discharging  his  dutii  ,  and 
gained  the  confidence  of  his  employers.  He 
removed  to  the  city  of  Canton  where  he  lived 
until  1871,  when  he  was  engaged  to  superin- 
tend the  Infirmary  farm  by  its  Directors,  and 
has  remained  there  ever  since.  In  1870  he 
married  Rachel  A.  Sweeney  of  Wooster,  O., 
who  died  one  year  after,  at  the  age  of  24  years. 
In  1873  he  married  for  his  second  wife,  Mary 
C,  daughter  of  Samuel  Bair,  of  Plain  Tp. 
From  that  marriage  there  are  two  children-  • 


PLAIN  TOWNSHIP. 


881 


Thomas  Jetri;rson  and  Fanny  E.  Mr.  CromiT 
is  a  nietnlter  of  the  Masonic  Lodge,  No.  70, 
and  is  a  Republican. 

LEVI  A.  COCKLIiSr,  farmer  ;  P.  O.  Mid- 
dle Branch  ;  is  the  sixtli  in  a  family  of  eleven 
children,  horn  to  Adam  and  Barbara  (Gaerte) 
Cocklin,  who  were  natives  of  Berks  Co.,  Pa., 
where  Adam  was  engaged  in  farming.  In 
18.30  he  came  to  Stark  Co.,  O.,  settling  in  Lake 
Tp.,  on  a  small  farm,  where  he  lived  twenty- 
one  vears.  He  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade,  and 
worked  at  the  same  in  connection  with  farm- 
ing. In  1860  he  removed  to  Plain  Tp.,  and 
there  lived  until  1806,  when  he  departed  this 
life  at  the  ago  of  .56  years.  His  widow  sur- 
vived him  until  1S80,  dying  at  the  ripe  age 
of  8:>  years.  Our  subject  was  born  in  Lake 
Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  Aug.  11,  1837,  and  received 
his  education  in  the  common  schools,  remain- 
ing at  home  on  the  farm  until  he  was  21. 
During  these  years  he  had  learned  the  black- 
smith's trade,  and  worked  at  the  same  trade 
in  Plain  Tp.  for  nine  years.  He  then  began 
farming  on  the  farm  he  now  owns,  consisting 
of  06  acres  of  well  improved  land.  He  has 
been  \ery  successful  in  life,  and  by  his  indus- 
try and  econcmiical  habits  has  acquired  con- 
siderable property.  In  1863  he  married  Mary, 
daughter  of  John  and  Hannah  Christ,  who 
bore  him  five  children.  Mr.  Cocklin  has  al- 
ways voted  the  Democratic  ticket,  and  has 
held  many  offices  of  trust  in  the  township. 

JOSIAH  CORRELL,  farmer  ;  P.  O.  Can- 
ton ;  is  the  youngest  in  a  family  of  twelve 
children  born  to  John  and  Elizabeth  (Lind) 
Correll,  whose  sketch  appears  in  this  work, 
lie  was  boi  n  in  Plain  Tp.  in  November,  1836. 
His  youth  was  spent  on  the  farm,  and  he  lived 
at  home  until  he  was  24  years  of  age ;  he 
then  farmed  the  homestead  for  a  short  time, 
and  afterward  moved  to  Canton  Tp.,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  farming.  In  1866  he  pur- 
chased the  farm  he  now  lives  on,  in  Plain  Tp., 
and  has  since  resided  there.  In  1862  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  M.  E.,  daughter  of 
David  and  Chiistina  Mentzor,  of  Canton. 
From  that  marriage  there  have  been  five 
children  born,  all  of  whom  are  living.  Mr. 
Correll  is  a  Republican,  and  has  always  been 
identified  with  that  partv. 

GEORGE  DONNER",  farmer;  P.  O.  New 
Berlin;  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  March 
17,  1831,  where  he  lived  until  he  was  4  years 


old,  when  his  parents  came  to  Ohio.  He  lived 
at  home  until  he  was  23  years  of  age,  when  he 
took  the  father's  farm  to  work,  and  remained 
on  the  same  for  five  years.  He  then  bought 
05  acres  in  Wadsworth  Tp.,  Mcidina  Co.,  and 
remained  th(>re  sometime.  He  was  for  a 
short  time  eng.iged  in  farming  in  Michigan. 
In  1874  he  purchased  60  acres  of  land  in 
Plain  Tp.,  and  has  lived  on  the  same  up  to 
the  present  time.  In  18.52  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Mary  Boger,  who  dieil  in  1872. 
In  1874  he  was  married  to  Lydia  Pepple, 
widow  of  Samuel  Roush.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Donner  are  members  of  the  Liitheran  Church. 

LEWIS  ESSIG,  farmer;  P.  O.  Canton. 
Among  the  families  who  settled  in  Plain  Tp., 
in  1806  was  the  Essig  family.  Jacob,  the 
father  of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of  Adams 
Co.,  Pa.,  and  in  1806  came  to  Stark  Co.,  with 
his  parents.  They  settled  on  a  farm  in  Plain 
Tp.,  where  .lacob  worked  at  clearing  the  farm. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Weaver,  who  was  a 
native  of  Hagerstown,  Md.,  and  then  settled 
on  a  farm,  on  Section  21,  and  there  lived 
thirty  years.  His  faithful  wife  died  in  1852, 
after  which  he  n^moved  to  Navarre,  this 
county,  and  thence  to  the  home  of  his  son 
Lewis,  where  he  died  in  1874  at  the  advanced 
age  of  83  years.  He  served  his  country  nobly 
in  the  war  of  1812.  They  were  the  parents 
of  eight  children,  our  subject  Ix-ing  the 
youngest  living.  He  was  born  in  Plain  Tp., 
this  county,  in  December,  1828.  His  youth 
was  spent  on  the  farm,  where  he  remained 
until  he  was  of  age,  21.  He  attended  the 
schools  of  his  neighborhood,  where  he  acquired 
a  good  education.  He  inherited  80  acres 
from  his  father's  estate,  and  there  lived  until 
1872,  when  be  bought  60  acres  where  he  now 
lives.  In  1855  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Mary  J.,  daughter  of  John  Gaff,  of  Plain 
Tp.  From  that  marriage  there  have  been  three 
children,  viz: — Laura,  Ada,  and  Joseph.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Essig  are  consistent  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Church. 

H.  W.  FIRESTONE,  stockraiser  and 
farmer;  P.  O.  Middle  ]3ranch.  The  subject 
of  these  few  lines  was  born  in  Plain  Tp., 
Stark  Co.,  June  3,  1839,  and  is  the  oldest  sur- 
viving child  in  a  family  of  nine  children  born 
to  Henry  and  Mary  (IlofTstot)  Firestone,  who 
were  natives  of  Columbiana  Co.,  O.,  where 
the    father   of  our  subject  was   engaged    in 


:ft 


8S2 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


farming.  In  1830  he  caine  to  Stark  Co.,  set- 
tling on  a  farm  in  Plain  Tp.,  where  he  worked 
faithfully  until  the  body  of  woods  was  cleared, 
and  the  land  producing.  He  lived  on  this 
farm  up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  H.  W., 
our  subject,  spent  his  childhood  on  the  farm, 
and  in  attending  the  schools  of  his  neighbor- 
hood, where  he  acquired  a  liberal  education. 
At  the  age  of  22  he  bogan  farming  on  the 
farm  in  Nimishillon  Tp.,  belonging  to  his 
father.  After  remaining  there  three  years  he 
returned  to  the  old  homestead,  and  a  short 
time  afterward  purchased  it  of  the  heirs;  he 
has  lived  on  the  same  since.  He  has  been 
extensively  engaged  in  sheep-raising  for  sev- 
eral years.  At  the  time  the  Fanner.■^'  Bank 
of  Canton  was  incorporated  he  owned  one- 
fifth  interest  in  it,  and  was  one  of  its  Direct- 
ors. He  was  connected  with  the  institution 
three  and  one-half  years,  when  he  withdrew. 
In  1880  he  associated  himself  with  the  City 
National  Bank  of  Canton,  and  Mr.  Firestone 
was  employed  by  the  Connotton  Valley  Ry. 
Co.,  as  their  timber  agent,  and  has  taken 
great  interest  in  the  building  of  the  same. 
In  1861  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mar- 
garet McDowell,  of  Plain  Tp.  "From  that 
marriage  there  have  been  three  children,  viz: 
Nettie,  Mary  and  Henr3-. 

JACOB  H.  FLORY,  farmer;  P.  O.  Canton, 
was  born  in  York  Co.,  Pa.,  March  20,  1823, 
and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Nancy  (Hoft'man) 
Plory.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  his  neighborhood.  At  the 
age  of  21,  he  took  charge  of  his  father's  farm, 
where  he  remained  four  years,  at  the  expiration 
of  which  time  he  was  presented  with  the  same, 
and  there  remained  until  1805.  He  then 
sold  the  farm  and  came  to  Stark  Co.,  settling 
on  the  farm  he  now  occupies,  consisting  of 
131  acres  of  valuable  laud.  He  bought  the 
mill  property  known  as  the  Everhardt  Mill, 
and  has  been  engaged  in  that  business,  in 
connection  with  his  son,  John  M.  In  1849, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mary  Musser, 
who  was  a  native  of  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa. 
From  that  marriage  there  have  been  six  chil- 
dren, viz. — John  M.,  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Sam- 
uel Bowers  of  Canton  Tp.;  Jacob,  Annie, 
Amanda  and  Milton.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Flory  are 
devout  members  of  the  Church  of  Christ,  hav- 
ing liolonged  to  that  body  for  several  years. 
MISS  ELIZA  GASKINS,  colored;  retired; 


New  Berlin;  is  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Gaskins, 
who  was  born  in  slavery  in  Winchester,  Va., 
in  1792.  He  was  one  of  999  slaves  owned  by 
a  man  who  at  the  time  of  his  death  gave  free- 
dom to  all  slaves  in  his  possession,  with  the 
exception  of  those  under  age,  who  were 
obliged  to  work  in  bondage  until  they  reached 
their  21st  year,  and  in  that  number  Mr.  Gas- 
kins  was  included.  He  then  lived  with  a 
man  who  admired  him  for  his  industry  and 
honesty,  and  after  he  had  attained  the  age  re- 
quired, was  given  a  certain  per  cent  of  the 
proceeds  of  the  farm,  but  after  working  there 
four  years,  he  came  to  Ohio,  settling  in  Plain 
Tp.,  in  1817  on  a  small  piece  of  land.  By  his 
industry  he  increased  his  farm  until  he  owned 
about  375  acres  in  Plain  and  Jackson  Tps. 
He  lived  a  retired  life  for  a  few  years  pre- 
ceding his  death,  and  died  in  1873,  at  the 
age  of  81  years.  He  was  a  man  respected  by 
all  who  knew  him,  for  his  honesty  and  indus- 
try. In  1818  he  married  Hannah  Robinson, 
who  died  in  18G1.  They  were  the  parents  of 
nine  childien,  Eliza  being  the  only  one  living. 
She  was  born  in  Plain  Tp.,  Jan.  17,  1827. 
She  had  always  lived  at  home,  and  at  the  time 
of  Mr.  Gaskins'  death,  fell  heir  to  his  proper- 
ty, and  is  now  living  a  retired  life  in  New 
Berlin.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Church  of 
God. 

GEORGE  HOLTZ,  physician;  New  Ber- 
lin; whose  portrait  appears  in  this  history 
as  one  of  the  selected repiesentatives  of  Plain 
Tp.,  was  born  in  the  township  where  he  now 
resides,  in  1816;  and  is  the  son  of  John  and 
Mary  (Wortsler)  Holtz,  who  were  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  the  parents  of  the  latter  be- 
came residents  of  Plain  Tp.,  as  early  as  ISOG. 
At  the  breaking-out  of  the  war  of  1812,  Jolai 
Holtz  entered  the  service  of  his  country  and 
proved  himself  to  be  a  patriotic  and  gallant 
soldier.  Returning  to  New  Berlin,  he  was 
made  Captain  of  their  home  militia  company. 
He  engaged  in  farming,  at  which  he  con- 
tinued until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
1875,  in  his  84th  year.  The  early  life  of  the 
Doctor  was  spent  on  his  father's  farm.  He 
obtained  his  early  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  that  date,  through  which  he  suc- 
ceeded in  fitting  himself  for  a  teacher,  a  busi- 
ness he  followed  for  about  ten  years  during 
the  winter  season.  He  began  the  study  of 
medicine  in  1844,  and  finished  his  course  of 


PLAIN   TOWNSHIP. 


8S3 


study  at  the  Western  Reserve  College  of 
Hudson,  and  at  Clitvelanil.  He  began  prac- 
tice as  early  as  184:5,  thoui^li  he  did  not 
receive  the  degree  of  an  M.  D.  until  1850. 
He  began  practice  in  New  Berlin,  where  he 
met  with  such  flattering  success   anions  his 


1847  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mary, 
(laughter  of  Christian  Kryder,  one  of  Stark 
Co.'s  early  settlers.  From  that  marriage  there 
have  lieen  three  children — W.  H.,  of  New 
Berlin;  J.  W.,  of  Canton,  and  F.  K.,  of  Kan- 
sas Citv.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hoover  are  members 


native  people  as  to  have  since  remained  with     of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

them.     Much,  perhaps,  of  the  Doctor's  popu-  |       JESSE  HARTER,  dealer  in  farming  im- 


larity  as  a  physician  has  been  gained  liy  his 
humane  and  conscientious  principles  of  prac- 
tice, and  though   he   has  gained  a  fair  compe- 


piements;  New  Berlin.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  born  in  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  in  August, 
1818,  and  is  the  youngest  in  a  family  of  10 


tcncy,    it    has  been    done    by    very  modest     children  born  to   Jacob   and  Mary  (Nowlen_ 
charges  and  a  large  amount  of    gratutitious  i  Harter,  who  were  natives   of   Lancaster  Co., 


practice.  In  1842  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Koontz,  who  bore  him  several  chil- 
dren, one  of  whom  is  living — Miranda,  now  wife 
of  Ephraim  SchatTer,  of  New  Berlin.  Mrs. 
Holtz  died  in  1849,  and  subsequently  the 
Doctor  married  Miss  Maria  Lininger,  who 
died  in  1SG2,  leaving  three  children,  all  of 
whom   are   living.     The   Doctor   has  been  for 


Lutheran  Church,  and  since  1847  has  held  the 
oflSce  of  Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  is  now 
growing  old,  among  a  community  that  has 
known  and  respected  him  for  over  half  a 
centurv. 

DANIEL  HOOVER,  farmer;  P.  0.  New 
Berlin;  was  born  in  Franklin  Co.,  Pcnn.,  Aug. 
3,  1823,  and  is  the  second  in  a  family  of  nine 
children,  born  to  Henry  and  Margaret  Hoover, 
who   were   both    natives  of  the  above  named 


county,  and  came  to  Ohio  in  1827.  He  (Henry)  '•  adjoining  the  village  of  New  Berlin.  In  the 
was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  and  worked  at  the  same  year  (1801)  he  was  employed  by  C. 
same  for  several  years  at  the  time  of  liis  Aultman  &  Co.,  of  Canton,  O.,  as  traveling 
settlement  in  Plain  Tp.,  and  also  worked  on  a  salesman  for  their  works,  and  with  this  Corn- 
farm  of  320  acres,  with  the  determination  of  |  pany  remained  for  several  years.  He  then 
converting  the  forest  into  a  productive  farm,  engaged  with  P.  P.  Mast  &  Co.,  of  Springfield, 
which  he  accomplished  after  many  months  of  Oliio,  with  whom  he  has  done  bu-iiness  since. 


labor.  He  remained  on  this  farm  for  several 
years,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  77 
years  of  age.  Daniel,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  came  to  Plain  Tp.  with  his  j)arents 
when  but  four  years  old;  his  childhood  was 
spent  at  home  on  the  farm,  where  he  re- 
mained until  he  was  23  years  of  age.  At  the 
age  of  10  he  apprenticed  himself  to  the  tan- 
ners' trade,  and  after  a  few  years  he  engaged 
in  the  business,  continuing  in  the  same  until 
1873,  meeting  with  good  success.  In  1853 
he  purchased  a  farm  of  86  acres  on  Sec.  9, 
and  has  lived  there  ever  since,  farming  the 
same  in  addition  to  the  tanning  busim^ss.     In 


Pa.,  and  about  1794  they  removed  to  Centre 
Co.,  where  they  lived  until  1812.  Jacob  was 
engaged  in  farming,  and  in  1812  he  came  to 
Stark  Co.,  settling  on  a  farm  in  Plain  Tp. 
Section  8.  The  first  four  horse  team  driven 
over  the  road  leading  from  Canton  to  Cairo 
was  driven  by  him — he  clearing  the  passage. 
He  settled  upon  a  farm  which  he   cleared  and 


a  number  of  years,  a  consistent  member  of  the  ,  lived  upon  up  to  the  time  of  his  death.     He 


was  a  man  who  took  a  great  interest  in  church 
and  school  matters,  and  delighted  himself  by 
promoting  tlie  interest  of  the  same.  He  died 
in  1850,  at  the  age  of  77  years.  Our  subject's 
early  life  was  spent  on  the  farm  where  he 
lived  until  he  was  20  years  of  age;  he  then 
farmed  his  father's  farm  for  13  years,  meeting 
with  good  success.  He  then  purchased  a 
farm  of  190  acres,  where  he  lived  until  1801, 
he  at  that  time  removinir  to  a  pleasant  home 


with  the  exception  of  a  Hnv  years  when  he  re- 
presented Ludlow  &  Rogers,  of  tlie  latter 
named  city.  Mr.  Harter  is  considered  a 
competent  salesman,  and  has  during  the  last 
twenty  years  represented  the  above  named 
comj)anies  in  every  State  in  the  Union  of  any 
importance  to  the  trade  in  which  he  is  engaged. 
In  1837  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Deborah 
Essig,  of  Plain  Tp.,  and  from  that  marriage 
there  have  been  twelve  children,  eight  of  whom 
are  living. 

H.  W.  HOSSLER,  wagon-maker;  Canton; 
is  a  son  of  George  and  Elizabeth  (Hershev) 
Hossler,  who   were    natives  of  Pennsylvania. 


8S4 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES : 


George  came  to  Ohio  when  but  11  years  of 
age,  and  lived  in  Marlborough  Tp.,  this  county, 
until  he  reached  manhood.  He  worked  at 
the  wagon-maker's  trade  for  several  years, 
then  purchased  a  farm  in  Niniishillen  Tp., 
where  be  lived  four  years.  In  1854  he  bought 
the  farm  where  he  now  lives,  consisting  of 
160  acres  of  valuable  land.  They  were  the 
parents  of  seven  children,  our  subject,  H. 
W.,  being  the  oldest.  He  was  born  in  Stark 
Co.,  O.,  in  1854.  He  attended  the  common 
schools  until  he  was  about  18  years  of  age, 
then  learned  the  wagon-maker's  trade,  and 
worked  at  the  same  up  to  the  present  time. 
In  1875  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Niniishillen 
Tp.,  which  he  rents.  In  1871  he  was  elected 
Justice  of  the  Peace  of  Plain  Tp.,  and  has 
held  the  office  up  to  the  present  time.  He 
has  always  voted  with  the   Democratic  party. 

JOHN  HOFFMAN,  farmer;  P.  O.  Canton; 
is  a  son  of  Jacob  Hoffman,  who  was  a  na- 
tive of  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  engaged 
in  farming,  and  in  1848  came  to  Ohio,  set- 
tling on  a  farm  in  Canton  Tp.,  this  county. 
He  was  a  very  prosperous  tanner,  an  intelli- 
gent man  and  a  good  citizen.  Our  subject, 
John  Hoffman,  was  born  in  Bedford  Co.,  Pa., 
April  30,  1833,  and  came  to  Ohio  with  his 
parents  in  1848.  He  obtained  his  education 
in  the  common  schools  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
at  the  age  of  22  years  began  i'arming  his  fath- 
er's farm,  where  he  remained  four  years.  In 
1861  he  bought  a  farm  of  160  acres,  where  he 
has  since  lived,  with  the  exception  of  two 
years  he  lived  at  Louisville,  Stark  Co.  By 
industry  and  good  management  he  has  accu- 
mulated a  handsome  fortune,  and  now  owns 
371  acres  of  fine  land  in  Plain  and  Nimishil- 
len  townships.  In  1855  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  William 
Bachtel,  of  Canton.  She  died  in  1873,  leav- 
ing four  children,  viz: — David,  Sarah,  the 
wife  of  Henry  Keim;  Jacob  and  William.  Li 
1874  he  married  for  his  second  wife,  Catha- 
rine Thomas,  who  bore  him  two  children. 

W.  H.  HOOVER,  collar  manufacturer  and 
tanner;  New  Berlin;  is  a  son  of  Daniel  Hoov- 
er, whose  sketch  ap])ears  in  this  work.  W.  H. 
was  born  in  Plain  Tp.,  this  county,  in  Au- 
gust, 1849,  he  obtained  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  and  Mt.  Union  College. 
After  leaving  college,  he  returned  to  the  farm, 
and  at  the   age    18  years   he  went  to  work  in 


his  father's  tannery,  where  he  was  employed 
until  1871,  wheti  he  purchased  the  stock  of 
his  father,  and  conducted  the  business  there 
for  two  years.  He  then  purchased  the  tan- 
nery at  New  Berlin,  in  which  he  now  carries 
on  business.  In  1875  he  began  to  manufac- 
ture horse-collars,  and  is  engaged  in  the  same 
at  the  present,  making  the  best  goods  in  that 
part  of  the  State.  In  1871  he  was  married  to 
Susan,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Catharine 
Troxel,  of  Plain  Tp.,  who  bore  four  children. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hoover  are  members  of  the 
Disciples'  Church.  In  politics  he  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  has  always  been  identified  with 
the  party.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fel- 
lows Lodge,  No.  454. 

JAC0i3  HARMAN,  farmer;  P.  O.  Canton; 
was  born  in  Columbiana  Co.,  O.,  Oct.  5,  1812, 
and  is  a  son  of  Fredrick  and  Elizabeth  Har- 
man,  who  came  to  Columbiana  Co.,  in  an  early 
day.  Fredrick  was  a  Lieutenant  in  the  war 
of  1813,  serving  his  country  with  commend- 
able gallantry.  Elizabeth  Shenabarger,  the 
mother  of  Our  subject,  was  born  while  her 
parents  were  crossing  the  ocean  coming  to 
this  country.  They  settled  in  Columbiana 
Co.,  where  I)oth  father  and  mother  died.  Our 
subject  lived  at  home  until  he  was  31  years  of 
age,  when  he  apprenticed  himself  to  the  pot- 
ter's trade,  and  after  serving  three  years  he 
started  in  business,  and  was  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  stone-ware  for  twenty-one 
years.  He  then  built  a  steam  saw-mill,  and 
after  being  engaged  in  the  latter  named  busi- 
ness for  two  years,  removed  to  Stark  Co.,  set- 
tling in  Plain  Tp.,  on  145  acres,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  In  1837  he  married  Annie, 
daughter  of  Abram  Shellenbarger,  of  Colum- 
biana Co.  From  that  marriage  there  have 
been  ten  children,  seven  of  whom  are  living, 
namely — Rachel,  Harriet,  Ellen,  Elizabeth, 
Lovina,  Almira  and  John.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Harmun  are  memliers  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

H.  H.  UOUSEL,  farmer  ;  P.  O.  Middle 
Branch.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born 
in  Plain  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  0.,  xAugust,  1840,  and 
is  the  son  of  Anthony  and  Mary  (Hoover) 
Ilousel.  Anthony  Housel  was  a  native  of 
Union  Co.,  Pa.,  and  came  to  Stark  Co.  with 
his  parents  in  1813  ;  the  year  following,  he 
returned  to  his  native  StaU;,  and  there  remain- 
ed two  years,  being  engaged  in  farming  ;  in 
1814  he   returned  to  Plain   Tp.,   and   settled 


PLAIN   TOWNSHIP. 


S85 


on  a  farm  of  240  acres,  where  he  lived  up  to 
the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  a  prominent 
man,  holiliiisr  many  offices  of  trust.  He  died 
in  ISO!),  at  tlie  age  of  87  years  ;  Mrs.  Hovisol 
died  in  18.5:^,  aged  56  years.  Oiu'  subject's 
early  life  was  spent  on  the  farm  and  in  ob- 
taining a  common  school  education.  At  the 
an-o  of  21  he  began  farming  the  homestead, 
which  he  now  owns.  In  186-1  he  entered  the 
United  States  service  as  a  Captain  in  th(^  l(J2d 
Regiment  O.  N.  G.,  and  was  out  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  In  18()5  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Elinira,  daughter  of  Henry  Fire- 
stone, of  Plain  Tp.,  and  from  that  marriage 
there  are  three  children.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.  r^odge,  No.  60,  Canton,  and 
has  always  been  i<lentified  with  the  Republi- 
can party. 

.M.  J.  HOLTZ,  farmer;  P.  O.  Middle 
Branch  ;  is  a  son  of  .lohn  and  Mary  Holtz, 
whose  sketch  appears  with  that  of  Dr.  Holtz. 
Our  subject  was  born  in  Plain  Tp.,  Stark  Co., 
O.,  June  23.  1827.  He  attended  the  common 
schools  of  his  neighborhood,  where  he  obtain- 
ed a  liberal  education.  He  remained  at  home 
on  the  farm  until  he  was  25  years  of  age. 
He  then  commenced  farming  the  homestead, 
where  he  remained  for  several  years,  farming 
for  a  certain  per  cent  of  the  proceeds,  and  at 
the  time  of  his  father's  death  was  working 
thus  ;  he  now  owns  130  acres  of  valuable 
land.  In  September,  1851,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Emily,  daughter  of  David  Fol- 
som,  of  Ashtabula  Co.  From  that  marriage 
there  have  been  born  four  children,  three  of 
whom  are  living — Eli^sta  A.,  wife  of  .lames 
M.  S])angler,  of  Plain  Tp.;  Francis  M.  and 
Miiuiie  A.,  at  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holtz  are 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  Mr.  Holtz 
has  alwavs  voted  with  the  Democratic  party. 

JACOB  HOLE,  farmer;  P.  O.  New  Berlin; 
is  the  third  in  a  family  of  eight  children,  born 
to  Daniel  and  Barbara  (Leil))  Holl,  who  were 
natives  of  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  where  Daniel 
was  engaged  in  farming  the  greater  part  of 
his  life.  In  1832  he  came  to  Stark  Co.,  sr>t- 
tling  on  a  farm  of  160  acres  in  Plain  Tp 
He  there  remained  until  1859,  when  he  set- 
tled on  a  small  farm,  and  there  lived  until 
1870,  when  he  departed  this  life  at  the  age  of 
75  years.  His  widow  survives  him,  and  is 
living  in  New  Berlin.  Jacob,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  born  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  in 


1824.  His  childhood  was  spent  at  home,  and 
in  1832  he  came  to  Plain  Tp.,  with  his  par- 
ents, where  he  attended  the  schools  of  the 
neighborhood,  and  received  a  liberal  educa- 
tion, and  also  taught  for  several  years.  In 
1848  he  began  life  fur  himself;  he  first  farmed 
the  old  homestead  for  ten  years,  and  finally 
purchased  100  acres  of  the  same,  wh(!re  he 
remained  several  years;  afterward  purchasing 
the  80  acre  farm  where  he  now  resides.  In 
1847  he  married  Rachel  Sell,  of  Lake  Tp., 
who  bore  him  three  children,  two  of  whom 
are  living.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holl  are  members 
of  the  German    Reformed  Church. 

JOHN  HILL,  retired  merchant;  Middle 
Branch;  was  born  in  Baltimore  Co.,  Md., 
May  1,  1816.  His  youth  was  spent  on  the 
farm  of  his  father,  Richard  Ilill,  who  came  to 
Stark  Co.  in  1818.  Young  Hill  lived  at  home 
until  he  was  21  years  of  age.  He  then  began 
to  work  at  the  shoemaker's  trade,  and  worked 
at  the  same  business  for  several  years.  In 
1839  he  took  charge  of  a  dry  goods  store  in 
New  Berlin,  for  a  Canton  merchant.  This 
lasted  but  bne  year.  The  following  year  he 
began  business  for  himself,  and  continued  for 
three  years.  He  then  built  the  New  Berlin 
hotel,  and  was  engaged  in  farming.  He  re- 
moved to  Middle  Branch,  and  was  engaged  in 
mercantile  pursuits  for  about  eight  vears.  In 
1881  he  removed  one-half  miie  north  to  the 
village  of  Middle  Branch,  the  post-office  be- 
ing removed  at  that  time.  In  1841  he  mar- 
ried Margaret  Smith,  who  bore  him  eight 
childrin,  of  whom  the  following  are  living, 
viz  : — John  S.,  George  W.,  Vincent  and 
Lewis  L.  The  last  named  three  are  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  business  at  Middle  Branch, 
and  the  vounirest  son,  J.  B.,  is  in  Canton. 

CLAYTON  HOLL,  coal  and  lime  opera- 
tor and  farmer;  P.  O.  New  Berlin;  is  a  son 
of  Jacob  and  Rachel  Holl,  whose  sketch  ap- 
pears in  this  work.  Clayton  was  born  in 
Plain  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  April  4, 1849.  He 
attended  the  common  schools  and  the  Grecns- 
bnrg  Academy,  where  he  procured  a  gfiod 
education,  after  which  he  returned  to  the  old 
homestead,  where  he  remained  until  he  was 
25  3'ears  of  age.  He  then  purchased  50  acres 
of  land,  where  he  now  resides,  th  '  land  being 
made  valuable  by  the  amount  of  coal  and 
limestone  it  contains,  which  Mr.  Holl,  for  the 
last  few  years,  has  been  developing  quite  ex- 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 


tensively.  In  1874  he  was  united  in.  mar- 
riage to  Samantha  J.,  daughter  of  David  Hess, 
of  Stark  Co.  From  that  marriage  there  have 
been  horn  four  children. 

DAVID  KUTZNER,  farmer;  P.  O.  Cairo; 
is  the  eldest  in  a  family  of  six  children,  born 
to  Isaac  and  Mary  Kut/ner,  v^ho  were  natives 
of  Franklin  Co.,  Pa.,  where  Isaac  was  engaged 
in  the  distilling  business.  In  1823  he  came 
to  Stark  Co.,  settling  on  a  farm  in  Plain  Tp., 
where  he  lived  until  18.52,  when  he  removed 
to  Di.'Kalb  Co.,  Iiid.,  where  he  and  his  wife 
both  live.  David,  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Franklin  Co.,  Pa.,  June,  1821,  and  in  183-3 
came  to  Plain  Tp.  with  his  parents,  with 
whom  he  lived  until  he  was  24  years  of  age. 
He  then  purchased  a  farm  of  160  acres,  where 
he  lived  19  j^ears,  and  in  1868  he  purchased 
the  farm  he  now  lives  on.  Mr.  Kutzner  has 
been  a  hard-working  man,  and  by  his  indus- 
try and  economical  habits  has  secured  consid- 
erable property.  In  1845  he  was  married  to 
Annie,  daughter  of  Henry  Hoover,  of  Plain 
Tp.,  and  from  that  marriage  there  have  been 
four  children,  three  of  whom  are  living,  viz.: 
Mary,  widow  of  J.  J.  Smith;  Calvin,  and  Ida, 
wife  of  Edward  Wise;  Calvin,  the  only  son, 
remains  on  the  farm  with  his  parents.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  K.  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church. 

JOSEPH  KIJNKER,  farmer;  P.  O.  Can- 
ton. This  gentleman  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Sarah  (I^awrence)  Klinker,  who  were  natives 
of  Northampton  Co.,  Pa.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  eight  children  ;  our  subject  being  the 
sixth,  was  born  in  Northampton  Co.,  Pa., 
Aug.  13,  1822.  He  received  a  common 
school  education,  and  at  ihe  age  of  5  years 
he  went  to  live  with  his  grandfather,  after  his 
father's  death,  and  with  him  remained  until 
his  mother  again  married;  he  then  lived  with 
his  stepfather  until  1844,  when  he  came  to 
Stark  Co.,  Ohio.  He  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade  and  worked  at  the  same  for  several 
years,  when  he  purchased  a  small  farm  of  30 
acres  in  Pike  Tp.,  where  he  remained  two 
years  ;  thence  to  Perry  Tp.,  where  he  lived 
eleven  years,  and  in  1867  he  bought  the  farm 
where  he  now  lives.  Mr.  Klinker  commenced 
life  a  poor  boy,  and  by  diligence  and  econ- 
omy has  become  one  of  Plain  Township's  most 
successful  farmers.  In  1850  he  was  unite<l  in 
marriage  to  Catharine    Kryder,   an  estimable 


lady,  who  bore  him  five  children — Theodore, 
Sarah,  Emma,  M'^arren  and  Joseph.  Mr. 
Klinker  has  always  voted  the  Democratic 
ticket. 

L.  W.  KAMP,  farmer;  P.  O.  Middle 
Branch;  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Sarah  (Frey- 
berger)  Kamp,  who  were  natives  of  the  Key- 
stone State.  Jacob  came  from  Union  Co., 
Pa.,  to  Stark  Co..  at  any  early  date,  and  lived 
at  home  with  his  parents  until  he  reached 
manhood,  when  he  began  life  for  himself  as  a 
farmer,  in  Lake  Tp.,  where  he  lived  several 
years.  He  was  a  man  of  great  ambition,  and 
not  being  satisfied  with  the  ailvantages  of 
Lake  Tp.,  removed  to  DeKalb  Co.,  Ind.,  where 
he  lived  until  1867 — dying  at  that  time  at  an 
advanced  age.  Our  subject  was  born  in  Lake 
Tp.,  Starke  Co.,  O.,  in  November,  1827;  his 
youth  was  spent  on  the  farm,  where  he  re- 
mained until  he  was  18  years  of  age.  He 
then  worked  by  the  month  for  several  years, 
and  by  his  economical  habits  accumulated 
means  sufficient  to  enable  him  to  purchase  the 
100  acre  farm  in  Lake  Tp.,  where  he  lived 
until  1864,  when  he  bought  and  settled  on  the 
farm  where  he  now  resides  In  1851  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Mary  Kahler,  a  native 
of  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.  From  that  marriage 
there  have  been  eleven  children  born,  six  of 
wlioin  are  living — John,  Sarah  C,  Milton,  Lib- 
bie,  William,  and  Cora  C.  Mr.  Kamp  has  al- 
ways been  identified  with  the  Democratic 
party. 

PETER  LOUTZENHEISER,  farmer  ;  P. 
O.  Canton.  This  venerable  pioneer  of  Stark 
Co.,  and  whose  portrait  appears  in  this  work, 
was  born  in  Beaver  Co.,  now  Lawrence  Co., 
Pa.,  April  13,  1800,  and  is  the  third  in  a  family 
of  nine  children  born  to  Jacob  and  Elizabeth 
(Weaver)  Loutzenheiser,  who  were  natives  of 
the  Keystone  State.  Jacob  was  a  carpenter 
by  trade,  and  worked  at  the  same  for  several 
years  previous  to  coming  to  Ohio,  in  connec- 
tion with  running  a  small  grist-mill,  which 
was  operated  by  his  wife  in  his  absence.  In 
1806  they  came  to  Stark  Co.,  settling  on  Sec- 
tion .34  in  Plain  Tp.,  there  being  but  two  oth- 
er families  of  whites  in  the  township  at  that 
time.  The  Indians  were  numerous,  and  very 
frequently  surrounded  the  Loutzenheiser  cab- 
in, so  attached  were  they  to  the  family.  Ja- 
cob was  the  first  Justice  of  the  Peace  ever 
in  Stark  Co.     He  died  in  1810,  and  his  widow 


aT. 


PLAIN    TOWK.SIIIP. 


887 


!ii  1812.  Peter,  the  subject  of  tliis  sketoli, 
V.  .1-  to  Ohio  when  but  6  j'ears  ol"  age  ;  his 
i-.iildhood  vv;is  spent  in  the  woods  of  Plain 
Tp.,  and  at  tin-  age  of  1-1  lie  Avas  apprenticed 
to  the  s!i  icmaker's  tra<le,  serving  tluee  years 
apprenticeship,  at  which  trade  he  worked  sev- 
en years.  In  1S24  he  commenced  farming 
the  old  homestead,  wiu're  he  remained  until 
1833  ;  he  then  removed  to  the  place  where  he 
now  lives,  lie  has  owned  several  liundied 
acies  of  land,  which  he  disposed  of  as  he  ap- 
proached old  age.  He  served  as  Associate 
Judge  of  Stark  Co.  for  two  terms,  and  Justice 
of  the  Peace  for  over  twenty  consecutive 
years,  filling  both  positions  with  the  best  of 
s;i;isfactioM.  He  was  elected  President  of  the 
SUirkCo.  Pioneer x\ssociaiion,  still  having  the 
honor  of  being  a  resident  ol"  S  ark  Co.  longer 
tiian  any  other  man  therein.  In  IS'23  he  uni- 
ted in  marriage  with  Reljecca  Kiinmel,  who 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  from  that 
marriage  there  have  been  eleven  children, 
nine  of  whom  are  living,  viz  : — William,  .Ja- 
cob, Joseph,  George,  John,  Hannah,  Peter  V. 
B.,  Amanda  and  Rebecca.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Loutzenheisor  are  members  of  the  German 
Reformed  Church.  He  has  been  a  life-long 
Democrat,  and  has  held  many  offices  of  trust 
in  the  county  and  township. 

BENJAMIN  LEHITY,  coverlet-weaver;  P. 
O.  New  Berlin;  was  born  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa., 
Aug.  30,  1811.  His  parents,  John  and  Mary 
Bassler)  Leihty,  were  natives  of  Switzerland, 
and  came  to  the  Keystone  State,  where  the 
father  was  engaged  in  farming,  and  there  lived 
up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  Our  subject  spent 
his  youth  on  the  farm,  and  obtained  his  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools.  At  the  age  of 
17,  he  was  a])prenticed  to  a  coverlet- weaver 
to  learn  the  trade,  anel  served  two  years  at  the 
same.  He  then  worked  at  the  trade  for  two 
years,  and  in  1832  came  to  Ohio,  settling  in 
Stark  Co.,  and  aft<'r  remaining  there  three 
years  removed  to  Bristol,  and  was  there  about 
nine  years.  During  this  time  he  had  started 
a  shop,  and  emploj'ing  several  men.  He  then 
settled  on  a  farm  in  Jackson  Tp.,  and  re- 
mained on  the  same  until  1861,  when  ho  re- 
moved to  New  Berlin,  and  has  remained  there 
ever  since.  In  1836  he  was  married  to  Sarah, 
daughter  of  Samuel  Schlott,  of  Lancaster  Co., 
Pa.  She  died  in  18.58,  and  he  soon  after  mar- 
ried Susan   Myers,   of  Canton  Tp.     From  the 


first  marriage  there  were  five  sons,  three  of 
wiiom  are  living — Daniel,  a  physician;  W.  H., 
and  Jacob,  all  residents  of  Illinois.  The  five 
sons  enlisted,  the  oldest  one  being  pronioted 
to  First  Lieutenant,  and  died  in  New  Or- 
leans. From  the  second  marriage  there  are 
two  daughters.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leiiity  are 
members  n'  the  Evangelical  Church. 

WILLIAM  LESH,  retired;  P.  O.  New 
Berlin;  was  born  in  York  Co.,  Pa., Dec.  1,  1813, 
and  came  to  Ohio  with  his  p^^rents  when  but 
3  months  old.  He  obtainci  his  eduf-ation  in 
the  common  schools,  which  in  those  days 
afforded  but  poor  opjiortunities  of  receiving  an 
education  of  much  advantage.  He  lived  at 
home  on  the  farm  until  he  was  21  years  of  age, 
when  he  went  to  work  in  Niniishillen  Tp., 
and  after  working  at  shingle-ni:il;iiig  for  sev- 
eral years,  he  bought  a  farm  in  the  same  town- 
ship, where  he  lived  several  years,  when  he 
bought  another  farm,  and  there  remained  until 
1875,  when  he  removed  to  New  Berlin,  where 
he  still  resides.  He  owns  two  valuable  farms 
and  considerable  town  propirty.  In  1838 
he  married  Catharine  A.  Young,  of  Canton, 
and  from  that  marriage  there  were  four  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  are  living.  Mrs.  l/csh  died 
in  1846.  For  his  second  wife  he  married 
Sarah  Schlott,  of  New  Berlin,  who  died  in 
1873;  she  bore  him  three  chihlren.  He  mar- 
ried for  his  third  wife,  Mary,  widow  of  William 
Shook,  of  Pennsj'lvania.  Mr.  Lesh  is  a  mem- 
ber of  tlu!  Reformed  Church,  and  Mrs.  Lesh 
of  the  Disciples. 

JAMES  McDowell,  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser;  P.  O.  Canton.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch,  and  whose  portrait  apjjcars  in  this  his- 
tory, as  a  representative  pioneer  of  Plain  Tp., 
was  born  in  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  Sept.  9, 1809, 
and  was  the  fourth  child  of  a  fainil}'  of  five 
children,  born  to  James  and  Elizabeth 
(Kearns)  McDowell,  who  were  of  Scotch  par- 
entage, though  they  were  born  in  the  North 
of  Ireland.  They  remained  residents  of  their 
native  land  until  1802,  in  which  year  they 
were  married,  and  -shortly  after  this  event 
emigrated  to  America  and  settled  in  Cumber- 
land Co.,  Pa.  They  remained  in  that  State 
until  1820,  and  then  came  to  Stark  Co.,  and 
and  settled  in  Tuscarawas  Tp.,  where  they 
resided  for  three  years,  and  then  removed  to 
Richland  Co.,  Ohio,  where  the}'  resided  until 
their  death,  his  occuring  in   1843,  his  widow 


sss 


BiOGRAPIilCAL    SKETCHES: 


surviving  him  until  185G.  In  18"?0  .J;\nios 
came  to  Stark  Co.  -with  his  parents;  he  was 
then  a  lail  of  about  11  years  of  age.  At  14  he 
was  emjiloyed  as  assistant  shepherd  by  W.  R. 
Dickinson,  one  of  the  most  successful  sto<'k- 
raisers  in  Northern  Ohio.  This  occupation 
prevented  his  attending  scliool,  and  to  im- 
prove the  time  he  carried  books  and  papers 
with  him  and  spent  his  sjiare  moments  in  study. 
He  soon  picked  up  a  thorough  and  prac- 
tical knowledge  of  sheep-raising,  which,  in  af- 
ter years  proved  of  great  advantage  to  him, 
aiid  has  been  largely  conducive  to  his  success. 
Proving  himself  to  be  worthy  of  confidence,  he 
was  soon  given  the  care  of  a  large  flock,  and 
for  fourteen  years  from  the  time  of  his  engage- 
ment as  assistant  shepherd,  he  remained  in 
the  business,  in  the  employ  of  Mr.  W.  R. 
Dickinson,  and  Mr.  Adam  Hildenbrand. 
During  this  time  he  had  accumulated  some 
capital,  and  in  1836  bought  320  acres  of  land 
in  Jackson  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  selling  the  same 
six  months  after  at  an  advance  of  $2, 700.  He 
then  bought  100  acres  of  the  farm  where  he 
now  resides,  and  soon  after  added  to  it  200 
acres  more,  the  whole  of  which  now  comprises 
one  of  the  finest  improved  places  in  Plain  Tp. 
The  stock  of  shi'cp  owned  by  Mr.  W.  R. 
Dickinson,  were  of  the  original  Spanish  im- 
portation, made  by  Col.  Humphre}'  in  1802. 
When  Mr.  Adam  Hildenbrand  became  owner 
of  these  flocks,  Mr.  McDowell  took  charge  of 
them  for  him,  and  when  he  quit  the  employ  of 
Mr.  Hildenbrand,  he  purchased  and  placed 
upon  his  new  farm  some  of  the  finest  pure 
bloods  of  the  flock;  and  though  since  then  he 
has  usually  kept  a  flock  of  from  four  to  five 
hundred  head,  his  aim  and  object  has  been  to 
keep  fine,  pure-blooded  stock  rather  than  an 
extensive  flock  of  an  inferior  bree  d.  His 
name  and  reputation  as  a  breeder  of  fine 
sheep  is  the  best  proof  of  his  success.  He 
took  an  early  and  active  part  in  political  afi'airs, 
espousing  the  cause  of  the  Republican  party 
upon  its  organization ;  he  has  remained  firm 
in  adhering  to  the  principles  of  his  faith.  He 
early  took  an  active  part  in  the  advancement 
of  the  schools  of  Plain  Tp.,  and  their  success 
in  later  years  has  well  repaid  his  efi'orts,  not 
only  in  the  advantages  derived  by  his  own 
children,  but  in  the  satisfaction  of  having  aid- 
ed in  placing  Plain  Tp.,  among  the  first  in 
the  county  in  her  school  sj'stem.     In  1874  he 


joined  in  the  o-'-mizntion  of  the  Farmers' 
Bank,  of  Canton,  iti  ^^!lioll  he  is  a  stockholder, 
and  one  of  the  directors.  His  son,  Thomas 
C,  has  been  cashier  of  this  linnk  since  1874. 
In  1835,  he  was  married  to  E'iza,  daugiiter 
of  Michael  Hildenbrand,  of  Jackson  Tji.,  who 
was  prominent  among  the  early  pioi.esrs  of 
the  county.  Mrs.  McDowell's  death  occurred 
in  1867,  "in  her  55th  year.  Mr.  McDowell 
still  resides  on  the  old  home  farm,  which 
long  years  of  pride  and  good  management 
have  made  a  beautiful  country  home,  and  in 
which  he  is  jieacefuUv  and  oonlenl<^i!ly  enjoy- 
ing the  fruits  of  his  early  economy  and  in- 
dustry. 

JACOB  S.  MILLER,  farmer;  P.  O.  Cairo; 
is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Julia  A.  Miller,  who 
were  natives  of  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  and  came 
to  Stark  Co.  in  1820,  and  settled  on  a  f:*rm  in 
Lake  Tp.,  where  Mr.  Miller  was  engaged  in 
farming  and  working  at  his  trade,  it  being 
that  of  a  stone-mason.  After  remaining  in 
Lake  Tp.  ten  3'ears,  he  removed  to  Portage 
Co.,  where  he  died.  He  was  twice  married; 
his  widow  lived  until  1877.  Jacob  S.,  our 
subject,  was  born  in  Lake  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  O., 
in  1840.  He  obtained  a  common  school  edu- 
cation, and  when  15  years  of  age  began  learn- 
ing the  carpenter's  trade,  working  at  the  same 
for  five  years,  after  which  he  went  to  farming, 
and  has  been  engaged  in  farming  up  to  the 
present  time.  In  1880  he  erected  a  saw-mill 
on  his  farm,  and  has  been  engaged  in  sawing 
in  connection  with  farming.  In  1860  he  was 
vmited  in  marriage  to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
J.  H.  Bair,  of  Plain  Tp.,  and  from  that  mar- 
riage there  were  ten  children,  all  of  whom  are 
living  at  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  are 
members  of  the  German  Reformed  Church. 

SOLOMON  M.  MILLER,  distiller;  P.  O. 
Cairo;  is  a  son  of  Abiaham  Miller,  who  was  a 
native  of  Huntington  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  farming.  In  1812  he  came  to  Ohio, 
and  settled  in  Plain  Tp.,  on  160  acres  of  land. 
He  was  one  of  the  first  officers  of  Plain  Tp. 
He  continued  farming  u]i  to  the  time  of  his 
death.  Solomon,  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Plain  Tp.,  Sept.  23,  1832.  He  lived  at  home 
on  the  farm  until  he  was  25  years  of  age. 
He  then  took  charge  of  his  father's  farm,  and 
four  years  after  he  bought  80  acres,  where  he 
has  lived  ever  since.  In  1850  he  engaged  in 
the  distilling  business,  and  has  been  engaged 


r 


.t 


PLAIN  TOWNSHIP. 


889 


in  the  same  up  to  the  present  time.  He  has 
been  very  successful  in  his  business  pursuits. 
He  now  owns  180  acres  of  valuable  land,  and 
the  Summer  Hotel  at  Congress  Lake.  In 
1847  he  was  married  to  Eliza  Bishop,  of  Lake 
Tp.,  who  died  in  18G3,  leaving  three  child- 
ren, viz: — L.  Artilda,  wife  of  William  "Wise; 
Jemima,  wife  of  George  Lamberson,  of  Sum- 
mit Co.,  and  Nathaniel,  at  home.  In  1872  ho 
married  Ilcttie,  the  widow  of  John  Gebble,  of 
Plain  Tp. 

J.  S.  -MILLER,  farmer;  P.  O.  Cairo  ;  is  a 
son  of  Henry  and  Julia  A.  Miller,  who  were 
natives  of  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  where  Henry 
worked  at  the  stone-mason's  trade.  In  the 
year  1820  he  caine  to  Ohio,  settling  on  a  small 
farm  in  Plain  Tp.,  this  Co.,  where  he  lived  ten 
years,  then  removing  to  Lake  Tp.,  where  he 
remained  about  the  same  length  of  time.  He 
then  removed  to  Randolph,  Portage  Co., 
where  he  died  at  the  age  of  54  years.  He  was 
twice  married,  J.  S.  being  the  third  in  a  fam- 
ily of  five  children,  born  of  the  last  marriage. 
Our  subject  was  born  in  Lake  Tp.,  Stark  Co., 
April  10,  1840;  his  childhood  was  spent  on  the 
farm,  where  he  received  a  common  school  ed- 
ucation, and  at  the  age  of  15  years  was  ap- 
prenticed to  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  worked 
five  years  at  the  same  after  serving  his  appren- 
ticeship. In  1800  he  purcluised  a  farm  of  70 
acres,  where  he  had  lived  for  several  years  pre- 
vious to  the  purchase.  Mr.  Miller  has  been 
engaged  in  the  saw-Mill  business,  and  had  fol- 
lowed threshing  for  twenty  years.  In  1800  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Elizebeth, 
daughter  of  J.  H.  Bair.  From  that  marriage 
there  have  been  ten  children  born,  all  living 
at  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  are  members 
of  the  German  Reformed  Church. 

CHARLES  MARTIN,  rope-maker  and  far- 
mer; P.  O.  Canton ;  is  a  son  of  George  and  Cath- 
arine (Kroft)  Martin,  who  were  natives  of  Lan- 
caster Co..  Pa.,  where  George  was  engaged  in 
rop(  -makinir  up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  He 
was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  serving 
manfully  throughout  the  war.  He  died  in 
1824,  aged  00  years;  his  widow  survived  him 
several  years.  They  were  the  parents  of 
eight  children,  Charles,  our  subject  being  the 
youngest.  He  was  born  in  Lancaster  Co., 
Pa.,  July  20,  1823.  He  lived  with  his  wid- 
owed mother  until  he  was  10  years  old;  he 
then  left  home  for  the  purpose  of  learning  the 


printer's  trade,  at  which  he  worked  a  short 
time,  and  then  learned  the  rope-maker's  trade, 
and  has  worked  at  the  same  ever  since  in 
Stark  Co.,  as  his  mother  moved  here  in  1831. 
He  has  been  very  successful  at  his  trade,  and 
has  accumulated  a  handsome  recompense  for 
his  diligent  working.  In  1872  he  bought 
and  settled  on  83  acres  of  valuable  land  two 
miles  north  of  Canton,  and  has  remained  there 
ever  since.  In  1844  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Delilah,  daughter  of  John  Smith,  of  Stark 
Co.  From  that  marriage  there  have  been  five 
children,  two  of  whom  are  living — William 
and  Mary.  Mr.  Martin  has  alwaj's  been  iden- 
tifie<l  with  the  Democratic  party. 

WILLIAM  J.  MATHIE,  farmer;  P.  O. 
New  Berlin.  Peter  and  Susan  Mathic,  the 
parents  of  our  subject,  were  natives  of  Paris, 
France,  and  came  to  Stark  Co.,  O.,  at  an 
early  day.  Upon  their  arrival  in  Stark  Co., 
they  purchased  a  farm  in  Plain  Tp.,  and  there 
lived  until  1853,  removing  at  that  time  to 
Lawrence  Tp.,  this  county,  where  they  settled 
on  a  farm,  and  there  remained  until  he  died. 
His  father  was  one  of  the  soldiers  of  the  great 
Napoleon,  and  fought  in  the  battles  in  which 
Napoleon  figured  so  conspicuously.  William 
J.,  our  subject,  was  born  in  Stark  Co.,  O.,  .Ian. 
31,  1841,  his  youth  being  siient  on  the  farm, 
where  he  remained  until  he  was  24  years  of 
age,  when  he  left  home  and  began  life  for 
himself,  first  engaging  in  farming  and  thresh- 
ing, which  he  followed  for  several  years.  In 
1873  he  purchased  108  acres  of  well  improved 
land,  where  he  still  resides.  In  1805  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Eliza  Hershey,  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania.  From  that  union  there  have 
been  born  seven  children,  three  of  whom  are 
living,  viz.:  Enos,  Clara  and  Eva  G.;  Olivia, 
.Jesse,  Emma  and  Viola,  are  the  names  of  the 
ones  deceased.  Mr.  Mathie  is  a  Democrat, 
and  has  held  many  offices  of  trust  with  the 
best  of  satis!'aetIon. 

M.  T.  MEYER,  farmer;  P.  O.  Canton  ;  is 
a  son  of  Juilge  S.  Meyer,  of  Canton,  whose 
sketch  appears  in  this  work.  Our  subject  was 
born  in  Canton  in  April,  1842  ;  he  received 
his  educati'in  in  the  Union  schools  of  that 
city  and  Bacon's  C(  mnvrcial  College.  In 
April,  1801,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  F,  4th  Regi- 
ment, O.  V.  1.,  as  a  private,  and  in  October 
of  the  same  year  he  was  promoted  to  First 
Lieutenant  of  Co.  I,  64th  Regiment,  O.  V.  I., 


^ 


S2: 


,k 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


by  Gov.  Deiinison,  holding  that  position 
for  two  years,  and  was  in  many  fierce  engage- 
ments. He  resigned  his  commission  and  re- 
turned home,  and  worked  for  five  years  in 
the  Aultman,  Miller  &  Co.  works  of  that  city. 
In  1872  he  settled  on  a  farm  of  108  acres, 
where  he  now  resides.  In  1867  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Lucinda,  daughter  of  William 
Williams,  of  Canton,  and  from  that  marriage 
there  have  been  born  three  children.  Mr. 
Meyer  has  always  been  identified  with  the 
Rejiublican  partv. 

OBED  OBEKLIN,  farmer;  P.  O.  Middh^ 
Branch;  is  a  son  of  John  and  Susan  (Sharp) 
Oberlin,  who  were  natives  of  I,aiicaster  Co., 
Pa.,  where  they  were  engaged  in  farming. 
Obed  was  born  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  in  1828, 
wliere  he  sjient  his  childhood,  roeoiving  a 
common  school  education,  and  in  1853  came 
to  Ohio,  settling  on  a  farm  in  Plain  Tp.,  and 
after  running  this  farm  a  few  years,  he  re- 
moved to  Green  Tp.,  Summit  Co.,  and  there 
remained  three  years.  He  returned  to  Plain 
Tp.,  and  purchased  the  Grist  mill  known  as 
the  Centre  Mill,  and  for  nine  years  he  was 
engaged  in  the  milling  business.  In  1866  he 
bought  and  settled  on  a  farm  of  150  acres, 
where  he  still  lives.  In  1850  he  married  Cath- 
arine Smith,  who  bore  him  eleven  children. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oberlin  are  members  of  the  Luth- 
eran Church.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican, 
and  has  always  voted  the  Republican  ticket. 

ANDREW  PONTIUS,  farmer;  P.  O.  Can- 
ton; whose  portrait  appears  in  this  history  as 
a  representative  of  Plain  Tp.'s  leading  citi- 
zens, is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Rebecca  (Essig) 
Pontius,  who  were  natives  of  the  Keystone 
State.  Jacob  was  born  in  Union  Co.,  and  in 
1816  he  came  to  Stark  Co.,  with  his  parents, 
who  settled  in  Plain  Tp.  He  obtained  his  ed- 
ucation in  the  common  schools,  and  was  en- 
g-aged  in  farming  up  to  the  time  of  his  death. 
His  widow  survives  him,  and  is  living  with 
her  son,  Andrew  Pontius,  in  Plain  Tp.  They 
were  the  parents  of  three  children,  our  subject 
being  the  second.  He  was  born  in  Plain  Tp., 
Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  Aug.  23,  1829.  At  the  age 
of  3  years  his  father  died,  and  his  early  train- 
ing and  education  was  dependent  on  his 
mother  and  grandfather.  He  lived  with  the 
latter  until  ho  was  20  years  of  age,  and  one 
year  later  he  settled  on  a  farm,  where  he  lived 
until   1881,  when   he   purchased    the    Monnin 


farm,  now  known  by  the  name  of  Mt.  Ver- 
non farm,  which  he  has  imp-oved  extensively 
since  the  purchase.  Mr.  Pontius  is  a  man 
who  by  honesty  and  integrity  has  become  one 
of  Staik  Co.'s  foremost  men.  He  was  Deputy 
Treasurer  of  the  County  for  several  years; 
President  of  the  Agricultural  Society  for  4 
years,  and  much  of  the  prosperity  of  the  so- 
ciety is  due  to  his  energy  and  push.  He  has 
also  been  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  15  years.  In 
1850  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Sarah  J.  Cor- 
rell  of  Plain  Tp.  From  that  marriage  there 
has  been  seven  chililren,  as  follows:  Lorin  W., 
.Jackson  W.,  Glancy  C,  Lucy  M.,  Chas.  A., 
Willie  J.,  and  Rebecca  E.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Pontius  are  consistent  members  of  the  Luther- 
an Chui'ch. 

JOHN  PONTIUS,  farmer,  P.  O.  Canton. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch,  whose  portrait  ap- 
pears in  this  work  as  a  repres  ntative  of  Plain 
Tp.,  was  born  in  Plain  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio, 
in  August,  1827,  and  is  the  oldest  of  a  family 
of  three  children,  born  to  Jacob  and  Rebecca 
(Essig)  Pontius,  who  were  natives  of  the  State 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  settled  in  Plain  Tp.  while 
it  was  a  wilderness.  Jacob,  who  was  the 
youngest  of  a  family  of  four  children  born 
to  Frederick  and  Margaret  Pontius,  came  to 
Plain  Tp.  in  1816;  his  life  was  that  of  a 
farmer,  and  he  underwent  many  hardships 
and  privations  incident  to  pioneer  life.  He 
was  married  to  Rebecca  Essig  in  1S25,  and 
died  in  1833  at  the  age  of  30  years;  his  widow 
still  survives  him  and  is  living  with  her  son, 
Andrew  Pontius.  Our  subject's  early  life 
was  sjjent  on  the  farm  where  ho  remained 
until  he  was  married.  He  received  a  com- 
mon school  education  and  farmed  the  old 
homestead  for  one  year,  tlien  purchased  the 
143  acres  he  now  lives  on  and  has  remained 
there  since.  In  1880  he  purchased  80  acres 
of  land  of  the  Connotton  Ry.  Co.,  situated 
on  the  railroad  in  the  northeastern  |>art  of  the 
township,  and  at  once  coipmcnced  dividing  it 
into  village  lots.  It  was  -iven  the  name  of 
Middle  Branch,  the  post  office  being  removed 
there  from  the  place  where  it  was  located  for 
many  years.  During  this  short  period 
Mr.  Pontius  has  been  the  cause  of  its  rapid 
building  up  and  settlement.  In  1865  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Elmira,  daughter  of 
Henrv  Firestone;  from  that  marriage  there 
has  been  three  children. 


-^^ 


PLAIN   TOWNSHIP. 


PETER  PIEHSOX,  merchant;  New  Ber- 
lin; is  a  soil  (if  Potpr  and  Catlmrine  Pierson, 
who  wrre  natives  of  the  province  of  Hip:h 
Rhine,  Franco,  and  camn  to  America  in  IS'28, 
and  settled  in  Jackson  Tp.  Previous  to  com- 
ing to  this  country,  the  father  of  our  subject 
followed  the  trade  of  a  weaver.  He  served 
under  Napoleon  in  the  fierci^st  of  his  battles 
in  Spain  and  Germany.  Pie  settled  on  100 
acres  of  land  in  .Jackson  Tp.,  where  he  lived 
until  1857,  when  he  was  removed  by  death 
from  the  mid^t  of  man\'  friends.  He  loved 
his  adopted  countrv  and  its  institutions;  he 
was  an  honest,  uprio-lit  citizen,  a  kind  husband 
and  a  lovins  father,  and  bv  liis  death  a  true 
Christian  man  wa.s  removed,  at  the  .qge  of  69 
years.  Peter  Pierson,  .Jr.,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  in  France,  February,  1S18. 
At  the  age  of  10  years  he  came  to  Ohio  with 
his  parents,  and  remained  at  home  on  the 
farm  until  ho  was  30  years  of  age,  when  he, 
in  company  with  his  brother,  erected  a 
small  brewery  on  their  father's  farm,  and  was 
engaged  in  the  brewing  business  for  two 
years.  They  lost  all  by  fire,  and  soon  after 
re-built  and  conducted  the  Iiusiness  until  1849 
or  1850,  when  he  came  to  New  Berlin,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  business,  being  en- 
gaged in  the  same  up  to  th<!  present  time. 
In  1880,  he  in  company  with  his  son  Joseph 
Pierson,  established  a  lumber  trade,  and  is 
engaged  in  the  same  at  present.  In  1847, 
he   was  united  in  marriage  to  Catharine  Donz, 

who  bore  him    four    children,  as  follows: 

Peter  L.,  Joseph  A.,  Mary,  wife  of  Urias 
Ream,  and  Edward  H.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pier- 
s<m  are  devout  members  of  the  Catholic 
Church.  The  second  son,  Jos(>ph  A.,  was  in 
1878  appointed  to  take  charge  of  one  of  the 
wards  in  the  Insane  Asylum  at  Newburgh; 
after  romiining  there  about  one  and  one-half 
years  he  resigned  his  position.  Soon  after  his 
return  home  he  was  engaged  by  the  officers 
of  the  Longview  Asylum  at  Cincinnati;  after 
remaining  there  a  short  time  he  was  promot- 
ed to  another  position,  which  he  filled  with  the 
best  of  satisfaction.  He  resigned  the  posi- 
tion on  account  of  ill  health.  He  is  now  en- 
gaged in  the  lumber  business  in  company 
with  his  father. 

EZRA  PEPPLE,  farmer;  P.  O.  New  Berlin ; 
was  born  near Ilagerstown,  Md.,  Aug.  8,  1810. 
His  father,  William   Pepple,    was  a  native  of 


the  same  place,  where  in  his  early  manhood  he 
worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade.  In  1825  he 
came  to  Plain  Tp.,  and  lived  on  rented  farms 
for  several  j-ears.  He  then  purchased  a  farm 
in  Washington  Tp.,  and  there  remained  sev- 
eral j'ears,  afterward  removing  to  New  Ber- 
lin, and  thence  to  Williams  county,  where  he 
died.  There  were  nine  children  in  the  fam- 
ily, our  subject  being  the  third.  Hi'  obtained 
his  education  in  the  common  schools,  and  in 
1835  came  to  Plain  Tp.,  with  his  jiarents,  and 
lived  with  them  on  the  farm  until  he  was  31 
years  of  nge.  He  worked  at  the  carpenter's 
trade  for  ten  years,  and  then  purchased  50 
acres  of  land  in  Plain  Tp.,  which  he  infreascd 
to  70  acres.  In  1834  he  was  married  to  Cath- 
arine Wartf  iiberger,  who  was  a  native  of 
Stark  Co.  From  that  marriage  there  were 
two  children — Lydia,  wife  of  George  Donner; 
and  Susan,  wife  of  Eli  Shook,  of  Knlamazoo 
Co..  Mich.  Mr.  Pe]i|>le  has  always  voted 
with  the  Demooratic  ])arty. 

DANIEL  PAULUS,  farmer;  P.  O.  Canton; 
is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Annie  (Broughor)  Pau- 
lus,  who  were  natives  of  the  Keystone  State. 
Jacob  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  and  worked 
at  the  same  in  .lackson  Tp.,  this  county,  un- 
til old  age  prevented  him.  He  then  worked 
at  the  gunsmith's  trade  for  several  years,  and 
being  a  superior  mechanic  he  was  never  idle. 
He  is  still  living  in  Jackson  Tp.  Daniel,  our 
subject,  was  born  in  Jackson  Tp.,  Stark  Co., 
Ohio,  .Ian.  37,  1835.  His  childhood  was  spent 
at  home  on  the  farm,  where  he  remained  until 
he  was  34  years  of  age,  receiving  in  the  mean- 
time a  common  school  education  in  the  schools 
of  Jackson  Tp.  In  180  T  he  purchased  the 
farm  he  now  lives  on,  consisting  of  81  acres. 
Mr.  Paulus  is  a  man  with  a  character  that  has 
made  him  friends.  He  was  ordained  a  preach- 
er in  the  Church  of  Christ  some  years  ago,  and 
has  filled  his  position  and  calling  with  the  best 
of  satisfaction.  In  1857  he  married  Miss 
Mary  A.  Hoover,  who  bore  him  ten  children, 
nine  of  whom  arc  living,  viz.:  Amanda,  An- 
nie, Monroe,  Sarah,  Ellen,  Mary,  Nathaniel, 
.lacob,  and  Isaac. 

PETER  PONTIUS,  farmer;  P.  0.  Canton; 
is  a  son  of  Frederick  and  Anna  (Morget) 
Pontius,  who  were  natives  of  Union  Co.,  Pa., 
where  Freilerick  \vas  cmgaged  in  farming.  In 
1816  he  came  to  Stark  Co.,  settling  on  a  farm 
in  Marlborough  Tp.,  of  160  acres,  where  he 


■^ 


f 


~e  ^ 


:^i 


892 


BIOGPvAPIlICAL    SKETCHES: 


lived  uutil  his  death,  which  ouourred  in  18C0, 
at  the  age  (if  80  years.  Petor,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  born  in  Union  Co.,  Pa.,  Aug-. 
13,  ISOl.  His  chihlhood  was  spent  at  home 
on  the  farm,  he  obt:'.iiiing  a  fair  education  in 
the  scliools  of  his  neighiiorliood,  and  wlicn  he 
was  10  years  of  age  came  to  Stark  Co.  with 
his  parents.  He  lived  at  home  until  he  was 
28  years  of  age,  and  then  settled  on  the  fann 
he  now  lives  upon,  and  has  remained  there 
over  since.  Mr.  Pontius  has  accumulated  a 
handsome  fortune  by  his  industry  and  eco- 
nomical habits.  In  1828  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Catharine  Essig,  who  bore  him 
seven  children,  of  whom  the  following  are 
living,  viz:  Emanuel;  Maria,  now  Mrs.  Dan- 
iel Bftler,  of  Portage  Co.,  and  Andi-ew.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Pontius  are  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  and  are  highly  respected  by 
their  neighbors  and  acquaintances  for  their 
charitable  disposition. 

GEORGE  PHILLIPS,  farmer;  P.  O.  Mid- 
dle Branch;  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth 
Phillips,  natives  of  Adams  Co.,  Pa.,  where 
they  were  engaged  in  farming.  George  was 
born  in  Adams  Co.,  Pa.,  Dec.  28,  1812.  He 
received  a  common  school  e.hication,  and  at 
the  age  of  18  years  was  apprenticed  to  a 
blacksmith  to  learn  the  trade,  serving  an  ap- 
prenticeship of  three  years.  In  18oo  he  came 
to  Canton,  and  after  working  as  journeyman 
for  two  years,  he  started  in  business  for  him- 
self, and  continued  it  until  1856,  meeting  with 
good  success.  In  1850  he  purchased  the 
farm  he  now  lives  on,  consisting  of  173  acres 
well-improved  laiul  in  the  northern  part  of 
Plain  Tp.  In  1830  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Eliza  liininger,  of  Canton,  and  from  that 
marriage  there  were  eight  children,  s?even  of 
whom  are  living,  Elizabeth,  Henry  E.,  Mi- 
randa, Charles,  Letta,  IMary,  Ella,  and 
George  E.  Mrs.  Phillips  is  a  memlier  of  the 
Lutheran  Church,  and  Mr.  Phillips  of  the 
Presbyterian.  He  has  always  been  identified 
with  the  Republican  partv. 

SAMUEL  REESE,  farmer;  P.  O.  Canton. 
John  and  Haimah  Reese,  the  parents  of  our 
subject,  were  natives  of  Maryland;  but  re- 
moved to  Franklin  Co.,  Pa.;  after  sojourning 
there  a  few  j'cars  he  (John)  came  to  Stark  Co., 
O.,  and  upon  his  arrival  in  1814,  bought  a 
farm  and  lived  on  the  same  up  to  the  time  of 
his  death.     He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolu- 


tionary war,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  had 
reached  his  73d  year;  his  widow  survived 
him  until  1853,  dying  at  the  ripe  age  of  83 
years.  They  wore  the  parents  of  eleven 
children,  our  subject  being  the  youngest.  He 
was  Ijorn  in  Plain  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  O.,  Aug.  20, 
1810.  His  childhood  was  spent  on  the  farm, 
and  at  the  age  of  18  he  took  charge  of  tlie 
homestead,  and  then  purchased  100  acres  of 
wood-land,  clearing  the  same  in  four  j-ears 
time;  but  sold  it,  and  bought  another  farm 
where  ho  lived  several  yea:rs,  when  he  bouglit 
and  removed  to  the  one  he  now  occupies, 
now  owning  564  acres  of  well  improved  land. 
In  1840  he  married  Mary  Lesh,  of  Nimishil- 
len  Tp.,  who  bore  him  the  following  children: 
Mar}',  Hannah,  Amanda,  Lydia,  Sarah,  Em- 
ma, Ellen,  Lucetta,  William  and  Laura.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Reese  are  members  of  the  Evangel- 
ical Association,  uniting  with  the  same  body 
over  30  years  ago.  Mr.  Reese  has  always 
voted  the  Republican  ticket,  has  been  very 
successful  in  life,  and  owes  his  success  to  his 
honesty,  industrv  and  economy. 

SAMUEL  RINGER,  farmer ;  P.  O.  Mid- 
dle Branch  ;  was  born  in  Stark  Co.,  O.,  Ajjril 
1824,  being  the  seventh  in  a  family  of  twelve 
children  born  to  John  and  Catharine  Ringer, 
who  were  natives  of  the  Keystone  State. 
John  Ringer  came  to  Stark  Co.  in  1802,  in 
company  with  his  father,  and  entered  about 
1300  acres  of  land  in  Stark  and  Wayne  Cos. 
They  made  the  journey  on  foot,  and  subsisted 
on  the  game  they  killed.  They  returned  to 
Pennsylvania,  where  John  lived  until  180G, 
when  he  returned  to  Stark  Co.,  and  in  the 
dense  forest  in  the  west  part  of  Nimishillen 
Tp.  he  settled.  He  was  yet  a  single  man, 
and  for  two  years  lived  a  solitary  life  in  his 
little  log  cabin.  In  1808  he  went  to  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  was  there  married  to  Catharine 
Truby,  they  returning  to  his  new  home  imme- 
diately. He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812, 
and  the  first  Constable  of  Stark  Co.  He  was 
engaged  in  farming  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death.  Sanuiel's  early  life  was  spent  on  the 
farm,  and  he  received  his  education  in  the 
common  sciiools  of  his  neighborhood  ;  he 
lived  with  his  parents  until  he  was  31  years 
of  age,  then  bought  80  acres  of  the  old  home- 
stead, and  has  lived  on  the  same  up  to  the 
present  time.  He  now  owns  245  acres  of 
well  improved  land,  and   has   by  his  industry 


PLAIN    TOWNSHIP. 


893 


and  economical  habits  become  one  of  the 
wealthiest  fanners  in  the  township.  In  1853 
he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Marj*,  daugiiter 
of  Adam  Zentz,  of  Stark  Co.,  and  from  that 
marriage  there  have  been  born  thirteen  child- 
ren, eleven  of  whom  are  living.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Ringer  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church. 

JACOB  RUPERD,  farmer;  P.  O.  Canton. 
The  subject  of  these  lines  was  born  in  Adams 
Co.,  Pa.,  June  19,  18^0.  His  youth  was 
spent  on  the  farm,  and  at  the  age  of  9  years 
he  came  to  Stark  Co.  He  there  began  to 
work  for  Samuel  Lind,  of  Plain  Tp.,  for  whom 
he  worked  ten  years.  During  this  time  his 
education  was  neglected,  but  as  soon  as  he 
had  accumulated  sufficient  means  to  enable 
him  to  prosecute  his  studies,  he  attended  the 
Academy  at  Canton,  where  he  remained  some- 
time, and  acquired  a  knowledge  sufficient  to 
enable  him  to  teach  school,  which  vocation 
he  followed  for  several  years.  He  then  en- 
gaged with  a  merchant  in  Shelby,  O.,  to  sell 
goods,  with  whom  he  remained  two  years. 
Ho  returned  to  Plain  Tp.  and  worked  on  a 
farm  for  a  short  time;  then  rented  a  farm, 
and  at  the  time  of  his  father-in-law's  death, 
he  purchased  100  acres  of  the  old  Gaff  farm, 
and  has  lived  on  the  same  up  to  the  present 
time.  In  1848  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  and  Hannah 
Gaff,  who  were  among  the  early  settlers  of 
Plain  Tp.  From  that  marriage  there  have 
been  six  children,  five  of  whom  are  living. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ruperd  are  consistent  members 
of  the  M.  E.  Church.  He  has  always  been 
identified  witli  tiie  Republican  party. 

SAMUEL  RUFFNER,  farmer;  P.  O.  Can- 
ton. The  subject  of  these  few  lines  was  born 
in  Plain  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  January  2t!,  18o0,  and 
is  the  only  son  born  to  Samuel  and  Delilah 
Ruffner,  who  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  came  to  Stark  Co.,  at  an  early  date.  Our 
subject  remembers  nothing  of  his  father,  as 
he  was  but  13  months  old  when  that  parent 
died.  His  widowed  mother  removed  to  Can- 
ton where  she  lived  two  years.  She  then 
married  George  Ecker  of  that  city,  and  soon 
after  removed  to  Pike  Tp.,  wliere  our  sul)ject 
spent  his  youthful  days,  remaining  there 
until  he  was  27  years  of  age,  when  he 
moved  on  the  farm  he  now  occupies,  inher- 
iting the   same    from  his  father's   estate.     In 


186-i  he  enlisted  in  Co.  E.  104th  Regiment 
O.  N.  G.  and  served  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  when  he  returned,  and  has  remained  on 
the  farm  ever  since.  In  1857,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  a  lady  in  Pike  Tp.,  who  died 
in  1800.  In  18CS,  he  married  for  his  second 
wife,  Malinda,  davighter  of  Samuel  Essig,  of 
Canton;  from  that  marriage  there  have  been 
two  children.  Mr.  Rulfnor  has  always  voted 
the  Republican  ticket. 

HENRY  REAM,  farmer;  P.  O.  Canton; 
this  gentleman  is  tlie  youngest  in  a  family  of 
twelve  children,  born  to  Phillip  and  Mary 
(Aultman)  Ream,  his  birth  occurring  Sept. 
'iS,  1823,  in  Canton,  Stark  Co.,  O.;  his  youth 
was  spent  on  the  farm,  receiving  a  common 
school  education  in  tiie  schools  of  his  neigh- 
borhood. In  1846,  he  began  farming  the  old 
homestead,  and  there  remained  three  years. 
In  1852,  ho  purciiased  SI  acres  where  he  now 
resides.  Mr.  Ream  has  been  an  auctioneer 
for  over  thirty  years.  In  1846,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Anna,  daughter  of  Adam  Ober- 
lin,  and  from  that  marriage  there  have  been 
born  nine  children,  six  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing— .losiah  W.,  Ellen,  Edwin,  Eunice,  Ma- 
nias I).,  and  Charles  W.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ream, 
are  members  of  the  Reformed  Church.  Tlie 
))arents  of  our  subject  were  natives  of  West- 
moreland Co.,  Pa.,  where  Phillip  was  engaged 
in  farming.  In  1806,  he  came  to  Ohio,  set- 
tling in  Columbiana  Co.,  where  he  remained 
one  year;  he  then  came  to  Canton  Tp.,  set- 
tling on  a  farm  where  he  lived  until  a  short 
time  before  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1S.")1, 
at  the  age  of  83  3-ears;  his  widow  died  in 
1852,  at  the  age  of  70  years. 

AMOS  REEMSNYDER,  farmer;  P.  O. 
Now  Berlin;  is  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Barbara 
(Hower)  Reemsnj'der,  who  were  natives  of 
Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.  When  Daniel  was  but 
15  3-ears  of  age  his  parents  came  to  Ohio,  set- 
tling in  Plain  Tp.,  where  he  worked  on  the 
farm  until  Ik;  became  of  age,  when  he  began 
to  work  at  the  carpenter's  trade.  He  workeil 
for  several  years  at  his  trade,  when  he  began 
the  undertaking  business  at  New  Berlin,  be- 
ing engaged  in  the  same  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death.  His  third  son  Elias  I).,  who  now  car- 
ries on  the*  business,  was  born  in  Plain  Tp., 
in  1857,  and  at  an  early  age  began  the  car- 
penter's trade.  He  has  worked  at  his  trade 
in  that  section  of  the  country  with  good  suc- 


-oi  ^ 


cess.  Amos  A.,  was  born  in  Plain  Tp.,  in 
1851;  he  remained  at  home  until  he  was  of 
age,  and  worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  for 
three  years,  then  purchased  part  of  the  old 
homestead  where  he  new  lives,  owning  70 
acres  of  valuable  land.  In  1873  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Susan,  daughter  of  John  Mohler  of 
Plain  Tp. 

W.  B.  REED,  Ijrick  manufacturer  and 
farmer;  P.  O.  Canton;  is  the  fourth  in  a  fam- 
ily of  nine  children,  born  to  William  and 
Sarah  Reed,  who  were  natives  of  Berks  Co., 
Pa.,  and  who  in  1835  came  to  Stark  Co.,  set- 
tling at  Waynesburgh.  Our  subject  was  born 
in  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  in  1825,  and  in  1835  came 
to  Ohio  with  his  parents,  with  whom  he  lived 
until  he  was  18  years  old.  He  received  his 
education  in  the  common  schools  of  his  neigh- 
borhood, and  at  the  age  of  18  began  working 
in  a  brick-yard,  where  he  remained  seven 
years.  In  1850  be  started  in  business  for 
himself  in  Canton  Tp.,  and  in  1873  he  leased 
the  "  Smith  "  yard,  where  he  is  still  engaged, 
and  makes  a  quality  of  brick  which  he  dis- 
poses of  easily.  In  1849  ho  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Eliza,  daughter  of  George  Wil- 
liams, of  Wayne  Co.,  and  from  that  union 
there  have  been  born  four  children.  Mr.  Reed 
is  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  39,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and 
a  Republican  in  politics. 

FRANK  SCHILTZ,  stock-raiser  and  butch- 
er ;  P.  O.  New  Berlin  ;  is  a  son  of  J.  N.  and 
Apalonia  (Hoffman)  Schiltz,  and  was  b(jrn  in 
New  Berlin  Jan.  30.  1841.  His  father  was  a 
native  of  Belgium,  where  he  worked  at  shoe- 
making  for  several  years.  About  the  age  of 
23  he  came  to  Stark  Co.,  and,  after  working 
at  his  trade  a  short  time,  he  went  to  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  not  being  satisfied  with  his  loca- 
tion, he  returned  to  New  Berlin,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  business  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death.  He  was  the  father  of  seven  children, 
our  subject  being  the  oldest.  His  A^outh  was 
spent  at  home,  and  after  receiving  a  liberal 
education,  went  to  work  in  his  father's  shop, 
and  there  worked  until  he  was  17  years  of 
age  ;  but  not  being  satisfied  with  the  trade, 
he  went  to  work  on  a  farm,  and  was  there  en- 
gaged for  three  years.  At  the  organization 
of  Co.  A,  19th  Regiment,  O.  V.  I.,  he  enlist- 
ed, serving  in  the  same  companv  throusfh 
many  engagements.  At  th.e  battle  of  Stone 
River  he  was  shot  through  the  lungs,  and  was 


offered  his  discharge,  but  declined,  and  was 
sent  to  the  hospital,  and  a  short  time  after- 
ward returned  to  his  comjiany.  At  the  close 
of  the  war  he  returned  to  New  Berlin,  where 
he  established  a  meat  market,  and  has  ever 
since  been  engaged  in  that  business.  In  1868 
he  began  buying  and  shipping  stock,  which 
business  he  has  continued  up  to  the  present 
time.  In  1860  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Mary  A.,  daughter  of  Michael  Bitzer,  whose 
sketch  apnears  in  this  work.  From  that  mar- 
riage there  have  been  five  children,  four  of 
whom  are  now  living.  Mr.  Schiltz  has  always 
voted  with  the  Republican  party. 

HIRAM  SCHICK,  retired  farmer;  P.  O. 
New  Berlin;  is  the  third  of  a  family  of  nine 
children  born  to  Peter  and  Susan  (Palmer) 
Schick.  Peter  was  born  in  Washington  Co., 
Pa.,  and  came  to  Ohio  with  his  parents  in 
1809.  He  learned  the  tailor's  trade,  and  was 
the  first  tailor  in  Plain  Tp.,  and  by  his  indus- 
try and  economy  he  accumulated  means  suflS- 
cient  to  enable  him  to  put  a  small  stock  of 
goods  in  his  tailor  shop.  He  was  the  first 
merchant  in  the  township,  and  after  being 
engaged  in  the  business  for  several  years,  he 
removed  to  Smithville,  Wayne  Co.,  O.,  where 
he  continued  the  same  business.  Thence 
went  to  Plain  Tp.,  this  county,  where  ho  died 
in  1876.  He  was  twice  married;  first  to 
Susan  Palmer  of  Jackson  Tp.,  whose  parents 
were  the  first  white  family  in  the  township. 
Our  subject  was  born  in  New  Berlin,  Stark 
Co.,  O.,  Dec.  39,  1833,  his  childhood  being- 
spent  on  the  faim,  where  he  remained  until 
he  was  24  years  of  age.  He  then  engaged  in 
farming,  and  has  continued  in  the  same  up  to 
the  present  time,  now  owning  105  acres  of 
valuable  land.  In  1858  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Margaret,  daughter  of  Daniel 
Winger,  of  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.  From  that 
marriage  there  have  been  three  children,  viz.: 
— John  W.,  William  P.,  and  Wilton.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Schick  are  members  of  the  Disci- 
ples' Church.  He  has  always  voted  the  Re- 
publican ticket.  Mr.  Schick,  the  postmaster 
of  Now  Berlin,  and  William  Schick,  now 
manager  of  D.  F.  Huntsberger's  store,  of 
Uniontown,  O.,  are  brothers  of  our  subject. 

JACOB  SHENABARGER,  retired;  New 
Berlin.  Among  the  early  settlers  of  Plain 
Tp.,  is  the  Shenabarger  family,  who  settled 
there  in  1806.     Jacob,  the  grandfather  of  our 


PLAIN  TOWNSHIP. 


8'JJ 


subject,  was  born  in  Lower  Alsace,  Germany, 
and  came  to  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  previous  to 
1S(H),  and  there  worked  in  mills  and  on  a 
small  farm  until  1806,  when  lie  came  to  Phiin 
Tp.,  settling  in  the  woods  two  miles  northeast 
of  Canton,  where  he  cleared  a  farm  and  lived 
on  the  same  up  to  the  time  of  his  death. 
.John  Shenabarger,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Cuinherlaii<l  Co.,  Pa.,  in  1791; 
came  to  Ohio  with  his  parents  in  1806,  and 
assisted  his  father  in  clearing  the  land  they 
settled  ujjon.  He  lived  at  home  up  to  the 
time  of  his  father's  death,  and  th(>n  purchased 
the  farm  now  owned  by  Jacob.  He  died  in 
1862,  at  the  age  of  71  years.  Jacob  was  born 
in  Plain  Tp.,  Nov.  2'i,  1817;  his  education 
was  obtained  in  the  common  schools,  and  he 
lived  at  home  until  his  father  died,  when  he 
took  charge  of  the  homestead,  purchasing  the 
interest  of  the  remaining  heirs.  He  contin- 
ued farming  for  several  years,  and  in  1877 
purchased  the  farm  known  as  the  Harter 
farm,  now  owning  'Z'Zi  acres  of  well  improved 
land,  and  a  handsome  property  in  New  Ber- 
lin, whore  he  lives.  Nov.  8,  1877,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Rebecca,  widow  of  Ed- 
ward Breen.  Mr.  Shcnabarger  has  through 
industry  and  economy,  accumulated  consider- 
able property.  He  has  always  voted  with 
the  Republican  party. 

U.  J.  SOM-MER  &  BRO.,  millers,  Canton. 
Joseph  Sommer,  the  father  of  our  subjects, 
was  a  native  of  Germany,  and  for  some  years 
previous  to  his  coming  to  America  worked  in 
a  grist-mill.  In  1840  he  came  to  America, 
coming  direct  to  Stark  Co.,  O.  His  first  work 
was  in  a  brewery  in  Perry  Tp.  There  he 
worked  for  a  few  years,  when  he  went  to  But- 
ler Co.,  O.,  and  worked  on  a  farm;  then  re- 
turned to  Stark  Co.,  and  had  been  engaged  in 
farming  there  for  several  years.  In  1869  he 
purchased  what  is  known  as  the  Plain  Centre 
Mill,  and  was  engaged  inthe  milling  business 
until  1881.  Mr.  Sommer  has  been  a  hard-work- 
ing, honest  man,  and  accumulated  a  handsome 
property,  but,  owing  to  his  generous  disposi- 
tion, lost  much  of  it.  He  married  Miss  Cath- 
arine Augspurger,  of  Butler  Co.,  who  bore 
liiin  twelve  children,  H.  .1.  being  the  second, 
lie  was  born  in  Perry  Tp.,  this  county,  in 
1S48,  and  lived  at  home  until  he  was  21  years 
of  age,  when  he  began  learning  the  miller's 
trade,  which  he  completed  in  1876.     He  was 


then  given  the  Superintendency  of  his  uncle's 
brewery  in  Perry  Tp.,  and  continued  in  the 
business  until  1880,  when  he  purchasi^d  the 
Plain  Centre  Mill  in  comj)any  with  his  broth- 
er John  J.  In  1875  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Mary  C.  Kropf,  and  from  that  mar- 
riage there  have  been  two  children.  John  J. 
is  a  native  of  Stark  Co.,  his  birth  occurring 
in  1849.  He  h^arned  the  miller's  trade,  and 
has  worked  at  the  same  from  1869  up  to  the 
present  time,  with  the  excei)tion  of  one  year, 
which  he  spent  abroad.  In  1878  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Fannie  Kro])f,  of  Jackson  Tp.,  who 
bore  him  two  children. 

WILLIAM  SPANGLER,  farmer;  P.  O. 
Canton;  is  the  second  in  a  f..mily  of  ten  chil- 
dren born  to  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (Koon) 
Spangler,  who  were  natives  of  Adams  Co.,  Pa., 
where  Joseph  was  engaged  in  the  milling 
business.  In  1814  he  came  to  Stark  Co.,  set- 
tling in  Plain  Tp.  He  went  to  work  in  the 
old  grist-mill  that  stood  where  the  Plain  Cen- 
tre mill  now  is;  here  he  remained  about 
three  }'ears,  then  went  to  Summit  Co.,  and 
took  charge  of  a  mill  for  five  years.  In  1823 
he  returned  to  Plain  Tp.,  and  purchased  120 
acres  of  land  where  William  now  lives;  he 
lived  on  the  farm  until  he  was  removed  by 
death.  Our  subject  was  born  in  Plain  Tp., 
Stark  Co.,  July  9,  1815.  His  childhood  was 
spent  on  the  farm  where  he  remained  until 
his  father  died,  when  he  took  charg-  of  the 
farm  and  lived  with  his  widowed  mother  un- 
til he  was  21.  He  then  rented  the  farm,  and 
was  a  renter  for  three  j'ears;  he  then  bought 
75  acres  of  it  and  has  lived  on  the  same  ever 
since.  In  1835  he  married  Elizabeth  Lind, 
a  native  of  Stark  Co.,  who  bore  him  ten  chil- 
dren; those  living  are — .loseph,  .lohn,  Hiram, 
Charles,  George,  Murray,  Elizal)eth,  Harriet, 
Emma.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spangler  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Pjpiscopal  Church. 

SAMUEL  C.  SHEETS,  farmer;  P.O.  New 
Berlin;  is  the  son  of  .lohn  and  Mary  (Cass- 
ler)  Sheets,  who  were  natives  of  Lancaster 
Co.,  Pa.,  where  John  was  engaged  in  farming. 
In  1842  he  came  to  Stark  Co.,  settling  in  | 
Plain  Tp.,  on  a  farm  of  107  acres,  where  he 
lived  twenty-three  years.  Ho  then  removed 
to  a  small  farm,  where  he  liv(?d  until  1880, 
when  he  removed  to  New  Berlin,  where  he 
still  resides.  He  began  life  a  poor  boy,  but 
by  his  industry  has  become  one  of  the  wealth- 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


iest  men  in  Plain  Tp.  Samuel  C,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Lancaster 
Co.,  Pa.,  Feb.  10,  1834,  and  in  1842  came 
to  Stark  Co.  He  received  his  education  in 
the  schools  of  his  neighborhood,  and  lived  at 
home  until  he  was  24  years  of  age;  he  was 
then  given  the  farm  he  now  lives  on,  consist- 
ing of  116  acres  of  valuable  and  well  im- 
proved land.  In  1860  he  married  Henrietta, 
daughter  of  Christian  Brilhart,  of  Canton. 
From  that  marriiige  there  were  two  children, 
one  of  whom  is  living,  namely,  John.  Mrs. 
Sheets  is  a  member  of  the  Disciples'  Church. 
Mr.  Sheets  is  a  Republican,  and  has  always 
been  idiMitified  with  the  Republican  party. 

WILLIAM  SMITH,  farmer;  P.  O.  Cairo; 
was  liorn  in  York  Co.,  Pa.,  in  1801,  and  is  one 
of  four  children  born  to  William  and  Christi- 
ana (Bucher)  Smith.  The  father  was  a  na- 
tive of  Maryland,  and  the  mother  of  York  Co., 
Pa.  In  1818  he  (William,  Sr.)  came  to  Plain 
Tp.,  and  settled  on  a  rented  farm,  where  he 
remained  eight  years.  Having  a  good  knowl- 
edge of  surgery,  he  gave  it  his  exclusive  at- 
tention up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  came  to  Ohio  with  his 
parents  in  1818,  and  lived  at  home  until  he 
was  'Zl  years  old.  He  then  learned  the  car- 
penter's trade,  and  worked  at  the  same  for 
twelve  years  after  his  apprenticeship  was 
served;  he  then  bouglit  a  farm  of  IGO  acres, 
where  he  now  resides,  and  has  lived  on  the 
same  ever  since.  In  1837  he  married  Mary 
Christ  of  Lake  Tp.  From  that  marriage  there 
were  seven  children,  five  of  whom  are  living, 
viz: — Susan,  wife  of  P.  Hate;  Alfred,  of  Stark 
Co.;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Jno.  C.  Shaffer,  of 
Plain  Tp.;  Mary,  wife  of  Albert  Cluft,  of  Can- 
ton, and  Allen  at  home.  Mrs.  Smith  died  at 
the  ago  of  70  years.  She  was  an  estimable 
lady,  and  much  missed  by  her  many  friends. 
Mr.  Smith  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  re- 
spected citizens  of  Plain  Tp. 

BENJAMIN  F.  SMITH,  farmer;  P.  O. 
Canton;  is  a  son  of  George  E.  Smith,  who 
was  a  native  of  the  Ke\'Stone  State,  and 
oame  to  Stark  Co.  with  his  parents  while 
young.  He  was  apprenticed  to  the  tanner's 
trade,  and  after  serving  his  apprenticeship 
carried  on  the  business  for  thirty-five  years  in 
Lake  Tp.,  where  he  accumulated  consideral)le 
money,  which  he  invested  in  land,  and  was  at 
the  time  of  his  death  one  of  the  largest  land- 


holders in  Stark  Co.  He  died  in  1879  at  the 
age  of  80  years.  His  widow  (she  who  was 
Sarah  Christ)  is  still  alive.  They  were  the 
parents  of  eight  children,  our  subject  being 
the  fifth  child,  and  was  born  in  Lake  Tp., 
Stark  Co.,  O.,  Aug.  5, 1838.  His  youth  was 
spent  on  the  farm,  where  he  lived  until  he 
was  23  years  of  age.  He  then  bought  the 
farm  he  now  lives  on,  consisting  of  90  acres 
of  well  improved  land,  and  has  worked  dili- 
gently on  the  same  until  it  now  ranks  among- 
the  best  in  improvements,  it  being  rented  for 
thirty-two  years  before  he  purchased  it.  In 
1870  he  married  Harriet,  daughter  of  John 
and  Nancy  Smith,  of  Canton  Tp.,  who  bore 
him  three  children,  viz: — George  E.,  Jessie 
May  Bell,  and  Stella  I.  Mr.  Smith  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  in  18f52  and  'Go  fought  for  his 
countrv  in  Co.  B,  11.5  Regiment,  O.  V.  I. 

ELI  SMITH,  farmer;  P.  O.  Middle  Branch; 
was  born  in  Franklin  Co.,  Pa.,  January,  1815, 
being  the  fifth  in  a  family  of  eleven  children 
born  to  Daniel  and  Mary  Smith,  who  were 
natives  of  the  above  named  county.  Daniel 
was  a  farmer,  and  in  1825  he  came  to  Ohio, 
settling  on  a  farm  in  Stark  Co.;  he  cleared  the 
farm  and  lived  on  the  same  until  1850,  when  he 
departed  this  life  at  the  age  of  82  years;  his 
wife  died  in  1851.  At  an  advanced  age,  Eli, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  came  to  Plain  Tp., 
when  but  10  years  old;  he  lived  on  the  farm 
until  he  was  19,  when  he  apprenticed  him- 
self to  the  tanner's  trade,  which  trade  he  has 
worked  at  from  1833  up  to  the  present  time. 
In  1855  he  purchased  160  acres  of  the  old 
homestead,  and  has  remained  on  the  same  up 
to  the  present  time.  He  now  owns  260  acres 
of  valuable  land  in  Stark  Co.  In  1840  he 
united  in  marriage  with  Sarah,  daughter  of 
George  Kreighbaum,  of  Stark  Co.  From 
that  marriage  there  have  lici-n  eleven  children, 
eight  of  whom  are  living — Abram,  George, 
Daniel,  Lewis,  Frank,  Harvey,  Catharine  and 
Mary.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  are  members  of 
the  Lutheran  Church.  He  is  a  Democrat,  and 
has  held  many  offices  of  trust  in  the  town- 
ship. 

HENRY  SNIDER,  farmer  ;  P.  O.  Canton. 
Among  the  early  settlers  of  Plain  Tp.  were 
the  parents  of  our  subject,  namely,  John  and 
Elizal)eth  (IToltz)  Snider,  who  were  natives  of 
Pennsylviinia,  and  came  to  Plain  Tp.  in  1810. 
They  settled  on  the  farm  Henry  now  occuj)ies. 


*%;=^ 


PLAIN   TOWNSHIP. 


it  being  thou  a  dense  forest ;    but  witli  a  wil- 
ling hand  and   hopes  of  future  happiness,  lie 
set  to  work  and  converted  it  into  a  fine  farm.  '• 
He  assisted  in  the  building-  of  the  first  church 
in  Plain  Tp.,  and  died  in  1847.     Our  subject 
was  born  on  the    farm    he   now  lives  on,  Oct.  | 
11,  1820  ;    he  received  a  common  school  edu-  | 
cation  in  the  schools  in  his  neighborhood  ;  he 
remained  at  home  on  the  farm  until  he  reach- 
eil  manhood  ;    he  bought    88    acres,  and   has 
lived  on   the    same    ever    since.     In  1848   he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Maria,  (laughter  of 
John  Kun fare,  of  Marlborough  Tp.  From  that 
marriage   there  were   seven    children,  five  of   i 
whom  are  living,  viz. — Adam,  of  Canton;  Sa- 
rah, wife  of  Hiram  Sell,  of  Plain  Tp.;  Henry 
A.,  Georg(!  W.  and  Jacob,  at  home.     Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Snid(>r  are  members  of  the  German  Re- 
formed Church.     Mr.  Snider  has  always  voted  ' 
with  the  Democratic  party. 

E.  C.  SHEETS,  farmer  ;  P.  O.  New  Berlin;  j 
is  a  son  of  Jolin    Sheets,  mention  of  whom  is 
made  in  this  work,  and  \vas  born  in  Stark  Co., 
O.,  Dec.  (i,   ISA").     His    childhood  was    spent 
on  the  farm,  where  he  remained  until  he  was 
25  j'ears  of  age.     In  1808  he  settled  on  the  i 
old  homestead,  consisting  of  106  acres  of  val- 
uable  land,   and    one  of  the    best    improved 
farms    in   the    county.     In    1SG9    he    married 
r.ydia,    daughter    of    Samuel    Keese,    whose  i 
sketch  appears  in  this  work.     From  that  mar-  I 
riage  there  have  been  two  children.     In  186-4 
he  enlisled  in  Co.  E,  162d  Regiment.  O.  V.  I., 
being    in  the    service    but  a  shi  rt    time.     He 
now  owns  256  acres  of  land  in  St  irk  Co. 

J.  C.  TRUMP,  farmer;  P.  O.  (.'anton;  is  the 
oldest  in  a  family  of  nine  children  born  to  P. 
P.  Trumj),  whos(!  sketch    and  portrait  a])pear 
in   this  work.     Our  subject  was  born  in  Plain 
Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  O.,  in  December  1824.     His 
childhood  was  spent,  like  that  of  other  farm- 
i^rs'  sons,  on  the  farm.    He  received  his  educa-  t 
tion  in   the  common  schools  of  his  neighbor- 
hood,  and    taught  school   for    several    terms, 
and  at  the   age    of  24   he  began    farming  the  | 
hom(!stead,   where    lie    remained    until   1864, 
where  he  removed  to  Canton,  where    he    re-  j 
uiained  two  years,  and   while  there   was    en- 
gaged in  the  grocery  and   provision  business.  I 
X(it  being  suited  with  the    business,  he    pur- 
chased in   1867,  114  acres  of  valuable  land,  , 
where  he  now  lives.     In  1848  he   was  united  | 
in    marriage  to  Eli/aBeth,  daughter    of  Sam-  1 


uel  Weaver,  of  Plain  Tp.  From  that  mar- 
riage there  has  been  one  child. 

WM.  H.  VINE,  farmer;  P.O.  New  Berlin; 
is  a  son  of  Jacob  aiui  .Margaret  (Thomas) 
Vine.  Jacob  was  a  native  of  Lancaster  Co., 
Pa.,  and  came  to  Ohio  with  his  parents  in  an 
early  day.  He  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade 
and  worked  at  the  same  for  twenty-three 
years  in  Nimishillen  Tp.,  then  purchased  85 
acres  of  land,  and  was  engaged  in  farming 
until  1873,  when  he  removed  to  Louisville, 
Stark  Co..  whore  he  still  resides.  There  were 
three  children  in  the  family,  our  suliject  being 
the  oldest  child.  He  was  born  in  Nimishil- 
len Tp.,  Nov.  2,  1848,  and  obtained  his  educa- 
tion in  the  (tommon  schools,  and  at  Mt.  Union 
College.  After  leaving  College  he  began 
teaching  school,  and  has  been  engaged  in 
school  teaching  up  to  the  ])resent  time,  in  win- 
ter seasons.  He  attended  a  musical  college 
for  one  yenr,  and  has  since  then  taught  many 
terms  of  singing  school.  In  1881  he  pur- 
chased 8!}  acres  of  land  in  the  northwest  cor- 
ner of  Plain  Tp.,  where  he  now  resides.  In 
1873  he  married  Sarah  A.  Stuckey,  who  died 
one  year  later,  leaving  one  child.  In  1875  he 
married  for  his  second  wife,  L\-dia  Stoner,  of 
Lake  Tp.,  who  bore  him  two  children,  Annie 
and  .fohn. 

ELIAS  T.  WISE,  farmer  ;  P.  O.  New  Ber- 
lin ;  is  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth  (Tom- 
baugh)  Wise,  who  were  natives  of  Washing- 
ton Co.,  Pa.  Peter  Wise,  the  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  came  to  Plain  Tp.  in  1807,  and 
entered  about  1200  acres  of  land  ;  he  then 
returned  home,  and  the  followinu'  vear  return- 
ed to  Plain  Tp.  with  his  family.  In  1811 
Daniel  built  the  first  grist-mill  erected  in 
Plain  Tp.,  it  being  situated  on  the  middle 
branch  of  Nimishillen  creek.  He  exchanged 
his  mill  for  320  acres  of  land,  where  he  lived 
u|j  to  the  time  of  his  death.  He  died  in  1818, 
at  the  aije  of  34  years,  and  his  widow  mar- 
ried, in  1824,  .ludge  John  Hoover,  of  Canton, 
who  was  one  of  the  most  energetic  and  cul- 
tured men  Stark  Co.  had.  Mr.  Wise,  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Plain  Tp.,  at  the  Middle 
Branch  Mill,  Sept.  24,  1813  ;  his  youth  was 
spent  on  the  farm  of  his  father,  and  he  ob- 
taineil  such  an  education  as  the  common 
schools  of  that  day  afforded.  After  leaving 
school  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  work- 
ing at  the  same  for  sixteen  years,  part  of  the 


V 


J.. 


898 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


time  being  in  Pennsylvania.  In  1847  he  be- 
gan farming  the  old  homestead  of  the  Speel- 
man  family,  and  after  remaining  there  seven 
years  (in  1854)  he  bought  the  farm  he  now 
occupies,  owning  now  350  acres  of  valuable 
land,  and  is  considered  one  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful farmers  of  Stark  Co.  In  1843  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Margaret,  daughter  of 
Valentine  Speelman,  of  Plain  Tp.  From  that 
marriage  there  were  four  children,  three  of 
whom  are  living,  viz. — Margaret,  wife  of  Urias 
Schrantz,  of  Plain  Tp.;  J.  W.,  at  home  ;  and 
Henry  A.  Mrs.  Wise  died  in  1850.  For  his 
second  wife  he  married  Catharine,  daughter 
of  Jacob  Price,  of  Montgomery  Co.,  Pa. 
From  that  marriage  there  were  seven  child- 
ren, three  of  whom  are  living — Elias  P.,  at- 
tending college  at  Ashland  ;  Milton  P.  and 
Annie  C,  at  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wise  are 
members  of  the  German  Baptist  Church. 
WILLIAM  WARSHELER,  farmer;  P.  O. 
Middle  Branch;  is  the  only  son  in  a  family 
of  four  children,  born  to  Samuel  and  Elizabeth 
(Essig)  Warsheler,  whose  families  settled  in 
Plain  Tp.,  among  the  first.  Samuel  came  to 
Plain  Tp.  in  1807,  with  his  parents,  he  being 
then  only  2  years  old.  His  youth  was  spent 
at  home,  and  when  large  enough  to  use  an  ax 
he  was  put  to  work  to  lessen  the  trees  which 
surrounded  his  father's  cabin,  and  in  that 
continued  for  several  years.  At  the  age  of 
24  years  he  married  Elizabeth  Essig,  whose 
father's  family  settled  in  Plain  Tp.  in  1811, 
and  with  whom  he  lived  until  187<s,  when  he 
departed  this  life  at  the  age  of  73  years. 
William  Warsheler,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  in  Plain  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  0.,  Oct.  15, 
1835.  His  youth  was  spent,  like  that  of  all 
country  boys,  on  the  farm,  and  there  remained 
until  he  was  21.  He  then  began  farming  the 
homestead,  where  he  continued  until  1880, 
when  he  purchased  the  same  he  now  owns — 
71  acres  of  valuable  land,  underlaid  with  coal 
and  limestone — which  in  1881  he  began  to 
operate.  In  1858  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Eliza  Dine,  a  native  of  Franklin  Co.,  Pa., 
who  bore  him  nine  children,  four  of  whom  are 
living.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Warsheler  are  members 
of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

SOLOMON  WARSTLER,  farmer;  P.  O. 
Cairo;  is  a  son  of  George  and  Mary  (Freeze) 
Warstler,  who  were  natives  of  Hagerstown, 
Md.,  and  came  to  Ohio  about  1802,  settling 


in  Plain  Tp.  They  were  among  the  very 
first  families  in  the  township.  The  father 
learned  the  blacksmith's  trade  and  worked  at 
the  same  for  several  years.  He  then  settled 
on  a  farm  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  owned 
about  800  acres  of  land  in  Plain  Tp.  He  do- 
nated the  land  upon  which  the  Warstler 
Church  is  built  and  was  one  of  the  organi- 
zers of  the  same.  Our  subject  was  born  in 
Plain  Tp.,  July  27,  1808,  and  spent  his  youth- 
ful days  on  the  farm  where  he  remained  un- 
til he  was  13  years  of  age  ;  he  then  began 
teaming  for  his  father,  •  hauling  goods  from 
Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  to  Cleveland  O.  At  the  age 
of  21  he  purchased  the  farm  he  now  lives  on, 
and  has  remained  on  the  same  ever  since, 
with  the  exceptions  of  fifteen  years  he  lived 
on  the  homestead,  and  six  years  in  New  Ber- 
lin. He  now  owns  180  acres  of  valuable  land 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  township.  In 
1829  he  married  Hannah  Platner,  who  bore 
him  two  children,  one  of  whom  is  living — 
Sarah,  wife  of  William  Bachtel.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Warstler  are  members  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church. 

A.  M.  WISE,  farmer;  P.O.  Middle  Branch; 
was  born  in  Washington  Co.,  Pa.,  in  1833. 
His  early  life  was  spent  at  home  on  the  farm, 
and  he  obtained  his  education  in  the  common 
schools  and  the  academy  of  his  native  town. 
At  the  age  of  23  years  he  came  to  Ohio,  set- 
tling in  Delaware  Co.,  where  he  remained 
but  one  year,  when  he  removed  to  Stark  Co., 
settling  on  a  farm  in  Plain  Tp.,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  His  farm  contains  144  acres  of 
valuable  land,  upon  which  he  has  been  en- 
gaged in  slieep-raising  extensively,  since  com- 
ing to  the  county.  In  1856  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Phoebe  C,  daughter  of  Adam 
Wise,  of  Canton.  This  lady  died  in  1872, 
leaving  five  children.  In  February,  1873,  he 
married  for  his  second  wife,  Lydia  Archer,  of 
Canton,  who  bore  him  three  children.  Mr. 
Wise  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  of 
Canton.  His  father,  Solomon  Wise,  was  a 
native  of  Washington  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  farming  and  the  distilling  busi- 
ness. In  1858  he  sold  his  interests  in  his  na- 
tive county,  and  removed  to  Marshall  Co., 
III.,  and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business, 
which  he  followed  for  several  years.  He  then 
purchased  a  farm  where  he  lived  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death. 


PLAIN    TOWNSHIP. 


DANIEL  WARSTLER,  retired;  P.  O. 
Canton.  Is  a  soil  of  Christian  and  Barbara 
(Bair)  Warstier,  who  were  natives  of  Adams 
Co.,  Pa.,  where  Christian  was  enffaii'ed  in 
farmiriij.  In  1803  he  left  his  native  town  in 
Pennsj'lvania  for  tlie  purpose  of  making  a  new 
home  ill  the  far  West  (as  it  was  so  considered 
in  those  days).  He  settled  in  Columbiana  Co., 
O.,  where  lie  remained  until  1807,  when  ho 
came  to  Plain  Tp.  and  purchased  a  farm  of 
^50  acres,  now  owned  by  our  suV)ject,  situatc^d 
near  the  church  which  bears  his  name.  He 
was  thrice  married;  first  to  the  above  named 
ladv,  then  to  Elizabeth  Schaffer,  the  third 
bcin,£r  a  Mrs.  Dake.  He  died  Dec.  26,  1858, 
at  the  ripe  as^e  of  89  years.  The  subject  of 
these  few  lines  was  born  in  Columbiana  Co.,  O., 
Sept.  24,  1804,  and  in  1807  came  to  Plain  Tp. 
with  his  parents.  He  lived  on  the  farm  they 
settled  on  until  1875,  when  he  retired  from 
farming,  and  is  nov  living  a  retired  life.  In 
1831  he  married  Catharine  Lmd,  who  bore 
him  eleven  children,  eight  of  whom  arc  living, 
viz: — Isaac,  John,  Christian,  Aaron,  David, 
Levi,  Catharine  and  Daniel.  Jlr.  and  Mrs. 
Warstier  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  church, 
and  have  been  for  fifty-five  years. 

R.  Z.  WISE,  farmer  and  county  surveyor; 
P.  O.  Middle  Branch;  is  a  son  of  Peter" M., 
and  Catharine  Wise.  The  mother  was  a  na- 
tive of  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  and  Peter  M., 
was  born  in  Washington  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  farming  with  his  parents,  and 
came  to  Ohio  in  1811;  he  soon  after  returned, 
anil  in  1819,  settled  on  a  farm  in  tlie  north- 
east corner  of  Plain  Tp.,  where  he  lived  up 
to  the  time  of  his  death.  In  1836  he  repre- 
sented the  district,  including  Stark  Co.,  in 
the  Legislature,  and  was  one  of  the  most 
prominent  iiien  of  his  county;  he  died  in  1876, 
at  the  age  of  82  years.  Our  subject  was  born 
in  Plain  Tp ,  Stark  Co..  O..  Aug.  26,  1836. 
His  childhood  was  spent  on  the  farm,  and  in 
attending  the  common  schools  and  the  col- 
lege of  Mt.  Union.  After  completing  his 
education  he  taught  school  for  several 
terms,  in  Plain  and  in  the  adjoining  town- 
ships. In  1880  he  was  elected  surveyor  of 
Stark  Co.,  on  the  rejiublican  ticket.  In  1860 
he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Lydia,  daughter 
of  Benjamin  Gans,  of  Lake  Tp.  Mrs.  Wise 
died  in  1877  leaving  five  children.  In  1879 
h  •    married   for   his  second  wife,  Rebecca  A., 


daughter  of  Charles  and  Susanna  Poe,  of  Na- 
varre, this  county. 

.JONATHAN  \VARSHTLEK,  farmer  ;  P. 
O.  New  Berlin;  was  born  in  Plain  Tp.,  Stark 
Co.,  ill  January,  1810.  His  j'outh  was  spent 
at  home  on  the  farm,  where  he  lived  until  he 
liecaine  of  age.  He  received  his  education  in 
the  common  schools  of  his  neighborhood,  they 
affording  but  pooi  opportunities.  At  the  age 
of  22  he  rented  a  farm  in  Plain  T]).,  where  he 
lived  but  one  year,  and  then  bought  a  farm  of 
115  acres,  and  has  lived  on  the  same  ever 
since.  In  addition  to  attending  to  his  farming 
duties,  he  worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  for 
several  years.  In  1833  he  was  married  to 
Mary  Hossler  of  Marlljorough  Tj).  From  that 
marriage  there  were  eleven  children,  four  of 
whom  are  living,  viz: — George  of  Clark  Co., 
111.,  Matilda,  wife  of  Christ  Stoner,  of  Canton; 
Lucinda,  wife  of  Levi  Druckenbrode,  and 
Cyrus.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Warshtler  are  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

PETER  C  WISE  miller;  Middle  Branch; 
was  born  in  Holmes  Co.,  O.,  in  1846.  His 
parents,  George  and  Susanna  (Christ)  Wise, 
were  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  Peter,  our 
subject,  came  to  Lake  Tp.,  with  his  parents  at 
an  early  date,  his  childhood  being  spent  on 
the  farm.  At  the  age  of  22  he  apprenticed 
himself  to  the  miller's  trade,  serving  an  ap- 
prenticeship o*"  three  years  in  the  Snow  Flake 
mills  at  Canton.  He  then  took  charge  of  the 
Middle  Branch  mill,  and  has  remained  there 
since.  In  1881  he  purchased  the  mill,  and  is 
now  doing  a  good  business.  In  1878  he  was 
married  to  Louise  Minser,  of  Stark  Co.  Mr. 
Wise,  although  a  young  man,  has  excellent 
business  qualifications,  being  one  of  the  best 
millers  in  the  county — a  master  of    his  trade. 

CYRUS  YOUNG,  farmer;  P.  O.  Canton; 
is  the  third  in  a  family  of  nine  children  born 
to  Samuel  and  Susan  ,^Fouser)  Young,  who 
were  natives  of  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.  Samuel 
Young  worked  at  the  cooper's  trade  in  liis  na- 
tive State  for  some  time  before  he  came  to 
Summit  Co.,  which  was  at  an  early  date.  Ho 
first  settled  in  Summit  Co.,  where  he  worked 
at  his  trade  for  ten  or  twelve  years.  He  then 
leased  a  coal  bank  and  did  a  successful  business 
for  several  years,  when  he  removed  to  Stark 
Co.,  and  has  remained  a  citizen  of  the  same 
up  to  the  present  time.  Our  subject,  Cyrus 
Young,  was  born  in  Lake  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  O.,  in 


:t>- 


-%* 


9U0 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


December,  1840.  His  childhood  was  spent  at 
home,  receiving  a  common  school  education, 
and  when  large  enough,  was  set  to  work  in  a 
coal  bank.  In  18G2  he  enlisted  in  Co.  B, 
115th  Regiment,  O.  V.  I.;  was  in  many  en- 
gagements, doing  his  duty  faithfully,  and  at 
the  close  of  the  war  returned  to  Plain  Tp., 
and  commenced    farming;  he    also   working 


for  two  years  in  the  works  of  Aultman,  Mil- 
ler &  Co.,  of  Canton.  He  bought  a  farm  of 
03  acres  in  1873,  and  has  lived  on  the  same 
since  that  time.  In  1866  he  was  married  to 
Louisa  Voglegesang,  of  Stark  Co.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Young  are  members  of  the  Evangelical 
Association. 


vi® 


r 


NIMISIIILLEN    TOWXSnlP. 


NIMISHILLEN    TOWNSHIP 


B.  T.  BERT  JEN,  nurseryman;  P.  O.  Louis- 
vilh-;  is  a  son  ot' Isaac  and  Robecca  (Trum])) 
Berlien,  and  grandson  of  John  Berlien,  who 
was  horn  in  Yori<  Co.,  Pa.,  Jan.  8,  1777.  He 
was  married  to  Elizabeth  Mourer,  in  Ponnsj^I- 
vania,  and  by  her  liad  eleven  children.  He 
came  to  Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1827,  and  emi- 
grated from  there  to  Perry  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1833. 
From  Perry  Co.  he  moved  to  Butler  Co.,  Pa., 
and  from  thence  came  to  Nimishillen  Tp., 
Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1863,  where  he  lived  and 
finally  died,  at  the  advanced  aije  of  101  years, 
two  months  and  twenty-seven  days.  Isaac 
Berlien  was  born  in  York  Co.,  Pa.,  in  1810. 
He  came  with  his  parents  to  Trunil)ull  Co., 
Ohio,  in  1827,  and  soon  afterwards  came  with 
his  brother  to  Stark  Co.,  where  they  engaged 
in  makinor  shingles,  roofing,  building,  etc.  Pie 
was  married  in  183(3  to  Rebecca  Trump,  and 
liy  her  had  a  family  of  eight: — B.  T.,  Sarah, 
Mary,  Josiah,  deceased,  Resugus,  Rebecca, 
Henry,  deceased,  and  Eliza,  deceased.  He 
started  in  life  a  poor  boy,  but  at  his  death  left 
what  is  far  better  than  gold — an  honorable  re- 
cord. His  death  occurred  Jan.  28,  1876.  His 
widow  is  yet  living.  The  subj(!ct  of  this  biog- 
ra]ihy,  was  b(5rn  in  Nimishillen  Jan.  26,  1837. 
His  early  life  was  passed  in  hard  labor  on  the 
farm.  His  first  marriage  was  to  Sarah  Gehman, 
Aug.  13,  186.5;  this  lady  died  Feb.  2,  1874, 
leaving  her  husband  one  son — Henry,  who 
was  born  March  12,  1866.  Mr.  Berlieii's  sec- 
ond marriage  was  with  Leah  (Miller)  Wolf, 
widow  of  William  Wolf,  and  was  celebrated 
Oct.  1,  1874.  By  her  first  husband  Mrs.  Ber- 
lien had  two  children — Harvey  and  Mary. 
The  former  was  born  September  20,  1864, 
and  the  latter  April  23,  1866.  Mr.  Berlien 
followed  carpentering  in  Louisville  and  neigh- 
borhood until  he  engaged  in  his  present  occu- 
pation; he  now  owns  one  of  the  largest  and  best 
selected  stocks  of  fruit  trees,  shrubbery,  berry 
plants,  rhubarb,  etc.,  of  any  nursery  in  Stark 
Co.  He  expects  to  steadih'  kecj)  on  enlarging 
and  improving  his  stock,  so  that  the  people  of 
Stark  and  adjoining  counties  will  find  it  to 
their  interest  to  patronize  home  nurseries. 

DR.  W.  O.  BAKER,  physician:  Louisville; 


was  born  in  Northampton  Co.,  Penn.,  Dec. 
12,  1827.  He  is  the  youngest  .son  of  Jacob 
H.  and  Anna  (Overholt)  Baker,  who  were  pa- 
rents of  three  children — George,  Susan  and 
William  Overholt.  The  father,  Jacob  H., 
was  a  shoemaker  by  trade.  In  1836  he  and 
family  came  to  Wadsworth  Tp.,  Medina  Co., 
Ohio,  it  then  being  a  new  country.  He  is 
yet  living  in  Medina  Co.,  hale  and  hearty. 
Mrs.  Baker  has  been  some  time  deceased. 
Dr.  Baker's  early  life  was  one  of  labor  and 
self-denial.  He  received  a  common  educa- 
tion in  youth,  and  the  winter  he  was  20  years 
of  age,  taught  his  first  term  of  school.  Hav- 
ing an  uncle  practicinir  medicine  in  Wooster, 
Mr.  Baker  determined  to  make  that  his  voca- 
tion in  life,  much  against  his  parents'  wishes. 
When  21  he  commenced  his  studies,  and  the 
winter  of  185'2-53  attended  lectures  at  the 
Jefferson  Medical  College  at  Philadelphia. 
His  financial  resources  failing,  he  was  com- 
pelled to  discontinue  school  and  go  to  teach- 
ing. For  two  years  he  taught  school,  during 
which  time  he  still  continued  his  studies.  In 
185.5  he  came  to  Nimishillen  Tp.,  Stark  Co., 
Ohio,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine. 
In  1858  he  came  to  Louisville,  purchased 
property,  and  has  remained  here  since  that 
time.  In  1856  Dr.  Baker  and  Miss  Rebecca 
Utt  were  united  in  marriage.  Mrs.  Baker  is 
a  daughter  of  Elias  Utt,  of  New  Jersey.  She 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  in  Septembet,  1833, 
and  is  of  Etiglish  descent.  Dr.  Baker's  grand- 
father, Georire  Baker,  was  descended  from 
German  ancestors,  but  his  mother's  people 
were  of  German-English  descent.  There  is 
nothing  that  particularly  characterizes  the 
Bakers.  They  were  of  that  li(jnorable  class 
of  yeomanry  that  is  only  found  in  the  better 
grade  of  American  society.  The  Ovcrholts 
were  peojjle  of  a  larger  mental  capacity, 
taking  to  books  and  professions  more  than 
physical  labor.  There  has  been  born  to  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  Baker,  nine  children — Alfred  J., 
Anna  E.,  Amanda  C,  Mary  E.,  John  W.,  Ada, 
Charles  W.,  Minnie,  and  one  that  died  un- 
named. Of  these,  only  Annie  E.,  Amanda 
C,  Mary  E.  and  Charles  W.  are  living.       Dr. 


^fv* 


902 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Baker  has  been  quite  successful  in  his  prac- 
tice; is  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  in 
Christ  Church,  of  which  denomination  he  is  a 
local  exhorter. 

G.  F.  BAUMANN  &  SONS,  Merchants, 
Louisville.  Gustavus  F.  Baumann  was  burn 
in  Baden,  Germany,  in  1828.  He  is  a  son  of 
Carl  and  Sophia  (Regenold)  Baumann,  who 
were  natives  of  Germany,  and  the  parents  of 
four  children.  The  father  was  a  physician, 
and  served  some  time  in  the  French  army  un- 
der Napoleon.  At  the  age  of  15  Gusta- 
vus upjjrenticed  himself  to  a  tin  and  copper- 
smith to  learn  tlie  tin  trade;  and  after  serving 
three  years,  mastered  this  business,  and  the  fol- 
lowing three  years  traveled  and  worked  at  his 
trade.  In  1848  he  participated  in  the  German 
Revolution  of  that  date.  Mr.  Baumann  was 
taken  prisoner,  with  a  number  of  others,  and 
after  lying  four  months  in  prison,  his  trial 
came  oif.  When  captured  Mr.  Baumann  had 
no  arms  in  his  possession,  and  this  fact  alone 
saved  him  a  heavy  penalty.  In  April,  1819, 
he  took  passage  for  the  United  States  on 
board  a  sail-vessel,  and  after  a  voyage  of  six 
weeks  arrived  in  New  York.  Through  the  in- 
fluence of  a  fellow  traveler,  Mr.  Baumann 
was  induced  to  come  to  Canton,  Stark  Co., 
O.,  where  for  six  months  he  worked  for  Henry 
Bockius.  In  February,  1860,  he  came  to 
Louisville,  which  has  been  his  home  and 
place  of  business  until  the  present.  Mr. 
Baumann  first  started  in  Louisville  with  a 
small  tin  shop,  such  as  his  means  at  that  time 
would  allow.  After  working  a  time  he  would 
peddle  his  goods  out  to  the  citizens.  By 
economy  and  close  attention  to  business,  he 
soon  made  enough  to  eidarge  his  buildings  as 
his  increase  of  trade  demanded,  and  is  now 
considered  among  the  leading  business  men 
of  his  town.  In  1849  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Mary  Ann  Wang,  of  Canton,  but 
formerly  of  Germany.  To  this  union  were 
born  nine  children — Josephine,  Gustavus, 
Charles,  Henry.  Louis,  Theresa,  Mary  and 
Anna,  twins,  and  one  that  died  in  infancy. 
As  soon  as  his  sons  became  of  age,  Mr.  Bau- 
mann admitted  them  to  a  partnership  in  the 
business,  the  firm  name  now  being  G.  F. 
Baumann  &  Sons.  Mr.  Baumann  started  in 
life  with  but  very  little  means  at  his  com- 
mand, but  by  his  own  labor  he  has  acquired 
one  of  the  best  trades  of  any  house  in  Louis- 


ville. Besides  a  general  tin  and  stove  trade, 
this  firm  makes  a  specialty  of  slate  and  tin  roof- 
ing, galvanized  cornice-work,  spouting,  &c., 
during  the  summer  season.  It  would  be  safe 
to  say,  there  are  no  firms  of  this  kind  in  Stark 
Co.  that  do  a  more  extensive  business,  or 
have  the  confidence  of  the  public  any  more 
than  G.  F.  Baumann  and  Sons.  Mr.  Bau- 
mann is  a  member  of  the  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.  of 
Louisville. 

ISRAEL  BIXLER,  stock-raiser  and  far- 
mer; P.  O.  Louisville;  was  born  in  Lake  Tp,. 
Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1828.  His  father,  David 
L.  Bixler,  was  a  native  of  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa., 
his  birth  occurring  in  1796.  His  parents  were 
in  indigent  circumstances,  and  he  being  one 
in  a  family  of  ten,  induced  him  to  come  to 
Ohio,  that  he  might  not  deprive  his  younger 
brothers  and  sisters  of  comforts  that  would  be 
divided  with  him  were  he  among  them.  In 
1810,  he  together  with  the  JIarkley  family, 
came  to  Stark  Co.,  locating  in  Lake  Tp.  For 
tliree  years  succeeding  his  arrival,  young  Bix- 
ler worked  for  the  Markleys,  sending  all  his 
earnings  home  to  his  parents  in  Pennsylvania. 
He  then  commenced  working  for  the  neigh- 
bors at  odd  jobs,  and  being  a  sober  and  in- 
dustrious youth,  saved  up  his  earnings,  so 
that  when  21  he  was  able  to  make  some  good 
improvements  on  a  farm  he  had  entered  about 
that  time.  About  1816  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Elizabeth  Markle,  and  by  her  had 
five  children.  This  lady  died,  and  Mr.  Bix- 
ler's  second  and  last  wife  was  Catharine  Ricii- 
ard,  who  bore  him  nine  children,  of  whom  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  first.  Mr.  Bix- 
ler died  in  1867,  and  his  widow  is  1871.  He 
was  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  his  local- 
ity. In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat,  and  in 
religion  a  German  Baptist.  Israel  Bixler  Ije- 
gan  for  himself  when  19  years  old,  by  going 
to  Miami  Co.,  Ind.,  where  he  hired  out  to  a 
farmer  and  nurseryman  at  #120  per  year.  He 
was  at  this  business  about  two  and  a  half 
years,  but  during  the  first  j^ear's  service  man- 
aged to  buy  80  acres  of  land  for  $300,  which 
at  the  end  of  two  years  he  sold  for  $500. 
With  this  amount  he  went  to  New  York, 
where  he  embarked  for  Piftiama.  After  cross- 
ing the  isthmus,  he  took  passage  on  l)oard  the 
ship  "  Croton  "  for  San  Francisco.  While  sail- 
ing for  that  port,  they  met  with  adverse  storms, 
which  bore  them  far  out  of  their  course,  and 


•VI7 


NIMISHILLKN    TOWNSHIP. 


only  in  the  most  dilapidated  circumstances 
reached  their  destination,  after  sixty-nine 
daj's.  On  his  arrival,  all  Mr.  Bixler  had  of 
the  ^500  was  ^l.oO,  and  that  amount  just 
lacked  fifty  centsofl)i'in<>; enough  to  pay  for  one 
meal.  He  immediately  engaged  his  services 
as  a  day  laborer  at  812  per  day,  continuing 
at  this  until  he  had  ^400.  He  then  went  to 
SacramcMito,  and  from  there  to  Marysville, 
working  at  each  place  aliout  ten  days.  Then 
in  company  with  others  went  to  the  middle 
branch  of  Feather  River,  where  he  began 
mining.  He  remained  here  six  months  only, 
making  about  ^3  or  ¥4  per  day.  Not  finding 
this  very  satisfactory,  he  went  to  the  west 
branch  of  the  same  river,  and  working  at 
mining  made  in  eight  months  -iiOiOOO.  Then 
in  company  with  four  others,  Mr.  Bixler  pur- 
chased the  "Iowa  City  Claim"  on  the  middle 
branch,  paying  ^15,000  for  the  same.  They 
went  to  considerable  expense  in  digging  a 
race,  through  which  they  turned  the  river's 
course,  and  then  began  operations  in  the  orig- 
inal river's  bed.  This  movement  proved  finan- 
cially a  failure,  Mr.  Bixler  losing  about  all  he 
had  previously  made.  He  then  worked  on  a 
saw-mill  at  $0  per  day,  until  his  collateral 
amounted  to  about  *SOl),  and  then  formed  a 
partnership  with  O.  ^V.  Sowers  in  the  "  pack- 
ing "  business.  They  would  buy  their  own 
provisions  in  Marysville,  and  pack-  them  on 
mules'  backs  to  the  miners  in  the  mouniains, 
where  they  would  make  an  admirable  profit 
on  their  investments.  This  business  proved 
very  remunerative,  until  the_y  were  attacked 
by  Indians,  and  lost  twenty-seven  mules  with 
their  packs.  After  this  loss  Mr.  Bixler  again 
worked  on  the  saw-mill  until  he  had  al)out 
11,500,  when  he  returiKnl  to  Ohio,  and  the 
first  eleven  weeks  succeeding  his  arrival  at- 
tended school.  This  was  the  greatest  amount 
of  schooling  Mr.  Bixler  ever  received  at  one 
time.  He  was  married  Jan.  8,  18.53  to  Sarah 
M.  Smith,  and  by  her  had  ten  children — Mar- 
tha, Leona,  Orlando,  Sarah,  Cora,  Loretta, 
Byron,  Ellsworth,  Elmer  and  Ida,  deceased. 
Soon  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Bixler  rented  his 
father-in-law's  farm,  which  he  finally  pur- 
chased in  June,  1877.  He  now  owns  "241 
acres  of  excellent  land.  He  is  a  Republican 
in  |)olitics,  and  he  and  wife  are  members  of 
the  Evangelical  Church. 

JOSIAH  L.  COY,   carpenter   and    joiner, 


and  school  teacher;  Louisville;  was  born 
in  Bedford  Co.,  Penn.,  Jan.  30.  1854.  He 
is  a  son  of  John  and  Magdalena  (Pence) 
Coy,  a  sketch  of  whom  accompanies  this 
work.  Josiah  came  with  his  parents  from 
Bedford  Co.  in  1854,  to  Stark  Co.,  O.,  and 
this  county  has  been  his  home  ever  since.  In 
1876  he  began  in  life  for  himself,  working  at 
the  carpenter's  and  mason's  trades  in  the 
summer,  and  teaching  school  in  the  winter. 
On  Feb.  22,  1877,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Clara  A.  Wilson,  daughter  of  S. 
P.  Wilson,  of  Nimishillen  Tp.,  but  formerly 
of  Sandy  Tp.  To  this  union  there  were  born 
three  children — Bertha  E.,  deceased,  John  F. 
and  George  Van  P.  Mrs.  Coy  was  born  Feb. 
3,  1858.  Mr.  Coy  moved  to  his  place  in 
Louisville,  where  he  now  resides,  in  1878. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat  ;  was  elected 
Township  Clerk  in  1879,  and  since  has  twice 
been  re-elected.  He  and  wife  are  members 
of  the  Reformed  Church,  ilr.  Coy  is  an  in- 
telligent, enterprising  young  man,  being  a 
teacher  of  eight  terms  experience.  He  bills 
fair  to  be  among  the  most  prominent  citizens 
of  his  township. 

JOHN  COY,  farmer;  P.  O.  Louisville;  is  a 
native  of  Washington  Co.,  JId.,  his  birth  oc- 
curring in  July,  1819.  Ills  parents  were  John 
and  Hannah  Coy,  and  his  grandfather  was 
Woleiitine  Coy,  who  was  a  native  of  Ger- 
many. Mr.  Coy  was  one  in  a  family  of  twelve, 
of  whom  only  .loseph,  John,  David,  Daniel, 
Susanna  and  Elizabeth,  are  living.  Mr.  Coy's 
father's  occupation  was  that  of  a  common 
laborer.  He  moved  from  Maryland  to  Penn- 
sylvania in  1825,  and  died  about  1848,  his 
mother  dying  about  ten  years  later.  John 
Coy  apprenticed  himself  to  learn  the  black- 
smith's trade  with  David  Gantz  in  1849;  and 
after  serving  three  and  a  half  years,  com- 
menced for  himself.  lie  first  formed  a  part- 
nership with  a  Mr.  McCiain,  in  Frederick  Co., 
Md.,  which  continued  about  two  years.  The 
partnership  was  then  dissolved,  Mr.  Coy  fol- 
lowing the  business  some  seventeen  years. 
Having  by  this  time  saved  up  some  money, 
Mr.  Coy  came  to  Ohio  (1854),  purchased  70 
acres  of  land  in  Nimishillen  Tp.,  Stark  Co., 
paying  for  the  same  *;2,-100,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1855  located  on  the  place  which  has  been 
his  residence  ev«r  since.  He  has  since  in- 
creased   the  farm,  until   he  now  owns  90.72 


-efv 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


acres.  This  farm  is  located  on  section  14, 
and  is  a  portion  of  tlie  old  Mathias  homestead. 
There  is  an  apple-tree  j'et  growing  on  the 
place  that  must  have  been  planted  very  near 
three-quarters  of  a  century  ago.  Mr.  Coy 
and  Miss  Magdalena  Pence  were  united  in 
marriage  October  2-i,  1S43.  To  this  union 
there  were  eiglit  children  born  :  Georg-e  A., 
born  Feb.  12, 1S45,  died  Aug.  37, 1845;  Lewis 
A.,  born  July  16,  1846,  died  Dec.  30,1850; 
David,  born  Feb.  17, 1849;  Amos,  born  March 
24,  1852;  Josiah,  born  Jan.  30,  1854;  Augus- 
tus, born  Nov.  25,  1856;  Mar}-,  born  .Tune  28, 
1859;  and  Martin,  born  April  8,  18G3.  Mrs. 
Coy  was  born  March  4,  1819;  David  married 
Mary  A.  Felgar,  and  lives  in  Stark  Co.;  Amos 
married  Mary  Andric;  Josiah  married  Clara 
Wilson,  and  they  also  live  in  Stark  Co.  Au- 
gustus married  EmmaStnckey,  and  lives  with 
his  parents.  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Levi  Hart- 
enstine,  and  is  a  resident  of  Carroll  Co.,  O. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Coy  are  consistent  members  of 
the  Reformed  Church,  and  the  Coy  family  is 
among  the  best  in  the  township. 

JOSEPH  M.  D'OSTROPH,  farmer  and 
merchant;  P.  O.  Louisville;  one  of  the  lead- 
ing French  residents  of  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  is 
the  subject  of  this  biograjjhy.  He  was  born 
in  Lorraine,  France,  in  1835,  and  is  of  French 
parentage.  Joseph  D'Ostroph,  his  father, 
was  the  proprietor  of  a  large  glass  factory  in 
Lorraine,  which  he  sold,  and  moved  to  Aus- 
tria, when  our  subject  was  but  two  years  old. 
After  a  residence  there  of  six  years,  he  con- 
cluded to  come  to  America;  consequently 
about  1844  he  came  to  the  United  States, 
and  established  a  glass  factory  in  Vermont. 
Not  succeeding  very  well  there,  he  sold  out, 
and  went  to  Williamsport,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
and  two  others  started  a  glass  factory.  After 
some  time  he  found  he  was  losing  instead 
of  making  money,  and  he  accordingly  re- 
turned to  Austria,  where  he  still  continued 
the  business,  and  where  he  died  in  1867.  Jo- 
seph M.,  is  one  of  a  family  of  three — Mary, 
Catharine  and  Joseph  M.,  the  last  one  being 
the  only  one  of  the  family  living.  He  was 
raised  mostly  in  New  York,  and  during  his 
youth  received  an  excellent  education.  He 
studied  for  the  priesthood,  but  after  his  grad- 
uation at  Fordham  College,  he  concluded  to 
relinquish  his  intentions  and  assist  his  father, 
who  was  then  needing  his   assistance.     Not 


returning  to  Austria  with  his  parent,  he  was 
sent  lay  Bishojj  DeCharbonell,  of  Toronto,  to 
Brantford,  Canada,  where  he  organized  the 
first  Catholic  school  at  that  place.  After 
teaching  here  two  years  he  removed  to  Buf- 
falo, N.  Y.,  and  from  there  to  Dunkirk,  same 
State,  teaching  at  each  place  about  one  3'ear. 
He  then  went  to  Kenosha,  Wis.,  and  after 
teaching  one  year  there  was  employed  by  the 
United  States  Government,  through  President 
Buchanan,  as  a  teacher  among  the  Menomo- 
nee  Indians.  He  remained  with  them  two  years, 
and  then  resigned  his  position  to  fill  the  office 
of  Clerk  of  Courts  of  Shawano  Co.  While  in 
Wisconsin  Mr.D'Ostroph  held  various  positions 
of  honor  and  trust,  among  which  we  mention  his 
being  Postmaster  at  Kershena,  Clerk  of  Courts, 
State  Commissioner,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and 
Township  Trustee.  In  1866  he  came  to  Stark 
Co.,  where  he  was  employed  in  the  Catholic 
school  of  Louisville,  and  in  teaching  music. 
When  he  first  commenced  the  school  was  in 
a  very  poor  condition,  but  with  his  usual 
characteristic  energy,  Mr.  D'Ostroph  institu- 
ted reforms  and  new  rules,  so  that  at  the  end 
of  a  year  it  was  considered  among  the  best  of 
its  kind  in  the  State.  In  1857  he  married 
Margaret  Hawkins,  who  bore  him  three  child- 
ren— Edward,  Arthur  and  Mary.  The  mother 
died  in  1865.     Two  years  after  that  event  he 

'  married  Victoire  Gladieux,  widow  of  John  B. 
Menegay.  To  this  union  there  was  born 
one  son-  -Louis.  Mr.  D'Ostroph  is  one  of  the 
leading  businessmen  of  Louisville.  He  owns 
a  provision  store,  whieh  he  carries  on  in  con- 
nection with  his  farm  (115  acres),  and  besides 

i  this  he  owns  town  property  in  Shawano,  Wis., 
and  another  store  building  in  Louisville. 
Witliout  flattering  Mr.  D'Ostroph,  we  can  saj^ 
he  is  one  of  the  best  educated  men  in  Louis- 
ville, as  it  was  demonstrated  by  his  receiving 
the  Indian  Commission  over  thirty-three  com- 
petitors. He  is  a  Roman  Catholic  in  religion, 
and  an  enter]3rising  citizen. 

ELIAS  ESSIG,  P.  O.  Louisville;  son  of 
Adam  Essig,  and  grandson  of  Simon  Essig, 
was  born  in  Plain  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  Sept. 
6,  1833,  and  is  one  of  a  family  of  twelve  chil- 
dren. Adam  Essig  was  a  native  of  York  Co., 
Pa.,  his  birth  occurring  in  1787.  At  the  age 
of  18,  he  left  home  and  came  west  to  Ohio, 
locating  in  Plain  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  where  his 
father   previously   purchased  a  tract  of  land. 


^(S 


XIMISHILLEX    TOWXSHIP. 


l£ll. 


Mr.  Essig  was  a  poor  boy  when  he  came  to 
CHiio,  the  only  property  of  which  he  was  pos- 
sessor being  the  land  given  him  by  his  lather. 
He  immediately  settled  on  his  land,  and  with 
the  energy  characteristic  of  the  Plain  Tp.  pio- 
neers, began  improving:  ;in  I  tilling  the  land 
he  possessed,  suffering  ma  ly  hardships  and 
privations  that  are  incident  to  the  earlj-  set- 
tlers' life.  At  the  age  of  about  26  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  our  subject's  motlier — 
Catharine  Lichtenwalter.  During  the  war  of 
1812  he  was  called  out  and  served  for  some  time 
in  that  war.  After  a  long  life  of  usefulness, 
Mr.  Essig  died  in  18GG,  and  Mrs.  Essig  in 
18G4.  Elias  Essig  passed  his  youth  and  early 
manhood  on  the  old  farm  in  Plain  Tp.,  re- 
ceiving the  benefits  of  the  common  schools. 
Oct.  28,  1860  he  married  Melinda  Lesh, 
daurrhter  of  .Jacob  Lesh,  an  old  settler  of  Nim- 
ishillcn  Tp.,  and  to  this  union  were  horn  two 
children — Ella  and  Phoebe  B.  When  his 
father  died  the  farm  was  sold,  and  Mr.  Essig 
then  took  charge  of  a  saw-mill  for  his  father- 
in-law  one  year.  In  January,  1869,  he  pur- 
chased an  interest  in  the  planing  mill  at  Lou- 
isville, and  has  ever  since  remained  a  partner. 
Mr.  Essig  has  been  one  of  the  leading  men 
of  Louisville  for  the  last  ten  years.  He  as- 
sisted in  establishing  the  woolen  factory  at 
this  place,  and  is  also  at  present  a  partner  in 
the  manufacture  of  baskets.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Town  Council  and  School  Board  of 
Louisville.  The  Essigs  are  of  German  de- 
scent, but  it  is  not  definitely  known  when 
they  came  to  America,  i^imon  Essig  was  one 
of  the  brave  and  tried  men  who  fought  for 
the  freedom  of  the  colonies  in  the  war  of  the 
Revolution. 

JOSEPH  FRANTZ,  farmer;  P.  O.  Louis- 
ville. In  taking  notes  of  the  history  of  the 
Frantz  famiU%  we  find  that  it  was  mainly 
through  their  influence  that  induced  the  first 
French  settlement  in  Stark  Co.,  Ohio.  Jo- 
seph Frantz  is  a  native  of  Lorraine,  France, 
and  was  born  Feb.  12,  1822.  His  parents 
were  named  respectively  ,  Thiebaud  and 
Frances  (Menegay)  Frantz.  This  couple 
were  parents  of  twelve  children,  whose  names 
are — Joseph,  deceased  ;  John  P.,  Therese, 
Mary  Ann,  Margaret,  Peter  E.,  Loui  Frances, 
Christina,  Catharine  and  Joseph,  and  one  that 
died  quite  young.  Mr.  Frantz  was  an  agent 
in    the  employ  of  the   canal   company  there. 


and  under  Napoleon's  last  call,  enlisted  in  the 
French  army,  where  he  served  but  a  short 
time.  Financially  speaking,  Mr.  Frantz  and 
many  of  his  neighbors  were  very  [)00r,  Mr. 
Frantz  finding  very  often  hard  work  to  feed 
so  many  mouths  in  his  family.  From  1820  to 
1825,  all  Europe  was  being  agitated  by  many 
of  its  people  flocking  westward  across  the 
Atlantic,  where  poor  people  had  equal  chances 
with  rich;  where  work  was  plenty  and  wages 
gootl;  and  where  their  sons  as  soon  as  they 
arrived  at  manhood,  were  not  pressed  into  the 
army,  to  be  separated  from  friends,  and  finally 
die  on  the  battle-field  in  some  distant  coun- 
try. In  1825,  Mr.  Frantz  determined  on 
sending  his  two  daughters,  Mary  Ann  and 
Margaret,  to  America,  in  order  to  learn  if  the 
reports  were  true  they  heard.  After  a  long 
voyage  they  arrived  in  New  York,  and  there 
finding  work  plenty  and  prospects  bright, 
wrote  back  home,  giving  glowing  accounts  of 
the  country  and  people.  This  letter  had  the 
eff'ect  of  bringing  Mr.  Frantz  and  family  and 
four  other  families  to  the  United  States.  In 
the  spring  of  1826  these  families  started 
from  Havre  on  board  a  sailing  vessel,  and 
after  a  perilous  voyage  of  forty-two  days, 
landed  in  New  York.  On  their  arrival  at  this 
point,  the  great  cry  of  immigrants  was  Ohio; 
and  Mr.  Frantz  with  his  companions  deter- 
mined to  go  there.  Arriving  in  Cleveland, 
they  left  their  families  in  a  barn  while  they 
would  go  out  in  the  country  and  select  a  suit- 
able location.  After  considerable  search  they 
came  to  Canton,  where  thi're  was  a  small 
Catholic  organization.  Mr.  Frantz  made  the 
remark  after  seeing  the  Catholic  cross,  that 
that  was  the  first  one  he  had  seen  since  leav- 
ing the  city  of  New  York,  and  he  should  go 
no  farther.  They  went  back  to  Cleveland 
and  brought  their  families  down  to  Nimishil- 
len  Tp.  Mr.  Frantz  settled  on  asmall  tract 
of  land  all  woods  and  entirely  devoid  of  clear- 
ing. He  was  an  honest,  enterprising  citizen, 
and  was  the  leading  spirit  of  all  the  French 
in  Nimishillen  Tp.  More  of  his  history  and 
that  of  other  early  Fn-nch  settlers  will  be 
found  in  the  history  of  Nimishillen  Tp.  Mr. 
Frantz  lived  a  long  life  of  usefulness,  and 
finally  died  in  lS.il,  followed  by  his  widow  in 
1869.  Joseph  Frantz  was  reared  to  hard 
labor  on  the  old  homestead.  He  early  learned 
the    carpenter's  trade,  at  which     he    worked 


90G 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


twenty-six  years.  In  18-19  he  was  married  to 
Magdalena  Favicr,  and  by  her  had  eleven  chil- 
dren— Joseph  S.,  Josephine,  August  T., 
Flank,  Jane,  Mary,  Loui,  Euphrasia,  Sophia, 
Henry  and  Adaline.  Mr.  Frantz  steadily  fol- 
lowed carpentering  until  1863,  when  he  moved 
to  his  present  place,  having  purchased  08 
acres,  which  he  has  since  increased  to  113 
acres.  He  is  pleasantly  located  near  Louis- 
ville, where  he  is  surrounded  by  an  intelli- 
gent family.  His  son  August  is  one  of  the 
leading  enterprising  young  men  of  his  town- 
ship. 

JACOB  FREEDY,  merchant;  Louisville; 
was  born  in  Louisville,  Ohio,  in  1843.  Ho  ts 
a  son  of  Jacob  and  Augustine  (Monnier) 
Freedy,  who  were  both  natives  of  France. 
This  couple  were  parents  of  five  children — 
Alexis — drowned  at  Toledo;  Catharine,  now 
the  wife  of  T.  Bobay;  .Justine,  widow  of  Jere- 
miah Favret;  Frank  married  Anna  Ream;  and 
Jacol).  Those  alive  are  now  residents  of 
Louisville.  The  father  was  afarmer,  and  came 
to  the  United  States  about  1828,  locating  in 
Nimislhillen  Tp.,  Stark  Co.  He  was  born 
about  1809,  and  when  near  the  age  of  18 
married  Augustine  Monnier.  Mr.  Freedy 
was  a  much  respected  citizen  of  Stark  Co. 
Early  in  1843  he  came  to  Louisville  with  the 
view  of  going  into  business,  but  soon  after 
his  arrival  took  sick,  and  after  three  day's  ill- 
ness died.  Jacob  Freedy,  the  subject  of  this 
biography,  was  born  shortly  after  his  father's 
death.  His  youth  and  early  manhood  was 
passed  in  Louisville,  and  when  about  15 
years  of  age,  started  to  learn  the  shoemaker's 
trade.  He  worked  at  this  until  November, 
1861,when  ho  enlisted  in  Co.  H.,  19th  O.  V.  L, 
and  was  with  that  regiment  in  all  its  engage- 
ments until  he  was  finally  mustered  out  Oct.  35, 
1865.  Among  some  of  the  leading  battles  he 
wiis  in  wera — Shiloh,  Corinth,  Stone  River, 
Cliickamauga,  Knoxville,  Mission  Ridge, 
Chattanooga,  Atlanta,  Kenesaw  Mountain, 
and  a  number  of  others,  of  which  appropri- 
ate mention  will  be  made  in  another  part  of 
this  volume.  Mr.  Freedy  was  an  efficient  sol- 
dier, and  too  much  honor  cannot  be  given  the 
brave  defenders  of  our  country.  At  the  close 
of  the  war  he  came  home,  and  soon  after- 
ward entered  into  a  partnership  in  the  boot 
and  shoe  business  with  Peter  Beuchat,  which 
after  a   few  years  was    dissolved,  Mr.  Freedy 


retiring  from  the  partnership.  For  three  or 
four  years  following  he  was  employed  at  his 
trade  by  Mr.  Beuchat,  and  also  had  a  saloon. 
In  1876  he  again  formed  a  partnership 
with  Peter  Beuchat,  which  has  continued 
to  the  present.  The  firm  name  now  is 
Freedy  &  Beuchat,  dealers  in  boots  and 
shoes,  and  everything  pertaining  to  their 
business.  They  keep  a  stock  worth  from 
§4,000  to  §5,000  on  hand,  and  their  estab- 
lishment is  much  the  largest  of  any  of  its 
kind  in  Louisville.  Mr.  Freedy  was  married 
in  1868,  to  Amelia  Beailet.  They  have  one 
child — Louise  Bandlier.  Mr.  Freed3'  is  an  in- 
telligent, enterprising  citizen,  and  such  men 
as  he  are  worthy  of  honor  in  any  commu- 
nity. 

S.  FLICKINGER,  proprietor  of  Louisville 
Star  Flouring  Mills;  Louisville.  This  gentle- 
man was  l>orn  in  Tuscarawas  Co.,  Ohio,  in 
1838.  His  parents  are  .facob  and  Eva 
(Kline)  Flickinger.  Jacob  Flickinger  was 
born  in  1800,  and  when  4  years  of  age  came 
with  his  parents  to  Tuscarawas  Co.  The  lo- 
cality ill  w-hich  they  first  located  was  a  vast 
forest,  that  required  all  the  courage  of  the 
early  settler  to  determine  it  his  future  home. 
In  1837  Mr.  Flickinger  died,  leaving  a  widow 
with  seven  small  children  for  whom  to  pro- 
vide, our  subject  being  the  third.  Simon 
Flickinger's  early  career  was  passed  on  a 
farm,  where  he  received  common  school  ad- 
vantages. His  marriage  with  Rachel  Hecka- 
man  was  celebrated  in  1 851,  and  to  this 
union  were  born  seven  children,  only  the  fol- 
lowing named  being  now  alive — Francis  M., 
Henrietta,  Lucy  and  Neal.  Mrs.  Flickinger 
died  in  1861,  and  for  his  second  and  present 
wife,  Mr.  Flickinger  married  Emily  Dowell, 
who  bore  him  four — Nora  C,  Rosa,  William 
D.  and  George.  At  the  age  of  38  Mr.  Flick- 
inger left  the  home  farm,  and  in  connection 
with  John  Snellbaker,  purchased  a  flouring  mill 
in  Tuscarawas  Co.  After  remaining  there  a 
short  time  he  sold  out  and  came  to  Louisville, 
where  he  has  ever  since  resided.  Mr.  Flick- 
inger is  a  practical  miller  in  every  respect, 
and  one  that  thoroughly  understands  all  the 
details  of  his  business.  For  a  record  of  the 
mill,  see  the  History  of  Louisville  in  another 
part  of  this  work. 

MARTIN  HOUSER,  farmer  and  stock- 
dealer;     P.   O.    Barryville;     the    date   of   the 


^. 


^ 


NIMISHILLEN    TOWNSHIP. 


907 


Hoiiser  fymily's  advent  in  Stark  County  is 
not  Jefiiiitely  known,  but  from  some  of  the 
eailiest  settlers  the  writer  of  this  biographj' 
has  learned  that  it  must  have  been  some- 
where about  the  j'ear  1810.  Martin  Houser 
was  born  in  Nimishillen  Tp.,  in  October,  1826. 
He  is  one  in  the  following  family  born  to 
Daniel  and  Mar^-  (Hoover)  Houser — Esther, 
.lolui,  Magdalena,  Anna,  Catharine,  Martin, 
Lydia,  Daniel,  Barbara  and  Jacob.  The  father 
of  these  was  a  son  of  Martin  Houser,  who 
was  a  native  of  Pentisj'lvania.  One  of  the  in- 
terestin'j:  episodes  in  the  life  of  this  gentleman, 
was  that  while  he  was  with  his  father  and  two 
brothers,  chojjping  in  the  woods  at  one  time, 
they  were  surprised  by  the  Indians.  His 
f  ither  and  two  brothers  fled  and  escaped,  but 
Martin  stood  his  ground  bravelj',  and  was  cap- 
tured. The  Indians  look  him  with  them,  and 
young  Houser  remained  four  years  a  captive 
among  them.  He  then  made  his  escape,  and 
went  back  to  Pennsvlvania,  and  from  there  to 
Stark  Co.,  locating  on  the  farm  now  owned 
by  S.  P.  Wilson  in  Nimishillen  Tp.  The}- 
erected  in  ISol,  about  the  first  brick  house  in 
the  township,  the  mortar  for  which  was  mixed 
very  diflferently  from  what  it  is  now — that  is, 
l)y  horses  tramping  it.  Our  subject's  parents 
were  Dunkards,  religiously.  The  mother  died 
in  the  fall  of  1837,  and  the  father  in  the  spring 
of  1838.  They  were  of  the  old  pioneer  class 
of  people,  hardy,  honest  and  respected  people. 
JIartin  Hous(>r  was  roared  on  the  farm,  re- 
ceiving but  a  limited  educatTon.  He  was 
married  in  18.52,  to  Mary  Aur,  of  Le.xington 
Tp.  By  her  he  has  had  six  children:  Aaron 
A.,  Phoebe  A.,  deceased.  Marietta,  Benton, 
Frances  and  Charles.  Marietta  is  the  only 
one  married;  she  is  the  wife  of  Aaron  Slusser, 
who  is  the  present  principal  of  the  Ilarrisburgh 
schools,  ilr.  Houser  coinu)enced  dealing  in 
stock  soon  after  his  marriage,  and  after  a  time 
in  wo'il.  He  now  lives  in  Nimisliillen  Tp., 
and  owns  210  acres  of  land  in  Stark  Co.,  the 
most  oT  which  he  has  acquired  through  his  own 
exertions.  He  started  with  but  §200,  and  is 
now  worth  about  §30,000.  Mr.  Houser  is  also 
a  i)artner  in  a  first-class  butcher  shop  in  Can- 
ton. He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  is 
one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  his  township. 

SA.MUEL  IM-MEF,,  Louisville;  was  born  in 
Columbiana  Co.,  Ohio,  Dec.  22,  1822.  He  is 
the  second  son  of  .lacob  and  Sarah  (Klinga- 


man)  Inimel,  who  were  parents  of  John,  Sam- 
uel, Mary,  David,  Joseph,  Elizabeth  and  Re- 
becca. The  father  and  mother  were  natives 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  came  to  Ohio  at  a  very 
early  day.  To  better  their  circumstances 
they  were  induced  to  remove  to  Marlborough 
Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1831,  where  they  pur- 
chased SO  acres  of  land,  on  which  they  resided 
until  their  respective  deaths.  Mr.  Itnmel 
was  a  hard-working,  industrious  man,  and  by 
his  upright  conduct  made  many  true  and  kind 
friends.  Samuel,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
passed  his  youth  and  earl)'  manhood  on  ihe 
farm,  and  when  20  years  of  age  went  to 
the  carpenter  and  joiner's  trade.  After  serv- 
ing two  and  a  half  years  apprenticeship,  he 
worked  journej--work  for  a  few  j'ears,  and 
has  ever  since  combined  his  trade  and  farm- 
ing to  his  advantage.  In  1849  he  purchased 
his  present  home,  and  he  now  has  05  acres  of 
well  improved  land.  In  politics  he  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  he  and  wife  are  members  of  the 
Evangelical  Church.  In  1847  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Mary  Ann  Kimmel,  and  by 
her  had  a  family  of  six — Franklin  .1.,  Sarah 
M.,  one  that  died  in  infancy,  John  J.,  Wil- 
liam H.,  and  Harvey  G.  Mr.  Immel  is  an  en- 
terprisinar  and  influential  citizen. 

CHARLES  L.  JUILLIARD,  farmer;  P. 
O.  Louisville;  is  a  native  of  France,  and  was 
born  near  Montbelaird,  May  1,  1823.  He  is  a 
son  of  John  N.  Juilliard,  who  was  also  a  na- 
tive of  Franc(!.  His  grandfather  was  a  sol- 
dier under  Xajioleon  Bonaparte,  and  was 
killed  in  the  battle  of  Verona.  John  N. 
Juilliard  was  early  sent  to  Switzerland  to 
be  educated.  When  about  15  or  16  \'ears 
of  age  he  returned  to  France,  where  he 
remained  until  IS  years  old,  and  then  was 
drafted  in  the  French  armj',  under  the 
last  draft  made  by  Napoleon.  While  his 
companj"  was  on  its  way  to  Italy,  Napoleon's 
great  tlisaster  overtook  him,  and  the  com- 
pany was  recalled.  Mr.  Juilliard  returned 
honie,  and  in  1820  married  Ann  N.  Berlet, 
and  by  her  had  this  family — Juliann,  Charles 
Louis,  Charles  Frederick,  Catharine,  George, 
August  ]).,  and  Hannah.  Mr.  Juilliard  hav- 
ing imbibed  the  spirit  of  freedom  while  at 
school  in  Switzerland,  and  having  four  sons 
who  would  soon  become  men  subject  to  draft- 
duty,  determined  to  cross  the  Atlantic  and 
seek  for  himself  and  family  the  great  boon  of 


f 


^t 


freedom  in  the  United  States.  Accordingly 
in  the  spring  of  IS'IG  he  and  family  embarked 
on  board  a  sailing  vessel,  and  after  a  journey 
of  thirty-six  days,  arrived  in  New  York. 
After  visiting  friends  a  short  time  in  ilassi- 
lon,  he  located  in  Washington  Tp.,  Stark  Co., 
O.  After  a  residence  at  this  place  some  time, 
Jlr.  Juilliard  moved  to  Paris  Tp.,same  county, 
where  he  resided  until  his  wife's  death,  which 
occurred  in  1X75.  He  then  moved  to  Louis- 
ville, making  his  home  with  his  son,  Charles 
L.,  until  he  too  died.  His  death  occurred  in 
1877.  Charles  L.,  the  subject  of  this  biogra- 
phy, remained  with  his  parents  until  1846, 
when  he  and  a  brother  obtained  possession  of 
a  saw  and  grist-mill  on  Sugar  Creek,  following 
that  business  until  1849.  Mr.  Juilliard  at 
this  time  took  the  gold-fever,  and  packing 
some  necessities  he  made  his  way  to  Wells- 
vile,  Ohio,  there  taking  a  boat  to  New  Or- 
leians.  From  this  point  he  went  to  the  Isth- 
mus of  Panama,  afier  crossing  which  he  went 
to  San  Francisco.  Soon  after  his  arrival,  he  in 
company  with  others,  went  to  what  is  now 
Trinity  County,  where  they  mined  that  sea- 
son, making  an  average  of  $12  per  day  per 
capita.  During  the  winter  of  1850-51  he 
staid  in  San  Francisco,  and  the  next  spring- 
started  out  prospecting.  After  quite  a  while 
unprofitably  spent  at  this,  he  and  brother  pur- 
chased a  train  of  mules,  and  began  "packing" 
provisions  to  the  miners  in  the  mountains. 
Soon  after  this  they  started  in  connection 
with  their  "packing,"  a  trading-post  in  Trin- 
ity Comity,  and  this  business  they  continued 
with  success  until  the  fall  of  1857.  Mr.  Juil- 
liard then  came  back  to  the  States,  and  for 
three  years  was  partner  in  a  dry-goods  house 
in  Bucyrus,  Ohio.  He  then  sold  out  and  re- 
moved to  Nimishillen  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  O., 
where  he  has  ever  since  resided.  In  the 
s]iring  of  1858  his  marriage  with  Louise 
Feusir  was  celebrated,  and  to  their  union  were 
born  Emma,  August,  Alfred,  Lora,  Clara, 
Florence  and  Etta,  living;  and  Loui  and  Ed- 
ward, deceased.  Mr.  Juilliard  is  a  farmer, 
and  owns  a  lar^-e  farm  in  OsnaburgTp. 

HENRY  KRALL,  farmer  and  stock-raiser; 
P.  O.  Middle  Branch;  was  born  in  Lebanon 
Co.,  Penn.,  Fel).  35,  1827.  He  is  a  son  of 
Tobias  and  Catliarine  (Werner)  Krall,  ^^•ho 
were  parents  of  Catharine,  Sarah,  .Toscph,  Eliz- 
abeth, Jacob,  Henry,  Mary  Ann  and  Christiann 


(twins),  and  Fanny.  These  are  tin-  grand- 
children of  Leonard  Krall,  and  this  gentle- 
man's parents  were  natives  of  Germany. 
Biing  poor  people  Tobias  Krall  and  family 
came  to  Plain  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1829, 
that  he  might  obtain  more  land,  and  cheaper, 
so  as  to  give  his  children  proper  advantages 
when  they  were  ready  to  start  in  life.  He 
was  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Plain  Tp., 
and  of  him  it  is  said  he  was  a  sober,  hard- 
working and  industrious  man.  He  died 
August  31,  184:8,  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church.  Mrs.  Krall  died  in  the  fall 
of  1875,  Henry  Krall  passed  his  youth  and 
early  manhood  on  the  farm,  during  which 
time  he  received  an  ordinary  education.  He 
was  married  Oct.  15,  1849,  to  Miss  Catharine 
Ringer,  and  to  this  union  were  born  ten  chil- 
dren— Carlesta,  Mary  M.  (deceased),  Ephraim, 
John  H.,  Sarah  C,  Jennie,  Emma  J.,  Ada  L., 
Lvdia  and  Plattie  M.  Mrs.  Krall  was  born  in 
Nimishillen  Tp.,  Sept.  13,  18-30.  After  his 
father's  death,  Mr.  Krall  took  charge  of  the 
home  farm,  living  there  twenty-one  years. 
He  then  sold  it,  and  in  1870  purchased  the 
farm  he  now  owns,  which  consists  of  1G5 
acres  of  fine  farming  and  grazing  land.  In 
politics  Mr.  Krall  is  a  Democrat.  He  and 
family  are  well  known  and  highly  esteemed 
citizens  of  Plain  and  Nimishillen  Tps. 

MOSES  KEIM,  P.  O.  Louisville;  was  born 
in  Somerset  Co.,  Penn.,  in  ISIO.  He  is  a 
son  of  Nicholas  and  Fanny  (Hostetter)  Keim, 
his  mother  being  the  second  wife  of  his  father. 
I  The  Keims  are  of  German  descent,  and  Moses 
was  reared  in  the  Omish  faith.  His  early  life 
was  passed  at  home  until  he  arrived  at  16 
years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  Maryland  to 
live  with  his  uncle.  In  1833  he  came  to 
Holmes  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  lived  a  number  of 
years.  March  13,  1834,  his  marriage  with 
Lydia  Domer  was  solemnized.  To  this  union 
were  born  six  children — Josiah,  present  min- 
ister of  a  German  Baptist  Church  near  Louis- 
ville; George,  who  was  killed  by  a  fall  when 
7  years  old ;  Catharine,  now  the  wife  of  Jacob 
Lutz;  Jonas,  Jacob  and  John.  Josiah  mar- 
ried Sarah  Hill;  Jonas  married  Mary  Keim; 
Jacob  married  Jane  Ciampbell;  he  is  a  pro- 
fessor in  the  Ashland  College,  at  Ashland, 
Ohio;  John  married  Sophia  Klingaman,  and 
is  a  resident  of  Louisville.  In  1845  Mr. 
Keim    moved  to  near  Bolivar,  Ohio,  and  after 


ife 


XIMISIIILLEN    TOWNSHIP. 


909 


a  residence  there  of  five  j'ears,  moved  to  Os- 
naburiv  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  Oliio,  and  there 
remained  seventeen  years.  During  the  spring 
of  1S69  he  came  to  Louisville,  where  his  son 
John  had  previously  engaged  in  the  hard- 
ware trade.  In  1875  Jlr.  Koim  and  his  two 
sons,  Jonas  and  John,  formeil  a  part'-.ership 
and  erected  the  present  Keim  Block,  in  which 
they  have  one  of  the  largest  and  most  com- 
plete stock  of  general  hardware  of  any  house 
in  Louisville.  In  the  spring  of  1881,  this 
firm  opened  the  Louisville  Deposit  Bank, 
mention  of  which  is  made  elsewhere  in  this 
work.  Since  their  arrival  in  Louisville,  the 
Keims  have  taken  an  active  and  leading 
part  in  building  up  the  town,  anil  they  are 
considered  among  the  most  sulistantial  men  of 
the  place. 

JACOB  KETTRIXG,  deceased  ;  son  of 
Adam  and  Barbara  (Agely)  Kettring,  was 
born  in  Blair  Co.,  Pa.,  June  9, 1810.  He  was  the 
oldest  of  five  children,  whose  names  respec- 
tively are  : — Jacob,  Catharine,  Adam,  John 
and  Conrad.  The  parents  of  these  moved 
from  Blair  to  Bedford  Co.,  when  Jacob  was 
lint  a  boy,  and  lived  there  the  balance  of  their 
lives.  They  were  very  poor  people,  the 
father  being  a  farmer  and  blacksmith,  and  the 
mother  a  weaver.  When  Jacob  was  21,  the 
family  made  a  sale  of  all  their  possessions,  the 
receipts  of  that  sale  amounting  to  only  873. 
After  their  parents'  death,  the  children  mar- 
ried and  separated.  Catharine  is  the  \vife  of 
Elijah  Binkley,  and  lives  in  Missouri.  Adam 
married  Susan  Teeter,  and  lives  in  Bedford 
Co.,  Penn.  John  married  Martha  Harris,  is  a 
widower,  and  lives  in  Indiana.  Conrad  mar- 
ried Catharine  Hoover,  and  is  a  resident  of 
Black  Hawk  Co.,  Iowa.  Jacob  Kettring  and 
Nancv  Ann  Barnet  were  united  in  marriage 
in  Bedford  Co.,  Penn.,  Oct.  22, 183G,  by  Hendry 
Fluck,  Esq.  This  lady  was  a  daughter  of 
James  and  Mary  (Fin ley)  Barnet,  who  were 
natives  of  Lancaster  Co.,  Penn.,  and  she  was 
born  in  Bedford  Co.,  Jan.  27,  1814.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Barnet  were  parents  of  a  family  of 
twelve — Eliza,  deceased;  William,  deceased; 
Nancy  Ann,  Jacob,  Mary,  Rebecca,  deceased; 
Elizabeth,  Sarah,  Hettj-,  deceased;  James, 
George,  deceased;  and  Ephraim,  deceased. 
James  and  Ephraim  were  soldiers  in  the  late 
war.  The  latt  r  was  taken  prisoner,  eon  veved 
to  AndiTsonville,  and   there  starved  to  death 


— a  victim  of  the  traitorous  leaders  of  the 
War  of  the  Kebellion.  George  was  killed  in 
battle  with  the  Indians  in  Nebraska.  Jacob 
married  Hannah  Myers,  and  lives  in  Canton 
Tp.  Mary  is  the  wife  of  .Jonathan  Focklor, 
and  lives  in  Stark  Co.  Elizabeth  is  the  wife 
of  Benjamin  Ober,  and  lives  in  Indiana. 
Sarah  is  the  wife  of  James  Hinton,  and  lives 
in  Plain  Tp.  ;  and  James  is  married  and  lives 
in  Iowa.  The  father  of  these  was  a  tailor  by 
trade,  and  the  Bariiets  are  of  Irish  ancestry, 
while  the  Kettrings  are  of  German  descent. 
To  the  union  of  Jacob  Kettring  and  Nancy 
Ann  Barnet  there  was  born  a  family  of  si.x 
children  :  Maria,  born  Dec.  21,  1838;  Eliza- 
beth, born  Feb.  9, 18.41,  died  Feb.  IG,  1841  ; 
Caroline,  born  Feb.  8, 1842;  Sarah  Ann,  born 
May  24,  1845,  died  Dec.  31,  1850;  William, 
born  March  22,  1848;  and  Henry,  born  April 
13,  1850.  Maria  is  the  widow  of  Abram 
Hoover,  who  died  from  disease  contracted  in 
the  army.  She  has  two  adopted  children — 
Emma  Davis  and  Eddie  Smith  ;  Caroline, 
the  wife  of  David  R.  Smith,  and  has  by  him 
six  children — Jacob,  Jane,  Herbert,  Ella,  one 
that  died  in  infancy,  anil  William  H.,  de- 
ceased. Thej'  live  in  Nimishilleii  Tp.  Will- 
iam married  Susan  Landis,  and  by  her  had 
three  children — Minnie,  Milton  and  Anna. 
Henry  is  single,  and  is  in  the  employ  of  C. 
Aultman  &  Co.,  of  Canton.  In  addition  to 
the  above,  the  Kettring  family  have  reared 
and  adopted  one  daughter  from  childhood — 
Emma  Davis.  After  his  marriage  with  Miss 
Barnet,  Mr.  Kettring  resided  in  Pennsylvania 
until  he  eame  to  Ohio.  The  start  thoy  had  to 
begin  married  life  with  was  8300  in  money 
and  a  bed  and  bedstead,  one  cow,  a  bureau, 
and  willing  hands.  Mr.  Kettring  was  a  rough 
carpenter  and  blacksmith.  While  there  he 
framed  twentv-seven  barns,  and  when  they 
came  to  Ohio  in  1851,  they  had  83,700.  They 
came  to  Stark  Co.,  located  on  lot  7,  where 
they  purchased  a  farm  for  83,000.  Both  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Kettring  were  hard-working,  saving 
and  industrious  people.  In  a  financial  way 
they  were  very  successful  with  the  start  they 
had  to  begin  with.  From  poverty  thes'  rose 
by  degrees  to  a  position  of  wealth  and  afflu- 
ence. "Mr.  Kettring  died  Feb.  24,1880,  leav- 
ing his  heirs  property  to  the  amount  of  846,- 
000.  His  two  sons,  William  and  Henry,  have 
reeenth'  pun-hased  one  of  the  finest  farms  in 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Stark  Co.,  in  Jackson  Tp.,  for  which  they  paid 
$30,800.  They  also  own  the  old  home-farm 
of  IGl  acres  in  Niniishillen  Tp.  Mr.  Retiring 
left  a  good  home  for  his  widdw,  and  810,000, 
with  which  to  live  in  ease  and  comfort  the 
balance  of  her  days.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kettring 
were  members  of  the  United  Bretliren  in  Christ 
Cimrch  ;  and  Mr.  Kettring  a  Republican  in 
polities,  as  are  also  his  sons.  The  Kettrings 
are  among  the  leading  citizens  of  Stark  Co., 
where  they  are  well  known  and  universally 
respected. 

RICHARD  MOFFITT,  deceased ;  was 
born  in  Sligo,  Ireland,  in  1794.  In  1815, 
through  the  influence  of  his  brother  .fames, 
who  had  preceded  him,  he  was  induced 
to  leave  his  native  country  and  come  to 
America.  He  went  to  Dublin,  where  he 
was  to  sail  from,  and  while  there  he  barely 
escaped  being  drugged  and  shipped  on  board 
a  vessel  bound  for  some  very  distant  land. 
On  his  arrival  he  was  employed  in  a  book- 
store for  some  time,  and  then  came  to 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  resided  until  about 
1821.  He  wa.i  married  in  this  State  Aug- 
ust 17,  1823,  to  Margaret  Glass,  and  by 
her  had  John,  James,  Patrick,  Frances,  Han- 
nah, Henry,  Richard,  Peter,  Matthew,  and 
three  that  died  in  infancy.  In  1821  Mr.  Mof- 
fitt  came  to  Nimishillen  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio, 
and  for  a  few  years  worked  for  his  brother 
James,  who  had  previously  settled  here.  In 
182.5  he  settled  on  his  brother's  farm,  the  old 
Carrel  place,  on  lot  33,  and  after  erecting  the 
well-known  old-fishioned  pioneer's  log  cabin, 
began  life  in  the  woods.  This  farm,  now 
owned  by  his  son  James,  was  entered  by  him 
from  the  United  States  Government,  and  at 
that  time  had  never  seen  the  pioneer's  ax. 
Mr.  Moffitt  was  a  man  of  good  education  and 
extended  information.  He  was  a  Catliolic, 
and  through  his  assistance  the  Catholic  organ- 
ization in  Louisville  was  first  established.  He 
early  became  identified  with  the  townshi])'s 
interest,  and  when  he  died  the  township  lost 
one  of  its  abh'st  and  most  respected  citizens. 
His  death  occurred  Aug.  19,  1872,  ai}d  that 
of  his  wife  Feb.  17,  1870.  James  Moffitt,  his 
son,  was  born  on  the  old  Carrel  farm,  Jan.  1, 
1828.  He  received  the  education  the  bo3's  of 
that  early  day  received  from  the  common 
schools.  In  the  spring  of  18.52  he  was  luiited 
in   marriage  with  Julia  Whipple,  and  to  this 


union  were  born  a  family  of  eleven — .lohn,  de- 
ceased ;  Matthew,  Catharine,  George,  Ellen, 
Maria,  Julia,  Anna,  deceased  ;  Mary,  deceas- 
ed, and  two  that  died  in  infancy.  He  is  a 
Democrat  in  politics,  and  a  member  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  Church  at  Louisville.  He 
owns  a  fine  farm  of  144  acres  of  farming  and 
grazing  land,  which  is  underlaid  with  an  ex- 
cellent quality  of  coal,  and  if  properly  work- 
ed should  pruve  a  fortune  to  the  owner.  Mr. 
Moffitt  is  one  of  the  enterprising  men  of  his 
township,  aiding  and  assisting  any  enterprise 
that  tends  to  benefit  the  people,  and  taking  a 
leading  part  in  various  ways.  He  and  family 
are  well-known  and  honored  citizens  of  Nim- 
ishillen and  Osnaburg  Tps. 

JOSEPH  C.  MENEGAY,  farmer  and 
stock-raiser;  P.  O.,  Louisville.  Among  the 
early  French  settlers  who  braved  the  perils 
of  an  ocean  voyage  from  the  Old  to  the  New 
World,  is  the  family  of  Menegay,  who  arrived 
in  this  country  in  1828.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  born  in  Dudaubs,  France,  June 
19,  1815.  He  is  one  of  a  family  born  to  Jo- 
seph and  Mary  (Poinssot)  Menegay,  who  were 
induced  by  their  relative,  Mr.  Frantz,  to  emi- 
grate with  .Mr.  Menegay's  family  and  his 
father  to  the  United  States.  They  traveled 
with  wagons  eight  days,  before  reaching 
Havre,  where  they  embarked  on  a  ship  for 
New  York,  which  port  they  reached  after  a 
prosperous  voyage  of  forty-two  days.  From 
here  thej'  went  to  Cleveland  via  Buffalo,  and 
from  there  to  Akron  by  canal.  On  their  ar 
rival  in  Nimishillen  Township,  Mr.  Menegay 
purchased  320  acres  of  land,  near  where 
Louisville  now  is,  and  with  the  usual  energy 
and  vigor  of  those  old,  time-honored  emi- 
grants, set  to  w,  rk  improving  their  farm. 
Like  the  majority  of  their  countrymen,  this 
family  were  devout  members  of  the  Catholic 
Church,  and  Mr.  Menegay  was  among  the 
most  enterprising  men  to  take  an  active  part 
in  the  improvement  of  the  churches  and 
schools  of  this  denomination.  Mrs.  Mene- 
gay died  in  1850,  and  Mr.  Menegay  in  1872. 
Our  subject  was  reared  on  the  farm  with  his 
parents,  and  before  his  coming  to  America,  re- 
ceived an  excellent  education  in  his  native 
land.  In  1840  he  married  Miss  Mary  R.  Vi- 
oland,  and  by  her  had  a  family  of  eight — 
Mary,  .losephine,  Joseph  S.,  Louisa,  Catha- 
rine,   Melinda,    Louis,    and    Louis    deceased. 


A« 


11^ 


NIMISIIILI.KN    TOWNSHIP. 


The  Menegays  are  notod  for  their  honesty 
and  hard  labor.  In  politics  they  are  Demo- 
crats. 

DANIEL  MATHIAS,  .Jr.,  deceased.  There 
is  no  greater  pleasure  for  the  hand  and  pen  of 
the  historian  or  biographer  to  perform,  than 
in  recording  iiotabh^  events  in  the  lives  of  the 
first  settlers  of  a  locality,  tracing  their  steps 
from  comfortable  homes  in  the  East,  to  the 
dangers  and  hardships  of  the  vast  forests  of 
tlu/West.  In  the  spring  of  1800,  Daniel 
Mathias,  Sr.,  and  his  two  sons,  .lacob  and  Dan- 
iel, together  with  their  respective  families, 
started  overland  from  Fayette  Co.,  Penn.,  with 
one  wagon,  to  seek  homes  in  the  State  of 
Kentucky.  When  near  AVellsville,  Ohio,  their 
wagon  stuck  fast  in  the  ice  and  mud,  and  was 
only'with  the  utmost  difficulty  extricated.  This 
event  cluiTiged  their  views  regarding  their 
journey  to  Kentucky,  and  instead  of  continu- 
ing, as  was  their  intention,  they  crossed  the 
Oliio  river,  and  pushed  westward  into  Ohio. 
After  they  reached  what  was  known  as  the 
Alexander  settlement  in  Columbiana  County, 
all  traces  of  a  trail  or  road  was  lost,  and  from 
this  point  the  men  were  compelled  to  go 
ahead  of  the  wagon  to  clear  a  route  and 
"  blaze "  trees,  in  order  to  find  their  way 
back  if  so  desired.  They  finally  reached  what 
is  now  lot  14,  Niniishillen  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  in 
the  evening.  Their  first  night  was  passed  un- 
der a  tree,  with  no  roof  to  cover  their  heads 
but  the  blue  sky.  The  next  day  they  erected 
a  rough  camp  in  which  they  resided  until  they 
erected  a  log  house  for  permanent  use.  .la- 
cob  located  on  what  is  now  lot  IS,  and  Daniel 
and  his  father  on  lot  14.  These  early  pio- 
neers never  returned  to  the  East  to  live  i)ut 
immediately  commenced  clearing  up  their 
land  with  an  indomitable  energy,  passing 
through  manv  hardships  and  trials  incident 
to  that  early  time.  Daniel  Mathias,  Jr.,  was 
married  in  Pennsylvania  to.Iulyan  Sanor,  who 
bore  him  eight  cliildren — Michael,  Catharine, 
.lacob,  Daniel,  Henry,  Lewis,  Susanna  and 
Samuel.  All  of  tliesc;  are  living,  except  Mi- 
chael and  Samuel.  Michael  married  Frances 
Prifogle,  both  of  wlioni  are  dead.  Their 
daughter  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  .1.  P.  Schilling,  ap- 
|)ro|)riate  mention  of  whom  is  made  elsewhere 
in  this  work.  Catharine  is  the  w-idow  of  .John 
Gilbert,  and  is  yet  living  in  Nimishillen  Tp. 
Jacob  married  Mary  Starnbaugli,  Daniel  mar- 


ried Elizabeth  Paulus,  and  both  are  living  in 
Michigan.  Susanna  is  the  wife  of  Miclia(>l 
Eshelman,  and  resides  in  Ximisliillen  Tp. 
Samuel  married  Polly  Hershey,  and  his  wid- 
ow is  living  in  West  SaliMU,  Ohio.  The  fath- 
er of  these  was  iiorn  May  3,  1775,  and  died 
Feb.  5, 1850,  followed  by  his  widow  Sept.  25, 
1800.  Henry  Mathias,  whose  portiait  appears 
in  this  history  as  a  representative  jjioneer,  was 
born  in  Ninnshillen  Tp.,  Sept.  0,  1809.  Like 
his  brothers  his  early  years  were  passed  on  the 
home  farm  where  he  assisted  his  parents  in 
clearing  and  improving  the  place.  When 
about  twenty-one  years  of  age  he  left  home 
and  commenced  working  at  the  carpenter 
and  joiner  trade  for  about  ten  years.  After 
this  he  farmed  a  number  of  years,  then  moved 
to  Louisville,  and  has  ever  since  resided  at 
that  place.  He  was  married  Feb.  12,  1832, 
to  Catharine  Stamiiaugh.  To  this  union  no 
children  were  born,  Ixit  they  raised  one  child — 
Margaret^ — who  is  the  wife  of  William  Etrh- 
berger.  Mrs.  Mathias  died  August  3  ,  1 880. 
She  was  a  kind  and  loving  wife,  an  exemp- 
lary christian  anil  a  true  lady  in  every  respect. 
Henry  Mathias,  her  husband,  is  yet  living  in 
Louisville,  where  he  is  widely  known  and  uni- 
versally respected.  Lewis  Mathias  was  born 
May  3,  1813,  in  the  first  log  cabin  in  the 
township.  His  marriage  with  Sophia  Gilbert 
was  solemnized  May  0,  1837.  This  union 
was  blessed  with  nine  children — Susanna,  B. 
F.,  Luc(!tta,  Ke/.iah,  Jidyan,  Henry  G.,  D.  W. 
Josephine  and  Benton.  These  children  are 
all  living  except  Henry  G.,  who  died  in  child- 
hood. Susanna  married  John  Ilnrt  ;  B.  F. 
married  Melissa  Etchberger;  Lucetta  married 
Joseph  Dennis;  Keziah  married  Ephraim  01- 
lipger;  Julyan  married  George  Trump;  D.  W., 
married  Cora  Bowen;  and  Josephine  married 
O.  W.  Slusser.  Benton  is  yet  single.  Mr. 
Mathias  is  living  in  the  village  of  Louisville, 
where  he  is  engaged  with  his  son  in  buying 
grain.  The  Mathias  family  have  always  been 
among  the  most  highly  respected  citizens  of 
Nimishillen  Tp. 

DR.  A.  C.  PONTIUS,  dentist;  Louisville. 
The  subject  of  this  biography  is  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  born  Oct.  14,  1843. 
He  is  a  son  of  Ezra  and  Emily  (Turnej-)  Pon- 
tius, grandson  of  Jacob  INjiitius,  and  great- 
grandson  of  .lohn  Pontius,  who  was  a  native 
of  Germany.     The  time  of  this  family's  arri- 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


val  in  Anirric-a  is  unknown,  but  it  must  have 
been  early  in  1700.  For  generations  previous 
to  Ezra  Pontius,  the  occupation  of  this  family 
was  farrainn-.  Our  subject's  father  was  a  na- 
tive of  eastern  Pennsylvania.  In  about  1817 
he  removed  to  Armstrong  Co.,  same  State, 
and  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits.  In  that 
county  Dr.  Pontius  was  reared.  He  received 
the  advantage  of  the  common  and  high 
schools  of  his  native  town,  finishing  his  gen- 
eral school  education  with  one  year  at  Mead- 
ville  College.  The  latter  part  of  his  school- 
ing was  taken  in  view  of  applying  it  in  his 
study  of  medicine,  which  occupation  he  had 
chosen  as  his  vocation  in  life.  In  March, 
1863,  he  enlisted  in  the  First  Board  of  Trade 
Battery  of  Chicago,  commanded  by  Captain 
Stokes.  He  served  with  this  Battery  through 
the  battles  of  Stone  River,  Chickamauga  and 
Nashville,  and  throvigh  ill  health  was  dis- 
charged for  disability  in  the  spring  of  1864. 
He  then  returned  home  to  Pennsylvania,  re- 
maining there  until  the  fall  of  the  same  year, 
when  he  re-enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  Fifth 
Pennsylvania  Artillery,  but  was  soon  promo- 
ted to  First  Lieutenant.  Dr.  Pontius  still 
has  the  sword  and  sash  presented  him  by  his 
Battery.  At  the  close  of  the  war,  he  returned 
home,  and  in  the  fall  of  1865  commenced  the 
study  of  medicine  in  his  native  town  under 
Dr.  Hosack.  During  the  winter  of  1807-8, 
he  attended  lectures  at  the  Michigan  Medical 
College  at  Ann  Arbor,  where  he  graduated 
the  term  of  18G8-9.  After  his  graduation. 
Dr.  Pontius  commenced  practicing  in  Kellers- 
burg,  Pa.,  but  at  the  end  of  a  year  removed  to 
EUerton,  where  he  still  continued  his  prac- 
tice. While  here  his  office  was  used  as  a 
dentist's  room,  and  during  this  time  Dr.  Pon- 
tius paid  special  attention  to  dentistry.  His 
health  being  somewhat  broken  down  by  ac- 
tive practice,  he  concluded  to  make  dentistry 
his  future  occupation.  In  1876  he  came  to 
Louisville,  Ohio,  where  he  has  since  been. 
His  previous  practice  as  a  jihysician,  together 
with  his  knowledge  of  dentistry,  ranks  him 
among  the  best  dentists  in  the  county.  In 
Jure,  1868,  Dr.  Pontius  and  Emily  Hastings, 
were  united  in  marriage.  This  union  has 
been  blessed  with  two  children — Wilda  L. 
P.,  and  Albert  A.  H.  Mrs.  Pontius  is  a 
daughter  of  Enoch  Hastings,  and  is  of  Scotch 
descent.     Dr.  Pontius    is  among  the  leading 


Republicans  of  Nimishillen,  a  member  of  the 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  a  gentleman. 

A.  V.  PONTIUS;  Louisville;  was  born  in 
Plain  Tp.,  Dec.  21,  1840.  His  father,  Peter 
Pontius,  is  one  of  the  oldest  pioneers  of  Stark 
Co.,  a  portrait  of  whom  will  be  seen  in 
another  part  of  this  work,  as  well  as  the  gen- 
eral family  history.  His  mother  is  Catharine 
(Essig)  Pontius,  who  was  also  an  early  resi- 
dent of  the  county.  A.  V.  Pontius  passed 
his  youth  and  early  manhood  on  his  father's 
farm,  during  which  time  he  received  the  com- 
mon-school advantages.  He  was  married 
Oct.  25,  1870,  to  Maria  Yoder,  and  in  the  fall 
of  1875  discontinued  farming,  moved  to 
Louisville,  where  he  built  a  fine  two-story 
brick  dwelling-house,  and  has  resided  here 
ever  since.  During  the  spring  of  1881,  he 
leased  the  Buckeye  Brick-yard,  and  is  at 
present  actively  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  brick  in  Louisville,  running  a  force  of 
about  twelve  men.  In  May,  18-11,  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  Jacob  Geib,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Jacob  Geib  &  Co.  This  firm 
has  now  in  course  of  erection,  what  will  be 
one  of  the  largest  grist-mills  in  Stark  Co. 
They  expect  to  confine  their  business  to 
merchant  milling,  and  this  establishment  will 
be  the  largest  manufacturing  house  in  Louis- 
ville. Mr.  Pontius  is  a  young  man  of  enter- 
prise, and  is  among  the  leading  men  of  his 
town. 

DR.  J.  H.  ROGERS,  physician  and  drug- 
gist ;  Louisville  ;  is  the  only  son  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  (Hutchison)  Rogers,  and  grandson 
of  Thomas  Rogers,  who  was  a  native  of  Ire- 
land. Thomas  and  John  Rogers  came  to 
Wayne  Co.,  in  1816,  whe7-e  the  subject  of 
this"  biography — Dr.  Rogers — was  born  Nov. 
23,  1847.  He  received  a  common  school  edu- 
cation in  early  years,  which  was  finished  at 
Haysville  Academy.  In  the  fall  of  1873,  he 
commenced  the  study  of  medicine  at  Frede- 
ricksburgh,  under  the  instruction  of  Dr.  Barns. 
During  the  winter  of  187.5-6  he  attended 
medical  lectures  at  the  University  of  Wooster, 
situated  at  Cleveland,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1876  located  at  Beach  City,  where  he  com- 
menced practicing.  In  the  fall  of  1878,  he 
came  to  lA)uisville,  where  he  has  ever  since 
remained,  practicing  his  profession,  which  has 
rapidly  increased  from  the  first.  In  Septem- 
ber, 1880,   he    formed   a    partnership    in   the 


-«  pv 


M^ 


d^ 


NIMISHILLEN    TOWXi^lIIP. 


drug  trade  witk  I..  Warstler,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Rogers  &  Warstler.  In  1805,  Dr. 
Rogers  enlisted  in  Co.  C,  18-lth  Regiment,  O. 
V.  1.,  and  was  emplo\-ed  mostly  in  guard 
duty  at  Nashville  and  Bridgeport.  In  1871, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Viola  C.  Craig, 
of  Missouri.  Dr.  Rogers  is  a  Republican  in 
politics,  a  member  of  tiie  United  Brethren 
Church,  and  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  is  a  genial,  intel- 
ligent gentleman. 

R.  T.  ROTIIROCK,  tailor;  Louisville;  was 
born  in  .Mifflin  Co.,  Pa.,  in  1817.  He  is  one 
of  the  following  family,  bom  to  John  Adam 
and  Susanna  Rothrock — Drusilla,  Mary,  R. 
T.,  and  Melona.  The  parents  were  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  but  they  were  descended  from 
an  old  and  honored  faniilj-  in  Germany.  When 
the  subject  of  this  biograph}'  was  but  3  j^ears 
old,  his  father  died,  and  when  13  years  old  he 
began  life's  battle  on  his  own  responsibility. 
He  commenced  learning  the  tanner's  trade, 
;)Ut  at  the  end  of  two  j-ears,  discontinued  that 
occupation,  and  apprenticed  himself  to  a 
tailor  in  Perryville  (now  Milford),  with  whom 
ho  remained  about  five  years.  He  opened  a 
shop  of  his  own  in  1838,  at  Mogadore,  Sum- 
mit Co.,  Ohio,  and  since  then  has  worked  in 
a  number  of  other  places,  but  has  been  mostly 
at  Canton  and  Kent.  "While  working  in  the 
former  place,  the  war  was  in  progress,  and 
Mr.  Rothrock  was  induced  to  enter  the  ser- 
vice in  the  7<Jth  Regiment,  Co.  K.,  O.  V.  I. 
He  participated  in  the  engagements  of  Ft. 
Donelson  and  Shiloh,  and  also  in  a  number 
of  skirmishes.  After  serving  over  a  year  he 
■was  discharged  for  disabilities.  In  April, 
1873,  he  came  to  Louisville,  opened  a  shojj, 
and  meeting  with  considerable  success  at 
tailoring,  has  remained  there  ever  since.  Mr. 
Rothrock  has  been  twice  married,  his  first 
wife  being  Nancy  Ann  Newburg,  who  bore 
him  four  children,  only  one — Louisa — of  whom 
is  yet  living.  She  is  the  wife  of  .1.  L.  Wood- 
ard,  and  lives  in  Kent.  His  wife  died  in 
18(30,  and  in  .June,  1871,  Mr.  Rothrock  mar- 
ried Lucy  (Bliss)  Bruner,  a  widow  of  G.  W. 
Bruner,  and  the  mother  of  four  children.  Mr. 
Rothrock  is  a  first-class  tailor  in  every  re- 
spect, and  is  giving  good  satisfaction  where 
he  is  now  living.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  poli- 
tics, and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church. 

JONAS  SPANGLER,  retired;  LouisvUle. 


The  subject  of  this  notice  was  '  orn  in  Adams 
Co.,  Penn.,  Sept.  11,  1810.  His  parents,  Jonas 
and  Susanna  (Rosenmiller)  Spangler  were  pa- 
rents of  six  children,  whose  names  are — Chris- 
tina, So|)hia,  Barbara,  Jonas,  David  and  one 
that  died  in  infancy  without  l)eing  named.  He 
is  a  grandson  of  Rudolph  Spangler,  who  came 
from  Germany  to  the  United  States,  and  set- 
tled in  Pennsylvania.  Our  subject  came  with 
his  parents  to  Stark  Co.,  Ohio  in  1832,  locat- 
ing in  Osnaburg  Tp.,  where  they  lived  two 
j-ears  on  a  rented  farm.  At  the  conclusion  of 
that  time,  Ihej-  moved  to  the  farm  now  owned 
by  Jonas  Spangler,  Jr..  it  being  at  that  early 
time  almost  covered  with  timber.  Mr.  Spang- 
ler was  a  thrifty,  hard-working,  sober  man. 
When  he  came  to  the  county,  he  was  in 
straitened  circumstances,  but  at  the  time  of 
his  death  left  a  good  home.  He  was  a  Dem- 
ocrat in  politics,  and  a  member  of  the  Luther- 
an Church.  His  death  occurred  in  1835,  and 
Mrs.  Spangler's  in  1846.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  farming 
has  always  been  his  vocation.  In  youth  his 
education  was  very  limited,  as  his  father  was 
very  poor,  and  unable  to  spare  the  money  to 
give  him  the  education  he  craved.  Nothing 
daunted  however,  he  would  work  for  the 
neighbors,  splitting  rails,  and  with  the  pro- 
ceeds go  to  school.  Since  arriving  at  years 
of  discretion,  he  has,  bj-  self-instruction,  ac- 
quired a  good  practical  education,  and  is  a 
teacher  of  several  terms'  experience.  In  18G9, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Anna  Ringer, 
and  since  his  arrival  in  Nimishillen  Tp.,  has 
always  made  that  his  place  of  residence.  He 
now  owns  a  tract  of  120  acres  of  nicely  im- 
proved land,  on  which  he  and  his  estimable 
lady  live  a  quiet,  retired  life.  Truly  "  labor 
has  its  own  reward." 

D.  M.  SLUSSER,  merchant;  Louisville; 
is  a  native  of  Canton  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  O., 
and  was  born  in  1827.  He  is  one  in  a  family 
of  twelve,  born  to  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (.Min- 
chick)  Slusser,  and  their  names  respectively 
are — Jesse,  Catharine,  .John,  Jacob,  Elizabeth, 
George,  Rebecca,  Eli,  Michael,  Danii.l,  Ben- 
jamin and  David.  All  tlie<e  are  living  ex- 
cept John,  Benjamin,  Michael,  Jesse  and 
George.  The  parents  were  of  Germanic  ile- 
sceiit,  but  were  born  in  Pennsylvania.  This 
family  came  to  Canton  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio, 
in  1804,  settling  ni  a  forest  in  which  but  few 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


settk'i's  then  lived.  The  father  had  very  poor 
health,  and  he  remained  almost  all  the  time 
in  the  house  working  at  his  trade — shoemak- 
ing — while  he  hired  his  out-door  work  done 
until  his  lioys  were  old  enough  to  do  it.  The 
family  lived  here  in  the  woods,  clearing  and 
improving  the  place,  luitil  Mr.  Slusser's  death, 
which  occurred  in  1837,  aged  thirty-seven 
years.  The  fall  before  he  was  tvifenty  years 
of  age,  D.  M.  Slusser  went  to  Indiana,  where 
he  lived  two  years.  Learning  that  he  could 
obtain  land  partially  cleared  just  as  cheap  n 
Ohio  as  Indiana,  he  returned  to  Stark  Co., 
working  on  the  old  homestead  one  year.  He 
then  formed  a  partnership  with  his  lirother-in 
-law  in  the  provision  business  at  Louisville, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Slusser  &  Holdwick, 
with  stock  valued  at  about  §1,000.  This 
partnership  continued  for  five  years  and  was 
then  dissolved;  Mr.  Slusser  clerking  in  the 
retail  store  of  Lawrence  &  Mathias.  He  re- 
mained with  this  firm  two  years,  and  then,  in 
1868,  started  the  manufacturing  of  baskets  in 
Louisville,  a  business  he  followed  with  suc- 
cess for  some  time,  and  from  that  business 
again  started  in  the  provision  trade.  He  now 
owns  one  of  the  best  grocery  stores  in  town, 
and  does  a  general  dealing  in  produce.  In 
1879,  he  admitted  as  a  partner  his  son,  O.  W., 
and  the  firm  name  now  is  D.  M.  Slusser  & 
Son.  The  year  before  he  came  to  Louisville, 
Mr.  Slusser  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Lydia  Holdwick,  daughter  of  one  of  Canton 
Tp.'s  early  pioneers.  To  this  union  were  born 
nine  children — O.  W.,  A.  O.,  Alice,  Lucy, 
Harvey,  Lincoln,  Cora,  Ada  and  Mary  E.  The 
last-named  was  first  born  but  has  since  died. 
Mr.  Slusser  is  one  of  Louisville's  substan- 
tial and  leading  citizens.  He  is  a  Republi- 
can, and  the  Slussers  adhere  to  the  United 
Brethren  Church  in  their  religious  views. 

DR.  A.  S.  SHEETS,  farmer  and  phys.cian; 
P.  O.  Barryville.  Dr.  Sheets  was  born  in 
Columbiana  Co.,  O.,  in  1834  He  is  a  son 
of  Samuel  and  Matilda  (Grice)  Sheets,  who 
were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  the  parents 
of  two  children^Sarah  and  A.  S.  The  father 
was  a  farmer,  and  when  our  subject  was  but 
six  months  old  was  thrown  from  a  horse  and 
killed.  After  remaining  a  widow  about  two 
years,  Mrs.  Sheets  married  Aaron  Duble,  and 
soon  after  her  marriage  our  subject  was  given 
to  the  neighbors  to  raise.     When  about  nine 


years  of  age'  he  went  to  live  with  Dr.  .Tolm 
Dillenbaugh,  with  whom  he  resided  until  23 
years  old;  and  while  with  him,  read  medicine 
to  a  considerable  extent,  and  the  last  year 
practiced  in  connection  with  him.  About 
184G,  he  moved  to  Fremont,  Ohio,  where  he 
practiced  medicine  for  three  years;  and  from 
there  moved  to  Huntington,  Ohio.  At  the 
latter  place  Dr.  Sheets'  health  failed  from 
over-work  and  exposure,  and  he  was  com- 
pelled to  relinquish  active  labor  in  order  to 
recuperate  his  broken  constitution.  After  a 
lengthy  time  passed  in  treatment  with  some 
of  the  leading  physicians  of  New  York,  Bos- 
ton and  Philadelphia,  without  success,  he  de- 
termined to  try  a  sea- faring  life  for  a  time; 
which  he  did  for  about  six  months.  This  was 
the  main  action  that  resulted  in  his  recovery. 
In  1857  he  came  to  Harrisburg,  Stark  Co., 
Ohio,  where  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Dv. 
Frifogle.  On  the  breaking-out  of  the  war, 
this  partnership  was  dissolved,  Dr.  Frifogle 
entering  the  army.  Dr.  Sheets  has  ever  since 
carried  on  the  business  alone.  In  later  years 
he  has  devoted  some  attention  to  farming  in 
connection  with  his  practice.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  March,  1859,  to  Phebe  A.  Thomas,  and 
to  this  union  were  born — rSally,  Charb'S, 
Franklin,  Whitman  and  George.  Mrs.  Sheets 
is  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  Churcii, 
while  the  Doctor  is  a  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal.  Dr.  Sheets  is  an  honest,  up- 
right  man,  and  a  staunch  Republican. 

DR.  JOHN  SCHILLING,  Louisville. 
The  subject  of  this  biography  was  born 
near  Frankfort-on-the-ilain,  Germany,  Oct. 
10, 1794.  His  early  life  was  passed  chiefly 
in  going  to  school  and  in  the  acquire- 
ment of  knowledge.  He  received  an  excel- 
lent classical  education,  and  when  about 
twenty-five  years  of  age  commenced  _the  study 
of  medicine.  Mr.  Schilling  received  instruc- 
tions from  the  best  medical  professors  of 
Europe,  among  whom  was  the  celebrated 
specialist.  Prof.  Schoenlein.  He  finally,  about 
1836,  graduated  with  honors  at  Wurtzburg 
Medical  College.  For  ten  years  succeeding 
his  graduation,  Dr.  Schilling  practiced  medi- 
cine in  Gernumj'.  A  spirit  of  enterprise  then 
taking  possession  of  him,  he  determined  on 
crossing  the  Atlantic,  to  seek  a  home  and 
fortune  in  America.  During  the  spring  of 
1837  he  came  to  the  United  States  via  Havre 


"i^s- 


NIMISfllLLEN    TOW.XSHIP. 


i^ 


and  Baltimore,  and  from  tlu;  latter  place  came 
to  Bolivar,  Tuscarawas  Co.,  O.,  whore  he 
practiced  about  eight  months.  He  then  came 
to  Louisville,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  until 
1811,  and  then  removed  to  Osiiabur<f,  where 
l.e  still  continued  practicing.  In  1S52  iiis 
liL-alth  failed  from  over-exertion  and  exposure. 
To  avoid  his  large  practice  he  m<)ved  to 
Crestline,  Ohio,  engaging  in  the  drug  trade. 
After  a  residence  there  of  eighteen  months 
he  returned  to  Louisville,  where  he  again 
actively  engaged  in  medical  pursuits,  con- 
tinuing so  until  1875,  when  he  retired  from 
active  life,  his  son,  J.  P.,  superseding  him. 
During  his  early  career.  Dr.  Schilling's  prac- 
tice extended  over  a  large  territory.  He  made 
a  specialty  of  diseases  of  the  eye,  operating 
for  cataract  quite  frequently  by  what  is  known 
as  the  "lateral  operation,"  all  of  which  were 
successful.  He  also  paid  considerable  atten- 
tion to  deformities,  such  as  club-foot,  liair-lip, 
etc.,  often  being  called  far  beyond  his  usual 
practice  to  attend  to  such  cases.  He  was  one 
of  the  earliest  and  most  successful  practition- 
ers of  Nimishillen  Tp.  He  was  married  in 
German}',  in  1835,  to  Elizabeth  Schioeder, 
and  by  her  had  seven  children — Catiiarine, 
Conrad,  J.  P.,  .Fohn,  John,  Edward  and  Tillie. 
Only  Catharine,  J.  P.,  Edward  and  Tillie  are 
now  living.  Catharine  is  the  v;ife  of  J.  G. 
Prenot ;  J.  P.  married  Kate  Mathias  ;  Edward 
married  Ella  McGregor  ;  Tillie  is  single,  and 
all  ar(>  living  in  Louisville.  J.  P.  Schilling 
commenced  the  study  of  medicine  under 
his  father  about  1857,  and  in  1860  took  a 
course  of  lectures  at  the  Western  Res  Tve 
College  in  Cleveland.  He  graduated  from  the 
Starling  Medical  College  at  ( 'olumbus  during 
the  winter  of  1SG3-4.  In  May,  1864,  he  en- 
listed in  the  ;3-lth  Reg.  O.  V.  M.  I.  as  assist- 
ant surgeon,  and  served  with  that  regiment 
until  it  was  captured  in  January,  1865,  at 
Beverly,  West  Virginia.  He  then  served 
under  contract  for  six  weeks  at  Camp  Chase, 
after  which  he  was  commissioned  assistant 
surgeon  of  the  88th  O.  V.  I.,  and  was  finally 
discharged  at  the  close  of  the  war.  His  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Mathias  was  celebrated  No- 
vember 13,  1866.  To  this  union  were  born — 
Charles,  Frederick  and  Ida  May.  The  drug 
store  of  J.  Schilling  and  Son  was  established 
in  1853,  and  is  among  the  leading  business 
houses  of  Louisville. 


JOSEPH  SCHILLIG,  deceased  ;  was  born 
in  Alsace,  France,  in  1812.  When  15  years 
old  he  came  with  his  parents  to  the  United 
States,  locating  in  Columbiana  Co.,  where  his 
parents  lived  the  remainder  of  their  lives. 
For  the  first  two  years  succeeding  his  arrival, 
Mr.  Schillig  engaged  his  services  as  hostler 
in  a  tavern  in  New  Garden.  He  then  went 
to  Pittsburgh,  engaging  in  the  same  business 
for  twelve  consecutive  years  with  one  man. 
While  here  he  was  head  hostler  for  most  of 
the  time,  obtaining  this  position  through  his 
integrity  of  character  and  close  attention  to 
business.  In  1838  he  married  Sophia  Cup- 
per, and  by  her  had  a  family  of  ten  children 
— Joseph,  Catharine,  Mary  Ann,  Magdalena, 
.Josephine  ;  .John,  deceased  ;  Jacob,  deceased  ; 
John,  Adam  and  Emeline.  The  year  of  his 
marriage,  Mr.  Schillig  purchased  the  farm 
now  owned  by  his  widow  on  Sec.  12,  Nimi- 
shillen Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  on  which  he 
moved  in  1841.  He  was  a  hard-working  man, 
industrious  and  honest  ;  was  a  Democrat  in 
politics,  and  he  and  wife  were  members  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  Church.  His  deatli  occurred 
Nov.  16,  1863.  His  widow  is  yet  living  on 
the  old  homestead.  Josc^ph  Schillig,  the  old- 
est son,  was  born  in  Nimishillen  T|).,  April 
18, 1841.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  farm- 
ing has  alwaj's  been  his  chosen  occupation. 
In  1869  he  purchased  and  moved  on  his  pres- 
ent farm,  which  consists  of  80  acres,  on  Sec. 
16,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  was  imi- 
ted  in  marriage,  Jan.  9,  1868,  with  Miss  I>ou- 
ise  Menegay,  and  to  this  union  has  been  born 
John,  Clara,  deceased  ;  and  Mary  Jane.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Schillig  are  of  the  same  religious 
faith  as  their  forefathers,  strictly  adhcriijg  to 
the  doctrines  taught  by  the  Church  of  Rome. 
In  politics  Mr.  Schillig  is  a  Democrat.  He 
has  twice  iield  the  office  of  Township  Clerk, 
and  is  the  present  Township  Assessor.  The 
Schilligs  are  descended  from  an  olil  ;ind  hon- 
ored race  of  people,  who  were  noted  for  their 
honorable  conduct  and  u])rightness  of  charac- 
ter. The  present  generation  have  a  like  rep- 
utation, and  are  considered  among  the  leading 
citizens,  in  v.hatever  locality  jjiey  reside. 

WILLIAM  SHAFFER,  stock-raiser  and 
farmer;  P.  O.  I^ouisville;  was  born  Nov.  18, 
1839,  in  Washington  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio. 
He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Margaret  (Cairns) 
Shaffer,  who  were  parents  of  a  family  of  five 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


— William,  Andrew  J.,  Joseph,  James,  and 
Jane.  The  mother  of  these  was  a  native  of 
Scotland,  and  the  father  was  born  in  Wash- 
ington Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1819.  The 
subject  of  this  biography  is  a  grandson  of 
William  Shaffer,  who  came  to  Stark  Co. 
about  1815,  from  Pennsj-lvania.  John  Shaf- 
fer was  a  farmer.  He  was  an  honest  and  up- 
right citizen,  and  a  man  highly  respected. 
His  death  occurred  in  1866;  his  widow  being 
yet  living  on  the  old  farm  in  Washington 
Tp.  William  Shaffer  passed  his  youth  and 
early  manhood  with  his  parents  on  the  farm, 
and  since  has  made  farming  his  occupation. 
He  received  a  good  common-school  and  aca- 
demical education,  and  in  March,  1S65,  mar- 
ried Lydia,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Catharine 
(Shaffer)  Trump.  By  her  he  has  a  family  of 
eight  children — Ida  J.,  Ella,  Lillie,  Charles, 
Ada,  Clara  L.,  Elmer  and  Nettie.  Mrs.  Shaf- 
fer was  born  April  14,  1841.  In  1865  Mr. 
Shaffer  moved  on,  and  purchased  68  acres  of 
the  farm  he  now  owns,  which  he  has  increased 
to  a  fine  farm  of  130  acres.  He  started  out 
in  life  with  but  little  means  at  his  command, 
but  with  the  help  of  his  wife,  has  made  a 
valuable  and  pleasant  home.  Mr.  Shaffer  is 
a  teacher  of  nine  terms'  experience  in  the 
public  schools.  He  is  a  Democrat,  and  has 
held  various  township  offices.  He  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Reformed  Church, 
and  are  respected  and  intelligent  citizens. 

ISAAC  SHAP^FER,  conductor.  P.,  Ft.  W. 
&  C.  R.  R.;  Louisville;  was  born  in  what  was 
then  Freedom,  now  Alliance,  July  8,  1845. 
He  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Mary  M.  (Berger) 
Shaffer,  a  detailed  sketch  of  whom  will  be 
found  in  the  biographical  department  of  Lex- 
ington Tp.  Isaac  Shaffer  was  reared  in  his 
native  town  until  he  was  17  years  of  age. 
He  then  (1862)  left  home  and  went  to  Chi- 
cago, where  he  had  a  brother  on  the  P.,  Ft. 
W.  &  C-  R-  R-5  as  conductor.  Obtaining  a 
position  on  the  same  road  as  brakeman,  he 
remained  here  some  eight  months,  and  was 
then  transferred  to  Alliance,  where  he  re- 
mained about  nine  months  as  brakeman.  He 
was  then  promoted  to  conductor  of  through 
freight.  He  remained  in  this  capacitj'  until 
1869,  when  he  was  appointed  conductor  of 
the  construction  and  wreck-train  running  be- 
tween Salem  and  Wooster,  with  headquarters 
at  Louisville.    He  has  been  ever  since  at  this. 


and  has  a  record  of  nineteen  years  of  steady- 
work  on  the  P.,  Ft.  W.  &  C.  R.  R.  Mr.  Shaf- 
fer was  married  April  14,  1864,  to  Miss  Sarah 
C.  Henry,  daughter  of  Frank  C.  Henrj-,  and 
by  her  had  a  family  of  five  children — Charles 
W.  (deceased),  Cora  I.,  Grace  I.,  Samuel  0. 
and  Ralph.  Mrs.  Shaffer  was  born  Sept.  1, 
1844.  Mr.  Shaffer  is  a  staunch  Republican  in 
politics,  and  his  wife  is  amember  of  the  Uni- 
ted Brethren  Church. 

JOHN  B.  VIOLAND,  retired;  Louisville. 
Among  the  early  French  settlers  in  Nimishil- 
len  Tp.,  is  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  John  B.  Violand,  who  was  born  near 
Belford,  France,  Oct.  12,  1817.  He  is  a  son 
of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (Marchand)  Violand, 
who  were  natives  of  France,  and  parents  of 
the  following-  family — Elizabeth,  Therese, 
John  B.,  Rosa,  Joseph,  Francis,  Celestine, 
Marion  and  George.  ^Ir.  Violand  was  a 
farmer  and  teamster  while  in  the  old  country, 
and,  having  a  large  family  on  his  hands,  de- 
termined to  go  to  the  United  States  that  he 
might  give  his  children  proper  advantages. 
He  and  his  family  embarked  at  Havre,  and 
after  a  long  voyage  of  sixty  days,  arrived  in 
New  York  in  safety.  From  this  place  he 
came  to  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  and  at  the  time  of 
his  arrival  only  had  8300.  This  he  gave  for 
80  acres  of  land  in  Nimishillen  Tp.,  on  which 
he  immediately  settled.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vio- 
land were  industrious  and  honest  people,  and 
strict  adherents  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church.  They  both  died  in  1863,  leaving  an 
untarnished  record  for  their  children  to  fol- 
low. John  B.  Violand  was  married  in  1842 
to  Ludivine  Menegay,  and  by  her  had  five 
children — Mary,  Josephine,  John,  Loui  and 
Joseph.  At  the  time  of  his  marriage,  Mr. 
Violand's  total  wealth  consisted  of  only  $50, 
but  by  hard  labor  and  honest,  upright  dealing, 
he  has  made  enough  to  present  each  of  his 
children  with  considerable  property,  reserving 
enough  to  keep  him  and  wife  in  their  old  age. 
Mr.  Violand  is  a  Catholic,  and  one  of  the 
leading  French  settlers  of  Stark  Co. 

MATHIAS  WALKER,  livery;  Louisville. 
Among  the  descendants  of  some  of,  the  old 
settlers  of  Osnaburg  Tp.,  is  the  subject  of  this 
biography,  who  is  a  son  of  Mathias  and 
Elizabeth  (Baughman)  Walker.  Mathias 
Walker,  Sr.,  is  a  native  of  Somerset  Co.,  Penn., 
and  was  born  April  29,  1810.     At  the  age  of 


*-^- 

T 


Xnil^sniLLEN    TOWNSHIP. 


:\ii^ 


17  he  came  to  Ohio  a  poor  boy,  and  located 
in  Osnaburg  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he 
soon  obtaiuL'd  possession  of  a  small  farm.  On 
this  he  cleared  a  sufficient  space  on  which  to 
erect  a  lo>r  cabin,  ai\d  tln'n  sent  hack  to  Penn- 
sylvania lor  his  parents,  who,  on  tlieir  arrival, 
kept  house  for  him  until  his  marriage  with 
Elizabeth  Baughmati,  which  took  place  in 
1820.  This  union  was  blessed  with  five 
children — .Jacob,  Eli,  Caroline,  Albert  and 
Malhias;  all  of  whom  are  living  except  Caro- 
line. Mr.  Mathias  was  a  leading  citizen  of 
his  township,  and  an  exemplary  member  of 
the  Lutheran  Church.  His  death  occurred 
Sept.  24,  1876.  His  widow  is  yet  living  in 
Osnaburg  Tp.,  on  the  farm  wliere  she  was 
born  and  raised.  She  was  horn  Jan.  13,  1815, 
and  her  parents  wore  among  the  old  pioneers  of 
Osnaburg  Tp.  Mathias  "A^alkor,  .Jr.,  was  born 
Feb.  21,  18.58,  and  was  raised  on  the  home 
farm.  He  was  married  Dec.  20,  1870,  to  Min- 
nie Maxhimer,  daughter  of  John  Maxhimer. 
After  his  father's  death  our  subject  farmed 
three  years.  He  then  moved  to,  Osnaburg, 
purchased  livery  property  there,  and  remained 
until  Ai)ril,  1881,  when  he  came  to  Louis- 
ville. Mr.  Walk  T  keeps  a  stable  second  to 
none  in  the  town  in  regard  to  stylish  turn- 
outs. His  sta!)le  is  run  in  connection  with 
the  Commercial  Hotel,  where  he  is  ahvays 
ready  to  do  anything  in  his  line  as  cheap  as 
the  cheapest.  He  is  already  building  up  a 
good  business,  and  bids  fair  soon  to  be  among 
the  permanent  fixtures  of  the  villaore. 

LYCURGU.S  WILSON,  livery;'Louisville; 
is  a  son  of  Douglas  and  Janette  (Brownson) 
Wilson,  and  grandson  of  Douglas  Wilson, 
who  was  one  of  Stark  Co.'s  earliest  pioneers, 
and  who  located  in  Osnaburg  Tp.,  at  a  very 
early  date,  it  being  at  that  time  an  almost 
unbroken  forest  filled  with  Indians  and  wild 
beasts.  The  history  of  the  Wilson  family  will 
bt!  found  in  the  biographies  of  Sandy  Tp. 
Lycurgus  Wilson  was  born  in  Osnaburg  Tp., 
Aug.  5,  1856,  on  the  same  farm  on  which  his 
father  was  born.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm, 
and  when  9  years  old  moved  with  his  parents, 
near  Waynesburgh,  in  Sandy  Tp.  He  received 
a  common  school  education  in  the  schools  of 
Waynesburgh,  living  with  his  parents  until  the 
spring  of  ISSO,  when  he  left  home  and  came 
to  Louisville,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He 
began    in    Louisville,    in  the  livery  business, 


and  since  he  first  started  has  enlarged  and 
improved  until  he  now  has  one  of  the  leading 
stables  in  town.  Mr.  Wilson  keeps  a  first- 
class  line  of  buggies,  horses,  &c.,  and  aims  to 
do  the  right  thing  by  those  that  patronize 
him.  His  prices  are  reasonable  and  those 
desiring  anything  in  the  livery  line  will  do 
well  to  call  on  him.  He  is  a  Republican  in 
politics,  and  a  young  man  of  push  and  enter- 
prise. 

GEORGE  WERNER,  deceased,  is  a  son 
of  Henry  and  Susanna  (Shaffer)  Werner,  who 
came  to  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  as  early  as  1816. 
Susanna  Shaffer  was  a  native  of  Germany 
and  came  to  the  U.  S.,  when  about  eleven 
years  old,  where  she  afterwards  met  and  mar- 
ried Henry  Werner,  and  by  him  had  a  family 
of  twelve — Mary,  Henry,  Daniel,  John,  George, 
Nancy,  David,  Benjamin,  Jacob,  Eliza,  Sus- 
anna and  Christianii.  Of  thc^e  all  are  living 
except  John,  Nancy,  Eliza,  Susanna  and 
George.  The  father  was  a  miller  by  trade 
and  a  native  of  Pa.  Being  in  very  ordinar}' 
circumstances  he  concluded  to  come  west,  and 
take  up  land  cheap  that  would  as  time  passed 
by  become  very  valuable.  Accordingly  in 
May,  1816,  he  came  overland  with  horses  and 
wagons,  bringing  his  family  to  Stark  Co., 
Ohio,  locating  on  the  north-west  quarter  sec- 
tion of  land  in  Nimishillen  Tp.,  a  piece  of 
property  he  had  ])urchased  the  year  previous, 
giving  what  was  then  the  extraordinary  price 
of  j!2,500.  Mr.  Werner  was  a  sober,  indus- 
trious man,  and  before  many  years  had  passed 
by,  made  the  wooded  home  he  had  selected 
here  look  more  like  a  place  inhabited  by  human 
beings  than  wild  beasts.  He  took  an  active 
part  in  the  building  of  the  schools  and  church 
of  his  neighborhood  and  the  United  Brethren 
church,  of  which  he  was  a  prominent  member, 
situated  on  the  old  Werner  farm,  is  still 
known  as  the  "Werner  Church"  named  in 
his  honor.  He  was  born  in  1783  and  died  in 
1864.  His  wife  died  in  1860.  George  Wer- 
ner, their  son  and  the  subject  of  this  biogra- 
phy, was  a  native  of  Franklin  Co.,  Pa.,  his 
birth  occurring  July  37,  1813.  He  came  with 
his  parents  to  Stark  Co.,  where  he  resided  until 
his  death.  When  18  years  old  he  left 
home,  went  to  Canton,  and  there  commenced 
the  printer's  trade,  but  not  being  satisfied 
with  this  he  discontinued  it  and  learned  the 
cabinet-maker's  trade,  serving  a  four  years'  ap- 


l^ 


prenticeship.  He  then  worked  at  his  trade 
four  years  and  also  at  carpentering.  For  a 
time  he  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  in  New 
Baltimore,  and  while  here  met  Sarah  Hickman, 
who  became  his  wife  in  August,  1839.  This 
lady's  father  was  William  Hickman  and  his 
father  was  a  native  of  Chester  Co.,  Pa.  Her 
mother  was  a  Mercer,  grandmother  a  Buck- 
ingham, and  great  grandmother  a  Shellcross, 
who  were  natives  of  England.  After  his  mar- 
riage Mr.  Werner  remained  in  New  Baltimore 
about  two  years  and  then  moved  back  to 
Nimisliillen  Tp.,  where  he  re-commenced  car- 
pentering. In  1844,  he  purchased  a  farm  ad- 
joining the  old  homestead  where  he  resided 
up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  To  his  union 
with  Miss  Hickman  there  were  born  five 
children — William  H.,  Emma  C,  Lydia  H., 
Ellen  L.,  and  .Joseph  F.  or  "  Frank"  as  lie  is 
more  generally  known.  All  these  are  living 
and  ail  are  married.  Mr.  Werner  was  an  Ikju- 
est,  straightforward  man,  and  an  exemplary 
citizen.  He  died  June  18,  1881.  Emma,  his 
daughter,  married  J.  C.  Craven,  and  lives  in 
Alliance.  Lydia  is  the  wife  of  J.  R.  West, 
and  also  lives  in  Alliance.  Ellen  is  the  wife 
L.  D.  Durban,  and  is  a  resident  of  New- 
castle, Pa.  William  H.  Werner  was  born  in 
New  Baltimore,  June  G,  1840,  and  up  to  the 


breaking-out  of  the  war  remained  at  home. 
In  November,  18G1,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  K.  70th 
Reg.  O.  V.  I.  He  was  an  active  participant 
in  the  engagements  of  Ft.  Donelson,  Shiloh, 
Pea  Ridge,  Corinth,  Chickasaw,  Arkansas 
Post,  Milliken's  Bend  and  the  siege  of  Vicks- 
burg.  He  was  discharged  in  December,  18C3. 
Nov.  30,  1805,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Harriet  Holibaugh,  daughter  of 
Philip  and  Sarah  (Harmony)  Holibaugh,  and 
by  her  has  three  children — Carrie,  Minnie  and 
Francie.  After  his  marriage  he  farmed  with  his 
father  in-law,  three  years.  April  1,  1808,  he 
purchased  an  interest  in  the  grist-mill  at 
Marlborough,  which  he  sold  Sept.  1,  1874. 
In  partnership  with  Mr.  J.  W.  Gaskill,  they 
bought  of  Mc  Clure  and  Co.,  March  1,  1875, 
their  present  general  store  under  the  firm 
name  of  Werner  &  Gaskill.  In  March,  1880, 
his  brother  Frank  was  admitted  into  the  part- 
nership and  the  firm  name  now  is  Werner 
Brothers  &  Co.  Frank  Werner  was  born 
Aug.  17,  1853.  Nov.  6,  1879,  he  married 
Laura  L.  ^\^etzel  and  to  this  union  is  born  one 
daughter — Jessie.  The  present  generation 
of  Werners  are  staunch  Republicans  in  poli- 
tics and  are  among  the  leading  citizens  of 
Stark  Co.,  Ohio. 


MARLBOROUGH    TOWNSHIP. 


BLOOMFIELD  FAMILY,  Marlborough 
Tp.  Of  the  early  pioneers  who  endured  the 
hardships  and  braved  the  perils  of  frontier  life, 
who  felled  the  forests  and  laid  the  foundation 
for  the  inestimable  blessings  the  present  gen- 
eration now  enjoys,  but  few  are  now  remain- 
ing. Occasionally  one  of  these  old  frontiers- 
men is  met  with  who  has  survived  the  storms 
and  ravages  of  time;  but  his  silvery  locks  and 
his  feeble  step  tell  us  that  ere  long  he  will 
lay  himself  down  from  his  labors,  "  within 
that  tent  whose  curtain  never  outward  swings." 
In  no  way  can  the  present  generation  honor 
so  well  these  old  heroes  of  the  early  time  as 
by  imitating  their  virtues  and  preserving  in- 
violate the  blessings  guaranteed  unto  us  in  the 
civil,   educational   and     religious   institutions 


founded  and  fostered  by  their  wisdom  and 
self-sacrifice.  Among  the  early  pioneers  of 
Marlborough  Tp.,  are  the  Bloomfields.  To 
give  a  correct  history  of  this  family  we  will 
go  back  to  when  James  the  First  inherited  by 
birth  the  crowns  of  both  England  and  Scot- 
land, and  undertook  to  make  all  his  subjects 
conform  to  his  religious  views.  This  was 
strongly  resented  by  many  of  his  subjects 
and  especially  by  a  sect  in  Scotland  called 
the  Cameronians.  These  people  were  par- 
ticularly odious  to  the  King,  and  after  years 
of  persecution  a  number  of  them  were  arrest- 
ed and  put  upon  an  old  ship  called  the  Cale- 
donia, which  was  unseaworthy,  without  com- 
pass or  chart,  and  with  only  a  small  stock  of 
provisions,  with  the  threat  that  if  they  return- 


rFi^ 


i^ 


MARLBOROUGH    TOWNSHIP. 


ed  they  should  all  be  put  to  death.  When  fairly 
out  at  sea,  in  the  utmost  despair,  a  man  came 
suddenly  from  the  hold  of  the  ship,  bearinj^  in 
his  hands  a  compass  and  quadrant.  They  ac- 
cepted him  as  captain,  and  he  said  he  would 
try  and  steer  them  to  America.  He  steered  for 
New  York  but  struck  the  coast  of  Now  .Jersey, 
opposite  Aniboy,  and  all  were  landed  in  safety. 
In  that  vessel  was  a  you;tr  woman,  Marion 
Ren  wick,  and  her  blood  ilows  in  the  veins 
of  all  the  descendants  of  Thomas  Bloomfield. 
She  was  descended  from  the  royal  Bruces  of 
Scotland.  Marion  Renwick  was  married  to 
Adam  Hude,  and  they  hail  a  daughter  named 
.Anna,  who  became  the  wife  of  Andrew  Bloom- 
field,  the  father  of  Thomas,  the  pioneer. 
There  was  another  Thomas  Bloomfield,  a  con- 
t^'niporary  and  cousin  of  the  pioneer  of  Craw- 
ford Co.,  Pa.,  who  was  a  Captain  in  the  Revo- 
iutionarv  War,  and  afterwards  made  Attor- 
ney-General of  New  Jersey,  and  elected 
Governor  of  that  State  in  1801,  and  held  the 
offici-  until  1812,  when  he  received  the  com- 
mission of  Brigailier  General  in  the  war  of 
1812.  Thomas  Bloomfield,  the  pioneer  of 
Crawford  Co.,  Pa.,  was  born  in  New  Jersey 
Nov.  23,  1740.  At  the  a-e  of  25  he  married 
Elizabeth  Morris,  a  niece  of  Robert  Morris, 
the  great  financier  of  the  Revolution.  About 
the  year  1792,  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  left 
their  home  in  New  Jersey  and  came  into 
Pennsylvania,  tarried  a  short  time  in  Lancas- 
ter Co.,  from  there  to  Fayette,  and  from 
thence  to  French  Creek;  Crawford  Co.,  was 
not  then  organized.  They  settled  there  in 
the  woods  and  took  up  large  tracts  of  land, 
and  when  the  townships  of  the  county  re- 
ceived their  names  the  one  in  which  this  family 
resided  received  the  name  of  Bloomfield 
Tp.,  in  their  honor,  a  name  it  still  bears. 
Thomas  Bloomfield  lived  there  in  the  woods 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  Jan.  15,  1814. 
Ho  was  buried  on  the  land  which  he  settled. 
Eliz  ibeth,  his  widow,  died  in  1829,  and  was 
liuriedby  the  side  of  her  husband.  One  of  their 
children  was  Lewis  Bloomfield,  born  in  1781. 
Ho  married  Susaiuiah  Kirk,  and  in  1829  re- 
moved with  his  family  to  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  and 
iiod  in  18(34,  aged  83  years.  Lewis  and 
.Susannah  (Kirk)  Bloomfield  were  parents  of 
nine  children — Margaret,  .Joseph,  Eliza,  Sarali, 
Lewis  M.,  John,  Judith,  Susan  and  William. 
Lewis  M.  Bloomfield  was  born  in  Bloomfield 


Tp.,  Crawford  Co.,  Pa.,  Dec.  10,  1815.  He 
came  with  his  parents  to  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  in 
1829,  locating  on  Sec.  3.  He  lived  with  his 
parents  until  his  marriage  with  J^ydia  Ingledue 
June  7,  1838.  About  1845  he  purchased  his 
present  place  of  240  acres  across  the  county 
line  in  Randolph  Tp.,  Portage  Co.,  and  has 
lived  there  to  the  present.  To  his  union  with 
Miss  Ingledue  there  were  born  five  children — 
Alpheus  S.,  Celestine,  Thomas  M.,  Susan  G. 
and  Asenath.  The  mother  of  these  departed 
this  life  Dec.  8,  1870.  She  was  one  of  the 
few  true  and  noble  women  of  her  day;  she 
was  a  kind  and  loving  wile,  and  an  exemplary 
mother.  He  deatli  was  sadly  regretted  by  a 
large  concourse  of  friends  who  followed  her 
remains  to  their  last  resting  place — the  grave 
— but  by  none  more  than  her  loving  con- 
sort whose  union  with  her  was  one  of  unalloyed 
happiness.  Thomas  M.  Bloomfield  was  born 
Aug.  26,  1844.  He  was  raised  a  farmer;  and 
was  married  Sept.  29,  1878,  to  MissSamantha 
Chain,  and  by  her  has  a  family  of  two— Maud 
L.  and  Nellie  Blanche.  The  mother  was 
born  Nov.  20,  1845.  Thomas  Bloomfield  is  a 
Republican  in  politics  as  is  also  his  father. 
He  is  at  present  one  of  the  townshijj's  Trus- 
tees, and  is  also  President  of  the  Farmer's 
Insurance  Company  of  Marlborough  Tp. 
In  conlusion  we  can  say  that  the  present  gen- 
eration of  Bloomfiolds  have  not  deteriorated 
from  the  older  stock,  but  are  to-day  numbered 
among  the  most  substantial  and  leading 
citizens  of  their  respective  neighborhoods. 

A.  M.  BAILEY,  of  the  firm  of  Bailey,  Tay- 
lor, Crocker  &  Co.;  Marlborough;  was  born  in 
Millorsburg,  Ohio,  in  1847.  He  is  a  son  of 
B.  F.  Bailev,  who  came  from  New  Hampshire, 
and  Katie  Ann  (Black)  Bailey,  of  Ohio.  B.  F. 
Bailey  came  to  Tuscarawas  Co.  in  1840,  and 
there  met  and  married  Miss  Black.  By  her 
he  had  four  children — James  M.,  A.  M.,  Levi 
M.,  deceased,  and  O.  F.  Mr.  Bailey  was  a 
wagon-maker  by  trade,  and  in  1852  moved  to 
Davis  Co.,  Iowa,  where  he  engaged  in  mer- 
cantile pursuits.  In  1859  he  sold  out  and 
came  back  to  Tuscarawas  Co.,  where  he  again 
embarked  in  business.  His  death  occurred 
in  1872.  When  A.  M.  Bailey  was  15  j'cars 
old,  he  apprenticed  himself  for  three  years  to 
learn  the  tinner's  trade.  In  1875  he  came  with 
his  two  brothers  to  Marlborough  and  engaged 
in  the  tinning  business.     After  three  years  he 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


started  in  the  notion  business,  but  being  away 
from  home  a  great  deal  he  concluded  to  settle 
down,  and  with  this  determination  he  pur- 
chased 24  acres  of  land  in  Marlborough  Tp., 
and  went  to  gardening.  He  commenced  can- 
ning some  of  his  products  in  1874,  and  seeing 
that  it  might  end,  if  continued,  in  a  good 
business,  he  kept  increasing  the  amount 
canned,  until  now  the  business  he  is  conduct- 
ing is  the  largest  of  its  kind  in  the  State. 
The  firm,  properly  speaking,  commenced  as 
Bailey  &  Co.,  but  during  the  spring  of  1881, 
the  name  changed  to  Bailey,  Taylor,  Crocker 
&  Co.,  with  three  factories,  one  situated  in 
Marlborough,  one  in  New  Baltimore,  and  one 
in  Limaville.  Their  books  show  a  business  an- 
nually done  as  follows  :  1874,  manufactured 
about  144  cans  ;  1875,  200  cans  ;  1876,  3,400 
cans  ;  1877,  27,000  cans  ;  1878,  37,000  cans  ; 
1879,  75,000  cans  ;  1880,  260,000.  They  will 
can  about  800,000  cans  during  the  season  of 
1881.  Their  goods  are  of  the  best,  and  are 
found  in  all  the  principal  cities  of  the  United 
States.  Throughout  all  their  transactions, 
Mr.  Bailey  has  been  the  principal  factor,  as 
well  as  the  founder  of  the  business.  He  was 
married  in  1869  to  Marietta  Boston,  and  by 
her  has  one  daughter — Jennie  B.  Further 
reference  to  the  canning  business  will  be 
found  in  the  history  of  Marlboro  Tp. 

SAMUEL  S.  BOWERS,  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser;  P.  O.  Marlborough;  was  born  in  what 
is  now  Blair  Co.,  Pa.,  July  13, 1835.  His  par- 
ents were  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Rhodes) 
Bowers,  and  grandparents  Peter  and  Su- 
sanna (Brumbaugh)  Bowers.  Peter  Bowers 
was  a  Pennsylvanian  and  a  farmer.  He  was 
twice  married,  his  second  wife  being  the 
mother  of  our  subject's  father.  Jacob  Bovv- 
ers was  born  in  Blair  Co.,  Pa.,  Deo.  28,  1814. 
By  choice  he  was  a  farmer,  but  in  connection 
with  that  followed  horse  doctoring  to  a  con- 
siderable extent.  Being  an  excellent  judge 
of  horses,  he  did  quite  an  extensive  business 
in  handling  and  taking  care  of  stock.  May 
1,  1834,  he  was  married  in  Blair  Co.,  to  Eliz- 
abeth Rhodes,  who  was  born  in  Blair  Co.,  July 
12,  1816.  To  this  union  there  were  born 
three  children — Samuel  S.,  Sarah  and  Mary. 
Sarah  is  now  dead;  Mary  is  the  widow  of  Wil- 
liam Wolfe,  and  resides  in  Marlborough  Tp. 
To  better  their  condition  financially  they 
came  to  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1845,  locating  in 


Lake  Tp.  The  last  sixteen  years  of  his  life 
Mr.  Bowers  kept  hotel  at  different  places,  the 
last  being  in  Marlborough.  He  died  Aug. 
13,  1873.  Samuel  S.  Bowers  was  reared  on  a 
farm.  In  June,  1864,  he  enlisted  for  100  days 
in  Co.  H,  162d,  O.  N.  G.,  and  was  discharged 
at  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service. 
March  6,  1855,  he  married  Catharine  Brum- 
baugh, daughter  of  Jacob  and  Susan  (Ditch) 
Brumbaugh,  and  by  her  had  four  children — 
Ida,  born>eb.  3,  1857,  died  May  39,  1861; 
Jacob,  born  Sept.  29,1858,  died  May  36,  1861 
(both  died  within  three  days  of  each  other,  of 
diphtheria;)  Martin,  born  April  10, 1860,  and 
Carrie,  born  Aug.  14, 1867.  In  the  fall  of  1857 
Mr.  Bowers  came  to  MarlborougliTp.,  and  rent- 
ed his  farm  for  ten  years.  Having  accumulated 
sufficient  money  by  the  end  of  this  time,  he 
purchased  the  place,  payuig  part  cash.  Since 
then,  by  thrift  and  enterprise,  he  has  j)aid  all 
his  indebtedness,  and  now  has  a  fine  farm  of 
145  acres,  situated  on  Sec.  11.  He  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  Disciples'  Church. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  a  good 
citizen.  His  mother  died  on  his  place,  June 
25,  188L 

F.  N.  BRYAN,  farmer  and  stock-raiser  ; 
P.  O.  New  Baltimore.  John  Bryan,  father  of 
our  subject,  was  born  in  Maryland  Aug.  17, 
1821.  He  is  a  son  of  Peter  and  Catharine 
(Mathias)  Biyan,  and  when  16  years  old  came 
with  his  parents  to  Marlborough  Tp.,  Stark 
Co.,  Ohio.  Peter  Bryan  was  a  blacksmith  by 
trade  and  a  poor  man.  He  had  come  to  the 
county  previous  to  his  settlement,  and,  liking 
the  "lay  of  the  land,"  purchased  80  acres  on 
Sec.  19,  where  he  lived  a  number  of  years. 
After  his  arrival  here  he  discontinued  his 
trade,  and  arduously  commenced  clearing  up 
up  and  improving  the  place.  In  1858,  having 
accumulated  sufficient  property,  he  purchased 
a  small  place  adjoining  the  village  of  New 
Baltimore,  where  he  finally  died  in  1871. 
His  wife  died  in  1867.  This  family,  in  olden 
times,  used  to  wiite  their  name  O'Bryan,  but 
finally  the  prefix  was  dropped,  making  the 
present  name  of  Bryan.  In  about  1844,  John 
Bryan  and  Hannah  Young  were  married,  and 
they  were  the  parents  of  fovir  children — Har- 
riet C,  now  wife  of  W.  L.  Nash  ;  Lucetta  P., 
wife  of  S.  R.  Dickson  ;  Franklin  N.  and  Ira 
B.  The  last-named  married  Isadore  Kindig, 
and  lives  in  Marlborough  Tp.     Mr.  and  Mrs. 


^1 


4. 


MAKLBOROI'OH    TOWNSHIP. 


Bryan  are  living  retired  in  the  village  of  New 
Baltimore.  Frank  N.  Bryan,  the  subject  of 
this  biography,  was  born  in  Marlborough  Tp., 
March  31,  1850.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm, 
and  received  a  good  commoii-schoo!  and  col- 
legiate education.  On  the  4th  day  of  May, 
1871,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary 
C.  Yarian,  and  to  this  marriage  were  born 
four  cliildren — Clyde  A.,  Nellie  I.,  John  B. 
and  Nina  P.  The  motlier  of  these  was  born 
April  21,  1850.  F.  N.  Bryan  and  wife  are 
members  of  the  Disciples'  Church,  of  which 
Mr.  Bryan  is  an  Elder.  He  is  a  Democrat  in 
politics  and  is  the  present  Justice  of  the  Peace 
of  his  township.  He  owns  120  acres  of  good 
laiui,  and  is  an  enterprising  and  desirable  cit- 
izen. 

EDWARD  BROOKE;  Marlborough.  The 
Brooke  family  of  the  United  States  are  de- 
scended from  English  ancestors,  and  the  pro- 
genitor of  tiiat  name  in  the  United  States  was 
Robert  Brooke,  one  of  the  younger  sons  of 
the  Earl  of  Warwick.  In  England  the  eldest 
son  inherits  the  title  and  estate  of  a  titled  per- 
sonage; this  being  the  case  in  this  instance. 
Robert  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  dying 
in  England,  the  second  coming  with  him  to 
America  in  1650,  and  locating  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Patu.\ent  River,  where  they  founded  a 
colony.  Robert  Brooke  was  the  father  of 
Roger,  who  married  Elizabeth  Hutchings,  and 
by  her  had  a  family  of  ten,  one  of  these  ten 
being  James  Brooke,  who  was  born  in  1705. 
Previous  to  the  time  of  James  Brooke,  the 
family  were  of  the  Roman  Catholic  faith,  but 
this  gentleman  formed  an  attachment  with  a 
Quaker  girl.  To  obtain  her  for  a  wife  he  re- 
nounced the  religion  of  his  fathers,  married 
her,  and  their  union  was  fruitful  in  a  large 
family;  their  second  son  being  Roger,  who 
married  Mary  Matthews,  and  by  her  had  ten 
children,  the  eldest  being  Samuel  Brooke,  the 
father  of  the  subject  of  this  biography.  Sam- 
uel married  Sarah  Garrigus,  of  Philadelphia, 
who  was  of  French  origin.  Their  marriage 
resulted  in  nine  children,  eight  of  wliom  lived 
[  to  reach  their  majorities.  Tiiese  were — Mary, 
!  Ann,  AVilliam,  Margaret,  Abraham,  Samuel, 
j  Edward  and  James  B.  In  1831  Abraham  and 
William  emigrated  westward,  and  located  in 
what  is  now  Marlborough  Tp.,  and  their  com- 
ing was  soon  followed  by  the  others.  Edward 
Brooke   was  raised   a  farmer,   ami    such  has 


been  his  chief  employment  through  life.  A 
few  years  after  he  came  to  the  county  he 
married  Hannah  Lukins,  and  by  her  had  four 
children — Alfred,  Mary,  Walker  and  Joseph. 
Alfred  married  Eliza  W.  Mendenhall,  in  1864, 
and  by  her  has  one  daughter — Ellen.  Edward 
Brooke  has  been  one  of  the  leading  men  of 
his  townshij)  since  his  first  settlement.  He 
was  an  active  Republican  during  the  war,  and 
after  its  close  he  reasoned  that  the  mission  of 
that  party  was  accomplished,  and  he  became 
a  Democrat.  By  that  element  he  has  been 
elected  to  the  State  legislature;  a  position  he 
filled  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  constituents. 

GEORGE  CLAPSADDLE,  stock-raiser 
and  farmer;  P.  O.  Marlborough;  was  born  in 
Fairfield  Tp.,  Columbiana  Co.,  Ohio,  Oct.  8, 
1817.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Keefer)  Clapsaddle,  grandson  of  George  and 
Christina  (Gilbert)  Clapsaddle,  and  great- 
grandson  of  George  Clapsaddle,  who  emigrated 
from  Germany  to  the  U.  S.  He  settled  in 
Franklin  Co.,  Pa.,  where  the  family  resided 
until  they  came  to  Ohio,  about  1815.  John, 
our  subject's  father,  with  the  view  of  better- 
ing his  condition  took  up  140  acres  of  land  in 
Columbiana  Co.,  and  lived  and  died  there. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Keefer  there,  and  this 
lady  bore  him  eleven  children:  George,  Jonas, 
John,  Mary,  Julia,  Samuel,  Lovina,  Maria, 
Elizabeth,  Albert,  d(xeased,  and  Albert  2d. 
Six  are  yet  living.  Mr.  Clapsaddle  served  in 
the  war  of  1812.  In  politics  he  was  neutral, 
and  in  religion  a  member  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren Church.  He  died  in  Washiiigto.i .  ille  in 
1846,  and  his  widow  in  Alliance,  on  Christmas 
day,  1872.  George  Clapsaddle  was  reared  a  far- 
mer, receiving  a  good  common-school  educa- 
tion. July  1,  1841,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Lovina  Neigh,  daughter  of  Lawrcmce  and 
Nancy  (Welch)  Neigh,  and  to  their  union  were 
born  nine  children — Franklin,  George  L., 
Lucretia  N.,  wife  of  Joseph  Gaskill;  Elizabeth, 
Mary,  deceased;  James  and  John,  twins; 
Samuel  and  Charles.  The  oldest  married 
Sarah  Lingo,  and  lives  in  Malborough  Tp. 
George  married  Carrie  Gaskill,  and  lives  in 
Iowa.  James  married  Ella  Roalh,  and  rctsides 
in  Columbiana  Co.;  John  and  Samuel  are 
single;  Charles  married  Carrie  Haag,  and 
lives  in  Marlborough  Tp.;  Franklin  enlisted 
in  Co.  F.,  115th  Reg.  O.  V.  I.,  Aug.  9,  1862, 
and  was  discharged   May  20,  1865.     He  was 


-3- 


922 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


mustered  into  service  at  Camp  Massillon,  and 
from  there  was  sent  to  Camp  Dennison. 
Diirinor  the  fall  of  1863  he  was  sent  to  Mur- 
freesboro,  Tenn.,  and  from  there  to  the  Nash- 
ville and  Chattanooga  R.  R.  Block-house  No. 
1.,  to  do  guard  duty.  On  the  4th  of  Decem- 
ber he  and  a  number  of  others  were  taken 
prisoners  by  Gen.  Buford,  with  a  detachment 
of  troops  from  Gen.  Hood.  He  was  taken  to 
Meridian,  Miss.,  and  after  four  weeks  was 
taken  to  Andersonville.  After  enduring  the 
sufferings  that  were  imposed  on  our  boys 
there  by  the  traitorous  leaders  of  the  South, 
he  was  paroled  and  taken  to  Vioksburg  April 
1,  I8G5,  where  he  remained  until  the  lOth, 
when  he  took  passage  for  the  North  on  board 
that  ill-fated  steamer  "  Sultana."  About  2 
o'clock  A.  M.,  of  the  17th,  he  was  awaker)ed 
from  his  sleep  on  the  hurricane  deck  by  the 
explosion  of  steam.  Realizing  immediately 
what  was  the  matter,  Mr.  Clapsaddle  made 
for  the  companion-wav,  down  which  he  hur- 
ried to  the  deck  below,  where,  grasping  the 
sides  of  the  vessel,  he  swung  himself  clear  from 
the  wreck  into  the  river.  He  remained  in  the 
cold  water  on  a  plank  about  five  hours,  when 
he  was  i)i(ked  up  by  a  boat,  and  was  then  taken 
to  U\f  lidspital  in  Memphis.  After  about  a 
week  thiMi'  he  was  sent  to  Columbus  via 
Cairo,  where  he  was  finally  discharged.  After 
his  marriage,  George  Clapsaddle,  oursubjeL't, 
taught  school  some  thirteen  terms.  His  chief 
occu|)ation,  however,  has  been  farming.  In 
1840  he  removed  to  near  Alliance,  and  in 
18.58  purchased  his  present  place,  80  acres — 
where  he  has  lived  ever  since.  In  politics 
Mr.  Clapsaddle  is  a  Prohibitionist,  and  he  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  Disciples'  Church. 

H.  S.  E.  DAY,  painter;  New  Baltimore. 
About  two  hundred  and  thirty-three  years 
jjrior  to  the  writing  of  this  biography  (1881), 
there  died  in  Hartford,  Ct.,  one  Robert  Day, 
the  first  of  that  name,  who,  filled  with  the 
spirit  of  enterprise,  left  his  native  land  and 
emigrated  in  1634  to  the  New  World,  that 
was  then  draining  all  Europe  of  its  enterpris- 
ing people.  At  the  time  of  his  emigration  he 
was  30  years  old,  and  his  wife,  Mary,  28  years, 
as  shown  by  the  record  of  passengers  of  the 
good  ship  "  Elizabeth,  "  upon  which  they  took 
j)assage  from  Ipswich,  Eng.,  for  Boston.  This 
family  originally  came  from  Wales,  and  tradi- 
tion has  it   that  the  name  was    derived  from  a 


small  river  in  that  country,  originally  pronoun- 
ced Dee,  which  was  probabl}'  applied  to  some 
ancestor  dwelling  upon  its  banks.  It  was  called 
by  the  English  Daye,  which  was  easily  con- 
tracted into  Day.  In  preparing  a  history  of 
this  family,  space  forbids  the  writer  going 
liack  farther  than  to  Lewis  Dav,  who  was  born 
.fuly  19,  1754.  Early  in  May,  1799,  Lewis 
Day,  his  son  Horatio,  and  two  others,  from 
Granby,  Conn.,  left  their  homes  in  a  one-horse 
wagon  for  the  purpose  of  finding  a  home  in 
the  far  West.  They  wended  their  way 
through  an  almost  trackless  forest  to  what  is 
now  Deerfield,  which  was  named  from  a  town 
in  Massachusetts,  in  honor  of  Sarah  Munn, 
the  mother  of  Lewis  Day,  who  was  a  native 
of  that  place.  In  the  fall  of  that  same  year 
Mr.  Day  returned  to  Connecticut,  and  in  1800 
removed  his  entire  family  to  his  new  home  in 
Ohio.  During  the  war  of  1813,  four  of  this 
family  served  in  defense  of  their  country. 
These  four  were — Horatio,  Alva,  Seth  and 
Lewis,  .Jr.  Horatio  was  married  Jan.  28,  1802, 
to  Hannah  Hinman,  and  to  them  were  born 
six  children — Dr.  .1.  H.  Day  (deceased),  Julia 
A.  (Mrs.  William  Endly),  Malvina  S.  (Mrs. 
McNair,  di'ceased),  Almira  S.  (Mrs.  Peter 
Gee),  Dr.  Anson  H.,  and  Solon  F.  Dr.  Ati- 
son  H.  Day  is  the  father  of  the  suljject  of  this 
sketch.  He  was  born  at  Deerfield,  Ohio,  Nov. 
13,  1815;  began  the  study  of  medicine  in 
1840  under  his  brother.  Dr.  J.  H.  Day,  and 
commenced  practicing  in  1844.  He  com- 
menced his  labors  in  New  Baltimore  in  the 
fall  of  that  year,  and  has  remained  in  the 
countv  principallv  ever  since.  He  Avas  mar- 
ried Sept.  14,  1843,  to  Samantha  Hamilton, 
and  by  her  has  one  son — Hamiltm  S.  E.  Dr. 
Day  and  wife  are  still  living  in  New  Balti- 
more, old  and  honored  citizens.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  born  May  25,  1845,  in  New 
Baltimore.  When  18  years  old,  he  enlisted 
in  Co.  B,  6th  Regiment  O.  V.  C,  the  date  of 
his  enlistment  being  Jan.  28,  1864.  He  was 
in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  under  Gen.  Sher- 
idan, and  participated  in  quite  a  number  of 
engagements,  the  most  prominent  being  Har- 
rison's Landing,  Stony  Creek,  Rapidan  Sta- 
tion, Coal  Harbor  and  that  twenty  days'  raid 
through  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  He  served 
his  command  faithfully,  and  was  discharged 
June  28,  1865.  After  his  discharge  he  came 
home  and  began  working  at  his  trade,  and  has 


Uv 


JIARLBOROUGH    TOWNSHIP. 


923 


been  enga.2;od  at  tliat  up  to  the  present.  He 
doos  apfoncral  husiness  ;n  coach-paintinjr.  Mr. 
Day  was  married  in  September,  18T4,  to  Ella 
AVliotstone,  and  by  lier  has  two  children — 
Mary  S.  and  Belle.  Mr.  Day  is  a  member  of 
the  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Alliance,  No.  271.  lie  is 
a  Re|)ul)lican  in  jxjlitics,  and  an  enterpris- 
ii:2-,  i'itelliirent  citizen. 

JOSEPH  \V.G.\SKILL,  merchant;  Marl- 
boiougli.  There  is  no  greater  pleasur«!  for  the 
liand  and  pen  of  the  historian  or  biographer 
to  perform,  than  recording  the  notable 
events  in  the  lives  of  the  first  pioneers  of  a 
locality;  tracing  their  steps  from  homes  of  ease 
and  comfort  in  the  East  to  dangers  and  hard- 
ships in  th  ■  great  forests  of  the  West.  The 
history  of  Marlborough  Tp.  would  l)c  incom- 
plete without  a  detailed  sketch  of  the  Gru- 
welle  and  Gaskill  families,  whose  historj^,  and 
especially  that  of  the  former,  is  so  intimately 
connected  with  that  of  Marlborough  Tp.  The 
Gaskills  are  of  English  descent,  but  the  date 
of  their  advent  in  the  United  States  is  not 
definitely  known.  Daniel  Gaskill  was  born 
in  New  Jersey  in  1802,  and  at  an  early  day 
came  with  liis  parents  to  Ohio,  locating 
in  Lexington  Tp.,  Stark  Co.  In  1824  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Elizabeth  Gruwclle, 
of  Marlborough  Tp.  The  Gruwelle  family 
are  of  French  d(;scent.  Peter  Gruwelle,  the 
grandfather  of  Elizabeth,  was  a  native  of 
"sunny  France,"  and  during  the  struggle  be- 
tween the  colonies  and  Great  Britain,  came 
with  Lafaj-ette  to  assist  the  colonies  in  their 
cause.  Mr.  Gruwelle  never  returned  to  his 
native  clime,  but  located  in  Virginia,  whore 
they  in  after  years  became  identified  with  the 
"  Friends,"  or,  as  more  commonly  known, 
"  Quakers."  This  sect  of  people,  as  is  well 
known,  were  intensely  opposed  to  slavery 
even  in  its  mildest  forms,  and  this,  no  doubt, 
is  the  cause  of  the  family's  removal  to  Ohio 
in  the  spring  of  1807.  They  located  in  Marl- 
borough Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  where,  on  the  20th  of 
the  following  August,  Elizabeth,  the  mother 
of  tlie  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born,  she 
being  the  first  white  child  born  in  tlie  town- 
ship. The  Gruwelles  lived  in  Stark  Co.  until 
they  all  finally  emigrated  to  Iowa,  after  they 
lived  to  see  the  wiMerness  in  which  they  loca- 
ted on  their  arrival  in  Ohio  turn  into  a  prosper- 
ous and  beautiful  country.  To  the  union  of 
Daniel  Gaskill  and  Elizabeth  Gruwelle  there 


were  born  a  family  of  ten — Alice,  Mary,  Hul- 
dah,  Jane,  Hannah,  Eliza,  Nathan,  Rachel,  Jo- 
seph and  Caroline.  All  are  living  except  Alice, 
lianniih  and  Jane,  and  all  are  living  in  Iowa 
except  Jose])h  and  Iluldah.  The  latter  is  the 
wife  of  Joel  Heacock.  The  father  died  in 
1854,  and  the  mother  is  yet  living  in  Iowa. 
.Fosctpli  W.  Gaskill  was  born  in  Marlborough 
Tp.,  March  22,  184:3.  Until  he  was  19  years 
old  he  remained  in  his  native  township,  dur- 
ing which  time  he  received  a  common-school 
education.  July  12,  18G2,  he  enlisted  in  Co. 
B,  104th  Regiment  O.  V.  I.,  23d  Army  Corps 
of  the  3d  Division,  as  a  private.  The  first 
six  months  of  his  service  was  passed  princi- 
pally in  the  hospital.  From  the  expiration 
of  that  time  until  the  close  of  the  war,  he 
I  participated  in  all  the  battles  of  his  regiment, 
except  the  storming  of  Ft.  Anderson.  He 
was  ap]  ointed  Corporal  at  Strawberry  Piains, 
Tenn.,  .June  1,  18G4,  and  was  finallj'  mustered 
out  of  service  at  Cleveland  in  June,  1865. 
In  18G7  Mr.  Gaskill  went  to  Iowa,  where  he 
remained  until  the  fall  of  18(38,  when  he  came 
back  to  Ohio,  and  on  the  8th  of  October  of 
the  same  year  married  Lucretia  Cla|)saddle. 
,  Soon  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Gaskill  and  wife 
I  went  to  Iowa,  whore  Mr.  Gaskill  engaged  in 
mercantile  pursuits  until  1874.  In  that  year 
he  returned  to  his  native  town,  formed  a  part- 
nership with  W.  H.  \^'erner  in  a  general  store, 
and  has  resided  in  Marlborough  ever  since. 
I  To  his  union  with  Miss  Clapsaddle  there  have 
been  born  three  children — Eula,  Cora  and 
Ralph.  Mr.  Gaskill  is  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics, and  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Disci- 
ples' Church.  His  mcjther,  Elizabeth  Gru- 
I  welle,  was  a  daughter  of  Timothy  Gruwelle 
:  and  Alice  Pennock.  The  Pennock  history 
!  will  be  found  in  this  volume.  .Joseph  Gaskill 
is  the  only  representative  of  his  familj-  now 
j  living  in  Marlborough  Tp.  He  is  a  young- 
man  of  push  and  enterprise.  He  and  wife 
are  well-known  citizens  of  their  township,  and 
1  are  universallv  respected. 

HAMIf.TdX  FA.MJJA',  New  Baltimore; 
Robert  M.  Hamilton  was  born  in  Han- 
cock Co.,  West  Virginia,  Aug.  20,  1802,  son 
of  John  Hamilton  and  Isabella  (Filson)  Ham- 
ilton, and  grandson  of  .John  and  Susanna 
(Morgan)  Hamilton.  John  Hamilton  was  a 
native  of  England,  and  he  together  with  a 
brother  came  to  the  United  States  before  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 


Revolutionary  War,  locating  on  the  Susque- 
hanna River  in  Maryland.  John  soon  began 
holding  slaves,  which  he  used  kindly  on  his 
large  plantation.  In  later  years,  seeing  the 
evils  of  slavery,  he  gave  his  slaves  their  free- 
dom, but  many  remembering  his  kindness  to- 
ward thorn,  refused  to  leave.  After  living 
on  the  Susquehanna  a  considerable  length  of 
time,  he  moved  to  West  Virginia  where  in 
after  years  he  died.  Hamilton  John  Hamil- 
ton was  born  at  this  latter  place,  and  as  he  as- 
sumed manhood,  took  a  very  decided  stand 
against  slavery,  even  in  its  mildest  forms.  It 
was  here  also  that  he  married,  and  where  he 
and  his  wife  finally  died.  Robert  Hamilton 
lived  in  his  native  state  until  17  years 
old,  when  he  determined,  as  has  many  another 
poor  boy,  to  "go  West;"  accordingly  in  1819 
he  went  to  Columbiana  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he 
learned  the  blacksmith's  trade.  In  1827,  he 
married  Mary  Hatclier,  and  by  her  had  a  fam- 
ily of  eight — Samantha,  Alpheus,  Ainfield, 
Elwood,  Jlorgan,  Orsemus,  Emeline  and  Mary 
Ann.  All  are  living  except  the  last-named. 
In  1839,  Mr.  Hamilton  came  to  Marlborough 
Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  entering  SO  acres  of  land, 
all  woods.  He  also  opened  a  blacksmith  shop 
which  he  ran  four  years.  He  then  sold  out 
and  went  about  a  mile  'north  of  New  Balti- 
more, where  he  engaged  in  the  same  business 
he  had  started  in  Marlborough  Tp.  In  187.3, 
he  and  wife  moved  to  New  Baltimore,  where 
they  are  living  a  retired  and  peaceful  life; 
they  are  members  of  the  Disciples'  Church,  and 
he  is  a  Republican  in  politics.  Mr.  Hamilton 
started  out  in  life  a  poor  boy.  By  his  own 
laljors  he  has  made  a  fortune,  a  great  part  of 
which  he  still  retains.  Alpheus  Hamilton 
was  born  in  Marlborough  Tp.,  March  29,  1828. 
He  lived  with  his  parents  until  he  became  a 
man,  during  which  time  he  received  a  common- 
school  education.  He  was  married  June  26, 
1851,  to  Lucetta  Wise,  and  by  her  had 
two  children — Charlie,  born  Feb.  38,  1856, 
and  one  that  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Hamil- 
ton was  born  Sept.  14,  1829.  Charlie 
married  Mary  Haughawout,  and  lives  in 
Marlborough  Tp.  The  first  ten  years  after 
his  marriage  Mr.  Hamilton  farmed  and  ran  a 
saw-mill,  and  then  sold  out  and  purchased  his 
present  farm.  He  now  has  112  acres  of 
excellent  land  in  Marlborough  Tp.,  and  20 
acres  in  Portage  Co.   Farminy;  has   been    Mr. 


Hamilton's  chief  employment,  but  for  two 
years  he  was  in  partnership  with  his  brother 
Morgan,  in  the  show  business,  and  during 
that  time  cleared  the  snug  sum  of  $10,000. 
In  1864,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  H.,  162d  Reg.  O. 
V.  I.,  and  was  commissioned  Second  Lieuten- 
ant. He  was  discharged  at  the  close  of  the  war, 
having  during  his  military  career  been  twice 
elected  Lieutenant  and  twice  Captain.  He  is 
one  of.  Marlborough  Township's  most 
substantia]  citizens,  and  is  a  Republican  in 
politics.  Morgan  R.  Hamilton  was  born  in 
Randolph  Tp.,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  Feb.  5, 
18.34,  and  was  there  reared  to  manhood. 
When  21  he  left  home,  went  to  New  York 
and  took  the  steamer  "  Greorge  Law"  for 
Aspinwall.  He  there  disembarked,  crossed 
the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  and  re-embarked  on 
the  steamer  "  Golden  Gate,"  and  after  meeting 
a  number  of  adverse  storms,  arrived  in  San 
Francisco  in  safety.  On  his  arrival  he  joined 
a  number  of  other  men,  and  together  they 
went  to  the  Northern  Mines  on  the  Sierra 
Nevada  range.  After  a  short  stay  here  he 
went  back  to  the  Sacramento  Valley,  and 
there  started  in  a  general  ranche  business,  and 
remained  there  about  three  years.  In  1859 
he  returned  home  to  Ohio,  and  on  Feb.  7, 
1861,  he  married  Candace  Whetstone,  and  by 
her  has  three  children — Kate,  Tommy  atid 
Paul.  Mrs.  Hamilton  was  born  Feb.  5,  1842. 
After  his  marriage  he  removed  to  Hancock 
Co.,  Ohio,  and  farmed  there  for  three  years. 
He  then  sold  his  farm  of  120  acres  and  went 
to  Oil  City,  Pa.,  where  he  began  speculating 
in  oil  and  coal.  He  was  successful  in  his 
speculations,  but  after  nine  months,  came 
back  to  Stark  Co.,  purchased  118  acres  and 
farmed  for  several  years.  He  then  with  his 
brother,  Alpheus,  started  in  the  show  business, 
continuing  three  seasons  after  his  brother  had 
dissolved  the  partnership.  Throughout  his 
varied  career,  Mr.  Hamilton  has  been  singu- 
larly fortunate  in  his  ventui'es,  and  to-day  he 
is  one  of  the  solid  men  of  his  neighborhood. 
Ho  owns  133  acres  of  well  improved  land,  is 
a  Republican  in  jjolitlcal  views,  and  he  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  Disciples'  Clmrch. 

SAMUEL  HOLIBAUGH,  stock-raiser  and 
farmer;  P.  O.  Marlborough;  was  born  in  Marl- 
borough Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  May  IG,  1826. 
He  is  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Lydia  (Hossler) 
Holibaugh,    and  grandson  of  Philip  and  Bar- 


^1 


MARLBOROUGH    TOWNSHIP. 


925 


baia(HilJebrancl)  Holiliaugh,  and  Philip  Holi- 
baug-lfs  fatiier  was  a  native  ol'  Germany. 
Just  when  this  I'aniily  caino  to  the  Uuilcil 
States  is  not  definitely  known,  Init  it  was  lontr 
before  the  colonies  had  trained  their  independ- 
ence. Philip  emigrated  from  Chanibersbtiri;-, 
Pa.,  to  Plain  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1810, 
and  was  auiono;  tliat  hardy  class  of  pioneers 
who  were  the  fathers  of  Stark  Co.  It  was 
an  alinostj  trackless  forest  when  they  first 
came,  filled  with  savage  beasts,  and,  far  worse, 
savage  men.  Their  early  life  was  one  of  self- 
denial  and  hard  labor.  Constantly  on  the 
alert  for  fear  of  a  surprise  from  the  Indians, 
they  would  always  keep  the  ready  flint-lock 
guns  at  hand  when  at  work  to  defend  them- 
selves. They  lived  in  Plain  Tp.,  until  1S3G, 
when  they  came  to  Marlborough  Tp.,  locating 
on  Sec.  21,  where  Philip  Hilibaugh  died 
about  1839.  Joseph  Holibaugh,  son  of  Philip, 
was  one  in  a  family  of  eight,  his  birth  occurr- 
ing in  1800.  He  came  with  his  parents  to 
Plain  Tp.,  whc^re  in  1824  he  married  Lydia 
Hossler.  Immediately  after  his  marriage  he 
moved  into  Marlborough  Tp.,  where  two  years 
afterwards  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born. 
He  purchased  a  farm — 158  acres — on  Sec. 
28,  where  he  ever  afterwards  lived.  He  was 
a  good,  sober  and  industrious  man,  and  com- 
manded the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  who 
knew  him.  He  died  in  18S0.  His  widow  is 
yet  living.  They  were  the  parents  of  a  family 
of  five — Samuel,  Daniel,  Caroline,  Aaron  and 
Lydia.  All  of  these  are  living  in  Stark  Co. 
except  Daniel,  who  lives  in  Summit  Co. 
Samuel  Holibaugh  was  raised  a  farmer.  He 
was  married  in  184:7  to  Sarah  Ringer,  and  b}- 
her  had  eight  children: — Lydia,  Aaron  II., 
Thomas  B.,  Mary,  Alonzo  H.,  Cora,  Cornelia 
and  Hattie.  Lydia  and  Cornelia  are  dead; 
Cora  and  Hattie  are  single.  Aaron  married 
Mary  Miller,  and  lives  in  Canton.  Thomas 
married  Alice  Reed,  and  lives  in  Marlbor- 
ough Tp.  Mary  is  the  wife  of  George  Lower, 
and  lives  in  Nimishilleu  Tp.  A  biography  of 
Alonzo  will  accompany  this  work.  Mr.  Holi- 
baugh has  always  lived  on  his  present  farm. 
He  owns  305  acres,  is  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics, and  a  gentleman  in  every  respect.  Ho 
and  wife  are  members  of  the  Disciples'  Church. 
H.  A.  HOLIBAUGH,  cigar  manuf:icturer 
and  merchant;  Marlborough.  The  subject  of 
this  biography  was  born   in  Marlborough  Tp., 


May  14,  1855.  He  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and 
Sarah  (Ringer)  Holibaugh,  a  notice  of  whom 
will  appear  in  another  part  of  this  work.  II. 
A.  Holibaugh,  or  Alonzo,  as  he  is  more  famil- 
iarly called,  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm, 
during  which  time  he  received  a  common- 
school  education,  finishing  at  the  union 
schools  of  Marlborough.  He  learned  the 
trade  of  making  cigars  before  reaching  his 
majority.  In  1876  he  began  traveling,  whole- 
saling cigars,  but  at  the  end  of  about  six 
months  came  back  and  re-commenced  working 
at  his  trade,  which  he  continued  until  March, 
1880.  He  then  purchased  a  stock  of  provis- 
ions, and  opened  a  grocery  and  provision 
store  in  Marlborough,  in  connection  with  his 
cigar  manufacturing,  and  since  starting,  has 
been  very  successful  in  his  dealings,  being 
one  of  the  leading  merchants  of  his  town. 
His  cigars  are  also  some  of  the  best  in  the 
market,  and  his  goods  are  found  all  over  the 
State.  The  "Rocket"  is  manufactured  by 
him,  and  this  brand  is  one  of  the  best  now  on 
the  market.  Mr.  Holibaugh  keeps  an  average 
force  of  two  men  at  work  all  the  time.  lie 
was  married  in  1877  to  Amanda  Powell, 
daughter  of  William  and  Lj-dia  (Lower)  Pow- 
ell, and  by  her  has  had  two  children — Robert 
M.,  and  one  that  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Holi- 
baugh is  a  young  man  of  energy  and  determ- 
ination, and  is  sure  to  make  his  life  a  success. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  poliiics,  a  member  of 
the  Disciples' Church,  and  a  member  of  Lodge 
No.  260,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  Alliance.  Mrs.  Holi- 
baugh belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

MAHLON  MARSHALL;  Marlborough; 
was  born  Feb.  5,  1814;  son  of  Joseph  and 
Mary  (Wildman)  Marshall,  and  grandson  on 
his  father's  side,  of  M'illiam  and  Mary  (Fell) 
Marshall,  and  through  them  is  of  English- 
M'elsh  descent.  On  his  mother's  side  Mr. 
Marshall  is  a  grandson  of  Abraham  and  Leti- 
tia  (Jenny)  Wildman,  the  former  being  Marl- 
borough's first  settler.  William  Marshall  was 
a  native  of  North  Carolina,  and  I'rom  that 
place  came  to  Portag(!  Co.,  Ohio,  about  1808, 
being  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  the  county. 
Josejjh  Marshall  was  a  native  of  Peinisylva- 
nia  his  birth  occurring  about  1781.  When 
his  parents  came  to  Atwater  Tp.,  Portage  Co., 
he  also  came,  and  the  greater  part  of  his  life 
was  passed  there.     To  his  marriage  with  Mary 


If^ 


926 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Wildman  there  were  born  three  children — 
Miililon,  William  and  Sarah.  The  mother  of 
these  died  not  long  after  the  birth  of  her  third 
child,  and  Mr.  Marshall  married  for  his  si>cond 
wife  Hannah  Hicklen,  and  by  her  had  four 
children — Samuel,  Deborah,  Jesse  and  Mary. 
He  died  in  At  water  Tp.,  in  1843.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  article  was  reared  in  the  neigh- 
borhood where  he  was  born  until  13  years  old, 
when  he  went  to  Pennsylvania  to  live  with  a 
great-uncle.  When  16  he  apprenticed  him- 
self to  Abraham  Sanders,  under  the  old  inden- 
ture rule,  for  five  years,  to  learn  the  cabinet- 
maker's trade.  After  serving  out  his  time 
Mr.  Marshall  came  back  to  his  old  home  in 
Ohio,  but  finding  work  in  his  branch  of  busi- 
ness very  scarce,  be  was  induced  to  take  up 
carpentering,wliich  he  has  followed  to  a  greater 
or  less  extent  through  life.  In  1840  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Lucy  M.  Jaquay,  and 
to  this  union  were  born  a  family  of  six — Se- 
lina  v.,  Amy  W.,  Josi^ph  W.,  Leroy  M.,  Orra 
P.,  and  Orlando  P.  The  last-named  died  in 
infancy.  In  1818  he  came  to  his  farm,  wliich 
consists  of  71  acres,  and  is  a  part  of  the  old 
Wildman  homestead.  Mr.  Marshall  in  youth 
received  but  a  very  limited  education,  but 
through  his  own  exertions  since  has  acquired 
a  good  practical  knowledge  of  books.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Republican.  Although  start- 
lug  a  poor  boy,  he  has,  chiefly  through  his  own 
labors,  acquired  a  good  home  and  sufficient 
property  to  enable  him  to  live  in  peace  and 
plenty  the  remainder  of  his  da^'S. 

LEWIS  B.  MAXWELL,  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser  ;  P.  0.  Marlborough  ;  was  born  in  Ran- 
dolph Tp.,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  Feb.  13,  1840. 
He  is  a  son  of  Thomas  Maxwell,  grandson  of 
William  Maxwell,  and  great-grandson  of  Al- 
bert Maxwell,  who  was  a  native  of  Ireland, 
and  who  came  to  the  United  States  before  the 
Revolutionary  War,  settling  in  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  afterward  died.  W^illiam  married 
Hannah  Price  in  Pennsylvania,  and,  together 
with  his  family,  came  to  Marlborough  Tp., 
Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1819,  locating  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  E.  Britton,  on  Sec. 
3,  near  where  the  Price  family  had  previously 
located.  Hannah  (Price)  Maxwell  was  a  na- 
tive of  England,  but  with  others  came  to 
America,  and  first  located  in  New  Jersey,  af- 
terward in  Crawford  Co.,  Pa.,  and  from  there 
came  to  Stark  Co.,  about   1815.     After  living 


a  numlior  of  years  on  their  oM  homestead  in 
Marlborough  Tp.,  William  Maxwell  and  fam- 
ily moved  to  Randolph  Tp.,  just  across  the 
line,  in  Portage  Co.,  where,  some  years  later, 
they  died.  Thomas  Maxwell,  the  father  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Craw- 
ford Co.,  Pa.,  June  15,  1812.  He  came  with 
his  parents  to  Ohio  in  1819,  and  assisted  them 
in  leveling  the  great  forests  on  their  place, 
putting  it  in  grain,  reaping  their  harvest,  and 
making  a  home  in  the  wilderness.  He  was 
married  in  1834  to  Sarah  M.  Bloomfield,  and 
by  her  had  four  sons  and  three  daughters — 
Cyrus  M.,  Emily  M.,  Lewis  B.,  William  J., 
Louisa  S.,  Erastus  W.  and  Susan  A.  Mr. 
Maxwell  and  wife  are  now  living  a  retired 
life  in  Marlborough.  Lewis  B.  Maxwell  pass- 
ed his  early  years  on  the  farm,  during  which 
time  he  received  the  benefits  of  the  common 
schools.  In  July,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  A, 
1st  Ohio  Volunteer  Light  Artillery,  under 
Capt.  W.  F.  Goodspeed,  and  was  discharged 
July  31,  18G5,  at  Cleveland.  He  served 
bravely  in  the  battles  of  Shiloh,  Stone  River, 
Chickamauga,  through  the  Atlanta  Campaign 
and  back  to  Franklin,  Spring  Hill  and  Nash- 
ville. He  enlisted  as  a  private,  but  received 
his  commission  as  2d  Lieutenant.  April  11, 
181)7,  he  married  Celcstine  Hatcher,  and  by 
her  has  four  children — Nora  D.,  Gordon,  Myr- 
tle and  Leon  E.  Mrs.  Maxwell  was  born 
Aug.  v2,  1842,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Disci- 
ples' Church.  Mr.  Maxwell  is  a  Republican 
in  politics,  and  an  intelligent  and  enterprising 
citizen. 

D.  M.  NISWONGER,  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser;  P.  O.  Marlboroup,h;  was  born  in  Marl- 
borough Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  Jan.  13,  1831. 
He  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Barbara  (Reed)  Nis- 
wonger,  and  a  great-grandson  of  a  Swiss,  who 
came  to  the  United  States  long  before  the 
Revolutionary  War.  His  parents  were  na- 
tives of  Bedford  Co.,  Pa.,  where  they  were 
married.  His  father  was  a  poor  man,  and 
owing  to  the  fact  that  lands  were  cheaper  in 
the  West,  determined  to  come  to  Ohio  for  the 
purpose  of  bettering  his  condition.  Accord- 
ingly, in  1811,  he  came  to  Stark  Co.,  locating  in 
Marlborough  Tp.,  on  Sec.  34,  it  being  then  a 
trackless  forest  filled  with  Indians  and  game 
of  many  kinds.  They  built  a  shelter  camp 
around  a  tree  until  they  could  build  a  log 
cabin  in  which    to  move   their  few  household 


^ 


MARLBOROUGH    TOWNSHIP. 


927 


goods.  They  lived  here  the  remainder  of 
their  lives.  Mr.  Niswoiiger  was  a  fearless, 
liiinl  working  man,  and  did  much  to  infuse 
into  the  hearts  of  the  early  settlers,  enterprise 
and  a  spirit  of  contentment,  lie  died  in  about 
1S3T,  and  his  wife  in  184G.  They  were  par- 
ents of  four  children — Abraham,  Christina, 
.JoliD,  and  David  M.  The  first-n;imcd  is  dead. 
Christina  is  the  wife  of  Henr3-  Swartz,  and 
lives  in  Marlborough  Tp.  John  married  a 
Miss  Burkholder,  and  lives  in  Indiana.  David 
M.,  our  subject,  was  reared  on  the  old  Brown 
farm  after  his  father's  death,  and  remained 
there  until  about  20  years  old,  when  he  com- 
menced alternately  going  to,  and  teaching 
school.  In  18.55  he  engaged  his  services  as 
lightning-rod  agent  in  the  summer,  while  in 
the  winter  he  would  teach.  Up  to  186)i  his  time 
was  passed  chiefly  in  teaching  conmion  and 
select  sch(jols,  and  at  that  time  was  made 
general  Superintendent  of  a  coal  mine,  which 
position  he  held  a  number  of  years.  In  the 
fall  of  1S?1  he  purchased  his  present  farm  of 
I'^O  acres,  on  which  he  has  resided  ever  since. 
He  was  married  Nov.  7,  1871,  to  Mrs.  Cath- 
arine Rook,  widow  of  William  Rook,  and 
daughter  of  Samuel  Honk,  of  Lawrence  Tp. 
B\-  her  first  husband  Mrs.  Niswonger  had  one 
son — L.  C,  who  is  living  with  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Niswonger.  Mr.  Niswonger  is  a  R(!pul)lican, 
and  his  wife  a  member  of  the  Disciples' 
Church.  Mr.  Niswonger  began  life  with  no 
means  at  his  commanil,  but  by  hard  labor  and 
y^>ars  of  economy  has  acquired  a  com])etencv. 
IIRNRY  W.  PENXOCK  (leoeasod).  It 
wmdd  be  impossible  to  correctly  compile  a 
record  of  the  earlj'  settlers  of  Marlborough 
Tp.,  and  those  who  figured  to  a  considerable 
extent  in  the  building  up,  and  making  of 
what  the  township  now  is,  without  mention- 
ing the  name  of  Henry  W.  Pennock.  This 
gci\tlem;in  was  born  in  West  Virginia  in 
1821,  and  is  descended  from  an  old  and  hon- 
ored English  family,  who  trace  their  family 
connection  back  to  one  Christopher  Pennock, 
who  figured  conspicuously  in  the  battle  of 
the  Boyne,  towards  the  close  of  the  si.xteenth 
century.  From  this  man,  the  family  trace 
their  descent  in  an  unbroken  line,  to  the  pres- 
ent generation  of  that  name,  who  are  now  liv- 
ing in  Miullxjrough  Tp.,  and  who  have  proved 
to  be  among  the  most  su!)Stantial  men  the 
township    ever    had.     Henry    W.    Pennock, 


came  with  his  parents  to  Stark  Co.,  in  Janu- 
ary, 182G.  Ilis  youth  and  early  manhood 
were  passed  in  hard  labor,  chiefly  in  Marl- 
borough Tp.,  during  which  time  his  total 
amount  of  schooling  consisted  of  only  si.x 
months.  In  later  years,  however,  he  applii^d 
his  energies  to  study  and  reading  good  books, 
and  in  this  way  acquired  an  excellent  practi- 
cal education. 

Nov.  IG,  1844,  his  marriage  with  Miss  Jane 
Force  was  solemnized,  and  for  a  number  of 
years  succeeding  his  marriage  Mr.  Pennock 
dealt  (piite  extensively  in  stock,  but  the  two 
years  preceding  his  marriag  >,  he  was  engaged 
in  mercantile  pursuits,  in  the  building  now 
owned  by  Isaac  Pennock  at  Marlborough. 
He  <'mployed  his  time  in  different  ways 
through  life,  and  by  his  shrewd  business 
tact  and  honorable  dealings  left  a  compe- 
tency at  his  death.  He  early  identified  him- 
self with  the  Disciples'  Church,  of  which  de- 
nomination he  was  an  ordained  minister,  and 
at  the  time  of  his  death  was  State  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Disciples'  Sunday-school  Con- 
vention. In  politics  he  was  a  Rejjublican, 
but  favored  a  strong  anti-liquor  law.  He  was 
an  active  and  valuable  worker  in  the  cause  of 
temperance,  often  being  called  to  quite  a  dis- 
tance to  speak  on  this  topic.  He  did  much 
to  assist  in  building  the  churches  and  schools 
of  his  neighborhood.  The  store  building  of 
D.  W.  Dellenberger  &  Co.  was  erected  by 
his  enterprise,  and  for  a  number  of  years  he 
had  a  general  store  in  the  building.  Mr. 
Pennock  was  an  honorable  man,  and  gener- 
ous to  a  fault.  He  died  of  typhoid  fever, 
Aug.  13,  18i'4,  leaving  to  his  heirs  valuable 
property,  but  what  is  prized  by  them  far  more 
highly,  an  untarnished  name  and  a  spotless 
character.  His  widow,  Mrs.  Jane  R.  (Foroe) 
Pennock  is  a  daughter  of  Mahlon  and  .Judith 
(Belford)  Force,  from  New  Jersey  and  Phila- 
delphia, respectively,  and  grand-daughter  of 
Isaac  Force,  who  came  to  the  United  States 
from  France,  during  the  Revolutionary  War, 
and  who  served  in  that  war  as  captain  on  the 
side  of  independence.  To  the  union  of  Mr. 
Pennock  and  Miss  Force,  there  were  born  a 
family  of  four  daughters — Cornelia  G.,  Carrie 
M.,  Helen  and  Flora.  The  first-named  lives  in 
Chicago,  the  wife  of  Daniel  Mngridge,  who  is 
a  grain  merchant  of  that  place.  Carrie  mar- 
ried  James   G.    Brookes,  of    Warren,    Ohio. 


Helen  is  the  wife  of  William  Whitacre  and 
lives  in  Cleveland.  Flora  is  single,  and  re- 
sides with  her  mother  on  the  old  home  farm, 
adjoining  the  village  of  Marlborough.  In 
conclusion,  we  can  say  that  Mr.  Pennock  was 
!i  man  among  men,  and  beloved  by  all.  His 
family  are  among  the  most  highly  esteemed 
of  the  township. 

WILLIAM  PENNOCK,  farmer  and  stock- 
dealer;  P.  O.  Marlborough.  The  Pennock 
family  of  Marlborough  Tp.,  are  of  English 
descent,  and  they  trace  their  genealogy  back 
to  the  Revolution,  justly  styled  "glorious," 
of  1688,  which  expelled  the  family  of  Stu- 
art from  the  throne;  defined  and  firmly  estab- 
lished the  principles  of  the  constitution,  and 
introduced  a  liberal,  tolerant  and  really  re- 
sponsible system  of  government  under  the 
great  deliverer  William  III,  Prince  of  Orange. 
The  first  one  of  that  name  that  comes  to  no- 
tice is  Christopher  Pennock,  in  1690.  During 
the  Catholic  Church  disturbances  he  enlisted 
in  the  English  army,  and  was  an  active  par- 
ticipant in  the  l)attle  of  the  Boyne.  After 
the  war  he  came  with  his  family  to  America, 
and  died  in  Philadelphia  in  1701.  His  wife 
was  Mary  Collett,  of  County  Tipperary,  Ire- 
land, and  they  were  parents  of  three  children 
—Joseph,  Na^haniel  and  Anne.  The  two 
sons,  when  young  men,  became  merchantmen, 
and  during  the  trouble  between  England  and 
France,  were  captured  on  a  return  voyage  and 
made  prisoners  of  war.  Joseph  finally  made 
his  escape,  but  Nathaniel,  never  being  heard 
of  afterwards,  is  supposed  to  have  been  lost 
at  sea,  after  making  his  escape.  Anne  never 
married,  but  died  in  Kingston,  Jamaica.  .Jo- 
seph married  Mary  Levis,  of  Derby,  Eng., 
and  by  her  had  a  family  of  twelve.  Joseph 
came  with  his  father,  Christopher,  to  the  Uni- 
ted States,  and  being  followers  of  William 
Penn,  were  given  by  that  world  renowned 
man,  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Chester  Co., 
Pa.  The  third  child  of  Joseph  and  Mary 
Pennock,  was  the  great-grandfather  of  Wil- 
liam Pennock,  of  Marlborough,  his  name  be- 
ing also  William.  This  man  married  Mary 
Chamberlain,  who  died  after  being  married 
about  six  months,  and  he  then  married  a  Miss 
Alice  Mendenhall.  To  this  union  there  was 
born  a  large  family,  among  them  being  the 
second  William  Pennock,  who,  in  early  years, 
formed    an    attachment  with  Mary  Martin,  an 


Irish  girl,  much  against  his  parents'  wishes. 
To  prevent  their  union  he  was  sent  to  Eno-- 
land,  and  after  a  residence  there  of  one  year 
returned,  and  finally  was  married  to  the  one 
who  was  the  cause  of  his  banishment  from 
America.  Soon  after  this  alliance,  he  and 
wife  moved  to  what  is  now  Roanoke  Co.,  Va., 
where  they  remained  happily  a  numl)er  of 
years.  Thcj'  were  parents  of  eight  children 
— John,  William,  Moses,  Jane,  Alice,  Phoebe, 
Mary  and  Hannah.  Being  strictly  opposed  to 
slavery,  as  all  true  "  Friends"  are,  this  man 
and  wife  and  a  portion  of  his  family,  emigra- 
ted to  Ohio  in  about  1808  locating  in  Marl- 
borough Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  where  they  early 
became  identified  with  that  township's  history. 
His  son  William  was  the  father  of  the  subject 
of  this  biography.  He  did  not  come  to  Ohio 
with  his  parents,  but  throwing  aside  the  re- 
ligion of  his  fathers  became  a  large  slave- 
holder in  his  native  State.  In  January,  1826, 
he  came  to  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  and  from  this 
place  moved  to  Illinois  in  1837,  where  he  af- 
terward died.  His  wife  was  Catharine  Boone, 
by  whom  he  had  nine  children — John,  de- 
ceased; Elizabeth,  Isaac;  George,  deceased; 
Mary,  deceased;  Parmelia,  Jane,  William  and 
Henry,  deceased.  William,  our  subject,  and 
the  last  of  that  name,  was  born  in  Roanoke 
Co.,  Va.,  in  1819.  In  1850  he  married  Sarah 
Brantingham,  and  by  her  has  one  son — Frank- 
lin, who  is  a  successful  physician  of  Marl- 
borough. Dr.  Pennock  was  married  Sept.  27, 
1880,  to  Isabell  McCallum.  The  Pennock 
family  is  widely  known  in  Stark  Co.,  and 
there  is  no  family  that  commands  more  re- 
spect and  esteem  than  thev. 

A.  ROUDABUSH,  farmer  and  stock-raiser; 
P.  O.  Marlborough  ;  was  born  in  Marlborough 
Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  O.,  Nov.  4,  1833.  He  is  one 
in  the  following  family  born  to  Jacob  and  Es- 
ther (Harmony)  Roudabush — Elizabeth,  Cyrus, 
Abraham,  Sarah,  Benjamin,  Hannah  and  John. 
The  father  came  with  his  parents  to  the  coun- 
ty previous  to  1812,  but  the  precise  date  is 
not  known.  They  were  early  pioneers  in 
Marlborough  Tp.,  and  here  Mr.  Roudabush 
lived  and  died.  He  was  a  hard-working  and 
sober  citizen.  He  was  born  about  1807,  and 
died  about  1841.  Abraham  Roudatmsh  re- 
ceived but  a  limited  education  in  youth,  and 
when  about  18  years  old  went  to  Canton  to 
learn  the  carpenter's  trade.     After  serving  an 


i,  \> 


^4- 


'A 


MARLBOROUGH     TOWXSHIP. 


apprenticesliip,  ho  worked  around  until  March, 
185T,  when  he  wont  to  New  York  and  took 
the  steanior  "  Illinois"  for  Calilbniia.  After 
crossing  the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  he  took  pas- 
sage on  board  the  "  John  L.  Sti'[)hens,"  and, 
after  a  prosperous  voyage,  an-ived  in  San 
Francisco.  On  his  arrival  he  found  himself 
among  strangers,  hundreds  of  miles  from  home, 
and  with  only  S'-iO  to  call  his  own.  He  soon 
hired  out  in  the  mines  for  §45  per  month,  his 
only  shelter  being  the  cabin  of  a  man  who 
bad  murdered  his  wife  a  short  time  jjrevious, 
and  then  blew  his  own  brains  out,  the  ceiling 
and  walls  being  frescoed  with  brain  matter 
when  Mr.  Roudabush  first  commenced  living 
in  the  cabin.  After  two  months'  mining  he 
hired  out  to  harvest,  and  afterward  hired  out 
for  six  months  longer  to  the  same  man.  He 
then  rented  and  carried  on  his  employer's 
farm  for  about  two  years.  During  the  fall  of 
1800  the  silver  excitement  in  Nevada  was  at 
its  height,  and  Mr.  Roudabush  determined  to 
go  to  Virginia  City.  He  there  met  an  old 
California  friend  who  had  a  saw-mill,  and  with 
him  Mr.  Roudabush  worked  at  the  rate  of 
§05  per  month  until  1863,  when  he  and  fivi; 
others  went  to  Austin — 160  miles  cast  of  Vir- 
ginia City — where  there  was  reported  to  be 
rich  "  diggins  ;■'  but  not  meeting  with  the 
success  at  mining  he  wished,  he  purchased  a 
hay  ranch  on  Rees  River,  and,  hav  being 
hiijh,  he  and  his  companions  cut  sixty  tons, 
which  they  disposed  of  at  §120  per  ton.  In 
18G5  he  and  another  went  to  Salt  Lake,  and 
there  purchased  -100  head  of  cattle,  and,  driv- 
ing these  back,  would  winter  them  over  on 
what  was  known  as  Grass  Valley,  and  then 
sell  such  as  they  desired,  making  a  nice  profit, 
and  keep  the  remainder,  with  which  to  con- 
tinue their  cattle  ranch.  They  continued  at 
this  until  1872,  realizing  a  handsome  revenue 
from  their  labors.  He  then  sold  out  his  inter- 
ests in  Grass  Valley  for  §15,000,  and,  with 
the  Sheriff  of  Austin,  went  to  Kansas  and 
Ijought  up  a  large  drove  of  Texas  cattle. 
They  took  these  back  to  Nevada  and  sold 
them  out  at  a  nice  profit.  They  continued  at 
this  until  1875,  when  Mr.  Roudabush  returned 
home  to  his  native  place,  and  has  settled  down 
in  life.  His  life  in  the  West  was  fraught  with 
perils  and  hardships.  The  last  return  trip  he 
made  from  Kansas  to  Nevada,  the  coach  in 
which  he  and  seven  others  took  passage  was 


halted  about  eleven  o'clock  at  night  by  high- 
waymen, with  the  command  to  "  Halt !"  "  Get 
out!"  "  Hands  up  !"  Mr.  Roudabush  was 
relieved  of  a  fine  watch  that  had  cost  him 
§210,  but  by  some  singular  accident  he  man- 
aged to  save  his  money,  some  §95.  This  was 
one  of  the  most  interesting  episodes  in  the 
life  of  Mr.  Roudabush,  and  we  re<jret  we  can- 
not give  it  in  detail.  On  his  return  to  Marl- 
borough Tp.  in  1875,  he  purchased  IGO  acres 
on  Sec.  15,  and  his  present  occupation  is  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising.  He  has  been  twice 
married.  His  present  wife's  maiden  name 
was  Mary  Richard,  to  whom  he  was  married 
in  1875.  By  her  he  has  three  children — Nel- 
lie, Harvey,  and  one  as  yet  unnamed.  Mr. 
Roudabush  is  an  excellent  practical  farmer, 
and  a  Democrat  in  polities. 

E.  R.  ROYICR,  m(>rchant  and  harness- 
maker;  New  Baltimore;  was  born  in  Lake 
Tp.,  Dec.  1,  1842.  He  is  a  grandson  of 
Joseph  Royer,  and  son  of  Abraham  and  Re- 
becca (Ulrich)  Royer.  who  were  parents  of 
seven  children — Emanuel  R.,  Anna,  Jesse, 
William,  Sophia,  Susan  and  .Maria.  The 
fathfir  was  born  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  in 
1816.  In  about  1837,  he  came  with  his  pa- 
rents to  Lake  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he 
engaged  in  farming,  and  continued  in  this 
occupation  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
March,  1879.  His  widow  has  since  married 
again,  and  she  is  the  wife  of  .John  Smith. 
Emanuel  Royer  passed  his  youth  and  early 
manhood  on  the  farm,  during  which  time  he 
received  a  good  common-school  education. 
Feb.  4th,  1865,  ho  enlisted  as  Color  Guard  in 
the  191st  Reg.  O.V.I.,  and  was  discharged  in 
September  the  same  year.  In  1866  he  was  uni- 
ted in  marriage  with  Miss  Adaline  Bair,  and  to 
this  union  were  born  two  children — Edgar  A. 
and  Ira  I.  Soon  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Royer 
began  the  harness-making  business  in  Hart- 
ville,  at  which  place  he  resided  until  1869, 
when  he  came  to  New  Baltimore,  opening  a 
small  hardware  store  in  connection  with  har- 
ness-making. Since  that  time  he  has  enlarged 
his  store,  and  now  does  a  general  business  in 
groceries,  provisions,  etc.,  in  connection  with 
his  trade.  Mr.  Royer  is  a  teacher  of  several 
terms,  experience.  He  and  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Disciples'  Church,  and  he  is  a  Re- 
publican in  politics.  He  has  held  various 
township  offices,  and  is  at  present  a  Notary 


i   "V 


P30 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


Public,  giving  prompt  attention  to  any  busi- 
ness in  that  bne  entrusted  to  his  care. 

DANIEL  SMITH,  farmer  and  stock-raiser; 
P.  O.  Marlborough;  was  I)orn  in  what  is  now 
Blair  Co.,  Pa.,  Nov.  15,  1833.  He  is  a  son  of 
Caleb  and  Susan  (Hoover)  Smith,  who  were 
parents  of  eleven  children — Samuel,  Henry, 
Elizabeth,  Daniel,  Catharine,  John,  Mary, 
Jacob,  Susan,  Annie  and  George  W.  Of 
these  only  five  are  now  living,  Caleb  Smith, 
the  father,  was  a  native  of  Germany,  and  came 
with  his  parents  to  America  when  he  was  but 
a  small  boy.  They  first  settled  in  Maryland; 
but  afterwards  moved  into  Pennsylvania, 
where  his  parents  both  died.  The  farm  which 
they  purchased  in  Blair  Co.,  proved  to  be  un- 
derlaid with  valuable  iron-ore  deposits,  but 
by  rascality  their  title  to  the  property  was 
disputed,  and  owing  to  some  flaw  in  the  rec- 
ords they  were  compelled  to  give  up  their 
right  to  the  homestead.  While  in  Blair  Co., 
Caleb  married  our  subject's  mother,  and  in 
1839,  with  property  only  to  the  value  of  about 
$300,  they  emigrated  to  Ohio,  leaving  their 
former  home  in  the  hands  of  the  unprincipled 
parties  who  had  taken  it  from  them.  They 
located  on  Sec.  22,  Marlborough  Tp.,  Stark 
Co.,  where  they  again  started  in  life.  Mr. 
Smith  was  an  industrious  man,  and  respected 
by  his  neighbors.  He  died  in  the  fall  of 
1858,  and  his  widow  in  1880.  Daniel  Smith 
was  raised  as  a  farmer's  boy  and  also  assisted 
his  father  in  the  shoe-shop.  He  received  a 
common-school  education,  and  was  married 
to  Sarah  Seeley  in  August,  1853,  by  whom  he 
had  five  children — Salome  A.,  Jemima  E., 
Sarah  M.,  Elmer  E.  and  Edwin  L.  Mrs. 
Smith  was  a  kind  and  loving  wife,  and  an 
affectionate  mother.  She  died  in  the  spring 
of  1877.  Mr.  Smith  was  married  the  second 
time  to  Mrs.  Maria  Royer,  widow  of  Stephen 
Royer,  and  daughter  of  Mr.  Long.  Mr.  Smith 
has  lived  the  principal  part  of  his  life  in  Stark 
Co.,  Ohio.  He  is  an  industrious,  intelligent, 
well-read  citizen.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  poli- 
tics, and  owns  360  acres  of  excellent  farming 
land  in  Marlborough  Tp. 

CHRISTIAN  SEACHRIST,  farmer  and 
stock-raiser;  P.  O.  New  Baltimore;  was  born 
in  Columbiana  Co,,  Ohio,  Oct.  9,  1814.  His 
parents  were  Jacob  and  Christina  (Folk) 
Seachrist,  and  his  grandfather  Seachrist  was  a 
native  of  Germany.  When  he  came  to  the  Uni- 


ted States  is  not  definitely  known,  but  it  was 
previous  to  the  Revolntionarj'War.  He  settled 
in  Maryland,  and  went  to  farming,  and  when 
Great  Britain  by  her  tyrannical  rule  thought 
to  quench  the  spirit  of  independence  in  the 
breasts  of  the  American  people  by  war,  Mr. 
Seachrist  bravely  enlisted  in  the  cause  of  the 
Colonies,  and  for  three  years  fought  for  his 
country's  rights.  Jacob  Seachrist,  his  son  and 
the  father  of  Christian,  our  subject,  was  born 
and  raised  in  Maryland.  Soon  after  his  marriage 
with  Christina  Folk,  Jacob  Seachrist  moved 
into  Pennsylvania,  but  enterprise  and  the 
inducement  of  bettering  his  circumstances 
caused  his  emigration  to  Columbiana  Co., 
Ohio,  in  1814.  That  county  at  that  time  was 
nearly  all  woods,  with  here  and  there,  at  con- 
siderable distance  apart,  little  log  cabins  that 
the  early  pioneers  had  erected  in  the  midst  of 
a  small  clearing;  and  with  bears,  wolves  and 
various  wild  animals  surrounding  them,  Mr. 
Seachrist  and  family  commenced  life  in  the 
wilderness.  Mr.  Seachrist  started  in  life  a 
poor  boy,  dependent  on  his  own  exertions. 
His  aim  and  course  in  life  was  to  deal  hon- 
estly with  his  neighbors.  He  was  a  hard- 
working, sober  and  industrious  citizen,  looked 
up  to  and  respected  by  all  those  with  whom 
he  came  in  contact.  He  was  a  Democrat,  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  he  died 
about  1831.  Christian  Seachrist  was  raised 
on  the  home  farm  until  fifteen  years  old,  when 
he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  but  not  lik- 
ing that  he  turned  his  attention  to  tanning, 
at  which  business  he  worked  ten  years.  In 
1837,  he  came  to  New  Baltimore  where  he  en- 
gaged in  tanning,  and  in  1843  purchased  his 
present  farm  on  which  he  has  resided  ever 
since.  He  owns  97  acres  of  well  improved 
land,  is  a  staunch  Republican  in  politics  and 
he  and  wife  are  of  the  "Disciples"  or 
"  Christian  "  faith.  Mr.  Seachrist  is  one  of 
the  most  enterprising  men  of  his  township. 
To  all  public  enterprises  he  is  always  a  liberal 
contributor,  and  there  is  no  man  in  the  whole 
neighborhood  that  has  done  more  for  public 
enterprises  in  his  township.  Mr.  Seachrist 
has  been  twice  married;  first  to  Miss  Catha- 
rine Bare  in  1837,  who  died  soon  after  their 
union.  In  1838  he  married  Susan  Sanford, 
and  by  her  has  a  family  of  six — Peter  D., 
Sarah,  Rachel  (Mrs.  Samuel  Baell  of  Salem, 
Ohio);   Lydia,   wife   of   William    Oregaunge; 


MARLBOROTJGH    TOAVXSIIIP. 


931 


John  Q.,  deceased;  and  Emerson  H.,  who  first 
married  Pliebe  Harijer  and  after  her  death 
married  Emma  Huston.  The  oldest  son, 
Peter  D.,  when  his  country  was  in  danger  from 
soutiiern  traitors,  enlisted  in  Co.  B.,  104tli  Reg. 
O.  V.  I.,  Aufrusl  3,  180"^.  He  ranked  as  musi- 
cian, and  with  his  regiment  bravely  marched 
south  to  meet  the  foe.  While  at  Lexington, 
Kentucky,  he  died;  that  deplorable  event 
taking  place  Dec.  19, 18G2.  His  remains  were 
conveyed  home  and  laid  in  their  last  resting- 
place  in  the  cemetery  at  New  Baltimore. 
Thus  in  the  full  bloom  of  manhood,  was  a 
noble  son  cut  down,  while  serving  in  the  de- 
fense of  his  country.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Seachrist 
still  live  on  the  home  farm,  where  they  are 
widelv  known  and  universally  respected. 

SA'MUEL  stickle,  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser;  P.  O.  Marlborough;  was  born  in  Wash- 
ington Co.,  Pa.,  May  5,  1814.  He  is  one  in  a 
family  of  eight  children  Ijorn  to  Henry  and 
Elizabeth  (McCarty)  Stickle,  and  is  of  Ger- 
man-Irish descent.  The  names  of  these  chil- 
dren are — David,  Mary,  Catharine,  Samuel, 
Philip,  Rebecca,  Sarah  and  Hannah.  Philip 
and  Rebecca  are  the  only  ones  dead.  The 
father  came  with  his  family  to  Columbiana 
Co.,  Ohio,  in  1824,  and  there  began  working 
at  various  employments,  chiefly  farming. 
Three  years  after  his  arrival  in  Ohio,  he  died, 
and  our  subject,  then  a  boy  of  thirteen,  began 
life's  struggle.  His  education  was,  naturally, 
very  limited,  and  from  the  time  of  his  first 
starting  out  to  his  17th  year,  he  worked 
in  a  woolen  mill  in  the  adjoining  neighbor- 
hood. In  1831,  he  discontinued  that  business, 
and  came  back  to  his  old  home,  where  he  be- 
gan working  among  farmers,  generally  receiv- 
ing as  his  compensation  25  cents  per  day. 
When  he  reached  iiis  majority  he  had  saved 
up  a  small  amount,  and  this  he  judiciously 
invested;  rented  a  farm,  and  for  two  years 
farmed  on  his  own  responsibility,  accumulat- 
ing what  then  seemed  the  large  amount  of 
?^200.  At  the  end  of  this  time  he  began 
working  by  the  month,  which  he  continued 
doing  until  he  had  made  between  si.x  and 
seven  hundred  dollars,  and  then  rented  his 
employer's  farm,  and  worked  in  this  manner 
two  years  longer.  When  about  31  years  old 
he  had  saved  from  his  earnings  $1,000 
With  this  lie  purchased  80  acres  of  school 
land  in     Columbiana,    which     he    sold     after 


having  farmed  it  four  years.  He  then  pur- 
chased 200  acres  in  Portage  Co.,  and  lived 
there  farm  ng  until  1805,  when  he  had  some 
$10,000  worth  of  property.  He  then  pur- 
chased 188i  acres  of  land  (his  present  farm), 
in  Marlborough  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  where  he  has 
ever  since  resided.  Throughout  all  his  life 
Mr.  Stickle  has  displayed  unusual  energy  of 
character.  He  had  the  determination  to  win 
when  he  started,  and  with  this  determination 
has  made  a  success  where  rnanv  otliers  would 
have  failed.  He  was  married  May  22,  1845, 
to  Luc}'  Ann  Smith,  and  to  this  union  were 
born  a  family  of  seven — Alcinus,  Alva,  John, 
Lucy  A.,  Mary  F.,  EInora  and  Sarah.  All  are 
married  o.\ce|)t  .lohii,  p]lnnra  and  Sarah. 

LEON  B.  SANTEE,  physician;  Marlbor- 
ough; was  born  near  North  Bentcm,  Mahon- 
ing Co.,  Ohio,  June  23,  1853.  His  parents 
Deljorma  and  Hannah  (Ellison)  Santee,  were 
both  natives  of  Mahoning  Co.,  and  parents  of 
a  family  of  five  children — Leon  B.,  Gideon 
E.,  Sylvester  J.,  Thomas  I.  and  Elizabeth  M. 
The  Santees  came  from  Canada  to  the  United 
States,  but  originally  came  from  France.  The 
Ellisons  came  from  England  to  America,  but 
that  event  was  several  generations  back  from 
our  subject's  mother.  DeLorma  Santee  is  a 
prosperous  farmer  of  Mahoning  Co.,  and  Dr. 
Santee's  youth  was  passed  principally  on  the 
farm  and  in  attending  the  common  schools  of 
his  neighborhood.  When  18  years  of  age  he 
commenced  attending  the  college  at  Mt. 
Union.  He  took  the  classical  course  in  this 
school  and  graduated  July  22,  1875,  having 
the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts  conferred  upon 
him.  Having  made  medicine  his  choice  for 
a  vocation  in  life;  when  quite  a  boy  he,  im- 
mediately after  his  graduation,  commenced 
that  studj'  under  Dr.  .lesse  Miller  of  Alliance. 
He  continued  his  studies  under  Dr.  Miller 
until  Sept.  4,  187(1,  when  he  entered  the  Medi- 
cal Department  of  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, situated  in  Philadelphia,  from  which 
institution  he  graduated  March  15,  1878.  Af- 
ter receiving  his  diploma  as  "  .M.  D."  Dr.  San- 
tee returned  home,  and  on  the  28th  day  of 
March,  1878,  married  .Miss  Evangeline  Harris, 
of  Stark  Co.  On  April  1,  1878,  he  located  in 
Marlborough,  where  he  commenced  practicing, 
and  where  he  has  ever  since  resided.  Dr. 
Santee  is  one  of  the  best  educated  men  of 
his  township,  and  he  is  one  of  the  best  posted 


V*  S '^ 


932 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES : 


men  of  his  profession  in  northern  Stark  Co. 
On  his  arrival  here  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  Dr.  .J.  C.  Harper,  whom  he  succeeded 
on  Si'pt.  4,  1880.  Dr.  Santee's  practice  has 
steadily  increased  from  the  first,  and  he  now 
enjoys  a  large  and  lucrative  practice,  equal- 
ing that  of  many  jshysicians  of  much  longer 
experience.  This  marriage  has  been  blessnl 
with  one  daughter — Bertha  H.,  born  Jan.  15, 
1S80.  Dr.  Santee  is  a  Republican  in  politics, 
and  a  member  of  the  Orthodox  Quaker  Church. 

ABNER  TAYLOR,  New  Baltimore;  is  a 
native  of  Crawford  Co.,  Pa.,  and  was  born 
Oct.  39, 1818.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Mary 
(Kirk)  Taylor,  who  were  natives  resjjectively 
of  New  Jersey  and  Pennsylvania,  and  who 
were  parents  of  a  family  of  ten — Samuel, 
Aljigail,  Joseph,  Aaron,  Judith,  Amy,  Sarah, 
Levi,  John  and  Abner.  Only  three  of  these 
— Levi,  Amy  and  Abner — are  yet  living. 
When  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  8  years 
old,  his  father  died,  and  two  years  later  his 
mother  and  family  came  to  Marlborough  Tp., 
where  relatives  had  preceded  them.  They 
located  on  Sec.  4  on  the  farm  now  owned  by 
our  subject,  it  being  all  woods  then,  with  the 
exception  of  three  acres.  They  here  began 
pioneer  life  in  earnest,  gradually  clearing 
ml  improving  the  place  as  years  passed  by. 
The  mother  died  May  .3,  1849.  Abner  Taylor 
was  reared  principally  in  Marlborough  Tp. 
In  July,  1844,  he  married  Christiann  Werner, 
who  bore  him  six  children — Joseph,  Eliza, 
Isadore,  John,  Wilson  and  Leora.  Eliza  is  the 
only  one  dead.  Joseph  married  Belle  Rog- 
ers, and  lives  in  Indiana;  Isadore  is  the  wife 
ef  D.  Austin,  and  resides  in  Marlborough  Tp.; 
John  married  Maggie  A.  Bowman,  and  lives 
in  New  Baltimore;  the  other  two  are  single. 
Mr.  Taylor  has  always  retained  the  old  farm 
on  which  he  still  resides.  Besides  carrying 
on  the  farm,  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
his  son  John  in  September,  1871,  under  the 
firm  name  of  A.  Taylor  &  Son,  dealers  in  gro- 
ceries, dry  goods,  &c.,  in  New  Baltimore.  They 
carry  one  of  the  largest  stocks  of  general  goods 
of  any  house  in  the  whole  neighborhood.  Mr. 
Taylor  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  he  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Evangelical  Luth- 
eran Church.  The  Taylors  are  old  and  hon- 
ored citizens  of  Marlborough  Tp. 

J.  W.  VAUGHAN;  P.O.  Marlborough; 
was  born  on  the  farm  June  19, 1831,  on  which 


he  now  resides.  His  jjarents  were  David  and 
Elizabeth  (Siiellenberger)  Vaughan,  and  his 
grandfather  was  Edward  Vaughan.  His  great- 
grandfather Vaughan  was  a  native  of  Scotland, 
and  came  to  the  United  States  previous  to 
the  Revolutionary  War.  David  Vaughan  was 
a  native  of  Su>>sex  Co.,  New  Jersey,  his  birth 
occurring  January  1,  1794.  His  father  dying 
when  he  was  a  child,  he  was  reared  among 
strangers  in  Sussex  Co.,  with  whom  he  learned 
the  carpenter  and  joiners'  trade.  Being  a 
man  of  enterprise  he  came  west  to  Steuben- 
ville,  Ohio,  about  1818,  for  the  purpose  of 
bettering  his  condition  financially.  He  re- 
mained at  this  point  six  years,  draying  and 
teaming.  Six  months  previous  to  his  settle- 
ment in  Stark  Co.,  he  started  for  Michigan, 
but  meeting  relatives  here,  he  was  induced  to 
purchase  property  and  make  this  his  future 
abode.  In  1825  he  moved  his  family  to  the 
place  he  had  selected  on  Sec.  30,  Marlborough 
Tp.  He  settled  here  in  the  woods,  and  after 
living  to  see  the  wilderness  in  which  he  had 
located  become  a  glorious  country  for  enlight- 
ened people  to  live  in,  he  died,  that  event  oc- 
curring Aug.  30,  1867.  He  started  in  life  a 
poor  boy,  with  honesty  for  his  motto.  He 
nobly  lived  up  to  this  maxim,  and,  after  un- 
dergoing many  hard  knocks,,  died,  leaving 
property  to  the  value  of  $10,000.  His  wife 
died  about  1854.  They  were  parents  of  four- 
teen children,  ten  of  whom  lived  to  maturity. 
These  ten  were — Edward,  Mary,  Catharine, 
Milly  A.,  Hannah,  Jacob,  Joseph  W.,  David 
L.,  Sarah  and  Naomia.  Of  these  only  the 
last  six  named  are  living,  and  all  reside  in 
Stark  Co.  Joseph  W.  Vaughan,  the  subject 
of  this  biography,  lived  at  home  untd  eighteen 
years  old,  when  he  began  going  abroad  to 
school,  and  teaching  during  vacations  to  ob- 
tain means  to  go  to  school.  He  attended  the 
academy  at  Marlborough,  the  Mt.  Union  Col- 
lege and  Oberlin  College,  at  different  times, 
obtaining  a  good  education.  He  has  taught 
school  to  a  considerable  extent,  and  has  l)een 
principal  of  the  schools  of  Navarre  and  Louis- 
ville, in  Stark  Co.,  and  also  had  charge  of  the 
Normal  School  at  Johnstown,  Licking  Co.  Be- 
sides being  a  most  successful  teacher,  Mr. 
Vaughan  has  practiced  law  to  a  considerable 
extent  in  the  county.  He  was  married  Oct. 
7,  1854,  to  Miss  Mary  L.  Lyons,  of  Tuscara- 
was   Tp.,  and    by  her    had  a  family  of  four — 


^ 


MARLBOROUGH    TOWNSHIP. 


933 


Williur  F.,  Minnie  M.,  docoased;  Burton  W. 
and  Bertha  F.  R.  In  1800  Mr.  Vaughan  pur- 
chased his  present  place,  hut  has  since  moved 
awav,  and  returned  again.  In  ISSO  he  com- 
menced contracting  on  the  Counotton  Valley 
li\-.  Co.  line,  and  in  connection  with  that  has 
carried  on  farming.  He  owns  140  acres  of 
good  land;  is  a  Republican  in  his  ])oliticai 
views;  lias  hold  various  township  offices,  and 
is  of  the  "  Discijdes'  "  faith.  His  father  was  a 
soldier  in   the  war  of  1812. 

BP:NJAMIN  W.  WARNER,  farmer  and 
stock-raiser  ;  P.  O.  Hartville  ;  is  a  brother  of 
George  Werner,  deceased,  whose  biography 
and  the  Werner  family  histor}-,  will  be  found 
in  the  biographical  department  of  Ximishillen 
Tp.  Benjamin  W.  ^^'arner  was  born  on  the 
old  family  honi(>stead,  Nov.  7,  1818.  His 
youth  and  early  manhood  were  passed  in  hard 
labor  in  clearing  and  improving  the  old  place. 
He  was  married  Aug.  i,  1840,  to  Catharine 
Johnson,  daughter  of  .lohn  Joimson,  of  Nim- 
isiiillen  Tp.,  and  to  their  union  were  horn  ten 
children — Levi  I.,  Benjamin  W.,  Elizabeth 
J.,  William  H.,  Amelia,  Zephaniah,  Martin 
B.,  Nancy  E.,  Susanna,  and  Mary  C  Levi 
was  one  of  our  brave  boys  who  enlisted  from 
Marlborough  Tp.  in  th"  Rebellion.  He  served 
all  through  tlie  war,  returned  home,  married 
Lucinda  .McCanimon,  and  resides  in  Plain  Tp. 
Benjamin  marrieil  Mary  A.  Shcjrer,  and  lives 
in  Marlborough  Tp.  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of 
John  C.  Haag,  and  lives  in  Marshall  Co.,  Ohio. 
William  married  Laura  Flickinger,  and  resides 
in  Marlborough  Tp.  Amelia  is  single.  Zeph- 
aniah died  in  childhood,  and  Martin  married 
Mary  A.  Lower,  and  lives  in  Nimishillen 
Tp.  Nancy  is  the  wife  of  Franklin  George, 
and  is  a  resident  of  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio. 
Susanna  and  Mary  are  single.  The  mother 
was  born  in  LancastiM-  Co.,  Pa.,  May  30,  1818. 
After  his  marriage  Mr.  Warner  farmed  on  his 
father's  land  in  Marlborough  Tp.  for  sixteen 
years.  In  1858  he  purchased  60  acres  of 
swamp  land  on  Sec.  19,  in  Marlborough  Tp., 
which  has  since  been  increased  to  107  acres. 
This,  through  his  own  enterprise,  as  well  as 
the  whole  western  part  of  the  township,  has 
been  drained  off  by  what  is  known  as  the 
"Warner  Ditch,"  miking  much  of  the  land 
through  which  it  [lasses,  and  especially  that 
owned  by  Mr.  Warner,  the  best  in  the  whole 
county.     Mr.  Warner  is  one  of  the  old  land- 


marks of  Stark  Co.  He  and  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  United  Bn^thren  in  Christ  Church. 
He  is  an  enterprising  and  influential  man,  a 
Republican  in  politics,  and  a  first-class  citi- 
zen. 

JONAS  W.  WARSTLER,  merchant;  Marl- 
borough; of  the  firm  of  D.  W.  Dellenberger 
&  Co.,  is  a  son  of  Jonas  and  Elizabeth  (Ring- 
er) Warstler,  and  grandson  of  Jacob  and  Mar3' 
(Sheffer)  Warstler,  and  is  of  German  descent. 
The  name  originally  was  Wachalar,  but  by  Sa.\- 
on  usage  is  now  pronounced  Warstler.  Jacob 
Warstler  was  a  native  of  York  Co.,  Pa.  To 
better  his  condition,  financially,  he  emigrated 
to  near  Salem,  Ohio,  in  about  ISOO,  and  after 
living  there  some  time  he  left  his  family  at 
this  point  and  pushed  still  further  westward. 
He  finally  arrived  in  what  is  now  Plain  Tp., 
Stark  Co.,  and  the  soil  and  "  lay  of  the  land  " 
suiting  his  fancy,  ho  selected  a  farm  on  Sec. 
44,  built  a  log  cabin,  and  came  back  to  Salem 
for  his  family.  On  his  return  with  his  family, 
Mr.  Warstler  discovered  that  the  Indians  had 
visited  his  cabin,  aiul  all  that  was  left  to  mark 
where  it  stood  was  its  ashes.  Nothing  daunt- 
ed, he  again  built  a  cabin,  and  lived  on  the 
farm  he  first  settled  until  his  death.  He  and 
wife  were  parents  of  nine  sons  and  three 
daughters,  only  two — Lydia  (Ringer),  and 
Elizab(!th  (Baker) — are  yet  living.  One  of 
their  sons,  Jonas  Warstler,  the  father  of  the 
subject  of  this  biography,  was  born  in  Plain 
Tp.,  in  1812.  He  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm  in  Plain  Tp.,  and  being  thrown  consid- 
erably on  his  own  resources,  managed  to  learn 
the  carpenter's,  blacksmith's  and  cabiiu^t- 
maker's  trades.  He  married  Elizabeth  Ringer 
about  1833,  and  l)y  her  had  ten  children — 
Sarah,  Lydia,  Susan  (deceased),  Mary,  Jesse, 
Jonas,  John,  Catharine,  Jacob  and  Priscilla. 
The  father  died  March  34,  1871,  and  the 
mother  is  yet  living.  She  was  born  July  22, 
1811.  Mr.  Warstler's  life  was  one  of  hanl 
labor  and  self-denial.  Though  his  habits 
were  somewhat  retiring,  his  affections  were 
strong,  and  benevolence  was  an  ever  active 
principle  in  his  nature.  He  had  many  friends 
and  but  few  enemies.  .Jonas  W.  Warstler, 
his  son,  was  born  in  Marlljorough  Tp.,  Sept. 
11,  1844.  The  July  before  he  was  IS  years 
old,  he  enlisted  in  the  cause  against  rebellion 
in  the  104th  Reg.,  Co.  B,  O.  V.  I.,  serving  all 
through  the  war,  and  was  finally  discharged 


:^ 


A 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 


in  June,  1865.  He  bravely  participated  in  all 
the  battles  of  his  regiment,  among  them  being 
Resaca,  Knoxville,  Buzzard's  Roost,  Frank- 
lin etc.  After  the  war  he  went  to  school 
one  year,  and  on  the  29th  of  Oct.  1868,  mar- 
ried Miss  Henrietta  L.  Geib,  and  by  her  had 
six  children — Edwin  F.,  Susan  E.  (deceased), 
Lulu,  Lillian  .!.,  Roscoe  J.,  and  one  that  died 
in  infancy.  Alter  his  marriage  Mr.  Warstler 
taught  school  and  farmed  until  the  fall  of  1877, 
when  he  formed  a  partnership  with  D.  W. 
Dellenberger  in  a  general  store  at  Marlbor- 
ough. This  firm  has  been  quite  successful, 
and  they  do  an  average  annual  business  of 
about  $18,000.  Mr.  Warstler  is  a  Republican 
in  politics.  He  has  held  several  township 
offices,  and  is  an  energetic,  enterprising  young 
man. 

J.  M.  WALKER,  stock-raiser  and  farmer; 
P.  0.  Marlborough;  was  born  in  Columbiana 
Co.,  Ohio,  July  28,  1841.  He  is  a  son  of 
Thomas  and  Mary  (Huifman)  Walker,  and 
grandson  of  Thomas  Walker,  and  is  of  Irish- 
German  descent.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
Pa.,  but  came  to  Ohio  in  1821,  where  for  a 
number  of  years  he  pursued  the  occupation 
of  stone-mason  and  farmer,  in  Columbiana 
Co.  He  first  married  a  Miss  Battershell,  liy 
whom  he  had  three  children,  only  one — Wil- 
liam— is  yet  living.  His  second  and  last  wife 
was  the  mother  of  our  subject;  Mrs.  Mary 
(Huffman)  Miner,  daughter  of  John  Huffman 
and  widow  of  John  Miner.  By  Mr.  Miner 
Mrs.   Walker  had  three   children,  only  one 


of  whom,  John,  is  yet  living.  To  the  union 
of  Mr.  Walker  and  Mrs.  Miner  there  were  born 
three  children — J.  M.,  Thomas  J.  and  one  that 
died  in  infancy.  Thomas  married  a  Mi-^s 
Lamb,  and  resides  in  Elkhart,  Indiana.  Mr. 
Walker  died  in  Portage  Co.,  in  November, 
1841,  and  Mrs.  Walker  died  in  May,  18G4. 
J.  M.  Walker  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  fann- 
ing has  ever  since  been  his  chosen  occupation. 
In  August,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  A.,  1st 
Ohio  Light  Artillery,  commanded  by  Cap- 
tain W.  F.  '.Goodspeed,  and  was  discharged 
at  Cleveland  in  July,  18G5.  In  September, 
1862,  while  at  Mumfordsville,  Kentucky,  on 
detached  duty,  he  was  captured,  paroled,  and 
afterwards  sent  home,  where  he  was  finally 
exchanged,  and  the  February  following  joined 
his  company  at  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.  He  was 
an  active  participant  in  the  battles  of  Liberty 
Gap,  Chickamauga,  and  all  the  battles  of  the 
Atlanta  campaign,  and  afterwards  at  Nash- 
ville. At  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned 
home,  and  November  23,  1865,  married  Miss 
Celestine  Bloomtield,  daughter  of  Lewis  M. 
Bloomfield,  appropriate  mention  of  whom  is 
made  elsewhere  in  this  work.  To  this  mar- 
riage there  were  born  two  children — Zoraand 
Bertha.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Walker 
farmed  two  years  in  Portage  Co.,  and  in  1862 
purchased  his  present  farm  of  72  acres,  on 
which  he  immediately  moved,  and  where  he 
has  resided  to  the  present.  He  is  an  enter- 
prising and  go-ahead  man.  Is  a  Republican 
in  politics  and  an  excellent  citizen. 


LAKE    TOWNSHIP. 


JOHN  BOLENDER,  cabinet-maker;  Lake; 
is  the  oldest  in  a  family  of  ten  children,  born 
to  George  and  Margaret  (Wise)  Bolender. 
George  Bolender  was  a  native  of  Union  Co., 
Pa.,  and  came  to  Ohio,  settling  in  Stark  Co. 
at  an  early  date.  He  worked  at  the  carpen- 
ter's trade  for  about  five  years;  and  in  1824  he 
removed  to  Uniontown  and  started  a  hotel, 
where  he  remained  two  years.  Mrs.  Bolen- 
der was  a  native  of  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  and 
came  to  Ohio  with  her  parents  in  1815.  They 
were  both  consistent  members  of  the  German 


Reformed  Church,  and  were  much  admired 
for  their  true  Christianity  and  devotion  to  their 
church.  John  Bolender,  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Green  Tp.,  now  in  Summit  Co.,  Ohio, 
March  27,  1819  ;  his  early  life  being  passed 
on  the  farm,  and  with  but  slight  educational 
facilties.  At  the  age  of  16  he  was  appren- 
ticed to  the  carpenter's  trade,  at  which  he 
worked  for  twenty-two  years.  Mr.  Bolender 
had  in  his  employ  from  six  to  ten  men,  and 
did  an  extensive  business  in  the  building  line. 
He  built  a  shop    in    Uniontown,    where    he  is 


^  <a~ 


±.^ 


i\^ 


LAKE   TOWNSHIP. 


935 


nnw  engaged  in  the  cabinet,  chair-making  and 
undertaking  business.  In  1843  he  united  in 
marriage  with  .Judith  Pontius,  of  Lake  Tp. 
That  union  has  been  blessed  with  seven  chil- 
dren,six  of  whom  are  still  living,  viz. — Sophia, 
Almira,  Sylvester,  Lucretia,  Charles  and  Sarah. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bolender  are  devoted  members 
of  the  German  Reformed  Church.  Mr.  Bolen- 
der is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  has  held 
the  oflSce  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  fifteen 
years. 

H.  K.  BRUMB.\UGH,  farmer;  P.  O.  Cairo. 
George  Bruniljaugh,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Huntington  Co.,  Pa.,  in 
1799,  and  the  early  years  of  his  life  were 
passed  in  the  labors  of  the  farm,  where  he 
remained  until  1820,  when  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Esther  Hoover,  who  was  a  native  of  the 
same  State,  and  came  to  Ohio  with  her  pa- 
rents in  an  early  day ;  the  date  of  the  settle- 
ment of  the  Brumbaugh  family  could  not  be 
obtained  with  any  degree  of  certainty.  Soon 
after  liis  marriage  he  moved  to  Marlborough 
Tp.,  where  he  opened  a  farm,  and  there  lived 
up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  He  and  wife 
were  consistent  members  of  the  German  Bap- 
tist church.  They  were  the  parents  of  ten 
children,  H.  K.  being  the  sixth.  He  was  born 
in  Stark  Co.,  Dec.  8,  1831,  and  his  child- 
hood was  passed  on  the  farm  and  in  attend- 
ing the  common  schools  and  Mt.  Union 
College.  After  completing  his  education  he 
returned  to  the  farm,  where  he  remained  until 
he  was  of  age.  In  18.")6  he  purchased  a  farm 
in  Lexington  Tp.,  where  he  remained  a  short 
time,  and  in  IboT  he  purchased  and  settled 
where  he  now  lives.  In  185G  he  married  Miss 
Mary  A.  Johnst<m,  and  from  that  union  there 
have  been  six  children — Katie,  Milton,  Emma, 
Ida,  Liza  and  Byron.  Mr.  Brumbaugh  has 
always  been  identified  with  the  Democratic 
party. 

GEORGE  BIXLER,  farmer;  P.  O.  Middle 
Branch.  Our  subject  ranks  among  the  self- 
made  men  of  Lake  Tp.  He  was  born  in  Lake 
Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  .Tan.  1,  1825,  and  the 
early  years  of  his  life  were  passed  on  the  farm. 
He  received  his  edueation  in  the  common 
schools  of  Stark  Co.,  and  was  at  home  with 
his  father  until  he  was  24  years  of  age,  when 
he  rented  the  old  homestead,  which  he  carried 
on  for  two  years.  He  was  subsequently  en- 
gaged by  parties  in  Massillon  to  superintend 


a  warehouse,  where  he  remained  a  short  time. 
He  then  engaged  in  farming,  and  has  been 
engaged  in  the  same  vocation  ever  since.  In 
1849  he  united  in  marriage  with  Lydia, 
daughter  of  George  Brumbaugh,  of  Marl- 
borough Tp.  From  that  union  there  have 
been  eight  children.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bixler  are 
consistent  members  of  the  German  Reformed 
Church.  Mr.  Bixler  now  owns  132  acres  of 
well  improved  land.  David  L.,  and  Eliza- 
beth (Markley)  Bixler,  came  to  Lake  Tp., 
from  Pennsylvania.  Daniel  was  born  in 
Maryland,  and  came  to  Pennsylvania,  and 
thence  to  Stark  Co.,  with  the  .Markley  family. 
He  was  a  man  much  respected  for  his  integ- 
rity and  honesty. 

WILLIAM  CASSLER,  retired;  Cairo. 
Is  a  son  of  Lewis  D.  and  Nancy  (Wise)  Ca.ss- 
ler.  Lewis  was  a  native  of  Lancaster  Co., 
Pa.,  where  he  worked  at  the  shoemaker's 
trade.  He  married  Miss  Nancy  AVise,  who 
was  a  native  of  Christine,  now  within  the 
limits  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  but  soon 
after  their  marriage  they  emigrated  to  Ohio, 
settling  on  a  farm  in  Lake  Tp.  They  lived 
in  a  stable  for  sometime,  until  they  were  able 
to  build  a  more  spacious  cabin.  He  (Lewis) 
worked  at  his  trade  for  several  years,  and  died 
in  1850,  aged  65  years;  his  widow  survived 
him  until  1858,  dying  at  the  age  of  72  years. 
William,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born 
in  Lancaster  Co.,  March  3,  1814.  His  child- 
hood was  passed  at  home,  obtaining  his  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools,  and  at  the  age 
of  13  he  was  placed  on  the  bench  to  learn 
the  trade  of  his  father,  and  worked  at  the 
same  for  several  years.  In  1834  he  came  to 
Ohio  with  his  parents,  and  assisted  in  clearing 
the  farm,  and  lived  at  home  until  he  was  26 
years  of  age;  he  then  engaged  in  farming  on 
the  homestead,  and  soon  after  bought  the  same, 
and  there  lived  until  18i5,  when  he  retired  to 
a  pleasant  home.  In  1840  he  married  Eliza- 
beth Miller,  who  was  a  native  of  Lake  Tp. 
From  that  marriage  there  were  six  children,  viz. 
— Nancy,  the  deceased  wife  of  .1.  C.  Corey,  of 
Massillon;  Lovina,  wife  of  P.  D.  Machamer, 
of  Lake  Tp.;  Lafayette,  Margaret,  Lewis, 
Elizabeth,  the  deceased  wife  of  A.  W.  Mach- 
amer, of  Lake. 

DR.  J .  E.  DOUGHERTY,  physician ;  Green  - 
town.  In  a  family  of  four  children  born  to 
John    and  Elizabeth    (Crail)   Dougherty,    onr 


l^ 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


subjoct  is  the  olrlest,  his  birth  occufring  March 
13,  1820,  in  Beaver  Co.,  Pa.  At  the"  age  of 
11  years  he  was  left  an  orphan,  and  went  to 
live  witli  his  grandfather,  who,  one  year  after, 
put  young  Dougherty  on  the  bench  to  learn 
the  shoemaker's  trade.  He  worked  at  this 
until  he  was  17  years  of  age,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  few  months  of  each  year,  when  he 
attended  school.  He  taught  school  for  some 
time,  and  afterward  attended  the  Richmond 
Classical  Institute.  He  began  the  study  of 
medicine  under  Dr.  E.  M.  Pyle,  of  Richmond, 
and  after  remaining  there  four  years,  began 
to  practice  in  Beaver  Co.,  Pa.,  in  181:3.  Af- 
ter remaining  there  five  years  he  located  in 
Jefferson  Co.,  Oiiio;  from  thence  went  to 
Summit  Co.,  and  in  May,  1819,  he  located  in 
Greentown,  and  has  remained  there  ever 
since.  He  has  had  an  extensive  practice, 
and  in  1879  he  took  his  son,  L.  E.,  in  as  part- 
ner, and  although  a  young  man  he  is  a  mas- 
ter of  his  profession.  At  the  organization  of 
the  162d  O.  N.  G.,  he  was  elected  Lieutenant 
Colonel  of  the  fame,  and  in  1864  was  called 
into  active  service.  In  1844  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Phijebe  Thompson,  of  Carroll  Co., 
Ohio,  who  died  in  1847,  leaving  one  son — 
William  T.  In  1849  he  married  for  his  sec- 
ond wife  Angeline,  daughter  of  Thomas  Gor- 
gas,  of  Greeutown.  From  that  marriage 
there  have  been  eight  children,  six  of  whom 
are  living,  viz. — Charles  A.,  L.  E.,  J.  E.,  J. 
F.,  Mary  E.,  and  Sarah  A.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Dougherty  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  at  Greentown. 

D.  F.  EBLE,  farmer;  P.  O.  Cairo;  is  a  son 
of  .John  and  Margaret  (Hossler)  Ebie.  John 
Eljie  was  a  native  of  Lake  Tp.,  his  parents 
settling  there  previous  to  1814.  He  spent 
his  childhood  in  the  woods  of  Lake  Tp.,  and 
remained  at  home  until  he  reached  manhood. 
He  married  Miss  Hossler,  who  was  a  native  of 
Union  Co.,  Pa.,  and  came  to  Stark  Co.,  in  an 
early  day.  After  his  marriage  he  removed  to 
Marlborough  Tp.,  this  county,  and  settled  on 
a  farm  of  185  acres,  where  he  still  resides. 
D.  F.,  the  subject  of  these  few  lines,  is  the 
oldest  in  a  family  of  eighteen  children,  his 
birth  occurring  July  24,  1839,  in  Stark  Co. 
His  early  days  were  passed  like  most  farmer's 
sons,  on  the  farm,  and  as  he  was  the  oldest 
in  the  family,  much  of  the  farm  labor  fell  to 
him.     He  attended  the  common  schools  of  his 


neighborhood,  the  Greensburgh  Academy  and 
Canton  high  schools,  and  after  completing 
his  education,  he  taught  school  for  several 
terms,  and  subsequently  turned  his  attention 
to  farming,  which  business  he  is  still  engaged 
in,  owning  70  acres  of  ^ell  improved  land  in 
Lake  Tp.  In  18G3  he  married  Lovina  Show- 
alter,  of  Medina  Co.,  who  bore  him  seven  chil- 
dren, si.x  of  whom  are  living.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ebie  are  members  of  the  German  Baptist 
Church. 

GEORGE  FRANK,  Justice  of  the  Peace; 
Lake;  is  a  son  of  George  .Jacob  Frank,  who 
was  born  in  Wurtemburg,  Germany,  Feb. 
29,  1794.  While  in  his  infancy  his  father 
was  called  away  by  death,  and  before  he 
he  attained  the  age  of  4  years  he  was  deprived 
of  his  mother's  care  by  the  same  stern  mes- 
senger. His  early  training  devolved  entirely 
on  an  aunt,  with  whom  he  remained  until  he 
was  14  years  of  age,  when  he  was  appren- 
ticed to  the  cabinet-maker's  trade.  In  1812, 
he  was  drafted  into  the  German  army,  and  con- 
tinued to  serve  his  country  with  faithfulness 
while  England  and  Germany  were  allied 
against  France,  and  until  the  final  downfall 
of  Napoleon.  During  his  army  life  he  saw 
many  of  the  prominent  men  of  that  day;  among 
them  were  the  Duke  of  Wellington,  the  hero 
of  Waterloo,  and  his  much  beloved  La  Fayette. 
The  vear  after  he  was  released  from  service 
(1816),  he  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eva 
Weimer,  and  with  her  resided  in  Hoffen,  un- 
til 1837,  when  he  embarked  for  America. 
Upon  his  arrival  in  this  country  he  located  in 
Lake  Tp.,  where  he  spent  34  years  of  his  life. 
In  October,  1870,  his  faithful  wife  died.  After 
the  death  of  his  wife  he  went  to  live  with  his 
son  George  (our  subject),  and  with  him  remain- 
ed until  Feb.  27, 1881,  when  he  was  called  to  his 
final  home,  at  the  age  of  87  years.  Early  in 
life  he  associated  himself  with  the  Lutheran 
Church  and  continued  a  faithful  member  to 
the  end.  George  Frank,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  in  Alsace,  France,  May  2, 
1829,  and  in  1837  came  to  Stark  Co.,  with  his 
parents.  He  attended  the  common  schools  of 
his  neighborhood,  where  he  acquired  a  good 
education,  and  at  the  age  of  21  he  engaged  in 
farming  for  himself,  and  in  this  continued  for 
10  years.  In  1850,  he  engaged  in  the  stock 
business,  dealing  in  sheep,  wholly,  and  has 
been  engaged  in  the  same  up    to   the  present 


^«- 


LAKE     TOWXSHIP. 


937 


timo.  In  1850 he  married  Miss  Mary  Bushong, 
of  Lako  Tp.  From  that  union  there  has  been 
six  children,  four  ot"  whom  are  living,  viz. — Em- 
etine, Milton  G.,  William  J.  and  John  C.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Frank  are  devout  church  members; 
he  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  has  been 
identified  with  many  positions  of  trust,  which 
he  faithfully  filled. 

JOHX  FRANK,  retired  ;  Lake  ;  was  born 
in  Washington  Co.,  Pa.,  May  20,  1806  ;  his 
parents,  George  and  Margaret  (Hewitt)  Frank, 
were  natives  of  the  above-named  county  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  in  1809  came  across  the 
country  to  Ohio,  settling  on  160  acres,  then  in 
the  wilderness  of  Lake  Tp.,  and  it  was  on 
this  farm  that  he  lived  until  he  retired  from 
the  farm.  The  last  few  years  preceding  his 
death  were  spent  in  Greeiisburgh.  He  died 
in  1854,  aged  76  years.  John  Frank  pass- 
ed the  early  years  of  his  life  at  farm  labor, 
obtaining  but  little  education.  At  the  age 
of  22  he  left  home  for  the  jmrpose  of  earn- 
ing some  money  to  enable  him  to  lay 
the  foundation  for  wealth  and  prosperity, 
which  he  afterward  reached.  He  worked  l>y 
the  month  for  a  short  time,  subsequently 
farmed  the  homestead,  and  then  bought  100 
acres  of  land  in  Lake  Tp.,  and  there  lived  sev- 
eral \'ears.  He  then  bought  180  acres,  where 
he  lived  until  he  retired  from  farming.  In 
1800  he  engaged  in  the  stock  business,  both 
buying,  sellitig  and  feeding.  He  is  consider- 
ed one  of  the  l)est  sheep  men  of  the  county. 
In  1828  he  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mar- 
garet Thompson,  of  Lake  Tp.,  an  estimable 
lady,  who  bore  him  seven  children,  six  of 
whom  are  living — Keziah,  Isaac,  Mary  A., 
David,  .lohn  and  .\[ilton.  Mrs.  Frank  died  in 
185-1,  and  in  18.">7  he  married  Miss  yevilla 
Reynolds,  who  bore  him  one  child — Elva  ;  she 
resides  at  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frank  are  de- 
vout memliers  of  the  Reformed  Church.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Democrat  and  a  stalwart  of 
the  party. 

ISAAC  FR.VNK,  stock-feeder  and  ship- 
per ;  Lake  ;  is  a  son  of  John  Frank,  whose 
sketch  appears  in  this  work.  Our  subject 
was  born  in  Stark  Co..  Ohio,  May  31,  1834. 
The  early  3'ears  of  his  life  were  passed  on  the 
farm,  where  he  remained  until  he  was  22 
years  of  age  ;  he  then  rented  farms  for  five 
years  in  Lake  Tp.  In  1859  he  began  feeding 
sheep,  and    continued   to  buy  and    feed   for 


three  3'ears,  when  he  began  shipping,  and  has 
continued  in  that  business  up  to  the  present 
time.  He  has  been  very  successful,  and  owes 
his  success  largely  to  the  manner  in  which  he 
feeds  his  sheep.  Mr.  Frank  has  one  of  the 
best,  if  not  the  best,  sheep  farms  in  the  State 
of  Ohio.  He  has  also  been  engaged  exten- 
sively in  farming.  In  1855  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  John 
Moore,  of  Springfield,  Summit  Co.,  and  from 
that  marriage  there  have  been  two  children-  - 
Magaret  J.  and  Lewis  E.  Mr.  Frank  is  a 
memlier  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  Lodge  No. 
83,  Akron. 

ABRAM  FOUSE,  farmer  ;  P.  O.  Hartville; 
is  the  only  son  in  a  family  of  five  children 
born  to  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (.Miller)  Fouse. 
Jacob  Fouse  was  a  native  of  Huntington  Co., 
Pa.,  where  he  spent  his  childhood.  In  ISll 
he  left  his  comfortable  home  in  his  native 
county,  for  the  purpose  of  finding  a  new  home 
in  the  wilderness  of  Stark  Co.  (it  was  nothing 
more  at  that  time).  Ho  settled  on  113  acres 
of  Sec.  3  of  Lake  Tp.,  and  there  erected  a 
log  cabin,  which  the  family  occupied  until  a 
more  spacious  house  adorned  the  site.  He 
remained  a  resident  of  Lake  Tp.  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1845. 
Abram  Fouse,  our  siibject,  was  born  in  Stark 
Co.,  Ohio,  April  6,  1820.  The  early  years  of 
j'oung  Foust^'s  life  were  spent  in  the  labors 
of  the  farm,  interrupted  but  slightly  by  his 
attendance  at  school.  At  the  age  of  26  years 
he  purchased  113  acres  of  the  heirs,  and  has 
since  lived  on  the  same.  In  1848  he  united 
in  marriage  with  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  Daniel 
Rudy.  She  died  in  1806,  leaving  five  child- 
ren, viz. — Barbara,  Elizabeth,  Frank,  Ellen 
and  Daniel.  Mr.  Fouse  has  been  a  member 
of  the  Presbvterian  Church  for  several  years. 

JOHN  J.'GANS,  farmer;  P.  O.  Middle 
Branch.  Benjamin  Gaiis,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  Ximishillen  Tp.,  this 
county,  Oct.  15,  1807,  and  is  thesec(md  white 
child  born  in  Stark  Co.  His  parents,  John 
and  Catharine  (Sheidler)  Gans,  were  natives 
of  Fayette  Co.,  Pa.,  and  in  1804  left  their 
comfortable  home  in  their  native  Siate  toon- 
counter  the  dangers  and  hardshi]>s  which  set- 
tlers at  that  date  encountered.  From  George- 
town he  (John  Gans)  was  compelled  to  cut 
and  clear  a  passage  to  the  place  of  settle- 
ment, which  was  in  Ximishillen  Tp.     He  set- 


^1 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


tied  on  a  farm  of  160  acres,  where  he  lived 
several  years.  Tho  first  peach  orchard  in  the 
county  was  on  his  farm.  He  was  a  preacher  in 
the  German  Baptist  Church,  and  was  the  first 
preacher  in  Nimishillen  Tp.  He  died  in  18"31 
at  the  age  of  51  or  52  years.  His  faithful  wife 
lived  to  reacli  the  ripe  age  of  80  years.  They 
were  the  |);uc  its  of  eight  children,  Benjamin 
being  the  tliird.  The  early  years  of  his  life 
were  passed  in  the  wilderness;  his  education 
was  neglected,  there  being  schools  but  of  an 
inferior  order  in  the  region  of  his  home.  How- 
ever, he  acquired  a  good  education,  whether 
at  home  or  at  school  matters  little.  At  the 
age  of  24,  he  left  home  and  engaged  in  farm- 
ing on  a  farm  which  he  rented  for  twelve 
years.  He  then  purchased  the  same,  and  has 
lived  on  the  farm  up  to  the  present  time.  In 
1831  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Su- 
sanna Williams.  This  union  was  blessed  with 
eleven  children,  four  of  whom  are  living,  viz. — 
Dr.  Alpheus,  of  Navarre;  John  J.,  our  subject; 
Marietta  and  Eliza.  In  May,  1881,  they  cele- 
brated their  golden  wedding  at  their  home, 
where  they  entertained  a  host  of  congratula- 
ting friends.  Mr.  Gans  has  always  been 
identified  with  the  Democratic  party.  John 
J.  Gans,  our  suliject,  was  born  in  Lake  Tp., 
Feb.  2,  1840,  where  he  spent  his  childhood. 
He  attended  the  schools  of  his  neighborhood, 
and  Mt.  Union  College.  After  comple- 
ting his  education  he  engaged  in  teaching. 
In  1866  he  engaged  in  farming,  purchasing 
80  acres,  where  he  lived  two  years;  then  he 
purchased  the  Squire  Nees  farm  in  Marlbor- 
ough, where  he  lived  until  1881,  when  he 
bought  and  settled  on  the  old  homestead.  In 
1865  he  married  Miss  Lizzie  Wolf,  daughter 
of  Samuel  Wolf,  of  Lake  Tp.  From  that 
marriage  there  have  lieen  five  children,  viz. — 
Thomas,  Emmet,  Willie,  Daniel  and  Mavbelle. 
HENRY  GROSENBAUGH,  merchant; 
Hartville.  .lacob  Grosenliaugh  now  a  wealthy 
farmer  of  Stark  Co.,  and  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject was  born  in  Rhinebyer,  Germany,  about 
the  year  1810,  his  parents  accompanied  by 
himself,  emigrated  to  this  country  in  1823. 
Jacob  passed  the  early  years  of  his  life  in  as- 
sisting his  father's  family,  who  were  in  hum- 
ble circumstances.  At  the  age  of  21  he  be- 
g;in  farming  on  his  own  responsibility  in  Plain 
Tp.;  he  worked  diligently  and  soon  became 
the    possessor  of  a   fine  farm,  and  in  this  way 


worked  until  1881,  when  he  removed  to  Hart- 
ville. He  commenced  life  a  poor  boy,  and 
now  ranks  among  the  wealthiest  men  of  the 
county.  This  is  but  an  example  of  the  truth, 
that  honest  industry  will  bring  its  reward. 
In  early  manhood  he  married  Miss  Catharine 
Herbruok.  sister  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Herbruck, 
of  Canton.  From  that  marriage  there  have 
been  ten  children,  Henry,  our  subject  being 
the  second.  He  was  born  in  Plain  Tp.,  Stark 
Co.,  Ohio,  in  August,  1854.  The  early  years 
of  his  life  were  passed  on  the  farm.  He  at- 
tended the  common  schools  in  his  neighbor- 
hood, and  latterly  the  Canton  Academy,  where 
he  acquired  a  good  education.  He  subse- 
quently entered  the  commercial  department 
of  Mt.  Union  College,  where  he  remained 
some  time.  After  completing  his  commer- 
cial course  he  entered  into  partnership  with 
Peter  ShoUenberger,  a  merchant  of  Hartville, 
after  a  clerkship  of  six  months.  This  part- 
nership lasted  until  1879,  when  he  bought 
Mr.  ShoUenberger's  interest,  and  has  since  con- 
ducted the  business  successfully.  He  has  one 
of  the  best  general  stores  in  the  county,  doing 
business  to  the  amount  of  $18,000  per  year. 
He  has  always  been  o'jnnected  with  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  and  has  held  many  offices  of 
trust  in  the  township. 

S.  S.  GEIB,  farmer  ;  P.  O.  Hartville.  "You 
just  go  to  Squire  Geib  and  he  will  tell  you  all 
about  it" — this  was  the  language  of  many  old 
settlers  when  asked  by  the  writer  in  regard 
to  the  early  days  of  Lake  Tp.  The  gen- 
eral opinion  seemed  to  be  that  the  proper 
source  for  reliable  information  would  be  one 
who  during  a  residence  of  many  years  in  the 
township,  had  occupied  such  positions  in  the 
community  as  proved  him  to  be  a  man  of  rare 
ability  and  intelligence.  Mr.  Geib  was  born 
in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  Oct.  19, 1827  ;  his  child- 
hood was  spent  on  the  farm  in  his  native  state. 
In  1836  he  came  to  Stark  Co.  with  his  parents. 
At  the  age  of  12  years  he  was  hired  out  to  a 
farmer,  and  in  this  way  passed  five  years  of  his 
life.  At  the  age  of  17,  he  was  apprenticed  to 
the  carpenter's  trade,  and  worked  at  the  same 
for  fifteen  years,  and  after  serving  his  appren- 
ticeship, he  taught  school  for  several  terms.  In 
1863,  he  settled  on  the  farm  he  now  lives  on, 
and  has  remained  on  the  farm  ever  since. 
In  1878,  he  served  as  Treasurer  of  Stark 
Co.  for  a  short  term,  and  in  the  same  year  he 


^' 


^ 


LAKE   TOWNSHIP. 


939 


was  admitted  to  the  Bar  and  has  had  a  fair 
practice  since,  although  he  is  devotinj^  most 
of  his  attention  to  fanning.  In  1848,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Susanna  Brown,  who 
died  in  1869,  leaving  seven  chiKJren.  In  1878, 
he  married  his  second  wife,  Miss  Catharine 
Wise,  and  from  this  union  thore  have  been  six 
children.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Geib  are  devout  mem- 
bers of  the  Catholic  church  of  Randolph,  Por- 
tage Co.  Mr.  Gicb  has  always  been  identified 
with  the  Democratic  party. 

JACOB  GARTY,  retired  ;  Cairo ;  was 
born  in  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  June  lo,  1808, 
and  his  parents,  Jacob  and  .Mary  (Koiper) 
Garty,  were  natives  of  Frankfort,  Germany, 
where  Jacob  worked  at  the  blacksmith's  trade. 
In  1800  he  emigrated  to  the  United  States, 
settling  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  married 
the  above-named  ladv.  In  180.5  he  removed  to 
Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  worked  at  his 
trade.  In  1831  ho  came  to  Ohio,  settling  on 
a  farm  in  Plain  Tp.,  where  he  remained  a 
short  time,  and  then  settled  in  Lake  Tp.,  where 
he  lived  up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  Jacob 
Garty,  Jr.,  spent  his  early  days  on  the  farm, 
received  a  common-school  education,  and  in 
1831  came  to  Ohio  with  his  parents.  He 
lived  at  home  until  he  was  :;.'s  years  of  age, 
then  engaged  in  farming,  and  was  engaged  in 
the  same  until  a  few  years  ago,  when  he  re- 
tired. In  1830  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Margaret  H<'nney,  who  died,  leaving  six  child- 
ren. For  his  second  wife  he  married  Susan 
widow  of  Christopher  Heiiney,  and  from  that 
marriage  there  were  five  children,  three  of 
whom  are  living.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Garty  are 
nipnibers  of  the  German  Reformed  Church. 

JEMIMA  GAFF  ;  Greentown  ;  is  the 
widow  of  Samuel  Smith,  who  was  a  native  of 
Franklin  Co.,  Pa.,  where  his  childhood  was 
pass(!d.  In  1826  he  came  to  Ohio,  settling  in 
Stark  Co.,  where  he  engaged  in  the  tannery 
business,  which  business  he  successfully  con- 
ducted for  several  years.  Mr.  Smith  was  a 
prominent  man  of  Stark  Co.,  and  had  held 
man}'  ollices  of  trust  and  confidence,  which 
he  never  betrayed,  and  by  his  industry  and 
economy  had  accumulated  a  handsome  fortune. 
He  died  in  1866,  aged  64  years.  His  widow, 
the  al rOve-named  lady,  was  born  in  Armstrong 
Co.,  Pa.,  May  4,  1805,  and  is  the  only  surviv- 
ing one  in  a  family  of  fourteen  children,  born 
to  James    and    Elizabeth    GatT,  who  were  na- 


tives of  Westm  reland  Co.,  Pa.,  where  James 
Gaff  was  engageil  in  f'artning.  He  located  in 
Armstrong  Co.  for  a  short  time,  and  in  1807 
became  across  the  mountains  to  Ohio,  settling 
in  Plain  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  and  was  among  the 
first  settlers  of  the  township,  and  experienced 
many  dangers  and  hardships  at  that  early  day. 
He  remained  a  resident  of  Plain  Tp.  up  to 
the  time  of  his  death.  Mrs.  Smith  still  lives 
in  Greentown,  being  left  in  good  circumstan- 
ces. She  enjoys  life,  and  is  a  pleasure  to  the 
people  among  whom  she  lives.  She  is  the 
mother  of  four  children — Matilda,  wife  of  J. 
A.  Borst ;  L.  E.,  W.  S.  and  D.  G. 

LEIDIGH  HOUSLEY,  farmer;  P.  O. 
Greentown.  Levi  Housley,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  a  native  of  Washington  Co., 
Md.,  where  he  followed  farming  as  his  voca- 
tion. In  ism  he  crossed  the  mountains,  and 
after  a  long  and  tiresome  journey,  settled  on 
the  farm  now  occupied  by  our  subject.  As 
was  the  custom  in  those  days,  he  settled  near 
a  spring.  He  selected  this  farm  about  ^ 
mile  east  of  Greentown,  cleared  the  same, 
and  there  lived  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death.  He  married  Miss  Mary  Lowmau  who 
WHS  a  native  of  th(>  above  nam(>d  county  and 
State.  They  held  a  prominent  position  in 
their  community  and  were  universallv  es- 
teemed by  all  who  knew  them.  Young  Hous- 
lev,  the  subject  of  this  short  sketch,  was  born 
in  Washington  Co.,  Md.,  Oct.  as,  1814.  He 
inherited  from  both  his  parents  a  physical 
constitution  much  above  the  average.  Dur- 
ing his  boyhood,  educational  facilities  were 
not  abunilant;  hence  he  was  confined  to  at- 
tendance on  the  common  schools,  supported 
by  subscriptions;  but  this  enabled  him  to  lay 
the  foundation  for  a  good,  practical  education. 
When  12  years  old  he  came  to  Lake  Tp.  with 
his  par(>nts,  and  at  once  was  placed  in  the 
woods  to  free  them  of  the  massive  hickories,  and 
in  this  way  worked  until  he  was  24  years  old. 
He  then  rented  a  farm,  where  he  lived  3  years, 
after  which  he  purchased  the  old  homestead, 
and  has  lived  there  ever  since.  Mr.  Housley 
has  been  one  of  the  largest  land-owners  in 
the  township,  but,  as  his  children  left  home, 
he  gave  them  valuable  assistance.  In  1837 
he  married  Miss  Nancy,  daughter  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  Thompson,  with  whom  he  lived 
happily  until  death  separated  them,  June  31, 
1877.     She  had  borne  him  13  children,  10  of 


^f^ 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


whom  are  still  living,  viz. — Elizabeth,  Nancy, 
Catliarine,  John,  Minerva,  Sarah,  Daniel,  Es- 
ther, Alice  and  Jessie.  Mr.  Housley  is  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  a  Re- 
publican in  politics. 

PETER  XAMP.  farmer;  P.  O.  Hartville;  is 
a  son  of  Adam  and  Catliarine  (Null)  Kamp. 
Adam  was  a  native  of  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  where 
the  days  of  his  childhood  were  passed.  At  a 
tender  age  he  was  apprenticed  to  the  tailor's 
trade,  and  at  this  he  worked  for  a  few  years, 
but  subsequently  learned'the  carpenter's  trade, 
at  which  he  worked  for  twenty  years.  He 
married  Miss  Catharine  Null,  who  was  a  na- 
tive of  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  with  whom  he 
passed  many  jjleasant  years.  In  1824  he  came 
to  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  from  Union  Co.,  Pa.,  and 
settled  on  a  farm  of  320  acres,  which  he  re- 
ceived in  exchange  for  one  in  his  native  State. 
He  remained  a  resident  of  Lake  Tp.,  until  re- 
moved by  death,  in  1842,  aged  73  years.  His 
widow  survived  him  until  1847,  she  dying  at 
the  age  of  G'J  years.  Peter  Kamp,  our  sub- 
ject, was  bom  in  Union  Co.,  Pa.,  in  February, 
1811,  and  at  the  age  of  14  came  to  Stark  Co., 
and  lived  at  home  almost  continuously  until 
he  was  30  years  of  age.  He  farmed  the  old 
homestead  for  one  year,  then  purchased  it,  and 
has  lived  on  the  same  up  to  the  present  time. 
He  now  owns  303  acres  of  well  improved 
land.  In  1847  he  married  Miss  Mary  Brown, 
who  remained  a  faithful  companion  to  him 
until  1878,  when  she  died  at  the  age  of  61 
years.  She  bore  him  seven  children,  viz. — 
Susanna,  Franklin,  Sarah,  William,  Samuel, 
Levi  and  .Juse])h. 

C.  F.  KINSLEY,  farmer;  P.  O.  Hartville. 
Frederick  and  Mary  (Miller)  Kinsle\',  the  par- 
ents of  our  subject,  were  natives  of  Wurtem- 
berg,  Germany;  whore  they  were  engaged  in 
farming;  and  in  1831  left  their  native  land 
to  seek  a  home  in  the  new  world,  and  upon 
their  arrival  in  this  country,  they  at  once 
started  for  the  fertile  lands  of  Stark  Co.,  Ohio. 
Frederick  purchased  a  farm  in  Nimishillen  Tp., 
and  there  lived  until  18.50,  when  he  removed 
to  Lake  Tp.,  and  lived  there  until  he  died. 
He  was  an  exemplary  man,  and  was  much  re- 
spected in  the  community  in  which  he  lived. 
C.  F.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in 
Nimishillen  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  in  March, 
1842.  The  early  years  of  his  life  were  pass- 
ed on  the   farm;   he  received  his  education  in 


the  common  scliools,  and  rrm:iineil  at  home 
until  he  was  of  age.  One  year  later  he  in- 
herited a  piece  of  land  from  his  father,  and 
lias  lived  on  the  same  up  to  the  present  time. 
In  18t>5  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Rachel  Wertenberger,  who  bore  him  nine 
children.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kinsley  are  consis- 
t  nt  members  of  the  German  Baptist  Church. 

DR.  L.  MOULTON,  physician;  Hartville; 
is  a  son  of  Anson  and  Dephna  (Minard)  Moul- 
ton.  Anson  was  a  native  of  Boston,  Mass., 
where  he  passed  the  early  years  of  his  life; 
he  attended  the  public  schools  of  that  city, 
and  acquired  a  thorough  education;  and  at 
the  ag-e  of  17  came  to  Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  with 
his  father's  family,  his  father  being  Judge 
Jeremiah  Moulton,  who  was  judge  of  Portage 
Co.  for  fourteen  consecutive  years.  He  was  a 
man  of  more  than  ordinary  ability,  and  by 
his  death  Portage  Co.,  lost  one  of  its  ablest 
and  most  eminent  men.  Dr.  L.  Moulton,  our 
subject,  was  born  in  Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  April 
8,  1837  ;  his  youth  was  spent  on  the  farm, 
and  in  going  to  school,  although  the  facilities 
were  but  poor  for  gaining  an  education;  at 
the  age  of  18  years  he  entered  Oberlin  Col- 
lege, where  he  remained  some  time,  and  where 
he  distinguished  himself  for  his  brilliancy. 
After  leaving  college  he  entered  the  otBce  of 
Dr.  S.  J.  Ward,  of  Suffield,  Portage  Co., 
where  he  remained  a  diligent  student  for  two 
years;  he  subsequently  attended  lectures  at 
Ann  Arbor  Medical  College,  where  he  re- 
ceived a  thorough  knowledge  of  his  profession. 
He  returned  to  Suffield,  his  native  home,  and 
was  induced  to  practice  in  that  community. 
Here  he  remained  three  years,  having  from 
the  start  a  large  and  successful  practice.  In 
1864  he  located  at  Hartville,  and  has  since 
remained  there  in  successful  practice,  and  has 
gained  the  confidence  of  the  community  in 
which  he  lives.  In  1862  he  was  appointed 
Examining  Assistant  Surgeon  of  several  mili- 
tary companies,  located  at  Cleveland.  The 
Doctor  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  held  many 
offices  of  trust  in  the  township. 

ISAAC  MARKLEY,  farmer  ;  P.  O.  Green- 
town  ;  is  the  youngest  in  a  family  of  eleven 
children,  born  to  John  and  Susanna  (Brum- 
Ijaugh)  Markley.  John  Markley  was  born  at 
Morrison's  Cove,  Pa.,  where  he  passed  the 
early  years  of  his  life.  At  the  age  of  18  years 
he  came  to  Lake  Tp.  with  his  parents  ;  at  that 


^fKi 


LAKE    TOWNSHIP. 


time  there  was  but  one  building  where  Canton 
City  now  is  located.  They  cleared  a  passage 
from  that  place  to  the  place  of  settlement, 
and  .John  assisted  his  father  in  the  work  of  the 
farm,  and  when  21  years  of  age  returned  to 
Pi'utisylvania,  and  was  there  married  to  the 
above-named  lady,  she  being  a  native  of  Hun- 
tington Co.,  of  that  State.  He  then  returned 
to  Lake  Tp.,  ami  remained  a  resident  of  that 
township  up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  Young 
Marklev,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born 
in  Lake  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  O.,  January  3,  1839. 
The  early  years  of  his  life  were  j)assed  on  the 
farm  ;  he  received  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  neighborhood,  and  at  the 
age  of  'ii  he  inherited  G3  acres  of  land,  but 
was  obliged  to  pay  other  heirs  a  considerable 
amount.  But  with  a  determined  mind  he  set 
to  work  and  soon  became  the  possessor.  In 
1S6S  he  purchased  167  acres  of  valuable  land, 
where  he  soon  after  settled,  and  has  remained 
there  up  to  the  present  time.  It  was  an  un- 
dertaking that  took  a  great  deal  of  cour.age, 
but  in  a  few  years  he  had  become  the  sole 
proprietor  or  owner  of  the  now  well-improved 
farm.  In  1806  he  married  Miss  Barbara 
Yoder,  of  NimishlUen  Tp.;  from  that  marriage 
there  has  been  one  child — Eleanor.  Mr.  Mark- 
ley  has  always  been  identihed  with  the  Re- 
publican party. 

J.  P.  MOORE,  farmer  and  merchant  ; 
Greentown.  .foseph  Moore,  Sr.,  the  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of  Lan- 
caster Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  was  born  in  1761. 
At  a  tender  age  he  enlisted  in  the  war  of  the 
Revolution,  and  served  his  country  in  that 
great  struggle  with  no  degree  of  unfaithful- 
ness. He  heard  tiie  reading  of  the  Declara- 
tion of  Independence — something  he  never 
forgot.  In  1812  he  crossed  the  mountains  in 
his  native  State,  and  after  a  journey  of  sev- 
eral days,  reached  Plain  Tp.,  Stark  Co.  He 
settled  in  the  woods,  and  cleared  a  farm,  where 
he  lived  several  years;  then  n^moved  to  Port- 
age Co.,  where  he  died.  Joseph  Moore,  Jr., 
the  father  of  our  subject,  was  horn  in  Lancas- 
ter Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  passed  his  childhood, 
and  at  the  age  of  18  years,  came  to  Stark  Co. 
with  his  parents.  He  assisted  on  the  farm 
where  he  lived  several  years  and  then  removed 
to  Portage  Co.,  thence  to  Greentown,  this 
count\-,  where  he  died.  He  was  a  devout 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  a 


man  universally  esteemed  for  his  sterling  in- 
tegrity and  kindness.  J.  P.  Moore,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Lake  Tp., 
Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  Oct.  11,  1827.  The  early 
years  of  his  life  were  passed  on  the  farm,  but 
slightly  interrupted  by  educational  pursuits. 
He  worked  at  home  until  he  was  22  years  of 
age  ;  he  then  farmed  the  homestead  for  16 
years,  and  in  1864  he  bought  the  same,  con- 
sisting of  124r  acres.  In  1880,  in  company 
with  .7.  C.  Pontius,  he  engaged  in  the  grocery 
business  in  Greentown.  In  1849  he  married 
Miss  Rebecca,  daughter  of  George  and  Eliza- 
beth York,  of  Stark  Co.  From  that  marriage 
there  were  born  eleven  children,  all  of  whom 
are  living.  Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Moore  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

ABRAHAM  .MILLER,  farmer;  P.  0. 
Greentown;  is  a  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(York)  Miller,  who  were  natives  of  Maryland. 
They  removed  to  Pennsylvania,  where  they 
lived  a  few  years,  and  in  1812  came  to  Stark 
Co.,  settling  on  a  farm,  which  was  then  part  of 
a  dense  forest.  John  Miller  was  a  carpenter 
by  trade,  and  worked  at  the  same  for  several 
years,  in  connection  with  farming.  He  soon 
abandoned  the  trad  •,  however,  and  engaged 
in  farming,  which  business  he  was  engaged  in 
u])  to  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  a  man 
who  could  not  bear  to  see  a  neighbor  in 
trouble,  and  it  is  said  that  in  the  early  days  of 
Plain  Tp.,  when  people  were  leaving  their 
homes  in  the  East  to  seek  their  fortunes  in 
the  West,  it  was  then  he  showed  his  manli- 
dess  and  true  Christian  spirit  by  dealing  out 
to  th(^  poor  part  of  his  own  products  of  the 
farm.  He  died  in  1876  at  the  advanced  age 
of  90  years.  He  was  twice  married.  From 
the  first  marriage  there  were  three  children — 
Abraham,  Jacob,  of  Canton,  and  Lewis,  of 
Akron.  Abraham,  the  subject  of  these  few 
lines,  was  born  in  Greentown,  this  county,  in 
1824.  His  childhood  was  spent  on  the  farm, 
where  he  remained  untilhe  was  21  j'ears  of 
age;  he  then  removed  to  Plain  Tp.,  where  he 
rented  a  farm,  and  soon  after  purchased  quite 
a  valuable  one,  and  after  living  there  seven 
years  he  returned  to  Lake  Tj).,  remaining 
here  ever  since.  In  1844  he  married  Miss 
Lydia  Kreighbaum,  who  bore  him  five  children, 
viz. — William,  Nelson,  Ira,  Mary  (deceased), 
and  Lewis  (deceased).  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller 
are  members  of  tae  Lutheran  Church. 


^r^ 


it 


942 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


GEORGE  MACHAMER,  merchant;  Hart- 
ville;  is  the  fifth  in  the  family  of  thirteen  child- 
ren, born  to  George  and  Catharine  (Wolf) 
Machamer,  who  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania, 
where  the  father  of  our  subject  was  engaged  in 
farming.  In  1821  he  came  to  Stark  Co.,  settling 
on  land  in  Lake  Tp.;  he  cleared  a  farm  and  re- 
mained a  citizen  of  Lake  Tp.  up  to  the  time 
of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1861:,  at  the 
age  of  69  years.  George,  .Jr.,  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Lake  Tp.,  this  Count}^,  in  July, 
182.3,  his  early  years  being  passed  on  the 
farm.  He  attended  the  common  school  of 
his  neighborhood,  where  he  acquired  a  good 
education.  At  the  age  of  21  he  purchased  a 
farm  of  120  acres,  where  he  resided  until 
1866,  when  he  engaged  in  hotel-keeping,  and 
in  1867  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in 
Hartville,  and  has  been  engaged  in  the  same 
up  to  the  present  time.  In  1844,  he  married 
Catharine,  daughter  of  Levi  and  Mary  Hous- 
ley,  of  Lake  Tp.  From  that  marriage  there  have 
been  eight  children,  five  of  whom  are  living. 
In  1863  he  was  appointed  Postmaster  of  Hart- 
ville, and  has  held  the  appointment  up  to  the 
present  time,  with  the  exception  of  one  vear. 
D.  T.  MACHAMER,  merchant;  Cairo;  was 
born  in  Lake  Tp  ,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  Aug.  7, 
1837.  His  boyhood  was  spent  on  the  farm, 
where  he  remained  until  he  was  23  years  of 
age,  in  the  meantime  receiving  a  common- 
school  education  in  the  schools  of  Lake  Tp. 
In  1860  he  rented  a  farm,  and  was  engaged 
in  farming  five  years,  being  successful  in  his 
undertaking.  In  1866  he  conceived  the 
idea  that  the  people  of  that  community  were 
in  need  of  a  store;  receiving  some  encourage- 
ment, young  Machamer  set  to  work  and  soon 
had  a  spacious  building  ready  for  the  goods 
which  he  had  on  the  way.  Commencing  with  a 
small  capital  he  drove  close  bargains,  and  was 
his  own  clerk  and  errand  boy.  His  trade  in- 
creased, until  now  he  carries  a  fine  stock  of 
goods.  In  1879  ho  bought  a  farm  of  70  acres, 
which  is  also  under  his  superintendence.  In 
1878  he  was  appointed  Postmaster  of  the 
above  named  place.  In  1858  Miss  Hannah 
Wertonberger  became  his  wife,  and  has  been 

a  faithful   and    congenial   companion   to  him. 

She  bore  him  four  children,  three  of  whom 
are  living,  viz:  A.  W.,  Emma  and  Frances. 
He  votes  with  the  Democratic  party,  and  has 
held  many  offices  of  trust  in  the  township. 


SAMUEL  MACHAMER,  farmer;  P.  O. 
Hartville;  is  the  seventh  in  the  family,  of 
thirteen  children  born  to  George  and  Cath- 
arine (Wolf)  Machamer,  mention  of  whom  is 
made  in  the  sketch  of  George  Machamer. 
Samuel,  our  subject,  was  born  in  Lake  Tp., 
Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  Nov.  13,  1827.  The  early 
years  of  young  Machamer's  life  were  passed 
on  the  farm  and  were  but  little  interrupted 
by  educational  pursuits,  facilities  of  that  kind 
being  scanty,  and  of  an  inferior  order  about 
him;  however,  he  received  a  good  practi- 
cal education,  and  remained  at  home  until  he 
was  22  years  of  age.  In  18.54  he  purchased 
the  homestead,  which  consisted  of  202  acres, 
and  there  remained  until  1866,  when  he  re- 
moved to  the  farm  he  now  occuj)ies.  Mr. 
Machamer  now  owns  322  acres  of  valuable 
and  well  improved  land.  This  goes  to  show 
that  by  industry  and  economical  habits,  he 
has  become  one  of  the  wealthy  farmers  of 
Lake  Tp.  In  18.51  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Christina  KaufFman,  an  estimable 
lady  of  Lake  Tp.,  who  has  been  a  congenial 
companion  through  life.  From  that  mar- 
riage there  have  been  five  children,  four  of 
whom  are  living,  Morgan,  Urias,  Daniel  and 
Charley;  Ellen  was  the  name  of  the  one  de- 
ceased. Mr.  Machamer  has  always  been  iden- 
tified with  the  Democratic  party. 

DANIEL  MYERS,  farmer  and  stock- 
shipper;  P.  O.  Greentown;  is  a  son  of 
Henry  and  Elizabeth  Myers,  who  were 
natives  of  Centre  Co.,  Pa.,  and  about 
1825  came  to  Ohio,  settling  in  Portage 
Co.  Young  Mvers  was  born  in  Brimfield,  Por- 
tage Co.,  Ohio",  Feb.  18,  1838,  and  had  the 
misfortune  to  be  left  motherless  at  a  very  tender 
age.  He  was  taken  to  raise  by  an  uncle, 
with  whom  he  lived  until  he  was  17  years  of 
age.  He  attended  the  common  schools,  and 
in  them  acquired  a  good  education.  Atthe  age 
of  17  he  began  working  for  farmers,  and  in 
this  way  worked  for  five  years;  he  then  rented  a 
farm  and  remained  there  eight  years.  During 
these  eight  years  he  accumulated  considera- 
ble money,  and  purchased  a  farm  of  180  acres, 
where  he  resided  for  some  time,  and  then 
bought  the  Kreighbaum  farm.  In  1866  he 
began  speculating  in  stock,  and  has  been  a 
very  successful  buyer  and  shipper  since  that 
time.  In  1859  he  united  in  marriage  with 
Matilda,    daughter    of    William    ami    Sarah 


LAKE     TOWNSHIP. 


di^ 


Kreighbaum,  of  Lake  Tp.  From  that  mar- 
riage  tliere  is  one  child,  a  daughter,  Ella. 

W.  H.  NEES,  merchant;  Lake;  is  the 
youngest  in  a  family  of  ton  children,  born  to 
Jacob  and  Elizabeth  Nees,  who  were 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  came  to 
Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  at  an  carlj'  period.  Jacob 
carried  on  the  distilling  business  in  Canton 
for  several  j'ears,  the  last  few  years  of  his  life 
being  spent  on  a  farm  in  Marlborough  Tp., 
where  he  died  at  an  advanced  age.  W.  H. 
Nees,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in 
Marlborough  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1S35. 
Tlie  earlj'  years  of  his  life  were  passed  on  his 
father's  farm,  and  in  attending  the  schools  of 
his  neighborhood, acquiring  a  liberal  education ; 
he  then  attended  Mt.  Union  College  for 
several  terms.  At  the  age  of  21  he  came  to 
Uniontown,  and  apprenticed  himself  to  the 
tinner's  trade.  After  working ashort  time  he 
entered  into  partnership  with  David  Hossler, 
and  two  and  one-half  years  later  ])urchased 
the  remaining  interest,  and  has  continued  in 
the  same  uj)  to  the  present  time.  In  187-1  he 
opened  a  dry  goods  and  grocery  store,  and 
since  that  time  has  done  a  successful  busi- 
ness; he  alsj  owns  half  interest  in  a  grocery 
store  in  Akron.  Mr.  Nees  has  been  very  suc- 
cessful, and  by  his  gentlemanly  bearing  and 
fair  dealing,  he  has  become  a  popular  man. 
In  1856  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Caro- 
lini!  Shriver,  of  Marlborough  Tp.  From  that 
marriage  there  has  been  four  children,  three 
of  whom  are  living — Alfaretta,  Forest  and 
Maud;  Martha  J.  was  the  name  of  the  one  de- 
ceased. Mr.  Nees  has  always  been  identi- 
fied with  the  Republican  party. 

S.  P.  PONTIUS,  retired  ;  Greentown  ; 
is  the  second  in  a  family  of  nine  children, 
born  to  Peter  and  Magdalena  (Rabcr)  Pontius, 
who  were  natives  of  Centre  Co.,  Pa.,  where 
Peter  worked  at  the  cabinet-maker's  trade.  In 
1811  he  came  to  Stark  Co.,  settling  in  Lake 
Tp.,  on  a  farm  of  160  acres,  where  he  toiled 
until  he  converted  the  forest  farm  into 
a  productive  homestead,  and  where  he 
lived  up  to  the  time  of  his  death  ;  he 
died  at  the  age  of  65  years,  his  widow 
surviving  him  until  1866,  when  she  died 
at  the  age  of  82  years.  They  were  both  con- 
sistent members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
Our  subject,  S.  P.  Pontius,  was  born  in  Lake 
Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  O.,  March  14,  1815,  his  child- 


hood was  spent  in  the  log  cabin  of  his  father 
on  the  farm,  but  slightly  interrupted  by  ed- 
ucational pursuits,  facilities  of  that  kind 
beit\g  but  scanty  and  of  an  inferior  order 
at  that  time.  At  the  age  of  23  years  he 
bought  50  acres  of  land  in  Springfield  Tp., 
and  upon  this  piece  of  ground  began  life  for 
himself.  At  about  that  time  he  was  married 
to  Catharine,  daughter  of  John  and  Barbara 
Wise,  who  proved  herself  to  be  a  true  and 
dutiful  wife  and  a  pleasant  companion.  After 
his  marriage  he  lived  in  Summit  Co.  for  five 
years,  then  returned  to  Lake  Tp.,  and  has  re- 
mained a  resident  of  the  same  up  to  the  pres- 
ent time.  Mr.  Pontius  has  been  successful  in 
life,  and  by  his  industry  and  economical  habits 
has  accumulated  considerable  property.  In 
1873  he  left  the  farm,  and  has  since  that  time 
been  living  a  retired  life.  From  that  union 
there  have  been  eleven  children,  nine  of  whom 
are  living.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pontius  are  consis- 
tent members  of  the  Methodist  Episcojial 
Church  uniting  with  the  same  several  vears  ago. 

JOHN  PONTIUS,  farmer;  P.  O.  Lake  ; 
was  born  in  Stark  Co.,  O.,  May  6,  1818  ;  his 
parents,  Peter  and  Magdalena  (Raber)  Pontius, 
were  natives  of  Centre  Co.,  Pa.,  where  Peter 
worked  at  the  cabinent-maker's  trade.  Having 
a  desire  to  see  the  far  West  (Ohio  was  con- 
sidered a  great  distance  to  go  from  their  native 
county),  he  started  with  his  family  for  Stark 
Co.,  Ohio,  and  in  th(>  summer  of  1811  he 
settled  on  a  farm  of  IGO  acres  in  Lake  Tp.  It 
was  a  dense  fonsst,  but  by  hard  work  and  per- 
severance he  soon  made  a  comfortable  home. 
He  worked  at  his  trade  during  the  winter 
months,  and  pieces  of  his  work  may  be  seen 
in  some  of  the  older  families  to-day.  Our 
subject  passed  the  early  years  of  his  life  on 
the  farm,  the  monotony  of  which  was  slight- 
ly varied  by  attending  the  old  log  cabin  coun- 
try school.  At  28  years  of  age  he  left  home 
and  bought  185  acres  of  land,  and  has  lived 
on  the  same  up  to  the  present  time.  He  was 
married  to  Elixabeth  Hossler  in  1848,  and  she 
has  proven  herself  a  true  and  faithful  com- 
panion. They  are  the  parents  of  eight  chil- 
dren, viz:  Cyrus,  Alexander,  Milton,  Amanda, 
Elizabeth,  Samuel,  Magdalena,  and  John. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pontius  are  consistent  members 
of  the  Reformed  Church. 

LEONARD  RABER,  farmer;  P.  O.  Green- 
town.      "You  go    and  see  Squire    Raber!" 


944 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


was  what  many  of  the  citizens  of  Lake  Tp., 
said  to  the  historian  who  wrote  the  his- 
tory of  Lake  Tp.  He  can  tell  you  more  than 
any  other  man;  thinking,  no  doubt,  that  a  man 
so  long  identified  with  public  offices  of  trust 
was  the  only  one  from  whom  any  reliable  in- 
formation could  be  ascertained.  The  gentle- 
man mentioned  was  born  in  Lake  Tp.,  Stark 
Co.,  Ohio,  July  30,  1823.  He  comes  from  old 
and  prominent  families.  His  father,  Thomas 
Raber,  was  a  native  of  Centre  Co.,  Pa.,  and 
the  IMckerhoif  family,  on  the  mother's  side, 
were  natives  of  Maryland,  both  families  com- 
ing to  Lake  Tp.  at  an  early  date.  Young  Ra- 
ber's  youth  was  spent  on  the  farm,  receiving 
a  common-school  education  in  the  schools  of 
his  neighborhood,  and  when  17  years  of  age, 
was  apprenticed  to  the  shoemaker's  trade,  at 
which  he  worked  nine  years,  after  serving  an 
apprenticeship.  He  removed  to  Uniontown, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  hotel-keeping  for 
five  years.  In  1855  he  purchased  the  old 
homestead,  consisting  of  187  acres  of  valua- 
ble land.  After  making  many  improvements 
he  lived  there  enjoyably  until  1881,  when  he 
retired  from  the  farm,  and  now  lives  in  a 
pleasant  home  in  Greentown.  In  1865  he 
was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  Lake 
Tp.,  and  has  held  the  office  up  to  the  present 
time,  with  the  exception  of  three  years,  when 
he  was  one  of  Stark  Co.'s  Commissioners.  In 
1844  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Catharine, 
daughter  of  George  Kreighbaum,  of  Lake 
Tp.  From  that  marriage  there  are  the  fol- 
lowing children — Hiram,  Clara,  Oliver,  Milo, 
Frances,  Ida  and  Alice.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ra- 
ber are  devout  members  of  the  German  Re- 
formed Church. 

ISAAC  RICHARDS,  farmer  ;  P.  O.  Lake. 
Samuel  Richards,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  a  native  of  Hagerstown,  Md.,  and  came 
to  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  with  his  parents  in  1810. 
He  being  at  that  time  a  single  man,  he  enlisted 
in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was  stationed  at  San- 
dusky, serving  with  faithfulness  in  each  and 
every  post  he  held.  At  the  close  of  the  war 
he  returned  home  and  married  Nancy  Bachtel, 
whose  parents  settled  in  Lake  Tp.  in  1808. 
She  received  at  the  time  of  her  marriage  a 
valuable  farm,  where  they  lived  for  several 
years.  He  died  in  1858  ;  his  faithful  widow 
survived  him  until  1878.  Isaac,  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Green  Tp.    in    1825,   and  passed 


the  early  years  of  his  life  on  the  farm,  and  in 
attending  the  common  schools  in  the  vicinity 
of  his  home.  When  he  reached  manhood  he 
hired  out  as  a  farm-hand  for  five  years,  then 
returned  to  the  old  homestead  and  farmed  the 
same  for  thirty  years  and  in  1878  purchased 
the  same  of  the  heirs  ;  he  now  owns  315  acres 
of  well-improved  land,  and  is  considered  one 
of  the  most  enterprising  farmers  of  the  county. 
In  1847  he  married  Miss  Hannah  Engle,  of 
Jackson  Tp.,  and  from  that  marriage  there 
were  five  children.  .Mrs.  Richards  died  in 
1864.  He  married  for  his  second  wife  a  Miss 
Seisdorf,  of  Uniontown,  who  bore  him  one 
child,  Lula. 

DAVID  RITTER,  proprietor  of  Schriver 
Mill  ;  Lake.  Peter  Ritter,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  Snyder  Co.,  Pa.,  where 
he  spent  the  early  years  of  his  life.  In  1831 
he  came  to  Ohio,  settling  on  a  farm  in  Portage 
Co.;  he  remained  there  a  few  years,  and  sub- 
sequently removed  to  Springfield,  Summit 
Co.,  where  he  remained  a  resident  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death.  He  was  a  man  much  be- 
loved by  all  his  neighbors  and  acquaintances. 
David,  the  subject  of  these  few  lines,  was  born 
in  Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  in  the  year  1849.  The 
early  years  of  young  Ritter's  life  were  passed 
on  the  farm  ;  he  attended  the  common  district 
school  of  his  neighborhood,  where  he  acquired 
a  liberal  education.  '  At  the  age  of  21  years 
he  engaged  in  farming,  and  continued  in  the 
same  until  1877,  at  which  time  he,  in  company 
with  his  brother,  purchased  the  mill  property 
known  as  the  Schriver  Grist-mill,  situated  in 
the  northern  part  of  Lake  Tp.  Mr.  Ritter  has 
made  many  improvements  on  it,  until  now  he 
has  one  of  the  best  country  mills  in  Stark  Co., 
the  mill's  capacity  being  60  barrels  dail^^  for 
which  he  finds  ready  sales  in  Cleveland  and 
other  points.  Mr.  Ritter  united  in  marriage 
with  Sarah,  daughter  of  Samuel  R.  Phillips,  of 
Summit  Co.,  and  from  that  union  there  have 
been  two  children. 

A.  P.  REAM,  retired ;  Greentown.  Pe- 
ter Ream,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  Centre  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
farming.  He  married  Miss  Barbara  Smith, 
who  was  a  native  of  the  above-named  county. 
In  1812  they  came  to  Ohio,  settling  in  Lake 
Tp.;  he  erected  a  cabin  and  connnenced  to 
clear  a  farm,  and  was  making  good  progress, 
when  he  was  drafted  and  was  taken  to  Can- 


t\^ 


LAKE    TOWNSHIP. 


945 


ton  ;  that  same  night  he  made  his  esca])e,  re- 
tiiniod  home,  and  with  his  wile  and  family 
returned  to  Pennsylvania,  and  tiiere  lived 
some  years.  He  then  returned,  and  th(>nce 
went  to  Indiana,  whore  he  died.  A.  P.  Heam, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Lake 
Tp.,  this  county,  in  1831.  His  childhood  was 
spent  on  the  farm,  but  little  interrupted  by 
educational  pursuits.  He  lived  at  home  until 
he  was  27  years  of  age,  and  then  engaged  in 
farming.  In  185-1  he  bought  IGO  acres  of 
land,  and  has  lived  on  the  same  ever  since. 
He  has  made  several  improvements  on  the 
same,  and  has  a  very  pleasant  home.  In  1848 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Moore,  who 
was  a  native  of  Lake  T]).  From  that  mar- 
riage there  have  been  nine  children.  In  1855 
Mr.  Ream  was  ordained  a  preacher  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  has  been  a 
faithful  worker,  and  has  done  much  for  the 
progress  of  his  church.  One  of  his  sons  is  a 
Methodist  Episcopal  preacher  in  Russell  Co., 
Kan. 

JACOB  SCHWARTZ,  farn)er;  P.  O.  Mid- 
dle Branch;  whose  portrait  appears  in  this 
history  as  a  representative  of  T^ake  Tj).,  and 
a  prominent  promoter  of  the  agricultural  in- 
terests of  the  county,  was  born  in  N'imishillen 
Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  in  January,  1859,  and  is  the 
son  of  Henry  and  Catharine  (Coonfare) 
Schwartz.  Tliey  came  from  Cund)erland  Co., 
Pennsj-lvania,  to  Nimishillen  Tp.,  Stark  Co., 
as  early  as  1810,  and  bought  a  farm  of  160 
acres  on  Section  6.  There  Mr.  Schwartz  be- 
gan work  and  soon  ch^ared  up  a  farm,  on  which 
he  subsequently  built  a  distillery.  He  re- 
mained a  resident  of  that  townshijj  ten  years. 
In  1820  he  sold  his  farm  in  Nimishillen,  and 
bought  the  farm  in  Lake  Tp.,  which  is  now 
owned  by  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He  re- 
mained a  resident  of  Lake  Tp.,  until  1854, 
during  which  time  he  built  a  distillery,  and 
ko[)t  the  same  in  operation  for  twelve  years.  I 
1854  he  moved  to  Canton,  where  he  resided 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  about  five  years 
later,  aged  7ti  j'ears.  His  widow  survived 
him  until  1869,  when  she  died,  in  her  74th 
year.  Th(;y  were  consistent  members  of  the 
church.  They  were  the  parents  of  ten  child- 
ren, of  whom  Jacob  was  the  oldest.  His  ear- 
ly life  was  spent  on  a  farm,  and  at  the  age  of 
10  years  he  began  driving  team  on  the  road 
for  his  father.      His  education   was  obtained 


at  the  imperfect  district  schools  of  that  pe- 
riod, which  left  much  of  the  progress  to  the 
inclination  of  the  student.  He  remained  a 
resident  of  his  father's  house  until  he  was  25 
years  of  age,  when  he  rented  a  farm  in  Plain 
Tp.,  and  resided  there  for  6  years.  He  then 
bought  a  tract  of  timber-land  in  Marlborough 
Tp.,  which  he  at  once  l>egan  improving,  and 
upon  whi<;h  he  resided  for  ten  years.  Dispos- 
ing of  his  property  in  Marli)orough,  he  bought 
his  present  place  in  1854,  on  w  hich  he  has 
since  resided.  He  has  added  many  fine  im- 
provements to  the  property  since  he  bought 
it,  among  which  may  l)e  mentioned,  one  of 
the  finest  bank  barns  of  the  township.  He 
now  owns  a  total  of  222  acres  of  well  culti- 
vated and  improved  land.  In  1862  he  began 
raising  sheep,  in  which  he  has  taken  much 
pride,  and  in  1869  he  turned  his  attention  to 
thorough-bred  cattle.  His  success  in  thor- 
ough-bred stock  has  made  his  name  familiar 
as  one  of  Stark  Co.'s  fine  breeders.  He  has 
held  a  number  of  local  offices,  and  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics.  Much  of  the  success  of  the 
Stark  County  Agricultural  Society  has  been 
due  to  his  interest  in  it  and  his  determina- 
tion to  make  it  an  honor  to  the  county 
and  a  credit  to  the  members  of  wh(mi  he  was 
one  of  the  directors  for  a  number  of  years. 
In  1839  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Brouse,  of  Lake  Tp.;  eight  children 
had  been  born  to  them,  six  of  whom  are  living, 
as  follows: — John  and  Adam,  of  Iowa,  Mar- 
garet, now  wife  of  Isaac  Brenneman,  of  Co- 
lumbia City,  Ind.  Alice,  Washington,  and 
Colvin  at  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schwartz  are 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

J.  STEESE,  physician;  Lake;  born  Feb. 
14,  1820,  in  Union  Co.,  Penn.,  and  was  the  sev- 
enth child  of  a  family  of  nine  children  burn  to 
Jacob  and  Sarah  Su^ese,  both  natives  of  Union 
Co.,  Penn.  In  1828  Jacob  Steese  moved  to 
Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  and  settled  on  a  farni.  He 
subsequently  built  a  flouring  and  carding-mill 
at  Millieim,  which  was  the  first  erected  in  that 
part  of  Summit  Co.  He  continued  in  the 
milling  business  until  his  death,  which  occur- 
red in  1833.  Mrs.  Steese  survived  him  until 
1846.  After  the  death  of  his  father  the  Doc- 
tor made  his  home  with  an  older  brother  at 
Canal  Dover.  He  attendi-d  the  new  Hagers- 
town  Academy,  of  Jefferson  Co.,  Ohio,  and 
afterward    Athens  College.     At   the    age    of 


ir^ 


•*4« 


946 


BIOGRAPIIICAL    SKETCHES: 


19  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Drs. 
Steese  and  McNeil,  of  Canal  Dover,  and  sub- 
sequently attended  lectures  at  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  and  Lexington,  Ky.  After  completing 
his  medical  course,  he  began  practice  in 
Zanesville,  Ohio.  He  soon  established  an 
extensive  practice,  but  his  physical  endurance 
not  being  equal  to  his  energy  and  ambition, 
his  health  became  so  seriously  impaired  as  not 
to  admit  of  the  hard  riding  required.  Dis- 
posing of  his  interests  in  Zanesville,  he 
moved  to  Uniontown,  Stark  Co.,  where  he  has 
since  resided,  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession.  In  1880  Dr.  Milton  Bowers  be- 
came associated  with  him  in  the  practice,  and 
is  still  with  him.  In  addition  to  his  practice, 
in  1873,  the  Doctor  opened  a  drug  and  gro- 
cery store  in  Uniontown,  which  business  ho  is 
still  successfully  operating.  In  1848  the  Doc- 
tor was  married  to  Miss  Edith  McCorraick,  of 
Zanesville,  who  died  in  1859.  By  this  mar- 
riage there  are  three  sons — Felix,  of  Alliance, 
Ohio;  Isaac,  now  in  Wisconsin,  and  Charlie, 
of  Cincinnati.  In  1860  the  Doctor  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Amanda  M.,  daughter  of  John  R. 
Bowers,  of  Lake  Tp.  Two  children  have 
been  born  to  them,  viz. — Cleveland  and  Jes- 
sie, the  latter  an  accomplished  young  lady, 
and  at  present  attending  school  at  Cedar  Falls, 
Iowa.  Mrs.  Steese  is  a  lady  of  much  more 
than  ordinary  ability  and  accomplishments, 
and  the  Doctor  has  lost  nothing  in  popularity 
by  having  so  estimable  a  lady  for  a  life  part- 
ner. In  1880  she  was  appointed  Postmis- 
tress, and  has  her  office  in  the  Doctor's  store. 
PETER  SHOLLENBERGER,  farmer  ;  P. 
O.  Hartville.  Joseph  ShoUenberger,  the  fath- 
er of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Berks  Co.,  Pa., 
Aug.  1,  1801  ;  his  father,  Peter  ShoUenberger, 
was  a  native  of  the  same  county  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  in  1810  he  came  to  Stark  Co.,  O., 
first  settling  in  Plain  Tp.,  on  a  farm  that  was 
in  the  wilderness  ;  but  by  labor  and  industry 
he  soon  converted  it  into  a  productive  farm, 
but  subsequently  removed  to  Marlborough  Tp., 
where  he  died  in  1843,  aged  72  years.  His  wid- 
ow survived  him  until  1848,  and  died  aged  72. 
Joseph  ShoUenberger  passed  his  childhood  in 
Berks  Co.,  and  in  1810  came  to  Stark  Co. 
with  his  parents.  The  early  years  of  his  life 
were  passed  in  the  labors  of  the  farm  and  in 
acquiring  an  education,  facilities  for  which 
were   scanty  and  of  an  inferior  order  in  the 


neighborhood  of  his  home.  He  lived  at  home 
until  he  was  26  years  of  age,  when  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Lydia  Baum,  who  was  for- 
merly from  Union  Co.,  Pa.  She  was  an  ex- 
emplary and  faithful  companion,  commanding 
the  esteem  of  all  who  became  acquainted 
with  her.  After  his  marriage  he  settled  on 
the  homestead,  and  there  lived  several  years. 
In  1850  he  removed  to  Lake  Tp.,  and  has  re- 
mained a  resident  of  the  same  over  since. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  ShoUenberger  are  members  of 
the  German  Reformed  Church.  There  were 
three  children  born  to  them,  Peter,  our  sub- 
ject, being  the  only  surviving  one.  He  was 
born  in  Marlborough  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  his 
birth  occurring  March  1,  1830.  His  youthful 
days  were  spent  on  the  farm,  and  during  this 
period  he  received  a  common-school  educa- 
tion in  the  schools  of  his  neighborhood.  At 
the  age  of  16  he  engaged  as  a  clerk  for  Mar- 
tin Hoover,  of  Harrisburgh,  this  county,  with 
whom  he  remained  a  skort  time.  In  1852  he 
engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits,  and  for  seve- 
ral years  he  did  a  successful  business.  He 
has  had  several  partners,  and  in  1880  disposed 
of  his  interest  in  the  business.  Mr.  ShoUen- 
berger is  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  ability, 
and  by  his  economical  habits  has  accumulated 
considerable  property.  Mr.  ShoUenberger 
has  always  been  identified  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  is  a  member  of  the  German 
Reformed  Church. 

HENRY  SCHONER,  farmer  ;  P.  O.  Lake; 
is  the  oldest  in  a  family  of  eight  children,  born 
to  Henry  and  Margaret  Schoner,  who  were 
natives  of  Germany,  where  the  father  was  en- 
gaged in  the  milling  business.  In  1847  he 
came  to  Ohio,  settling  in  Lake  Tp.  on  a  farm, 
where  he  lived  but  a  short  time  before  being 
called  to  his  final  home.  He  died  in  1850,  at 
the  age  of  79  years.  During  his  short  sojourn 
in  the  community  he  made  many  friends,  who 
deeply  mourned  his  loss.  Henry,  Jr.,  was 
born  in  the  Province  of  Alsace,  Germany,  in 
January,  1824  ;  he  attended  the  schools  of 
that  Province  until  he  was  14  years  of  age  ; 
he  then  was  apprenticed  to  the  miller's  trade, 
and  served  two  years  at  the  same  ;  he  then 
worked  at  the  trade  for  several  years  in 
France,  and  in  1847  he  emigrated  to  this 
country,  and  came  to  Lake  Tp.,  Stark  Co., 
where  he  worked  for  six  years  as  a  farm-hand. 
During  this  time   he  accumulated   considera 


.u 


LAKE    TOWNSHIP. 


047 


ble  money,  and  with  it  purchased  80  acres  of 
land  ;  he  moved  on  the  same,  and  by  hard 
work  and  economical  habits  he  soon  made 
additions,  until  now  he  owns  192  acres  of 
well  improved  land.  In  1854:  ho  began  deal- 
iny;  in  stock,  and  continued  the  business  suc- 
cessfully for  over  twenty-five  years.  He  was 
married  in  1853  to  Saloma,  daughter  of  Jacob 
Frank,  of  Lake  Tp.  From  that  union  there 
are  eight  children.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schoner 
are  consistent  church  members.  Mr.  Schoner 
has  always  voted  with  the  Democratic  party. 

O.  P.  SHANAFELT,  merchant;  Green- 
town;  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Catharine  Shana- 
felt,  who  were  natives  of  Frederick  Co.,  Md. 
In  1828,  Henry  Shanafelt  came  to  Ohio,  set- 
tling on  a  farm  in  Lake  Tp.,  this  Co.  He 
was  engaged  in  hotel-keeping,  and  in  1845, 
was  elected  Sheriff  of  Stark  Co.,  and  held  the 
office  for  two  terms.  After  his  term  ot  office 
expired  he  returned  to  Greentown,  and  was 
engaged  in  hotel-keeping  up  to  the  time  of 
his  death.  O.  P.,  was  born  in  Canton,  March 
8,  1846.  His  youth  was  spent  at  home,  and 
he  recived  his  education  in  the  common- 
schools.  In  1804  he  enlisted  in  the  Gtli  Ohio 
Independent  Batter}-,  and  was  out  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  In  1866  he  commenced 
clerking  for  S.  S.  Bombarger,  of  Greentown, 
and  three  months  later  was  taken  in  as  part- 
ner; this  continued  but  a  short  time.  Mr. 
Shafer  was  next  made  a  member  of  the  firm  ; 
this  continued  some  time,  when  they|(Shanafelt 
&  Shafer)  purchased  Bombarger's  interest,  and 
have  since  conducted  the  business.  Mr. 
Shanafelt  has  been  very  successful  in  busitiess, 
and  by  his  strict  attention  and  genial  dispo- 
sition, has  made  many  friends.  In  1807  he 
was  appointed  Postmaster  at  Greentown,  Ohio, 
and  has  held  the  office  up  to  the  present  time. 
In  lS<iO  he  married  Mahalia  Wise,  daughter 
of  Joseph  Wise,  of  Lake  Tp.  From  that 
marriage  there  have  been  born  si.K  children, 
four  of  whom  are  still  living.  Mr.  Shanafelt 
is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge  No.  60, 
and  a  staunch    Republican. 

ABRAHAM  STONER,  farmer;  P.  O. 
Greentown;  is  a  son  of  John  and  Lydia 
(Brumbaugh)  Stoner,  who  were  both  natives 
of  the  Keystone  State,  where  John  was  en- 
gaged in  farming.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the 
war  of  1812,  and  after  the  war  he  returned  to 
the  farm,  where  he  lived  up  to  the  time  of  his 


death.  In  a  family  of  twelve  children,  our 
subject  is  the  oldest,  and  was  born  in  Bed- 
ford Co.,  Pa.,  in  1810.  His  childhood  was 
spent  on  the  farm,  and  as  he  was  the  oldest  in 
the  family,  he  was  obliged  to  remain  at  home 
and  assist  his  father.  However,  he  received  a 
liberal  education  in  the  district  schools.  He 
lived  at  home  until  he  was  27  years  of  age. 
He  then  farmed  the  fathers  farm  for  a  few 
years,  and  in  1853  he  came  to  Ohio,  settling 
in  Lake  Tp.,  this  county.  He  bought  a  farm, 
and  has  lived  on  the  same  since.  He  now 
owns  260  acres  of  valuable  land.  In  1843 
he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Susanna,  daugh- 
ter of  Isa.ac  Bowers,  of  Bedford  Co.,  Pa. 
From  that  marriage  there  have  been  eight 
children,  six  of  whom  are  still  alive.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Stoner  are  devout  members  of  the 
Christian  Brethren  Church. 

HENRY  SHANAFELT,  merchant;  Green- 
town; is  the  second  in  a  family  of  eight  child- 
ren born  to  Peter  and  Elizabeth  (Funk)  Slian- 
afedt,  who  were  natives  of  W^ashiiigton  Co., 
Md.  In  1831  they  came  to  Stark  Co.,  Ohio, 
and  remained  residents  of  that  county  up  to 
tile  time  of  his  death.  Henry,  the  subject, 
was  born  in  Washington  Co.,  Md.,  in  1827, 
and  came  to  Stark  Co.  with  his  parents  in 
1831.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
common  schools,  which  at  that  early  period 
afforded  a  scanty  education.  At  the  age  of 
15  he  was  engaged  as  clerk  by  a  Greentown 
merchant,  and  there  remained  two  years;  he 
then  clerked  for  Mr.  Henry,  of  Akron,  for 
some  time,  and  in  1850  engaged  in  mercan- 
tile pursuits,  and  has  continued  in  the  same 
up  to  the  present  time,  with  the  exception  of 
one  year.  Mr.  S.  has  been  very  successful  in 
his  business  undertaking,  and  has  accumula- 
ted considerable  property.  In  1856  he  mar- 
ried Rosa  F.  Peters,  of  Lake  Tp.  From  that 
marriage  there  have  been  seven  children,  three 
of  whom  ai  e  living,  viz. — R.  P.,  Carrie  M.,  and 
Nettie  C. 

L.  E.  WISE,  farmer;  P.  O.  Greentown 
George  Wise,  the  father  of  L.  E.,  was  born 
in  Union  Co.,  Pa.,  about  the  year  1806.  His 
parents  were  natives  of  the  same  county,  and 
came  to  Ohio,  settling  in  Lake  Tp.,  in  180!*. 
It  was  in  this  township  George  passed  his 
boyhood.  Facilities  for  ol)taining  an  edu- 
cation were  not  abundant  in  the  region  of  his 
home;  he    went   to   the  old  log-cabin  school- 


^S ^~ 


il    >y 


^ 


9-18 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


house,  where  he  obtained  as  good  an  educa- 
tion as  the  times  afforded.  He  assisted  his 
father  in  ridding  the  farm  of  its  massive  oaks, 
and  in  this  way  passed  his  early  life.  He 
married  Miss  Barbara  Cramer,  who  came  to 
Ohio  with  her  parents,  from  Pennsylvania, 
at  an  early  time.  Soon  after  their  marriage 
he  commenced  farming,  and  in  this  vocation 
continued  for  several  years;  he  subsequently 
removed  to  Springfield  Tp.,  Summit  Co.,  set- 
tling on  a  farm,  and  there  lived  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death.  Both  he  and  wife  were 
consistent  members  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  and  by  their  deaths  the  church 
lost  faithful  and  true  christian  members. 
Young  Wise,  the  suliject  of  this  short  sketch, 
was  born  on  his  father's  farm,  in  Lake  Tp.,  Jan. 
27,  1834.  The  early  years  of  his  life  were 
passed  on  the  farm.  He  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  neighborhood,  and  after  ac- 
quiring a  good  education,  he  directed  his  at- 
tention to  farming.  He  at  the  age  of  31  be- 
gan farming  the  homestead,  where  he  remain- 
ed seven  years.  He  subsequently  purchased 
a  farm  of  133  acres  upon  which  he  settled, 
and  has  continued  to  live  on  the  same  ever 
since;  he  has  made  several  important  improve- 
ments on  the  same,  which  now  ranks  among  the 
firsjj,farms  of  the  township.  In  1858  he  was  uni- 
ted in  marriage  to  Miss  Rachel  Moore,  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  Moore,  appropriate  mention  of 
whom  is  made  in  this  work.  That  union  has 
been  blessed  with  four  children,  all  of  whom 
are  living.  Mr.  Wise  affiliated  himself  with 
the  Republican  party  at  its  organization,  and 
has  been  an  adherent  of  its  principles  up  to  the 
present  time. 

LEWIS  WISE,  farmer  ;  P.  O.  Greentown; 
is  the  youngest  in  a  family  of  ten  children, 
born  to  .John  and  Barbara  (Auble)  Wise,  who 
were  natives  of  Union  Co.,  Pa.,  where  John 
Wise  was  engaged  in  farming.  While  Lake 
Tp.  was  in  an  unimproved  condition,  this 
family  left  its  home  in  the  native  state  for  the 
purpose  of  founding  a  new  home  in  the  west ; 
after  a  journey,  that  in  these  days  would  be 
termed  tedious  and  adventurous,  John  Wise 
arrived  in  Lake  Tp.  He  settled  on  a  farm, 
and  after  a  few  years  of  hard  labor  he  conver- 
ted it  into  a  productive  farm.  He  remained  a 
resident  of  Lake  Tp.  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born 
in  Lake  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  his  birth  occur- 


ring Maj-  l-i,  1837.  The  early  years  of  his  life 
were  spent  in  the  labors  of  the  farm,  but  little 
interrupted  by  educational  pursuits,  as  facili- 
ties for  procuring  an  education  in  those  daj'S 
were  scanty  and  of  an  inferior  order  in  the  re- 
gion of  his  home.  At  the  age  of  81  he  began 
working  in  Aultman  &  Miller's  works,  where 
he  remained  one  vear,  he  then  bought  80  acres 
of  land,  upon  which  he  settled  and  lived  16 
years.  He  then  settled  on  the  farm  he  now 
occupies,  consisting  of  136  acres.  In  1848  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Eliza  Raber, 
who  was  a  native  of  Lake  Tp.;  from  that  mar- 
riage ten  children  were  born,  viz. — Calvin, 
Milton,  Alvin,  George,  Ida,  Catharine  0., 
Frank,  Frances,  Charles,  and  Wilbur.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Wise  united  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  in  early  life,  and  still  remain 
consistent  members  of  the  same  body. 

WILLIAM  WAGNER,  school-teacher; 
Hartville  ;  is  the  second  in  a  family  of  ten 
children,  born  to  Jacob  and  Magdalena  Wag- 
ner, who  were  natives  of  Germany,  where 
Jacob  was  engaged  in  farming.  He  left  his 
native  country  and  came  to  Ohio  at  an  early 
date,  and  without  means,  and  was  for  a  time 
engaged  as  a  laborer  on  the  Pennsylvania  and 
Ohio  Canal  ;  he  then  began  working  at  the 
shoemaker's  trade,  which  he  continued  for 
twenty  years,  during  which  time  by  his  indus- 
try and  economical  habits,  acquired  sufficient 
means  to  purchase  a  farm  which  he  settled  on, 
and  where  he  still  resides,  commanding  the 
respect  and  confidence  of  all  his  neighbors 
and  acquaintances.  Young  Wagner,  the  sub- 
ject of  these  lines,  was  born  in  Lake  Tp., 
Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  in  May  1845;  the  early  years 
of  his  life  were  passed  on  the  farm.  He  at- 
tended the  common  schools  of  Lake  Tp.,  at 
the  Greensburg  Academy  and  the  College  at 
Mount  Union.  At  the  age  of  18  years  he  en- 
listed in  Company  D,  35th  Reg.,  O.V.  V.  I.,  and 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war*.  After  his 
return  he  engaged  in  school-teaching  and  for 
several  years  followed  that  vocation.  Mr. 
Wagner,  although  a  young  man,  has  held 
many  offices  of  trust  in  the  township,  such  as 
Clerk  and  Justice  of  the  Peace,  which  office 
he  now  holds.  In  18G8  he  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Urania,  daughter  of  Daniel  and 
Sarah  Baum,  of  Lake  Tp.  From  that  mar- 
riage there  has  been  three  children.  Mr. 
Wasrner  is  a  Democrat. 


d^ 


LAKE     TOWNSHIP. 


91!) 


D.  J.  M''ISE,  farmer  ;  P.  O.  Greentown  ;  is 
a  son  of  Jolin  and  B:irl)ar;i  (Dickerhoff)  Wise. 
John  Wiso  was  a  native  of  Union  Co.,  Pa.; 
he  lived  at  lionie  on  tlie  farm  until  he  was  IS 
years  of  age,  wlu-n  lie  went  to  the  army  as  a 
substitute  for  his  fatlier,  who  was  drafted  in 
the  war  of  1812.  He  was  stationed  at  Buffa- 
lo, and  served  his  country  faitlifuUy.  In  1813 
he  came  to  Ohio  with  his  parents,  who  settled 
in  Lake  Tp.  in  that  year.  He  apprenticed 
himself  to  the  blacksmith  trade,  at  which  he 
worked  for  many  years  after  serving  his  ap 
prenticeship  ;  ho  then  bought  a  farm,  where  he 
lived  until  a  few  years  preceding  his  death. 
D.  J.  Wise,  the  sul)j(-ct  of  this  sketch,  was 
horn  in  Lake  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  in  October, 
1833.  The  early  years  of  life  wen;  passed  on 
the  farm.  He  attended  the  common  schools 
of  his  neighborhood,  and  in  them  acquired  a 
liberal  education.  He  then  gave  his  attention 
to  farming,  which  business  he  is  engaged  in 
at  the  present  time.  In  18.')4  he  united  in 
marriage  with  Sarah  A.  York,  of  Lake  Tp. 
She  died  in  1SG9,  leaving  five  children,  viz. — 
Alvin,  Milo  D.,  George  E.,  Cora  and  Laura 
K.  In  1870  hi^  married  for  his  second  wife 
Miss  Nancy  M.  Moore,  who  was  a  native  of 
Lake  Tp.  From  that  marriage  there  have  been 
two  children — Marshie  and  John  F.  Mr.  and 
and  Mrs.  ^^'isl'  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
l^|>isc(ipal  ( 'hureli. 

JOSLTII  WISE,  retired;  Greentown;  is 
a  son  of  John  atid  Barbara  (Auble)  Wise,  ap- 
propriate mention  of  whom  is  made  in  the 
sketch  of  Lewis  Wise.  Joseph,  the  subject 
of  this  short  biography,  was  born  on  his  fath- 
I'r's  farm  in  Lake  Tp.,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  April 
i,  1824.  His  youthful  days  were  passed,  as 
were  those  of  most  farmers'  sons  at  that  day, 
in  assisting  in  the  clearing  of  the  farm,  at 
which  Joseph  served  his  apprenticeship.  He 
attended  the  schools  in  his  neighliorhood,  and 
procured  such  an  education  as  those  common 
schools  afforded.  At  the  age  of  21  he  com- 
menced to  work  the  homestead,  where  he  re- 
mained a  short  time  ;  but  subsecjuently  bought 
80  acres,  and  there  lived  until  18(54,  when  he 
exchangcid  for  a  farm  of  165  acres,  where  he 
lived  until  recently.  In  1845  he  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Savilla,  daughter  of  John 
Babij,  of  Summit  Co.;  she  died  in  1876,  leav- 
ing four  children,  viz. — Mahalia,  Edwin,  Ellen 
and  Ira.     In  1880    he    married  for  his  second 


wife  Miss  Sarah  Schick,  of  Plain  Tp.  Upon 
the  organization  of  the  Republican  party,  Mr. 
Wise  adopted  its  prin(M[)les,  and  has  been  an 
an  adherent  to  the  same  jjarty  ever  since. 

LEVI  WISE,  farmer  ;  P.  O.  Greentown. 
This  gentleman  was  born  in  Lake  Tp.,  Stark 
Co.,  Ohio,  Jan.  11,  1843,  and  is  the  son  of 
Samuel  G.  and  Catharine  Wis?,  who  were 
early  settlers  in  Lake  Tp.  Levi,  our  subject, 
spent  his  childhood  on  the  farm,  where  he  re- 
mained until  he  reached  his  16th  year.  In 
the  meantime  he  attended  the  common  schools 
and  acquired  a  good  education.  At  the  age 
of  16  he  apprenticed  himself  to  the  carpenter 
trade,  s(!rving  two  and  a  half  years  as  an  ap- 
prentice, and  worked  at  the  same  for  three 
years.  He  was  connected  with  the  Green- 
town Foundry  for  eleven  years,  and  in  1881 
he  purchased  a  pleasant  and  a  desirable  home 
adjoining  Greentown,  where  he  still  resides. 
In  1866  he  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  La- 
vina,  (laughter  of  S.  P.  Pontius,  of  Stark  Co. 
Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wise  are  consistent  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He 
has  always  b(!en  identified  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  has  held  many  offices  of  trust 
in  the  township. 

CHRISTIAN  WINGARD,  farmer;  P.  O. 
Middle  Branch.  In  a  family  of  twelve  child- 
ren, born  to  Samuel  and  Lydia  (Carver) 
Wingard,  our  subject,  is  the  fourth.  He  was 
born  in  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  March  2,  1827,  and 
passed  his  boyhood  at  home,  and  when  10 
years  of  age  was  placed  at  work  for  a  farmer, 
and  there  remained  until  he  was  16  years  of 
age.  He  then  learned  the  painter's  trade, 
and  after  following  it  two  years  abandoned  it 
for  the  trade  of  a  carpenter;  the  latter  trade, 
suiting  him  much  better,  he  worked  at  it  for 
eight  years.  In  1857  he  moveil  on  the  farm  he 
now  occupies,  and  has  remained  on  the  same 
ever  since.  In  1854  he  married  Miss  .'-^usanna, 
daughter  of  Geo.  E.  and  Sarah  Smith,  who 
were  among  the  prominent  citizens  of  Lake 
Tp.  From  that  marriage  there  have  been  six 
children,  five  of  whom  are  living,  viz. — Sarah 
J.,  Marj-  E.,  Lucy  A.,  George,  and  Susan.  Mr. 
Wingard  is  a  prominent  Republican,  and  has 
always  identified  himself  with  the  same. 

JOHN  YOUNG,  farmer;  P.  O.  Lake; 
This  gentleman  was  born  in  Lawrence  Tp., 
Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  his  birth  occurring  Feb. 
23d,    1838.     His    parents,    George    and    Ra- 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 


chel  (Roucli)  Young,  are  made  mention  of 
elsewhere  in  this  work.  John's  youthful  days 
were  spent  at  home  on  the  farm;  he  attended 
the  common  schools  of  his  neighborhood,  and 
acquired  a  liberal  education;  he  remained  at 
home  until  he  was  37  years  of  age,  and  then 
commenced  farming  for  himself,  by  renting  a 
farm,  where  he  remained  three  years;  he  rented 
for  a  few  years  and  finally  bought   115    acres 


of  well  improved  land  in  the  northern  part  of 
Lake  Tp.,  where  he  now  resides.  In  1864  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary,  daughter 
of  John  Braugher  of  Jackson  Tp.,  which  union 
has  been  blessed  with  three  children,  two  of 
whom  are  living,  viz. — G.  W.  and  J.  J.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Young  are  consistent  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Church, 


SUGAR    CREEK    TOWNSHIP 


MRS.  EVE  AGLER,  farmer  ;  P.  O.  Wil- 
mot;  is  the  relict  of  George  Agler,  who  was 
born  Nov.  13, 1810,  in  Union  Co.,  son  of  Peter 
and  Barbara  (Hafles)  Agler,  the  former  a 
native  of  New  Jersey,  the  latter  of  Holland. 
Peter  was  a  son  of  William  and  Polly  Agler. 
Whose  children  were — Polly,  Anna,  Katie, 
William,  Peter,  Conrad,  John  and  Jeremiah. 
Barbara  was  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Hafles,  whose 
predecessors  were  Hollanders.  The  Agler 
family  were  among  the  early  settlers  in  the 
township,  settling  in  the  southwest  corner  of 
Sugar  Creek  Tp.,  where  they  purchased  un- 
improved land,  and  remained  on  the  same. 
Peter  Agler  died  in  1847,  his  wife  two  years 
previous.  To  Peter  and  Babara  Agler,  were 
born  twelve  children,  ten  of  the  number  grew 
up,  viz — George,  John,  Katie,  Anna,  Conrad, 
William,  Abraham,  Jerry,  Amelia  and  Leah. 
George,  the  husband  of  Mrs.  Eve  Agler,  was 
raised  on  Sec.  33  as  a  farmer.  Aug.  9,  1834 
he  was  married  to  Eve  Wyandt,  who  was  born 
Feb.  14,  1816,  in  Somerset  Co.,  Penn.,  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Warner)  Wyandt. 
After  the  marriage  of  our  subject  they  moved 
to  a  piece  of  land  they  had  bought  in  this 
township,  but  remained  on  it  only  a  short 
time;  their  crops  failed,  and  they  despairing 
of  ever  paying  for  it,  left  it  and  located  upon 
a  piece  of  land  belonging  to  Joseph,  which  they 
rented  for  six  years.  In  February,  1840,  they 
located  on  the  land  his  father  had  first 
purchased,  and  were  on  it  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  Oct.  9,  1871.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Disciples'  Church,  a  man 
highly  respected  in  the  community,  and  a 
zealous  Republican.     Of  ten  children  born  to 


them,  eight  are  living — Sallie,  wife  of  Wash- 
ington Rrtif,  resides  in  Traverse  City,  Michi- 
gan; Betsey,  married  Thomas  Dell,  and  re- 
sides in  this  township;  William  H.,  lives  on 
the  homestead,  which  he  farms;  Mary,  resides 
in  Nebraska,  wife  of  .John  Eberly,  of  Stanton 
Co.;  Amelia,  wife  of  Mr.  Austin,  of  Beach 
City,  this  township;  George,  Frank  in  Wil- 
niot,  and  Rebecca  at  home.  Mrs.  Agler  re- 
sides on  the  homestead  farm;  William  H., 
her  son,  having  charge  of  the  same. 

W.  E.  AX,  hardware  and  groceries;  Beach 
City;  is  the  youngest  merchant  and  business 
men  of  Beach  City.  He  was  born  in  Sugar 
Creek  Tp.,  Tuscarawas  Co.,  in  March,  1858, 
son  of  William  Ax,  who  died  ^^■hen  our  sub- 
ject was  but  two  weeks  old.  He  was  a  gun- 
smith by  trade,  and  a  native  of  Tuscarawas 
Co.;  his  parents,  who  were  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania, having  emigrated  to  that  county 
from  their  native  State.  In  the  latter  years 
of  his  life  he  engaged  in  farmiing,  in  connec- 
tion with  his  trade.  Owing  to  the  loss  of  his 
father  at  so  early  an  age,  our  subject  was 
thrown  amcmg  strangers,  and  was  brought  up 
to  farm  labor,  but,  in  February,  1880,  he 
came  to  this  place  and  engaged  in  the  gro- 
cery trade  with  Charles  Angel,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Angel  &  Ax,  until  October  of  the 
same  year,  when  they  sold  out  to  Fred.  Leiser, 
who  in  December  sold  the  whole  to  Mr.  Ax, 
He  added  to  the  grocery  department  a  gen- 
eral assortment  of  hardware,  notions,  &c., 
using  one  side  of  the  store  for  hardware,  and 
the  other  for  groceries,  queensware,  &c.  In 
February,  1881,  he  married  Arminda,  daugh- 
ter of  Daniel  and  Catharine  (Reed)  Resh. 


•^ 


^ 


SUGAR    CREEK    TOWNSHIP. 


951 


BENJAMIN  BLACKSTEN,  farmer  ;  P.  O. 
West  Lebanon  ;  was  born  Nov.  23.  1835,  in 
Sugar  Creek  Tp.,  M'ayne  Co.,  being  the  eldest 
of  a  family  of  eight  children,  born  to  Daniel 
and  Harriet  (Griffith)  Blacksten.  Daniel 
Biacksten  was  born  in  Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa., 
in  1814,  and  came  west  with  his  mother  when 
he  was  eleven  years  of  age  ;  they  settled  in 
Sugar  Creek  Tp.,  Wayne  Co.,  where  he  grew 
up,  and  was  afterwards  married  to  Harriet 
Griffith,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Benjamin 
Griffith,  a  native  of  ^'irginia  or  Maryland. 
After  the  marriage  of  Daniel  Blacksten,  he  re- 
moved with  his  wife  to  Paint  Tp.,  same  county, 
where  he  has  since  lived,  having  a  farm  of  200 
acres.  Our  subject  remained  at  home  with 
his  parents  until  he  became  2(1  years  of  age. 
In  18(12  he  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with 
Charlotte  Burkholder,  who  was  born  in  Beth- 
lehem Tp.,  daughter  of  Henry  Burkholder  and 
Mary  Fausler.  Henry  was  a  son  of  (^hristian 
Burkholder,  a  native  of  Switzerland,  and 
emigrated  to  Guilford  Tp.,  Franklin  Co.,  Pa. 
Henry  Burkholder  and  family  came  west  to 
Stark  Co.,  locating  in  Bethlehem  Tp.  in  1842, 
where  he  purchased  320  acres  of  land.  Adam, 
William,  Samuel,  Jacob,  Nancy,  Charlotte, 
Catharine,  and  Christian  were  the  children 
born  to  them.  Jacob  served  as  a  soldier  in 
the  late  war,  and  died  at  Arkansas  Post  ;  he 
was  a  member  of  the  76tli  O.  V.  I.,  Company 
I.  The  brothers  and  sisters  of  Mr.  Blacksten 
are  Susan,  Andrew,  Eli,  Mary,  Lizzie,  Howard, 
Harvey  E.,  and  Isaac  L.  Andrew  served  as 
a  soldier  under  General  Kirkpatrick,  9th  Ohio 
Cavalry,  ami  was  also  a  member  of  an  Illinois 
regiment  of  infantry.  He  was  a  true  soldier. 
Mr.  Blacksten  has  160  acres  of  well  improved 
land,  and  the  best  of  liuildiiigs  thereon.  He 
has  two  children. 

EDWARD  B.  BACH,  Justice  of  the 
Peace  and  agent  for  farming  machinery  ;  was 
born  in  Sugar  Creek  Tp..  Mav  4,  18.52  ;  son  of 
Jacob  and  .Margaret  (Hah)  Bach,  natives  of 
Germany;  they  removed  to  America  in  1842, 
settling  in  Sugar  Creek  Tp.,  where  they  now 
reside.  Edward  was  raised  there  and  received 
a  good  common-school  education  ;  he  then 
attended  Smithvill(>  Academj-.  located  in 
Wayne  Co.  of  which  institution  he  was  a  stu- 
dent for  several  terms  during  1870,  1871, 
and  1872  ;  he  afterwards  attended  the  North- 
eastern Ohio   Normal  School,   held    by  Prof. 


John  T.  Getting,  at  Beach  City.  Mr.  Bach 
has  taught  school  for  ten  terms,  or  62  months, 
in  various  districts  of  Pike,  Sugar  Creek,  and 
Nimishillen  Tps.  of  Stark  Co.,  and  Milton  Tp., 
of  Wayne  Co.  During  the  past  four  years  he 
has  been  engaged  in  selling  agricultnral 
machinery,  and  is  now  operating  the  sj)ring- 
tooth  harrow,  which  is  manufactured  by 
Miller  Brothers,  of  Kalamazoo,  Michigan.  He 
was  married  March  2.5, 1875,  to  Miss  Cordelia 
Yant,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Soj)hia  (Kiinie}') 
Yant,  of  Pike  Tp.;  they  have  three  children 
— Jessie  May,  Daniel  Leslie,  and  Verna 
Eudora.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bach  are  members  of 
the  Evangelical  Association,  being  con- 
nected with  Calvary  Church  of  Bethlehem|Tp.; 
the  former  is  an  active  member  of  this  con- 
gregation, serving  as  Trustee,  and  is  also  Su- 
perintendent of  the  Sunday-school.  In  April, 
1880,  Mr.  Bach  was  elected  .Justice  of  the 
Peace  for  Sugar  Creek  Tp.,  which  usually  gives 
over  one  hundred  Republican  majority.  Poli- 
tically he  is  a  Democrat,  and  the  fact  that  he 
should  be  chosen  for  this  responsible  position 
by  the  citizens  of  his  native  township,  proves 
how  highly  he  is  esteemed  by  his  friends  and 
neighbors  who  have  known  him  from  child- 
hood. 

SAMUEL  H.  BAUGHMAN,  West  Leb- 
anon; was  born  Aug.  15,  1815,  near 
Carlisle,  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  the  second 
son  and  third  child  born  to  .John  and  Mar- 
garet Baughman.  The  Baughiiian  fam- 
ily came  west  to  this  County,  locating 
in  Tuscarawas  Tp.  in  1835,  and  purchased 
115  acres  which  were  but  partially  cleared. 
He  remained  on  this  farm  until  his  death, 
about  thej'ear  1832,  in  his  81st  year.  To  him 
were  born  eleven  children:  Adam,  Margaret, 
S.H.,  Julia  A.,  Sarah  A.,  Nancy  J.  and  David, 
were  the  number  that  came  to  maturity. 
John  Baughman  was  a  member  of  the  Ger- 
man Reformed  Church.  S.  H.  remained  with 
his  father  until  he  was  31  years  of  age.  His 
wife  was  Elizabeth  Smith,  who  was  born  in 
this  Township  in  1825,  daughter  of  Jacob 
Smith,  who  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the 
Township,  and  was  a. Justice  of  the  Peace  many 
j'ears.  After  the  marriage  Mr.  Baughman  lo- 
cated on  the  Smith  farm,  buying  out  the 
heirs,  and  has  since  remained  upon  it.  He 
has  two  children — Samuel  D.,  6f  this  Town- 
ship, and  Benjamin  B.  P.     He  is  a    membe 


^ 


't 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


of  the    Methodist    Episcopal    Church    and   a 
Republican. 

DANIEL  BOUGHMAN,  farmer;  P.  O. 
West  Lebanon;  was  born  Aug.  14,  1826,  in 
Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  the  tenth  of  a  family  of 
twelve  children,  whose  parents  were  Joseph 
and  Barbara  (Walter)  Boughman;  the  former 
was  born  in  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  in  May,  1783; 
a  son  of  Joseph,  who  was  a  native  of  Ger- 
nianj',  and  who  came  to  Pennsxdvania  when 
young.  Barbara  was  a  daughter  of  John 
Walter,  who  was  a  native  of  Maryland,  but 
who  afterward  located  in  Cumberland  Co., 
Pa.  To  Joseph  Boughman,  Sr.,  was  born 
eight  children — Abraham,  Henrj',  Philip,  Jo- 
seph, Christopher  and  John;  the  daughters 
were — Catharine  and  Elizabeth.  To  the  grand- 
father, Walter,  were  born  four  children,  viz, 
— George,  John,  Catharine  and  Barbara.  The 
Boughman  family  are  all  farmers,  to  which 
Joseph,  the  father  of  Daniel,  was  raised. 
April,  1833,  he  came  to  this  Township,  where 
he  purchased  land  on  Sec.  9,  and  remained 
there  six  months;  then  moved  one  mile  west 
and  purchased  160  acres  more  on  Sec .  8, 
where  he  died  in  1839.  Twelve  children  were 
born  to  him,  whose  names,  according  to  the  or- 
der of  their  birth,  were  as  follows — Christina, 
Sarah,  David,  Joseph,  Elizabeth,  Barbara, 
Christopher,  Catharine,  John,  Daniel,  Susanna 
and  Elias.  Seven  are  now  living — Christina, 
wife  of  John  Kern,  of  Adams  Co.,  lud.; 
David,  in  Elkhait  Co.,  Ind.;  Barbara,  wife  of 
Peter  Wist,  resides  in  Lagrange,  Ind.;  Catha- 
rine (Mrs.  Hiram  McFerron,  of  this  township); 
John,  on  farm  adjoining;  Daniel  on  the  home- 
stead, and  Elias  in  Summit  Co.  Of  the  fam- 
ily of  twelve  children  all  lived  to  raise  fami- 
lies. Joseph  Boughman  was  a  memiier  of  the 
Albright  Church,  and  a  Jackson  Democrat. 
His  wife  survived  him  twenty  years  or  more, 
remaining  a  widow  until  her  death,  in  1866. 
Our  subject  remained  at  home  until  15  years 
of  age;  then  went  to  learn  the  carpenter's 
trade,  at  which  he  worked  for  thirty-six  years. 
He  was  married  in  October,  1850,  to  Char- 
lotte Gallatin,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
daughter  of  Jacob  Gallatin.  She  died  in 
1875,  Sept.  19.  To  her  were  born  three  sons, 
two  living — Melancthon  and  Homer;  the  for- 
mer is  in  a  drug  store  in  Indiana;  Homer  at 
home.  He  married  a  second  time  in  March, 
1878,   Mrs.  Jane  E.  Bloker,  who  was  born   in 


Wayne  Co.,  Ohio,  in  February,  1836,  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  Galehouse.  Mr.  Boughman  owns 
160  acres  of  land,  which  he  bought  in  the 
spring  of  1850.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  and  class-leader  since 
his  union  with  the  church  over  fifteen  years 
ago,  and  has  served  as  Steward  and  Trustee 
of  same.  He  is  a  strong  temperance  man, 
and  votes  for  prohibition. 

JOHN  BALTZLY,  retii-ed  farmer;  P.  O. 
Beach  City;  was  born  Oct.  19,  1821,  in 
Sugar  Creek  Tp.,  Tuscarawas  Co.,  Ohio;  son 
of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Baker)  Baltzly;  he, 
born  April  13,  1879,  in  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa., 
son  of  .lohn,  a  native  of  Switzerland,  who  emi- 
grated to  this  country  prior  to  the  Revolution, 
and  was  a  teamster  during  the  wai-;  she,  born 
in  York  Co.,  Pa.,  daughter  of  Philip  Baker. 
The  grandfather  of  our  subject  came  to  Ohio 
in  1S07,  and  located  in  Goshen  Tp.,  Tuscara- 
was Co.,  and  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war  of 
1812,  served  in  the  same.  He  was  killed  b^' 
a  tree  falling  upon  him.  John,  the  father  of 
our  subject,  was  reared  on  the  farm  until  he 
was  married,  when  he  moved  to  near  Zanes- 
ville,  where  he  lived  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  Oct.  13,  1859.  His  children  were — 
Daniel,  John,  Philip,  Jacob,  Catharine,  Eliza- 
beth, Benjamin,  and  Sarah.  John,  our  sub- 
ject, lived  at  home  until  he  was  married,  Nov. 
26,  1846,  to  Lydia  Miller  who  was  born  Nov. 
28,  1830,  in  Tuscarawas  Co.,  daughter  of 
Zachariah  and  Gertie  (Hostetter)  Miller;  he, 
born  in  Somerset  Co.,  Pa.,  Jan.  2,  1809,  a  mil- 
ler by  trade,  and  son  of  Henry;  she,  a  daughter 
of  Joseph  Hostetter.  Zachariah  and  Gertie 
Miller  had  six  children.  The  family  are 
Winebrennarians.  After  Mr.  Baltzly's  mar- 
riage he  settled  on  the  homestead,  whore  he 
lived  two  years,  then  made  some  minor  chang- 
es, and  finally,  in  the  fall  of  1856,  came  to 
Beach  City,  where  he  has  since  lived.  He 
formerly  owned  265  acres,  but  sold  127  of 
it  to  his  son.  He  had  nine  children,  three 
of  whom  are  living — Zachariah  T.,  in  Mas- 
sillon,  druggist;  Alpheus,  on  the  farm;  Vi- 
ola, at  home.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Luth- 
eran Church,  she  of  the  United  Brethren.  He 
was  formerly  a  Whig,  but  is  now  a  Republi- 
can. 

H.  BROWN,  merchant ;  Beach  City  ;  was 
born  April  25,  1841,  in  Armstrong  Co.,  Pa.; 
son  of  Matthias  and  Catharine  (Foster)  Brown, 


^■^ 


!k> 


SUGAR   CREEK    T0WX8II1P. 


both  of  whom  were  natives  of  that  county, 
and  of  Irish  descent.  To  them  were  born  six 
children — John,  Catharine,  Harrison,  James, 
Benton  and  Salina.  Harrison  was  raised  to 
farming,  at  which  he  continued  until  the 
spring  of  1874,  when  he  embarked  in  the 
niercantile  business,  with  his  brother  James, 
in  his  native  state,  for  whom  he  clerked  about 
five  months.  He  came  West  in  1873,  and 
was  united  in  marriage,  in  October  of'  the 
same  year,  to  Tabitha,  daughtt^r  of  Abraham 
and  Martha  (Bidler)  Freed,  of  Holmes  Co. 
Two  children  have  been  born  to  them — Mat- 
tie  and  Omar.  After  his  marriage  he  returned 
to  Pennsylvania,  and  remained  tiiere  until  the 
fall  of  1875,  when  he  again  came  to  Ohio  and 
located  in  B^ach  City,  where  he  built  the  busi- 
ness house  he  now  owns,  and  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business,  his  stock  consisting  of 
dr^-  goofls,  groceries,  queensware,  boots  and 
shoes,  and,  in  fact,  all  articles  to  be  found  in 
a  general  store.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Lu- 
theran Church  and  is  a  IJepuhlican. 

JONATHAN  BAHIl,  miller;  Beach  City; 
was  born  in  NovembiM-,  1828,  in  this  town- 
ship, where  Beach  City  now  stands.  He  is  a 
son  of  Henry  and  Susanna  (Bixler)  Barr,  both 
natives  of  Bedford  Co.,  Pa.  Tiie  ancestors 
of  the  former  wore  German  ;  the  latter  was  a 
daughter  of  Jacob  Bixler,  whose  other  child- 
ren were — John,  Samuel,  Jacob,  Daniel  and 
Christopher.  The  children  of  our  subject's 
grandfather,  as  far  as  can  be  remembered,  are 
as  follows — Samuel,  David,  Henry,  Jonathan 
aiul  Ainia.  Henry  Barr,  wife  and  three  child- 
ren, came  to  Ohio  and  located  in  this  town- 
sliip,  about  the  year  1825  or  '26.  He  was  a 
miller  by  occupation,  and  was  engaged  in  that 
business  prior  to  his  coming  to  Ohio.  He 
continued  the  business  in  this  place,  following 
the  occupation  until  he  became  old  ;  finally 
turning  his  attention  to  farming,  in  which 
business  he  was  engaged  at  the  lime  of  his 
death,  in  June,  186G.  His  wife  died  several 
years  previous.  To  them  were  born  seven 
children — .Jacob,  of  this  township  ;  David, 
farmer  and  miller  in  Tuscarawas  ;  Elizabeth, 
dead  ;  John,  of  Bethlehem  Tp.,  farmer  ;  Jon- 
athan ;  Samuel,  of  Morrow  Co.,  farmer,  &c.; 
and  Henry,  in  Bethlehem  Tp.,  farmer.  The 
parents  were  Lutherans.  Henry  was  formerly 
a  Democrat,  but  later  became  a  Republican. 
Our  subject  was  raised  in  this  township,  and, 


after  attaining  his  majority,  learned  the  car- 
penter's trade,  at  which  he  worked  several 
years,  and  then  purchased  land,  farming  in 
connection  with  his  trade.  In  1861  he  began 
the  milling  business,  buying  the  mill  property 
he  now  owns,  which  he  entirely  renovated  in 
1806,  and  has  run  ever  since.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  1850  to  Margaret  Gay,  who  was  born 
in  Northampton  Co.,  Pa.,  in  1S28  ;  daughter 
of  Andrew  and  Elizabeth  (Bash)  Gay,  who 
came  West,  locating  in  Tuscarawas  Co.,  when 
she  was  young.  Three  children  were  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barr,  two  of  whom  are  living — 
Aaron  D.  and  William  Scott.  Susan  E.  died 
young. 

ALPH.  BALTZLY,  farmer;  P.O.  Beach 
City.  Among  the  young  farmers  and  en- 
terprising jouiig  men  of  this  Towtiship  is 
our  sul)ject,  who  was  born  Aug.  24,  1^50, 
in  Tuscarawas  Co.  He  is  the  son  of  John 
and  L^'dia  (Miller)  Baltzly,  and  was  rais- 
ed a  farmer,  remaining  at  home  tintil  his 
majority,  Dec.  31,  1872.  He  was  married  to 
Anna  Cascbeer,  born  in  Tascarawas  Co.,  Nov. 
15,  1849,  and  who  died  July  6,  1870,  leaving 
one  child,  Florence  May.  Mr.  Baltzly  was 
again  married  Nov.  25,  1880,  to  Maggie  Suter, 
born  in  Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa.,  Feb.  2,  1858, 
daughter  of  William  and  Catharine  (Stoner) 
Suter,  who  have  ten  children,  five  sons  and  five 
daughters.  The  parents  of  Mr.  Baltzlv's 
first  wife  were  both  natives  of  Tuscarawas 
Co.  Mr.  Baltzly  owns  147  acres  of  excellent 
farming  land,  and  he  and  wife  arc  members  of 
the  United  Brethren  Church. 

AUGUSTUS  CROSLAND,  blacksmith  ; 
Wilmot ;  is  one  of  the  oldest  smiths  in  this 
region  of  the  country,  having  worked  continu- 
ously at  the  anvil  nearU'  forty  years.  He  was 
l>orn  July  5,  1827,  in  Middlebury,  adjacent  to 
Akron,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio.  His  parents  were 
Adam  and  Eve  (Hoflaker)  (Jrosland,  the  former 
a  native  of  Fayette  Co.,  Pa.,  of  Quaker  par- 
entage and  of  English  ancestry.  Eve  was  a 
daughter  of  Michael  HofTaker,  to  whom  were 
born  the  following  ofr?prijig — (jiorge,  Michael, 
John,  Rachel,  Elizabeth,  Polly,  Lydia,  Sophia, 
Eve,  and  Catharine.  Of  the  children  born  to 
Adam  and  Eve  Crosland  were — Michael,  now 
a  resident  of  Minnesota  ;  Adam,  who  died  in 
the  Mexican  war;  Elizabeth  was  the  wife  of 
William  Penewenn,but  is  now  deceased  ;  and 
Mary  Ann,  wife  of  Peter  Donot,  of  Tuscara- 


J, 


954 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


was  T|3.,  this  county.  Our  subject  was  left 
an  orphan  at  an  early  age,  being  but  a  babe 
when  his  father  died,  when  he  removed  to 
Stark  Co.  with  his  mother,  who  died  when  he 
was  a  lad  of  eight.  He  then  lived  with  George 
Culler  until  he  \j^s  fifteen  ;  then  commenced 
learning  his  trade  with  .Jesse  Raffensburger, 
at  Navarre,  and  remained  with  him  three  years 
and  six  months.  In  April,  1847,  he  set  up  in 
business  for  himself  in  the  northern  part  of 
Sugar  Creek  Tp.,  where  he  continued  steadily 
for  seventeen  years.  Removing  to  Navarre  he 
engaged  at  his  trade,  remaining-  there  until 
March,  1869,  when  he  located  in  the  village  of 
Wilmot,  where  he  yet  remains ;  being  a 
thorough  and  excellent  workman,  his  services 
are  rewarded  by  a  liberal  patronage.  He  has 
been  three  times  married,  first  in  1848,  to 
Elizabeth  Sniveley,  who  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, daughter  of  the  Rev.  Daniel  Sniveley. 
She  died  in  January,  1861,  leaving  six  chil- 
dren— Isaac  N.;  Susan  M.,  William  H.,  Mary 
A.,  Elizabeth  F.,  and  Augustus  B. — all  living. 
In  18G3  he  married  Catharine  Brillhart,  who 
was  born  in  1841  in  Bethlehem  Tp.,  daughter 
of  Daniel  Brillhart  ;  she  died  in  1864,  having 
one  child,  which  died  at  birth.  His  present 
wife  is  Aurelia,  born  in  Bethlehem  Tp., 
daughter  of  Hon.  Matthias  and  Elizabeth 
(Bachtel)  Shepler,  who  were  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania. Six  children  were  born  of  this  mar- 
r.age,  three  of  whom  were  given  birth  at  one 
time.  Ivy  M.  and  Sarah  Bell  only  are  now 
living  of  the  entire  number  born.  He  has 
been  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church  since  1850,  and  is  one  of  the  trustees 
of  the  same.  He  is  the  only  one  of  the  name 
that  has  espoused  Republicanism. 

DAVID  CRISE,  M.  D.;  was  born  in  Men- 
don,  Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa.,  May  23,  1846; 
son  of  George  and  Rachel  (Stougli)  Crise,  the 
former  of  whom  was  born  in  the  aforesaid 
county  in  1823,  son  of  George  Crise;  and  the 
latter  in  Eastern  Pennsylvania,  daughter  of 
Daniel  and  Catharine  Stough.  George  Crise 
came  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Dundee,  Tuscara- 
was Co.,  and  was  a  farmer  by  occupation. 
He  had  four  sons  and  seven  daughters,  six 
of  whom  came  to  maturity — Leah  B.,  Cath- 
arine, Mary  A.,  George  W.,  Joseph  and 
David.  He  was  a  member  of  the  103d  P.  V. 
I.  during  the  late  war.  Our  subject  was 
reared  on  the  farm  until  17  years  of  age,  and 


attended  school  at  Gi'eensburg,  where  he  took 
a  scientific  course  of  four  years.  He  began 
reading  medicine  in  1867  with  Dr.  L.  Sutton, 
and  pursued  his  studies  until  his  graduation 
from  Jeflerson  Medical  College  at  Philadelphia. 
He  began  the  practice  of  medicine  in  the 
spring  of  1871,  continuing  there  until  the  fall 
of  1872,  when  he  located  at  Buifalo,  Washing- 
ton Co.,  Pa.,  remaining  there  until  the  sum- 
mer of  1S76;  thence  went  to Strashurg,  Tus- 
carawas Co.,  Oliio,  where  he  remained  until 
the  fall  of  1877,  when  he  located  at  Beach 
City,  Sugar  Creek  Tp.,  where  he  now  is.  In 
the  vi-inter  of  1877  he  associated  with  Dr. 
Robinett,  under  firm  name  of  Robinett  &  Crise, 
for  the  purpose  of  running  a  drug  store  in  con- 
nection with  their  practice.  He  was  married 
in  June,  1872,  to  Lucetta,  daughter  of  A.  J. 
Null,  whose  father's  name  was  Henry,  and  a 
native  of  Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa.,  as  was  also 
Miss  Lucetta.  Dr.  Crise  has  three  children — 
Vivienne,  Lola  E.and  Bruce  L.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Lutheran  Church  and  a  Democrat. 

JOHN  C.  CHARLTON,  farmer;  P.  O.Na- 
varre; was  born  Dec.  11,  1825.  His  father, 
Isaac,  one  of  nine  children  of  Thomas  Charl- 
ton, and  an  old-line  Whig,  came  from  West- 
moreland Co.,  Pa.,  about  1812,  and  settled  in 
Sugar  Creek  Tp.,  where  he  died  in  April, 
1868,  aged  76  years.  His  mother,  Elizabeth 
Augustnie,  was  born  in  Columbiana  Co.,  and 
still  survives.  They  had  three  children — Su- 
sanna, who  married  William  H.  West,  and 
moved  to  Massillon,  where  she  died;  Eliza,  who 
died  in  1863,  unmarried;  and  John  C,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  who  lived  with  his 
parents  till  22  years  old,  clerked  for  two 
years,  and  after  several  changes  of  occupa- 
tion, married  Sept.  20,  1852,  and  located  on 
the  farm  he  now  owns.  In  1858  he  moved  to 
Bethlehem  Tp.,  and  engaged  in  the  grain 
business  till  1865,  when  he  returned  to  the 
farm.  From  1876  to  1880  he  again  engaged 
in  the  grain  and  produce  trade,  but  has  now 
retired  from  active  business.  His  wife,  born 
September,  1828,  was  Caroline,  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Hannah  Wise,  both  natives  of 
Pennsylvania.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Ger- 
man Reformed  Church.  Mr.  Charlton  is  a 
Republican,  and  was  a  Trustee  for  two  years. 
They  have  a  beautiful  home. 

FREDERICK  W.  DAGES,  farmer;  P.  O. 
Navarre;   was  born  April    2,     1827,  in   Toll, 


^. 


SUGAR    CREEK    TOWNSHIP. 


955 


Prussia,  and  is  the  seventh  son  of  Jacob  Dages, 
baker,  wlmse  father  was  of  the  same  name  and 
trade.  When  the  Dages  family  came  to  Ohio, 
ill  the  spring  of  1834,  it  consisted  of  the 
father,  mother  and  eleven  sons.  These  located 
at  Navarre,  and  there  remained  until  the 
spring  of  1835,  when  they  moved  to  the  town- 
ship upon  95  acres  of  land  purchased  by 
Jacob  Dages  for  $1,100,  including  one  horse 
and  a  plow.  The  mother  (Barbara,  daughter 
of  Nicholas  Schorr)  died  in  May,  180S,  and 
the  father  Dec.  21,  1876.  Of  the  children  a 
number  died  young;  Jacob  resides  in  Indiana; 
Michael  is  dead;  Peter  moved  to  Gallipolis, 
raised  a  family,  and  is  since  dead;  Frank  is  in 
Fulton;  Nic'holas  in  Huntington  Co.,  Indiana; 
and  .lohn  in  Gallipolis;  Wendell  went  to  Cal- 
ifornia in  1850,  and  has  never  been  heard  from 
since;  Charles  is  in  Li)uisville,  Ky.;  Frederick 
W.  has  remained  on  the  old  farm.  He  mar- 
ried, Feb.  7, 1854,  Anna  Waggoner,  born  in 
Belgium,  Feb.  10,  1834,  daughter  of  John 
^^  aggoner  and  Anna  Zinietz,  who  came  to 
Stark  Co.  in  1845,  locating  in  Bethlehem  Tp. 
After  his  marriage,  PVederick  worked  the 
homestead  farm  on  shares.  At  his  mother's 
death  he  bought  the  place,  and  has  since  added 
to  it  till  he  now  has  150  acres.  His  children 
are — Mary  A.,  John,  Rc)sa  B.,  Angela,  Louis 
P.,  Urban  J.,  Henry  O.  and  Clara  C.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  a  Dem- 
ocrat. 

BENJAMIN  FP:TR0W,  P.  O.  Beach  City; 
was  born  in  York  Co.,  Pa.,  July  22,  1814;  son 
of  Andrew  and  Phebe  (Speakman)  Fetrow; 
the  former  a  native  of  York  Co. — also,  whose 
father's  name  was  Andrew,  and  a  native  of  Ger- 
many. The  last-named,  Andrew,  and  two 
l)rothers,  came  over  and  settled  in  York  Co., 
Pa.;  one  however  of  the  brothers  went  back, 
and  from  the  other  two  the  numerous  Fetrows 
of  this  country  have  sprung.  Phebe  was  the 
daughter  of  Jacob  Speakman,  a  Quaker, 
whose  wife  was  a  Harris,  and  whose  family 
consisted  of  eight  girls  and  two  boys.  To 
Andrew  Fetrow,  Jr.,  and  wife  were  born  four 
children,  three  of  whom  lived  to  maturity — 
Benjamin,  Mary  A.  and  Leah.  Andrew  Fet- 
row was  a  millwright  by  trade;  he  came  to 
Sugar  Creek  Tp.  in  1814,  built  a  mill  below 
Strasburg,  and  assisted  in  building  the  mill 
in  Strasburg.  He  returned  to  York  Co.  in 
the  fall  of  1818,  but  before  returning  he  took 


the  precaution  of  entering  several  quarter- 
sections  of  land,  with  a  view  of  returning  to 
it,  but  died  in  1837  in  Cumberland  Co.,  his 
wife  surviving  him  two  years.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  and 
a  staunch  Whig.  Our  subject  was  raised  on 
the  farm  until  his  ICth  year.  He  was  posess- 
ed  of  a  strong  desire  to  travel  West,  but  his 
father  could  not  be  brought  to  consent  to  his 
leaving  home;  eventually,  however,  he  came 
without  obtaining  leave,  and  settled  in  Plain 
Tp.,  Waj'ne  Co.,  where  he  remained  eighteen 
years.  Soon  after  coming  out  he  learned  the 
blacksmith's  trade,  and  followed  the  same  for 
twenty-two  years,  but  since  1850  has  been  en- 
gaged in  farming.  Sept.  20,  1837,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Emeline  Harris,  who  was  born  in 
Wayne  Co.  March  4,  1810,  daughter  of  \Var- 
ner  and  Rachel  (Gorrel)  Harris,  the  former  a 
native  of  Maryland,  and  the  latter  of  Virginia, 
who  were  married  in  Virginia,  and  came  to 
Wayne  Co.  in  1812,  raising  a  family  of  fifteen 
children,  all  of  whom  lived  to  maturity,  Mrs. 
Fetrow  being  the  youngest.  After  the  family 
grew  up,  however,  Mr.  Harris  moved  to 
Holmes  Co.  and  died  there.  Ho  was  an 
Elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  for  many 
years,  and  was  a  Democrat.  But  three  of  his 
family  arc  now  living — Sarah,  Thomas  and 
Mrs.  Fetrow.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fetrow  have  been 
blessed  with  five  children,  three  of  whom 
grew  up — Sarah,  wife  of  George  Howard,  of 
this  township;  Nancy,  now  Mrs.  Andrew 
Reed;  William,  M.  D.,  lives  on  the  home 
farm.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fetrow  have  been  mem- 
bers of  the  United  Brethren  Church  for  nearly 
I  thirty  years.  When  Mr.  Fetrow  came  to 
Wayne  Co.  he  had  but  twenty-five  cents,  but 
by  industry  and  economy  has  amassed  con- 
!  siderable  wealth,  possessing  now  210  acres  of 
I  land,  which  his  son  and  son-in-law  are  farming. 
Mr.  Fetrow  is  the  only  one  of  the  family  name 
who  ever  came  to  Ohio;  he  has  always  been  a 
Whig  and  Republican,  and  has  been  a  Trustee 
in  his  church.  He  moved  from  his  farm  to 
Beach  City  in  1880,  and  is  now  living  retir- 
ed. His  son,  William,  M.  D.,  has  four  child- 
ren; Nancj',  Mis.  Reed,  has  seven;  and  Sarah, 
Mrs.  Howard,  has  six.  They  are  all  members 
of  the  United  Brethren   Cluirch. 

ABRAHA.M  GRAFE,  hardware  ;  Wilmot; 
is  among  the  self-made  men  of  this  township. 
He  was  born  in   June,  1826,  in   Saxony  ;  son 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


of  John  Ailam  ami  Justiiia  (Deichman)  Grafe. 
Abrahain  left  home  at  15,  worked  some  years 
in  a  brick-yard,  and  tlien  learned  the  stone- 
mason's trade.  In  the  fall  of  1853  he  emi- 
grated to  America,  landing  at  New  York  City. 
From  there  he  bent  his  steps  westward,  stop- 
ping a  short  time  in  Wayno  Co.,  and  locating 
the  same  year  in  the  town  of  Wilmot,  wliere 
he  has  since  been  a  constant  resident.  He 
came  here  poor,  but  he  labored  on  industri- 
ously, and  for  twenty-two  years  was  engaged 
at  his  trade.  In  186G  he  began  doing  a  small 
business  in  a  mercantile  way,  his  stock  of 
goods  being  small  and  of  the  simplest  variety; 
yet  he  never  faltered,  but  husbanded  his 
means,  and  year  by  year  added  to  his  stock 
of  goods,  until  1871,  when  he  began  in  the 
hardware  business,  which  he  has  since  con- 
ducted, having  a  full  line  of  hardware  and 
shelf-goods,  and  such  articles  as  arp  needed 
by  the  community  generally.  In  October, 
1846,  before  leaving  the  old  country,  he  mar- 
ried Sophia  Koehler,  who  was  born  in  Saxony, 
daughter  of  Godfriod  Koehler.  Mr.  Grafe 
has  no  children.  His  father,  John  Adam,  was 
a  son  of  Christian  and  Christina  (Mahn)  Grafe, 
to  whom  were  born  six  children,  four  sons  and 
two  daughters,  viz. — Godfried,  Jacob,  John 
Adam,  Michael,  Christina  and  Rosanna.  His 
mother,  Justina,  was  a  daughter  of  Go  Ifried 
Deichman,  who  had  hut  two  children  born  to 
him,  who  grew  to  maturity,  viz.^ — Justina  and 
Jacob.  Abraham  had  no  brothers,  but  one 
sister,  Christina,  who  yet  resides  in  the  old 
country,  Abraham  being  the  only  one  of  the 
family  who  emigrated  to  this  country.  He  is 
one  of  the  Directors  of  the  Farmers'  Bank  at 
Wilmot,  and  a  consistent  Republican. 

SAMUEL  HALL,  farmer;  P.  O.  Justus;  is 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  county.  He  was 
born  May  15,  1803,  in  Jefferson  Co.,  this 
State;  son  of  John  and  .Tudith  (Hastings)  Hall, 
.fohn  Hall  was  a  son  of  .lohn  Hall,  who  was  a 
native  of  England,  as  were  also  his  children 
— John,  Edward  and  Hannah.  The  father  of 
our  subject  was  High  Sheriff  in  Dundee,  Scot- 
land, and  emigrated  to  Philadelphia  in  the 
year  1793.  After  remaining  there  a  short 
time  he  came  to  the  territory  of  Ohio  a  short 
time  prior  to  1800.  Here  our  subject  was 
born,  amid  the  forest-scenes  of  that  early 
time.  In  1809  he  came  with  his  father  to  Can- 
ton Tp.,  Canton  at  that  time  being  comnosed  of 


three  or  four  houses.  They  remained  here 
until  1814,  when  his  father  moved  to  Tuscara- 
was Tp.,  and  settled  on  an  80  acre  tract,  whore 
he  died  in  1816.  At  the  age  of  31  Samuel 
turned  out  for  himself;  worked  for  some  time 
on  the  Ohio  Canal,  and  in  1838  located  in  Su- 
gar Creek  Tp.,  where  lie  has  since  lived  an 
honored  and  respected  member  of  the  com- 
munity. His  farm,  consisting  of  91^-  acres,  he 
has  acquired  at  different  times,  as  his  means 
would  justify,  having  seven  different  deeds  of 
the  same.  His  marriage  with  Susan  Swigart 
occurred  Sept.  3.3,  1833.  She  was